Usagi sighed heavily as she turned the postcard in her hand, silently wishing to see a little emoji she missed so much inscribed. However, the card was still blank no matter how many times she examined it, and her demeanor sank.
Why would he send a blank postcard? She wondered.
Blue eyes flickered from the card to the commotion growing louder just beyond the sidewalk; tucking the card into her bag, she jogged to the growing crowd. She spotted Minako towards the front of the group, squeezing through the tight group as Minako made the little space she could for her.
"What's going on?" She questioned as she looked at the muttering crowd. Minako tilted her head slightly, a finger raising in a gesture that Usagi knew well to signal a famous Mina lecture. Before the blonde could mutter a word, the crowd erupted in cheers, her head swinging around until Usagi had a large red bow blocking her view.
"Yaten! Taiki! Seiya! Haruka!" She could hear Minako yelling as she hopped above the crowd. As rapid as the noise started, it began waning along with the crowd size. "Man! I should have known this would happen!" Minako growled as she slammed her fist in her palm.
"What would happen?" Usagi blinked, still unsure of what just happened. Minako glared incredulously until the bell ran, breaking her focus.
"Tch! Com'on Usagi, or we'll be late again. We can't be held through lunch, as that might be our only chance!" Minako yanked the shorter blonde's hand before she could form any response, sprinting towards the building.
Pleased that she was on time for once, Usagi slipped into her seat and pulled her binder from her bag. She placed it on her desk and noticed the mysterious postcard stuck to the top of the folder.
"Oh, that is pretty! Where did you get it, Usagi?" Minako ogled as she took her seat.
"Mamoru sent it!" Usagi declared proudly before a sadness washed through her features. She wasn't sure it was Mamoru who sent it. There was nothing on it to indicate where it came from at all. She hadn't received any communication from Mamoru, so the postcard must be his. Catching her thoughts, she winked at Minako in reassurance before tucking the card away.
"Class, I'd like you to welcome our new students. I am sure you will recognize them as most of the idol band The Four Lights members." Minako lit up at the teacher's announcement before she raised her hand. "Yes, Ms. Anio."
"Hi! I'm Minako. I hope we can be friends. Demo, why is Haruka not with you?" The bubbly blonde questioned, disappointment wavering in her voice.
"Tenoh-san is an upperclassman. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for him to be in this class," the teacher scolded. Then, he returned to the band members, "please introduce yourselves."
"Hi, I'm Taiki Kou. My hobbies include reciting poetry and computers."
"I'm Yaten Kou. I like to take photos."
"I'm Seiya Kou. I'm thinking of joining the football team."
The chattering of the class grew until the teacher cleared his throat. "I know it is not usual to have idols in your class, but that will not excuse speaking out. You three, please take the extra desks," he directed. The boys spread around the room, taking the open spots. Usagi jumped as the raven haired boy took the seat next to her, observing the blonde as he sat. She could feel the blush rush her face as she raised her textbook to try to block the intense gaze.
Minako sat on the lawn between Makoto and Ami, her lunch untouched as she watched the group that was undoubtedly surrounding the idols. Then, plotting how she would get close to them, she looked surprised when she felt a fourth body plop beside her.
"Oh! Hi, Michiru!" Makoto cheerfully greeted her before the teal haired woman glared at her.
"What's wrong?" Ami asked, observing the Ocean Senshi's foul mood.
"That man did not stop talking in class! Not once!" She complained, folding her arms. Makoto followed the sapphire gaze to see it burning a hole through the blonde idol.
"Haruka Tenoh is in your class?" The brunette guessed.
"Every girl fawned over him, and he flirted with each one… the nerve!"
"Are you jealous, Michiru?"
"Of some airhead teen idols, don't be fatuous. There is just something off about his energy," recalling the strange encounter at the concert. "Why are they even here? Shouldn't they be in a private school or something?"
"Do you think they came here for you?" Minako squealed, suddenly joining the conversation. "Think about it, you meet at a concert, and he's so enamored with you that he finds what school you go to so he can see you again! It's straight out of a movie!"
Michiru quit listening to the younger girls as they continued to babel. Her head tilted to the side as she considered what Minako said. Did they follow them to the school? Why choose a public school with all the commotion it would cause when they could just as readily go to a private school? Were they there for them?
"Where's Usagi?" The teal haired woman voiced as she glanced around for the odango blonde.
"She's on the roof," Makoto shrugged. "She wanted to write a letter to Mamoru."
"We should give her space so she can capture her love!" Minako swooned. Her hands dropped from her chest as she glanced around the schoolyard. "Hey, where did they go?"
"This is too much!" Yaten crowed as she kicked the door open. Then, as the cool breeze washed over her, she waited for the others to follow her. "This whole going to school thing is exhausting!" She cried as she flipped her flowing hair from her shoulder.
"School is fun!" Taiki pointed.
"Maybe for you," Yaten sneered. "Why didn't you test ahead like our genius Haruka here?" She teased as she looped an arm with the blonde. "Could've avoided some of the screaming girls that way."
"It was best to stay with the school's traditions and remain with my age group," Taiki explained as Yaten yawned.
"Besides, you can divide them amongst yourselves. I have to handle all the upper-class men myself," Haruka winked. However, she stopped when she saw Seiya's eyes focused on something. Turning her head, she realized someone had caught the singer's eye—someone who looked a lot like the odango blonde from the airport.
"What are you doing?" Seiya's question startled the young girl, her paper flying in the breeze. Yaten reached and plucked it as it floated towards her.
"My dearest Mamoru," the silver haired idol began to read aloud. "Man, your characters suck," Yaten teased, handing the paper back to the young blonde.
"Don't you dare say my Kanji sucks!" Usagi growled as she snatched the offered paper.
"You're Usagi Tsukino, right?" Seiya asked, pausing the girl's tantrum. Usagi simply nodded as Seiya's smirk grew. "That's sweet that you came here to write a letter to your boyfriend," the singer continued. Haruka glared at the raven haired idol, remembering the tearful farewell they witnessed that day and already guessing where Seiya was going. "Where is that boyfriend now?"
"In America," Usagi slowly answered, the sadness laced in her words. As they left her lips, her stance wobbled slightly, and she clutched her head. Haruka rushed to her side, arriving before Seiya could reach the odango girl. She wrapped an arm defensively around the younger girl, an urge of protection coming over her.
"Seiya, stop it." She commanded as the smaller girl calmed slightly in her arms. "She doesn't remember-"
"What are you doing to Usagi!" A cold voice demanded from behind them. Haruka snapped her head to catch sight of a flood of teal before she felt the girl snatched from her arms. Michiru looked down, concerned at the young blonde, as three more girls arrived at her side.
"Stay away from Usagi," Makoto threatened lowly as the tall blonde backed away.
"Fine, whatever. Have it your way," she flatly replied before turning away with the others close behind. She played it as calm as she could as to not cause more trouble for the petite blonde. But Haruka didn't want to stay away. She wanted to know what this strange feeling was towards the younger girl. Did she have a crush on her?
"That was the girl from the airport?" Yaten questioned as they left the roof. The other three nodded. "Hmph, what was the chance of running into her here?" The shorter brother shrugged. "Well, I am going to check out the photography club," waving over her shoulder as she left the others.
"Yaten's right," Taiki added. "The computer club is starting soon," the brunette added before walking off. Seiya and Haruka paused in the stairwell, glancing at the blonde they left on the roof.
"Don't forget our wager, Tenoh," Seiya taunted. "Besides, I'm sure Odango up there would love to have a boyfriend on the football team," she added before leaving the blonde alone. Haruka opened and closed her fist a few times, a new reason to best Seiya surfacing in her mind.
"Usagi, what happened?" Ami asked as she bent down to check the blonde.
"Nothing, we were just talking, and I got a headache."
"Did they use some kind of power on you?" Michiru scoffed as the others glanced at her.
"Don't be silly. I just got sad thinking about Mamoru in America," Usagi smiled as Ami helped her up.
"Michiru, what are you thinking?" Makoto asked as they watched the others help Usagi to the stairs. The teal haired woman shook her head, unable to explain to the younger girl.
Something is different about them, she thought. I need to talk to Setsuna.
~*~*~
Seiya waved at the others as she took off the green practice jersey, tossing it in a collection before shaking hands with the team's captain. The three ponytailed idols leaned on the fence as they awaited the fourth to join.
"Did you guys pick a club?" She asked as she grinned cheekily.
"Yes, I might join the computer club," Taiki nodded as she clasped her hands together. "There are many bright minds in the club, and I look forward to learning with most of them."
"Most of them?" Yaten snorted, her displeasure for most of the student's attitude clear.
"That's great for you," Haruka congratulated the brunette as she slapped her on the shoulder. "As an upperclassman, I was asked to lead the running club," the blonde declared proudly.
"Is that all you were able to get?" Seiya teased.
"No," the blonde grunted as she folded her arms. Yaten stopped playing with her camera bag as she heard the tone in Haruka's voice, a smile coming to her lips as she watched the argument unfold.
"In addition to the football team," Seiya declared, cutting off the blonde. "I was asked to join the softball club and basketball club!" Lime green eyes shifted to Haruka as the smirk on her face grew.
"I didn't limit myself to only sports," the blonde rebuked. "Not only am I the running club leader, but I also have an invitation to the music club and the judo club."
"It's a tie?" Seiya scoffed.
"I think being president of the running club should count double in case of a tiebreaker," Haruka smiled. Seiya began to panic slightly, looking around to see if anyone else was near the field. But, for him, the day was not yet done, and the competition wasn't over. So, spotting the bun-haired blonde and her friends, she took off in their direction.
"Hey, Odango! Did you come to see me practice?" She winked as Usagi stared blankly.
"Oh, we missed the performance!" Minako pouted before she perked up as the other band members approached. "You can always give me a private encore," she purred as she looped arms with Yaten. The four icons looked at the blonde curiously before Makoto pulled her roughly away from the silver haired musician.
"Mina, I don't think you understand what your saying," the brunette hushed the feisty blonde as she tried to join the band's side.
"Actually, I was looking for clubs to consider joining," Seiya winked at the bunch. "Perhaps one of you would like to invite me?" The girls looked at each other curiously, unsure of the request.
"I am in the computer club," Ami spoke up. "With Taiki," she added, "and he can induce you if you're interested." Makoto tilted her head at the bluenette's comment until it dawned on her what was happening.
"I'm in the gardening club—lots of dirt under your fingernails and working in the warm sun. I'm sure you'd rather be playing football," Makoto shrugged, excusing herself from the selection.
"I joined the singing club!" Minako exclaimed. "I'm sure they would love to have you-"the blonde groaned as she received a pinch on her arm from the brunette. "But I'm sure you sing enough as it is…" she mumbled as she rubbed her arm.
"What about you, Odango?" Seiya leaned towards Usagi. She glanced unsure at her friends who were waving her on. "I only need one more club to win."
"Win what?" Usagi calmly asked, not sure what the others were pushing.
"Seiya and Haruka have a wager on who would join the most clubs," Taiki offered, the smile on her face showing how she was enjoying the tiebreaker.
"In that case," Michiru suddenly spoke up, her sapphire eyes locked on the two in question. "I require a model for my art class. You're welcome to join," she cooed as her gaze shifted from Seiya to Haruka. She calmly pulled out her aqua mirror, applying a shade to her lips as the others watched. "That is if you artist can handle the real arts," she scoffed.
"There's no need," Yaten suddenly added, all heads swirling towards the shortest student. "I already won. I was invited to the photography, music, dancing, and art club," counting on her fingers. "And I turned them all down," she shrugged as she walked past Michiru. "That color looks horrible," she mentioned to the teal haired woman as she continued on her way.
"It seems Yaten won," Taiki shrugged. "Also, Makoto, I would like to learn more about the gardening club. That sounds like fun." She smiled at the brunette before turning back to Seiya and Haruka. "I speculate that means we're all tied for runner-up," she shrugged before following Yaten from the field. Haruka dropped her arms, realizing the petite idol had bested them, and headed off the field. Her steps slowed down as she passed Michiru. "I'll pass on the offer to be a model," she huffed, a satisfied smirk growing on her features as the artist pursed her lips with the hint of anger able to sneak through. She picked up her steps before Michiru could respond, catching up to the others.
"Well then," Seiya remarked as she rubbed her hand on the back of her neck. "We have a rehearsal. I'll see you tomorrow, bunhead!" The raven haired singer called before she jogged to catch up.
"Don't call me bunhead!" Usagi cried. "What was all that?" She quipped as she turned back to the other girls.
"It's so obvious, isn't it?" Minako cooed, her hands clasped together.
"What is?"
"Seiya wants to spend more time with you, Usagi!" Makoto squealed. "I didn't know you two were close!"
"You should see if you can get tickets!" Minako demanded. "And some extra so your friends can go too," her finger raised in the air. "The enemy appeared at their last concert. Who knows if it'll happen again."
"Did you see that," Michiru's high-pitched squeal caused the girls to jump. "They're trying to displace us!"
"Michiru, you're kinda scary when you're angry," Makoto observed, her hands in the air as she tried to calm the teal haired woman down. "Besides, Taiki is joining the garden club. No one who likes plants can be a bad person!"
"Minako is right," Ami redirected before the artist could shriek again. The other glanced curiously at her alignment with the idol-hunting blonde. "The enemy may appear at the next concert, so we should be ready."
~*~*~
Setsuna jumped as she heard the door slam, signaling that the teal haired housemate was home and what kind of mood she was in. She pointed instructions to a few of the problems on Hotaru's homework before leaving the raven haired girl to work. She peered cautiously out to the entryway, a sigh escaping her as she found it empty.
"Michiru must have made her way to her studio," she mumbled as she turned to the kitchen. There was only so much time before the inevitable storm, and if she wanted to eat tonight, she had to get a head start. Once the homemade udon noodles were complete and in the pot, the phone rang in the other room. Hearing the younger girl answer the phone, she continued her focus on the broth. As she dumped the vegetables into the waiting pot, the high pitch squeal that vibrated the house shook her hands, a few pieces flying about as all the vegetables came tumbling down.
"What's going on?" Michiru stormed out of her studio and hands positioned akimbo about her painting coat. A single teal eyebrow went up curiously at the mess surrounding the green haired woman until another, although slightly more controlled, shriek sounded from the raven haired girl.
"Hotaru, what is with all the noise?" Michiru glared at the girl. It was unvoiced by Hotaru as she began dancing around the room.
"Taru, who was on the phone?" Setsuna sighed as she cleaned up the food scattered on the counter.
"That was Minako, and she invited us to the Four Lights Concert tomorrow night!" The girl exclaimed, excitedly waving her hands in the air as if she were at the concert.
"Argh!" Michiru grunted as she broke the paint stick she was holding.
"Don't worry, Michiru-mama! They got ones for you and Setsuna-mama as well!" Hotaru cheered.
"That is exciting," Setsuna added, her hands on the girl's shoulders to help calm her down. "Why don't you go get washed for dinner?"
"You sure you don't need help cleaning up here?" Hotaru questioned as she spayed the mess on the counter.
"Of course not, Michiru-mama will help me." Hotaru glanced at the still fuming teal haired woman before shrugging and heading to the washroom. Setsuna watched the short girl as she left the room before she turned her glare to the artist.
"Nani?" Michiru whined when the garnet stare landed on her.
"Care to let me in on what has you in such a foul mood?" Setsuna's cold tone matched the fury buried in the artist. Then, knowing she could not match wits with the Senshi of Time, Michiru relented.
"It's those Four Lights!" She growled as green brows furrowed. The garnet stare encouraged her to elaborate. "I think they're after Usagi," Michiru groaned.
"Have you informed the others?"
"They don't see them as enemies," Michiru sighed. "They get along with them and are convinced they are not evil."
"But they are hiding something," Hotaru observed as she entered the room. Her two mothers tilted their heads at their younger counterpart. Both knew they couldn't deny the girl's intuition despite her age.
"Hai, something is off about their energy. I do not think they are from this planet," Michiru sighed.
"Their involvement with Usagi could influence our future, Chibiusa's future," Hotaru gasped.
"So it's agreed then?" Setsuna's cold tone pulled the other's attention. "We mustn't let them near Usagi until we know the truth." The other scouts nodded in agreement. Michiru inwardly struggled as Setsuna turned to serve dinner. How was she going to keep an eye on Usagi while those idols were in school with her?