When Mamoru came back from the lab mid-morning, Motoki was waiting for him.

"What's up? Haven't seen you in a while, considering we share a house," Mamoru said, as he poured himself another cup of coffee. It'd been a late night of research, then an early morning class and lab. He hadn't been sleeping well, so might as well use the time awake productively. Too bad he felt like a zombie version of himself.

"I'm not the one pulling the disappearing act," Motoki said. "Anyway, that thing for the Matsumoto Chemistry wing tomorrow, I heard you are taking Mariko?"

"Yeah." The coffee was cold and he made a face, putting it in the microwave.

Motoki frowned. "I know what you are doing."

"Heating up your weakass coffee so I can trick myself into thinking it's drinkable?"

"With Mariko," Motoki snapped.

"I was sick of going to these things solo," he shrugged.

"So coincidentally you are taking Mariko, the super hot French model with the best body in the entire physical sciences building?"

"Mariko, the very promising engineering PhD candidate who happened to do a couple perfume ads while studying abroad in Paris," Mamoru said, removing his mug as the microwave dinged. "And yes, the best body in the entire physical sciences building." He raised an eyebrow. "And also, wow, you are lucky Reika's an anthro major."

Motoki didn't laugh. "It's not going to work, you know."

"What's not?"

He leveled Mamoru with a look that made it clear he wasn't buying his feigned ignorance. "I noticed Usagi hasn't been coming by much these past few days."

"We're both busy."

Motoki raised his eyebrows.

"I'm busy," he amended. "She's... who knows."

"What happened between you two? We were certain you w-"

"Yeah, I know, you were all taking bets," Mamoru snapped, "and you've known me for years so honestly you should've known better."

"Should've known you'd cut and run when things got real," Motoki muttered and Mamoru narrowed his eyes.

"You sound like your sister," Mamoru said. "And you both need to learn to mind your own business."

Once again, Motoki ignored the warning flash in Mamoru's eyes, and continued on his rant. "Have you even thought about her feelings? Have you talked to her at all?"

"Trust me, I'm sure she's fine," Mamoru said, "Serial dater, remember?" He put his still full mug on the counter and grabbed his bag. "I'm going to the library."

Motoki watched him go with a frown.

The next afternoon Mamoru was reading in the living area when the doorbell rang.

"That'd be Usagi," Motoki said, walking in from the kitchen. "I asked her over."

"Why?" Mamoru's voice was sharp but Motoki didn't care. He was still annoyed at Mamoru right now anyway.

"Reika wants to borrow her crescent moon necklace for the event tonight, she said she'd bring it by," Motoki said. "Really sweet of her, isn't it?"

Mamoru shrugged. He didn't follow Motoki to the door, but he heard him open it and Usagi greet him in her familiar cheerful lilt. The sound of her voice sent a shockwave of longing through him, still, and for a moment the loneliness was crushing.

"Here you go!" Usagi said, handing Motoki a velvet bag. "It's in here. I hope it looks good on her!"

"I'm sure it will. She'll keep it safe for you and we'll return it tomorrow, okay?"

Usagi beamed, "Take your time. I can't believe someone as glamorous as Reika wants to borrow something of mine!" She giggled, "For such a fancy event, too!"

Motoki couldn't help chuckling a little at the stars in her eyes.

"You look nice," he told her, and Usagi flushed prettily, looking down at the blue dress she was wearing.

"It's Minako's," she said, needlessly. "She thought I should dress up tonight." She smoothed the full skirt with her hands, smiling in a way that didn't reach her eyes.

"Are you going somewhere special?"

"The girls are taking me out," she said, brushing a strand of hair back behind her ear. "Shakespeare in the park?"

"That sounds fun."

"They thought it'd be a good distr-," she faltered, and blushed deeply. Motoki's heart twisted a little at the look in her eyes, and he felt a sharp stab of anger toward his roommate. Mamoru was such an idiot, and Motoki almost wanted to knock his book right into his face. "To celebrate my C+ on the final," Usagi continued, the smile back on her face.

"Congratulations!" Motoki said, and called back into the living room, "Did you hear, Mamoru? She passed."

"I heard," he stepped out into the hallway, finally, and gave Usagi a slow smile. "Congrats, Odango atama. I knew you could do it."

She giggled, looking sincerely proud. "I can actually pass classes when I work hard," she said, shaking her head a little with an open-mouthed smile. "I keep forgetting until I do it again and again." Usagi bounced a little on the balls of her feet, her hands fluttering through the folds of her dress. "My friends helped me. You helped me. Thanks."

They shared a smile, for a moment, Motoki felt like he wasn't even there. He couldn't enjoy their moment for long though, because Usagi seemed to catch herself first - breaking the spell with another nervous giggle.

"Have fun tonight," she said, and it was like the gravity in the room doubled. "Both of you," she smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Tell Reika I said hi," she said, giving Motoki a quick hug goodbye. She waved at Mamoru, who was holding his book slightly in front of him, almost like a shield.

"Later, Usagi," he said.

As soon as the door closed, Motoki rounded. "You are such an asshole," he snapped and Mamoru narrowed his eyes.

"How so? Because you drag that poor girl here under the guise of borrowed jewelry for what? Just to try to prove a stupid point to me?"

"For your information, Reika really did want to borrow the necklace. And I'm not trying to make a point! You are the one who is acting like a goddamn prick about this entire situation. You think Usagi doesn't know you are taking some other woman to this thing? You think she's fine with it?"

"It's not my problem!" Mamoru said, his voice raising despite himself. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"She's in love with you!" Motoki yelled, and Mamoru recoiled slightly.

"You're wrong," he said, his voice steel.

"Oh c'mon, we all see it, we aren't idiots! Even her friends know, which is why they are trying to cheer her up the night you take some random grad student to a fancy event instead of her!"

"She's the one who-" he started and then caught himself, and just looked at his friend, fuming. She's the one who pulled away. And Motoki was looking at him like he was some sort of villain for - for just trying to put this whole thing behind him. "None of this is your business, Motoki," Mamoru said.

"You're in love with her, too," Motoki snapped.

"Screw you," he responded, aware of how immature he sounded as he stomped down the hallway and slammed the door behind him.

To her credit, Mariko picked up the tension in the car almost immediately. "Is everything okay?" she asked Mamoru, who gave her a tight smile before returning to look at the road.

Reika leaned up from the backseat. "Lover's quarrel," she giggled to Maiko, pointing between Mamoru and Motoki.

"Oh, okay," Mariko said, laughing a little. "I thought it was me."

"Don't be silly," Reika said, raising her eyebrows at Motoki.

When they got to the event, it wasn't much better. "Is Mamoru always this... sulky?" Mariko murmured to Reika as they walked to the woman's room together later that night. "Or is it due to the fight with Motoki?"

Reika sighed as she fixed her hair in the mirror. "The truth is-" then she froze, looking at her reflection with a gasp. "Oh no!"

By the time Reika found Motoki, she was practically in tears. "I lost Usagi's necklace," she said, pulling on his arm. "You have to help me find it!"

Mariko had already sprung to action, looking under their chairs and moving around the table cloth.

"It's okay, we'll find it," Motoki said but Reika shook her head, still looking crestfallen.

"What if we don't? What if it's an heirloom or something?"

"It's not an heirloom," Mamoru said from behind her, "she got it in eighth grade from her friend Naru."

Motoki gave Reika a pointed, frustrated look but she waved it off, "Not now," she muttered to him.

"I'll look in the bathroom," Mariko said.

"And I'll check my car," Mamoru said, pulling out his keys.

The evening was spent searching as best they could at a crowded event where they were supposed to be making social small-talk with their professors and peers but by the end of the night the necklace hadn't turned up.

Reika was despondent on the ride home. "Mamoru, will you drop Motoki and me back at the house right away so I can call Usagi?" she said from where she was wrapped in Motoki's comforting embrace. "I won't feel okay until I talk to her."

"Of course."

Mamoru got out of the car, too, and walked Reika and Motoki to the door. "Reika, it's okay," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I promise, Usako won't be angry at you."

She sniffled a little, dabbing at the corner of her eye with Motoki's handkerchief. "I know," she said, looking at Mamoru forlornly. "But she'll be sad."

He sighed. Then he shifted his gaze to Motoki. "I'm going to take Mariko home now. Don't wait up." He jogged back to the car as Motoki sent a death stare to his back.

"What did he mean 'don't wait up'?" Motoki muttered as he unlocked the door, "I can't believe he's going to spend the night with that girl, what is he thinking, he's going to ruin everything, that man is the stupidest-"

Reika stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Sweetheart, it's okay." But even she didn't sound convinced.

The next morning, Usagi was halfway through her second bowl of sugary cereal, watching the sunlight move slowly across the kitchen floor. She rested her cheek on her palm and sighed. It was still early by her standards - although probably not by anyone else's save Minako who was still fast asleep in the other room. But still, she felt tired, hadn't been sleeping so well lately. The knock on the door startled her a little, and she wondered which one of her friends was coming over in some vain attempt to cheer her up. She loved them for trying, but man, sometimes you just need to let a girl wallow.

She stood on her tip-toes and looked through the peephole, pulling back in surprise to see Mamoru at her front steps. Quickly, she ran a hand through her bangs and wished she'd thought to throw on something a little nicer than her favorite jeans and a comfy t-shirt but ... Shutting her eyes, she took a deep breath, braced herself, and opened the door.

"Mamoru, what are y-"

"Here," Mamoru said, holding out his hand.

Curiously, Usagi reached out and the necklace was dropped into her palm unceremoniously. She blinked. "But...Reika said she lost it," Usagi said.

In response, Mamoru gave a half shrug, one hand still in his pocket. He looked uncomfortable. "I found it."

He didn't mention how after he dropped off Mariko, he returned to the event hall and made the facilities manager stay up with him and the cleaning crew, searching every nook and cranny until he spotted it, halfway under the floor molding where it must have been accidentally kicked after falling from Reika's neck. "You should fix the clasp."

"Thank you," she whispered, curling her fingers around the chain. Shutting her eyes with relief, she clutched it to her chest for a moment. "I was so sad when I heard it was lost."

She gave him that same smile from before, that sort of sad ghost of a smile that made him want to hunt down whoever hurt her - even thought he knew he only needed to look in the mirror. "Was it a fun night?" her tone was wistful. "Do you think you and that girl will go out again?"

"Don't-" his voice was harsher than he intended and she recoiled slightly. "Sorry," he muttered. Mamoru couldn't remember the last time he was this exhausted, and it wasn't only from lack of sleep.

He scrubbed his hand over his face. "I can't ... can't keep this up, Usako. I tried."

He was so drained from trying to fight that insatiable need to have Usagi with him. Avoiding her wasn't working. Taking out another girl hadn't worked - Mariko was beautiful, intelligent, and a good conversationalist, and flirted with all him evening. But all that did was remind him how much he wanted someone else by his side- that flustered, smart-mouthed, bright-eyed girl with the cute hair and expressive face who challenged him at every single turn. The girl he'd whispered his secrets to late at night, the girl who took his arm and called him 'Mamo-chan' with that cheeky grin, the girl whose kisses made him shudder with desire.

After he'd finally come home the previous night, necklace in hand, he still hadn't been able to sleep - thoughts of Usagi had consumed him every time he tried to shut his eyes. He spent hours at his desk, hands in his hair, just staring at nothing and pondering the unending ache in his chest, thinking he finally understood what all those poets had been writing about this whole time.

"I don't have any fight left in me, and I know we have so much to lose but I.. I'm already lost." It's time to give up the ghost.

"Mamo-chan, I don't understand," she said, tugging slightly on his shirt, trying to get him to look at her. His eyes were red-rimmed and his hair was messed, and he just looked exhausted. "Are you okay?"

"No," he said, meeting her eyes and spreading his hands out, "I'm not okay, and I'm not going to be okay unless - unless you-" he sighed, running his hand through his hair in one agitated movement. Without even thinking about it, he'd cupped her face in his hand and kissed her mouth, a movement more hurried, more desperate than he intended. For a blissful moment she kissed him back, eyes fluttering shut, but then he felt her body tense and she pulled away, shaking her head, fresh tears falling.

"If you don't feel the same way about me-" he started but stopped when he saw the look in her eyes.

"What the hell do you mean 'if I don't feel the same'?" she demanded, "I've been in love with you practically since we met!"

The genuine surprise on his face made her want to scream. "How could you not have seen it?" she cried.

He shrugged a little, still overflowing with nervous energy. "You were the one who pushed me away, Usako."

She lifted her gaze heavenward, putting her fists to her eyes, the necklace still clasped so tightly in her hand she could feel the crescent moon digging into her palm. "Because I thought that- I- ugrrh!" She looked at him and sighed. "How are you so infuriating?"

"It's a gift."

Usagi sighed, letting her shoulders fall and the tension uncoil from her body. "I don't know what you want me to do."

"Well-, I... I have this for you." He handed her folded piece of lined paper.

Looking at him curiously, Usagi blinked away her tears as best she could and unfolded the paper. "Something True," she murmured, reading out loud. "'You asked me and I can offer answer, sadly not in iambic pentameter'," she read, and laughed a little through her tears at the line. Then her eyes skimmed a few more lines and she looked up in wonder. "You wrote me a poem," she breathed.

He nodded, with a helpless shrug. "I couldn't sleep last night and... Well, you asked for one. Before."

With shaking hands she read through the rest, brows lifting and mouth moving slightly as she came to the end: "With respect to Poe and the dramatic death he gives, I promise you, dear, in this poem we both live," she again gave a watery laugh. Then she read to the last two lines, blinking through her tears. "From now until forever and somehow I always knew," she wavered, "you would be my 'something true'."

For a moment neither spoke, and she lifted her eyes to his in amazement.

"It's beautiful," she said. Again, he shrugged awkwardly.

"It's not Shakespeare, but-" he never got to finish, because suddenly she'd jumped into his arms, and his mouth found hers again and, well, speaking was highly overrated anyway. He tightened his arms around her, her feet barely touching the floor. She had her arms linked around his neck, the poem and necklace still dangling from one hand. Usagi wanted to stay in this moment forever, not caring at all about the pull on her back or the drying tears on her face - not when he was kissing her like this- so hungrily, passionately...

"Hey!" A pillow smacked Usagi in the back of the head, and she reluctantly pulled back and turned around to face a disgruntled looking Minako, still in pajamas, hair sticking up everywhere. "People live here," she said to Usagi. Then she glared at Mamoru. "Aren't you dating some prissy grad student?"

"No," he said, fingers tightening on Usagi's waist slightly.

Minako noticed the movement, and paused. "Oh," she said. "Good. Well. Carry on then."

Then she turned back around, waving her hand behind her. "I'm going back to bed. Don't wake me."

Once the door closed behind her, Mamoru pressed his lips to Usagi's forehead as she giggled. "Sorry for my roommate..."

Seemingly not caring about their position awkwardly blocking the doorway, Mamoru leaned down toward her again, and Usagi couldn't help smiling against his kiss. Whether it was fate or her flustered lie or cheesecake bites or even his friends' unending meddling, whatever had brought them together, Usagi was glad it had.

Notes:

sorry for the utter cheesiness of the ending but w/e sometimes you just need that