Scene: Motoki's van. Motoki is scowling while he drives, while Mamoru sulking quietly in the back. Zoi's just thankful for the awkward silence. Though he has to wonder what Mamoru's problem is. He hasn't known Mamoru for very long, but he would never have figured him to be the type to have violent outbursts.]
[The last time he saw someone flip out so completely was when Minako attacked Kunzite in the nurse's office.
[He wonders if that's not a coincidence…]
[Then he ponders how to broach the subject without upsetting Mamoru.]
Zoi: [to Motoki] So…Reika is home with the flu, is she?
[Motoki nods]
Zoi: How bad is it?
Motoki: Not too bad. She's gotten a headache and a fever, but she's already starting to recover. Fortunately, it's the twenty-four hour strain and not the more serious one that is putting people in the hospital.
Zoi: Huh…I wonder how contagious it is…[catches Motoki's eye and jerks his thumb toward the back of the van where Mamoru is sitting.]
Motoki: [glances back at Mamoru and shakes his head] I wondered about that too. [leans closer to Zoi and drops his voice to a whisper] This flu bug comes with a really high fever, but when I grabbed him, he felt normal. But…it must be something.
[Mamoru sees Motoki whispering to Zoi and lurches forward until he is between them, fiddling with the knobs on the radio, his elbow almost touching Zoi. Zoi shifts away, with his back against the car door.]
Mamoru: Doesn't the radio work in this thing?
Motoki: [annoyed] Yes, but Zoi doesn't want to listen to music.
Mamoru: I never heard Zoi say anything like that.
Zoi: He's right. I don't.
[He hopes Mamoru will take the hint and get out of his personal space]
Mamoru: How can you not like music?
Zoi: I don't know. It irritates me.
Mamoru: That's funny. Because your father was just telling me how gifted you are on the piano.
Zoi: [snippy] You and my father really need to stop talking about me behind my back.
Mamoru: Hey. At least I'm looking out for you. As opposed to this creeper sitting right over here.
Motoki: [heaves a heavy sigh] Sorry to disappoint you, Mamoru. Zoi is very pretty, but I'm 100% not gay.
Mamoru: Or so you claim.
Motoki: In all the time you known me have you ever seen me show the slightest inkling of interest in that sort of thing?
Mamoru: There is a first time for everything.
Motoki: [emphatic] Not for that.
[Mamoru looks offended]
Motoki: Look. Don't get me wrong. I have absolutely no problem with the two of you craving the shaft. It's just not for me.
[They get to the theater and there is a line. Mamoru has gone back to moping. He's being a complete killjoy. Zoi almost wishes Mamoru wasn't there, except that would leave just him on a date with Motoki. Motoki opens his wallet and pulls out a fifty.]
Motoki: Here, Mamoru. My treat. Go buy the tickets.
Mamoru: Come on, Zoi.
[Mamoru joins the line dragging his feet and acting sullen. ]
[Zoi starts to follow Mamoru but Motoki tugs him back and steers him away from the theater.]
Motoki: [whispering to Zoi] Let's go.
Zoi: Where?
Motoki: I think I should take you home.
[Zoi looks at Mamoru standing in line and refuses to go any further]
Motoki: Zoi. I really think we should leave. I've never know Mamoru to be this emotionally unstable. I have this terrible feeling that something really bad is going to happen, and if I don't get you home soon, I'm going to live to regret it.
Zoi: So we're just going to drive off and leave him here?
[Mamoru realizes Zoi isn't with him, so he turns and glares at Motoki and Zoi. He gives them a paranoid look, as if he thinks they are talking about him behind his back. Which, Zoi realizes is exactly what they are doing.]
Zoi: You don't need to protect me, you know. I'm not afraid of Mamoru.
Motoki: You're not afraid of Mamoru? That's funny, because I am.
[Zoi gives him a startled look. Mamoru breaks from the line and walks toward them]
Motoki: Mamoru and I have grown up together. We've been best friends since we were little. I knew his parents. I knew him before the accident. I think I know him better than anyone alive, and I've never seen him act like this. It's like he's a different person. An imposter. If I didn't know better, I'd think…
[Motoki clams up as Mamoru holds out the fifty with a bitter expression on his face.]
Mamoru: I can't buy the tickets. The movie's rated R and I'm only sixteen.
Motoki: Were you planning on telling them you are sixteen?
Mamoru: Why wouldn't I? It's the truth.
[Motoki takes back his fifty and with some reluctance buys three tickets.]
[They enter the theater and Zoi takes an aisle seat so he'll only be trapped next to one of them. Mamoru rushes to take the seat next to his. Rather than take the empty seat next to Mamoru, Motoki takes the seat in back of Zoi.]
Mamoru: I don't think so, pervert. Go sit up front. Where I can see you.
[Motoki gets up and moves, ending up next to a large woman who is there with her three children.]
[The movie starts, but Zoi's mood is too sour to enjoy it. Mamoru is still sulking. He's taking up the armrest between them and is slumped in his seat, staring up. He doesn't even look like he's watching the screen.]
[At one point in the movie Zoi recognizes Minako in the background. He almost lets out a cheer, but barely stops himself in time when he remembers that she doesn't like him anymore.]
[He looks at Mamoru to see if he's recognized her, but Mamoru is staring at Motoki.]
[Motoki is slowly tipping closer and closer to the woman sitting next to him. Eventually he gets too close, and she lets out a shout of indignation and pushes back.]
[Motoki drops like a lead weight and sprawls into the aisle.]
Mamoru: [jumps to his feet] Motoki!
[Motoki just lies there, unconscious, his breathing labored and his face bathed in a sheen of sweat.]