The Tamagoyaki in the pan had gone cold by the time Mamoru finished summarizing the events from the future.
Everything that had happened before he and Diana had set out on their journey to the past seemed like it came from another world and felt like a different life to him.
Usagi had listened to him silently the entire time, her gaze never leaving his eyes. Usually, she was an open book when it came to her emotions, but this time, Usagi's expression was unusually inscrutable to Mamoru.
Mamoru had practically told her everything.
He had started with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study in America. How much he had struggled with that decision, and how Usagi had eventually told him to seize the chance, knowing full well that it wouldn't be the easiest time for either of them.
But Usagi was a fighter. Behind the façade of a clumsy crybaby, she was so much more. Even now, she was showing a resilience with her big heart and trust in the world that no one else in the entire universe could bear. And Usagi had friends who would always be ready to support her in her battles, who would give absolutely everything for her.
And the worst was yet to come.
When he got to the part where Galaxia appeared, Usagi's gaze clouded over, and she could no longer hold back the tears that had formed in her eyes.
"That's so cruel."
Her voice was shaky, and tears ran down her cheeks.
"I mean," she took a deep breath with all her strength and tried to pull herself together in front of him.
Even though she appeared outwardly to be an adult woman, Mamoru saw the very young teenager in her that she still was.
He knew all too well the terrible things she would have to endure in the not-so-distant future.
And he wouldn't be able to protect her in the darkest hours. He would even—brainwashed by the dark energy of the Dark Kingdom—have to fight against her and hurt her.
Mamoru hated himself for his powerlessness.
But at least now, he could encourage her and give her hope, so that perhaps in her greatest despair, she would remember him even a little bit. He reached for her hands. The gentle warmth encouraged Usagi to continue her attempt to say something about this more than sad story.
"You're here, even though you're... dead? Are you a ghost or something?"
Mamoru couldn't help but smile at her unexpected question. Somehow, Usagi could truly lighten any heavy mood with her unique way.
"I'm far from being, uh, how should I put it, a holograph of myself... maybe my superhero alter ego is, but I honestly feel quite alive." He smiled crookedly at his little Usako, who was now curiously eyeing him from head to toe.
"So you're not a ghost but also not alive anymore. You said so yourself earlier. Then how did you get here?"
Mamoru knew he had to be very careful with what he could tell her, to not disrupt the events of the past too much. It was a fine line, and he was really uncomfortable having to tell Usagi a slightly altered version of the truth again. But the main goal had to be to let everything happen as it should.
With that thought in mind, he said somewhat awkwardly,
"Well, you see, I have a key that allows me to travel through time. Before I could die in my time, I used it and came here. I knew I could find Galaxia's Star Seed here. She had revealed to me shortly before that she sent the Light of Hope to the past so that no one could find her weakness. She knew nothing about this key, otherwise, she certainly wouldn't have told me that secret."
'Just don't blink now!' he thought to himself, straining.
"As long as I'm also living in the past, I can't die, you see? And once we have the Light of Hope, even more so."
Mamoru looked at her intently, hoping that Usagi would believe the tiny additions and alterations he had made to the original story.
It seemed to work as her face brightened. At least somewhat.
"So you can stay in this time, and nothing can happen to you here?"
"At least for the next year, I guess," he replied.
Usagi stepped closer to him. Again, tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She hugged Mamoru tightly and spoke in a quiet voice,
"I'm so glad you're okay, Mamoru. The thought that you could be dead is something I just couldn't bear."
Her words pained him, and Mamoru returned her embrace, holding her as tightly as he could.
"The last thing you need to worry about is me, Usako. Everything is fine. Please... don't cry."
"Ahem," Diana cleared her throat behind them, causing the couple to turn to her.
"I'm very sorry to interrupt you, but we have a little problem."
Before she could explain further, they heard Ikuko's voice excitedly coming down the stairs, calling for her daughter and Mamoru. When she arrived in the kitchen, she looked around with wide eyes as if she were searching for something.
"Ah, there you are. Have you seen little Kousagi? I just heard a noise, so I went up to the attic to check on Kousagi. But her room is empty, and the window is open."
Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other in shock.
"Not that she's sleepwalking again."
There was a worried look in Ikuko's eyes.
Mamoru was the first to break out of his stupor.
"She's really unpredictable," he muttered grimly, looking at Diana with exasperation.
As he sprinted to the Genkan and started putting on his shoes, he spoke to the perplexed women:
"I'll go look for her. She can't be far. I'll bring her back, please don't worry, and let me know if she comes home."
With those words, he let the door fall shut and ran through the already bustling streets of Juban-Azabu, heading straight for a very specific destination.
He had no idea why his feet were carrying him directly to that place, but maybe it was because it always felt like a second home to him, whether in his time or in the past.
After a few minutes, he reached the Game Crown Center and stepped through the automatic doors into the arcade.
As he entered, he scanned the room, searching for the little child.
Motoki was busy wiping down the counter and gave his best friend a puzzled smile. He glanced briefly at his watch and then back at the dark-haired man before him.
"Hi Mamoru, what brings you here so early today?"
Mamoru was about to come up with an appropriate response when he suddenly heard a familiar squeak.
"Chibi."
Both men looked at each other, and it was Motoki who first got down on his knees to see what could be the source of that strange noise under one of the tables.
Mamoru quickly joined him and watched the little girl in front of them as she cheerfully crawled across the floor. She was busily picking up dust bunnies from the arcade floor and throwing them into the air.
"There you are... come on, let's go home to Usagi, she's already missing you. Ikuko is also very worried."
Mamoru had completely forgotten about his best friend, who was still kneeling beside him and now looked bewildered, glancing back and forth between the little girl and Mamoru.
"Chibi."
Kousagi obeyed and willingly let Mamoru pick her up. From his arm, she now curiously observed Motoki, who had also risen from the floor.
"Okay, Mamoru. What the heck is going on here? You show up at the crack of dawn and pick up little girls with the strangest hair buns from the floor as if it's the most normal thing in the world."
Motoki raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, obviously deeply confused by Mamoru's bizarre behavior.
"Uh, well, I, uh," Mamoru began hesitantly, scratching his head awkwardly with his free hand. He desperately tried to buy more time to come up with a suitable excuse for all of this when Motoki's eyes suddenly widened, and he pushed Mamoru, along with Kousagi, into a nearby empty seating area. He hissed frantically,
"Don't move and don't say a word."
At first, Mamoru couldn't understand Motoki's exaggerated reaction at all, but time seemed to stand still when he heard a very familiar voice accompanied by the opening of the automatic doors as it echoed through the otherwise empty arcade.
It was his own voice.
Apparently, none other than Mamoru Chiba had just entered the Game Crown Center.
For the second time that morning, he heard Motoki's greeting.
"Hi Mamoru, why are you here so early today?"
There could have been any other place in the entire city where it would have been less likely to run into his own self, but it was probably fate, and Mamoru wished for nothing more than for his past version to quickly disappear back to university.
Mamoru was sweating buckets, and he cautiously pulled Artemis T out of his pocket and placed the sphere on the table with trembling fingers. Ready to use the magical powers immediately if necessary.
The little red-haired girl on his lap grabbed Artemis T and began playing with the magical object. With bated breath, Mamoru listened to the conversation just a few meters away.
"Early? I already went for a run today because I have an appointment this evening, so it won't work out."
"Appointment?" Mamoru thought hard. Maybe the conversation between Motoki and Past-Mamoru could help him figure out how long he had to stay at this damn table until the second Mamoru finally left. Motoki seemed to have heard his thoughts and probed further.
"Oh, that's right, Rei invited you to that doll exhibition."
"No, she persuaded me to go," his conversation partner immediately replied.
Mamoru had to grin.
"I have no idea what she wants from me. Ever since that incident in the park, she's been filling up my answering machine with new reasons to meet up."
"Rei is a very nice girl, Mamoru. She just wants to get to know you better. I think she likes you a lot."
Past-Mamoru sighed loudly.
"What is it with these girls always dragging me to such events? Saori from our semester just recently wanted to take me to the latest exhibition by Yumemi Yumeno. Apparently, she's said to draw wonderfully romantic couples. I don't even know the artist and find it all utterly boring."
Motoki grinned broadly at his friend.
"Could it be that you prefer coming to the arcade because there's a girl here who also spends most of her free time here, and you are drawn to her every time like a magnet?"
Mamoru only heard a contemptuous snort in response.
"Usagi? Oh, come on, Motoki, I told you this just the other day. I don't even know why we always argue. But somehow, we just don't fit together."
There was now a significant amount of doubt in Motoki's voice.
"I don't know, Mamoru. I have more of a feeling that Usagi plays a much bigger role in your life than you're willing to admit."
"Let me tell you something, Motoki; Usagi Tsukino is destined for a complete BAKA. I've already told her that in the street, and I'm more than sure that one day she'll find her dream prince, who will save this clumsy damsel in distress from her own blunders by being an even bigger idiot than she is."
Mamoru could practically feel Motoki's already broad grin deepening further from his hiding spot.
"For once, you're actually right, my dear Mamoru. She deserves only the very best."
After a brief pause, he added, shifting nervously from one foot to the other.
"So, I really need to get back to work. I'm sorry, but I don't have much time right now... as much as I'd love to have a coffee with you, I have to return to work. It's really busy, and my shift just started, so—"
"Busy?"
Mamoru felt his past self briefly scan the tables.
"Apart from those two over there, I don't see anyone waiting for their order, Toki... but if you want, I can help and serve that guy over there, no problem at all."
"No!!!" Motoki almost screamed. "Uh, no no, that's really not necessary. I've got it covered... but you really should go now... Usagi... she'll be here any minute... and like you said, you don't want any drama today, especially not with her, right?"
"Mhm, you're probably right," Mamoru murmured, lost in thought, and was just about to leave when he heard someone excitedly calling behind him.
"Mamo Mamo!"
Mamoru stared in shock as the little girl climbed off his lap, clutching the cat ball in her tiny hands, and ran joyfully towards his past self.
"Mamo Mamo Mamo!"
Past-Mamoru seemed just as surprised and stared at the toddler in front of him with a puzzled expression.
Undeterred, Kousagi clung to his ankle and looked up at him with delight.
"Who are you?"
he asked, his gaze caught by her sky-blue eyes. Unable to move with the weight of this little girl clinging to his leg.
Mamoru could do nothing but stay hidden, desperately hoping for a miracle. His prayers were finally answered when the automatic doors opened for the third time that morning, and an all-too-familiar voice called out to the little girl.
Or rather, gasped for breath. Obviously, the owner of the voice had just run across half the city.
"Kou- Kou...Kousagi!"
The moment Past-Mamoru noticed the blonde middle school girl, he couldn't help but throw a mocking comment her way.
"Odango Atama... shouldn't you be in school at this time of day? How is it that you now have a mini-version of yourself?"
Usagi flinched at the nickname and immediately concluded that the person in front of her could only be the present version of her future fiancé. She sighed, rolled her eyes in annoyance, and replied grumpily.
"Mamoru-Baka! That's not my child! She's... a distant cousin of mine, and I don't have school today, I'm just babysitting her, that's all you need to know!"
"Aha, so I only need to know that you're a pretty lousy babysitter, considering she's already picked another man as her adoptive father, the guy back there with the black hair—"
Past-Mamoru didn't get any further because, unlike him, Usagi had recognized Mamoru and steered the conversation back to their impending argument.
"So what? She likes tall men with black hair. There are quite a few of those in Tokyo, and she slipped out of my house this morning, because my cats didn't watch her. Got it?"
Mamoru gave her a rather puzzled look in return and then stared down at the toddler who was stretching her arms up to him and pleading with big eyes to be picked up. For whatever reason, he seemed unable to resist her charm. Wordlessly, he picked Kousagi up and looked back at Usagi.
Mamoru risked a glance toward the counter and saw at that moment a faint glow emanating from the red-haired girl in Mamoru's arms.
It was clear that he was the only one who could see this special energy from the star crystal, as the others continued their conversation as if nothing had happened.
"Aha, your cat, huh. Didn't your black cat run away recently? I had to save her from a truck in the street. Who was supposed to be watching over her. This little girl here?"
"You're such a Baka! As if YOU could take care of a toddler with your cold, socially distant nature! Not even a goldfish would feel comfortable around you!"
Offended by his words, she crossed her arms and was more than ready to start a proper fight.
Past-Mamoru gladly took the invitation and countered, raising an eyebrow arrogantly.
"Well, at least I'm an adult, mature person who wouldn't be clumsy enough to lose a small child on the streets of Tokyo. I bet she ran away from you while you were busy stuffing your face with ice cream or tripping over something, as you seem to do on a daily basis."
"You... you... arrgggg, I can't stand you at all, you know that, Mamoru Chiba! You're such an arrogant, huge... annoying... BAKA!"
Now Usagi was really angry, and Mamoru—who was still sitting transfixed at his table—was somehow relieved to see the quarreling couple back on familiar ground.
Kousagi seemed to feel more than comfortable in the arms of her future fake father, and the glow continued to intensify until Motoki finally cleared his throat loudly.
He was also reliable when trying to separate the two quarreling parties.
"Now that you've found your... uh... distant cousin, it would be best to take her straight home, and please do me a favor and take Mamoru with you! More customers will be coming soon, and they don't need to witness your flirt fights, okay? Whatever's going on between you two, sort it out in a more private setting... like an elevator, where neither of you can escape easily."
Both looked at Motoki in complete astonishment.
"Seriously, take care of the child and leave me alone with all this stuff. You're acting like an old married couple, so go and be happy together!"
With these words, Motoki ushered his two best friends, along with the toddler, through the entrance of the Game Crown Center, flipped the "open" sign hanging on the glass doors around, and turned his attention to the young man in front of him.
Mamoru couldn't believe his ears as his best friend flashed a broad grin, spread his arms wide, and greeted him for the third time that morning.
"Good to see you, Endymion!"