Vol. 10
Sailor V in a pinch!?
Kaitou Ace appears!
Page 126 Minako: I wonder if someday, somewhere, I'll run into him. A comrade who shares my feelings. A person who understands the real me. Page 127 Arrow: She's in school. Box: I'm Aino Minako. I kind of fall in love a lot. I'm 13 and in 7th grade. Artemis: (Kind of? That's not all! Here's what happened last time!) Picture of the shadowed, masked figure. Caption: The man who showed up last time! Page 128 Minako: [thinking] It's good I beat the maiden enemy Debrine last time, but everyone's overweight figures haven't returned to normal. I'm at a loss. That mysterious man who appeared before me. Who on earth could it be? Even through his mask, I knew. He likes me. He was looking at me. Teacher: Aino!! What was the name of the military commander of Takeda, who lost the Battle of Nagashino on May 21st of the third year of Tenshou's reign!? Minako: I know, I know! Like Superman, like Gekkou Kamen, or Ninja Kamui, or Golgo 13, or Captain Harlock, or the Terminator, he was kind of young. The man who came to save me was surely my prince! Teacher: Go to the back! [He was referring to Takeda's famous battle with Oda Nobunaga in 1575.] Page 129 Minako leaves school. Artemis: Jeez, Mina. You embarrassed yourself. The soldier of justice, Sailor V, forced to stand in the back of the class. How low. Minako: Artemis, nothing you say to me now matters. Box: By the way, this is my brother-in-law, Artemis. Artemis: We don't know what's up with that guy from last time. Just after he appeared, he vanished. Is he a new enemy, or an ally? Who is that guy!? Hikaru: Mina! Minako: Hikaru-chan! Hikaru: Want to go for some food at the Azabu Juuban shopping center? Minako: Yeah, let's go! At that time. Box: On the street, there's seemingly only one rumor going around. Minako: You've taken that weight off nicely. Girl 1: That was strange. (Last time.) Those rainbow candies worked. Girl 2: Me too, me too. Since I lost the weight, my skin's become soft. Page 130 Girl 1: Thanks to that man and the rainbow candies. Girl 2: That man is really a friend of girls. Box: All the girls on the street are talking about 'that man.' Artemis: [thinking] Mina may not be able to hear them, but I can. 'That man'!? Rainbow candies!? TV: Everyone's saying, I want to meet that man!! Host: Today's person is at the peak of popularity. 'That man' is a friend of girls! Minako: Hey, what's this show? Artemis: 'That man'? Minako: Oh, oh! That man from before had the same silhouette! Hey! A storm of candy! Page 131 An ace of hearts flies through the air on TV, and is caught by a masked man. Man: I am Kaitou Ace! Minako: From before!! Kaitou Ace!? [kaitou - bandit (lit. mysterious thief)] Page 132 Girl 1: Look at the TV! It's Ace! Girl 2: I watch every week! "Kaitou Ace"! Hikaru: You seen it, Mina? It started recently. A new show starring this kid, "Kaitou Ace"! Minako: What!? A TV show!? Hikaru: Yep. A new idol in the world of television, Kaitou Ace. He fights alone against the evil order Jack. A soldier of justice, veiled in mystery. But, he's not an ordinary soldier. He's very sweet. He gives stolen jewels to girls; he goes on dates with girls who can't get them; if a girl doesn't have a dress for the date, he gives her one; he looks for lost pets; he does your homework while you sleep. He helps suffering girls. He's a girl's best friend: Kaitou Ace!! Page 133 Host: Starring in this new program, in the role of Kaitou Ace, is Saijou Ace-kun. Kaitou Ace: Hello. Minako: No way! That's him!? He's a hit, a hit! A big hit!! Kaitou Ace: I think any girl can be pretty. Since if all girls were pretty, I'd be happy, I want to help them with it. Page 134 Host: You're talking about the beauty candy you developed yourself. Your Kaitou Ace brand rainbow candy is a big hit! Congratulations! Kaitou Ace: Ehehe. You're embarrassing me. It's good that everyone can become pretty. Artemis: [thinking] Those candies from before!? Were those rainbow candies!? Girl 1: We were lucky to be on the film set before! Girl 2: Yeah! From the roof of that building, Ace sprinkled that rainbow candy. We got lots for free! (Actually, my memory before that is a little foggy...) Minako: [thinking] When we saw him before, it was a TV shoot!? Page 135 Girl 1: Oh, Kaitou Ace! He's cool! There's no one like him! A friend of girls! Kaitou Ace! Girl 2: He says such nice things! Just like he says, I want to be pretty!! Artemis: [thinking] That guy from before was from a TV show... But I'm worried about the rainbow candy. (Last time's enemy, Debrine, used rainbow chocolates.) Minako: Kaitou Ace! Artemis, Hikaru-chan, what should I do? He's perfect. Page 136 Minako: Can I chase after him? Artemis: ...... At the Dark Agency Office. Kaitou Ace: [on TV] I am Kaitou Ace! I think any girl can be pretty. Since if all girls were pretty, I'd be happy, I want to help them with it. Woman: This is him! This! This talent's strategy is to go after girls' ultimate desire. We don't need to yield to him, too, Danburite-sama. Page 137 Woman: I am the final trump card of the Dark Agency, Heroine Maker. I am Fande, and it seems my turn is finally here. I will sell off the last and highest real estate of the Dark Agency. Then we will surely rebuild our Dark Agency. Danburite: With our repeated failures, we've been forced into a difficult situation... You were the most clever one of the Dark Agency. Let's see what you can do. At the Metropolitan Police Board. Page 138 Chief: Ohh, what now... I have so much time, since Wakagi's gone... I can't release all my built-up stress without fighting with him. And most of all, I can't talk to him about V-chan. How boring. Wakagi: (Chief, if that's the way you feel-!! It's SO cold!!) Arrow: (Last time, Wakagi was sent to Siberia.) Chief: I guess that good-for-nothing was helpful... Speaking of which, I haven't heard about V-chan's exploits lately. I wonder what she's doing now. I'm bored. (Think I'll watch TV.) Page 139 Kaitou Ace: [on TV] I am Kaitou Ace! Chief: What!? Woman: Ace! Kaitou Ace: Princess! I came here for you. I handed over that kidnapper to the police! Chief: That's... Kaitou Ace: I'll forever watch over you from afar. Chief: I had forgotten! This excitement! The lively feeling of telling Wakagi about V-chan! Kaitou Ace... Fabulous... He's just like Sailor V! Minako: (Huh? Really? I guess... How so?) Page 140 At the command center. Boss: Hmph. Artemis: It's not showing any abnormal readings. Looks like normal candy, Boss. Rainbow candy. Boss: It does look that way. That Kaitou Ace TV show was pretty good. Artemis: But if Ace exists, he's already displaced Sailor V from the world. (Taking on himself all the stuff Sailor V's been doing before.) ...... Boss: ...... Artemis: (No, no. There must be a reason Sailor V has a mission. She's being swept away by fashion. But... Decide, decide! Agree, agree!) Boss, don't you think it's been quiet lately? Boss: Hmm. Page 141 Boss: Maybe the calm before the storm... Don't drop your guard. How's Mina? Artemis: That's what I say, too. But lately, she's just been chasing after Ace. Since no enemies has shown up lately, frankly, she's been slacking off. Yesterday, she left her compact behind on her desk when she went to school... Kaitou Ace... Something's up... Page 142 At school. Minako: Ah, like Ace says, girls are really supposed to be pretty. Ohh, I want to be pretty! But to be pretty, what can I actually do? Of course, I'm eating Ace brand rainbow candy, but... (They're not having a big effect... Maybe plastic surgery...) Friends: Mina! Wanna come check out the new building in front of the train station? They walk to the building. Minako: Fashion Building Heroin? Friend 1: That's 'heroine', Mina! Page 143 Woman: Hello there! Welcome to Fashion Building 'Heroine.' I'm Liquid Fande, in charge of cosmetics on the first floor. Here you can become a beautiful heroine all by yourself. We have an abundant assortment of goods to fill your beauty needs. Also, you can visit our other departments for total coordination, and become a more beautiful heroine. Sign: 1st floor - Cosmetics 2nd floor - Wardrobe 3rd floor - Tableware 4th floor - Customer Service Tour Conduct Liquid Fande: Which floor would you like? Friend 2: I want cosmetics to make my face pretty. Friend 1: I want new clothes, to change my image. How about you, Mina? Minako: Ohh... I don't have the money to go shopping... And Ace has two live appearances this month. To become pretty, I'd have to get next month's allowance... Page 144 On the 2nd floor. Woman: Thank you for shopping here. I'm Water Fande, of the second floor. For our opening, we're presenting small gifts to you. Which would you like? Girl 1: I'll take the CD! Girl 2: I'll take the video game! Girl 3: Pots are just what I wanted! Girl 4: I'd like underwear. Lingerie. Water Fande: From here, your desire of heroine beauty is only a step away. Girl 1: I think I'll listen to the CD. I wonder which one it is. Girl 2: Yes! I beat the game! Now for the ending. Girl 3: Huh? Strange steam is coming from the pot... Girl 4: Tight. It's like this underwear is cutting into me. Voice: Using all means, you are making efforts. There is one big condition to your becoming beautiful heroines. And that is... Page 145 Voice: Defeat Sailor V! Girls: If we defeat Sailor V, we can become beautiful... If we defeat V, we'll be beautiful heroines... Water Fande: 3rd floor Powder Fande. 4th floor Solid Fande. I wonder how many heroines will be born in our game. At Minako's house. Artemis: Mina! I thought you were coming home! Where are you going? Page 146 Minako: W- Well, to the TV station, to see Ace live... Artemis: Mina!! What'll you do if enemies show up? You've just been lazy lately! Minako: It's fine, it's fine. When that happens, I'll do it. Artemis: Mina!! At the TV station. Banner: 'Kaitou Ace' Public Filming Minako: Hehe! I'm here. Chief: Oh, coming to live filming at this age... Girl 1: I- I can't see! At all! Girl 2: Can't see a thing this far back! Minako and Chief: [thinking] From the bottom, I can creep up to the front! That's the only way! Page 147 Minako: Sis! Chief: You! Together: We're a match! They crawl to the front row. Minako: Oh, Ace was cool! Chief: That's it! From now on, I'm chasing after Ace! Minako: Me too! Now, after the appearance, they said we could see the filming, but how are we going to get in the studio? Guard: You can't come in yet! Babies! Page 148 Chief: [thinking] I want to get in first, for the front row. I'll take my best shot! She holds up her badge. Chief: Excuse me! Please let me through. Guard: Oh! Go ahead! Minako: [thinking] What!? Oh no! That lady, in front of all these followers, she cut in front! I'll show her! All right! Crescent Moon Power Transform! Page 149 Minako: Turn me into a hairdresser! Hey you! Aren't you Kobayashi-san from the office! The Momoko club photo shoot is this way! Chief: What? What? She follows after the girl, but then loses her. Chief: H- Huh!? That girl!? She's gone! Minako: Sis! Sis! Chief: Oh, it's you! Page 150 Minako: Sis, you're a beginner at idol chasing, right? You can't cut in front of everyone. But! You seem nice. Let's do this together again. Here's my number. I'm Aino Minako. Chief: I'm Sakurada Natsuna. Actually, until now, I've been following Sailor V-chan. But don't you think she hasn't done much lately? I wonder where she is, what she's doing. Minako: (I'm right here...) Page 151 Chief: This fading away of Sailor V's, I wonder if she's washed-up. Minako: [thinking] V-chan!! This is a shock! Is my popularity going away? People aren't following others! They can't! Chief: Hey! Looks like Ace's show's starting! A girl screams as one of the stage lights falls from the ceiling. Page 152 Minako: Look out!! Chief: Minako-chan? Minako: [thinking] This calls for an idol soldier! I'll remove my disgrace and regain my honor!! This is my chance!! As Sailor V, she rushes over and carries the girl out of the way. Girl: Sailor V! Minako: You okay!? Man 1: Sailor V! Man 2: It's Sailor V! Man 3: Say, it's been a while... Page 153 Girl: Hey! Don't interrupt, Sailor V! I'm supposed to be saved by Kaitou Ace! I don't want you! Director: Hey, Sailor V! Get out, get out! I'm trying to do a shoot here! Kaitou Ace: Wait! Sailor V! Minako: Kaitou Ace!? Page 154 Kaitou Ace: Even if your popularity is gone, don't worry! You have life! Minako: Haha. Thanks, Ace. Director: The depressed Sailor V with waning popularity being consoled by Ace. Now that's good television! Crowd: Sailor V! Sailor V! To become beautiful heroines, we must defeat Sailor V! Powder Fande: Seems Sailor V's appeared. Solid! Liquid! Water Fande! Head for the TV station! Page 155 Artemis: Mina! What's wrong! You transformed at the TV station? Minako: Artemis... The Sailor V boom has passed... This is the time of Kaitou Ace... I've lost the self-confidence that I can make it as V. Artemis: What!? Minako: For all that, Kaitou Ace! Seeing him so close, it was great. He held my hand. It's good to be Sailor V... (What should I do...) A scale appears over her head. On the 'Mina' side: I'd be an ordinary, cute girl. I could simply follow Ace. I'd have a life. On the 'Sailor V' side: I'm an idol soldier. Might be able to get close to Ace. But V-chan's washed-up... Page 156 The scale tips toward 'Mina.' Minako: I've decided! I'll leave the job of idol soldier to Ace. Mina will return to an ordinary girl! Artemis: Mina!? Minako: Never mind, Artemis! Ace can have this job! Artemis: Mina! Minako: Well, since I've decided, I'll hurry and undo my transformation. I have to get back to Ace! Chief: I wonder where Minako-chan went. Fande: Where is Sailor V!? Kaitou Ace: I'm going to the bathroom... They gasp. Page 157 Minako runs behind a vending machine. Chief: Sailor V!? Minako runs back out in her normal clothes. Chief: Minako-chan!? It can't be... Minako-chan is... Sailor V!? No way! I can't believe I saw that! Kaitou Ace: ...... Page 158 Fande: Wait! You Sailor V! You won't escape! Minako: Damn! Artemis: Mina!! Mina! Boss: Mina! Minako: I know, Artemis, Boss! I have no choice. Moon Power Transform! Page 159 Minako: You're making sport of girls' desires to be pretty and fan mentality, which they've held for 4 million years since the dawn of man. I can't ignore this! Code name: Sailor V! The soldier of justice, the friend of girls. I am the sailor-suited beautiful soldier, Sailor Venus! Artemis: Mina! You're doing it! Chief: Sailor V! Minako-chan! Fande: How sweet, Sailor V! To be heroines, girls will do anything. We're doing our job! Page 160 Crowd: To become pretty, we'll wipe out Sailor V! Wipe out Sailor V! Fande: There's no way you can overcome our Heroine Maker system! Girls have limits! Minako: But I am an incarnation of the goddess of beauty! I don't need to be any prettier than this! The coup de grace! Crescent Beam! Page 161 Nothing happens. Minako: Huh? My compact didn't work!? No way! What? The mirror is becoming black!? Artemis: Oh no! Is the battery cut!? Minako: Wait! I haven't been charging it at all! I'm in a pinch! It's too late! Page 162 Voice: Delicious Four-Card Shot! Four aces cut through the bodies of the four Fande. Girls: Huh? We...!? What on earth...? Page 163 Minako catches one of the cards. Minako: This is... the ace of hearts!? This card... Who's that? It can't be... It can't be... Page 164 Minako: Ace...!? Kaitou Ace!? Kaitou Ace turns and runs off. Minako: Ace!! Page 165 Minako: Kaitou Ace! Who on earth... Who is he!? Chief: Sailor V! Minako-chan...! At the Dark Agency Office. Danburite: Sailor V. You've shown all you can do. At last, it's my turn. At Minako's house. Minako: Artemis! Look! Look! V-chan is on TV with Ace! I'm so happy! I can't quit being an idol soldier now. Artemis: ......
