By the time of the festival, some things in Usagi's life had changed; bit by bit, more parts of the Rainbow Crystal had revealed themselves. Hidden within people, they had been able to extract the individual shards not only from a so-called Game Machine Man and a priest but also from Ami's friend Ryo and Motoki's girlfriend Reika.
Unfortunately, so far, only a single crystal was in the possession of the Sailor Team. The remaining crystals had been claimed by the Dark Kingdom and Tuxedo Mask during the battles.
Currently, three shards were still missing. However, the bearers of the previous crystals were able to lead normal lives again, free from any evil energy, thanks to the purifying power of Sailor Moon's new Moon Wand.
The next of the former seven monsters, Yumemi Yumeno, was a painter and had created a painting of Mamoru and Usagi, depicting him as Tuxedo Mask floating beside her above the rooftops of Tokyo.
This now served as a promotional poster for the upcoming exhibition.
Mamoru stood with Diana and his little daughter in front of the glass front of a bookstore, thoughtfully gazing at the masterpiece.
The almost dreamlike drawing of him and Usagi carried a magical familiarity, and at the same time, their gazes upon each other were gentle, almost questioning. It seemed as if, in that very moment, they were realizing they were meant for each other.
The little cat scrutinized her future king carefully from the side.
"How is it that a painting of you and the Queen exists at this point in time, Your Highness?"
Mamoru didn't directly address Diana's question but mused to himself.
"This painting most likely stems from a memory of Yumemi's from the Silver Millennium. She'll cross our paths again in the near future and ask us to model for her. I still remember that day vividly. Even though I was more focused on the search for the Imperial Silver Crystal at the time, that afternoon with Usako at Yumemi's house was quite special."
Mamoru's lips curled into a wistful smile.
"At first, she was a bit reluctant, but then there was this one moment when she glanced at me secretly from the side, and I KNEW I'd caught her. God, I grinned like an idiot when she turned away from me, her face bright red and her arms crossed indignantly. Yumemi only said back then that she felt like she was working on a masterpiece."
Diana turned her gaze to the painting and came to a conclusion.
"I have to agree with her. You can truly see the special bond between you. Captured in oil and canvas, how romantic. Don't you think so too, Kousagi?"
"Chibi!"
The little girl clapped her hands joyfully. In the next moment, she spun around her own axis and then set off excitedly toward the Tsukinos' house.
Mamoru and Diana hurriedly took off, trying to keep up with the bouncing little creature ahead of them. After a half-chase, they finally arrived at their shared home. They obviously had visitors, as a car with the lettering "Y. & Sons" was parked in the driveway.
"Oh, that must be the tailor who made the yukatas for all of you," Diana deduced. "Ikuko mentioned this morning that she was expecting important visitors later."
Mamoru and Kousagi quickly stepped through the genkan and entered the Tsukinos' living room. There, they found Ikuko and Usagi with another woman who was busy making final adjustments to Ikuko's new garment.
"Oh, you're already back from the bookstore, Endy. So, what do you think of our new yukatas? Usagi, turn around."
Usagi took a few steps and obediently spun around so Mamoru could admire her pink yukata in all its glory.
His heartbeat skipped for a moment. Usagi was simply breathtakingly beautiful.
Even though she was technically only fourteen years old at this moment, magically disguised as a young adult standing in her parents' living room with her hair tied up in cute pigtails, Usagi was simply the most beautiful being he had ever seen in his entire life—in every one of his lives. There would always and forever be only her for him, as if he had no choice but to worship the ground she walked on… she was just so perfect.
Until Usagi lost her balance and fell face-first onto the couch with a loud scream.
Mamoru couldn't help it—he burst into a wide grin at her clumsy movement. That was Usagi too… and he loved her exactly for it. He would never want to change her.
"Grrr, it's been forever since I last wore geta!" she mumbled into the couch cushions, clutching her aching ankle.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. I have some zōri upstairs you can wear if need be."
Ikuko helped her daughter up from the couch and steadied her on her wobbly legs.
As Ikuko turned back to the tailor, Usagi shot Mamoru an annoyed glare.
"There's nothing to laugh about! I can walk gracefully in these things if I want to. Look, it's that easy—aaah!"
Usagi didn't get any further, as she was once again on the verge of falling face-first—this time onto the floor. But there was no second face-plant, as Mamoru instinctively stretched out his arms and caught his future fiancée firmly in his hands.
"Don't worry, Usa… Over time, I've gotten used to saving you from every kind of danger… or from bruises or whatever else might happen to you in this life—" He couldn't continue, as he suddenly remembered the real reason he was still here in the past. He wouldn't be able to keep saving Usagi unless he managed to extract the Light of Hope from the little girl and take it back to his own time.
That's why they had devised an elaborate plan for the upcoming summer festival, involving all members of the mission: First, there was Motoki, who had to somehow convince the past-Mamoru to attend the festival. This proved to be one of the most challenging tasks at first, as Mamoru—at least in this time—was anything but sociable. But Reika had promised to fly in from Africa during her week off just for Motoki, leaving Mamoru with little choice but to join his closest friends.
Meanwhile, Diana and Mamoru, along with Kousagi, had to stay in the background of the event and ensure that Usagi could seamlessly switch between her fourteen-year-old self and her adult version without her family growing suspicious.
At the same time, Mamoru was responsible for closely observing Usagi and his past self, finding a way to trigger the Light of Hope and, ideally, perhaps even capture it.
For these two tasks, they had decided that Mamoru would slip into an oriental outfit à la Moonlight Knight to avoid any festival-goers suspecting his true identity.
Fortunately, this festival was one of those events where everyone could dress as extravagantly as they wished, and the yukata tailor hadn't even batted an eye when Mamoru shared his unusual clothing request.
The plan was set, not exactly on as shaky legs as Usagi in her geta, but it was a plan nonetheless.
Mamoru still held his Usagi tightly in his arms when she eyed him critically.
"I hope you can also save me from getting completely soaked. That happens every single time at this festival."
Mamoru hoped in that moment that their plan wouldn't literally fall apart in the water.
--
Finally, the day of the opening ceremony had arrived. The sun couldn't have shone more brightly, and the temperatures were already inviting an extensive water fight early in the morning as Mamoru presented his somewhat unusual clothing combination to his family. The Tsukinos were slightly surprised by his appearance, but Shingo just shrugged while holding his oversized water gun.
"You know you're risking getting soaked to the bone, Endy. Those clothes will get heavy as lead. But you folks in Osaka seem completely unfazed if you think everyone dresses like that at these festivals."
"I get it. Endy just wants to show off his traditional attire to the people of Tokyo. He'll either be a huge star or a total target at the festival," Ikuko teased with a sly grin.
"Maybe it's even worth an article in our newspaper: The White Knight of Osaka - Endy Shitennou Defies Tokyo's Water Masses."
Ikuko grinned broadly at Kenji's suggestion.
"Your dad's really exaggerating; it must be the weather. Now come on, we don't want to miss the start!"
Mamoru had never been to the Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri before—at least not until this day in the past—but he had heard a lot about one of Tokyo's biggest water festivals. He was curious. Perhaps this would be his last chance to attend such a festival anyway.
As he arrived with the Tsukinos, Diana, and his adopted child, the parade had already begun. About 500,000 people came over eight days each year to witness this spectacular water spectacle, and Mamoru had to admit it looked like more than just fun.
It was bustling, the streets filled with lively conversations and songs. Drums beat in various rhythms, and from all sides, you could hear joyful laughter and screams. The people were clearly having a blast splashing each other with water.
"So, Endy, we didn't promise too much, did we? You've earned a break from all that studying! Now enjoy the festival to the fullest! I'm going to head over to that food stall and grab us some lunch. Honey, will you help me?"
Ikuko smiled at her husband, and the two made their way through the crowd to a food stall. Within moments, they had disappeared from the rest of the family's sight.
"I'm not hungry at all; I want to splash water!" Shingo rolled up the sleeves of his yukata and eagerly loaded his water gun from a nearby water trough. Usagi just looked at her brother, exasperated.
"Seriously, you're such an immature kid! No matter how old you get, you'll never—eeek!"
Usagi couldn't finish her jab, as a massive water fountain hit her square in the face, soaking half of her pink yukata.
"Great, thanks a lot, you super idiot! How am I supposed to look good in front of Mam—"
She couldn't continue her angry outburst, as the next water fountain hit her again, this time from behind. Looking like a drenched poodle, she stood in front of Mamoru and her brother. Shingo burst into roaring laughter.
"Hahaha, it'll dry in no time; don't be such a whiny brat!"
A group of cheerfully singing and flute-playing men carried a portable Shinto shrine replica down the street, while water fountains rained down on them from all sides—one of which had targeted Usagi again.
Screaming, she hopped behind Mamoru, desperately trying to hide from the incoming attack.
Mamoru couldn't help but laugh out loud at the freshly bathed Usagi. Life—however tough it was for him right now—was simply wonderful in this moment and could have gone on like this forever.
Maybe there was a way to stay in the past a little longer and enjoy life with Usagi? Maybe his presence could change things entirely?
A stern glance from Diana was enough to snap Mamoru out of his daydreams.
There was no helping it; the mission was already on the line if he didn't hurry to bring his former self and his Usako together. But where the heck were Motoki, Reika, and the past-Mamoru, and how on earth was he supposed to find them in this chaotic crowd?
Mamoru scanned the crowd until he suddenly spotted a black-haired teenager.
"Rei!" he called out in surprise. His supposed "friend" was standing in a long line at a food stall, excitedly talking to a shaggy, tall man kneeling on the ground in front of her, making an apologetic gesture with his hands.
Mamoru recognized him immediately: Yuichiro. A funny guy who would later become something of a hero for Rei. Rei's grandfather was also a crystal bearer. He would be the next to be targeted by Zoisite after the artist Yumemi Yumeno, followed by the hefty cat Red Butler, the last of the legendary seven monsters.
Yuichiro seemed a bit clumsy, but he would bravely defend Rei with his life at least twice in the near future. Even though Rei often put Yuichiro down and made it clear she was smarter and prettier than him, she seemed to have a soft spot for him.
Mamoru couldn't keep watching this strange scene, as Usagi suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I'm going to slip behind that food stall over there and transform back with the Luna Pen. Motoki's just coming with Reika and the baka… I mean, with you," she said, pointing.
Mamoru followed her gaze and saw a cheerful Motoki strolling arm-in-arm with Reika through the crowd—followed by their personal third wheel. The past-Mamoru, like his companions, was also dressed in a traditional yukata and looked visibly annoyed by the loud, joyful crowd. It was more than obvious he wasn't enjoying himself.
In that moment, Mamoru wondered what kind of transformation he had undergone in the past year and a half to enjoy this festival so much today.
"I was obviously just lonely back then," he murmured to himself, lost in thought.
"Lonely? Why?" Usagi, who had now transformed back, looked at him in confusion.
Mamoru hadn't had the chance or the desire to tell his future fiancée about his childhood and his parents' accident. But somehow, he couldn't just abandon his former self and felt compelled to defend him to Usagi.
"Motoki thinks I had issues with my surroundings at the time because I never mentioned anything about friends or family to him. To him, it was like I'd shut everyone out except for him."
Usagi fell silent, staring at the coin for cotton candy in her hand.
"You know, Usako, I built a pretty high wall around my emotions back then. I hid behind a lot of cynical comments and sarcasm. That's why it wasn't always easy to get along with me. But deep down, I'm a nice guy when I'm not being so sarcastic—so give me a chance."
With those words, Mamoru pushed a confused Usagi, now in her normal form as a fourteen-year-old teenager in her pink yukata, toward his friends and called after her through his white mask:
"Be nice to me—I don't deserve anything less, and don't forget; we're both basically Sailor V addicts!"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Motoki run toward Usagi with a wide smile and give her a warm hug in greeting. Mamoru quickly pulled his mask lower over his face to avoid being recognized by either the agitated Rei or his younger self and followed the three friends from a safe distance.
A few minutes later, Usagi and the past-Mamoru stood together at a cotton candy stall. Motoki was busy adjusting his sunglasses on his nose, while Reika expertly inspected the result. Disguised as the Moonlight Knight, Mamoru now stood directly behind Usagi and his younger self, listening intently to their conversation.
"This festival has a really long tradition. I usually come here every year with my family, but my brother Shingo splashed me, and then I lost sight of my parents and him. Luckily, Motoki showed up just in time."
Before her eyes, the stall owner shaped a pink heart out of cotton candy. Beaming, she paid and took a big bite of the fluffy treat.
"Mmm, this is so good! I didn't know you were into festivals like this. It's not really your thing. Or have you ever done something like this with your family?"
'Thin ice, Usako,' Mamoru thought, holding his breath. But to his surprise, his younger self reacted differently than he'd expected.
"That's none of your business. But yeah, I used to go to events like this more often."
Unconsciously, the past-Mamoru seemed to steer Usagi slightly away from the festival. Like a second shadow, the mission team followed them until they reached a small side street a few steps later.
"But life isn't always about festivals and celebrations. There are other things that are more important to me now."
Usagi fell silent, staring at Mamoru with wide eyes. Then she lowered her gaze, suddenly seeming to realize that she wasn't the only one whose life had completely changed overnight due to her identity as a superheroine.
"I see," she said quietly. Mamoru, in his hiding spot, pricked up his ears to keep listening to the conversation.
Suddenly, Usagi held out her half-eaten cotton candy to his past self, as if it were the Holy Grail.
"But you know, Mamoru, you're here now. And you can hopefully enjoy this festival a little—even if your priorities have changed. It's not always easy to juggle everything."
She looked at Mamoru again, who gazed at her in surprise. With a clenched fist, she spoke to him encouragingly.
"But it's always worth it to take life as it comes—every single day. Whether it's with festivals or sad things. That's just how life is. Because no one is promised tomorrow."
Mamoru smiled at this almost wise remark coming from the mouth of a middle school girl beside him.
"What do you mean by 'worth it'? Writing bad English assignments and getting detention? Or spending all your pocket money at the Game Crown Center on Sailor V games, ice cream, and cotton candy at festivals?"
Deftly, Mamoru stole a piece of her cotton candy and let the sweet treat melt in his mouth. Usagi devoured the rest and looked at him with a mischievous grin.
"You know me suspiciously well, Mamoru Chiba. And yeah—that alone makes it worth getting up every morning and living a normal life."
Usagi suddenly seemed lost in thought as she looked at the empty wooden stick in her hand and continued:
"I'm late to school every morning because I'd rather sleep a few minutes longer. The teacher sends me out of the classroom as punishment, and yeah—my grades aren't exactly the best. But after school, we go to the Crown or a café, and on the way home, I check out the latest party dresses in the shop windows."
Her eyes grew glassy. She looked up at Mamoru and said in a quieter voice:
"And all these little things really make me happy. All of it—this completely normal life."
Mamoru held his breath behind his white mask as his younger self suddenly raised his hand and gently touched Usagi's cheek. He stared at her as if she were a saint. Mamoru, too, would have loved to comfort her in that moment—but he didn't get the chance, as the familiar energy of the Light of Hope suddenly emerged beside him.
"They're falling in love, Your Majesty."
Diana watched the two in front of her with awe, while Kousagi clapped her hands excitedly. The light seemed to shine only for Mamoru, while the festival continued in full swing around them.
Even if it was predestined, even if fate willed it—in that moment, it felt like an absolute defeat for Mamoru.
Right now, this new life in the past no longer seemed desirable. It hadn't even taken five sentences of Usagi and his younger self talking normally and alone for the first time to rekindle the love from the Silver Millennium between them.
Even if neither of them would ever admit it in that moment—fate simply couldn't be changed.
Mamoru looked thoughtfully at the little red-haired girl in front of him, whose light was slowly fading.
"Did I ever have a chance against myself?"
Kousagi looked at him with her big blue eyes and answered in her typically concise way:
"Chibi."
Mamoru sighed. That was probably exactly the answer he needed.
