Five times Minako speaks in English to the Inners
(or: being bilingual is taihen)
** one **
They're all studying when Ami hears it for the first time. Ami looks up from her notes not because of Rei and Usagi's argument but some kind of low muttering in what does not seem to be Japanese. Her ears hone in on the sound, her eyes following until they land on Minako across the table. Her head is propped on one hand, fingers tangled in blonde hair next to a brow furrowed because of … a European history textbook.
Ami blinks, looks down again but the textbook is still there, as well as the notebook Minako is writing in with her other hand. She pinches herself for good measure. Still there. (In the back of her mind, Ami wonders when she started that practice.) She notices also that Minako's lips are moving - and realizes where the muttering is coming from.
"Is there something I can help with, Minako-chan?"
Minako's attention lifts and Ami holds down a giggle at the tufts of crumpled blonde hair sticking out every which way at the side of Minako's head. Minako flashes her a quick smile and a shrug. "Memorizing the names for all these dead guys is easier in English."
It's only then that Ami notices that Minako's notes are spattered with roman characters alongside Japanese. Leaders and countries are doubled in both languages along with some extra notes Ami can't translate. (She catches a scrawled "dickhead" and mentally shrugs; to each their own mnemonic device.) Ami's about to ask about Minako's studies in England when they're both pulled bodily into Rei and Usagi's argument.
The next time they study, Ami gives Minako a memorization chart for the monarchs of England, complete with names, spouses, nicknames and an old rhyme she found on the internet. Minako, of course, spends the whole session giggling over the latter, particularly the line with "Harry Dick." Ami just sighs and tucks the knowledge away alongside all the other random facts she's collected over the years because of - and for the sake of - her friends.
** two **
Makoto is out shopping with Minako when she hears it for more than a couple phrases. Minako is in the middle of explaining why she took 20 minutes to get a cup of coffee and returned with what seems like a bloody handprint on her jeans when she suddenly stops mid-sentence. (At first, Makoto panics and is about to do the Heimlich maneuver on Minako when she just as suddenly starts talking again. Makoto is relieved but also vaguely disappointed.)
"He was eating one of those things -" Minako's hands mime something round "- what the heck is it called in Japanese…"
Makoto answers her with an enlightened "what?" and garners a frustrated growl from Minako. "Oh my god," she says in English, and continues in an agitated stream in that language. Makoto blanches but gamely tries to follow along - she catches "sugar" and thinks she heard "turtle" (she's not sure she wants to know what "crusty boobs" mean), all the while watching Minako's gestures closely. 'A fruit?' Makoto thinks, 'A riceball?'
"Melon pan?" Makoto guesses at the mimed cross-hatch pattern.
Minako's eyes light up. "That's it! Melon pan, why the heck couldn't I remember the name? You're the best, Mako-chan. So anyway, he's eating this melon pan and I swear -"
Makoto sits up proudly in her seat and is still grinning at her success at the end of their shopping spree. (She makes a mental note to make sure Minako is on her team the next time they play charades.)
** three **
Usagi first hears it when Minako stubs her toe against Usagi's desk. Once Minako has stopped hopping around and Usagi has gotten her some ice, Usagi convinces Minako to teach her some of the swear words she had dropped.
It continues for several weeks, Minako offhandedly teaching her a new word here and there whenever they're together. Unlike her formal subjects, Usagi is quick to use what she's learned in her day-to-day, which fuels Minako's creativity, which results in more delightful words for Usagi to use. It's the best - fucking best - cycle of fun that she's ever had with Minako.
One day, she's proudly recounting Mamo-chan's stunned silence at her impeccable use of suction when a gleam enters Minako's eye. Usagi sits up eagerly, knowing that look and excited to learn yet another new word. This time it's a whole sentence and it takes the better part of an hour for Usagi to learn the words. Minako has her repeat the whole line several times, reassuring her that "Mamoru will love it, I promise."
That evening, Usagi waits until after they've finished dinner and she's cuddled against Mamoru on the couch when she speaks aloud her newly acquired English. The words flow rhythmically, never once stumbling - perfect execution. In her mind, Usagi applauds herself.
When she looked up, however, Mamoru is completely red. "Mamo-chan, are you -"
"You have no idea what you just said, do you."
Suspicion is lurking at the edges of his embarrassment, along with something else that Usagi's not completely familiar with - it intrigues her and she leans forward as if to chase it down but Mamoru stops her. He schools his emotions enough to say sternly, "You're not allowed to learn anymore English from Minako."
Usagi pouts but Mamoru doesn't say anything more than that. (She recounts the incident to Minako the next time she comes over. She howls so much with laughter, Usagi's neighbors bang on the wall.) A couple days later, Usagi and Mamoru come home to a package addressed to Mamoru. Usagi's not sure why it's filled with handcuffs or why Mamoru turns red at the sight or mention of butter for the next five months.
** four **
Rei and Minako run into Haruka and Michiru at a jewelry store when Rei hears it for an extended amount of time. Minako's voice is much too loud for a store with things this expensive and Rei's not sure if she should be more annoyed at her or Michiru and the salesperson for their unchanging, mildly tolerant smiles. She settles for rolling her eyes and moves as far away from Minako as she can.
The displays are eye-catching, Rei admits grudgingly to herself as she lingers over one of the cases. Her eyes move from the necklaces to the rings and Rei can't help herself from glancing over at Minako, still at the other side of the store, lingering over Minako's gesturing hands and picturing a ring on her finger …
"See something you like?"
Rei coughs and glares at Michiru whose smile is even more annoying up close. "I'm not much for jewelry." Which is not untrue: the pieces she's wearing today are a simple set of gold earrings with a matching bracelet (that the latter reminds her of a certain unearthly chain is not something Rei would ever admit).
Michiru lifts her eyebrows briefly in the equivalent of a shrug. "Everyone deserves something special once in a while."
Rei's retort is cut off by a voice suddenly beside her. "Yeah just like how everyone deserves to be covered in whipped cream and chocolate sauce at least once in their life." Rei sighs, her face dropping into her palm while her other arm is ensnared by Minako's hands. "Which one were you looking at?"
"None of them," Rei snaps, trying to pull away. But there's a glint in her eye and a shared look between Minako and Michiru that sparks Rei's curiosity. A smirk is the only warning Rei has before Minako has launched into a conversation in English with Michiru, their speech far too quick and, to Rei's annoyance, vocabulary too wide for Rei to follow.
She turns and looks to Haruka for help. But Haruka just grins and shrugs, magazine in hand as if this has happened many times before. (When they finally leave and are back in their apartment, Rei glowers for an hour on the couch before Minako fits herself against Rei's side and begins whispering in her ear in English. She catches "beautiful" and "mine" before the words change to ones she doesn't recognize - but Minako's hands and tongue are all the translation Rei needs.)
Two weeks later, Minako gifts her a beautiful diamond necklace; Rei doesn't ask when she bought it.
** five **
"Usagi, I can barely see anything, get your dumpling head out of the way."
"You're the one who's hogging the phone! We haven't seen her longer than you have."
"Yeah not everyone can just drop everything to fly out to another country like some lovestruck teenager."
Ami sighs and takes up the phone before it drops as Rei aims her wrath at Makoto. She smiles at the screen when Minako comes back into view, several other people in tow. Behind them, Ami can see plenty of movement around them - set pieces, lights, costumes, all a blur of motion as Minako takes them around the theater.
"These are some of the other cast members!" Minako introduces some of the other leading players. There's waves and murmured greetings from both sides of the screen, Minako cheerfully translating from English to Japanese and back again.
There's a question from Minako's side but the phone doesn't quite pick it up. The girls in Tokyo lean in and Minako smiles, looking straight into the camera as she readies her answer. It's the pride and fondness that they hear the clearest when she says, "They're my best friends in the entire universe."
Author's note: English is my first language but I speak Japanese as well. The scene with Makoto is definitely something that's happened to me and it's always a bit frustrating and ridiculous because it's always some random word like "soap" or "carousel." Languages, geez…
Fun fact: The mnemonic verse referenced in Ami's scene can be found on Wikipedia here: wiki/Mnemonic_verses_of_monarchs_in_England