Fictions Mentioned:

Episode 43

OP Song:

Metamorphose (w/ lyrics and translation)

Insert Song: Start

Futari wa PreCure | Beautiful World [Eng/Rom]

Between the Lines

Flashback

It was a time before Impasse interfered in the past. A time before Ex-Aid and Build interfered with Another Cure Yell and Daruizen's interference.

Honoka Yukishiro was slightly opening her eyes, a hum would erupt from within her. It was early morning, probably about late 5. The first appearance of the sunrise was already seen reflected a little in the heavens. As soon as her consciousness was becoming aware, she would immediately shoot up from her bed in worry, now in a sitting position.

She would look to her side and find...

...No one.

And then, Honoka seemed to feel a prickling thought of negativity spring up from within her mind. What did she expect? That she finally managed to reunite with Kiriya again? Isn't that rather naïve?

"...No," She would mutter as a subtle horror settled in.

It could not have been a dream. It just could not be. It was all too real. It wasn't just a dream. It couldn't be. And her eyes were in danger of leaking tears. The nights where she spent crying all alone were coming back to haunt her again. Her face was etched with a little stress and with a heart beating with the feeling of uneasiness.

"Kiriya-kun!" She exclaims defiantly.

She hopped out of bed. She refused to believe that what she had experienced was merely an illusion or a dream. It felt too real to be such and such. But even such reassurances did not stop her worries. She wasted no time to get up from her bed and head out to search for Kiriya throughout the larger-than-life house. She ran through the halls, looking through all of the rooms, opening every door, all while her mind screamed in denial.

There was no one there.

"...No...Kiriya-kun..." She could not help but mutter in light desperation.

"Bark! Bark!"

"Yes, yes, you can complain to me all you want, Chuutaro."

"Bark! Bark!"

There was the voice of Kiriya Irizawa who was just a little tired and annoyed at the complaints leveled against him by the resident golden retriever.

"...Ah!"

Honoka's heart would leap with pure and unadulterated joy. Her tears that threatened to fall out of sorrow would now turn to pure joy. She would hear the voice outside. Out she went, feet dashing towards the garden. She would spot Kiriya, with his hands to his waist, all dressed up and new, talking with Chuutaro.

"...Ah...Kiriya-kun!" Honoka would smile as her tears flowed down to her cheeks.

"Hm? Oof!" Kiriya would now find himself getting tackled by an overjoyed and tearful Honoka as they both fell to the grass. "H-Honoka..." Kiriya, at first surprised, would immediately notice the mood. His eyes widened as he heard the sound of muffled cries. He would also notice the way Honoka was embracing him, as if she didn't want to let him go ever again. He can feel her body shaking like a leaf.

Kiriya's eyes would grow soft and regretful. He immediately realizes what this is about. Honoka must have been trying to look for him throughout the house while he had been gone. Thinking back, he had awakened much earlier, about 5 a.m. He had to be careful to not wake up Honoka who was sleeping at the time. When he looked at her, his heart would feel mesmerized by the sleeping black-haired beauty. After a few moments of silence, he decided to walk outside and get some fresh air. On the way, he spotted Chuutaro and they both took a little walk together.

"("Honoka-sama misses you dearly, Kiriya-kun. She cries and thinks of you every day. I understand how important it is to maintain the sacred timeline of the PreCure from what you have explained to me in our past encounters, but still...do you not think that it was a bit cruel to leave Honoka-sama to think that you had died all this time.")" Chuutaro spoke, with Kiriya understanding his words underneath his bark.

One of the things that Kiriya managed to pick up over the years was the proper way of communicating with animals who could understand things as well as humans can.

"Believe me...I know how cruel in hindsight that decision is, but you know that it must be done. If I meet with Honoka again, I might destroy everything that the PreCure worked hard for. I do not wish to bring more unnecessary suffering like what I had done years prior."

Or that's what he had said before this.

"...I was scared," Honoka's lips trembled, her holding gentle embrace for Kiriya never wavering. "I thought...I thought that what we had...was just merely a dream."

Kiriya made a little soft smile. "A dream? You mean, you've dreamt of the HUGtto! PreCure encountering their alternate selves, Ultron suddenly attacking Hagukumi City, and someone interfering with the past that almost erased the HUGtto! PreCure from existence? That's a rather strange dream to have when these entire events were quite unprecedented."

"Yes, yes, I know that it seems the least likely explanation, but..." Honoka's body was shaking. "I couldn't help it. It just seems too good to be true, you being here. I...I missed you...I missed you so very much..." Honoka's tears were coming down from her delicate face.

"...And I missed you too," Kiriya made a contrite face. He can see Honoka's teary-eyed face staring at him now.

"...This isn't just a dream, is it? You're not going to leave me again?" Honoka asks, her expression was practically begging. She doesn't want to experience losing Kiriya again.

"No, I won't leave you, not this time," Kiriya made a comforting expression while gently touching Honoka's face. "Which reminds me, there's a little surprise that I've been saving for a while."

"What is it?" Honoka asks.

"I'm going to transfer back into our school," Kiriya revealed, making Honoka smile brightly with a joyful surprise. Kiriya shrugged a little. "Well, it was Woz-sensei's orders, something about experiencing a normal life even with being the hype man in training to a certain Once and Future King. That and I did miss our school and all of our friends who would no doubt ask me a few questions, wondering where I've been."

"Ehehehe," Honoka giggled a little. "Yes, you'd probably get bombarded with questions from a lot of our friends, though you can't really blame them, especially when from their perspective, you'd just gone up and disappeared."

"Yes, well, it's in a sense my fault, so I have to man up to my mistake somehow. Compared to what I've been through, this is nothing," Kiriya would make a saddened smile. "You know, we've made a lot of memories in that school, and those memories stayed with me for a very long time. Some part of me had thought at the time that it would be nice to relive them again, but this time looking forward to the future together instead of worrying about being separated again. And..." Kiriya gently touched Honoka's face. "...So that we could both start over again, this time not as enemies nor even as friends, but as...something else."

Kiriya would hesitate to be a little blatant but nevertheless would get his point across. For Kiriya, Honoka was far more to him than just simply a friend. To him, she was something else. She was his shining star.

Honoka was silent, but her eyes widened a little because she understood what Kiriya is getting at, even if it did not seem as blatant. And then, she gave him a beautiful smile, saying with a nod. "Hmm." And then, she embraces him again, content to remain in his embrace for a little longer. She was very happy with the news of Kiriya going back to their school again, but most importantly, that Kiriya would be with her again.

And somewhere from afar...

"Ara, ara..."

There was an elderly woman who was smiling from afar. She had short grey hair and wore a blue kimono. Her name was Sanae Yukishiro, who was the grandmother of Honoka Yukishiro. Mipple, Honoka's fairy partner, on the shoulder of Sanae, was also watching the scene with genuine curiosity and concern.

"...Yokattta ne, Honoka-chan," She said with a smile before looking at Mipple. "I feel that we should not disturb them, Mipple, since this is a very important moment between the two of them."

"...Hmm, mipo," Mipple nodded.

And so, they left silently.

Sometime later, Kiriya was currently eating takoyaki somewhere in the mobile Tako Café. He was sitting right next to Honoka who was smiling at him. Nagisa Misumi and Hikari Kujou were also with them, smiling as well. Nagisa in particular was just overall glad that Kiriya was back and that they were all hanging out together like this. And for instance...

"EH! You're gonna go back to our school, Kiriya-kun!" Nagisa made an excited expression.

"That's right," Kiriya nodded.

And Kiriya would explain the same reasons that he explained to Honoka. Well, all except for his reason to be with Honoka of course. Kiriya would die of embarrassment if Nagisa and Hikari were to find out. Also, he'd rather not cause Honoka problems because Kiriya knew that Nagisa in particular was gonna pester about their relationship.

Now Kiriya Irizawa, as Kamen Rider Woz, for the past fourteen or so years, fought against the worst evils known to man and seen a lot of things that would be borderline strange and mysterious. But Kiriya has less experience when it comes to actual romance. As much as possible, he'd rather not show his more awkward side, otherwise, Honoka would never live it down and would tease him to oblivion.

"Mou, Kiriya-kun," Akane Fujita, the young adult with short medium brown hair worn in a low ponytail with a red bandana with a white star print, was seen putting the takoyaki on the table. "It has been quite a while since I last you. I honestly wondered what happened to you."

"Sorry, Akane-san," Kiriya muttered with a contrite expression. "I had transferred somewhere far away from Tokyo since my father had work and he wanted my mother and myself to be nearby with him."

"Kyoto, right?" Akane spoke with a smile. Honoka, Nagisa, and Hikari would listen in to the conversation.

"That's right," Kiriya nodded. "Now though, it seems that I get to come back and live here again since my father got reassigned to Tokyo."

Now, as Akane returned to the mobile vehicle, Kiriya was glancing at somewhere in the doorway. There was a young boy who was looking at Kiriya with a curious expression. Kiriya would of course be able to recognize him of course, which in turn makes this little gathering turn to a more awkward tone.

"Hmm, Hikaru," Hikari muttered, sporting a concerned expression.

"...Ah," Kiriya made an exasperated expression. "...Well, I mean, it does feel a little strange."

"What is it?" Honoka asks.

"Well, I was a former denizen of the Dark Zone, and now, I'm currently sitting at the same table as two of my former enemies, and the technical reincarnations of the Queen of Light and the Dark King," Kiriya explained, making a sideways hesitant glance.

"Oh," Honoka muttered as she widened her eyes as well as Nagisa and Hikari who all looked at each other.

Now that Kiriya pointed it out, it does feel a little awkward. But in another sense, it also shows just how much everything had changed between the three. Long ago, it was only Nagisa, Honoka, and eventually, Hikari who would be the only existing PreCure of the modern era, and their fights against the Dark King and his many minions had earned them the power and experience that they have today. They met a lot of people, but of course, also lost some. And then, after their fight against the Dark King was finished, they encountered other PreCure who had fought other foes and were born from different circumstances, making them realize that they were not alone. And from that moment on, they ultimately realized the larger role that they now occupy in the world, being the first modern-day PreCure.

They recalled the Queen saying this to them when they visited the Garden of Light and consulted them about this discovery for the first time:

"Yes, it is true. Other young women would bore the title of PreCure, the legendary warriors. Though they and you three would differ regarding their origin points and circumstances, nevertheless, the legacy is still the same. You three are the first among the PreCure to be born in the modern era, thus afterward, indirectly, all of the other PreCure that are to be born would follow suit by the heroism and example that you have given when you protected the Garden of Rainbows."

And thus, the Pretty Cure All Stars were born on that day, the same day when they all commonly fought against Fusion, born from the vanquished remnants of the Zakenna, Uzaina, Kowaina, and Hoshina, the four enemies of the four PreCure at the time.

"...Actually, now that you pointed out, it has been a very long while since our fight with the Dark King, huh," Nagisa made a reminiscent smile while looking up at the bright morning sky. "Back then, those were simple times, and I, Honoka, and Hikari were the only PreCure that existed. Now, there are way too many."

"And the other PreCure would never come to be had not you, Honoka, and Hikari-san defeated the Dark King and prevented his rise to power once again. That was the decisive point in the timeline that had to be preserved at all costs," Kiriya explained.

"...Is that why you never showed yourself again?" Honoka made a saddened expression. "You needed to preserve our history and everything important about it."

"It's not just that," Kiriya looks at Hikari. He would stand up, surprising the three, and would walk towards Hikari. He would bow down to the ground and make a contrite expression while everyone, especially Hikari, would watch. "Since we're all here, I thought that it was appropriate that I would offer my sincere apologies to the daughter who represents my enemy. My past actions as a servant of the darkness cannot be justified or condoned, hence it is why I undertook the tumultuous path of a Kamen Rider as penance for my sins, and I cannot say such things fully if I were not accept responsibility and face the one who represents everything that I have stood against in the past, even if I cannot attain forgiveness."

"Kiriya-kun..." Honoka muttered.

"...popo," Pollun, who was hiding in Hikari's bag, would mutter with wonder. Mepple and Mipple, who were hiding in Nagisa and Honoka's pockets, were also in awe, and the same can be said of Lulun who was in Hikari's bag.

Akane, who was somewhere in the shop, would see this moment and would look on with a smile.

Hikari, looking at the bowed and penitent Kiriya, would make a firm expression. "Raise your head, Kiriya-kun."

Kiriya raised his head.

"It is true, your past actions as well as those whom you have associated with have in one sense contributed to the dangers of the peoples of the Garden of Light, the Garden of Rainbows, and all of the worlds. However," Hikari made a kind smile as she moved herself out of the chair and kneeled a little bit, seeing Kiriya eye to eye, and touching him by the shoulder. "That does not mean that you cannot be forgiven if you are truly repentant of your actions, to which I see that you are as I can tell from your heart. And then, there's also the part of me that is very genuinely curious about you."

"About me?" Kiriya asks respectfully.

"Nagisa and Honoka had told me a lot about you and how you are their most treasured friend. I would like to find out why by getting to know you. If there is any chance to start anew between you and the Garden of Light, then it starts here, from me to you," Hikari smiled.

Kiriya would smile genuinely. "I would like that very much." He said while he glanced at Nagisa and Honoka who would smile at him.

"Kujou Hikaru."

"...?" Kiriya and everyone else would look at Hikaru who was walking towards him. His expression was curious yet serious.

"Hikaru?" Hikari muttered.

"My name is Kujou Hikaru," Hikaru bowed his head a little. "Please to meet you."

Kiriya, while surprised momentarily, would smile and say. "And my name is Irizawa Kiriya, the new name that I go by, pleased to meet you as well," Kiriya spoke while bowing his head a little before raising it high.

Hikaru smiled a little.

"...Well," Kiriya would stand up while offering his hands to Hikari for her to stand up. "Considering the time, we should head back to Sakura Base. There would be a planned gathering of all of the PreCure again after all."

"Oh that's right, there's us up to Hana-chan's team," Nagisa said.

"And then there's Hikaru-chan's team up to Sora-chan's team," Honoka said as she looked at Kiriya. "I feel like we are about to see and discover a lot of new things from now on. I can't help but feel a little excited since I get to learn more things, especially now that I know that fiction in our reality turns out to be real in another one."

"More than you think," Kiriya made a sad smile instead of a happy one. His nostalgic and sober eyes look above the heavens. It made all of the PreCure pay close attention.

"...Kiriya-kun?" Honoka muttered softly in worry, wondering what was wrong with what she said.

But Kiriya only remained silent for a time, reflecting on past times.

"("...Even now, I wish that you could have lived to have met the Futari wa PreCure and the other PreCure Teams, Lady Lucia Einheart... no, Cure Zephyr... And I believe that George would have liked that as well... Even now, we still missed you...")"

Insert Song: End

ED Song:

Aoi Kaze No HOPE [HISTORY OF TRUNKS ENDING]

New Characters:

Akane Fujita - VA: Mikako Fujita

Hikaru Kujou - VA: Haruhi Nanao