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December 20th
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I decided to go to the arcade. I wanted to give Motoki his gift early. That's what I told myself anyway. Deep inside I think I wanted to run into Mamoru. I walked in the familiar doors and saw Motoki helping someone with a game. I went over to the bar to wait for him.
He nodded at me and smiled. Ah, my first crush.
"Hey, Motoki!"
"Hi, Usagi. I hear you and Mamoru have been keeping each other company for the past couple of days."
Oh man. If he knows, then who else does?
"Yeah. I ran into him at the mall." Good explanation. Short and sweet.
"But I thought you two couldn't stand each other," he said. "What about that fight you two had just the other day?"
"Yeah, well, things change." The subject needs to change. "Here's a present for you."
"Oh! Thanks, Usagi. I have something for you as well."
He handed me a small envelope with coupons for the Crown games and drinks.
"Thanks, Motoki! I'll use these up soon!"
"I know. Without you, I'd probably go out of business!"
"Ha, ha. I'll use the free soft drink now."
"Okay. What would you like?"
"Coke."
"One Coke coming up. I'll be right back."
I watched him go then I spun around quickly to look for Mamoru. Much to my disappointment, he wasn't there.
I turned back around and nearly fell out of my seat. Right in front of me was a rose lying on the counter.
Rose number seven.
"Motoki!"
"Hey, Usagi," he called walking out to where I was. "Thanks for the spatula!"
"Your welcome. Did you put this here?" I asked pointing to the rose.
"No. You didn't bring it in?" he asked giving my drink to me.
"It wasn't here when I sat down..." I said taking the drink.
The only other person in the arcade was a kid I'd never seen before and Motoki had been in the backroom. How did it get there?
I sat there deep in thought, staring at the rose. It looked like all of the others so could it be from the same person?
I didn't notice Motoki leave and go back into the workroom. I also didn't notice the doors opening and a figure walk in. What I did notice was the sudden ticklish sensation I felt in my side. At that moment I lost all control of my muscles and watched in horror as my drink flew through the air. The liquid came raining down, splattering on me and hopefully my attacker.
I whipped the stool around to see Mamoru-baka, his hair covered with Coke, grinning at me.
I touched my hair, which was becoming very sticky.
"Yech! Good going, baka," I said to him giving him a pretend look of anger.
His smile faded when he saw my face.
"I'm sorry, Usagi. I'll make it up to you. Don't be mad," he said really worried. He grabbed a fistful of napkins and tried to wring the soda from my hair. It seems that the majority of it actually landed on his head.
"I'm not mad, Mamoru. Don't worry about it."
"No, I feel bad. I'll take you out to dinner. How's that."
He wants to take me to dinner!
"Okay." I smiled so he would know I really wasn't angry.
"Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow at seven?"
"Sounds great!"
I can't wait!
"What happened to you two?" I heard Motoki ask.
"I... um... spilled my drink. But don't worry, it doesn't look like it got on the floor. Just Mamoru!"
"Thanks alot, Odango." Did he call me that again?
"You're welcome, flower dragon slayer! I better go home and wash this out of my hair. Bye, guys." I waved a grabbed my newest rose from the counter. As I walked out I heard Motoki teasing Mamoru.
"Flower dragon slayer?"
When I arrived home I put my rose into the vase. Then it hit me: up until today I thought Mamoru had left the roses. But he wasn't even in the arcade until after I found it. Does that mean they could be from someone else?
