Dear Motoki,

I am sad that I have not yet recieved a response from you. But I know that it is a far way to Japan, and perhaps the letters were lost. I hope not. I do not wish to write again what I wrote in them.

Things are going well for me. I am taking two music classes, one in which I shall learn how to read music, and the other I will learn to play the guitar. The teacher says that I am very good for a beginner. Do you play an instrument? Or have you been too busy with your work?

I have finished my outfit. Though now I am a little doubtful that I have designed it correctly. Perhaps it was wrong to make it sailor fuku, and people will notice that it is like Sailor Jupiter. I should have been more more original. I meant to think of an original name also, but I did not think of one in time.

I wore the costume for the first time yesterday, after school. I had just finished the mask that morning, which I though I had ruined because I cut the eye holes far too large. But you know that material that is see through when it is close? I put that in the holes to make sure I could see but they could not see my eyes.

Though crime usually does not happen randomly, and I have no way of knowing if a crime is being committed or a way to get there in time, I was able to save someone. I knew what to do. Ever since Ms. Blume told me about the drugs, I did some investigation. I heard that a drug dealer, Tom Pyrus, is in Southerland, and he works for a big-name supplier that lives in the southern part of the this state. No one knows who the supplier is, but they say that he runs the drug industry in southern California, even as far west as Nevada. There are many rumors.

But Pyrus is a small dealer. I do not believe that he has competition in Southerland, which has remained drug-free since it was formed. But if he and his lesser dealers are not stopped, then we will not see the end of drug use here.

No, I did not get him yet. I had wandered into the worst part of town, wearing my new black coat with my mask tucked under the collar. I also wore the kilt that the strange Scottish lady had recommended to hide my sailor skirt. I remember that it was County Monaghan tartan. I wanted to learn more on Scotland, but all I have for now is one of Amy's books on Robert Bruce. Anyway, those hid my costume very well, and so did my winter boots. I wish I had not kept my leggings under my skirt. It was cold, but I could not let anyone recognise anything.

So I went to the drug areas, and one of Pyrus's dealers was being yelled at in an alley. I am surprised that they were in public. But it was easier for me because not so many of the drug people were there. I do not understand how it works, but some thugs were yelling at a girl dealer, or maybe she was a runner, who was supposed to deliver drugs but never got them there. She said that they were stolen. The others were not happy with her because they said it was not the first time she did that. I do not remember the conversation, as I was quickly getting into costume, but I did hear that they were going to kill her.

Because I practiced, I was able to be ready in less than a minute. I was not able to buy knives as a weapon, so I used kitchen knives instead and covered the handles in electrical tape (it was better than being laughed at for using kitchen knives). I was not able to practice throwing the knives, but I threw one to try and get the main thug to drop his gun. It hit nothing.

The thugs immediately demanded to know who I was (Pyrus was not one of them), but I had decided not to speak, because my voice is too recognizable. When they were distracted, the girl tried to run, but two of the boys (there were five together) ran after her. It was frightening, because the one with the gun tried to shoot me, but I ran in and threw another knife. It also missed, but it was close enough so that he dropped the gun. Before he or one of his could go after it, I stabbed him, then fought off both of the other two thugs. I did not think I would be able to stop them, but even as I knocked out one, the other grabbed the gun. I am shocked at myself. Even before I knew what to do, I had suddenly stepped on the weapon and kicked him in the face. There is a certain area on the head that a person can kick, and if it is hurt badly enough the person will faint. That is what happened.

The other two came back, and I found out that one of them had a gun as well. He held it against the girl, who they captured, and demanded that I put down my knives (was holding two of them, but I had more in my outfit). I looked at the girl, and then I looked at the other two, then I made a risky assumption. I dropped the two knives. and they began to back away from me. Then, when they did not expect it, I threw a knife. It too missed (you think they might have noticed I never hit anything with them), but in that moment the thug pointed his weapon at me. Big mistake. Before he could aim at me, I had grabbed his arm and broke his nose with my other hand.

Once he was knocked out, I noticed that the last bad guy had run off. This was bad, because he could run and tell Pyrus what happened. But I did not see where he went, so I did not chase him. The girl stared at me, because there was no point in going back to Pyrus. She fearfully began to say that she would turn herself in if I would let her go. I wonder what she thought I was going to do. But I nodded.

I picked up my knives, but it was a bad that I did not remember to pick up the guns. They would have been useful later. I took her quickly away, because I did not know if more thugs were going to come, and took her by quieter streets to the police station. She said that she would just get a taxi and go, but I did not trust her. So we were near the building and as she was about to enter in (she looked like she didn't want to) she asked me who I was. This was the annoying part. Because I had not thought of a name, I told her "Jupiter", because...well, I like it, though it is not creative at all. But since my accent is so strong, she heard "Jupta". It's all over the news now. I do not know what I will do about it...though I think it is stuck now in people's minds. It is so irritating.

Oh well. From what I saw in the news this morning, the girl, who I found out was named Jez'belle Harper. I like that name. It is very fancy and I have not heard it before. I should have done a better job on my own...

And so, I am a superhero! Isn't it so exciting? I wonder what I shall do next. I must defeat Pyrus somehow. Though I will need to present evidence to the police. The chief of police was not happy today on the news. I must make sure to tell them everything so that they will understand. It would be bad if they arrested me.

I am feeling well. Karate and music lessons are a good distractions. Particularly the music. There is a girl at school who is going to start a band, and I think I shall try to join her as the guitar player. Her name is Sammi Chika, and she is Japanese also. But her family has been in America for one hundred years. She is a good singer, and advanced. She comes to the advanced class which is in the same classroom earlier in the day. Sammi set up an ad on the bulletin board for people in music class to come to her house on Saturday, and the auditions are only open to music students.

Today she saw me writing the musical notes to Mia's song, "Singu, Singu, Superstar!" and wanted to take it home so that she could learn to sing it. I think that means that I am in the band. I have an acoustic guitar, but I will get an electric one if that would sound better. Actually, I think I will go ahead and bring both on Saturday, so that she can choose which she wants. I am so excited! I have wanted for a long time to make music for Mia's songs. They are very beautifully written, and it would be wonderful if her dream of being a writer can come true, if she cannot sing them herself.

Mia wrote a lot of poetry also. I do not know. Maybe those were supposed to be songs too, but she never spoke of them. Mia was the most internal of us all, and she wrote a lot. Most of us kept diaries, though Reina was more interesting in reading than writing. Serenity wrote some, and so did Amy, but I have not read them. It does not seem right, even though diaries are meant to be read by people in the future. What other reason would they? They doubtlessly wanted something of them to last beyond themselves.

I think maybe I shall read them tonight. No, in the morning. Never at night.

Sincerely,

Makoto Kino

P.S. I hope that you get this letter. Tell me about what is going on with your European branches. I will feel better about telling you so much if you do the same.