Secret Cupid
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Chapter Four
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Tuesday Afternoon, February 12 to Wednesday, February 13

Rei collapsed on the top of the Hikawa steps and laid her sweeping broom beside her. "Phew."

Yuuchiro came rushing up the steps, his head bowed down, staring at the stairs.

Rei looked up, seeing he was coming right at her, and gasped. "Yuuchiro, you baka!"

He looked up just as he noticed her sitting on the steps. "Rei-san!"

GLOMP. Yuuchiro crashed into her, sending them both sprawling back on the steps.

Rei groaned, pushing Yuuchiro off her. "Baka. Look up when you're running, would ya?"

"Gomen nasai, gomen nasai, Rei-san." Yuuchiro jumped up, boring before her repeatedly.

Rei rolled her eyes. "Oh, sheesh. Stop your bowing, Yuuchiro-san." She turned to the shrine, grabbed her broom, and left him alone, heading toward her bedroom.

Yuuchiro sighed. "Yuuchiro-baka." He muttered, turning to go into the temple. He fingered the photo in his pocket, his eyes sad. 'She's going to be very disappointed…'

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Usagi sat curled up on a sofa, reading a magazine. She popped a bubble gum bubble and flipped a page in her magazine, leaning against Mamoru's arm. "So Motoki-kun is going out with Mina-chan, Yuuchiro-san is taking Rei-chan, this Toro-san is taking our Mako-chan, and Urawa-san is taking Ami-chan. That's very interesting."

Mamoru looked over the top of her head at her magazine and grinned. "You read such intelligent articles. 'How to keep your lover satisfied'. Interesting, Usako."

Usagi looked up at him and grinned. "Hey, you'd think you'd be glad I'm reading this."

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I can't say I'm not." He turned back to his own book. "Oh, by the way, you tell any of the girls who they're dating and I won't buy you chocolate for a month."

Usagi's eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder at him. "Yes, sir!"

"That's my girl." He flipped a page. "It's supposed to be a blind date, after all."

"I wonder if anything will come out of this."

"It's possible. If it wasn't for one of these little Secret games, I wouldn't have you in my arms right now, would I?"

"You'd have gotten around to it someday." She giggled and set her magazine down, burying herself deeper in his arms. "Can't you read later, Mamo-chan?"

"I could…" He murmured, flipping another page. "But it's getting to the best part."

Usagi raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh…yeah, sure. A chapter on velocity is the best part…don't you ever read anything interesting, Mamo-chan?"

"Everything I read is interesting."

She sighed agitatedly. "You really are boring sometimes."

"Mmhmm…"

She laid her head on his shoulder. "You'd better not be this boring on Valentine's Day. No books are allowed."

He laughed and looked up from the book. "Alright, no books on Valentine's Day."

She grinned. "Yes!"

Three Hours Later

Mamoru closed his book and looked over at Usagi. "It took me longer to read that than I expected." He blinked and noticed she was asleep, her arms slung through his, hugging him. He smiled softly. "No more books. I promise." He kissed her forehead and leaned back, pulling her close to him.

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Wednesday, February 13

Ami yawned slightly as she made her way toward the schoolyard, bundled in three coats and a scarf. 'I shouldn't have stayed up so late studying. Goodness, it's freezing out here.' She thought, hugging her books close to her chest.

She noticed Usagi running toward her in the opposite direction. "Usagi?"

Usagi came to a halt and breathed heavily, her breath visible in the cold air. "Konnichiwa, Ami-chan."

Ami blinked, looking confused. "Why'd you come from that way? Your house…is…back there…"

Usagi blushed. "I fell asleep by mistake at Mamo-chan's."

Ami grinned. "Oh, did you now?"

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Yes, Ami-chan. It was a mistake. He was reading, and I was bored, so…I kinda like passed out!"

Ami laughed. "Alright, alright. Come on, we need to get to class and it's too cold to stay out here long. You're on time for once. That's odd."

"Mamo-chan woke me up early…" She mumbled.

Ami looked at her out of the corner of her eye. "You had your school uniform at his place?"

"An extra one in my book bag…."

"What are your parents going to say about this?"

"…I'm afraid to find out."

Ami giggled. "Poor Usagi-chan. Good luck." They reached the schoolyard and stood beside a tree for a few moments before the first bell rang. "Well, I need to get to class before the final bell. See you at lunch, Usagi-chan! Ja ne!"

Usagi smiled. "Ja, Ami-chan."

Ami turned and rushed into the school, waving. As she stepped into her first class, she bumped into someone. "Oh, pardon me! Gomen nasai!"

"Ami-san, good morning."

She looked up and noticed it was Urawa who she had run into. "Oh, Urawa-san! Good morning!" She blushed slightly.

He smiled. "Class is about to start."

She nodded. "Hai…" She blushed and made her way to her desk.

Makato, who sat across the aisle from her, looked over and grinned. "Smooth, Ami-chan."

Ami blushed. "Be quiet, Mako-chan."

Makato giggled. "I think you'd be cute with him."

"Mako!" Ami hissed. "Be quiet!"

The teacher called the class to order just as the final bell rang. Ami looked over at where Urawa sat in the front and blushed. He turned slightly, noticed her, and smiled.

She blushed brightly and averted her eyes down to her desk.

Makato let out the occasional soft giggle.

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Minako ran out of her last class of the day with such speed that the teacher believed the girl should try out for track instead of volleyball.

Once outside of the private school gate, she let out a huge breath of relief. "Phew! It's over for the day!" She pulled her coat on and tied a scarf around her neck.

Minutes later, she arrived happily at the arcade. She walked inside and smiled brightly at Motoki, who stood wiping the front counter. "Konnichiwa, Motoki-kun!" She blushed slightly, taking off her coat.

Motoki blinked and looked up, noticing her brightness. He smiled. "Konnichiwa, Minako-chan. How was school today?"

She plopped on a stool. "Terribly boring. You're so lucky you're out of high school."

He laughed. "Well, high school can be fun. Want something? Milkshake, coke?"

She pursed her lips together in thought. "Nah, I just want to talk to you."

Motoki blinked. "You want to talk to me?"

She nodded, smiling. "Hai, is that alright?"

He smiled back. "Of course. In fact…I'll take my break now."

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Makato walked through the Tokyo Park shivering, looking in front of her at Ami, Usagi, and Rei all talking animatedly.

Usagi turned and looked at her. "Mako-chan, you're so quiet. Come on, we're going to the arcade."

Makato shook her head. "Nah, not today, guys. I'm not really in the mood for the arcade. Go on, though. I'm going to head home and get some hot cocoa. It's freezing out here." She rubbed her hands together, and pulled her coat around her tightly.

The others nodded in agreement, wrapping their own scarves and coats closer to them.

Ami smiled. "See you later then, Mako-chan?"

"Sure!" Makato waved to them and turned around to head in the other direction.

She shivered as she walked, and noticed the Moon Beam coffeehouse was right outside the park. 'I'll get some cocoa there.' She left the park, crossed the street, and went into the café.

She stood behind two people in line and looked at the guy behind the counter. 'Oooh…he's cute! He looks just like my old boyfriend…' She continued to look at him. 'Well…okay, not so much. But he certainly is a cute one.'

The couple in front of her retrieved their orders and left. She stepped up to the front and smiled. The cashier looked up at her. She noticed his nametag said "Toro".

He blinked, as if he knew her. "Hi!"

She smiled. "Hi! Freezing outside, isn't it? It's horrible; the most romantic month of the year has to be so dreadfully cold. Oh, I'm sorry, I may be holding up the line. Um, just a hot cocoa, please."

He continued to stare at her intensely. "Su-sure."

She smiled and gave him the money to pay for the drink. He quickly made her cocoa and came back, setting it in front of her. "Here you go."

"Arigatou." She turned to walk away.

"Hey, wait!"

She turned back around, puzzled. "Hai?"

He smiled. "I have a break in just a few minutes. Are you leaving, or can you stay?"

She blinked, and her eyes became wide. "Oh…oh, well, sure. I have nowhere to be or anything, I don't guess…"

"Great! I'll be right out!"

Makato blinked and made her way to sit in a booth.

Minutes later, he did appear, with coffee in hand. "Hi."

She looked up from her hot chocolate and smiled. "Hi…why did you want to spend your break with me?"

"Is it weird for a guy to want to talk to a pretty girl?"

She blushed. "Oh…no."

He laughed. "I'm Toro, by the way. Houji Toro."

"Kino Makato. Nice to meet you." She smiled brightly, her emerald eyes happy.

"Makato is a pretty name."

She blushed. "Arigatou."

"So, Makato, do you have anyone special for Valentine's Day?" Toro grinned, sipping slowly at his coffee.

She laughed nervously. "Oh, well, no, not exactly. I'm playing a sort-of blind date thing with some friends." She twirled a strand of her brown hair through her fingers, messing up her ponytail slightly. "I'm getting set up on a blind date with some stranger. Isn't that just crazy? It must seem like I am."

"No, no, it's not at all! In fact…I'm doing the same thing." His brown eyes twinkled.

She blinked. "Wow, what a coincidence!"

"Isn't it, though?" He grinned. "Yeah, a good friend of mine from class talked me into this blind date thing…I'm thinking it'll be a lot of fun."

Makato smiled. "Yeah, I hope my date isn't a total bore."

He grinned again.

She laughed. "Why do you keep smiling at me like that?"

"I just like to smile!"

She laughed. "Alright, I get it! So, where do you go to school?"

"Oh, I'm taking several courses at the local university."

She blinked. "Oh!"

"What about you?"

"Well…I attend Juuban High School…"

"I went there."

She blinked. "You did!"

He nodded. "Yeah, I graduated last year from there, actually." He grinned.

"Another coincidence!"

He laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. Well, my break's over, and I'm getting the evil eye. It was really…really great talking to you, Makato-san. I'll see you around maybe?" He stood up and looked down at her.

She stood up with him, her hot cocoa finished. "Sure! I'd love to see you again."

He grinned. "Great. Stop by for more hot chocolate then."

She laughed. "I will!" She began to leave. "Ja matta ne, Toro-san!" She waved to him, and stepped out into the cold.

He grinned and fingered the picture in his pocket. "This is going to be one fun Valentine's Day." He received the 'evil eye' from his boss once again. He gulped, rushing back to work.

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End Chapter Four