Interloper
Cast:
Cure Bloom / Cure Bright, Hyuuga Saki – age 15
Cure Egret / Cure Windy – age 14
Ms. Shitataare, Mizushita Atsuko – age 24
Shiki Mizusu – Ms. Shitataare's senior from drama club – age 25
August, 2006
"We meet again, Pretty Cure! This time, I will certainly-"
It is a warm afternoon, but Ms. Shitataare is dressed in an elaborate waterfall-themed dress with a huge lavender wig, which to the two girls she is accosting is exhausting to even look at.
Saki frowns. "Could we not do this, Ms. Snotty Nose?"
"My name is Ms. Shitataare! Even if we're destined to be enemies, you should at least remember my name properly!"
It is at this moment that a brown-haired woman wearing a dark blue skirt and blazer waves from the edge of the grass and calls out.
"Atsuko? It's really you, isn't it!"
Ms. Shitataare's eyes widen. "Mizusu?! What are you- I mean, you should know to address me by my stage name, the name of my soul!"
The woman sighs. "Really, Atsuko? Method acting? What have I told you about that so many times?"
Ms. Shitataare stiffens, and automatically answers, "It is a crutch for the unimaginative and it will stunt my growth as an actress."
"Correct! Now, who are these girls you're working with? It's another indie film, right?"
The woman, Mizusu, turns her full attention to Saki and Mai, who hesitate for several moments as Ms. Shitataare silently signals for them to answer in the affirmative. Just as it seems Mizusu will ask another question, Saki reluctantly nods.
"Yes... whatever you are thinking of is exactly what is going on."
The woman grins. "It's what I think, is it? Whatever shall I think of, I wonder?"
Mai quickly makes something up. "It's a short film about two magical girls who fight and then befriend a former magical girl who has turned to evil!"
"I see, I see..." Mizusu says, nodding thoughtfully, then she turns to face Ms. Shitataare again. "Atsuko, introduce us."
Letting out a defeated sigh, she does so. "This is my Shiki Mizusu, my senior from drama club when we were in high school. She's some kind of engineer now. These two are Pretty Cure."
"Pretty Cure?"
The girls nod, then Saki explains. "It's weird, but for some reason there's a company that gives out fancy titles and money to girls like us."
Mizusu ruminates on this for a few moments, then shrugs. "As your senior, I really should be included in the first showing. Call me anytime."
She pats Atsuko on the shoulder and walks off.