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Minkowski knew that technically, she could never just 'quit' being a senshi, but it didn't stop her from doing her best to pretend.

It was easy enough, really- by never powering up or going on patrol, Minkowski could pretend she lived a normal life, or as normal of a life one could live in a place like Destiny City. It helped, of course, that she had never made a great deal of friends, and had dropped contact with the ones she did have. Leaving her henshin pen at home, stashed away in the bottom of a drawer in her dresser that she never bothered with, the petite senshi of butterflies had instead thrown herself into her studies.

... And, yet... every now and then, she found herself taking that pen out and powering up against her best judgement. She didn't know why; there were plenty of others out there, who were much better at this, much stronger than her, and it wasn't even as if she even could call what she did patrolling. Still, here she was, away from the comforts of her home, on this cold winter night, though she would be lying if she said that she hoped to encounter another senshi or someone in need of her assistance.

Of course, as luck would have it, that wasn't to be the case. Caught up in her thoughts and worries, Minkowski almost didn't sense the new power signature until Harmonia was right there, out of practice as she was. Startled, but trying not to show it, Minkowski couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

"No, it's... fine, I was simply... startled? I wasn't expecting anyone," she finally confessed, after a long pause, "I, um... yes, I am, I am the senshi of butterflies."

"I'm Sailor Minkowski."

"You're right, I'm sorry," Minkowski apologized, fully ready to accept the blame, "It's... been awhile- I've been letting myself get distracted."

'Awhile' was something of an understatement, but could she really tell the truth, that she had been avoiding powering up? Minkowski could only imagine the sort of scorn she would receive if she admitted to these things.

And then came the question she was dreading. You don't need to answer, the other girl (Harmonia) had said. True, she didn't have to, but she didn't feel it right to let the other senshi assume that she was new, either, when she wasn't. Struggling to find a good in-between, the conflict on Minkowski's face was most likely very visible as she tried to decide on how to answer.

In the end, guilt won.

"... I've been a senshi for a few years," Minkowski finally confessed, "Around four or five or so, it's been so long."

Minkowski didn't exactly object to walking with Harmonia, but it was more out of resignation than anything. It would only raise more questions if she made up some excuse to get away, after all, and, well, as long as the other girl didn't ask anymore personal questions, maybe the night would be over with soon enough.

And then Harmonia brought up the war.

"... I wish there didn't have to be a war, to be honest" Minkowski said, choosing her words carefully. She didn't know Harmonia's stance on the war, and she didn't want to say the wrong thing... though maybe she already was. Even so, Minkowski was a pacifist; that was something she couldn't lie about.

"No, I don't think you're crazy at all," Minkowski said reassuringly, after listening to the other girl talk. She hadn't had the same experiences as Harmonia had, avoiding powering up as she did, but Minkowski could understand the general sentiment.

"I think the same way- I wish that there didn't have to be any fighting, that everyone could find a peaceful way to live together," she continued, as they walked, "I'm no good in battle, to be honest, and I don't want to harm anyone, anyway."

"To be honest... this is the first time I've powered up in some time," she confessed, "I've been trying to avoid fighting when I can- I guess that makes me a coward, right? But... I just can't do this. I'm not meant for this kind of life."

"I'm... not really sure, myself," Minkowski admitted, pondering, "I suppose in the end I can only avoid it for so long... or maybe I felt... guilty? "

Guilty for not being much of a help? She wasn't really sure, since it wasn't as if she had ever been much of a help to anyone, despite the friendly guidance people had given her over the years. Oh sure, there had been the occasional fluke or two, but in the end, Minkowski was always second-guessing her actions and preferring inaction over anything else.

Speaking of which...

"I'm no good in battle for all of the reasons you listed," the petite brunette told Harmonia, looking somewhat ashamed of herself, "I've tried before to learn how to fight, but it just never really stuck with me, I guess. My magic is healing, but it doesn't heal very much- only small scrapes and bruises- there isn't much I can do in a serious battle..."

Minkowski had her doubts about being more useful if she powered up more, but she didn't want to disappoint Harmonia instead. As it was, her experience in being useful had been during the times she had played pocket healer to another senshi, Deneb, who had demanded she accompany the other senshi on patrols... but that was years ago.

"What do I want to know?" Minkowski repeated, pondering. What did she want to know? There were plenty of things she didn't want to know, so maybe it was best to use process of elimination...

"Have you seen a cat named Pippin? Or a Sailor Draconis?"

Pippin had once called her 'his butterfly'. Draconis had offered for Minkowski to join her team of animal sphere senshi. Where were they now? Normally, Minkowski would have avoided running into anyone she knew in the past, but she couldn't get those two names off her thoughts.