Cure Narrative 29: Reestablishing Values

Season: Heartcatch (and All Stars New Stage)

Characters: Yuri T. Ayumi S.

Summary: It's always nice to have someone to talk to.

Italics: thoughts

They had just defeated Fusion and saved the city, all 29 of them.

And Ayumi still couldn't believe that she was one of those 29.

She didn't have much time to think about it clearly earlier, she had to reach Fuu-chan, because she knew Fuu-chan wasn't evil...

Because she knew Fuu-chan was her friend.

And now, she had all the time she needed to think about her new identity.

She made 28 new friends, and lost one.

She and the other Precures were hanging out right now, they said that it was quite rare for everyone to gather and the defeat of Fusion was a cause for celebration.

Ayumi was ecstatic about the invitation to join her longtime idols, just not ecstatic enough to forget what had happened.

After chatting with Miyuki and Hibiki for some time, she distanced herself from the group to think and reflect clearly.

Fuu-chan...

For my sake, for the Precures' sake, for the sake of everyone in this city, you...

Even if you said that we'll always be friends, even in the future...

You aren't here anymore...

I'll never see you again anymore...

"We can meet anytime." That's a lie! From now on, I can only see you in memories, in dreams, in fantasies...

Only living inside my heart and my memories aren't enough! I want to see you! I want to talk to you! Listen to you! Play with you! Cuddle with you!

Why did you have to leave me?

"Sakagami-san?" a voice pulled her back to the real world.

Standing in front of her was a girl older than her with long purple hair, she couldn't quite remember which Precure she was though, "Um... you are... Cure..."

"Cure Moonlight."

"Ah, yes, that's right," Ayumi smiled apologetically, "I am very sorry, I still need a little more time to memorize everyone's civilian forms. Oh, and just call me Ayumi, please."

"Alright then, call me Yuri," Yuri sat down next to her.

"Yes, Yuri-senpai."

"Don't you think it's a bit too detached to call us 'senpai'?" Yuri smiled a bit, "Me and Itsuki didn't join the other Precures much earlier than you."

"I understand, pardon me, Yuri-san," Ayumi was a bit relieved that Cure Moonlight turned out to be a lot more affable than she had imagined, "Um... at any rate, was there something you wanted to say to me?"

"It depends," Yuri shrugged, "You were spacing out and I heard the story from Reika, uh... simply put, I know the expression you were showing, I had it for a long time once."

"My expression?" Ayumi put a hand on her face, she felt herself frown.

And yet, when she saw all the smiling faces around, she shook her head and smiled as well, "It's nothing of importance. And look, everyone is so happy, I can't ruin the atmosphere."

"It's not good to hide what you're feeling, especially if it's a strong emotion."

"But it's not right to feel this way..."

"Ayumi, there is no right or wrong for feelings."

"Yes, there is!" Ayumi raised her voice slightly, but lowered it again soon after, "Did Reika-chan tell you what happened on the tower already?"

"I hope you aren't angry at her, I was the one who asked."

"Why would you ask about that though?" Ayumi inquired out of curiosity.

"I told you, I once felt the same way," Yuri started, but didn't plan to elaborate on that, "But now this is your story, not mine."

"Yuri-san..." Ayumi knew Yuri was requesting her to speak, "you all feel contented that Fusion is defeated, right?"

"Of course."

"It's not that I don't, but I just wish that... Fuu-chan..." Ayumi stopped speaking as she felt a lump in her throat.

Yuri waited for her, it's no use if Ayumi didn't say it herself.

"I j-just want Fuu-chan by m-my side... h-he wasn't the one at f-fault... he s-saved me, he saved u-us all... this isn't f-fair..." Ayumi buried her face in her hands.

"Why would you think this emotion is wrong?" Yuri asked gently.

"Because... because I c-can't deny that h-he's a part of Fusion... he tried to e-erase the city... I..." Ayumi sobbed, "as a P-Precure... I should be happy t-that Fusion is c-completely vanquished..."

"But you loved Fuu-chan, didn't you? Wasn't he your precious friend?"

"Yes... yes he was..."

"Then tell me, Ayumi, why would it be wrong to cry when you lose a friend?"

Ayumi looked at Yuri for a second, then turned away, "But... a-as a Precure..."

"Ayumi, do you know what a Precure fights for?" Yuri put a hand on Ayumi's shoulder to make her look at her again.

"The greater good?"

Yuri shook her head slightly, "It's more than that. A Precure fights for those important to her, she fights for love and friendship, she fights to protect and to help others."

"I see..."

"And what did Fuu-chan do all those things for?"

"H-he did it... for my sake..."

Yuri nodded, "Sometimes, even when things are for the greater good, we might not feel happy with them. It's normal, because we're just a group of girls, we aren't some machines made to fight evil, we have emotions and we make mistakes. So," Yuri let Ayumi lean on her shoulder, "shedding tears is not wrong, Ayumi."

"I don't like f-feeling this way..." Ayumi bawled, "Yuri-san... will t-this pain ever g-go away...?"

"It depends. But mine didn't," Yuri sighed, "the fact that I lost... him, will never stop making my heart ache, when I recall that moment sometimes, tears would come to my eyes."

"M-maybe if I had never met Fuu-chan, never b-become Cure Echo, if we h-had only been e-enemies like we were supposed to... t-then it wouldn't have hurt so much...!"

"Perhaps, but time is irreversible."

"You o-overcame s-something like this before, r-right, Yuri-san? P-please tell me what s-should I do n-now..."

"It's best that you don't learn from my past, but here's my advice. You don't have to stop crying now, there's no magic in the world that can make you stop missing Fuu-chan, but when you feel the pain is unbearable, look."

"Hm?" Ayumi raised her head, standing in front of them were Hibiki and Miyuki.

Yuri continued, "Bury your suffering in your friends' warm embrace," she patted Ayumi's head, "Go on."

Miyuki opened her arms, Ayumi walked into her hug slowly, Hibiki joined in as well.

"What's the matter, Ayumi-chan?" Hibiki asked.

"Is it about Fuu-chan?" Miyuki asked.

"Yes it is..." Ayumi continued crying.

Yuri smiled to herself, hoping her words were heard as she walked past the threesome, "Ayumi, I am certain that because you were there, Fuu-chan left with a smile."

"Thank you..." Ayumi whispered.

It's true, Fuu-chan was my first friend here, he was one of a kind, unique, no one can replace him.

But no matter you're my friends in the past, my friends now, or friends I know will support me even in the future...

I am very grateful.

End of Chapter 29

Side note: This is posted on 19th May 2019, sooooooo! HAPPY (26th) BIRTHDAY, YURI-SAN! （＾ω＾）