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Mizuno-san, you did say that you had a little trouble with your friends just before coming over? What did you mean by that?
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(giggles softly) Well, it's not really what you could call trouble, but I'll tell you anyway. Do you know my friend Tsukino Usagi?
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(snickers) Do I ever! I heard that you're also friends with Hino Rei, Kino Makoto and Aino Minako. Tell me what they're up to now.
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It started when I told them that The Kitchen Raiders scheduled an interview for me, and that they were going to send someone named Bowaggi…
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That's me! (grins sheepishly) Oops, sorry about that. Do go on!
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(smiles in reply) It's okay. Anyway, when I told them that, Usagi-chan nagged me if she could tag along. She actually thought that The Kitchen Raiders were some kind of adventure organization, and she wanted to know if you'd interview her as well. She thinks it's so glamorous. (looks amused) What's more, Minako-chan even suggested that Bowaggi is an African name…
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(doubling over with laughter) Really? Actually, the Kitchen Raiders are an adventure organization. We have all kinds of adventures… in the refrigerator!
Minako really thought I was some sort of dashing African explorer? I wish you'd brought them along, then I'd really have fun!
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(smiling) Yes, sometimes, they can be so funny…
Well, after that, Rei-chan bopped Usagi in the head, reprimanding her for being so silly. They got into a fight, and while Minako tried to break them up, Mako-chan told me to run along, because I might be late.
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You have such nice friends. Is that what usually happens when you guys get together? You guys must be pretty wild!
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Oh, no, of course not! (smiles as she looks far away) Sometimes we have our serious moments, too, especially when we all get together to study in Rei's bedroom. Everyone tries to study very hard to get high grades, and I'm more than happy to help them. You know, Bowaggi-san, helping my friends with schoolwork is my one joy.
(looks down at her club sandwich) There was even a time when Usagi told me that I didn't have to tutor them anymore, just so I could study harder… I knew she meant well, but it made me cry…
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(looks concerned) Oh, gomen, Mizuno-san… We don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. Let's talk about something else, instead.
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(Shakes her head slightly) Oh, it's no problem, really. I don't mind talking about it at all. It just brought back some memories. I'm comfortable talking about it now; don't worry. Onegai?
Gomenasai, Bowaggi-san! Sorry if I made you worry. I didn't really mean to.
That day when Usagi made me cry was the day my junior high principal told me not to tutor my other classmates who were left behind. Usagi was one of those classmates, actually. Usagi-chan thought it would make me feel better if I didn't have to help them with their schoolwork anymore, just like what the principal said, but it made me feel depressed instead.
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It was pretty lame of your principal to tell you that. Why did you feel depressed? Had something else come up?
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Well, as a matter of fact, I was kind of in a slump then, because I was thinking that the only good thing that I could do was to study. You could imagine my reaction when Usagi told me that none of them needed my help in the only thing I'm good at, which was studying.
I felt so useless when she said that… I felt the only purpose in life I had was taken away…
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That's pretty bad… (pauses for quite a while)
Uh, I assume that you're in good terms with everyone now?
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(smiles as she stirs her glass of juice) Oh, yes, of course! That was about a year ago. We're much closer to each other now. We've been friends for a very long time, and we've gone through a lot.
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(hesitates) Pardon me for asking, but can you elaborate on that, please? This is an interview, after all.
Am I being too inquisitive?
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(Shaking Bowaggi's apology off) No, I don't mind. After all, it's your job to ask me questions, isn't it?
I might as well tell you about the time I was about to go to Germany for medical school…
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( Shaking Bowaggi's apology off) No, I don't mind. After all, it's your job to ask me questions, isn't it?
I might as well tell you about the time I was about to go to Germany for medical school…
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I guess you could say that. My mother is a doctor, so I guess I'm following in her footsteps…
Anyway, I was offered a scholarship there, and I wanted to go. But even if I did want to, my heart didn't want to leave Usagi, Rei, Mina and Mako behind. They kept encouraging me, though, because they knew it was for the best.
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(shaking her head) It's tough when you have to move to new places. You have to start all over again…
What happened next?
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(resting her head on the back of her hand) Well, I decided to go, but I didn't want them to hold a farewell party for me, since I didn't want to think back at the memories we had shared. I figured that it would just probably make me sad and regretful.
I could tell that they wanted to hold a party for me, though.
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But I could see that you decided to stay in the end. Good for you, Ami-san!
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(smiles brightly) Arigato!
Then, when I was standing there at the airport, Mamoru-san and Chibiusa came, and handed me a package. When I looked inside, it made me change my mind about leaving. I went to find my friends right after that.
They sure looked very happy to see me! (chuckles softly)
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I reckon so… (looks away as she wonders what was in that package.)
(snaps out of trance) Hey, let's shift topics! This topic is getting pretty stale, and I want to cover more material. Is that okay?
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Well, whatever you say… After all, you are the interviewer.
I'm pretty much nervous, because you sound as if you have a trick question brewing in your mind…
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We-ell, you read my mind, Mizuno-san! It's not exactly a trick question, but it depends on whichever way you take it:
(impish grin) I'm kinda curious about this guy, Kou Taiki, of the Three Lights, -- (looks amused as she sees how Ami turns tomato-red) and I want to know how you're related to each other. Who is he in the life of Mizuno Ami?
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(looks confused as she fumbles with the paper napkin) Um, do we really have to talk about this? I don't find it very significant to public interest… (pleading gaze at Bowaggi)
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(nods enthusiastically) Oh, yes, it IS significant! More than you'll ever know, Ami-san!
Anyway, if you don't want to answer, it's okay; we can skip the question. Then you can tell me all about Urawa Ryo, instead!
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(turning even more red) Wh-who?
(big teardrop forms on her head) H-how do you know these things, Bowaggi-san?!?
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(flashes her Tendo Nabiki smile) I have my sources… And I do my homework, just as much as you do!
(begging for answers) Why are you so red? Do you have crushes on these guys?
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(shaking her head vigorously as she turns even redder) No, no, no, no, no!!!
(bows her head down) Gomenasai! As a matter of fact, Ryo-kun is my friend. A very dear friend. We share a really big secret that both of us has sworn to keep until death.
And as for Taiki-san… (hesitating on what to say) you could say that he's merely an acquaintance I always happen to chance upon in school. He's very intelligent, as far as I know. So far, he's beaten me at almost anything academic at Juuban High.
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(mischievous grin) Really? Is Ryo just a friend? What's the big secret?
By the way, do you still remember the first time the Lights came to Minato-ku Juuban? I was there!
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(clearly surprised) You were?
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Yes… (giggles) and I happened to see you guys at their first appearance. It was just about when you all started high school.
(trying hard to stifle a giggle) You were all jumping up from behind the crowd, because you couldn't see the Lights from there. Rei and Minako were swooning over Kou Yaten, and they were jumping up to see him over the lot of people who got there first.
(smiling impishly) I happened to notice that you were jumping, too. Were you trying to see someone? Hmmm?
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(teardrop on her head grows as big as an opened beach umbrella) N-no, of course not!
Excuse me for saying so, Bowaggi-san, but can we talk of something else? You always seem to be interested in my lovelife.
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Of course, I am! I'm interested in everyone's lovelives. Gives me fuel for the poems I write.
Anyway, can you tell me about your ideal guy?
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My ideal guy? I guess that's a pretty safe question.
(looks far away) Well, my ideal guy should be very smart, sort of like a junior Einstein…
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(coughs and sputters) A junior Einstein!!?? Is he gonna have the same messy hair and the habit of sticking his tongue out, just like the original one?
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(chuckles) No, maybe not. But I'd prefer him to be as smart as the original.
So far, I haven't found him yet… I thought I almost did, though…
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(clamoring for information) Really?!? Tell me about it!?
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Well, there was this boy who kept tying with me in exams. His pen name was Mercurius…
Then he sent me a love letter. At least, I think it was him... I was really scared at first, but I thought it was pretty sweet…
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(in suspense) Well, what happened next?
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(looking at the clock) Um, I think I'd better tell you another time… I have a previous studying engagement. (stands up and bows slightly)
I hope to see you next time in another interview, Bowaggi-san!
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(looking disappointed) Oh.
(stands up and bows slightly, then shakes Ami's hand) Thank you very much for everything! I mean, for the interview and for putting up with me…
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(Smiles brightly) Oh, Bowaggi-san, that's okay.
Give my regards to the Kitchen Raiders! Sayonara, Bowaggi-san! (waves and runs through the door)
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waves) I will! My regards to the rest of your friends!
Give Minako and Usagi regards from Africa!
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