Akai Kutsu (MIZUNO Hideko)

A collection of some of the earliest one-shots done by Hideko Mizuno, with shared elements of dance and the fantastical. The Red Shoes (赤いくつ, Akai Kutsu, story by Chiaki Saeki): The tale of Nais and Ruby, a brother and a sister who face turmoil when tragedy strikes close to home, and the titular pair of red shoes, said to give anyone who wears them flawless dancing ability. Something for Misa (ミサにあげるもの, Misa ni Ageru Mono): A modern-day Cinderella story. Misa Shiratori longs to do ballet like her late mother, but her sisters always give her a hard time. Then, an opportunity to perform ballet on the greatest stage in the country presents itself to the sisters. Who will be the one to steal the show? Night of the Blue Star (青い星の夜, Aoi Hoshi no Yoru): Toshiko, a girl in poverty, has always longed for the pair of red shoes at her local store. On the day of her town's star festival, Toshiko encounters a puppy being harassed by some children. This puppy takes an unusual liking to her... Also collected in Starry Fantasy.