Season 1

01 Turning into a Cat – Justice Lies in a Girl in Love ~Nya! Episode 16th April 2002 While Ichigo Momomiya is on her first date with Masaya Aoyama, she is bathed in a strange light and sees herself being merged with a cat. Afterwards, she begins to display cat-like behaviors. The next day, Ichigo follows Masaya into a park, where a strange jellyfish-like creature takes over a rat's body, turning it into a monster. Ryou Shirogane saves Ichigo and gives her a pendant allowing her to transform into Mew Ichigo. With her new powers, she defeats the monster, turning it back into a normal rat. Afterwards, Ryou refuses to explain what just occurred, so the newly arrived Keiichiro Akasaka offers to do so instead. 02 A New Comrade – Justice Lies in a Real Lady ~Nya! Episode 213th April 2002 Ryou and Keiichiro tell Ichigo that the creature she saw was a parasitic alien, called a chimera anima. To stop them, the Mew Project infused five girls with the DNA from specific endangered species, enabling the girls to become "mew mews". Ichigo begins working at Cafe Mew Mew while searching for the other four girls who bear the Mew marks. Keiichiro gives her a robot, Masha, to help with her work. While going home, Ichigo meets Mint Aizawa and her dog. Later, Ichigo visits Mint's home to return a handkerchief, but Mint's dog becomes infected by a chimera anima. During the battle, Ichigo discovers that Mint is the second mew mew, Mew Mint. They defeat the monster, returning the dog to normal. Mint joins Ichigo in working at the café. 03 Ghost Story from School: Finding the Ghost's True Identity ~Nya! Episode 320th April 2002 Ichigo meets a shy and timid girl named Lettuce Midorikawa. Later at the café, Ichigo sees her with three other girls, who are trying to coerce an unwilling Lettuce to try to photograph a rumored school ghost. Ichigo "accidentally" dumps parfaits on them to get them to leave Lettuce alone. After work, Mint and Ichigo go to the school to investigate the "ghost". Instead, they find Lettuce who was afraid of being isolated because of her new powers and started "haunting" the pool. After a brief fight, Ichigo and Mint calm her by explaining her Mew powers and welcome her to the team. While Ichigo is walking home, an alien named Kish appears, steals her first kiss, and introduces himself before disappearing again. 04 A Tearful Date – The Secret I Can't Tell Aoyama-kun ~Nya! Episode 427th April 2002 Upset about her first kiss stolen, Ichigo avoids Aoyama, even declining a date with him. While looking for chimera animas, Masha leads her to the park where she runs into Masaya. Resolved to forget the kiss, Ichigo agrees to spend time with him. Kish attacks the park, turning a lion into a chimera anima. Ichigo leaves a worried Masaya behind as she hides to transform and fight. After Mew Mint and Mew Lettuce arrive, the three defeat the monster. When Ichigo finds Masaya, he scolds her for running away. As they walk home, he explains his worry about her, and Ichigo promises not to do it again. 05 Stormy Rhythmic Gymnastics – Becoming a Star with a Cat's Dance! ~Nya! Episode 54th May 2002 The school rhythmic gymnastics team sees Ichigo avoid the path of an on-coming bus by leaping over it, and the team recruits her. A promise from Masaya to come and cheer for her at the competition changes Ichigo's participation from reluctant to enthusiastic. After Ichigo's spectacular individual performance, Kish attacks with a chimera anima. After the Mew Mews defeat the monster, competition continues; but Ichigo's performance drops during her team's round due to exhaustion from the fight. The team is happy with their second place win and names Ichigo the team's Most Valuable Player. 06 The Piano of the Heart – It's the Heart-Pounding Dance Party! ~Nya! Episode 611th May 2002 While cleaning the café, a woman approaches Ichigo and Lettuce and begins speaking to them in English (Spanish in the 4Kids dub), but they cannot understand her. Masaya appears and translates for them. The woman, Mary McGuire (Maria Rivera in the 4Kids Dub), is a pianist who Ryou asked for a performance at an upcoming formal party to reward the girls for their good work. During the party, Kish appears and uses a new technique to steal Mary's (Maria's) spirit to create a chimera anima. During the battle, he mentions the name of the mysterious alien leader, Deep Blue. The girls use Mary's (Maria's) music to weaken the monster, enabling the girls to defeat it and return her spirit back to her body. 07 Enter Pudding – The Ears and Tail are Part of the Act! Episode 718th May 2002 Returning from the grocery store, Ichigo stops to rest on a bench. A young girl, Pudding Fong, begins performing acrobatic tricks in front of her and then demands a tip. Ichigo gives her a piece of candy then runs off. Angered, Pudding causes Ichigo's cat ears and tail to pop out. Amazed, Pudding chases Ichigo wanting her own set of ears and tail in order to make money. Ichigo finally yells at her but later at the café feels sorry for the girl as they wonder why she wants to make money so badly and goes to apologize. The next day, Kish attempts to steal Pudding's spirit, but the Mew Mews stop him. Using the spirit of another human stolen earlier, he attacks with a chimera anima. While protecting Ichigo and Mint, the monster's attacks; Pudding's mew mark is revealed and she transforms into Mew Pudding. She quickly helps them defeat the monster and is ecstatic to join the Mew Mews. 08 To the Hot Spring! The Mysterious Mountain's Miracle of Love Episode 825th May 2002 The girls win a day-trip to a resort in the mountains. On the way up the mountain, they stop at a shrine to eat lunch where a boy named Masazou Aoyamada yells at them for desecrating the shrine of Bacchigappa, the god of the mountain. The girls find a natural hot spring and stop to relax. There they learn that the resort is under construction and that their prize trip is for the following year. Masazou tries to stop the construction workers, claiming that the work has scared away the local otters and is destroying their habitat. Kish arrives and steals the boy's spirit to create a chimera anima. The Mew Mews defeat the monster and restore Masazou's spirit. The incident prompts the other villagers to join in Masazou's cause to oppose the construction. 09 Dearly Beloved Brother – The Memories Lie in the Picture Episode 91st June 2002 While at Mint's house to borrow a dress, Ichigo meets her older brother, Seiji, who is going to study abroad. She is saddened to learn that they have grown apart after seeing an old photo of the two. Wanting to help the siblings reconcile, Ichigo invites him to attend Mint's next ballet performance. When the girls bring Seiji to Mint's dressing room before the performance, Mint maintains her distance from her brother. As he is leaving, a chimera anima attacks and Seiji tries to protect Mint. After the Mew Mews defeat it, Mint again tells Seiji he should not waste his time there. He gives her a bouquet of flowers and tells her that she is still important to him. 10 The Last Member – The Legendary Lonely Wolf Episode 108th June 2002 One night, a mysterious girl saves two people from a chimera anima. At the café, the girls read a newspaper article about the incident and realize that none of them is the girl shown in the picture. Mint arrives and recognizes the girl as Zakuro Fujiwara, a famous model whom she idolizes. Ryou sends the girls to an audition to meet her, but Pudding's tricks nearly get them kicked out. That night, the girls find her praying at a church where she is attacked by a flock of crows infected by chimera animas. Before the girls acted, Zakuro transforms and defeats them all. Afterwards, the girls are shocked with she refuses to join them and dismisses them as annoying. 11 Hollywood Mew Mew Episode 1115th June 2002 Mint is upset by Zakuro's rejection, and the others try to cheer her up. Ichigo and the others go to talk to Zakuro. Meanwhile, Kish approaches Zakuro and offers her a deal to return her body to normal if she joins him. When the girls arrive, Kish traps Mint, Lettuce, and Pudding in an alternate dimension. He then demands a fight between Ichigo and Zakuro in exchange for the trapped friends. Ichigo refuses and returns to the café where Ryou encourages her to trust in Zakuro and share her feelings. While shooting a television show, Zakuro is attacked by a chimera anima. Ichigo arrives and battles the monster while Zakuro saves the others. After its defeat, Zakuro agrees to be a part of the team. Apparently, the entire battle was aired on live television, and so they introduce themselves to Tokyo as the protectors of justice, "Tokyo Mew Mew". 12 Identity Revealed – An Out of Season Cherry Tree Falls Away Episode 1222nd June 2002 Masaya takes Ichigo to Inohara Park to show her a large cherry tree that is unusually blooming out of season. The next day, Keiichiro discovers that five cherry trees have been infected by the aliens explaining the early blooming. The Mew Mews set out to destroy them simultaneously, or the trees will release a poison dangerous to Tokyo. Mew Ichigo takes the tree in Inohara Park, where Kish waits for her. A fight keeps Ichigo from attacking the tree, and it begins releasing its poison. Ichigo jumps into the tree and successfully destroys it. After Kish leaves, Mew Ichigo finds Masaya standing behind her after he called out "Ichigo". 13 Intersecting Hearts – Aoyama-kun is Targeted Episode 1329th June 2002 Worried Masaya discovered her identity, Ichigo avoids him. Later, Ichigo intends to cheer for Masaya during a kendo match but is unable to face him. Later, a jealous Kish attacks him with a chimera anima capable of recreating itself when attacked. Ichigo tries to fight the monster but is unable to destroy it. Kish tells her that he will let Masaya go if Ichigo becomes his, but Ichigo refuses and instead dives into the slime and grabs Masaya's hand. Her body begins to glow and she breaks free, destroying the monster. Kish retreats and Masaya apologizes to Mew Ichigo for calling her "Ichigo", explaining that she looked like someone he knew. Later, he thanks Ichigo for coming to cheer for him and ties a bell collar around her neck so she cannot run from him anymore. Disappointed in Kish's continued failures, Deep Blue sends two more aliens, Pie and Tart, to help him destroy the Mew Mews. 14 Akasaka's Secret – A Tale of Sad Love Episode 146th July 2002 Keiichiro begins making a beautiful birthday cake for someone, and the girls ponder whom it might be for. Later, Ichigo meets a woman named Rei studying butterflies. She later learns that Rei is Keiichiro's ex-girlfriend, and the intended recipient of the cake. Even though they separated due to their different interests and jobs, he continues making her new birthday cakes for her. The girls try to get them meet again to resolve their lingering feelings. At Rei's house, her spirit is stolen by Pie and Tart and used to make a chimera anima. With help from Keiichiro, they are able to defeat the monster and retrieve Rei's spirit. In the end, Rei and Keiichiro truly go their separate ways. 15 A Little Hero Masha – Friendship at the Risk of His Life Episode 1513th July 2002 The girls wonder about Masha's usefulness beyond just detecting chimera animas and eating the parasites. The discussion leads Masha to question his confidence. While the Mew Mews fight a chimera anima, he tries to fight alongside and ends up swallowed by the monster. Tart and Pie retreat to the alien dimension. Upon discovery of Masha, Pie tries to extract Masha's data. In turn, Masha uses the connection to the aliens' computers to send a message to the girls, enabling them to find a way to the dimension. Before they leave, Ryou gives Ichigo a new weapon, the Mewberry Rod. When the girls reach the alien area, they are quickly captured, but Masha gets himself free and rescues them. Ichigo uses her new attack to destroy the chimera anima, allowing them to return to their own dimension. Masha promises not to try to fight anymore. 16 Lettuce's Love – Longing in the Library Episode 1620th July 2002 Lettuce meets a young man named Norihiro at the library. She falls in love with him and begins going there every day to see him. When he gives her a present, the girls encourage her to tell him how she feels. During their next meeting at the library, they are attacked by a chimera anima. Seeing Norihiro rush to protect the young librarian, Satsuki, Lettuce realizes that she is the girl he really loves. The other Mew Mews arrive, but the monster begins reading a dull book in a hypnotic voice, putting all of the girls to sleep except the book loving Lettuce. She transforms and defeats the monster. Later, she sees Norihiro gives Satsuki an engagement ring. Though sad at how her first love ended, she says she is happy she was able to love someone. 17 The Knight in Blue – I Will Protect You! Episode 1727th July 2002 The data gathered by Masha reveals that the aliens originally inhabited the earth, but had to leave because of changes in the environment, ending up on an even worse planet. Ichigo is upset at this, but Ryou reminds her that it is not an excuse for trying to kill humans. Ichigo goes on a date with Masaya, which cheers her up, but the next day she is sick with a cold. The girls and Masaya visit, but after he leaves Kish appears. Ichigo escapes out a window, while the others prepare to battle multiple chimera animas released by Pie and Tart. Too weak to fight, Ichigo is unable to protect herself from Kish, but is suddenly rescued by a mysterious alien who introduces himself as The Blue Knight. 18 Mid-Summer's Love – Ichigo's Swaying Heart Episode 183rd August 2002 While the four Mew Mews are fighting the chimera animas created by Pie and Tart, the Blue Knight battles Kish. He is injured while protecting Ichigo, but the arrival of the other Mew Mews causes the aliens to retreat. Before leaving, the Blue Knight tells Ichigo that he was born to protect her. Ryou appears out of nowhere to catch Mew Ichigo as she faints from her illness. At the café, the girls wonder who the Blue Knight is, and decide it must be Ryou but he claims he does not know anything about it. While on a date with Masaya, Ichigo is distracted and imagining she is seeing Ryou, but eventually discovers it is actually Lettuce and Pudding who were spying on the couple out of concern for Ichigo. After Masaya leaves, Ichigo admits she also believes Ryou is the Blue Knight. That evening while Ichigo is cleaning the café, Ryou surprises her by inviting her to go to the beach. 19 The Power of Kindness – O Wish, Come True in the Sea Episode 1910th August 2002 At the beach, the girls enjoy swimming and playing in the water. However, Lettuce does not know how to swim. A girl named Iruka is being picked on for her inability to swim despite having a name meaning "dolphin". Lettuce offers support. Later, Iruka admits her ability to swim but she has a fear for water. To encourage her, Lettuce jumps into the water but nearly drowns shaking her confidence. The next day, the aliens attack the beach with chimera animas and cause a storm to appear. During the fight, one of the boys from the day before falls into the water. Iruka jumps in to save him, and Mew Lettuce follows to rescue them both. Struggling to swim, Lettuce's legs change into a porpoise tail, enabling her to swim easily and save the children. 20 Memories of Mother – Onee-chan is in Trouble Episode 2017th August 2002 When Pudding falls sick, Ichigo, Mint, and Lettuce agree to go to pick up Pudding's little sister Heicha from school. Heicha's teacher explains that Pudding's mother died and her father is always traveling, so Pudding is the primary caretaker of her five siblings. However, the little girl refuses to leave the school with the others, but Pudding arrives to get her. The others go with them back home to help care for the others. The next day, Heicha's teacher drives her home and offers to help Pudding, but Pudding declines her offer. Tart appears and steals the teacher's spirit to make a chimera anima. Pudding is still too sick to fight, but the others arrive and defeat it. Later, the teacher offers to drive Heicha to school, but Pudding says she would not get to spend time with her little sister like that. Instead, she asks the teacher if she can pretend to be her mom for a little while. 21 Sparks of the Heart – Ichigo and Mint At Odds Episode 2124th August 2002 Mint has a strange dream in which she is talking with her merged animal, the ultramarine lorikeet. Later at the café, Ryou and Keiichiro tell the girls about a substance called mew aqua and its power. After her dream, Mint is concerned about their mission. When she learns the late-arriving Ichigo was on a date with Masaya, she gets angry and stomps out of the café. Later the girls receive a package with Mint's pendant and uniform in it. Zakuro goes to talk to her while the others begin searching for mew aqua. The aliens are also searching for it and find it just as Ichigo, Lettuce, and Pudding appear. Kish merges five parasites into the mew aqua, creating a powerful new chimera anima. The girls are struggling to fight it but Mew Zakuro is able to convince Mint to transform and together they defeat the monster. They learn the mew aqua was a fake and Mint apologizes to Ichigo for her earlier actions. 22 Farewell Summer – Ichigo's Longest Day Episode 2231st August 2002 As summer break comes to an end, Ichigo has to scramble to finish all of her homework before the start of school. The aliens also are enjoying the last day of summer and are avoiding working, but finally send Tart to continue their plans. Though she has no time left, Ichigo agrees to go on a date with Masaya, but just as she arrives, she is called back to the café to help clean up the mess made by water pipes. Ichigo laments her undone homework but gets no help. Masha detects a chimera anima just before they are attacked by one created by Tart. Angry, Mew Ichigo quickly defeats it, but Tart releases more. Ichigo must spend the rest of the day with the others defeating the monsters, leaving no time to finish her homework. 23 Sudden Love – Accept Girls' Hearts! Episode 237th September 2002 Ichigo discovers that her school friends Moe and Miwa have developed crushes on Ryou and Keiichiro. Though Ichigo fears her friends will be disappointed, she agrees to help them. They make gifts for the boys, but when they go to the café to present them, the boys are busy searching for mew aqua and ignore them. Hurt, the girls run out of the café and Ichigo scolds Ryou and Keiichiro for ignoring the girls' feelings. Kish appears and creates two chimera animas from the spirits he stole from Miwa and Mow. Ichigo defeats them, and the girls spirits' are restored, but Kish takes a light out of the lake before he disappears. When Mow and Miwa wake up, Ryou and Keiichiro properly thank them for the gifts. The girls decide to start a fan club for them. 24 A Mysterious Gem – Brilliance is Within You! Episode 2414th September 2002 Zakuro takes Ichigo to the rehearsal of a jewelry company premiere where she befriends a clumsy crew member named Tsukiko. Tsukiko really wants Zakuro to wear a rainbow stone necklace for the show, but both the stage manager and Zakuro reject it for being too modest. Ryou, Keiichiro, and the aliens all believe the stone is made from mew aqua. During the show, Kish tries to steal the necklace. The Mew Mews fight for the stone but are having a hard time with the chimera anima Kish is using until they are helped by the Blue Knight. After the monster is defeated, they discover the stone is not mew aqua. Deciding it is not an ordinary stone, Zakuro arranges for Tsukiko herself to appear in the show wearing a simple white dress and the necklace, proving Tsukiko's claim that the stone can make any girl shine. 25 Love's Hurdle – Many Obstacles to Ichigo's Love Episode 2521st September 2002 When Ryou and Keiichiro discover that mew aqua is most likely to be found underground, Ichigo cancels a date with Masaya to search for it. Ryou and Keiichiro decide to use an ancient rod unearthed at the archaeological site where they first learned about the aliens. Meanwhile, the aliens are already underground, searching with chimera animas. Kish also plants a cocoon at the top of Tokyo Tower. In one month, a moth will hatch from it and release pollutants over Tokyo. Tired from searching for the mew aqua, a grouchy Ichigo accidentally yells at Masaya. When she nearly faints, he takes her to the nurse's office. Talking with him restores her good mood and they agree to go on a date. Later, Ryou lets the girls leave work early, but then Masha and Keiichiro discover the cocoon, and the Mew Mews rush to Tokyo Tower. 26 Stop, Time! Overwhelmed with Sentimental Feeling Episode 2628th September 2002 The Mew Mews attack the cocoon at the top of Tokyo Tower but are unable to destroy it, and a huge moth hatches from it. It moves too fast for the girls' attacks to hit it, so Mew Ichigo jumps onto its back to try attacking it from there. Kish interrupts, causing her to fall, but the Blue Knight saves her. The moth begins to release its pollutants, but Ichigo's feelings make the mew aqua react. Sensing it, Kish pulls it out of the ground, while Ryou gives Mew Ichigo the ancient rod, the Mew Aqua Rod. Using the power of the mew aqua and the rod, Ichigo destroys the moth. However, Kish is able to send some of the mew aqua used by the attack into the alien dimension, partly revealing Deep Blue's true form. Although it is already past the time she was supposed to meet Masaya, Ichigo returns to normal and rushes to their agreed upon meeting place. 27 I Love You – Aoyama-kun's Shocking Declaration Episode 275th October 2002 Hours late, Ichigo arrives at the meeting place. At first, she thinks Masaya has left, but he appears near her and tells her that he was waiting for her and that he loves her. Ichigo's cat ears pop out, but she hides them with a handkerchief and tells him that she loves him too. The next day, while Masaya is visiting the café, the aliens attack in search of the mew aqua rod. Ryou gives Masaya a sleeping drug to knock him out so the girls can fight. Kish is able to get the rod, but Keiichiro says the rod does not have any mew aqua anymore anyway. After the aliens leave, everyone begins cleaning the café. Outside, Ichigo bends over the sleeping Masaya and thinks about kissing him. She gets excited and instead of her ears and tail emerging, she turns into a small black cat. 28 Kitty Panic! The Key to the Mystery is Her Kiss Episode 2812th October 2002 As a cat, Ichigo gets lost while trying to escape from a large amorous cat. She finds herself standing in front of Masaya's house, where he discovers her and takes her inside. That night while he's asleep, she decides to kiss him, but accidentally kisses his dog instead. The kiss turns her back into a human, but before she can escape out a window, the dog licks her and she changes back into a cat again. Outside the house, the large cat finds her again, but she is rescued by a small grey cat wearing a green bandanna. Ichigo falls into the river, but the cat saves her again and tells her his name is Alto before she loses consciousness. She wakes up back on land and in her human form with Ryou bending over her and Alto gone. Ryou tells her that she must defeat the aliens as soon as possible if she wants to stop turning into a cat. While taking her home, he apologizes to her though does not say why. 29 A Forbidden Love? I Can Understand Cats ~Nya! Episode 2919th October 2002 Ichigo meets a cat at the train station and discovers that, even in her human form, she can understand him. The cat, named Asano, later comes to the café, and tells her that he is searching for the cat he loves, a Lilac Point Siamese named Jacqueline whose owner moved away. The girls agree to help him find her, but learn that her owner has taken her to a cat fair to find her a fiancé. Asano speaks to her there, but she says she cannot leave her owner because she is his most precious memory of his late wife. When one of the other cats is turned into a chimera anima, Asano comes to Jacqueline's aid. After the girls defeat the monster, Jacqueline's owner decides to allow the two cats to be together. 30 Be Honest! Unspoken Love in the Crystal Ball Episode 3026th October 2002 31 Father's Back – One-Game Match for Ichigo! Episode 312nd November 2002 When Ichigo's father finds out that she has a boyfriend, he does not approve. He demands that Masaya defeat him in a kendo match before he will allow them to continue dating. Ichigo complains to her mother, who explains that her father loves her and just wants to protect her. Her mother also tells her that they too had to fight to be together when they were young. Ichigo rushes to stop the fight, reminding her father of the past and how her mother did the same thing for him. Though he does not want to face that his "little girl" is growing up, he grudgingly gives his approval of the relationship. 32 Princess Fight – The Hero Can't be Bought for Money Episode 329th November 2002 Mint surprises the other girls by inviting them to a tea party. When they arrive, they meet a spoiled, wealthy girl named Kanna, who declares that she is Mint's "eternal rival." A box arrives, containing something Mint wanted to share with everyone. Watching nearby, Kish believes it must be mew aqua and tries to take the box. Not realizing the danger, Kanna takes the box back. Kish unleashes a chimera anima and Mint rescues the girl from the monster. The others transform and fight the monster, but are losing until the Blue Knight arrives and reveals its weak point allowing Mew Ichigo and Mew Mint to defeat the monster. Afterwards, Kanna admits she has always envied Mint. The box is opened to reveal that it is a special tea that Mint wanted to share with her friends. They invite Kanna to join them, but she declines and promises to invite them to her house for even better tea. 33 A Fiancé Appears – Pudding's Fated Marriage?! Episode 3316th November 2002 While the Mew Mews are battling one of Tart's chimera animas, a young man named Yuebin Ron appears and defeats it with his bare hands. An apprentice of Pudding's father, he has come to spend a night competing with Pudding so that he can be the successor of the family's fighting style. He defeats Pudding, and tells her that she must also now become his fiancée. While talking, he accidentally knocks over Pudding's photo album and damages it. Upset, Pudding locks herself in the café where Tart attacks her. While the other girls are stuck fighting Kish and defeat his chimera anima, Yuebin rescues Pudding. Afterwards, Yuebin goes to China to continue his training so he can be strong enough to protect his future wife. 34 The Most Important Matter – The Ability to Trust in Someone Episode 3423rd November 2002 The girls participate in an open market where Lettuce sells a variety of dolls that she made herself, which are popular with the crowd. The last doll is purchased by famous doll maker Ayano Uemura who invites Lettuce to work with her at her workshop. Lettuce happily accepts and they make a doll together that Ayano takes to an exhibition. When the girls go to see the doll, they discover that Ayano took all of the credit for making it and denies that Lettuce helped her. Kish appears and steals Ayano's spirit to make a chimera anima. The girls transform and defeat the monster, returning Ayano to normal. Afterwards, Ayano confesses that she was envious of Lettuce's talent and had run out of new ideas. Lettuce forgives her, and tells her she does not care whose name is on the doll as long as it makes people happy. 35 Don't Cry, Lonely Little Zakuro Episode 3530th November 2002 Ichigo meets a lonely girl named Momoka whose parents are always busy. Ichigo learns she is a fan of Zakuro, so she tells Zakuro about the girl. Zakuro later runs into the girl at a restaurant. Momoka is upset at learning her parents have cancelled their dinner plans, but Zakuro assures her that her parents still love her and invites the girl to have dinner with her instead. The next day, Momoka's parents send her a beautiful pendant that Kish believes is made of mew aqua. When the daycare holds a family picnic, Momoka's parents do not show up and the upset girl runs off. Along the way, she loses the handkerchief that Zakuro gave her. Kish offers to help her, if she gives him her pendant. Zakuro arrives to help her, but is entangled in some vines by Kish. After realizing the pendant contains no mew aqua, Kish leaves. Zakuro returns the handkerchief and pendant to Momoka. Her parents arrive for the picnic, and Zakuro feels certain they will not leave her alone again. 36 Shirogane's Past: The Secret of the Mew Mews' Birth! Episode 367th December 2002 Ichigo tries to talk to Ryou about the problems caused by her cat genes, but he ignores her. On the way to school, Ichigo changes into a cat again and gets in trouble, but is saved by Alto who also kisses her to change her back to normal. Despite his struggling, Ichigo picks him up and is shocked when he suddenly changes into Ryou. After school, she goes to the café where Keiichiro tells her the history of the Mew Project, which was started by Ryou's father. After his parents were killed by an ancient chimera anima, Ryou decided to continue his father's research. Wanting to be sure the merging process was safe, he tested it by merging himself with cat genes. This gave him the ability to change into a cat at will, but only for 10 minutes at a time or he will remain a cat permanently. Ichigo promises to do her best as a Mew Mew. 37 The Shining Tear: Celebrating Christmas with Just the Two of Us Episode 3714th December 2002 As Christmas approaches, Ichigo grows depressed as she thinks about how she is regularly lying to Masaya to hide her being a Mew Mew. Zakuro invites her to go shopping with her and tells Ichigo that since she cannot open her heart, she should give Masaya something that reflects her feelings. Ichigo chooses a necklace called "Tears for Christmas." She is still initially reluctant to face him, but finally arranges to meet him at the big Christmas tree in Odaiba. While she is waiting, the aliens attack. When Ichigo transforms, her emotions cause mew aqua to materialize at the top of the tree. Joined by the others, the Mew Mews prepare to fight the aliens to acquire it. 38 Miracle of the Holy Night – No Secrets Anymore Episode 3821st December 2002 The aliens add more energy to the mew aqua, putting the area in danger of being destroyed. The Mew Mews are able to reduce the power of the explosion, however no one had noticed Masaya was nearby. He is hit by one of the fragments of the mew aqua and knocked unconscious. At the hospital, Ichigo watches over him and talks to him, telling him she is sorry for hiding the truth from him. As she cries, the mew aqua reacts and it begins snowing. Masaya wakes up and they return to the tree where Ichigo tells Masaya the truth about her being a Mew Mew. Masaya tells her that he already knew, and that it does not bother him. He pretended not to know because it was what she seemed to want. Ichigo gives him the necklace. 39 The Stolen Dream, Sweet Trap of the Lavender Episode 3928th December 2002 Pie creates a chimera anima capable of manipulating dreams. The monster puts Ichigo to sleep and reforms itself into a replica of her to go to the café and send the other four girls into Ichigo's dreams. They transform, but as the dream is being manipulated by the chimera anima, their attacks are sent back at them. They realize that they must wake Ichigo up to win, but are unable to do so. Kish suddenly stops Pie from killing Ichigo and wakes her up, freeing the others. After they defeat the chimera anima, Kish tries to kill Mew Ichigo, but he is still too injured from his last battle with the Blue Knight. Ichigo yells at the aliens, but they tell her they are fighting for their friends. The Mew Mews realize that the aliens do have their own feelings and something they are trying to protect, the same as them. 40 Two Becoming Friends? Pudding in Imminent Danger! Episode 404th January 2003 41 The Winds Bring Happiness – A Heartfelt Prayer Episode 4111th January 2003 The aliens decide to use special chimera animas to release pollutants into Tokyo Bay. The Mew Mews arrive, sans Lettuce, and find themselves having to fight numerous smaller chimera animas made from fish. Mew Lettuce and Ryou arrive by boat, but the larger monster destroys it and they are thrown into the water. While the others defeat the fish monsters by combining Mint and Pudding's attacks, Lettuce tries to save the drowning Ryou. Her emotions activate the mew aqua around his neck, causing her legs change to a porpoise fin and easily bring Ryou back to the surface. The mew aqua weakens the remaining chimera anima, enabling them to defeat it. 42 Zakuro's Dilemma: Only Four Mew Mews Now? Episode 4218th January 2003 Zakuro is offered a leading role in a movie in Hollywood, but this would require her to move to America. She has not decided whether to take the job or not, but she tells Ichigo that the girls still know nothing about saving the Earth and that she is losing patience with them. Meanwhile, Kish learns that the conditions on his planet have gotten worse and that he must hurry to find the mew aqua so he can save his people. The girls also renew their search for mew aqua, however when the aliens appear, Zakuro refuses to transform. Mew Mint is hurt while protecting Zakuro, but Zakuro does nothing. After the battle at the café, Ichigo complains to Ryou who acts indifferent. The girls decide to confront Zakuro about her behavior. Masha leads them to a church where they find Zakuro with Kish. 43 Friend or Foe? Fight, Big Sister! Episode 4325th January 2003 44 The City Turns into a Forest! What Protects Ichigo's Smile Episode 441st February 2003 Ryou and Keiichiro learn that mew aqua may have been made by the aliens when they inhabited Earth. A strange type of energy begins emerging in Tokyo and trees grow out of control, turning the city into a forest. The Mew Mews find something that appears to be a large mew aqua in a tree but before they collect it, Tart arrives and turns the tree into a chimera anima. During the fight, Mew Ichigo realizes that Ryou cannot be the Blue Knight as they both appear at the battle to aid her. The Mew Mews defeat the monster, but they are unable to figure out what caused the forest to appear in the first place. 45 The Riddle Dissolves! The Truth About the Blue Knight Episode 458th February 2003 For Valentine's Day Ichigo decides to make chocolate for Masaya, with help from Keiichiro. On her way to meet him, she is attacked by Kish who knocks away her transformation pendant. Masaya senses that Ichigo is danger and comes to her rescue. After Kish injures him, Masaya begins glowing and transforms into the Blue Knight, however with the injury he is unable to fight at his full strength. Just as Kish is about to kill him, Ichigo grabs her pendant and runs in front Masaya to block the attack using a shield from the pendant. Ichigo rejects Kish and he leaves. Later, as Masaya enjoys the chocolates from Ichigo, Kish wonders who or what Masaya and the Blue Knight really are. 46 New Reinforcement! Protect the Earth Together Episode 4615th February 2003 Masaya begins having prophetic dreams, including one where he is invited to join the team and one where he sees Ichigo crying. The next day, his first dream comes true, against Ryou's protests and Zakuro's concerns, and he becomes a member of the Mew Project. The group goes to investigate a strange light being emitted from a river to determine if it is mew aqua. The aliens also go to the river. As the two groups battle, Mew Pudding and Tart both jump into the river to look for the mew aqua, eventually discovering there is none. After Mew Ichigo uses her attack to increase the Blue Knight's sword's power, he destroys the many chimera animas being used by Pie. The light disappears and the aliens leave as the Mew Mew wonder what is going on. 47 The Power of Love! I Will Protect Aoyama-kun!! Episode 4722nd February 2003 Deep Blue orders the aliens to destroy the Blue Knight. They decide to kidnap Mew Ichigo in order to draw him out. Meanwhile, Ichigo is happy to have Masaya now working at the Cafe Mew Mew. The next day, the aliens attack with a chimera anima that resembles a large octopus. Masaya, as the Blue Knight, joins the Mew Mews in the battle. The creature captures the Mew Mews and the Blue Knight is forced to drop his sword when Pie and Tart threaten to kill Ichigo. It is able to capture the Mew Mews, including Ichigo, in its arms. Pie and Tart force the Blue Knight to kill Ichigo. The aliens then repeatedly attack him, but before they can kill him, Mew Ichigo suddenly breaks free and attacks the aliens with an unbelievable new power. As Pie and Tart flee, the nearby Kish wonders where the power came from, as he is certain it did not come from Ichigo. 48 The Labyrinth of the Alternate Dimension! Kish's Gamble!! Episode 481st March 2003 The group is searching for mew aqua around a large rock formation in the forest when the girls and Masaya get separated. Something strange begins happening and everyone transforms. Masaya transforms into the Blue Knight, but falls from the rock and returns to normal. Kish confronts him and reveals that he cannot maintain his Blue Knight form if he is not protecting Ichigo. The alien moves to kill Masaya, but Mew Ichigo transports and appears between them. Masaya is knocked unconscious as Kish tries to kill Ichigo. This triggers Masaya's transformation, but his powers go out of control due to his rage at Kish. The other Mew Mews teleport to Mew Ichigo just in time to put up a shield around her as the rock explodes from the Blue Knight's power. Masaya returns to normal, seemingly unharmed. Kish tells Pie and Tart that the Blue Knight is the one who can save them. 49 The Awakening of Blue – Another Appearance! Episode 498th March 2003 Ryou and Keiichiro tell the girls to take a vacation, feeling the final battle is approaching and wanting them to be refreshed. Ichigo, however, cannot find Masaya to enjoy the downtime with. Meanwhile, Kish tells Pie and Tart that he is going to use the Blue Knight's powers rather than waiting for Deep Blue to awaken. Pie disagrees, but Tart is convinced. They release all the chimera animas they have in order to distract the Mew Mews and the Blue Knight, while the aliens search for Masaya. Ryou realizes it is a trap and sends the Mew Mews to find Masaya as well. When the girls eventually find him, he is lying unconscious. Mew Ichigo approaches him, but he transforms into the Blue Knight. All of the strange energy in the city gathers around him and he transforms again, into Deep Blue. 50 Ichigo's Trial! I am a Mew Mew Episode 5015th March 2003 As Ichigo stands in disbelief that Masaya is Deep Blue, Pie explains why they have been waiting for him. Ichigo tries to reach Masaya, showing him the bell collar, but it is useless. Unable to fight him, the other Mew Mews rush to protect Ichigo as the alien attacks her, eventually being wounded enough that they are forced back into their human forms. When Deep Blue uses his sword to destroy Tokyo, Ichigo finally realizes he is not Masaya anymore and attacks, but he is too strong. Ryou arrives and protects her from his attack, then tells her that everything is just as the Earth wanted it to be, that the planet chose her and the other Mew Mews to protect it. Her determination renewed, the final battle begins. 51 The Final Battle! I Believe in Your Smile Episode 5122nd March 2003 52 For the Earth's Future, We'll Serve You ~Nyan! Episode 5229th March 2003