[Scene: Thursday afternoon. The Hen Tie High metal shop, Mamoru arrives at about the same time as Zoi. There are two kids in the background wearing welding gear and working on something that looks like a rocket launcher, but they are far enough away that Zoi and Mamoru don't even notice them]
Mamoru: Hey, Zoi.
Zoi: Hey, Mamoru.
Mamoru: Let's get to work. [He pulls the motor assembly out of his backpack and puts it on a lathe.]
Zoi: You seriously aren't sick of me yet?
Mamoru: Nope, not yet.
Zoi: Please let me know when I start getting on your nerves. I don't want to be a pain.
Mamoru: Ok. I wouldn't hold my breath for that, though.
[Mamoru and clamps the motor into place. He puts on safety goggles and hands a pair to Zoi]
Zoi: So are you going to repair the bolt?
Mamoru: No. This bolt is completely stripped. It's weightbearing, so that wouldn't be safe. I brought some smaller nuts and washers and I'm going to cut a new thread into it. I have to be careful since the threading has to be precise, to within a millimeter or so, so we may need to do this more than once.
[He starts up the lathe and sparks fly as he slowly carves into the bolt. When he is finished, he takes off his goggles and wipes the sweat from his brow and hands the assembly to Zoi.]
[Zoi tries screwing on the largest washer and nut and they fix perfectly]
Zoi: Oh my god. You're amazing. You got it perfect on the first try!
Mamoru: I should hope so. I'm going to be a surgeon some day.
Zoi: [joking] So much for needing a few hours in the shop. I guess we can go home now?
Mamoru: [shrugs] I get obsessive when I have a project, but if I had any brains, I'd drag it out a bit.
[One of the welders behind them stops working and stands up very straight, staring right at them]
Zoi: Huh?
Mamoru: Zoi, if I told you I couldn't fix these bikes, would you have still agreed to hang out with me?
Zoi: [giggles] Hell, no.
[Mamoru looks away, so hurt that Zoi instinctively feels terribly guilty]
Zoi: I mean you're so busy. I feel just awful monopolizing so much of your precious time as it is, taking advantage of your underpriced mechanical skills.
Mamoru: I'm not that busy. I'm always willing to make time for a friend.
[The welder removes her welder's mask, revealing a very wide-eyed El]
Mamoru: So you'll stick around when I'm done?
Zoi: [giggles nervously and plays with his hair] If that's what you mean. I guess so. I mean we still have lunch. And the Crown.
Mamoru: [give him a sidelong smile] Hoping to see Motoki again?
Zoi: [giggles into his hair] You caught me.
Mamoru: So you really like spending time with me?
Zoi: Um. Sure. I guess…
Mamoru: Good, because I think it will break Aunt Sue's heart when you suddenly stop coming to dinner for no apparent reason.
[El's jaw has practically hit the floor. Behind her back, Dev has taken off his mask and is smirking in satisfaction]
Zoi: Well…uh…we still have the bike lessons?
Mamoru: But when that's done, we'll have to think of some nonmechanical excuse for you to come over. Maybe you can help me with my homework once a week…or maybe we'd better go with twice…
[Zoi is starting to feel a little uncomfortable.]
Zoi: Mamoru, Usagi isn't going to be grounded forever, you know.
Mamoru: I don't think Usagi is going to be much help when it comes to solving complex polynomials with four unknowns.
[El is shaking with rage and grinding her teeth]
Zoi: [chuckles and tugs on his ponytail] You know what? As long as we're a few hours ahead of schedule, I should really go home and cook dinner for my dad. I think he's getting tired of eating cold pizza.
Mamoru: Sure. I'll clean up here.
[Zoi walks out.]
[El storms toward Mamoru with her fists balled up. Dev grins. He's looking forward to watching her pummel Mamoru, but his smile vanishes as she walks right past Mamoru and heads out the door, after Zoi.]
Dev: [Under his breath] Oh, no, El. No, no, no…
[He chases after her. Just a little too late…]
[Outside El is running after Zoi]
El: Bitch! Get back here!
[Zoi doesn't slow down.]
[El picks up a half eaten apple and throws it at his head. Zoi dodges and the apple splatters against the wall. Zoi turns and looks at her in disbelief.]
El: Yeah, I'm talking to you, candy ass! …Does your boyfriend know that you've got another guy greasing up your chassis?
Zoi: [smiles and twirls a lock of hair] First of all, do I know you? Second of all, since the answer is no, I don't see how what I do with my chassis is any of your business.
[El is huffing with rage with her fists balled up at her sides]
El: It's my business as a matter of public safety, you diseased slut!
Zoi: [looks her over and giggles] Awwww, aren't you cute…Look at the little baby puddy-tat, getting all puffed up so someone might mistake her for a bigshot.
El: You need to get your eyes checked, clap-trap! [Extends both middle fingers] How many fingers am I holding up!
Zoi: [waves his finger] One little piggy… Two little piggies…Am I right? Or can you not count that high yet?
El: Oh, fuck you!
Zoi: Oh, my, oh, my, oh my. [giggling] Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
El: No! But I use it on your boyfriend all the time!
Dev: El! [he looks like he's trying his hardest not to vomit] That's sick! What's wrong with you? How can you even say such a thing?
El: Ew, I didn't mean it like that.
Zoi: Oh, please. A hot stud like Kunzite with a whiny little brat like you? I'd know if he kissed you because your head would explode.
El: Oh, yeah? [Turns her back to him and unzips her pants] Why don't you come over here and kiss my ass?
Dev: El, what the-
[El bends at the waist and drops her jeans. Zoi gets the briefest glimpse of her thong underwear before Dev grabs the back of her jeans and yanks them back up again]
[Dev wraps his arms around El and lifts her off her feet while she flails her legs around and punches him with her fists]
Zoi: [laughing] I'm sorry… but…what ass?
Dev: My god, El! What has gotten into you!
El: Put me down! Put me down so I can beat the Shitennou out of this worthless little two-timing tramp!
[Fortunately Zoi doesn't catch that since he is laughing so hard he has to wipe the tears from his eyes]
Dev: Please forgive my sister. We were raised by wolves.
[He starts to carry her away as she screams over his shoulder]
El: Fuck you, Zoisite Midori! Fuck you! I fucking hate you! I fucking hate you more than anyone! You wait! You're going to get what's coming to you!
Dev: No you're not.
El: [flails about as Dev carries her away] This isn't over-
Dev: Oh, yes, it is. Please ignore her. She doesn't even know what she's saying.
Zoi: [waves goodbye to them] Toodles!
[Zoi whistles a merry tune as he walks away. For some reason El's meltdown has made him feel a lot better about any potential awkwardness with Mamoru.]