▁virt ues ▁of ▁la ctic ▁acid ▁b ac illi ▁in ▁the ▁pick led ▁veget able ▁ch ips ▁he ▁makes . ▁▁▁▁▁ ▁Two ▁young ▁c ats ▁found ▁by ▁Ran ▁while ▁k itt ens , ▁abandoned ▁by ▁their ▁mother ▁or ▁previous ▁owner . ▁ ▁They ▁seem ▁to ▁share ▁a ▁strong ▁bond ▁with ▁her ▁and ▁often ▁accomp any ▁her ▁to ▁bed . ▁ ▁Sa ek o ▁is ▁Ran ' s ▁academ ically - orient ed ▁class mate ▁and ▁best ▁friend ▁that ▁is ▁aston ished ▁that ▁Ran ▁secured ▁a ▁f law less ▁score ▁on ▁a ▁test ▁in ▁spite ▁of ▁her ▁ignor ance ▁of ▁the ▁test ▁material . ▁ ▁Ran ' s ▁explanation ▁attempts ▁greatly ▁sc are ▁Sa ek o ▁greatly ▁since ▁she ▁had ▁not ▁yet ▁vocal ized ▁her ▁thoughts . ▁ ▁Sa ek o ' s ▁most ▁prominent ▁role ▁is ▁near ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁series ▁when ▁her ▁res ent ful ▁dedic ation ▁to ▁rig or ously ▁studying ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁show ▁up ▁Ran ▁who ▁just ▁happened ▁to ▁have ▁ser end ip ity ▁( and ▁perhaps ▁the ▁knowledge ▁of ▁how ▁to ▁take ▁advantage ▁of ▁the ▁testing ▁format ) ▁on ▁her ▁side ▁prompt s ▁M om oko ▁to ▁w ield ▁Sa ek o ▁as ▁a ▁body guard ▁to ▁in hib it ▁Ran ▁r ushing ▁to ▁R ui ' s ▁rescue . ▁ ▁A ▁j udo ▁f lip ▁from ▁R in ▁is ▁more ▁than ▁enough ▁to ▁ex ting u ish ▁the ▁sub j ug ation . ▁ ▁Ada pt ations ▁ ▁An ime ▁▁ ▁is ▁the ▁ 2 0