Page 37 Book: Minako's Diary Written: I can't forget it. On the road lined with ginkgo trees. That time I ran into him. That man...
Vol. 8
Love on the tree-lined road
Tearing at turbo full-throttle!
Originally appeared in Run-Run, November 1993.Translated by Alex Glover. Version B-1.0, 9.96.
Page 41 Minako is at school. Blackboard: Quiet during the test! Teacher: Okay! Gather from the back. Friend 1: Mina! How was it? Could you do it? Friend 2: Or should we ask. [Although generally, I number people by order of appearance in a scene, these two labels always refer to the same two girls. I just don't know their names.] Page 42 Box: I'm Aino Minako. Adolescence has many troubles. I'm in the midst of it at 13, in 7th grade. Minako: It's okay. My test doesn't matter... I didn't have time to think much about the test. Friend 1: What's happened to you? Hikaru: Hey, hey! Wanna get some tea on the way home? Minako: I'll go! Hey, let's go to that coffee shop on the tree-lined road in front of the picture gallery. Page 43 Friend 1: I know that place! That line of ginkgo trees is so pretty! Two girls wave to a teacher. Girl 1: Miss Okamoto! Bye! Okamoto: Don't stop off on the way home. Girl 2: Miss Okamoto. She looks like a woman in a painting. Girl 1: Yep, yep. She's beautiful, delicate, and she makes good food. Since she unexpectedly became our teacher, she's been popular with the students. Minako and the others sit down at the coffee shop. Friend 1: Since the test is over, I don't have to worry about anything. Now I can go on a date with Sakai-kun. Friend 2: Oh, you two are getting together after all!? Since when, since when? Friend 1: Hehe! Page 44 Friend 2: Mina! You look dazed, again in this area. What's that you've got? Your diary!? You've been keeping a diary? Minako: Yep. I've been recording my ardent love in it. Friend 2: Aren't you being a bit melodramatic? Hikaru: Don't even bother, whatever you say to her now is useless. It was love at first sight for her, and she's been lovesick since. Friend 2: Lovesick!? Minako: Yeah! Saturday, the week before last, I was walking on the tree-lined road here with Hikaru-chan... Page 45 Minako: When suddenly some guys picked a fight with us. Flashback. Thug: What's this? You've wandered onto our turf? Hey! I ain't got no reason to let you get through here safely. Gang boss: Hold it. Aren't you a little old to pick on decent girls? Minako: We were saved. By a prince. Thug: Saitou-san! Sorry! End of flashback. Page 46 Minako: Saitou-san...! I wonder if he's from a high school around here. He was a hunk! Friend 1: You were accosted by some punks? Around here? Isn't that a little dangerous? Friend 2: You didn't know? This area's held by opposing gangs of the high school. They're starting fights all the time. Friend 1: What? Let's leave! Hikaru: Yeah, we should go. Mina? Minako: I'll go home after I look around the tree road for a little bit... Friend 2: That's dangerous! What'll you do if they pick on you again? Page 47 Minako: In that case, my prince will come to save me again! Hikaru: You're nuts. Friend 2: We're leaving. Her friends leave, and Minako walks out along the tree-lined road. Minako: [thinking] Oh, walking through this line of ginkgo trees is heart-rending. I don't even know which high school he goes to. I might never see him again. A teen steps out from the trees. Gang A member: Hey, you. You're on our turf now. Haven't you wandered pretty far? Page 48 Another person approaches from the other side. Gang B member: This place is ours! How dare you barge in here! Minako: [thinking] Uh- Wh- What the-? He wasn't talking to me! Oh no! I'm trapped between them now!? Gang A boss: It's you bastards. You're the ones saying you're 'exercising your influence' over this area. Without talking to us at all, you're playing us! Page 49 Gang A member: You'll pay for this! A brawl ensues, which Minako quickly ducks out of. Minako: Oh god! No way! They're ignoring me! Don't start a fight! Gang A boss kicks Minako in the butt. Gang A boss: Beat it, you little punk! Minako sees the man's face. Minako: Saitou-san!? Saitou: You! You wandering around here again? Page 50 A fist strikes Minako in the face and floors her. Minako: [thinking] V-chan... Your life is a failure. Page 51 Saitou: Fu-! God! You messed up! Gang member 1: Saitou-san!? Gang member 2: Hurry! Let's go! The woman leading the other gang stands in front of her gang. Gang boss: Wait. You don't have to run. Their numbers are few. They don't have much power. Going after the gang with much bigger numbers is more efficient. They all leave. Minako: [thinking] Uh-uh, uh-uh... I got smacked right in the face. Oh, man... My good looks... Saitou: Hey! Page 52 Minako: My good looks... Saitou: Hey! You okay? Minako: Saitou-san! Saitou: How do you know my name? That uniform's from Shiba Junior. I went there, too. Minako: No way! Then... You're my senpai. Saitou: Okappii... Is she still there? Minako: Huh!? Saitou: Okamoto. She's in home economics. She taught me for three years. That brings back memories... Page 53 Minako: [thinking] Oh, I don't believe this! You're right next to him, chatting with him! Nice, Minako! This guy doesn't have anybody holding him up. His white shirt is elegant. He's so cool! He's wearing a promise ring around his ankle. He looks like someone. But I can't remember. I wonder who it is... Maybe some idol I saw. Uh, hmm... Saitou: Hey, you. Minako: Aino Minako! Saitou: Minako. Page 54 Saitou: This place is risky, you shouldn't come around here anymore. Gang member: So, Saitou-san... What's with this honey? [That guy's mask says 'death,' so I'll call him Death.] Saitou: If you bother her again around Aoyama, I'll get you for it. Death: Gotcha! All the members of the gang bow to Minako. Gang: Welcome, Minako-san. Page 55 Saitou: See ya. Artemis watches her. Artemis: She's got it bad... That night at Minako's house. Artemis: Jeez. What a shame. Sailor V, hit right in the face. You're not training enough. Page 56 Minako: Artemis! Don't you know!? His gang! They're nasty! More violent than the police, or Jason, or the Terminator! They're scary! Scary, but... He's so cool. He's so brave! Boys are brave. Gang [said]: Welcome, Minako-san. Minako: That felt great... Artemis: ...... At the Dark Agency. Danburite: Vivian. I presume your gathering of energy is proceeding well. Page 57 The woman who leads the gang stands in front of him. Vivian: Danburite-sama. Please, put yourself at ease, and leave matters to me. If you desire strong energy, I will get it from young boys quarreling. For the Dark Agency, since our range of movement, and our slaves, have greatly increased, we will get the strong energy of the gangs of Tokyo, no, of all Japan. Danburite: I see. We still haven't gotten enough of the energy we need. Now, this time... Kunzite-sama has overlooked the many failures we've had before. This should please him. Page 58 At school. Girl 1: You seen the paper? There's been another gang fight in the area! Girl 2: Scary! Girl 1: They don't know what high school they're from, but it looks like a really powerful gang's shown up. They've been in fights all over the place, extending their range. Amano: That's just the beginning! They say it's the doing of a guy from Aoyama called Saitou, a graduate of this school! I hear he's the biggest tough in Tokyo! Hikaru: What!? That Saitou!? Isn't that the guy Mina likes? He's that scary guy? Mina can't find out! Hey, where is Mina? In the home economics classroom. Page 59 Minako: Miss Okamoto! Ehehe. Okamoto: Oh, Aino-san. Minako: Okappii! Okamoto: A- A- Aino-san!! Where'd you hear that!? Minako: Oh, so that is what they called you. Hehe! Okamoto: A long time ago. The kids in the class I taught called me that. Brings back memories. Minako sees her holding a string together. Minako: Oh, Miss Okamoto! You're making promise rings! Okamoto: That's right. To make wishes come true, I do this. You want one, too? Next we're all going shopping. You want to come? Minako: Yeah! Page 60 They go outside, as Saitou approaches the school. Minako: What!? That's... Saitou-senpai! Okamoto: Aino-san, is he an acquaintance of yours? Saitou: Okappii. I was in your class three years ago. Remember? It's me, Saitou. Okamoto: What? What!? Saitou-kun!? I don't believe it! You're all grown up, I didn't recognize you. You are studying, of course? You can't fight. Page 61 Saitou: Yeah, well... I have to go. Minako: [thinking] Saitou-senpai? Minako goes to the road lined with ginkgo trees. Minako: Yes! They're here! Death: Hey! Minako-san! She sees Saitou on the ground, injured. Minako: Saitou-senpai!? What's wrong!? Those wounds! Death: Those guys who've been ravaging the area took us by surprise. It was so sudden, we couldn't defend ourselves. Those guys were strange. It was like they were being manipulated by something, and they were unusually strong. And for some reason, when we're near them, we lose our strength... Saitou: Hey! Page 62 Saitou: You talk too much. Whatever happens on our turf, we'll take care of it! Death: Minako-san, come here. He takes her aside. Death: Please, stop Saitou-senpai. There's so many of them, we don't stand a chance. If he gets in one more fight, he'll be expelled. Really, when he's with us guys, he's not himself. It suddenly happened after he started high school. He's gotten involved in our troubles. We want to see him graduate all right. Page 63 Minako goes to Saitou. Saitou: I don't know what they said, but I'm worried. So you've got a promise ring too. Okappii's always liked making those. When you cut the knot, you wish will be fulfilled. Are you wishing for something too? I bet you like some boy. Minako: A- Ahem! I'm too shy! To confess... That I like someone...! Arrow: (She's never said that to anyone!) Page 64 Saitou: You should say what you want to the person you like. If you miss the chance, you'll always regret it. That's why I must direct my energy to fighting, spending my life for nothing. Minako: [thinking] Saitou-senpai... Page 65 Minako: [thinking] Who is he thinking about? He regrets something. It's nice. [speaking] Saitou-senpai... Why do you have a promise ring around your ankle? Saitou: Well... A group of gang B members approach. Gang A member: Saitou-senpai! Page 66 Saitou: If I have it on my arm, it gets in the way! He knocks one of the gang members down. Another punches him in the face. Minako: Saitou-senpai!! Vivian: You're struggling with us!? You're a decade early! Her gang attacks Saitou's, beating them easily. Gang A member: My strength... is gone!? Damnit! Vivian: Heh heh. Minako: [thinking] Those people look weird! Something's up! Page 67 Minako: [thinking] It can't be! An enemy!? Artemis: Meow. Minako: Artemis! Pen: Beep, beep! Minako: Boss!? Boss: Mina! Be careful! Those guys are secret agents of the enemies! While they pick fights, they soak up fighting energy from the thugs! Then when they have no power left, they brainwash them and use them as puppets! Death: Mina-san! Leave things to us here! Death [said]: If he gets in one more fight, he'll be expelled. We want to see him graduate all right. Saitou: I'll beat these guys! Minako, hurry, go! Page 68 Minako: Umm... Umm... Artemis: Mina!? Minako: Crescent Moon Power Transform! Turn me into Okappii! Page 69 She changes into Okamoto, and runs to Saitou. Minako: Saitou-kun!? Saitou: Okappii!? What are you doing here!? Minako: Minako-chan told me! Didn't I tell you not to fight! You're injured! Now! Leave this place to me! Go and get those wounds looked after! Flashback. Okappii: So, do you all want one too? After I cut the knot of the promise ring, my desire was fulfilled. After you graduate, I've decided to get married! Saitou-kun, you've been doing so well, you're my best student. Work hard in high school too, get into a good college, and become a distinguished man. End of flashback. Page 70 Saitou: My teacher... There's something I never said. I didn't know how to, and I've become desperate. I'm glad I can see you again. The knots on their two promise rings snap. Minako: Oh! Page 71 Minako: [thinking] My promise ring... What? What the-? Page 72 Saitou kisses her deeply. Minako: [thinking] What the-!? Page 73 Saitou: I always loved you. This will be my last battle! Minako swoons. Page 74 Artemis: Oh no! Mina!? Wake up! She smiles dreamily. Minako: Minako's... happy... All right! Power up! Change! Moon Power Transform! She gets up and transforms, and rushes toward Vivian. Minako: You! Stop fighting! Page 75 Vivian: Who're you!? Minako: You take in evil, tainting the duty and humanity of brave boys! I won't put up with your executions in darkness! Code name: Sailor V! The soldier of justice! I am the sailor- suited beautiful soldier, Sailor Venus! Page 76 Saitou: Sailor V!! Vivian: Hmph. You're here. I am the president of the Dark Agency, Vivian. I'm settling things here in Tokyo. You won't get me. Minako: Today's Sailor V is tearing at turbo full-throttle! [I really don't know what that means.] Page 77 Minako kicks Vivian down. Vivian screams as she's struck by her own weapon. Minako: Gotcha! Page 78 Minako: Crescent Super Beam! Sorry to stop your little power play. Venus Power! Love Crescent Shower! Pour down! Page 79 Vivian is destroyed. The boys wake up. Gang members: Wh- What!? What the-! Where are we!? What are we doing here!? Saitou: Sailor V...! What on earth... Page 80 Minako: You mustn't fight anymore. She runs off. Minako: [thinking] Saitou-senpai... I really, really liked you so much, but... Page 81 Minako: [thinking] Tears don't suit Sailor V. Goodbye, my first love. But still... Page 82 Boxes: Sailor V is gone. The many returned gang members were left there, on the road lined with ginkgo trees. After that, a huge brawl ensued, needless to say. Later, at Minako's house, Artemis is reading through Minako's diary. Artemis: Your first love? Wasn't that Higashi-senpai... Minako: Hey!! Artemis! (Even though you're a cat...) You can't read people's diaries without permission! (And this was my first kiss, so it's my first love.)
