"Secret Admirer" by Starling Sinclair

Part 2: Mamoru

April 11,2020

XXX

Day 1: Chocolate

It had been days. Mamoru hadn't seen her since the day she received the giant rabbit. She must have met her admirer by now. Was her absence as a sign that she'd started seeing him? That now she'd be spending her afternoons with this guy who didn't even realize that her ears were pierced? He was in such a mood that he didn't notice the little box waiting at his booth until it fell to the ground with a clatter.

The sound broke him from his darkening thoughts. Momentarily intrigued, he bent over and picked up the little golden box. In very fancy calligraphy, the tag read: To Mamo-chan, Love, your Secret Admirer.

As he read the last line, he rolled his eyes. He hated secret admirers, and he'd had his fair share. At least the love letters and trinkets were normally reserved for Valentine's day and even those had dropped off considerably when he transferred to Azubu. He hadn't received anything at Crown in ages. What was suddenly in the air that meant everyone had to go around professing their "love" for others?

Inside the box were four pieces of chocolate, expertly made. Written in the same neat calligraphy were the flavors: Dark, dark, dark, and strawberry.

A small scroll was also tucked below the candies. He unfurled it and read on.

For the next seven days, I will prove to you that my love is true. P.S. - There's one chocolate for sharing because I know you won't be able to resist.

He blinked; his heart rate quickened. It was so similar… It couldn't be. Searching through the booths, he tried to find her blonde hair or even any of her friends. But she wasn't there. He picked up the box, leaving his textbooks spread out over his booth and walked towards Motoki. His friend was bound to know who left the gift, and more importantly, would dish on their identity.

Then, the door burst open, and in clamored Usagi. His mouth opened to greet her when she pulled someone else in through the door - a boy about her age. His sandy hair spiked in all directions, and he wore the uniform of her school. Mamoru's heart slowed. The boy was attractive, though, a bit short. Guess Usagi did know her secret admirer.

He swallowed hard, the hopeful mood from his gift vanishing. Guess she had been busy.

She ran back to the counter and grabbed a small tote bag that she must have left earlier.

"I almost forgot my bag!" she called to Motoki. As she turned, she saw Mamoru, and her smile almost made him forget his sour mood. She waved to him and paused. Staring the small package in his hand, she asked, "Aren't you going to share?"

He didn't really stop himself. Instead, he reached into the package and handed her the strawberry chocolate. She smirked and she took a bite, her eyes a bit too intense.

"Come on Usagi," the boy beside her urged. "We're going to be late!"

Mouthful of chocolate, she replied "Oh! Of course!" Then with a quick wave, she and the boy darted out of the cafe.

Mamoru looked back at the box of chocolates and went straight for the dark chocolate. He needed something to wash the taste of heartbreak out of his mouth.

Day 2: Books

The next day, his gift rested on the corner of the bar, casually placed on the corner bend just beside his favorite stool. It was a rectangular parcel wrapped in simple paper with a twine tie. Again, in the pretty calligraphy, it said: To Mamo-Chan, From Your Secret Admirer.

He scowled and decided to ignore the present. Maybe she would get the hint and stop with this silliness. Besides, if anyone knew him, they would know he didn't believe in these sorts of gestures.

"Aren't you going to open it?" a soft voice asked.

He glanced beside him and noticed Ami slowly sipping on a milkshake, alone. A mostly devoured strawberry one was beside her.

Mamoru narrowed his eyes. Could it be Ami leaving him gifts? It didn't seem like the quiet girl's style, but, when it came to girls he was never too sure.

"No."

"That's a shame. I was most curious about how you would react."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, with all your commentary to Usagi, I thought for sure you'd be at least a bit curious to see if this admirer lives up to your expectations?" she said, her voice rising at the end of the sentence with her eyebrow.

Slowly, he grabbed the package and opened it, careful not to rip the paper packaging. Inside was a thin book of poetry, Pillow Thoughts by Courtney Peppernell. It was an English book, and on a post-it note in delicate handwriting was another message.

You seem to have a flair for the poetic, and I thought, just maybe, you hadn't seen this one. I marked the poems that made me think of you.

His heart fell a little. Even though she'd come by with a boy, the chocolates had given him the briefest hope that maybe, just maybe, Usagi was leaving him these gifts. That she was playing with him against his own callousness. But, she was rubbish at English. There was no way she would have picked an English poetry book.

Still, he was a sucker for poetry.

He flipped through the book quickly, reading the marked poems first. Sometimes the post-it just had a little drawn heart or another doodle. Sometimes a comment on a poem that reminded her of him. There were poems about love and poems about longing. Poems for sadness and poems for loneliness. Soon he was engrossed, re-reading through his favorite sections.

A loud slurping brought him back to the cafe. Ami was noisily finishing her milkshake, a small smile lurking behind her straw.

"Well, it seems that maybe it was a good thing you opened the package," she said. "I'll see you later, Mamoru."

And with that, she slid off her stool and walked out of the cafe, leaving two empty milkshake glasses and a very confused boy behind her.

Day 3: Flowers

The first thing he noticed when he walked in was Usagi and the boy sitting in the corner booth, whispering. He knew he had no reason to be angry about this, but he was. Why did some hollow romantic gestures work on her? If he'd been her admirer, it would have been so much better. He would have covered Crown with 100 roses or swept her away to some rooftop dinner. He would have written her a poem and gotten her that Tuxedo Kamen out of the claw machine that she'd been desperately trying to get for weeks.

He was so wrapped up in his what-ifs that he didn't notice the rose bush until he knocked it over, spilling potting soil everywhere. Cringing, he wondered if his admirer would have even noticed that he was so distracted, he kept ruining their surprises.

It was a small bush. Perfect for apartment life. The roses were pink, and he'd swore he'd seen them somewhere before. The little card must have been sitting in the pot because it was buried in spilled dirt. He tossed his briefcase into the booth, then knelt over to clean up his mess.

Small hands with perfectly manicured nails came into his view. He didn't have to look up to know they were Usagi's.

"I've got this," he told her.

"Well, I decided to offer a hand," she answered, scooping some of the soil up and placing it back in the pot.

"Ridiculous secret admirer," he grumbled under his breath.

She gave him a sly smile. "Why Mamoru, you're not a fan of grand gestures? I would have thought otherwise. Ami told me that you spend the better part of the afternoon reading that book on poetry."

He opened his mouth to contest, but honestly, he was a fan of grand gestures. "I just don't like hollow gestures."

With the soil returned, and the plant replaced on the table, she looked pointedly at him. "And do you think these gestures are hollow?"

He looked at the plant on the table. They were hollow, right? They'd just happened to guess his favorite chocolates and leave one that he wouldn't mind giving away. They picked out some poetry he hadn't read before. Now, they offered roses for his apartment, the living kind, the kind that would grow with him.

"Lucky guesses," he answered.

Usagi bit her lip, then glanced at the flowers. "Maybe so, or maybe, she really does care. You could stand to open your heart a little bit. Take a chance."

"Usagi!" the boy called from across the booth. He had a frantic look on his face, and he kept glancing back at his phone.

She rolled her eyes, then looked at Mamoru. "Roses are your favorite, right? You always smell like them…"

He pressed his lips together and nodded slowly. She smiled, walking backward a few steps to keep her eyes on him just a little longer before returning her attention to her boyfriend. Mamoru watched longer than he should have as she leaned in close with the boy and poured over something on his cell phone screen.

Day 4: The Pocket Watch Chain

Mamoru almost smiled in relief when he didn't see a present waiting for him in one of his usual spots. In fact, his booth was occupied by Minako and Makoto, so his admirer must have been too intimidated to leave anything there. Crawling onto his stool, he opened his book and did his best not to wonder about Usagi's absence.

The soft clank of porcelain on the counter bought his attention away from his books. Coffee, right on schedule. He looked up to see Motoki standing in front of him and holding out a velvet box. Mamoru groaned.

"Before you get all cynical on me, you should open it," Motoki said. "She left it with me because she didn't want it to be stolen."

"I can't believe you're indulging in this."

"You should be a little more receptive," Motoki countered, shoving the box into Mamoru's hand and splashing coffee onto his wrist.

With a glare, Mamoru opened the box. The little note fell out, but he wasn't paying attention to that. The item inside the box had his full attention. His heart sped up.

It was an elegant golden watch chain and fob. The fob was enamel, with a crescent moon framing a small blue and green earth and tiny diamonds for stars. His breath caught. It was not only beautiful, but it was so… him.

The little scroll was already soaking up spilled coffee, but he quickly grabbed it and unfurled it. It was the same practiced calligraphy and it read: Because you're the only dork I know that uses a pocket watch.

He furrowed his brow a bit at the note, before returning to staring at his gift. No one had ever gotten him something so lovely before. Well, whoever had given him his pocket watch, maybe. Yet the tone of the note was slightly rude, and he found himself liking it more for that. He did enjoy a jab now and again. Slowly, he took out his watch and exchanged the chain, fastening the fob at his waist. His watch was unusual enough that an admirer would probably have noticed it, but to pick such an unusual and perfect fob...

He looked up to meet Motoki's eyes. "Who are they?"

Motoki had never looked smugger. "I'm not telling."

"Motoki…"

"Besides, by your own rules, I think you should be able to figure it out."

Mamoru opened his mouth but didn't say anything. There was only one person who he could think of that would do something like this, but she had a boyfriend. She wasn't interested. Yet, this mystery person... this mystery person was interested. And they had spent the better part of a week showing that they cared. Shouldn't that mean something?

Day 5: The Bowtie

He couldn't believe it, but he was actually a little eager to find out what gift would be at Crown that day. Almost giddy, even. Was this how children felt on those gift-giving holidays he'd never known? He couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten a thoughtful gift, or really, many gifts at all. As far as he knew, those memories were locked in that life he'd forgotten. A box he'd struggled to find the key for, yet, was starting to feel that was less and less important.

It was thrilling to receive little tokens of affection. He could see why Usagi had thought it romantic. It really could be.

Inside, Usagi sat at the counter, chatting intensely with Motoki. They both suspiciously quieted when he entered the cafe.

"What?"

"Oh nothing," Usagi answered, about as innocent as a politician. Then she slyly pushed a box his way.

He glared at her.

"What? I haven't gotten to see you open any of them! Life is so cruel," she exclaimed dramatically, pressing her wrist to her forehead.

He rolled his eyes and lifted the small top on the cardboard pink box. Inside was a hot pink bowtie. He furrowed his brow and grabbed the little note.

You're the only teenager I know that owns a tuxedo. Dust it off because you'll need it for when we meet. P.S. It matches my dress.

Well, this wasn't quite what he was expecting. It seemed less personal than the other gifts, yet… She knew he owned a tux, which, she was right, was an odd thing for a teenager to own.

Usagi gasped. "Aw! You like it!" she exclaimed. "You like having a secret admirer!"

He opened his mouth to disagree, then settled on, "It's flattering."

Her eyes got bigger. "So, Mamoru Chiba is being wooed by love letters and gifts! Who would have thought!"

"Shut up, Odango."

"You're blushing!"

"I am not."

"You're the same color as the bowtie!"

Mamoru closed his box quickly.

"Is she living up to your expectations?" Usagi then asked, resting her chin on her hands like a cat eyeing the canary. "Does she really know you? Any idea who she could be?"

She was entirely too interested in this. His heart speed up, and his eyes narrowed. "Why, Odango, if I didn't know better…" he started.

"Usagi!" a voice from the door called. "Hurry or we're going to be late!"

The smirked died on his lips as he turned to see her boyfriend waving to her from across the cafe. Of course, it wasn't her. She'd been swept up by her own set of love letters and gifts.

"Ugh," Usagi groaned. "I really have to go, but we'll catch up soon, Mamoru-san. I need to hear all about your secret admirer!"

As she walked out the door, he watched her go, his heart heavy. He loved her; that wasn't in question. But she cared for someone else. Should he let her go? Let his love he'd harbored out to sea? He looked at the box in his hand. There was someone looking to love him, that seemed to be genuine, did he risk his heart? Did he let this new current whisk him away?

Day 6: Tickets

He walked into Crown and actually felt butterflies in his stomach. What would be waiting for him? There was only one day left; this was the last gift. Tomorrow, everything would be revealed.

His spot at the counter was empty, so he turned to his booth. It was empty too. Did his admirer back down? Were they late? Would they slip up and end the mystery?

Did he want it to end? Was he ready?

After a small internal debate, Mamoru decided to take a seat at his booth. He set his books out, though, now that finals were over, he didn't really need to study. They just provided a cover for his people watching. A way to feel like he was a part of something, without having to participate. And maybe, it would give his admirer some time to deliver the last gift.

He tapped his pen against the counter, looking around as patrons came and left. Usagi's friends bustled through the door, sans Usagi. He scowled. She was probably out with her boyfriend, and he was encouraging her to neglect her friends. His trail of thoughts didn't go far when a small meow broke him out of his pensive mood.

Usagi's black cat sat at the foot of his booth, her paw tapping a maroon envelope he must have missed. He bent over and picked it up before making space for Luna to join him on the bench.

Like all the gifts before them, the envelope was labeled: To Mamo-chan.

Inside were two tickets to Yusuke Amande's performance the next night. There was no profession of love, just instructions.

Meet me at the front of the theater for 6:30. You'll recognize my dress. But, if you'd rather take someone else, you have both tickets.

Mamoru smiled at the tickets. He rather enjoyed Amand's music, and it would be such a pleasure to see the jazz musician perform live. It was also the exact opposite of what he imagined Usagi enjoying - a loud, pop idol spectacle. Yet, somehow he knew that she'd also enjoy Armand's melodic ballads.

He looked at the cat beside him. Setting the tickets down, he scratched behind her ears, like he knew she enjoyed.

"What do you think, Luna?" he asked the cat. "Do you think I should go? Do I meet this Secret Admirer?"

The cat nuzzled his palm.

"What would Usagi say?" he pondered aloud. He could envision her sitting across the booth from him. Enthusiastically telling him he had to go. What if it were the girl he loved? He smiled sadly. Maybe it wouldn't be that girl, but maybe, just maybe he was someone who deserved love. And just maybe this person did love him.

Then her words from the other day echoed through his mind: "You could stand to open your heart a little bit. Take a chance."

The funny thing about love was that it changed people. Mamoru was not used to being loved, or even the idea that anyone could love him. No one had ever loved him, so he hadn't thought he was even capable of loving someone. Yet, he'd fallen in love anyway. And maybe, because he loved her like a zebra who changed his stripes, just maybe, someone could love him.

Day 7: Confessions

What was he doing? He kept asking himself the question as he tied the hot pink bowtie around his neck, as he attached the sparkling watch fob and slipped his pocket watch into his coat pocket, as he plucked a rose from the bush that had replaced the vase in his hallway.

He was doing something completely un-Mamoru-like. Damnit, why did he have to be such a sucker for romantic gestures?

This person knew him. They knew he loved roses and to dress up. That his pocket watch was important, and that he liked poetry. They knew his favorite candy was chocolate, and that he was, of course, going to share with Usagi. They gave all of these things freely, just to show him they cared.

It hit him like a glass of water thrown in his face. They weren't asking him to return the feelings. They weren't asking for him do to anything at all except give them a chance. Hell, they even gave him the tickets. They put the date into his hands. It was his choice.

And what did he have to lose?

He walked up to the theater but didn't see someone in pink. Nervousness set in. After all of this, had they stood him up? He pulled out his watch. Seven minutes late. People were started to enter the theater, though the show was only just beginning to seat. Perhaps they missed their train? Should he pull out his phone and check for delays?

Behind him, he heard the click of heels running on pavement, and he turned to see Usagi in a hot pink dress rushing towards him. His heart beat faster. She stooped only a few meters from him, bending over and resting her hands on her knees. She held a finger up, a gesture silently asking him to wait while she caught her breath.

Then, she stood up, adjusted her strapless dress, and took a deep breath.

"Those lips that Love's own hand did make," she started, "breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate' to me that languished for her sake…"

Mamoru quirked his head at her. She rolled her eyes.

"But when she saw my woeful state," she continued, motioning for him to join her, "straight in her heart did mercy come…"

"Chiding that tongue that ever sweet was used in giving gentle doom," he supplied. Her answer was a giant smile as she waved for him to continue. "And taught it thus anew to greet…"

"'I hate' she altered with an end…"

"That followed it as gentle day doth follow night, who like a fiend from heaven to hell is flown away," he continued as she stepped closer with every beat.

"I hate," she said.

"From hate away she threw, and saved my life saying…" he trailed off, his voice tightening.

With a most charming smile, she answered, "not you."

He stared at her, wondering if this was all just a dream. That he was really at home, sleeping through his date with his secret admirer.

"For the record," she continued. "I never hated you."

He stared at her, gaping like a fish. Was this real? Was Usagi really his secret admirer? Had she really done all this for him? He took a step closer to her; she didn't step back. Instead she reached over and took the rose he'd forgotten about out of his hands.

"Is this for me?" she asked, a knowing smirk on her face as she inhaled its scent. Her eyes flickered between his and his lips.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered, hoping that he wouldn't shatter the moment.

"I thought you'd never ask."

He didn't even get a chance to lean in before she was pulling his lapels, pulling him towards hers. Then their lips met, and everything else melted away. The kiss was passionate, but soft, and nowhere near as deep as he wanted to take it. She pulled away after just a moment.

His lips started to chase after hers; he had never been good with words. Showing was better than telling for him, but it seemed like she had other plans.

"So, I guess you realize I'm your secret admirer," she started. "I'm actually surprised you didn't figure it out sooner."

"But, your boyfriend…" he choked out.

At that comment, she looked utterly confused. "What boyfriend?"

"At Crown? All week?" he struggled for words. "Your secret admirer?"

She squinted at him as if trying to figure out why he'd suddenly grown a second head. Her eyes widened with realization.

"You mean Umino?"

The boy she'd been with all week was Umino?! He was baffled. Firstly, that boy had such distinctive glasses he couldn't wrap his head around the idea of the boy not wearing them. Then secondly, even he was observant enough to know that Umino had been seeing Usagi's friend for a while now.

"Wait, Umino was your…"

She shook her head. "Umino got contacts, and he needed my help making up to Naru because he's a hopeless case. I turned my secret admirer down at the park two weeks ago."

"Huh?" At that, Mamoru was at a complete loss for words. "Why?"

"Well, I went to meet my admirer, which was this boy I've never really talked to in my class, all I kept thinking about was what you said," she explained. "And how to love someone, you have to know them. And you seemed to know me pretty well… and I realized I know you pretty well too."

"But the notes," he floundered. "They weren't in your handwriting."

"That was Minako. I figured you'd recognize my scribble scrawl too quickly. And I helped Mako make the chocolate, and to be fair, I stole the roses from Rei's house. Ami was invaluable with that book of poetry. She read the whole thing with me and made sure I understood it because you and I both know how terrible my English is… and has anyone told you how cute you look when you're flustered?"

He blinked again. "But how did you know I owned a Tux?"

"Oh, you were wearing it the first day we met," she said. "Don't you remember?"

He remembered the first time he saw her. The details of her seared into his memory like a brand. Yet, he'd forgotten he was wearing his tuxedo and sunglasses. In his mind, he'd vanished the moment he saw her.

"And for the record, you should have just sent me a note," she added. "It would have saved me a lot of trouble."

"Wait, are you saying I'm too much trouble?"

"Only sometimes."

He shook his head.

"And since you're alone, I'm going to assume that you didn't bring a date?" she asked, smugly.

He narrowed his eyes. "You knew I wasn't, didn't you."

"I suspected. Since you're in love with me and all," she grinned. God, sometimes she could be so annoying. It was so cute.

"Shall we go in, Mamo-chan?" She held her arm out to him, an offer to link his arm through hers.

He blinked, wondering how did he end up here? Then he realized, of course, it was because she was there. He loved her, and because of that, he'd taken a chance. And, maybe he was wiser to the ways of love than he realized. After all, she said it had been his words that bought them to this moment. He slipped his arm through hers, smiling at her perfectly she fit against him.

"Did you know I helped Yuske get together with his wife? I might have a knack for this matchmaker thing…"

He kissed her before she could humble brag too much. That worked much better than arguing with her.

When they pulled apart, she said, "what was I saying, again?"

"That we're going to be late for our first date, and it was all your fault," he teased.

"Hey, if you love me, you know I'm always late to everything, so you better get used to it," she retorted.

"I already am," he answered, kissing the top of her head. Together, arm and arm with the glow of new love, they walked into the theater.

XXX

AN: There you have it! I hope you enjoyed this little fic, and Queen Risa, I really hope you enjoy it.

I forgot to thank her in part one, but Thank You SmokingBomber for beta reading this. You are amazing, and it was such a big help.

And finally, thank you to all the wonderful commenters: Astrearose, beedudslon, moonwrite, FloraOne, TropicalRemix, SiSilmE, Beej, LokiGirl, and Moonlight Usagi-chan. Your words have really brought a bit of light to me right now.