Minako sits staring straight ahead. "Artemis," she says, "I've...decided."

Artemis turns around to face Minako, making a little noise of surprise.

 "I'm going to quit singing," she declares. "Minako!" "The time remaining to me is gradually becoming smaller. I can't afford to do unnecessary things any more."

Artemis skits closer. "W-w-wait! I want you to have time, not as Sailor Venus, but as Aino Minako."

Minako turns around to look at him. "Why?" she asks.

Artemis sputters in disbelief. "'Why'?!" She gazes at him seriously. "I was reborn in order to fulfill the mission of the Past, so I must live for that." She turns her head to stare straight ahead again. "Other than Sailor Venus, there is no me."

"Minako..." Artemis drops his head sadly.

Minako gets up and walks to the window, staring out at the lights of the neighboring buildings. "I have to tell the president." A small smile comes to her lips. "Even though he'll have a fit."

"I see," says Ami, "It's not whether the Earth is destroyed or not, it's about not letting it be destroyed." She looks at Usagi, who nods.

"I'm going to try and do my best to not use the power of the Illusionary Silver Crystal, even though I still use it without knowing," she finishes up that last part looking down at the table, seeming a bit embarrassed.

"You can do it. I'm sure of it!" encourages Rei.

"And we'll support you!" adds Makoto.

Usagi nods happily.

"It's as you believed," says Luna, "Chiba Mamoru wasn't an enemy, right!"

Usagi looks down at the watch she has in her hands and agrees, "Yeah."

In the Dark Kingdom, Jadeite hesitates visible for a few seconds before steeling himself to approach Beryl. "Queen Beryl," he says, dropping to one knee.

She turns. "Ah, Jadeite! I'm glad you came. Your loyalty to me wasn't shaken by that trivial matter."

Jadeite struggles to keep his face calm as he remembers the incident when Beryl made the Shitenno’s weapons to come to life against them.

"You're the only one I can entrust with Endymion," she says.

Jadeite flinches and looks pained.

In a fancy restaurant, Minako waits alone at a table set for two. She takes a sip of her tea, and as she sets down the cup, Sugao, the company president can be seen peering in from the window outside. Minako waits patiently and Sugao dramatically peers around a corner, eyeing her for a second before making his presence known. "Good morning!"

Minako returns his greeting with a smile. "Good morning!"

Sugao strolls to the table and sits himself down on the empty seat. "What is it? You suddenly become so formal and want to talk to me about something. Isn't that unusual?"

"Actually-" starts Minako, but she's cut off almost immediately.

"I know! I know! I know! You don't like the drama job, right?"

"No-"

"You might not like being an actress, but it's necessary, you know."

Minako tries again, "It's not that-"

"I said I know!" he interrupts, "When the recording for the new song is over, I'll let you have a little break."

"President-!" Minako starts desperately, but to no avail once again.

"So, the commercial and photo book, you'll do them, right?"

Minako hesitantly agrees. "I got it..."

"Okay!" Sugao says cheerfully, "Then, shall we eat something?" He flips open the menu and starts to order while Minako sits, disappointed. "Veal fillet stuffing and round croquette, please."

In her room, Rei sits on the floor reading a book.

She's so engrossed she doesn't notice Artemis' appearance at her door, until he bangs on it. "Sailor Mars!" he calls.

She looks at him in surprise. "Artemis!"

At Studio Q, Minako is half-heartedly putting on her make-up in the dressing room. A knock at the door causes her to snap out of her daze. "Come in!"

The door opens and entering in dramatic fashion is Sugao. "Good morning!"

"President?" she asks, "You said you weren't coming today."

"The photo shoot has been cancelled! Cancelled!" he says eagerly.

Minako turns around in surprise.

"It's sudden, but the photo book won't be of you, but of another girl. Come in!" he calls loudly.

Another girl comes walking down the hallway and steps into Minako's dressing room.

Minako stands, surprised. "Maaars Reiko!" announces Sugao.

Rei stands there, radiating defiance.

"An amazing find, don't you think? She's a diamond in the rough! A diamond in the rough!" Minako glares back with surprise. "We decided that she would be our agency's most recommended idol! We're going to go all-out in supporting her! Oh!" Sugao's hand flies to his face in a dramatic expression of surprise. "That commercial I talked about yesterday, Reiko will do that, too." Rei continues to glare icily at Minako.

Shiny confetti falls from the sky as Rei poses dramatically, cameras flashing.

Minako watches, fuming, as Rei seems to really get into the role, posing like a model with umbrella, fan, and even violin bow to the encouragement of the camera man.

"Yes, that's good! Yes! Very pretty! Yes, that's good. A little more! Good!"

Minako continues her fuming and finally bursts out with, "It doesn't matter. I would have quit no matter what."

Turning, she starts to walk away, but Sugao conveniently picks that time to drawl loudly, "Somehow you're different from Minako.”

Minako stops and looks at Rei, who's still posing but manages to direct a satisfied glance at Minako between poses.

"Reiko, you're the best!" Sugao cheers.

Minako stares daggers in their direction.

"Good!" gushes Sugao, "That's good!"

Mamoru walks into Crown and smiles.

Motoki's hunched up over the counter, lying on a big turtle stuffed animal. "Mamoru!" Motoki bolts upright, revealing that the turtle is wearing the muffler Makoto gave him. "What's up with you? Recently, I haven't been able to contact you at all."

"Sorry," Mamoru apologizes, "I've been busy with various things.”

The rattling of glass announces the arrival of a person awkwardly carrying a tray.

Mamoru watches the person, who stops right in front of Mamoru.

Nephrite lifts his face from the tray and, noticing Mamoru with surprise, goes back to focusing on the tray.

"Oh him," says Motoki, "Recently, he's started as a live-in part-time employee. He's Neph-kichi."

"Neph-kichi?" repeats Mamoru.

"His name is hard to remember, so I gave him that nickname!" Motoki makes a thumb-up sign, pleased with himself.

Mamoru glances at Nephrite and a laugh escapes before he can help himself.

Nephrite's heard jerks up at hearing Mamoru's laugh, and he angrily approaches Motoki. "You bastard! Did you give me a laughable name?"

"Hey! It's not like that!" insists Motoki, "It's endearing!" His smile quickly fades as Nephrite edges closer angrily. "Oh! I have to clean up inside, so I'll leave the rest to you, okay!" Motoki runs away frantically.

"You're safe," Mamoru says gently.

"It would have been preferable if I had died!" Nephrite replies, not meeting Mamoru gaze.

"Idiot," responds Mamoru, "Didn't it turn out okay for you?"

Nephrite hesitates for a moment before turning to Mamoru and pleading, "Master! Please take me to the Dark Kingdom! I beg you!"

"What will you do if you go?" Mamoru asks.

"I'll go against Queen Beryl..." Nephrite is shaking visible from his barely contained rage, "It's for that that I haven't died yet."

"Forget that," Mamoru urges, "You've become a normal human."

"So I should throw away my pride as a Shitenno?!" Nephrite asks.

"It would be better that way," Mamoru replies, surprising Nephrite.

Mamoru's expression softens and he says gently, "If anything happens, consult Motoki. He's a good person."

Mamoru turns and leaves Nephrite standing there, bursting with emotion. In a burst of frustration, he throws the tray on the ground and clenches his fist.