Author's Note: OK, here is the next chapter. I actually started it soon after the last chapter but only just finished it. This one is in Makoto's point of view, which I'm not always the best at portraying. I'm sorry and hoping later I could get better at portraying all the characters.

The rain that had spread through Tokyo the last day and night was still persistent on the panes of glass that marked peoples' windows. One woman stared out one of the said windows, wiping down her kitchen counter absently. Her dark brown hair was bound in a bun so it wouldn't fall constantly in her face and eyes. She was finishing up her clean up when the phone rang. "I wonder who that could be?" she muttered to herself but had a strange feeling she knew who it was. Not many people knew her personal phone number.

Grabbing her cell phone from a nearby drawer she stared at the number before giving a confirmative nod. She quickly answered it, bringing the phone to her ear, "Moshi, Moshi."

"Hey Mako-chan! I just wanted to call and say hi real quick. You know me…"

The brunette let out a laugh, "You are so predictable, Usagi-chan. You are the only one that calls me this much."

"You should give more people your number. You're not antisocial Mako-chan. It will help for when you can't get out."

"And be bombarded with phone calls constantly? I think not. Anyway, what is it you wanted? Even you don't call just for the sake of it." 'Or maybe…' was the afterthought as she waited for her friend to answer.

"Oh right! Do you have the new recipe done? I still want to be the first to try it."

"You always are. Now is that all? I'm sorry but my lunch break is just finishing up and I need to open for the afternoon shift. I just finished cleaning up my back room."

"Mako-chan- always so neat. Yeah that's it, you still able to cook for the charity event coming up?"

"Hai."

"Great! I'll see you later."

"Ja ne."

Makoto hung up the phone, shaking her head. She never knew what attracted her to Tsukino Usagi but in high school she was one of the only people that she opened up to and her classmate accepted her with open arms. It was just easy to be friends with her. Dark brown eyes gazed at the clock and without another thought she moved to the front of the building.

She had opened her bakery a year ago and it was a success with a growing repetition. It was a small building located at one of the quieter areas of Tokyo. Her single bedroom home was located on the second floor, with a small private kitchen and living room downstairs. A back door was located in the living room. Most of the first floor was her actual bakery. After she bought the small building with the rest of her savings she worked hard to make it a successful business. The back counter had what she called her 'bread menu' with a list of all her inventory. There was a display area by the front windows and to the right side of the room was where people could grab what they wanted. They purchased at the front counter next to her menu.

Walking to the front of the shop, she checked the plants she kept as decoration around the bakery. She watered them earlier but it was always good to check. When she got out of high school she did not know if she wanted a bakery or flower shop. In the end she decided on a bakery. When she made that final decision, staring out the window of her old apartment, she decided she would at least decorate the bakery with fresh plants and flowers that she would carefully maintain. She finished double checking all the plants before heading to the front door. She switched the sign to open hoping for another good day for the Kino Bakery.

She smiled, returning to her spot behind the counter. Usually it took at least fifteen minutes after opening for the first customer came in. On quiet days she'll at least get ten customers through the door. On her good days it could be over a 100. Still her bakery was small and still growing and hoped one day it would truly be the talk of Tokyo.

She opened the drawer and pulled out a picture. It was a picture of Usagi and her during high school. If Makoto owed her well-being to anyone it would be Usagi. Yes, she had a couple other friends in high school and Usagi herself had a large circle of friends. Still, she thought she owed a great deal to the bubbly girl. She was the girl that saw the out of place transfer student and befriended her, giving the transfer student confidence in herself and ability to have friends. Within a month she was not a transfer student that had a bad reputation but plain Kino Makoto- a strong girl who could fend for herself and others and one of many that found friendship and solace in Tsukino Usagi.

The picture itself was taken when they went to the park during a festival. Usagi was making a funny face at the camera and she was staring at the other girl in amazement a wide smile on her face. It was small but held major importance. It was a reminder of the good and bad of high school days, the stage of life before entering the grand scheme of things. That was behind her now and she had to move forward. She hardly saw Usagi much these days. With the charity coming up she had a chance to see Usagi again and so quickly accepted the offer to help out with the food preparation. It sounded like a big event for a good cause. That, plus seeing her friend again, was reason enough to help out.

She placed the picture back in the drawer and looked up when she heard the door open. A young teenage girl walked in and Makoto welcomed with a smile. "Hello, do you need help with anything?"

"Do you have any strawberry pastries?" the girl asked. She looked frail and round eyes turned around the bakery. Makoto couldn't remember seeing her before and her reaction to entering the bakery with no idea what was there supported that.

She pointed to the pastry section, quickly going into business mode. "Over there you will find some. There is a pastry with strawberry filling and also one with a strawberry topping. If you get a berry combo- two berry pastries- you get 100 yen off."

The girl nodded and proceeded to get the pastries. Makoto stared at her for a moment before going over to the cash register and preparing to get the order. The girl came over a minute later and put two pastries on the counter. One was strawberry filling, the other strawberry topping. She gave a shy smile and Makoto told her the price, properly putting the pastries in a bag.

"There you go, have a nice day."

The girl beamed, greatly changing her expression before leaving the bakery.

It was seeing faces like the young teenager's that made her happy. She enjoyed seeing her customers leave happy. It meant she did well in her job. Make enough money for an enjoyable living and seeing people happy for her hard work put in the pastries. That meant all of it paid off. Makoto reached her hands up to adjust her bun, this was a good day. Her life was normal and simplistic but she did her job well and had some friends to count on. That was all she needed.

A/N: There's another chapter done. I am disappointed in the no review turnout. Any would be appreciated so I know if it is worthwhile to continue.

If anybody is curious, yes that was Hotaru as Makoto's customer. Just a quick entrance as I don't know when I'll get to her being in the story. It would be a while so I wanted it to be her instead of just throwing a random customer to come in.