[The Hen Tie Cinema parking lot. Motoki unlocks the van]
Motoki: Zoi, come ride up front.
[ Nobody challenges him for shotgun. The others file into the back. Motoki starts the van and there is an awkward silence.]
Zoi: Is something wrong?
Motoki: [patronizing] Nothing's wrong. Why would anything be wrong?
[He can feel the eyes of the others boring into him from the back of the van. Zoi decides to take the attention off himself]
Zoi: [over his shoulder to Usagi] Hey, I heard you and Mamoru got into an argument.
Usagi: [points to Mamoru] Jerkface here asked Eleanor Heltry out on a date!
Zoi: Who is Elenor Heltry?
Usagi: Some Cheryl Blossom wannabe from England.
Rei: Who's Cheryl Blossom?
Naru: [to Rei] The promiscuous redhaired girl from Archie Comics.
Rei: [wide eyed] There's a redheaded slut in Archie Comics?
Umino: You mean aside from Archie?
[Naru and Umino give each other a high five]
Mamoru: [sighs] It's not a date. She and her brother just arrived in America and she doesn't know her way around town. I told her I'm volunteering at the no-kill animal shelter tomorrow and she said she'd like to help.
Usagi: [scowling] Help herself to my boyfriend, you mean.
Mamoru: Usagi. You're not being very nice.
Usagi: Well neither is she! I've seen her around, and she's cold and unfriendly to nearly everyone! I get really bad vibes off her!
Mamoru: Has it occurred to you that she pushes people away because she's afraid of rejection?
Usagi: Has it occurred to you that maybe you wouldn't care so much if she wasn't a pretty redhead with a cute accent?
Motoki: She's got you there, Mamoru.
Mamoru: [to Usagi] Don't worry, I told her I'd have to check with you first to make sure you were ok with her coming with us.
Usagi: Oh, great! Way to put me on the spot! Now if you tell her she can't come with us, I'm the mean witch who doesn't want her to help the cute little animals!
Mamoru: Why don't you want her to help the cute little animals?
Usagi: Because we never get to spend time alone together! You are ALWAYS studying!
Mamoru: And you are NEVER studying!
Rei: [rubbing her hands together in morbid glee] Ooohh. He went there.
Mamoru: I'm serious, Usagi. This blond ditz act isn't going to be cute forever. You need to stop goofing around and start passing your classes.
[Zoi is shocked. He can't imagine Kunzite treating him like this. But if he did, Zoi is certain he'd be reduced to a quivering wreck.]
Umino: ummm…Maybe you two should have a study date…you know…make studying a couple's thing?
Mamoru: I'm not going to coddle her. She needs to develop enough self discipline to open up a textbook on her own.
Rei: [shivering with delight] It's getting cold back here. Especially in the shade. And believe me, there is plenty of shade.
Usagi: What? I embarrass you? Do you want to break up with me? Is that it?
Mamoru: Of course I don't want to break up with you. Someone has to take care of you until you find something you're good at.
Rei: Oh, snap. He shoots, he scores. Now there's the Mamoru we all know and love.
[Zoi's heard enough. He turns in his seat]
Zoi: Hey! Stop bullying Usagi!
[The van goes deathly silent and everyone in the back stares at Zoi]
Usagi: They're not bullying me.
Mamoru: Don't worry. Usagi knows I love her.
Usagi: And I love him. See. [Takes Mamoru's hand]
Mamoru: I just want to encourage her to do better in school.
Zoi: Then stop making her feel like a failure!
Usagi: [Lets out a nervous giggle] It's ok, Zoi. Mamoru and Rei talk to me like this all the time, but I know they are just teasing.
Zoi: No! It's not okay! It's cruel! They shouldn't gang up on you like that!
Mamoru: [chagrined] I'm sorry you feel that way.
Zoi: Don't apologize to me! Apologize to Usagi!
Mamoru: [to Usagi] Do you want an apology?
Usagi: [shrugs] I don't care.
Mamoru: I think I should apologize to you anyway. Zoi seems pretty upset.
Naru: [pouts] Poor little guy, he's so sensitive.
Zoi: [snarling] I can hear you, you know! Why is everyone suddenly acting like I'm three years old?
Mamoru: [A bit too quickly] We don't think you're three.
Usagi: [condescending] Nooo…not at all.
[Zoi faces forward. Since they'll just deny acting weird, Zoi doesn't see any point in talking about it anymore. He just scowls while the others slowly ease back into their bickering]
[As they approach Haruka's place, about a mile and a half from his home, he sees her in her garage in jeans and a sleeveless flannel shirt, fixing up a rusty vintage pickup truck]
[Michiru is seated nearby, playing the violin in a cream colored chiffon dress]
[But what really catches Zoi's eye is a pair of motorcycles leaning against the garage, under a sign that says. "For Sale, As is."]
[Perfect.]
[A motorcycle would allow Zoi to get around like a human, coming and going as he pleases without people wondering how he travels so easily. And unlike a car, it would be small enough for him to teleport when nobody was looking.]
Zoi: [To Motoki] Stop. Let me out here. I need to talk to Haruka.
Motoki: Want us to wait for you?
Zoi: [grins] That won't be necessary.