A/N: Wow, thank you guys for all the reviews! It makes my heart swell with joy whenever I read your comments, honestly. I'm so glad a lot of people are enjoying the story.

I've started my summer class, but hopefully it won't get in the way of my writing - Enjoy Chapter 3!

Chapter 3

The next day, Mamoru had to meet with one of the biology professors whose lab he was interested in working, and although their conversation had ended on a positive note, he hadn't left the Natural Sciences building until twenty-three minutes past 5 in the evening. Mamoru, as he was rushing to the Arts building, and who had worn business casual attire in order to look professional to the professor, had realized that he was nearly half an hour late to his and Usagi's first date, wearing slacks and a button-up shirt. A casual date.

Oh dear lord, she was never going to speak to him again.

After running across campus to the Arts building, Mamoru sat down on one of the benches placed outside the building, panting so hard he thought he was going to pass out. He looked up, scanning the place for a particular blond when he noticed that he couldn't find her.

'Surely. . . she wouldn't have left?' he thought, '. . would she have forgotten? Should I call her?'

Mamoru glanced down at his watch again, and could feel his heart rate quickening. 'It's 45 past 5….did something happen to her?'

"Maaaaamoru!"

His thoughts were immediately interrupted as he turned and saw Usagi run over, waving at him enthusiastically with one hand as she swung a picnic basket in the other, "I hope you didn't wait long!"

Mamoru simply stared at her, and her lips twisted into a small pout. "What?"

"It's 5:45. You said to arrive at 5 sharp."

"Oh, yeah, I was looking for an outfit to wear!" Usagi twirled around, showing off her bright pink flower dress, "I started with the decision to wear this, but then I got kinda distracted since Kunzite came over to see Minako, and-" she gave him a once-over, and grinned. "You're wearing your glasses, like I asked!"

Mamoru nodded, and reached to take them off, but Usagi shook her head, yanking his hands down. "I want you to wear them! Keep them on!"

"Erm, alright," Mamoru nodded and adjusted the strap of his bag, glancing down at her picnic basket, "So where exactly are we going to for our. . .erm. . "

"Date?" Usagi's grin widened, "I was thinking possibly just a walk around campus - it's so beautiful, after all! Have you been inside the Business building?"

"Just once, since Kunzite and I's friend Nephrite is a business major-"

"But have you seen the red stained glass windows?!" Usagi interrupted him, and was now pulling on his arm, "And the Behavioral Sciences building, and the Architecture building, and-"

"Usagi," Mamoru countered, "I've been a student here a year longer than you have."

"Yeah, but I'm willing to bet my tuition that I've explored the campus more than you have."

Mamoru laughed and let her drag him, "Alright, alright, I will admit that I do spend some time in my apartment-"

"Most of your time-" Usagi corrected him.

"Alright, alright," Mamoru rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry I'm such a fashion disaster and nerd."

"Well, you're not a complete disaster," the short blond turned and began walking backwards while giving him a few once-overs, "I mean, your glasses really bring out your eyes."

Mamoru felt his cheeks flush a little bit, and he unconsciously reached for his glasses, pushing them up against the bridge of his nose, "Erm, thanks."

"But I saw some of those green jackets in your closet!" Usagi giggled as she turned back, resuming her place by his side, "We need to fix that problem."

Mamoru frowned. "What's wrong with my green jackets?"

"Mamoru, please, I can tolerate your business attire right now, but not those horrific jackets. They look like the result of Rei's cooking."

"I had to go meet a professor!"

"That's no excuse."

"Usagi, you showed up forty-five minutes late to our first date."

Usagi pouted and looked up at him. "You're not leaving me, are you?"

"No, no!" Mamoru immediately blurted out, not being able to tell if the hurt on her face was true or not, "I was just. . . surprised."

"Good!" Usagi's expression immediately turned into one of happiness again, and she reached down and intertwined her fingers with Mamoru's, swinging their arms back and forth, "Because I have a place to show you."

After a few minutes of walking and talking - mostly Usagi talking, Mamoru listening - the blond immediately stopped in her tracks, pointing to a white building with lit-up steps in front of it. Blue-colored stain glass covered parts of the windows, similarly to the Business building, and the lights inside seemed to light up the exterior more than the steps.

"Have you ever been inside?" she asked.

"Yes, I've been inside the Student Center," he frowned, "I've been here multiple times, what are you trying to show me?"

"You'll see!" she tugged onto his arm and pulled him towards the building, yanking him along with her up the light steps.

"Usagi-"

"Shh, you'll ruin it!" Usagi interrupted him again, and then pulled the door open.

Inside, there were a few people sitting at tables and seeming to finish their assignments, but most of the area was empty, just as brightly lit as it seemed on the outside. Multicolored lights decorated the spiral staircase that led up to the second and third floors, and the university's banners draped across the walls. It was rather quiet, except for the three or four people quizzing each other on subjects. It seemed like a normal evening in the Student Center.

"Usagi-"

"Shh!"

"Don't interrupt me-"

"Shh!"

Mamoru sighed as Usagi paused momentarily, looking around. Then she pointed to a small door beside one of the restaurants marked "STAIRWELL". "There!"

"The stairwell? That's what you wanted to show me?"

"Yes!"

Mamoru continued to be pulled by her, confused, until she yanked him up the green stairwell, finally reaching a rusty orange door. Pushing it forward, Usagi opened the door, twirling as she swung it open.

"Ta-da!"

Oh.

Mamoru's eyes widened as he took in the view of the campus in the evening - the dimly-lit buildings illuminating the sidewalks, the green trees swaying as the gentle breeze pushed them along, the bright purple sky setting the scenery as the orange sun began to set - it was truly beautiful.

"Wow."

"Mhm," Usagi smiled, and stepped closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder, "'wow' indeed."

"I'm assuming you found this place on your first day?" Mamoru asked.

"Second, actually! My first day consisted of actually taking all the campus in, realizing that I was actually here."

"Mm."

"What about your first day here?" Usagi asked, holding his hand again, bringing him forward to the view, "What did you do?"

"I, uh, spent it at the library, studying."

Usagi's eyes widened. "You're serious."

Mamoru nodded, now feeling a bit uncomfortable under the sudden scrutiny.

"That's. . . not bad," Usagi quickly cut herself off, and Mamoru found himself laughing.

"You don't have to lie, I know I'm not exactly social."

"I don't think that's bad," Usagi grinned and reached into her basket, whipping out a large blanket and set it onto the ground. "I brought dinner!"

"You can cook?"

"Actually, my friend Mako made it for us," Usagi blushed slightly, "I'm not very skilled at cooking."

As the two settled on the ground, Usagi pulled out two large yellow containers and a small pink container. Mamoru watched her as she set everything up, and then looked out at the scenery.

"So. . .what's your major?" Mamoru asked, unsure of how to begin the conversation.

Usagi glanced up at him, a gentle yet confused smile on her face. "Child Development. I might switch to Political Science, though - I'm not entirely sure yet."

"Oh. Erm, why Poli-"

"Mamoru, is this your first date?"

Mamoru frowned. "That's not a nice thing to ask."

Usagi giggled, shaking her head, "No, no, I didn't mean it in a bad way! I just wanted to know."

"Maybe it is."

The blond laughed again, and then rolled her eyes. "What's your major?"

"Physics, pre-med."

"Why doctor?" Usagi grinned, but immediately frowned when Mamoru didn't reply. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me."

"It's a rather. . .private subject," he said, "It's nothing against you, but-"

"Say no more!" the blond exclaimed, and opened the pink container. "This first date calls for some cake."

"Dessert first?" Mamoru questioned, but Usagi waved him off.

"We're adults - we can do whatever we want!" Usagi scooted closer to him and grabbed a fork from the basket, cutting off a piece of the chocolate cake, "Now open wide!"

"I don't-" he was immediately cut off by the petite girl shoving the piece of cake into his mouth.

"Shh, no talking - just enjoying."

"Mmf."

"Mamo-chan, just hush up and eat it. I brought some tea, too, since that's why we're having this date."

Mamoru gulped his piece of the pastry and turned to her. "What did you call me?"

"'Mamo-chan'!" Usagi replied, taking out a thermos and holding up two tea bags, "It's a shortened version of your name. Ginger or Peppermint?"

"Whichever you like, Usa."

"'Usa'? Oh, that's just unfair." Usagi pouted, crossing her arms.

"I fail to see how that's-" Mamoru was again interrupted by a small piece of spongy chocolate cake shoved into his mouth, and he frowned, facing the one to blame.

"Rule #1 of dating," Usagi tsked him as he frowned at her, placing the ginger tea bag in the thermos, "is that the girlfriend is always just and fair."

"There are rules?" Mamoru asked through a full mouth.

"Not exactly, but I know I'm always right."

"That's ridiculous, no one can always be right-"

"Mamo-chan, shut up before I force more cake down your oropharynx."

Mamoru blinked in shock at Usagi, and she laughed. "I saw a few things on your medical terminology poster, geez."

"I was just. . .surprised, that's all," Mamoru attempted to justify his reaction, but Usagi waved it off again.

"Let's just eat all this delicious food before it goes to waste!"

~*o*O*o*~

"Thanks for the date," Usagi said as the two were walking up the stairs of the 40-C apartments, "and for walking me back to my apartment."

"Well, I didn't want you to get drunk and lost again." Mamoru replied, and Usagi gently hit him on his shoulder.

"That was only one time!"

"History repeats itself."

Usagi rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around Mamoru's arm, resting her head against her shoulder. "You're a nerd, Mamoru Chiba."

"And you're a beautiful girl, Usagi Tsukino."

The words had fallen out of Mamoru's mouth before he realized it, and his eyes widened as he looked down at Usagi, whose expression of surprise mirrored his.

"I-I didn't really mean for it to come out like that, I-"

"Mamo-chan, I don't think any guy in the history of history has said that to his date on their first night together," Usagi cut him off, "and I think that you have just set the standard higher for women everywhere."

Mamoru gulped, unsure of how to reply. "Is that. . .good. . .?"

Usagi rolled her eyes again and grinned, "Yes, that's very good."

"Oh, okay. Glad we cleared that up."

Usagi laughed and then stopped in front of a brown door, with a sign that said "DREAM TEAM" in bright pink and orange letters. "This is my apartment."

"I'm assuming Minako made the sign?" Mamoru asked.

"Mhm," the petite blond looked up at him, smiling, "Would you like to come in?"

Mamoru glanced down at his watch. "It's actually 9 PM, so I might actually go back - tomorrow's Monday, so I have to finish up my papers."

Usagi tilted her head in confusion but shook it off and nodded. "I understand."

"Erm. . .thanks for the date and the tea. I had a wonderful time."

"Me too," Usagi stood up on her toes, "maybe we can try teas again soon," she leaned towards him and kissed him, pulling him closer by wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

Mamoru, completely caught by surprise, just rested his arms around her waist, and she moved closer, part of her weight shifting onto his arms - he was around 95% sure that her toes were just barely touching the ground since he was most likely holding her up.

He could feel his heart beating faster and faster as she moved her lips slowly, as he wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that, but he found his lips moving along with hers, as if his brain and mouth weren't connected anymore. His racing thoughts started to slow down a bit as he found kissing Usagi to be somewhat nice, and he started to close his eyes, when-

BLAM.

Usagi and Mamoru immediately jumped in surprise and turned to see a PJ-wearing Minako staring at them, her eyes wide as she took in the couple holding each other close, their cheeks flushed.

"I, uh. . .thought I heard you guys, and I. . ." Minako trailed off, and pursed her lips in an attempt to hold back her smile, "I'll see you inside, Usagi!" she immediately turned around and closed the door.

The two stood in silence before Usagi laughed. "Well, that killed the mood," she said softly, but stood up and kissed Mamoru on the cheek, "Thanks for the date, Mamo-chan. Lemme know when you want another date!" She waved goodbye to him from behind the door, and shut it close.

~*o*O*o*~

"Hold up," Kunzite interrupted Mamoru, "she asked you if you wanted to come in, and you told her you had to work on papers?!"

Mamoru's eyebrows pulled together in confusion as he sipped some of his coffee, "Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

Kunzite groaned and massaged his temples. "Mamoru, when a pretty girl who you really like asks you if you want to come in to her apartment, you say yes!"

"Why? Our date was over."

Kunzite groaned again and shook his head, "Mamoru, she's going to think you're not interested if you decline her offer."

"But we kissed right after."

Mamoru's roommate's eyes widened. "Wait, hold on. You guys kissed?"

"Yeah, she was thanking me for our date and then she kissed me," Mamoru smiled slightly, "It actually felt kind of nice until Minako opened the door and caught us."

"Aww," Kunzite smirked, "Well, good for you. I'm glad you're suddenly a lighter person."

"Oh, shut up."

"Hey, Mamoru, does this mean you'll start wearing pink now?"

"Kunzite!"

"Okay, sorry, sorry."

Silence filled the two men's shared living room until Kunzite spoke up again. "So does this mean you're going to start coming home wearing hickeys?"

Kunzite was met with numerous pillows to the face for a response.

A/N: The design of the Student Center was influenced by Price Center at UC San Diego - check out some images of it on Google! It's a very beautiful building!

I know I didn't use honorifics in the previous chapters, but when I was writing this chapter, just 'Mamo' kinda sounded a bit off to me, so I added the 'chan' suffix. Any advice on that, though, would be greatly appreciated!