The afternoon sun hung low in the sky and cast an orange glow across the sidewalk where Usagi waited. She held her arms crossed tightly against her chest. The temperature was dropping in anticipation of the coming night. The wind had picked up, too, fluttering about some stray hair from Usagi’s ponytail.

  She chewed on her bottom lip. Just a short bus ride from where she now stood was Juban Middle School. She had experienced strange and wonderful moments there. Heartbreaking ones, too. It had been the age of Sailor Moon.

  There was something grounding about returning to her old stomping grounds, but it felt disconcerting as well.

  Of course, it wasn’t just nostalgia that had left her feeling unsettled. It was also nerves about Mamoru’s reaction that had her on edge. She had made a big decision today with Naru, one that would alter the course of their life together. She should have talked to him about it first, but… it had just felt so right .

  He’ll understand. I know he will.

  The familiar roar of a motorcycle engine pulled her from her thoughts. Mamoru’s bike, the one he had refused to part with despite its age, sputtered down the street. He was successful at his job; he could afford better. Perhaps he, too, missed the old days sometimes.

  Mamoru pulled up next to her and cut the engine. He offered her a warm smile as he slid off the seat.

  “Usagi. What’s going on? Why did you want to meet here?”

  His tone was as affectionate as ever, but she could hear the confusion in his voice. He didn’t even bother to remove his white, open-faced helmet. Instead, he just slid the visor up.

  Despite the thumping in her chest, she forced a smile. The moment of truth had arrived.

  “I have something important to tell you.”

  She wrought her hands together. He cocked his head in response.

  “You’re acting kind of mysterious.”

  She laughed a little, the almost-manic giggle of somebody totally overwhelmed.

  “Mamoru, I’ve been feeling a little… lost lately. I…I don’t think the housewife thing is working.”

  Mamoru’s face softened. He stepped closer and took her hand.

  “You’re doing fine. It’s a big change for both of us.”

  Usagi squeezed his hand.

  “I just don’t think I’m cut out for it. I need to do something else. There may be another way for me to contribute.”

  Mamoru searched her face.

  “What do you mean?”

  Usagi took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “I’ve decided to go into business with Naru. We’re going to reopen Crown Karaoke.”

  For a moment, Mamoru didn’t react. His brow furrowed in confusion. He pointed toward the building next to them.

  “Crown? This Crown? Where Motoki used to work? Is that why you wanted to meet here?”

  Usagi’s voice brightened with excitement.

  “That’s right! I know it’s closed down and kind of falling apart, but Naru and I think we can fix it up and make it great again. Naru’s great with business stuff, and I’m good with people and I love karaoke. It’s a great opportunity.”

  Mamoru’s expression was a mixture of surprise and concern.

  “Crown needs more than dusting or a coat of paint. How will you two pay for all of this?”

  Usagi’s excitement faltered. The conversation teetered toward the confrontation she dreaded.

  “Naru and I are…pooling resources.”

  Mamoru’s eyes narrowed.

  “Resources?”

  She swallowed hard, then glanced away.

  “I took some money from our savings account.”

  Mamoru stared at her as he processed her words. His voice was tight when he spoke again.

  “How much?”

  Usagi hesitated.

  “Four million yen.”

  “Idiot!”

  The word exploded out of Mamoru before he could stop himself. His voice was sharp with anger. He let go of her hand and took a step back. Usagi’s eyes flashed with her own rising fury.

  “Who’s the idiot?!”

  For a second, it felt like the old days, like the antagonistic flirtation that drew them together. That sensation faded quickly. This was a lot more serious.

  Mamoru’s voice rose in disbelief.

  “You took four million yen from our savings account without telling me? That money was for us, for our future, for a bigger apartment, for…”

  Usagi cut him off. Her voice trembled with frustration.

  “For the baby you’ve decided we’re supposed to have?”

  He stared at her, his eyes wide with surprise. He looked as if she had slapped him. Usagi hadn’t finished.

  “Did you ever stop to think that maybe I’m not ready? Maybe I don’t want kids right now?”

  Mamoru looked hurt.

  “We’ve always talked about starting a family. Even when we were Serenity and Endymion, we…”

  Usagi snapped.

  “Don’t bring up our past life! All of you got some of those memories back, but mine…mine were different. Serenity, Princess Sailor Moon, whatever you want to call her…she stayed this separate personality all the way until the end. Now she’s gone. I don’t know what she wanted. I’m Usagi, not Serenity!”

  Her voice softened.

  “Mamoru, I don’t even know who I am, what I want to do with the rest of my life. I’m trying to figure that out. All I’m asking for is your support.”

  Mamoru’s jaw tightened.

  “What if, after you figure out who you are, you still don’t want children, Usagi? What then?”

  Usagi’s anger rose once more. She stepped closer, her fists clenched at her sides. She had to stand on her toes to even try to see eye-to-eye with Mamoru.

  “Then I guess we just won’t have children! It’s not like one is going to just fall from the sky!”

  Boom!

  A sudden crack of thunder rumbled above them. They both looked up. The sky was clear. They looked at each other, their argument forgotten. They had seen enough strange things to not take anything for granted.

  Usagi seized Mamoru’s hand.

  “What was…”

  BOOM!

  Another crack of thunder, louder and more violent, cut her off. A force like a shock wave threw them both to the ground. A shop window shattered. Somewhere nearby, a car alarm started beeping in a steady rhythm.

  Mamoru and Usagi rose back to their feet, arm in arm. A strong wind pushed against them. Above their heads, a swirling vortex of dark green and deep purple clouds formed. In its center, electricity crackled.

  Before either of them could react, a small figure fell out of the center of the vortex and plummeted through the air. The figure crashed into them and knocked both Usagi and Mamoru back to the ground.

  They scrambled to their feet and stared in shock as the vortex closed just as quickly as it had appeared. The wind died down. The orange glow of the setting sun returned. If it hadn’t been for the broken glass and beeping car, no sign would have remained of what had just happened.

  In front of them stood a little girl, maybe eight years old. She wore a school uniform of some kind. Her black hair was in the all-too-familiar twin odango style. She looked at them with wide, terrified eyes.

  “They’re coming. Please don’t let them take me. They’ll kill me and then they’ll kill my mama!”