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11

Makoto and Usagi walk side by side, laughing so hard that their voices echo through the quiet morning streets. Their conversation was still wrapped in the hilarious memories of the night before—Usagi's dramatic fall during the bachata lesson and Minako's ever-so-dramatic recounting of her shower escapade with Kunzite.

Makoto grins, her eyes bright and full of amusement. "You were so dramatic about it, Usagi. I couldn't even breathe from laughing! The way you just... collapsed on the floor." She imitated Usagi's exaggerated fall, making her laugh again. "Poor Mamoru must've been so confused."

Usagi grinned sheepishly, though she still couldn't hide the slight embarrassment that crept up.

The two friends continue down the sidewalk, the laughter still hanging between them like a warm cloud. Their usual coffee shop was just up ahead, and they picked up their pace slightly.

Entering the coffee shop, they were met with the familiar comforting scent of fresh coffee beans being ground, a warm invitation that made their sleepiness fade away almost immediately. The shop was already packed with early risers, their tired faces lit by the comforting glow of the cafe lights. As they slipped into the line, Usagi sighed. "I can't believe how crowded it is already. What time did everyone wake up today?"

Makoto looked around at the other customers with a smile. "I don't know."

Usagi rolls her eyes dramatically, grinning. "I still think we should've gone somewhere else. There's no reason it needs to be this crowded. And it's just coffee, Makoto. We're not ordering a whole fancy breakfast set."

Makoto shrugged nonchalantly, clearly unbothered by the long line. "The coffee here is the best, though. And you know how much we need our morning caffeine."

Usagi couldn't argue with that. The coffee here is something she can't pass up, even if it meant standing in a line a little longer than she liked. The sound of cups clinking and the murmur of early conversations filled the space, a comforting buzz that made the cafe feel like a second home.

As they waited, the conversation shifted, though Usagi remained in a bit of a daze. Her mind had drifted back to the events of Sunday night, but now she was thinking about the upcoming day—office hours, meetings, the usual routine. She still felt a bit of a flutter in her chest when she thought about Mamoru, but she quickly shoved those thoughts aside. Focus, Usagi. Focus on coffee first, personal life second.

Unfortunately for Usagi, Makoto notices Usagi's shift in mood, her relaxed expression giving way to something more thoughtful. She nudged her with an elbow. "Hey, what's up? You've gone quiet all of a sudden."

As Usagi is about to speak, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to say about Mamoru, her feelings bubbling just under the surface, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Usagi!"

That voice!

Startled, Usagi spun around, nearly knocking into Makoto in the process. Her breath hitches, her words freezing in her throat. Standing just a few feet away, with an amusing smile and twinkle in his eye, was none other than Hiroshi, the handsome man she's now run into three times.

"Morning." Hiroshi greets; his eyes bright with warmth as he walks over to the girls. He pauses, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary. "Fancy seeing you here!"

Usagi blinks, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. Hiroshi's demeanor and the way he looks at her makes her feel just a little flustered. He has this charm about him, and it it is clear to everyone paying attention that he has an interest in her that goes beyond casual friendship.

She stammers slightly, her thoughts scattering. "H-Hiroshi! You—you're here too?"

Makoto grins watching the exchange with interest.

"Yeah, I'm grabbing a coffee before work. Actually," he continued, his smile widening, "how about I treat you to a cup? I do owe you a cup and I can get your friend's order as well."

She hadn't expected this at all, and it caught her completely off guard. Her mind raced. Treat me to coffee? She glances over at Makoto, whose eyes were narrowing in mild curiosity. Is this not perfect when she's just about to spill the beans about her feelings for Mamoru.

"I—uh, that's very nice of you," Usagi stuttered, trying to sound casual despite the swirl of emotions. Usagi and Makoto allow Hiroshi to take their spot in line and step to the side.

Hiroshi laughs softly, clearly enjoying the moment. "It's the least I can do." The girls watch as Hiroshi grabs three cups and returns to them fairly quickly. Usagi offers another friendly smile, but words fail her.

Makoto, sensing the tension, smiled knowingly and pulled Usagi a bit closer. "It's been one of those mornings, hasn't it?" she says amused by this Hiroshi person and his interest in Usagi. Hiroshi glanced at his watch as he done the first time that they ran into each other and then excuses himself but not before winking playfully at Usagi.

The moment felt too quiet and Usagi is left wondering if this—this sudden, unexpected encounter—was enough to put her thoughts of Mamoru on hold.

The office building loomed ahead as Usagi and Makoto make their way inside. The bustle of the morning workday filled the air with the usual hum—phones ringing, keyboards clacking, and the sound of hurried footsteps on the tiled floor.

As they enter the office and settled into their respective spaces, Makoto, always the one to poke fun in the most casual way, couldn't help but notice the lingering look on Usagi's face. She leans over toward her friend, a playful glint in her eyes.

"So…" Makoto begins, leaning in just slightly and speaking with that mischievous tone she knew so well, "Hiroshi, huh?" She grins, clearly enjoying the fact that she was about to dig into a topic that had been swirling around in Usagi's mind. "You two seemed pretty cozy over coffee this morning. Was there something going on there?"

Usagi stiffens, clearly not expecting that question right away. She avoids Makoto's teasing gaze, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweater as she thought about how to respond. "I don't know what you mean," she mumbles, but the slight blush that colored her cheeks said otherwise.

"Oh, come on, Usagi," Makoto presses, her voice light but teasing. "You look all flustered, and he was practically oozing interest in you. Are you telling me that you didn't feel that?"

Usagi sighs, running a hand through her hair. She hoped to avoid talking about Hiroshi, but now that Makoto had brought it up, there was no escaping it. "I mean, Hiroshi's… handsome, and he's seemingly sweet, but…" She trails off, her thoughts turning inward as she debates whether she could be honest with Makoto, who was clearly pressing for an answer.

"But…?" Makoto prompts, arching an eyebrow as she leaned closer to her friend.

Usagi hesitates for a moment, then, feeling a strange mix of relief and nervousness, finally admits, "But I think I have feelings for Mamoru, not Hiroshi." She met Makoto's gaze, her eyes softening as she spoke. "The feelings have been there for Mamoru, and now…" She pauses; a bit unsure of how to continue.

Makoto blinks, surprised by the directness of Usagi's confession, but she smiles gently. "Ah, I see." She gave her friend a knowing look, her tone light but sincere. "I guess that's not a huge surprise. You've always had that thing between you two, even before everything happened."

Usagi nods, a wistful look crossing her face as she thought back to their high school days—the exchanges, the small moments that seemed to hint at something more. But now, with Mamoru back in her life, things feel different. She wasn't sure how to act on those feelings.

"But you're not ready to tell him, are you?" Makoto asked, as though reading her mind.

Usagi's shoulders slump slightly. "No… I'm not. It's just… everything is so complicated, Makoto. I feel like we're so close to something, but I don't know if it's the right time to just... say it." She looks away, her fingers twisting around a pen on her desk. "I don't even know if he feels the same way anymore."

Makoto's expression softens, her teasing tone gone as she leaned back in her chair, considering Usagi's words carefully. "I get it. You've been through a lot, and sometimes things don't just fall into place like we want them to. But Usagi, if you're holding back because you're scared, then you've got to think about what you really want."

Usagi bit her lip, feeling the familiar tension in her chest at the thought of Mamoru. "I just... don't know. It's confusing." She glances up at Makoto, eyes wide with uncertainty. "I do like him, though. I think... I think I never stopped; I was just angry."

Makoto gives her a warm smile, reaching over and giving her hand a light squeeze. "Well, there's no rush. Take your time, okay? And as for Hiroshi, he's a good guy, and yeah, he's handsome, but it sounds like he's not the one who's got your heart."

Usagi nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. He's nice, but…" She sighs. "I don't think I'm really looking to date him. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it's like... he's more of a friend, nothing more."

Makoto's grin returns, though this time it held a bit of tenderness. "I get it, Usagi. And, well, if Mamoru's the one you really want, then you'll figure it out when the time comes. But for now, just enjoy your coffee and don't stress too much about all of it."

A wave of relief washes over her, knowing she didn't have to hide her feelings for Mamoru anymore—not from Makoto, at least. She smiles softly and sips her coffee, feeling a sense of calm settle over her as the weight of her confession lifted.

"Thanks, Makoto," Usagi says quietly, meeting her friend's gaze. "I'll think about it. For now, I just want to get through today without tripping over my own feet again."

Makoto laughs, giving her a playful nudge. "I'm sure you'll be just fine, Usagi. Just take it one step at a time."

Usagi grins, her earlier anxiety about Hiroshi and Mamoru fading into the background.

"When will you tell Rei?"

Usagi scrunches her face at the question. Oh, Rei would eat this revelation up believing that she done all of this. "Maybe never."

"Never?" Makoto asks extremely confused.

"You heard me."

"I don't think you can keep it a secret that long."

"We'll see."

Makoto chuckles and wanders to her office to begin working.

Usagi stares at her computer screen, lost in her own thoughts once again.

A vibration from her phone startles her and when she picks up her phone, she sees it is Rei reminding her that they have dance lessons tonight.

"Shit." Usagi whines as she rolls her eyes. "Makoto, I'll have to go shopping during lunch. Rei plans to have us die by dancing tonight."

She swears she hears Makoto cackling madly in her office which earns her a scoff and Usagi returns to her work.

Usagi arrives at the studio, leggings and a shirt already on and some kitten heels designed for ballroom dancing. Rei is not the only one who can be prepared for dance class.

As she puts her belongings in an empty chair, she is soon joined by Mamoru who also had the same idea. He is not wearing slacks and a dressy shirt, instead he's wearing a loose shirt and sweats.

He offers her a smile and asks, "Are you ready?"

"Probably not." Usagi responds and asks in return, "Are you?"

"I'm hopeful tonight goes better than our first class." He says sheepishly. Mamoru is not trying to become overly confident and then end up falling over his own two feet like Usagi did last week. He's staying humble.

That feeling washes over Usagi again, the familiar warmth. Looking at him, seeing the spark in his eyes, she knows there is no way she can she tell him anytime soon.

Rei and Jadeite soon join them, and Rei can't help but tease Usagi about her two left feet which earns her a glare.

Usagi scowls. Honestly, would it kill Rei to take one clumsy step for once? Just one tiny misstep?

She imagined it now—Rei, in all her poised elegance, taking a confident step forward, only for her foot to betray her. Maybe she'd wobble, arms flailing, a brief panic flickering in her sharp eyes before—bam!—she'd hit the floor in the most ungraceful way possible. Usagi almost giggled at the thought. Just once, she pleaded silently to the universe. Just so she knows how it feels to fall while trying so hard!

"Alright everyone, line up." The instructor says as she walks in with the stereo in hand causing everyone else to silence themselves.

"Tonight, we are shifting focus to basic steps as pairs."

She'd be dancing with Mamoru. Her entire body stiffens as the horror slowly sank in. Her breath hitched. Oh no.

Her mind immediately spiraled into a disastrous montage of everything that could go wrong.

Scenario One: She trips—again—but this time, she doesn't just fall. No, this time, she takes Mamoru down with her in a tangled heap of limbs and embarrassment. He ends up pinned beneath her, and she has to live with the knowledge that she literally flattened him. Rei and Jadeite would never let her hear the end of it.

Scenario Two: She steps on his feet—repeatedly—until he's limping by the end of the night. Maybe she even bruises his toes. What if she actually breaks one? Can you break a toe from too much stepping on it? Oh god, if Mamoru has to sit out of the wedding because she injured him, she'd have to move out of Juban and assume a new identity.

Scenario Three: She gets too flustered. Bachata is a close dance; she remembers with dread. That means proximity. That means his hands on her waist. That means her hands on him. That means smelling his cologne. That means—NOPE. ABORT. ABORT.

Her heart rate spiked. Her palms grew clammy. How had she not realized this sooner?!

"Usagi?"

She blinks hearing Mamoru talking to her and Rei watching her expectantly with amusement. She gulps down the lump in her throat and takes a step closer to Mamoru and they wait for instructions.

Mamoru took a steadying breath as he and Usagi assumed their positions, standing close—closer than either of them had been prepared for. His hands rested lightly on her waist, and she placed her own on his shoulders, her fingers barely grazing the fabric of his shirt. The warmth of her touch sent an unexpected jolt through him, but he quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

Stay focused, Mamoru. Don't psych yourself out.

Usagi, on the other hand, looked like she is walking to her doom. Her movements are stiff, hesitant, her steps so painfully slow that Mamoru feels his own balance wavering just trying to match her pace.

"Okay," he said, trying to keep his voice even, though the creeping anxiety of potentially falling was starting to settle in. "Let's just take it easy—step to the right first."

Usagi nods, swallowing hard. Right. Easy. Except nothing about this felt easy when she is hyper-aware of Mamoru's hands on her, the press of his body just inches away. Focus, Usagi. Step to the—

Mamoru shifts to the right. Usagi barely moved, her feet shuffling at a snail's pace, and Mamoru has to pull himself back to avoid throwing off their entire rhythm. His pulse quickens. This is not going to work if she keeps hesitating.

"Usagi, you have to move a little faster," he urges, his voice tight with restrained nerves.

"I am moving!" she hisses, though her glacial pace said otherwise.

"No, you're thinking about moving," he counters, adjusting his grip ever so slightly. "Just follow my lead. If you keep hesitating, you'll trip yourself up."

"Or I'll trip you up," she mumbles under her breath, glancing down at their feet.

Mamoru fought the urge to groan. He is trying his best to stay steady, but Usagi's hesitance is making his steps awkward, and the last thing he wants is for either of them to stumble—especially not with Rei and Jadeite watching from the sidelines like two hawks waiting for entertainment.

"Just trust me," Mamoru said, a little softer this time. "Move with me, not against me."

Usagi peeks up at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as if she wasn't sure she could. But after a deep breath, she made an effort—this time, her step matched his, albeit still a little too cautious.

It wasn't perfect, and the tension between them was palpable, but at least they were moving.

For now.

Jadeite and Rei move effortlessly in sync, their bodies fluid as they glide across the studio floor with practiced ease. Their steps were light, controlled, and perfectly timed to the rhythm of the music. It was as if they had been dancing together for years, and in a way, their natural chemistry made it seem like they had.

Rei, however, was only half focused on the dance. Her sharp eyes flicker toward the other side of the room, where Usagi and Mamoru were struggling to find anything remotely resembling rhythm.

Jadeite caught the glance and smirks. "Checking to see if they're still upright?" he muses, smoothly leading her into a turn before pulling her back in.

Rei's lips twitch, but she does not look at him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jadeite chuckles, not buying it for a second. "Come on, Rei. Is your little scheme working?"

Rei finally met his gaze, her expression the picture of innocence. "Scheme? I simply thought it would be fun to include my dear friend Usagi in our dance lessons. And, well… Mamoru was the only logical partner. My maid of honor and your best man."

Jadeite raises an eyebrow. "Right. No ulterior motives at all."

"None whatsoever," Rei replies smoothly, her tone deceptively light.

Jadeite glances over at Usagi and Mamoru again—Usagi moving like she is wading through molasses, Mamoru trying not to look like he was about to internally combust from sheer frustration. The tension between them is practically visible, a charged energy that neither of them seemed ready to acknowledge.

He smirks. "Uh-huh. Sure. And what happens if they actually kill each other before the wedding?"

Rei finally allows herself a small, knowing smile. "Then at least they'll have gotten very close in the process."

Jadeite let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Remind me never to underestimate you."

Rei simply turned her attention back to their dance, her smirk lingering. She had no intention of admitting anything outright, but she knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.