Birthday Wishes

A/N: WHO HAS SEEN THE SPOILER-TASTIC FOOTAGE FROM SAILOR MOON CRYSTAL? *swoons*

. . .

Usagi settles down into the seat in front of the Sailor V game. But instead of going right away for her coin purse she places her arms on the machine and buries her face in them. If I didn't know any better I would assume the young girl is just isn't her tired face. That's her upset face.

I look to my watch and frown. In five minutes her day has the possibility of getting either better or tremendously worse. Chiba Mamoru promised to meet me here to discuss classes and a certain somebody. And I suppose the latter plan cannot occur due to the blonde's proximity to our meeting spot. Yes, it's not good that she's sad-but this is the first time in a while that Mamoru wants to talk about a girl. So, for my sake. I should talk to her and get her out of here.

It's the right thing to do. I think.

"Usagi-chan, what's wrong?"

The girl groans and refuses to lift her head. "Go away, please. Motoki-onii-san." She repositions her head and I reckon under her arms her eyes are either squeezed shut or she's just staring at the colorful buttons underneath her trying not to cry.

Shaking my head, I crouch down beside her. "You know, Usagi-chan, I'll call Mamoru-san over here if you refuse to answer."

"He's not here. I checked before I walked in." Her sniffles indicate I was right. She's crying.

I brace myself and put a reassuring arm around the small girl. Here's to praying Mamoru doesn't decided to walk in right now. Then he would never tell what he thinks about Usagi. "You're right, but he's coming soon. And if you don't cheer up he's just going to make fun of you more."

Another sniff. "Don't care."

My lips purse and I tighten my grip around her figure. "But I don't want to see you sadder than you already are. Isn't he just going to make things worse?" God, I'm shooting myself in the foot. Making Usagi think poorly of Mamoru is the last thing I need. There must be no hope in this world. She's not going to smile. I'm not going to hear Mamoru's feelings.

And finally she moves. Usagi pushes herself up from her favorite arcade game and wipes hastily at her blue eyes before setting her gaze on me. "As long as he doesn't know it's my birthday I'll be fine." Her words are definite and she crosses her arms over her chest as if challenging me to what, though?

"If it's your birthday, why are you so sad?"

The blonde looks down. "Ami-chan and Re-chan ignored me. Naru's mad at me for some reason. And mamma locked me out again. Not exactly what I had planned for my 15th birthday."

I frown, not able to determine what the best way to approach this situation would be. If only I had more experience with people who actually enjoyed their birthday. Reika's not one for parties and Mamoru disappears on his own every year. "U-usagi-chan-"

"It's your birthday, Odango?"

Usagi jumps in my arm and pulls herself away. Her face goes through a few shades of pink before settling on a slight red. "N-no. No it's not. Ju-Ju-Just a misunderstanding." She bites her lip and presses herself into the Sailor V machine.

Mamoru. Shaking my head, a look at my watch tells me this whole spectacle took 5 minutes. Now my opportunity to talk to Mamoru is completely gone. "Konnichiwa, Mamoru-san." He ignores me. Ouch.

"Oh, so it would be wrong to wish you a happy birthday? Okay." Mamoru looks the blonde in front of him up and down. Even after knowing him for so long I still cannot read his face. For all I know he could be coming up with a teasing way to wish her a happy birthday. This is only going to get worse if Usagi keeps playing.

I stand up straight and move to stand beside my friend. "Yes, it's her birthday today. 15th." Maybe if I play on Mamoru's side, he'll still tell me his secrets after he scares his precious girl away. "Her friends refused to recognize it."

The ebony haired man nods and remains silent as he observes Usagi. She just stares back at him, bracing herself for whatever clever retort is about to come. Poor Girl. "Do you want ice cream?"

Usagi huffs and turns her nose away. "Going to be mean to a girl on her birth-N-Nani? I-I-Ice Cream?" She turns back and looks at Mamoru with new interest. "You can't be serious!"

Yeah, Mamoru-you can't be serious! I look at Mamoru in awe. He's never been this forward with her before. Well, forward as in being nice to her when she's having a bad day. We were supposed to talk! My eyes move back to the blonde where her defensive stance falls. "Why not? Isn't it polite to treat a girl on her birthday?"

"A-Arigato!"

The next thing I see is Usagi pouncing on Mamoru and bringing him into a hug. Mamoru is stunned for only a second before hugging her back softly. They start moving toward the door. But as much as I want to be elated at this improvement-this means I'm the only one who loses. "Wait! Mamoru, weren't we going to talk?"

They never stop. My friend waves a hand at me, keeping the other at Usagi's hip. "Rain check, Motoki-san."

I watch as they leave happily together and my lips form a pout. Damn it. It's quite obvious after this that he has feelings for the girl-yet I still want to hear the words come from him. Now they're going to be all cute together and I miss out. I kick at the ground and my foot hits one of the stools.

I wish I could watch them.

. . .

A/N: I watched/read all of Skip Beat in three days, so the characters may have seeped here. I REGRET NOTHING. Yet.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Leave a Review!

I probably will come back to revise this because my head hurts and I think it shows in my writing.