The Birth of Sailor V!

Chapter Data

Minako's reflection as Sailor V in the compact
Name (kanji/kana):	セーラーＶ誕生！
Name (romaji):	Seeraa V Tanjou!
Name (translated):	The Birth of Sailor V!
Volume Number:	1
Chapter Number:	1
Previous Chapter:	N/A
Next Chapter:	Minako in "Game Center Crown"

The Birth of Sailor V! was the first act of the Codename: Sailor V manga.

Summary

Minako Aino is in gym class, and spoils a perfect dismount from the high bar when she lands on a strange white cat. She wants to show off because she is in a good mood, as this is the day she plans to deliver a love letter to her senpai, Higashi.

In class, her teacher catches her eating and chides her for not paying attention and for her poor grades. The white cat watches her through the window and wonders about her, but a voice comes from the pen he carries, assuring him she is the one.

Minako is assigned to tutoring by an older student because of her poor grades, and is thrilled to find out that Higashi-senpai will be her tutor. He tells her that she would look pretty with a big red ribbon in her hair. Higashi is then called away by Haneda, and Minako wonders if she is his girlfriend, but tells herself that she can't be, but she, Minako, will be sure to win him over.

As she leaves the class, Minako realizes she forgot to give the letter to Higashi. She is surprised and annoyed to see the white cat lurking around again.

In the meantime, Higashi is surrounded by a crowd of admiring girls. He invites them to walk home with him, with an ominous gleam in his eye.

Once Minako gets home, her mother yells at her for getting her uniform dirty and not acting ladylike. Minako goes to take a bath and looks at herself in the mirror, wishing she could be pretty like Haneda. The white cat appears then and tells her that she was born with the protection of the goddess of beauty, then introduces himself as Artemis. Minako screams and throws him out the window.

Minako returns to her room, upset about a cat that not only talks but peeps at her, wondering if it's some kind of joke. Artemis appears in her window again and tells her that she has been chosen, and has the power to transform into someone stronger and more beautiful than anyone. Minako has a hard time believing this, but he gives her a crescent-shaped compact and tells her to open it. When she does, she sees her reflection with the addition of a crescent moon on her forehead.

She suddenly sees a vision of herself floating in space near Earth, as Artemis tells her that is the planet she is supposed to protect. The vision then shifts to Venus, and he tells her that is her mother star; he points out Magellan Castle, which orbits over the land of Aphrodite, and is her home castle. Boss's voice comes from the pen once more, telling Minako that she carries the protection of Venus and was chosen by fate, born to fight in its name. Minako faints, overwhelmed.

Minako wakes up the next morning, wondering at her strange dream. She spots the love letter and remembers that she forgot to deliver it. As she approaches Higashi, however, she notices that his fans are still protectively gathered around him and is intimidated. Meanwhile, Higashi smirks about how he has enslaved all these girls. He receives a call on his cell phone from someone he calls Fluorite; the person addresses Higashi as Narkissos and orders him to get more brainwashed slaves so they can take over Japan. Artemis overhears this, and both he and Boss realize that Higashi is the enemy.

Minako's friend Hikaru advises her that Higashi always eats lunch alone in the garden, so Minako, now wearing a big red ribbon in her hair, heads off to find him and give him the letter. As she is on her way, Artemis stops her and warns her to stay away from Higashi, but Minako is annoyed, thinking someone is still playing a trick on her.

As she approaches the garden, she sees Haneda talking to Higashi and overhears him compliment her on the red ribbon she always wears in her hair. Minako is disappointed that the two of them love each other, and decides to find another boy. As she turns away, though, Higashi uses his power to enslave Haneda; Minako hears the scream and turns back. She is alarmed by what she sees, and is then spotted by Higashi, who turns on her as well.

Artemis throws the pen to Minako, and she hears Boss's voice telling her to transform and defeat this enemy. Minako is momentarily stunned, and Higashi attacks her; though she is weakened, she obeys Artemis' order and holds the pen up with a cry of, "Moon Power, Transform!" She transforms into Sailor V, and Higashi orders his minions to attack her. Artemis tells her to use her compact to attack the enemy, because it will let her see his true form. Sailor V holds the open compact up and cries out, "Crescent Beam!" which destroys Higashi and frees his slaves, leaving them unconscious.

Back at Minako's house, Artemis looks sadly at the girl as she lies face-down on her bed, and tells Boss that he was too forceful. Boss replies that Artemis will be her partner from now on; she is confused and needs him to show her the way. Artemis goes over to Minako and wakes her up by licking her cheek. He re-introduces himself, then tells her to open the window and leave the compact in the light of the full moon to charge it.

The next morning, Minako decides that she still likes the red ribbon in her hair. As she leaves for school, Artemis greets her, and is dismayed to find that she plans to find herself another cute guy, and in fact, has immediately fallen for a new idol.

Trivia

• This act featured the first appearances of the following characters: Minako Aino/Sailor V, Artemis, Hikaru Sorano, Gurikazu Amano, Boss, Haneda, Minako's mother, Fluorite, and Higashi/Narkissos. Other first appearances include Shiba Koen Junior High School, the compact, the transformation pen, Moon Power, Transform, and Crescent Beam.