The Crown Arcade.
For the past couple months, it has been quiet, unnervingly so to the regulars. However, in recent days, though its taken the regulars awhile to get used to again, the noise levels have once again increased.
Most of this can, of course, be blamed on a certain blonde with a peculiar hairstyle. Be it laughing or shrieking at a game, or loudly glomping on Motoki-nii, or even the joyous shriek when she sees someone she knows.
Right now, however, she is busy slurping on a 'milk shake smoothie.' (Mamo-chan's so sweet, swoon swoon, gonna kick his butt still, hearts and bubbles and sparkles that push everyone else off screen.)
Actually, this is her third. And while her food is very much being eaten, it's with a nervous energy that's usually not as present.
Earlier, she'd texted Ami-chan. Even that portrayed her nerves with the minimal 'meet me at the Crown' request.
Slurp, slurp, gulp, AUGH ICE CREAM HEADACHE, slurp, fret fret, hand wringing.
Ami never entirely stopped coming to the crown. The pizza's good, and they keep the coke flowing for binge study sessions. And when the study is done, there's games to reward her effort.
Of course, when she was dating Takashi, and getting walked home from school periodically, her visits to this place became less frequent. Still, coming back is no trouble for the bluenette, and she greets Motoki with a wave as she makes her way past towards the second floor.
"Hi, Usagi-chan!" Ami greets as she drops off her bookbag. She's still dressed for school. But she doesn't stop to chat; first she heads to the counter to order the usual: a medium works pizza and a never-ending coke.
Only then does Ami slide into the booth next to Usagi and wrap her friend in a tight hug. "Hi, Usagi-chan!" she repeats. "Welcome back to civilization and normalcy."
"Hi, Ami-chan!" Her wave is a happy one, and her face is all beaming smiles. After all, just because she's nervous as heck, doesn't mean she's not happy to see Ami!
She gets a few more seconds to fret and worry herself toward an ulcer.
When Ami slides in the booth beside her, Usagi hugs back just as tightly and she's full of so much nervous energy that if Ami weren't there, she'd vibrate right out of the booth!
When the hug ends, Usagi opens her mouth, fully intending on asking Ami about her day.
"So how was I'm so sorry about the kiss I'd been Not Thinking about things because you were with someone and then you said you didn't feel that way and I was really kerflumpt and I love you lots and lots and lots always but is it okay that I don't feel that way about you I'm so sorry!"
Goodness, girl, breathe!
So she does.
Luna pokes her head up from the other side of Usagi, yawning wide. "She's been agonizing about this forever."
Ami opens her mouth to answer the question about her day which she's expecting, only to sit there, agape, as Usagi blunders through her real question. When Luna yawns, Ami finally manages to close her mouth, but she still stares at Usagi in shock for a moment.
A blush slowly forms on Ami's cheeks, and she reaches out to hug Usagi again, a little tighter than last time. "Usagi-chan," she whimpers, "you make it sound like I was pressuring you into a relationship!" she accuses very quietly, but there's amusement in her tone of voice.
"I'm actually relieved to hear that," Ami admits to Usagi quietly. "You're the best friend I've ever had. You and Makoto and Rei are like family to me, but you most of all I feel like a sister. I can't ... be intimate with you like that. But don't ever think I don't love you. Okay?"
Usagi gasps! "I didn't mean it that way!" Tight hug!
And then she relaxes against Ami, and for a second there's a whine like she's about to cry. (Happy crying!)
And maybe she does a little, but it's not the loud wailing of a banshee. They're just a few happy tears dancing down her face!
"I'm so glad!" She pulls back, far less full of nervous energy and out of danger of that ulcer and grinning.
Then she gasps, her eyes wide, and she leans forward. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry Taka-baka's being a huge butt. I thought...I thought he'd take it better. I'm actually quite disappointed in him."
Oh so they're going to discuss that topic. Ami's face screws up in distaste, but she doesn't try to shy away from it. She does, however, reach for her coke and take a drink before answering.
"I'm okay, I guess," Ami says quietly. "He brought up a lot of valid points before he flew off in a huff. I'm asking him to change for me, but I would not make the same change in reverse. And I am worrying more about what others think of me than I am what he thinks of me. Those were hurtful t o hear. But mostly because they are accurate."
There's a pause as Ami's pizza is delivered, during which the bluenette reaches up to pet Luna behind the ears, gently. "I don't know, Usagi-chan," she mumbles. "I really liked the feeling of being pampered by a boyfriend. It was nice to be surprised with walks home, or gifts; to have someone to talk to about my experiments and ideas who actually listened and understood. Sharing learning experiences and accomplishments. Someone to touch all the time without having to find an excuse. I liked it a lot."
She sighs and looks to Usagi, then grabs a plate and serves herself a slice of pizza. "You were my first real kiss," Ami notes amusedly, perhaps changing the subject back. "I kissed Frost Knight before we went to D-point, but that was ... different. It was a panicked realization I'd never kissed anyone before and didn't want to die without the experience."
Usagi gasps! "What are people saying about you? I'll kick their toes off! And what did he say? I bet they're not! Oooo, I'm gonna kick his toes even more than the others!" Grrrrr!
Usagi sighs and nods. "It is nice. But I think you were right to do it. It's not...fair to either of you in the long run. And I think there's a difference between wanting him to change than you changing. Dark energy..." Her nose scrunches in disgust. "It's not good. And you've been doused with it before, so in a way, you did change, for a little bit."
And then she gasps! "I stole your first real kiss?! I'm so sorry!" Her hand slaps over her mouth, eyes wide. After a moment, though, she has to ask! "Was it at least...a good first real kiss? I'd be sad if it was an icky one."
"No, no, no one's saying anything," Amy says, calming her friend quietly as she finishes dishing herself pizza. She offers a slice to Usagi, as well, before explaining, "But the fact that I made a mistake ... it really worries me. If I make too many, people will stop trusting my judgement. And I can't afford that. That's what he meant: I value your trust higher than my relationship with him."
She sighs, then says, "And you're right. The Dark Energy is worse. But that doesn't make the comment less poignant. I've started wondering if I'd give all of this up for someone like him. You know, like, I can't become evil for him, but wondering whether meeting him half way would be an option. I don't think either of us would be happy that way, though," she explains, "and I'm not sure if he is worth that, anyways. But sometimes I do wish I were just a normal girl. The burden of responsibility at being Mercury is very high," she explains softly. "I'm glad I'm not Sailor Moon. It seems like such overwhelming responsibility."
Then she glances at Usagi sidelong before blushing again. "I don't really know if it was a good kiss. But I didn't dislike it. If another girl offered to kiss me, and I liked her ... I might let her. I dunno if I'd kiss a boy or not. Maybe. Probably."
"Yummy!" Despite having her own food -- a burger and a plateful of fries -- Usagi bites into the slice of pizza with gusto. She listens, and while glad no one's said anything mean to her, feels a bit guilty.
And she chews and chews, and chews even more as she thinks.
Finally, she swallows. "Sometimes I wish we were, too." It's a soft admission. Then she perks up a bit. "You know you don't have to fight at every fight, right? I mean...your brain is awesome. And you don't have to be the brain behind every fight, either. You can take a step back every now and then, you know?"
Usagi does this just about every day. Stolen moments here and there where she doesn't worry about the fate of the world.
Another bit of pizza, and she chews and swallows again. "I don't see...Takashi as a mistake, or breaking up with him. I see both as a risk you wouldn't have taken a year ago. And the Chocolate Incident?" She rolls her eyes and waves her hand. "If its something you kept doing, I'd be worried. But you learned from it. Both of those are part of growing up. Being normal. We get the normal where we can, Ami-chan."
She polishes off the crust and then she blushes. "Phew! I'm glad it wasn't bad!" Then there's another worry, too! "And yours was good! I liked it! It was very sweet! That wasn't the reason I realized I wasn't, you know. It's just...there was no spark."
"I do have to fight them all," Ami tells Usagi quietly. "Because I can't just abandon you or the other girls; I can't abandon Virtue, either. If I can contribute meaningfully, I will," Ami says to Usagi quietly. "But I do know that I can also delegate. Kunzite ... I need to talk to Kunzite and ask his help. He's got the right mindset for what I need help with, and I'm sure he can assist me."
Then she shakes her head. "Doesn't matter," she says. "What I want isn't really important. I am Sailor Mercury," she says quietly, "and so I have a responsibility to you, and to Earth. I'm not going to fail that," she promises Usagi quietly. "And I'm not going to put my ability to conduct my responsibilities into jeopardy, either."
Of the kissing, Ami says nothing further at all. Nope, best to just let that one go.
Usagi sulks down to the table, head resting on her crossed arms. She had a bit of a grump face going. "It's important to me." Sniffle.
She wipes her eyes and shoots up to give Ami a stern look. "What you want is important to me, Ami-chan. You're not just Mercury, you're one of the bestest, smartest, prettiest girls I know and that's before you do Mercury stuff!"
She gets agitated again, arms gesticulating wildly. "When Mamo-chan-- When I was in my Dark Place, you took up too much! You were working on impossible orders! I was half afraid you'd get the stress-induced plague and die!"
A stern finger!
"So, Missy, it's my perforation to insist -- no, order -- you to take, at minimum, a couple hours a week for Ami Time. That doesn't include study time! And no Senshi projects! And when we're not in a crisis, you are to take more than a few hours! And if you don't, by golly I'll make sure you do!"
She hmphs and folds her arms over her chest. She only tilts her nose up and looks away because she's not crying, you are!
Ami stares at Usagi for several moments, then tilts her head. "But your impossible orders led to us getting Kunzite back," she points out gently. "And I didn't die from it. I didn't even really wind up harmed by it, except a few missed days of sleep which I recovered from quickly."
Ami frowns, then says, "Besides, I don't know what 'Ami Time' would look like except study time or senshi projects. I enjoy them," she explains to Usagi. "Even if they stress me out."
Usagi refuses to be swayed. She turns back to Ami, still not crying, you are, and waves her hands. "Swimming! Reading for fun! Going to the park to play chess! Learning things you're interested in! Reading books about the pudding of relativity!"
She sniffles and scrubs at her face. "I don't want you to wake up one day and go 'ug that Moon chick stole a lot of time from me'! So you hafta take Ami Time! Even if at first it's just figuring out what Ami Time is!"
Ami opens her mouth to replyo, then grins just a little and shakes her head. She turns away and has another slice of pizza, takes one bite, then swallows and turns to very suddenly hug Usagi tight as ever. "Usagi-chan," she murmurs softly, "you're ridiculous. Don't worry, I will never resent the time I give you. Besides, it's not all for you. The world is counting on me, too. I do swim, during the season, and a little during the summer, too. But maybe I'll start playing some more video games, or something. There's this new one out I've been thinking of giving a try."
Usagi sniffles and scrubs her eyes before returning the hug. "You'd better. Or else I'll...I'll make you read my Manga. Okay most of it's Rei-chan's but still!"
Sniff, sniff!
Then, curious, she leans away just enough to look at Ami. "What...kind of video game?"
Ami ruffles Usagi's hair gently, then goes back to her pizza. "It's an American game called 'Overwatch'," Ami explains as she licks her fingers clean. "Square Enix helped release it here in Japan. It's a shooter. You like ... pretend to be these superheroes," a wry look, "and do objectives and things and blow up the other guys. It's terribly violent and silly, but the characters are cute. Did you know that Rei would be an idol if she wasn't Mars?"
"Oooo! That sounds fun!" No more tears, and one last sniffle! "Is there a girl with pigtails?" This is very important to her. Pigtails are essential in video games!
Then her jaw drops! "I didn't! I knew she liked to sing, but really?" A bit more of a sulk. But she forces herself out of it! "Well, I'm gonna talk to her about it, too! Hmph!"
She taps her chin. "I don't think she and Minako would make a good team, though. They'd probably both want to have the most singing time. Oh!" How had she forgotten?! "I ran into her the other day." She wiggles in her seat. "Okay I followed her around a bit but then she noticed me. She started to apologize but then I started talking and...she says we'll be two cobs in a corn!" She waves her hand. "Don't worry! I told her it's really two beans on a pole!"
Ami squints in thought, then shakes her head. "No, I don't think there is," she mumbles. "One with long hair, another with a really long ponytail. Short haired girl with ice powers, and um ... a big buff girl with a laser. Oh, and another short-haired girl who moves super fast. But no pigtails," she admits.
Of th e analogy, Ami just grimaces, not bothering to correct Usagi (or Minako in absentia). "You should talk to her about it," she agrees of Rei. "I think she'd make a beautiful idol."
Dissapointed face! "Well, I can't vouch for it, then. But it sounds like something you'd like!"
Her eyes grow starry. "Oh, I intend to! I'mma tell her she should sing a lot, and that I wanna hear her if nothing else! And then her head will get so big she can do everything she wants!"
Ami falls silent, tapping her lips in thought for a moment. She doesn't say anything else, though. After a moment, she gives up the thought and goes for pizza again. "So do you have homework tonight?" she asks curiously. "Anything I can help you with?"
Usagi gives Ami an adoring look sprinkled with 'well, duuuuh!'
Then a sigh, and she pulls out her chemistry book. "All I know about chemistry is that Mamo-chan and I have a whole bunch of it. But look! Opposites attract, sure, obvious! Hello!" She gestures to herself, and the opposite is hopefully obviously Mamoru. "But I mean...neurons and electrodes! What even!"