Usagi leaned forward towards Makoto, eyes wide.
"They were caught doing *what*? I don�t believe it!" The brunette nodded furiously, ponytail swishing back and
forth. "Mmmhmm! And her parents didn�t even know about it!" It was lunch hour, and Makoto was filling Usagi in
on the latest gossip. As usual, Ami kept her nose in a book, but it might be noted that she hadn�t turned the page for
the last ten minutes or so. Usagi made no such pretense and did not even attempt to hide her curiosity.
"Well? What happened to them?" Makoto grinned and continued to divulge the news about one of their classmates.
Just as she finished her narration the bell rang, and Usagi picked up her school bag, giggling guiltily over the
embarrassment and bad fortune of the subjects of their latest discussion.
** People are talkin�, talking 'bout people
Miraculously, Usagi did not have detention that day and walked with the other girls over to the arcade. She picked
up her speed a little, but still overheard Makoto whisper to Ami, "Yep, Usagi�s got it bad�She�s probably in love
with the "conceited jerk"�or they might be going out in secret�" Usagi blushed bright red, but decided just to
ignore them.
**I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
**They think we're lovers kept under cover
**I just ignore it, but they keep saying
Once Usagi reached the arcade she perched on a counter seat, flashed Motoki a smile and was about to ask him for a
chocolate milkshake with extra whipped cream, when a bored voice cut her off.
"She wants a Chocolate Milkshake, extra whipped cream." Usagi whipped around to face�.Mamoru. Motoki�s was
heard loud and clear as he proclaimed, "One would think that you two are going out or something!" Mamoru burst
out laughing, while Usagi was trying to decide whether to laugh or cover her face from embarrassment. Finally she
starting laughing with Mamoru over the sheer�absurdness of the situation. At the same time, she wished it was true
and she could be going out with Mamoru. The boisterous laughter died down after a while when they realized that
no one else was laughing.
**We laugh just a little too loud
"So�Odango Atama�how does it feel, not to have detention? Must be rare for you!" Mamoru�s taunt broke the
uncomfortable silence, and Usagi slid easily into the routine argument. Standing up she glared at the older guy and
shot back, "At least I have a social life! Unlike some scum!" Mamoru�s eyes shone and he also stood up, towering
over the petite girl. Taking a few steps forward, he said, "Klutz" She retaliated with "Jerk" and took another step
forward. Their argument continued until Usagi realized that her nose was practically touching his shirt, with her
straining her neck to look up at Mamoru. Blushing furiously, she backed up as if she had been stung.
**We stand just a little too close
Her eyes flew up to meet Mamoru�s understanding ones, and locked Usagi felt like she was drowning in pools of
deep blue. She fancied she could see his emotions, and tried to search deeper to feel what he felt. Motoki coughed,
and Mamoru broke off the connection, shifting his weight awkwardly.
**We stare just a little too long
Usagi�s mind flew back to what she had overheard the girls say earlier� �She�s probably in love with the "conceited
jerk"� Nervously she thought that the girls were right, didn�t know how right they were�but it would never work
out. He would always see her as the stupid klutz Odango Atama, who failed tests and always fell on her face.
Still�she could always hope�
**Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'
The next day, Usagi decided to play a joke on Motoki. She had had detention that day, and dawdled a little longer
than usual on her way to the Arcade. She slowed down her steps as she reached her destination, and quietly sneaked
in. She creeped up to Motoki, intending to give him a good scare, when she distinctly heard her name. Stopping, she
hid on the end side of the counter and clearly heard Mamoru complain, "Where is that Odango, anyway? Even if she
had detention, she wouldn�t be this late! I have to go soon, and if she doesn�t get here soon I won�t see her!" Motoki
murmured something, but Usagi was in too much shock to hear.
The cold hearted jerk wanted to see her? *Her?* He knew what time she arrived at the Arcade? He purposely tried
to see her there everyday?
Somehow, miraculously, Usagi snuck back out of the Arcade, and made it to her house, although she was still in a
somewhat shell-shocked state. Could Mamoru possibly like her? She thought back over the weeks, putting together
all the little pieced that she had previously overlooked. She thought of that time she had arrived at the Arcade early,
to find Mamoru combing his hair. She thought of the sympathetic look in his eyes whenever she tripped. Could he
possible like her?
**I feel so foolish,
**I never noticed
**You'd act so nervous,
**could you be falling for me?
Then Usagi thought of something else to make her go still. Could she possibly be falling in *love* with him too? She thought back again to what Makoto had said, about her falling for Mamoru. She quickly ran through her feelings about Mamoru, when she was with him, when she saw him, even when she heard his name! Usagi groaned, and buried her face in her hands. *I just -had- to fall for him, didn�t I.*
**It took a rumor to make me wonder
**Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Usagi fell asleep that night thinking about Mamoru, and daydreamed through the next day thinking about him. If her lack of attention didn�t tell everyone what was going on, her dreamy smile sure did.
**Thinking 'bout you every day
**Dreaming 'bout you every night
The only thing that jarred her peace of mind and whimsical attitude was the thought that her analysis of Mamoru
might be wrong, he might not�but Usagi quickly forced her train of thought away from that.
**Hoping that you feel the same way
When Usagi finally reached the Arcade(after a long and drawn out detention, curtesy of her musings) she felt about
ready to explode. She *had* to know if Mamoru liked her, regardless of the consequences. Therefore Usagi did a
very un-Usagi-like thing. She marched right up to Mamoru, requested that they speak alone in the back room and,
once they were back there, blurted out her question.
"Do you like me?" As soon as she was done she clapped her hands over her mouth and turned a very
tomato-ish shade. Mamoru regarded her with calm curiosity, but as Usagi looked at him she noticed that he wasn�t
as cool and collected as he appeared to be. Suddenly, abruptly, he appeared to come to a conclusion. Stalking over
to her, he looked her in the eye and unexpectedly captured her lips with his. Usagi gasped into the kiss, then gave
herself up to the sensations. Closing her eyes, she twined her hands up to rest at the base of his neck. As Mamoru
slowly ended it, she did not move away but gazed up at him with half closed eyes. Mamoru lazily replied, "I do
believe that would be a yes," as he started to kiss her again.
**Now that we know it, let's really show it, Darlin'
The next day, Mamoru wasn�t waiting for Usagi to come to the Arcade�he strolled in with her, an arm slung loosely
around her waist. They seated themselves at the counter, and he leaned over to whisper something into Usagi�s ear.
She giggled and tilted her face up for a kiss, which he obligingly gave her.
**Let's give them something to talk about
Motoki gaped, and quickly was by their side.
"What�s going on? How did this happen?" Usagi grinned, and looked up at Mamoru. Mamoru smiled, and simply
said, "It�s all a mystery to me."
**A little mystery to figure out
**Let's give them something to talk about How about love, love, love, love?