She's really gotta make time to figure out what is going on. It's hard though, between the way schoolwork is starting to pick up and her duties at the shrine. It's more work than an ordinary part-time or an after-school club, y'know! Her divinations up to now haven't picked up any of the ordinary sort of yōkai and she's honestly stumped!! You'd think something happening practically on her doorstep like this would be easier to track down!!!

Well. Suffice to say, she's got a lot on her mind as she heads to the shrine after school today.

Her first warning something is seriously wrong is the brief screech of tires – 

– And then she's being tackled out of the road. A tall girl lands on top of her, arms wrapped around her, as a bus speeds past them, right through where she'd been walking –

She glimpses a face through the window, in the driver's seat – and then it's gone, though the bus leaves behind a distinct sense of wrongness.

Aaaaa!

The girl holding her lets go and rolls into a crouch, offering Ran her hand. "You okay?!"

Ran pats herself down and attempts to sit up. "I, uh, think so? That bus came out of nowhere..."

She helps. "Just glad I saw it in time." Sharp look around. "C'mon, let's get you away from the road – I can carry you, if you're sore."

"That'd be nice."

She scoops Ran into a bridal carry and straightens, carrying her apparently without any issue, before hurrying away from the road with another paranoid look around.

Wowwww so strong. "I have to get the shrine."

"The shrine, huh? I was headed that way myself." She takes off with a ground-eating stride. 

"Strong and fast, huh?"

"One advantage to my height." They'll reach the shrine faster than Ran would have just from walking, actually. 

"Tall girls have lots of advantages, I think."

"I don't hear that one often." She shifts a bit so Ran's head is more comfortably resting on her shoulder, giving a good view of her face in profile and her pink rose earrings - she smells like flowers and good earth. 

Ran gets a really good view of tall girls' boobs, for one. "I bet kimonos look amazing on you. You can show off so much material."

She laughs. "More of a canvas, hm? I should think about that for my next sewing project..."

"Playing to your strengths is always best."

"I might need a second eye on that, though... Not a lot of patterns get published for all girls."

"Might be I could be of assistance."

"I'm looking forwards to it." They reach the shrine's gates, and the girl kneels to let Ran out of her arms.

She hops out and bows in thanks.

"I'm Ran, by the way."

She bows back. "I'm Makoto." And then she straightens – and she isn't just tall. She towers above Ran, growing straight up like a strong oak. She looks a bit like a delinquent, with an exceptionally long pale brown skirt riding at her waist and a school shirt cut short enough that her midriff is visible in brief flashes, with no neckerchief and with her long sleeves rolled up to her elbow. Ran doesn't recognize the school uniform. "It's nice to meet you."

Oh, she is extremely weak to that. Look at the sheer size of her, Ran could just climb her like a tree.

"Likewise," Ran chirps. "Um, I need to go change first but feel free to wash up? If you need anything I can help when I get back."

"I'll wander around the grounds a little, if you don't mind?"

"Feel free. Should I come find you?"

"Sounds good, Ran-chan. I'll try not to go far, anyways."

Ran-chan! Great success. And off she scurries to change into the red-and-white.

She's back before Makoto can get too bored, probably. 

Makoto's leaning against a tree, watching some of the girls from Ran's school; they're the ones who've been loudest about Ran's powers and the shrine being suspicious. They don't seem to have noticed Makoto, but there's uneasy murmurs when Ran steps out.

They're allowed to be here until they start disturbing the peace of the shrine. Ran does her best to ignore them so as not to start a conflict.

One of the ringleaders steps forwards, the others keeping in a tight huddle behind and around her, and calls out, "Hey! Hino!" She steps forwards again, her hands clenched. 

She keeps her hands clasped in front of her. "Please keep your voice down within the shrine."

"I don't care about that. Haven't you heard about the disappearances around here?! Near this shrine, too! You have so-called powers, so why aren't you doing anything?"

"I have been trying. Looking. It's just not- a visible process."

"So, then where did they go?!"

"If I knew, I would have gotten them back."

There's some murmuring, before one girl says, nastily: "Unless you're the one responsible." 

"I'm not!" Ran protests.

"Says you! But the disappearances here are suspicious. And all girls from our school, even though you're fine!" They step forward as a group, several of the ringleaders squaring their shoulders or clenching their fists like they're getting ready for a fight.

"That's enough!" Makoto calls out loudly, darting so she's standing between Ran and the girls. Her back's to Ran, her arms clearly crossed though, and her voice is severe. Several girls take a step back. 

"What's a gang girl doing here? Is Hino-san associating with delinquents now?" one of the ringleaders spits.

"I was enjoying the peace of this shrine, if you must know – until you lot came along to make noise. How dare you scold a shrine maiden like this?! Your families would be ashamed of your behavior if they knew; they'd rather have a delinquent in the family, I'm sure." She taps a foot. "Get out of here, before I decide to track you all down – and tell your school and your families exactly what you've been up to."

"She can't be serious?!" someone exclaims from the back, before being shushed, followed by uneasy murmurs and a few girls tentatively suggesting maybe they should leave, Hino-san did deny it... The ringleader doesn't seem convinced, but Makoto takes a step forwards and her followers scatter – and her arrogance clearly goes with them. "I didn't mean anything by it," she protests, weakly, before turning to follow the other girls.

Makoto scoffs. "Not even a proper apology... These girls are something else." She shakes her head and glances back at Ran. "You okay?"

"Ahh," she laughs weakly and rubs the back of her head. "Yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for stepping in."

She turns fully and walks up to Ran. "You sure? You sound a bit off..."

"It's just... a little hard, having them blame me for not solving the disappearances. Even though I should have by now."

"You shouldn't blame yourself, either. It's the police's job to solve missing persons cases; they're the ones failing, and everyone else is just doing the best we can – and I'll help you, now."

"It's my responsibility if it's supernatural."

"Like that bus?"

"Yeah. It had an evil aura."

"It came out of nowhere. And... I can't help but think – if they're trying to run you over, you're probably on the right track."

"Is that what they call looking on the bright side?"

"Something like that."

"Well, if supernatural forces are disappearing girls and trying to take the only one who can stop them out – seems I'm your bodyguard, now."

"That's very generous, Makoto-chan. I've never had a bodyguard before."

"I'll have no competition for best, then."

"I guess not! I don't think you came here just for that originally, though..."

Hum. "A few months ago... In Osaka, where I lived previously, an enormous thunderstorm rose suddenly. I heard a voice in the wind, telling me I needed to come to Tokyo. I talked my aunt around, eventually – but once I got here, I couldn't figure out what was calling me. I thought the shrine might have an answer."

"It has me! So maybe you did come to be my bodyguard. I was planning to do some fire divinations tonight anyway, I can ask about you as well."

"Being just in time to save your life did feel portentious."

"Keep an ear to the wind and let me know if it tells you anything else."

"I will, and... I don't really believe in destiny, or that it's guiding me anymore than a helpful friend would – but every time the wind's spoken to me, it's because there's a major calamity coming. It used to tell me when to run away." Small, oddly sad laugh. "Think it's given up on that, since I started running towards the danger. And I think being around you's going to put me in the best position to help, this time."

"But... Something here – something in Tokyo – is going to be bigger than a couple disappearances. The wind was the loudest I've ever heard."

"How very slightly ominous."

"Hey, forewarned is forearmed, right? And if we know, we can help."

"That's right!"

"So the plan for tonight's divination?"

"I'll be building a fire after dark, and asking the flames."

"Don't have any skill with fire... I'll look around while you do that, how about?"

"If you like. It should be safe enough that I don't need a bodyguard."

"Don't mind seeing more of the grounds. anyways. The nature's peaceful."

"That's half the point of the shrine, really."

"I like it. Cities need green spaces."

"Maybe we could go catch the end of the cherry blossoms later."

"That sounds nice."

"Then it's a date."

Bright grin!! "It is."

"I should start my chores, then. I'll leave you to it."

"Alright." She stretches, the motion lifting her shirt's bottom edge up even higher, well past the bottom of her ribs.

Ran is looking respectfully.

She'll head off, then, to explore the greenery. 

And Ran busies herself with attending to the shrine. Sweep the paths, check the flower beds, respect the kami. Make sure she has enough firewood for tonight.

There's a lot of happy plants here; it's nice. (She'd be coming back even without the cute girl who needs her help, she thinks.)

She does get bored of wandering at one point and start trying to help with the chores, especially anything garden-related. 

Ran can point her to a few bushes that need a little attention.

Leave it to her! (She's doing a pretty good job. The bushes look much happier already by the time they finish chores.)

"You've got a real green thumb, huh?"

"Yeah; I really like gardening. It'd be nice to open a flower shop someday, or run classes..." 

"That sounds like fun."

"And I'm not afraid of the hard work involved in running a business."

"If you enjoy it, it doesn't really feel like work."

She laughs. "Fair enough, though I don't know if I'll enjoy logistics."

"Maybe you could hire some help for that."

"That's a good idea."

"I have those! Sometimes."

"Hey, don't undersell yourself."

"Oh, you think I'm better than sometimes Makoto-chan?"

"Seems like it so far."

"I'm flattered."

Cute. "Only the truth."

"The truth is the best way to flatter someone."

"Sage advice." She tilts her head back with a hum. "Is it about time for the divination?"

"It's about dark enough." Ran will start building the fire.

She doesn't know much about fires, but she can help with the wood if needed. Otherwise, she quietly watches Ran work.

It's a quick process to light it, then she has to feed it until it's big enough before she starts to look for answers.

Her crows, Phobos and Deimos, come in to watch as she works on the fire.

It takes a while of meditating – the fire shifts oddly, and in its twirls she sees the bus that nearly hit her earlier, and a dark aura around the woman driving it – she sees Makoto boarding the bus, likely the stop next to the shrine.

She doesn't get anything about why Makoto's here, or the ominous future that brought her, except for a vague sense of dread. 

That's all the past, but what comes next? Why is the bus important, where did it come from, where is it going?

The fire flares, bright – and then goes out.

Grrrrrr every time.

"What did you see?"

"The bus, you getting on, the driver, and evil aura around the driver, then... Nothing. It's like something's blocking me."

"We have a new lead, though – if I get on the bus, something might happen."

"Something dangerous."

"Something dangerous is happening. If not me... Some other girl will get on that bus, and she'll go missing, too."

Sigh. "I know. It's just... we only met today, and now you're putting yourself in danger to help me fix something I can't do on my own but should have been able to."

"It's okay to need help, especially if this enemy is stronger than anything you've faced before."

"You're right. I should be grateful a beautiful savior revealed herself in my time of need."

She laughs and blushes a little. "That's what I do best."

"I bet."

"And you'll be helping me, too, so as long as we're together, we'll be okay."

"I'll hold you to that, Makoto-chan."

She grins, then yawns suddenly.

"Time to call it a night?"

"Ugh, yeah, probably..." She groans and contemplates heading back to her empty apartment, after dark. "Mind if I stay the night?"

"Not at all! We can do a sleepover."

"Thanks." She'll go wash up before bed.

After she steps out, Phobos and Deimos fly down, landing on the floor in front of Ran. 

"It's a little late for you two, too, isn't it?"

The crows glance at each other, then, Phobos says: "We need to speak with you, Hino-sama."

Blink blink.

"Since, uh. Since when do you talk back?"

"We have always been able to; we have simply chosen not to," Deimos says, her tone soft despite her hoarse voice. 

"The time for our vow of silence has ended," says Phobos.

"Oh. I see." Makoto is gone, right...? Probably not a coincidence.

"What did you need to talk about?"

Deimos pulls a pen out of... Somewhere... With a flourish of red sparkles. It's dark red, with a golden circular emblem on its cap. She holds the pen in her beak, hopping forward a bit.

"You, Hino-sama," says Phobos. "We were sworn to your service in your past life as Sailor Mars. The time has come for you to take up that mantle once more."

"Sailor Mars...? What does that mean?" She reaches out to take the pen from the crow.

"Sailor Mars is the Pretty Guardian of Flame and Passion, who ruled the planet Mars during the Silver Millennium. That time has been erased from this world, but your soul survived to be reincarnated. You were part of the honor guard of the Princess of the Silver Millennium once, and when you were attacked earlier today, we sensed the energy of the Silver Millennium's ancient enemies, the Dark Kingdom," says Phobos.

Deimos gives her the pen, which feels warm. "Say 'Mars Power, Make Up' while holding the pen to active your old powers," she suggests. "It might be easier to experience it for yourself."

Aw, that's cute.

"Mars Power, Make Up!"

"Congratulations," says Deimos.

"Thanks? I did it? What did I do?" She examines herself. This uniform looks pretty cute, not bad.

"You transformed into Sailor Mars. In this form, your ability to dispel evil spirits will be stronger, you'll have additional fire-based powers, and you'll be much tougher in fights. It should also enhance your senses... But, above all, it'll allow you to fight the Dark Kingdom on even footing."

"Good. That's what I need."

"It's up to you, Mars-sama, what if anything you tell your new companion."

"Why would I not tell her?"

"The Dark Kingdom might try to attack you in your civilian identity, if they learn it – but if you trust her to be discrete, there's no reason not to share."

"I have a good feeling about her. I think I can trust her."

"As you say, Mars-sama."

"Okay, so let's review... Fight the Dark Kingdom on an even footing, better at exorcisms, tougher, fire powers... Can I fly now?"

"Sailor Mars at full power was capable of flight through space – it's harder inside a planet's gravity well, from what I understand, though still possible especially if you're just going straight up," says Deimos.

"Even basic flight is far above your current level," Phobos says with some exasperation. "And even once you have the power, flying through a city like Tokyo is both hard and dangerous – I recommend sticking to long jumps."

"Experts disagree! I'll practice. I guess just jumping is cool too. How about fire powers, what's that involve?"

"Using fire to attack, bind, purify, or empower others – most Sailor Guardians heavily favor attacking or purifying. Specific moves have specific names you must call out to activate them, though you can somewhat modify how you use it – the most basic is Fire Soul."

"...Is it going to set anything on fire now if I try it, or does it only burn evil or something?"

"It does what you intend it to do."

"All right. Let's give it a try." She's going to shuffle into the middle of the dead fire pit, aim at the sky just in case-

"Mars Power, Fire Soul!"

A spiraling line of fire shoots from her fingertips and into the sky. 

"You don't need to say 'Mars Power' for this," Phobos says.

"But it sounds cool!"

"Fair enough!" agrees Deimos, while Phobos just sighs. 

She giggles.

"Oh, can I tell Makoto-chan about you two as well?"

"If you wish."

"Cool."

She's going to go find her new friend, then.

She hasn't gone very far. She pauses when she sees Sailor Mars, raising an eyebrow. "New outfit, Ran-chan?"

She strikes a cool pose. "You mean Sailor Mars, the Pretty Guardian of Flame and Passion!"

" – Like Sailor V?"

"But better, 'cause I'm right here and not just on posters and stuff. Also I can shoot fire."

Involuntary grin! "How long have you been able to do that?"

"About ten minutes."

"Wow, that's really new."

"Yeah. Apparently my crows can talk? And they were the servants of a previous incarnation of Sailor Mars and today they sensed the energies of the Dark Kingdom in that bus that tried to kill me, so they woke up my power so I can fight back."

Blink blink. Then: "Well, magic powers or not, I'm still your bodyguard."

"Sounds good to me, Makoto-chan."

Grin! "Tomorrow morning, then?" (The timing's convenient at least, with them not having school the next day.)

"Yeah. I don't want this to linger longer than it already has."

Sharp nod. "Definitely not." They should get some sleep, then.

Yep. She'll just...

Poof! Okay, bed time.

Makoto falls asleep quickly once she's laid down on her futon. (Ran may or may not notice that she didn't call anyone to tell them where she is.)

(It does not particularly occur to her before she's fast asleep herself.)

She's up by the pre-dawn hours the next day.

Ran sleeps for a while longer, but rises shortly after the sun does so properly, bright and cheery. "Good morning!"

"Good morning, Ran-chan."

"Did you sleep okay? Want some breakfast?"

"Slept pretty well. Breakfast would be great."

Then Ran will get started on making it!

Want any help?

Sure, she will accept it. Cooking together can be a fun bonding activity.

"Haven't really cooked with others before... It'll be fun."

"I'm sure we can work out an efficient division of labor."

"I'll let you lead."

Then does she want to start the miso while Ran gets the rice going?

Yes, ma'am.

Heee. Breakfast stands no chance against their combined might.

Makoto's an able cook, as well, and she pretty easily gets into a rhythm with Ran.

Then soon they will have delicious food to share.

Ran was correct about it being a fun bonding activity, too.

A perfect way to start the day.

Anything else on tap before they start trying to bait the Demon Bus?

She has some morning chores to get through, but those go quick and then they can head out.

To the bus stop across the street, then?

That's where they'll have to start.

She nods, firmly, and keeps her head high, her gaze sweeping around, as they cross the street – ready to save Ran if necessary.

Her gallant savior. Though Ran keeps an eye out for evil as well.

Nothing jumps out of them, which just makes her more suspicious. She doesn't show it much, though, holding herself with an easy confidence while they wait for the bus.

Just two normal girls waiting for a regular bus. No reason to worry.

The bus that pulls up – earlier than the posted schedule says it should – is empty, and the driver's face is shadowed.

Looks like what they wanted...

Makoto will step on first?

Ran will be right behind her.

The bus lurches and starts to move as soon as both of Makoto's feet are inside.

Wait no don't leave yet!!

Ran tries to grab on to something and jump inside!

She manages, albeit barely. Makoto curses and turns back to grab her, helping her on.

"Whoa. Thanks."

"No problem." She squeezes Ran's hand tightly.

She squeezes back.

"Hey! Where'd you learn to drive like that?" she shouts at the bus driver.

She just chuckles, darkly, and the bus accelerates.

Above her, the 'next stop' sign is red.

Yeah okay she's evil.

"Mars Power, Make Up!"

"I won't let you kidnap any more girls with your evil bus!"

"So the shrine maiden has a little secret." The world outside shimmers and then twists, before turning into swirling clouds of sparkling purple and red in a dark void. 

"I've got more than that! Where have you been taking everyone?"

"Here, of course." And then with a flash, the bus pulls into a dark hall lined with black Grecian columns. There's unconscious women and girls on marble pedestals lining the edges.

"Wh- what have you done?"

"I've taken their energy, as I'll be taking yours." She slips out of her seat, rising to her full height – she's as tall as Makoto, perhaps a hair taller.

"No you won't! Mars Power, Soul Fire!" She aims the scorching burst at the evil bus driver. It's so unfair that she is both tall and evil.

She laughs and dodges out of the way. "Careful of the bus," she teases, "If you beat me, you'll need it to get back."

Dodging is also unfair!

"Oh, we'll beat you all right."

"Care to make that a bet?"

"Why should I?"

"Well, if you beat me, I'll tell you how to escape."

"You already said it was the bus."

"Hmmm, true..."

"So I'm really not seeing much upside."

"Bets and fighting are fun? ...Okay I got nothing. Could wager a kiss."

"I only kiss nice girls." That's a lesson bought and paid for, and she won't be forgetting it.

"Hmmm, don't think I'm one of those... Pity. You're cute, and you almost set me on fire, which is really hot."

"Make better choices next time, then."

"Awww, but I like making bad choices..."

A vein is twitching in Makoto's forehead. "Can we just beat her up now?" she asks Sailor Mars.

"Get her off the bus first."

"Fine." She lunges for their enemy with a sudden viciousness.

Dodge!

Unfortunately for Carnelian, she's wearing clothes.

Makoto grabs her jacket, yanks her in – gets ahold of her shirt – then bodily picks her up and throws her out the still-open door.

She tumbles more or less to her feet, but she clearly was not expecting that.

"Nice one!" Mars cheers. She'll dart out the door herself and follow it up with another Soul Fire!

She gets clipped, this time – she seems surprised by how bad the resulting burn is. She raises her hand, and dark fire spins around her. "Dark Power, Burning – !"

Makoto pulls a sharpened bamboo pole out from under her skirt while her enemy's distracted – and she sees her enemy starting some kind of magic shit – she swings her weapon right into their opponent's solar plexus, cutting her off mid word. 

She chokes and skids back. A cough, then: "That's unsporting!"

No, unsporting is trying to stab your opponent while they complain about your previous foul. Which she also just did.

Dodge!!! 

Mars will hem her in with more fire!!! Fire that she very intensely believes will not hurt Makoto!

Okay, fuck this shit. She clearly did not prepare the battlefield adequately.

She withdraws well away from both girls – up in the air, too, where that barbarian of a girl can't reach her. "Enough! You've won this time, Sailor Mars – but this won't be the last you'll see of me."

See, this is where flying would be useful. Not just stylish, but practical.

"You won't be getting away so easy next time, either!"

"We'll see." And she vanishes in a swirl of dark fire.

They... won?

She... Thinks so?

"Good fight."

"Yeah! Good job. You've got some crazy moves."

"Nothing like yours! That fire's cool."

"The way you threw her off the bus though... The look on her face was hilarious."

Haughty smirk. "No one expects you to grab their clothes."

Giggle! "Nope."

Hm, they should check on the girls...

Make sure everyone's breathing okay, and get them loaded on the bus – then they need to search thoroughly to make sure they don't miss anyone. 

Mars can handle the moving; she's pretty strong now.

She is as well – but it's likely best if they both take a turn doing a search, reduce the chance they miss someone. Still, Makoto can go first.

Shout if she finds anything.

She will – they should stay in contact, anyways, for safety.

Good idea.

Makoto gets to work – she's quick, and she admits to having first aid training, which she uses to assess the people they find – everyone's breathing alright, color's normal, fingernails good, strong pulses, no one's vomited... And she sets up a staging area which she carries anyone she finds to, leaving them for Mars to load on the bus – she runs back to her last search point, moves steadily while searching, checks every corner, calls out repeatedly for if anyone needs help...

There's a lot of people – the bus is going to be really full – and by the time Mars is done carefully arranging everyone, Makoto comes jogging back. "Think I searched everywhere I can find," she says, "Want to do your own pass while I make sure everyone's secured?"

"All right, I'll see what I can find."

She doesn't find anyone new, though the architecture here's... Weird. 

Weird how? Like she's going to exit stage left only to find herself coming back from the right?

Mostly weird like 'evil Greco-Roman space aliens,' but light and sound don't reach like they should, and the dark columns form uneasily solid black silhouettes, what must be prominent carvings causing that silhouette to shift as she walks past it. The windows also seem to let in beams of darkness instead of beams of light. And, despite the cold stone beneath her feet, her footsteps don't echo at all. 

Creeeeepy. Still, she will persevere in her search, trotting back and forth, checking behind columns and calling out, shooting off little spritzes of fire to try to get some light to work with.

Seems like Makoto got everyone.

Then she will return to her bodyguard with the good news.

"And we're good here."

"...Do you know how to drive a bus?"

"Nnnnot legally? Gas pedal, brake, clutch, steering wheel, how hard could it be?"

"...Just go really slowly."

"Mhm! Don't worry, I can do anything I put my mind to."

"I'll try to have faith."

"You'll see. All aboard!"

Time to drive a bus.

Fortunately, once the bus is moving it seems to create the portal out on its own – it slides smoothly into their world, on the road near her shrine.

Success! She brings the bus to a gentle stop.

The bus lurches to a stop – seems she hit the brake a bit too enthusiastically. 

Oh no is everyone okay??

They're fine – Makoto made sure everyone was positioned just in case this happened. 

Should they... Call the police, she guesses? (Though the girls are starting to stir, now.)

People will need help getting home, if nothing else. Maybe medical services?

Yeah.

Mars could use the shrine's phone? ...Does she want to de-transform first?

Good idea.

...Is Makoto going to stay here?

She will, promise. She's here for Ran.

Then she'll be right back.

A few people are awake, though still sitting, by the time Ran's finished talking to the emergency line people. She's gotten people off and away from the cursed bus, too.

She can help offer aid and comfort.

(...How much are they telling the authorities? Makoto votes to say 'Sailor Mars' saved everyone, but then not specify that she's also Ran.)

That sounds like a good compromise to her.

Fortunately, it seems playing clueless works (especially if Ran takes the lead; she looks respectable in a way that Makoto really, really does not).

...And then one of the officers taking their statements says, "Sailor Mars? Like Sailor Mercury?"

"Uh. There was only the one here...?"

"I've only heard of Sailor V before..." Makoto says.

"There was an attack last night, apparently monsters of some kind – guess you haven't seen the news yet. A bunch of people collapsed. Three new Sailors showed up, plus V and U. Sailor V told us they were Sailor Moon, Mercury, and Makai. And then Mars and Mercury are both the English names of planets..." says the female officer. She shakes her head. "Did Sailor Mars say anything?"

Makoto hums. "Something about the Dark Kingdom being the ones behind the Demon Bus. That woman was working for them. She didn't mention other Sailors, though, just called herself the Pretty Guardian of Flame and Passion."

That gets her a solemn nod, and something scribbled down. They're also given a number to call if they get any more information about this case – and they're asked to, if they see Sailor Mars again, ask her to get in contact with the police.

Yes, they will definitely do that.

They need to give the police their own contact information, too (Makoto lives in a cheaper part of town, sounds like). Makoto's cleared easily by the paramedics; most of the girls seem basically alright, actually. Only a few are being taken to the hospital, and they mostly seem dehydrated. 

Once they're able to get away, Makoto sighs heavily. "Job well done."

"Thanks for all your hard work."

"Couldn't have done it without you.'

Heeeee.

Cute girl.

"Still want me around as your bodyguard?"

"I'm sure to get into some kind of trouble again pretty soon. Besides, I like you."

Wider grin! "I like you, too."

"Good to hear."

"I'd miss seeing your smile, anyways."

"I would never hide it from you."

Bright grin! "I'll give you plenty of reasons to smile, if I can."

"Yay!"

Almost irresistibly cute, but Makoto's brave and doesn't grab her for a kiss. (It's probably too early for that?)

She'll work her up to it.

"Did you have, uh, check in at home or anything?"

"Nah, I live by myself. Though, ugh, I need to get groceries before class tomorrow..."

"Do you want help with that?"

"I'd love that."

"It's a date."

Grin!

They can head out whenever works for Ran.

She's got the day off today.

"Awesome."

She'll need help identifying the most affordable shops (she's willing to walk pretty far or take the metro; she's living on a fixed allowance), is the big thing – she can carry groceries back to her studio apartment pretty easily, though it'd be nice if Ran could help with some of the lighter but more awkward bags... (She's also mostly looking to buy ingredients, not pre-prepared meals – she likes to cook, and that's cheaper anyways.)

She hasn't explored the area around where Makoto lives very thoroughly yet, but they can make it an adventure! And then she's definitely willing to help carry bags.

Works out pretty well.

Makoto lives on the top floor of a three-story walkup, in a smallish studio – she has a separate kitchen, at least, and she's started unboxing her (relatively few) belongings, with the minimums like a futon and her school supplies set up already. "Hoping to get more of this done today, since I'm starting school tomorrow – met with the principle and some of my teachers yesterday..." She shrugs. "It'll be a work in progress for a while, though." She starts putting away groceries, and: "Anyways, want to stay for dinner? Celebrate all that hard work."

"I'd love to."

Yay!!

"You relax, I'll cook!"

"Looking forward to it, thanks."

She's going to make something nice, Ran is way too cute. "Anything you can't eat or don't like?" she asks as she starts getting out various tools.

"I prefer vegetarian a little bit, but anything you want is fine."

"Vegetarian works!" She has tofu, of course, and a stir-fry's pretty quick... And she's still got some frozen dough from the last time she made matcha cookies, if she starts those baking first they should be ready by the time the main food's done... And cucumber salad with a touch of radish and carrot's easy to whip up while everything else is cooking... Tea, naturally, she'll want to start that absolutely last but she can pull things out ahead of time...

Makoto turns into a minor whirlwind when you leave her alone in a kitchen, apparently; she isn't a very good conversationalist while she works.

Ran is happy to watch the show. She finds a convenient box to perch on and settles in.

She finishes soon enough – assuming Ran doesn't mind sitting on the floor while they eat, she doesn't really have... Furniture... Yet... 

It's fine. She did almost get hit by a bus immediately, that sort of thing can be distracting.

"Yeah, I just really moved in yesterday morning..."

"Do you want any help unpacking?"

"That'd be really nice, yeah!"

"No problem."

They can do a little of that after eating?

Sure, though they should focus on eating first. (The food is very good.)

Many compliments to the chef!

Preen!!

And she's cute as well.

Not as cute as Ran!

Awww thanks!

Grin.

And, pretty soon, it's unpacking time – Makoto has a lot of stuff that looks homemade, at least as a percent of her belongings (she doesn't own very much) – an embroidered patchwork bag for her bento, a few quilts, some pillows, and a collection of patchwork dolls and stuffed animals. Plus her sewing supplies, more baking supplies... A few boxes with furniture that's been disassembled plus tools for those; Makoto focuses on reassembling her furniture while Ran unboxes. (She didn't pack anything very fancy or extensive; she figured it's cheaper to just make her own cushions and use those instead of chairs, but she has a few secondhand bookshelves and a proper desk with drawers for sewing supplies, and a simple wooden chair to go with that.) She has a solid variety of clothes, but not many of them – and her clothes are mostly worn down with handsewn patches, including one jacket that's entirely patchwork. She has exactly one nice dress.

It's a small apartment, too; enough to fill it isn't much at all. 

(Note to self, pick up the check when they go out to eat.)

Ran likes the plushies! They're cute.

Thanks!! They're a mixture of gifts, ones Makoto couldn't resist buying, and ones she made herself – they all have names and personalities and stories and she is zero embarrassed about this.

No reason to be. Names and stories are an important part of the plushie experience.

Then sharing them must be another important part, right?

Of course.

They don't have time for all of them, but Makoto will start with one of the ones she made recently (a doll in a fancy green and pink kimono), sitting on her futon next to Ran.

Verdict: adorable!

Cherry-chan is very adorable, true. (As is Ran.)

Uh huh!

Ran should probably head back soonish.

Makoto will walk her back. 

Thanks, bodyguard.

It's her pleasure. 

Will she come by the shrine tomorrow afternoon?

As soon as school lets out – if Ran's staying late at school, Makoto can meet her there?

She pretty much heads straight out.

"Be careful walking home, then." Should Makoto skip out from school early so she can meet Ran, hmmm...

"I promise to not get almost hit by any more buses."

"Much appreciated."