The Red Shoes (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.