Author's note: English isn't my first language so I apologize for any mistakes.

Prologue

'Hey, I didn't get your name.'

Rikka tensed up slightly when that sentence escaped her enemy's lips. Apparently, he had just realized that his savior forgot to introduce herself to him. Or he had been too shy to ask earlier. Either way, she still couldn't believe this was real: the guy she had been fighting ever since she became a pretty cure was sitting on the sofa in her living room. But she was the one who brought him there, and he wasn't intent on hurting her either. Of course she knew he was dangerous, of course she detested him, but she couldn't have left him washed up on the shore wounded like that.

'Oh. It's uh...' She hesitated a bit. She didn't know what real-life amnesia looked like, but Ira was being so naive and polite that he may as well had it. It was as if he were a completely different person.

'Hishikawa Rikka.' She didn't think she should introduce Raquel, who was floating nearby.

The blue-haired boy smiled humbly as he looked at her. 'I'm indebted to you, Rikka.'

Rikka felt her cheeks turn hot when he called her by her first name. Then again, this was probably how their enemies addressed each other, so Ira didn't find it rude.

'No don't worry about it,' she waved her hand with a flustered smile. Raquel on the other hand gave the boy a distrustful frown. He had disagreed with bringing Ira to their place, and was alert all the time in case Ira should reveal his true colors. But Rikka was a smart girl so he trusted she knew what she was doing.

Getting back on track, Rikka opened the first-aid kit she had brought earlier and cleared her throat. 'Now let's treat your injuries.'

She bent down to the boy to check his head first. Strands of his blue hair were singed and there was a nasty wound on his temple that had partially healed. Rikka soaked a cotton ball in sterile water and gently applied it to the wound with a tweezer. Ira shivered when she did that but nothing more.

At least the sea water cooled his burns, Rikka thought. Once she cleansed the wound, she took a roll of bandage and wrapped it around his forehead a few times. She had noticed the scratch on the boy's cheek before, so she cleansed it too and put a plaster over it. Ira looked a bit puzzled when she touched his face but didn't resist.

If only I knew what happened to him, she thought. Nevertheless, she could only treat his external injuries anyway.

She took a step back and instructed her patient, 'Take off your jacket.'

The boy's eyes widened slightly before Rikka added, 'I'll check your arms.'

She waited while Ira put away his purple jacket, which wasn't dry yet and had scorch marks on some places. He wore a red T-shirt underneath that matched his choker, and his right arm was bandaged with Rikka's handkerchief. She could treat the blister now. But more importantly, she wanted to see those freaky scars on his forearm; it turned out they adorned both of his forearms. They twisted and branched like red roots or lightning bolts; Rikka had no explanation for them other than magic.

Did he get into a fight with his comrades? Is that what caused his amnesia?

'What strange scars,' she noted aloud, holding Ira's arm to get a closer look. They seemed to excuse some pus. 'Hold on, I'll bandage them for you.'

Ira silently watched as the girl wiped the markings with a gauze swab, took the bandage again and skilfully covered his forearms with it.

'There. Does it hurt anywhere else?'

'I think only my feet are left,' Ira replied demurely. He had mentioned they were aching on their way to Rikka's house, so she had readily supported him.

'Alright, let me take a look,' the girl offered, a bit relieved she wouldn't need him to undress further. Not that it mattered to her as a future doctor.

Several minutes later, Rikka was inclined to believe she had treated all the injuries she could. Raquel had observed the whole process in quiet disbelief. He couldn't understand why Rikka was being so kind to him. Ira had done nothing to deserve this!

'I think we're done,' Rikka announced, satisfied with her work.

'Thank you,' Ira said gratefully and checked himself out.

A gracious smile crossed the girl's face. It didn't matter now what Ira had done before; treating him had made her feel good. Maybe being a doctor really was her calling! Her patient looked so pleased.

That was when the blue fairy decided to step in. 'So, you still don't remember anything~quel?' he asked, flying in front of Ira with a suspicious look.

The boy frowned and shook his head. 'Not before the moment you guys found me.'

Rikka put a hand to her chin in thought. She believed he was telling the truth. So, now what? Should I just let him stay at my house until he's fully healed? She wondered how her friends would react given that Raquel was already on edge. It was risky, but she couldn't just leave him like this, right?

'Hmm. I'm sure it'll come back to you eventually,' she said finally, giving him a supportive look.

At that moment, Ira's stomach let out a loud growl. 'Sorry.' He scratched his neck in embarrassment. 'Have you got anything to eat?'

That's right, he must be starving! Rikka realized with urgency. She didn't know how long he had been unconscious or lost at sea after all.

Fidgeting, she quickly replied, 'Sure! I'll cook something up. You just rest,' and headed to the kitchen followed by Raquel.