Hotaru wasn't getting used to middle school as quickly as she wanted. Following her unusual growth after her resurrection and being homeschooled during that time, Hotaru didn't experience normal school life until now. She remembered in her previous life how hard it was for her to make friends because of her condition and wished Chibiusa could have been here for her new life. Alas, her best friend had to go back to the 30th Century.

"Will I have to wait for Chibiusa-chan to be born to see her again?" Hotaru thought. "And even so, she'll just be a baby. I'd still have to wait more years to befriend her again…"

Hotaru sighed at that thought. Even now, she had trouble making friends. Her background and family situation was unusual, so she had a hard time connecting with kids her age. And she really did miss Chibiusa.

She didn't seem to be the only kid to have some trouble getting used to the classroom. Even since she transferred, Handa Kaeru barely spoke with anyone, except for the day she joined and everyone was curious about her and coming to ask her questions. Kaeru had seemed rather cheery during her introduction, but once people started to swarm her desk and bombard her with questions, she quickly shut down and became more shy.

Kaeru was sitting alone during recess, flipping through the pages of her notebook with a look of pure incomprehension on her face.

"Maybe… she's like me," Hotaru thought.

When she was having a hard time, when she felt isolated and lonely, Chibiusa was there for her. Perhaps it was her time to do the same for someone else.

Hotaru took a deep breath and walked to Kaeru's desk.

"Handa-san, isn't it?"

The green-haired girl jolted, nearly dropping her notebook. She immediately turned back to look at Hotaru.

"...yeah…? And you are?"

Hotaru was worried that she might not have made the right decision when the other girl stared at her with suspicion.

"I'm… I'm Tomoe Hotaru. I know what it's like to be new at school so I wanted to make sure everything was alright for you, and if you needed any help."

Kaeru proceeded to look up and down Hotaru, still uncertain, before she offered her a polite smile.

"Sure!" she replied before opening back her notebook. "Maybe you can help me with that. The teacher talked about this 'exam' thing and how we needed to study, but… I have no idea what that means. Even if I go through that book he gave us, I still have no clue what I'm supposed to do for this 'exam'..."

"Wait… you don't know what an exam is?" Hotaru asked.

"... should I?"

"Handa-san, could it be… you never went to school before?"

Kaeru turned quiet. The look in her eyes gave the feeling she was about to panic as if she just got caught saying something she shouldn't have, like she'd been exposed.

"I… uh…" Kaeru scrambled to find the words to reply.

"Could it be… were you homeschooled too?"

"... homeschooled…?"

"Yeah. Before coming here, I was homeschooled. My moms were my teacher at home."

"Moms…?"

It was Hotaru's turn to get quiet. Maybe she got it all wrong. She started to feel embarrassed, worried that she might have overshared…

But then, Kaeru smiled once again, more warmly than before.

"Yes! I was homeschooled too! It's actually my first time in a normal school," Kaeru replied. "I was also taught by my mom- well, she's not really my mom, but she is like a mother to me."

Hotaru immediately felt a sentiment of relief wash over her. So she was right, Kaeru was just like her.

"If you want, we could study together, for the exam," Hotaru proposed.

"Oh, I'd love to! That'd be a big help, thanks!"

After a quick silence, Kaeru added, "I still don't know what an exam is, though."

"So, still no news of Crow-san, huh," Minako said nonchalantly.

It has been days since they left Crow at her apartment. The inner senshi had reunited at Rei's temple to discuss the situation.

"She seemed pretty down when we dropped her at her place," Makoto said. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's still moping in her room."

"Right, about Seiren-san leaving…" Usagi added.

"So she's just heartbroken," Minako concluded. "That's sad, but I'd rather have that than her planning something bad."

"I still feel bad for her… and I'm worried about her wound," Ami added.

Caw! Caw! Caw!

Rei's pet crows, Phobos and Deimos, were flying over them.

"How strange…" Rei mumbled.

"What's strange, Rei-chan?" Usagi asked.

"Phobos and Deimos are abnormally agitated lately. It started ever since Crow-san, well, 'Karasuma Akane', came to the temple."

"Can't they sense evil? That's not a good sense regarding Crow-san," Minako said.

"That's what I thought at first, but they don't act that way when an evil presence tries to enter the temple," Rei continued. "If she was simply evil, they would have attacked her. But instead, they… just seem scared of her."

"Well, can't blame them, she is pretty scary," Minako replied.

"Phobos and Deimos are not easily scared, they have no issue attacking evil beings. So for them to be scared of someone like that… it's unusual. I have a bad feeling about this," Rei said.

"If anything, Seiren-san ended up being the most dangerous one," Makoto added before turning to Ami. "Which reminds me… when you said Seiren-san wasn't the one who attacked us at the party, you mentioned you went back there to look for clues."

All eyes turned towards Ami.

"Ah, yes! I haven't explained it yet… things moved so fast that I forgot about that," Ami admitted, embarrassed. "When I went back there, I examined the window through which the assailant escaped, and I found some interesting clues there."

"What kind of clues?" Rei asked.

"Well, first of all, there were footprints below the window outside, which I assumed belonged to the person who attacked us. Unfortunately, I couldn't follow these, since they stopped when I reached the street," Ami explained. "But, judging by the size, the assailant was definitely short. Those were really small footprints. There is no way they belonged to Seiren-san."

"Right, Seiren-san is quite tall," Usagi contemplated. "Even taller than Haruka-san."

"She's very tall, but still very feminine," Makoto added, somewhat envious.

"Is this really the only reason why you were so convinced Seiren wasn't the culprit?" Rei asked. "I get that it'd be weird for small footprints to belong to her, but I wouldn't call this absolute evidence of her innocence."

"It's not just that, I also found something else there, something… unusual…"

As she said that, Ami pulled out a small transparent bag, containing what appeared to be green hair.

"Is that… hair?" Makoto asked.

"It looks more like fur… but what kind of animal has green fur?" Minako commented.

"I brought these back to the laboratory to run some tests," Ami explained. "I got the results, and… it doesn't appear to belong to any species on Earth."

"Huh? What makes you say that?" Rei asked.

"Well, this fur… the DNA closely resembles that of a frog…"

"Eh!? A frog with hair!? Do those even exist?!" Minako exclaimed.

"I don't think so…" Usagi replied.

"That's why I think it doesn't belong to any living being from Earth, which means…" Ami began.

"This belongs to something living beyond Earth," Rei concluded.

"That's right. Our enemy isn't from Earth. And probably not from this Solar System either. It's something from outer space," Ami added.

"Then we should tell them," Makoto suddenly said. "We should get help from the Outer Senshi."

"Ah, but you are truly magnifique!"

Barely as the inner senshi had stepped inside the studio they were accosted by none other than Shigekane Hirari.

The group looked at one another, wondering who she was referring to (most of them secretly hoping it was them) until the model agent quickly made it clear.

"Eh!" Rei exclaimed.

Shigekane had seized her hands, looking deep into her eyes.

"You, you are a true Japanese beauté!" Shigekane continued. "With your long, beautiful black hair, dark eyes and pale skin, and that's without mentioning your outfit! You are the embodiment of the perfect Japanese miko!"

Since they'd left the temple in a hurry, Rei hadn't bothered to change and was still wearing her priestess uniform. She was now regretting it a little, feeling somewhat embarrassed by Shigekane's compliments.

"A-ah, thanks…?"

"Have you ever considered becoming a model? With that body of yours, you could be quite popular…"

Rei's face turned as red as her outfit, not expecting to receive so many compliments. The other girls seemed half-amused, half jealous of the situation. Minako in particular couldn't take Rei receiving all this attention and suddenly got in front of her.

"Rei-chan, a model? Haha, what a joke!" Minako let out. "She's way too grumpy and stuck-up to tolerate getting photographed…"

"H-hey…!?"

"If you're looking for a model, I'm fully available! I'm great with pictures and I'm also a true 'botay'!"

Shigekane hummed as she rubbed her chin, looking at Minako from head to toe.

"Pale, blonde hair, with bright, blue eyes…" Shigekane mumbled.

She then looked back at Rei, then at Minako.

"Nice contrast between you too. A natural Japanese beauty and a gyaru…"

"G-gyaru!? Excuse me!? I'm a natural blond! And these are my real eyes too!" Minako exclaimed, offended.

"...together, you could make a great photoshoot! Contrasts can be so aesthetically pleasing! Sun and Moon, Sea and Sky, Day and Night, Jock and Nerd, Beauty and the Beast…" Shigekane completely ignored her.

"Hey you…!?"

Minako suddenly changed her tune when she realized the opportunity she might have.

"Y-yes, I'm totally a gyaru! Such a yankee and a delinquent! Rei-chan and I would be perfect together for a photoshoot!" Minako exclaimed.

"H-hey, I never said I would-" Rei tried to protest.

"Of course Rei-chan is interested to be a model, as long as it's with me!" Minako interrupted.

"Merveilleux! You two will be a fabuleux pairing!"

"What!?" Rei exclaimed.

She immediately turned to her friends for support but quickly realized that other than Minako, the others had already left.

Rei clenched her fist. "Those jerks!"

Usagi, Ami and Makoto didn't intend to abandon Rei and Minako with Shigekane, but they didn't come to the studio for fun. They came there with a very specific purpose and they didn't feel like they could easily get rid of the model agent, so as well let her get distracted with the other two.

"Rei-chan, Minako-chan, sorry," Usagi thought.

After wandering in the studio for a while, they finally found who they were looking for.

"There you are!" Makoto exclaimed.

Haruka and Michiru were sitting by the vending machine. Haruka immediately stood up when she saw them.

"We got your call. What's going on?" she asked.

Ami proceeded to tell the outers about her recent discoveries regarding who might have attacked them at the party.

"Hm, so this is why you were so convinced Seiren wasn't the culprit," Michiru said.

"The evidence is flimsy, to say the least," Haruka added. "Who's to say those hairs don't belong to Seiren?"

"Because she doesn't have green hair?" Usagi replied.

"... right. Still, the enemy is definitely an outsider, thus it's our duty to deal with them appropriately."

"If it isn't Crow or Seiren, then it's a new enemy we haven't met before," Michiru added.

"Haven't any of them showed up at the studio?" Makoto asked.

"That would be way too easy if they did, now wouldn't it?" Michiru replied.

"Where's the other two?" Haruka asked.

"They got… stopped by Shigekane-san," Makoto replied.

"Uh-huh. Let me guess; she asked them to be models," Michiru said.

"Close. She asked Rei-chan and Minako-chan butted in," Usagi replied.

"Why am I not surprised," Haruka sighed. "She keeps trying to recruit us."

"She is rather persistent," Michiru concurred.

"W-well, you two are pretty enough to be models," Makoto said, flushed.

"Are those two alone with Shigekane-san?" Michiru asked.

"Yeah," Usagi replied.

"Hmmm, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why?" Makoto asked.

"It's nothing against Shigekane-san per se, but I don't think the modelling industry is the best kind of environment for minors… especially Minako-chan."

The other senshi exchanged a glance and Makoto nodded, "Yeah, you're probably right. Let's go find them."

"You two, get a little closer…! Great! Now, you, put your hand into hers… yeah, just like that! Hold still, mes chéries!"

When the group entered the photoshoot room, Shigekane was giving instructions to Minako and Rei. The latter was still wearing her Shinto priestess outfit, but that wasn't what surprised them.

It was Minako's outfit.

The blond-haired girl was now dressed as a stereotypical female delinquent; a long skirt, an open jacket with bandages underneath to cover her chest, and she was holding a bamboo sword.

Her other hand was holding Rei's. Both of them were rather close to one another, which seemed to embarrass them quite a lot. Behind them was a selection of lily flowers.

"What… what kind of photoshoot is that…!? For what magazine?!" Usagi exclaimed.

"Now I understand her persistence in asking us," Michiru simply commented.

The photographer finished taking a few more pictures and as soon as he was done, Rei and Minako noticed their friends watching them. Rei was red with embarrassment.

"Ahhh! There you are! You guys completely abandoned me… to this…!" Rei complained.

"What do you mean 'this'?" Minako said. "we got to be models! Actual models! What is there to complain about?"

"... are you being clueless on purpose?" Rei asked.

"This sure is… an interesting outfit, Minako-chan," Usagi said.

"It's cool, right? I look like a real delinquent, a true 'sukeban'."

"This will be the theme of this photoshoot," Shigekane began as she walked towards them. 'Delinquent meets pure maiden: Sukeban x Miko'."

"Nice! What does the X in the middle stand for?" Minako asked

"She's kidding, right?" Rei said.

"I don't think so," Usagi replied.

"What magazine is this for?" Makoto asked.

"Ah, just our regular magazine. It's for the GL issue," Shigekane replied.

"Oh my god…!" Rei was furiously blushing.

"The what…?" Minako asked, cocking her head.

"Arrgghhhhhh!"

The photographer suddenly fell to his knees, clenching his chest as if he was in pain.

"Woah, what's going on!?" Makoto exclaimed.

"Mister, are you alright…?" Usagi tried to ask.

A dark energy suddenly came out of the man's body. He let out a scream before he ended up fully consumed by the dark aura, turning into a shadowy creature with red glowy eyes, and his previous scream turned into a primal growl.

"Shit! A monster, here!?" Haruka let out.

"Talk about bad timing!" Makoto said, glancing at Shigekane.

"W-what… another one of these monsters…!?" the latter exclaimed before cowering.

As long as there was a civilian here, they couldn't transform. The beast glared at them with its glowing red eyes and opened its mouth, ready to roar a dark shock wave at them.

"This is bad!" Rei shouted.

But before the monster could attack something suddenly wrapped around its neck, pulling it away from the girls.

"But that's-" Minako began.

"A whip!" Ami finished.

Crow came out from the shadow, drawing the beast closer to her.

"What are you doing!? Transform already and fight!" Crow yelled. "Aren't you soldiers?!"

"You don't need to tell us!" Haruka yelled back before looking at Michiru. "Let's go!"

Michiru nodded and they both ran out of the room.

"What are you even doing here!?" Makoto shouted.

"... I thought Seiren might be at the studio… but it doesn't seem like it," Crow replied, looking down.

"Oh… sorry…"

"I don't want your pity! Just get out already if you aren't going to fight! Either way is fine with me! I have some pent-up frustration to let out anyway!"

As she said that, Crow pulled on her whip and drew the monster closer before kicking it down to the ground. A sinister smile crept across her face.

"Mmm… I missed that feeling…" Crow whispered.

The inners ran out of the room and joined the outers, taking advantage of Crow fighting the monster to go transform.

"Moon Eternal, Make Up!"

"Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Uranus Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Neptune Crystal Power, Make Up!"

Usagi suddenly turned into Sailor Moon, followed by her fellow Sailor Senshi in their respective form.

"Let's go!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.

The others nodded and they all rushed back inside the photoshoot room.

"You monster! How dare you-" Sailor Moon began, ready to do her usual speech.

The monster in question was currently pinned to the ground and being viciously beaten down by Crow. Shigekane was still in the room, crawling on the floor like before.

"C-Crow-san…!" Sailor Moon stuttered. "That… that's enough! It may look like a monster, but that's actually a person…!"

"A monster is a monster! And I'm far from being done!" Crow exclaimed, kicking down the beast.

The shadowy creature let out a painful growl, much to Crow's glee.

"Ahh… I really needed that…" Crow muttered.

"You don't get it! You don't need to fight it anymore, I can purify it-" Sailor Moon tried to explain.

"Pff! 'Purify'? Don't make me laugh! This isn't how a soldier should deal with an enemy! You should crush them and kill them all! I shouldn't have expected more from this peace-filled planet! How can you be warriors without fighting any wars!?"

Crow swung her whip and hit the beast, sending it flying against the wall.

"Like this!" Crow exclaimed.

"Stop! You're going too far!" Sailor Moon said.

"Don't get in my way, or you're next!" Crow threatened.

Sailor Moon clenched her teeth. This wasn't good. Crow wasn't listening to her and was well-intended in killing the monster. She couldn't let her do so. Underneath that shadowy appearance was an innocent person after all! Sailor Moon turned to her comrade.

"We have to stop her!"

"Don't worry, I've got this!" Venus reassured her. "Venus Love me Chain!"

A chain made of light materialized and Venus threw it at Crow, wrapping it around her arms and waist.

"What the-"

Venus suddenly tugged on the chain, pulling Crow away from the monster and making her trip to the floor.

"Hey…! What are you doing!?" Crow yelled.

"You weren't listening, so I have to make you stop by force!" Venus replied.

"Let me go, now! Or else I'll grab you by the neck and snap it like a twig!"

Venus shivered.

"S-Sailor Moon, do your thing, now! She's scary!" Venus let out.

Sailor Moon nodded and conjured the Eternal Tiare, aiming at the beaten monster.

"Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!"

Pink light flared at the top of the Tiare and streamed toward the monster in multiple waves which hit it directly.

"Purify!" the monster screamed.

The dark aura disappeared and the creature returned to be the photographer it once was. Thankfully, all the injuries he endured as a monster didn't transfer to his human form. Crow looked at the man in bewilderment.

"That's… just a normal person…" Crow said.

"That's what we kept telling you! Geez…" Mars said.

Venus dispelled her chain while taking a few steps away from Crow, still cautious. Crow stayed on the ground, on her knees, looking shocked.

"What was I doing…?" Crow mumbled. "Not again…"

"Uh… are you alright…?" Venus asked.

Crow didn't reply, still lost in her stupor. Not far away, Shigekane finally rose, looking around frantically.

"Is it… is it over?" she asked.

"Right, she's still there," Jupiter said.

"Yes, it's over. Everything is safe now," Sailor Moon answered.

Shigekane walked towards them, staggering.

"W-wow, that was scary! I was completely terrifié! Merci for saving me…!"

Then, out of the blue, she seized Sailor Mars' hands.

"You… you are so belle! Have you ever considered becoming a model?"

"Really now!?" Mars exclaimed.

Something shined behind her. Mars didn't have the time to move away, too distracted by Shigekane's antics. Out of nowhere, two balls of golden light were fired, striking Mars.

"ARGHHH!"

"Mars!?" Sailor Moon yelled.

The senshi of fire screamed in pain before she suddenly turned quiet. She was still standing up, floating even, but was now unconscious.

Then suddenly, a flower appeared on top of her head and a crystal with a red glow emerged from it, looking like a ruby.

"Mars'... star seed!?" Venus exclaimed.

"Who's there!?" Uranus yelled, looking around to spot who attacked Mars.

A sinister laugh came out from the shadow, followed by two figures. The first thing the senshi noticed was the bracelets they were wearing.

"Those are…" Mercury began, "Shadow Galactica bracelets!?"

"Who are you!?" Jupiter yelled.

The two individuals snickered.

"'Shadow Galactica'? You've got that wrong. We are Phantom Galactica!" one of them began. "I am the leader of the Sailor Animamates, Sailor Pewter Fox!"

"I am Sailor Mitis Kerokko!" the second one introduced herself.

They then spoke in unison.

"And we are here for your Sailor Crystals!"

After Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon, here are the official introduction of Sailor Pewter Fox and Sailor Mitis Kerokko! I want to remind you that the latters aren't OCs, but musicals exclusive Animamates from the 90s sera myu. Kerokko is mostly known as Titanium Kerokko but was renamed as Mitis Kerokko for one musical (Eien Desentsu), and my version of Kerokko for this fic is closer to Kerokko in Eien than in the first Stars myu.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to ask in a review below!