"I'm off!" Yuki called over his shoulder as he stepped out of the house one Friday morning. He took a moment to adjust his backpack straps, then headed out... Only to stop when he saw a pink envelope poking out of the mailbox. "Eh?" He took it out and opened it, reading the paper inside.

His eyes went wide. "This is..."


Antoinette stood outside her own house, staring at the pink stationary in her hands. Blush tinted her face as she read. "This is..."


Mirai stood outside her front door, ignoring her brother yelling at her to get out of the way and let him go to school. In her hand was a similar paper. "This is..."


"Hiromi!" called Emi.

"Hm?" Hiromi looked up from her breakfast plate, swallowing the bite of egg in her mouth.

"This came for you in the mail," her sister said, handing her a pink envelope.

"Oooooh, Hiromi~ Is it a love letter?~" cooed Kiyomi, elbowing her in the side.

Hiromi blushed darkly but said nothing as she opened the envelope. After scanning the paper for a second, her eyes widened. "This is..."

You Are Cordially Invited to Misaki Oshiro's Fifteenth...

"B-birthday?!"


OP: "Love and Joy PreCure" - Entwined Hearts Duo


"That's right~!" Aki grinned. "This Sunday, you four are invited to my house for the party."

They were at school now, crowded around Hiromi's desk. Homeroom hadn't started just yet, so of course now was a great time to talk about the invitations that'd been sent out.

"But just us? And you gave most of your staff the day off?" Antoinette made a noise in the back of her throat as she looked around the classroom. "Aki, dear, I love you and you're a sweetheart, but won't this be a lonely party?"

"Not really!" Aki said cheerfully, keeping her voice down so no one else could hear. "You four are the ones closest to me in this whole class, so why would I want to invite anyone else? I mean...we're classmates, but you guys are my friends. So's Miho, she's invited, too."

Antoinette blushed and looked away, coughing into her hand.

Hiromi gave her a nervous look before looking back at the invitation. "Do you want us to bring presents, Aki?"

"Only if you want to. I'd just be happy if you all showed up! Though if you can't, that's fine too."

Mirai suddenly shivered and hugged herself. "Ah, a premonition! This party will be fun, and at least one of us will have a great memory!"

"Mirai, that's not a premonition, we all know that," Yuki sighed.

As the others laughed, Hiromi just stared at the invitation, biting her lower lip nervously.

"By the way, who's Miho?" Yuki added.


TODAY'S EPISODE: A Gift From My Heart! These Are My Feelings!


"A birthday party! With lots of cake!" Coffee squealed over the invitation after school that day.

"I bet it'll be better than the last birthday I attended, datchu..." Ti murmured, prompting Coffee to start patting him.

"Don't worry, Your Highness! This party'll be better, promise." Coffee looked up at Hiromi. "What are you going to get her?"

"W-Well, I-" Hiromi blinked, a thought suddenly occurring to her. "H-Hey, why are you two here, anyway? Shouldn't you be with Aki?"

"Well we were, but she said everyone would be running around preparing for the party and she didn't want us to have the surprise spoiled," Coffee said. "Don't change the subject! What are you getting Aki?"

"Well..." Hiromi tugged at one of her ponytails, looking around the room. What should she get Aki? A cookbook seemed kinda mean, like she was telling Aki to make her own sweets instead of accepting her Granny's or Yuki's. "Well, maybe..."

Her gaze fell upon a few boxes in the corner of her desk. She'd gotten them for her own birthday a few years ago, but had never bothered to use them. She hadn't really...well, it wasn't that she hadn't had time, it was just that she never got around to using them. "Hmm..." Hiromi got up from from the edge of her bed and walked to the desk. Pulling the clear boxes out, she eyed the large, brightly-colored sticker on the lid.

"Lovely Jewelry Kit!"

"Maybe..."


"Hiromi! Dinnertime!" Emi called up from the bottom of the stairs. There was no answer. "Hiromi!" Still no answer.

Emi stood there for a moment before shouting up the stairs. "Hi-ro-mi, get down here right now!"

"I'm busy, Emi! Sorry!" came the only reply.

Emi puffed her cheeks out in annoyance. "Oh, no, she doesn't," she muttered to herself. "Hiromi, I worked really hard to make this dinner, so you're coming down whether you-!"

Emi was stopped from going upstairs by a large, but gentle, hand on her shoulder. She blinked and looked next to her. "Dad?"

Daisuke Satou smiled gently, his eyes closed. "Let her be, sweetheart," he said. "I'll bring her a plate later."


Hiromi stayed up long into the night. At some point her sisters had knocked on her door to announce they were going to bed, so she shut her light off and turned on the small desk lamp instead. The night drew on, the background noises she was so accustomed to faded into silence, and Ti and Coffee fell asleep on her pillow.

Finally, Hiromi glanced over at the clock on the wall. "Eh? Two in the morning?" She looked back down at her creations: a pair of rose-shaped post earrings with a tiny space for a gem in the centers. They hadn't been painted yet, so they looked a little plain, but that was fine. She'd just paint them tomorrow. "I'll have to get some paint and jewel glue from town," she yawned, pushing back her chair.

She took off her glasses and changed into a long nightgown, gently lifted her pillow aside to rest her head on the mattress, and smiled a little. Aki's birthday... She blushed as she thought, I hope she likes her present...


The next afternoon, Hiromi had a skip to her step as she walked through the shopping district. Her messenger bag swayed at her hip, prompting Coffee to pop out and glare at her. "Hiromi!" Coffee scolded. "His Highness is getting dizzy!"

"Sick, datchu..." came the pitiful noise from inside.

"Ahaha, sorry..." Hiromi laughed nervously as she stopped. "I'm just so excited..."

"You can't wait for Aki to see your present, huh, datchu?" Ti managed to say from the darkness of the bag.

Hiromi blushed and nodded. "U-Uhm – I really hope she-"

"Hiromi!"

Hiromi let out a short scream, shoving Coffee back into the bag and closing the flap as Yuki left the shop she stood in front of. Forcing a laugh, she turned to face him. "H-Hi!" she said, too fast.

Luckily for her, Yuki didn't seem to notice. "Are you shopping for Aki's present?"

"Eh? You're getting her one, too?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, she said we didn't have to, but I sorta feel I should anyway. Anyways, check it out!" Yuki held up the clear plastic box tied with sparkly blue ribbon. Inside, Hiromi could see stacks of assorted mini-cheesecakes – all of them looking very fancy and professionally-made. "And look!" He held up a blue wrapped item. "It's a book of how to make everything in this book. You know, so she can do it herself too if she likes."

"Ah...I uh, had considered a cookbook myself...Good thing I didn't go with that, then," Hiromi chuckled sheepishly.

"Good thing. Aki still likes to bake with her Granny some weekends, so I thought she'd like this."

'She does? I thought her Granny did the baking herself now!' Hiromi thought, in a mild panic.

"Did you decide what you're getting her?"

"Uhm -"

"Well, don't worry. You still have some time. See you at the party, Hiromi!" Yuki called over his shoulder as he set off.

Hiromi waved him off, keeping up a smile until he was out of sight. Then she sighed, shoulders slumping, and turned to keep going.


"Hm..." Hiromi stood in front of the mall directory, trailing a finger across the surface. "Craft store, craft store..." she mumbled. "Ah, here it is-"

"Whaaaat?!"

Hiromi jumped in fright, glancing over to where the noise had come from. To her left was a fragrance apothecary. And glaring at the saleswoman behind the counter was Antoinette.

"What do you mean you can't giftwrap it?" the girl snapped, hands on her hips and one foot tapping. "This is a present for someone, and I can't wrap to save my own life!"

"I'm sorry, miss, but even if we did offer that service, we don't have wrapping paper. However, if you'll go up one more floor, you'll find our giftwrapping table. It's only 400 yen per item."

Antoinette sighed loudly and slid her debit card across the counter to the saleswoman. "Ffffffiiiiine," she huffed, taking the large basket of things. "Thanks for that, I suppose."

"By the way, your friend will love those scents you chose. They're very popular, and the sakura-vanilla lotion is a top-seller with young girls."

"Of course~" Antoinette grinned as she took her card and receipt, then left the shop. Immediately he gaze fell upon Hiromi, and she waved at her. "Oh, hello, Hiromi! Have you come to shop for our lovely Aki?"

Hiromi held her bag closer to herself, shifting her weight awkwardly from foot to foot. "W-Well...well, I'm... Still deciding what to give her," she mumbled.

Antoinette clicked her tongue sympathetically. "Aki's tastes are rather refined, I can see why you'd find it difficult to shop for her."

"W-Well-"

"Hiromi! Antoinette! I had a feeling I'd meet a friend today!" Mirai suddenly called out above the faint noise of the crowded mall. She smiled as she approached the two of them, a pink bag on her arm. "I just didn't expect it to be two friends."

"Mirai! Is that Aki's present you're holding?"

"Yes! Want to see?" Without waiting for an answer, Mirai held the bag out, tilting it so the other two girls could peer inside. Hiromi couldn't tell what exactly it was, but there was a bunch of pretty-looking fabric and a few small boxes sitting on top of them. Apparently Antoinette knew what the fabric was, though, because she gasped and covered her mouth, eyes wide.

"Why, Mirai~! You got her some dresses? How did you get close enough to get her measurements?" Antoinette put her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes and puckering her lips at Mirai in suspicion. "Are you seeing Aki?"

Mirai laughed and waved a hand in front of herself. "No, no, nothing like that. I just picked a few different sizes that looked right, and got a gift receipt. If any of them are wrong, Aki can just return them. I picked up two new video games for her, too," she added, gesturing to the boxes. "What about you two?"

Antoinette spoke just as Hiromi was opening her mouth. "I got her a lovely gift basket of lotions, soaps, perfumes, and bath bombs~ The sakura-vanilla just screams Aki, and this bath bomb here looks like a pink galaxy when dissolved!"

"Uwaaaah, how elegant! How about you, Hiromi?" Both Mirai and Antoinette turned to face her, expectant smiles on their faces.

Hiromi just clutched her bag tighter against herself. "I..." She thought of the little earrings at home, the short shopping list she had in her head. "...I don't know," she said again, lips twitching slightly.

"Well, you'd best hurry!" Antoinette said. "The party's soon, remember!"

"Y-yeah...e-excuse me, you two," Hiromi said with a short bow, then ran deeper into the mall, vanishing into the crowd.


In Heartbreak Manor, Lady walked down the hall leading to Ariel's room, a delicate-looking box in her hands. She hummed quietly, something tuneless but still pretty-sounding in her voice. Suddenly she stopped, just five feet from Ariel's door. "Ah, Shylock!"

Shylock stood leaning against the wall, just in front of Lady. His arms were folded across his chest, stoic gaze on the box she was holding. "What is that?" he asked.

"Hm? Oh, this is just my music box," Lady explained, smiling gently at it.

"Your music box? I didn't know you had one."

"Well, I just very recently made it. I thought Cure Ariel would enjoy a little music once in a while?

"No."

Lady's head tilted, her eyes still closed as her brows knitted slightly. "Eh?"

Shylock was glaring mildly, moving to stand in the middle of the hall, blocking the way to Ariel's room. "No, you may not give her that music box."

"But Shylock, darling, it will just calm her nerves! I'm sure being cooped up in that room all day, away from the rest of us..."

"I won't let you give her that box. If I find it in her room, I'm throwing it away." Shylock's tone left no room for argument. "Take it somewhere else."

Lady stood there, her face turned towards him for a long moment. Neither said anything, a silent battle of wills at work. Finally, Lady sighed delicately, and turned around, her skirts rustling around her legs. "Very well then... I only wished to give her a gift. It isn't fair that you're the only one who can give her presents, Shylock... By the way, do wash those sundae bowls when you get a chance."

And with that said, she walked down the hall and vanished.


Hiromi walked home dejectedly, as the sun was setting. A small shopping bag hung limply from her fingers; in the end, she'd still bought the jewel glue and paint. She'd come that far, she didn't have the money for fancier things... It'd be stupid to turn around and go back empty-handed.

As she passed by Miho's house, the door opened and the girl in question stepped out. "Huh? Hey, Hiromi! How ya doing?"

"Oh...hi, Miho," Hiromi mumbled.

Miho frowned as she approached the gate, resting her hands on it. "What's the matter? Shopping for Aki's present?"

"Uhm..."

Miho smiled gently. "You know, she'll like anything you give her. Because you're such great friends. Well, unless you like, wrapped up a dog dropping or something. You didn't give her a dog dropping, didja?"

Hiromi let out a quick snort and covered her mouth.

"Hahaaa, see, made you laugh," Miho chuckled, then touched Hiromi's shoulder. "Hiromi...look, I can tell you're worried. But you really shouldn't be. Like I said, Aki's your friend – even if you don't give her anything, she'll just be happy you're there."

"...what are you getting her?" Hiromi whispered.

Miho just shrugged. "I thought of just scanning a few pages of the manga Nana's drawing, but then Nana said she'd get into huge trouble with her publishers. So I'm just drawing a quick picture of her. It's just a pencil and ink thing, because of time constraints, but..." Miho stopped, another worried look on her face. "Hey, don't feel like you have to compete with us about gifts, okay? Remember what I told you."

"Y-yeah...I'll try," Hiromi smiled slightly and started walking again, waving Miho goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow at the party."

"Bye, Hiromi! Don't worry about it~! Aki will love it no matter what it is! Because you're someone precious!" she yelled after Hiromi, a hand cupped around her mouth.


That evening, Hiromi stared down at the earrings. Should she even bother painting them? Or adding the little gems? As she looked more closely at them, down from that happiness high she'd been on the night before, she could see the little imperfections. The small little chip in one of the petals. How one rose sat off-center of its post.

Cheesecakes that looked like they were from a cooking show, a gift basket of bath supplies and fragrances, new clothes and games, and a sketch from an up-and-coming manga writer. And here she was, with these tiny, silly, imperfect earrings.

'But I can't show up with nothing...' she thought to herself. 'That'd be worse.'

With a small sigh and a heavy heart, Hiromi lifted the paintbrush and began carefully applying the sparkly blue color to the first rose. As she worked, the faint sound of sniffles could be heard from her.


Eyecatch 1: Hiromi and Aki lean over a small box, watching in anticipation as Ti and Coffee turn the handle. It appears to be a small jack-in-the-box, but when the lid suddenly pops open, it sends a spray of heart-shaped confetti all over them. The four of them laugh, and the Entwined Hearts logo appears in the corner.

Eyecatch 2: Cure Capulet and Cure Montague run at each other from opposite sides of the screen. The slide across the floor, intending on strike a pose together, but while Montague stops, Capulet keeps sliding. She briefly flails her arms in panic, and Montague grabs her around the waist to stop her. The momentum results in Capulet being held in a dip as she and Montague lock eyes. Montague laughs while Capulet blushes, and the Entwined Hearts logo appears in the corner.


The next day, it was party-time. Hiromi was wearing a new outfit for the occasion. Instead of her usual casual outfit, now she was wearing a light, gentle-looking dress with a cream-colored top. The sleeves, which stopped just between shoulder and elbow, were slightly billowy, the fabric having allowed to gather before being cinched at the ends. The entire top was a little loose, really, sort of floating before being cinched by a thin tan belt. The skirt was a bit simpler – still light so it floated somewhat, peach-pink and pleated. The dress stopped just above the knees, and Hiromi had worn off-white stockings with tan ankle boots on her legs. She thought she looked nice, but her mind wasn't on the outfit.

"M-Maybe this was a bad idea," Hiromi whispered into her bag as she walked down the street towards Aki's manor. "I should just go home and tell them I'm sick!"

"Hiromi, Aki's your girlfriend! You can't just do that because you're nervous!" Coffee whispered, poking her head out. In honor of the occasion, she was wearing a tiny little party hat on her head. "She'll be sad if you don't go!"

"I know..." Hiromi mumbled. "But it's just that..." Her gaze shifted from Coffee to the little present, wrapped in pink tissue paper. Ti holding it between his paws, trying to keep the paper from tearing or crinkling.

'They're just so-'

"Young lady."

"Ah!" Hiromi jumped, shoving Coffee's head back into her bag, and turned to face the newcomer.

A pretty lady with long, curly lilac hair and a long dress stood off to the side, in front of a picket fence. She smiled sweetly, her eyes never once opening. "Young lady," she said again. "Would you like a music box?"

"A m-music box?" Hiromi echoed.

"Yes. You see, I've been needing someone to take it off my hands, but for some strange reason, no one seems to want it. And it's such a lovely box, too," she sighed sadly. "Would you care for a look?"

Hiromi took a step closer, her eyes going wide as she looked at the box. "Uwaaah..."

It was a white box with gold trimming – and real gold too, not gold paint! Delicate pink swirls were painted onto the box, coming in from the corners and edges and finally meeting in the center of each side to form a large heart. In the center of each heart was a pink gemstone, heart-shaped of course, catching the light and letting out a few rainbow sparkles. On top of the box was a glass, convex window with eight sides. Through it, Hiromi could see a flower with a heart for the iris; it sat on a dias that was meant to turn as music played. "It's lovely!" Hiromi gasped.

"A fine gift for any young woman," the lady said with a smile. "Would you like it, my dear?"

"A-Ah, can I?" Hiromi gasped.

"Of course! Free of charge," the lady said, gently pressing the box into Hiromi's arms.

Hiromi flushed pink. "Th-thank you! I don't know what to say, but...but thank you so much!" She bowed once and, as the lady chuckled quietly at her antics, ran down the street for Aki's.


"Aren't you all a little over-dressed?" Yuki deadpanned, one hand in his pocket. Everyone stood in front of the gates of Aki's home, waiting for Hiromi to arrive. "I mean, it's a birthday, but Aki's a friend, not a princess."

"Are you mad, Yuki?!" Antoinette gasped, scandalized. "Aki is very much a princess." She snickered at his outfit. "So you are under-dressed."

Indeed it seemed that way. Antoinette was wearing a short-sleeved, tight black shirt with a square collar, a white tiered and ruffled skirt that stopped at mid-thigh. She wore a loose chain of silver stars around her waist, and deep red stockings on her legs. On her feet were black fashion boots with silver star-shaped buckles. And on her head was a white cloche with a black ribbon.

She wasn't the only girl who'd gotten at least a little dressy either. Mirai was wearing a white baby-doll top with pink ribbons dangling from the sleeves' ends. Instead of a skirt, she wore pink jeans that she'd dressed up a little with a dark red heart on the pocket, and red canvas shoes. Her drill ponytails had been secured with red bobbles for the occasion.

Miho wore a yellow romper over an off-shoulder, dark brown shirt with long sleeves. On her legs were dark brown thigh-highs with scalloped edges, and she wore black, lace-up boots that reached mid-calf on her feet. She hadn't changed her hair or added anything to her head, but she did decide to wear an oversized necklace with a tan heart pendant.

And there was Yuki, just wearing a red hoodie sweater and blue jeans with his usual white sneakers.

"Ugh, you girls are all weird!" he snapped just as Hiromi came running up. "You, too, Hiromi!" He kept talking as Miho pressed the button to announce themselves and the gates opened. As they went up towards the door, he continued. "You'll see; it's just a simply birthday party between friends, and Aki's going to look at you all and-"

The front door opened wide, Aki beaming at everyone from the doorway. She wore a black and blue part dress; the top black with long sleeves and a sweetheart collar, the skirts blue and sparkly. On her legs were darker blue leggings, and she wore delicate lace socks with black Mary-Janes. "Everyone!" she called, her sparkly tulle skirts rustling, no doubt from her running to open the door. "Come in, come in, hurry!"

"I hate all of you," Yuki grumbled, to everyone else's amusement.

"We're putting the gifts on the dining room table," said Emma, leading everyone into the kitchen. "Right this way everyone,"

As everyone followed Emma, Yuki looked over everyone's outfits again and scoffed under his breath. "Girls," he grumbled.

"If you like, young sir, you can borrow one of my suits," chuckled the young butler, Sebastian.

"I don't need a suit!"


The party went without a hitch. The presents were all piled up on the table – Hiromi just borrowed a cloth napkin and draped it over the music box so Aki couldn't see it, and Emma announced the first thing would be a small tea party. Just to warm up for the actual festivities, then they could start the real fun.

They sat in the sitting room, around a coffee table laden with finger foods, tea and coffee. Antoinette kept drinking her tea with her pinkie extended, much to Yuki's amusement – Antoinette just snapped back that she'd done this since she was small, and now it was practically a reflex. Mirai warned everyone to be careful with their drinks, and right after that Miho spilled tea on the carpet. One would think she wouldn't mind too much, but the poor girl burst into tears and had to be taken to the corner and comforted by Sebastian. The man kept insisting it was alright, as Miho kept wailing she'd ruined the "super fancy" carpet. It took ten minutes for her to calm down and rejoin the tea party as if nothing had happened, while Sebastian excused himself and Emma to fetch the party games.

Aki laughed as gently as the others and shifted her attention to Hiromi, who sat beside her. "Hiromi, are you having fun?"

"E-Eh? Of course! Wh-why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I just want to be sure. You seemed a little distressed when I gave you the invitations, and you looked really nervous on your way in." Aki smiled wider, tilting her head and closing her eyes. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. It wouldn't feel like a real party if you weren't having as much fun as I was."

"That's right, datchu!" Ti whispered. Hiromi looked into her slightly-open bag, where it sat propped against the couch. Inside, Ti and Coffee each held a tiny sandwich, crumbs on Ti's snout. "Parties aren't fun unless everyone's hearts are light, datchu!"

"M-My heart's..." Hiromi began, but stopped.

A light, tinkling song was playing down the hall. At first it was quiet, but then it steadily grew louder until everyone stopped talking, and noticed it.

"Is that a clock?" Miho asked, frowning.

"No, none of my clocks sound like that..." Aki said, setting down her teacup. "Sebastian, Emma?" she called.

No answer.

"Where could they...?" Aki stood up, jogging out of the room. "Sebastian! Emma, where-"

Her voice cut out, leaving just the music. And then suddenly, it stopped too.

"Aki?!" cried the others. Everyone still holding a cup put it down quickly, and ran out of the room. And what they saw in the dining room was...

Aki, Emma, and Sebastian lay on the floor, as if they'd suddenly dropped. All three of them were in a deep sleep and, no matter how much the others shook them, wouldn't wake up.

But they didn't have time to focus on that either. A second later, the handkerchief shook, and then the pile of gifts fell over, the table shattering and splintering as-

"USOOOOO!"

"U-Usotsuki?!" Hiromi gasped, face pale.

"What-?!" began Mirai.

The Usotsuki, looking just like a giant-sized version of the music box in all ways but for the red eyes and mouth, didn't let her finish. It opened its mouth wide and let out a roar, spraying something from its mouth.

The 'something' turned out to be the slashed-heart symbol, and one slammed onto the chest of everyone conscious, except for Hiromi.

"Everyone!" Hiromi gasped again as they fell to their knees, wailing loudly. "Everyone! A-Aki!" she cried, shaking Aki by the shoulders. "Wake up! Please! We have to transfo- Ah!"

The Usotsuki took a step forward, roaring loud enough to shake the entire house. Hiromi backed up in fright, trembling like a leaf as the monster stepped forward. She saw it step on some of the boxes – and judging by the shattering noise and the sudden scent of sakura... "A-Antoinette's present for Aki!" The Usotsuki didn't care – why should it? - and charged forward, knocking aside and destroying the other presents too.

Hiromi yelled and ran down the hall, away from the sitting room. She had to keep them away from Ti, Coffee, and the others! She had to-

She reached a door leading to the back gardens, and as she threw it open and ran outside, lifted her hand up.

"Pretty Cure! Love's Song!"

Hiromi, now sans glasses, floated in a void of soft gold and dark pink light, glowing hearts floating all around her. She hovered there, eyes closed, legs together and arms extended at her sides, for just a moment before she swept her left arm in front of herself, moving her body into a fast spin as she held both arms up like a ballerina. Her ponytails came undone, and her hair suddenly brightened to gold and formed itself into four large ringlets. As she continued spinning, glowing gold ribbons of light wrapped around her torso, exploding outward into sparkling hearts to reveal her Cure dress. She swung one leg out to slow herself down, light wrapping around both of her legs. Then just before her spin stopped, she brought her leg back down so both her ankles touched, and the light exploded into those same hearts to reveal her boots. Hiromi opened her eyes, now emerald green, to smile softly at the ring on her finger before she held her hands together and brought them to her mouth, kissing the ring. Her arms glowed with the golden light, and this light too burst apart to reveal her gloves. Sparkles of gold gathered at the top of her head and over her ears, solidifying into the shapes of her earrings and tiara before bursting into pink sparkles.

She smiled softly, bringing her hands down to touch her heart. "The innocent love in a maiden's heart, Cure Capulet!"

"USOOOO!" The Usotsuki crashed outside, breaking apart the doorframe. It bore down on Cure Capulet, who stood trembling faintly as she stared into that huge, gaping mouth.

She'd been right there she'd been so close to it and it was hot it was hot and burning and oh God

Capulet gasped, snapping herself out of it just as the Usotsuki sent another shower of slashed-heart symbols at her. She leaped aside, and the hearts missed her to tear apart the flowerbeds. The air felt hot where the flowers once were, and Capulet gasped again as she felt the heat on her legs.

Sweat beaded at her temples and rolled down her face. She screamed for help as her hand began to slip, and then when she couldn't feel anything under them anymore and she was falling she was falling

"Noooo!" Capulet screamed, whirling around and punching the Usotsuki just as it swung a fist at her. Their fists collided, and the Usotsuki's was sent away. This didn't stop it, however, and with another roar, it swung again.

Capulet kept swinging her own fists, gasping and trying not to look into those eyes. Or that mouth. Even though it roared again, and every time it roared she felt a blast of heat, she ignored it. She had to. She had to-

"Why are you fighting?"

Capulet gasped.

"You're hurting Aki's present."

"I-"

The Usotsuki swung again. "USOOOO...KI!" it roared, as the hit connected and Capulet was sent, screaming, into the side of the house.

The dust cleared, and Capulet tried to get out of the small crater she'd created. "A-Aki's...Aki's gift..."

But what was that voice? No, who was that?

Capulet gasped again, tensing up as the Usotsuki stalked towards her and she could feel more of that hot air bearing down on her. And then a strange, echoing voice filled her head. She couldn't tell who it belonged to, whether it was male or female, but...

"Why hurt your precious one's gift? Why keep fighting it? If you let it defeat you, maybe it will go back to being the little music box it used to be."

"The music box..." Capulet whispered. Her eyes widened as realization struck, and she gasped again.

She hadn't seen anyone from Shitsuren appear, or mark that box. No one at all! And the Usotsuki didn't even have the same symbol!

"Let heartbreak and lies swallow you. Let the despair melt your bones. Let all your love and hope turn into ashes!"

"Don't attack me..." the Usotsuki rasped suddenly, looming over Capulet. It was right in front of her now, she had to crane her neck back to look at it. "Don't attack me..."

Capulet's expression was blank, her pupils reduced to pinpricks, the irises shrunken.

"Let your love turn into ash...Don't attack your precious one's present..."

Aki's present...Aki's present...


Hiromi smiled as she looked at her creations: a pair of rose-shaped post earrings.


"You're..."


'I hope she likes her present...'

"Aki will love it no matter what it is! Because you're someone precious!"


"Don't hurt her present...Just let it turn your heart to ash!"

"No!" Capulet shrieked angrily, and delivered a powerful punch to the Usotsuki.

The monster was taken by surprise, reeling backwards and glaring at her. "WHAT?"

Capulet glared, her head bowed, chest heaving. "You're..."


She taped the last corner of the tissue paper to the box and set it inside her bag.


She lifted her head, tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "You're not Aki's present!"

"Sound of the Bells! Sword the Capulet Family! Pretty Cure Glorious Golden Shoot!"

The Usotsuki roared in fury as the glowing heart slammed into it, covering it with its warm light and disintegrating it. But as Capulet watched, and everything around her returned to the way it was before, the music box didn't reappear. There was simply nothing.


"Uwaaaah, the bottle is so pretty!"

"Akiiii, what's important is what's in the bottle~!" laughed Antoinette.

No one remembered a thing about falling asleep, or being attacked by a monster. After everyone came to their senses again, they just assumed they must have crashed into each other in the hallway, trying to sneak a peek at gifts early. Or trying to stop the teenagers from looking, in the case of Emma and Sebastian. The two staff members had shooed everyone back to the sitting room, then reappeared themselves with a few simple party games. After the prizes were handed out – something for everyone, of course! - then it was time for the candles to be blown out. And after that, Aki began opening her presents while Emma cut the cake and Sebastian brought the rest of the birthday feast out.

Aki sprayed some perfume onto the pulse point on her neck, inhaling deeply. "It smells wonderful, Antoinette, thank you!"

"Not as wonderful as my cheesecakes taste," Yuki snickered.

Antoinette rapped her knuckles against the top of his head. "Gifts are not contests!" she snapped.

Aki laughed again, setting Antoinette's gift basket aside to sit with the other unwrapped gifts. "Eh?" she blinked. "Hey, Hiromi, I thought you came in with a present?"

"U-Uhm..." Hiromi blushed and looked into her bag.

Ti stared back solemnly, holding up the little box.

Hiromi reached into the bag, gently wrapping her fingers around the box. As she was taking it out of the bag, she hesitated – just for a moment, then handed it to Aki. "I...I didn't want it to get lost," she mumbled.

"Oh, good thinking," Aki said as she began taking off the paper.

Hiromi held her breath.

"Uwaaaaaaaah~! Hiromi, these are so pretty!" Aki gasped, lifting the clear lid to get a better look. "Oh my God, are these hand-made?!"

"What?! Hiromi did hand-made? Hiromi, that's cheating!"

"Antoinette, what was that about presents not being contests?"

"Aaaah, I thought someone would have an incident involving flowers!"

"Wow, Hiromi, those are neat! Can you design jewelry for some of my characters?"

"A-Ah, it's nothing special at all, really," Hiromi hastily said, waving her hands in front of herself. "I-It's just something from a kit. Uhm...b-but I picked the heart-shaped silver rhinestones myself...and the paint was my idea, they're supposed to be plain white..."

Aki smiled gently, putting the earrings in. "Do they look good on me?" she asked.

"Y-yeah! Really good!" said Hiromi, blushing.

"I knew it," Aki chuckled. "Of course, I'd look good in anything Hiromi gave me."

Hiromi blushed, shoulders slumping in relief. As Aki kept talking, saying how perfect everyone's gifts were, how special they were because they gave them to her, she started to cry softly. But always smiling.


ED: "Hummingbird" - Mana Ogawa


ON THE NEXT EPISODE:

Ti: "A-Ah, that's right, there's a third Cure Signet, datchu!"

Aki: "But who does it belong to? There's so many girls in our school, we wouldn't even know where to start looking!"

Hiromi: "A-Ah, wait a minute, what if we don't start at school!? What if..."

Coffee: "Next time on Pretty Cure Entwined Hearts: 'Phwawawaa-?! The Lazy Slacker Is a Pretty Cure?!' Let love heal your heart!"