Full Moon wo Sagashite > Episode 07

• Episode Title - Full Moon, Debut!
• Episode # - [Episode 07]
• Season - 1
• Original Airing Date - 
• Written by - xiwang

:: Synopsis ::

The episode starts off with a radio DJ playing Full Moon's debut hit single, "Myself." Mitsuki's grandmother arrives home and she is apparently becoming suspicious of her granddaughter, because she asks the housekeeper if she's noticed anything strange about Mitsuki lately. After she goes and checks on her, it is revealed that Meroko is once again covering for Mitsuki, who is out on a day trip with Takuto to the city of Shibuya.

Awed by all the city sights, Mitsuki's attention is caught by a crowd gathered beneath a billboard, and she is pleasantly surprised to see an announcement for Full Moon's debut live concert. She is even more stunned when she walks into a lobby and finds a long line of people waiting to buy tickets for the concert. Doubts about her ability to sing in front of such a large crowd begins to fill Mitsuki's mind, but Takuto brushes off her concerns. They step into an elevator and Takuto transforms Mitsuki into her "Full Moon" persona. Stepping off, Mitsuki is confronted a young woman who informs her that she was #22 at the audition, and that because they chose Mitsuki (#21), she wasn't even able to try out. The girl clearly has a sore-loser attitude, because she goes on to say that Mitsuki was only picked because of her "cute looks", not for her singing talent. Mitsuki is shaken by the girl's nasty comments, and her doubts begin to resurface.

Arriving in a room occupied by her manager and several other people, Mitsuki is clearly still shaken and asks Ooshige-san if she was chosen only for her pretty face. Her manager admits that it was a factor but tells Mitsuki that her talent as a singer was also an important issue. As two women begin to style Mitsuki's hair, Takuto changes back to his usual form and departs, leaving Mitsuki to her thoughts.

A few hours later, Takuto returns and finds Mitsuki standing outside on the building's roof, staring out over the city contemplatively. Takuto is astonished to hear Mitsuki say she'll sing well because it's her job, and he warns her that if she regards her singing as just something she's duty-bound to do, she'll never be able to touch anyone's heart. Mitsuki realizes that what he says is true but Takuto sees that doubts still plague her, and tries to encourage her by admitting that he was shocked at the audition when he saw what a beautiful voice she had. He says that he felt as if he were in a dream, and he was happy to know that there were such talented singers in the world. Feeling her spirits rise, Mitsuki resolves to sing confidentally because she enjoys it, not because she has to.

Returning to the room, Mitsuki is greeted by a box containing thousands of postcards that fans had sent to reserve Full Moon's CD. Beaming, Ooshige-san tells her that those are just the reservations for one store, and Mitsuki appears swept away by such a large fan response. Ooshige-san goes on, cheerfully informing her that "this is only after promoting [Mitsuki] by playing [her] song on the radio", which confirms that people loved Mitsuki's songs even before they ever saw her face.

At the concert, Mitsuki allays any lingering fear by performing her single, "Myself," beautifully. Takuto lends a special hand by providing magical wings to Mitsuki, resulting in her looking even more angelic. The audience's response to Mitsuki's performance is overwhelming enthusiastic and they cheer wildly. Afterwards, Mitsuki returns backstage and finds the young woman from earlier in the day waiting to apologize for her cruel words. She admits that Mitsuki is a much better singer than herself, and both resolve to try harder to improve their singing, dissolving in friendly laughter. Mitsuki then finds Takuto waiting on the rooftop, and thanks him for his earlier words of encouragement. They both lapse into silence, watching the sunset...

:: Quotables ::

"Sing well." - Takuto
"I'll sing just fine. Because that's my job." - Mitsuki
"What do you mean, 'it's your job?' No matter how stressful work is, would you still put on your 'business smile' and do you best?" - Takuto
"I never said that!" - Mitsuki
"If you consider this to be work, and sing with such a cold face, you won't be able to touch anyone's heart. Above all, you truly have to enjoy singing." - Takuto

Full Moon wo Sagashite > Episode 02

• Episode Title - A Promise With Eichi-kun
• Episode # - [Episode 02]
• Season - 1
• Original Airing Date - April 13, 2002
• Written by - xiwang

:: Synopsis ::

Following immediately after Mitsuki's successful audition, Meroko and Takuto are distraught that she actually made it. Meroko angrily reminds Takuto that their sole mission is to stop any change in Mitsuki's remaining year of life, not help her win the audition! They are still arguing when Mitsuki walks up to them, laughing. She thanks Takuto for the spell and explains that her audition song was composed by her father, who was a musician. Takuto muses over this, before changing Mitsuki back to her normal twelve-year-old self. He asks her if she truly wants to become a singer, and Mitsuki shyly explains that she made a promise with Eichi-kun while in a nursing institution. He had to move to America due to his foster family's situation, and before he left they both made a vow to be closer to their dreams the next time they met.

Mitsuki sheepishly admits when asked by Meroko that she hasn't kept in contact with Eichi-kun because she doesn't know his contact details. Blushing, she says that if she becomes a singer, her fame might spread to America and Eichi-kun will able to take notice of her. Upon hearing this, Takuto becomes furious, stating that he thought it was Mitsuki's pure wish to become a singer and demands that she stop singing if she's only doing it all for a guy. Taken aback by his irrational reaction, Meroko and Mitsuki plead for him to change his mind but he charges on, shouting at Mitsuki that it's not normal to be neglected by a guy for two years and declares that Eichi-kun must have moved on already. Takuto takes off, flatly refusing to help Mitsuki any further.

Later, Wakaouji-sensei spots Mitsuki standing alone in front of Seed Records and offers her a ride home. He gently scolds her for disobeying his orders not to attend the audition and Mitsuki meekly apologizes. The doctor is stunned when Mitsuki happily tells him she passed the audition, because singing should've been impossible for her, due to her current health condition. Mitsuki hesitates to tell him the truth, deciding he would never believe her story about the Shinigami, and instead tells him she passed as a model. Wakaouji-sensei knowingly asks who she put as her guardian on the application, and Mitsuki confesses that she wrote his name down in place of her grandmother's. Laughing, he assures her that it's all right and to keep this a secret from her grandmother.

At home, Grandmother angrily berates Mitsuki for leaving the house without permission. Mitsuki apologizes, but Grandmother warns that next time she won't forgive so easily. Mitsuki flees to the comfort of her room and as she reflects on Takuto's earlier words, she whispers that Eichi-kun would never abandon her... Outside on the rooftop of the Kouyama house, Takuto sits, staring out at the clear night sky. Meroko finds him but he asks that she leave him alone. Sighing, Meroko says there is nowhere for her to go, since Mitsuki also wants to be left alone. Meroko accuses Takuto of making Mitsuki depressed and then asks if he likes the girl, since he's so concerned over her behavior towards Eichi-kun. Takuto instantly denies it, exclaiming that he only used the "God Spell" for the mission. Meroko doesn't believe him, and declares that Takuto will be hers in the end.

The next morning, Meroko offers to tell Mitsuki's fortune using tarot cards. Mitsuki picks out a card but she's startled to see a ghastly image of a skeleton holding a scepter. Meroko plucks the card out of her hand and exclaims that today's a lucky day. She persuades Mitsuki to go shopping with her, who happily agrees, since Grandmother is out for the day and only Tanaka-san, the housekeeper, is home. Mitsuki slyly blackmails Tanaka-san into taking her to the local shops and she takes Meroko along in her guise as a stuffed rabbit. After Tanaka-san wanders off, Meroko instructs Mitsuki to leave her in the restroom for a little while. Smiling, Meroko sets her plan in motion, changing herself into a carbon replica of Eichi-kun.

As Mitsuki sits alone on the bench waiting for Meroko, she is stunned to see Eichi-kun standing in the crowd. "Eichi-kun" approaches, while Meroko sneakily thinks that if Mitsuki's wish to see Eichi-kun again comes true, she won't have any need to become a singer and Takuto will give up on the girl. Believing that the doppelganger is really Eichi-kun, Mitsuki apologizes for ever doubting him and asks if he still loves her. Just as she is about to confess her love for him, "Eichi-kun" takes off. Takuto, who has been keeping watch nearby, appears, informing Mitsuki that "Eichi-kun" was really Meroko in disguise. He explains that Shinigami have the ability to change their form and take on the appearance of anybody. Mitsuki is crushed by the lie and doesn't object when Tanaka-san escorts her home.

Takuto yells at Meroko for her foolish behavior, accusing her of toying with Mitsuki's sincerity and feelings. Meroko admits that what she did was a terrible thing, but she asks how Takuto's earlier tirade was any better, since he trashed Eichi-kun without knowing a thing about the boy. Ashamed, Takuto pops down into Mitsuki's room and apologizes for his hurtful words. Mitsuki sighs that if she really believed in Eichi-kun, she wouldn't have cared about what Takuto said. She declares she won't hesitate anymore, to believe equally in her singing and in Eichi-kunn, and to strive hard to make her dream come true. Takuto sees the truth in her words and promises to help her for one year. He gives her a whistle that she can blow anytime to call for him, much to Mitsuki's delight. Meroko is also shamed when Mitsuki says that today was truly a lucky day, believing that Meroko changed into Eichi-kun to encourage her, and she cries she'll never do anything terrible again...

:: Quotables ::

"Even if we're far apart, I'll look up and search for the moon. So please shine more and more so I can find it sooner." - Eichi-kun

"Heh, no matter how hard you work, irresponsible reactions will ooze out from the bottom of your heart." - Takuto

Full Moon wo Sagashite > Episode 01

• Episode Title - But I Want To Sing
• Episode # - [Episode 01]
• Season - 1
• Original Airing Date - April 6, 2002
• Written by - xiwang

SUMMARY

Full Moon wo Sagashite starts with a dream that twelve-year-old Kouyama Mitsuki is having. Her wish to become a real singer has come true, and the boy that she loves, Eichi-kun, has come to watch and declares his love for her. Poor Mitsuki is disappointed when she wakes up to find her alarm clock ringing and realizes it was all just a dream. As she fixes her hair in her room, Mitsuki begins to sing (quite prettily, I might add), but suddenly falls to her knees, clutching her throat. Her disapproving grandmother comes in, and scolds Mitsuki, telling her that "music is a disgusting subject" and makes a passing reference to Mitsuki's father.

Wakaouji-sensei, Mitsuki's doctor, arrives to check up on his delighted patient. After he finishes his examination, Mitsuki asks him if she could have "an excuse to be at your hospital today." He smiles, guessing that she wants an alibi to go somewhere, and Mitsuki proudly presents her callback for Seed Record's new artist audition. Wakaouji regretfully tells her no, however, and that because of her throat tumor, he cannot approve as her doctor. He points out that there's no way she can sing for the audition until her throat is fully recovered. Seeing her sadness, Wakaouji suggests Mitsuki have an operation done while her tumor is still small, but Mitsuki replies that she doesn't want one because there's a possibility she might lose her voice and that she's more afraid of being unable to sing than dying.

Later as he prepares to leave, Wakaouji pleads with Mitsuki's grandmother to make her reconsider having the operation. Grandmother angrily tells him that she's tried but Mitsuki won't listen and that she's just like her former daughter. Mitsuki, who was watching, closes her door and sadly places her callback into her desk. She pulls a book from the shelf titled "Space" and flips through the pages until she finds a photo tucked inside of her and Eichi-kun. Mitsuki remembers a promise she made to him; Eichi-kun told her that the next time they met, he wanted them both to be closer to their dreams; his to be an astronomer and her to be a singer. As she contemplates this, a hand suddenly shoots out of the poster above her desk, causing a startled Mitsuki to scramble to the back of her room. An oddly dressed young man and woman emerge from a portal in the poster and they are shocked when they realize Mitsuki can see them. They panic but then introduce themselves as Takuto and Meroko and inadvertently reveal they are Shinigami (gods of death) who have come to take her away. Mitsuki bows her head in quiet acceptance of the fact that she will die a year from now. Takuto awkwardly tries to comfort Mitsuki by telling her that even now there are people trying to stop her death but admits that her fate cannot be changed.

Mitsuki's resolve to go to the Seed Record audition is strengthened by the knowledge that she can't put off her dream any longer and she slips out of her house unnoticed. She makes her way to the recording studio, happy that she'll finally be able to fulfill her promise to Eichi-kun. Takuto and Meroko catch up to her but are bewildered when they see her trying to force her way inside. Meroko points out that Mitsuki will only run away again if they appear as they are now, so they both transform into cute little stuffed animals. As soon as Mitsuki approaches them, they transform back and latch onto her, dragging her away from the building. She reluctantly admits to them that she couldn't go in through the front because she doesn't look sixteen. She escapes their grip and runs back, desperate to get into the studio. She pleads with them to at least allow her to audition and taking pity on her, Takuto performs a spell that turns Mitsuki into a healthy sixteen year old. A jealous Meroko admonishes Takuto for ignoring their orders but he points out that if they don't let her do this now, she may cause more trouble when she has to die.

"If she regrets here, then when she dies, she may not agree to come to the spiritual world. That'll bother us more." - Takuto

"That's right but -- what if she passes? That'll be more regret." - Meroko

"That's all right. She won't pass easily. To be 16 and audition...To know the reality of life and then have failed, she won't even have a piece of regret afterwards." - Takuto

Inside the studio, Mitsuki feels intimidated by all the beautiful girls that surround her, unaware of the attention she herself attracts. She is stunned when another girl tells her there's a story going around that a successful member has already been chosen but after thinking of all the people who told her she would never make it, Mitsuki decides to go through with the audition anyway. She goes through a brief interview and quietly begins to sing her song. The panel of interviewers stop the music, asking if something is wrong with her throat because she isn't singing loudly enough. Mitsuki feels her resolve slip and is about to run out of the room when she is stopped by Takuto, who advises her not to give up so easily. An encouraged Mitsuki apologizes to the panel and asks for another chance. This time, she belts out her song beautifully and the strongly impressed interviewers immediately declare that it's been decided down to her, leaving Mitsuki thrilled!

:: Quotables ::

"I'm more afraid to be unable to sing than to die." - Mitsuki Kouyama

"If I only have a year left, I can't be slowed down anymore." - Mitsuki