Episode Five: Go For It, Izumi! A Maiden's Sweet Dreams!
"Huh? 'Cake-Off'? What's that, Nishimura-san?"
Jun was staring perplexedly at a poster that had been erected in one of the corridors of Mirai Academy, near 3-1, near a sign-up sheet that had already attracted a small gang of 3-1 students. Said poster, which was done in a pastel-shaded, shoujo manga-esque style, depicted a teenage girl and a teenage boy in pâtissier outfits proudly presenting a delicious-looking cake to an unseen audience.
Mirai Students! read the text of the poster. Sign Up for This Year's Cake-Off and Create Sweet Dreams Together!
"Oh, that?" said Emi, who was waiting her turn for the sign-up sheet. "It's a cake-making contest! You can enter alone or team up with a partner - if you win, you get a special trophy and personal congratulations from the headmistress."
"Mirai does stuff like this all the time." said Shinobu, who was standing off to the side, keenly watching everyone who was signing up for the Cake-Off. "It's supposed to encourage us to cooperate with each other and discover new talents."
"Oh, c'mon, you know you love this stuff, Shinobu-chan." said Kou, who was waiting to sign up right alongside Emi. "Or are you afraid of my and Emichi's perfect combo?"
Emi turned red and looked aside, muttering something about Kou needing to tone it down, while Shinobu rolled their eyes. Hiroko didn't notice any of it. She was too entranced by the poster art. Even the artwork that Yasu made was the definition of beauty and grace - she really was an amazing girl.
As for the contest itself… well, she did enjoy baking, but competitively? Even if this was supposed to be a light-hearted competition from the sound of it, baking for an audience was a lot of pressure…
And then Jun gently grabbed Hiroko by her arm, bringing her back down to Earth. "Hironyan! We should be contest partners!" Kichu offered some - muffled - squeaks - of agreement from Jun's schoolbag. "I wanna take off at the Cake-Off! I never got to do anything like this back at… overseas!"
"I don't know, Jun." Hiroko said. "Cooking for you and Izumi is one thing, but I really don't compete…" But she didn't have the heart to shoot Jun down either. Especially when for all she knew, this might be the cat spirit's only chance to do something like this. "Still… I have to try."
And with that decided, Hiroko took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and approached the sign-up sheet, adding her name right below Emi and Kou. Jun bounced up to the sign-up sheet right afterward, signing her name with a flourish beside Hiroko's.
"Oh sweet! Sign-ups are open!"
Izumi came rushing towards the group seconds after Jun had signed her name, pointedly slowing down the second Shinobu aimed a death glare in her direction.
Jun's eyes lit up at Izumi's approach. "Izunyan! Are you also gonna take off at the Cake-Off?"
"Hell yeah I am!" Izumi gave a fist-pump before she hurried towards the sign-up sheet. Hiroko stepped gracefully aside to let her sign her name. "Gonna burn through the sky at 200 degrees!"
Hiroko opened her mouth, ready to wish Izumi the best of luck… and then she noticed how enthusiastic most of 3-1 wasn't about this development. They were staring at Izumi as if she'd grown another head.
"Hey, uh… Hamasaki, are you good?" Kou asked. "You're not, I dunno, possessed or anything, right?"
Izumi stared blankly at Kou. "No, Ishii, I am 200 percent ghost-free." She noticed the stares most everyone was sending her way and sighed in exasperation. "Sheesh, you guys too! I just wanna bake a cake! What's the issue here?"
"Hamasaki-san, you could light cornflakes on fire by pouring them. You're the last person who needs to be near an oven." Shinobu said. "I know it, you know it, the entire Home Ec Club knows it…"
Emi was staring distantly into space. "It took so long to scrape all that carbon out of the oven…"
Jun planted herself defensively by Izumi. "Hey! Lay off Izunyan!" she huffed. "The Cake-Off is for everybody, isn't it?"
Hiroko took her place at Izumi's other side. "That's right. Izumi has as much of a right to enter as anyone else." She couldn't be that bad at cooking anyway… right? "I know she'll be great."
Izumi grinned as she took Hiroko and Jun by the hand. "See? My friends get it." she said. "I'm gonna enter, and the cake I make will rule all! Watch and be amazed!"
Before anyone present could say another word, Izumi led Hiroko and Jun into 3-1, chatting excitedly about all the ideas she had for her entry. Her classmates were left to stare after the trio.
Kou was paper white at this point. "Oh god. We are absolutely doomed."
Seimono was always up and around long before anyone else in the Shade Palace had so much as stirred. Experience had taught him to sleep with one eye open, and… certain developments had left him determined not to waste one solitary second of his remaining time on something as idle as sleep.
Every waking moment was precious, especially those spent off-duty. Especially those he could spend with Kamryou. Those moments they were partners first and vassals second were to be savored.
Kamryou was a heavy sleeper but rising without them was impossible. They always slept wrapped around Seimono like a living blanket, and they continued to cling to him like a limpet as he prepared for the usual morning training, still snoozing gently all the while. As usual, they only stirred and loosened their grip on Seimono once he stepped out onto the palace grounds.
"Oh… it's time again." Kamryou gave a small yawn before they stopped wrapping themselves around Seimono… in favor of riding on his shoulders, piggy-back style. "Your training weight is ready, Seimono-sama."
"As usual, it's appreciated." Seimono said. "Let us be off."
In practice, Kamryou was a terrible training weight. They were made mostly of cloth and air, and they weighed as much as one would expect someone made of cloth and air to weigh. But there was no way Seimono would say such things. Kamryou wanted to be by his side, no matter what, and the feeling was mutual. And they had invested so much in being useful to him - he wouldn't dare take that away.
Besides, it was a comfort to have Kamryou so close to him as he did his morning jog around the palace grounds, which was followed by bodyweight exercises, which was followed by a trip back to his personal quarters for more bodyweight exercises, weight training, and some good old fashioned sparring practice.
Seimono and Kamryou's quarters were simplistic and bare of furnishings, save the pallet the two shared, a chest of their belongings, and Seimono's training equipment. But that was fine. Unlike his compatriots, Seimono had never required much. You couldn't take it with you, as the saying went.
Kamryou was in a foul mood by the time the pair returned to Seimono's quarters. They wore a miserable scowl as they sat on Seimono's back, "assisting" with this second round of push-ups. It had nothing to do with Seimono and everything to do with what he had mentioned on their morning jog.
"So… there are three Pretty Cure now. And Tamakushi-san couldn't get rid of any of them." Kamryou made a soft noise of distress. "I don't like this, Seimono-sama. I don't like it at all."
"Mm. Tamakushi seemed to take it hard." Seimono said between push-ups. That was understating it, frankly. He had seldom seen her that worked up. "I take no issue with it."
Kamryou looked absolutely baffled. "Seimono-sama?"
"There is no satisfaction in a fight I can easily win. And no honor in assassinating opponents off the battlefield." Seimono swapped to one-handed push-ups as he spoke. "That second bit stays between us."
"Naturally, Seimono-sama." Kamryou sounded more than a bit grudging. "Do not even talk to them if I don't have to." They frowned, looking at a particularly prominent set of stitches on their arm. "I know. From experience."
"I hope so." Seimono said. "I don't want any more incidents, Kamryou. I may not always be there to repair you if you get hurt."
The change in Kamryou's demeanor was instantaneous. One moment, they were perched on Seimono's back, the next moment they had launched themselves into the air like a badly spooked cat. They hovered a few in front of Seimono, who immediately abandoned his training, trembling all over.
"Never say that, Seimono-sama!" they snapped. "Never, ever say that!"
Seimono rose to his feet before placing a gentle hand on his partner's shoulder. "Kamryou. You and I both know what it means to serve King Kagemera."
Kamryou responded by grabbing onto Seimono's arm. "I don't care, I don't care, I. Don't. Care. Seimono-sama will never go where I can't. I won't let it happen. I won't!
There were so many ways Seimono could respond to that. He could lie to spare Kamryou's feelings. He could be bluntly honest. But neither of them would help his partner. So instead, he settled for gently stroking their hair as they clung to him, giving them a moment to gather themselves before he spoke.
"I'm here now." he said quietly. "And 'now' is all that matters." Kamryou looked up and nodded hesitantly. He smiled warmly. "Would you care to do a bit of sparring with me? There's much I haven't taught you."
That did the trick - Kamryou's eyes lit up, and they promptly stopped clinging to Seimono's arm. "I'd be honored, Seimono-sama!" They flitted around him as they spoke, looking very pleased with this idea. "If I can get a bit stronger, we can definitely crush the Pretty Cure, right?"
Seimono hesitated for a moment before he spoke. "Perhaps. If they prove worthy of that, anyway."
Pretty Cure and the mascots met at the gazebo in Mirai Academy's central courtyard for lunch that afternoon. It wasn't very in-demand this time of day, Yasu had explained, so she always ate her lunch alone here. And since Yasu didn't feel comfortable joining everyone else at the outdoor dining area, the solution was obvious.
Honestly, this arrangement was better anyway, Hiroko mused as she tucked into the gyoza bento she had packed for today. It gave everyone more privacy to discuss Pretty Cure affairs, it allowed Kichu to be out and about, and it offered a lovely view of the central flower gardens. Seeing Yasu looking so comfortable and at peace with her surroundings was the cherry on top.
"Hey… Izunyan?" Jun asked between bites of her own gyoza. "Was all that stuff people were saying true? About… you know, you being really bad at cooking."
Izumi paused mid-bite and looked aside. "I mean, I'm good at cooking instant food? And frozen? But that's… really it. Cooking's not really my thing, you know?"
"So, why are you joining the Cake-Off, Izumi?" Hiroko asked. "It doesn't seem like something you'd enjoy."
"I mean, normally, it wouldn't be." Izumi shot Hiroko a grin and a wink. "Until you came along, anyway."
Hiroko went slightly pink. "Me?"
Izumi nodded. "Yeah! When you made that cake for us, I could sense your feelings in it! And I started thinking, 'wow, I'd love to borrow some of that magic'. There are hearts I wanna reach too."
Yasu looked up from her lettuce rolls. "Are you talking about Siegel-san? I thought you two were together. She's always talking about you during our homeroom."
Now it was Izumi's turn to go pink. "Sieg-kun talks about me…" she muttered absently before perking back up. "I- I mean! Yeah, we're together as friends, but girlfriends? C'mon, Sieg-kun is the Speed King of Kyoukai! She is completely out of my league!"
Jun looked very confused. Kichu looked confused along with her. "Huh? Why would that matter, Izunyan? If she likes you a lot, and you like her a lot, can't you just ask her to be your girlfriend?"
Izumi shook her head. "No way. No way. There are layers to this kind of thing, Jun. Rules you've gotta follow. Especially when it comes to someone so perfect." She looked more flustered by the moment. "Um! But yeah, I figured I always give 200 percent when I compete in gymnastics! So if I channel that spirit into the Cake-Off, I'm sure I can make something great!"
Hiroko wasn't sure she entirely followed that logic, but she at least appreciated how enthusiastic Izumi was about this. "I'm cheering for you, Izumi. I'm looking forward to it as well." She frowned. "I'm afraid I don't know how to start, though."
"Mirai provides basic cake ingredients, but we'll need to buy specialized ones ourselves." Yasu said. "We'll need to reserve a time to use Mirai's kitchen too." She smiled ever-so-slightly. "I took care of that once I learned you three were entering."
Hiroko looked delighted. "Thank you, Yasu! You're the best!"
Yasu opened her mouth, ready to brush off Hiroko's compliment, before she corrected to "Of course, Hiroko." A pause, then "Haruki will be my contest partner. I hope that won't be an issue."
"It won't be!" Jun chirped. "Harunyan is really nice - and Kichu will be on his best behavior, won't you, Kichu?"
Kichu tried to look as serious as a magical mouse could. "Chuuu."
Hiroko gently ruffled Kichu's fur. "I'm sure you'll be a very good boy, Kichu." she told the mouse. "And I have no problem sharing a kitchen with Haruki, or…" She glanced quizzically at Izumi. "Who are you planning on partnering up with, Izumi?"
"Nobody." Izumi looked a little too proud of herself. "If I don't do this solo, then it won't be my cake anymore."
"Ah… I suppose that makes sense." Hiroko said. "Well, if you need any help…"
"Nah, I'll be fine!" Izumi said. "My spirit will create a miracle! I guarantee it!"
The Cake-Off was barely a blip on Shun Siegel's radar. Sure, she definitely knew about it - she had been a regular participant, once, back before her schedule had gone straight to hell - but frankly, there was too much else on her mind at present. She had another race around the corner, her motorcycle was due for an oil and tire check, there were whispers of yet another monster attack on Mirai's campus, and on top of all of that...
Shun, who was currently leaning against one of the trees near Mirai Academy's classroom building, furrowed her eyebrows as she read the text message on her phone.
shun. quit worrying. feeling great this morning. no need to plan the funeral yet lol.
"Kimi... why do you keep lying?" Shun groused to herself. "We both saw how bad it was."
It was just like Kimiko to collapse with a high fever right in front of her little sister, spend the entire night crying in pain, and then try and play it off as no big deal the next day. Didn't mean Shun had to put up with it. She moved to text a reply-
-or well, she would have, had she not heard an excited squeal of "Guys! There she is!" and seen a gaggle of female Mirai students hurrying towards her. That was Shun's cue to put her cell phone away as nonchalantly as she possibly could and attempt to look as cool as these girls thought she actually was. Anxious? Her? Shun Siegel, school idol and racing superstar? Perish the thought!
"Siegel-san!" the high school girl heading the group chirped. "We were looking all over for you!"
Shun tipped the group a cocky grin and flashed a peace sign. "Yo. What can I do for you ladies?"
The girls looked at each other... before a junior high school student stepped forward. "Siegel-san! Please enter the Cake-Off!"
"Nobody can match your baking talents, Siegel-san!" another junior high schooler agreed. "You deserve to take the trophy this year!"
"We want to support Siegel-san with all our hearts!" a high schooler said. "We'd be honored if you took part!"
Shun felt her stomach drop. Frankly, the answer was a hard 'no' - competing just wasn't feasible, not between her obligations on the track and Kimiko's condition. But she was these girls' idol. They'd invested so much in her, or at least the Shun Siegel they wanted to see, and she had an obligation to pay that back. Perhaps if she tried and softened the blow a bit...
So Shun turned up the charm as high as she could. "You're all such kind girls." She smiled radiantly as she addressed the group, drawing some delighted squeaks out of a few of her fangirls. If this was a manga, she would have been surrounded by rose petals and bishie sparkle. "It makes me wish I could have entered the Cake-Off."
"You wish you could..." the high schooler leading the pack echoed. "Oh! Oh, Siegel-san, I'm so sorry to impose!" She dropped into a hasty bow. "Please forgive me!"
"Right, of course you have so many other obligations!" another high school girl said. "Like your sister - you're so good to her, Siegel-san! I'm so envious!"
Izumi watched the whole display from her hiding place around a nearby corner of the classroom building. She looked away, trying to ignore the bitter envy twisting in the pit of her stomach. It wasn't Shun's fault she was so popular with so many girls. It was Izumi's fault for getting a crush on someone so flawless. But still... still!"
Finally, Shun's fangirls departed... or most of them did. The ringleader remained behind for a moment.
"Hey... just a heads-up. Hamasaki-san has been spying on you this whole time." she said. "You might wanna have a word with her about that."
And then she took off. Shun started off after her... only for a visibly flustered Izumi to come staggering out from behind her hiding spot. Shun immediately switched gears, hurrying towards Izumi and steadying her with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay, Izumi?"
Izumi went beet red at the sudden contact. "H-huh? Oh yeah! I'm fine! Just peachy! I mean-" Her jaw worked for a moment or two before she spat out a frantic "I wasn't spying, Sieg-kun! I was gonna tell you something, and then they showed up, and then-! I'm sorry if I was being-!"
Shun shook her head. "She was the one out of line. Not you." She sighed quietly, pressing two fingers to her temple. "They've seemed more territorial than usual lately. I'm sorry about that."
"Hey, why should you apologize, Sieg-kun?" Izumi said. "Not like you control them or anything." She bit back another wave of bitter jealousy. "They're just... showing their devotion as fans, right?"
Shun looked slightly bothered for a moment. "I'm... grateful for the attention." A lie if there ever was one. Frankly, this stressed her out, almost as much as the thought of the confrontation with the ringleader she would be having later. Shun would keep that to herself. She didn't want to ruin Izumi's image of her. Instead, she nonchalantly waved the whole thing off. "But enough about that. You had something to tell me, right?"
Izumi nodded. "Yeah! Listen, Sieg-kun-" The words stuck in her throat for a moment. Izumi tried not to let her frustration show - it wasn't like she was giving a damn love confession! "I'm competing in the Cake-Off this year! To challenge myself!" she finally spat out. "I mean... I know you're really busy, but..."
Shun just smiled. "Too busy to compete, maybe." she said. "But not too busy to show up. Might be a bit late, but I'll definitely be there."
Izumi's eyes lit up. "Sieg-kun!" Without thinking, she pulled Shun into a tight hug. "You're the best! Thank you so much!"
It was now Shun's turn to go beet red. Luckily, Izumi was too busy leaning into the hug to notice her frantically trying to recover her composure. And then the clock tower bell chimed, prompting Izumi to part from the hug. Shun was back to looking very cool and not at all flustered by then, at least.
"See you, Sieg-kun!" Izumi called as she hurried off. "And thank you again!"
"Good luck at the Cake-Off!" Shun called after her. "I'll be cheering for you!"
Izumi pumped her fist in triumph once she was a far enough distance from Shun. "Sieg-kun is cheering for me! Now all I've gotta do is-"
Make a cake. When she had no idea how. And win over Shun. When she had no baking experience at all. Sure, she had her spirit, but... maybe a little advice couldn't hurt. Just a bit. As long as she didn't ask for help with baking, she wouldn't be a burden, right?
She went to text Hiroko.
Izumi carefully scrutinized the carrots on display at the grocery store. "Hm… I think I'll go with…" She trailed off into silence before slouching dramatically. "I have no idea, Hiroko! They all look like carrots to me."
"There are certain things you want to look out for." Hiroko said. "You want them to be nice and firm, with a good color. That's how you know they'll be good."
"Oh, gotcha!" Izumi returned to browsing the carrots. "Man, you've got this down to a science, Hiroko. You're like, a kitchen wizard or something."
Hiroko shook her head. "It's not that impressive. Cooking is something anyone can do, honestly."
Izumi's smile faltered a little bit as her hand hovered over a carrot. "I… I guess so." Maybe she was just uniquely bad after all. She noticed Hiroko moving to say something, prompting her to hurried grab a few more sufficiently orange-looking carrots and tossed them into her basket. "Uh, anyway! Carrots get! To the spice aisle!"
Izumi pumped a fist and power-walked towards said aisle, forcing Hiroko to keep pace with her.
"Man… I can't wait until I master this cake-making business." Izumi said as the pair walked to the spice aisle. "I could reach so many people! The way to the heart is through the stomach, right?"
"Well, that's how the saying goes." Hiroko glanced in her own shopping basket as the two arrived at their destination. She needed to grab some cinnamon, didn't she? "So, it isn't just Siegel-san?"
"It's mostly Sieg-kun." Izumi began to scan the spices on display. At least these didn't all blend into each other like the carrots did. "But there are a couple other people. Like-"
Izumi hesitated as the ghosts of unpleasant memories played in the back of her head. Slammed doors, exchanged insults, threats to leave, and herself, caught in the middle, sometimes a nuisance to be ignored, sometimes a pawn to be fought over. Those two were her second priority. But Hiroko didn't need to know that. Nobody did.
"Izumi?" Hiroko was looking at her with concern. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be-"
Izumi shook her head. "Nah, it's cool! Just blanked out for a sec!" She grabbed a container of nutmeg and placed it in her basket. "I'd like to make something for my first princess, if that counts?"
"I remember you mentioning someone like that back in Western Paradise." Hiroko grabbed a container of cinnamon as she spoke. "Who is she, exactly?"
"A girl I helped ten years back - the same day Pretty Cure saved me." Izumi said. "See, Mom had sent me to go buy some milk, and when I was heading back home-"
Izumi paused as the sound of quiet crying caught her ears. The five-year-old girl looked around for the source of the noise, until she spotted a small girl around her age, clad in a jumper dress with fluffy, bobbed hair. The other girl was sitting by the side of the road and crying inconsolably.
Izumi forgot all about her errand and hurried to the girl's side. "Are you okay?"
The girl looked up and shook her head. "I… can't find-." Her delivery was stilted and awkward, as if she didn't have much practice with Japanese. "I'm l-lo…" Whatever she was going to say next turned into more inconsolable sobbing.
Izumi just extended a hand towards her. "It's okay! Izumi is here to protect you!" The other girl stared at her for a moment before accepting her hand and allowing herself to be helped up. "Are you lost?" The girl nodded after a moment's hesitation. Izumi just smiled. "Then I'll help! Mama will understand if I'm a little late!"
"She ran off after we got a block away from her house." Izumi said. "I never saw her again. I didn't even get her name. But… she taught me how great it felt to be relied on. I wanna pay her back for that, someday."
As Izumi finished her story, someone nearby laughed softly. Both Cures froze in place before turning to find the source of the laughter - a tall, delicate-looking woman with long, dark sea green hair. There was something fey about her - really, she reminded Hiroko of one of those sylphs she had seen in a classical painting once.
"Is something wrong, Kimi?" Izumi asked the woman.
Kimi shook her head. "Oh no, not at all! I just thought it was a charming story, Izumi-chan! You tell it so well." She turned her attention to Hiroko. "And would you be her Cake-Off partner, by any chance?
Hiroko shook her head. "Oh no, I'm just helping Izumi out a bit, Ms.-"
"Kimiko Yoshimoto." the woman said. "But just call me Kimi - everyone does."
"I'm Hiroko Tsubasa." Hiroko offered Kimi a short bow. "It's nice to meet you, Kimi-san."
"Kimi is Sieg-kun's big sister." Izumi explained. "She works at the teahouse around here." And then, to Kimi "Did Sieg-kun tell you I was entering?"
"Of course. Shun tells me everything." Kimi paused to browse the spice selection before adding "She really likes ginger. So be generous with it when you make your cake. But you didn't hear that from me." She grabbed a container of white pepper and turned to leave… before turning to Hiroko. "Oh, and Tsubasa-san?"
"Yes?"
Kimi smiled. "Keep up the good work. I hear you've been a lovely successor."
And then Kimi was off, leaving Hiroko and Izumi to stare after her.
"So, that was the other Seiryuu." Hiroko said. "She seems like an… interesting person."
"Sieg-kun's sis was one of the Cures who saved me." Izumi blinked several times. "It really is a small world." She stared for a moment longer before perking back up. "But enough about that, Hiroko! We've gotta keep going! And we can't stop until we have everything we need! Everything!" She pumped a fist. "This cake contest is gonna rule all!"
And Hiroko and Izumi set off in search of the remaining cake ingredients. They didn't notice the small, white-haired figure browsing the shelves on the other side of the aisle, but said figure noticed them.
"Cake contest…" Kamryou echoed as they stared after the Cures. "Seimono-sama should know." After all, it was less a question of if they were going to be the next to take the field but when, judging by how Seimono had been acting... no matter how Kamryou felt about it. "But right now... the first priority is… chankonabe."
With that said, Kamryou busied themselves searching for ingredients for tonight's dinner. They would pass on that information, of course. Seimono had to do well. Always. The two's survival depended on it. But for now, Kamryou wanted to keep their thoughts on Seimono's delicious cooking and how much they looked forward to sharing another meal with him.
'Now' was all that mattered… right?
Hiroko knew that Mirai Academy's kitchens would surely be like the rest of Mirai Academy itself - pristine, elaborate, and far fancier than anything she was used to. But she still was not prepared for the sparkling metallic landscape that awaited her when she and Jun entered at the time Yasu had reserved.
As Jun sat down the pair's bag of cooking ingredients on a nearby counter, Hiroko darted around the kitchen, drinking in everything with sparkling eyes. Rows of immaculate white marble countertops, oaken cabinets and drawers, high-end stainless-steel cookware hanging in racks above the ceiling, white-gold professional quality ovens, stoves, and refrigerators-
"It's… it's way too perfect!" Hiroko looked beside herself with joy right now. "Is it really okay for students to use all of this?"
"You really love cooking, don't you, Tsubasa-san?"
Hiroko froze in place before turning stiffly to find Yasu and Haruki, both of whom were carrying shopping bags full of cake ingredients in their arms. Yasu gave Hiroko a small nod of acknowledgement before heading to the counters on the opposite side of the kitchen and unloading her bag.
"Well, I do enjoy it a bit…" Hiroko could already feel heat rushing to her face. She didn't think Yasu would judge her for reacting this way, but… "Sorry, I've never seen Mirai's kitchens before."
"I mean, they are pretty fancy." Haruki was a little pink again, Hiroko noted. Oh dear. "And I'm glad they make you so happy, Tsubasa-san."
Before Hiroko could string a response together, Jun bounded towards Haruki. Kichu rode on her shoulder as usual. "Harunyan! I didn't know you were Nyasu's contest partner!"
"Well, Sis and make sweets together a lot." Haruki tried not to stare too hard at Jun's choker or Kichu, who was struggling not to pounce on the sweet ingredients laid on before him, as he spoke. "I'm pretty good at baking, she's really amazing at decorating! So when we team up, it's like-!" He grinned and held out an expectant fist "-Wonder Sib Powers, Activate!"
For a moment, Haruki stood there awkwardly, still holding out his fist… and then Yasu approached him and expressionlessly bumped his fist with her own.
"He always begs me to enter." Yasu informed Hiroko and Jun. "I wanted to try this year."
"I'm sure you guys will make something amazing together!" Hiroko smiled warmly at Yasu… and felt a bit more heat rush to her face as Yasu answered with a small smile of her own. Hiroko proceeded to become very interested in unloading her own ingredients. "I have high hopes for Izumi as well. I wonder when she'll-"
Before Hiroko could finish that sentence, Izumi came tearing into the kitchen. She stumbled forward - and accidentally let go of the shopping bag she was holding. The bag went flying, and Haruki dove towards it. He caught it with the grace of a practiced baseball player before offering it to the now visibly rattled Izumi.
"Oh man, thanks, Haru." Izumi muttered as she accepted the bag. "You're a total cakesaver."
Haruki grinned and flashed a thumbs-up. "Any time!"
With that done, Izumi claimed her own set of countertops before addressing the group. "Alright, everyone! Let's get this started!" She pumped a fist enthusiastically. "And may the best baker win!"
Most everyone in the room mirrored Izumi's enthusiasm, especially Jun. Yasu… did not appear to, but the slight smile playing on her lips spoke volumes.
"I'll do my best!" Hiroko said. "I know we all will."
Some part of her was terribly worried about Izumi. But she was just overreacting… right?
No, Hiroko was not overreacting. Izumi really had absolutely no idea what she was doing.
Hiroko didn't want to judge her fellow Cure. Izumi had admitted herself that she had no cake-making experience. And she admired Izumi's determination to press on ahead and make the best cake she possibly could in spite of this. She wanted to have nothing but faith in her friend.
But all the faith in the world couldn't stop Hiroko from startling a bit as she heard a strange wet crunching noise coming from Izumi's direction, followed by a noise of alarm from Haruki. She followed Jun's wide-eyed gaze to find Izumi standing above a mixing bowl with egg dripping from her hands.
Izumi stared down at the mess of eggshells in her cake batter. "I take it you don't squeeze them."
Jun started towards Izumi. "Yeah, Izunyan, you're supposed to-"
Izumi raised a hand and shook her head. "It's okay, Jun! I won't learn if I don't do it myself!" She proceeded to fish eggshells out of the cake batter while muttering "Now, which one's the 'table spoon'…"
Jun might have backed right off, but it took everything Hiroko had to resist the impulse to swoop in and help Izumi. She had to focus on her devil's food and cherry jam cake. If Izumi wanted help, she'd ask for it.
As Hiroko plugged away at the batter for their cake, Jun worked on the frosting. Every now and then, she would slip a bit to Kichu, who was tucked away behind her own mixing bowl, once she was certain that Haruki wasn't watching. And she was clear again, so-
"Here you go!" Jun chirped quietly as she offered another fingerful of frosting to Kichu.
Or rather, she attempted to. There may as well have been a blinking Kichu-shaped outline before her. Jun's pupils shrank in alarm. Her eyes darted towards Hiroko, who was still focused on the cake batter, before she darted off, frantically looking around the kitchen for the little mouse spirit.
Meanwhile, Izumi was working on the carrots… by chopping them into huge chunks. She handled cooking knives very well - if a little too energetically - Hiroko noted, but…
Without thinking, Hiroko started towards Izumi. "Wait, don't toss those in!"
Izumi paused, moments away from tossing a handful of carrot chunks into the batter. "Huh? They're good carrots, aren't they?"
"Well, yes, but-" Hiroko flailed around for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to phrase this. "They're a bit too large - you need to grate the carrots, not chop them up. I can get you a grater!"
Izumi shook her head. "No need, Hiroko. Wouldn't wanna drag you down." She started off to find a grater before pausing "Uh, hey, where'd Jun go?"
Jun was on the other side of the kitchen, where Yasu and Haruki were hard at work on their marbled layer cake… and Kichu was hard at work on the chocolate chips scattered around Haruki's mixing bowl. Jun hissed in alarm and dove towards Kichu-
-but not quickly enough. Haruki looked up from his work at that moment… and stared in shock at the white mouse casually munching on chocolate chips in front of him.
Kichu stared right back. Chocolate was smeared all over his muzzle. "Chuuu!"
Hiroko and Izumi looked mortified. Yasu remained stoic… but the light shining off her glasses said a lot.
"Hey, how is your doll doing that?" Haruki managed to squeak out.
Jun's mouth opened and closed for a moment… before she managed an awkward "Um… technology! From. Overseas!" She quickly scooped up Kichu before bowing hastily. "Um, don't let me bother you, Harunyan!"
Haruki stared after her. "What kind of dolls do they make overseas?"
In the end, Izumi managed to find the grater and figure out how to use it after a bit of flailing, and Jun was able to get Kichu to remain in one place… although she didn't miss the curious looks Haruki kept shooting her way. And so, the group continued working on their cakes…
...until it was time to use the ovens. At least the stories about Izumi and the Home Ec Club's ovens were… probably an exaggeration. Izumi seemed to be just fine with operating one, one worrisome comment ("If you raise the temperature a bit, will it speed up the cooking time?") aside.
And finally, the cakes were done. A delicious smell wafted from the ovens Team Hiroko and Team Yasu were using as both teams retrieved their cakes. Even without decor, both looked irresistible. But Izumi's…
...the strange smell coming from her own oven was enough of a warning sign. But when she actually took out the cake...
...it looked even worse than it smelled. This wasn't a cake, this was a tragedy on a plate. A misshapen, half-burnt, slightly foul-smelling tragedy.
The look of cheery optimism Izumi had been wearing slid right off her face. She looked absolutely crushed. Her shoulders trembled a bit as she took in her handiwork. It looked nasty, it smelled nasty, and it probably tasted nasty.
"I can't give Sieg-kun something like this!" Izumi sounded just as crushed. "And I definitely can't enter this. People already expect me to screw up."
Hiroko flew to Izumi's side and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's okay! I can help you salvage it!"
"Or we could help you make a new one!" Haruki said. Yasu nodded in agreement. "It's not against the rules, so-"
Izumi shook her head. "It's okay - I don't wanna be a burden or anything." She drew in a shaky breath and forced herself to perk back up. "You focus on decorating your cakes, and I'll focus on remaking mine! With my spirit, I'll definitely figure it out!"
Before anyone could say anything, Izumi casually dumped her failed cake in the trash and scurried towards the counter tops she'd claimed for herself. Hiroko frowned as she watched Izumi throwing herself back into remaking her cake with renewed fervor. She couldn't force Izumi to do anything she didn't want, but…
"Please don't overdo it, Izumi."
Izumi was still plugging away at her cake by the time everyone else was ready to pack up and leave, after placing their entries in the fridges as instructed. She had insisted up and down that she would be fine and that she didn't want to distract her 'rivals', but it was clear as day that she absolutely was forcing herself.
Haruki volunteered to check in on Izumi before the kitchens were set to officially close for the evening. It was a good call. When he found her, Izumi's corner of the kitchen looked like an absolute warzone. Frosting and flour was everywhere, little bits of carrot littered everything, there were splatters of milk here and there…
And Izumi looked even worse. She was sitting on the kitchen floor and burying her face in her hands. Her apron was a mess, and her hair was even more unkempt than usual.
Haruki hesitated for a moment before managing a quiet "Hey, Izumi? The kitchens are about to close."
Izumi looked up. She wasn't even attempting to fake enthusiasm at this point. She looked like she was about to keel over.
"At least I finished my cake. On the fourth try." Izumi grumbled as she allowed Haruki to help her up. "If that even counts."
Haruki followed her gaze to the slightly sloppy looking but otherwise very normal carrot cake that sat atop a nearby counter. From the look of things, Izumi had just finished applying the frosting.
"Huh? It looks okay to me."
"As if 'okay' is gonna cut it." Izumi sighed heavily as she placed her own entry in one of the fridges before removing her apron and moving to start cleaning up her mess. "I thought if I tried my hardest, I'd figure it out. But I was wrong. Maybe I'm just too stupid to learn."
Haruki began helping Izumi clean up. "You're not stupid! Everyone's gotta start somewhere, Izumi!" He began to wipe up some spilled frosting. "I'm only good at cooking because Mom taught me the basics."
Izumi winced a bit. "Y-yeah... my folks were a little too busy for that kinda stuff."
"How stupid are you, Umi? You're lucky Izumi wasn't seriously hurt!"
"Am I supposed to watch her 24/7? You know damn well how much I have on my plate, Riku!"
A six-year-old Izumi stood in the background as her parents volleyed insults at each other. The bandaged burn on her hand hurt infinitely less than the pain of seeing them treat each other like this.
"Mama… Papa… I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I'm sorry…"
Izumi gritted her teeth and put extra force into wiping up this bit of spilled milk. Two more people she wouldn't be able to reach with her garbage excuse for cooking. Two more hearts she couldn't mend.
Finally, the pair finished cleaning the kitchen and left together moments before the kitchens officially closed.
"God, Sieg-kun's gonna be so disappointed in me." Izumi sighed as Haruki escorted her back to her dorm. "I wish I hadn't run my mouth about entering the Cake-Off. I'll be lucky if she speaks to me after this."
"Huh? Siegel-san? The same Siegel-san who always brags about you?" Haruki asked. "I think she already likes you, Izumi. I bet if you confessed, she wouldn't have a problem with it."
Izumi sighed in exasperation. "Oh man, not you too, Haru!" she groused. "There are layers to this! Layers!" She smirked. "And you're in no position to judge. What about you and Fujimoto?"
Izumi had hit a nerve - it showed all over Haruki's face. "Th-that's different, Izumi! I'm not sure Shouji-kun even likes guys for one! And…" He flushed a bit. "I already found someone else anyway…"
That perked Izumi right up. "Oh? So, who's the lucky dude? Or the lucky lady? Another kendo teammate? One of my fellow gymnasts?" She playfully elbowed Haruki in the side. "C'mon, spill it!"
Haruki playfully elbowed Izumi right back. "N-no way! I don't even know her that well!" He didn't miss the smug look on Izumi's face as he let that piece of information slip. Dang it. "I mean… I'd like to. Sis always speaks so highly of her, and she's so pretty - especially when she smiles."
"I see." Izumi knew damn well who Haruki was talking about, and Haruki clearly knew damn well he'd said too much. This could be… problematic, if something Izumi had inferred about Hiroko was true. Not that it was her place to say anything when Hiroko very much hadn't. "Well, if you ever need advice, your other big sis is here to help."
Izumi reached out and ruffled Haruki's hair. He gave a playful cry of protest.
"Hey, it's messy enough!" He made a half-hearted show of putting his hair back in place as the pair arrived outside the junior high dorms. "Well… see you at the Cake-Off, Izumi. It'll turn out okay - I promise!"
"See ya, Haru!" Izumi called as Haruki hurried off in the direction of the Fukuda estate. She sighed heavily once he was out of sight. "And I hope you're right. I really do."
Hiroko was a bundle of anxiety by the time the next afternoon rolled around, and she and the other entrants in the Cake-Off were called to assemble in Mirai's entrance hall. Part of it was simple stage fright, part of it was pre-contest jitters, and another part of it was genuine concern for Izumi.
Izumi had been off throughout the day. She was clearly taking her struggles from the other day very hard, even if she brushed off Hiroko every time the latter attempted to reassure her.
Hiroko's head was still buzzing when she and Jun arrived at the entrance hall. It didn't help that Izumi had insisted on remaining behind for a bit - "to psych herself up", she'd claimed. At least the wondrous sight before Hiroko served as a momentary distraction from her worries.
Rows upon rows of tables lined the entrance hall, each lined with cakes of different shapes and sizes. Multiple Mirai students were already present - some wore name tags like Hiroko and the other entrants, others were clearly just here to spectate. Some were stationed near their entries, while others were milling about the entrance hall, marveling at their classmates' work.
Hiroko decided to follow suit. Jun fell into step behind her. The two eagerly drank in the sights and smells of everyone's entries in the Cake-Off - a delectable-looking coconut cake, a tantalizing baumkuchen, a colorful fish-shaped cake, a fluffy white cake with rainbow accents…
Kichu was also taken with all the entries on display. Very taken. The little mouse spirit was squeaking in agitation, and Jun was struggling to keep him from leaping out of her schoolbag.
"Please settle down!" Jun pleaded. "I'll give you lots of cake later, okay?"
Kichu looked mortally offended. "Chu! Chu chu chuu!" he huffed, puffing his cheeks out in irritation.
"Hm? Did you say something, Inoue-san?"
Hiroko and Jun turned to find Kaori Takenaka. She and Naomi Hikawa were stationed next to their entry - a cake shaped like a makeup bag, complete with realistic-looking chocolate makeup.
Jun flushed. "Oh, uh! I was just telling my stomach to be patient!" She put on a show of patting her stomach, praying neither high schooler could hear Kichu's sulky squeaking. "You'll get lots of cake later, okay?" she told her stomach.
Naomi lit right up. "You're so cute, Inoue-san!" she gushed. Everything about the council president's tone and expression screamed 'I'm taking this girl home with me'. "Almost as cute as my wife!
Kaori flushed. "N-Nao-chan, we haven't even graduated yet…" She caught herself. "I mean, I hope you enjoy the contest, you two!"
"As the heads of the student council, we could never forgive ourselves if-" Naomi paused, quirking an eyebrow as she spotted something past Hiroko and Jun. "Wait, is that Fukuda? She told me she had no intention of entering."
Hiroko snapped to attention at the mention of Yasu. Indeed, the Fukuda siblings were setting up shop next to their own entry - their marbled chocolate and vanilla cake, which they had decorated to resemble a solar eclipse, with a silver crescent moon intersecting a golden sun.
Hiroko offered a quick farewell to Naomi and Kaori before she and Jun hurried off to meet up with the Fukuda siblings. "Yasu, Haruki - it's good to see you two."
"It's good to see you as well, Hiroko." Yasu looked a bit uncomfortable, and her delivery was a bit stiff. She must have noticed Hiroko's concern, because she added "I'll step out if I need to."
"Let me know if I can help in any way." Hiroko cast another glance towards the siblings' cake. From here, it was even more clear how skilled a decorator Yasu was. "Your cake looks lovely, by the way."
"Thank you. You're very skilled yourself." Yasu said. Distantly, Hiroko realized her ears were burning.
"Y-yeah!" Haruki said. "I can't wait to see what your cake tastes like!" He was flushed again - Hiroko wondered if they needed to talk about how nervous she was obviously making him. "I've heard really good things about your cooking!"
Jun nodded authoritatively. "Hironyan is a legend. You'll definitely be amazed, Harunyan!" She paused, tilting her head quizzically. "I wonder where Izunyan is?"
Hiroko felt her heart sink a little at the mention of Izumi. She still wasn't here yet. Her contest was on display on the next table over… and the reactions it was getting from her passing-by classmates made her heart sink more.
"What a shabby-looking cake!" a junior high school girl said. "Who'd enter something like that?"
A high schooler wrinkled their nose as they took in Izumi's work. "Seriously?"
Moments later, Kou and Emi passed by Izumi's entry. Kou had to stop and stare at it for a good while.
"Yup, that's obviously Hamasaki's." he said. "Wonder how long its nuclear half-life is."
Emi clearly wasn't amused. "Kou, lay off! I'm sure Hamasaki-san was trying her best!"
"Maybe. But it still looks cursed from here, Emichi." Kou said as the pair headed off. "What'll happen when they cut into it?"
Jun looked far from amused. "Everyone is being really mean to Izunyan!" she huffed. "Is it 'cause she isn't here to defend herself?"
Yasu looked aside. "I wouldn't doubt it." Her eyes darkened a bit. "People enjoy attacking easy targets."
Hiroko bit her lip. It would be a little sad if Izumi didn't show up, but she wouldn't blame her if her peers were going to disregard her feelings like this.
And then a pair of students passed by Hiroko and the others, gossiping about some white-haired "rando" caught breaking into the entrance hall earlier, and Hiroko realized she had still more to worry about.
Izumi stumbled into the entrance hall fifteen minutes or so before the Cake-Off was set to get underway. She felt horrible, and she knew she probably looked horrible too. She'd been genuinely optimistic about this competition and genuinely excited about impressing Shun, and now she kind of just wanted to phase through the floor and never return.
She put on a show of wandering around and inspecting everyone else's entries, trying to ignore the occasional stares and whispers directed her way. Eventually, she'd have to take her place next to her joke of a cake (which was near her friends' entries, lucky her). Eventually. She could and would put it off for as long as she could get away with.
At least Shun wasn't here yet, Izumi told herself as the minutes til the judges arrived and the Cake-Off could begin in earnest slowly counted down. She still had a chance to save face. She still-
And then the doors to the entrance hall entered and Shun Siegel stumbled in. Judging by how heavily she was breathing, and the slightly mussed look of her hairstyle and uniform, she had run all the way here.
Numerous female Mirai students snapped to attention. Shun immediately gathered herself, trying to look as calm and collected as possible as she approached Izumi, offering polite greetings to a few girls along the way.
"Oh… Sieg-kun!" Izumi was not doing a good job at disguising how nervous she was. The way Shun's fangirls were staring at her again wasn't helping. "Hello!"
"And hello to you, Izumi." Shun looked a bit concerned by Izumi's nervous reaction but otherwise said nothing. "Sorry I'm late - Yurika-san had to do a bit more work on my bike than planned."
"That's okay!" Izumi said. "I'm just really glad you made it, Sieg-kun." God, hopefully they could still be friends after all this. "I hope you enjoy the Cake-Off!"
Shun smiled. "I plan to. I'm especially excited to try your entry."
"Ah… y-yeah! I worked extra-hard on it!" Izumi pumped her fist half-heartedly. "It's gonna rule all!"
Before either girl could say anything further, an announcement played over the PA, advising the entrants at the Cake-Off to take their places by their entries and the spectators to take their place at the sides of the entrance hall.
"Guess that's your cue." Shun tipped Izumi a wink. "You've got this, Izumi. I believe in you."
Izumi nodded stiffly before heading off to her table. She wished it didn't feel like she was heading off to her own execution.
And finally, the Cake-Off began in earnest. The entrants stood by as the judges, all of which were members of the Mirai faculty went from table to table, first evaluating the appearances of the cakes, then trying small samples of them. As they did so, they jotted down notes before moving on.
Hiroko no longer felt that jittery about being judged… if only because she now had so many other things to worry about. There was that growing twinge of wrongness in the air for one, and Kichu's increasingly insistent squeaking for another…and then there were her friends.
Yasu seemed to be faring alright. She was refusing to look directly at anyone who wasn't her teammates or her brother but having Haruki beside her and Hiroko and Izumi nearby seemed to be helping her remain calm.
Izumi though… Izumi looked quietly miserable and seemed to grow more miserable with every judge that visited her table. Hiroko made a mental note to offer to cook Izumi whatever she wanted after this was over. It hurt to see a girl who was usually so upbeat and energetic look so crushed.
"Is Izunyan gonna be okay?" Jun asked quietly as the latest judge left her and Hiroko's table, after congratulating the two for the good work. "I'm worried…"
And not just about how Izumi felt. There was that awful feeling building in the air, and Kichu was… quieter than… usual. Quiet enough that Jun had to look in her school bag to find. Nothing but books and papers.
"The best thing we can do is be there for her after this is over." Hiroko said… right before noticing Jun staring into her schoolbag. "Hm? Is everything alright?"
Jun looked up and forced a smile. "Y-yeah! Everything is o-kay!" She was not fooling Hiroko and even she knew it. "I… need to step out for a second!"
Before Hiroko could say anything, Jun had darted off. A faculty member stopped her, asking where she was going, and she muttered something about needing air before vanishing from view.
The next few moments were very... normal, building anxiety in Hiroko's chest and growing feeling of wrongness in the air aside. And then-
"A mouse! There's a mouse loose in here!"
"Oh god, this place has mice!"
"A mouse tried to eat my cake!"
Waves of confusion and alarm began to travel through the entrance hall like ripples in a pond. Suddenly, most of the students and faculty of Mirai Academy seemed to have forgotten about the Cake-Off in favor of the mouse loose in the entrance hall.
Hiroko didn't have to ask what mouse they were talking about - she could see a small white blur zipping away from one table, then across the contest floor, before launching itself straight at Naomi and Kaori's cake-
-only for a blue blur to shoot towards the white one… and miss. Muse was left to pounce on the floor tiling as Kichu successfully grabbed a chocolate lipstick from the cosmetics cake.
Naomi lunged after Kichu. "Give it back!" she yelled at the mouse spirit, who zipped away with his prize in his mouth. "My wife worked hard on those!"
Muse immediately bolted after Kichu. He was going to be in so much trouble after this!
The waves of alarm and confusion grew larger and larger as Muse chased Kichu around the entrance hall… and multiple students and faculty sprang into action trying to apprehend both spirits.
Izumi slowly blinked as the Cake-Off collapsed into chaos around her. "You've gotta be kidding me."
Haruki seemed downright baffled. "Wait, is that the cat from before?" he said. "And Jun's… doll?" He looked over at Yasu. "I feel like there's something you're not telling me, Sis."
"It's no concern." said Yasu... right before shooting an unspoken 'should we do something' sort of look at Hiroko.
Hiroko opened her mouth to respond… right as even more waves conversation began to ripple through the entrance hall.
"Whoa, that dude is huge!"
"Nobody said anything about guest judges!"
"Can't he see we're kind of busy?"
Hiroko found herself staring as yet another player in the spiraling chaos that the Cake-Off had turned into revealed himself - the very tall man from her first visit to Western Paradise. He either did not notice or did not care about the spirits running around the hall or the many people attempting to catch them. No, he was casually going from table to table, sizing up the cakes and sampling them, much like the other judges.
The white-haired figure from before was also here, Hiroko realized. They were standing on the sidelines, laser-focused on the tall man and scowling at every hint of disapproval that flashed across the latter's face when he sampled a cake.
Hiroko's hand went to her Puricell. Something told her these two were bad news - and it seemed like her teammates were on the exact same wavelength she was. Strangely enough, so was Shun Siegel, she noted. The teal-haired girl was watching the two figures like a hawk, clearly expecting them to pull something.
A faculty member ran up to the tall man, who was on his way to the Cures' tables. "Sir, what do you think you're doing here?" she demanded.
"My job." Seimono said, as if this were the most obvious answer in the world. He continued on, unfettered by any further protests from the faculty member.
Izumi's jaw dropped as Seimono casually approached her. "What in the hell are you-"
Seimono did not seem to notice her shock. Instead, he furrowed his eyebrows as he sized up her cake. "Hm. Aesthetically, it's a failure." Before anyone present could say a thing, he cut himself a sample piece, humming thoughtfully as he chewed. "It... mostly succeeds taste-wise, however."
Izumi blinked. "It does?"
"Mostly ." Seimono said. "It's a bit dry. And you used too much ginger." He frowned. "Far too much. You clearly lack experience as a chef, Genbu."
And that was enough to hit Izumi off the top. "H-hey!" she snapped. "Where the hell do you get off on-?!"
Suddenly a chill wind blew throughout the entrance hall as the lights began to flicker. Panic set in as Kamryou appeared before the contest-goers, hovering some distance above the tables. Most everyone, Kichu included, froze where they were as they tried to make sense of the furious-looking cloth wraith before them.
"How dare you talk to Seimono-sama like that!" they snapped at Izumi, before turning their wrath on… most everyone else at the Cake-Off. "And how dare you displease Seimono-sama with these cakes!"
Multiple cloth tendrils shot out from Kamryou's body, sending multiple cakes splattering onto the floor. Muse had half a second to grab Kichu by the scruff of his neck and carry him off in her mouth like a disobedient kitten before most everyone went scrambling for the exits.
"Sis, c'mon!" Haruki protested. "We need to-!"
Yasu shook her head. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me!"
Before Haruki could say anything, he was swept up in the crowd hurrying out of the entrance hall. Shun looked like she wanted to say something herself, throw down with Seimono or Kamryou, or both before she apparently thought better of it and retreated through one of the other exits.
Kamryou narrowed their eyes before raising a hand glowing with red-black energy. "Appear! Nikuina! Cast the world into despair!"
A cake on one of the centermost tables began to glow with reddish-black light, drawing several other destroyed cakes into its orbit as it grew and shifted form.
The light dissipated, revealing a towering, red-eyed humanoid construct that appeared to be made out of multiple types of cake. It roared, drawing golden ribbons of sealing energy into its mouth as most everyone who hadn't yet escaped, along with multiple people right outside the entrance hall collapsed.
The members of Pretty Cure assembled, Puricells at the ready, as they stared down Seimono, who had shed his own human disguise. He looked more exasperated with Kamryou than anything else.
"I had no issue with the cakes." he sighed.
Kamryou looked genuinely baffled. "The cakes didn't displease Seimono-sama?"
Seimono shook his head. "They did not." He shifted his focus to Pretty Cure. "My only quarrel is with these three."
"Yeah, well we've got a quarrel with you too!" Izumi snapped, pointing accusingly at Seimono and Kamryou. "Hijacking the Cake-Off like this - you have crossed the line!" She readied her Puricell. "Guys!"
Hiroko and Yasu nodded. "Pretty Cure, Spirit Unleash!" the three chorused.
"Soaring blue star! Cure Seiryuu!"
"Rushing black star! Cure Genbu!"
"Shimmering white star! Cure Byakko!"
"Three shining stars, lighting the path to the future!" The three members of Pretty Cure struck a group pose as they spoke in unison. "We are Pretty Cure!"
Seimono looked very pleased at the sight of the Cure trio. "I've been waiting for this." He assumed a combat stance. "Now! Pretty Cure! Show me what you're capable of! Nikuina!"
The cake Nikuina roared and lunged towards the three Cures, attempting to flatten them with its massive fists. Seiryuuu and Byakko dodged out of the way, leaving its fists to cave in a nearby table, as Genbu aimed a leaping kick at the monster's chest… only to find her leg sinking right into its body.
Seiryuu and Byakko sprang forward and yanked Genbu out of the Nikuina before she could sink too deeply. The three Cures leapt backward, touching down on a nearby table… right as the Nikuina gave another roar and began to fling globs of frosting off its body in their direction.
Pretty Cure was sent scattering as a rain of multicolored frosting peppered the entrance hall. Byakko deflected any globs she could not dodge and weave around as best as she could with her shields, while Seiryuu and Genbu shot more globs out of the air with their spirit power.
Finally, the Nikuina appeared to present an opening to attack. That was Pretty Cure's chance to strike - or it would have been, had Seimono not leapt into the fray, Kamryou hovering close by.
"Crush them, Seimono-sama!" Kamryou sounded far too eager about this.
The three Cures attempted to hit Seimono with a triple kick. They may as well have not have even bothered. Striking him felt like striking solid iron, and he did not so much as flinch as they rained blows upon him, in between dodging the continued salvo from the cake Nikuina.
"Is that it?" Seimono made no attempt to fight back. He didn't have to, not when Pretty Cure didn't seem able to so much as scratch him. "You clearly haven't trained hard enough."
"Oh, shut up!" Genbu snapped as she futilely chipped away at Seimono's defenses. "We all had better things to do! How were we supposed to know you were gonna crash the Cake-Off?"
Kamryou narrowed their eyes and tensed up. "Don't you dare-"
Seimono raised a hand. "Kamryou. Don't." Even as Seimono spoke, he off-handedly stopped an attempted strike from Byakko with one hand, before casually deflecting attacks from Seiryuu and Genbu. "There's no need."
The three Cures regrouped and stared down Seimono, who shook his head and sighed heavily with the air of a disappointed teacher.
"The three of you are warriors now. You need to be prepared for combat at all times." As Seimono spoke, he withdrew the massive two-handed sword from his back. "If you forget that, you won't survive!"
Seimono swung his sword towards the ground, sending a mighty shockwave ripping through the floor of the entrance hall. It tore up the floor tiling and destroyed the tables in its path as it ripped towards the three Cures.
Seiryuuu and Genbu managed to get out of the way in time, but Byakko was not so lucky. She was knocked back by the sheer force of the shockwave… and straight into the chest of the waiting cake Nikuina. The white Cure immediately attempted to free herself, but her struggling just made her sink further and further in.
"Byakko!" Seiryuu flew to Byakko's side and began trying to free her. "Just stay still and relax - I'll have you out in a moment!"
Genbu joined Seiryuu in freeing Byakko… or she at least attempted to. The minute she moved towards her teammates, Seimono intercepted her, forcing her to engage him in combat once again.
"I'm so through with you!" Genbu snapped as she and Seimono clashed. He actually was making attempts to fight back this time… but he was also very clearly pulling his punches. "I'm already having a bad day, and you're making it worse!"
"I apologize." Seimono said as he continued to shrug off Genbu's strikes before forcing her to parry his. "But I cannot disregard my duty. Just as you cannot disregard yours!" Genbu attempted to land a kick on him. He casually caught her foot in his hand before flinging her backward. She barely managed to right herself as she touched down some distance away. "You're half-baked, Genbu. As a chef and as a warrior."
And something with Genbu welled up and burst at that moment. "Y-yeah? Well! I tried my best at that cake!" As she spoke, her form began to blaze with dark violet energy. "And I'm trying my best as a Cure! And I'm not! Gonna stay! Half-baked!"
Genbu gave a yell of fury as she charged full tilt at Seimono. Before he or Kamryou could register what was about to happen, she struck him right on the chest with a spirit-power charged punch, hard enough to make him flinch before leaping up, using the temporarily stunned Seimono as a springboard as she launched herself towards the cake Nikuina.
She was right on time. Seiryuu had just managed to free Byakko and pull the white Cure, who was a bit shaken but otherwise alright to safety… right as Genbu struck it straight on with several blasts of water. It reacted about as well as any cake would to being soaked, crying out weakly in pain before staggering backward.
Genbu was more than ready for it. "Pretty Cure!" Violet hyacinth petals swirled around her form and globules of water rose around her as she prepared her attack. "Black Maelstrom!"
The Nikuina gave one last roar before it dissolved in a shower of light particles, leaving a pile of ruined cakes and a spent Wrath Seed pod. Moments later, Genbu collapsed, losing her transformation. Seiryuu and Byakko immediately flew to her side.
Kamryou had been too busy worrying about Seimono to take much stock of Pretty Cure… but the minute the pair's Nikuina was defeated, they immediately lunged towards the trio, cloth tendrils leaping from their body and lashing towards the Cures.
"Pretty Cure! I'll never forgive you for-"
Seimono caught Kamryou by the arm. "That's enough. I lost this one fair and square"
Kamryou opened their mouth to protest... before apparently thinking better of it. They sighed, retracting the tendrils before withdrawing to Seimono's side and clinging onto his arm.
Seimono gave Pretty Cure a nod of acknowledgement. "I look forward to seeing your further efforts." And then, to Kamryou "And I look forward to enjoying another meal with my partner. What do you have in mind, Kamryou?"
That seemed to placate Kamryou… mostly. "I want to eat Seimono-sama's sukiyaki again."
Seimono smiled warmly and ruffled their hair. "And it'd be an honor to make it for you."
And with that said, Seimono and Kamryou vanished in a burst of gold dust.
Seiryuu and Byakko released their transformations as the damage to the entrance hall healed itself.
"Everyone!" Muse hurried towards them. Kichu was riding on her back. Once again, the little mouse was glowing… but this time he was shining more intensely, this time with a soft blue light. "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Muse! And…" Hiroko frowned, staring in confusion at Kichu. "What's up with Kichu?"
"Huh? Oh, that means Kichu's ready to restore the first sealing stone!" Muse chirped. "Hironyan… Izunyan… Nyasu… you guys are one step closer to saving the world!"
Kichu nodded. He looked as proud of Pretty Cure as Muse did. "Chu chuu!"
That last fight had taken more out of Izumi than she had expected. Hiroko and Yasu had to help her to one of the chairs on the entrance hall sidelines, and she was still sitting there sipping the ice water Jun had bought for her when people slowly began to filter back inside.
The Cake-Off was officially ruined. Even if the contest site had been restored, most of the cakes were still ruined. It hurt to see the Mirai students and faculty members so crushed. And honestly, part of Izumi was a little bummed about not getting to see things through to the end, even if another part of her felt like she had dodged a bullet.
Yasu was nearby, stoic and impassive as usual as Haruki attempted to press her and Jun, who appeared to be frantically doing damage control, for info. Hiroko remained by Izumi's side. She wasn't comfortable leaving her alone until she'd recovered.
And then Shun burst into the hall, nearly tripping over her own feet as she bolted towards Izumi. She made no attempt to play things off this time.
"Izumi! Are you okay?"
Izumi snapped to attention. "Sieg-kun! Yeah, I'm-!" She leapt to her feet... only to sway on her knees and fall forward a few steps in. Hiroko dove towards her and caught her before she could hit the ground. "...okay... ish."
Shun didn't seem convinced. "You're pale, Izumi. You need fluids and-" She glanced towards Izumi's table, where her cake sat... very much intact. "Oh, perfect! We could both use some sugar anyway."
Izumi opened her mouth to protest… but Shun had already taken off. She felt her heart sink into her chest as Hiroko led her back to her chair.
Hiroko gently squeezed Izumi's hand as she helped her sit back down. "It'll be okay." she said. "I promise."
Moments later, Shun returned with two pieces of Izumi's carrot cake. Before Izumi could say a word, Shun had taken a bite of her own piece-
-and she looked very pleased. "Izumi! This is really good!" She made a soft noise of contentment as she took another bite. "You even added extra ginger!"
Izumi looked absolutely lost. "But I messed up a ton! It took me four tries to make that cake, and it was still off! It even looks terrible compared to everyone else's!"
Shun shook her head. "You can't measure yourself against others, Izumi. Look how far you came. And think of how much room you have to grow." She took another bite of her cake before adding "I can give you pointers next time, if you want?"
Hiroko blinked in surprise. "Do you also like cooking, Siegel-san?"
Shun nodded. "Yeah, I handle most stuff around the house. I've gotten pretty good at it." She paused before adding "Would you be cool with exchanging numbers? It sounds like there's a lot I could learn from you, Tsubasa-san."
"Ah... sure, sure!" Hiroko scrambled for her smartphone, trying to ignore how much her ears were burning. As she exchanged numbers with Shun, she added "I'd be happy to help you as well, Izumi, if you ever need it."
Izumi felt her eyes water a bit. "You guys..." She immediately distracted herself with a bite of cake, lest she start crying in front of Shun. It… really wasn't terrible. It was actually kind of good. Maybe... maybe she could do this. "I... think I'd like that."
Once Izumi had finished her cake, she attempted to get up again, managed a few wobbly steps-
-and this time, Shun caught her in her arms before she could hit the ground. "You've done enough today, Izumi. I'll take it from here."
Izumi went tomato red at the realization that Shun had her in a bridal carry. She nodded absently. That was Shun's cue to leave in the direction of the junior high dorms after tipping a nod to Hiroko. She didn't seem to notice or care about the Mirai students staring at the two of them.
Izumi's heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest. She had imagined a million different conclusions for the Cake-Off, and this certainly hadn't been one of them. Not that she had any complaints... past the fact that this couldn't last forever.
"You're so cool, Sieg-kun." Izumi said as she cuddled up closer to the other girl.
Shun flushed a bit. "So I've been told..." She was silent for a moment before adding "To be honest... I think you're even cooler, Izumi."
Izumi blinked in surprise. "H-huh? Since when?"
"Since..." Shun hesitated before settling on "A very long time. Since we met, really."
Izumi may as well have died and gone to heaven right there. Maybe the Cake-Off was a complete wash. Maybe her entry really wouldn't have even placed had everything not gone sideways. But right now… there was only one conclusion she could draw about today's events.
She smiled in contentment before speaking, too quietly for Shun to hear. "I won."