"Well, not that we don't appreciate this 'very
important after-school special'," droned Rei,
"but would someone mind telling me WHAT THE
HELL IS GOING ON?!"

Mamoru tried to turn around to face the
group of girls. He was halfway turned when he
deigned to look down and see who was
pressing him and Odango so unyieldingly close.
He looked, blanched, and decided quickly
that he'd rather have his back to the crowd,
after all.

"Sorry," said Minako breezily as she struggled
to keep her balance where she'd been smashed
up against Mamoru. "I was trying this on when
we found you two playing tonsil-hockey in
here...ouch!!" Makoto retracted her elbow in
warning.

"What she means," amended Ami, hastily
noticing that Mamoru's ears were dangerously
flushed red, "is that she was trying on that teddy
when we noticed you two settling your
emotional differences."

"Yeah...that's what I meant."

"Uh-huh." Usagi had long ago resigned herself
to the situation. "Well, Minako-chan, it looks
great on you, anyway."

"You think?" preened the blonde as much as was
possible, squished as she was between Mamoru's
back and Makoto's elbow. "I think gold is really
my color. Granted, it's a little expensive."

"If you save up for the next week or two,
maybe ask your parents for an early allowance,
you oughta be able to cover it. But, don't you
think it's a little...revealing?"

"That's the point!" exulted Minako, tugging a
drooping spaghetti-strap over her bare shoulder,
"this baby is for *special* occasions."

"My god, I *cannot* believe you two dolts are
talking about this. FOCUS, people!" raged Rei.

"And anyway, you need occasions, *any*
occasions, before you try making them special,
Minako-chan," snickered Makoto.

"That's it, one more joke about my love-life, or
lack thereof, and I'm gonna start beating your
heads in!" Minako threatened.

"You might want to get dressed first before
you try anything, Minako-chan," added Ami.