I am back far sooner than I had thought, but after the kind words from my biggest fan and cheer squad, I just HAD to write this tonight!

May get another update tonight, might not. Shout out to Chrissy for being amazing and reviewing all my chapters!

Mamoru lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't know how long he had slept for, but he felt like he'd been awake for most of the night. When he finally decided to turn and look at his alarm clock, it was 10:25am.

He had replayed the events from yesterday over and over, trying to recall every little detail. Even the ones that made his heart ache. Even though it made him feel like a scoundrel, he liked having his arm so close to Usagi. Her body was warm like a small camp fire, and he could smell her shampoo - it was sakura scented.

Then he remembered how he had accidentally said too much. I might not be there to help you again, and I'd hate it if you got hurt. Why did he say that? He knew that was how he felt, but he couldn't believe that he actually admitted it to Usagi.

She probably thought he was some kind of psychopath who drew girls in with a change of heart then murdered them in their sleep.

"Okay, that was a little extreme there Chiba."

Then he remembered that beautiful smile she had given him when she corrected him. Her porcelain skin was turned translucent in the harsh street light, but it made her small freckles stand out, and her eyes shined like a sea of sapphires.

"I can't stand it anymore, it's too much." Mamoru murmured aloud.

Then, he had a brilliant idea.

He leapt out of bed, quickly showered, shaved, drowned himself in cologne and dashed out the door. He made it to the arcade by 12, and he knew she would be there. Though, he did not enter the building. He wanted to see her, see what she liked, how she interacted with her friends.

Like it was on cue, Usagi exited the building with Minako and Makoto on her heels.

"I'm so hungry!" Usagi groaned. "Where do you guys wanna go? The crepe parlour? Maybe to a burger place?"

"How about we try something new?" Minako suggested. "It could be a new secret place, just for the three of us."

"I like that idea Minako!" Makoto cheered. "Just us three, the hopeless romantics."

"I wouldn't exactly call Usagi a romantic." Minako giggled.

"That's not nice Minako-chan." Usagi wept. Mamoru couldn't help but smile.

He kept a block or two away from the girls, giving him perfect cover so they wouldn't see him in the crowds.
"This may look like stalking, and it may be, but I need to get to know her better, and she still doesn't trust me."

After about an hour of following them through the winding streets, Mamoru started to pick up on places Usagi did and didn't like, and they were almost so obvious that it wouldn't seem like he was stalking her if she went on a date with him.

"Remember Mamoru, it's a pretty big IF at this point. Hopefully my plan works."

When the girls ducked into a cute little coffee shop, Mamoru began speed walking to the park. He knew a fact that the girls would walk through there soon, it was the quickest way to Rei's house and he had overheard them talking about meeting there after lunch. Mamoru took a seat on the edge of the fountain and took out a small book from his pocket. He hadn't intentionally brought it along with him, it was only a book Motoki had suggested to him, but he thought it would have been a great cover up. He flicked to the first chapter and began to read.

He had just finished reading the fourth chapter, it was actually starting to get interesting, when he heard the girls giggling in the distance. He kept his eyes focused on the pages, but he no longer read. He waited patiently for them to get closer.

"Hey, it's that Mamoru?" He hear Minako whisper a little too loudly. "Hey there Mamoru!"

Mamoru looked up from the book and tried to pull an annoyed face.

"Think you guys can be any louder? This place was peaceful before you arrived."
"Maybe that was a little too mean, champ."

"You know you love us being around!" Makoto beamed, poking Mamoru in the shoulder.

"Only on the odd occasion, I suppose." Mamoru shrugged, giving the girls a wink. Minako and Makoto giggled, Usagi only blushed and looked away.

"What're you up to?" Makoto asked, plonking down next to him.

"Just reading, I was enjoying the quiet but you sort of ruined it." Mamoru replied.

"If wanna get rid of us that badly, just tell us to scram." Makoto shrugged.

"Hey, Odango, you've been awfully quiet." Mamoru said. "No wait, Motoki said I have to call you Usagi now."

"I've got nothing to say, is all." Usagi pouted, the blush still obvious on her cheeks.

"We should really get going, we don't wanna be late to Rei's." Minako said.

"I'll catch up with you guys in a minute, I think I see my friend Naru over there and I wanna say hi!" Usagi said.

"Okay Usagi, don't chat too long." Makoto said, standing up from the fountain. "Bye Mamoru!"

Mamoru waved goodbye to the two retreating girls, when he turned back to see his plan had failed he saw Usagi still standing in front of him.

"She...lied? Just to talk to me?"

"Weren't you going to say hello to a friend.?" Mamoru asked.

"I wanted to thank you for walking me home yesterday, again, my parents are really grateful. They want you to stop by the house one day soon so they can thank you too." Usagi said, looking at her shoes.

"There's no need, it's all in a day's work for a gentlemen." Mamoru waved her off. "Make sure it doesn't happen again tonight, keep an eye on that clock silly Usagi."

Usagi laughed lightly. "I'm serious, thank you Mamoru. I feel like I owe you something."

"Bingo."

"Well, how about you go on a date with me?"

Usagi flushed bright pink. "W-what?!"

"Well, I was a gentleman for you yesterday, you should be a lady for me. Treat me to your company. That's what they used to do. Don't take it as a romantic thing, though. It'll be more like two friends hanging out."

"But maybe I can charm you into it becoming a romantic thing."

"W-well...I don't know...I've never been on a date."

"Hey, I said it wasn't romantic. Let's not call it a date, let's call it a...catch up."

"Well...okay then. Are you free tomorrow?"

"Yes! Okay, play it easy, play it cool, you don't want to look desperate."

"Only after 1pm, does that suit you? I'll pick you up from your house, your parents can thank me either when I pick you up or when I drop you off."

"Sure, that sounds swell to me." Usagi smiled. "I have to go catch up to my friends, I'll see you tomorrow. It'll be your shout, right?"

"Of course, whatever the lady wants to do."

Usagi blushed again, smiled, waved, and ran off down the path in the direction her friends went.

Mamoru could barely contain his excitement, but had to hold it in until he reached his apartment. Once he did, however, he threw the book Motoki gave him at the wall and hollered for joy. After cheering and celebrating to himself for what must have only been 5 minutes, he flopped onto the couch and stared at the ceiling, a goofy grin plastered on his face.