[OOC][PLOT] The Sixth Thread of Planning for Arc 1 - Arrivals

[robkelk]

I might not be able to post Valentine's Day in Another World on Valentine's Day, but at least I can post the first scenelet...

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"Silver filled? I'm sorry, but we don't stock costume jewellery." Seeing the customer's look of confusion, Mayumi continued, "Silver filled isn't 'filled with silver', it's a bit of silver plating on something cheap. The least expensive metal that I would recommend for an engagement ring is sterling silver, which is over ninety-two per cent silver."

Naru ignored her mother - what she was saying was common knowledge among reputable jewelers - and waved to Mamoru as he entered the jewellery store. "Hello again, sir! Your special order is ready; please wait over here while I get it from the back room."

Mamoru smiled as he approached Naru. When he was close enough to whisper to her, he replied, "I know that I have memory problems sometimes, but I think I would have remembered visiting OSA-P, or making a special order."

She looked him straight in the eye. Quietly, she asked, "You are here to find a ring for Usagi, right?" As he nodded slowly, she continued, "Be glad I'm her best friend - well, her best friend who isn't a magical girl - and I wanted to do something special for her to thank her for all the times she's saved my life. And I know what size ring Usagi wears, and Mama wants me to practice my lapidary skills."

"Ah. Of course." Mamoru smiled at Naru's words. "I'll just wait here, then."

She ducked into the back room, from which Mamoru could hear her say, "Oh, good, the ravens didn't move it."

A few minutes later, she was back from the back room, showing him the contents of a small box lined with white satin. "It's lovely. Thank you, Osaka-san."

"Call me Naru, just like your fiancee-to-be does." Then she frowned slightly. "At least, I hope she's your fiancee-to-be."

"So do I. Ravens?"

She blushed. "You heard that? There were two ravens living here when we moved in. Mama lets them stay - she says they're our good-luck charms, watching over us. I'm sure they're hoarding the rings that I make. But only the ones I'm not so happy with. I wonder why?"

As Mamoru walked out of the shop a few minutes later, he carefully did not acknowledge the presence of two girls sitting in Rob's car parked across the street. The girl in the driver's seat turned to her companion. "It looks like Usagi-san is going to be happy tomorrow. Do we still wait for Kamijo-san?"

"I'd much rather he didn't go anywhere near a jewellery store today, Mii-sempai," replied the other girl. "The thought of that troglodyte proposing to oneesama..." She shivered with disgust. "Let's just maintain our security surveillance on OSA-P and not speculate on unfortunate possibilities."