Figure it Out
#80 Pandora's Box, 560

Mamoru was, surprisingly, the perfect gentleman and right on time. He drove up, politely met his mother, who fortunately happened to be the only non-boyfriend-homicidal parent home at the time, and escorted Usagi out of the house. Usagi felt the familiar heat of blush creeping over her body as the two drove in silence to the restaurant. She sneaked glances at her date, who was dressed in an all-black three piece suit and even more dashing than any fantasy Usagi could have conjured. They entered the restaurant and immediately sat at an intimate table for two.

However, Usagi noticed something peculiar on her plate as she sat down: a tiny black box. "What is that?" she asked, staring below.

Mamoru smiled with his nose buried in his menu. His eyes flickered at the girl across from him for a moment before answering her with his best nonchalant voice. "It's a box, Odango," he replied.

Narrowing her eyes, Usagi's pink tongue shot out of her mouth for a quick appearance. "I can see that Baka!" she retorted as she picked up the item. "But why is it on my plate?"

There was no answer. Usagi moved the box between her fingers; it obviously opened and the only distinguishing feature was a small keyhole. She shook the box, and she could hear something small clink against the insides. It hit her: Mamoru gave her a physical catch-22, but was there really only a key in the box?

Usagi pulled out a bobby pin from her hair and began to pick at the lock. She twisted the tiny metal pin until she heard a click and the top of the box opened slightly. Usagi pulled open the box and gasped. For the first time since exploring the box, Usagi's sea blue eyes met the cobalt pair across from her. Mamoru had an amused smile on his face. A flood of memories flowed through her mind: all the times he teased her, Usagi trying her best to impress Motoki but not Mamoru, Mamoru trying to help her with her paper, and now this. Suddenly, Usagi realized that with the opening of this box, things would never be the same again. Her eyes deceived her; as she gazed at Mamoru, she saw nothing but stars and warmth and happiness and…love?

Mamoru left his seat to kneel at eye-level with Usagi. His fingers gingerly grasped the tiny item in the box and went to work to place the piece of jewelry on her wrist. It was a dainty silver link bracelet with a single charm in the middle: a rose with a crescent moon behind it. Mamoru kept Usagi's tiny hand within his, his fingers sliding along the thin chain, sending shivers up her arm. Usagi smiled, but struggled to keep her gaze even with Mamoru's.

"Baka," she whispered.

"I knew you'd figure it out," replied Mamoru as he stood once again. He leaned forward to leave a soft kiss on her lips, there and gone as if it was the wind. Back at his side of the table, Mamoru smiled broadly, sure that he won this "no-win" situation.

Usagi could only smile back at him. She remembered all of the emotions that flowed out of the tiny black box into her mind. Usagi did figure it out: she was falling in love with Chiba Mamoru.