The Crown karaoke bar and arcade was not exactly Rei's favourite place in the world, but it was Usagi's, so she went. They all went. Usagi and Rei sang every time, but Ami rarely ever sang, and Rei'd be damned if she had ever heard Makoto sing. It wasn't like they went to the Crown every day, but when they did, the girls pressured Rei to no end about singing.

"You're the best singer here," complained Usagi. "You're as good as Aino Minako!"

Blushing, Rei looked away. "Don't be ridiculous. There's no way I'm as good as her."

Aino Minako was Rei's favourite singer. Once, they had all gone to an Aino Minako concert because Usagi had camped out all night to get them tickets. Camped out in the rain. On a school night. They had been OBLIGATED to go, lest Usagi's complaining drive them all insane. In any case, they had gotten awesome seats, only about five rows in. And that fact was what had resulted in the most amazing experience of Rei's life.

Minako was just finishing up the fan-favourite, "Romance." Rei had forgotten herself in the music, totally entranced with the girl on stage. When she finished, Rei cheered with the rest of the crowd, and Minako smiled and waved, her gaze sweeping the crowd. But it stopped. And it stopped right on Rei. Their eyes locked, and, it seemed to Rei, her smile became warmer, a smile just for Rei. A smile that she had never shown in any of her posters or magazine interviews.

But then the moment passed, and Minako launched into a new song.

Later, on the train home, Rei had asked her friends if they had noticed the singer looking at her. "Yeah, I thought she looked at me at one point, too!" agreed Usagi.

But Rei was certain. She had never been more certain in her life. Minako had noticed her, and had obviously seen something in her that Rei was not aware that she had.