A/N: Been busy, soz! Here's a quick one.

Rei walks to the bookstore, where she's supposed to link up with Minako before meeting her new boyfriend. Minako had chosen the location as it is right across the restaurant, and she can spy on people coming and going. Apparently it's also the perfect place to hide.

"No one who knows me will find me dead in a bookstore. Am I a genius or what," Minako had proudly told her earlier this week. (The irony had not gone unnoticed.)

A familiar red bow catches Rei's eye and disrupts her thoughts as she enters the said bookstore. Standing by the Classic Fiction section is Minako pretending to scan the shelves for nothing in particular. She almost looks unsuspicious, if you don't know any better.

Still, she sticks out like a sore thumb. Besides simply existing and being astoundingly attractive, Minako is wearing a short yellow sundress with a square neckline, a gold necklace, and a glow that only she can pull off. Just barely visible under her long blonde locks are her toned spaghetti-strapped shoulders and the sundress's slightly open back delicately tied in the middle.

She's impossible to ignore; her radiance hits you in the face like a blinding beam of sunlight. Or like a popstar having a concert in a library.

Minako reaches for a book high above the shelves. Her dress dangerously rides up as she stands on her tiptoes, stretching to grab it. There are people next to her sitting on the floor, sneakily reading books they don't want to buy. In a second, they're going to see more than just what they're reading.

Oh, help.

Before Minako can accidentally flash the universe, Rei rushes over, quickly grabbing another novel within reach — Little Women — and shoves it into Minako's abdomen.

"Here," Rei says as casually as possible. "This book is more accessible." In more ways than one.

"Hey!" Minako yelps as she catches the book thrust at her. She turns and sees her friend. "Rei! What was that for?"

Rei shrugs coolly.

Minako examines the book cover. "Oh hey, we've actually read this in school before. Which sister do you think I am?"

"Jo."

"I knew you'd say that! Well, she's clearly the main character so I'll take it. But I do remember having a soft spot for the eldest one. Uhh... M-Maggie? Wasn't she beautiful and actually really loving and sweet? I would have totally married her too —"

"Mina," Rei interrupts the rambling.

"What?"

"Are you ready to go?" She can't believe Minako even has to be reminded of what they're really here for.

"I know, okay!" Minako defends herself when she sees the look on Rei's face. "Sorry, just give me a minute. I feel like I'm about to shit my pants."

She says it a little too loudly, earning a few looks from the strangers around them.

For crying out loud.

"Sorry, she doesn't really mean —"

"Sorry! It's not what it sounds like! I'm —"

Both of them start to explain but are unable to finish as the people around them disperse, avoiding the girls' (i.e. Minako's) chaotic energy.

Alright then. If this is how we're setting the tone for the rest of the day.

By now, Rei should be used to her friends doing the most embarrassing things. Somehow it just never gets old. Minako, especially, finds new and creative ways.

"I'm sorry, Rei. I'm just really nervous."

"It will be fine. It's not like it's your first time meeting him."

"No, but it's his first time meeting you."

"He's not asking me for your hand in marriage, Mina."

"He might as well be. Have you met yourself?"

"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that." Rei feels a headache coming on.

"Sorry... I'm freaking out."

That's the fourth time Minako has had to apologize in the last couple of minutes. She can't possibly keep putting her foot in her mouth all day, can she?

Can she?

Rei takes a proper look at her friend. She's fidgety and restless. Normally with the self-confidence of a door-to-door salesman (charismatic, relentless, and aggravating), Minako never fidgets. Was she also this nervous when the other girls met the new guy?

Rei watches quietly as Minako attempts to return Little Women to its bookcase, clumsily fumbling the novel in her hands.

Shit, Rei curses to herself as she feels a pang of sympathy.

"Let me," she offers a hand and Minako surrenders the book to her.

"Thanks, Rei," Minako says sheepishly as Rei deposits it back onto the shelf.

"You know, it's not too late to cancel if you're not ready for this. Just tell him I had something urgent come up," Rei suggests with a surprising amount of gentleness usually reserved for her crows.

"No! I mean, thank you, but it's okay. It's important for him to meet you. It's like... like facing the final boss, you know?"

Rei is not sure how to feel about that one. (On the one hand, it makes her sound more important than she really is. Thanks, I guess. On the other hand... final boss? Seriously.)

"You look great, by the way." Minako looks her over from head to toe and Rei resists the urge to squirm.

"Thanks." It barely comes out as a whisper.

She generally doesn't enjoy attracting attention of any kind; it goes against her mantra of staying the hell away from everyone.

Unfortunately for her, she and Minako make a rather intriguing pair, styles and colors magnificently contrasting, a perplexing fusion of sparkle and enigma. They are bound to turn heads wherever they go.

If Minako looks like she just fell from the sun, Rei meanwhile appears to have just emerged from the preppy districts of the underworld, clad in a black pinafore dress with a white long-sleeved collared shirt underneath, a button or two unfastened at the top (as per Minako Aino's Fashion Tips & Tricks) — as if she's not already striking enough with her long dark hair and piercing eyes.

Rei had worn this dress to a carnival once, but she's never been afraid to repeat outfits. Bewitching and unbothered, she's comfortably equipped with a choker and audacity.

"Let's just get this over with," Rei says.

"Hang on, just quickly… wrinkles and stuff." Minako reaches over anxiously to smooth non-existent wrinkles on Rei's sleeves.

"You missed one."

"Where?"

"On your forehead."

Minako giggles, despite herself. "Shut up."

Rei sees Minako's shoulders relax, and she feels a little relieved herself. If Minako loses confidence, there is no hope for any of them.

"Rei? Can you try not to scare him please?"

Sigh.

"Only because you asked nicely."

Hooked arm in arm, they step out of the bookstore and head to the restaurant across the street.

Time to get the show on the road.

End Note: Oh yeah, the dress Rei is wearing in this chapter is the exact same one she wore at the Dead Moon Circus carnival thingy in Eternal (Part 1) during her arc lol.