***The Next Day***
"Motoki!"
"Mamoru! Did you come to find out about the date I set up for you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow? Umm yeah, ahem, about that..."
"Mamoru..."
Uhh, I kind of want to back out."
"WHY? Mamoru I told this girl about it already!"
"Well I kind of like someone. And if you just told this girl it was a blind date, well then, I'll find someone to go in my place."
"You like someone? And yes I did tell her it's a blind date, I want her to be surprised, but I think you are perfect for each other! Who is this girl you like all of a sudden?"
"Like I am going to tell you! You matchmaking psycho!"
"Mamoru! I am not going to break this date until you tell me who it is. Is it someone I know?"
"Yes." Sighed Mamoru. "You know her very well actually." He muttered.
"It's Usagi isn't it?"
"How? How did you...?" Mamoru stuttered out, his jaw dropping to the floor.
"Oh Mamoru. It was so obvious." Motoki said rolling his eyes.
"It's the way you tease her like little boys do, pulling little girl's hair to get their attention."
"Whatever! But you are going to cancel that date!"
"I don't have to!" Motoki replied with a chuckle.
"Motoki!" Mamoru whined.
"You baka! I set you up with Usa."
"You what? Usagi really? Wait, that means..."
~*~ FLASHBACK~*~
"And you don't have to worry about rejection because she already likes you".
"I know her?"
"Yes, and she's not just another member of your fan club either."
"Really?"
"Yes Mamoru, I'm sure it's much more than infatuation."
~*~ END OF FLASHBACK~*~
He just stood there, silent and shocked. Realization clearly written all over his handsome face.
"Glad you finally clued in Mamoru!" Motoki chuckled, giving Mamoru a pat on the back.
"How do you know she likes me?"
"She's like my kid sister. I noticed it in her too, and I must say she is much easier to manipulate than you are."
"This isn't a joke right? She really... likes me?" Mamoru said trying to push away any and all doubt filling his mind.
"No joke. Though I'm not entirely sure why. I mean, she loves a good argument and all, but I have seen her truly hurt over your thoughtless words more than once. If you really want her to feel completely the same way as you, you need to show her your sweet side. Start with that date."
"Yeah, your right. You know, I think I have been attracted to her this whole time, but apparently what goes on in my head has no affect on this big mouth of mine."
"Don't worry Mamoru. I think it's cute the way you tease her, just not when you get carried away."
"Arigato Motoki! You have really helped me."
"No problem buddy! See, I am not that bad of a matchmaker now am I?"
"I guess not!"
"Do you want help capturing her heart?" Motoki said smiling.
"No thanks, I think this should just be me. Sorry."
Mamoru said as he got up and quickly left the arcade leaving a very satisfied Motoki.
Mamoru arrived at the restaurant and looked at his watch, ten minutes early. He followed the waiter to his seat, sat down, and nervously took a sip of the cool water. He allowed the icy drink to help erase the sweat forming on his brow, and listened to the soft piano in the background to help him calm his nerves. He waited quietly, and nervously, for a good twenty minutes before he saw the blonde Odango appear at the front door on the other side of the restaurant.
'She has no idea it's me. What if she sees me and wants to leave? '
'Oh shut up! You have gone over this in your head for the last twenty minutes. Just do it, you have liked her for how long?'
'I know, just I really should have treated her better. It would have definitely made this easier.'
'Too late.'
He looked up and saw that Usagi was talking to the waiter, explaining her situation, and he watched as the waiter smiled and lead Usagi in his direction. He quickly got up and moved toward the restroom. He didn't want to have Usagi see him at first. He watched as she sat down in the opposite seat, looking quite nervous. She glanced around obviously trying to locate her mystery blind date.
After a few seconds he decided to just go for it. He approached his long time crush from behind, quickly conjured a rose, and held it in front of her. She jumped slightly in surprise and gently took the rose. He could tell, even from behind her, that she was smiling.
"Arigato..." Usagi said. She turned to face her mystery man and then stiffened at the sight before her. There he was, the mighty Mamoru-baka, standing behind her with eleven roses in hand.
"Mamoru? You're... Wait, you're just here to annoy me right? Motoki told you about this didn't he?"
"No Odango, I mean, Usagi. I am not here to annoy you."
"Then... what are you..."
"Usa, I'm your date for the evening." Mamoru said, enjoying the utterly shocked look on Usagi's face. He laughed lightly to himself and handed Usagi the remaining roses.
As Mamoru approached his seat, Usagi recalled the smile that had graced his beautiful face when he handed her the roses. It was a smile that she had never seen before. (Not that she had even really seen many smiles from him in the first place.) Mamoru made a small gesture and the waiter approached their table.
"Would you like those put in water miss?"
"Oh, yes, arigato." Usagi mumbled, still suffering slightly from the massive shock.
"No problem. May I also interest you in a beverage to start?"
Usagi quickly picked up her menu and decided on an iced tea. Mamoru ordered the specialty coffee and asked if they could share an appetiser. The waiter nodded and left the two alone. Usagi seemed nervous, so Mamoru decided to leave the sappy confessions for later that night.
"So, Usagi, are you going to kill Motoki for setting you up on a date with your worst enemy?"
Mamoru asked, as he nervously started playing with his napkin.
"Maybe a little bit." Usagi giggled. "Though I don't think I can punish him to bad, your actually not being a baka tonight. What was with the roses? Are you sick?"
Mamoru couldn't help but laugh.
"No, Usa. I am not sick. I was talking with Motoki, and I have decided that, even though I will still tease you, I want to become your friend."
"Really, wow I never thought I would see the day! Are you still going to call me Odango? I could really live without that you know." Usagi replied.
"I'm afraid that is one thing I cannot do Odango".
"Why?" Usagi whined.
"Because, you're just so cute when you get mad."
Usagi immediately blushed at his comment, and Mamoru couldn't believe he had actually just said those words to her. Oh he was on a roll now! Next thing you know he will ruin the whole evening by suddenly confessing his great love to the confused girl across from him. He could tell Usagi was feeling mixed emotions right about now. But who could blame her, she is having dinner, a blind date, with a guy she supposedly hates, the guy who constantly teases her and puts her down. Usagi quickly recovered from her blushing incident, and Mamoru could feel her eyes on him. He looked into her gorgeous, bright blue eyes.
The waiter arrived with the appetiser providing Usagi with a distraction from the last comment, which Mamoru was eternally grateful for. But somehow his mouth decided that wasn't enough.
"You know Usa, I never teased you because I actually believe those things I say about you. I actually think you're a rather amazing girl."
"Mamoru, how come you weren't shocked when you found out I was your date?" Usagi asked as she began to play with her food out of distraction.
"I was, I just found out before we met here."
"You mean, Motoki told you?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Mamoru chuckled.
"Then why did you do this? I mean, it's ME." Usagi said pointing to herself, completely baffled by Mamoru's actions.
"I thought that maybe we should get to know each other. Don't you think Usa?"
"But I thought you hated me?"
"I don't hate you, never have. Like I said you're just really cute when you're mad." Mamoru replied, blushing ever so slightly.
Usagi also blushed. "I don't hate you either, though I can't say I really enjoy the teasing. I like you better this way."
"What way?" Mamoru asked chuckling.
"Polite, considerate, not calling me Odango as much..."
"Don't forget the flowers." Mamoru added.
Usagi giggled. "Yes of course, and the flowers."
A little while later Mamoru and Usagi finished their meals. Surprisingly enough Mamoru and Usagi didn't run out of things to talk about. Usagi started to see Mamoru's funny side; she couldn't help but feel even more attracted to the upperclassman. As for Mamoru, he was delighted to see Usagi's intellectual side. He knew it was in that beautiful body somewhere.
"Can I get you two some dessert this evening?" the waiter asked as he approached the happy couple.
Usagi immediately perked up and reached for the new menu.
"Oh Ye..."
"Actually, I have other plans Odango." Mamoru said smiling a somewhat evil smile as he softly pushed Usagi's arm back down. "The check will be just fine, thank you." Mamoru said politely to the waiter.
"I knew this was too good to be true." Usagi sighed. "Torture by no dessert."
"Relax Usa, I am taking you elsewhere for dessert." He winked.
Usagi once again sported a look of confusion, which, according to Mamoru, is one of her cutest facial expressions. Mamoru paid for the meal and led Usagi to his motor bike.
"Oh my God! You actually drive one of those?" Usagi exclaimed.
She had always heard Mamoru bragging about his 'baby', she thought it would have been a piece of junk. But no, this was a brand new bike, shiny and blood red. It looked so cool; there was no way she was declining a ride on that, even if she would have to hold on to him the whole way to their mystery destination.
'Hmm, that actually doesn't sound that bad anyway...' Usagi thought to herself.
'Oooh, maybe the girls are right, maybe I have a teeny, tiny crush on him. But I mean, who doesn't?'
"Odango! Are you coming or what?" Mamoru practically yelled over the roaring engine.
Usagi fell out of her daze and focused back on reality. Wonderful reality. Mamoru smiled and handed her a helmet. She put it on and climbed onto the back of the motorcycle.
"Hold on tight Odango, we can't afford any klutz attacks on this thing." Mamoru said laughing.
"Ha ha, very funny Mamoru!"
"Still, hold on tight. This thing goes pretty fast."
Mamoru started the ignition, and before she knew it, Usagi was cruising down the street grasping onto the hunky driver for dear life.
After the second set of lights, Mamoru turned his head for a brief moment to check on Usagi.
"Having fun yet?" He yelled back to her.
"Heck yes! This is awesome!"
"Glad you like it Odango!" Mamoru smiled to himself after seeing Usagi scrunch up her face for calling her Odango again.
Throughout the ride all Usagi could do was admire the scenery, and think about the man sitting in front of her. She had trouble fighting of the feelings flooding into her, all because of one day that he is nice to her. Okay, to be real, yes she had a tiny crush on him all along. But it was always suppressed by his teasing. She could definitely get used to this new Mamoru.
While Usagi was sifting through her feelings, Mamoru was also thinking about a certain someone sitting in the seat behind him. A certain someone who was holding on pretty tight to his waist. All he could think about was how nice it felt. He had liked her for so long and longed for her to touch him. This was the most contact they have had, (not including the usual collisions every morning, those were unintentional) and Mamoru decided that this was not going to satisfy him.
Soon, Mamoru slowed the bike and parked in front of the mystery location.
"It's so pretty! But, is this where we are eating dessert?"
"No Odango, this is just a little detour."
"It's so pretty Mamoru! Perfect timing too, it's just starting!" Usagi exclaimed, then reached out and grabbed Mamoru's arm.
"Whoa! Okay Odango! I'm coming! Slow down!"