12. Caramel
Alicia Blade
380 words
"Flavors that compliment chocolate," suggested Usagi, then pointed at Makoto. "You would be peanut butter, because you're nutty."
Laughing, Makoto turned to Minako. "Then Minako would have to be marshmallows, because her head is so full of fluff!"
"Aw, I was going to say that," said Rei, giggling at Minako's semi-irritated expression, before the blonde's lips turned into a mischievous grin. "Fine, then Rei is strawberries. Sometimes sweet, but usually sour, and the seeds always get stuck in your teeth!"
"Good one!" cheered Usagi, giving Minako a high-five.
Rei tried to look displeased, but a smile quickly broke out. "How about you, Motoki? I'm thinking mint. You always leave one feeling fresh and reenergized."
No one was sure if that was a blush on Motoki's cheeks, but he glowed with the compliment. "Thanks, Rei-chan! And I'm going to have to say that Ami is like my personal favorite, orange cream. Delicious and satisfying, yet strangely healthy…"
Ami laughed and shook her head. "I really don't think orange cream is healthy, but thanks anyway." Still grinning, she turned to Mamoru, who was staring up at the ceiling in adamant refusal to comment. "And Mamoru would be…"
"I am not a flavor."
"Oh, come on, Mamoru, stop being such a stick in the mud," accused Motoki, nudging Mamoru with his foot. "It's just a game."
"It's a stupid game."
"I know what Mamoru would be," Usagi piped in. "He would be really, really dark chocolate. Boring and bitter."
"Dark chocolate isn't boring! It's great for baking, and has more antioxidants than milk chocolate," Makoto pointed out, and was quickly met with Usagi's scowl.
"You missed the point."
"Well what you be, Usagi-chan?"
Everyone turned to look at her, except Mamoru who, while keeping his eyes glued overhead, suggested, "Caramel."
On instinct, Usagi glared at the man and was about to retort when she realized that she had no idea how that could be construed as an insult. After a moment of contemplation, she asked, "And what does that mean?"
Although his face was a perfect replica of expressionless stone, Mamoru seemed to be struggling with a response. After a long while, he shrugged. "You know that too much will give you a stomach ache, and yet you find the sweetness irresistible anyway."