Episode 02: What Makes a Real Friend?

Season 1, Episode 2 - Aired: 6/12/22

What Makes a Real Friend? is the 2nd episode of Tokyo Mew Mew New.

Summary
Keiichiro and Ryou introduce Ichigo to Café Mew Mew and inform her that their goal is to protect the Earth from Aliens with her and the rest of the Tokyo Mew Mews.

Somewhere inside the cafe, Keiichiro reintroduces himself and Ryou as well as their responsibilities for the group. R-2000 is also introduced, and Keiichiro goes on to explain that most mythical creatures are Chimera Animas created by Aliens. The giant rat Ichigo fought before was a Chimera Animas sent by the Aliens. Keiichiro then explains the Aliens' known motives, and Ryou proclaims that Ichigo will be the one who faces off against them, leaving her flabbergasted. Ryou details that back at the endangered animal exhibit, Ichigo was injected with the DNA of an Iriomote and reveals the mark on her body that proves it. The two men then further explain why she was chosen to be a Mew Mew and that Minto's power comes from a Blue Lorikeet. Furthermore, it's revealed that three other girls were chosen and injected with the DNA of an extinct animal. Once they're finished, they allow Ichigo to return home and detail how she can change into her costume at her own will. Afterward, Ichigo is escorted home by Ryou, who offers his coat when she sneezes and believes she's cold. This experience startles Ichigo as she's already in a relationship with Aoyama and runs away from him.

The following day, Miwa and Moe notice that Ichigo is acting like a feline on several occasions. Ichigo's predicament has her disconcerted, and she is soon approached by Aoyama, who asks if she's alright after the day before. Their interaction causes Ichigo to revert into her Mew Mew form, and she quickly scurries off from the scene and wishes Aoyama the best of luck with his Kendo.

Outside, Ichigo sees that she's back to normal, but bumps into a young girl holding four large-sized strawberry and banana crepes. Ichigo apologizes, and the girl thinks nothing of it and walks off to give the crepes to a group of girls who take a selfie without her.

Later in the day, Ichigo is fitted with the Café Mew Mew maid outfit and has her work on the Café floor to gather information regarding the aliens. Mint then appears and reveals that she'll be helping her work at the Café too. Eventually, the young girl and her friends from earlier that day talk about an urban legend of a girl haunting a pool area at night. The girl from earlier, whose name is revealed to be Lettuce, is ordered by the girls to go there at night to figure out if the legend is true or not. Unable to stand by and watch the scene progress any further, Ichigo spills a parfait over one of the girl's face, and Keiichiro takes the girls away to clean off one of the girl's face. Ichigo then talks with Lettuce and suggests that she no longer hangs out with her "friends", but Lettuce thinks they merely vent their troubles onto her, and one day they'll accept her. They then introduce each other to one another, and when Ichigo asks to be Lettuce's friend, she leaves when one of her friends calls for her to leave with the group.

Afterward, Mint reveals that Lettuce is also a Mew Mew with Finless porpoise DNA. Learning about the urban legend surrounding the pool from the girls from earlier, it's deduced that the Aliens sent a Chimera Animus there. It would also be an optimal time for Lettuce to awaken her powers.

That night, Lettuce heads to the pool area, where a giant wave from the pool heads toward her, and a bright green light begins to emanate from her. By the school gate, Mint and Ichigo arrive at the scene and decide to rename R-2000 to simply Masha. A scream is then heard, and it came from one of Lettuce's friends, who says the ghost attacked her. Both Mint and Ichigo then transform into their Mew Mew forms, and once they reach the pool area, they learn that it wasn't the works of a Chimera Animus, but Lettuce's powers going out of control. Eventually, her powers manage to fully manifest; however, Lettuce then proceeds to attack the two in a trance-like state, incapacitating Mint in the process. Admitting her desire for wanting friends, Lettuce wraps Ichigo in a wave of water that propels her into the sky. Ichigo's determination to emotionally connect with Lettuce is that she can fully control her hydrokinetic Mew Mew powers and become Ichigo's friend.

The next day, Lettuce's friend tries and entice her to save them some seats at the Café, but she admits she has other plans that don't involve them. Later, Lettuce becomes an official maid server at the Café. Around dusk, an alien notes that he won't allow the Mew Mews to interfere with their plans any longer.

Major

 * Ichigo Momomiya
 * Minto Aizawa
 * Retasu Midorikawa (Debut)

Minor

 * Ryou Shirogane
 * Keiichiro Akasaka
 * Masha
 * Moe Yanagida
 * Miwa Honjo

Trivia
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