1108/Family Discount

Family Discount
Date of Scene:	11 February 2024
Location:	Plot Room 1
Synopsis:	Usagi and Ikuko visit Nounamu Sweets only for a family secret to be revealed! Hinoiri has her suspicions of their magical identities (incorrectly) confirmed when Chiyo and Usagi are revealed to be second cousins.
Cast of Characters:	Chiyo Sakai, Hinoiri Kirara, Usagi Tsukino

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Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Nounamu Sweets was open and doing business as usual. It was a lazy Sunday for the most part due to it being a really nice day. The sky was blue, the air chilly but not outright cold, and school wasn't until tomorrow. The customers that came in to browse and purchase were taking their time though there was no rush to begin with. Everyone was just enjoying the promise of the upcoming Spring that the day seemed to be promising.

Ojiisan was behind the counter as usual allowing his skillful old hands go to work to display both their wares and the artistry of their work. The part-timer was sweeping up behind the counter. Chiyo herself was near the front of the store affixing an ad to the window declaring that they weren't taking any more special orders for V-day, but would have their standard Valentines' box sets available until sold out. It was just around the corner after all.

Chiyo's curly purple hair is swept back from her face into the neat little top bun she usually did, but the length that was typically left to fall free around her shoulders is also brushed back into a smaller ponytail beneath it so that risk of getting hair anywhere near food was drastically reduced. The slacks, shirt and colorful sprinkle decorated apron she wears while working is crisp and clean as well.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara was grouchy. When wasn't she?

Granted, it might be because it was COLD. And she didn't have her jacket. What she had was a few stitches on her arms, a bandaid on her cheek, her hair slightly messy as if she just got off her bike and took the helmet off...

She shoved open the door, muttering under her breath. "Stupid clingy amazon with a bucking sweet tooth and her stupid girlfriend..."

Yes, Hinoiri was still angry about that. It had been scary, okay? Seeing ADORA come stomping towards you WITH A SWORD! Okay? THAT WAS INTIMIDATING! WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE A HENSHIN!

... Okay it would have been a teeeeensy tiny bit if she'd been in henshin but without being able to henshin IT HAD BEEN SCARY OKAY?! And then almost getting hit by a truck and her jacket getting all messed up and RAWR!

So there was definitely some anger when she made her way towards the counter. She was about to snap at the girl behind the counter, before sighing and relaxing... slightly. "Hey. Something... soft and gooey. Surprise me," she said. "Pastry."

She was NOT going to yell at Sailor Moon. Heck, she wasn't going to yell at someone in the service industry. But... it didn't help her mood, any. She wanted to tear into someone! Stupid cat and stupid giant lady with a SWORD! Who gave her a sword, anyway?! She could poke someone's eye out! What if she tripped?! SHE WAS TOTALLY THE TYPE OF GIRL TO RUN WITH SCISSORS!

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It was hardly rare to see Usagi in Pikarigaoka these days - she visited often, as Sailor Moon on patrol, and Usagi out for shopping trips. The day is still rare in one way though - she's not accompanied by any of her friends, today, but instead, by a slightly taller woman with long, curly purple hair. They're walking down the street, Ikuko having decided to drive them rather than brave the bus system. Having parked a block away, the two were walking to Nounamu Sweets - though Usasgi hadn't told her mother that was where they were going.

It was a surprise, after all!

Both are in coats, as a nod to the cold February day - Usagi in an over-large pink coat with four gold buttons and her mother, Ikuko Tsukino, in a better fitted purple one.

"You'll see, Mama, the best sweets are down this way," Usagi was saying, half tugging Ikuko along,

"We'll see, we'll see. Usagi-chan, you know I'm very picky with wagashi, so bringing me all the way out here-"

"It will be worth it!" Usagi says firmly, "You're always saying none of them are like the kind grandma used to make, but these are some of the best! There's nothing like - there! It's right there!"

She pointes at the small shop, then practically drags her mother the rest of the way - never noticing the way her eyes widen when she reads Nounamu Sweets.

The door chimes when Usagi pushes it open, and she smiles brightly when she sees Chiyo working. "Chiyo-chan! Hi!"

With her actual mom with her, it's harder not to notice the fact that their hair colors and textures looked a lot alike. Tokyo was a weird place, huh?

"And - hey, Hinoiri-chan! My mama's all picky about her sweets, so I decided to take her to the best sweets shop in the city." Insert jazz hands! And Will Smith hands, even, as she points at her mother.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai lowers her hands from the sign she as hanging up when Hinoiri comes in with that dour expression. She didn't know what had happened, but clearly something had upset the girl a great deal. Plus... She was beat the heck up. "Hinoiri-chan? What happened? Were you in an accident?" She did recall she drove that motorcycle all over so it's not entirely out of the question. The request for the soft sweets just earns a nod as she allows her gaze to run over the case thoughtfully.

"Right, something soft. I can do that." No chestnut prailine then, that was out. No hard candy either. A box is picked up and some tongs as she leans over to reach for some of the softer red adzuki bean mochi. Chewy, soft, good. "Do you like matcha?" She inquires as there was the option of regular or gelly filled too.

Then the familiar voice of Usagi also draws her attention causing her to stand up with partial order in one hand, tongs in the other, and a grin flashed to her friend. "Usagi-chan, hello! Ah!" Surprised, the purple haired girl regards Usagi's mom. She wasn't lying she certainly did have similar hair even if the shade was a bit different. Friendly she adds, "Welcome! A pleasure to meet you, Oba-san!"

While the greeting is made, Ojiisan turns to reach for another ball of mochi to begin his next peice. His hand falters when he sees Ikuko looking more than a bit surprised. Calmly, quietly, he sets down his work to dust his hands off on his apron. A cleaning cloth is scooped up to further clean his hands as he steps to the counter edge to give a quick half-bow toward her. "It's been awhile. Welcome." It's far more than his usual stoic greetings, but...

Chiyo glances over looking a bit surprised at that. Then again it was the first time one of her friends brought their parents over, so it's not too much a surprise that Ojiisan was being polite. Maybe they'd run into one another before. Her curiosity only lasts a moment as she turns her attention back to her task.

"Here, Hinoiri, try these," she offers setting the daifuku across the counter for her. One a regular agura red bean, one a floral jasmine matcha with gel filling. Soft.

"You want anything too, Usagi?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "Yeah, there was an accident. That stupid six foot tall girl who's obsessed with her ex and won't ever shut up about her," Hinoiri said bitterly. "She broke a bus stop and then threw the pieces at me like it was basketball and I was open! Bucked up my jacket."

Yes, she was peeved about the whole thing. Taking it personally.

"No macha today. Looking for more... fruity, I think."

Then... Usagi? She turned and gave a small wave. "Hey, Tsukino-san, Usagi-chan," Hinoiri said politely, giving a small wave. This... was likely the first time Usagi had ever seen her WITHOUT the leather jacket. Without it, she was sans spikes. "Yeah, this place is pretty good. If there's one thing Usagi-chan knows, it's sweets," Hinoiri said with a teasing tone. She looked between Usagi and her mom. Yup. Definitely. It really was a brilliant tactic. Henshin, get your mom's hair. Who'd figure it out?

When Ojiisan came forward to greet Usagi's mom, though... she cringed and bowed a little. "Hello, err, sir, happy you're feeling better."

She took the daifuku and... "Mmmm... I'll have some of the first, but really looking for something more... fruity, I think. You... have anything with banana? Maybe strawberries?" She had a peculiar mind for it today...

Then paused.

She looked between Chiyo and Usagi. Huh. Funny, that. She wondered if Chiyo's mom had blond hair too, with double buns. That'd be just precious. Those two really were such good friends, it seemed.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Hello Kirara-chan, it's good to see you again, and don't worry, I'm sure this is a wonderful shop," Ikuko Tsukino says lightly, smiling slightly at the two girls' defense of the shop.

When Ojisan steps forward to bow, she offers the same bow, if slightly lower in respectful deference to age. "It has been; thank you for accepting us into your shop." Her lips squirk in a smile. "If my Usagi-chan comes in regularly, it's to your great credit that the shop still welcomes her appetite."

"Mamaaaaa!" Usagi wails, not with tears but with flushed cheeks. She forgets all about her questions about how odd her mother is acting. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought you to meet my friend and her grandpa if you're gonna tease me!"

Ikuko's eyes widen, and she looks down at Chiyo again, taking her in with greater care and detail. "Her grandfather... I see."

Usagi abandons her mother's side to cross the room towards Chiyo and Hinoiri, huffing a little. "Can we have a sampler box, Chiyo-chan? Two of all the best pieces?"

By the look on Hinoiri's face, she is drawing all the wrong conclusions. Probably thinking that Usagi's henshin took her mama's hair again... "What happened to your jacket? You never go anywhere without it?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Oh, fruit, right." Banana. Ew. Who would put banana in anything? Maybe a parfait. Strawberry though, she could do that. It was out of season but in today's world economy that meant very little. Plus there was such a thing as jam. Sometimes that made due in the Winter months so that fresh tasting fruits could be had even if they weren't properly in-season. Half-aside to Usagi Chiyo remarks, "I would think she got into an accident with her bike, but apparently some woman upset her," she remarks quietly, glancing over to her two friends with a bit of a grin. The strawberry daifuku is offered over to Hinoiri after she says this though. "Here you go, try this."

That just meant she had to put together a sampler box now. One of the nice decorative boxes is taken with multiple little cubbies for the treats, and she starts making her way down the row. Some strawberry daifuku, some chestnut prailines, some more traditional Wagashi done in beautiful flower shapes. It's not long before it's full and she raises it up to rest on the countertop for Usagi to view. "Look good? Or if you have any favorites I can swap something out, but these are the best sellers," she explains.

As for Ojiisan he glances over to the trio of girls currently chatting before returning his attention to Ikuku to whom he nods. "Yes, she's my granddaughter," he confirms quietly. "She takes after Meiko. Works here in the shop with me and goes to school at Radiant Heart. She's a very good girl," he's quick to assure Ikuko in case she was afraid that there might be the possibility of a bad influence situation going on. "... Usagi-chan is your daughter, then. I didn't know."

With an awkward clearing of his throat he raises his voice. "Chiyo. Give your friend and her mother the family discount."

It was pretty common for Ojiisan to dole out discounts to her friends. That's no surprise at all, so the words barely register at first. "Yes Ojiisan," she begins with a dutiful nod, and a step to the register. "The family-- Wait. We have a family discount?" Since when? It wasn't as if they HAD a lot of family. Just her mother, who never stopped by, right? Puzzled she just stands there as the words sink in.

"F-family discount?"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara did relax a little bit when Usagi's mom confirmed that, truly, the shop was probably great. Well, it was pretty great. Hinoiri thought so... granted... she still felt guilty about almost killing the old man. Not that she'd admit that.

Then Usagi asked. "Ugh. That Adora girl. I'm guessing she and her ex had another spat. I was trying to help her and she--" Pause. Glanced to Usagi's mom. Right. Not magic. "Threw a cinder block at me. It didn't hit me full on, but it tore up my jacket and I had to get these stitches because of it. Girl needs some therapy or a tranquilizer dart. No wonder her ex keeps trying to get away from her."

Sure, it was her fault, kind of. But the moment she got hit by rubble, she decided nope. Time to be pissy about it.

However, the comment about accident on her bike made her stand up a little straighter. "What?! I NEVER! I'm way too good a driver to get in an accident!" She snatched the strawberry daifuku with a huff and took a mean bite out of it, chewed and... Blinked. Looking down at it. "This? This is amazing," she said after she swallowed. "More of this, please."

She then glanced between Chiyo and Usagi and... "Oh? You're related? That explains so much." So THAT'S how Daifuku got her name! Usagi really did care so much for her family, didn't she? She tossed the other half of the daifuku into her mouth. Completely blind to the family drama happening around her. All this did, really, was cement in her mind that Usagi was Daifuku, after all. And Chiyo was Sailor Moon. Any idiot could figure it out.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Some woman? Really?" Usagi blinks, glancing back at Hinoiri, taking in her appearance with new contemplation - wondering exactly how upsetting the whole thing was... and then Hinoiri just, confirms the whole thing, except the woman is apparently - "Wait, Adora? Adora threw-"

And she glances back at her mother, who peeks over at the raised voices, concerned, and Usagi lowers her head and her voice, "Adora did that? But she's so nice!"

And if Adora was throwing things around - probably magic things around, given that glance back at her mother, then something had to be wrong. And more importantly - did Mako-chan know? Because Hinoiri didn't even have magic, and if Adora went after her, maybe she'd do something to Mako-chan when she wasn't transformed, too.

The only thing that distracts her from her worries is watching Chiyo-chan prepare the candies, selecting different pieces and putting them into the pretty take away box, and she beams when she sees the selection. "This is great! It's a good sample of everything, and if my mama and papa like them, it will be easy for them to come back!"

While this is happening, Ikuko has stepped that slightest bit closer to Ojisan, the better for their conversation to be quiet. It's not that she has any intention of keeping secrets, but she knows her daughter.

"I'm sure she is," Ikuko says quickly, after that reassurance, "Usagi-chan is an excellent judge of character. She's talked a lot about Chiyo-chan, though, not enough for me to realize..."

She wouldn't have interfered with the friendship, but, she might have at least been able to call ahead. She tucks a coil of loose hair back. "Usagi-chan's only been going to Radiant Heart since July. We were worried that she would have a hard time adjusting, but very quickly after arriving she made friends with Chiyo-chan, and a few others. They've helped her get very comfortable there. My husband and I, we're very grateful."

The difficulties of the mother and the distance of cousins - was not something to blame on the daughter.

Back with Usagi -

"Family discount?" she echoes and it's only Hinoiri-chan saying it explains so much that they're related that makes her realize she definitely didn't hallucinate that.

"Um - Mama -"

Ikuko smiles, looking a little awkward herself. "Chiyo-chan is your second-cousin, it seems. If you'd told me she was a Sakai, we would have known a lot sooner. Or if you'd mentioned we were coming to Nounamu Sweets, instead of insisting on secrecy."

Usagi can't even defend herself. She'd insisted on secrecy because half the time her mother rejected sweets shops out of hand, on some secret motherly knowledge that the wagashi wouldn't be good enough. But now -

"We're cousins?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai gently sets the box of wagashi down on the countertop. Gently, because she might drop it otherwise as she just stares at Ojiisan and Ikuko. The hair now made sense. It made so much sense. Even her grandmother had hair like this, when she was younger, before old age had bleached it grey. It was just surprising all around.

"Cousins? Me? And Usagi-chan?" Her attention turns back toward the blonde just staring at her with a look of utter confusion. "But, I thought... how..."

Hinoiri's request earns her hand reaching automatically to pull out another strawberry daifuku without thinking much of it. "Right, here you... Here." Even Hinoiri is agreeing they're related and her eyes widen looking at her in surprise too. "I didn't know! WE didn't know!" She blurts out with her hands raising, then falling back by her side, only to raise again as if she were just wanting to frantically flap her hands in place because of not knowing what to do with them at this point. So she just strides out from behind the counter to stand near Usagi. "We're *related*?"

Ojiisan watches the confusion between the girls with a single nod. He replies to Ikuko though as well. "Chiyo-chan was always a bit shy. Usagi-chan seems to have pulled her out of her shell some. It seems like they've helped each other out quite a bit. And," he adds with a bit of amusement, "Her boyfriend is a very steady customer here." Naturally.

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "Yeah, well, she's not that nice right now. Luckily there was a weird... cat boy there to make sure she didn't come at me with that big letter opener of hers. Well. To get between us when she did," Hinoiri muttered. Somewhat quietly. At least trying not to cause too much of a scene. But at least now Usagi would know something was up. That was good, right?

She looked between the two, however, as all such thoughts were likely shoved aside by... well....

"Wait, how did you two not know?" Hinoiri asked. "I'd imagine the-- err..." Trailed off. "Daifuku would have been a pretty big hint. You're both pretty rad."

She took another bite of the daifuku, glancing between the two and... "Wait, is this normal? Is there like a whole herd of secret families you two got hidden around school? Cause, I won't lie... that'd be kind of rad." She stepped back and just enjoyed her daifuku, watching the soap opera drama going on in front of her and, frankly? Kind of enjoying it.

... What? She was Double Trouble's roommate. You can't expect her to NOT enjoy a bit of daytime soaps.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Cousins.

Cousins.

Cousins!

"Why didn't you tell me I have a cousin! Shingo and I have a cousin! We're cousins! With Chiyo-chan! We're cousins?!"

How many times can one person say the word cousin before it loses all meaning? Usagi is going to find out. She can't even quite register that Cat Noir had saved Hinoiri from Adora, or that Adora had genuinely attacked Hinoiri - she's too busy absolutely gobsmacked by the revelation.

Ikuko shrugs, looking slightly embarrassed by the scene Usagi is causing. "Well, honestly, I didn't know about Chiyo-chan, or I would have told you sooner. Of course, I knew about Nounamu Sweets, but you always stayed so close to Juuban, before, it never really seemed likely that you'd find your way here..."

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

Usagi waves her arms around, "But, but I could have! I did! Is there some - some big family secret? Do we have a secret herd of secret families all at the school?!"

"Of course not," Ikuko says, shaking her head, "Don't be silly!"

"How is it silly when we're literally meeting our secret family Mama?!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"But how are we cousins? Ojiisan, you told me mom was an only child and..." Chiyo trails off looking more than a little confused still even while Usagi starts to kind of freak out about secret families.

"I'm pretty sure we don't. I think. I mean. This is just unexpected." No secret families here! She does reach up to tug at a bit of her curly hair though looking at Ikuko with a difficult to read expression as the confusion of hairstyles on Hinoiri's part KIND of makes sense now? Only kind of though. It would have made more sense if this information was known before she jumped to that conclusion.

Ojiisan clears his throat some, and gestures to Ikuko with a small shrug. "Her grandmother is Meiko's sister. So your mother and her are cousins. You're second cousins," he agrees while glancing awkwardly away to swipe over the counter with the cleaning cloth he'd plucked up so that he didn't have mochi or sugar on his hands. His fingers were still a bit stained with many colors of food coloring though. Even if it was the 'natural' variety made from fruits and vegetables it still stained pretty well and would require a good soaking to get properly cleaned off. "We lost touch after... awhile," Ojiisan mutters.

Chiyo blinks rapidly at the not-quite response. "Oh. Oh... After "me*," she mumbles looking down. In spite of the happy occasion she just looks a little uncomfortable. Her gaze sweeps over to Usagi again flashing a soft smile. "Mom was... working when she had me," she explains. "And tried to hide it so she wouldn't lose her job."

Ojiisan clears his throat again. "We stepped away from the rest of the family to help, a bit. It wasn't that we meant to cut ties. Just help keep the secret." An apologetic look turns toward Ikuko at that. "We were perhaps too thorough. I'm sorry."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara blinked and glanced between Usagi and her mom. And then... "I mean, if you knew about Nounamu sweets it's like... not that far from Radiant Heart. Considering Usagi-chan's palette for sweets, she was bound to come here eventually."

Pause.

"Besides, Usagi-chan is like, the most cinnamon roll of cinnamon rolls I've ever met. If you'd so much as hinted that there was family around here she would have probably personally sampled every confectionary in the city until she found them." Pause. "And then a second time just for fun."

However... then the reason came out. And... wait. They were...

... They were separated because of *Chiyo?!* Because of *Sailor Moon?!* And oh... she knew *that* guilt. Blaming herself for things that weren't her fault. Her eyes narrowed and then...

"Chiyo-chan? Don't. This isn't your fault. If anything, this is theirs. They were the ones who made the choice. *Not* you. You were, at best, a victim of this. Don't you dare start trying to beat yourself up over stuff you had no say in or I'll jump this counter and give you something to *actually* be sorry for." Pause. "Yes that sounded better in my head." She was *trying* to help. But not doing a good job of it. And angry eating daifuku.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Chiyo's grandmother... was Usagi's grandmother's sister. That was - it shouldn't have been too shocking. In fact, if Usagi looked at the family registry, she probably could have found this out herself, but Usagi had never had any reason to. Her grandmother had died when she was young - before Shingo was even born, when she was so young that all her memories were more wisps and fragments - the scent of candy and flowers, gnarled hands plaiting her hair, a hoarse voice singing lullabies.

There were pictures, but not so many of them, and her mama rarely talked about her mother...

Blue eyes trail to Ikuko, upset poking her lower lip out in a pout as Chiyo gets so audibly upset and Hinoiri lambasts them and -

"That's not true, is it?" Her quiet disappointment might dampen any sparks of anger Hinoiri's rough and blunt assessment has sparked.

Ikuko certainly doesn't look angry; she looks sad. She is sad. She's thinking over the past, old wounds, long healed and now needing to be examined again.

"Not... quite," Ikuko begins, and it is not the most reassuring of starts, though she holds up her hand for silence. "Hinoiri-chan, I appreciate your care for Chiyo-chan, and your defense of her. The situation was - complex, but it most certainly is not your fault Chiyo-chan, nor yours, Sakai-san," she dips her head respectfully, acknowledging Ojisan.

"Around the time Chiyo-chan would have been preparing to enter the world, your papa and I were getting married, Usagi-chan, and we were quite young - your Okaasan was not very pleased with me for getting married so young, so we were a bit preoccupied with our goings-on," though her cousin declining to attend the wedding had been a bit of a stab - and it had created tension. She's tactful enough not to say that, though.

"We did send out an invitation to your okuizome, but it was sent to your - well, she'd be your first cousin once removed, I suppose? It was sent to her on behalf of the family, and when we didn't receive a response we... well, we chose to respect the distance."

It's an explanation, Usagi can acknowledge, and it's not one that puts blame on Chiyo-chan, but it still feels - incomplete.

But she gets the feeling her mother doesn't want to share anymore in a public setting like this, even if just one 'stranger' is around.

"That's... a lot," she says, slowly, "But you heard my mama, Chiyo-chan. It's not your fault. It just - happened. But we found each other!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai draws a deep breath in surprise as Hinoiri butts in to defend her in this case. Her face was a bit red, and fists clenched at her sides, but she wasn't thankfully crying. Maybe. Maybe a little bit teary eyed but not crying. A quick swipe of her face comes and she nods to them all with a quick shaky breath drawn in at that point.

Ojiisan rests his hands on the countertop with his head hung a bit over it all. "... I'm sorry we didn't come or at least properly reply. Chiyo was only a year old at that time."

It's here that Chiyo pipes up, having if not outright known all the details then definitely filled in most of them herself. "Ayaka Saki." It's a name she blurts out with irritation as she turns to the door a moment to flip the closed sign. At least for a few minutes. There was no one besides those currently here in the store at least for now. The name though? It was a popular actress that used to be an idol in her youth.

"She changed her surname for her idol career by just changing the kanji a bit. Then I came along." She turns back to Usagi. To Hinoiri, and to her Ojiisan and apparently her older cousin too.

"Idols can't even date much less have babies without ruining their career. It's changing, but back then, it would have ruined her career. So she had me in secret and went back to work as soon as she could. That's why they kept their distance. So her secret wouldn't get out."

Her head shakes quickly though as she realizes it might sound, as Hinoiri had said, like she was a victim. "I'm not upset at Ojiisan or Okaasan though! They took such good care of me. I don't blame *them.* She's the one who wanted to hide me and pretend I didn't exist."

Opening her mouth again she pauses, uncertain, before her voice drops a notch. "I... I didn't realize that we had more family." It's now that her lower lip starts to quaver just a bit as she feels her eyes welling up with tears for real and she stares at Usagi with a little hiccup of breath. "... I don't know if I should cry or be happy or what!"

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara didn't really want to accept that. 'Complex'. Please. For as often as she'd heard people talk about how 'family was the most important thing', it always amazed her how often little things seemed to get in the way of it.

However, then Chiyo explained. And oh. Ohhhhhh. There it was. All of it clicked into place. An idol. Hide the kid to have the career and...

Yeah. For once? Hinoiri kept her mouth shut. There wasn't anyone to be mad at. She just... had to be there. She wanted to say a thing, something. But what could she say?

Instead, she just... silently stood there. And watched, for the moment...

Admittedly, she'd have gone. But... she hadn't paid yet. And she wasn't going to dine and dash on this place. Even if it would make it less awkward.

"... Probably be happy?" Hinoiri offered. Having family sounded pretty awesome. Oh wow she wished she had more daifuku, now she was just kind of standing here awkwardly and wondering if she could just... slooooowly slide her cash card over onto the counter to pay and escape. Because she could *feel* Usagi's growing need to hug someone and she didn't want to intrude on their private moments.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"She's an idol but she got you that awful dress? And here I thought idols had great fashion sense!" Never let it be said that Usagi wasn't perfect at ruining a moment - though, to her credit, she quickly sweatdrops, realizing maybe this isn't the right moment.

"U-sa-gi-chan," Ikuko sighs, hand to her forehead, "This is why your papa and I are always after you to think before you speak."

Usagi is flushed, just a little, but if embarrassing yourself was an olympic sport, she'd be a gold medalist. She's long accustomed to it! So it certainly doesn't stop her from putting her head up, her shoulders back, and saying, "It really was an awful dress - not Chiyo-chan's style at all. That's why I shared a much nicer one with her, so she could have fun. And we'll get to do stuff like that even more Chiyo-chan, because we're friends and we're family!"

Hinoiri is right. This is something to be happy about. Counters, boxes of candy, none of that can stop Usagi from leaning over and hugging Chiyo tight - even if it can make it a little more uncomfortable. "Family!"

She has more family! More??? Family??? More very cool family?!

Meanwhile, Ikuko sighs a little more and hides a smile. "I have a son, too," she tells Ojisan. "Shingo Tsukino. He's nine, and quite a bit calmer than our Usagi-chan. If you'd like, we could come again, and you could meet him, and my Kenji."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Probably happy. Even Hinoiri said that. Realizing she was holding up poor Hinoiri, a hand is flapped her direction statingm, "Just... My treat today, Hinoiri-chan," she blurts out only to find her attention stolen entirely by Usagi's remark.

Though she'd been near to crying a moment ago, her head throws back with a laugh at the recollection of that dress. Again she swipes at her eyes, though she nods rather emphatically. "Oh my gosh yes that was *so* bad she always does things like that. I think she has her assistant get it or something!" Sosobad.

When Usagi comes in for the hug she leans over to do the same. A nice tight gripping squeeze... At least until she recalls her own strength and she loosens her grip with a little 'oops' to make sure she's not squished. "That sounds great, Usagi-chan!" There's a pause before she corrects herself, "Itoko!"

While the kids do their thing, Ojiisan nods in agreement toward Hinoiri. "Enjoy the daifuku as an apology for being dragged into this." Simple.

Turning his attention back toward Ikuko he smiles gently in turn. "Please do. I'd really like that. It's been far too long for there to be any sort of rift. I'm too old for that any longer." Dipping his head solemnly toward her he adds, "Thank you."

Hinoiri Kirara has posed:
Hinoiri Kirara nodded. "I... uhhh... I'll take it. I'm... I'm really happy. You two, uhhh. Found each other. I'm going to... go. And get away-- err. I'll be by later." She never finished her order. But she did get part of it and tried some samples and ZOOM she was out the door.

Once she was outside, she did sigh none the less and glanced back.

Huh. So Sailor Moon's parents hadn't really wanted her either? Maybe... maybe the two had more in common than she thought. And that 'Moon Mama' comment made even more sense now. And there was... apparently a dress? And Sailor Moon had only... gotten... a dismissive dress from her mother's assistant.

... Hinoiri's ire only grew stronger and she clenched her fist. Ayaka Saki. Huh. Someone should give that bitch a piece of their mind... Would it... be okay? Well... Meh. Who cared. Ayaka Saki. She was going to find out who that girl was. Teach her to ignore her wonderful daughter. Bitch.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Itoko!" Whoops, sorry Chiyo, you're getting a hug with renewed strength and focus!

How could she not? Cousins. They were cousins! Hinoiri gets a distracted wave and a "See you later, Hinoiri-chaaaan!"

But really, the focus is on Chiyo, in this moment. It's all about the tight hug, the bright smile. "We're going to have to have so many more adventures, I hope you know!"

Shopping adventures, class trips, family outings - and fighting as magical girls, of course.

"I'm glad," Ikuko says, smiling at Ojisan. "It will be a wonderful thing, for our family's to know each other again."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"Stop by any time," Ojiisan assures Ikuko with a grin. There was a particular softness as he watches the hugging between Usagi and Chiyo at least, and he seems a bit happier if maybe a little sad over the past.

Chiyo nods emphatically with a laugh at the talk of adventures. The first thing that springs to her mind to blurt out is, "You should sleep over some night! We live upstairs." Oh no. So much candy around Usagi. The temptation! "We can make plans for lots of stuff," she adds smiling broadly. "Ah! And I get to meet your brother too! I should!"

Reluctantly she steps away to pick up the sample box which she wraps up quickly, and then offers it out to Ikuko. "Here. Please enjoy them! On the house." And just in case Ojiisan remarks on that she shoots him a look.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"He's a brat, but there are problem worse boys," Usagi says earnesly, but with her voice very quiet, so she doesn't earn her mother's ire. "But we'll have a fun time! The greatest time!"

Her eyes are practically sparkling, as she considers, then adds, "And you can come to my house, too! We'll have a super awesome sleepover, you'll see!"

Ah, she hasn't invited anyone over for a sleepover in such a long time - there was hardly any point in the dorms, and she barely sleeps at home anymore anyway, but it's the principle of the thing!

Ikuko accepts the sample box with a small smile. "Thank you, Chiyo-chan. I'm sure they'll be wonderful, if the two of you made them. Our family has always been very good with sweets, as you know."

She casts a sideways glance at Usagi, and then smiles teasingly, using a faux-whisper as she says to Chiyo, "Maybe some of your skills will rub off on Usagi-chan."

"Mama!!!"