12. Third Wheel

If there was one thing that Mamoru despised more than anything, it was being a third wheel. It wasn't that he hated being reminded of his single status - although he wouldn't consider that encouraging either. No, it was being the odd one out that bothered him the most.

The moment that Motoki invited him to tag along with his date on Reika, he knew it was going to be a bad idea. He had used every single excuse in the book to get out of it, starting with the classic 'I'm busy', 'I made plans already', and had even gone so far as to throw in the 'I-contracted-a-deadly-disease-that-I-would-hate-to-spread-to-you' excuse. But Motoki wouldn't have it. He had insisted.

And that was how he ended up at the fair, surrounded by a mob of people, and wishing every moment that a teleportation device would magically appear to send him home.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Motoki and Reika holding hands and nestled close to one another. He slowed his walk to give the couple some space, shoving his hands into the recesses of his jacket pockets. From an outsider's perspective, one might have guessed that the frown on his face was an indication of his disapproval towards his friend's relationship. But that one would have been wrong.

He was happy that Motoki had found someone - he really was. But after practically dragging him here against his protests, he had come to realize that he might as well be invisible to the two lovebirds. Maybe love is blind, he thought to himself.

"Would my cuddle muffin like anything to drink? We could share a smoothie," he heard Motoki ask.

"Only if you pay for it, sugar bear," teased Reika.

Mamoru grimaced. Okay, so being supportive didn't mean he had to stick around and listen to the couple exchange sickly-sweet nicknames for each other. He slowed his walk to a halt, watching as his friends made their way towards a concession stand, before quickly darting behind a large tent. He breathed in relief, thankful that they hadn't noticed his disappearance, and grateful to have escaped the party.

"Who are you spying on, baka?" a voice suddenly called from behind him.

He tensed at the voice, thinking that he had been found out, before realizing that it was only Usagi.

Regaining his sense of collectedness, he replied "I'm not spying on anyone." He flinched at his unconvincing tone.

"Sure you're not. That's why you're standing here looking all suspicious, and jumping like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar when I called you." She folded her arms over her chest and gave him one his own signature smirks to show that she knew she was right.

"I wasn't spying," he sighed. "Motoki asked me to come with him today, but I guess he forgot all about inviting me as soon as Reika showed up. I figured since they barely noticed me while I was there, they'd hardly miss me if I was gone." He smiled and added, "I'm beginning to think he just wanted me as their chauffeur."

She giggled. "At least that's one thing you're good for."

"So who are you here with? Don't tell me you came here alone." His eyes searched behind her for signs of her usual crowd, but came up blank.

She shook her head. "I originally came here with my friend, Naru. But then we bumped into Umino - one of my classmates. They started talking and… well, I think they actually like each other. She wrinkled her nose. "Anyway, I left before they could start planning out baby names."

Mamoru chuckled. "Join the party. We both somehow inadvertently became third wheels and ditched the wagon before things got bumpy."

"We are such great friends," laughed Usagi. On the spur of the moment, she added, "While we're here, why don't we go explore the rest of the fair?"

Mamoru looked down at the hand she was offering. She was smiling nervously, and he noticed a light blush tinting her cheeks. For a moment, his mind drifted towards the empty apartment that he had been so eager to get back to earlier, but he quickly shook away the thought. Grabbing onto her hand, he returned her smile.

"Lead the way."

As Usagi pulled him back into the bustling crowd, chattering away animately and pointing out everything she saw, Mamoru reflected on the unlikely circumstance that brought them together. Maybe being a third wheel wasn't so bad after all, he thought. Especially if this wheel met another along the way.

I apologize for not being able to update sooner. There has been a lot going on in my personal life recently, but I don't want anyone to think that I've abandoned this project. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the next few drabbles soon. Until then, leave a review!