Love is Never Silent
by Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Alternate Universe
PG



"So, where's the odangoed one?" Mamoru smirked as the four girls came into the arcade one afternoon.
Normally she tagged along with the group of girls, but today, she was nowhere to be seen.

Makoto answered first. "I think she said something about helping her brother at his softball game today, 
and then she'd join us later. Why do you ask, Mamoru-san?"

"Only because I haven't heard any wailing for food or screaming at the video games. I just assumed she 
would be here by now."

"Well, you know what assuming does, Mamoru-san. It makes a donkey out of you and me," Minako added emphatically.

Ami, Rei and Mako simultaneously sweatdropped. "I've got to teach you the correct way to say those 
American phrases, Minako-chan, or else no one will ever understand a thing you say," Rei pointed out, 
turning back to Mamoru with a suspicious grin on her face and a glint in her eye. "Should we tell Usagi 
that you were looking for her?"

His eyes widened and he turned away before Rei could see an embarrassed blush appear on his face. 
"Why would I be looking for Odango Atama on purpose? If you do tell her anything, just say I wanted 
to 'compliment' her on her last test score," he fibbed, hoping it was a good enough excuse.

"Whatever you say, Mamoru-san," Rei replied. "Like anyone--even Usagi--is going to believe THAT." 
Mamoru swallowed the lump in his throat and took another swig of his hot chocolate, letting the 
sweet taste drizzle down his throat. 

The peaceful moment was shattered by a young blonde girl bounding through the doors, cheering at 
the top of her lungs. "He did it! My brother won his first baseball game!" Usagi gushed as she joined 
her friends in the booth. "I'm so proud of him!"

"Do you think the whole world cares if your brother won a silly game, Odango? Things like that 
happen all the time. Try to keep the noise down, or you might break a glass or two," Mamoru said 
dryly from his place at the counter.

Usagi scowled. "Something like this doesn't happen all the time with my brother. You're the only 
one who doesn't care, baka. So just go back to minding your own business and tuning me out 
since you're so good at it."

Mamoru did just that, though he flinched at her words. If only he had his own business to mind...


******


"Oh no, I've been here much too long! I should have been home hours ago!" Usagi wailed loudly, 
getting up from the booth and gathering all her belongings into her bag. Mumbling a hurried 
goodbye to her friends, she turned to leave, but someone blocked her path.

"I'm surprised you're going home now. I thought you would stay here until Motoki had to lock 
the doors, Odango," Mamoru smirked. Usagi glared at the man standing in her way, looked down 
at her feet, then back up at him. "Then obviously you don't know me as well as you thought, 
Mamoru-san." She pushed by him to get to the front door.

"Odango Atama being serious? Where's a camera when you need one? This moment's too 
priceless to forget!"

Just as she was about to push the glass door open, Usagi whirled around, a sad look reflected 
in her blue eyes. "You know, Mamoru-san, for the high and mighty high school senior you 
appear to be, sometimes you can be really dense." Without another word, she shoved the 
door open and disappeared into the night.

Mamoru stood there and watched her leave, stunned by her answer. That wasn't the 
easy-going klutz of a girl that he knew. He turned back and looked at Usagi's four friends still 
sitting in their booth, discussing the previous scene. "What was that all about?" he asked them. 
Usagi had never talked to him that way, and he was determined to find out what had set her off.

The girls exchanged glances, then Ami softly spoke up. "There's a few things you don't know 
about Usagi-chan."

"Like what?"

More looks were exchanged. "Have a seat, Mamoru-san," Minako replied, scooting closer to Rei 
to make room for him in the booth. "This might take a while."