Notes: Episode 101, "Usagi in Tears! Glass Shoes for Her Birthday". Or, "The one where it seems like everyone's forgotten Usagi's birthday".

Episode 101

"I have to go to Rei-chan's!" Usagi suddenly declared, leaping to her feet. "Bye!"

Haruka couldn't resist a chuckle as she watched Usagi's quickly retreating back. "She really is cute."

Michiru allowed herself a smile. "A girl like that," she said with measured ease, "might be the owner of a talisman." She studied the back of Haruka's head, which recoiled slightly.

"Impossible."

"Oh?"

But Haruka didn't expound and Michiru didn't pursue. She shifted topics. "Forgetting his girlfriend's birthday. I hope Usagi teaches this Mamoru a lesson."

"He didn't run over her kitten, Michiru. It's just a birthday."

With her back to Michiru, Haruka missed the disapproval that flashed across her face, and Michiru's voice exposed nothing but polite interest. "You don't think birthdays are important?"

Haruka turned and shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. "Not really. It's just a day. Congratulations, you didn't die this year."

"How grim!" Michiru began to stroll through the park. Haruka quickly caught up and matched her stride. "It's that person's special day. It could be an opportunity to celebrate their life, wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah, it's not 'their day' though," Haruka argued. She watched two young children chase each other around the fountain. She did not watch as Michiru's eyelid twitched. "You share a birthday with what? Seven million people? Eight?"

"Nineteen," corrected Michiru.

"Nineteen!" Haruka threw her hands up to emphasize this very excellent point Michiru had just made. "Nobody owns it. It's just a day."

"But a day to show someone how special she is to you, perhaps?"

Haruka snorted. "Who needs a day for that? If someone's important to you, you should show them all the time."

"I see."

Two small words, but at the sound of them, Haruka's blood froze. She stopped in mid-step.

Michiru did not stop. A few seconds later, Haruka's brain managed to reestablish communication with her feet, and she jogged to catch up.

"I mean that's just my opinion," Haruka said in a rush, the words tumbling out of her mouth. Michiru continued to stare pleasantly straight ahead. "It's just never been a big deal to me." She laughed and rubbed the back of her head. "I don't even remember when my birthday IS half the time!"

"January 27," Michiru easily supplied.

Haruka laughed a bit too loudly. "Ha! Right! I, ah, I don't recall us talking about birthdays before."

"Mm."

"So, so if you told me when your birthday was, I don't—"

As though she had no care in the world, Michiru waved her hand dismissively at Haruka. "Oh don't worry about that. It's 'just a day', after all." She stopped and tilted her head. "My nineteen million friends and I probably won't remember it either."

Her eyes still focused forward, Michiru resumed her casual stroll through the park.

Haruka watched her go, the blonde's mouth opening and closing silently for several moments before everything rebooted and she was once again trailing behind Michiru. "When's your birthday?"

"Does it matter?"

"It matters."

"Well we'll just have to see, won't we?"

"Come on!"

No response.

"Michiru?"

No response.

"Please?"