Mamoru stepped outside the airport to be greeted by the cold air that filled his lungs. He looked around and saw that Usagi was waiting for him, jumping up and down to catch his attention. He waved and ran towards her.
“Mamoru! Mamoru!” she exclaimed.
“Usagi! It’s so good to see you!” he replied as he held her in his arms. Suddenly, he withdrew from the embrace and kissed her forehead. “I missed you so much.” They both walked towards the parking lot and loaded his luggage into the car. As Usagi was driving towards his apartment, Mamoru couldn’t help but keep his eyes on her. She seems to have lost a lot of weight since I last saw her. He felt worried.
“Something wrong Mamo-chan?” asked Usagi when she felt his eyes on her.
“Oh it’s nothing. You just look different that’s all.”
Usagi gulped. She hoped that he hadn’t noticed the weight loss. “It’s nothing, just a little stressed and I recently recovered from a slight cold.” It was partly true. She did just recently recover from a cold two days ago. Apparently the outing with the girls along with the cold air made her weak. She woke up the following morning with a high fever and had finally recovered in time for Mamoru’s arrival.
“You’re okay now, right? Maybe you still feel a little weak...”
“Hai. I feel better now. Especially now that you’re here!”
When they arrived at his apartment, Usagi settled on the couch nearby the fireplace. It was beginning to get darker outside, which meant that the temperature probably got colder. Mamoru finally settled next to Usagi after grabbing a blanket to put on her. She looked at him, “Arigato Mamo-chan.”
“Hai. You were shivering. So what’s the late news? I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in ages.”
“Nothing much as happened. The girls and I went shopping a few days before you got back.”
Mamoru nodded, but he recently received a phone call from Rei explaining the surprise party she and Minako had in store for everyone. Mamoru was asked to bring Usagi to Crown Karaoke as soon as they gave him a call.
“Minako, could you pass me the tape?”
The idol grabbed it and reached over to give it to Rei. She then turned around, without noticing that part of the streamers had stuck to the bottom of her shoe. As she walked farther away, the streamer began to pull against the ladder. Minako started to decorate the table with its centerpiece and the food, when suddenly she heard Rei yelp. Minako turned around and found Rei trying to grab hold of something. Before she could take a step forward, the ladder fell and Rei screamed. She landed on the couch and the streamers followed along with her.
“Ow ow ow ow!” she exclaimed as she tried to get up. All Rei could see was the pile of streamers that tangled around her and from Minako’s point of view, Rei looked like a big ball of yarn struggling to get up.
Minako ran towards the miko, “Are you okay?”
“Other than a sore butt, I’ll be fine.” Minako couldn’t help but laugh and Rei glared at her and threw a pillow, “Not funny!”
“Is funny!” replied Minako as she threw the pillow back “Come on. Let’s get these things off you before you get strangled.”
As the idol began to brush one of the streamers from Rei’s face, Motoki came running in.
“Everything okay? I heard someone yell.”
“We’re fine Motoki, just keep a look out for us.” Motoki nodded. He had gotten the news about Rei and Minako’s plans and offered to help them out.
“How much longer? All this excitement is putting me on my toes.”
“Just a little longer.”
“Ami-chan, you don’t mind coming with me to go shopping for the girls?” asked Makoto. She couldn’t get a hold of the others and knew that Usagi was spending time with Mamoru. Makoto had gotten so caught up things that she was behind in her Christmas shopping.
“Eh? You still didn’t find anything for them?”
“Well, I found something for Usagi and of course you, but Minako and Rei are hard to shop for.”
“Okay, I’m free the whole day, meet you there?”
“Actually I’m outside your building right now.”
Ami looked outside her window and found Makoto’s car parked nearby the curb.
“Ah. Let me get my coat and I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Ja.”
As both girls stepped inside the mall, they began to look at stores that would suit Rei. They found a store and inside were a soft plushy Nako Nako doll. Ami picked it up as it yelped, “Kupi!” Makoto giggled and picked up a similar one.
“Do you think Rei-chan would hate me if I gave her this?”
“I think she’d have a fit.”
“But it’s so cute! I’m buying it.”
They walked into the next store, which was a hat store and they began to playfully try on the different hats, they spotted one in particular. It was a simple black and white trucker hat with a few rhinestones that formed into the shape of the Venus sign. “Oh this is perfect for Minako!” Makoto exclaimed as she picked it up. After they purchased it, they began to head towards the exit. Before both girls could leave the store, they cell phones began to ring.
“Everyone, emergency meeting at Crown Karaoke! Hurry!” The phone call cut off, but Minako’s voice was distinct.
Ami gasped, “Minako!!”
“They must have gotten cut off, we need to hurry.” Ami nodded and they both ran outside towards Makoto’s car. She started the ignition and hurried towards Crown Karaoke.
Mamoru received a similar phone call, although he knew what was going on and drove Usagi. As soon as they arrived, they saw that Ami and Makoto were running in. Usagi ran to join them, but looked back at Mamoru.
“Go on. I’ll be with Motoki.” She nodded and joined her friends as they entered the room.
“SURPRISE!!!” yelled Minako and Rei.
All three girls looked around in confusion as confetti began to scatter the room. The whole place was decorated in green and red, and in the middle of the table, was a small, but incredibly beautiful Christmas tree, and food. Mamoru and Motoki walked in as Usagi and Makoto eyed them. “Did you two know about this?” They looked at them guiltily and nodded.
“We’re going to go now,” said Motoki.
“No! Stay since you guys helped,” said Minako.
Mamoru turned and smiled. “Well, Motoki, the Shitennou, and I actually planned something as well. You girls have your fun, we’ll be fine.”
Usagi looked at him, hugged him, and whispered “Thank you.”
She then turned around to everyone and said, “Arigato! This is the best Christmas present!”
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