It's been a few weeks since the Incident involving Fiore and having seen Venus again. Though she was busy getting choked to death, seeing the Senshi of Love had reminded Usagi just how much she missed the other girl.
And the longer its been between now and then, the more she misses the other girl.
So Usagi's doing what she thinks is an excellent idea: following the girl in what she believes to be amazing super sneaky ninja moves. She's even in disguise, or at least dressed in colors not really seen on her (black yay!) though perhaps she could have done without the little black berets on her odango.
She's followed Minako around for awhile now, clutching a box of Make-Up Chocolate in her arms.
It had felt good to fight alongside everyone again. It felt almost like being a part of the team.
r It was easy to fight together. That was all training and responsibilities and duty and destiny.
But just being friends like ordinary girls who didn't fight crime in fabulous fukus? That was something Minako hadn't figured out.
If only she could be a Senshi full time. Then she wouldn't have to deal with this stuff.
She figured what better way to try than to go shopping.
Sneak, sneak, follow.
She is not stalking, she is merely observing until she finds an opportunity!
Awww but Minako, those tights would have looked so cute on you!
Wait, no, focus!
Stealth stealth. No, she did not just knock things over.
She makes to dart across the endcaps bordering an isle. But oh no! Minako is turning around!
A frantic and panicked Usagi practically flails into a display case. She's on her butt, which is normally enough to start the alligator tears, but to have dropped the chocolate as well! Chocolate she valiantly hadn't eaten!
"Stupid Usagi!" It's a chide between sniffles and tears.
She had felt eyes on her. Given everything that had happened recently, she wasn't going to take too many chances. She moved through the store as though she was on patrol, hoping to draw out her pursuer.
The crash of glass made her worried that an attack was imminent. She turned ready to hen shin if need be.
"Usa-chan?"
Still sniffling, Usagi got up. Her knees scraped against some glass as she did.
Standing, she rubs her eyes and sniffles again. "I spilled the Make-Up chocolate I got for you."
She'd known Usagi long enough to realize that it was taking everything the other girl had not to cry.
Make-up chocolate. As if Usagi was the one who had ruined everything.
She reached out a hand. "How about we go to the Crown instead. It's on me."
Well, there's a difference between crocodile tears and legit crying. She doesn't mind the former, but the latter's too real.
She looks at the hand for a moment because she gives a happy nod. "Okay!"
But instead of taking the hand first, she nearly barrels Minako over with a tight hug, holding on as though she's afraid the other girl would disappear.
But then she catches herself and pulls back. "Aheh..."
She takes the hand and her cheeks are a bit pink. "Sorry..."
If youma could be destroyed by the power of hugs, it's no wonder Sailor Moon was the leader. And the best way to hide embarrassment is with an even bigger hug, so Minako does all she can to squeeze her friend so tight they couldn't ever be separated again.
And just as quickly she turns on her heel and dashes out calling back to her. "Last one there's a fried egg!"
Her head spins at the returned hug and the sudden dash. "Hey, no fair!"
She races after Minako, trying hard to catch up. But, well, they both have an excellent run time in the mornings just before the bell rings...
Minako arrives at the counter ahead of Usagi, enough time to start placing the order, 2 burgers, 1 order of everything fried, a milkshake, and some ice cream to boot.
Her breathless companion arrives beside her. "Oh yeah, I suppose I should order for you too. Just double everything, 'kay?" She flashes a winning smile at the host who looks gobsmacked that that much food is going to be consumer by the two tiny girls headed off to the Sailor V game.
Usagi is...out of practice! She's panting when she reaches the counter, hand rising to place an order but Minako beats her to it. So she gives a tired nod and staggers on behind her to the game.
Once there, she perks up. "Ooooo, they have the new one! I didn't know that!"
(She also doesn't know that it's new because Luna used it for an entry point into the new Central Command. And that the game had come about a month ago.)
Minako drops a coin into the game and gestures for Usagi to sit down.
"Go for it Usagi-chan! I believe in you!" She says, flashing the V for Victory.
She means it too.
Usagi beams at Minako and begins to play.
Unfortunately for her, but fortunately for whoever MAM is and the citizens of Tokyo, Usagi is...very much not good at fighting in videogames.
A few levels and a couple of her own coins later, and she flails her arms as the Sailor V Charbit flashes away in death.
"Augh! Stupid flying lizard!"
She hmphs, but then hops off to hug onto Minako's arm. "Are you gonna try? Do I getta see my hero playing my hero?"
Minako cracks her knuckles and sits down, all prepared to put on a show.
Only to find herself fried in short order by a Youma.
Well, at least the REAL Sailor V had better luck.
"Whatever, our food should be ready soon. Let's go sit down."
The girls take a seat at a booth and both take a big sip of their milkshakes.
"Listen, Usagi-chan... I'm sorry. I... I was just so scared, and, I thought I could protect you all, so..."
Now she remembered why she had put this off for so long. "Umm, I think I need another milkshake."
While Minako gets her a refill, Usagi worries a napkin between her fingers.
Well, if Minako can start to confess, so can Usagi!
When Minako sits back down, Usagi starts to speak before the other girl can. "I know what I said about...you not having to be around us if you didn't want to, but..." She sniffles and she's not crying darnit (she is) "I just really, really, really miss you and I didn't realize how much until I saw you again so can I see you sometimes?"
'Miss you' is an apt equivalent of 'a part of me is missing,' right?
It was almost too much to bear. Minako rushed to the other side of the table and glomped onto Usagi.
"Usagi-chan, we're going to be like two corns in a cobb!"
Usagi sqeaks as she's glomped, but its a happy squeak. Her arms tighten around Minako, hugging the stuffing out of her!
Then she's giggling, and it's happy and full of cheer. "Minako-chan. I think you mean two beans on a pole!"
...Neither of them are right.