Hm...going back a few years again, but I just finished vol. 2 (series, not movies - haven't been able to order those yet...
) and finally realised one thing: Alto didn't actually lose the earring in the battle in the first volume. He had it on a necklace, so he's still got it at the end of this one (~episode 14 events)... The author also changed the battle slightly, such that everyone realises that Ranka's song was what saved them... Bet that changes Ranka's character development in the next volume...
But one thing that had me grinning a little (beside that kabuki scene anyway...) was the comment that 'the only people who hadn't realised Monica's secret crush were the captain himself and
Alto...'. That boy is as dense as ever... In fact, the more I read of Alto's (and even Sheryl's) characterisation, the more certain I get that a few people here will really dislike the novels...
Ah well, moving on...