“I miss your odango.”

  Usagi turned her head to look at Mamoru. They lay next to each other in one of Minako’s guest bedrooms. The Tokyo skyline outside their window provided just enough light to illuminate Mamoru’s stoic face, his eyes closed.

  “What?”

  He opened his eyes and turned to face her.

  “Your odango. I miss them.”

  Usagi found herself at a loss for words. Mamoru was an attentive husband, but he didn’t gush about her appearance.

  “You do?”

  He turned on his side and propped his head up with one arm.

  “Usagi, you don’t have to change for me. You know that, right?”

  She could feel the heat rise on her face. She had worried that she was too immature for Mamoru, that she needed to grow up. So, she’d started wearing her hair in a more mature ponytail instead.

  The last few days had proven that she did, in fact, have some growing up to do. Still, it was nice to hear him say those words.

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  “Of course.”

  She could see him smile into the darkness.

  “Good.”

  She hesitated.

  “Are you still mad at me about Crown?”

  Desperate to be more than a housewife, Usagi had gone into business with her friend Naru and bought the old, rundown Crown Karaoke. To do so, she had withdrawn a hefty sum from their savings account…without talking to Mamoru first.

  “Yes.”

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  “Oh.”

  She could feel Mamoru’s breath against her ear as he leaned closer.

  “It’s not about Crown, or even the money, although you should have talked to me first. That’s a decision we should have made together.”

  She nodded into the darkness.

  “I know.”

  Mamoru continued.

  “It’s that you had these feelings about our life together and instead of talking to me, you hid them away. Next time, talk to me instead. I want to be here for you.”

  She exhaled.

  “Okay.”

  He leaned down and placed his lips gently on hers.

  “Oh, give me a break!”

  The voice cut through the darkness and Usagi’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach.

  Chibiusa.

  She sat up and turned on the small lamp on the nightstand. Chibiusa stood in the open doorway and clutched a stuffed Nako Nako, Minako’s winged unicorn mascot. She looked unhappy.

  “Chibiusa, what’s wrong?”

  The girl stood in silence for a moment, her eyes locked with Usagi’s. There was so much anger on her face.

  “I can’t sleep.”

  Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other. He raised his eyebrows. She shrugged. He turned down the blanket.

  “Hop in. You can sleep with us tonight.”

  Chibiusa crawled into bed between them, then positioned herself with her back toward Usagi. The pouting continued.

  Usagi sighed, covered Chibiusa up, then settled in for the night. The family of three, thrown together across time, fell into a restless sleep.