Smiles are strange. It was like a magical spell placed upon someone's face that could entrance others into believing every uttered expression. Rei realized this at a very young when she watched people and their inspired eyes when they would come around her father whose beaming face gave the people of Japan hope but his home nothing but an expression of deep sadness.
From an early age, she learned that not all smiles were authentic and should not always be taken at face value. Her father was fond of making promises, but most of them were either empty lies or half-hearted commitments that he regretted later. Nevertheless, he always had a smile on his face and his eyes betrayed no hint of deceit.
Maybe that's why Papa believes he's tried so hard with me…
Although her father wasn't a bad person, he had a tendency to believe in unrealistic ideas. When she was young, he would come home and talk about his plans to make Japan the leading country in the world. Her mother would always laugh and offer words of encouragement to him, and she couldn't help but be swayed by his powerful delivery.
She too had a smile that told lies. Her mother was beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale, with long dark hair and fair skin… maybe what Snow White was meant to look like. For her husband, Rei's mother could smile even when she was broken hearted because Japan meant more to him than his family. Than his wife.
"Mama, why do you cry when papa leaves?"
Rei's heart ached as she remembered her mother's response when she asked why she always smiled for her husband, even though she was hurting inside. "Mama smiled," she referred to herself in third person, "because it's the only thing I can give him that no one else can copy. My smile. My heart and my soul." Her mother's eyes filled with tears as she explained that she smiled because she loved him, and she didn't want him to worry. She knew that her smile was the only thing that could bring him happiness, and she couldn't bear to take that away from him. It was a tragic reminder of the sacrifices that her mother had made for the ones she loved.
Rei didn't understand it back then any more than she did now. For some reason, though, the memory kept coming back that morning until now as she walked through the park with a boy that had been kidnapping her every day since the tea ceremony to try and get her to hang out with him.
"Look, Hino-san! The lake is right over there!" he exclaimed, flashing her a dazzling smile. As he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, she felt a bit uncomfortable but didn't say anything. He quickly ran towards the rental boat area, tossing his shirt into some nearby bushes. Within seconds, he returned with life vests for them both, his eyes shining with excitement like a rat who had just spotted a block of cheese in the open with no obstacles in its way.
Rei was interrupted by Torajiro-san as he quickly threw a life jacket on her. She had been questioning if their current plan was smart, especially since she was only wearing a white dress and summer hat, not exactly park attire.
Rei noticed Astra's smile as he greeted him with a high-pitched "Hino-san!" It sounded almost like a whiny sing-song voice, but there was also a hint of excitement in it. However, there didn't seem to be much else to say between them as they both stood in silence. Rei couldn't help but wonder why Astra had wanted to meet with him in the first place. "Don't think so much… just run with the flow."
For some reason, she could see Minako and Ami saying something similar and chose to let go of whatever was keeping her from doing something out of her mind.
"This better be as fun as you say…"
As he laughed, he pulled her closer to him. He promised to always be truthful with her. His smile resembled her father's, but with a wild and cunning look in his eyes like a predator about to strike. She felt vulnerable in his embrace, but also thrilled by his energy. His blonde hair flowed in the wind as his playful green eyes looked at her with honesty. Unlike her parents, his smile reached all the way up to his eyes.
"Oh so you must be Rei-chan?" Another female voice called out to them. A pretty girl with eyes the exact shape of her own, this girl must be his friend.
Torajiro turned to the voice and his smile changed a bit. It got softer and his eyes dilated just a bit. "When did you get back to Japan, Eri?"
That's right… she's that idol… the one that got famous after that L organization was found out.
"Yes, I'm back, Astra!" the girl with pink hair exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. But as Rei observed her closely, she noticed that the girl seemed to be trying to mask her happiness, as if she didn't want Astra to realize how excited she was to see him. Rei recognized the behavior, as she often did the same thing with her own friends, pretending to be exasperated when she was actually thrilled to see them
."Geez… don't call me that in front of Hino-san."
Eri's eyes narrowed as a Cheshire Cat smile appeared on her face. "Ooh… is that your girlfriend?" Torajiro began to sweat as he pulled Rei by her hand.
Pointing to the guy next to Eri, Torajiro almost spoke accusingly at him. "Who is this?! Your boyfriend?" The man was tall, quite the looker, and the exact opposite of Astra. He appeared to be a bit older than Eri and had this imposing nature about how he stood even as he smirked at Astra's words.
"Just my…" Eri paused as if she had to think about it, "entourage, er, maybe that's not the word. He's my partner."
So… her boyfriend, Rei translated. Eri scratched the back of her head as the partner looked away from her, started messing with his phone, and walked away to start talking. Almost seeming relieved, Eri ran over to the two of them. "It really is you… you are really Rei Hino." Eri seemed as shocked as she seemed excited and relieved all at the same time.
She walked around Rei and seemed to examine her cautiously then gave a thumbs up to Astra in what seemed to be a sign of approval. Rei's eyes involuntarily twitched. "You're even prettier in real life. I've always wanted to be like you. You're an idol even to idols."
Eri's smile caught her off guard. She looked sincere but also a bit insecure as she spoke.
Rei's school persona kicked in as she responded, "Thank you for your kindness." She felt reserved around Eri and Astra, as she didn't know them as well as Mamoru or the sailor senshi. "Your words are too sweet."
"Oh wow!" Eri's face turned bright red. "You really do talk like a princess in real life!"
"An idol, such as yourself, being so kind to me is a bit much for my heart."
"Oh I didn't realize… I'm so sorry!" Eri threw her arms up dramatically as to show how apologetic she was feeling. "Next time, give me an explosive punch to make yourself feel better!"
An explosive punch?! Rei almost broke character. She imagined herself attacking this poor girl just because she felt a tinge of regrettable emotions. She smiled gingerly and almost allowed the charisma she'd seen Haruka use come out when she touched the side of Eri's face but stopped herself and held onto the arm of Astra instead. "You're cute." The smile she held felt like her father's though and it disgusted her.
Rei inherited her father's strong genetics, evident in her smile. She not only carried the title of a politician's daughter but also possessed the same charisma and skills as her father when meeting new people. Rei valued being well-liked, even if she didn't necessarily like those who adored her. In school, she approached tasks, such as helping different clubs or acting as class president, with the same tactics as a politician.
The person that Usagi and the senshi saw was not the same as what most people saw. While most saw a politician's daughter, they saw a girl who could be disagreeable, tough on the outside but cried herself to sleep on some nights.
"Wanna join us in the water?" Astra's voice cut through Rei's thoughts. She almost forgot that she had a life vest on until the partner came back and wrapped his arms around Eri's waist.
"Not this time, bruv!" The guy responded in English with a surprisingly very sharp British accent. "We got a reservation that we gotta get to, but it was jolly good time meetin' with chu."
Eri looked like the reservation was news to her, just as much as it was to Astra. Rei had to wonder if the look in their eyes said all the things that their lips couldn't say to each other when Eri nodded to her partner then waved a goodbye to the blonde Japanese boy named Astra.
Rei couldn't help but wonder if she and Torajiro were kindred spirits. She couldn't shake the feeling that Astra and Eri had a deep connection that went beyond friendship. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness in her heart as she thought back on the tea ceremony they had attended together. Is this the reason he couldn't choose a suitable partner for himself? Had Eri broken his heart the way Kaidou did hers? She pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on the present moment.
"Do you know her well?" She finally asked.
Astra looked away for a moment, stared at the boat that he readied for the two of them then looked at Rei and smiled the biggest smile. "I do."
Rei nodded but said nothing more as she got into the boat and remembered the last time she got in a boat with a male like this. It was with Mamoru. She remembered the last time she wore that white dress, which restaurant she'd worn it, and who it was with her. That was Kaidou. Rei remembered the last time she asked a question about another female and that person's smile being for someone else. Yuichiro. Astra had a smile that was different for Eri. A smile that was reserved only for her.
Rei smiled to herself as she allowed herself to be kidnapped by Astra for another day with plans he made for both of them. The water was calming and Astra played soft music from his smartphone. She didn't know how smart that was with them being in a middle of a lake. The water could surely destroy his phone.
The wind was soft and the world seemed to not care about there being issues in the world. She could suddenly see herself as a child and her mother, her father, and herself in a boat similar to this one. All three of them were smiling despite knowing that her mother would go to the hospital the next day. Their smiles fooled Rei that day. She remembered their smiles because her mom said that everything was okay because they were all together.
"We'll be together forever!" She remembered her father saying as he laid a hand on her head and kissed her mother on the forehead. His smile looked so genuine and he gave her mother a look that was only reserved for her.
Smiles are strange. She felt herself drift into a sleep and remembering the calming smiles the senshi had in their past life as they partied the night before their kingdom fell.
Even as these thoughts came upon her, she couldn't help but wonder if there was anyone out there who had a smile set only for her. What a foolish thought…
The boat ride was calming despite the memories. Rei smiled at Astra. "Thank you… you should kidnap me again sometime."
She heard him laugh. "It's not kidnapping if you come voluntarily."
She opened her eyes to see him smiling. She couldn't help but wonder if that smile was for her.
