Returning from her birthday party, Minako Aino ponders what the future may hold for her. Mixed manga/anime canon. Pre-Codename: Sailor V Chapter 1. Pre-Dark Kingdom Arc. Mixed Manga/Anime canon. Written for Minako Birthday 2021.

Rated: T - Friendship/Humor - Words: 886 - Minako A./Mina/Sailor Venus

A/N: Many thanks to Sinjazz1327 for beta reading this fic for me! Check her out on Instagram under SinJazz1327.

And an equal number of thanks to sailorsoapbox who graciously let me use her work as the header image for this fic. You can find the original work and more of their fabulous art on deviantart under the same username.

Minako collapsed onto her bed.

The surprise birthday party (chiefly Hikaru's doing) had been great but totally exhausting!

Or maybe… could this be what she'd been warned of? Didn't teenagers often feel more tired? She'd been thirteen for less than twenty-four hours, so it didn't seem likely the 'effects' would be kicking in this soon. But then again, she hadn't paid much attention when the school (or her mother) had talked about that stuff.

Thirteen.

She'd heard somewhere that the number was considered lucky in China, but not so much in Europe. Well, she'd make sure her new life as a teenager would be more of the former and less of the latter.

She'd had lots of dreams about what her life would be like when she was older, and she was determined to make at least some of them come true. She decided from now on she'd start being more mature! And to do that she'd need to set herself some goals. At least four things she could reasonably achieve before her days as a teenager were over and done with!

Number 1: Travel. Japan was lovely, but what about other parts of the world? She recalled her thoughts from moments before and set her heart on either China or Europe. Although… Europe was a whole continent. She should probably be more specific. Her eye caught her discarded (and somewhat scruffy) school uniform. A contemplative look crossed her face. Perhaps she could give England a shot?

Number 2: Convince Mom to let her have a pet. During her trips to school she sometimes passed by a pet store window with the most adorable little kittens. On the few occasions that she'd raised the topic her mother had shot it down. She'd accused Minako of lacking the sense of responsibility to care for a pet. The nerve! Cats mostly looked after themselves anyway, didn't they?

Number 3: Become famous! She was ever so slightly obsessed with idols and ever since she was little she had loved reenacting movies, singing and other forms of performance. Then again, she also loved some of the school sports activities too, especially volleyball. Maybe she could be a professional volleyball player? If only there was a way for her to combine that physical thrill with her love of performance. Could she be a mysterious masked volleyball player?

Number 4: The thing she wasn't about to admit to anyone; not yet anyway. She wanted to fall in love! No, she wanted to fall in love several times! She blushed crimson at the very idea, eternally grateful no one else was in the room with her. She tried to envision her ideal boyfriend. He'd be a bit older than her for sure. And share her love of sports. And be the sensitive artistic type too. But with a rough, slightly dangerous side too. But not too dangerous because he'd be protective of her of course, and a little mysterious as well. Oh! And he'd be an exotic guy from overseas who'd…

She stopped herself, then let out a little chuckle.

Yeah right!

As if she'd ever find anyone like that! As if she'd find five guys even remotely like that. As if she could get all this done before she turned twenty.

She hardly had the money to travel abroad.

Her mother would never bend on the pet issue.

The chances of getting even slightly famous were slim to nothing.

And she was pretty sure doing something distinctly athletic yet performative at the same time was impossible; at least for her.

But… she'd still give them a shot. Why not? As a wise man once said, 'Shoot for the Sun. Even if you miss you'll land among the sea!'

For now though…

She let out a small sigh.

...For now, she'd settle for just a little company.

She and her mother didn't get along great. Hikaru was wonderful, but she was way more 'together' than Mina was. Not to mention more academic, rarely got into trouble with the teachers and definitely didn't lose her heart as easily.

She was Minako's best friend, but it'd be nice to have someone she could more closely relate to. Someone to bemoan homework with. Someone who'd whimper at the prospect of make-up tests. Someone who wouldn't roll her eyes whenever Mina developed a crush for the umpteenth time that day. Someone to run to school with whenever she was (inevitably) late. Someone who was like a sister almost.

She sighed again.

What were the odds that such a kindred spirit existed, lived nearby and would ever even meet Minako?

As she finally began to drift off, Mina felt ever so slightly lonely. However, just before sleep took her, she spotted something through the slits in her eyelids. It was the faintest sliver of moonlight through her bedroom curtains.

For reasons she didn't quite grasp, she suddenly felt a lot less lonely.

A/N: Thank You for reading my fic!

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