It was senior year for them and Kunzite's homecoming game was against his rival school, Thornwood Prep. This game was not against a weaker team, but the strongest team in their division. It would determine which team made it to state.
Under the Friday night lights, everyone was hyped for the biggest game of the year between the two rival teams. The Crescent home team had their blue and gold colors displayed proudly while the Thornwood visiting team was a sea of red and white.
The first quarter of the game was pretty uneventful. Neither team was allowing the other team to score much. The second quarter is where it finally got intense. The score was 14 to 7 with Crescent Academy in the lead. With two minutes to go before halftime, the two teams determined which route they would take, which player would run which play, etc. And it was Thornwood's ball.
Being a cheerleader for her school, Usagi was cheering for the Crescents, while secretly cheering for just Mamoru on the opposing team. With it being Thornwood's ball, only Mamoru was on the field now, so she was supposed to face her audience, pumping them up to be loud to hinder the opposing team from making any yardage or scoring. She couldn't not watch Mamoru, so she did her best to hype her school's fans while watching the game.
Standing at the edge of the field, Usagi had a pretty advantageous view of the game. She watched as each team lined up in formation, 11 players on her team and 11 on his. Seven lined up to form the line of scrimmage while four others were behind them on the backfield. Mamoru was one of those on the backfield with his position of wide receiver. The first ball went to a running back who did gain some yardage, giving Mamoru's team a first down at the 40 yard line. The second ball was thrown to another wide receiver who gained another first down. Once the Thornwoods were in the red zone, twenty yards before the endzone, there were only 12 seconds left. The quarterback threw the ball to Mamoru, who caught it expertly in the endzone, scoring a touchdown. The opposing team's roar of cheer was almost deafening whereas Usagi's team fans booed with upset. Their kicker lined up to give a good kick, earning another point for Thornwood and tying the game, just before halftime began.
Crescent Academy was preparing for halftime as it was their homecoming game and they would be crowning a King and Queen during their halftime's coronation. Because of that, her school was too busy focusing on getting ready that they failed to see that the opposing score-making wide receiver ran over to her side of the field and picked her up to celebrate his achievement. His arms were wrapped around her, spinning her as she brought her lips down to congratulate him.
"I gotta go, but I'll see you soon, okay?" His eyes sparkled as he set her down, cupping her face with his gloved hands. She held his hands while nodding, smiling ridiculously at him like a love-sick puppy. He gave her a quick peck before turning around to run back to the visiting team's lockers.
Typically Homecoming Queens were announced first, but tonight they decided to crown their Homecoming King first.
Five gentlemen lined up wearing sashes that read 'Homecoming Court.' How they announced the winner was different too. Behind them, the former Homecoming King stood behind them with a crown in his hand. Behind the five men, he would hold the crown over each of their heads as the crowd cheered for their choice. After doing that and teasing a little more, the former Homecoming King placed the crown on Kunzite's head, declaring him this year's homecoming king. Usagi, along with Mina standing off to the side, hooted and hollered.
Now on the field stood five ladies - four of them adorning pretty dresses and one of them wearing a cheerleader's uniform. All of them were wearing tiaras and sashes that also read 'Homecoming Court.' Usagi didn't expect to win at all, standing next to these lovely ladies, but she appreciated being voted for by her peers and classmates.
"...Without further ado, ladies and gentleman, this year's Homecoming Queen is…"
A drumroll was made.
"Tsukino Usagi!" The crowd cheered with applause and approval as Usagi hid her face behind her hands, shaking her head as not believing this was actually happening. The four ladies standing by her gave her hugs and congratulated her. The former Homecoming Queen approached her with her crown, placing it atop her golden updo. Usagi thanked her and looked to the crowd to wave before a murmur of oohs and ahhs were heard.
She turned around to see what was causing the commotion. Behind her, stood Mamoru with a dozen long-stemmed red roses. He was sans football gear and his school colors, as that would have been awkward to see a rival team member courting their school's Homecoming Queen. He dropped to one knee and offered her his class ring as a promise ring, asking if she would accept his commitment to her, symbolizing their relationship to each other, and promising an engagement to her in the future. She accepted with a nod and tears streaming down, but she held the biggest smile on her face. He kissed her deeply then in front of not only her school and fans, but also his school and their fans. Cheers, applause, hoots and hollers, broke out all around for the happy couple.
Pictures were taken of the Homecoming court and their crowned King and Queen and their loved ones and families.
It was soon announced that the second half would start soon and for everyone to take their seats so they could commence the game. This caused Mamoru to need to leave Usagi again.
"Congratulations, my beautiful queen." He kissed her hands. "Thank you for accepting my unyielding love for you."
She smiled ridiculously at him again, her cheeks began to hurt from the process. "I love you, Mamo."
His smile broadened. "I have to go again, but I will see you again soon, okay?"
She laughed at his line again, knowing he was up to something last time he said those words. "Good luck! But not really…!" He laughed at her words, but turned again and ran to the other side of the field.
His teammates patted him on the back as he made his way back to them. His coach threw him his pads and jersey for him to throw back on so he could be ready for when it was his turn. "Good job, Chiba, and congrats, but get your head back in the game so we can win!" The team said "Yes, coach!" in unison.
The game ended with Crescent Academy winning, the field in an uproar that they won their homecoming game and would be going to state. Mamoru congratulated Kunzite on the field with a handshake at first, showing good sportsmanship, but brought him in for a hug as a show of his congratulations personally. Confetti fell all around them.
Kunzite found Mina and pulled her up into a kiss, surprising her. Mamoru shook his head at the act as Usagi came up to him to give Mamoru a hug. He congratulated her and asked if she would be joining in on the afterparty festivities. She said she would as long as he would be there. Mamoru said he would and that a few of his teammates would be there too because they were all friends outside of this school rivalrousness. Usagi said she would meet him there, but had to go with the cheer team and football team. He understood and let her go after a long kiss. Kunzite winked at Mamoru as he picked Usagi up to watch after her for him. Mina walked next to them, even though she was a Thornwood student. Everyone was friends with one another, so it made everything easy. Mamoru thanked him and walked with his team to the lockers.
