"If I had any power... I would protect you."
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.

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 I act 5 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 Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon 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.

Deep in the Heart | Makoto Files | DataCentral