Looking Up At The Sky
Cast:
Shiny Luminous, Kujou Hikari – age 14
Fujita Akane – Hikari's cousin – age 24
October, 2005
It is a warm autumn afternoon. On the grassy bank above a concrete-lined, Hikari lies on her back looking up at the sky. In a world without magic, she is not the reincarnation of a mystical queen... at least, not so far as anybody knows. If anyone is actually reincarnated in this world, well... who can say? Even without a supernatural origin, she has trouble setting her memories in order.
As delicate wisps of clouds float languidly across a blanket of pure blue, Hikari thinks back, and tries to recall the faces of her parents.
She has a vague feeling that she resembles one of them. Or perhaps both? When was the last time she saw them? How old was she? Hikari is not sure. Hikari knows that she has a little brother also, but cannot recall if the two of them have ever met.
Her cousin Akane is only the latest relative whom Hikari has been sent to live with. It is not as if any of the others were mean to her, but at the same time there was an understanding that she was a burden. Akane is kind, and she insists that Hikari is not a burden, but Hikari continues to doubt.
She helps out in the takoyaki truck. Akane has never caused her to feel unwelcome. Now that Hikari has come into money, the annuity given to Pretty Cure, Akane has refused to take any payment. For one thing, she is told, the annuity is actually not such a grand amount. For another, she is told, she should put it toward her own benefit: save it for her education.
And also, Hikari is told she is a child. No adult with any pride should allow a child to pay for her own upkeep.
Pride is another idea that she doesn't really understand.
The sky is pure and blue, except for some ephemeral wisps of white. It fills her heart with peace and calm, but not with answers.