To say that Mamoru Chiba was confused would be an understatement. He looked at the child in question and could not sense anything malicious from her. Thinking it was probably just him not being perceptive and not realising the air of the situation, he gave a glance to the blonde with a bow in her hair. All she did was shake her head in a disapproving manner before staring at the child. He gave a small grunt of frustration before giving himself a good look at the child. It seemed that she felt eyes on her, though, and gave him a threatening glare.

He felt slightly nervous all of a sudden, thinking that a small child couldn't possibly have that kind of a reaction to an adult figure. He tried to ruffle her hair, but it just ended up with him getting a hand slammed in his face for no apparent reason. At first, he thought the offending piece of matter belonged to Haruka, who was watching -no, observing- him so intently that it made him feel uneasy, but it was actually from the child herself. It seemed that whoever this was seemed to dislike him as well. Not that he was not used to that kind of treatment from other members of the group already. They did often treat him like he did not belong with them. It was just that he never expected a child to do that.

He did feel like an outcast and he knew why. Those girls continually acted like he did not exist, however he was always there, dwelling among them like some sort of imposter. He gritted his teeth, trying to understand why nobody hear would talk to him. He made fervent attempts to assist Sailor Moon whenever she looked as if she needed it, but it didn't seem like his efforts were appreciated. He drummed his fingernails on his tie uncertainly, which had him end up adjusting it by accident. A soft series of murmurs broke out, but it certainly was not like he was being acknowledged by them. No, far from it. They seemed to be intentionally leaving him out of their conversations. It was not like he was allowed to take issue with this, however.

Haruka continued to glare at him and he knew that. He was well aware. She was making it more than obvious that he was not welcome around them. But that was alright, since he did not intend to just stand around and do nothing. He wanted to be of help, be some kind of use to these people. Of course, it wasn't at all like they needed his assistance or anything. A singular tear ran down his cheek and Minako discreetly offered him her handkerchief, which he graciously declined in favour of letting it run off his body to be melodramatic. Sometimes he was well aware that he was hard to reach, and he delighted in it. There was a girl he wished to reach, not that she'd know that he felt that way.

"Mamoru-san," the odango wearing blonde addressed him. It made him feel clammy all of a sudden. "I understand that you want to help us, but you need to leave us alone. I will be free in a bit, 'kay? All of us will! So, it'll be alright."

Minako put a hand on the blonde's shoulder. Sometimes the two looked like twins, and this was one of those times. "Just like Usagi-chan just said, we'll talk to you whenever. Us Sailor Guardians are here to help!" She proclaimed, pointing her hand up to the sky as if she were swearing on an oath.

He could have sworn he saw at least a hint of a blush on the bow wearing blonde's cheek but decided to ignore it. The was feeling slightly under acknowledged at this point in time and his mind was moving to dark places at a fast pace. A frown set in on his face as he observed the blue eyed child. She ran straight for Haruka and hugged her leg. The child even let her ruffle her hair. Mamoru could feel his blood boiling inside his body. All the muscles in his body tensed almost instantaneously as he watched what was happening before him, it made him wonder if anybody was ever honest with him. He could not believe how he was feeling. Completely and utterly betrayed, but by a child. What was wrong with him?

She noticed that Minako blabbed about the group being Sailor Guardians. She seemed to be perfectly alright with announcing her supposedly secret identity to everyone and anyone in earshot. Some part of him was impressed with her lack of concern, but another part of him tensed up. She would surely manage to somehow spill out any information she was told. He somehow doubted that she could be a remotely good asset to her team due to her actions ams her excitable nature. It was like her and that bun head were carbon copies of each-other at times, with one choosing to be the more mature one in any given situation. He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes, a peaceful smile on his face.

He opened his eyes again as he felt a hand on his shoulder, his entire body tensing up with nerves at who in the world the hand that was lain on his shoulder belonged to at this moment in time. The bow wearing blonde was the owner of the hand, clearly feeling sorry for him. He wanted to apologise to them all, for being around when he was clearly not needed whatsoever. Sometimes he doubts that he'll even be needed at any time in the future.

It made him wish to ask himself one question: why was he still hanging around them?

He bit back his lip and was shaking, pushing her hand off of his shoulder but glanced at her blankly, vaguely unassuming. Minako beamed.

"Look!" She ordered happily.

He swivelled his head to look at where the girl was pointing. "That odango atama, Tsukino, she seems to be having fun," he mused. He felt a pang in his heart when the thought came into his head that it was because he was not there.

"It's 'cause she's around Haruka! Her and Haruka are a perfect match!" Minako told him happily, not realising that she was driving a stake down Mamoru's heart. "They're in a polyamorous relationship, since Haruka has two partners. They have made an agreement, so it's okay with Michiru, too, that Usagi and Haruka spent time together."

"Well... I'm sure you'll find your prince someday," Mamoru smiled softly at her, feeling a sympathetic resonance with her. His chest hurt.

"You're right, Mamoru-san," she told him, resting her hand on his shoulder again. She sat next to him. "I actually got told before that I'll always pick duty over love... that I'll never have a lover. And that was said by someone... very, very close to me. It-It hurt. But you've given me hope." Her face lit up with a beam. "Don't you give up either! I'm sure we'll both find someone that loves us for who we are! I know it."

Mamoru gave her a bashful grin in return. "We're kindred spirits."