2870/All Dinner, None Fighting

All Dinner, None Fighting
Date of Scene:	12 December 2025
Location:	Shinjuku, Tokyo
Synopsis:	It's a girl's night out, and the venue of choice is Kumachan Onsen! Usagi, Rei, Rashmi, Wako, and Madoka have gathered for a dinner out in style, and teddybear hotpot is the meal of choice. With finals around the corner, sometimes a hot meal and a good time is all you can ask for.
Cast of Characters:	Usagi Tsukino, Rashmi Terios, Rei Hino, Wako Agemaki, Madoka Kaname

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Usagi Tsukino has posed:
It's a chilly evening in Shibuya, but for once, Usagi isn't here for a fight or racing across the rooftops on a patrol. Nope, she's standing in line with her friends, eager to get into Kumachan Onsen and warm up outside and in. The little diner has large windows, and decor that's decked out with teddy bears, including pale wooden benches each draped in a teddy bear almost as tall as she is.

"I came with Suna-san a while ago, but it's just as cute as it looks online, and it's pretty good hotpot! If you haven't tried it, you're going to love it."

She's bundled up in a dark purple coat with plenty of pockets, a neon dress and pink leggings completing the outfit and incidentally making for a casual Daphne Blake cosplay (not that she did that on purpose), her smile bright. She's glad to get away for a little bit and do something fun and cute with her friends, and it shows in her relaxed demeanor.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
It's a cold evening to stand in line, but for wiggly teddy bear hotpot? Rashmi is *absolutely* all about that. Bundled up in a thick, off-white sweater and matching knit cap, dark green long skirt and scarf, and black woolen leggings, the redhead puffs steam over the wrapping of her scarf as the girls wait for there to be room inside.

"I've always *meant* to come here, but never managed to find the time!" she enthuses. "...Or there was something more right in front of me that I hadn't tried out yet, or... well anyway I've *wanted* to try this out."

Because if there's one Tokyo native that could double as a Tokyo food tourist, it is *absolutely* Rashmi Terios.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei is wearing the same bundled up coat she was wearing to meet the curator - the black coat with white fur that looks very puffy and warm - as she stands outside, hands in her pockets. "I really just like that it looks warm in there. The cold and I have never really gotten along." she says, looking like she's the coldest one of the group.

    "It looks cute though." she says, teetering slowly from her weight on one leg to the other for the line to clear up so she can go in and get out of the cold.

    "If it's interesting to you, Terios-san, then I'm even more interested in it now."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"I can't wait!" Wako's in a tan peacoat with a fleece collar, a pleated khaki skirt and dark leggings, bounding a little on the heels of her loafers as the group of them wait in line. "I've wanted to come for a while, too, but it seemed a little too cute to drag the boys to, you know? Although if it's good," she adds with a laugh, "I will anyhow. Later. Making the first visit a girls' night is way more fun - I'm happy you invited me~"

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka is always on board for both teddy bears and hotpot so telling her about a place where she can have both at once is an easy sell. Sio is hovering behind her because she always has at least one Chara with her, even if nothing particularly magic is happening right now.

    Right now she's wearing a big fluffy white coat with a hood that nearly covers all of her bright pink hair, save for the bangs. "I haven't been here yet, but if it's good I might drag Homu-chan along too."

    She gets into line and crosses her arms in front of her to trap the warmth in. No, warmth! Please don't leave me! Sio seems to have a similar idea, because eventually she dives into Madoka's hood and hides there.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Of course I invited you, Wako-chan!" Usagi is bright and buoyed and cheerful, and when she takes notice of Rei's shivering, she shuffles a little closer, leaning in with a certain amount of teasing warmth, hoping that Rei will accept a little closeness in exchange for sharing body heat, but not so hung up that she'll get upset if she's pushed away. "Food is better with friends! I didn't come before Suna-san brought me, and now I get to bring all of you, so, it's like a whole circle of friendship. That means Wako-chan's got to bring her boys, and Rashmi-chan, you've got to bring Molly, and Madoka-chan, you've got to bring Homura-chan, and Rei-chan..."

She hums, mock thoughtful.

"Rei-chan, I guess you've got no choice but to come back with the other girls and me!" Of course she's coming again. "That's the promise of the Kumachan Onsen, so there's no backing out now!"

Being a leader is about being confident - and it turns out? So is being a friend. Usagi just has to speak confidently, and she is absolutely sure that all her friends will agree with her.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Well I mean, Hino-san," Rashmi laughs, "look at the theming! It's too adorable *not* to try!"

As Usagi declaims of the circle of friendship, the redhead can't help but chuckle. "Almost *everything* is better with friends," Rashmi agrees with a decisive nod, tugging her scarf up just a little bit, and securing it under her glasses. Which will last maybe a minute or two, but at the rate the line's moving, hopefully that's all she'll need.

"So before we get in and have more important things to worry about... How's everyone's studying going?" Because they might as well get the worst and most present topic of conversation out of the way *now.*

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako grins brightly at Usagi's declarations. "I didn't realize promises were such an important part of the kuma-chan onsen experience," she laughs. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind when I bring the guys to try it."

Rashmi's question makes her sigh dramatically. "It's fine, it's fine," she says, waving a hand. "It's just annoying because Sugata-kun is too smart and Takuto-kun is good at everything without even trying, so I'm the only one who has to do any actual work at it." She huffs out a plume of steam, exasperated.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei is certainly willing to accept closeness from Usagi, both in a general sense and as a ward against the oppressive, hated winter weather, and finds herself leaning into Usagi more in terms of her weight-shifting.

    Rei pauses, a bit, there's just a hint of something on her face when Usagi falters at naming her other friends, but she lets it pass shortly thereafter, a gentle smile on her face. It's so small, compared to Usagi's big one, though. "Well, first we have to see if it lives up to your hype. I'm not hearing Aino-san lay into me for bringing her to a place that doesn't meet her standards. And we've all eaten at the Korma, so our standards are high~" she says, singsong, a polite nod to Rashmi's family cooking.

    Rei is quiet, though, about the theming. Maybe things melting carries a slightly different conotation to her than it does others. Still, the bears are cute. Even as they melt. And then the theming conversation gives way to studying. "Well, to be honest, Radiant Heart is still easier tha T-A Girl's Academy was. Part of that has to be less nuns though." she notes.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka watches the interaction between Rei and Usagi for a moment and then giggles. Then she turns to Rashmi and considers the question. "Well... it's pretty good. Rens wont let me not study. Especially when it comes to math. Lydian always gets excited whenever music comes up. I don't think that Tia is interested in any topic that isn't tea ceremony."

    Sio pokes her head out and says, "I agree with Rens. Math is good for business!" Then she sniffs the air, says, "Smells nice," before hiding back under the white fluffy hood.

    In the back of Madoka's mind is the slight concern for how she might react to seeing a teddy bear melt in front of her. She's already decided that she's going to pretend that it's like Kyubey and not worry about it. Besides, it wouldn't really be a teddy bear themed restaurant without teddy bear themed food.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"Ugh no, not studying talk! Aha, Rashmi-chan, will you have mercy if I promise I'm staying on top of it?" The protests are joking, as is the hand Usagi presses against her face in a pantomime of throwing up. "It could be going worse, I guess? But at least Minako-chan and Makoto-chan have to try really hard with me, not like Rei-chan and Ami-chan," she nudges Rei a little, all snuggled up, equal parts apology and compliment. She'd realized belatedly that she'd named Madoka and Wako's partners, and that Minako-chan is Rei-chan's ex partner. She hadn't recovered well...

As they talk amongst themselves, the line moves forward, and soon they're at the front. She tells the server they're reserved under Tsukino, proving this hadn't just been spur of the moment, and that Usagi Tsukino truly does shine when it comes to doing things for friends.

Once at their table, they're given menus with the different teddy bear broth options, and the different meats and toppings to choose from.

"The teddys come in a bunch of different flavors, and last time I think I got the chicken collagen - this time I want to try the gochujang, though, it's spicy... and! When the broth melts, it looks like the teddy is just sinking into the onsen, so it's not as sad as you might think. He's got his little radish 'towel' and everything."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Hey it was *gonna* come up!" Rashmi protests, equally dramatized. "But now it's out of the way, and it's not like *I'm* feeling much better about it! I don't know how you guys do it, Mado-chan, Hino-san, but math just *will not stick* in my brain. *Every year* I'm happy if I manage a C, it's awful."

The redhead does a doubletake, when Usagi mentions a reservation, as if she'd managed to miss that little facet about this particular eatery... but given how popular it seems, it makes sense, and Rashmi feels an extra bit of warmth toward the blond, for the effort she clearly took.

When they get sat down and a look at the menu, Rashmi's eyes go wide. "Oooooh... Speaking of spicy, they've got *Mala sauce* for their seasonal! Oh I've *got* to try that, that's like a Sichuan sauce that balances hot pepper with *numbing* pepper, and I've never had that before..."

In the end, she decides on the pork set with udon noodles and vegetables, and a pineapple lassi 'because if it's good and I bug Papi hard enough...'

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei looks over the options, and smiles a little bit. "It's so cold outside, spicy would be nice, I think." she muses, agreeing with Usagi about the Gochujang. The comment about Minako didn't bother her in the way Usagi might have thought; it was less about Minako being her ex and more the feeling that, if it wasn't for Usagi, who would she be able to bring to this? Her friends were all Usagi's friends. And while that applied to most people, she generally met them through the twintailed blonde. It weighed on her a bit - so much of her life revolved around Usagi. At least, she reasoned, it did revolve around someone who was so bright and wonderful.

    "That does sound cute." Rei remarks, in a voice that makes her well... she is excited and happy to be here with friends, but her overall level of energy and 'brightness' is more akin to Madoka's polite calm than Usagi's intensity. She likewise appreciates how Usagi went out of her way to get a reservation, though that also comes with a slight cloud, as usually when she has a reservation for dinner it's...

    Well she doesn't want to think about him, and she resolves that issue by leaning into Usagi just a bit more before slipping back.

    "Ah, Terios-san, you have the same idea, right? Spicy is good on a cold day." she says as the cook of the group discusses Mala sauce. Rei will likely order some of that too. Sometimes, numbing sounds as good as spicy.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    The pink girl had wondered who had the reservation, as this wasn't the kind of place you could realistically just walk into. The moment they go inside, little Sio pokes her head out again and decides to stay where she can siphon her Bearer's body heat for at least a moment or two more.

    Madoka shrugs and says, "I mean, I'm not particularly good at it... but just don't tell Rens that. Before becoming magical I was a B average in almost everything."

    When they do manage to find their seats, Madoka looks over the menu and decides, "Ummm... I think I have to agree with spicy. Is that okay with you, Sio-chan?"

    The tiny business suited Chara flies out for a moment and shouts, "I fear no spice! Bring it the ghost peppers!" Then she spots a nearby giant teddy bear and starts floating around it. "Huh... these are just like the ones in your room, Doka-chan."

    Madoka holds up her hands and says, "Eheh... I don't think they're going that far. Guess we're going for the Mala sauce, too."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Oh my gosh, did you guys see the teddy bear ear headbands? I absolutely need one."

Wako dithers over the menu, biting her lip in indecision. "Since you're all going spicy," she decides, "I'll go the other way and get the soy milk broth, with the special menkoi set." Beef, pork, chicken, and a chicken meatball. "With... ramen noodles. Oh, and we should get gyoza to share!"

Fortunately, half of the group is already familiar with how much Wako can eat - and the other half already knows Usagi. "And an orange cream soda!"

Decisions made, she looks up curiously across the table at Rashmi. "There's such a thing as numbing pepper? Does it do what it says on the tin and make your mouth go numb?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"I was an F average before I came to Radiant Heart," Usagi says with no shame and all practicality, "Now I'm um... a C average! On a good test day. School's hard, but I have to study now if I want to go to university and pass those exams..."

She sighs deeply, at the very thought, and then shakes her head, freeing herself from school and study and seizing the day.

"Wako-chan, I saw them and I remain strong in my desire not to buy one of every cute set of bear ears so I have one for different occasions, but you have to know, you all have to know, I REALLY thought about it," Usagi says immediately, sitting between Rei and Wako. She peruses the menu, humming to herself. Sure, she wants the gochujang base, but what else does she want... "I want the beef set with prawns to go with the Rejuvenation Bath! And noodles... Rei-chan, do you think if we cooked something with your flames, it could take on your fire?"

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Yup!" Rashmi says cheerily to Wako's question. "I've never had it before, but I've read about it, and just Sichuan pepper on its own is like... it tastes... fizzy? Some people make it out to be like putting your tongue on one of those square batteries but I have no idea."

None at all. She *definitely* has never licked a battery. Double especially not after reading about Sichuan pepper.

Anyway apparently if you blend it with regular pepper it kind of... helps you tolerate the heat, because your tongue's too confused or something? But ooh, gyoza to share sounds great!"

Her eye strays to the merchandise counter, and the rainbows of stuffed teddy bears on offer... and quietly resolves to get at least two; blue and purple. Because if she *is* bringing select people back here, she has to pique their interest.

When Usagi starts talking about Rei's fire used to enchant cooking, however, the blond gets an *extremely* curious look.

Rei Hino has posed:
    "Well, Usagi-chan, you have Ami-chan and Mamoru-kun to help you, and you're pretty much unbeatable when you put your whole self into something." Rei says, resting her hands in her lap as she looks over the menu, turning to regard Usagi with that small smile. "I think the only thing you need to worry about is holding that focus." she says.

    She's midway through thinking about what she'll order when the question is posed to her about fire and she pauses. "I don't... know." she admits. "I've never really tried to cook with it." she says. "I mostly... fight with it. And try to read it." she says, and she wonders on some level why she's never tried it, in a serious way. Maybe there's something about cooking in a Sailor Outfit that seems odd to her - after a moment she can confirm that's at least part of it, or it is now! "Also, I'm not a very good cook. That's Mako-chan's specialty. And Terios-san's." she notes. She's not going to forget Rashmi's here.

    "Let's see... the Rejuvination Bath is the Gochujang broth... with the menkoi set of meat... ramen noodles, and another order of Goyoza, I think. Better to take some home than not have enough." She says, not knowing the combination of Wako and Usagi will probably render takeout containers a non-issue.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka gives Usagi a mortified look as she mentions what her average used to be. Oh geeze! Well, at least she's doing better now. She's not going to criticize a C average because Madoka realizes she wouldn't be that much better. From the perspective of someone who used to worry about feeling 'bland' or 'nothing special', Madoka almost envies those who stand out a bit more. Even if they stand out for failing, and especially if they can maintain their confidence despite that.

    "I don't blame you for wanting the bear ears, Usagi-chan. They're adorable! I'm probably going to have to buy a couple of things to bring the dorm. Do they have keychain plushies over there?"

    Ah, she should figure out food. Well, if they're already going spicy, may as well also go for the gochujang. She goes for a meat set containing beef and pork, and ramen.

    With a giggle she says, "If I end up taking any home, I'm sure it wont even last the night before someone gets to it."

Wako Agemaki has posed:
"Okay but you at least got one, right?" Wako asks Usagi. "If you didn't, I'll get you one right now. We both need one."

Rashmi's explanation about the Sichuan pepper gets Wako's bright-eyed attention, and an interested hum. "Now that you mention it, I think I saw a video of someone making a drink with an infusion of that and some really nasty alcohol. The idea was to make the mouth numb, but the guy said it tasted like batteries and salt? For some reason."

She has nothing to say on the subject of grades. She does look amused when Madoka mentions leftovers, however.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Rashmi is doing her part as Wonderful Friend by talking about spicy foods, particularly the numbing taste of Sichuan pepper, which - "Oooh, is that what's in mapo tofu?"

She doesn't have that dish often, but when she does, it's got a spiciness that's really weird! Almost like licking a battery, the way Rashmi is describing! (What? No one would believe she hadn't licked one.)

But then Rei shoots her in the chest with Mamoru's name right when she'd almost! successfully! managed! not! to! think! about! him!!!!!!

She takes an enormous gulp of water to cover the twitch in her face at the mention of him, because she's not mad, but she'll definitely lose her mood if she thinks on it too long, and she's having a good girl's night!

"Yeah, I have a lot of great help now, and so everything's fine," this is partially because she catches Madoka's mortified look and laughs a little, knowing where that comes from. Most people would be horrified. Usagi had given on horror a long time ago.

"I got one pair, I promise! And they do have keychains, and t-shirts, and all kinds of stuff with bears, so we'll all get kitted out... and yeah aheheha, we'll definitely have leftovers...."

Spoiler alert: they won't.

Rei Hino has posed:
    Rei smiles at Madoka and asks. "A bunch of small someones, or the one black-haired someone?" she says. Well, she's seen Madoka and Homura on campus. then she turns to Usagi. "You know, your current average is about as far away from your old one as your new average is from an A. So when you look at it that way, you've already climbed half way there. So it's not the time to turn back, but to keep going." she says. "Maybe a charm from my shrine might help." she adds with a wink. She does want to see her friend succeed, and with all Usagi's already handled... a little motivation might push her to the top. Or at least, support.

    "Ugh, alcohol. Pass on that." she says, simply. She's also got opinions there, it seems. Enough to break her polite facade and make her make a full on tongue out of her mouth disgusted face at the mention of it. Perhaps she connects alcohol to other things she dislikes.

    Rei does, however, notice she's the only one not as excited for the bear ears. Should she be? Is it weird that she's not? Thankfully there's soon to be teddy bear onsen occupants to break her from that thought prison.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Sio is off hovering over the merchandise counter and you can bet she's mentally picking out a different colored bear for each of her fellow minidokas. The Chara are basically used to Madoka buying them little presents by now, because she doesn't really know how to not spoil them.

    Did Usagi just twitch when Mamoru's name was mentioned? Nah, that's silly. That couldn't possibly be right. Before she has time to think too deeply about it, Rei asks her a question and Madoka giggles. "Mostly for the fairies, really. Which means I'll probably be buying a lot. Homu-chan isn't that much of a plushie person, but she's never actually refused a gift from me."

    The time Homura desperately clung to the last plushie that Madoka gave her, and then stored it in her shield for safe keeping, is something she decides to keep to herself. It would most certainly spoil the mood if she had to explain that one.

    "You don't like alcohol, Hino-san?" she asks, remembering the reaction her friends had the last time her mom's drinking habit came up.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Usagi's brief twitch is also noticed by Rashmi, but the blond is working *way too hard* to make this a special girls' night to want to bring it up. Later, though... definitely later.

"Yup, which if I like *this* I'm definitely gonna look for," she says instead, picking up the thread of conversation Usagi left.

"And I mean, the ears are cute, but not my kinda thing... I do want to see Chrono's face when he finds a blue teddy bear in his locker, though!"

Talk about alcohol, however, earns a blandly interested look from the redhead as she glances about the table. Outside of stories and cooking, alcohol has always been one of those 'not my interest, not occupying brainspace' things for her. Besides, how would someone her age even *get* alcohol that isn't mirin?

One thing, however, all but *forces* her to pipe up, looking from Usagi to Sio to Wako.

"...There are not *remotely* gonna be leftovers."

She knows herself, and her crew. It's just not happening.

Wako Agemaki has posed:
Wako's brows lift a little as she glances back and forth from Usagi to Rei to Madoka to Rashmi. "I mean it's not like I'd want to drink it," she says. "It was a kind of interesting video, is all. In that way where you end up watching someone make something you know is going to be terrible. Anyway, Rei-san, you're a shrine maiden?"

A beat, and then Wako turns an extremely bland face toward Rashmi, eyes just a little wide. "Left-o-vers?" she asks, pronouncing the word like she's never heard it before. "What are those~?"

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
"You know, Rei-chan, that's... really encouraging?" She's not surprised by Rei being encouraging - her friend isn't a jerk, after all. She's surprised by the thought that she's halfway to an A. Halfway there. "Halfway there..."

She thinks about that, happily dwelling on the idea that she's halfway through high school and halfway to an A, and maybe she could actually succeed in that. It feels different to hear it from Rei instead of Ami or Mamoru.

"Alcohol? I don't think any of us are old enough for a drink, so definitely none here. But I want to see the video, Wako-chan, and - oh man, you two would havre a lot to talk about! Rei-chan, did you know you're not the only shrine maiden I know?"

They're just about to break into the conversation when their food arrives - or rather, their hotpots and their many toppings, sauces, and of course, teddy bears arrive.

Carefully, each girl begins to arrange ingredients around the teddy bears, making them comfortable in their posts, and then, as one, they ignite the pots. A warm, spicy scent begins to fill the air from the multiple spiced bears, as they slowly begin to melt, creating soup - and as Usagi said, it really does look like they're floating in an onsen, each with their own little radish towel to keep their heads cool.

There's a hotpot with meat and noodles each, two trays of gyoza, a whole host of toppings... and not a single chance any of it's going uneaten. All around the table, chopsticks are split and lifted.

"Itadakimasu!"