Usagi swung her feet, her shoes rasping over the peanut shells covering the concrete. She was at a baseball game with her friends, and though she honestly had no idea who was winning, she was having a great time. The sun was shining, warming her skin, and she watched with fascination as the athletes on the field below them ran across the green, green grass.

The only dark spot in her day was Mamoru, who Motoki had practically had to drag along. "It's not healthy to sit in your apartment all day," the blonde had argued. "Come out and get some sun."

Oddly enough, the fact that Mamoru had no social life made Usagi sad. He had to be so lonely, and that knowledge stole any good feelings that gloating would have given her.

Now he sat beside her, sulking. She had done a good job of ignoring him so far, only ever turning to her right to talk to Mina-chan. Like her, Mina knew nothing about baseball, but she had been coming up with ways to entertain herself. No sooner than she'd thought this Mina squealed in delight, drawing Usagi's attention to her. She pointed at the big screen, and Usagi, following the direction of finger, read the words "Kiss Cam" in bold letters, surrounded by cartoon hearts. As she watched, footage of a middle-aged couple, decked out in sports gear, replaced the words. She saw the surprise on their faces as they saw themselves on the big screen, then the understanding, and, laughing, they kissed. Then the camera moved onto another couple in the stands.

Mina looked at Usagi, giggling in glee, and she suddenly saw the thoughts running through her friend's head. "Mina!" she half-gasped, half-scolded, though her heart pounded at the thought of kissing -

Beside her, Mamoru gasped, and her eyes flew to the big screen, only to see her own dumb-founded face staring back at her. Her friends were laughing, talking, whistling, even, but she could barely hear them over the pounding of blood in her ears as she turned towards Mamoru. His eyes were wide and shocked, his dark hair tousled from the wind, and she had never wanted him more than in this moment.

Damn it all, she thought fiercely, as she seized his collar in her fists and kissed him. As simple as that. As though she hadn't been fantasizing about this moment for weeks. Months, even.

And it was so much better than even her best fantasies.

Because he kissed her back, and she felt hot and cold and timid and bold all at once. She was drowning in his scent, in his taste, and even as she lost herself in him, she found herself too. She was kissing Chiba Mamoru, Chiba Mamoru. The man she was madly in love with was kissing her, was holding her waist with strong hands, pulling her closer.

Then someone cleared their throat, and she remembered, forcefully, her surroundings. She and Mamoru were not alone, in fact they were in public, their most intimate moment being broadcast to the thousands of people in the stadium. Blushing, she broke away with a gasp, looking first at Mamoru, at his swollen lips and messy hair, and then at Mina, holding her stomach as she laughed, and at Motoki, the throat-clearer, looking at her with an expression that said, Are you about done?

The answer was no, but Usagi could stop for now. For now. Crazy, panicked laughter bubbled up in her throat, as she found that everyone sitting around them was staring at her. No, her and Mamoru. Mamoru, who she had just kissed.

A warm hand clamped around hers and she looked over to see Mamoru holding it, an oddly calm expression on his face despite his messy appearance. He didn't look annoyed. In fact, he looked . . . happy. Really happy. She ignored the tittering of Ami, Rei, Mako, and Mina, ignored the smirk on Motoki's face, and instead just looked at Mamoru. He smiled at her, a small smile, but a real one none the less, and in that moment, she felt like she was on top of the world. On top of the world with Mamoru.