After a day of reflection, Rei was no closer to understanding her own actions than before. She had been so close to freedom from Minako. If only her competitive streak hadn't come out. It wouldn't let her lose, even if losing would work out better for her. Minako had been walking away, and even if though Rei was sure the blonde would have tried a few more times to get a rise out of her, she would have given up entirely if Rei could only keep her mouth shut.

But what was done was done. She knew that she couldn't ignore Minako, and responding when the other girl came after her would only keep things between them the same. Rei didn't want to fight a defensive battle. There was nothing else for it. She would have to take the fight to Minako.

That day at lunch Rei sat at her desk, unopened lunch in front of her. She waited until Minako and Serena came in as usual to sit with Ami and Makoto. Rei tried to prepare herself for what she was about to do. After a few moments of contemplation, and several deep breaths, she grabbed her lunch and made her move.

She walked over to the foursome and realized when they looked at her that, although she had steeled her resolve, she hadn't thought of anything to say. A few silent moments passed before she could speak.

"Mind if I join?" She did her best to sound nonchalant.

Minako seemed surprised, but spoke up cheerily. "Not at all. Here, have a seat." she said, patting her lap.

Rei turned up her nose and grabbed a nearby empty chair, pulled it over and sat.

"I never thought you'd sit with us," Makoto said. "Well, not with Minako here. Why they change of heart?"

"You know that old saying," Rei said. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

Minako pouted and Makoto laughed.

"Well, you're not much of an enemy to me," Minako said. "After all, I already beat you in volleyball." She paused a moment and thought. "And soccer too."

Rei pointedly ignored her and opened her lunch. Minako looked only slightly miffed.

"Ooh, that looks so good," Serena said, pointing at Rei's lunch. "Who made it?"

"I did," Rei said.

"You're domestic too? You're perfect," Minako said. Rei again didn't respond. "Come on, gimme something to work with."

Rei knew she would have to, considering she had been unable to ignore Minako all this time anyway. She looked at Minako's lunch. She and Serena both had convenience store lunches, mostly sweet breads and snack foods with juice.

"That looks… good?" Rei said. She had never had convenience store food before and wasn't certain of the quality. Though she was sure healthier foods could be found there than what the two blondes had picked.

"Hey, we can't all be like you and Ami," Minako said.

Ami had a packed lunch as well. There seemed to be a healthy mix of foods, much like Rei's lunch. Makoto had one of the school's cafeteria lunch sets.

"This isn't much," Rei said. Ami nodded in agreement.

"Are you kidding?" Serena asked.

"Yeah really," Makoto added. "I've been jealous of Ami's lunch since school started."

Ami blushed. "Oh really, this is just something quick I made in the morning. It's nothing special," she said.

"It's not our fault you two sleep in. Wake up at an appropriate hour and you could prepare something too," Rei said.

"I'm sorry, but school doesn't even start at a reasonable hour," Serena said.

"That's why you spend the first couple of periods with your eyes half closed, right?" Minako prodded.

"I don't want to hear that from miss 'can-I-see-your-notes-I-slept-through-class," Serena responded, sticking out her tongue.

"You asked Serena for notes?" Makoto asked, eyebrow raised. "No offense," she quickly added, looking at Serena.

"Hey, I take notes too you know," Serena said.

"Sometimes," Minako teased. "And what else are friends for, if not to give you notes when you miss them?"

"And I thought I was cynical," Rei said. "Do friends always have to give you something?"

Minako perked up. "No, but there's something I'd like you to give me."

Rei coughed and glared at Minako. Makoto and Serena laughed, and Ami blushed.

Minako threw her hand up in front of her. "That's not even what I meant," Minako said, half sincere and half smirking.

"I'm sure," Rei said. "Can you tone it down? We're trying to eat."

"Exactly," Minako said. "I was thinking you could make me lunch."

Rei rolled her eyes. "Sorry, I'm not in the business of making lunch for lazy blondes."

"I prefer to think of it as selective effort," Minako said.

"You would," Rei said. "And no, I won't be making you a lunch." She turned to her lunch and started to eat. Minako seemed to expect that response, and turned to Serena.

The group talked throughout the next half hour. She tuned out when Minako, Serena, and Makoto began talking about a show they had watched the night before. She had nothing to contribute when they started in on the stores they wanted to visit to buy the clothes they wanted to buy. When the topic switched to classes, Ami joined in, and Rei was pulled in as well with a question about her favorite class. Although she didn't exactly love school, she could contribute to the conversation. She diligently paid attention in class, and finished her work on time; concepts she was sure Minako and Serena wouldn't understand.

All in all, lunch with the other girls was a surprisingly pleasant. Ami was insightful. Everything she said exuded intelligence, even though she wasn't trying to show off. Rei wondered how Minako and Serena kept up with some of the things the blue-haired girl said. Makoto was down to earth, and able to relate to the two blondes airheads, as well as Ami and Rei. She was friendly, polite, and patient. That patience explained how she put up with Serena. Serena often said the stupidest things. More than once, Rei felt the urge to comment on something the blonde said, though she mostly managed to hold back. Still, she couldn't deny Serena's friendliness. She went out of her way to include everyone in the conversation and always had something nice to say.

Minako even kept her innuendos to a minimum. Rei did expect Minako was saving up for something big. She was probably trying to lull Rei into a sense of security so she could drop something big on her. Still, without the innuendos Minako's wit shined. Rei knew the other girl was quick from their frequent spats, but it was hard to enjoy when it was directed at her. Of course, her air-headedness occasionally slipped out now and again, particularly when she got a well-known saying wrong.

Lunch came to an end, quicker than Rei was used to, and Minako and Serena returned to their own class. Rei excused herself back to her own seat to collect herself. She was sure that breaking her solitude would be the talk of the class for the next day or two, but she wouldn't let that bother her. Lunch had been a tolerable experience, but she couldn't say it would continue to be so if she kept eating with the other girls. She was also sure Minako would eventually say something suggestive to get a rise out of her.

Rei still couldn't figure the other girl out. She had seen many sides to Minako, but had no idea what Minako wanted, or even her own thoughts on the blonde. She had been perfectly content ignoring her classmates until the blonde came around. She interacted when she had to, and she was sure some of them were fine, but mostly she found other people annoying. Minako was no different, but as annoying as she could be, she pushed the perfect combination of Rei's buttons to get her to respond.

Rei couldn't be certain why she had sat with Minako and her friends either. She knew she wanted to take the fight to the blonde, but she couldn't say what that fight was. Was she trying to show Minako that she wasn't bothered by her provocations? Was she trying to get Minako to stop them entirely? How would Rei react if she was successful either way? Why was the other girl intent on bothering her? And why was she so good at it?

Class started again, and Rei tried to focus on the teacher. She would figure things out over time. After all, she had succeeded in taking some initiative from Minako. Hopefully the blonde would continue to hold back, at least until Rei could sort her out her own thoughts and feelings. Rei frowned. She was afraid she was in for a long battle.