I'm Nina, 12 years old.
I was just an ordinary junior high school student, but...
Since the day I accidentally swallowed a ball called the Crystal Pearl,
my life has changed pretty drastically.
And the ball happened to be something that's used for the sorcery test.
The team of the two examinees, which happens to possess that ball
when the test ends, will pass the test and become professional sorcerers!
Does that mean I'm going to be chased down by the examinees?!
- Don't cry! - I guess you have no choice but to prepare yourself, Zero.
Huh?
There is only one way to do this.
You will have to protect her with everything you've got
until the day that the test ends.
Until the day the medicine is completed
and you're able to remove the Crystal Pearl from her body...
We will protect her with our own hands!
You mean her?!
Me? These guys are going to protect me?
Just like the princes
who bravely face the enemies no matter how ferocious they are
and fight them for the people that they love and their own dreams...
These two are going to protect me!
One love! Two love? Three love! Four love? One love! Two love? Three love! Come on!
Here's what boys don't know. Girls are moody.
You're a sweet person and it will be okay tomorrow.
But I feel different today. I want to go all out!
Because I can't decide it just yet I want everything
The kinds of love are just like jewels.
Each of them (Shining boys!) is sparkling. Yes!
They say there is only one true love
But it's okay, we can decide that at the very last moment
That moment (Happiness) I will protect it (Happiness)
Come on, let's go find a popping heart
My love! True love! Your love! Pure love! My love! True love! Your love! Pure love!
My love! True love! Your love! Pure love! My love! True love!
Huh? Everyone seems to be acting a little strange today.
They're restless for some reason. What's going on?
Because today is a little special, so...
- Special? - Special?
The season of our annual highly anticipated event has come!
Raise your hand if you want to participate!
Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!
What is this?
We're going to test your courage!
We draw lots then a girl and a boy pair with each other.
If you confess your love to your partner-
Supposedly you'll be guaranteed to have a successful relationship with the person!
- I see! That's why everyone was... - That explains!
Hey, hey, Nina, Nina!
Which one are you going to confess your love to?
Is it Ichii or Zero?
Which one?
You are going to confess your love to one of them, right?
Right? Right? You have to decide it by tonight!
W-Wait a minute!
What am I supposed to do when you ask me to pick one right away?
It sounds interesting!
We should participate, too!
What?
What?!
I don't know what to do!
"The Summer Event is Super Stimulating!"
Hey, Yakumo, are you sure it's in this area?
Yeah, I'm sure of it. This finder said...
It's around here! It's around here!
That's what it said.
But according to the rumor,
some girl has swallowed the Crystal Pearl.
Are you sure that your raggedy finder knows where it is?
Why don't you buy a new one already?
Come on, don't be ridiculous!
Nanase! This may be a raggedy finder,
but it's a respectable finder that's been
passed down from my grandfather!
How could I possibly buy a new one?
Hmm... Is that how it is?
It is not accurate and always stops working.
I really think it's time for you to get a new one.
No way!
Both my grandfather and my father passed the test using this!
So I too will find the Crystal Pearl using this
and lawfully become a professional sorcerer!
It must be hard to be the son and heir of the sorcery dojo!
But I do have to admit that you're dedicated
and that's what I like about you.
It's around here! It's around...
Sheesh! Don't quit on me, damn it!
I'm telling you. You should get a new one.
It's around here! It's around here!
Where is it?
Right here.
It's in this school.
All right, we did it! I found it! Check it out, Nanase!
From here, the signal of the Crystal Pearl is...
This school...
Gone!
Okay, Nina, I'll see you later!
Okay!
Huh?
It's gone!
Isn't that because the girl who's swallowed
the Crystal Pearl has gone home already?
Oh, that must be it, Nanase-chan!
Isn't he an idiot or what?
Nanase! What do you think you're doing?
Stop being all flirty with all these dudes at a time like this,
and start thinking about what we should do!
Hey, what are you going to do about tonight's courage test?
I'm going! It's going to be fun, you know!
That's it!
That's it! That's it! Courage test, that is!
Huh? "Courage test?"
That's right! Courage test!
If this is a courage test,
we should be able to search for the Crystal Pearl
at close quarters even if the quality of my finder is bad!
That's right!
Let's do this!
Tada! What do you think? Does it look good on me?
You look pretty zura!
What the heck are you wearing?
All girls have to wear summer kimonos for this event.
That's the rule!
Hmm...
It look great on you, Nina-chan.
Th-Thanks.
Which one are you going to confess your love to? Is it Ichii or Zero?
Which one?
C-Confess my love?
Confessing my love... I...
Huh?
Yes, hello?
Ichii? It's me.
Sarasa? Is this Sarasa?
A girl?
Ichii's got a call from a girl...
Does Ichii... Does Ichii...
Tada! Now I'd like to announce the opening of our annual
courage test competition hosted by our class!
First things first, I want everyone to draw a lot and make a pair!
I want to do the courage test, too!
I swear I'm going to catch the Crystal Pearl this time!
Ichii-sama! Let's pair up together!
I have come as her guardian as well.
It's amazing you two keep on coming back...
Hey, Nina. Hasn't that guy come to our class one time before?
I think he's like Rokka's guardian or something.
I'm Gou.
Oh, he's such a mature man who's reserved and cool!
He's so dreamy!
What?
Is that your type, Hatsuka?
Surprisingly you're easy to fall in love, aren't you?
Oh, my gosh!
I... I...
I want to pair up with Gou-san!
So anyway zura!
Yaay! Everyone, let's be happy, okay!
The time has finally come!
We're going to scare the people who'd be coming this way.
Then make sure the girl is alone
then I'm going to put the finder against her body
and check and see if she has the Crystal Pearl.
It's perfect! It's a perfect strategy!
I don't like a strategy like that because it's not cute!
What do you expect? The finder is not in working condition!
I can't get any kind of response unless I get really close to the object!
That's why I told you to get a new one!
Stop complaining!
Here they come!
Here I go!
Oh no... It looks like there are ghosts in here!
It doesn't just look like it. They told me they actually are here.
They said they're here!
Waaaargh!!
That's it!
Boo! I'm gonna get you!
G-G-G-Gho...
Gho...
Ichii-sama! Ichii-sama! Ichii-sama! Ichii-sama! Ichii-sama!
What are you doing? Let it go! Why are you holding onto me?
I'm scared! Don't do this! Please don't leave me, Rokka!
Please don't leave me alone!
Get off of me! Get off of me!
Why don't you hang out with ghosts?
You need to wait a million years before you even thinking about jumping on me!
Ichii-sama!
I'm so scared that I can't even move!
How cruel...
I know what you mean!
You run into a girl like her every now and then. Don't worry about it.
There are many girls out there who are better than her in this world.
Don't try to cheer me up!
This is not good! Let's move on to the next!
Zura...
It's so cute!
What do you think of this? Boo! I'm gonna get you!
No, please don't flip it up!
I want to be a ghost, too! Give me this outfit! Give it to me!
Th-Then we'll tell you how to make it so make one for yourself!
Okay, so tell me how to do the eyes? Do I use a magic marker?
No, you cut the parts out with scissors.
Then sew them together so that when you turn it inside out the seam...
Why do we have to teach you stuff like this anyway?
Because I want to be a ghost, too!
- This is not good! - This is not good!
Hey, I want to do that, too!
This is not good! This is not good! Let's move on to the next one!
Umm...
Yes?
Umm...
What is it?
Oh, he is so cool!
I used some tricks on the lots and managed to pair up with him, but what do I do now?
He's just too cool! I can't even ask him anything!
No, Hatsuka! Ask him! Today is the only chance!
Umm, what is your hobby, Gou?
I enjoy bonsai trees.
S-S-So cool! B-Bonsai trees? I...
Boy, this is not good! Let's move on to the next one!
Ichii...
This courage test isn't all that scary, huh?
Listen to him...
All I've been thinking about is the phone call he got earlier...
How am I supposed to enjoy this? I wonder who that was...
It sounded like he was very close to that person.
Could it be his girlfriend?
Maybe he has a girlfriend in the magic world?
Nina-chan?
Huh?
What's the matter? You don't look like you're enjoying this very much.
What? Oh, it's nothing.
Okay, then that's fine.
Wh-Wh-What should I do?
Since we're alone right now, I guess it's okay to ask him about it.
Ichii, do you have anyone that you have feelings for?
What? Anyone I have feelings for, you said?
Huh? No, I didn't mean anything serious by it!
Y-You see, some girls in my class were wondering about it,
so I just wanted to ask you that.
I don't have anyone like that for now.
I guess you could say I'm currently looking for one.
But how about that girl?
Huh? "That girl"?
Boo!
Boo! I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna get you!
Oh no... At this rate...
You two! You two! What are you two doing?
Rokka!
I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm scared!
Fo-chan!
Fo-chan!!
Gho! Gho! Gho! Gho! Ghost!!
Give me a break! What the hell are you doing?
You're here for the courage test for god's sake!
M-M-More ghosts!!
We are not ghosts! It's me!
Hey, you two are...
Zero and Ichii?
Nanase and Yakumo!
What? So that means you two are...
That's right! We are!
Examinees!
What?
You two are...
That's right! We are examinees #007 and #008!
Nanase and!
Yakumo!
We're the examinees, who're aspiring to become professional sorcerers!
It's been a while since the last time we ran into these unpleasant faces, huh?
Right back at you!
We didn't think we'd ever have to look at your idiotic faces, either!
What did you say? You call my cute face "idiotic"?
We will not let you take the pearl!
What are you talking about?
I promise I'll kick your butts this time around for sure!
Umm, I guess they know each other, but it looks like they don't get along...
It doesn't just look that way! We don't get along!
We're in the same grade at the sorcery cram school.
Cram school?
Do you learn magic at the cram school?
Well, it's all up to individuals.
At that particular cram school,
we have the sorcery battle once every month and two people pair up for it.
Every time we fight against each other
it always ends in a draw so it's never been settled.
Is that why you guys have a confrontational relationship?
No, that's not all.
And don't tell me you've forgotten about it, Zero!
What do you mean "that's not all"?
Nanase, just go ahead and tell him!
Tell him what we had to go through because of them, Nanase!
It's a perfect opportunity! Just tell them everything!
What is it?
"What they had to go through because of Zero"? What is it?
That happened three years ago...
It was right after I joined the sorcery cram school...
Nanase-chan, let me carry your bag!
Thank you.
I'll take you to the place that you want to go!
Wow!
It feels great to be popular among boys!
Maybe I should never tell them I'm actually a boy!
Oops, sorry! Are you all right?
What makes you think she's all right, you brat!
How could you do that to a girl?
Huh? A girl? But that's a boy!
- What? No way! - What? No way!
- She's a boy? - She's a boy?
- A boy? - A boy?
H-Hey! Wait, Boy A, Boy B and Boy C!
Huh? Boy D, Boy E and Boy F!
And... And my plan to get super popular at school was brutally shuttered...
Because of this Zero!!
More to the point, I think that's called a fraud...
That sounds just like Fo-chan!
It's not the same!
And that's not all, right, Ichii?
As you already know, my special technique is the weaponry magic,
which transforms anything into a weapon!
For instance, a fan like this can be turned into a weapon!
Check it out!
Awesome!
I'm telling you! That thing never gets old! I love it!
You think so too, right?
But on the other hand, at the cram school, Ichii was like...
It's lame.
It's lame... It's lame... It's lame...
Ichii...
Do you have any idea how badly you stomped on my innocent soul back then?
But I already apologized for that, didn't I?
No! You just don't get it!
That's so hard to believe that Ichii, who's always sweet, would say such a thing.
What? Don't you know anything?
He may be quiet now, but back in the day, in the magic world he was notorious for...
Yakumo!
Anyway I will never forgive you for that!
I have finally found you! I'm going to settle this with you today!
Zero! Ichii!
I guess we have no choice. Let's go, Zero!
Yeah! I'm all ready, Ichii!
Destruction magic!
Fire Ball Piston!
What the?! Curse card magic! Time Slow!
You're moving too slow!
Now is the chance! Take this, Ichii!
My lame weaponry magic!
This isn't good! Let's get out of here for now!
Come on, Nanase!
We should be fine now that we've come all the way out here.
But at any rate what should we do now?
When this many people are after the Crystal Pearl, I...
Hey, let me go! You're hurting my hand.
Huh? What are you talking about, Nana...
Let me go!
Who are you?
Yakumo, you idiot!
N-Nanase?
It was so not cool for you to leave without me!
And to make the matter even worse you mistook me for an ugly girl like her!
"U-Ugly"?
Y-You've got the wrong idea, Nanase. What happened was...
So what, are you telling me she's the girl
who's swallowed the Crystal Pearl or something?
She's around here. She's around here.
What?
S-So you're the girl who's swallowed the Crystal Pearl?
Cripes! I-I'm busted!
I thought that was just a rumor,
but I can't believe an air-headed girl really does exist, huh?
Sorry for being an airhead!
I see. That explains!
That's why those two were protecting you, huh?
Wh-What?
Now that I look closer you're kind of cute! What's your name?
I'm Nina.
Even her name is very cute!
Hey, Nina-chan!
Why don't you kick Ichii and Zero to the curb and come stay with me?
Until the test is over I'll be sure to protect you!
I see! So you're thinking about acquiring the Crystal Pearl
together with the girl, huh?
What makes you think such a thing is even possible anyway?
Why not? I'm sure it doesn't have to be Ichii and Zero to protect you!
You may be right, but I...
I swear I'll protect you with my life! So what do you say, Nina-chan?
Do you want to come stay with me?
You say so, but I...
Hey, there he is! That bastard!
Zero! Ichii!
This is perfect!
This girl who's swallowed the Crystal Pearl...
Will be protected by us from now on!
What? It is us who are going to protect Nina!
There's no way we'd hand her over to you!
If that's the case, why don't we let Nina-chan make a choice herself?
If Nina-chan said she wanted to come stay with us,
you wouldn't have anything to say about that, would you, Zero and Ichii?
There's no way Nina would say such a thing anyway!
You wouldn't know that for sure!
Because I noticed Ichii was acting awkward towards Nina-chan
during the courage test earlier.
Besides it seems like Nina-chan knows nothing
about your past or the magic world!
B-But that's...
Zero, Ichii! Are you sure you two are close to her?
Who knows, you two might not know anything about her.
If that's how it is we're all under the same condition!
There would be no surprise if Nina-chan chose to come stay with us.
You son of a...
Fine!
Ichii?
I wouldn't stop her if Nina-chan herself wants to go stay with you.
We aren't entitled to stop her anyway!
Ichii, what are you...
All right, I guess it's decided! Let's test that...
Using this Nina-chan!
What?
Maybe he's got a point.
It is true that I don't know anything about Ichii or Zero.
Because they were always around me and protecting me,
I got the idea that I became close to them and even understood them,
but the truth is that I don't know anything about them...
I don't know anything...
Sarasa? Is this Sarasa?
I don't have anyone like that for now.
I guess you could say I'm currently looking for one.
What? Don't you know anything?
He may be quiet now, but back in the day, in the magic world he was notorious for...
Yakumo!
So... It doesn't matter if it's Ichii or Yakumo,
it doesn't change the condition, does it?
If that's the case... If that's the case...
Nina! Nina!
If I'm not understanding them, I'd rather...
What the-
I'll be with Zero and Ichii.
It's true that I don't know anything about their past and stuff like that,
but I do know that I can trust them.
They told me they'd protect me, and I do trust those words!
So if the condition is the same for both of you,
I'd rather choose Zero and Ichii!
I'm sorry!
Zero! Ichii!
I had faith in you, Nina-chan, that you would definitely pick us.
Ichii! Zero!
Nina.
Please continue to protect me, Zero, Ichii.
By the way what would you have done if Nina chose those two instead for real, Ichii?
If it ever comes to that I will reclaim her.
- What? - What?
I will reclaim her even if I have to use force.
Because we're the ones who are supposed to protect Nina-chan.
Ichii!
Damn it! Now it's come to this we should use force and...
Don't even try it! They don't even view us as their worthy opponents right now.
But one day I swear I will make Nina-chan say she wants to come stay with me!
Oh, Nina-chan! She's such a good girl! Now I like her even more!
- What? - What?
Well then, I guess we'll see you later!
I won't give up on the Crystal Pearl, you hear?
Bye, Nina-chan! Wait for me until next time!
Zero, Ichii, don't forget to brush your teeth!
Humph! It'll be the same thing no matter how many times they come!
- We will protect Nina! - We will protect Nina!
That's right. My heart won't change, either...
I might not know much about Ichii and Zero,
but I still can trust them!
That they will protect me no matter what. I can trust them!
Shall we go home, Nina-chan?
Yeah!
Zero! Ichii!
It's okay for me to learn about their past later, right?
Because I still have plenty of time.
It's okay to take time and get to know about them, right?
It's okay to take time because my trust for them will never waver.
Umm...
What is it?
What kind of bonsai plant do you like?
Pine tree.
Oh, so nice! Nice! Nice! Nice!
Oh, pine tree!
Pit-a-pat, skip! Parallel pop!
Pit-a-pat, step! Miracle kiss!
Pit-a-pat, magical! Lollipop!
My heart is beating so fast. He might notice.
My heart is pounding and throbbing. It feels like it's going to burst.
No matter which direction I look, his eyes are crystals.
They are so brilliant that I just look away.
The seed of love has begun to sprout. Even my magic, too! Check it out!
They will keep on growing and spinning and explode!
Popping lollipop. Save me, lollipop! Throbbing heart.
Two candies, I can't decide which one is better.
Even the earth turns the other way, if you hold me,
the shape of my heart will change just like pit-a-pat!
The shape of my heart will change just like pit-a-pat! Lollipop!
Oh, no! What is this?
What's all the racket, Zero?
Sheesh, what's all this noise?
- Why do I see another me? - Why do I see another me?
What's going on?
Hey, you! Why are you dressed like that?
That's my line! Don't do lame stuff!
You two, calm down!
Next time on Save Me! Lollipop, "Nina is Zero and Zero is Nina!"
- Just what happened? - Just what happened?