Holiday Cheer

A/N: Merry Christmas! Just something a little bit festive for the holidays. Enjoy!

. . .

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Minako asks, her voice hushed as she leans over across the counter. The three girls behind her squeeze closer together-the same question in their head. If their plan works this will surely be the best thing since they all became friends.

The blonde behind the counter shrugs his shoulders while he continues to clean the mug in his hands. "I don't see why it won't."

A voice pipes up over the quiet laughter of the girls. "Well statistically speaking the possibility of both of the actually reaching the designated spot under the-"

"Ami-chan! That's just taking the fun out of it," Minako complains. Makoto nod, agreeing with the bubbly blonde. This is no time for science or math. Just time for good cheer and fun.

Stepping back, the blue haired girl lowers her head. "G-Gomen nasai." She understands her friends' game-but she just wants to ensure the results of their game are desirable for all parties. Well, all parties aside from the party the game is victimizing.

Makoto smiles and pulls her friend close to her. "It's okay, Ami-chan. We're just joking, you know." The blue haired girl looks up and smiles. The line between seriousness and joking is so thin sometimes between the friends. Sometimes it is too hard distinguish.

A silence falls over the group.

Around them the Crown Arcade is in full gear. Students are relishing in their holiday and parents are happy to be out of the house. Others are taking a break from shopping, the evidence splayed across the floors in the form of shopping bags from all over the shopping district. A few people go out of their way to look up at the ceiling with confused looks on their faces before shrugging it off and continuing with their day.

Any moment now.

"Just because I am here when I am does not at all mean I had detention, baka!" A girl shouts, the bells ringing as she shoves the door open. She pauses for a moment to make sure it stays open for the man in the green jacket before rushing forward. "I don't always have detention, you know!" She swings her long blond ponytails behind her, meaning it to be the end of the conversation when she spots her friends across the way. "Konichi'wa, minna!"

And the game begins.

The man who walked in behind her smirks, grabbing the girl softly by the arm. "Yet that doesn't answer my question, Odango. Did you, or did you not have detention today after school?"

Usagi stays still for just a moment as she contemplates whichever answer she is to use. No matter what she says though-she is absolutely positive that Mamoru will have something negative to counter it with. "So what if I did?" She tugs her arm away from his grip before once again turning toward her friends.

Yet Mamoru catches her arm again. "So I was right?" He gives the girl a large smile, happy with his win.

Across the way the group at the counter sit at the edge of their seats. Motoki puts down his mug and inches closer to the counter, hoping to get a better look. Only a few more feet and they will reach the designated spot. Only a few more feet.

Struggling against his stronger grip, Usagi tries to weasel away. "Yes! You were right! Can you let go of me now? I kind of want to go speak to my friends!" She motions to her friends who all quickly turn away, pretending as if they were not just watching their every moves.

"Motoki-san is over there too, I'll walk with you there."

The blonde gives another yank at her arm. "Only if you let go of my arm," she cries, now really peeved she is yet to have control of her arm after all this time. Mamoru caught up with her as she was leaving the school building and has been tugging at her arm ever since.

There is no giving up with him.

Mamoru shrugs and releases the girls arm. Her arm swings back to her side and she motions for the man to step forward. "You first."

Not seeing a logic to the girl's request, Mamoru finds himself confused for only a minute before taking the first step. Usagi falls into step beside him and the duo moves toward the group sitting at the counter, each individual trying to make it less obvious they were watching.

A few more steps and they jump up, all holding their hands up. "STOP!" The shout comes from the group of five in unison and Usagi and Mamoru stop, confused. Around them the arcade also falls silent, trying to watch what the big commotion. A few take only a minute to realize what is to happen and they laugh to themselves. The others watch with rapt attention.

"N-Nani? Is something wrong?" Usagi squeaks, daring to be the first to speak.

Minako breaks off from her friends and walks toward the duo. The blonde points up to the ceiling above them. "Mistletoe."

The arcade cheers, realizing the plan put into action. Tradition behind the mistletoe is known across the room and the only confused ones would be the children who are too young to comprehend the concept.

Usagi's cheeks flush a bright red. "Nani?" She looks back up at the bunch of greens tied together by the ribbon before turning back to her friend. "With him?" She points accusingly at Mamoru.

"With her?" Mamoru counters, his own face which is typically unable to emote begins to turn a deep red.

The duo look at each other, unsure.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Shouts begin in the arcade. Mainly from the adults. But when the children get a whiff of it, they squeal and laugh while they clap their hands.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Usagi and Mamoru turn to each other, the chanting of the arcade becoming too much for them. "On the count of three," Mamoru whispers to her, his eyes pleading with her.

She nods, licking her lips as she steps closer to the man she calls her enemy. "Three."

"Two." Mamoru grabs the girls hand.

The arcade finishes the countdown for them. "One!"

And with the final number, Usagi and Mamoru turn.

And make toward the door in a sprint-their cheeks red as Rudolph's nose.

. . .

A/N: Haha! Hope y'all like it! ^_^

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