Last upgrade: 21-Jun'03

Here you can find synopsis of the chapter of Ichigo Channel (And remember to buy these tankobon if you like the summaries, it's the best way of thanking the authors and the synopsis are nothing compared to the real thing! ^^ )

All synopsis are by Zahara Medina, and cannot be used anywhere else without her permission. As she is just a student of Japanese, any help, comments or corrections are more than welcome! ^^;
Please, go to the Image Gallery to see the covers in full! ^^

Chapter 49.

Fast Index:

• Vol.01 parts: [01] [02] [03] [04] [05] [06] [07]
• Vol.02 parts: [08] [09] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
• Vol.03 parts: [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]
• Vol.04 parts: [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
• Vol.05 parts: [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
• Vol.06 parts: [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42]
• Vol.07 parts: [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] - The End -

Note: B/w scans are from the magazine, where the print is in low quality paper and different ink colors so it sometimes scans pretty bad and leaves lots of noise in the picture. The tankoubon quality is, of course, much better (perfect, that is).

Chapter 1 (May'2001)
Ichiko is an average girl who one day after shopping gets taken as a hostage by a bank robber! After she fights against the evil man, who also seems to be a pervert, it turns out they are just shooting a drama (soap opera) scene, and she just hurted the main star! He acts like a Playboy and Ichiko thinks she wants nothing from him, but after watching a good take (thanks to the help of a handsome dark haired guy), she is impressed by the star's acting. Back in her home, we are presented to her brother Ken, who wants to become an idol. Her mother comes in late and even though Ichiko wants to talk with her, she ignores her and tells her to talk to her tomorrow... and then proceeds to talk with Ken about what he did during school. Ichiko goes to her room with a sad expression on her face. Next day, Ichiko and Ken go out together (Ken wants to be picked up by "talent scouts", who go around streets trying to pick pretty girls and boys to work in anything from host bars to so-called model agencies ^^; ). Ichiko tells him that if he really wants to become and idol, he should go to an audition. While Ken gets picked up by some reporters, the dark-haired guy who helped Ichiko the day before finds her. He tells Ichiko about Kanzaki-kun, the blonde actor she admired, and asks her weird questions like if she hates her brother. Ichiko decides to leave right then. The following day, somebody is being very insistent ringing the bell of Ichiko and Ken's appartment. When she opens the door, a group of people enters the place and start wondering about Ichiko's features. One of the women decides it's the hair, and after grabbing a pair of scissors... chunk! Ichiko now has short hair and meets the approval of all these strange persons! Ichiko is mad as hell, but the dar-haired guy appears again and tells them that he is from a production company... don't they want to be idols, as a boy's unit? (Ichiko goes, "booooooy???" ) (Note: At the start of the chapter, Ichiko's friends are looking at a magazine and commenting on cool idol Ren; he is the main male character of Tajima Mimi's Aoi Spice. ^^ )
Chapter 2 (May'2001)
Ichiko is not very happy at the "two-boy band" idea and lets the Tendou, the manager/producer know. The guy tells her that his production company is famous for being a "boys brand" (as in, producing boy groups). He tells her that it would only be for a year, and, wouldn't that be fun? Ichiko doesn't think so, but after her brother cries a little because he wants to be an idol so much, she ends up accepting the proposal. Right after she agrees, they are taken to their first job, a CM! (that was fast... ^^;; ). Tendou names them Ichigou and Nigou (lit. "number 1" and "number 2") after Ichiko makes the mistake of trying to present herself with her real name. While on the set, Ichiko spots Kanzaki-kun and they are introduced to him, he is the thrid member of their group, "Trijet". However, Ichiko realizes he is very different towards her now as a boy as he was towards she-Ichiko and starts depressing about it, so the taping of the CM starts to go awry. During a break, Ichiko sees a blonde wig and some female clothes so... she decides to turn back into a girl! While walking around, one of her shoes get stuck. To her surprise, it's Kanzaki who appears to help her. Unfortunately he breaks the shoe, but he just takes Ichiko in his arms and takes her where she wanted to go. She thinks he is a really nice guy. When they arrive back to the set, she realizes Kanzaki is actually looking for her "he-self," Ichigou! She tells him her name is Ichigo (strawberry), and he leaves her with a smile. Back to the CM, Ichigou now nails her performance on the first try and everybody congratulates her (to her utter surprise). Meanwhile, poor Kanzaki is still looking for Ichigou... (^^; )
Chapter 3 (Jun'2001)
Ichiko's female classmates are very excited about the new Trijet CM, to her horror. She is now wearing a blonde wig Tendou gave her to disguise her so she doesn't resemble Ichigou so much. Her friends ask her if she wants to go around with them, but she refuses. They think she has to go shopping, but are totally shocked when they see her entering the Tendou's car! In a training room, poor Ichiko and her brother are with many other young guys practicing dancing. They see Kanzaki, but he pointedly ignores them. The dance lesson starts to Ichiko's horror... she is not very good at it and keeps on bumping into everybody. Kanzaki spanks her telling her "he" sounds like a girl. Ichiko gets mad and says that it's just her first day! She wonders if he hates her. Tendou delivers Ichiko and her brother home. Their mom is angry because they forgot to call her, then leaves with Ken ignoring her once again. Tendou pat-pats her head and then leaves. Ichiko is surprised at this... After showering, Ichiko realizes there is no food left (since she didn't go shopping, as she always has to do) and decides to go down to the convini(*). There she sees there is only one burguer left! However, when she goes for it... Kanzaki grabs it at the same time! Ichiko is shocked and so Kanzaki get the burguer. However, after paying, he gives it to her. They walk together and Kanzaki asks her if she is going to quit because she is such a bother and so bad at acting and dancing. Ichiko is very mad at this and drags him with her to practice the dance and show him just what she can do! (^^;;; ) Of course she is as bad as always and keeps on failing the steps. Kanzaki starts to give her some tips and after some more tries, she manages to do it! She and Kanzaki let out an exclamation of happiness at the same time... Kanzaki realizes what he said and ends up playing with her in a deadlock. Ichiko blushes and wonders, but he then leaves. She has time to thank him and after seeing his smile, thinks she is having a premonition... Meanwhile, the Tendou is talking with somebody who comments well on the CM. Tendou stays a little obscure and talks about it all being for his benefit... (Ichiko & co.) ((*)Note 1: "convini" = short for "convinience store", which are really common in Japan and are true 24/7) (Note 2: In Japan for "idols," esp. young idol groups, dancing well and in a cool way is almost as or more important than singing.)
Chapter 4 (Jun'2001)
Trijet finishes a session photo for a poster. Ichigou gets mad at Kanzaki because he starts to change in front of them... Tendou says they make a good team. At school, Tendou calls Ichiko on her keitai (cellphone) and she has to bow out of going out with her friends because she has to work (but she can't tell that to her friends). When going there, she bumps into Kanzaki in the train. Kanzaki remembers her as Ichigo. While on the train, Kanzaki asks her to hang out with him now, but she declines (because of the work)... Then she starts criying afraid that Kanzaki is getting the wrong idea! Kanzaki is very akward about it (cute ^^; ) and they end up talking. Ichigo gives him her keitai number but Tendou calls her right then because she is late! She tells him she is at the station... Tendou goes to meet her and Kanzaki is surprised to see him there. Tendou just grabs Ichigo and drags her away... Kanzaki doesn't look very happy, though. Tendou spanks Ichiko even though she claims that it's ok because Kanzaki doesn't know she and "Ichigou" are the same person. Tendou lets it slip that it might be a danger to Kanzaki's pro career... Ichiko gets very worried. Tendou asks her then if she likes Kanzaki, but she just runs away and tells him no to say stupid things like that... However, she asks herself if that's true...

Next Chapter...

All images © Tajima Mimi (except backgrounds).