Claire's P.O.V.

I was walking out of school with Serenity after our classes were over. We decided to hang out somewhere after school until she has to go to a "cram school" or whatever that is...

We were just talking about grades when I went and tripped. I hate this gravity!

"Are you okay?" I opened my eyes and realized that someone had caught me before I could break my nose.

"You!" Serenity exclaimed. "Why are we ALWAYS bumping into each other! And here I thought my luck had changed!" I stood on my own again and realized that this random stranger and Serenity knew each other.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this wonderful conversation but... who are you?" I asked the stranger.

"My name is Maxwell Zuki. Who might you be?"

"I'm Claire."

"Claire who? What's your family name?"

"Uh... Nova."

Thank goodness I remembered the surname I used at school... if I didn't...

"Well..." He turned to Serenity. "It is fate that whenever we meet I make some remark, and I suppose I either already have or am doing so now, so I will leave. Good day."

After he walked away, I turned to Serenity.

"Is he always that polite to a stranger?"

"I don't know. I only know him because of countless similar scenarios like this."

"Okay..."

"Here we are!" Serenity showed me a building.

"Ar...cade...?"

"Come on!" She led me inside and I instantly shielded my eyes.

"What's with all this light?!"

"It's called the gaming screens! I'll take you to my favorite play." Serenity dragged me over to one of them, but there was a small crowd of girls there.

"Come on, come on!" I heard a voice say. I regained my ability to see over these many lights and saw a girl with blond hair worn in the odango style. She seemed... familiar.

"You can do it, Usagi!" another one of the group of five said.

"Mind if I call next game?" Serenity asked. Just then, the girl playing the "game" got what is called a "game over".

"Sure," a tall brunette said. "Go ahead."

Serenity inserted some coins and then started to play. I tried my best to watch. She was really good.

"Now it's your turn!" she exclaimed after beating the game and collecting her prize.

"I don't know... I've never really played before."

"Just give it a try!"

I sat down at the machine, studying the controls.

"Umm... one problem. I don't have any money on me."

"That's an easy fix." She gave me a coin to insert.

"You sure you want me to do this?" I asked.

"Yeah. Now stop stalling and just do it!"

I nodded and did my best. The intense light was quite the hindrance. Eventually, I made it to the final level, and I couldn't tell whether I "beat the game" or got a "game over".

I got up and did my best to stand up straight.

"I think I'm going to head home and study now." I began to walk to the door.

"Claire, wait!" I heard Serenity say. "You forgot your prize!" I turned around and saw that there was something in the machine.

"What is it?" I asked, picking it up.

"It's a pen!" Serenity exclaimed. "This game gives out the very best pens too!"

"Interesting. Well, I'm going to head home now. Enjoy your time at cram school." I bowed and then left.

But on my way back, there was an X-plosion... see what I did there?

Finding a place to transform was no problem.

"NEOL STELLAR POWER, MAKE UP!!!"

I ran over to find the source of the explosion. It was at the mall... good grief.

I arrived before any of the other Sailor Guardians. So I decided to try some awesome way of making my presence known.

I noticed that there were some unconscious people around me, so I thought. X must be stealing their life energy.

I jumped onto the floor above and looked around for X. I saw him collecting some strange energy... I was right. Time to save the day.

"Stop right there, you good-for-nothing-one-letter!"

"Oh COME ON!"

I slid down the stair railing and flipped into action.

"I am the Pretty Guardian who fights for Order and Destiny! I am Sailor Neol! I won't let you continue to hurt the people of Earth! So now, you will fall in the name of Neol!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Cliffhanger!

Sorry...

I reached too high of a word count.

So I will continue next act.

Bye!