EPISODE 032

Umino no kesshin! Naru-chan ha bokuga mamoru

(Umino's Decision! I'll Protect Naru-chan)

Original Air Date: 11-14-1992
Director: Takao Yoshizawa
Animation Director: Hisashi Kagawa
Writer: Shigeru Yanagawa

Screencaps

What's In This Episode?
Akan, Gurio Umino, Kunzite, Kurozuishou, Naru, Nijizuishou, Sailor V Game, Tuxedo Umino Kamen, Zoisite

Luna is inside Game Center Crown after hours. She sits in front of the Sailor V arcade game and says to the screen, "Code name 0091. This is Luna. My secret password is 'The rabbit on the moon makes rice cakes.'" A voice responds, "The moon rice cakes are sticky." Luna says, "When I grilled them, they puffed up." The voice asks how the Sailor Senshi are doing, and Luna says that one of them needs to be more self-aware, but the rest are doing okay. The voice then says that all five Sailor Senshi will meet one day soon. Because of that, and the fact the Dark Kingdom seems to be more impatient, the voice instructs Luna to give the senshi more information about their mission.

Luna calls Usagi, Makoto, Rei, and Ami to Hikawa Jinja at night. She instructs them to listen very carefully to what she has to say, and not to be surprised. First, she tells them that she was sent from the moon, and she came to awaken the girls. She says that the princess they are looking for is a descendant of the Moon Kingdom, and they must find her soon to protect her. Usagi asks if there is really a rabbit on the moon pounding rice cakes (like in the legend), but everyone becomes frustrated with her.

In the Dark Kingdom's lair, Kunzite and Zoisite look at the four Nijizuishou they have already collected. Zoisite is determined to locate the other crystals, and Kunzite reminds him that once they have all seven, they will be able to obtain the Ginzuishou. He wants to get the crystal as soon as possible so that he can "see Queen Beryl smile with delight." Zoisite is extremely jealous of this display of affection for someone else.

Umino and Naru sit together outside of school, eating their lunch. Usagi sees them and says that they make a perfect couple. She asks them if they are dating now, but Naru says that they are just friends. Umino is upset because she thinks they are just friends, and he leaves. Naru stays and tells Usagi that Umino is a good person, and he helps her study because he is smart, but she just doesn't have that "special feeling" for him.

Later, Usagi tells Umino that he has to be more aggressive in the relationship, but he says that he doesn't know what to do. Since she has "lots of experience in romance," she tells him he must transform into a "cool guy" like Tuxedo Kamen. He thinks that if he transforms into Tuxedo Kamen, he will get to be Naru's boyfriend... so he resolves to be "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" starting today.

As Usagi and Naru walk home from school, they notice that someone is following them. Suddenly, a small poodle begins to bark at them. It was Umino who was following them... he runs forward wearing a cape and top hat, then says, "Tuxedo Umino Kamen is here! Evil minion, baring your fangs at Naru! In the name of justice, I will punish you!" He holds up a large mallet... but the woman who owns the dog hits him over the head with it and storms off. Naru and Usagi ask him what he is doing, but he just proclaims that he is Tuxedo Kamen "of love and justice" and runs away.

The two girls visit Game Center Crown, where "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" warns them that they should not make stops on their way home from school. He says that if they insist on going in, they will have to step over him... he then lies down on the ground in front of them! The girls simply step over him and go inside.

Inside the arcade, Motoki tells Usagi that he has two tickets, and asks her if she would be interested in going. Usagi excitedly thinks that he is asking her on a date to a movie, but she is mistaken... he actually wants to give her tickets to the Redman Show at the local amusement park because he thinks that he is too old to go. The girls initially say that they are too old as well, but Usagi decides to take them anyway and send Naru and Umino to the show together. Naru isn't sure about going on a date with Umino, but Usagi tells her that she should be understanding because he is trying in his own way. Naru agrees to go.

In the Dark Kingdom, Zoisite immerses the Kurozuishou in a potion which enables him to transform ordinary humans into youma. He pledges to use it to steal all of the Nijizuishou back from the youma.

Zoisite appears in a flurry of rose petals outside of Naru's apartment above Jewelry Osa-P. He intends to lure Sailor Moon into the open by turning Naru into a youma. When he arrives, he sees "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" already there and assumes that it is the real Tuxedo Kamen, whom he thinks has already figured out his plan. He withdraws, but Umino has already seen him and become extremely frightened by his vision.

Naru answers the door of her apartment, and tells Umino that it is too late to visit. He says that he just wanted to schedule a meeting time for their "date" tomorrow, but she slams the door and goes back inside. She finally says that they should meet at noon, and he proposes having lunch together. He says that he will make lots of fried shrimp, but she doesn't answer.

[Commercial Break]

Usagi visits the amusement park the next day so that she can see how her friend's romantic life is going, and Luna follows her to keep an eye on her. At the Redman show, Naru tells Umino that she's glad he didn't wear "that weird outfit," and he says that it is with him in his backpack... if he needs to transform, he will be able to do so.

Zoisite, who is riding the carousel, attempts to use the Kurozuishou to turn Naru into a youma. A burst of energy shoots forward from the tip of the crystal, but just as it reaches Naru, she drops her notebook and bends down to pick it up. The energy zooms over her head and hits the Redman actor instead, causing him to immediately turn into the youma Akan.

He immediately knocks the actor playing the villain in the show off the stage, and begins throwing marimo (green algae) balls at him and the audience members. The marimo balls completely engulf the people they hit.

Naru has not been hit by one of the balls, but just as Akan is about to throw one at her, Usagi grabs her and runs away. Meanwhile, "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" appears and confronts the youma in an attempt to protect Naru. He throws several fried shrimp at him before rushing forward. The youma knocks him backwards, but he is still determined to protect Naru, even if it costs him his life.

Usagi quickly transforms into Sailor Moon. Meanwhile, Umino is severely injured in his fight against Akan, and Naru becomes engulfed in one of the large marimo balls. Sailor Moon soon appears and scolds the villain for turning a "national treasure, Lake Akan's marimo balls" into a weapon. She says the Hokkaido Tourist Association never gave him permission to do that! He throws more marimo balls at her, but misses, and she gives a speech.

Zoisite appears and asks her to give him the Nijizuishou she has. He tells her that if she doesn't do as he asks, everyone who is trapped within a marimo ball will suffocate and die. She takes the yellow rainbow crystal out and puts it in his hand, but Tuxedo Kamen appears and uses his cane to knock it to the ground. This angers Zoisite, who throws rose petals which become sharp projectiles at him. Tuxedo Kamen easily deflects them by spinning his cane.

Sailor Moon grabs the Nijizuishou, but Akan throws more marimo balls, causing her to trip and drop it. Zoisite and Tuxedo Kamen both fight for the crystal.

Sailor Moon uses Moon Tiara Action, but she calls out, "Just a little bit!" in order to make the attack less severe. Her tiara hits Akan from behind and knocks him to the ground, giving her the opportunity to use Moon Healing Escalation to heal him, transforming him back into the actor playing Redman. The marimo balls engulfing everyone quickly disappear.

Sailor Moon rushes to get the Nijizuishou, but Zoisite appears and grabs it instead. Luna attempts to stop him, but he knocks her backwards. He disappears just as Tuxedo Kamen throws a rose at him. Tuxedo Kamen vows to get the crystal back and take it for himself.

The Redman show continues, and all of the audience members think that the preceding events were just part of the show. Naru thanks "Tuxedo Umino Kamen" for rescuing her, and says he was very cool.

That night, Luna scolds Usagi for letting the Nijizuishou be stolen. Usagi isn't listening; she looks into the orgel and wonders what Tuxedo Kamen's plan is.