Eyecatcher D: Himeya is squatting with her back to Teiko and Natsuko as they walk past. They try to look over her shoulder, but she tries to hide whatever she's doing. Teiko tries to move around to her front and Himeya moves to block her, but overbalances and topples over, revealing that she was reading a frilly shoujo manga.
999
The Chaos Energy collector was set up in the center of the pitch and absorbing massive quantities of the red mist which flowed freely from the spectators in the stands. Arbo stood with his arms crossed, watching the proceedings with satisfaction.
"This is the biggest haul yet!" he said, chuckling. He had been collecting Chaos Energy now for several minutes uninterrupted, excited about the sheer volume generated by so many humans. Himeya sat nearby, with Tau, who had been returned. Arbo turned to her and cracked his knuckles.
"Well, if the Pretty Cure aren't going to show up, there's no point in having a hostage. So, time to get rid of you!" Arbo wound up and threw a punch with his massive fist, aimed directly at Himeya's head. She closed her eyes, but the only blow she received was a gust of wind from the force of his fist. When she opened them up again, Cures Deneb and Albireo stood on either side of her, their hands outstretched to stop Arbo's punch. Two other swans landed nearby.
"Oh, it's you," Arbo said, nonchalantly, drawing back. "Looks like I get Chaos Energy and to destroy the Pretty Cure!"
"That's what you think, Arbo!" shouted Cure Albireo. "And did you know that Salu, the third strongest Chaos Dragon is here, too?"
Arbo looked annoyed at the name. "He's here? That slacker. It doesn't matter, I'll eliminate you right here! Konton!"
Fire flew through the sky from behind the Cures, too quickly for them to dodge and even so, Deneb stepped towards it, to shield Himeya with her body. Himeya thought her heart was going to stop as tongues of dragon fire passed by her face, deflected by Cure Deneb. Arbo laughed and uncrossed his arms. Smoke rose off their bodies, but neither Cure Deneb or Cure Albireo were burnt.
"Are you ok, Deneb?" Albireo said, giving her a hand up. "They've got us trapped."
As she stood, Deneb looked around and sure enough, their group was in between Arbo and the Konton. (It's a pincer attack…)
"Well, let's do this. I'll take Arbo, you take the Konton," said Albireo, assuming a fighting pose.
"Wait." Deneb stopped her before she had a chance to attack. "We have to be careful; there are civilians all around us. We can't do any strong attacks."
"Why not?" said Albireo, slightly annoyed.
"Because we don't know what will happen if someone gets hurt." Albireo looked around. Though the game had not started when Arbo set up shop, the stadium was filled with spectators. "No one has been hurt in our previous fights, so we don't know what will happen to them. After the battle, walls and buildings and stuff go back to normal, but do people? Or are they really hurt?" The two Cures looked at each other. "So if you have a chance to do your Twin Parallel Laser, it has to be from above." Albireo looked worried. "Let me think."
(This is bad. Pincer attack, civilians everywhere, defense mission… No, wait! It's not a defense mission, it's an escort mission!) At that moment, all the hours of playing video games paid off, and Deneb's brain switched into tactical mode.
Deneb offered her hands to Himeya, and pulled her to her feet. "Himeya, stay behind me and do exactly as I say," she commanded. Himeya nodded obediently. Deneb then turned and beckoned to Albireo. "Come here, let me explain the plan…"
Arbo was observing all this from a distance. "What are they doing?" He said to himself, then shouted at the Cures. "I know I have all that time in the world to collect Chaos Energy from this stadium full of brain-dead drones, but aren't you going to try to stop me? You know, preserve balance and everything. Ah, here we go."
Deneb and Albireo moved apart and gave each other one more nod, then ran, Albireo to his right and Deneb to his left.
Himeya tried to keep up with Deneb, but no civilian stood a chance of keeping pace with a Cure, something Deneb had not considered, so she stopped and just picked Himeya right up.
"Hold on!" she said, as she carried the other girl princess-style. Deneb watched with calculating eyes as Arbo charged her. Himeya saw him coming and screamed, but Deneb did not bat an eye, for, in accordance with her plan, Cure Albireo came down and intercepted Arbo with a blindside punch, knocking him off his feet. Deneb kept running, knowing the Konton was still at her back, until she was well past Arbo. Deneb set Himeya down on her feet, while Arbo tangled with Albireo, and smiled while the swans joined her.
Himeya was now out of immediate danger; the units, in order, were: The Konton, Cure Albireo, Arbo, Cure Deneb, Himeya, and the swans.
(It's like some kind of dual, reverse pincer attack now.)
"Himeya, try to stay as far away from them as possible. If they get past us, just scream, even if we see them, ok?" Himeya nodded again.
Deneb rushed back to the fight. By now, the Konton was almost upon Albireo, who still fought Arbo. As she approached, Deneb shouted, more to get Arbo's attention than anything else. Both combatants turned; Arbo to see Deneb and Albireo to block the Konton's attack. With both opponents more facing her, Deneb saw an opportunity and took it.
"Precure Deneb Illumination!"
Arbo took the brunt of the brilliant flash of light, but the Konton was also stunned.
"Now!" Deneb shouted. Albireo looked around Arbo to see where Deneb was, then they attacked. Cute Deneb and Cure Albireo each delivered a crushing punch to Arbo from opposite sides. The opposing forces from their punches made the sensation about on par with punching a solid wall, but the desired effect was there: Massive damage to Arbo without him being flung into the occupied stands.
When the blows landed, spittle flew from Arbo's mouth and his eyes were forced wide, looking as if the might just pop right out of his head, and he crumpled to the ground.
The Konton, who had not been hit as hard by Deneb's attack, was already recovering, but as it shook the last of the stars out of its eyes, Albireo and Deneb were already on top of it. Unable to block attacks from two sides, it was quickly knocked down.
"Retreat!" Deneb said, and the two girls rejoined the third, now all on the same side of the battlefield.
Arbo roared fiercely, and with intensely blazing red eyes, charged both Cures. Himeya screamed in terror at the sight, but Deneb and Albireo stood their ground. Albireo stepped up to meet him, but with one swing, Arbo knocked her completely away, then dodged Deneb's punch and smashed her away, too. Before Albireo could rise, Arbo sprinted over and stomped hard onto her stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
Deneb saw and was shocked, but had no time to react, because the Konton was now after her, pressing hard. As the Konton pushed her back, Deneb began to feel sick: they were up against a wall and dangerously close to Himeya and the stunned spectators.
Deneb dodged a punch from the Konton and slipped under its guard to land a jump kick to its torso, powerful enough to knock it backwards down the pitch.
Arbo turned towards her, but Deneb rushed to stand between him and Himeya, shouting, "Himeya, transform!" Tau even held a brooch out for her, but Himeya was paralyzed with fear.
Albireo, full of her own rage, attacked Arbo from behind, but he heard her coming and blocked. However, as he did so, Deneb, now behind him, came in and kicked him directly in the back, forcing him to the ground.
"Deneb! Boost!" Albireo was already running towards her. Deneb crouched and cupped her hands, and when Albireo stepped into them, gave her a leg up, straight into the air.
"Precure Albireo Twin Parallel Laser!"
Cure Albireo took aim at Arbo and fired directly downward, but at the last second, the Konton dove over its master and took the hit, excluding into smoke.
Arbo had rolled just out of the way of her attack and, seeing that he was outnumbered, dug his claws into the turf and launched himself at the Chaos Energy collector. He grabbed it and paused, turning to gloat before fleeing. "Don't think this is your victory!" He held up the collector. "This is what's important!" he said, then dashed away and disappeared into the shadows.
Cure Albireo noticed that the people in the stands were beginning to stir. "We should go. I don't really want to be found out," she said.
"Himeya, let's go," Deneb said, but she had fallen to her knees and when she tried to rise, she found herself unable.
"She's weak," Tau said, concerned.
Deneb and Albireo exchanged a glance before Deneb picked Himeya up as before, and they fled the scene, along with the swans. Some of the spectators had begun to wake up, but they managed to escape unnoticed.
Outside the stadium, the Cures slipped away to a side alley, which just happened to be the one where Himeya encountered Arbo, and knowing that they were out of sight, they reverted. Teiko set Himeya down on her feet, first.
"That was close," Teiko said, but Natsuko spun around to face Himeya angrily.
"Why didn't you transform?" she snapped.
"Natsuko!" Teiko said, surprised.
"We could have used your help our there-"
"Natsuko!"
"-instead of having to babysit you!"
"Natsuko, stop," Teiko said, calmly, looking her directly in the eyes. Natsuko glared back, and for a moment, looked like she would retort, but backed down instead. Teiko turned to Himeya, who was now propping herself up against the building with her hand, not looking well at all. Her eyes were dark and sunken, her skin looked clammy and without the right color, and she swayed just a little; a knot formed in Teiko's stomach. Himeya leaned a little too far forward and she put her other hand out to catch herself, but there was nothing to brace herself against, so she began to fall. Natsuko was right next to her, however, and grabbed her arm, but she already had momentum and continued downward until Teiko stepped in and grabbed her body. Himeya's head bounced off Teiko's shoulder and she struggled with the dead weight.
"Let's set her down here," Natsuko said, trying to hold Himeya up from behind. Together they managed to sit Himeya down, and Teiko took off her jacket to wrap around her before they laid her down on the cold pavement.
"Should we call an ambulance?" Teiko asked anxiously.
"I think she'll be ok." Natsuko smoothed Himeya's curly, auburn hair, her head resting on Natsuko's own school bag. "I've seen this happen before in dance," she said with equal measures guilt at having yelled at Himeya moments before she fainted, and worry over the memory of dance class.
"Excuse me," the yellow swan said softly, waddling forward and unfolding her wings. Teiko and Natsuko directed their attention to her. She looked at Himeya, then said, "Oh, well, never mind," and folded her wings back up. Himeya's eyelids fluttered and she moved her head to the side. "Do you have any food?" the yellow swan asked.
"Well, I have a bottle of juice, but I've already drunk half of it," Teiko offered, uncertainly.
"I'm sure Himeya is hungry."
"I'll go get something, then," Teiko said, rising, but Natsuko and Tau stopped her.
"The juice will be ok for now," Natsuko said, holding out her hand.
Somewhat uncomfortably and still anxious, Teiko removed the bottle of orange juice from her bag and handed it over. Natsuko unscrewed the top and set it on the ground, then propped Himeya's head up as Teiko watched on.
"Himeya," Natsuko said, placing the bottle on Himeya's lips, "drink." Himeya weakly opened her mouth and accepted some juice, swallowing it before Natsuko gave her more. "Help me sit her up." Teiko walked around to Natsuko's other side and knelt down. They held Himeya up, making sure she did not tip over. "Himeya," Natsuko said again. "Can you drink this?" She placed the bottle up against Himeya's hand, and Himeya moved her hand to loosely wrap her fingers around it. The group heard sirens in the distance. Himeya opened her eyes with what appeared to be much effort and held her head up a little, causing the knot in Teiko's stomach to ease up. Himeya took a deep breath and started to lift the bottle, and it almost slipped from her grasp, but Teiko caught it and wrapped her own hands around Himeya's to direct it to her mouth.
After drinking most of the remaining juice and waiting some excruciating minutes on the cold ground, Himeya regained some life.
"Do you think you can stand?" Natsuko asked. Himeya nodded. "Let's try it." Natsuko and Teiko each took an arm and lifted, allowing Himeya to get her feet under her, but did not let go. She stood unsteadily, but stood nonetheless. "Let's get her inside and something to eat."
Still supporting Himeya, Natsuko walked her out the other end of the alley, followed by Teiko, carrying their swan-holding school bags. Fortunately, there was a fast food place a few storefronts down, and they managed to get over, in, and sit down at a booth without incident. Teiko went up to the counter to order for all of them, and brought back a tray with hamburgers and fries a few minutes later.
They ate in silence, Teiko facing the other two, and sneaking food down to the swans on the sly. Over the course of the meal, Himeya's color came back and she perked up. Sipping on her soda, Teiko nervously ventured a question.
"Um, so Himeya, what were you doing there?" she said, playing with the straw
Himeya did not look up immediately. "I just happened to be there." Natsuko made a small noise.
Teiko looked at the table. "When did you meet the yellow swan? What's her name?"
"Tau. I met her a few days ago."
"So I assume you've talked?" Himeya looked away and Teiko could feel her face getting warm. "You know what's going on?" No response. Next to the taciturn Himeya, Natsuko shifted in her seat with an angry look on her face, but Teiko met her eyes, as if to say, "No."
"What do you want?" Both turned towards Himeya.
"No, why don't you just go. You obviously don't want to be here," Natsuko said, getting up from the table.
"Natsuko!" Teiko said, looking around at the other patrons, some of whom were watching. Himeya and Natsuko stared each other down, then, without a word, Himeya stood, reached over the table, grabbed her bag and left. Teiko could only watch her walk out of the restaurant and down the street. Her shoulders slumped, dejectedly.
"After everything today? That's it?" Natsuko had sat back down and was now leaning over the table at Teiko. "I can't believe her! I know I said to give her a chance, but we did, and this! Hmph!" She leaned hard against the back of the booth bench and crossed her arms.
Teiko felt disappointed and nervous, but contradicted Natsuko anyway. "I don't think she's bad," she said, softly. "Maybe there's something we don't know about her. I mean, we don't know a lot, but there's something bothering her." Natsuko just looked at her and they were silent for a minute. "Remember when you first transformed?" She did not reply, but Teiko could see that she was thinking. "Wasn't it frightening? It was so scary for me. I think she's experiencing that now, in addition to whatever else there is." Natsuko still did not say anything, but remained in her own thoughts. After another minute, Teiko opened the two bags which remained by her side and asked a question of their occupants. "Zeta, do you know Tau? Pai?"
The two birds poked their heads just above the lips of the bags and looked at each other. "She's another classmate of ours, but I never spent much time with her," Zeta said.
"She's reliable. I don't know her too well either, but she did have some responsibilities at school," Pai offered.
"Can we trust her to complete her mission?" Teiko asked. The two swans looked at each other again and nodded.
"I don't want to work with Himeya. I don't trust her," said Natsuko.
Teiko lowered her eyes. "I want to give her another chance. I know how hard it is to rely on someone," she said, softly.
999
Monday arrived, bringing the girls back together at school. In class, Teiko and Himeya worked together on their project; Teiko feeling a heavy, awkward tension in the air and in Himeya's silence. As they wrapped up for that class period, Teiko swallowed and wiped her hands on her skirt.
"Um," she choked a bit and felt her face grow hot, but continued after coughing in her hand. "Sorry. Um, do you w- want to eat lunch together?" Teiko had planned this before and told Natsuko, who decided it would be a perfect day to hang out with Shun. Himeya looked down and away from Teiko.
"I guess. It's not like I have anything else to do."
With that task completed, Teiko felt nervousness and stress leave her body, and she sighed. Other students were moving their desks together to eat around them, but this was not the setting Teiko wanted. She fished her bento and another small container from her bag, then closed it.
"Teiko!" came a harsh whisper from the bag, causing her to jump. She opened the flap a little and looked in.
"What? Shhhh!"
"You're just going to leave me here?" Zeta hissed, incredulous.
"Shhh! You'll be fine! There's a little plastic box with rice in it in there for you."
"You planned this?"
"Shush!"
"I can't- You owe me!" Zeta said, as Teiko closed the flap again. She stood up and rubbed the back of her head, then adjusted her glasses, laughing to cover her nervousness.
"Ok, let's go!"
"Where?"
"Um, we'll find someplace. Somewhere quieter than here." Himeya looked at her, then began walking to the door. Teiko did, too, but stopped and grabbed the smaller container off her desk where she had set it down, and stuffed it into Himeya's bag without her noticing.
As they walked down the hall, Teiko noticed that Himeya had not taken anything with her. "Do you need to go to the cafeteria?" she asked.
"No," was the reply.
Teiko fell silent again. Some steps later, she had an idea, and directed Himeya to the stairs. The top of the stairwell was cold, since the door to roof had drafty gaps between itself and the door frame, but this would be the least likely place for them to be disturbed. They sat on the top step together and Teiko opened her bento.
"You don't have a bento?" Teiko asked, but Himeya just turned her head away. After what Tau had said in the alley yesterday, Teiko had suspected this would be the case, so she had asked her mother to pack more food, which she cheerfully did. "You can have some of mine."
Himeya leaned forward, putting her elbow on her knee and resting her chin on her hand, and said, "Why do you care?" without looking at her companion. "Is it just because of the swan?"
"Well, that does have something to do with it," Teiko admitted.
"What if I don't want to join your club?" Himeya almost spit out the last word, surprising Teiko with her anger.
(I thought we would be past this,) she thought, nervous again.
"I don't know, I suppose you could leave. Natsuko and I stayed, so I don't know what will happen if you don't."
They sat, unmoving and in silence for a few moments before Teiko opened her chopstick case again to pull out a second set. She held them out for Himeya.
"Are you hungry?" Himeya stood abruptly and began walking back down the stairs before Teiko said, "Wait. Please." Himeya stopped and stood a few steps down. "Will you at least stay and eat?" Teiko swallowed as time stretched into what seemed like a short eternity, before Himeya turned around, and Teiko realized she had been holding her breath. Himeya kept her face away from Teiko as she walked up and sat next to her again. Himeya accepted the chopsticks, and Teiko moved the bento to a more central location. She thought she heard a sniff before Himeya reached for a piece of vegetable.
They ate in silence, Teiko holding back so Himeya could eat what she wanted, then once the bento was completely empty, Himeya waited for Teiko to pack everything up before they returned to class, walking side by side.
999
"You know what? Every time I've been here, I've never seen anyone else." Natsuko said, looking around the park with the winding trail. Teiko sat between her and Himeya, each of their swan companions seated on their laps.
"Doesn't it seem less cold here?" Teiko said, awkwardly trying to start up a conversation. "Zeta, help me..." she said, with a T_T face.
Zeta rolled his eyes, but turned to Tau and spoke. "Thank you for convincing Himeya to join us."
Tau looked perplexed. "I didn't; she decided on her own." Himeya frantically tried to silence Tau, but the secret was out, and it made Teiko smile.
"Why did you leave Teiko in the library that one day?" Natsuko asked, suddenly and pointedly. Teiko huffed in frustration.
"What's it to you?" Himeya responded, casually.
"You two!"
"Himeya, there's no harm in an explanation," Tau said. Himeya looked away again and was quiet.
After a minute, she said, "Fine." Natsuko was a little surprised that she had agreed to answer, and paid attention. "When you went to get another book," she paused, then continued at a lower volume, "There were some girls. I heard them talking about me." Himeya never met either of their gazes while she spoke. "I got up and confronted them. They backed off, but I was so mad. I couldn't keep working. And so I left."
"What? Oh no," said Pai, softly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Teiko said, having an internal debate as to whether or not to offer the reassuring comfort of touch. In the end, she could not bring herself to do so.
Natsuko threw up one hand and mouthed, "Why are you apologizing? She should be apologizing!" Teiko brushed it aside, so Natsuko continued with another question.
"What happened at the soccer stadium? Why didn't you transform? You couldn't have been there to fight Arbo if you wouldn't help us later."
"Natsuko, you don't have to be mean!" Teiko said.
"Yeah, Natsuko. Chill out."
"Pai! You-"
"Ok!" Zeta said, loudly, causing everyone to look at him. "Let her answer."
All eyes transferred from Zeta to Himeya, expectant. After a moment, she took a deep breath and began.
"Arbo- I was on the beach and Arbo showed up. He said he was going to attack the stadium, so," pause, "I went to warn people." Teiko could tell that Himeya's face was turning red. "They didn't listen, of course. Who's going to listen to a kid? Arbo showed up in that alley, then he kidnapped Tau. So I had to go along with him."
"You went with Arbo?" Natsuko shouted.
Himeya stood immediately, but scooped Tau up so she was not flung to the ground. "He was going to kill Tau! I didn't have a choice!" she shouted back, anger plain on her face. Natsuko was taken back by her ferocity, but Teiko spoke up.
"You really do care."
Himeya flushed and turned on her. "What are you talking about? I, I, well, arg!" Teiko's face also turned red, but she knew she was right. Himeya sat down again with her back to the other two with a harumph.
Teiko waited a minute before continuing with a daring question. "Himeya? Will you tell us what else is bothering you?"
"No!" came the immediate reaction.
Though, she was hidden by Himeya's body, Teiko and Natsuko could hear Tau say, "Himeya, they're willing to listen to you. Natsuko and Teiko aren't like other people you've met. They care, too. Perhaps it would not hurt to talk to them."
There was silence after that, and the others waited for Himeya. Teiko and Zeta exchanged a glance, while Natsuko tried to look indifferent. But their patience was rewarded, and eventually Himeya spoke.
"Everything's bothering me," she said, so softly, they almost missed it. Teiko shifted to face more towards Himeya, and opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. They heard a rustling of feathers out of site. "My life sucks. My family sucks. People suck." There was a pause that extended so long, Teiko thought she would not continue, but she did. "It would be easier to count the things that don't bother me. Like..." Himeya did not finish that thought, but instead took a deep breath and bowed her head into her hands. "I've always been bullied," Himeya admitted, softly. Teiko leaned closer to make sure could hear. "Because of my hair, or my name. Or because I'm poor."
(Is that why she wasn't eating?) Teiko thought back to lunch, and yesterday's fainting spell.
Natsuko felt like she was being inconsiderate, but asked anyway. "Have you ever bullied anyone?"
"No." Her response was immediate; no thought or time for planning a lie. Natsuko did not follow up, and the silence returned. Some moments later, Himeya made a frustrated noise, slammed her fists against her lap and sat up straighter. "It's all my dad's fault!" There was anger in her voice. "That stupid ... jerk. He gave me this name; he's the reason we're poor; my mom doesn't have hair like this, so he must have given me that, too. He drinks and gambles, and loses, of course. To pay his debt, he steals packages from his delivery job and sells them on the black market. He's a small time yakuza," Himeya explained, shocking both Teiko and Natsuko; the swans did not know the word. "They let him sell the stolen stuff and take a portion for themselves, then the rest for his debt. I hope he gets caught." Another long pause. "You won't tell anyone this, right?"
Teiko looked back to Natsuko, then said, "No, I won't tell."
"My beak is sealed!" said Pai.
"I promise not to tell," said Zeta.
"I won't, either," Natsuko reluctantly agreed.
Himeya's shoulders relaxed slightly and they sat quietly in the cool air.
"Um, so, I guess we never, well, maybe we never asked it. Will you be a Pretty Cure?" Teiko asked.
"Himeya," they could hear Tau say. She whispered more, but even Teiko, sitting next to Himeya, was unable to make it out. Teiko caught herself holding her breath again in anticipation of the answer. Finally, Himeya spoke.
"I guess I could hang out with you and see how things go."
Pai almost whooped with joy, but a stern look from Zeta suppressed it. Zeta was happy as well, but kept his enthusiasm in check. A huge smile formed on Teiko's face and she almost clapped, but she, too, saw Zeta's glare and closed her hands instead and leaned around to see Himeya's face. Tau was on her lap, also smiling warmly and patting Himeya's hand. Seeing Teiko's face appear in her peripheral vision, Himeya turned her head. Teiko was surprised to see how pale she looked, but realized opening up like this to two people who were still very much strangers must have been an ordeal for her; it would have been for Teiko. Himeya turned on the bench so she was facing forwards again and looked at her companions; her vision pausing over Natsuko's slightly disapproving face.
"Oh! Good!" Teiko said, excitedly, grasping her hand. "Welcome, Himeya! We'll have a good time!"
A tiny corner of Himeya's mouth made a brief, minuscule movement upwards.
999
That night, while lying in bed with Gregory, Kuma-san and Zeta, Teiko reflected back on the last few days.
(So much has happened. I'm so glad Himeya opened up. It's still too bad about her situation, but… I'll ask mom to give me more food in my lunch, so I can share with her.) Teiko looked at her hand. (I can't believe I grabbed her hand like that. That's so not like me.) She turned her head to look at Zeta, beak under his wing, then to the other side, to see light spilling from Ayumi's desk lamp onto the wall; her pencil scratching away at the night's homework. (I think I'm changing. My heart feels so happy, I could cry!)
999
"I don't know, Shun." Shun listened to his sister, straddling her desk chair backwards, with his chin on his hands on top of the backrest. "How do we know we can trust her? She wouldn't transform to help us fight at the stadium. Teiko went out of her way to be nice to her, but she never even said 'thank you!'"
"Well, don't be too hard on her if you're going to work together," Shun said.
Natsuko flopped back on her bed, kicking her pyjama-clad legs up as she did. "Maybe you're right. I don't know her, but not even thinking about the rumors, which are probably false, all I've seen her do is be… ungrateful."
"Not to make it sound like I have all the answers, even though I am pretty impressive, like you said, you don't know her. Give her some time."
999
Himeya stared up at the blank ceiling above her futon. The events of the last few days had been nothing like she had ever experienced before. And on top of everything else, Himeya had found a plastic container full of mochi in her bag when she got home, put there, she suspected, by Teiko at lunch. For the first time she could remember, there was a slight sliver of hope on the horizon; hope that there might be something better in her future.
(Thank you, Tau. Thank you, Teiko.)
999
Next Episode:
Himeya: "So what do we do here?"
Teiko: "This is where we introduce the next episode, Himeya."
Natsuko: "Ugh, she doesn't even know how to do that? Teiko, are you sure about this?"
Himeya: "You got something to say to me?"
Teiko: "Everybody calm down!"
Natsuko: "Ok, if you say so. But what are we going to do until episode 6?"
Himeya: "What do you mean?"
Natsuko: "Just what I said."
Teiko: "Wait, you mean we're not in the next episode?"
Natsuko: "Uh huh."
Himeya: "But I just got here! What's it going to be about?"
Natsuko: "Who knows? Next time on Northern Cross Pretty Cure! Please read it!"
999
Ending song: ganBALANCE de Dance, N.C.P.C. ver.