It all started one day when Usagi, Harusuke, Makoto, and Ami were getting out of class, heading over to the shoe lockers.

"Man, I thought Class would never end," Usagi groaned. "It felt like Ms. Haruna was droning on."

"Well, at least we're out of school now," said Makoto. "Let's use what time we have at the arcade. I've been raring to play Battle Lap again!"

"Yeah! I agree!" Usagi spoke eagerly. "We can race against each other!"

"Now, hold on, girls. Need I remind you that we have to head over to Rei's for a study session?" scolded Ami. "We won't have time for the arcade."

Makoto and Usagi huffily pouted while Harusuke chuckled.

"Don't worry about it, you two," Harusuke smiled. "Maybe after our study session, we'll go play Battle Lap. My treat."

Then, as Harusuke opened up his shoe locker, he saw something that caught him by surprise. Usually, he always found his shoes, but there was something additional inside this time. Resting on top of them was a small white envelope, and upon seeing it, Harusuke wasn't smiling anymore. He took the envelope from his locker and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Say, Usagi, why don't you and the others go on ahead of me?" Harusuke asked. "Something just came up, and I've got to take care of it."

Usagi was puzzled. "Well, sure, but what did you need to take, Harusuke?" she asked. "We can wait for you."

"No, it's OK. I'll meet you guy's at Rei's place," insisted Harusuke. "Besides, I get the feeling this is going to take a while, so don't wait up for me."

Harusuke then dashed away, leaving Usagi, Ami, and Makoto, confused and curious. Knowing that something was up, the three girls silently began to follow Harusuke, making sure that he didn't sense them. As Harusuke walked down the hall, he stopped and looked around, ensuring no one could see him. Then, he took out the envelope that he found inside his locker and opened it while reading its contents.

"You see that? It looks like Harusuke's got a letter," said Ami. "I wonder who could have sent him that?"

"Hold on a minute," realized Usagi, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "That's not just a letter. I'm willing to bet that's a love letter!"

"A love letter?!" repeated Ami and Makoto with surprise.

"Well, yeah. It's so obvious," nodded Usagi with confidence. "Some girl in school must have given him a love letter telling him to meet her somewhere so that she can spill her guts about him!"

"Come on, Usagi. That can't be it," said Ami. "Maybe it's a letter from Ms. Haruna or something."

"But if Ms. Haruna wanted to talk to him, wouldn't it make sense for her to talk to him herself?" pointed out Makoto. "Besides, as much as I hate to admit, it does seem possible. I mean, Harusuke's a good-looking guy, so it's only natural that a couple of girls would be crushing on him, despite being Usagi's brother."

Usagi glared, but then, Harusuke was on the move again, walking down the halls and up the stairs until he came to the stairway leading to the school's roof. As soon as Harusuke walked through the door, Usagi and her group quietly snuck over to the door and peered through it and saw a surprising sight.

Harusuke was walking towards a young girl that wore their school uniform, had long red hair that went to her hips, and was glowing with shyness as she waited for him to approach.

"Sorry for the wait," apologized Harusuke. "Did I keep you waiting long?"

"N-No, I just got here myself," the girl spoke timidly. "I-I'm glad that you came."

"I knew it!" Usagi exclaimed while whispering. "Harusuke did get a love letter from that girl!"

"She sure looks cute, too," added Makoto. "Do any of you know who that girl is?"

"No idea," replied Ami.

"So what's up?" asked Harusuke. "It's not every day that someone calls me out on the rooftop like this."

The girl with red hair fidgeted where she stood there, glancing away yet stealing glances at Harusuke. "Well, y-you see, it's like this," she said. "There's something - that I have to tell you. Something that I've wanted to say ever since I saw you."

She paused for a brief moment, looking towards the ground. Then, she took a deep breath and blurted out these words.

"I love you! Likely really like you, Harusuke Tsukino!"

Usagi and her group went red in the face, while Harusuke's cheek went pink.

"Listen, I know that this may seem sudden, but I've always looked up to you," went on the girl. "You're pretty cool, smart, and are always looking out for people, and you also really care about your sister and all of your friends. So I guess what I'm getting at is, if you're not seeing anyone, would you please go out with me?"

Harusuke stood there, remaining silent for a brief moment, while Usagi, Makoto, Ami, and the girl held their breath.

Finally, Harusuke bowed politely before the girl. "I'm sorry," he spoke gently. "I appreciate your feelings, and I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I'm afraid I'll have to say no."

The girl seemed to stiffen in response, appearing hurt, while Usagi and the others were surprised.

"Please, understand, the problem isn't you; it's me," Harusuke spoke hastily. "The thing is, well, let's say that I've been through a bad breakup, and I haven't been able to shake it off as of late. Don't get me wrong, you're a charming girl for mustering up the courage to tell me your feelings, and I'm sure it must have taken a lot of courage to tell me your feelings, but - I'm..."

Harusuke then trailed off, being unable to finish his sentence. The girl appeared upset, staying silent, but then she smiled as she came up to Harusuke.

"It's OK, I understand," the girl spoke kindly. "I know that you have your reasons, and I can respect that. However, I also appreciate you telling me and being honest, and I'm sorry about your recent breakup."

"No, it's OK. You have nothing to apologize for," said Harusuke. "And, hey, there's a lot of guys out there that would love to date a girl like you. Especially one that's so sweet and honest."

The girl smiled. "Oh, stop it. You're just making me blush," she said. "Anyway, thank you for telling me, and I hope you get over your breakup soon."

Harusuke smiled kindly. "Thanks. I'll do my best," he replied.

And so the girl went on her way, leaving Harusuke alone on the rooftop. As soon as he was sure that the girl was gone, Harusuke walked over to the railing, staring off into the distance, his smile turning upside down as he let out a sigh. Then he looked towards the door.

"Usagi, you can come out now," Harusuke said. "I know you and the others are hiding behind there."

The ordango blonde and her friends came out of hiding and went to Harusuke.

"Sorry for spying on you like that," apologized Makoto. "We couldn't help it."

"Don't worry about it. Besides, I expected you guys to follow me, even though I should be scolding you right now," said Harusuke. "So, I take it you saw everything that happened?"

"Yeah, sorry, Bro," said Usagi. "But why didn't you say yes to that girl? I mean, she looked nice, and she seemed to like you a lot."

"Well, for one thing, she wasn't the girl I'm looking for," Harusuke replied quietly. "And for another, I... I have my reasons. Now, why don't you girls get going to Rei's place? I'll catch up with you guys later. So don't wait up, OK?"

And before Usagi and the others could say anything more, Harusuke walked away, disappearing into the staircase.


Meanwhile, Tomoe was watching a movie for his research on Daimons. It was of a couple having a date together at the amusement park. The two enjoyed going on rides, sampling the food, and even going through haunted houses.

"How sweet it is," Tomoe said to himself. "So sweet that I might get cavities."

At that moment, Eudial came into the room, and when she saw Tomoe watching the movie, she came over, curious as to what he was watching. When she saw the TV, she couldn't help but be surprised and amused.

"Say, Tomoe, I never expected you to be watching these kinds of movies," said Eudial. "They're way too sweet even for my standards."

"Well, it's all for the sake of research, so don't get the wrong idea," said Tomoe. "And watching this movie has reminded me of something that has alluded me until now. Love can make a person feel like a king, but it can also be blind. So, therefore, I propose that we look for someone with a pure heart who longs to have a beautiful relationship full of love."

"That would make sense," agreed Eudial. "Love is pure emotion, and if we find someone whose heart is full of it, then they must have a talisman."

"Then we mustn't have any time to spare," said Tomoe. "Take a Daimon with you and make sure that you find that Pure Heart."

"By the way, Tomoe, how is Magus Kaolinite?" asked Eudial as she took a vial. "I take it she's recovering well?"

"Yes. Everything is going rather smoothly," replied Tomoe. "It won't be long until she fully recuperates, but I'm willing to bet she's wondering on whether or not we've obtained a talisman or the light we seek. So, make sure that you find that pure heart as soon as possible. We don't want want to disappoint Magus Kaolinite and Master Pharoh 90, now do we?"

"No, we don't," said Eudial. "Don't worry, Tomoe. I'll find that Pure Heart this time."

And with that, Eudial departed while Tomoe turned back to the screen. He was about to turn it off when it came to a particular scene. The boy and the girl were standing by the lake, staring lovingly into each other's eyes. Then, they leaned in close, closed their eyes, and touched each other's lips in a kiss. Tomoe then gushed in delight, refixing his eyes to the screen.


Meanwhile, Harusuke was walking around Downtown, feeling glum and lost in his thoughts. As he walked around, he happened to walk past an outdoor cafe where he saw a couple having some tea and cake together. They both looked content and very cheerful. However, Harusuke tried not to pay any mind as he continued by himself.

As he did, he couldn't help but think about what had happened to him in the past when Zoisite tricked him. Harusuke could remember how happy he was despite not knowing the truth and how humiliated and heartbroken the boy ended up when he found out he'd go duped. Ever since that day, he had been keeping his distance when it came to the subject of romance, and the thought alone still made his heart hurt and a bit lonely.

He soon came to Juuban Park and hoped to have some alone time. But, unfortunately, he went to the wrong place at the wrong time. Everywhere he looked, he could see couples all over the place, acting lovey-dovey and enjoying their time together. Harusuke couldn't help but scowl in irritation as he tried his best to ignore them.

"Good grief. Of all the times for these couples to be showing up, it had to be today," Harusuke complained. "Although, I shouldn't be saying something like that just because I feel bad. Man, why do I feel so crummy today?"

Then, as Harusuke walked, he walked past Haruka and Michiru, who happened to be there simultaneously, the two noticing Harusuke right away.

"Yo, Harusuke," Haruka called. "What brings you this way?"

Harusuke then looked back. "Oh, hey, Haruka. Michiru," he mumbled. "I'm just wandering around, I guess."

"Is something the matter?" Michiru asked. "You look a little glum."

"Well, it's nothing really," replied Harusuke. "I was just hoping to get some alone time here, but it seems that I came at the wrong time."

Haruka and Michiru could see that Harusuke wasn't his usual self and wanted to cheer him up.

"Say, Michiru and I were going to go out for tea," said Haruka. "Why don't you come along with us, and we'll talk? It'll help you feel better."

Harusuke wasn't sure if he should, but he wanted to get away from the park with all the couples, so he agreed. "All right then," he said quietly. "Just for a little bit."


At the Hikawa Shrine, Usagi, Makoto, and Ami had just finished telling the others about Harusuke and the girl.

"No way! Someone confessed to Harusuke?!" exclaimed Rei.

"And Harusuke turned her down, too?!" gasped Minako.

"Yeah, and afterward, Harusuke looked sad," said Usagi. "We tried to talk to him, but he left before we could get a chance. Plus, I kinda felt we needed to give him some space."

"I'm still surprised that Harusuke turned down that girl the way he did," said Makoto. "Even I have to agree that girl was pretty cute."

"Now that you mention it, I heard that some of the girls at our school are quite smitten with Harusuke," said Ami. "As a result, he's received quite a few love letters from them."

"But if that's the case, then why doesn't Harusuke capitalize on his popularity?!" asked Minako indignantly. "Any guy would love to be in his position!"

"Come on, Minako. It's pretty obvious, or at least I think I know the reason," said Usagi. "Most likely, he's still hurting over what Zoisite did to him."

Everyone immediately looked at Usagi and remembered.

"Oh, man. I almost forgot about that," said Makoto.

"Yeah, me too," said Rei. "I still can't believe that Zoisite did that to him."

"Yep. As the saying goes, "Stab the body, and it will heal, but stab the heart, and the wound lasts a lifetime," said Minako. "I know that feeling all too well."

"That's... the first time you've said the right quote, Minako," said Artemis. "But, I'm not sure if I should be impressed or freaking out."

Minako glared at the white cat in a pout.

"He's probably lost confidence in himself and hasn't fully recovered from what Zoisite did," said Usagi. "I wish there were some way to help him feel better."

"Well, for the time being, I think that we should leave Harusuke alone for a bit," said Luna. "As you girls said before, there are times when a person needs to have their space. We can check on Harusuke a bit later."

Usagi and the girls could only silently agree as they resumed their study session.


Harusuke was now in a cafe with Haruka and Michiru, sitting at a table waiting for their order. Soon, the waitress came to their table and served them their tea.

"Don't worry about paying, by the way," reminded Haruka. "It's my treat."

"Oh, well, thank you very much," said Harusuke awkwardly.

Harusuke then took his cup, taking a small sip from it. Immediately, he felt his tongue tingle as the sweet nectar of the tea graced it. Then, trying not to show his surprise, he slowly lowered his cup.

"W-Wow. This tea is amazing," Harusuke murmured while staring at his cup.

"Isn't it? Haruka and I order this all the time. It's our favorite," smiled Michiru. "Now then, what's going on with you? You don't seem to be yourself today."

"Well, it isn't like anything's wrong," said Harusuke. "It's just... it's complicated. I honestly don't know if I should be talking about this, but I suppose you might as well know. You see, I had a girl confess to me earlier today, and I turned her down."

"Well, that's a surprise," said Michiru. "Didn't think you would let down a girl after that."

"Yeah, I had to let her down because I... let's just say that I have some personal issues," said Harusuke. "But I'm sure you two don't want to hear about that."

"Don't be so sure," said Haruka. "If something's bothering you, you can tell us. We're good listeners."

At first, Harusuke was silent, but talking about his problems did help him, so he decided to speak.

"Well, the thing is, I kind of had a bad experience when it comes to dating," said Harusuke. "There was this girl who asked me out a while back, and at first, I was nervous, but I gradually grew excited. The date went well, thanks to some advice from Usagi and the others, and it was going great, but it turned out - the girl - didn't like me and only wanted to hurt me."

"Oh my. How awful," Michiru spoke with condolement.

Even Haruka couldn't help but feel sorry for Harusuke. "Yeah, that's pretty rough. I'm sorry you had to go through that," she said. "Can't imagine how painful it must have felt for you."

"It's OK. It's nothing you need to apologize for," said Harusuke. "But it does make me wonder if what happened was my fault. I know Usagi and the others said it was something that I couldn't control, and I was just acting like any other boy, but - it still makes me feel like an idiot and wonder if it'll happen to me again. It scares me more than I thought it did."

Michiru then spoke kindly to Harusuke. "There's no reason to worry about that. You weren't wrong for following your heart, so you shouldn't feel bad over it. Some people in the world will try to take advantage of you for your kindness, but others would love someone like you. However, if you feel like you're not ready to fall in love, then take your time. There's no reason to rush when it comes to love. I'll bet when you do find that special someone, I'm sure she'll be lucky to have someone like you, especially since you're so kind and gentle."

Harusuke was surprised but flattered, feeling his cheeks warm up. "You think so?"

Michiru then held Harusuke's hand with a flirty smile. "Of course I do," she said. "But if you're looking for someone to help you get over your heartbreak over a date, I can fill the part."

Harusuke couldn't help but blush, his cheeks turning pink, and at the same time, he instinctively remembered back when he was kissed by Sailor Neptune the other night.

"Well... uh... um..." stammered Harusuke, fumbling over his words.

"Cut it out, Michiru. No need to tease the guy," said Haruka, as she sipped her tea.

"Who said I was teasing him?" giggled Michiru. "Maybe I've developed some feelings for him. I am rather fond of him as you are with Usagi."

Harusuke then smiled. "You two just never stop, do you?" he chuckled."But I appreciate the compliments all the same and the offer. I'll have to take you up on that." He then stood up from his chair. "Thanks for the tea, you two. Talking to you two helped me feel a bit better," he went on. "Now, I better be on my way. Usagi and the others are probably getting worried about me. Remind me to treat you two for tea sometime."

And while Michiru and Haruka waved goodbye, Harusuke went on his way, leaving the cafe.

"Well, you've certainly cheered him up," said Haruka. "Even though it was a bit overboard."

"No reason to feel jealous," said Michiru as she sipped on her tea. "I'm as affectionate with Harusuke as you are with Usagi. Besides, Harusuke's a charming and cute boy. It would have been a pity to let him continue with that frown on his face."

"So you say," smiled Haruka. "But forget, that kind of innocence shows that he has a pure heart. A pure heart that might have a talisman."

Michiru slowly lowered her teacup, not saying another word.


Later that night, Harusuke was in his room lying on his bed, still deep in thought, while trying to get some sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Michiru and Haruka, particularly Michiru. Finally, feeling annoyed that he couldn't get enough sleep, Harusuke got up, going out of his room and into the kitchen downstairs to get a drink of water.

He soon filled his cup and gulped it down, but as he walked back to his room, something caught his sight on the desk in the living room. It was a magazine with a picture of Michiru on it that had CROWN BEAUTIFUL on the cover. Taking an interest in the magazine, Harusuke took it back to his room and flipped through the pages as he sat on his bed. Eventually, he came to a page that showed an article about Michiru and a picture of her wearing a beautiful dress while playing the violin. As he stared at the page, he thought back to his interactions with Michiru and when Sailor Neptune kissed him. He then set the magazine down as he lay back in bed.

"Michiru Kaioh," Harusuke murmured to himself. "Now that I think about it, she looks just like Sailor Neptune and acts like her, too. Is that way I thought about that kiss when Michiru was teasing me?"

As he stared up into the ceiling, his eyes began to grow heavy, growing heavier until they finally closed, and then, he began to dream.


"Harusuke."

Harusuke turned around, hearing someone calling out to him, only finding himself staring face to face with Michiru. Before he could even speak, Michiru tenderly held his hand, her fingers interlocking with his, and sealed his lips with a kiss. As she pulled away, Harusuke's cheeks felt so hot; they could burst into flame as Michiru smiled teasingly. Then, as she turned around with a flip of her dress, Michiru mysteriously turned into Sailor Neptune and dashed away.

"Hey, wait! Come back!" Harusuke called as he reached out. "Who are you?! And why are you running away?!"

Sailor Neptune looked back as she ran, a neutral yet resolute look now on her face. "We don't have much time," she said. "There's a mission that we must complete without fail; we must gather the three talismans. The talismans. The three talismans. For the god of destruction."

Everything then went black. Then, Harusuke saw the town of Juuban, dyed red with destruction, and the air filled with death. Buildings were ruined and destroyed, and fire blazed across the landscape everywhere. Among the devastation, Sailor Moon and the other guardians, including himself as Solaris, lifeless on the ground, dead.

It seemed that this was a nightmare come to life, but then, a bright light shone, and inside of that light was a long and black sword with a gold jewel at the hilt.


Harusuke's eyes snapped up as he sat up, his heart pounding and his skin clammy, remembering the words of the dream.

"Talismans? God of Destruction? What does all that mean? And what was that sword I saw in that light? Could that have been - another vision?"

At the same time, Usagi and the other girls woke up with a fright, all of which had experienced the same dream.


The next day, Usagi and Harusuke went to the Game Center Crown. But as they went inside, the Tsukino siblings saw their friends, but they could see that all of them had worried frowns on their faces.

"Hey, you guys," greeted Usagi. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, why do you all look so worried?" asked Harusuke. "Did something happen?"

"We were all talking about a dream we had the other night," explained Makoto. "It was pretty scary."

Usagi and Harusuke gasped.

"Hold on, this dream wouldn't have happened to mention talismans, did it?" asked Usagi.

"And something about a god of destruction?" Harusuke also asked.

"So you both had the same dream as well," said Ami. "How bizarre."

"This can't be a coincidence," said Rei. "All of us having the same dream on the same night."

"I wonder what it could mean?" wondered Minako. "One thing's for sure, we better stay on our toes and be ready for any surprises."

At that moment, the doors opened, and Michiru walked in.

"Good morning, everyone," greeted Michiru. "Had a feeling I would find you all here."

"Michiru!" said Usagi. "What brings you here?"

"I was hoping that I could borrow your brother for a moment," said Michiru. "It'll only take a few minutes." She looked across to Harusuke. "Excuse me, Harusuke. May I speak with you a moment?"

Harusuke was a little surprised, but he complied, walking over to Michiru, and followed her outside. Usagi and the others watched in bewilderment and silently followed them outside, feeling curious.


Outside of the arcade, Michiru spoke to Harusuke.

"I'm sorry for calling you out of the blue like this, but I wanted to ask you something," said Michiru. "If you don't mind me taking much of your time."

"I don't mind at all," said Harusuke. "What's up?"

"Well, I remembered what we talked about the other day, and I had an idea," said Michiru. "You see, I have to go to a photoshoot for a magazine at an amusement park called Dream Land, and I was hoping that you would come with me."

"W-Wait, me? Go with you?" repeated Harusuke, his cheeks growing pink a bit. "But why me? I mean, wouldn't it make sense for you to take Haruka with you?"

"Yes, but she has to go to the racetrack to test drive a new car," said Michiru. "Plus, I thought that the two of us could go together."

"But are you sure? I mean, you and Haruka are - well, an item, right?" Harusuke spoke hesitantly. "I don't want to make Haruka jealous or anything."

"Don't worry, this isn't like an actual date, you know," reassured Michiru. "Besides, I already asked Haruka, and she's OK with it. And, if you think about it, this will be a learning experience for you. But I'll understand if you don't want to go."

Harusuke thought about this for a bit. Then he agreed. "All right then. Sure."

"Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow right here," said Michiru. "See you then."

Michiru then left. As Harusuke stood there, he didn't know that Usagi and the others were eavesdropping throughout the whole thing, and needless to say; they were speechless.


Later that night, as Harusuke was brushing his teeth, Usagi and Luna spoke with him.

"So, you're going with Michiru to Dream Land for a photoshoot?" Usagi asked. "Sounds like a date to me."

"It's not a date, Usagi," said Harusuke. "I'm just going as a friend. Nothing more."

"But what I'm confused about is why would Michiru ask you to go with her like this?" wondered Luna. "It seems a bit out of the blue."

"It is, but this is also a good opportunity for me," said Harusuke. "I get to see what a photoshoot is like, and maybe learn a few things about Michiru."

"Not just that, but this could be your training for dating," said Usagi. "Since Michiru has a lot of experience, maybe you can use this chance to get over your um, problem."

"Usagi! That's hardly an issue," chided Luna. "Something about this seems a bit off. Not to mention I'm worried about Harusuke being alone by himself."

"It's OK, Luna. I'll be fine," said Harusuke. "Besides, both of you are kinda right when you get down to it. But for now, let's boil it down to this being a learning experience. Heck, maybe I'll learn something about those talismans we saw in our dreams. I promise to be careful, and if anything happens, I'll contact you on the communicator, so I better not catch you or any of the girls following me, Sis. Got that?"

Usagi smiled. "No problem, Bro," she said. "Scout's honor."

Harusuke then rinsed off his mouth and then went into his room. As soon as she was sure that Harusuke shut his door, a twinkle gleamed in Usagi's eye.

"Sorry, Harusuke, but there's no way I'm going to let you out of my sight," thought Usagi. "It's my duty as your sister and as everyone's love doctor that I make sure that your troubles with love are over, and what better way than to watch and make sure that your little outing with Michiru goes smoothly."

As she smirked to herself, giggling, Luna could only stare at the ordango, feeling worried.

"I know that look in her eye. The same look Usagi gets when she's about to butt in when she's not wanted," Luna thought to herself. "This could be trouble."


The next day, Harusuke dressed nicely was outside the arcade, waiting for Michiru. As he waited, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Then, he looked at the time which showed, ten o'clock am.

"I wish I could stop feeling so antsy," Harusuke thought to himself. "It's not like this is a date or anything. I'm just going with Michiru as a friend. Nothing more. But still, my heart won't stop pounding."

At that moment, there was a series of honks. Then, a black, fancy limo pulled up. The window then lowered, revealing Michiru's smiling face behind it.

"Hello there, Harusuke," Michiru greeted. "Hope you don't mind, but I figured we'd travel there in style."

Harusuke couldn't speak; his mouth hung open as his eyes widened with bewilderment.

Michiru then giggled. "Well, don't just stand there, Harusuke. Get in. We can't be late, you know."

Harusuke snapped out of his dazed. "O-oh! Yeah! Sure. C-Coming," he stammered.

He then entered the limo, and it drove away, and as it did, someone watched the limo drive off from her car. That, someone, was Eudial, who was keeping a close eye on the limo that Harusuke entered. As the limo sped off, Eudial quietly drove after it, her next target in sight.


The drive over to the amusement park was a strange one. Harusuke had never been in a limo before, but he certainly didn't mind. It was unexpected yet quite interesting to be riding in something as fancy as a limo. Soon enough, the limo pulled up to the entrance of the Dream Land, and Harusuke and Michiru soon came to the location of where Michiru was to have her shoot. They found a cameraman and some staff members dashing about making preparations when they got there.

Harusuke couldn't help but feel amazed as he watched them work, watching as they set up a large camera with two large and strange white umbrellas. Michiru was also wearing a beautiful white dress with teal trimmings and flowers.

"Those are reflex versions," explained Michiru. "They help reflect the light to capture the model they're taking pictures of."

"I had no idea," said Harusuke. "Everyone seems so into this. I feel like a fish out of water here. It makes me feel a bit nervous being here."

"I wouldn't be worried," said Michiru. "All you're doing is watching me. Just make sure to pay attention. It is a learning experience."

Right then, the cameraman called Michiru over, and she walked away, leaving Harusuke by himself.

"All right, Michiru. We're doing a spring collection shoot," explained the cameraman. "So, let's get a few shots of you staring wistfully into the distance."

"Very well," responded Michiru.

Michiru stood in front of the camera and then struck a pose while acting as the cameraman instructed. After that, the cameraman started taking pictures, photographing Michiru at every angle. As he did, some people happened to come by and stopped to watch men, women, and even children alike. Some even became excited, knowing who Michiru was upon seeing her. Harusuke could only look around in awe as Michiu continued to pose per the cameraman's direction.

"Wow. Michiru's practically a celebrity and a model," Harusuke thought to himself. "It makes me wonder if there's anything she can't do."

As the shoot continued, Usagi and the gang were among the crowd watching Michiru. They couldn't help but be amazed by her, too.

"Oh, wow! Michiru looks so beautiful!" Minako gushed.

"The way she controls her body and expressions are just incredible," murmured Ami in amazement. "Not to mention that she commands everyone's attention."

"I knew she was as popular as Haruka, but not like this," said Rei. "I'm almost a bit jealous."

"Yeah, the definition of beauty and grace," added Makoto with wonder.

"Hey! We're supposed to be keeping an eye on Harusuke, not googling Michiru!" barked Usagi. "So keep your eyes focused!"

Luna and Artemis could only sigh in exasperation.

"I still don't understand why we're even here in the first place," sighed Artemis.

"Someone along with the rest of them was worried about her brother going along with Michiru," said Luna. "So, they all wanted to follow them because one can't seem to handle her brother being with another girl, and four others are appearing a bit jealous."

"Hey! We are not jealous!" Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako spoke indignantly.

Eudial came walking by in her casual attire, not too far away from them, keeping a close eye out for her next target. At that same time, someone else walked past as well. The mysterious coat person from the party the other day carefully kept their eyes on Harusuke as they went by before disappearing into the crowd.

Soon enough, the shoot was over, and Michiru came back over to Harusuke.

"That took a bit longer than I expected," said Michiru. "I apologize for making you wait for so long."

"Don't worry about it. I didn't mind," said Harusuke. "Besides, you were pretty amazing. You sure how to work it in front of a camera."

Michiru smiled. "Well, it is a hard-working job," smiled Michiru. "But thank you for the praise."

At that moment, the cameraman came over. "Hey, Michiru. Good work today," he complimented. "You do impressive work as always." Then, he looked across to Harusuke. "Say, who's the guy with you? Your boyfriend?"

Harusuke's cheeks went pink as he waved his hands. "W-Wait. I'm not-! I-I mean, we're not-"

"He's my escort for today," interrupted Michiru. "He wanted to see what a photoshoot is first hand, so I thought I'd take him along with me. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. Any friend of Michiru's is a friend of mine," smiled the cameraman. "What's your name, kid?"

"Harusuke. Harusuke Tsukino," he replied.

"Well, Harusuke, it's a pleasure to meet you," said the cameraman. He looked at him up and down. "You know, now that I can get a good look at you, you look pretty photogenic. You ever consider being a model?"

Harusuke was surprised. "Well, no. I've never even considered it," he replied. "I don't even know if I'm the modeling type."

"Don't sell yourself short, kid. I'd say you got potential," smiled the cameraman. "That blonde hair, those blue eyes, and you're physically fit as a bonus. So I'd say you'd be perfect, but only if you're willing to pursue something like that." He then dug into his pocket and took out a card handing it to him. "Here. Just in case you ever decide to change your mind."

Harusuke took the card. "W-Well, thank you," he said. "I'll think about it."

"Well, now. You should consider yourself lucky," chuckled Michiru. "It's not every day my cameraman takes an interest in someone else."

"Yeah, but I don't know if I'll call him back, though," Harusuke said with a shy smile while putting the card in his pocket. "But I will think about it. Anyway, now that's done, what's next on the docket?"

"Well, I have to go get changed now," said Michiru. "After that, we can go have some fun for a while. Mind waiting for me for a bit longer?"

"Sure. I don't mind," said Harusuke.

Michiru then left, entering a changing room. As she started to get undressed, she heard a beeping sound coming from her communicator. She answered it, knowing who it was.

"What's up, Haruka?" Michiru asked. "Is something the matter?"

"I just wanted to check on you," said Haruka. "How's everything going so far?"

"Very well," said Michiru. "Believe it or not, my cameraman's taken a shine to Harusuke. He believes that he should be a model."

Haruka chuckled. "Guess I'd better watch out for him then. Otherwise, he might take you away from me." Her tone then changed. "So, has Eudial shown up yet?"

"Not yet," replied Michiru. "So far, everything's been quiet."

"Make sure you keep an eye out for her," said Haruka. "And don't let him out of your sights, not even for a second."

Michiru frowned. "I know. After all, this is all for the sake of our mission," she said. "The reason I'm doing this is that Harusuke's heart could contain a talisman. Although, I honestly hope that we're wrong."

"Come on, Michiru. You know as well as I do that this has to happen," Haruka spoke firmly. "If he is a holder, then he has to be sacrificed to get the Holy Grail and stop the Silence. I understand that you care for him, but you have to remember the stakes."

"I know," said Michiru in a hushed whisper. "I just wish there was another way."


Back outside, Harusuke was still waiting for Michiru to return. As he waited, he looked around aimlessly while humming a little tune. Then, his eyes fell upon something from behind a tree, a small flash of blonde hair. As soon as he saw it, he grew very suspicious, thinking that the blonde hair belonged to a familiar someone.

"That better not be who I think it is," Harusuke complained. "If it is, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!"

He then went over to the tree and was about to scream, but he was surprised to see that it wasn't Usagi when he looked around the tree. Instead, it was the mysterious person in the coat.

"O-Oh! Sorry about that," apologized Harusuke. "I thought that you were someone that I knew."

The mysterious person smiled. "It's quite all right, just a case of mistaken identity," they spoke in a male voice. "However, you should be a bit more careful. These days you don't know who you can trust. Not even the friends you know and love. So make sure you know who they are before you call them your friends. Otherwise, you'll wind up in trouble."

Harusuke was puzzled, but he heard Michiru before he could ask any more.

"Harusuke, where are you?"

Harusuke looked back, trying to find Michiru. But then he looked back towards the mysterious stranger and was surprised to see that they had disappeared. However, he didn't want to keep Michiru waiting and returned to where she was. Michiru was now wearing her usual school uniform.

"Where did you go?" wondered Michiru.

"Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew," replied Harusuke. "But I suppose I was mistaken. Anyway, what do you say we go check out Dream Land?"

Michiru smiled. "Sounds good to me," she said.

The two of them went off together, enjoying all of the various things to see at Dream Land. They went on multiple rides, played different games, and even watched a few shows while Usagi and the others watched them. But no matter what they did, the two had a splendid time. After a while, the two decided to rest by having some canned tea on a bench.

"Whew. Nothing hits the spot like some tea," Harusuke sighed in content as he took a sip. "It's been a while since I've been to this place on a relaxing day."

"You've been to Dream Land before?" asked Michiru. "I didn't know that."

"Well, yeah. I cam here with Usagi once," explained Harusuke as he remembered back. "But let's just say things got a bit chaotic. So anyway, you having fun?"

"Yes. I am," said Michiru. "It's been a long time since I've been to a theme park like this. It's nice to get away from the struggles of life once in a while."

As they sat on the bench, a couple walked past them, the girl hugging the guy's arm as they enjoyed each other's company. Upon seeing them, Harusuke began to feel self-conscious, believing that someone might see him and Michiru as a couple.

"Just calm down," Harusuke thought to himself. "It's just an outing between friends, nothing more. Besides, it's not like I like her or anything."

"Is something the matter, Harusuke?" asked Michiru. "You've got rather quiet."

"O-Oh! Nothing. I'm fine," stammered Harusuke. "Just got occupied, that's all."

Michiru then teasingly smiled. "Occupied with that couple that just walked past?" she asked.

Harusuke couldn't help but flinch, knowing that Michiru guessed right.

"There's no reason to be focusing on them," said Michiru. "After all, we're just a couple of friends, right?"

"Y-Yeah. I know," said Harusuke. "Say, Michiru, can I ask you something? Remember how I told you about my heartbreak? Well, have you ever been in the same position that I have? And if you did, how were you able to overcome it?"

Michiru took a minute to think before responding. "I can't say that I have ever experienced something like heartbreak like you did, but I can tell you if that was to happen to me, I push myself to overcome it," she said while gazing up to the sky. "There isn't time for me to be fretting over what could or what will happen. What matters is to steel your heart and grow stronger no matter the cost or sacrifice. Then, you'll be able to have the strength to accomplish anything you set your mind to."

Harusuke stared at Minako, not expecting such a speech. "I... don't understand your insight, but I think I get it," said Harusuke. "And you know, that makes me feel a bit better."

"Glad to hear it," said Michiru.

At that moment, another woman came walking up to the two, having long red hair tied in loose pigtails and a camera around her neck. "Aww. How sweet. You two look like such a cute couple. Do you mind if I take a quick photo?"

Harusuke was about to object, but as he started to look up, Michiru immediately tackled him knocking him off the bench and into the ground.

Harusuke felt rattled as he sat up, but he saw that the bench now had a smoking hole in it. Not only that, but the woman with red hair was Eudial, who would have shot Harusuke directly into the chest, had it not been for Michiru.

"Drat. It looks like I missed," complained Eudial. "But you won't get away from me."

Not hesitating for a second, Harusuke grabbed onto Michiru's hand and pulled her to safety while running. "Run, Michiru!" he yelled. "Come on!"

Eudial followed them in hot pursuit as the two took off, shooting with her gun. Then at that moment, a familiar shout came.

"MOON TIARA ACTION!"

A white disc came shooting out of nowhere and cut Eudial off, forcing her to stop dead in her tracks. Then, Sailor Moon and the other Guardians suddenly appeared, surrounding her.

Michiru was relieved. "Look, it's the Sailor Guardians!" she spoke gratefully. "Thank goodness!"

Harusuke was relieved too, but he was quick to realize something. "Wait a minute. How did you get here so quickly?" he said. "And how did you know where we were?"

Sailor Moon flinched before responding. "Well, uh, we sensed that you were in trouble!" she said hastily. "A good Guardian always knows when someone's in trouble."

"Somehow, I highly doubt that," Harusuke thought wryly.

"Listen, you two need to get out of here!" ordered Sailor Jupiter. "We can take care of her!"

"Hurry! While we have her distracted!" urged Sailor Venus.

Harusuke then led Michiru to safety as Sailor Moon and the Guardians got ready to fight Eudial. However, she wasn't about to give up that easily, as she took out a vial containing a Daimon Egg. She set her sights on a gift shop not too far from her and threw her vial straight towards it. The vial shattered, and the egg merged with its surface, and then it morphed into a Daimon.

The Daimon looked like a woman with pink skin, wearing a crop top and a mini skirt, had short stubby horns coming out of her head. She had strange toy masks for shoulder pads, winged jewels for kneepads, a belt of keychains around her hip, and she also wore pumps have quirky decorations on the side. She also wielded a large hammer having a stuffed bear's head on each side.

"Now, Okurio! Keep these meddlesome Guardians busy while I go after the target!" Eudial ordered. "Don't let them interfere!"

"Can do, Boss!" said Okurio.

"No! Don't let her get to them!" cried Sailor Moon.

The Guardians moved towards Eudial, trying to stop her, while Harusuke and Michiru tried to run away. Okurio's hammer grew giant-sized and, with a mighty swing, slammed it on the ground cutting off the Sailor Guardians as Eudial aimed with her gun.

"Oh, no!" cried Sailor Mercury.

"Get out of there!" shouted Sailor Jupiter.

But instead of aiming for Harusuke, Eudial aimed for another target, Michiru. As Harusuke looked back, he saw the blast and, without even hesitating, took action.

"MICHIRU, LOOK OUT!" Harusuke yelled as he shoved Michiru out of the way.

When he did, the blast shot straight into Hausuke's chest, making his pure heart crystal emerge from his chest.

Then, it happened. As the crystal emerged, it suddenly erupted in bright light that lit up the entire area. The light was so bright that everyone immediately froze out of surprise and disbelief.

"What is that light?!" gasped Sailor Venus.

"I don't know!" cried Sailor Mars.

Soon enough, Harusuke's pure heart crystal materialized into view. However, unlike the others, Harusuke's crystal was gold and radiated in a strong aura.

"Incredible! This pure heart crystal is different than the others!" Eudial gasped. "Is this it?! Could this be the pure heart that contains the light we've been looking for?!"

"It can't be!" gasped Sailor Mercury. "It's just not possible!"

Michiru could only stare at the pure heart crystal in shock, and Sailor Moon's face filled with horror, as she stared at the crystal, eyes wide and jaw agape.