Northern Cross Pretty Cure Episode 4
Opening song: Onegai Precure, Northern † Cross!
999
"Ok, now everything we covered last week will be acceptable as a topic for the project we're about to start." Several students groaned audibly at the teacher's proclamation. "You'll be working in pairs, which I'll read out in a moment," the teacher continued, shuffling papers as he looked for his list.
Teiko added her own groan to the collective discontent of her classmates at that news. Group projects. What a pain!
(Ugh, I'd rather do it by myself. I'll probably end up doing it all myself anyway,) she thought.
The teacher rediscovered the piece of plain paper upon which he had crafted his list of who would be paired off with who and began to read, eventually arriving at her name.
"Teiko Hakucho and Himeya Matsutaka."
All of the sudden, Teiko felt the need to adjust her glasses, which she did nervously, using the action as cover to sneak a sideways glance at a desk in the row closest to the door. The desk was unoccupied; Himeya was not in school today. Seeing this, her initial shock faded, only to be replaced by annoyance. She most definitely would be doing all the work herself.
999
"I hate group projects," Teiko said, picking up a vegetable with her chopsticks. Even though it was the noon hour, the air had become cooler still, and the two girls who sat on the roof wore heavier jackets and scarves, and one had donned her track pants.
"I figured that from the way you brought the topic up," Natsuko said, cheerfully.
"Whenever we have to do a group project, I always end up doing most of the work! I mean, that's not the worst thing ever; I do a better job than most people anyway."
"That explains a lot." The two girls looked at the small figures on the bench between them. "Do you see being Pretty Cure as a group project?" said Zeta, looking back up at her.
Teiko hesitated. "Well no, I mean, that's different."
"Oh I know, you're an independent girl," said Natsuko. "You had a hard time adjusting to working alongside me." She looked to the clear, blue sky. "We both did. I'm used to working in a group that's in perfect harmony with each other. So you can imagine -" She cut herself off.
"Imagine what?" Teiko asked, still holding the same vegetable in her chopsticks. Natsuko put a bite in her mouth.
"Nothing."
"What?" Teiko asked again.
Natsuko chewed and swallowed. "In sorry, Teiko. It was hard for me because I'm not used to others not following my lead. It sounded in my head like I was blaming you."
Teiko knew her companion's apology was sincere and so did not let it get to her. She finally ate the vegetable she held.
"My partner is Himeya Matsutaka."
"Who's that? Oh wait! Is she the one who broke that guy's nose when he called her a - you know." Teiko nodded, chewing. "I don't really know much about her, except the rumors and that she gets picked on. I'm sure that guy had it coming to him. It's not nice that they do that."
"But she picks on people, too. She hangs out by the elementary school and steals money from kids."
"Isn't that just a rumor, though?" Teiko couldn't deny that. "Well, we've got to get back to class soon. Give her a chance."
Teiko wasn't sure about that, but agreed to anyway. They packed up their empty bento boxes and swan friends and reentered the building for afternoon classes.
999
Once school had ended for the day, Teiko made her way home quickly, due to the cold, despite wanting to speak with Zeta. With the sun setting earlier and a breeze kicking up, Teiko considered copying Natsuko in wearing her warm up pants while outside.
"Ugh, these skirts are for the birds," Teiko muttered as she hurried home. A bird poked his head out of her school bag.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Teiko chuckled nervously, looked away and scratched her chin. "Uh, I don't really know. I guess it's saying that you'd leave the thing for the birds to pick over."
"So we just get the leftovers? Huh?"
"No, no!" Teiko waved her hands frantically. "I give you the good rice balls! My mom makes them every morning!" she said, trying to defend herself, but Zeta just laughed.
"I'm only giving you a hard time. I know you do," he said. When Teiko did not reply, he asked what was on her mind.
"I'm still thinking about the partner project we have."
"Himeko?"
"Himeya."
"Rumors aren't necessarily true," Zeta said.
Teiko took a moment to answer. "I know, but aren't they often based in truth?"
Zeta rolled his eyes and propped his head up on a wing. "Judging from some of the things I overhear at school, I'd seriously question the truth of any rumor I hear."
"What do you mean?" Teiko asked.
"There's a lot of talk that goes on behind people's backs. I haven't hear anything about you, but remember when you left your bag in the bathroom the other day? Whoever was in there during your next class had some nasty things to say about someone who she was 'friends' with." Zeta made air quotes with his wings around "friends."
"Who was she talking about?"
"I'm not going to say. That would be gossip, and this swan doesn't gossip. Besides, you didn't hear it yourself. That would make it a rumor."
"What? You wouldn't lie to me, would you? I trust you," Teiko said, a little offended.
"No, I wouldn't. But I'm trying to explain that the rumors about Himeya may not be true."
Teiko's apartment building was just ahead and she took the two flights of stairs in silence. Before entering, she turned to her winged companion. "Ok, I'll try to keep that in mind." Zeta nodded at her and ducked down into the bag.
Teiko twisted the handle and pushed the door open. "I'm home." She kicked her shoes off and stepped inside, heading to her room to deposit her school bag.
"Welcome back," said Akiko, sitting at the kotatsu, working on her laptop.
"Hiiiiii!" Harumi said also at the kotatsu, looking up from her drawing.
"Hiiiiii!" Teiko replied, imitating her little sister. "I'm going to change. It's cold out."
After replacing her school uniform with a sweatshirt and sweatpants, Teiko returned to the living room and slid under the kotetsu opposite of Harumi. She took a hold of the remote control and aimed it at the TV, but Harumi pushed it away.
"No! You can't change it; MouseCatch Kitty Purr is on in a minute!" she said.
"But it's a rerun."
"Girls," their mother said, not looking up from her work. Teiko put the remote back on the table; she did not mind watching that show, and it was not something worth arguing over.
Teiko sat silently while some commercials played on the TV, not really paying attention even when the theme song started. Akiko noticed her silence was heavier than usual and shut the lid of her laptop.
"What's on your mind, Teiko?"
Teiko turned away from the TV. "We have a partner project at school." Akiko knew what that meant, but Teiko continued. "My partner is Himeya Matsutaka. I don't really know her, but there are a lot of rumors that she's pretty bad."
"What's 'pretty bad?'"
"Like she gets in fights. And she bullies people. But she gets bullied, too. I don't think she cares, because she's not in school a lot. She probably won't help out at all."
"Isn't it a little early to make that assumption?" Akiko asked her daughter.
"Yeah, if you don't know the person, you should get to know them," Harumi chimed in. Teiko looked at her. "That's what they say on Kitty Purr. You can't judge people. Maybe she's really nice but she can't- maybe she doesn't know how to say it."
Akiko smiled warmly, pleased at her youngest daughter's lesson. "Maybe you need to pay more attention to Harumi's magical girl shows," she said.
Teiko turned away quickly, wide eyed and sweating. "Haha ha, yeah, maybe I do…"
999
Just south of the school, there was a park, which, at this hour of the day, was usually deserted. Today was different. There was a figure, a girl wearing the uniform of Mizuwa Middle School under a plain, blue sweatshirt, sitting alone in a swing. She was rather unremarkable, save for the auburn curls which framed her face. Her brown eyes were unfocused in thought, just like they had been when she arrived. She tried not to cough as she took a drag on her cigarette.
The memory of this morning would not leave her mind; she had every intention of going to school today, in fact she did, but almost as soon as she walked through the gate, two boys had run past her, slapping her on the back and shouting something about the "mushroom princess." Himeya turned right around and left. She had wandered around town, as she usually did when she skipped, but nowhere she went was far enough away to hide from those memories, or any of them, really.
Himeya dropped the glowing cigarette in a fit of coughing that brought tears to her eyes, but it did not matter, as it had burnt to the filter anyway. The sweatshirt she wore was no longer able to keep the cooling, late afternoon air at bay and she shuddered, causing her curly hair to bounce slightly. Himeya picked up the cigarette butt, folded her arms close to her body and walked away, dropping it in an ashtray she passed.
Her wanderings were partially random, but due to their frequency, she had a very good grip on the layout of the city and suburbs, and usually had a destination in mind.
Tonight, as the sun's last rays became obscured by the forest and mountains west of the city and the streetlights poured their yellowish light into the road, Himeya arrived at the shopping arcade. Every stall and storefront glowed with fluorescence, causing passersby to cast multiple, angular shadows. Himeya's stomach growled as the scent of food reached her nose, and she held her hands to her gut, despite knowing very well that would not stop the noise.
The shopping arcade was fairly busy, and the store manager was inside speaking with a customer, so as she passed, Himeya grabbed a box of Pocky and stuck it in her sweatshirt pocket, covered by her hand, without stopping or even looking around. Turning down an alley, she made her way past a busy ramen shop and out into the next street, then turned back the way she had come from and left the district. On her way, she stopped behind a hedgerow, tore open the box and devoured the chocolate dipped bread sticks. Her stomach felt a little better, but that small offering alone was not enough to satisfy the day's hunger. Himeya dumped the empty packaging in a garbage can.
Himeya did not understand why the one block her apartment was on was so derelict, while being surrounded by otherwise decent suburbs. But this was where she lived and, what could she do about that? Before ending her journey for the day, Himeya ducked under the rusty stairwell to retrieve her school bag, which she had stashed shortly after leaving school.
Her key turned in the lock, and she opened the door as quietly as she could. The volume on the TV was turned up high, which masked much of her sound, but she was still visible. Her father, who was reclining on a dirty futon, in front of the TV, did not look in her direction as she entered, but her mother, who stood at the kitchenette, said "Welcome home," so quietly, that if Himeya had not expected it, those words, too, would have unnoticed. Himeya went straight to her room, directly to the left of the front door.
On days where she had gone to school, Himeya would do her homework now, but she did not have tonight's assignments, so she wrapped herself in a blanket and flipped halfheartedly through an old news magazine, idling the time away. At least she'd have twice as much work to occupy her time tomorrow night, if she made it to school, that is.
Himeya blinked and looked around; she must have dozed off. The clock read 8:39, time for dinner. Quietly, Himeya cracked open her for and peered out to see that her father was snoring on the futon, accompanied by an empty sake bottle.
The TV still masked her steps and Himeya made it to the kitchen without Daiki waking. Not that there was much chance of that anyway. On the table, Chiyo had left two bowls for her daughter; the larger contained plain rice and the smaller, some premade fish and vegetables from the convenience store, both of which were cold. Himeya devoured them that way, but even then, her hunger was not satisfied. She looked through the refrigerator and some cabinets, but food was sparse; she could not cook instant ramen without making noise, and much of what else they had was either raw ingredients or Daiki's snacks, so she returned to her room. Himeya gathered her toiletries and clothes, went into the bathroom and carefully prepared for bed. Returning to her room, she laid on her futon, wrapped in darkness, until she fell asleep.
999
In the morning, Himeya woke to the sound of her alarm clock, which she kept under her pillow, just in case. Early dawn light filtered through a gap in the blinds on her window. Another day. Daiki would already be gone, though, as his delivery route ran very early in the morning, so there was no need for silence. Himeya cautiously cracked the door, though, just in case. With the coast being clear, she left her room and went to the kitchen table, where another cold bowl of rice awaited, and was subsequently also eaten quickly. Next to it in the table was a half-filled bento which would serve as her lunch.
Himeya felt inexplicably good this morning, and cheerfully brushed her teeth, dressed and left for school, bento in hand.
999
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. Teiko looked nervously across their desks, which were pushed together at the teacher's request and shuffled the notes she had worked on so far. The teacher had required the groups to select a topic already, so lacking her partner, Teiko decided on her own. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, hoping they did the thing. Opposite her, Himeya's face remained expressionless.
"Well, I'm Teiko," she began.
"I know," Himeya cut over, her expression turning to disinterest.
"I had to decide our topic yesterday, I hope it's ok with you."
"It's fine." Himeya rested her head on her hand.
Separating a section of the papers in front of her, Teiko handed a handwritten copy of her notes across the desks and, accepting it, Himeya's brows raised ever so slightly, questioning.
"These are the notes from yesterday. For you. Since you weren't here. And all."
When Himeya said "Thanks," Teiko thought she could detect a measure of happiness in her voice. Himeya placed the papers nearly in front of her and looked more expectantly at Teiko, who proceeded to explain the project. Both of them could watch Teiko relax as she talked.
To Teiko's pleasant surprise, class was very productive and the two girls made a good amount of progress.
Himeya, too, was happy with the results, though she still endeavored to hide her feelings, if possible.
When the class was over and students began to shuttle their desks back to their normal locations, Teiko ventured one more question.
"Would you like to work together after school?"
The unexpectedness of the question gave Himeya pause, during which, she turned her face away slightly, for fear that she might be caught blushing.
"Sure, I guess."
Teiko smiled more with her framed eyes than her mouth and said, "We'll go down to the library together? Ok?" Himeya nodded.
999
Work in the library was just as productive as in class, much to Teiko's delight. Having gotten to the end of the recent section of the book she was using, she paused for a moment to observe her partner at work: Himeya was completely focused on the book in front of her, copying facts onto her notebook, head swinging back and forth between the two, causing her curls to bounce and sway. Teiko briefly wondered how she got hair like that, but Himeya began to raise her head, and in response, Teiko hastily looked back down at her book.
"Oh, I'm done with this book. I'm going to go put it back and get another one," Teiko said. Himeya just nodded and went back to work. The library was quiet enough that the sound of Teiko's book closing was surprisingly loud and her footfalls a jarring staccato beat, fading into the background.
The library was quiet enough to hear the whispered conversation of a pair of other girls, behind the next bookshelf.
"Oh my gosh, look at that curly hair. How weird!"
"Look how it poofs out. It really does look like a mushroom!"
"Mushroom princess!"
Himeya's pencil had stopped moving when she first heard the girls behind her, but at this, she stood up abruptly, pushing her chair back noisily and causing her to get light headed. She put her hands on the table to stabilize herself, then once her head cleared, she turned and saw the girls walking away, knowing they were caught.
Himeya, however, moved faster than them and blocked the end of the row, her hands against the bookcases on either side, cutting off their escape. The first girl stopped abruptly, and the other girl ran into her back and clutched at her shoulders. Together, they cowered under Himeya's hard glare, well aware of the rumors that persisted about this girl standing before them. In a harsh whisper, Himeya issued her warning.
"When you talk about someone behind their back, make sure they can't hear you."
The two girls started backing off and Himeya lowered her arms, but did not advance. Finally, they turned and half ran the remaining distance of the aisle and turned the corner towards the exit.
(Assholes,) Himeya thought. Still under the effects of her anger and adrenaline, her sweaty hands shook, her heart beat quickly and she sniffed back tears. Struggling to get air down her closed off throat, Himeya herself turned and fled the library.
Not long after, Teiko returned to find the table empty. She sat down, opened the book to the table of contents and set it down on the table.
(Her stuff is still here. Maybe she went to the bathroom.) Teiko did not give the matter any more thought and continued researching. However, as golden fall afternoon light cast increasingly long shadows through the windows of the library, Teiko began to wonder. She propped her head up in one hand and stared out that very window which let in the sun. (What do I do now?) The clock had read 3:44 when she had passed it getting this book, and Teiko had wanted to work until 4:30 or so, but she was losing motivation now that her partner was missing. Himeya had been gone for some time now. She had a strong suspicion that Himeya would not return. Teiko's concentration had been broken, and after a few futile minutes of trying to absorb any more knowledge from the pages of the book in front of her, Teiko gave in. She made a note of the book's name and what page she had been using, then closed both it and her notebook, and began to pack away her things.
Zeta blinked groggily from inside her bag, awoken by the motion of Teiko picking it up. He made room for her notebook and looked at her, but did not speak.
"She's gone," Teiko said, feeling a number of emotions about the matter.
"Oh, ok." Teiko handed Zeta her pencil case, and he wedged it into the bottom of the bag. Her side of the table was clear, but Himeko's books were still strewn open. "What are you doing?"
"I'm putting away Himeya's things," Teiko said. She had gathered the pencils and erasers, but before closing the book her partner had been using, she made a note of the title and page, similar to what she did in her own notebook. Teiko returned the library books to their shelves, then, returning to the table, opened Himeya's bag and placed her notebook and pencil case inside. "Let's go."
Zeta nodded and closed the flap of the bag behind him, Teiko latched it and with both her own bag and Himeya's in hand, she set off towards the exit. Before reaching the door, she stopped at the librarian's desk and got her attention.
"If Himeya Matsutaka comes looking for her stuff, will you tell her I'm leaving it on her desk?"
The librarian looked at Teiko for a moment, thinking, then pointed to her own head. "Curly, right? She left a long time ago."
She must have known that somewhere in her head, but the confirmation that Himeya had indeed left was kind of surprising to Teiko. "Thank you," she said, and left the library.
When she reached the classroom, she found it dark. Without turning on the light, Teiko slowly walked to Himeya's desk and gently placed the bag on top, hesitating to take her hand off the handle. (Something doesn't feel right.)
At the door, Teiko paused to take one more look into the empty classroom full of identical desks, except for one, upon which a bag rested. Teiko's head, heart and gut all agreed that something was amiss, but did not have the answer as to what that might be, and so she left to return home.
999
Teiko placed her bento on the bench for Zeta and Pai and stuffed her hands into her coat. Today, both Teiko and Natsuko wore warm up pants and heavier jackets, but their efforts were not enough to keep out the deepening cold, especially today, when the sun hid itself behind the clouds. The two swans did not seem to have a problem, and they gobbled down the remainder of Teiko's lunch.
"We're going to have to find a new place for lunch," Teiko said, shivering. Natsuko was about to counter, but a gust of cold air bit the response off before she could say it.
"We should. Maybe now. I think now is a good time," she said instead.
Teiko's nod blended in too well with her shivering, but she stood and started packing things away.
"We'll stay out here and finish eating," Zeta said, scooping up some rice.
"No, you won't. We're going inside," Teiko said.
"But it's so cramped in those bags of yours. There's no space to stretch our wings," Pai said. The two birds looked at each other and nodded.
"Come on guys. It's freezing out here," Natsuko said, hugging herself against the wind that was picking up.
"Only if you find a place where we can finish our lunch."
"Of course," Natsuko said impatiently. "Yes, we need to find a place like that. We'll just go inside the door. No one will be there. Now go."
Teiko was doing a little dance to keep warm. "Why can't the dress code include pants?"
Zeta stood up and shook his feathers. "All right, we'll go," he said, motioned for Pai to do the same. Teiko snatched up the bento and dashed to the door.
"Thank you," said Natsuko. She followed the birds as they flew through the open door Teiko held.
Safely inside, neither Teiko more Natsuko even thought of removing their jackets, due to the need to warm up. Natsuko sat down on the top step of the staircase and set her bag down next to her. "I didn't think it would be that cold today."
"My dad said there's a cold front coming through," Teiko said, joining Natsuko on the stairs and putting her hands back in her pockets.
"I don't want to have to get my winter coat out so soon!" Natsuko said. "It's not even December."
"How was your study session?" said Pai, changing the subject.
Teiko frowned and was quiet for a moment. "Himeya disappeared. I don't know where she went. She seemed interested in it, so I don't know why she'd leave like that."
Natsuko pulled a face. "Well that's rude! What kind of person would just ditch someone like that?"
"You did," said Teiko, looking over with an amused expression.
Natsuko put her hands on her hips and puffed up her cheeks. "That was different! I was worried about Shun!" she said, in mock indignation. Teiko smiled at her warmly. "But it's still a problem. You have a project to do."
"She's not in school today, either. I put her bag on her desk, but it was still there this morning."
"She left without her bag? Maybe there was some kind of emergency."
The conversation lulled while Teiko watched the two swans finish up the rice.
"Is it weird that I'm worried?" she said, not looking up.
Natsuko nodded her head from side to side, thinking. "No, but you hardly know her."
"She didn't seem bad. And I don't think you need to know someone to be worried about them." Teiko looked at her lap, hands still in her pockets.
Natsuko's head bobbed a bit more. "No, you don't."
"You're kind, Teiko," Zeta said. "That's part of why you were able to be a Pretty Cure."
"What do you mean?"
Zeta wiped a grain of rice from his beak. "Someone must have a kind heart, or they won't be able to become a Pretty Cure."
"So, how did you know I had a kind heart before you asked me to be a Pretty Cure?"
"I didn't," Zeta stated, matter-of-factly.
"Then what would have happened if I had tried to transform and couldn't?"
"I would have had to find someone else to do it."
"Had you asked anyone before me?"
"No, I didn't need to."
"We have great instinct," Pai chimed in.
Teiko and Natsuko exchanged an unsure glance and looked back at Zeta.
"Trust me."
999
A solitary figure squatted with her back against the sea wall on the beach just east of town. From this location, she was invisible to the cars on the road above the wall, and felt there would be no risk in openly smoking.
Himeya stared out at the ocean, mesmerized by the repetitive crashing of waves against the cold sand. She had no thoughts; the rhythm of the waves occupied her entire consciousness, punctuated now and then by a passing car and a drag from her cigarette. Her brown eyes focused on nothing in particular, but gazed in the general direction of the horizon, made vague by the identical colors of sea and sky; colors which coincidentally happened to match her feelings as well. Only once a quiet voice to her right woke her from her daze, did she realize how cold she was.
"Excuse me, are you ok?" said the quiet voice.
Slowly, stiffened from the cold, Himeya turned her head right. Aside from some rocks, the view was largely the same; devoid of anything living. But she did notice a strange, yellow shape next to her, and so angled her vision downwards to observe it.
Standing next to Himeya, on a medium-sized rock which stuck out from the sand, was a pale yellow bird.
Himeya blinked as she took in this curiosity. The bird looked back at her and cocked its head to one side. She tossed the cigarette aside and sat down in the cold sand, covering her face with her hands.
"No, I'm not ok!" Himeya sobbed. She felt a gentle touch on her arm as her shoulders shook, and she let let everything she was holding in, out. "My life sucks! I hate it! I hate people! They always call me 'mushroom princess,' or call me a whore because of my name.¹ I just want to go to school like a normal kid. I want to do the things that everyone else gets to do. It's not my fault I'm poor. It's my stupid dad and his stupid gambling problem. I hate him! He's such a jerk!" Himeya placed her forehead against her knees and folded her arms against herself. There was another light touch as the bird embraced her with its wings. She just cried harder. When was the last time she had been hugged?
When her crying had subsided some, the bird spoke again. "I know things seem dark." Himeya wiped her eyes. "But where there is darkness, there is also light. You have the power to change your destiny."
Himeya looked at the bird with red eyes, but did not speak. The bird gave her a smile. Himeya sniffed. "Thank you for staying with me."
"You're welcome."
She studied the strange bird that stood before her. "What are you?"
"My name is Tau. I am a swan fairy from the Cygnus Kingdom."
"I'm Himeya Matsutaka, nice to meet you," she said, and after a moment, "You're a talking bird."
"Swan fairy," Tau corrected.
Himeya sniffed. "How is that possible?"
"How is a talking human possible?"
Himeya had no answer for this, except a timid, "Are you real?"
Tau nodded gently. Himeya ran her fingers through her curly hair.
"I know this is not an ordinary meeting for you; birds do not talk on Earth, but do not question your senses. You are completely in control of yourself," Himeya looked sideways at Tau. "But you are not normal." At this, Himeya turned to fully face Tau with a questioning look. "Don't worry, it's not a bad thing," Tau said warmly, and Himeya was inclined to believe her.
They sat a while on the beach in silence, cold ocean wind urging waves onto the sand just meters in front of them.
"Are you going home now?"
Tau turned her head to the side before replying, "No." Himeya may have imagined it, but she thought Tau sounded somewhat sad.
Himeya thought for a moment about her own home and what might happen if she brought home a pet bird, but decided she did not care. "Would you like to come home with me?"
"I was hoping you'd say that," Tau said, smiling.
Himeya wiped her eyes one more time before standing and brushing sand off of her skirt, picking up the cigarette butt and extending a hand to Tau. With the sun retreating down the horizon, the afternoon had gotten chillier and she was hungry anyway, so together, they began the return trip to Himeya's apartment. Himeya deposited the butt in a garbage can they passed after crossing the oceanside road on top of the seawall and reentered town. So as to not draw attention, Tau sat in Himeya's arms, pretending to be a stuffed animal.
As always, Himeya prepared to slip unobtrusively into her room and hide there, but the TV was quiet; Daiki was nowhere to be seen.
(If he's not here, he must be at the bar or some stupid meeting.) Quickly, she raided the kitchen and took an armful of food back into her room with her. She had not encountered her mother, but, (Who cares. Dad won't notice the missing food tomorrow and if he does, he'll probably assume he ate it himself. Stupid drunk.)
Lit only by streetlights from outside her window, Himeya and Tau sat in her bare room and dined together. "Tell me more about yourself," Himeya said, softly.
Tau set down the bag of sesame sticks she had been eating. "The Cygnus Kingdom has the responsibility of protecting balance in the universe. Its citizens train and study to stand up to threats to balance, whatever their form might be. It is a great honor to be chosen for such a mission, and that is why I'm here. There is a threat to Earth and I came because I want to help people."
"You've already helped me," Himeya said, smiling.
"But that is just the beginning," Tau said. "There will be many more opportunities to help people before this is over."
"Like how? What's the threat?" Himeya said, a piece of convenience store sushi halfway to her mouth.
"The Cygnus learned that our enemies, the Chaos Dragons, have made Earth a target for their collection of Chaos Energy, because of Earth's huge potential for it. Two others were sent to Earth before me, and I do not think I will be the last." Himeya chewed slowly, thoroughly engaged in Tau's story.
"So what do you have to do?" she finally asked.
"By myself, I can't do much, since the Chaos Dragons are powerful warriors and I am just a swan fairy." She looked up from the floor at Himeya.
"What?"
"I was hoping you would help me."
Tau's request surprised Himeya and she took a moment to answer. "Me? But, how?"
"Each world protects itself with heroic power which can be awakened or summoned when there is danger. On Earth, this is the power of the Legendary Warriors Pretty Cure." Himeya and Tau started at each other. "I would like you to become a Pretty Cure."
Himeya was speechless. Help was not something that was asked of her, and even if she offered, others always declined. Even in the classroom, students avoided working with her and teachers never asked anything of her. That she, Himeya Matsutaka, was being asked to help, and with such an important task, was more amazing to her than the fact that the request came from a talking bird.
Himeya felt something warm in her chest, and whatever it was, the feeling was causing her throat to close off and her eyes to sting.
(Tau, thank you.)
"I'll help you."
That night, Himeya went to sleep feeling cautiously happy for the first time in a long time.
999
Eyecatcher A: Zeta swims with a family of ducklings, who sneer and point at him. However, instead of acting the part of the ugly duckling, he checks his reflection in the water and makes a "looking good" face at it. The ducklings are shocked.
999
Note:
¹: Himeya's first name is spelled with the kanji for "princess" and "night" and her last name, Matsutaka, is close to matsutake, a mushroom.