Mamoru's weary eyes took in the next chapter he had to study tonight. He had hoped the free coffee Motoki had given him would soothe the stinging in his tired eyes and clear the exhaustion fogging his brain, but to no avail.
Groaning, he propped his chin up with his ink-stained hands and let his eyes drift out the picture window. In a split second, he recognized a very familiar blonde, laughing with her friends, and standing on the pavement bordering the arcade. Seeing her in a moment of happiness, which he so rarely did, stirred up all the feelings he had been trying to ignore.
Usagi was pretty, no doubt about that. Her golden hair gleamed in the sunlight, and the school uniform that would look drab on anyone else only accentuated her slender frame. Her curling bangs framed her pale, heart-shaped face, and her blue eyes, ringed with long, thick lashes, well . . . they made Mamoru weak in the knees.
But even more than that, her love of life showed in everything she did. Mamoru called her childish, but really, he admired her spirit. The way she did what she loved, regardless of what anyone thought. That's what had drawn him to her in the first place.
Usagi and her friends entered the arcade, and Mamoru watched as she shook out her shining hair, her cheeks rosy, smiling wide, and her blue eyes twinkling with laughter. She was practically glowing. Sensing his eyes on her, she turned, and for one stunning, glorious moment, her passion and beauty were directed at him.
Mamoru gasped, all breath gone from his body. In that moment, he knew. He knew without a doubt what he had been trying to hide from all along. He loved Usagi Tsukino. With every fiber of his being, every breath in his body, with every beat of his heart, he loved her.
When Usagi realized who had been watching her, her smile faded. A scowl replaced it. Back to normal, it seemed.
Mamoru smiled to himself.
Maybe studying could wait.