Cure Narrative 45: May it Reach You

Season: Kirakira Precure a la Mode

Character: Ciel K. Rio K.

Summary: For now, there was nothing more she could do than to pray that it reached him.

Italics: thoughts

"Eh? H-hey, wait for me!" Ciel chased after Ichika and the others, ecstatic to make more cookies before the Cultural Festival ends.

The cookies at Ichigono High School's Cultural Festival were a tradition where one would give said cookies to someone they care most about, and it was rumoured that their feelings would get through.

This was undoubtedly a tactic to attract more innocent children or helplessly romantic young girls as customers, but since it was fun, there was no harm in abiding to the tradition.

"Hmm... let's see, I've gotta make some for the guys in the band, some for Mizushima and the others, and..." Aoi began listing out people she cared about.

"Papa and Risa-chan and Mariko-san and..." Ichika followed suit.

"Um... maybe you two should think about how much ingredients you have first...?" Himari quietly advised, then she turned to Ciel, who was spacing out, "What about you, Ciel-san?"

"Ah," she snapped out of it, "right, I'd better get started too."

Yukari did point out that 'someone you care most about' wasn't limited to one person, but it didn't matter to Ciel, for she only had one person in mind then.

Just like how you gave it your all when you made those waffles...

If I also give it my all, will my words reach you?

If I also give it my all, will you hear what I have to say this time?

Holding onto that hope, Ciel poured her heart into decorating the cookies, focusing all her thoughts on what she wanted to say back then.

If I also give it my all, will you come back to me?

Because what else could she achieve? As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was completely powerless in this situation, and it was killing her inside.

All that he did was for her sake, so she felt like she must do something for him for a change.

"Kirakirakirarun kirakiraru, please become delicious," she chanted softly, just in case he wakes up, the cookies needed to taste impeccable.

"Let's hurry and give it to everyone!" Aoi called out and sprinted off without waiting for a reply, she did have quite a few people to give to.

Himari also ran out. Ciel was about to exit the room as well when Ichika tugged on her sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Ciel asked.

"Say, Ciel-chan," Ichika spoke slowly, hesitating, "Are you... giving those to... perhaps, Rio-kun...?"

She considered the option of denying. But was there a point? If Ichika asked her that, she had already found out.

She nodded wordlessly.

"Oh. I see," Ichika held out a pack of cookies, "Will you give mine to Rio-kun too?" She smiled sadly, "I hope... he would wake up soon."

"Are you sure you don't want to give it to him yourself?" Ciel questioned as Ichika stuffed it into her hands.

"Yeah... it doesn't feel right to interrupt you two..." she replied quickly and dashed outside just as quickly.

"Bonjour, Pikario!" Ciel cheerily said as she arrived at Lumiere's altar. "Today we went to the Cultural Festival at Yukari's and Akira's high school, it seemed like they based it on that story we read once in Paris. Jean-Pierre said that it's well-known worldwide, seems like it's true. We dressed up as characters from the book, it was fun. I was the Griffin, Himari was Humpty Dumpty, Aoi was, of course, the Lion, Ichika was the White Rabbit, Pekorin was the Mad Hatter and Miku was Alice. Ah, Miku is Akira's little sister, I wonder if you know her. She's a cute, peppy little girl, but she seems to be sickly, I hope she's gonna be okay. Too bad you weren't there, you could've played the March Hare, you know, best friend with the Mad Hatter, and you'd be a match with Ichika."

She placed hers and Ichika's cookies next to him, "I made cookies for you, so did Ichika. That's very nice of her. Hear me out, it's a tradition at their high school. They say these cookies can deliver your feelings to someone you care about."

"So..." she clenched her fists, her voice cracked, "W-will you please... wake up and give us a reply...?"

He laid there, ever so still.

"Hey... say something..." Ciel fell to her knees, "Anything...! Say you hate me, say you don't want a sister like me... just say something! Just... come back to me...!"

He laid there, ever so silent.

"Please... just give me a sign..." she stroked his tiny head — she couldn't feel him, "show me... that I didn't lose you forever...!"

He laid there, ever so lifeless.

And she stayed there, waiting for a response that wouldn't come.

Eventually, her hope ran out, so did her tears. With one last look at her comatose brother, she whispered with her tired and hoarse voice, "Maybe tomorrow." and left.

Huh?

That's strange.

Everything around me is black.

But I can hear your voice.

"How dare you want me to dress up as a crazy hare-pika!?"

"What cookies-pika? I can't see them."

Then I remember, I'm not alive.

Is that why I can't see a thing?

Is that why I can't move a muscle?

"Don't cry-pika! I'm right here, see? I can hear you-pika! I don't hate you! I'm with you-pika!"

Is that why you can't hear a word I say?

I yell, and shout, and scream. I want to tell you that I can hear you, loud and clear. I want to tell you that I'm regaining my consciousness, little by little. I want to tell you to wait for me a little more, I want to tell you that there's no need to cry, I want to tell you that...

"I don't hate you, Kirarin!"

But it's all in vain.

All I hear is your desperate cries, from a voice that has always so full of vitality and hope.

...over and over again.

End of Chapter 45