2683/The Starcrossed Lovers

The Starcrossed Lovers
Date of Scene:	07 July 2025
Location:	Juuban Ward
Synopsis:	Masato and Makoto enjoy the Tanabata festivities together and gently relate to the romantic story behind Hoshimatsuri. They eat cold soba, discuss wishes, buy matching bracelets and wear yukata, enjoying the warm Summer evening as clear weather lets cosmic lovers celebrate.
Cast of Characters:	Nephrite, Makoto Kino

---

Nephrite has posed:
On this warm evening, the skies were thankfully clear. There would be no tears, and the magpies would fly. The Azubujuuban shopping district was colourful, awash with tourists and Summer yukata. Decorations were set up for Tanabata, the hoshimatsuri festivities welcoming many.

Various branches and pots of bamboo had been laid about along the strip, a rainbow of tanzaku tied onto them. Handwritten wishes, that the quick growing plant would take straight up to heaven-- or so the tradition went.

Several stalls had been set up, serving iced cold soba, Masato was just finishing his. He'd asked for the sobayu at the end, hot water poured into his remaining dipping sauce to be taken down like a drink.

"Damn, that's good..."

Makoto Kino has posed:
The festival has given Makoto a reason to bring out the yukata that Usagi's mother bought for her last year - a pattern of pink and red sakura blossoms and green leaves over a white background with thin, wavy pale pink stripes. She's still working on her own soba, mindful of her kimono sleeves. It would be a tragedy to accidentally drag the beautifully patterned fabric through dipping sauce.

Watching Masato with the sobayu, she smiles, green eyes sparkling. "Feeling refreshed?" she asks, a note of affectionate laughter bubbling under her voice.

Nephrite has posed:
"I'm feeling great," Masato half-laughs, "That flavour... when I was very young, my grandfather told me that they made the dipping sauce with crushed up cicadas. And then he'd drink it, just like that."

Maybe that was some hint as to where he got his mischief from, he thinks. He can't remember much of the old man, but the things he does all seem to hold some resemblance.

Sapphire eyes watch her trying to eat carefully, slower for her sleeves, and he can't help but find that endearing. It's a beautiful pattern.

"That really suits you, you know." He says, looking it over again. He's remarkably plain next to her, in fact-- in a rarer show, he's also wearing a yukata. Much more muted, it is a dark maroon red, with a faint Kikko patern. The tortoise-shell shapes have small orange blossoms in them, if you look hard enough.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Mako lets out a startled laugh at his story. "He sounds like he was fun to spend time with. Cicadas," she repeats, and shakes her head. "How long did you believe him?"

A trace of a blush touches her cheeks when he compliments her yukata. "Usagi-chan's mother got it for me, for Obon last year," she says, looking down at her soba. "It was... very kind of her."

Something passes over her expression, soft and maybe a little wistful. When she looks up at him, though, her eyes are clear and her gaze is warm. "Yukata suits you very well too. But then, you seem to wear pretty much anything well."

Nephrite has posed:
How long did he believe the old man? "Too long." Masato admits, ruefully.

Considering what she'd said, Masato smiles softly. Obon, last year. A hard time, for Makoto-- and one that he intends to be there for her through, this year. "That was kind of her, to think of you." Masato notes, softer. "The Tsukinos seem like they're very good people."

In the direction of that thought, but without veering too far into sorrows, he leans closer to her. "We'll have more opportunities to wear yukata together, before the Summer's over. It's the hair, by the way. That's my style secret."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"There are plenty of festivals and things left this summer," Makoto agrees cheerfully. "I'm looking forward to it." It's an unexpected prospect, but a pleasant one. This year is already quite a change from last year, just as much as last year was different from the years before.

She quiets briefly to eat a little more soba, still careful of her sleeves. Her expression turns reminiscent, a little thoughtful. "You're right," she says when her mouth is no longer full. "The Tsukinos have been great. I think they've halfway adopted a lot of us... all the strays Usagi-chan brings home." There's a touch of self-deprecation in the way she calls herself a 'stray,' but good-natured and easy.

Nephrite has posed:
"Usagi-chan's kindness has sturdy roots," Masato supposes, but he shakes his head. "But even then, it would take a particularly cold heart not to take notice of someone like you."

Perhaps there's a small touch of self-depreciation in that as well, or a small joke at his own expense tucked away behind the compliment to the Tsukinos, but he means it in a sweet way. Strays... Minako and Usagi were the only two Masato could think of, in terms of Senshi, that seemed to have relatively happy or usual family situations. The Shitennou weren't too much better, barring Kazuo and his mother.

"I fully intend to spend every festival I can with you, from now on. It's a nice change to have somebody to go with, again. Properly." Masato nods, smirking a little bit. "This was always one of my favourites."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto stills, the flush of her cheeks deepening as her eyes widen. She'd naively supposed she was beginning to get used to how easily he says these things out of the blue, but here he goes again catching her off-guard with sweet compliments and promises for the future.

At a loss for words, she ends up polishing off the last of her soba to at least have the excuse not to talk for a few moments.

By the time she's done, she's recovered some self-possession. "I feel like I should've expected that," she tells him teasingly. "I've always like Tanabata too, though. Orihime and Hikoboshi... it's a romantic story. Even though it's also kind of sad."

Nephrite has posed:
"Surpising nobody, that my favourite festival is about stars and heavenly lovers..." He concedes, with self awareness and not nearly as bashfully as he probably should. "It just always touched my heart. Arranged by the King of Heaven to marry, and falling so in love with one another they spent all their time together. Neglecting their duties, blind to everything but their love for a short while... until it caught up with them and they were eventually torn apart."

He sighs, sentimental to such a thing, and closes his eyes. "I can't help but sympathise. I understand that longing perfectly." Nephrite and his Jupiter, in some ways, reminds him keenly of the tale. Torn apart by fate, and able to meet again in another life. "I like to think I'm the Altair to your Vega."

Sapphire eyes turn to Makoto, in her beautiful yukata. "And you, dressed as if Orihime herself weaved you the perfect fabric to bring out your beauty. I'd cross the river of heaven for you, too."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Her face, which had begun to cool thanks to the soba, blushes bright pink again. "You are way too good at that," she murmurs, newly flustered.

She takes a deep breath to compose herself before looking up to his face. "Now that you mention it, it really does feel close to home, doesn't it? Maybe there's a part of me that always felt it." Her eyes hold his, and she smiles a little. "I don't think I could be satisfied with only meeting my Hikoboshi once a year, though. No matter what the King of Heaven said about it."

Nephrite has posed:
"It's just not enough, is it?" Masato agrees knowingly. "One night a year..."

He's quieter as his eyes lift upwards, thoughtful. For a moment he looks older. "I have a memory. He was standing on a ship, and the night was very calm." He gestures his hand to indicate how flat it was, "And the sea seemed to perfectly reflect the sky. The river of heaven was mirrored in the water, and it looked like the ship was sailing right along it."

A distant sort of smile takes him. "And through a telescope, pointed towards the great bull, you could see Jupiter as a bright star. Shining near Aldebaran like a second, watchful eye."

Masato clicked his tongue, and let his attention fall to Makoto again. "It was a beautiful sight... and that thought. As if the ship could sail up that river and into the sky, all the way to the Hyades. To the Princess of a star." He smiled. "It is very romantic, I think."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto listens, rapt. His words paint a vivid picture in her mind's eye; she can almost see the ship, the glass-calm sea mirroring the jeweled night sky and its road of stars.

"What a beautiful memory," she murmurs once he's done. "I haven't really regretted not remembering much of that life... but it's not as though it was all bad, no matter how it ended." Reaching out, she places her hand lightly upon his arm. "Thank you for sharing that one with me. You're right - it is very romantic."

Nephrite has posed:
"It's those sorts of memories that are my favourite... out of all of them, those ones resonate with me the most. The ones were happiest. The ones where bonds were strongest..." Masato lets his own hand cover hers, upon his arm. "I look forward to making memories like that, in this life. It keeps me motivated."

And it is true. A far different mindset-- indeed, a unique kind of clarity-- than the one he spent years in, beforehand.

"That's my wish, by the way. To make many new memories with you." He confesses. "What about you?"

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto hesitates, just for a heartbeat, before breathing out a half-laugh. "You know... I'm honestly not sure."

She looks up at him, smiling, eyes leaf-green and bright as emeralds. "It's a little strange to realize, but when I think about it, the things I'd have wished for any other year... you're already making them come true."

Nephrite has posed:
"Is that so?" Masato half-smirks, and chuckles absently. "I must be doing very well."

He did make such a declaration to Minako, in Crystal Tokyo. He was very detemined to stand on his word.

Masato does lean closer to her, such that he's almost pressing his forehead to hers, to whisper. "Surely there's something I'm absolutely terrible at? Like letting you know that we were definitely dating."

Makoto Kino has posed:
She giggles in spite of herself. "Maybe a little bit." She brings up her other hand to measure a scant inch between thumb and forefinger in illustration. "But let's be fair, I can't put that entirely on you."

Makoto doesn't pull back, but she does glance away for a moment, embarrassment flickering over her face. "I was being pretty dense." Only a beat passes before she meets his eyes again. "You're just going to have to try harder to find something you're terrible at, Masato-kun."

Nephrite has posed:
"You weren't being dense... I was just trying not to be so pushy for once," He lauged, "I always announce things. How could you have known? I think I'm terrible at that, maybe."

Masato tilts his head towards nearby bamboo trees, indicating them briefly. "Better not wish for me to be even more direct. You might blush yourself invisible."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Or just actually catch on fire," Mako concedes. "Better not risk it. I think you are exactly direct enough. And I was definitely being dense."

She takes advantage of the cant of his head to rise up and kiss his cheek. Then she's rocking back, looking very pleased with herself. "Come on, there's still more festival to see. We should get a bamboo to put up at the apartment building. Maybe some paper lanterns, too. I can figure out what I want to wish for as we go."

Nephrite has posed:
His brows rise, and Masato looks charmed by the thought. In his mind, though, he sees himself shaking a bamboo branch at people-- lightly harassing his fellow Shitennou, especially-- and telling them to make wishes. He imagines rustling the leaves in their faces as they turn into a room. He could tell Izou to wish for Japanese manners or gently smack Kazuo with it and call it kendo. Besides which, it gives him an excuse to stay up late drinking chilled natsuzake and set the wishes down the river at midnight.

"That's a good idea, Mako-chan." Masato agrees, wandering away from the stall with her and tucking a hand into his obi. "You're so considerate."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Blissfully ignorant of the mischief that Masato is imagining in his mind's eye, Makoto favors him with a beatific smile as they stroll along. "It's a good excuse to make the festival last a little longer," she says. "Bringing a bit of it back with us and sharing it with the others, or something like that. It just kind of feels like a shame to let it all go by too quickly, doesn't it?"

Even if that's the nature of flowers, fireworks, and festivals all alike. Delightful and brief.

She looks around them as they walk, her gaze skimming over stalls and decorations. "Is there anything you'd like to do while we're here?" she wonders. Her brows lift slightly in inquiry as her face turns back up toward him.

Nephrite has posed:
"I suppose it would be unfair of me to join the star quiz and win a big prize," Masato concedes, and he looks up as they pass beneath some colourful streamers. The kusudama at the top of them are shaped like dahlias.

"There's a photobooth set up, a little further down. There's props and special backgrounds," he notes, looking to her, "And they're selling cute things with star themes. Bracelets, accessories... we could get something to match each other, for a 'pair look'."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto's expression brightens at his suggestion. "I'd really like that!" she says. The star theme feels especially fitting, given Nephrite's own connection to the stars. She can hardly think of a better chance to find something guaranteed to remind her of him.

"If you want to visit the photo booth," she says, "we should go and look at the accessories and things first. That way, if we find anything we like, we can have them in the photos with us too."

Somewhere towards the end of saying it, the embarrassment starts to set in a little, and the color begins to rise in her face again. The bright smile doesn't falter, though.

Nephrite has posed:
"I'll have to keep one of the photos in my wallet, too. I've always liked how they do that in the movies," he smirked, "Where a man opens his wallet to show off how pretty his wife is, or show people his kids..."

His head tilted and he hummed. "That's the sort of thing I'd do. And then, I can just say 'it's a reminder of what's truly important to me, more than money', and people will think I'm humble as well. Even while I'm bragging at them."

Masato reaches for her hand, intent to hold it as he walks with her through the festivies. Though it's a little bold, but it's a festival about lovers, and Masato likes to consider himself a bit more modern than the old-fashioned sensibilities he was raised on.

Makoto Kino has posed:
It certainly doesn't make Makoto any less flustered when he takes her hand. Even as her face heats, however, she curls her fingers cautiously around his and lets out a soft laugh.

"You've thought this through," she says, lightly teasing. "A photo in your wallet has quite a different effect from using one as a cell phone lock screen, doesn't it? I'd never thought about it until now."

She doesn't usually care for how she looks in photos - but after all, this is different. A photo taken with her boyfriend is something that deserves pride of place on her lock screen.

Even if the thought of that word, 'boyfriend,' is still a little bit startling.

Nephrite has posed:
"My phone background is a picture of you whisking, at the moment. You have such a look on your face... I took it when you weren't looking." Masato reveals with a certain deviousness, wearing a smile that suggests he enjoys sneaking candid photos of her. "I have a lot of nice ones of you, at the wedding, as well. That seemed important..."

He trails off as they approach a stall selling various accessories and toys, he lets his thumb trace her fingers fondly. "I'd like having more pictures of us together."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Makoto stops short, eyes widening in something akin to alarm. "It is not." Except, as she stops to think about it, it's really just the sort of thing he'd do - it's just that she never really noticed him taking pictures while her attention was focused on baking.

"When did you even have time to take pictures? You were keeping up with so many things, even during the reception." Suddenly she can't decide if she's more embarrassed or impressed by the sheer level of multi-tasking.

Nephrite has posed:
"Well, that was just it-- it was such a busy time, I could hardly see you. And when I stopped at Mamoru's place to drop off those party favours... you were really in your zone." He laughed at it, now. "Everytime I got a text, it felt like I was peeking in on you through a little window."

A grin settled, almost smug, as if he were taking about treasures he'd taken to hoard. "And I took as many at the wedding as I thought I could get away with... without making it too obvious where we were. But you looked happy... and you were wearing the jewelry I got you. You were the most beautiful person there to me, that night."

Sapphire eyes turn to survey the offerings on display, taking note of the accessories and festival souvenirs.

Makoto Kino has posed:
Biting her lip, Makoto glances down for a moment, smiling foolishly. One day maybe she'll get used to hearing him call her beautiful and things like that, but it's not going to be any time soon.

"Now I feel a little bad," she laughs as she lifts her head again. "You're right - we definitely need to take more pictures together." As she's talking, she's working the little drawstring purse that matches her yukata open one-handed so that she can get to her cell phone. Once she's gotten it free, she holds it up with the clear intent of snapping a photo of him from the side where she's standing, while he's studying the selection at the souvenir stall.

Nephrite has posed:
Masato, for his part, had already started poking through woven bracelets with small star charms on them. Blue, with spots of gold, and the charm in the middle-- just simple fare, adjustable and tied by knots. There was a handmade look to them that led him to suspect the older woman running the stall had spent some hours making these.

It wasn't at all the sort of thing he normally might have bought for himself, but that made them more appealing. Makoto was a crafty sort too, he'd heard, who handmade a lot of things. It seemed like the sort of thing she'd like.

There were painted hair clips and scrunchies as well, similar in look and hand painted. The hair ties had a pair of dangling star charms that reminded him of the tie she normally wore, with the green baubles.

He picked up one of each, considering them as she took her own candid photo.

Makoto Kino has posed:
An expert photographer, Makoto is not, but she looks pleased as she regards the photo that she's just taken of Masato. In profile, the accessories with their star charms in his hands, with the colors of the festival decorations in the background.

As she tucks her phone away again, she turns her attention to the stall's offerings. "These are pretty." Reaching out, she extends her index finger to not quite touch one of the bracelets. Nothing fancy, of course, but that has its own appeal - the painstaking craftsmanship is obvious to her eyes, and it's something she could wear every day, without needing to worry very much that she might break or damage it by accident.

When she turns her eyes back toward Masato and sees him considering a hair tie, she finds herself taking a moment to imagine him wearing it, the star charms resting against his tied-back hair. The mental image has her biting back a giggle. "What are you thinking about?"

Nephrite has posed:
"A while ago, when I was having a conversation with Mina-chan, I wondered if you had a spare of that hair-tie you usually wear." Masato noted honestly, glancing up at her now. "Whether I could wear it when I tied my hair back, so people would know."

It didn't really occur to him that this might be a slightly strange thing for him to suggest, or something that could be seen as overly 'sappy'. Given the way he usually carried himself and dressed, it might've even come as a shock to some that he'd be interested in that sort of thing.

But he was a romantic fool of a particularly boastful kind, and he wanted the world to know.

"I like these too," he gestured the hairties, "But the bracelets, we should get a pair of these for sure. There's one star on each."

Makoto Kino has posed:
Surprise lifts Mako's eyebrows as her eyes widen a little. "A spare? I have a lot of them. Keeping it tied back is the only way I can keep my hair under control, a lot of the time," she says with a rueful little grin. "I have a lot of trouble with static. Anyway, if you really want one, I can bring a couple from my dorm room next time."

If it's strange, or sappy, she doesn't seem to notice; she's too busy being touched that he'd think of it in the first place.

Her eyes settle on the bracelets again, and her smile softens. "If it's something you wouldn't mind wearing... I'd like that a lot."

Nephrite has posed:
"My hair is pretty thick, and it's hard to keep it back out of my face during tennis practice," he brightens, "So that'd help me too, if they're practical like that."

A faint snort leaves him for the static troubles, given her electric flair. For a moment he considers his routine and the products he uses for his own hair might be excessive. But it's a point of some vanity, and it's something he's proud of, even if his hair is higher maintenence than most. It was wavy, like his mother's hair, and he'd envied the long hair of Takashi Kaneshiro in the movies while growing up.

"I'll wear this every day," Masato promises of the bracelet, putting it on and moving to drop money in the basket for payment. He picks up another one for her to take, and smiles. "Altair to your Vega."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"There's nothing very special about them," Makoto admits. "They're just hair ties. But if it'll help you out, I'll bring you a few of them. Just send me a text or something to make sure I don't forget."

She accepts the bracelet he holds out to her, and takes a little bit to put it on and adjust the fit around her wrist before holding it out to admire. "Thank you," she says, smiling back at him warmly and with a trace of the wonder that still hasn't quite gone away, and maybe never entirely will. "My own Hikoboshi-san."

Nephrite has posed:
There's a very faint heat about his face, and maybe it doesn't translate to a blush quite like hers does, but he feels himself aglow like a star all the same. "My Orihime-san."

He's very happy, and that is evident in the subtle pride and deep affection with which he says it. He takes her hand again, tucking wallet back into his obi, and lifts a hand to gently touch her shoulder.

"We should go sit in that photobooth for a little bit, so I can kiss you properly in private between the pictures."

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Oh my god." Makoto's voice rises in a startled yelp. Her hand clutches his as she flushes brightly enough she feels like she'd glow in the dark. How does he manage to get her every single time?

Flashing a quick, half-apologetic look toward the woman minding the accessory stall, she tugs at his arm. "You're impossible. All right, then," she laughs, green eyes glittering with affectionate humor, "let's go and get our photos taken... if you think you can behave yourself in the photo booth for long enough."

She's not even going to pretend she minds the possibility that he won't.

Nephrite has posed:
Masato flashes a grin that's far less apologetic and far more pleased at the elderly stall-owner, who thankfully seems to be unsurprised or at least slightly amused by the two. Perhaps she could see how smitten they were.

"I'll be a perfect gentleman," he lies, letting himself be pulled along.

No. There would be no Tears from the lovers, tonight.