Prologue
It was already past midnight, yet Usagi Tsukino felt restless and wide-awake. She gave up on trying to fall asleep and rose from her bed, taking the few steps needed to reach the kitchen. Usagi tied her long blonde hair in a messy bun and opened the fridge, frowning her eyebrows as she inspected her lack of choices. She made a quick mental list of groceries she needed to buy – which she was almost certain she'd forget by morning, and settled on making herself some tea.
With her bunny mug in hand, Usagi took a seat at her kitchen island, staring out the window from her apartment tower.
The full moon was out in that cold December night. It was snowing, and Usagi basked at the sight of snowflakes falling, as the white moon shone brightly against the blue night sky.
What a pretty sight, she thought to herself, before letting her mind wander, thinking about everything that had happened in the past few months – thinking about him.
Him with his deep blue eyes, perfect smile, and that thick dark hair she still couldn't believe she had run her hands through.
It had been five months since Mamoru's sudden return to Tokyo, after six long years studying abroad in the US.
Usagi took a sip of her tea, thinking back to her schoolgirl days, on how she and Mamoru would spend a good portion of their time together just bickering and bickering, taking turns at taking digs at each other. But no matter how big of a fight they had, both of them kept coming back for more. It was as if they couldn't allow themselves to be apart, despite it all.
And by the time Mamoru's farewell party came around, Usagi found herself unable to say goodbye, fighting back her tears as she ran home, ditching on her last chance to see him face to face.
They had little to no contact after he left, but Usagi occasionally heard Motoki, their mutual friend, talking about him, on how well his best friend was doing back in the States; with doing well definitely being an understatement when it came to Mamoru's achievements.
Mamoru had wrapped up his undergrad at none other than Harvard University, before moving straight ahead to medical school – which he graduated top of his class, of course. Given all his success, Usagi was sure Mamoru would be staying put where he was, and the thought of him not coming back would make her feel so sad, for reasons she never really wanted to dwell on.
Don't be silly, Usagi, she would tell herself, whenever she caught herself thinking of Mamoru. We parted as what … frenemies? Why think of him when he's clearly not thinking of you? And Usagi would proceed to shake away her thoughts of him.
Usagi looked at her now lukewarm tea. She grabbed a little journal and pen that laid on top of the table and started to scribble:
From enemies to strangers … to just friends?
Usagi put down her pen. "Yeah right, friends who happen to kiss," she huffed to no one.
Usagi rose from her seat in one sudden move and walked over to her window, leaning against it. She knew she shouldn't be feeling this way, not when it was her who clearly drew the line and pushed him to the other side. Still, did he have to agree to everything so easily? Like nothing about this was a big deal, like she was just another girl.
Maybe he really just doesn't care?
Usagi swallowed. But I clearly do.
In just five months, Mamoru Chiba had flipped her entire world upside down.
Usagi held her breath. She had no choice then. She would have to come clean to him. And she would do it tomorrow.