Episode Title: "Sakura to Fushigi na Brooch" - Sakura and the Mysterious Brooch
First Aired: June 9, 1998
Kero-chan ni Omakase!

Cards Captured: Sword

Battle Costume

In the morning before school, Sakura seems to be lacking her usual luster. Tomoyo tries her best to console her, saying she’s doing her job as the only Cardcaptor in the world wonderfully. But Sakura simply can’t get Syaoran’s reprimanding of her “measly magical powers” out of her head. Poor Sakura had even lost sleep the night before. She feels bad, but she also acknowledges she doesn’t know what would have happened if Syaoran hadn’t been there to give her advice.

In the classroom, Rika notices Sakura is down. She gives her a flower to cheer her up, and Sakura tells us what a mature, wonderful and kind person Rika is. When Syaoran enters the classroom and puts his bag down, Sakura thanks him for the advice and information he gave last night – allowing her to properly seal the Thunder card. Syaoran seems surprised at first, but then practically scolds Sakura, saying she should at least known as much. Sakura tries to shrug it off, and brings up Syaoran’s cool green clothes. She mentions her dream in which a boy wore the same outfit, but Syaoran immediately stands up and says she could never have seen those robes as they are ceremonial Li clan family robes. Syaoran realizes Sakura must have at least enough magical powers to have prophetic dreams. But as to save Sakura, Yamazaki comes up and tells Syaoran it’s his turn to do the daily chores around the classroom. According to Yamazaki, these include writing the daily report, cleaning the blackboards, singing songs during recess, dancing around, and various other things. Of course, singing songs and dancing around were flat-out lies, but Syaoran doesn't know that.

In homeroom, Sakura falls asleep and has her same re-occurring dream near Tokyo Tower. Terada-sensei scolds her, but homeroom is over right after. Rika seems intent on speaking with Terada-sensei (which confuses Sakura), but Syaoran’s abrupt standing up from his chair frightens her. It’s a little nerve-wracking to have Syaoran sit behind her… But Tomoyo brightens up the subject by asking if Sakura would like to join her and Rika at a cute shop Rika had found. Sakura doesn’t have to make dinner that night, as her father and her brother won’t be home… but realizes quickly Tomoyo is trying to cheer her up and thanks her. Tomoyo says she just wants to be with Sakura as long as possible.

After Sakura finishes her clean-up duties, Sakura, Tomoyo and Rika encounter the cute shop. Sakura seems to be thrilled with all the wonderful things, and Tomoyo apologizes to Rika for requesting she come out with them today. But it turns out the both of them were worried about Sakura’s lack of usual cheerfulness.

The three of them are intrigued by a stand of brooches in the shop. Sakura buys the brooch with a heart with bronze wings, albeit she worries about not being able to afford snacks for a while… Tomoyo gets a cross brooch, and Rika gets a sword brooch.

With Kero-chan upstairs playing video games, Rika, Tomoyo, and Sakura study and eat sweets in Sakura’s living room. All goes well, until the three put their brooches on. Rika goes into a hypnotized state while Sakura is complimenting her… and suddenly her brooch becomes a real sword! Out of nowhere, Rika appears to be an expert swordsmen, and her target is Sakura!

Rika chases Sakura all the way outside into the street. Kero-chan comes downstairs, saying he suddenly sensed a Clow Card (and pudding, but that’s not important with Sakura being attacked…)

Kero-chan meets up with Sakura outside, who just missed being sliced by a hair. It’s the Sword card! It’s so powerful it can cut through any wall or solid object. It even slices a street lamp in two. Anyone who uses the Sword becomes a master swordsman, explaining why Rika is so skilled. The card has taken over Rika’s consciousness!

Sakura uses the Jump card to better evade Rika’s attacks. She’s cut in a dilemma. She can’t hurt Rika, but she can’t run away and leave her in such a state. Just as Rika is about to directly hit Sakura, Syaoran blocks the attack with his sword! Syaoran prepares to fight Rika, but Sakura grabs him by the arm and says he can’t hurt Rika! Rika is about to strike, but Sakura jumps up into the air and lands them both in a bush near her house – disheveled, but unharmed. Sakura won’t let Syaoran hurt her friend Rika. Just as things get heated between Syaoran and Sakura, Kero-chan steps in and says if only Rika could let go of the Sword for just a second, she’d snap out of it… immediately, Sakura goes to work. Syaoran calls Sakura an idiot, but Kero-chan bites his finger and tells him to just watch. Have a little faith, Syao.

Sakura uses the Illusion on Rika, telling it to show Rika the person she likes most. Rika is taken aback at this, and murmurs, “Sensei…” Sakura is confused, but snaps the Sword card out of Rika’s hand. With the card in its true form, Sakura seals it.

Rika has passed out, but besides that she’s all right. Kero-chan doesn’t miss the opportunity to brag to Syaoran about Sakura’s capture, but Syaoran says Sword is one of the easier cards to catch. Kero-chan bites his finger again, but footsteps are heard! Someone’s coming! It turns out to be Yukito, returning a CD he had borrowed from Touya. With Kero-chan in Sakura’s room, the situation is still kind of awkward, with Rika knocked out and Syaoran in his traditional Li clan robes… Syaoran even more awkwardly runs away, completely red in the face.

The next day at the school library, Sakura encounters Rika reading a book. Rika apologizes for so weirdly passing out the day before, leaving Sakura feeling guilty… Sakura gives Rika her heart and wings brooch because Rika “lost” hers (Sakura couldn’t possibly give Rika back the Sword card.) Sakura is completely flabbergasted, as she can’t properly explain anything to Rika… but Rika sees this and accepts the brooch with no questions. Sakura marvels at Rika’s maturity and kindness.

Outside their high school, Yukito tells Touya Syaoran was outside their house the day before. Touya comments he really does have to beat Syaoran up. Yukito asks if that’s how he warded away all the boys that got close to Sakura, but Touya only has to say he’s the only one who can make fun of Sakura. Touya really has a sister-complex, after all… Touya tells Yukito Sakura had something to give him, and she has to make dinner as price for Touya relaying the message to Yukito. Suddenly, Touya’s jacket catches fire and he looks up to see Syaoran staring back at him, standing on the fence with his Ofuda in hand.

Sakura meets up with Touya and Yukito to give Yukito chocolates as thanks for carrying Rika home the day before. Syaoran sees this, and runs over to give Yukito chocolates he has in his pocket, awkwardly running away after. Sakura is very confused by this, but Tomoyo waiting nearby says it looks like Sakura also has a rival in love!