Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card-hen - Episode 07 Review!!!

Episode 07: “Sakura and a Game of Tag in the Garden” aka Syaoran shows off his magic powers for no reason; Tomoyo masters drone technology; Sakura does air somersaults

We start of the episode with a three-way video-conference between Sakura, Yue, and Kero-chan, taking about capturing the Record Card, except Sakura and Kero-chan are in the same room, as Yue sarcastically points out. I love how Yue is still so sharp-tongued but seems to have opened up a lot more compared to CCS Season 3 days. And it's confirmed that Sakura's red laptop is actually for Kero-chan's use. We learn that Yukito finally joined a club in university, which is really heartwarming because he never joined a club in high school. But I have no idea what a “Recitation Club” is. Maybe it’s like a speech class. Probably more like reciting classical Japanese poems or elocution or something. And it's cute that Touya is buying books for Yukito. It's a pity he didn't join the archery club. I love how Sakura gives Kero-chan a hard time too, saying basically he’s a lazy bum. Kero-chan: "I have a busy schedule too!" And Sakura patiently says, "Yes, yes." How adorable is their dynamic. 

Yue: Get your fat face out of the way.

Tomoyo: I have enough costumes to last you for three more seasons of the Clear Card anime!

Tomoyo: And a high school sequel for the 40th anniversary of CCS as well!

I loved everyone’s outfits this episode, from Sakura’s red dress and yellow star-themed battle costume, to Tomoyo with her hair in two braided buns and rather steampunk-ish outfit with the suspender vest, to Syaoran’s nice, normal, preppy V-neck navy sweater vest with sky-blue button-down shirt outfit and white slacks, the kind of outfit I think I’ve drawn a hundred times on him as a default. Okay, maybe Tanaka Mikai beat him to it.

Sonomi: You look just like your mother! Especially your eyes! Well, only your eyes.

I loved getting a glimpse of all the fantastic battle outfits Tomoyo has prepared for Sakura! We are back at Tomoyo's huge house, and Daidouji Sonomi makes a comeback! Tomoyo really takes after her mother, in terms of passion and energy. But that was a sweet moment when Sonomi tells Sakura she looks more like Nadeshiko than ever, especially her eyes, and it makes Sakura really happy.

Syaoran, the tardy boy.

Syaoran's vision of Sakura, with flowers sprouting around her.

Syaoran makes a sudden appearance at Tomoyo’s house. Apparently he was invited by Tomoyo? And he’s late again. Syaoran used to be so punctual, but he’s always late nowadays. It’s tough having an affair with Eriol behind everyone’s back, I suppose. It was like good old days to have the original group hanging out at Tomoyo’s house. This was a nice change of pace from other more school-centric episodes. Sakura, Tomoyo, Syaoran, and Kero-chan have afternoon tea on a dock in Tomoyo’s huge garden, and Kero-chan takes pictures of the food and new cards to send to Spinel Sun who apparently is not responding either. But Syaoran still does not admit that he’s in secret communication with Eriol. 

Tomoyo: Sakura's newest outfit is my best work to date. Syaoran: Yeah--I mean no! I mean--

Tomoyo: S+S are blushing so cutely. Drone camera action time! Record! Oh ho ho!

I missed Tomyo’s “Oh ho ho” laughter and glad to see it's back. Tomoyo is the boss. She got her mother’s employees to design her a drone to film Sakura in action! One that can be controlled by her smartphone! How kickass is Tomoyo? She even wants to make a waterproof, underwater version. Why am I not surprised that Tomoyo has a labyrinth in her garden?

Let's do a Tarot reading--actually no, it's just Kero-chan's selfie time!

It's a dark force! No, actually, it's just a full shot of Syaoran's nice, preppy outfit of the week, and a backside shot of Tomoyo's cool steampunk outfit.

And this is a gratuitous handsome Syaoran of the week shot with one button loosened.

We finally get to see Syaoran in action, and he’s learned some Tsubasa!Syaoran techniques, releasing his sword from the palm of his hand and surprising Sakura and the others. I was rather ecstatic to hear the good old “Raitei shourei” after all these years. It's also nostalgic to see his ofuda again. And it’s good to see that even if he can’t see, or sense anything, he hasn’t lost his sharp instincts. Quoting Kero-chan: “When did you learn to use a technique like that?”

New technique of the week--actually done first by Tsubasa!Syaoran.

It sparkles now!

Kero-chan: When did you learn new technique like that? Sakura: It is sparkly!

I was glad to see Sakura actually thinking out how to capture the Flight Card, caring about its feelings, not wanting to scare it and desiring to become friends with the force. Like how she stepped between the Flight and Syaoran, because she didn’t want Syaoran to scare the card anymore than necessary. And she didn't want to use other card that might frighten it. It rather reminded of the episode where they catch the Dash Card. Except, back then, Syaoran was a lot more confrontational against Sakura.

Syaoran: You know you missed it! Raitei shourai!

Syaoran apparently can't "feel" the force but still knows which direction it is heading.

Sakura: Wait! It's my friend. Syaoran: Are we doing this again? Seriously?! After all these years?

Also, kudos to Tomoyo for upping her game and capturing all the action shots of Sakura on camera today! As Kero-chan best put it, “Tomoyo’s persistence is really what produces one masterpiece after another.” I love how the group then resumes drinking tea as if nothing had happened. Tomoyo insists on seeing Sakura use the Flight Card, asking Syaoran doesn’t he want to see it and putting him in a pickle. He gives a Syaoran-like, “Yes, I mean I want to know what the new card does,” sort of answer. Poor Syaoran, who still can’t be truthful to himself and always gets played by Tomoyo. Kero-chan really is pushing out the best lines this episode, demanding, “Only the card? What’s wrong with you? If Yue were here, he’d beat up the kid.” I never knew Kero-chan was Team SakuSyao.

Tomoyo lives inside a Nintendo game. Sort of explains how she turned out the way she did.

You are my friend too.

The Flight is pretty much the equivalent to the Fly Card, and I finally get Sakura’s battle costume from the Opening sequence. But today, I really missed Sakura’s old cards as well, because they’ve got such character and personality as well. That’s also why the Flight might be a favorite card to date, because it actually seems to have feelings, and it’s a pretty, clear ribbon, what’s not to like about it. Sakura as she captures the Flight says, “We can be friends now,” which is a very Sakura-like thing to say. All the super-deformed shots were really cute as well.

Tomoyo: Okay, now that we're done with the distractions, let's get back to the main purpose of this episode.

Tomoyo: More filming Sakura in action time again.

Tomoyo: Li-kun, you agree with me, right?

Syaoran: Yes, er, I mean, I want to see the new card in action!

Kero-chan: What's wrong with you, Brat! If Yue were here, you'd be thwacked in the behind by him!

We get to see a lot of pretty shots of Sakura soaring up the sky—I forgot how much I missed the Fly Card. Syaoran waves at a smiling Sakura but then has a morose expression at the end of the episode, making him really suspicious again.

I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane, I'm more than just a pretty face.

Kero-chan: It's amazing Tomoyo's drone camera follows you everywhere!

Sakura: Actually, I find it a little bit creepy, but I can't tell Tomoyo that because it will break her heart.

Syaoran: I probably shouldn't tell Sakura I can see her underwear from here, right? 

Teehee Syaoran waved back!

Who knew Syaoran would be the most suspicious character in Clamp-verse since, well, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle.

I guess next episode we will finally be introduced to Yuna D. Kaito! I'm excited to see him!

Are you related to Fai D. Flourite?

Belated Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Lunar New Year!

Living Together: Sakura Blow-drying Syaoran's Hair by wishluv on DeviantArt

This one's a little bit late, but I sketches this for Valentine's Day 2016, I believe, but never finished it. I decided it to color it up for Valentine's Day this year but am slightly late because it's been so busy at work, but luckily now it's Lunar New Year break. It's junior high Sakura and Syaoran from Arc 2 era, when they were living together, which sort of makes me feel nostalgic. I feel like it's been a while since I posted actually completed artwork instead of sketches or chibis!

Happy Valentine's Day 2018 and Happy Lunar New Year!

Music Spotlight:

Cheryl Cole - "Fight For This Love"

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card-hen - Episode 06 Review

It's canon! Syaoran is an excellent pianist. What is he not good at?

“Filler episodes" of CCS are always the best! I don’t even consider them really filler because Ohkawa Nanase-sensei is in charge of script, so I suppose it’s Clamp’s expanded vision of the CCS-verse that they could not include in the manga. We start off with Sakura daydreaming of Syaoran eating Syaoran’s bento the other day at the flower-viewing gathering, then bumping into Akiho to do grocery shopping. We are finally introduced to Akiho’s “Momo-chan,” Kero-chan’s bunny equivalent aka Moonstone from New Trials. I mentioned before that Moonie-chan is probably a mixture between Mokona, Usagi-chan from Wish and more recently Momo-chan.

Moonie-chan?

Meilin: Poor Syaoran's still got it rough.

One of the highlights of this episode was the comeback of Meilin (or at least hearing her over phone). Thank goodness for smartphones so we see Meilin in action. The best part was her banter with Kero-chan, mocking him by eating her peach manju in front of him, teasing Sakura about how she’s always spacing out, but still a bit concerned about how Syaoran’s doing in Japan.  Meilin’s awesome as ever, and she hasn’t lost any of her sass. And she tells Sakura of course Syaoran is enjoying school since “he’s near a certain someone, after all.” Since her introduction Meilin was a bit nagging and overbearing, but she also was very shrewd and observant. I love her little sigh and offhand remark, “I guess Syaoran will still have it rough for a while,” because of how dense Sakura is. And best news, she said she will visit Japan over summer vacation! I also like her nice porcelain tea cup. 

 

Cutest dad award!

Touya: Gotta show Yuki Sakura's latest masterpiece!

Pretty Nadeshiko with an umbrella!

Even Kinomoto Fujitaka has also become moe-fied—he looked cute huffing and puffing on the hot gratin made by Sakura. Fujitaka is as busy as every with university work and says he might have to spend the night, so I don’t feel so bad I made him so busy in New Trials either. Mischievous Touya points out Sakura’s mistake slicing cucumbers and even takes a photo of it to send to Yukito. Sakura’s premonition of the mysterious cloaked figure is getting more elaborate than ever. So, on top of being in sort of dreamscape, there is clock imagery going on as well. I wonder if the final battlefield is going to be a dream plane rather than Tokyo Tower or the shrine, as was predicted with Yue and Eriol’s appearances. On a side note, I think this was one of the prettiest photo-of-the-day of Nadeshiko to date. I don’t know why, but no matter how many times it’s shown, I always feel giddy when Sakura crosses the bridge and sees Tomoyo waiting for her. The butterfly—I suppose it was meant to be the Record—really reminded me of the Dream Card more than anything else. After class ends, the girls discuss which club Akiho should join. 

Ninja Tomoyo: Li-kun, urgent matters! Assemble at music room ASAP!

Yandere Tomoyo: Akiho, I heard you humming along the other day. Admit it!

The best of this episode is the music room scene. Leave it to Tomoyo to know that Syaoran plays piano. Note, Tomoyo runs like a ninja, arms flying out behind her to chase after Syaoran going into the next door classroom (how did she even notice him) and brings the group to the music room she borrowed for lunch break. Akiho apologizes for butting in and humming along to Tomoyo’s singing during the flower-viewing gathering the other day, being the polite girl she is. Tomoyo and Sakura both tell Akiho they heard her singing along, and everybody encourages Akiho to sing.

Syaoran: Who told you I play the piano? Darn Meilin.

Sakura: Syaoran, you play the piano? I want to hear!

Syaoran: I'm not very good so don't blame me if it sounds bad!

Tomoyo then says she heard that Syaoran is actually very good at the piano and asks him to accompany them. Syaoran is taken aback and demands where she heard this from, and Tomoyo replies, from Meilin. Syaoran looks very troubled and annoyed like good old days. Of course, Sakura is amazed that Syaoran can play the piano, and Syaoran blushes like he used to and being modest as he always was, says he is not very good and not to blame him if they can’t sing along to his accompaniment. Of course, he’s very good (possible better than Eriol?!) and looks very hot playing the piano. Sakura probably asks to herself, why did she have to learn piano from Eriol back when she wanted to record a song for the Clow Cards, when she would have learned from Syaoran all along? Or maybe Syaoran is Eriol’s apprentice after all and learned from the master himself.

Of course I'm the next Lang Lang.

I'm Li Syaoran, what did you expect?

Legit duet off with Tomoyo and Akiho! Who is the winner?

Sakura only has eyes for piano-playing Syaoran.

Tomoyo and Akiho sing a song called “Misty Moonlight” and harmonize beautifully, but truthfully I wasn’t paying attention because I was distracted because Syaoran was playing the piano! They even animated his fingers and all instead of lazy panning out shots. It makes more sense that Rika transferred out because I believe she was the piano player of the group. and we wouldn’t have this precious moment with Syaoran otherwise.

Sakura: Hanyaan! Syaoran's so good at the piano!

Syaoran: I should have shown off my skills in Season 1 if it would impress Sakura so much.

Another part I enjoyed this episode was Syaoran and Tomoyo’s unspoken communicative skills, like Syaoran asking if he could borrow the music room a little longer, and Tomoyo automatically ushering Akiho and Chiharu out of the room. Chiharu’s “hmm” was so funny when Tomoyo says Sakura and Syaoran have something else to do. Chiharu even has the audacity to wink at the two as they close the music room door. Sakura seals the Record Card without much hardship, but it was good to see Syaoran standing by her side and the two cooperating together for the first time in a long time. Also, that portrait of Beethoven making the picture-taking motion with his hand is the creepiest thing I’ve seen in CCS so far!

Syaoran, as observant as ever of Sakura.

The fantastic duo back at it again!

Creepiest Beethoven portrait ever!

Syaoran, you're my ally now, right? You better not betray me!

Then, Syaoran makes the shocking confession that he couldn’t feel anything, and it was nothing like when they were collecting the Clow Cards. And he makes a very troubled expression—so if he’s hiding something from Sakura, that would make him the best actor ever.

Frowning Syaoran is back!

Syaoran also makes this kind of troubled expression when he's worried about Sakura.

There was something about this episode that reminded me of elements of New Trials of CCS more than any other episode so far. I was already alerted that Syaoran might be playing on the piano this episode over by members of the Facebook group, but I didn’t realize we would get a full scene of him accompanying Tomoyo and Akiho on the piano. I loved it the whole scene, from Syaoran being very modest about his skills, to being an awesome pianist, to him being embarrassed at being complimented. Of course Meilin boasted about Syaoran’s talents to Tomoyo and not Sakura. I can die happily, knowing it is canon that Syaoran IS musically talented, no matter how much he sucked at the recorder in elementary school. Music plays such an important part of New Trials, but the reason I made it feature so heavily in the storyline was because I thought it kept up with the spirit of the original series as well. Syaoran is not only good at piano but he can sight read on the spot too—I’m sure he never heard the Japanese song “Misty Moonlight” before. Even Kero-chan during the “Leave it to Kero-chan” segment remarks “Who knew that kid was so good at piano” at the end.” Anyhow, Sakura must have a brother-complex too—Syaoran shares so many similarities with Touya. It was also good to see Syaoran being so expressive again after being pretty inscrutable in the episodes so far. 

Syaoran is still a pushover whenever it comes to Sakura.

Sakura's dream sequences are getting more and more complex.

The other point was the imagery in the dream sequence with the mysterious cloaked figure and the clocks. It reminded me of the Ending Theme 4 I made to NewTrials years back. Also, Tomoyo’s mother’s company making not only toys but smartphones, headphones and other technological equipment apparently. I’m looking forward to a Sonomi-related episode next episode, and Sakura’s new battle costume looks especially cute with all the stars!”

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card-hen - Episode 05 Review

Sakura eats, drinks, and sings with friends!

I think Clear Card-hen should officially rename itself Cooking Master Card Captor Sakura with the amount of time spent on the show with characters cooking meals and showcasing bento. Not that I’m complaining—even in the original anime, I always enjoyed and appreciated all the food-related moments. I can’t get over what a sweet, feel-good episode this was. Even the dark force this time, Gravitation, was good-natured, bringing Sakura to a nice, isolated hill to view the prettiest cherry blossom tree. And the overall animation quality of this episode was spectacular—everything was so fluidly animated and all the character art was very pretty and background gorgeous. Totally made up for the ugly CGed-Ents from Episode 4—now I know where all the budget went! 

Who's taking pictures of a sleeping Sakura-chan and uploading them onto her laptop? Syaoran raises hand: "Can you send me one please?"

We started off with a hairdryer product placement moment after Sakura comes out of the shower. I appreciated hearing from Rika again, though over phone! Kero-chan reading a mystery novel recommended by Spinel Sun and getting the culprit wrong is so point on! I dig Sakura’s red laptop and matching mouse, but am more amazed that Sakura knows how to use a computer now. So, Kero-chan is taking photos of Sakura while she’s sleeping? I can’t decide if it’s creepy or for Tomoyo.

Sakura: Beda! Touya: Lord help me, what am I going to do with this little monster.

Again, I enjoyed Touya, Fujitaka and Sakura’s interaction in the kitchen making her bento. Especially Touya telling Yukito over phone that the lunch Sakura packed "should be safe" to eat because their dad making it with her so. Touya telling Sakura not to squeeze the rice so hard when making onigiri, which makes it too hard, is legit advice, though Sakura doesn't respond to it well. Then she’s so polite and sweet to Yukito on the phone—poor Touya, he’s so used to ignoring his bratty little sister’s antics—he should get more love. I really enjoyed the one serious conversation they had, when Sakura asked if Yukito is eating as much as he used to—and Touya said not as much in the past. I love how Fujitaka asks Sakura’s opinions for everything, like whether she wants the sausages octopus-shaped or bunny-shaped, or the vegetables grilled. What an awesome father! The Kinomoto family’s bunny-shaped sausages are adorable.

Outfit of the day! Pink for cherry blossom viewing!

I loved Sakura’s flower-viewing outfit, from the pink tea coat with flower-print collars and stylish brown boots and vertical-striped stockings. And Tomoyo’s hairstyle with the two braids down the side was really cute. It’s not like Syaoran to be tardy, but again he's mysteriously missing. It was interesting to note that Yamazaki Takashi is officially Syaoran’s spokesman. Apparently Yamazaki and Syaoran have that kind of relationship where they text each other and out of that entire group of friends, if Syaoran’s going to be late, he doesn’t contact Sakura, or even Tomoyo, but Yamazaki-kun who even knows that Syaoran told them to go ahead and start their lunch! When have been that close? The hidden dark horse was not Eriol, it had been Yamazaki all along! I really enjoyed Chiharu’s remark about Yamazaki enjoying “experimental cooking.” That is totally him. Akiho is adorable as well—I’ve been won over this episode. Akiho overlaps with Tomoyo a bit, except she is not as perceptive and shrewd. If Sakura and Tomoyo had a daughter, she would probably be like Akiho. 

The birth of Yandere-Tomoyo!

I can’t help thinking of the “Siege Card” as the “Cheese Card.” That’s what I hear. The whole action sequence with the Gravitation was animated so fluidly, nearly movie quality! As I mentioned earlier, again, like some of the Clow Cards of earlier days, the whole purpose of this card seemed to have been to draw Sakura and gang to view the prettiest “best kept secret” cherry blossom of the neighborhood. The Gravitation Card also was interesting because it was more of a physics-related card than an element and the likes. It rather reminded me of the Magnet Card from New Trials of CCS.

I am Syaoran, an elf of Lothlorien. Okay, I'll stop with the Lord of the Rings references.

Yandere Tomoyo is bummed at another missed filming opportunity—I rather like the idea of a dark Tomoyo in the making. Syaoran suspiciously makes his entrance like three minutes before the end of the episode. Where were you all this time? You better not be the one releasing all the Clear Cards at Sakura! He looks like a woodland fairy in his green and ivory outfit—I mean, who can pull off those ivory three-quarter slacks with socks and a matching green and gold man-purse—I mean satchel. Syaoran brings his infamous peach buns, Akiho compliments them, and I don’t know how I feel about Syaoran smiling at other girls except for Sakura, because back in the days, Sakura was the only person he smiled for. 

Akiho: The peach bun is so delicious! Syaoran: I didn’t make it for you, gurl!

Sakura’s dejected expression when she hears Syaoran already ate lunch is the cutest thing ever. And it’s so Syaoran-like that he is so perceptive, notices the slight change in Sakura's expression, remembers it, and asks “what’s the matter” a little later. (Yes, Syaoran must have telepathy when it comes to Sakura!) Sakura explains there was another card. But Syaoran cuts straight to the point that Sakura looked a little sad when he said he already had lunch. Sakura says, “Don’t worry about that.” Sakura’s worried that Syaoran’s already too full, but Syaoran looks really serious and says my favorite quote of the episode, “I have to, when it’s about you.” This guy, who always blushed red when interacting with his crush and running out of the scene in elementary school days, has gotten completely suave in the year or so he has been gone! What has he been studying in Hong Kong? Probably Eriol’s “Dating Manual for the Hopeless Guy.” For more info, check out my fanfic: The New Trials of CCS.

Syaoran: I can read your mind, you know.

Sakura: Hoe! No way!

"I have to worry, when it's about you." Syaoran always makes this troubled expression when Sakura's not looking.

Syaoran insists on eating the bento Sakura made for him, though Sakura says he shouldn’t force it. He was especially hot when he asked, “Dame-ka?” That’s the kind of Syaoran I liked, and the most Syaoran-like he has been a while. The whole bento exchange scene was also probably the most shoujo manga-esque one between Sakura and Syaoran we’ve had in CCS in a while.
 

Syaoran: I want to eat your bento.

"Dame-ka?" Who can resist those eyes!

Of course, Sakura can't, so she gives him the bento.

 Sakura’s blushing smile when Syaoran eats her bento and says it's delicious is the most adorable thing ever. Also, I realized once again I like serious Syaoran the best, and though he is smiling with other characters, he is still very serious and attentive when it comes to Sakura, just like he was in elementary school. So, even if he smiles at all the other characters, I like how he still gets unsmiling when he is worried about Sakura and her feelings. 

Syaoran's eating my bento! Hanyaan!

Cute bunny sausages! The onigiri is a little bit tough though. Sakura should have listened to her brother's advice!

I can't let the new girl upstage me—gurl, why are you humming along?!

Yamazaki interrupts the rare S+S moment with a silly story about castella, Tomoyo sings, Akiho sort of hums along (isn’t that kind of impolite), and Sakura takes a furtive glance at Syaoran and is so cute. And probably Syaoran gets a tummy-ache later for having two lunches back-to-back to please Sakura.

Best view of the sakura-viewing outing!

Teehee, Syaoran's so handsome!

Happy 14th Anniversary to the New Trials Yahoo Group!!! (And mini-review of CCS Clear Card Manga Chapter 20)

Beauty and the Wolf: Sakura cheers up Syaoran by wishluv on DeviantArt

I think I have been writing more blog posts in the past month than I have in the past two years combined! I would have forgotten if Amethyst Beloved didn't remind us all, but today is the 14th anniversary of the creation of the New Trials Yahoo Group by Kirei Blossom on February 3, 2004. There are many of you out there who have been great support to me and the New Trials of Card Captor Sakura community, but these two individuals can be especially considered the pillars of the New Trials fandom, both in terms of dedication and longevity. So many thanks to them, and to all of you! I wouldn't have been able to remember the history of the Yahoo Group, without a reminder from Amethyst Beloved's lovely fan website. For some reason, 2004 doesn't even seem that long ago, but here we are, 14 years later. New Trials has seen Geocities and Bravenet guestbooks (remember those), a forum, and so on, but really it's the Yahoo Group that has endured for all this time, and sort of what we always ended up going back to.

The Yahoo Group, in modern times, can be considered quite a dinosaur, by all means. It sometimes eats up posts and at least for me is a bit clunky to navigate. Yet, at the end of the day, it's still the best place for in-depth discussion of both CCS and New Trials, (especially for those of you who want to avoid in-your-face spoilers in Facebook) and there is especially revived dialogue recently for those of you who haven't joined already. Facebook is great for posting updates, reactions, and photos, but it's really hard to keep track of conversations, after all. 

The fanart of Beauty and the Wolf is chibi-art, I know, but it actually took a bit longer than I expected. Maybe because I like the subject matter so much. I love Beauty and the Beast, and when I was writing about the play for Sakura's cultural festival, I so was set on doing Cinderella, but also wanted to do Beauty and the Beast, hence that disastrous play came to be. Actually, I had wanted to write a Goth Cinderella with Tomoyo as Cinderella and Eriol as the Prince, but I just couldn't wrap my eyes around Eriol playing the Prince. Not that Li Jinyu made any better a prince, I suppose. Anyhow, we were all talking about how we miss the grumpy, scowling, suspicious Syaoran from the original CCS series. I think what made Syaoran so distinct was what a lone-wolf he was, so here is Syaoran-Wolf and a bubbly Sakura-Belle trying to get him to come out of his shell.

So Happy 14th Anniversary to the New Trials Yahoo Group, but more importantly, today's a day to appreciate all of you guys, because all of you make New Trials possible! 

I'm also including a brief Card Captor Sakura Clear Card-hen manga commentary below, so skip if you don't want to be spoiled. I actually haven't read a whole chunk of chapters in between but was captivated by a Nadeshiko cover. I love her blue dress and that she's holding sakura branches, and she looks somewhat younger here to, as does everyone in the Clear Card Arc, but for me, it felt like Amimaya Nadeshiko of New Trials was looking out at me, so I went ahead and read the chapter.

The other reason I had to read the chapter was because I saw in spoilers that Syaoran and Sakura both get to meet Sakura's great-grandfather (Nadeshiko's grandfather). That was extremely cute, and something that goes beyond my imaginations. Sonomi and Tomoyo's mother-daughter bonding time was really cute too, especially, how Sonomi remarked how Amamiya Masaki-ojii-san wanted to meet Syaoran because he's the guy that close to Sakura (aka boyfriend). This is especially significant because if you remember, Nadeshiko eloped with Kinomoto Fujitaka, hence didn't have the approval of her grandfather and family. It seems like Masaki is trying to right some of the wrongs of the past, but who knows, because the chapter cut off short. For the first time, I wondered if Masaki-ojii-san also has special powers like the vision, for who else would have Nadeshiko earned inherited them from. In New Trials canon, of course, Masaki as a descendant of Amamiya Hayashi would probably have inherited some sort of powers.

And why is poor Touya part-timing as a lobster? Can't he just tutor students or something if he needs to earn his college tuition? I probably won't be reading the manga first because I like being surprised by the anime first and then reading the manga for the details and beautiful art, but I might have to read next chapter as well to find out what's going on about Sakura's great-grandfather and what he has to give her (likely to be related to Nadeshiko). 

Music Spotlight: Beauty and the Beast - "Something There" 

   

I can never get enough of Disney's Beauty and the Beast--of course the original animated feature film would always be my favorite Disney movie ever. But I've also watched the musical on the Broadway and of course the 2017 live feature movie with Emma Watson, which I watched 4-D (which kind of made me sick). I watched it as a play at Disney World in Orlando as well and never will get tired to the music or story. In the original animated version, "Something There" is the only time we here the Beast singing. When I was little, I loved Belle's winter outfits, especially the maroon cape and the green dress she wears when the Beast shows her the library. I listened to a lot of Beauty and the Beast soundtrack, both original and movie versions while writing Chapter 73 of New Trials.

I was chocolate shopping today and realized that Valentine's Day is coming up soon , and I groaned to myself. I have started the year on such a good foot with updates, and had to question myself if I will have Chapter 73.5 ready in time for Feb. 14. I thought for a second, shoot, I should have saved Kaitou Magician Origins for Valentine's Day, and realized, wait, that's a horrible fanfic to celebrate the day.