AN: Prompt Day 3: Emotion/ "But why me?"

This is Usagi's version of the next day.

In another part of the city a girl with a tangled blonde mess on her head woke up in the early afternoon in a bed that was not hers.

Usagi groaned and embraced the pillow a little tighter and buried her face in it. The sun was shining brightly through the window, where the curtain had already been opened. She was still so very much exhausted, but she could smell Makoto's famous curry through the ajar door and nothing in this world could stop her from indulging in the best hangover food that existed.

Usagi, Rei, Ami, Makoto and Mamoru were the last guests at the party and stayed with Motoki and Reika to start cleaning up. At least a little bit. Usually, Usagi hated the idea of cleaning up, but yesterday it had more or less felt like an After-Party with her closest friends in close reach and of course they had turned the whole process into something fun. Playing basketball with the trash and a held up trash bag had slowed the task, but no one actually cared. They had promised Motoki they'd come over later to help with the rest, since he had decided to close the Crown for one day.

The others were probably already over there fulfilling their promised duty, even though they all got home in the early morning. The last time Usagi had checked the time on her phone, was at 5:12. At that time, her phone was practically dying as she slipped her tired arms through the sleeves of her peony-coloured trench coat. Leave it to Usagi to wear a pastel pink trench coat. The perfect balance between her childish nature and her more mature/ grown-up side.

As she plugged it in as they reached Makoto's apartment, the display lit up again and told her it was 5:50. Thank god, she had decided to crash at Makoto's or else she had to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy her brunette's friend famous cooking talents.

Since Minako had hooked up with one of Unazuki's classmates and left the party a little bit earlier than the rest – though they had stayed for a respectable time and helped the rest with picking up all bottles, that were strewn around – to Hiroto's apartment, Usagi would have to go home alone. Her and Minako's apartment was a bit farer away from the Crown and at that point of time, she'd have definitely fallen asleep in the metro.

Plus curing a hangover alone really was not that desirable. Thus she ended up in her friend's bed with soft blankets, that had roses printed all over. Makoto's place always felt like coming home into the embrace of her mother's arms.

For one last time she deeply inhaled the scent of the fresh bedsheets and stretched herself lazily while still lying on her back. She repeated that motion, as she came to a sitting and standing position. Yawn after yawn followed. Makoto had lent her one of her oversized shirts, which only had the purpose to sleep in. She had bought it in one of the secondhand shops, she loved to spend her free time in. Mostly because she found the prettiest flowerpots for her ever-growing plant collection there.

With bare feet Usagi tabbed into the kitchen. Her stomach growled angrily. Makoto was dozing in one of her plushy seats covered in teddy fabric. At that sight Usagi felt a pang of guilt. Was she again too active to sleep next to? Had she evicted one of her best friends from her own bed?

As Usagi came closer, Makoto's eyes started to blink before she opened them ever so slowly.

"Morning Usa…" she said with a hoarse voice.

"Morning…please tell me you didn't sleep here the whole night?" Usagi worried her lip.

"No, no…! I woke up at around 12, started cooking but then got tired again…and just wanted to sit down for a moment and read, but apparently I fell asleep…" She laughed so beautifully, that Usagi forgot all of her doubts. Makoto rubbed her neck, trying to ease the slight pain of the uncomfortable sleeping position.

"Are you hungry?" Of course, she was. She always was. Plus: The smell of the Japanese curry was mouthwatering. And even if it wasn't, Usagi would never say no to food.

With that Makoto retrieved two black shiny bowls from one of the cabinets, shoveled two giants spoons full of heavenly smelling rice into the bowls and poured the curry over it like a chef and decorated it with some leaves of fresh coriander, that was growing on her window still. Usagi picked up chopsticks from the utensil drawer and took a closer look at the smooth surface of the sticks. They were probably quite expensive.

Her kitchenware was a stark contrast to her and Minako's apartment. Their rice cooker even had a Hello Kitty print on it…

The girls sat down and Usagi wolfed down her portion in record speed and helped herself to a second portion.

"Do you think Toki is still mad at Unazuki for dating one of his classmates?" Makoto asked.

"Hm… Don't know…" Usagi took another bite from the spoon, "He seemed to get along with Taki later…"

"Yeah, because he is a friendly drunk…" Makoto snickered and Usagi chimed in.

"Haha, that's true! Never thought he could get any friendlier!... Maybe we'll hear later about the aftermath…?! Reika probably calmed him down."

At that Makoto's bright face became less brighter. During her teenage days Makoto was crushing hard on Motoki and sometimes the feeling of unrequited love still stung. She was over it, had been for some time now, and she even bonded with Reika over exploring patisserie shops in Tokyo. However, one could get sad about missed chances in love.

"Oh by the way. We don't have to get back to the Crown later. Toki texted…His parents are helping him…" Makoto announced. "Thank god, my feet are still sore from all the dancing!" She winced slightly at that, as she kneaded her right foot at that.

"Proof that Minako was head of the music committee! She doesn't really allow dance breaks," Usagi said with her mouth still full, which earned her a stern look from her friend. "Sorry", she mumbled after she gulped down the remains of the rice in her mouth.

"Except when she set her eyes on someone…well, she does that while dancing, then she dances with them…"

"Yeah, because she checks out their body movements to the rhythm…" Usagi playfully rolled her eyes at that. They all had to endure many, many lectures from Minako about hooking up with someone, who wouldn't be a disappointment in the bedroom. So far, Minako never got disappointed.

"But… speaking of dancing breaks…" Makoto inched a little closer at Usagi, "you were gone for some time! Where were you?" She looked distractedly at her nails, but it was easy to make out the curious undertone latched in her words.

"Uh…me? That wasn't for some time!" So far Usagi had managed to shove that memory from last night in a far corner of her mind. The hairpins were still in her bedazzled bag. She needed a clear head to think about everything that transpired between Mamoru and her. Preferably alone.

"Usa! Come on! You were gone for over an hour and then I saw you exiting the kitchen with Mamoru in tow! Spill!" Makoto expectantly looked at her. She sighed… Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to talk with someone about that, instead of wrecking her head about that baka in her bedroom alone. She sighed defeatedly.

"Okay…But don't tell anyone about this, okay? Promise me!" Makoto eagerly nodded. Usagi let out a deep breath.

"So…um… I wanted to go to the toilet, remember? As I got there, Mamoru was also waiting in line before me and I don't know… We kind of started to talk about the party and about Motoki's cocktails and I said, that Motoki had taken lessons to mix cocktails and Mamoru said, that he went with Motoki to learn how to mix drinks and I said ,Hey prove it!' and he was like ,No!'", Usagi talked faster and faster.

"And at first it was like a normal small talk, but when I propositioned him, he was like super quite again and went into the bathroom and when he came back, he didn't really look at me, like I was … I don't know… Well, then I got out of the bathroom he was WAITING for me and said… 'I prove it to you. But in the staff room'." At that Makoto whistled. Usagi made a strange face at that.

"Not like that, ugh! No, he made me drinks. And of course he's really good at that. He is such a nerd! Mako, you have no idea, how good they were. And it was really nice. We actually talked for once…I don't really remember about what…" Usagi scrunched her face at that, as if she was trying to remember the content of their conversation.

"I'm glad you two were civil for once. Maybe you –"

"There's more." Usagi interrupted with a serious face. Makoto raised her eyebrows.

"Before we went back to the party, he gave me something." Usagi bit her lip, almost drawing blood. She stood up, went to Makoto's genkan, where her bag was lying on the floor, opened the zipper and grabbed the little velvet bag. She silently laid the bag in the kitchen table and silently gestured Makoto to open it. Makoto raised her eyebrows even higher as she inspected the hairpins in her hand.

"Aww, they are beautiful. Mamoru gave you these?"

"Yes! That is soooo…soo weird!" Usagi cried. "Do you think, that this is some kind of joke?"

Makoto paused for a moment, before she answered.

"You will not like, what I have to say now."

"Huh?" Usagi was confused and she could feel the starting tingle of anxiety.

"I thought this before, but I wasn't sure if I read the signs right. But now I am." Makoto facial expression was dead serious, "Mamoru clearly likes you." There was no nuance of a joke in her voice. She meant what she said. And now the tingling of anxiety became a full-blown firework. No, no, no, no, no!

Yesterday was already a rollercoaster of emotions. And apparently she was on that rollercoaster again, without buying a ticket.

A nervous laugh erupted from her throat. She really wanted to cry. She was tired, hungover and confused. All she craved to do now, was crawl under her bunnies-and-moon-comforter and cuddle with Luna and sleep. This was probably just a weird dream anyway.

"Usa…Don't you think, that it could be a possibility?"

"Err…no. I am pretty sure, that he doesn't like me. At all." Now it was Makoto's turn to laugh.

"What?"

"And I am pretty sure, he does! But he obviously doesn't know it himself…yet! When I think about it now…it's so obvious! Why didn't I realize that sooner? The way he looks at you, sneaks glances at you all the time. And he always seeks your vicinity, well I bet he does that unconsciously." Makoto tapped her finger on her chin.

"You are totally wrong." Usagi angrily crossed her arms. Makoto gave her a knowing look.

"But why me? Why does he like meeee?" Usagi whined after some time of contemplation.

"Look at him, then look at me!" She gestured wildly. "I am a klutz and a crybaby. He said so himself on multiple occasions. He is this supermodel nerd and he's becoming a doctor soon and I am …" Usagi's expression turned sad. What did she have to offer? "I am nothing in comparison to him." Makoto wrapped her arms around the slumped shoulders of her friend.

"Don't say that! You are a wonderful, kind-hearted, creative and a more than beautiful person. Don't underestimate that! And I think, that is the reason why he is drawn to you in the first place and can't stop thinking about you. Why else would he get you a gift, that is so totally you? Something like that can only be picked up by someone, who clearly knows you." Makoto stroked Usagi's back tenderly. This was all too much for her.

After a while, Usagi found her voice again.

"And what am I going to do now?" With wide eyes she gazed at her friend for her help.

"You two just have to figure it out." Makoto shrugged, as if that was the easiest task in the world.

As if.

AN: Thank you for reading :) Reviews are appreciated 3

So, I have the outline for the next chapters ready, but I am going to take the time to finish them. I wrote the last chapters in a rush and while re-reading them, I was actually reluctant to post them. But decided against it. Maybe I will change some of it at a later time... I don't know.