There was a table. It was covered in empty milkshake glasses. At the table, was a young man with purple hair wearing a Verone Academy uniform. He was worriedly sipping at a milkshake. This man may have a milkshake problem.
It was a busy day, with school being out- days got busier again and there weren't many places to sit around. It seems Daisuke might had gotten lucky to grab a booth.
What was he worried about. Well there's a closed envelope on the table and it hasn't been opened yet and it looks super offical and sealed.
He seems to be staring at it intently.
There was other things on his mind but the envelope seemed to be priority.
Another Milkshake is delivered almost after he finishes the last one. He's well on his way to developing something like diabetes. Probably.
"Ugh... if I just opened it I could stop worrying one way or another." he sputters to himself.
A longsuffering sigh emerges from Naru as she stands looking at the options for seating. Her backpack dangles from one shoulder, begging to make that last little slide to falling off. She's already holding a plate with a snack and chewing on her bottom lip as she considers rather than the decadent dessert waiting upon her. She moves over a little closer to where Daisuke has managed to snag an entire table to himself and his empty glass collection.
Naru looks at him, at the table, at the options and then back to him. "Er." She starts and then looks to the envelope and then back to Daisuke and there's a little giggle. "I don't think it's going to bite."
Daisuke Hansuke is well on his way to the apocalypse of brain freezes when Naru shows up. He blinks once. "Oh..."
"Oh!" he says as he suddenly pushes aside empty glasses. "Go ahead, sit. I don't bite either." he insists. He looks around. "Ha- sorry. Final Term Grades. I always get like this when Verone mails them out." he says as he pinches his nose bridge. Maybe he's finally getting the brain freeze finally.
Siiiip. Nope.
He picks up the envelope and sighs as he uses a fork to slash the seal open.
He begins to slooooowwwly slide the paper inside out---then shoves it back in as he thumps back against the chair. "Ugh."
"I swear, they need to sell tiny exterminators to kill butterflies in the stomach." he insists.
"Oh. Right. Sorry. I'm too busy marinating in my own worry." he smiles a little curtly.
"My name is Daisuke Hansuke. How are you, today? Enjoying the time off school well?" he asks.
There's something about brain freezes that also freezes the bit of your brain that remembers that more cold won't help.
Naru drops her backpack onto the bench opposite Daisuke with a smooth little twist that somehow doesn't also drop her pastry, and then settles herself into the seat with a quiet murmur of thanks.
"Are you expecting them to be awful? Or is this just being anxious about them being a surpise? Do you need me to look at them first and soften the blow?" She offers with a flicker of a smile.
"Nice to meet you. I am enjoying the time off school, generally. Are you? Other than scary envelopes?" She nudges her backpack over a bit more and then remembers after a moment. "Oh! I'm Naru. Naru Osaka." A little colour reddens her cheeks as she nearly forgot.
Ahhh the ol 'Pizza is hot, better shove it all in my mouth' effect. This doesn't seem to affect Daisuke for whatever reason. Is he also seriously halfway done that milkshake already.
Talk about nervous reactions that are bad for you. "I don't know." he says.
"Things got..."
"Crazy. This year." he says. "More so than usual and I ended up missing a few days that I usually don't."
He slides the envelope over to her. "Sure. Go ahead. Maybe that'll help." he gives a nervous smile. "Osaka-san, then!" he says as he taps his chin. The paper in the envelope suggests Daisuke passed. But just barely.
"So what's the damage." he sticks that straw back in his mouth.
"I should get business cards or something with 'services provided'.. which includes checking grades for others. I've totally had to scope out Usagi's before, just to be sure." Naru reaches for the envelope and slides the page out to be able to glance over the numbers.
At least she has a pretty good poker face, and there's no wincing or anything. "I think there was a fair bit of crazy this year, for a lot of people I know." She confirms as she looks down the list. "Bio was your best grade. You passed everything. Congrats!" She looks up and grins at him, no judgement at all on how barely he might have done it.
Daisuke Hansuke ohs. "Oh, you know Usagi." he pauses. Why should he be surprised by that. She seems to collect friends like Pokemon. He winces, bating his breath on milkshake whhhheeennn. She tells him his grade. He deflates as he sits back in the booth. He reaches a hand over and steals the sheet of paper back as he turns it around.
"Blah blah, Bio, blah blah-- ugh." he says. "Just barely. Dad isn't gonna be too pleased, but better than completely failing out." he grumbles. "Not like I'm usually top of my class or anything, but I usually get better than- this." he says.
"Oh well." he says as he sips his milkshake again.
He pauses. "Oh."
"My manners really suck when I'm worried, would you also like a milkshake. This tab is gonna be astronomical already so what's one or two more." he says.
"Everyone knows Usagi." Naru confirms with a little twist of a smile and she collects up her fork as he steals the paper from her. "Barely is still passing." She is firm on that sentiment. "Although, yeah. It's a 'We need to have a Talk' sort of report for parental units, I should think. Still, not the end of the world, and not senior grades either." She smiles, finding the bright side. Or attempting at least.
"Are these to try and avoid that?" Naru gestures over the herd of milkshake glasses with the 'these' and then gestures at the paper with the 'that' and giggles softly. "It's okay. I've got chocolate." She points at the cake on her plate. "Want some to try and sop up some of the milk shake?"
"I really have no idea what happened to him," Mamoru's explaining to Minako as he pushes open the Crown door with his back, carrying a few textbooks and his tablet in his arms; he stands there, automatically holding the door for the blonde, then trailing in after her. "Last time I saw him I was literally six, and he was as little as I was, and kind of sickly. He said being here was making him sick, but apparently that's not the case anymore..."
The absurdly tall black-haired boy scans the interior and inclines his head in greeting to Naru and Daisuke, then starts heading for their table, still telling Minako things. His voice is a little lower now, but for the most part, the Crown regulars are somewhat used to That Group talking about weird stuff that makes no sense. "The first time, Neph and Usa and I were in a flower shop, picking out stuff to put in the apartment that we thought Mako-chan might like, and he showed up out of nowhere. The second time, it was me and Makoto and Kunzite at a street fair and he kind of stalked us, I guess? Until he could cut us off with some kind of flower-petal tornado, and he tried to get me to go with him. Accused them of lying to me, saying he was the only person who cared about me or something... like as if I didn't just get out of six months of crazy over-powered possessive objectification, I don't even--"
--and then they're there, and the prince lifts one corner of his mouth. "Hi, you two. If a nutcase comes in here, just warning, you'll want to leave instead of making a stand or something."
For once, things feel normal. Well, as normal as they can be when talking about alien stalkers, but still. It was nice that with at least someone, she could go back to the way things were so easily. Maybe Mamoru understood better than any of the girls what it felt like to have to come back from not quite being yourself. Maybe this was step one in becoming herself again. Hopefully, she could just be Minako Aino today.
"Well until some weirdo comes and ruins our fun, let's eat!
Daisuke Hansuke grabs the fork used to steal a bit, since Naru offered. He doesn't take much of a large bite. "Thank you!" he says as he dips it into the milkshake then shoves the piece into his mouth.
"Always good cake, here." he insists. "Oh-- this..."
"This is my nervous tick." he says. "I should..probably.." he begins stacking empties within one another. "Do something about these soon." he hears someone approaching- he thinks it's another milkshake- nope. Chiba-san!
"Chiba! Hello." he says. "...nutcase?" he asks. "D-didn't you guys. Take care of that nutcase?" he asks cautiously. He's thinking 'that nutcase'.
He looks over to Mina and gives a wave. "Heya Minako-san." he says.
"Milkshake?" he asks to either two of them.
He sort of places the paper in front of him proper and folds it over.
"Nutcase doesn't /really/ narrow it down much, Endy." Naru points out with a little shake of her head and a soft laugh as she scoots over on the bench to give Mamoru and Minako room enough to join them. She claims her fork back from Daisuke and then mmms softly. "I think I'm grateful that my nervous ticks don't involve quite so much sugar. Or buying things." She smiles brightly. "Although it does suck when you leave your notebook behind somewhere, and its hard to get a new one." She gives a little wave to Minako. "Hi."
It's never been the easiest thing for Minako to interact with Naru Osaka. Nothing against the girl herself, she was perfectly lovely.
Which probably explains why she was Usagi's best friend. Usagi only had wonderful people around her, and most days, it was that belief that could keep Minako feeling good about herself.
After the past few months, it wasn't nearly as easy to convince herself. Naru was always something of a reminder of what Usagi needed most. Just a good friend. Not some fated guardian who could never be honest with her.
Naru Osaka was an uncomfortable look in the mirror for Minako. But if she had learned anything from Naru, Usagi and her own troubles, it was that you couldn't hold they way you felt against someone else. So, she did the only sensible thing she could think of.
"How about another milkshake. I'm sure I can get it for us on the rocks."
She paused for a moment. That was how she could get one for free, right? On the rocks? Oh well, no matter. She was the goddess of love and beauty and she could have her milkshake on the rocks if she wanted.
Thunking his pile of textbooks down on the table, Mamoru gives Minako a crooked grin. "You got it."
To be perfectly honest, he's also ecstatic that Minako's not still livid with him for pursuing the guys so hard despite everything it ended up costing them, how much danger it put so many people in-- and so grateful that since it's over, she has gone back to herself. Yeah: there's definitely the indication of understanding, there.
A glance back to Daisuke and Naru, and his eyebrows go up. "Oh no no, brand new nutcase. A guy named Fiore. He's from outer space." He's not laughing, and there aren't even any of the tells to imply he might be teasing.
At Minako's addition, he coughs into his hand. "On the house, Mina-p. But if it doesn't work, I'll get the next round, okay?"
Daisuke Hansuke stares.
"Oh okay." he says. His offer of a Milkshake seems to to go unheeded, which he is thankful for because he probably owes some obscene low three digit number today as it is.
"So a guy from space. So what's his problem?" he asks. "You guys know?" he says as he looks between Minako and Mamoru.
He looks over to Naru. "Yeah don't pickup a habit like that if you can't afford it." he says with a soft smirk.
He looks over to Minako. Minako wants a Milkshake... on the rocks. Blink blink blink.
"Oh. Right. I've been. fretting over grades and-- dealing with 'all that stuff'..." he says. "That--"
"I never bothered to drop by or ask yet. How are the guys doing?" he asks to Mamoru. "No problems, right? No one holding any major grudges, right?" he asks with concern.
Naru quirks her head. "Fiore. It's a neat name at least." She decides after a moment and then settles quiet to eat her cake and listen in on the group. If the outer space crack is teasing, Naru is all in and well endure the teasing later, but seems unlikely.
She smiles a little at Daisuke at his habit, waggling her forkful of cake at him. "Doodling is /way/ cheaper." She asserts and then settles quiet again, to hear answers to questions she only half follows.
"His problem's that I made friends with him in the hospital when I was six, then he left for eleven years, and now he's back and wants me to go to space with him and won't take no for an answer," Mamoru says with an uncomfortable, lopsided shrug. "He probably has a problem behind it, but since he's willing to hurt innocent people and attack the people I love to get what he wants, I'm a little less concerned with whatever that problem is than I might otherwise be. He got real mad when I introduced Usako as my girlfriend."
He hasn't taken a seat yet, so he glances up at the counter and considers. "How many milkshakes am I getting, and Mina, did you want anything else?"
Then he grins back at Daisuke, and at Naru, and when he looks at Naru, his expression takes on a knowing cast to it. "They're all recovering at various speeds, as are we all. No grudges. Bet you Naru-chan could tell you how Zoisite's doing~~"
"You know, I'm a reincarnated princess who transforms into a superhero through the power of make-up, and even I think you sound nuts. I think I need another milkshake and a cheeseburger as your protection tax."
Daisuke Hansuke continues to listen and frowns at the space alien bit. "Oh I see. Sounds.. uh... Jealous?" he asks as he blinks with a soft frown. He shakes his head again. "I swear Chiba- you have the weirdest problems like that." he says.
"I'd wish I was nearly as popular, but that sounds crass given he's attacking people." he says with a muted smirk.
He nods. "Okay... that sounds good then. I'll try to drop by soon, alright?" he asks.
He finishes his milkshake and ughs. "I need to find a better hobby than destroying my blood sugar level." he insists.
He peeks at Minako. Then he keeps at Naru.
Then he gets a meddling smile- he leans forward looking at Naru with a crooked smile. "How's Zoisite's doing?~" he asks her.
Cheerfully, having dropped the social equivalent of a Somebody Else's Field bomb, Mamoru wanders off to the counter to order food. Including Minako's increased protection fee. He calls over his shoulder, "You're terrible. Even if he's unbelievably unbelievable, he's still a creepy magic space alien stan."
Minako grabs a few fries to create something resembling a mask. "You're one to talk."
"Why were you in the hospital when you were six, Endy?" Naru asks, because clearly that's the relevant bit of that particular brand of insanity. Minako's comment makes Naru start to giggle and she has to pause eating her cake to look over at the girl and then starts giggling some more. She turns her attention back to her cake. "I /suppose/ I could manage a shake on top of the cake, as apparently everyone's obsessing and that's making me start to want one too."
The pointed comments and looks and really just Zoisite's name is enough to make Naru blush. "I have no idea how he's doing, but I'm hoping one of you people will tell me. I haven't seen him in a while. I still have something for him, even."
Mamoru points at his eyes, then at Minako, then at his eyes-- then he holds up a finger to Naru, and turns around to order. He'll be back momentarily.
"Ooooooooh, dish girlfriend!"
Suddenly, Minako is in her element. "Did you find something lacy? Or maybe edible? I can help you pick something out."
The extra sugar from another milkshake won't help matters, but Minako doesn't care much. It's been a while since she could make innuendo at a friend, and she wasn't about to miss the opportunity, Space Stalker Stans be damned.
Daisuke Hansuke smiles a bit. "I'm sure Mamoru over there won't keep you waiting very long. He'd know more than I do." he sits up a bit and crosses his arms as he taps his chin. Then Minako goes on about lacy and edible things and a blush crosses his face.
Ugh! Now he remembers why he doesn't hang around with Minako or V.
"I swear." he says as he fumbles for his--oh right they're all empty.
Fuuuuuuuuck.
Cue the blush on Naru as Minako pounces upon the notion. "I.. er.. no?" She offers almost hesitantly at the end. "Lacy? Uhhh" She shakes her head a little more. "I have a painting for him. I mean.." She pauses a moment and then shakes her head. "Oil paints. Not edible. Acrylics are at least mostly non-toxic." She takes another forkful of cake and giggles softy at Minako. "He does have great fashion sense, no matter what he looks like."
She almost feels bad for teasing. Almost. But still... it's... incredibly sweet. Feeling so strongly for someone that you're moved to make art.
She's a little envious. She misses those butterflies in her stomach. She felt them flutter just a bit when she was with him. Maybe she could feel them again. Without all the regret.
"I'm sure he'll love it Naru-chan."
It felt mostly normal to call her that. Normal enough that she meant it.
"When you're ready, we can talk about the lacy stuff," she said with a wink.
Daisuke Hansuke sighs and stands up politely. "Well." he says. "I'm going to go before I blush so hard I faint from the blood rushing into my face- or I open my mouth and get slapped in the face." he smiles.
"It was nice meeting you, Naru-san. Take care Minako, don't be too hard on her now~"
"Mamoru, later, okay?" he says with a smile as he takes care of his astronomical milkshake bill. Luckily he has credit.
Then off he goes!
"I hope so." Naru smiles just a touch shyly at Minako at the reassurances. "Or at least he can pretend for a little while, and then foist it off on a charity box later." She laughs softly, giving her head a little shake. The blush stays present for the wink and the mention of lacy stuff. "I don't think I'm going to have to worry about lacy stuff." She assures Minako.
A wave for Daisuke. "Good luck facing your Dad. It'll be /fine/. Nice meeting you."
Coming back from the counter, Mamoru blinks at Daisuke's leaving. "Sure," he calls after the purple-haired guy, then sets down giant cheese fries for himself and the milkshake and cheeseburger for Minako, and finally he sits down. There's an unenthusiastic nudge at his pile of textbooks, and then he makes a pair of glasses with his hands, fingers other than fore and thumb splayed out to the sides. It looks uncannily like an exaggeration of Sailor V's mask.
He looks at Minako through it.
He's about to say something, then thinks better of it and slouches in his seat, starting to pick off the fries. "Zoisite might help you shop for lacy stuff," he says helpfully. "He's mostly been sleeping in the sun on Usa's roof while we've been working on rebuilding. He might just be wholeheartedly in recovery himself. I'll prod him and let him know you're looking for him, if you want?"
"If you could let him know, that'd be great." Naru nods to Mamoru's offer. "Or.. I could go see if he's at Usa's, I suppose. Either way." She reaches over to steal a cheese fry from Mamo's plate and smile a little. "He'd probably be /thrilled/ to go shopping for lacy stuff, and I'd blush scarlet. Soooo.." She trails off, and munches her purloined cheese fry.
Minako reaches for a handfull of fries, far more substantial than Naru's single one. When Mamoru frowns, she glares back at him "Protection tax. Deal with it."
"And as for you Naru-chan, don't go doing anything you aren't comfortable with. Love waits for the clock to strike midnight!" she proclaimed with a V for victory sign. The confused looks on everyone's face made her think that perhaps she hadn't quite got that one right, but no matter. She was still right. "Maybe we can start with a new bow for your hair. I'm sure he'd like that."
Mamoru makes a halfhearted stinkface at Minako, then draws his cheese fries closer, hoarding them complete with Smeagol-motions. He shoves a few in his mouth, then tells Naru with a hand in front of his full mouth, "You could go shopping with him for regular pretty stuff," he suggests. Then nods magnanimously in Minako's direction. "Like a new bow or whatever."
'Or whatever'. Someone here is less good at girl than he thinks he is.
"Tell him you want company getting something nice for Usagi!"
Naru Osaka pushes aside her plate, now home to only crumbs and a lonely fork. She reaches over to dig into her backpack a moment and emerge with a pencil and notebook, curling comfortably into the back corner of the booth. "I suspect Zoi would have a ton of fun trying on all sorts of lacy stuff as a girl and strutting, and I'd blush and giggle at him." She laughs softly at the mental image giving her head a little shake. "If he ever wants to go shopping, I'd be glad to go with him."
"Well, I'm prettier than Zoisite, so I'd be happy to go shopping with you sometime too. I know a great little store that opened up on the other side of town. Maybe we can go together sometime?"
Naru's smiling acceptance was nice. It was normal. And it brought her closer to humanity. Today, it was milkshakes with Naru and Mamoru. Tomorrow, it might be forgiveness from the Girls. And from there, who knew... It was all looking bright. The goddess of love flashed another V and stole even more of Mamoru's fries.
All was well with the world for today.