"Someday if you have someone you can treasure that much, you'll understand. Those are your friends . . . the people you love . . ." --Makoto; Volume 4, Act 16
Deep in the Heart
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon is a series highly centered on its title character. As a result, other characters remain fairly underdeveloped, especially in the area of romance. Makoto in particular has been overlooked as far as details are concerned. Still, the anime and manga have provided a few possible suitors.Ittou Asanuma
Asanuma is perhaps the one who comes closest to the heart of the thunder goddess. Ittou Asanuma is a charming boy of 14 who attends the seventh grade at Mamoru's school, Moto Asabu. With cropped blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes, he is always the one that people seem to be drawn to. He is smart and popular among his friends. One thing about him is that he has a deep interest in supernatural events. He has joined a club at his school that studies and reports UFOs and the like. He enjoys recording anything unusual that might occur.
He has a deep respect for Chiba Mamoru, seeing him as the perfect person. He strives to be just like him, following and spying on him. One fault about him idolizing Mamoru is that Asanuma can be a little strong-minded in what he thinks things should be like. For instance, he pictures Mamoru with a girl who is tall, graceful, and raven-haired, the complete opposite of his Usagi. In fact, he thinks that Rei would be the perfect match for Mamoru.
But perhaps the one he respects most is Makoto. He has a deep respect for her, calling her "Makoto-san" or "Makoto-senpai" even though she refers to him as "Asanuma-kun." He first meets Makoto at the Crown Fruit Center where they both often come after school. Right from the start Makoto thinks that he is a cute boy. They soon become very close friends.
One day, Asanuma stares in awe as Mamoru, thinking no one is watching him, miraculously heals himself of a scratch. Asanuma is shocked but decides not to ask Mamoru about it. He decides that Mamoru, as well as Makoto and the others, must be alien or superhuman.
One overcast evening Asanuma hears Usagi and Mamoru talking about where Rei and Ami might have disappeared to (they have been abducted by the Black Moon). Later Asanuma meets Makoto at a drug store and offers to walk her home since she is not feeling well. When he touches her arm, the static shocks him. Makoto begins to say "Since I manipulate thunder and lightning" but catches herself and pretends to act delirious. He can sense something is strange about Makoto and mentions that he overheard a cat talking, and he begins to question her about Mamoru's strange healing powers and what happened to Rei and Ami. Makoto, realizing that it is too late to cover anything up, then admits that she is Sailorjupiter, and reveals to him the identities of the other inner senshi. Asanuma is amazed and tells Makoto that he greatly respects their mission. The two resolve not to let anyone else know. Makoto leans over and kisses Asanuma's forehead, then he goes back home.
"You're strong. Amazingly strong. All of you are amazing . . . I want to be strong too. If I, a man, can't be of any help to you, Makoto-san . . . ! If I had the power, I would protect you." --Asanuma; Volume 4, Act 16
Asanuma is probably Makoto's closest friend in the manga. He is the only one that Makoto trusts enough to tell her secret to. It is clear that he cares deeply for her. In volume 4, act 16, he tells her: "If I had any power, I would protect you." He still keeps in touch with the senshi team through the Sailor Stars series when Mamoru leaves and Usagi becomes worried when he doesn't contact her. All the way from the Dark Kingdom arc through Sailor Stars Asanuma keeps his promise to Makoto and withholds the identities of the senshi. It is never brought to light if Makoto and Asanuma develop an intimate relationship; but if they did, it would have been something great.
Shinozaki
Shinozaki is often referred to as the anime version of Asanuma.1 He appears in Sailormoon R when a lion daemon attacks Makoto. He risks his life by pushing her out of the way, severely injuring himself in the process. At the hospital, Makoto insists on donating her blood to help with Shinozaki's injuries even though it is critical for her to do so. When Usagi and Ami visit Makoto in the hospital and begin questioning her on her relationship with Shinozaki, Makoto tells them that he is her best friend.
"He's a very important person. When I looked around, he was there." --Makoto; Episode 49
It is then that she flashes back to the day when her senpai left her standing alone in the pouring rain. She chases after the black-haired boy, standing frozen in the melancholy down-pour, tears welling in her eyes. When she is about to fall apart, Shinozaki appears with an umbrella, ready to comfort an aching Makoto. "Maybe he's much more important than a boyfriend could be," she closes.
It is suggested that Makoto's relationship with Shinozaki lasts for a long time afterwards; however, any knowledge of this is unknown. Unfortunately, he is not mentioned further in any of the series. It seems ironic that Makoto's words as Shinozaki is leaving the hospital are, "Now it is my turn to watch over him," since he is never mentioned again.
Nephrite
The second of the Four Kings to appear, Nephrite is the second highest in command, with Kunzite being the first. He is the First Commanding Officer of the North American Division of Earth.
Honestly, there is no direct link between the two. In Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon Volume 1, Act 5, the discovery of Sailorjupiter, Nephrite possesses the body of Motoki to make Makoto believe that he is in love with her, thus enabling him to drain her energy. His plan is foiled and the Senshi of Lightning strikes with her Supreme Thunder and Flower Hurricane, completely destroying him. This is their only encounter, and there is not sufficient time to develop any kind of relationship.
The anime does even less justice to their relationship. Nephrite finds love with Naru and dies the episode before Makoto is introduced.
In a beautifully drawn artbook picture, the Senshi stand posing with their Dark Kingdom counterparts: Minako with Kunzite, Rei with Jadeite, Ami with Zoisite, and Makoto with Nephrite. Takeuchi's vision was to create a romance between the four guardian senshi and the four Shitennou; however, this idea was never pulled through. Although ties between Minako and Kunzite and Rei and Jadeite are established in the manga, Makoto is never romantically involved with Nephrite. This sweet romance eventually ends as just a beautiful concept that never took flight. But hopeless romantics can still dream.2
1 For further reading, see "Are Shinozaki and Asanuma the same person?" in Queries.
2 For further reading, see Tempest.
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