▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		KIYOKO ARAI
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE / BW
		▪	PAGES:		200
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/07/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		08/18/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

More intrigue enters the picture when Narumi discovers that his dad has been a bitter lifelong rival with Kiri’s. She couldn’t care less. Will that just increase the enmity between Kiri and Narumi? Nevertheless, the Scissors Project needs her help. A model that has a phobia of men can’t stand any of the members – all male- of the SP to touch her. Can Ochiai convince Kiri to help them yet again?

At this point in the series, there would have been a danger of it lapsing into a repetitive and predictable formula of a reluctant Kiri coming in at the last minute to not only save the day for the SP, but the self-esteem of another hapless girl. I said would have been because Beauty Pop does not fall into this formulaic trap. Instead it finds some new intrigue and tension to enter in the mix and create a sudden possibility of a romantic connection between Kiri and Narumi, while also introducing misunderstandings and drama with Kiri’s friend Kanako. It seems Kanako may be under the false impression that Ochiai is interested in Kiri. And although he certainly is very interested in her talent and curious about her reluctance to pursue it, it is strictly a platonic curiosity on his part. Kanako clearly likes him, but begins to distance herself from Kiri when she notices Ochiai’s attentions towards her talented friend. This drama gets tied in with a kidnapping plot involving the SP who has been receiving threatening emails. They dismissed it as a prank. But when both Kanako and Narumi’s little sister are kidnapped by the criminals, Kiri rushes off without a thought to her own safety to not only save her friend, but Narumi’s little sister as well. This self-sacrificing act of hers is not lost on Narumi, but it does confuse him.

Confusion reigns for the male hair cutter when his friends tease him about the only girl he ever loved, a fourth grade girl in his past younger childhood days, who was his rival during elementary school until one day she disappeared. With some deduction and investigative work, Ochiai finds a most interesting connection between that girl and Kiri. Could she be Narumi’s true love? You can find out in the latest entertaining pages of this romantic comedy. 
 
Manga extras include “Bonus Funnies” which are short comedic comic panels.
 
IN SUMMARY:
Beauty Pop gets a makeover when Narumi learns of a surprising past he shares with Kiri. Lost love, love found and yet things are as challenging as ever for these two warring could-be lovebirds. Beauty Pop hits the heights of romantic comedy!