Chapter Text
Ding!
The door gave a little ring as he walked in, carrying a stack of books. Fruits Parlor was a nice place to grab a cup of coffee and study. Or at least, that was Mamoru’s plan before noticed familiar long blonde hair.
Usagi sat at one of the booths, her pigtails cascading over the red cushions. She sat with her arms crossed over the table, head nestled in them.
“Hey there, Bun Head!”
No response.
“Bun Head?”
Curiously, he sat next to her. Reaching for her shoulder, he gently shook her. The girl let out a tired groan.
“Usagi-chan?” He asked, as if using her actual name would change things.
Nope, she was fully asleep!
“Hey, you shouldn’t be falling asleep in a public space, you know?”
At the very least, she didn’t seem to be hurt. Just sleepy. He continued trying to shake her awake before deciding his attempts were futile. As he was about to get up, Usagi stirred. She then rested her head on his shoulder.
“No…stay!”
“Stay?”
“Hmmm, Tuxedo Mask-sama!”
His eyes flew wide. Had she said what he thought he heard? Was she dreaming of Tuxedo Mask? Dreaming of HIS alter ego? She smiled, nuzzling against his neck. No way, he couldn’t be doing this!
“Uh…yes! This is Tuxedo Mask! Now if you’ll excuse me I-”
She wrapped her arms around him. Sure, he’d seen her hug her friends a million times but never before was he a recipient. It was warm, comforting…and damn, her grip was TIGHT! Any plan to escape was futile now. Yet he needed to escape. He scanned the room, looking for ANYONE from her friend group. No luck, she seemed to be here alone. Usagi didn’t know he was actually Tuxedo Mask and would certainly kill him if she woke up hugging Chiba Mamoru! Though a small part of him thought maybe death was worth it if it meant getting to be held like this for a bit.
Tuxedo Mask, huh? What did she know about Tuxedo Mask? Must’ve been a silly little celebrity crush of hers. He’d seen enough fangirls fawning over tabloids to know she wasn’t alone in that!
“I love you, Tuxedo Mask-sama!”
His heart skipped a beat. No, it was just a meaningless celebrity crush!
“You-you love me?”
“Mmmm Hmmm…you always…you help me…”
Ah, that must’ve been part of her dream. A mysterious jewel thief with a heart of gold! The type of whirlwind romance found in a shoujo manga! Someone was totally smitten! And perhaps she wasn’t the only one. Mamoru couldn’t help but admire her long eyelashes, the rise and fall of her chest, her soft smile.
“Usagi-chan, I’m so sorry, I’m needed elsewhere!”
Her grip tightened, “You always gotta come and go…why can’t you stay?”
“BUN HEAD! WAKE UP!”
She blinked slowly, taking in her surroundings. Her eyes darted to her arms. Instead of being wrapped around a tuxedo-clad body, she was hugging someone in a pastel colorblock shirt. A look of realization fell over her face. She lifted her head, looking eye-to-eye with a very flustered Mamoru!
She threw herself to the opposite side of the bench, “WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”
“Well, I WAS supposed to get a cup of coffee and study!”
“Then how did you end up in MY booth?”
“Did you know you’re not only IMPOSSIBLE to wake up, but also SUPER cuddly in your sleep?”
“Why didn’t you just leave?”
“Because you have an absolute death grip! I couldn’t escape if I wanted to!”
“IF you wanted to? I think you were secretly enjoying it!”
“Oh yes…I especially loved the part where you called me ‘Tuxedo Mask-sama’ multiple times!”
“I WHAT?! HOW DARE YOU!”
“Hey, I’m not in charge of your dreams!”
“Ugh…how much did I say?”
“You only confessed your undying love to him!”
“WHAT?! Please, please, PLEASE don’t tell ANYONE about this!”
He leaned in close, “This secret’s between us, Snuggle Bunny!”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a coffee order to place!”
—————————
The scene would often replay in his mind. Logically, he knew it was for the best that he didn’t disturb her. But part of him wondered what it’d have felt like to wrap an arm around her, run his fingers through those long pigtails and lean into her embrace. What if there were a world where Tsukino Usagi would willingly curl up with Chiba Mamoru like that?
Yeah, as if!
The machine whirred as the claw dove down into the piles of plush only to come up empty. Mamoru sighed, putting in another coin. Meanwhile, Usagi hovered over the Sailor V arcade machine. She was wearing one of her signature outfits: a denim jacket paired with a long pink skirt and matching pink hair ribbons. It was a cute look.
“WOW, AMI-CHAN! THAT’S A NEW HIGH SCORE!” Usagi pulled her friend in for a tight hug.
The plushie he’d been so close to catching had fallen from his grip.
Motoki’s eyes darted between his friend and the two girls. “Someone’s envious!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t think I don’t see the way you’re looking at Usagi!”
“What? Keeping a careful eye on her so she doesn’t cause trouble?”
“MAMORU! You really oughta be nicer to her!” He turned his head to the crane game. “Any reason you’re trying to win THAT plush in particular?”
His face flushed, suddenly VERY aware he’d been trying to catch a pastel yellow rabbit plush with pink ribbons on its ears.
“It’s nothing…” he muttered.
“If you say so!”