[Scene: Early Saturday morning at the Midori house. Zoi is dusting, which basically involves his generating a big arc of static electricity to attract all the dust in the room.]

[His phone rings so he combusts the ball of dust into flames so he can answer it.]

Zoi: Hello?

Mamoru: Zoi.

Zoi: Hey, Mamoru.

Mamoru: I believe that we have a date.

Zoi: [brows rise] Excuse me?

Mamoru: Riding lessons?

Zoi: [grins] The bikes? They're done? I can't believe it!

Mamoru: Yeah, they run and everything.

Zoi: I'm on my way over.

Mamoru: Take your time. I have to swing by the Crown so we can borrow Motoki's van. Do you have motorcycle apparel? You're going to need a helmet of course, and you'll want to wear thick jeans, as well as some boots and gloves and a leather jacket.

Zoi: Oh, sure. I have all that…I'll go upstairs and change right now… We were just stepping out the door to visit my dad's friend Harry Clearwater at the hospital, but I'll have him drop me off near your apartment instead.

Mamoru: Harry Clearwater? I don't think I know him.

[Which doesn't surprise Zoi, since he doesn't actually exist.]

Mamoru: Then I'll see you in about an hour?

Zoi: Sounds good.

[They hang up. Zoi's giddy that soon he'll be able to travel on his own and won't have to make up imaginary friends for his father.]

[Zoi's father looks away from the TV]

Chief Midori: Headed to see Mamoru?

Zoi: Yep.

Chief Midori: I'll be at the station later.

Zoi: Ok.

[Zoi teleports away to buy some motorcycle apparel.]

[An hour later: Zoi shows up at Mamoru's door]

Mamoru: Ready?

Zoi: Yeah.

Mamoru: Let's go. I know the perfect spot.

[They get in the van and drive uphill to the more less traveled parts of Hen Tie. Along the way they pass three figures traveling on foot. Zoi recognizes them as Minako, Rei, and a very tall girl who he assumes is Makoto. All of them are wearing clothing that looks like it came from Hot Topic, and ponytails.]

[Mamoru slows as if getting ready to offer them a lift, but they turn and wrinkle their noses at him and quickly cut into the woods.]

[Zoi notices Mamoru's hands are clenched into the steering wheel.]

Zoi: What's wrong.

Mamoru: It's Rei. She's been avoiding me lately.

Zoi: Well.. good! You're with Usagi now!

Mamoru: No, that's not it. It's not just me. She's avoiding Usagi too. And everyone.

Zoi: Yeah. I've noticed.

Mamoru : Rei missed a week of school. She had a really high fever and whenever she returned Usagi's calls, she sounded freaked out…terrified. Then this week, out of nowhere, Rei goes back to hanging out with Minako.

Zoi: Well that's to be expected. They are best friends, after all.

Mamoru: Except Rei told me she didn't want anything to do with her anymore… Zoi, this change in Minako bothered Rei even more than it bothered us. Then she stayed home sick, and when she comes back, suddenly Minako owns her.

Zoi: Huh…

Mamoru: I don't know what it means. I can't figure it out, and I feel like I have to, because Rei is my friend and Minako is looking at me funny…and…

[Mamoru scowls and goes quiet]

Zoi: Have you talked to them about this?

Mamoru: [bitter] Yes. That was helpful.

Zoi: What did they say?

Mamoru: They told me to mind my own business.

[Mamoru looks deeply upset]

Zoi: You don't like them very much.

Mamoru: Does it show? Out of the blue, they are hanging out with Makoto, whom they've probably never said three words to in the past, and they've taken to calling themselves the 'C'est La Vie' Gang.

Zoi: [alarmed] Minako and Rei are in a gang?

Mamoru: [laughs] Not like that. Except Minako rules over those two girls like they are in a cult. They act like…I don't know…like mean girls in a clique.

[Zoi twirls a lock of his hair as he remembers Minako throwing shade at him, but he assumed that she was finally overcome by jealousy over his winning Kunzite.]

Zoi: Yeah. I noticed.

Mamoru: I really don't like the way they've been treating Usagi. She loves them so much and they've become so cold, for no reason. Just the other day Usagi was teasing Rei about something silly, you know how she is, and it really pissed Rei off.

Zoi: [giggles to lighten the mood] Rei? Pissed off? How can you tell?

Mamoru: [doesn't even crack a smile] Her eyes went all dark, and she sort of smiled… No, she bared her teeth, but she didn't smile - and the room got really hot. It was like she was so mad she was going to burst into flames. Then Minako walked over and put her hand on Rei's back and said "She's not worth it. Let it go. Just ignore her. She's not one of us." Then they both walked away like nothing had happened while Usagi ran in the bathroom to cry.

Zoi: Oh. Poor Usagi.

Mamoru: [nods] Usagi really took it to heart. Especially since she considered Rei and Minako to be among her best friends, and they haven't spoken to her or returned her calls since they recovered from their illnesses…

[Eventually they reach an abandoned sawmill at the top of the hillside. Mamoru pulls into the weed-choked parking lot and pulls the bikes out of the back of the van]

Mamoru: Are you ready for this?

Zoi: I think so.

Mamoru: We'll take it slow.

[Zoi notices the scowl has never left Mamoru's face]

Zoi: Mamoru…

Mamoru: Yeah?

Zoi: What's really bothering you? About the Minako thing? Is it something else?

Mamoru : I don't know what's going on. I'm not even sure why it's upsetting me. It all sounds so petty but…the way they treat me, and Usagi, and anyone else who isn't in their little clique. It creeps me out.

Zoi: [giggles into his hair] Well, that's understandable.

Mamoru: It's just…the way they look at me. It's like they want to kill me.

Zoi: I think they do that to everyone.

Mamoru: No, not everyone… Just me… It's like they are biding their time. Waiting for the right moment to strike. I hate it.

Zoi: [giggles and winks] Don't worry. Nobody is going to hurt you. Not while I'm around.

[Mamoru tries not to laugh, but laughs anyway. Then he's grave again.]

Mamoru: So are we going for a ride?

Zoi: [looks at his bike] Let's do this.