[Scene: Honors English. The teacher is taking roll. Mamoru slides into the seat next to Zoi's]

Mamoru: I managed to reserve the machine shop for Thursday.

Zoi: Thursday? You couldn't get anything sooner? [After all the shop is empty most of the time]

Mamoru: This is going to be pretty exacting work, so I booked us for several hours.

Zoi: Oh. That makes sense.

Mamoru: In the meantime, would you mind if I worked on your bike, and I borrowed it for a few days until mine is up and running?

Zoi: Of course. I'm surprised you think you had to ask.

[They sit and listen to the lecture. Then a student read her paper titled: "Romeo and Juilet's Count Paris, the Original Captain Friendzone."]

[Eventually the bell rings and they gather up their books.]

Mamoru: Think you'll want to come over and work on the bikes again anytime soon?

Zoi: I assumed I was coming over today after school.

Mamoru: Good. Aunt Sue wants you over for dinner. She's making her super secret recipe for spaghetti. Handed down for generations. Though, I don't think Ragu's actually been around for that long.

[Zoi suddenly realizes how much of Mamoru's time he's been taking up]

Zoi: Don't forget your schoolwork or anything.

Mamoru: Don't forget yours either.

Zoi: I'll bring my homework tonight.

Mamoru: You be sure to do that.

[Usagi comes running up and throws her arms around Mamoru. Mamoru leans down and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. Zoi is glad for their open display of affection]

[Umino joins them on the way to the cafeteria. He is alone]

Zoi: Where is Naru today?

Umino: Naru's got the flu.

Usagi: She was really sick last night but I called her and she's already feeling better. Hopefully it's just the twenty-four hour thing, and not the one that kept Rei and Minako out for a week.

Mamoru: I hear that the Makoto Kino caught the more virulent strain. She's been out for a couple days now.

Zoi: Who?

Umino: The school's star running back.

Zoi: Oh. [Zoi cares about sports not at all]

[They takes their seats at their usual table. Rei is sitting with Minako on the other side of the cafeteria. Their eyes are surprisingly unfriendly. Rei is dressed in head to toe black leather: black leather boots, black leather pants, black corset top under a black leather bolero jacket. Zoi is glad to see that Rei is back, but Minako and Rei are staring at him as if they have a secret they don't feel inclined to share with him.]

[They all watch as Minako makes circles on a map with a compass while Rei holds a cellphone to her eyes and points at the map from time to time.]

Zoi: What's with Rei? She looks like a dominatrix.

Umino: [grinning] Yeah, she does.

Usagi: We should all go see a movie together! Once Naru is better and I'm no longer grounded, that is!

Mamoru: What movie do you want to see.

Usagi: [grins] Sailor V - of course! I can't wait to see Minako's big break into show business! [She sends a friendly smile toward Minako and Rei's table and they shoot back a look of disdain.]

Mamoru: I don't know. I heard it's supposed to be scary.

[he shoots a not so subtle look at Zoi]

Zoi: [stern] I'm sure it will be fine.

Umino: Report cards come out a week from Friday. Given projected ticket sales, I assume it will still be in theatres.

Usagi: Perfect. We should invite Motoki and his girlfriend too. And Rei and Minako, of course. Oh, I can't wait until I'm no longer grounded! And Naru should be completely back to normal by then.

Umino: [stares at Minako and Rei] I wouldn't be so sure about that...

[Meanwhile: At Rei and Minako's table...]

[Minako is drawing on the map, while Rei holds the phone to her ear. The phone is turned off, it's just to cover up that she can speak to the dead.]

Minako: ...There are more on the way. We have to find these people and talk some sense into them before the guy in the cloak can get to them... But if you see the guy in the cloak, clear your mind and run away as fast as you can. He can read minds, you know? And he can kill you as easily as blinking.

Rei: Artemis told me to ask you how you know this.

Minako: Tell Artemis he can kiss my ass... Anyway, I did some poking around and the victims have all rented cars from the same rental car company. I worked my mojo on a couple of the guys who worked there, and they promised to tip us off if someone mentions they are coming to Hen Tie.

Rei: What good is that going to do us? Hen Tie is a big place.

Minako: Ah...we could put tracking chips in the cars?

Rei: All of them?

Minako: ...Yeah?

Rei: [sigh] That sounds like a huge pain in the ass on so many levels.

Minako: Yeah... We need a computer weenie on our team...

Rei: Any chance one of the Moon Guardians was reincarnated as Umino?

[They laugh]

Minako: Oh, my god. Can you imagine?

[The bell rings. Usagi and her friends clear their trays. Rei and Minako remained seated.]

Rei: [glum] We're going to die again, aren't we?

Minako: [sighs] Most likely.

Rei: [takes her hand] Minako. I want you to promise me, If you die first, you'll come back as a ghost and haunt my ass.

[Minako smiles warmly and clasps her hand.]

[Usagi stops by Rei and Minako's table]

Usagi: Hey! [to Rei and Minako] I haven't seen you two in forever... Are you okay?

Rei: Not completely. But I'm a little bit better.

Usagi: I'm glad! I missed you!

Minako: Oh joy.

Usagi: I'm really looking forward to the Sailor V movie! I'm getting together a group to go a week from friday if you'd-

[They just get up and leave without another word to Usagi]

[Usagi watches them leave with tears in her eyes.]