Chapter 3 Adapting

Another week had passed since the incident at the school and Reina was fortunate enough to not encounter another monster. Although she was still having a tough time adjusting to her new dual life, juggling her normal life and her life as a Sailor Senshi. She even considered to do hourly patrols around her block like a super hero but knew something like that would be pushing it. Instead Reina opted to hear the radio and listen to the news just in case they talked about a monster.

As Reina walked home, her head hung a little low from her low grades… which were once again due to her life as a Sailor Senshi. However there was one thing on her mind, where were these monsters coming from? Was someone creating them? Or was it just a freak of nature that just happened out of nowhere? Reina had no idea and it only puzzled her more and more as she thought about it. Which then led her to eventually walk around the city before heading home after school, if only to see if she could find a monster or perhaps a source but she never did.

She made it back home and sat on her bed, letting out a long exhale.

"Ah Reina dear, you're finally home." Kyoko walked into the room and noticed Reina's expression, "Is something wrong?"

"Huh oh um n-no."

"How did you do on your test?" She asked gently as she took a seat next to her and Reina hesitantly showed it to her as Kyoko looked at it.

"Reina… this isn't like you, you've gotten low scores but never failing scores." She reached out and held her hand which was a huge comfort to her.

"I've… I don't know, I guess I've been distracted…"

Kyoko looked at her with concern, she had been noticing that Reina hadn't been her usual self, she had gotten quieter than usual around the house and it was a little odd.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Reina looked at her… she really wanted too but she couldn't tell her what she's been doing much less show her wounds she had gotten, she truly didn't want to worry her mother.

"I guess I'm just tired is all, I've been having a tough time sleeping…"

"Really? Why didn't you tell me." she gently reached and stroked Reina's hair, lovingly.

"Well I didn't think it was a big deal…" Reina leaned against her mother, "… I guess it's because I still think about why I was abandoned…" While not the real cause, it was still true as not a day had gone by that Reina had given thought as to why she was abandoned and not knowing why was driving her crazy.

"Reina…" Kyoko gave her a kiss on top of her head, "I can only imagine what you're feeling and I know you want answers, but you have to be patient maybe someday you'll find the answer."

Reina was silent for a moment, if someday she did find it… what would she do? Would she really want to know or not… that was something she couldn't answer yet as she was afraid of whatever answer she might come up with.

"I understand…" Reina looked at her with a warm smile on her face, truly happy and appreciative that she took her in.

"Get some rest sweetie." Kyoko stood up and went to cook dinner.

"I will mom."

After dinner, night had fallen and Kyoko was fast asleep, Reina was still awake listening to the radio when.

"This is an emergency broadcast! a strange creature has just been sighted at the park, be advised and stay away!" The man on the radio was saying and Reina stood up and snuck out her window and ran a bit away from her home and raised her transformation stick.

"Nova Star Power Make Up!" In bright cyan colored glow, she transformed into Sailor Nova and ran towards the park to stop the beast.

Morning had finally come and Reina made it back home, a slight limp to her step and crawled into her bed and she had only closed her eyes for only five minute when her alarm went off, she then gave a loud groan.

"I forgot I had school…." She reluctantly got up and got dressed, hating every moment of this as she just wanted to stay at home and sleep.

She grabbed her backpack and after saying good bye to her mother she went off to school to begin a very long day.

Reina sat at the desk, her arms on the table and the other holding her head up as she listened to her teacher go on and on, making her eyelids feel heavier. Her head began to drop slightly and she closed her eyes for a second.

"Ms. Minasaki, perhaps you want to come up here and explain the lecture." The teacher said in a very loud voice which snapped Reina out of it.

"N-no, I'm sorry.."

The teacher only shook her head and continued to give her lecture as Reina struggled to stay awake. As she sat there she began to wonder how super heroes juggle their normal lives and their hero lives… it seemed impossible as she struggled to even stay awake.

Reina raised her hand up and the teacher was quick to look at her, "Yes Ms. Minasaki."

"Can I go to the bathroom?"

The teacher gave a quick nod, "Splash some water on your face Ms. Minasaki that should help."

Reina left the classroom and did just that as she left the bathroom minutes later but that wasn't enough, at least to survive this day so… she found the teachers' lounge room and could see a pot of coffee being brewed so with no one around and no one inside she quickly made her way in, grabbed a small cup and poured herself some.

She left the room quickly and began to take sips, "This tastes so gross…" she continued to drink it but despite its taste it actually was working as she felt awake and came back to the classroom and continued on with her day for as long as the coffee would last.

Shortly after, the bell rang for lunch and Reina could not have been more relieved to finally leave the classroom and possibly get some air and eat outside. She got her food and endured a few stares from other students and over hearing a few calling her the quiet freak.

Reina took a seat and began to eat, getting a few glances while others passed by without even paying any attention to her and she did not mind one bit. She kept eating for a moment when, she and many other students heard the horrified screams of many teachers away from the cafeteria and she immediately stood up, seeing two monsters destroying it and harming a few students and teachers.

She bolted to her feet and ran away, and found a utility closet and after making sure no one was around she entered it and closed the door behind her.

"Nova Star Power Make-Up!" she quickly transformed into Sailor Nova and ran out the room, then hurried to the cafeteria.

Nova ran through the halls, many students gasping in awe and surprise, "Look! It's Sailor Nova!" One of the girls pointed as she ran past them.

"Hell yea! She'll show that beast a thing or two!" Another cheered and a few students followed behind her as they wanted to see her in action.

Nova entered the cafeteria and jumped onto a table and leapt off it as she gathered her energy in her hand, "Bright Star Flash!" She hurled her energy orb at one of them, hitting it square in the chest and sending it flying to the wall with a violent explosion.

The other monstrous, doglike monster dashed at her and brought its heavy claw down but she managed to avoid it, watching bits of the table go flying into the air. Nova continued to dodge it and was shocked when she saw the other join in the fight and now she was dodging both of them, "Whoa!" she saw its claw go over her head, missing her entirely.

The other closed the distance and slashed at her, and Nova felt a sickening sensation go across her leg and she jumped back, once she landed she saw her leg was cut and bleeding.

She gritted her teeth and was annoyed, "Bright Star Flash!" She hurled another energy attack the moment one leapt into the air, hitting and exploding it mid air. These beasts were mindless and had no tactics so defeating them was easy and it proved so as she dodged the remaining one easily now that the other was gone. The beast then tried to tackle her but she ducked, saw it crash through the window and was outside, but Nova didn't stop there as she chased it outside and now that she was out in the open she charged up her energy.

"Nova Stream!" She extended her hand and released a continuous stream of energy, hitting the monster and sending it flying up to the sky but Nova continued to unleash the torrent of energy till it was high up in the sky which then erupted in a massive explosion.

Sailor Nova kept her eyes up in the sky seeing that it was indeed destroyed as once the smoke blew away there was nothing left of the monster and she gave a satisfied look.

"Sailor Nova saves our school again!" One of the teachers cheers as he raises his fist into the air, "Sailor Nova!" Another teacher joined and shortly enough, many of the staff were congratulating Nova for her brave act which then the students eventually joined.

Sailor Nova looked at them all and gave a smile, as she bowed her head slightly and a few of them took pictures of their brave hero and Nova left as quickly as she arrived and once she was out of sight, she undid her transformation and went to the nurses office. She poked around seeing it was empty, grabbed some gauze and after rolling up her jeans to reveal her wound, she cleaned it then wrapped it in gauze.

She stepped out and found the teachers and students, awaiting police and ambulance to arrive to help the people that got hurt and she joined them shortly after and after being asked where she was she said she had gone to find a phone to get help which luckily they believed. After all, she wasn't about to them she was Sailor Nova.

Fortunately school ended that same day and Reina was walking home and as she was walking home she it hit her like a train, she was exhausted to no end and she yawned. She kept walking, wanting nothing more then to just lay down on her bed and go to sleep and luckily, tomorrow was Saturday so she could sleep in and get her much deserved rest.

"I'm gonna have to figure this out.." one thing was certain, she had to find a way to balance her hero and civilian life better to avoid feeling like this in the future. The only reason she didn't struggle was due to the high amount of adrenaline she was under when fighting that monster but had she'd been any more sleep deprived then it could've been worse.

She could see her home getting closer and closer, and Reina couldn't help but let out a long exhale when she finally reached the front door and walked inside.

"Reina!" Kyoko rushed into the room and hugged her, "I saw the news! Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine mom, Sailor Nova showed up and kicked monster butt." Reina chuckled as she held her mother.

"I'm so glad to see you're okay, do you want anything to eat?" Kyoko gently held her and ran her hand down her head.

"No… but I want to sleep."

"Eh?" Kyoko looked at her seeing her eyes looking really tired, "Couldn't sleep again?"

"No, so I think I'm going to turn in."

Kyoko nodded as she smiled warmly at her, "I'll be here if you need me sweetie." She watched Reina go to her room.

"Love you mom." She said as she entered her room and quickly changed into sweat pants and a sleeveless shirt. Reina sat on her bed for a while as she looked at the clock and saw it was still early but she probably wouldn't be waking up anytime soon as she was far too exhausted.

She very slowly laid down on the bed, resting on her back as she could still feel the lingering, stinging pain on her leg from having been sliced by that monster. Once she was comfortable she let out a long exhale and closed her eyes, going to sleep in seconds flat as she was now in a deep sleep as evidenced by her slow, deep breaths.

Tomorrow would be another day, another day where Sailor Nova would be needed once more.