Episode 3. Homunculus

Tsugumi is singing at her concert, surrounded by many enthusiastic fans... But her dream is interrupted by the alarm clock. She wakes up in her room, which is filled up with character goods of her favourite idol, Daikanyama Hatoko.

She comes down for breakfast where she is attacked by a masked woman, Rosario Misa... or her mother, who is a professional wrestler. Tsugumi thought she was on tour. Misa has just dropped in on the way to Kyushuu from Touhoku.

Tsugumi, with her Pata-Pi, joins the morning training of Higashijuujou Martial Arts School, which her father runs. Although her parents are professional martial artists and she shows her exceptional talent in karate, she is an idol otaku who dreams to be one herself someday.

Hibari is on her way school, eating her breakfast, donuts. She has been eating donuts for her breakfast for a week because the donuts shop is offering scratch cards with whose point one can get a kit for Pata-Pi; an original diary with Kamehame Maki's horoscope. Unfortunately all her eight cards are of one point, two points short of the target.

Seeing the signal is changing to red, she runs across the road and drops Densuke. He is nearly run over by a truck but saved by Tsugumi, who happens to be near. She hands Densuke back to Hibari, who sees off her in adoration.

At school Hibari realises she saw Tsugumi at the Commencement Ceremony. She must be a fresher, too! Hibari wonders which class she is in.

Suzume notices that Hiabri is pensive and tells Franchesca to help help. His eyes illuminate and project a hologram of a lady; Kamehame Maki. Yes, Suzume has got the special diary for Franchesca. The president of Misudo, the donuts chain offering the diary, is an acquaintance of her father. Hibari is envious and tells Suzume that she is two points short. Suzume is about to give her cards, now useless for her, to Hibari when Densuke recognises Tsugumi walking down the corridor. Before Suzume produces her cards, Hibari leaves her desk to say thank you to Tsugumi.

It turns out that she is in the neighbouring class and they do their PE together. In the changing room, Hibari asks which elementary school Tsugumi went. She was in Akihabara First Elementary School. No wonder Hibari, who is from Third, didn't recognise her [in the big cities in Japan, elementary and junior high schools are often given a number, rather than a specific name. This is to do with their history, not their ability.].

Suzume literally steps in between them. It is obvious that she is jealous and feels rivalry to this girl who has been chatting with Suzume so casually. Hibari senses something isn't right and tries to praise Suzume by praising her Pata-Pi with the horoscope. Tsugumi seems indifferent about it and offers her card to Hibari quicker than Suzume does. This causes silent fury in Suzume but Hibari fails to notice it.

The school is over and Suzume asks Hibari if she would like to go to a new Pata-Pi shop with her. Hibari tells her she's been already booked. It shocks Suzume, who has always walked home together with her ever since they were in a kindergarten.

Hibari is at a hamburger shop with Tsugumi. She has offered to buy a meal to thank her and to celebrate that they have become friends. At first Tsugumi is bewildered to see this unusually friendly girl but soon come to like her. The heart-warming scene is, however, nowhere close to it to Tsugumi, who has been watching them from outside.

Hibari is very impressed with Tsugumi's Pata-Pi, Tetsu, who is really powerful. Finding out her home is an martial art school, Hibari wants to make a visit. She gets excited; it's always exciting to visit a friend's house for the first time. "Oh, can I visit from now?" Tsugumi, who has been watching Hibari with a gentle gaze, doesn't mind it at all. She even offers Hibari to stay overnight. Tsugumi is really getting fond of her.

Outside, Suzume is burning herself with jealousy. But her anger gets diverted by that old man, who has been appreciating her pink knickers.

Now Hibari realises that Suzume is outside of the restaurant and approaches to the window with Tsugumi. Suzume tells her that she has come here *by chance*, forgetting her voice doesn't reach them. She walks away in dignity. Although Tsugumi suspects Suzume's anger, Hibari doesn't at all.

Furious Suzume is on her way home when Hibari, with a rather nasty smile on her face, stops her. Without a word, she runs away and turns a corner into an alleyway. Suzume, who is very fond of her after all, has no choice other than follows her. She comes into an open space surrounded by buildings, where Blood Falcon, not Hibari, greets her. She is scornful of Suzume, who, like Hibari, is deceived so easily. But Suzume's reply is far more cutting, "Oh dear... How old are you... in such a costume? Are you properly paying tax?"

Blood Falcon wants her Pata-Pi. Suzume tells Franchesca to transform as he did last time to beat her. He gives a nod but projects Kamehame Maki, who declares Suzume's fortune is the worst imaginable, instead of trasnforming. Blood Falcon is pleased to hear this and insists she will make her prediction happen for her honour. Suzume decides it is best to ignore her and tries to walk away but Blood Falcon gets in her way by summoning homunculi. Suzume is not afraid of them but of her father who would tell her off for coming home late.

Tsugumi is on her way home with Hibari and takes a short cut, which takes them to the open space where Suzume is held by the homunculi. Recognising Hibari, the homunculi lets Suzume go and start attacking Hibari. But they turns out to be no match against Tsugumi, a martial art specialist. Blood Falcon is impressed with her and summons more powerful servant, Cerberus.

Tsugumi is overawed and doesn't know what to do. When Hibari cries on her friend's crisis, Densuke transforms into a Deva and saves the frightened Tsugumi. Suzume, jealous with Densuke, orders Franchesca, "You must transform, too. Do it now!!" Franchesca shines and transforms just like Densuke and gives a powerful blow to Cerberus.

Shooting Star, who has been watching the fight from the top of a building nearby, feels Cerberus is too weak for "a dance partner of the ladies". He gives it part of the power of his Misterius Mugnam. Now Cerberus is in the commading position and approaches slowly to Tsugumi. She cries out in a terror, to which Tetsu responds by transformation to a Deva. It seems Tetsu Deva in power and throws Cerberus pretty easily.

Shooting Star seems to be rather pleased to see individuality of the three girls; "One was awaken by love. Next by jealousy. And the third by terror. They do entertain me."

Hibari is really happy to see Densuke finally equipped with Kamehame Maki's diary. Suzume is appalled with her as she has been using the fortune-telling so many times today. Then the PA system calls Tsugumi to Master's room. Tsugumi meekly comes in the room where the Master asks the same question he asked to Hibari and Suzume. "I like this town of Akihabara. Do you like it, too?" Hearing "Yes, I do" from the bewilder Tsugumi, he lets her go, which bewilders her even more.

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