Episode Twenty-Six: To the Future Me! Our Soaring Culture Festival!
King Kagemera had arrived in the Shade Kingdom with the destructive force of a mighty hurricane, violently upending everything that laid in his path and leaving the land forever changed in his wake. He had been a man of great stature, immense strength, and ferocious temper, a man who cast a fearsome shadow over the Shade Kingdom even years after his near-defeat at Pretty Cure's hands.
Even in his twilight years, as his health declined and his public appearances dwindled, it seemed inconceivable for a man like Kagemera to go gently. The man himself had often spoken of going out gloriously in battle, the way a true conqueror should. That was the ending King Kagemera wanted.
That was not the ending Kagemera would have. His life would end not with a glorious bang but in a barely-audible whimper. He would go out not as a mighty warrior king but as an ailing old man.
It was very quiet in the end. There were doctors and attendants in Kagemera's bedchamber, but they stood off to the side, still and silent as the guards who watched the doors. Hinyu was nowhere to be seen. Kagemera, in one last moment of lucidity, had ordered the majordomo to be placed under house arrest.
Only one person was allowed a place at Kagemera's bedside in his final moments - a man who looked like a much younger version of his father, stout build, chimera-esque appearance and all. He sat in a plush chair by Kagemera's bed, holding the ailing king's large paw in his.
"Tsukimera. I knew you'd return to me." Kagemera's eyes were half-lidded and unfocused, and it was clearly taking him effort to speak above a harsh whisper. "I knew that worm lied. My son still lives."
Prince Tsukimera nodded solemnly. "My selfishness led me astray from you, Father. I was willing to forsake my divine right for such petty reasons." He lowered his head in shame. "And now, I am returned, right as you are at your end." A single tear ran down his nose. "If only I had understood sooner."
Kagemera rumbled in disapproval. "Tsukimera. You will be king soon. Raise your head."
Tsukimera looked up, blinking. "Father?"
"You are alive. The throne is safe. That is enough." Kagemera said firmly. "Look ahead. There is so much to do. You are my son. You must know what comes next."
"Of course." Tsukimera was clearly biting back more tears, even as he tried to match his father's intensity. "That traitor will be dealt with swiftly, of course. Just as Pretty Cure and their ilk will be. Those shall be my first acts as king, Father. I will not let your legacy be threatened further. That I swear to you."
That earned a genuine smile from Kagemera. "Good. See to it, then."
And with that, the paw in Tsukimera's own finally went limp as a death rattle slowly escaped Kagemera's mouth. The rest was silence.
Tsukimera's expression grew unreadable as he moved to confirm that there was no hint of breath, no ghost of a pulse remaining. There was not. The Shade King had died smiling.
It was Tsukimera who shed several more tears as he reverently closed his father's eyes. It was Tamakushi who gingerly caressed Kagemera's face. Her long, black hair, currently undone from its usual high bun, hung in her face like a loose curtain, and her defeated body language betrayed what her featureless face couldn't.
"Rest well, Your Majesty."
Her deception had worked. Kagemera was dead and gone, but he had at least gone out happily. That was the best she could have done for him, given everything, Tamakushi tried to tell herself as the doctors moved in, and she reluctantly parted from Kagemera's side.
And then a violent earthquake erupted through the Shade Palace.
Panic immediately set in as writhing black tendrils burst upward through the crumbling floor, and still more black growths broke through the cracking walls. People were screaming, inside and outside the chamber. The source of the panic was easy to piece together via the hysterical outbursts that could be heard outside.
The Tree of Wrath. Growing, suddenly, violently. Hinyu. Couldn't be stopped. Had escaped. Was-
An immense tendril suddenly broke through the ceiling, shot towards Kagemera's corpse and easily snatched it up. Tamakushi sprang after the thing in a moment of blind fury. It snatched her up as well, before violently jerking upward, through the ceiling and several floors of the Shade Palace at a breakneck pace-
-and when Tamakushi regained her senses, she was sprawled on the floor of the audience chamber. The place was an absolute mess. The Tree of Wrath had grown out of control, littering the area with a web of pulsing black roots, leaving its branches to grow wildly in all directions, and heavily damaging the walls and ceiling. Its usual quiet moans had intensified to a headache-inducing roar.
Tamakushi felt her stomach lurch as she forced herself to her feet. Guards and serving staff were everywhere, some suspended by hanging roots or tendrils that had grown from the floor, others bound directly to the ground or the walls by pulsing growths. And Kagemera was nowhere to be seen.
The reason for that was clear. The portion of the Tree's trunk that could be seen through the walls was pulsing in a steady rhythm, much like a beating heart, as it glowed softly. It only did that after a good meal.
"What a shame. At least he was good for something in the end."
Hinyu was casually lounging on Kagemera's throne, as if that was where he'd belonged all along. Before Tamakushi had the chance to spring at him, he lazily waved an oddly gnarled-looking hand. Tamakushi suddenly found herself snared tightly and hoisted upward by another stray root.
That girl… Shahei stood by the throne. Her head was ornamented by a tiara of gnarled wood and black roses, and her gaze was distant. Doll-like. The child was not here. Not mentally. Tamakushi envied her.
"He was already dying, you know. He had been for years. I'm not to blame for that."
Hinyu had changed. Was changing. Tamakushi noticed it now. The sclera of his right eye was now pitch black, there were patches of black bark on his neck and chest, now visible thanks to his half-unbuttoned shirt and fully-open blazer. The claws poking through his gloves had become gnarled, almost plantlike.
Tamakushi trembled with rage as she stared at Hinyu. "What have you done?!"
"Is it not obvious? I'm solving our little succession crisis." Hinyu drawled. "Or do you mean this?" he asked, gesturing to himself. "Funny thing, that. Seems my friend hated Kagemera as much as I did. Enough to enter into a little… power-sharing agreement, as it were."
A chorus of overlapping, miserable-sounding voices echoed through the room as the Tree's branches shook, and Tamakushi felt her bindings grow tighter. The Tree… don't tell her the Tree had…
"Or is there any point distinguishing here? I am it, and it is me, you know." Hinyu grinned, far too widely as usual. "We've become something far greater than a mere king. Wouldn't you agree, Tamakushi?"
She had been a fool, Tamakushi realized as she began to struggle for air. She had thought the man before her too cowardly, too self-servingingly stupid to be worth treating as a pressing threat. She had put his bizarre attachment to the Tree of Wrath in the same class as so many of his other foibles. Oh, there goes Hinyu, off to talk to a tree again. At least one thing in this kingdom could stand his company.
And this was the result. The same man she had continually written off was now staging a coup. And worse, she knew he'd most likely succeed. Kagemera had been a titan among men. But ultimately, so much of his power was vested in the Tree of Wrath. And he hadn't… bonded with it so directly. Not like Hinyu had.
"And I do hope you will." Hinyu continued. "You're far too valuable to waste. And I know how lost you are, without a proper master to guide you. Unless you really do feel like joining him."
More people were spilling into the audience chamber now. Hinyu muttered something under his breath and made another lazy gesture. They were easily snatched up, bound, and snared, one after the other. Hinyu was laughing at the sight, while claiming he could easily do this all day. Of course he was.
Part of Tamakushi wanted to tell Hinyu to just get it over with. But that wouldn't be right, she mused as her eyeless gaze drifted towards Shahei, who was still mentally elsewhere. She was still needed. Just not for the reasons Hinyu seemed to believe.
It was just as she had told that gaggle of humans back then. Hope for the future had to be cultivated… for freshly-trampled hope made the most fertile ground for despair. And she was a marvelous gardener.
And with that decided, Tamakushi finally gave her answer.
The days following Pretty Cure's return from the Shade Kingdom had been almost unsettlingly peaceful. It felt odd, going from being a magical warrior in a crisis situation to a student whose biggest worry was the culture festival. It felt even odder right now. The six of them had gone from being in the thick of things at the Shade Kingdom to not dealing with the Shade Kingdom at all. Their enemies had been oddly quiet.
Or maybe Kagemera and his ilk weren't fixated on them. That was the tone Hiroko and the others had caught from the letters Keiko had been receiving for the past while. Every now and then, a scrap of paper would sail towards her on the wind from out of nowhere, and on that scrap would be a note from Tobi.
The rebellion was safe for now. Everyone was badly shaken, they had had to pull up stakes, and Soyokaze had grown especially hypervigilant, now that Kagemera knew she was alive. But most were safe. Most.
That old guy never came back. Soyokaze won't hear it, but I'm pretty sure he died out there. That partner of his freaked out and screwed off after they got the news. We haven't seen them since.
Hiroko wasn't surprised to hear that. Even someone like Seimono couldn't have fought off an army on their own. But it hardly felt fair, knowing he'd likely died before he had the proper chance to atone.
We're trying to get a game plan together. I am begging you to stay put until then, Kae. We're in a world of shit over here, and I don't need you putting your foot in it.
"Like I would! I'm not some selfish little child!" Keiko huffed after reading Tobi's latest letter. "Stupid Tobi. You know I can't just pop over there anyway."
Keiko had thrown herself into her "late season training arc" after returning to Earth. After a number of practice sessions in the Yoshimoto training hall, she could freely transform into a spirit and back again. But she was still a bit weaker than before, putting cross-dimensional teleportation off the table. She hadn't made any further attempts to ritually open up a portal either. To the uninitiated, she seemed strangely unbothered.
Pretty Cure knew better. Especially Shun, who had grown used to Keiko sticking to her like glue when the two were home together. She was coping in her own way.
It looked like Pretty Cure was confined to Earth for now. But it wasn't like they were stuck sitting there and twiddling their thumbs. Mirai Academy's culture festival was right around the corner, and everyone had spent the past while hard at work on their class' respective attractions. Hiroko was no exception.
Class 3-1 had decided to do a high-class cafe this year, complete with a fancy coffee bar, plush furniture, classy decor, and charming ambient music. Shinobu had used their modeling agency connections to make sure 3-1's waiters and waitresses would be dressed to the nines. And of course, you couldn't have a high-class cafe without delicious food. And 3-1 couldn't have delicious food without-
"Tsubasa-san! You'll be in charge of our menu, right?"
-none other than Hiroko, who had found her entire class staring expectantly at her, once 3-1 had officially decided on their theme. She wasn't at all shocked, to be honest. But it was still a bit overwhelming.
"You can make it fresh, right?" Emi asked. "You did such an amazing job with the curry."
"You should!" Kou agreed. "Then 3-1 will be the talk of the whole school! We'll totally beat everyone else!"
"It isn't a contest." Shinobu sighed. "But you really are the one suited for this task, Tsubasa-san."
Izumi and Jun had looked ready to jump in if Hiroko needed their help. And the old Hiroko would have, assuming she even felt worthy of such a lofty request. But the Hiroko of now could definitely handle this.
"I'm sorry, everyone, but I can't make that much food on my own."
It felt odd, being able to speak this confidently, even with this many people gawking at her. But it was not at all unwelcome. And Hiroko knew exactly what to say next.
"But if I had a few assistant chefs, I could definitely prepare a great menu. Would that be acceptable?"
It had been more than acceptable. Hiroko, who once saw herself as too nondescript to influence anyone , found herself with multiple eager assistant chefs - including Jun ("Don't worry - Kichu promised to behave himself in the kitchen.") and Izumi ("I want everyone to see how far I've come, thanks to you and Sieg-kun.") If she could inspire people as Pretty Cure's leader, she could inspire others as a chef. She had to try.
Hiroko had been booked solid for the past while. Her days had been spent first setting up a menu for 3-1's cafe, then carefully translating her recipes into instructions, then delegating tasks to each of her "students". She had even recorded video tutorials for a few of the recipes she wanted to make.
"I'll be right there to help, of course." she told them. "But I've always found these sorts of things helpful."
And finally, Mirai Academy's annual culture festival was but a day away. The kitchen Hiroko and her team had rented out was positively abuzz with activity as everyone worked to put the cafe food together.
Hiroko was getting quite a workout. She was flitting from place to place all over the kitchen, helping one classmate properly fold puff pastry for the croissants, then reminding another classmate how to best chop vegetables for the quiche, then consulting yet another classmate on the proper technique for making cheesecake batter, and then doubling back to her own project - mixed sandwiches on fresh milk bread.
She was especially impressed with Izumi right now. Her teammate, who was working on a set of mini pizzas, had improved a great deal since the cake contest. That Izumi had been ill at ease in a kitchen, culinarily clumsy, and utterly unwilling to ask for help. This Izumi was the polar opposite in every respect.
"Izumi's come a long way." Hiroko said as she and Jun worked to assemble the sandwiches. "I'm really proud of her."
Jun beamed. "So have you, Hironyan!" she chirped. "You've been shining so brightly - just like I always knew you could!"
" Chuu." agreed Kichu, who was hiding in a pocket on Jun's apron.
Hiroko couldn't argue with Jun at all. Sure, she and the others were getting a bit worn out. Sure, the kitchen was a mess. Sure, part of her was worried she'd bitten off far more than she could chew. But she didn't regret this at all. Seeing everything come together, knowing she'd taught her classmates valuable lessons about cooking, looking forward to seeing the smiles on the "customers'" faces… it made all of this worth it.
"I have to light the path to the future, right?" Hiroko said. "That's what a good leader does." She hesitated for a moment before adding "A good teacher too."
"You mean the best teacher!" said Izumi, who had popped up beside Hiroko. "Isn't she?" the blond called out to the rest of the group, who had looked up from their own dishes. "Our cafe will rule all thanks to Hiroko!"
Hiroko was answered with a hearty cheer of agreement from all her "assistant chefs"... and a shrill noblewoman's laugh from the direction of the kitchen entrance.
"Ohohoho! You third years might have delicious food! But do you have atmosphere?"
Keiko, Lin, and Haruki stood near the kitchen entrance. The two girls were dressed up in maid costumes - Keiko's pink and Lin's green - while Haruki was wearing a butler uniform. All three second-years had been made up to look like robots, complete with ear antennae, metallic makeup, and artificial joints.
Haruki's class was doing a cafe as well. It had started as a maid cafe… but then Keiko had begun pushing for them to do something with robots, most of the girls had rallied behind her, and this was the result.
"Behold! The future of service!" Keiko didn't seem to notice or care about the baffled stares she was getting from the third years as she struck a dramatic pose. Lin caught the tone and followed suit. Haruki looked too flustered to match the two girls. "Robot maids, serving at the cafe of tomorrow!"
Jun's eyes lit up at the sight of Haruki. "Harunyan! You look really handsome!" She was grinning from ear to ear as she bounded over to him, took his hands in hers, and excitedly pumped them up and down. "You make the best robot butler ever!"
"Do you really think so?" Haruki looked more than a bit flustered as Jun continued to fuss over him. "Keiko says I still don't have the act down. But heroes have to adapt to new challenges, right?"
"Well said, Sir Knight!" Jun chirped. "Your priestess is cheering you on!"
Hiroko smiled warmly at Keiko and Lin. "You two look really cute as well."
Lin beamed. "Don't we? Especially Keiko-chan! It's just like I told her - pink is definitely her color."
Keiko blushed through her makeup. "Lin-chan! Do you really think so?" She caught herself. "I mean!" She pointed dramatically at Hiroko. "Hiroko! Listen up! You're my rival, so you better not slack off!"
"It's not a competition, Keiko." Haruki sighed.
Keiko crossed her arms defensively. "W-well, it's a competition to me!"
"I'll do my best. All of us will." Hiroko said. "I can promise you that, Keiko."
"Good!" Keiko huffed. "I'll be coming over there myself, you know! To test the quality of your sweets. You guys' cooking against our catering." She was blushing again. "N-not because I want to try them or anything."
Haruki smiled apologetically, Jun giggled behind one hand, Izumi grumbled about how Keiko wasn't fooling anyone under her breath, and Lin patted Keiko on the shoulder. Hiroko found herself stifling a laugh as well.
"Don't worry - I believe you." She really didn't, but it didn't hurt to indulge a friend, Hiroko mused as she moved to address the others. "Let's all take a break for now - you've all more than earned it."
Hiroko found her thoughts drifting towards Yasu and her own culture festival assignment as she and the others put away their current projects. Now was probably a good time to check in on her girlfriend.
Yasu and Shun's class had decided to put on a play for this year's culture festival - The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Shun had ended up being cast as the Emperor of Japan, handily beating out every single boy in the class. It hadn't even been a contest, according to Shun, who had gone beet red as she recounted the results of the vote over lunch the day everyone was cast. The margins were just that wide.
"Of course you'd win." Keiko had said, once Shun had broken the news. "An actual prince is the best choice for the role. Especially if that prince is my older sister~"
" And my handsome girlfriend." Izumi had added, making Shun go even redder. "The stage is lucky to have you on it, Sieg-kun. But who's your Princess Kaguya? That's the real question here."
Yasu, who had been oddly quiet the whole time, had subtly adjusted her glasses. "That would be me."
Almost everyone at the table had stared at Yasu in shock in the wake of her announcement. Even now, Hiroko was a bit floored by it. It wasn't that Yasu didn't suit the role. A cool princess-like girl like her was made to play Kaguya. And the fact that her class had voted for her spoke volumes about her improved relationship with her classmates. But she knew how Yasu felt about being the center of attention.
The auditorium was abuzz with activity as Hiroko and Izumi stepped inside. (Jun had run off elsewhere with Haruki, citing "something important" she had to tell him and earning a knowing look from Izumi.) There were plenty of high schoolers milling about. Most of them were first years like Yasu and Shun, but Hiroko recognized a few third years, including an oddly morose-looking Kaori. Had something happened?
Yasu and Shun were rehearsing on stage with a few of their classmates. Hiroko and Izumi watched, enraptured from the middle row of the auditorium as their respective partners acted out their roles.
Shun, now in character as the Emperor of Japan, had gently intercepted Yasu, now Kaguya, keeping her from fleeing her chambers. "I beg of you, please listen to what I have to say."
Yasu responded by silently hiding her face. Her movements were a bit stiff, Hiroko noted.
"You must come with me to the palace." Shun entreated. "I can give you a position of honor, everything you might desire." Her delivery was just a bit off as well. Not that her starry-eyed girlfriend cared. "Your beauty and grace are meant to adorn my court, not remain hidden in a bamboo-cutter's cottage."
Yasu gently wrested herself out of Shun's grasp. "I am sorry, but I cannot." she said, her voice thick with regret. "For if you force me to go to the palace-"
The student director, who was sitting at the auditorium's front row, suddenly sprang to her feet. "Cut!" The actors froze where they were. "Fukuda-san, you're still too stiff. And I'm going to need to see more passion from you, Siegel-san. I can't buy you being in love with Kaguya yet."
"Ah, right, sorry." Shun said sheepishly. "I figured something was off."
Yasu, meanwhile, seemed unperturbed. Hiroko knew better. The director's comments bothered her.
"Let's take a break for now." the director continued. "We'll get back to it in about half an hour, alright?"
The actors on stage dispersed - and Izumi went thundering towards the stage at top speed.
"Sieg-kun!"
Before any of the high schoolers could stop Izumi, she had effortlessly vaulted herself over a row of seats and launched herself towards the waiting arms of her girlfriend, who caught her and twirled her around without breaking a sweat.
"Hey, Izumi." Shun smiled fondly at her girlfriend, who was snuggling up close to her. "Mind if I pick your brain about something? I'm trying to get a better handle on my part."
Izumi grinned. "I thought you'd never ask. Lay it on me, Sieg-kun."
As Shun headed off, still bridal carrying a very happy Izumi, Hiroko felt someone tap her shoulder - Yasu. Her girlfriend frowned slightly as Hiroko met her eyes before getting a handkerchief from her blazer pocket and gently dabbing at Hiroko's face.
"You had flour on your nose." Yasu said.
Now it was Hiroko's turn to look sheepish. "Oh dear… I wonder how long I've been walking around like that?" She regarded Yasu with concern as the two headed to the back of the auditorium together, out of everyone else's earshot. "Are you going to be alright on stage tomorrow?"
"I'm nervous. As you can probably tell." Yasu said. "But I plan on doing my best." She cast her eyes towards the stage. "It's odd. The old me wouldn't have even volunteered."
"And the old me wouldn't have tried to lead anything, especially not a big project like this." Hiroko said. "It's been hard work. But I don't regret doing it at all. Now I really know what my goal is."
Yasu smiled. "You'll make a wonderful cooking teacher, Hiroko. Just like I hope to become a great artist." She cast her eyes towards the stage. "If I want to become a professional like Kusakabe-san, I'll need to get better with crowds. That's why I volunteered for our school play." She intertwined her fingers with Hiroko's. "As long as you and the others believe in me, I'll do okay tomorrow."
Hiroko returned Yasu's smile. "You have to try, right?"
Yasu nodded. A wistful look crept into her eyes as she and Hiroko stood there, hand in hand. "This was where it all started. We've both come a long way since then."
"When Jun asked me to become a Pretty Cure, I said no." Hiroko said quietly. "I didn't think I was good enough for something like that. I was planning on helping her find someone more deserving, right until Tamakushi attacked. That feels so far away now."
Hiroko could almost see the phantoms of the past in her mind's eye. The frightened students and faculty, the attacking Nikuina, and herself, scared, unsure, but determined to protect Jun, if only because someone had to. A single, heat of the moment choice that had meant so much for herself and others.
And then those phantoms were gone, and a gaggle of Mirai Academy students remained. Many of them were clowning around on stage or playing improv games, as still more talked about their plans for the future, be it after the culture festival or after their graduation. A future they were so certain would come.
That was what mattered. This was what was precious. That was what she'd do anything to protect.
Yasu gave Hiroko's hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm glad you chose to fight, Hiroko. If we hadn't become Pretty Cure together…" She shook her head. "I don't know where I'd be."
Before Hiroko could respond to that, Kaori suddenly swept past her and Yasu and out of the auditorium, leaving the doors to slam heavily in her wake. She looked like she had been on the verge of tears. Hiroko stared after her in alarm. Yasu looked a bit bothered too. In other words, she was terribly worried.
"Takenaka-san…" Hiroko frowned. Did something happen?
"The traditional dance club does a special performance for the culture festival." Yasu explained. "This will be Takenaka-san's last time. I knew she was troubled over it, but…"
Hiroko hadn't missed the implicit I don't know what to say to her in her girlfriend's words. She understood. Yasu knew Naomi and Kaori far better than she did… but Yasu also had a very blunt and direct way of handling even sensitive situations, one that probably wouldn't help someone like Kaori.
And that was where she came in. Hiroko understood. This was also what it meant to be partners.
"I can go see if Takenaka-san's alright." Hiroko said. "It's the least I can do."
Kaori was leaning up against the outside of the auditorium and heaving a wistful sigh when Hiroko caught up with her. She really did look like she had been crying a bit. Hiroko found herself waffling. She knew what she had offered, but really, she didn't know Kaori that well, and maybe she did need to be alone-
-and then Kaori noticed Hiroko lurking near the auditorium entrance. "Oh! Tsubasa-san!" She was trying to be her usual cheery self, but it was clear she was forcing it. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine." Hiroko hesitated before adding "To be honest, I was worried about you, Takenaka-san."
Kaori's smile faded. "Oh…" She was quiet for a moment, then "Actually… I think it'd be helpful to say something. Could we walk and talk?"
Mirai Academy's campus was unusually tranquil right now, a sharp contrast to the controlled chaos going on within its buildings' walls as everyone got ready for the culture festival. A nice autumn breeze was blowing and the leaves on the campus trees were beginning to turn beautiful shades of red and orange.
Kaori didn't say anything for a while. She seemed content to just drink in the sights as she and Hiroko walked together. But finally, she spoke.
"Nao-chan and I are getting married after graduation. You knew that, right?"
Hiroko blinked. "I knew you two were engaged. But so soon?"
Kaori nodded. "It's for business purposes. That was why our parents arranged the marriage. I didn't know I was a girl back then. But that was okay - Nao-chan didn't know she only liked girls either." She happily clapped her hands together. "It was a very fortunate arrangement!" Her face fell. "But…"
"You're not ready, are you?" Hiroko asked.
"I thought I was. I want to be." Kaori said. "I've wanted to marry Nao-chan for a long time. I've been looking forward to our wedding." Her eyes welled with tears. "But I don't want this to end either. Everyone else is talking about what they'll do after graduation, and…" She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "I don't like thinking about leaving Mirai st all. I don't even know why."
Hiroko found herself lost for words. She couldn't understand what Kaori was going through. Not entirely. Things like adulthood and marriage still felt so far away for her. But… there was something in Kaori's words that she did understand, if only a little.
"The future can be really scary, can't it? Especially when so much can change in a few moments."
And especially when you didn't know where you were going. Hiroko hadn't for the longest time. Hiroko had allowed herself to just muddle through life, too scared to challenge herself, speak up, or question her own long-held assumptions about who she was. That had all changed, once she'd come to Mirai Academy.
Hiroko knew who she was now. Hiroko knew what she wanted to do. Hiroko had a wonderful girlfriend and amazing friends and so many people who admired her. And it was all because she had taken one leap into the unknown and then several more. But was her future truly any more certain than Kaori's?
"But you can't avoid tomorrow, no matter what you do. And even if it seems scary, it might have a lot of wonderful surprises in store. That's what I've kept telling myself since I got here."
Kaori was dead silent. For a moment, Hiroko wondered if she said the wrong thing. And then, she broke into a radiant smile.
"Tsubasa-san! That's very good wisdom!" Hiroko found herself being pulled into a tight hug. "No wonder you're their fearless leader!"
Hiroko felt something catch inside her as Kaori released her from the hug. "Fearless leader?"
"You know, in the kitchen! Inoue-san's been telling me all about it!" And before Hiroko could breathe a sigh of relief, Kaori added "And… you know. In other ways too. You're protecting tomorrow for us, right?"
Hiroko felt her stomach drop. "Takenaka-san, I-"
Kaori raised a hand. "You don't have to tell me anything, Tsubasa-san. I could be totally wrong anyway. It's just…" She tucked a flyaway strand of hair beneath her ear. "You've always got this look in your eyes. Like you're keeping something really important to yourself. So do your friends."
A gentle breeze ruffled the surrounding trees as a wide-eyed Hiroko met Kaori's gaze. Of course, her upperclassman was right. But she couldn't actually tell Kaori that. She couldn't get her or Naomi or anyone who wasn't already in the loop involved. They'd only end up getting hurt.
"But you know… you guys are still my underclassmen. Nao-chan and I need to look out for you." Kaori continued. "If you guys have a problem, you can always come to us. It's okay if you can't tell us what the problem is. We can always make you a nice pot of tea. Tea requires no explanations."
Hiroko smiled. "I think I'd like that, Takenaka-san. Thank you."
Hiroko's smartphone chose that moment to go off with a text from Jun - the break Hiroko had called was almost up, and it was high time they got back to cooking.
"Looks like I need to get back to the kitchen." Hiroko told Kaori.
"I'll go with you!" Kaori said. "It's the least I can do. Besides," she added as the two headed in the direction of Mirai's main building "I want to hear about all the wonderful cafe food you guys have been making." She sighed wistfully. "You know, we did a zombie cafe one year."
Hiroko stared at Kaori. "A… zombie cafe?"
Kaori nodded cheerfully. "The haunted house vote and the cafe vote tied, so we did an exciting third thing - a cafe where everyone is dead! You should've seen the food we made, Tsubasa-san! Let's see… there were gummy leeches and brain cakes and eyeball jellies and these cute little roach-shaped candies-"
Hiroko smiled nervously as Kaori cheerfully waxed nostalgic about a cafe that hosted zombie waiters, food that belonged in a haunted house, and at least one attempt to channel the dead. She would never understand this part of Kaori. But it was still precious to her. Her happiness was still worth protecting.
And something told her she'd have to fight a lot harder to protect it soon too. This was the calm before the storm. Hiroko was almost certain of that.
Hiroko had gone home feeling very tired but very accomplished. She'd capped off her night with a video call with Chiaki, who was hanging out in her own dorm at Oxford. Her sister had never looked so proud.
"I knew you had it in you, Hiroko." Chiaki told her. "It's a shame I can't head over there myself - I'd love to try your menu." She sighed heavily. "Why must England be so far away?"
"There's always next time, right?" Hiroko said. "Besides, don't you have exams to worry about?"
"Exams and an anniversary." Chiaki said. "I have the best surprise planned for Alice, Hiroko, it-" The sound of someone opening the door could be heard in the background - was that the Alice in question? "I'll tell you later, okay? Get some rest - and tell your girlfriend I said 'hi'."
Within a few moments, Hiroko was cleaned up, in her nightgown, and passed out in bed. Muse and Kichu slept curled up on top of her.
The rest of Pretty Cure was also out cold. Misty had returned to her and Izumi's dorm to find her roommate snoring like a buzzsaw while half-draped off her bed. Yasu and Haruki slept soundly in their respective bedrooms in the Fukuda estate. And Shun was briefly woken up by Keiko, who motioned for her older sister to move aside before wordlessly climbing into her bed and falling asleep.
And as Pretty Cure enjoyed their well-earned rest, a shadow fell over the Seiryuu sealing stone in front of the public library.
Finally, the day of Mirai Academy's culture festival had arrived. The campus was peppered with Mirai students, their friends and family, and students from other schools, and the air was abuzz with energy.
The sound of terrified screaming and delighted laughter carried down the halls as guests braved Class 2-A's horror house. Others were checking out the merchandise stands, which offered souvenirs or even small pieces of handmade artwork, or visiting the fortune telling booth manned by a few members of Class 1-1. And plenty of students could be seen filtering into 3-A's group date cafe.
Speaking of cafe's, Class 2-2's robot maid cafe had become an instant hit. Maybe it was the unique concept. Maybe it was the futuristic atmosphere. Maybe it was the high quality catered food.
Or maybe it was the "robots" - especially Keiko, who was neck and neck with Lin as the most popular maid there. In true Keiko fashion, she had utterly committed to the bit - if she was going to be a robot maid, she was going to be the cutest, most charming, and most importantly, convincing robot maid ever. And it was paying off beautifully, judging by the sheer number of selfies Keiko had with her guests.
"I'm going to try my best today." Haruki, now in costume, had told Jun that morning, as everyone got set up. "But I don't think anyone can keep up with Keiko. She's serious about this."
"Keinyan is very dedicated. And very cute." agreed Jun, who was dressed in a classy black and white waitress' outfit, much like Hiroko and many other students in Class 3-1. "But! You'll always be my favorite robot, Harunyan. There's no contest."
She had given him an affectionate headbutt before scampering off to 3-1. She didn't notice how red Haruki had gone - or that a bit of his metallic makeup had rubbed off on her forehead, until one of her fellow waitresses had finally called it to her attention.
Class 3-1's cafe wasn't an instant hit. They didn't have 2-2's novelty or very dedicated robot maid. But they did have delicious handmade food. And once word of 3-1's food had spread around campus, Hiroko and the others suddenly found themselves slammed with a flurry of activity that never let up.
Quiche, croissants, mixed sandwiches, pizza, and more - it all seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye. People were intrigued to learn it had been made by Mirai Academy students, and even more intrigued once they heard about the "cooking genius" who'd supervised all of them. Suddenly, Hiroko Tsubasa was getting more attention than she'd ever thought imaginable from a gaggle of customers.
"Tsubasa-san! Are you interested in pursuing a professional cooking career? You certainly have promise."
"I heard you make instructional videos - do you have a Youtube channel?"
"What motivated you to do something like this, Tsubasa-san?"
At first, Hiroko found herself stuck flailing for a response yet again. But the answer came to her quickly enough. It could be found in the sight of the content customers enjoying fresh food and hot coffee and the looks of utter pride on her "assistant chefs", many of whom were now serving as wait staff.
"I wanted to inspire people, just like my parents and grandparents inspired me." she said. "Every recipe, every cooking technique I know came from them. And I want to pass that down to others. I want them to feel as warm as I did when I first learned how to cook."
"You sound like a natural-born leader, Tsubasa-san." a high school boy in the crowd said.
"Thank you." That came readily now, far more readily than it would from the old Hiroko.
"Tsubasa-san!" a junior high school girl in the crowd said. "Is there anyone you like?"
Hiroko felt her ears burning as she realized there were more than a few smitten-looking teenage girls in the crowd. At this point, she knew she had admirers, she'd even had to let a few of them down gently, but-
Luckily, she was saved from having to answer that one by Izumi. Her teammate, who wore a waiter's uniform and had her hair tied into a neat ponytail, pushed her way through the crowd with all the grace of a bulldozer.
"Hiroko! Sorry to interrupt, but could I borrow you for a sec? I've got a customer who wants to see you."
Hiroko wasted no time in allowing Izumi to extract her from her crowd of admirers, and towards the customer in question - Marina Ishii, who was relaxing with a croissant and a cup of black coffee. Once Izumi brought Hiroko to her table, she motioned for the latter to sit down.
"Feel free to order something as well." Marina told her. "You've more than earned it."
Hiroko felt a bit awkward about doing that. Still, she ordered a cafe latte from Izumi, who tipped her a feisty wink before hurrying off to order it from the coffee bar.
"What are you doing here, Marina-san?" Hiroko asked.
"I came to congratulate our head chef, of course. And to enjoy this cafe's offerings. Even we teachers deserve a break." Marina smiled wryly. "You're quite the talk of the culture festival, you know."
Hiroko felt a bit of heat surge to her face. "I'm not used to all this attention." she admitted. "But it's a nice feeling." Izumi set a cafe latte in front of Hiroko before hurrying off. She took a sip before adding "I think I've found my goal, Marina-san. I'd like to become a cooking teacher."
"It suits you, Hiroko-chan." Marina said. "Maybe you could be part of Mirai Academy's faculty. Or maybe you're meant for something even larger. A position at Le Cordon Bleu, perhaps?"
And now Hiroko's ears were burning. "I think I should get more practice in, before I make those kinds of plans. And…" She lowered her voice half a step "Well, you know. There are other things to worry about."
Marina shot Hiroko a look of understanding. "I know. But it doesn't hurt to plan in the long term either. You six are going to make it through this, after all. I'm confident in that. I always have been."
Hiroko regarded Marina curiously. "Marina-san… when you asked me to attend Mirai, did you know-?"
"I knew what the situation was." Marina said. "And I knew that you could be chosen, just as we were. But I didn't have that in mind when I asked you, Hiroko-chan. I wanted you to uncover your potential, more than anything else. And from the look of it, you've succeeded beautifully."
Hiroko didn't get a chance to respond. Not when the flurry of overlapping conversation at the cafe was suddenly interrupted by a very loud and very high-pitched
"CHUUUUU!"
Suddenly, everyone was staring at Jun, who had frozen awkwardly in place. She smiled nervously, even as she nudged just a bit too conspicuously at the front pocket of her vest. Kichu's round ears, which were twitching animatedly, could be seen poking over the top of said pocket.
"Sorry! I was just really fired up!" Jun's eyes shot towards Izumi and then Hiroko as she lied unconvincingly. "You know how it is!" She pumped a fist. "Chu! Chuuu! "
Emi set her head to one side. "I'm sorry… I still don't know how it is, Inoue-san"
Suddenly, the surface of Hiroko's cafe latte and Marina's black coffee began to ripple. And then the floor began to vibrate ominously, right as Haruki and Keiko suddenly appeared at the entrance to 3-1. From the look of it, the two of them had run all the way here.
"Jun! Everyone!" Haruki exclaimed. "There's something that - we're gonna need to borrow you for a bit!"
"We're business rivals! This is a business meeting!" Keiko said, as if that made any sense at all. "Don't question that further! Got it?!"
Hiroko, Izumi, and Jun needed no further prompting. In a flash, the three third-years and their two underclassmen had hurried off in the direction of the main building's entrance. Marina stared after them, a knowing expression on her face.
Yasu was determined to try her best on stage, for her partner, the rest of her team, and herself. She had meant every word of what she'd told Hiroko. But as everyone ran through dress rehearsal, one last time before their official debut, she felt the nerves starting to creep up.
Most of the cast was socializing backstage. Yasu wanted to join them. She had been getting along with her classmates much better these days. She wanted to keep that going. But right now, she needed space to breathe. So watching the traditional dance club practice from the edge of the stage it was.
It felt strange to be up here. It felt strange to wear contacts, not to mention this long, black wig. It felt strange to know she'd chosen this. And so much of that was because of Hiroko. Hiroko, who was thriving right now, despite everything that had held her back. Surely Yasu could do the same.
Yasu felt a presence at her side - Shun, who was watching the traditional dance club practice as well. Kaori, of course, was the jewel of the performance. Yasu had never seen her move so gracefully.
"Takenaka-san's in top form, isn't she? I can't think of a better opening act." Shun quirked an eyebrow as she glanced over at Yasu. "We're up after that - will you be ready?"
"Hopefully." Yasu fooled with a strand of her wig. "I think I'm having last minute jitters."
"Ah, yeah, I get that." Shun said."I'm not exactly comfortable onstage myself. But! I know Izumi will be cheering for me! That's how I got this far as a racer." She enthusiastically punched a fist into one open hand. "And that's why I'll clinch this today!"
Yasu laughed softly from behind her sleeve. "This is just another race to you, right, Prince Shun?"
Shun went a bit pink and looked aside. "If it works…"
"No, I understand. This is another piece of art for me." Yasu said. "And I'm here because of Hiroko." She offered a hand to Shun. "We'll both get through this, for their sake."
"Of course." Shun eagerly bumped fists with Yasu. "We're in this all the way to the finish line."
And then Kaori, who had danced effortlessly up until now, suddenly stumbled mid-step before pitching forward. Naomi HIkawa dashed onstage and caught her fiancee before she could hit the ground.
"Kaori-chan! Are you okay?"
Kaori nodded shakily as Naomi held her close. "Yes!" She frowned a bit. "No!" She shook her head. "Oh, I don't know, Nao-chan! I just suddenly had this terrible feeling, like-"
Before Kaori could finish that sentence, the ground began to rumble ominous, and there was a foreboding shift in the air. The sound of a brewing commotion could be heard outside the auditorium doors.
Yasu and Shun exchanged glances - and then Shun scooped Yasu up in her arms and booked it for the exit - no easy feat, considering the robes she was currently wearing.
The pair's classmates frantically flooded in from backstage, drawn by the sounds of brewing chaos outside, as Naomi started after Shun.
"Siegel-san!" she shouted. "Where are you going with Princess Kaguya!"
"Out!" Shun called over her shoulder, as if that helped any. "I'll return her at top speed! I promise!"
And then they were gone, leaving the sound of slamming auditorium doors in their wake.
Hiroko and the others regrouped in Mirai Academy's central courtyard - right as Shun came hurrying towards them, still carrying Yasu in her arms. Hiroko wanted to marvel at how beautiful Yasu, who took a moment to straighten her robes after Shun set her down, looked in her costume. She wanted to have a laugh at how goofy they looked together like this. She wanted to make sure everyone was doing okay.
But all of that fell by the wayside the moment she saw the enormous shape in the sky. A shape that was slowly coming closer and closer - and bringing an awful, ominous wind with it.
Hiroko's eyes widened. "That's-!"
It was a dragon. An immense, serpentine dragon with a crystalline blue body and glowing red eyes. A dragon that let out another earth-shaking roar as it continued its slow descent towards Mirai Academy. A dragon that looked exactly like the one on the Seiryuu sealing stone.
Jun looked badly shaken by the sight. "They couldn't make a Nikuina from the sealing stones… right?"
Keiko looked a bit queasy. "Dunno. But I don't like it either way! Its vibes are making my skin crawl"
Hiroko knew exactly what Keiko meant. Something wasn't right here, between the Nikuina's resemblance to the Seiryuu stone and the subtly different energy in the air. She couldn't see a summoner anywhere either. But now was not the time to stand here and wonder about such things. They had to act!
Hiroko went for her Puricell. Her teammates followed suit, as Keiko struck a transformation pose. And then-
Haruki gasped in alarm. "Guys, we can't!"
The seven of them were surrounded. Multiple curious onlookers had flooded out of the campus buildings and into the central courtyard to get a better look at the dragon. Still more people were leaning out of building windows or standing out on the balconies. Some of the onlookers seemed to think it was a special effect for the culture festival. Others were adamant it was one of Kyoukai's fabled giant monsters.
And not a single one of them had fallen unconscious. They didn't seem to be affected by the Nikuina's influence at all. If Hiroko and her friends transformed now, they'd expose their identities to everyone!
And then salvation came. Not with a bang but with the awful screech of megaphone feedback.
"Attention! Attention! This is your student council president speaking!"
Naomi Hikawa had come barreling out of the auditorium, wielding a megaphone. A megaphone she was making very enthusiastic use of as she marched towards a throng of nearby onlookers.
"This is an emergency! An emergency! Go back inside! Go back inside!" Naomi bellowed into the megaphone. People were doing just that, if only to get away from the awful combination of Naomi's shouting and the megaphone's screechy feedback. "I repeat! This is an emergency! An emergency-!"
As Naomi terrorized the onlookers with her megaphone and forcefully herded them towards the campus buildings with the drive of a very dedicated sheepdog, Hiroko felt someone tapping her on the shoulder - Kaori Takenaka.
"Tsubasa-san! Did you know about the hiding spot near here, underneath that big cluster of trees? They can't even see you from the building windows!" Kaori smiled. "I just thought that was interesting."
Hiroko shot Kaori a knowing smile. "That is interesting." she said. "Come on, everyone - let's check it out!"
Kaori waved farewell as Hiroko and her six very brave friends hurried off. "Be safe, Tsubasa-san. And please hurry."
The excited curiosity of the onlookers began to fade as the Nikuina drew closer to Mirai Academy. Now most everyone could see the malice in its eyes and the wind and lightning dribbling from its mouth. That wasn't a special effect. It wasn't something to marvel at. It was real, and it was dangerous.
Panic rapidly set in. That thing was going to attack the school, wasn't it? Where had it come from? Was this another one of those monsters? Who was going to save them? What about those heroes that were supposed to fight those monsters, the Pretty Cure? Did they exist? Where were they?
There were still stragglers in the central courtyard, including Noami, who had been too caught up in chasing them back inside to worry about herself, and Kaori, who didn't dare leave her fiancee alone. The Nikuina's eyes glinted dangerously as it set its sights on them - and then it suddenly sped up.
Naomi and the others froze like deer in headlights. The Nikuina ferociously dove towards them. And then a massive blue vortex shot towards it. It struck true. The Nikuina was blasted high into the air before crashing heavily onto the ground in an explosion of dust and debris.
And then six figures touched down in front of Naomi and the others. Six colorfully-dressed strangers who carried an aura of strength and radiance about them. The mass panic of the onlookers quickly turned to awestruck wonderment. Many within Kyoukai had heard rumors of the magical warriors who protected the town. But to finally see those legendary figures before you… that was something else entirely.
Cure Seiryuu's heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. She hadn't expected to have an audience. None of them had. But now was not the time to get nervous about it, she reminded herself as she took a deep breath. They had to show Mirai Academy… no, all of Kyoukai exactly who they were!
"Soaring blue star! Cure Seiryuu!"
"Rushing black star! Cure Genbu!"
"Shimmering white star! Cure Byakko!"
"Burning red star! Cure Suzaku!'
"Healing gold star! Cure Ouryuu!"
"Thundering verdant star! Cure Kirin!"
"Our six shining lights of hope-" cried Seiryuu, Genbu, and Byakko.
"-will brilliantly light the path to the future!" cried Suzaku, Ouryuu, and Kirin.
A storm of colorful petals - blue delphiniums, violet hyacinths, white moonflowers, red sunflowers, yellow daisies, and green gladiolus swirled about Pretty Cure as they struck a group pose.
"We are Pretty Cure!"
The excited roar of the crowd in the wake of Pretty Cure's introduction was overwhelming. And so was the furious roar of the Nikuina as it suddenly recovered and shot into the air, its form blazing with foreboding dark blue energy. Pretty Cure instantly hit the ground running before springing into the air after it.
Cure Seiryuu took point against the Nikuina. She went out of her way to draw its focus, gracefully avoiding its attacks and pelting it from afar with blasts of windy blue spirit power. Her teammates seized the opening their leader had given them and subjected the Nikuina to a five-way pummeling. It showed no physical sign of being damaged by their attacks, but they seemed to have an effect on it all the same.
"How dare you attack on a day like this!" Seiryuu said as she furiously pelted the Nikuina with spirit power. "The students here put all their love into this culture festival!"
Cure Byakko furiously jabbed at the Nikuina from one side with her White Fleuret. "Some of them were challenging themselves for the first time!"
Cure Suzaku slashed at the Nikuina from the other side with his Scarlet Sword. "Some of them were enjoying their first festival experience!"
Cure Ouryuu pelted the NIkuina with a barrage of golden life energy, stunning it in place. "And some of them finally figured out their goals!"
Cure Kirin swiftly struck the Nikuina with a lightning infused whip kick, nudging it towards a waiting Genbu. "We won't let you ruin things for them!"
Cure Genbu wound up a mighty, spirit power-infused punch. "So do us a favor and screw off! "
Genbu's attack struck true. But this time, the Nikuina didn't react at all. Its body glowed dark blue as Genbu's attack connected - and then the black Cure was blasted away by gale-force winds that emanated from the Nikuina's body. So was the rest of Pretty Cure. The six of them were sent flying in different directions, narrowly managing to land on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.
"Ugh, what the hell?!" Genbu hissed as she pulled herself to her feet. "Was this thing just toying with us?"
Indeed, the Nikuina seemed completely unaffected by the beatdown Pretty Cure had inflicted onto it. It was making no effort to chase any of its opponents down either, Seiryuu realized. No, it was hungrily eyeing one of the campus buildings… and the multiple terrified civilians crowded onto its balconies as crackling lightning dribbled from its mouth.
The blue Cure's pupils shrank in horror as it all came together for her. Of course the Nikuina had only toyed with them. It wasn't interested in defeating them at all. It had something far nastier planned.
It was here to attack Mirai Academy.
The energy surrounding the Nikuina's body built in intensity as it flew through the air, spitting multiple balls of wind and lightning towards the campus buildings. Genbu and Ouryuu immediately leapt to restrain it with their powers, while Seiryuu and Suzaku attempted to subdue it with their strength and spirit power.
They weren't having an easy time. The Nikuina easily overcame Ouryuu's attempts to bind its jaws with her vines and Genbu's attempts to snare it with the Black Ribbon. Seiryuu and Suzaku were little match for it either. Try as they might, they could only slow its flight, and even that was a struggle. But they were keeping it from getting to any of the buildings and more importantly, to any of the people of Kyoukai.
And their other teammates weren't going to take the Nikuina's long-range assault lying down. Some of the Nikuina's rain of wind and lightning was intercepted and harmlessly absorbed by the large sparking teal barrier Kirin erected after she elegantly touched down on one of the balcony rails.
"Are you alright?" Kirin asked the gaggle of students who had crowded onto the balcony.
Several of the female students went beet red. "Y-yes!" one of them squeaked.
Another salvo bounced off the multiple reflective shields that Byakko threw up, one after the other in rapid succession, after she gracefully touched down on the open windowsill of another building.
"It's okay." she gently told the frightened families within. "We'll definitely protect all of you."
That calmed the young children in the room significantly. "Thank you, Pretty Cure!" one young boy said.
But neither Cure would be fast enough to intercept another barrage, this one aimed at the auditorium. It didn't matter. Before the Nikuina's assault could strike its target, there was a burst of violet sparkles, and Kae A. Dama appeared balanced on the railing of its outdoor balcony. She threw a charm up into the air, and a barrier of violet light surrounded the building, easily tanking this salvo as well.
Kae burst into a triumphant noblewoman's laugh. "Ohohoho! Foolish dragon! Did you think Pretty Cure would fight alone?!"
The Mirai Academy students gathered on the balcony were staring in utter confusion at this new arrival… except Kaori, who looked delighted by her presence, and Naomi, who looked… less so.
"You!" Naomi jabbed an accusing finger at Kae. "I know you! You're the clown who stole all our stuff!"
Kaori puffed her cheeks out disapprovingly. "Be nice, Nao-chan!" She didn't seem to notice Kae's obvious offense. "She's a very heroic clown. That's what matters. Thank you, Clown-san!"
"It's Kae. And I'm the most heroic clown in all of existence, thank you very much!" Kae huffed indignantly.
Seiryuu and the others were still struggling to keep the Nikuina under control. The more they fought against it, the harder it thrashed, the nastier its salvos of wind and lighting grew, and the more forceful its attacks became. Pretty Cure's spirit power had gone from barely denting it to sliding right off.
Byakko, Kirin, and Kae had their hands full protecting everyone. The other four Cures wouldn't be able to hold out forever. The odds didn't look good. But the seven of them couldn't give up! Especially not now, not when so many people were not only counting on them, but actively cheering them on.
"Keep fighting, Pretty Cure!" a group of students called from one of the balconies.
"We believe in you, Pretty Cure! Don't give up!" one of the adults called.
"Hooray, hooray, Pretty Cure!" several little girls cheered together. "Go, go, Pretty Cure!"
One nearby onlooker - Marina - didn't say a thing. She didn't have to. Even from this distance, Seiryuu didn't miss the pride in her eyes as she watched the fight from a nearby balcony.
So many people were cheering for them. So many people were excitedly snapping pictures and taking video of their fight. So many people believed in them more than they were afraid of the Nikuina. Not everyone here had believed Pretty Cure was even real. Not at first. But they still had faith in them!
The crowd's cheering seemed to agitate the Nikuina even further. It suddenly abandoned its attempts to bombard Mirai's campus in favor of blasting its attackers away, this time with an aura of whitish blue electricity. Genbu, Suzaku, Ouryuu, all of them were blasted aside and into the ground, visibility singed and too stunned to quickly recover.
Seiryuu was the only one untouched - and she was unable to get out of the way as the dragon let out a roar and charged full-force towards one of the main building's wings, taking her with it. Her teammates stared in horror as the dragon collided with the building in a massive explosion of dust.
Byakko's irises shrank as she stared in shock at the billowing dust cloud. "Seiryuu!"
The rest of Pretty Cure and Kae looked no less gutted. Had they failed after all? Was this how it turned out? Had whoever sent this Nikuina gotten their way after all?
And then the dust slowly cleared.
They hadn't failed. There was no significant damage to the building. All within were safe and sound. And it was all because of-
Ouryuu's eyes lit up. "Seiryuu! She's okay!"
Cure Seiryuu was braced against the side of the building. Her body glowed softly with spirit power as she put everything she had into holding the furious, thrashing Nikuina back with her strength alone. Her arms screamed. Sweat beaded on her brow. But a warmth deep within her kept her from faltering.
"Everyone here has a future they believe in." Seiryuu said through gritted teeth as she pushed back against the Nikuina. "Everyone here has dreams they want to fulfill."
Her teammates, who were always at her side. Her classmates, who trusted her to guide them in the kitchen. Marina, who believed in her even when she couldn't believe in herself. The thought made that warmth grow more intense still. And it was more than a mere feeling. Her brooch was glowing again.
"I'm going to defend those dreams to the end. Not just their dreams. My dreams too. My future. The future I've finally chosen for myself."
She could see it in her mind's eye. A vision of the Hiroko she wanted to become. Herself as an adult, heading a classroom full of bright-eyed and enthusiastic cooking students. She was going to grow up to be a wonderful teacher, just like Marina. She was going to guide others into the future. And that was why-
"I won't let you take those things away from us!"
Seiryuu's eyes blazed with fury and her form flared brilliantly with blue spirit power. Her aura was more intense than ever before - intense enough to fling the dragon away from her. Seiryuu instantly followed up with a full-powered barrage of wind-infused blows - a barrage that left the Nikuina with a crack in its crystalline body. It was sent crashing hard into the ground - and this time it didn't get back up.
Seiryuu touched down right after it… and was instantly met by her friends, who looked beyond relieved to see her safe and unharmed. Their presence made the flame building in her heart grow stronger still, as her brooch glowed even more brightly and the air around her crackled with energy.
Kichu's ears pricked up at the sight. "Chuu!"
Ouryuu looked no less delighted. "Amazing! Seiryuu's fully powered up!"
The Nikuina was trying to recover. Even now, the light of malice still shined in its eyes and its body crackled with electricity. Seiryuu immediately planted herself in front of the group. Not on her watch!
"Everyone! I'll finish this!"
Seiryuu's form flared up with blue spirit power as a storm of blue delphinium petals danced about her. Devastating gale force winds kicked up around her as she summoned and readied the Azure Wings.
"Pretty Cure! Azure Tornado…"
Seiryuu flung the Azure Wings full-force towards the Nikuina. It blazed with blue spirit power as it spun with devastating speed towards the Nikuina. As it spun, it formed a downright massive and blazing blue tornado that ripped towards the Nikuina, tearing large chunks out of the ground as it went.
"Full Charge!"
Seiryuu turned and bowed gracefully as the Nikuina was blasted into the air before exploding into a massive, heart-shaped burst of radiant blue light and a storm of delphinium petals. The damage to the surrounding area slowly began to heal itself, as blue petals fell down upon the area like gentle rain.
The onlookers burst into excited celebratory cheering. Pretty Cure and Kae exchanged glances before grinning and waving at the crowd. And then Seiryuu felt her knees buckle as her exhaustion finally caught up with her. Byakko caught and steadied her partner… right as Kae gasped in alarm.
Something else was raining from the sky. There were the usual motes of light… but there were also a shower of light blue sparks… and what looked suspiciously like a burnt scrap of spell paper.
Kae's smile faded as she caught the burnt scrap in her hand. The rest of the team knew why. There was no need for words right now. And there was no need to linger. Not when Seiryuu was dangerously close to losing her transformation in front of everyone.
People were flooding back into the courtyard now, eager to congratulate the seven heroes who had saved Mirai Academy's culture festival. But by the time they made it outside, Pretty Cure was already gone.
In the end, Mirai Academy's culture festival was able to pick back up and resume as normal. Or well, close to normal. Yui Fukuda might have gotten everything back on the rails, but there was no way anyone was going to forget what happened. The entire campus was abuzz with talk about Pretty Cure and the photos and video onlookers had taken of them were quickly going viral, traveling far outside of Kyoukai.
News of Pretty Cure's defense of Mirai Academy was even traveling outside of Japan, judging by the text Hiroko had been sent from Chiaki. Attached was a blurry video of herself and her teammates. Her sister had wanted to make sure she was okay first and foremost. And once Hiroko confirmed that she was-
so, which one's your fave? mine's the one in blue. she reminds me of you for some reason.
-she was hit by a question she wished she could reply honestly to. Hiroko swallowed the temptation. There were people outside of Pretty Cure's inner circle who had probably figured them out, people like Naomi and Kaori. Hiroko understood that. But now it was probably even more important to stay secretive.
i think i like her too. she seemed p cool.
And speaking of Kaori, her final performance was as brilliant as she wanted it to be. Hiroko and the others watched enraptured as Kaori and her fellow dancers, resplendent in floral kimono and full makeup, moved through the graceful steps of a traditional odori. Of all the dancers onstage, she was the most lovely of all.
This culture festival was truly the end of an age for Kaori. Just like it felt like the end of an age for Hiroko. She would be moving on to the world of adulthood, Hiroko would set off on the path she had chosen for herself. They wouldn't allow the murky uncertainty of the future to frighten them. Hiroko was sure of it.
Besides… there was something else Hiroko was worried about. Something she couldn't get off her mind, even as she tried to pay attention to the happenings onstage. Something she knew her teammates, most of whom were with her in the audience, were no less unsettled by.
Pretty Cure had retreated to an isolated spot in Mirai Academy. Hiroko was sitting on a bench, sipping the water Yasu had brought her, while her teammates were trying to get their bearings.
Yasu was cuddled up to Hiroko, Haruki and Jun were resting together, Shun was leaning up against a nearby tree, and Izumi was cycling through stretching exercises. Keiko, meanwhile, sat off to the side, messing with some of her spell paper. She had been in no mood to speak to anyone.
Izumi had suddenly paused mid-stretch. "Huh? Is something wrong, Sieg-kun?"
Shun did look deeply bothered by something, Hiroko noted. Something the teal-haired girl was reluctant to bring up, judging by the look on her face. But finally, she sighed and nodded.
"The air feels lighter." Shun said quietly. "It has ever since we defeated that Nikuina. I want to believe it's just my imagination, but…"
"It's not." Keiko had looked up from her spell paper. "I feel it too. Like something ripped a big chunk out of that stupid barrier you guys were keeping up." She frowned a bit. "Like we did."
What if they had? Hiroko couldn't stop thinking about this, even as Kaori's performance came to a close, and all present gave an enthusiastic standing ovation… especially Naomi, who was beyond emotional over her fiancee. What if Kagemera and his followers were using them? What if Shahei was being forced to help him?
The dancers vacated the stage. The lights fell, as the first years' play commenced. Hiroko leaned forward attentively, as the opening narration commenced, and the stage was set. She was going to give every moment of this play her full attention. She was the reason Yasu could be up there on stage. This was one of the things she had fought so valiantly to protect. Would keep protecting, until they were all at peace.
Hiroko felt someone gripping desperately onto her hand for support - Jun. The blue-haired girl looked horribly shaken. Hiroko didn't blame her. Of course she would take this harder than any of them.
"It'll be okay." Hiroko said gently, her voice below a whisper. "I promise, it'll all be okay."
Wouldn't it?
The Shade Kingdom no longer had a succession problem to worry about. There was a new monarch seated on the throne, not a day after King Kagemera's death. Hinyu, the most petty and sadistic man in the Shade Palace, if not the kingdom itself, had become the most powerful man in the land.
Shahei felt nothing about it. Or rather, she was trying her best to feel nothing about it.
That was easier these days. The crown she now wore (a gift from the Tree she had no choice but to accept and no way of removing) had left her emotions blunted and her thoughts foggy. If nothing else, that made it easier to drift off and not exist for a while. She had little else to do and nowhere else to go.
Shahei could not leave her chamber. It was not sealed. Everyone else could come and go as they pleased. But whatever magic infused this crown had also left her unable to cross the threshold unless Hinyu escorted her out. A pretty doll, to be kept in a box and taken out only at the whim of her owner.
"I don't want to do this. But after that little stunt, how can I ever trust you again? You brought me to this."
Shahei had not given him the pleasure of a reaction, even as she felt the crown grow snug on her head. He wanted her to grovel and beg for forgiveness. She wouldn't give that to him. She didn't regret what she had done. And seeing him seethe helplessly with rage like this was one of the only pleasures she had left.
"Fortunately, you're still of use to me. Pray that never stops being the case, Shahei."
It never would. Shahei knew that. She was the only one in the Palace who could tap into the deep magic sealed within the Umbra Temple. She commanded a power that the great and terrible King Hinyu would never, ever be able to command for himself. He needed her. He depended on her. And it ate at him like nothing else did.
Not that such knowledge would help Shahei much. Nobody was coming to save her. Not anymore. And she knew better than to try and save herself. It was true that Hinyu had been holding back. Without her, he could not set his final plan into motion, a plan that would twist Pretty Cure's nature against them. And that aside, the man hating wasting resources in general. But he was still a creature of foul temper and irrational violence, and worse, a creature of vast power. She dared not risk it.
She remained in her chamber. She was escorted to the Umbra Temple. She drew deep magic from the temple. She slowly and painstakingly put together the charms that would create the seal-corrupting Nikuina. She handed them over to Tamakushi. So it would go, on and on, until the very end.
This was the fate she deserved, she told herself as she lay in bed that night, staring hollowly up at the ceiling. She'd tell herself that over and over until she accepted it.
And then the noises started.
Shahei was no stranger to the Tree of Wrath's miserable chorus, especially now that portions of the Tree had infested every inch of the Shade Palace. It was impossible to ignore the bits of pulsing, gnarled black wood that had pushed through her walls. But this was different. It sounded like a young man in pain.
Shahei sat bolt upright in bed, igniting the lantern next to her with a snap of her fingers. "Who's there?"
No answer. No coherent answer, anyway.
Shahei slipped out of bed and padded towards the nearest patch of Tree poking through her walls. Laying her ear against it confirmed that the voice was coming from the Tree. She frowned slightly. And then she did something that surprised even her. She lay a hand glowing with soft light blue energy on the Tree.
The crown she wore grew oddly warm as she felt her magic gradually flowing into the Tree, intermingling with… something else. Another person's spirit power? No, that couldn't be. The Tree obliterated all sacrificed to it. Everyone in the Shade Kingdom knew that. And yet, she knew what she felt.
The pained noises suddenly stopped. And then-
"Wh-what? How am I - who's there?!"
Shahei had to stifle a gasp. That was a young man she heard - in her head, as if he had spoken directly into her mind. She moved to respond verbally before thinking better of it. could be overheard. Instead, she tried to reach back out with her own mind.
"The wicked witch sealed in the chamber. That will do for now." Shahei mentally responded.
"Then you aren't in here with me." The Voice sounded downright elated, a sharp contrast to Shahei's blunted affect. "Gods, it's been forever since I've spoken to someone from - how are you doing that?!"
Shahei inclined her head slightly. "I healed you. Your prison. That's all I know. What do I call you?"
The Voice was silent for a moment. Did he have a name? Had he forgotten it? Had he ever been a person to begin with? Was she simply imagining him out of loneliness? But then finally, the Voice spoke again.
"You can call me Kazu, if that's alright."
And strangely enough, the ghost of a smile sprang to Shahei's lips. This could be a trick or a trap. But maybe it wasn't. He was no Kae, but this was better than the hell of being completely alone with her thoughts.
"It is. Do you mind if we talk, Kazu-san?"