The Woman With Many Faces
Cast:
Cure Black, Misumi Nagisa – age 14
Cure White, Yukishiro Honoka – age 14
Poisony, Irizawa Poiko – age 19
June, 2004
Nagisa has been placed in a bizarre and unenviable position: Trapped in a train car between two girls who look and sound like her best friend, she is made to pick out the impostor.
There is no such thing as magic in this world, but for exactly this reason, such a perfect disguise should be impossible. Likewise, the impostor demonstrates a shocking knowledge of Nagisa's personality and habits. It is only because Honoka knows something that Nagisa has kept secret from everybody else that Nagisa is able to choose.
"You are the fake!"
"Well done," the impostor says with a very un-Honoka-like smirk.
"Of course! You should have known better than to impersonate my best friend!"
"Oh my, did you think I was congratulating you? Even if I am a master of disguise, anyone should be able to tell their closest friend from a stranger eventually. I'm simply amazed that I had you going as long as I did! I'm so glad that I saved this game for last."
"You call this a game?"
The impostor smiles. "But of course! It's something I did to amuse myself, which I never stood to gain anything from. What else could it be?"
"It is a crime," Honoka replies.
"I suppose it is, isn't it? All the better that I graduate now, don't you think? I can't keep doing things that might get me arrested."
"You could still get arrested! If we call the police-"
"Really?" The impostor says spreading her arms. "And who would you say to look for? A girl who looks just like your best friend?"
"No, we'll tell them what you really look like! Taller, more mature, a little bit ugly- why are you laughing?"
"Nagisa, I don't think we've ever seen what Poisony really looks like."
The fake wiped a tear from her eye. "This is exactly why I disguised myself as you, Honoka. Between the two of you, I was certain Nagisa would be easier to fool."
"Hey!" Nagisa shouts, but immediately deflates. "I mean, it's true but-"
"It's more than true. Listen to this." The fake clears her throat, then says with Nagisa's voice: "This can't be happening! If you didn't already know, would you think that was Nagisa?"
"Yes." "No."
Nagisa turns and stares at Honoka. "That was perfect, wasn't it? If I wasn't me, I'd think that was me!"
Honoka shakes her head.
"That's just how it is," says the impostor, still imitating Nagisa's voice. "I was only ever going to have one chance at this. It's my last time messing with you girls before I leave, so I went with the one that I could actually pull off."
"You're leaving?"
"I'm moving away. I'm going to put my skills to use as a proper adult."
"Put your skills to-" Nagisa clenches her fists. "What are you scheming?!"
"No scheme. Lucky girls like you might not ever experience this, but when most of us reach a certain age, we have to work and earn money or we won't be able to eat. There aren't any jobs in this town that are appropriate for me, so I'm going someplace better. I really have enjoyed playing with you girls," Poisony says, stepping out of the train. "I'd say 'see you around' but... you won't."