Episode 13: Step Up! Ichigo's Romance Enters the Next Stage

Season 2, Episode 1 - Aired: 4/4/23

'''Step Up! Ichigo's Romance Enters the Next Stage''' is the 13th episode of Tokyo Mew Mew New.

Summary
Aoyama has a dream about Ichigo crying in a dimly lit area. Awakening from his dream, Aoyama wonders how she's doing.

At the Café Mew Mew, Ichigo was in a blissful mood, which Minto, Zakuro, and Retasu try and snap her out of it. Bu-Ling balanced on a large ball, remarks that Ichigo and Aoyama were sitting on a tree while kissing. Hearing that made Ichigo happily flustered and then made Bu-Ling's ball spin faster, causing Bu-Ling to lose control of her balance.

A flashback shows Aoyama embracing Ichigo on a rainy night and confessing his feelings toward her, who reciprocates them. In the present, Ichigo internally relishes that she and Aoyama are now officially a couple. Ryou and Keiichiro snap Ichigo out of her blissful state of mind and request that she return to work. As Ichigo does, Keiichiro and Ryou talk about the Aliens who, although retreated since their encounter at Tokyo Tower, are confident they'll return soon enough.

On the Aliens Spaceship, Tart, Pie, and Quiche stand below a giant blue gem shaped like an egg as Tart and Pie discuss the revival of their Deep Blue shall soon be upon them. On the other hand, Quiche pondered about Ichigo and was rebuked by his comrades for not taking their mission seriously. Hence, Quiche suggests they put on a big party that may awaken their master.

At Daikan Junior High School, Ichigo enjoys lunch with Miwa and Moe, who talk about Miwa's love story she's writing. Moments after Ichigo is asked about her relationship with Aoyama, he appears before them, and it's revealed that they're dating, much to their surprise. They then ask Ichigo and Aoyama a series of questions regarding their relationship.

After school, Aoyama walks Ichigo home, but before parting ways, he invites her to volunteer at a children's event in the aquarium that weekend. Right as Ichigo was going to answer, her mother Sakura chimes in, noting how fun that would be. Sakura then leads Aoyama into their house and serves the two a slice of cake, then comments on how nice it is for Ichigo to have a boyfriend now.

From the bathroom shower, Ichigo's father Shintaro exclaims his surprise that his daughter has a boyfriend and soaking wet while wearing nothing, but a towel, confronts Aoyama. Calmly, Aoyama introduces himself to the upset Shintaro and asks for his permission to date Ichigo. Aoyama's response mortifies Shintaro, and he refuses to accept Aoyama's respectful attitude as sincere. He also claims it's far too early for them to be "Married", causing Ichigo to daydream of them being married. Still, Shintaro flatly rejects Aoyama and Ichigo's relationship with each other, but Sakura convinces him by mentioning they dated each other when they were their age.

Later that night, Ichigo talks a bit via text with Aoyama about his encounter with her parents and the upcoming aquarium event.

From the Aliens Spaceship, Quiche leaves on a spaceship heading toward Earth, boasting about his special plans for Ichigo.

One day at the Café Mew Mew, Minto recalls Ichigo telling the Mew Mews about requesting a day off to help Aoyama with the upcoming aquarium event. They perceive it as a date between her and Aoyama, which they tease Ichigo about. Back in the present, Lettuce nearly trips and falls outside, only to be caught by Ryou, who comments on how happy she looks as of late and compliments her smile, making Retasu blush.

Meanwhile, Ichigo and Aoyama perform their volunteer duties at the aquarium. They observe as the children there are educated about the microplastics being washed into their rivers and oceans. Listening to the conversation makes Aoyama question, "Whose planet it really is" and Ichigo notices that he looks rather sad then, reflecting on how he sometimes has a sad look on his face. Ichigo also notes that she'd like to know Aoyama better.

Down in the lower parts of the aquarium, Quiche contaminates the sea life with Aliens, which transforms them into multiple Chimera Animas. What occurs afterward makes the water turn red, and the tanks crack. The panic-stricken children are then escorted out, and when all of them are gone, Ichigo stays behind and finds herself in a newly transformed aquarium. Approaching Ichigo from behind, Quiche greets her and welcomes her to his "palace" as it'll be a safe haven for when humanity is wiped out. Quiche then summons the newly created Chimera Animas, who all welcome Ichigo to the "party".

At the Mew Mew HQ, Masha picks up a signal about the Chimera Anima. Keiichiro and Ryou manage to pinpoint the source of the Chimera Animas at the Aquarium.

Returning to Ichigo, the Chimera Animas put on a fancy dress on Ichigo, and then they place her on a merry-go-round, which Quiche joins her. Quiche tries to embrace Ichigo, who rejects his advances toward her, but he insists, claiming humanity will soon be a lost cause, and they'll have each other's company to enjoy. However, Ichigo demands to know what the Aliens plan on doing to her planet, which amuses him. He's then pushed off the ride, and Ichigo proclaims that her heart belongs to Aoyama, who Quiche shows via a ball of water of Aoyama searching for Ichigo. When Quiche threatens to dispose of Aoyama, Ichigo transforms into her Mew Mew Form.

Switching over to Aoyama, a group of people blocks the stairway, making it impossible for him to continue forth. He sees the other Mew Mew leap over them, and Zakuro notices him, as she flies above him. Watching them go by makes Aoyama feel self-conscious about his weak nature.

The Mew Mews locate the portal way they suspect Ichigo and the Chimera Animas are, and after they leap through it, they help Ichigo who was being overpowered by the Chimera Animas. Quiche then has his Shark Waiter transform into a larger beast to deal with the Mew Mews. However, Ichigo manages to defeat using her Strawberry Bell after it loses its teeth by slamming into a rock.

The Shark Chimera's defeat causes Ichigo to be flung outside of the aquarium and is caught by an unknown alien who vows to protect her and introduces himself as The Blue Knight. An upset and envious Quiche demands that the Blue Knight let go of Ichigo and tries to attack him, but he draws a sword and breaks his weapon while slicing his cheek. Although Quiche had wanted to retaliate, he's held back by Pie and Tart, who force him to retreat.

Safely landing on the ground, Ichigo asks for the Blue Knight's identity, but he simply responds that he is hers and was born to protect her. After kissing her on the forehead, the Blue Knight disappears, leaving Ichigo dazed.

Afterward, Ichigo reunites with Aoyama, and the two embrace one another, as the Mew Mews watch from afar. One thing still had Ichigo wondering is, who the Blue Knight was.

Major

 * Ichigo Momomiya
 * Minto Aizawa
 * Retasu Midorikawa
 * Bu-Ling Huang
 * Zakuro Fujiwara
 * Masaya Aoyama
 * Quiche

Minor

 * Blue Knight (Debut)
 * Deep Blue (referenced as "Master")
 * Pie
 * Tart
 * Ryou Shirogane
 * Keiichiro Akasaka
 * Masha
 * Moe Yanagida
 * Miwa Honjo
 * Sakura Momomiya (Debut)
 * Shintaro Momomiya (Debut)

Trivia

 * This is the first time the animals possessed by an alien can speak.
 * This episode marks the first appearance of Megamorphose ♡ and Can-do Dreamer as the opening and ending respectively, replacing Cat!! shite SuperGirls and Tokimeki☆Ichigo Ichie.
 * This episode also marks the first appearance of Sakura Momomiya and Shintaro Momomiya in the Tokyo Mew Mew New anime. Sakura's voice actress, Saki Nakajima, originally voiced Ichigo in the 2002 anime. In addition, both Saki Nakajima and Satoshi Hino (voice of Shintaro) have been married since 2015.

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