Usagi walked into the arcade the following Monday. Today marked the beginning of "Plan Ignore Mamoru Baka".

"Hi Motoki," she smiled, "Usual please."

Mamoru watched in amusement, but also in secret sadness as she told Motoki all about her birthday weekend, Motoki nodding enthusiastically. She hadn't acknowledged him at all yet.

"Did you have a good birthday Odango?" That should get her attention.

"And then, just as we were leaving the park, Minako tripped over a small dog and fell flat on her face!" Usagi smacked the counter as she laughed. "It was so funny!"

"So you had a picnic for your birthday too?" Mamoru would not be ignored that easily.

"And after that, we went to see the new Shinto Amayo film. He's so good-looking, don't you think Motoki?"

Motoki laughed, "I honestly wouldn't know Usagi, I don't usually lust after men."

Usagi giggled, "If you say so Motoki," she said, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.

Motoki smacked her playfully with his tea towel, "What are you implying?" He chanced a look at Mamoru, and felt inwardly guilty at the look of hurt on his best friend's face. But, if this was Usagi's way of getting revenge, he was not going to get involved.

Over the course of the afternoon, Mamoru tried several things to get her attention. She was not going to win this one. By the time they were both ready to leave, he had tried everything. He had pulled her pigtails, poked her, tickled her, called her every insult he could think of, nicked her bag, slurped at her milkshake, hidden her milkshake, but all to no avail. She was still ignoring him. She wasn't even acknowledging that he was there.

Just as she was gathering her things to leave, he got the perfect idea.

As she turned to walk away, he grabbed her wrist so she fell against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her. Finally he broke away, and whispered against her lips, "Happy belated birthday Usagi."

He wasn't going to let the woman he loved ignore him.