From: phoenix@mediaone.net   
      
   Act 30 - Mio Deceives Usagi   
      
   Mio is truly gifted at emotional manipulation (and maybe a little mind   
   control as well). Her words to the students and Usagi are technically   
   correct, but it makes Usagi look like a terrible person who hates and   
   is hurting Mio because Mio is a rival to Usagi's favorite idol,   
   Minako. She reminds me of the character Sae Kashiwagi from Peach Girl   
   who used these same sort of cruel word play exploits.   
      
   The one-sided (and somewhat pitiful) romancing continues as Motoki   
   unsuccessfully attempts to set up a movie date between him and Makoto   
   using some special reserved seating tickets.   
      
   In the secret base, the senshi continue with their chopsticks training   
   which was apparently responsible for Ami's awakening in the last act   
   (Um, did I miss something? That odd bubble tractor beam was Ami's   
   awakening? That's a bit disappointing.)   
      
   Kunzite confronts Jadeite in the Dark Kingdom's... um, just where the   
   heck are they? They have ornate stairwells in the DK caves? Anyway, it   
   appears that Jadeite is the new favorite and Kunzite is on the outs.   
   Beryl confronts Kunzite and confirms that he has recovered his   
   memories. She attempts to erase them but fails. She then says that she   
   will allow him to keep his memories because it suits her purposes.   
      
   Zoisite continues to appeal to Mamoru appearing in this huge ornate   
   mirror (what kind of student dorm room has huge ornate mirrors?) I   
   suppose Mamoru could get rid of the mirror, but it looks like he does   
   not really resent Zoisite's presence (Hey Zoisite, can you quiz me on   
   tomorrow's Calculus test?)   
      
   Usagi has been completely ostracized by all her classmates expect for   
   her immediate friends. While Usagi and Ami eat lunch alone on the   
   roof, Naru challenges Mio about her treatment of Usagi. Mio gives Naru   
   the evil eye and Naru doubles over in pain.   
      
   Mio is singing one of her idol songs (Change of Pace, which is   
   actually pretty nice) in a recording studio when Minako shows up to   
   question her about her transfer to Usagi's school. In another amazing   
   stunt of manipulation, Mio makes it appear to the studio crew that   
   Minako is mistreating her, but Mio is such a wonderful person that she   
   wants them to forgive Minako for her cruelty.   
      
   The next day, Mio once again sets up a trap for Usagi, tricking her   
   into believing that Minako is coming to their school to give a special   
   concert. She encourages Usagi to set up everything and to take full   
   credit for the concert as a way of recovering her good standing with   
   the other students.   
      
   Somehow, with only the help of Mio, Usagi arranges banners, prepares a   
   stage, sound system, lights, etc. in a single day for a concert that   
   night. Mio tells Usagi that Ami and Makoto won't be coming to the   
   concert because they don't believe in Usagi like she does.   
      
   It is now an hour past the time the concert was to start and the   
   students are starting to riot. With more manipulation, Usagi goes out   
   onto the stage to apologize that Minako has not yet arrived. Just in   
   case we have not yet picked up on the subtle hints that Mio is EVIL,   
   Mio, herself, now laughs and gloats over her manipulations and just   
   how much she hates Usagi.   
      
   It's a shame that the other senshi hadn't told Usagi about Minako yet.   
   If she had known Minako was Venus, she could have called her via her   
   special cell phone and confirmed her appearance.   
      
   As Usagi is apologizing and the crowd is demanding Minako's   
   appearance, the stage lights go out and music can be heard from   
   outside the stadium. The crowd rushes outside to see Minako on a   
   mobile stage with a band, lights, the works. Minako apologies for   
   being late and then kicks off the party.   
      
   As the concert progresses, Usagi notices the youma from the previous   
   act nearby and gives chase. In a final confrontation, Usagi powers up   
   and finishes the youma with a super MTF.   
      
   After the concert, Minako confronts Mio revealing to Usagi that she   
   was tricked and Usagi's friends were also tricked into missing the   
   concert. Mio says that she only deceived Usagi because she wants Usagi   
   to love only her because Mio loves Usagi so much. Of course Usagi   
   believes her completely and forgives her because that is the entire   
   basis of Usagi's fundamental character.   
      
   Usagi runs off to join her friends waiting for her, leaving Minako and   
   Mio alone. Minako warns Mio that she is not as forgiving or naive as   
   Usagi and that Mio better not do anything strange to Usagi again.   
      
   --   
   Phoenix   
   www.phoenixanime.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)