Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I probably had too much fun writing this chapter.

For the first time in a long while, Usagi did not feel like she needed to leave Juban. Everything she needed is here. Life just felt like it was coming together. Her friends were here. Minako's infectious energy, Ami's steady wisdom, and Rei's exasperated but unwavering support—all of them within reach again. Now her group includes Makoto.

And then, of course, there was the whole Mamoru situation.

Usagi had been certain that Makoto, upon finally meeting him, would maim Mamoru Chiba on sight. But that fantasy had shattered a mere five seconds into their introduction. Kunzite kindly decided to treat them all to dinner later that evening.

Makoto had eyed Mamoru up and down, arms crossed, ready to assess whether or not he deserved to breathe in Usagi's vicinity. Mamoru, unfazed, had given her a polite nod. "Nice to finally meet you."

And then—betrayal.

Makoto, one of Usagi's best friends, had taken one look at him and smirked. The kind of smirk that said, Oh, I see exactly what's going on here.

Usagi immediately grabbed her arm. "No," she had hissed. "Whatever you're thinking, no."

Makoto simply chuckled, giving Mamoru a once-over before turning to Usagi with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, I think I like him."

Mamoru, the infuriating man that he was, only raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Should I be worried?"

Makoto had grinned. "Not yet." Usagi had groaned, dramatically burying her face in her hands. The betrayal was absolute.

But later, when Makoto had nudged her and murmured, "You two have something. You know that, right?" Usagi had simply rolled her eyes, unwilling to entertain the idea.

Then the time came for Usagi's employers to pick an office space and furnish it and send the two women back to work in office. Usagi was grateful she no longer had to work from her bedroom or set up meetings in a coffee shop with local indie writers.

Usagi weaves through the bustling streets of Juban, the warmth of her coffee cup comforting against the chill of the late morning air. The city was alive with the usual sounds—cars honking, bicycles zipping past, and the rhythmic chatter of pedestrians moving with purpose. She, however, takes her time, sipping her drink as she maneuvers around schoolkids in uniforms and businesspeople in sharp suits, all heading to their destinations.

The aroma of fresh bread from a nearby bakery briefly distracted her, and she sighs wistfully. Maybe I should've gotten a pastry too… But there was no turning back now—she is already running just a little later than she should be.

She picks up her pace, her office just a few steps away now. But as she rounded the corner, a sudden force collided with her shoulder.

"Ah!" she yelped as her grip loosened, and in a flash, the coffee cup tumbles from her hands. The lid pops off midair, sending the dark liquid splashing onto the pavement in a steaming arc. For a moment, all she could do was stare, relieved that none of it had landed on her clothes but still mourning the loss of her precious caffeine.

Then she looks up.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stands before her, his dark hair slightly tousled, his sharp, striking features frozen in mild surprise. His deep-set eyes flicker from her to the mess on the ground, then back to her.

"I—sorry about that," he said, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of amusement, as if this wasn't the first time he'd bumped into someone like this.

Usagi blinks, momentarily thrown off by his presence. "Uh… it's—" She stops, narrowing her eyes. Is he smiling?

Her morning just got a lot more interesting. Adrenaline pumps through her veins from the encounter and she takes a deep breath trying to calm her nerves.

He offers a smile in return and looks at the watch on his wrist before the smile disappears, "Gotta run." She watches as he hurries by and disappears into the crowd.

Looking at her own watch, she shrieks and continues her trek toward the office.

The office did not take long to set up and prepare. The building itself is not large like the main office she previously worked in. In fact, the office is on the second floor of the huge building. The office is small but inviting, nestled in with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The space had a warm, slightly lived-in charm, with bookshelves lining the walls, filled with an eclectic mix of published works, manuscripts, and design samples. The air carried a faint scent of paper and fresh coffee, a comforting reminder of the creativity that thrived within its walls.

At the heart of the office was an open workspace with a few neatly arranged desks, each personalized with stacks of manuscripts, coffee mugs, and the occasional potted plant. To the left of the main area were two conference rooms. The first was a cozy space with a round wooden table and mismatched chairs, perfect for small team meetings or deep editorial discussions. The second, slightly larger, had a long rectangular table with a whiteboard on one wall and a corkboard covered in pinned notes, sticky reminders, and sketches of book covers. It was the brainstorming hub, where ideas took shape and publishing strategies came to life.

Beyond the conference rooms, three private offices were tucked away, each belonging to key team members. One belongs to Usagi while another belongs to the head of design, Makoto, where color swatches and mock-up covers were scattered across a drafting table. The third was a flexible office space, shared by senior staff or visiting authors who needed a quiet place to work.

Despite its size, the office had an undeniable charm—intimate yet productive, filled with the quiet energy of passionate people bringing stories to life.

Giving Usagi a knowing smirk as she stops mid step in the lobby, Makoto asks, "Alright, let's hear it. What's the excuse this time? Overslept? Got distracted by a bakery? Tripped over your own feet?"

"None of the above, thank you very much." Usagi huffs and crosses her arms. "It was completely out of my control this time."

Makoto raises an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good."

"So there I was, minding my own business, enjoying my coffee, when—BAM! This tall, ridiculously handsome guy slams into me out of nowhere! My coffee goes flying, my poor cup sacrificed to the sidewalk gods—"

Makoto snorted. "Ridiculously handsome, huh? So that's the real tragedy here?"

Makoto needs to get laid. She is too into romance. Feeling her cheeks heat up, Usagi adds, "No! The tragedy is my coffee, obviously."

"Was he rude? Want me to beat him up?" Makoto balls her hands into fists.

"No need, he practically melted into the crowd of people. I have never seen the streets so crowded here either."

"Okay, give me details. How tall are we talking? Model tall? Athlete tall? Were his eyes smoldering? Did he help you clean up? Did he—" She gasped. "Oh my gosh, did he offer to buy you another coffee? Usagi, please tell me you got a free coffee out of this."

"No! He just apologized, smirked at me like he knew exactly how good he looked, and walked off! Just poof—gone!" Usagi pouts and shakes her head as they walk together toward their respective offices to get started on their assignments.

"Mamoru by any chance?" Makoto asks slyly knowing that will earn a look from Usagi. Naturally, she stops and turns on her heel to glare. "Oh, come on."

"You are like the other girls."

Makoto leans against the wall and crosses her arms, "He couldn't stop himself from stealing looks at you at dinner. The man wants you. It is so romantic!"

Usagi walks into the office and places her purse behind the desk and turned on the lamp she placed on the corner of her desk. Everyone is becoming obsessed with her and Mamoru getting back together and Makoto is fueling that.

"You want us to what?" Usagi finally asks after a moment of silence, her voice shrill but sharp. She groans, dragging a hand down her face as she slumps. "Rei, why would you do this to me?"

Rei sent her a text at lunch to meet after work at a local studio for what she assumed was something else related to her wedding. What she did not expect was to see what appears to be a dance instructor and then Rei, Jadeite, and Mamoru.

"Because you are part of the wedding party, and it would be rude if you sat on the sidelines while everyone else was dancing. Also we get a discount for bringing another pair."

Usagi waved her hands frantically. "That's the point! I'm happy to sit on the sidelines! I excel at sitting on the sidelines! I've only ever slow danced before, and even that was questionable! And now, suddenly, you expect me to learn bachata? With Mamoru of all people?!"

Jadeite grins sheepishly at Mamoru.

Mamoru gives him a side glance and rolls his eyes.

Usagi looks over at Mamoru who looks slightly annoyed himself. That confirms this is just another of Rei's schemes or something similar. Of all the things that Rei can ask of her. This? Dancing? It has been YEARS since she's danced and even then, it was slow dancing.

Rei rolls her eyes. "It's a partner dance, Usagi. You can't just sway in place and hope for the best."

Usagi lets out a dramatic whimper. "I have two left feet, Rei. Two! And Mamoru? He's everywhere! I swear, I can't escape him! First, we get stuck together in the wedding party, and now, I have to learn this ridiculously romantic dance with him?!"

Rei arched a brow. "So, you do think it's romantic."

The instructor wears a huge smile and sashays her hips causing Usagi's eyes to grow three times their size and she whips around on Rei and gives her such a look. Mamoru cringes as well.

"It looks fun." Rei says tries to cool the tension in the room and looks to Jadeite for reinforcement.

Usagi's face turns pink for a multitude of reasons. "That's not the point!" She flails her arms. "The point is that I'm going to step on his toes, trip over my own feet, and probably take us both down in a heap of embarrassment while you and your fiancé glide around like a couple in a telenovela!"

Rei chuckles. "That does sound entertaining."

Usagi groaned louder. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Lessons are just twice a week, Usagi."

The instructor steps closer sensing the tension and hopes to ease everyone's minds. She smiles gently and says, "I promise what we are doing is not difficult. The moves are slow and sensual."

"Sensual?!" Usagi and Mamoru say in unison. They look at each other incredulously.

Mamoru walks over to Jadeite with a not so friendly look on his face but does not say a word. Jadeite keeps that grin on his face, a tiny sweat bead forming on his brow however.

Usagi slumps forward, burying her face in her hands. "I hate this. I hate everything about this."

Rei pats her shoulder. "Oh, don't worry. You'll hate it a little less once Mamoru spins you around the dance floor like a pro."

Usagi peeks through her fingers. "He better not try to spin me. I will fall."

Rei just laughed. "Guess we'll find out."

After relenting, Usagi sheds her coat on the empty chair, thanking her lucky stars she wore pants that clung to her legs instead of wide leg slacks. She reaches in her purse and pulls out a hair band and piles her long hair atop of her head as best as she can. Not too far from her, Mamoru pushes his sleeves up to his elbows, silently cursing this entire situation.

As the rhythmic beats of the bachata song fill the dance studio, Usagi shifts uncomfortably, her arms crossed over her chest. She watches the instructor, with effortless footwork, glide across the wooden floor, demonstrating the basic steps with a fluidity that made it look deceptively simple. But Usagi is not fooled. She could already feel the impending awkwardness in her limbs, the certainty that her body wouldn't move like that—like water, like music itself.

I'm going to step all over Mamoru's feet.

Beside her, Rei is transfixed, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she mirrored the instructor's movements in place, her hips already catching the rhythm. "She makes it look so easy," she whispered, barely containing her enthusiasm.

Usagi, however, sighs, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "That's because she's probably been doing this her whole life," she mutters under her breath.

The instructor's voice rang out, smooth and confident. "Now, just a simple step, side to side… feel the beat."

Usagi's stomach twisted. Feel the beat? That is exactly the problem—she is not sure she can. The way the instructor moves, the way Rei eagerly absorbsd every step, made Usagi feel even stiffer, even more out of place. She hates looking foolish, and something told her that's exactly what was about to happen the moment she tries to follow along.

Mamoru takes a deep breath, his brow furrowing in concentration as he steps to the side, then back, mirroring the instructor's movements as best as he could. His feet followed the rhythm—mostly. There was a slight hesitation in his steps, a fraction of a second where his body questioned itself before committing. But he is moving, and that was something.

His shoulders tense at first, but as the music pulses through the studio, he let it guide him. He is not exactly graceful, but he is not completely lost either. A flicker of confidence settles in his chest as he finds himself staying on beat, his weight shifting in time with the instructor's.

Still, doubt lingers. His hands hover slightly, unsure of what to do, as the instructor added a subtle sway of the hips, Mamoru hesitates. He feels the stiffness in his movements, the self-conscious edge creeping in. But he presses on, determined.

Usagi can see him moving from the corner of her eye and while she shouldn't be too surprised to see Mamoru pressing on with determination, she cannot help but feel inadequate for this. Rei and Jadeite are on her other side, laughing and enjoying themselves to their hearts content.

Usagi was anything but smooth. Her brows were knit together in deep concentration, her arms slightly stiff, and her feet… well, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own—one that was actively working against her.

"One, two, three—step," the instructor calls out, her voice patient.

Usagi tried. She really tried. She shifted her weight, stepping to the side, but the moment she attempted to sway her hips like everyone else, disaster struck.

Her right foot caught on her left, and in a spectacular display of complete and utter lack of coordination, she wobbled, flailed her arms wildly, and—

Thud.

She hits the wooden floor in a heap, the sound echoing through the studio.

A moment of silence followed.

Then, from her very undignified position on the floor, she let out an exasperated groan, throwing an arm over her face. "Rei, I swear on the Moon itself, you will pay for this."

From the sidelines, Rei, who had been very elegantly stepping through the dance with her fiancé, barely suppresses a laugh. "Usagi, it's not that bad—"

Usagi bolts upright, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "Not that bad?! I died, Rei! I perished in the middle of this stupid, hip-moving, toe-twisting nightmare! And you—you are the one who dragged me into it!"

Mamoru, who had been standing beside her, casually offering a hand to help her up, sighs with barely hidden amusement. "You tripped, Odango. You didn't 'perish.'"

Odango?! Is he serious? Usagi dramatically flops back down. "Then let me stay here. Just tell the wedding guests I tragically fell victim to my own two left feet."

Mamoru chuckles and crouches down. "Come on, drama queen. Up you go." He effortlessly pulls her to her feet, steadying her as she wobbles slightly.

She huffs, brushing imaginary dust off her clothes. "This is all your fault, Rei. I don't care how 'discounted' these lessons were. I'm suing you for emotional damages."

Rei smirks with challenge. "You agreed."

Usagi narrows her eyes. "Under duress."

The instructor clapped her hands together, grinning. "Alright, let's try that again!"

Usagi turns to Mamoru with a deadpan expression. "If I fall again, I'm taking you down with me."

Mamoru just smirks. "Noted."

Rei and Jadeite stop cycling through the steps and step away from the others. Rei mentioned something about needing to grab her water bottle that she conveniently brought.

Jadeite crosses his arms, leaning casually against the doorway of the dance studio as he watches Usagi flail through another set of basic bachata steps. His gaze slid to Rei, who stands beside him with a perfectly neutral expression, sipping her water as if she weren't the mastermind of some grand scheme.

"So," he begins, tilting his head slightly, "was there actually a discount on these lessons? Or is this whole thing just part of some elaborate plan that I'm not in on?"

Rei takes another slow sip of her water, eyes never leaving the dance floor. "Hmm?"

Jadeite narrowed his eyes. "Don't 'hmm' me. You specifically said, 'We're getting a great deal on this,' but I'm starting to think the real deal is whatever you're plotting by making Usagi and Mamoru dance together."

Rei turns to face him, expression as serene as ever. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Jadeite exhales through his nose, unconvinced. "Right. And I suppose it's just coincidence that you picked a partner dance that requires them to be this close?"

Rei smiles, all too innocent. "Completely."

Jadeite stares at her for a long moment before shaking his head with a chuckle. "You're scary, you know that?"

Rei simply shrugs, watching as Usagi tripped forward. She sipped her water again, suppressing a smirk. "I have no idea what you mean."