CHAPTER 11: Best Friends
"Usagi-chaaan!" Minako's bright voice was loud through the phone. Usagi couldn't stop the amused giggle that escaped her lips. "Hi, Minako-chan," she replied, happy that some things never seemed to change. No matter how absent she was, Minako was always just as warm.
"Do you want to ride with me to the concert tonight? The label gave me a limo to arrive in! Rei, Makoto, and Ami are coming too and we're going to get dinner first. Please say you'll come!"
Usagi looked to her bed and the several outfits she had laid out across the white blankets. Admittedly, Seiya's concert had been on her mind ever since he invited her. Now that the day was here, his presence on Earth felt a lot more real and permanent. But it wasn't just that, she realized. She was dying to hear more of his new songs and so curious to see him perform them. While he had given her a few invitations to return to the recording studio, he never invited her to any of his concert rehearsals. When she'd finally mustered up the courage to ask, with an apologetic frown, he said, "I want everything to be perfect before you see it." Sensing the nervousness in his response, she didn't push. In fact, she felt nervous for him.
"Usaaaagi!" Minako's voice was jarring, but it allowed Usagi's mind to finally loop back to the question that she had been asked.
"Let me think," she murmured, which she knew her friend did not want to hear. She missed her friends, she thought, but something about riding in a limousine without an exit to escape from their nosy questions about Seiya made her feel uneasy. Luckily for them, the hopefulness in Minako's voice and her desire to have dinner with her friends were very persuasive.
"Sure, Minako-chan," she answered with a smile. "What time?"
After they discussed a time and Usagi was able to cast her vote for what kind of pre-concert dinner their group would have, it was time for the pony-tailed blonde to play the waiting game. She checked the clock often, not wanting to get ready too early and sit around all dressed up, but her constant checking made the hours crawl by. Snacks, doodles, and dancing to music didn't really help. When she finally decided it was a decent time to start getting ready, her phone began to ring.
"Hi, Seiya-kun!" She pressed speaker and tossed the phone onto her bed. Picking up a short pink romper, she held it up to her body and looked at herself in the mirror as she told him, "I'm surprised you called me! I bet you're really busy today." She threw the garment back onto the bed. Too bright.
"I am. It's definitely been a long day." He let out a long, tired sigh. "I think I put too much on my schedule today. But anyway, do you need a ride to the show? I'm already at the venue, but Arashi can come pick you up."
She smiled at the offer, but answered with, "No thanks, Seiya-kun." She laid a jacket over a black dress on her bed and took a step back, giving the outfit a good look. "Minako-chan is coming to get me. Do you want to join us for dinner?"
"I wish I could, but I have soundcheck in a few minutes and then some interviews lined up. I'll be busy pretty much until show time."
"Ohh, wow. That sounds... stressful," Usagi said, looking down at the phone with concern. Seiya didn't respond, but she could hear his breathing.
"Seiya, are you okay?"
His "yes" was so quiet that she barely heard it.
"Are you nervous?"
His reply was quiet. "Yeah. This is really new for me."
"Is it? You're such a great singer, Seiya-kun, and your new music is really good! I know everyone's going to love it." She lowered her voice and gave a playful whisper, "It's better than the stuff that The Three Lights did."
He gave a soft laugh that made her smile. "Besides, you've done hundreds of performances before, haven't you?"
"Well, yeah…"
"Then I know you'll be fine! Just pretend like Yaten-kun and Taiki-kun are with you."
She heard his wistful sigh, and she could tell that he missed the other Starlights more than he let on. She closed her eyes and tried to picture how vulnerable he probably looked at that moment. He wasn't just performing without his friends for the first time. This was also the first time he was performing without the motivation of a mission behind him. He wasn't looking for his princess. This was just Seiya, his creativity, and his voice. Usagi glanced at the incense burner on her night stand.
"I'm sorry that they can't be here, Seiya-kun. I know you really miss them. I know if they were here, they'd be cheering you on." With a small small, she added gently, "If it's any consolation, I'll be there for you."
"I know you will, Usagi-chan. I don't think I'd be able to do this if you weren't there," he admitted.
"I'll always be there to cheer you on," she said brightly.
Seiya paused for some time before he asked in an uncertain voice, "Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything," she said, moving clothes to the side and sitting down on the bed.
"Will you stand where I can see you? In case I get nervous?"
A feeling Usagi couldn't identify washed over her. Her heart felt light and she felt tears welling in her eyes.
"Of course, Seiya. You can count on me."
A big sigh of relief came from the musician's lips, but he didn't speak. With a smile, Usagi asked, "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, a lot better. You're just what a needed."
With a newfound excitement in her belly, Usagi and Seiya said their goodbyes and the blonde quickly got back to getting ready for the night. She carefully styled her hair into her signature style and slipped on the outfit she had settled on. Spritzing a bit of perfume onto her neck, she stood in front of the mirror, giving herself a look. The black dress had a heart-shaped neckline that showed off the smooth skin on her collarbone and a hemline that stopped just above her knees. With a denim jacket over her shoulders, she bent down to zip up her black suede booties just as her phone began to ring.
"We're here!" Came the voices of her friends through Minako's phone.
"I'll be down in a minute," she said. She leaned over her vanity and scribbled a quick note before rolling it up and popping it into the red incense burner. Gently, she touched her fingers to her broach - laid open on her nightstand, the silver crystal exposed and shimmering - and closed her eyes. When she was sure her message had been sent, she quickly closed the broach with a click and pinned it to her jacket.
The message, which she imagined would be opened by a silver-haired sailor guardian clad in black, read:
Tonight is Seiya's first show. If you can talk to him, please wish him luck. He misses you.
The ride in the limousine wasn't as intimidating as Usagi had expected it to be. As she looked around, amazed at how beautiful all of her friends looked, she realized that she couldn't remember the last time they all got together for a night of fun. A thought like that would usually make her feel guilty (and maybe it did just a bit), but she found that she could focus more on being grateful for the time they did have instead of regretting the time that they didn't. As the girls crowded around a table at one of their favorite noodle spots, Usagi hoped that they could have more nights like these.
"I'm so excited to hear the new song live, Minako-chan! I heard the demo you sent, but I bet it's nothing like hearing it in person," Makoto said between bites of soba noodles.
Minako sighed a happy, dreamy sigh. The new song was such a great opportunity for her to get her name out there. "It's such a beautiful song, guys. He's so creative and talented, but he let me put my own touch on the song. Recording it was just so cool." Minako didn't eat much of her meal, but instead sipped from a cup of hot tea. "Usagi, you were there. What do you think of the new song?"
"Oh, I-uh," she stuttered, feeling put on the spot. "It's really beautiful. It was amazing to see it come to life after just hearing it in bits and pieces up until then." Usagi closed her eyes, briefly thinking of the first time she heard the chords from Seiya's guitar in her living room. "I think you made it extra special, Minako-chan."
Minako beamed with happiness. "Thank you, Usagi-chan!"
When the girls arrived at the venue in their limousine after dinner, they felt like real celebrities. As their group was escorted backstage by a large security guard, Usagi took in all the sights, sounds, and smells of the packed venue, and felt buzzed off of the energy of it all. When she peered out over the ledge, she could see the crowd full of women, chattering loudly under the dim lighting. Her friends watched as well, excitedly pointing out a popular soap actor and some well-known musicians drinking cocktails on a closed-off balcony. Usagi tried to follow her friend's conversations, but as she fidgeted with the zipper on her clutch, she could only wonder where Seiya was. Was he nervous? Did he need anyone to talk to? Was he able to find time to himself?
She blamed it on anticipation for the upcoming performance, but when she saw Seiya's figure emerge from a room backstage, she felt her heart beat a little faster. Her eyes scanned him up and down, taking in how Seiya now looked more like a rock star than a member of a teenage pop group. The man wore tight, black jeans with fashionable rips at the knees, a red t-shirt, a black blazer, and a thin black choker around his neck. His bangs were perfectly styled, and the rest of his hair hung down his back.
"Wow, this is a look!" Minako whistled, her hands on her hips. Seiya laughed, a bit of pink tinting his cheek.
"A good look, I hope," he said with a smile. Usagi could see the question in his gaze. Do I look okay?
"You look amazing, Seiya!" Rei called out.
Seiya gave each of Usagi's friends a hug before finally getting to her.
"Thank you," he murmured into her ear, giving her a tight squeeze. She held back the shiver she felt when his lips touched her ear.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss this for anything," she said, holding on to him tightly. He felt warm and smelled good, like a mixture of amber and the olive-scented incense in her bedroom.
"Not just for being here. Thank you for talking to Yaten." With a quick turn of his head, he pressed a small kiss to her cheek. It was so quick that one would have missed it if they blinked. She glanced over at her friends, and from their crossed conversations about the large crowd and the VIP guests, she assumed that they missed it.
Still feeling the warmth on her cheek, she watched him as she stood at the edge of the backstage area. His breathing was deep as he gave his limbs large, deliberate shakes. She smiled, wondering if he was shaking the jitters away. At that moment, he looked over his shoulders and met her eyes. Her answer was a raised eyebrow. He pointed to the spot that he was standing on. When she craned her neck, she could see what he meant. It was out of the view of the crowd, but in full view of the stage. The lights turned off and the crowd began to scream in anticipation. Moments later, the stage lights turned on and Seiya walked onto the stage, meeting the loud cheers and clapping of the audience.
"Let's move closer, " Usagi yelled, taking Minako's arm and pulling her to stand closer. She was no longer in the dark as the bright light from the stage spilled into that space, illuminating her. As she looked out onto the stage, she was enamored with how the colored lights danced off of the fog that seeped slowly from machines in front of the stage. When the music began, it shocked her how much she could feel it. The drums vibrated throughout her body like a second heartbeat. The way the crowd cheered and waved glowing, multi-colored lights made her feel like she was almost bursting with excitement. She couldn't imagine what it was like for Seiya, to experience the crowd and know that they were there for him.
After a few songs, the band paused to take in the applause and let the singer speak. Seiya, with a foot on the speaker in front of him, looked over the crowd with awe. Usagi couldn't stop herself from beaming at the singer as he stood there, sweating, panting, and grinning from ear to ear. His eyes glanced to the side of the stage as he lifted the microphone to his lips.
"Tonight I'm going to play my newest single," he began, interrupted by the screams of the women in the crowd. "But to do that, I want to invite a good friend of mine to the stage. Aino Minako, everyone!"
When he invited the blonde to the stage, Usagi was sure that Minako was glowing. Sure, she was decorated with dabs of highlighter and glitter in her hair, but the way she beamed with pride as she waved at the crowd made Usagi feel so happy for her. The pair sang to each other passionately, using their eyes and hands just as much as they used their voices. Usagi found herself closing her lids and swaying to the music, thinking back to watching them record it in the studio.
"Did Seiya ever tell you who this song is about?" Rei yelled into Usagi's ear, her breath hot against her neck. When she opened her eyes, she noticed the way that Rei's hat created a shadow in the dim lighting, concealing her purple eyes. She knew what Rei was thinking, but she shook her head. It didn't make sense, really. When she closed her eyes, this sad song brought an image of Mamoru to her mind, but she quickly brushed that thought away.
Rei nodded, but didn't say another word. Grateful, Usagi kept her attention on the musician the stage and the words that flowed from his lips. He sang about friends who made him feel like he was home, traveling, and family. Some of them made her dance. The darker ones, about hurting souls and lost friends, made her want to cry. The part of it all that made her want to weep the most was when she realized how much of himself he put into his songs. She wasn't ready for it to end.
When the music stopped and the stage lights were cut off, leaving it in total darkness, Seiya left the stage in a rush.
"That was amazing!" Makoto praised. He breathed out grateful thank yous, and then with his eyes on Usagi he said, "There's an after party across the street. I'll meet you there."
As Seiya disappeared down the hallway to freshen up, the girls left the hot and humid venue, breathing in the fresh night air as they crossed the street. With one look at Minako, the bouncer didn't bother checking the girls' names against his guest list, and simply let them inside.
"Did you see that, Minako-chan? You're famous!" Usagi gasped out.
After stopping by the bar and ordering drinks, the girls found a corner where they could observe the entire room. With excited eyes and hushed voices, the girls took in the crowd of musicians, actors, and other celebrities they never thought they would be in the same room with.
Rei was the boldest of them all, and after striking up a conversation with the young and handsome soap star she had spied on the balcony before the show, their groups intertwined with another. As Usagi tried to follow a conversation about the newest episode of a drama she had never seen, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back as Seiya leaned in and asked quietly, "Can we go outside and talk for a minute?"
She nodded, quietly slipping away from the group and following him to the doorway. She knew that she was being watched by violet eyes, but she would deal with that when she had to. When Seiya opened the door to the empty smoking patio, Usagi smiled, enjoying the feel of the cool air on her skin.
"You did an amazing job, Seiya," she gushed. "I'm so proud of you."
"That means so much to me, Odango." He smiled, and for the first time that day, he looked relieved. "Thank you so much for being here. I really couldn't have done anything of this without you."
"Of course I'm here. I'm your friend."
"It's not just tonight though. You've been such a supportive friend to me throughout this whole thing." When he rubbed the back of his neck, Usagi detected nerves from him.
"I believe in you, Seiya. I'm always here to support you."
Seiya reached into the pocket of his blazer and pulled out a small, thin box.
"I don't want you to think too much into this or anything. It's a friendly gift," he said reassuringly, handing it over. "I just really wanted to thank you."
Usagi took the box in her hands, giving it a once over before taking the lid off and spotting the simple yet elegant necklace inside. At the end of a thin, silver chain was a charm. The charm, a silhouette of a running rabbit, was smooth and glimmered in the incandescent light of the outdoor patio.
"This is so pretty, Seiya-kun!" She gasped out, pulling it out of the box and letting it hang from her hand. She stared at it for a long time before she finally said, "I can't accept this. This looks expensive."
"No, please. It's the least I can do after all of the kindness you've shown me."
Usagi smiled softly. She wasn't sure if it was his assurance that it was a platonic gift or the drink she had just set down, but it didn't take much for her to give in. With a nod and a smile she said, "Sure. This is such a thoughtful gift, Seiya-kun. Thank you."
"Do you need help putting it on?" He asked hopefully.
She simply nodded and held the chain out to him. Careful to avoid her long ponytails, he slipped the necklace around her throat, his nimble fingers clasping the chain. Stepping back to where he stood before, Seiya smiled as he looked at her. "It goes perfectly with your outfit," he said, admiring how the charm fell just above the heart-shaped neckline of her dress. When the patio door opened, Seiya took her hand and guided her out of the way, making room for a loud group as they found a spot to stand and light up their cigarettes. A girl with short, platinum-blonde hair and an arm covered in colorful tattoos looked over with a broad smile.
"Hey, Seiya-san," she called out. "Great concert!" She held up the black camera that hung around her neck with a questioning glance. "Can I take a picture of you and your girlfriend? I'm doing a photo story for Radio Star's online blog."
"Oh," the pair stuttered, looking at each other.
"She's not-" "I'm not-"
Usagi blushed when Seiya draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close.
"She's my best friend, not my girlfriend, but I'd love a picture."
The photographer chuckled with amusement as she held the camera to her eyes to snap a photo. After the shutter clicked, the photographer leaned back and looked at the photo on her screen.
"It looks great," she began. "I know you say you're just friends, but you look good together." Her playful wink drew an even deeper blush from Usagi, and she was grateful when Seiya moved away from her to take a look at the picture on the small view screen. He and the photographer began to talk about the story she was working on when the patio door opened, and Usagi's friends walked through.
"What are you all up to out here?" Rei asked, trying to play casual.
"Just talking and making new friends," Usagi said, gesturing to the photographer. She leaned toward Rei and spoke in a hushed voice, "I just want to remind you that you promised to lay off."
"I am laying off, Usagi. I said I wouldn't bug him, I didn't say I wouldn't be watching him."
Usagi rolled her eyes at her friend. Before she could argue, the photographer interrupted by asking, "Can I get a picture with all of you girls?"
Distracted, they all squeezed into the frame, smiling with drinks in their hand. Seiya quickly joined them, grinning as he stood by Minako. When the photo was done and the girls got back to talking, laughing, and drinking, Usagi was grateful that Rei stuck to her word. Though she felt like purple eyes followed her wherever she wandered, Rei never asked any embarrassing questions or said anything rude.
When Usagi was dropped off at her apartment at one o'clock in the morning, she gladly let Rei, Makoto, and Minako walk her to her door. Ami-chan had by taxi left long ago, explaining that she had an early morning. The girls spilled out of the black limousine, giggling and shushing each other as they stumbled up the steps up the apartment building.
"You guys can sleep here," she offered, leaning her head against the door frame. Her stomach was a little queasy and the ground wasn't as steady as she remembered it being.
"I can't. Gramps has an appointment in the morning I need to take him to," Rei said sadly.
"I have to go in to the bistro early and prep ingredients, I'm sorry," Makoto said with a frown.
She felt disappointed. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or the fun she had that night, but she wasn't ready to be alone.
Minako, visibly more drunk than Usagi, stumbled a bit before steadying herself on the wall. With an eye half closed, she murmured, "I... I will take you up on that."
She looked to Makoto and Rei and managed to slur out, "Just tell the driver I'm staying here and bye and to take you home and that he's a really good person." With muffled laughter, Usagi said goodnight to her other friends and ushered the drunk singer into her apartment. Minako, her dress shimmering and covered in sequins, threw herself onto the soft couch with a loud thump as her more sober friend headed for the kitchen.
"Here, drink some water, Minako-chan," Usagi said, coming back to the living room with two full glasses. When she saw the young woman, snoring on the couch in tall stilettos, she couldn't help but smile. After taking a moment to pull the strappy shoes off of Minako's pedicured feet and cover her with a blanket, Usagi sipped from her own water and sat down on the floor. Not ready to sleep, she opened the laptop that lay on her coffee table.
Moments later, her computer chimed. She accepted the video call and waited patiently for the picture to become clear.
Mamoru was on the other side. His hair looked rather disheveled, and he was dressed casually in a sweatshirt with his school's logo on the front. From the tired look in his blue eyes, Usagi could tell that he just woke up. She thought of how boyish he looked when he slept, and suddenly missed waking up with him.
"You're up late," Mamoru said, glancing at the time.
"I just got in. What time is it there?" Usagi asked, her brain just a bit too tired to do the math.
"Past eight in the morning." A curious look came across his face. "You look really nice, Usako. Is that necklace new?"
Usagi forced a smile and nodded. She knew what the right thing to say was, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. How could she explain that this beautiful gift was only a token of friendship? She said simply, "Hai. I got it today."
Mamoru smiled, "It suits you. Where did you go tonight?"
"Seiya's first concert was tonight. It was so much fun, Mamo-chan. He and Minako performed 'Goodbye' together, and then there was a big party afterward to celebrate." Her words weren't slurred, but she was finding it harder to keep her head up. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand.
"I can tell you had a lot of fun," he said. Usagi wasn't sure if there was a criticism in that statement, but she was too tipsy to analyze it. Suddenly, his nose was almost to the screen and he was laughing. "Is that Minako? It looks like she had fun too," he said, his voice lightening up. She looked behind her, realizing that her sleeping form was in the view of the camera.
"When she wakes up, tell her I said congratulations. You should send me a video of the performance if you can find one," he said. "And tell Seiya congratulations as well."
She gave him a small, grateful smile. "They'll be happy to hear from you."
"I'm really glad I caught you because I have some things we need to talk about. If you haven't had too much to drink, we need to make some decisions about coming to America."
This information caught Usagi off-guard. With raised eyebrows, she asked, "Oh?" Anxiety tugged at her stomach.
"I had a meeting yesterday with the Foreign Student Advisor, and there really isn't any way for you to live here until we get married," Mamoru said.
Usagi nodded slowly, suddenly feeling unprepared for this conversation. Maybe she was too drunk for this. "I see. So… what do you want to do?"
"If we get married this summer you might be able to be here by the time school starts again in the fall."
Cerulean eyes opened wide. "Summer? That's just a few months away."
"I know, Usako, but the longer we wait, the longer we're going to be separated." He gave her a questioning look. She knew this wasn't like her. Tsukino Usagi loved being in love and wanted more than anything to be a bride. Her hesitation was surprising even to herself.
I want you to promise me that you won't marry him if you're not in love, a voice said.
No, that's not it, she told herself. That's not why I'm holding back.
"Mamo-chan, I've always wanted a big wedding and that's not enough time to plan any wedding," she pointed out. "Besides, with how crazy your school load has been, do you really think it's a good idea for me to be there? I'm not going to distract you?"
Mamoru considered her words quietly as he looked to a pile of textbooks on his right. Finally he asked, "So if not this summer, what date do you have in mind?"
"I.. uh.. How long does the visa process take?"
Mamoru looked down at notes he had written. "A few weeks. Months, maybe. Our case isn't complicated."
Usagi sighed heavily. "I don't think my English is good enough to go to college there. I don't know, Mamo-chan. I'm really wondering if it's best to wait until after I graduate."
She watched his face, but was unable to read what he was feeling. It was a shock to her when he began to nod and said, "I think you have a good point, Usako. If you're that serious about school, it might be best for you to finish in Japan."
She wanted to celebrate, but didn't quite know why.
"I'll be back this summer, and after that maybe you can visit me here," he said. She expected him to sound more disappointed, but he actually sounded relieved.
"And in the meantime I can work on my English," she said with a small smile.
"I'd like us to still settle on a date," he said, his voice persistent. Mamoru liked to plan ahead, and this wasn't any different. He needed order and certainty. She knew he wouldn't let it go, so she bit her lip in thought and then quickly offered, "How about next June?"
"Next year?"
Usagi nodded seriously. "Yes."
"I thought you wanted to get married sooner than that."
"I do, but... is there really a rush, Mamo-chan? I miss you so much, but we're going to be together for the rest of our very, very long lives." She smiled gently. "I think I can wait a year knowing I'll be spending at least the next couple thousand with you."
With a smile, Mamoru said, "I do like the sound of that."
There was a comfortable silence as they sat in their shared relief. She glanced behind her just to be sure that Minako was still sleeping soundly, and then she asked, "Mamo-chan? Do you ever feel nervous about the future? Like, worried about messing it up?"
Usagi watched the initial surprise melt away from his face, and then his eyes lowered as he considered what she had said.
"Our situation is very unique, Usako. We've had the opportunity to see what the future looks like. It's been a blessing and a curse, hasn't it?"
"It has. On one hand I feel like we got some reassurance that in the end everything will be okay." She sighed softly, her voice growing small as she added, "But there's a lot of pressure to do things right in the meantime. We didn't get any directions on what to do."
"I feel it too, Usako. It's terrifying sometimes, but I know that we can do it together. We've seen it."
Mamoru turned at the knock on his door. The voice was far from the computer and Usagi's English wasn't the greatest, but she understood that the man was asking Mamoru if he wanted to go to breakfast.
"Oh, I'm-" Mamoru looked to Usagi who smiled tiredly into the camera.
"It's time for me to go to bed anyway. Enjoy your breakfast, Mamo-chan."
When Usagi lay in bed alone, looking up at the ceiling and running her thumb across the silver rabbit on her necklace, she thought about her video call with Mamoru. He seemed happy that she opened up to him. She was happy as well, but moreso, she felt relieved. Mamoru shared some of the pressure she felt. Maybe that bond would bring them closer to together. She sighed, hoping that was the case. When she closed her eyes, she pictured her small pinky finger intertwined with Seiya's.
It wasn't political. It's what she wanted. She wanted to be with Endymion for the rest of her life, raising their daughter together, faking sick to get out of formal banquets, and ruling their kingdom side-by-side. She imagined a towering crystalline structure, gleaming in the sunlight. From the top of that structure, so far up it nearly touched the clouds, Serenity watched the world below. Everything moved so quickly, but she stayed still, ageless, watching but not taking part.
Usagi sighed, shaking the vision away and sat up to take her necklace off. She set it down on her bedside table and then laid down on her side, closing her eyes. She was grateful that as she began to drift off to sleep, her mind wasn't preoccupied with Crystal Tokyo, but instead she heard the soothing sound of Seiya's voice, singing a song about feeling safe and at home. Her pleasant dreams brought her into the next morning, where instead of being woken up by the buzzing of her phone, the feel of a human body jumping onto her bed brought her out of her sleep.
"Usagi-chan!" Minako teased, lying on the empty side of the bed. Tired, groggy, and hungover, Usagi reached blindly, her fingers stretching and searching for the woman beside her.
"Buzz off," she groaned, trying to push Minako off of her bed.
"Nope, I can't," she said loudly. Usagi opened her eyes, blinking against the brightness of the sun filtering through her window. Minako's hair was wild and disheveled, but the frizz glowed in the light, making it look like she had a halo around her. Her eyes were accentuated by smudged eyeliner and running mascara. Her lipstick clung to her lips in patches. If she were a meaner friend, she'd let Minako know that she looked terrible.
"I need you to see how famous you are." She held her phone into Usagi's face. She squinted at the phone and then rolled her eyes, saying flatly, "It says you have no battery and it's shutting off."
"Ugh, typical," Minako grumbled. Usagi unlocked her own fully-charged phone and handed it to her friend. It took her a minute to find the website she was looking for before tossing the phone onto Usagi's stomach.
"I'm going to shower while you look at that. You look so cute!" Minako said with glee as she climbed off of the bed and made her way to the bathroom.
"The towels are in the closet," she called out as she read the top of the page, sitting up against the pillows.
KOU SEIYA CONCERT & AFTER-PARTY IN PICTURES
CLICK HERE TO START
The sound of the shower running filled the room as Usagi scrolled through photos from last night. It was a bit surreal to see something that she had experienced already on the internet. The first few photos were of him singing and playing guitar on stage. Usagi smiled to herself, recalling the first moment he stepped out in his new look. She noted the passion in his eyes when he sang, and the way his hair clung to his skin in the later shots.
After the photos of Seiya on stage, she got to the one that Minako must have been talking about. She recognized it as the photo that the photographer took of them shortly after she was given the necklace. Seiya's smile was so wide that it made her happy just to see it. With an arm draped over Usagi's shoulders, he looked into the lens with shining eyes. Her face was frozen into a shy laugh, and just as she'd feared, her cheeks were obviously flushed. As she squinted a bit, looking at the rabbit on her neck, she realized that Seiya was right. It did look good with her outfit. She glanced at the chain sitting on her nightstand and decided that she loved it.
She wasn't sure how long she stared at the photo for, enjoying the memory of that moment and that night. When Minako emerged from the bathroom, damp and refreshed, Usagi saved the photo and set her phone aside. She had such a great day with her dear friend, lounging in sweatpants and listening to music together. But sometimes when her friend wasn't looking, when she was really missing the sound of Seiya's voice or the warmth of his company, she would pick up her phone and peek at the picture.
It was a small thing, but it made her heart feel so full.