AN: Sorry, sorry, sorry for the long delay :o

I blame the changing weather for it :D
I hope everyone had fun reading the works for Usamamo Week 2022. It's so much fun, to see, what others created with the same prompts.

Again: Many thanks to the hosts Dinky Charlie, Silver-Fairy and AReptileDysfunction 3

Day 4: Free Day


There was no turning back now. Not even 24 hours had passed since the hairpin-incidence, but Usagi and Mamoru's life had significantly changed, even though they wouldn't admit that to anyone. At the party both had more or less acted like before. Exchanging stolen glances here and there, which resulted in long-lasting flushed cheeks, which resulted in finding good excuses for said flushed cheeks. Usagi blamed it on the continuing dancing, Mamoru on the other hand tried to form an elaborate excuse about the dancing crowd, indoor temperature and lack of oxygen. He really wanted to get sober again, but every time the alcohol started to fade and his mind became more and more aware of the thing he had done, he downed another shot, another beer, another cocktail. It was an endless circle of drinking water and anything but water.

Really, they both wanted to look away. Usagi tried to always face Mamoru with her back, enjoying the music, laughing with her friends, but ever so often she had felt his eyes on her. And vice versa. There was no distraction that lasted. Unconsciously they had drawn an invisible line both didn't dare to cross, however tip-toeing on the edge of that line was intoxicatingly thrilling. But old habits die hard: They were like magnets: Their bodies (and possibly also minds) wanted to be close to each other. That was possibly the reason, why they always ran into each other. Sometimes even on a daily basis. They craved the rush they got from each other's presence. No, they wouldn't admit that either. To anyone or themselves.

Both were so focused on not taking notice of the other, that they didn't notice some other people were also exchanging very knowing glances. Makoto, Minako, Rei, even Ami, Unazuki, Reika and Motoki knew all too well what was going on. In broad daylight, they wouldn't be this bold, however in the glow of the fairylights: They kept looking back and forth between each other and Usagi and Mamoru. Something had changed between them, but none of them could make out, what it was. But instead of pressuring them to spill it out, they shut their mouths and kept having a good time.

Usagi and Mamoru both knew it: Sooner or later their friends would find out about it. Makoto already knew, but she was kind of good at keeping secrets…Thank goodness, Usagi had not revealed her midnight adventure to Minako. Still: Better later than soon.

Mamoru had written word after word down, filling seemingly endless pages of his notebook. No matter how he tried to twist and turn it, he always came to the same result. He tried different methods of analyzation, checked multiple times if he really possessed all information, but to no avail. Deep down, he knew it was true. Mamoru Chiba had a crush. And his crush was no other than Usagi Tsukino. Since Day One. Since the day, she had thrown her crumbled test at him and he had mocked her for her bad result. Ugh…

How come it felt so differently? This was not his first encounter with romantic feelings, he was in his 20s after all. However, when he was in a romantic relationships with other women, his feelings were quite contrary. It was easier in a way. Natsumi and Saori were the only longer lasting relationships he had so far, so maybe he had not enough data for a good comparison. And feelings were always different, right? With Saori and Natsumi it had felt so… convenient somehow. He never had to endure emotional rollercoasters, his heart was never on the brink of a cardiac arrest caused by hypertension and most of all: He had never really craved their company. To be fair, he really liked spending time with them. Especially with Saori, Natsumi was a bit too much on a daily basis. Natsumi was like a hyper teenager, but very different from Usagi's behavior. And while he had missed their company in the first days after the ending of their relationships, in hindsight he had slipped too easy back into his usual life.

But now he was questioning those feelings…Love was a strange concept to him. Love had way too many aspects. Why was it soo easy for him to go back to his normal life? Motoki was a mess, when he and Reika took a 2 week long break from their relationship. Why wasn't he a mess after his break-ups?

Of course, he had questioned his social skills more than once and even considered to go to a therapist out of fear. But before he took that step, he wanted to talk to his best friend. This had been one of the rare occasions at which he had confided in Motoki about his really, really deep and dark feelings. And fortunately, he did. Motoki had patiently listened and calmed down the raging storm in his mind.

As Mamoru wandered the streets of Azabu-Juban after his headache had slowly faded into the background and his rather spacious apartment had felt too small for his thoughts, he considered to talk to Motoki again. But: He was probably just as hungover as Mamoru and still occupied with cleaning the Crown. Just as Mamoru wanted to text him, that he couldn't make it on time to help him with the clean-up, Motoki had informed him (and the others via group message), that there was no need to come back, since his family was also helping out. Even though Mamoru felt relieved to not bend his body, he had no idea, what to do instead. His brain was too mushy to read or go through some of his study notes. Even watching TV was too much to handle. Sleeping was also not an option. His mind always wandered back to the result of his analysis.

Before he knew, what he was doing, he snatched some sweatpants and a carefully folded (and ironed) hoodie, slipped his shoes on, grabbed his wallet, phone and keys and went outside. After he had roamed the first blocks, he realized, that he was probably looking beat up. Very unusual for him to not even take a shower before he went outside. In sweatpants, that were only reserved to be worn at home. As that realization hit him, he wanted to slap himself. Hopefully he wouldn't run into someone he knew…To prevent that embarrassment, Mamoru decided to walk streets, that were less crowded and only entered certain areas of which he was sure, no one he knew was living there. Sure, he could've just go home, but somehow…he didn't consider that option in that moment. Actually, Mamoru was enjoying his hangover walk in his unusual attire and his ruffled appearance. It was like he was in disguise walking around with a secret identity. Surely, no one would recognize him like this.

People were passing him by and most of them didn't even glance at him. Not that he was a vain person or anything, but he took notice of the usual eyes on him, when he wandered the streets, which actually made him feel quite uncomfortable since it always felt like being watched. And checked out. However, one particular person seemingly never took notice of him and crashed mostly with full body force right into him, when he himself was occupied looking at his phone to block out said staring other people. Really, it was too strange, how others perceived in comparison to her. Weirdly he had to smile fondly at that thought and shook his head. He was being silly. As he looked up and caught his reflection in the shop window next to him, he couldn't help but wonder, if he ever saw that kind of smile on his face before. He had to admit, it really suited his features.

Usagi went through the shiny sliding glass doors of Makoto's building into the too bright sunshine in the clothes, she had worn to the party yesterday. Just in a way more rumbled state. She had opened her bubble pigtails, combed through the tangled mess and created two sloppy odangos on her head. Her hair wasn't as long as it used to be, but the strands still reached her waist. With a full belly and even fuller head, she trotted down the streets of Tokyo. She was still so exhausted and craved to slip her head and hands through the holes of her comfy pink sweatshirt with the yellow bows on it.

Makoto had not only served her delicious food, but also uncomfortable food for thought. It had really struck a nerve.

Apparently Usagi had left her friend's apartment at a busy hour and with her mind being distracted by a certain someone, she regularly bumped into other people, that rushed by. Usually, she didn't mind that, but today…it was a bit too much for her sensitive state of mind. She felt uncomfortable in her glittery dress, her heeled boots and with that smudged make-up around her eyes, even though she had tried to clean her face at Makoto's house. She could've been home in 10 minutes, if she took the metro, but the mere thought of being in a cramped wagon with too many people, was definitely too much to endure. So instead, she walked the 30 minutes. If she sped up, she could make it in 20 minutes, but her body wanted to take it slow.

After a quick passenger rushed past her and unintentionally brushed against her shoulder with too much force, she stumbled leaving her head dizzy from the movement, Usagi decided to switch to a less crowded side street.

Usagi had no idea how to figure out this thing between her and Mamoru. She had already done a fair share of thinking at Makoto's and on the way home, but couldn't unite the pieces of the puzzle. Honestly, when she had laid eyes on him at the tender age of 14 and ungraciously threw her test at him, she had a little crush on him. In the first seconds. But then he teased her about her test score, calling her Odango Atama and all the butterflies in her stomach made a swift retreat and were replaced by angry mosquitos. Really, if he hadn't been such a pain in the ass back then, everything would've been different. Or maybe, if she had laughed it off then…

Another deep sigh left her still raw throat. Was there a chance, that they could turn back time and make up? Last night she had seen another side of Mamoru, the side usually everyone else saw but her. Sure, Mamoru was the most handsome guy she had ever encountered, which was probably the reason, why so many females (and some males) were drawn to him like moths to a flame. However, when she heard some of her classmates gush about his politeness and gentleman-like manners, she couldn't help but recoil and roll her eyes at their behaviour. Even though, she never acknowledged it, she also felt a pang of hurt in her stomach. Why was he always so nice to everyone else but her? On the other hand, he also seemed to be a bit impassive, not cold, but… maybe reserved? She couldn't point her finger at it. Whenever Mamoru talked to her, he had a gleam in his eyes that was missing in his other conversations. She had thought, it was because he enjoyed teasing her too much.

Yesterday, he was polite to her AND had this gleam in her eyes. So maybe, she could have both. And at some point, it felt like he attempted to flirt with her. Oh, oh…Her stomach did funny things again. Ugh…

Why couldn't it be easier? With her last boyfriends and the guys she dated for some time, she knew, what she felt and knew, how the other felt about her. Or at least she had a more than vague idea. It was sooo much easier. Mamoru was unreadable, a riddle too hard to solve. How come, he was such a mystery to her.

She was an open book, he was a book with seven seals, tucked away in a box buried in the ground. Usagi remembered how some of her classmates talked about Mamoru and his mysterious aura and how that made him even more attractive. But Usagi never was a fan of the mysterious boy trope and she figured Mamoru was unintentionally like this, not because he wanted to attract the other gender like others did. It mostly appeared, that he no interest in romantic relationships and for some time, she was convinced, that he never wanted to be with anyone like that. But then she saw him with Saori and Natsumi, sometimes holding hands and sometimes she also had to watch them kissing. Very chastely. While secretly observing them, she asked herself, if he was always like this? If his kisses were chaste, when he was alone with them...His lips appeared to be so soft and smooth. It would be a total waste to just use them for innocent little pecks. No, those lips should be used for passionate make-out sessions, those lips should explore the skin of her body – Oh.

Was she just inappropriately fantasizing about Mamoru Chiba while walking down the street in broad daylight? She really needed to go home and take a cold shower.

Well, the universe certainly had different plans. Usagi stopped dead in her tracks. There he was: Her recent phantasy in flesh. Mamoru Chiba. Standing on the sidewalk staring through a shop window. Usagi crooked her neck, maybe this was a sign from the big ol' universe. Instead of going home and ponder the question whether they had feelings (of any kind) for each other, she'd just go over and at least say hello, before blurting out the question, if he liked her or not. She had never been an overthinker, she was the kind of person who acted without thinking, always following her instincts. And so she did: Following an impulse, she crossed the street.

But then…she looked like a hot mess. And in the clothes from last night no less. Was she giving off the wrong impression? She didn't want Mamoru to think she was on a walk of shame. Not, that she'd be ashamed of walking home from one-night-stands…

For a second she contemplated turning around, but then she caught Mamoru's face in the reflection of the shop window. He was smiling. An utterly unhinged and real smile, she had never seen before…Well maybe, she had. It was last night for a fleeting second. Her heart started dancing on its own accord at the sight.

And before she could stop her legs from walking up to him, she was already by his side.

"See anything you like?" Usagi stated with a teasing undertone. So much for saying Hello.

He winced at being caught looking at himself. Something flashed across his way too beautiful features and as he faced her, the smile was replaced by one of his signature smirks. Usagi hadn't noticed before, but he was wearing the most un-Mamoru attire she had ever seen him wear. Sweatpants and a grey loose fitting hoodie, hiding all of his attractive assets. And his hair. His hair was in a total state of disarray, but in a good way. In a sexy way. Great now her stomach was also dancing.

"Yes, I do." His tired eyes looked intently at which she had to gulp and look away to not melt into a puddle right on the sidewalk. Was this really Mamoru? Maybe this was just a Mamoru-look-a-like? He was dressing and acting differently, that was proof enough.

When she faced him again, he appeared to be… nervous. The intensity in his eyes was gone, but his gleam was back.

"Err…How are you doing?" She smiled up at him. Play it safe, Usagi. Play it safe.

Before he answered, he studied her face, as if he was searching something.

"To be honest…not so well." He buried his hands in his pockets, mimicking the gesture from last night again.

"Yeah, you look like he –" Usagi cleared her throat. Think before you speak, she mentally chastised herself.

"Hm?" He looked so confused with his wide eyes. Mamoru and confusion, something she had never thought, she'd say in one sentence.

"Well, it was a very long night. And Motoki's drinks were wiiiiiild." She exclaimed shrugging.

"Yes…I think I'm taking a break from them for a really long time. But…", he looked her up and down, "seems like your night was even longer than mine." Hurt flared up in his face. Shit.

"Oh no. I spent the night at Mako's." He exhaled in a way, as if he had held his breathe waiting for her reply.

"That sounds nice." A tentatively smile graced his lips.

"So…um... what are you doing here?"

"Just talking a walk."

"Aren't you more like a runner?" She had never seen him go for just a walk. On the other side, did she really know this person?

"Well…", he blushed a bit, "yes, but…Jogging with a massive hangover seems to be a bit counterproductive".

A cute giggle escaped her lips. This was too sweet.

"Why are you laughing?" More confusion showed on his face.

"It's just… Could it be, that this is your first hangover?" With her hand on her hip, she smiled brightly at, despite her heels still taller, Mamoru, who was blushing a bit more.

"No, my second." He said defensively.

"Well, it's a good thing, that it's me who found you. Because I know exactly how to nurse a hangover. I promise you'll feel better in an hour. Maybe two."

"Really? How?" He questioned teasingly.

"Yes, Soon-to-be Dr. Chiba. I know the greatest cure. Do you trust me?"

"What makes you an expert?"

"Years and years of research of various types of food for various occasions. For example: You're feeling down? Try some Spaghetti Napolitan. Suffering from heartbreak? Then go the pastry aisle at your next conbini and buy everything…"

"Ah! And if your grades are bad, you have to drink tons of chocolate milkshakes. I get it." He laughed warmly at her.

"I see, you're already feeling better. Then you don't need my help." Usagi sing-songed acting as if she wanted to pass by him.

"No, no…wait! Please, show me your way." He held her elbow with pleading warm eyes. He really didn't want her to go and she had no intention to do so.

Again, she was acting on an impulse, as she hooked her arm in the crook of his arm. They had seemingly opened a barrier last night or else she wouldn't be so bold. Mamoru pulled their looped arms closer to his body. He could feel her hip grace his leg.

"Great. Where's the next conbini?"


AN: Hope you liked this chapter! I'm very humbled by the wonderful reviews I have received so far. It's the greatest encouragement. Please keep them coming *.*

Obviously this leads to the next prompt: Food :)