Chapter Text
The sickly sweet smell of happiness wafted throughout every corner of Pikarigaoka; infecting everything with its filth. Tsubasa had to hold back the urge to gag. From her spot in the shadows, she could see countless people going about their days just like last time. Tempting as it was to ruin their afternoon with a Saiark attack, she’d come here with a specific target in mind.
Cure Lovely and her friends needed to hurt. Now that she was aware of their true identities, there was a new way to make them suffer: targeting someone dear to them. Eyes pored over the crowd as they searched for someone close to the girls from her vague recollections. Was there not a boy close to Cure Lovely?
A strange pang shot through her heart at the thought of him; she tried to ignore the obvious distraction to focus on the task at hand. She couldn’t afford to hesitate now!
“Hey, you. Come out. I know you’re there,” a young woman called out. Had the woman with long black hair not trained her dark purple eyes straight at her, Tsubasa would have assumed she was addressing someone else. After all, she’d hid herself in the shadows.
There was something familiar about the woman who now stared at her with stern eyes and a deep frown. Blurry images of a festival and a brief conversation flashed through her mind; familiar or not there was something about this woman that was worth Tsubasa’s attention. Perhaps it was worth humoring her.
Tsubasa stepped into the light to meet the woman, whose frown only deepened.
“I was hoping what I’d heard from Iona wasn’t true. That bastard really did get someone else,” the woman said. Her hands clenched into fists and her teeth grit. That name she’d mentioned, though…
Cure Fortune’s true name. Tsubasa began gathering ice into her hands; she’d found her target.
“Don’t bother with that,” the woman chided as she held out a PreChan Mirror. “I can tell you’re trying something.” Tsubasa crushed the piece of ice in her hand in response; there was something about this woman that told her she should approach with caution.
“Who even are you, Precure?”
“Hikawa Maria. We met in the spring, didn’t we, Tsubasa-chan? Or should I call you Cure Swan?” Maria’s gaze intensified as she took a step closer. “Your identity was rather easy to figure out, you know.”
“Cure… Swan…?” Something about that name seemed familiar even as Tsubasa couldn’t place why. Maria let out a sigh and shook her head.
“You forgot even that, huh? I guess I should do something to jog that memory of yours!” Maria took out a set of PreCards and held them aloft. “Precure Rolling Mirror Change!”
Kotori took a deep breath as she stood on the station’s platform. She had to calm her nerves; she didn’t want to assume that something terrible happened to Tsubasa, even if she knew she’d do anything to save her. Did she prepare enough for this? The black bags under her eyes seemed to say otherwise.
“Kotori. We’ll figure out what happened to her. I know we will,” Hina assured her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Just do your best to relax, okay?”
“Tsubasa-chan better not be pullin’ a prank on us or somethin’,” Hanabi grumbled, throwing her hands behind her head. “Because the silence ain’t funny!”
“She would never do something like that, though…” Kotori said, her frown deepening. “It’s just… I can’t sleep well until I know she’s safe.”
“The train should be arriving in ten minutes,” Kaori stated as she typed on her phone. “I have possession of Pikarigaoka’s map should we require it. Are you sure about this, Hayashi?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life.”
“Tch.” Tsubasa slid back from countering Cure Tender’s blow, gritting her teeth. Fortune’s sister was not only strong but intelligent as well. She’d figured out the tactic Tsubasa had used to defeat Cure Lovely and the others and rendered it pointless— but it wasn’t like Tsubasa had run out of options. “You’re not too bad, Cure Tender.”
“I could say the same to you. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve fought someone who could keep up with me like this,” Tender responded. A confident smirk adorned her features as she went in for the attack yet again.
“It’s true that you’re strong… but not nearly enough!” Tsubasa barely jumped out of the way of Tender’s kick to sidestep behind her. She threw a punch that hit thin air as Tender whipped around and threw a kick towards her gut. She gasped as air was forced from her lungs and she was sent sliding back yet again against the pavement.
“I don’t have the power to fix whatever that god did to you but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know what it’s like to be in your shoes. I’m only here today because my sister never gave up trying to reach me,” Tender said. “I’ll stop you before you can do anything else you’ll regret, Tsubasa-chan!” Tsubasa glared at the Cure as her fists tightened; hearing her talk was igniting something within her chest.
“You don’t understand a thing!” Tsubasa took the rage boiling deep inside and fired it straight at Tender in the form of a black beam of energy. She wasn’t going to stop until she tore down the world that left her to suffer alone— this woman wasn’t going to get in her way!
“Then make me understand!” Cure Tender blocked the beam with one hand. However, it wasn’t without her face contorting in pain. Her heels audibly scraped against the concrete. She may have blocked the attack but she was slowly pushed backwards. “You can’t just expect people to somehow know how you’re feeling if you don’t talk! So why don’t you talk to me?”
“It’s pointless!” Tsubasa increased the energy she poured into her beam. Tender was forced to use a second hand to block lest she get sent flying. “You were always strong, even alone, weren’t you?! You didn’t have to lie to the people around you about bruises on your skin! You had people you could turn to when you were in trouble, did you not?! You didn’t have to hold your pain inside day after day after DAY! And when you finally couldn’t take it anymore… you didn’t have to run away and hide so you didn’t cause pain to others!” Tsubasa released a final burst of dark energy before ceasing her attack. It hit Tender… and exploded. Tsubasa narrowed her eyes as she watched the dust settle; she wasn’t so naïve as to believe a single beam could take out the likes of Cure Fortune’s older sister.
“Tsubasa-chan… who the hell do you think I am?” Tender’s voice came from the dust. She cleared the air with a single thrust of her arm. Her expression as she slowly approached was resolute. “Sure, I’m strong enough not to need a team but that was only because I was already good at karate. I’m not confident all the time, either. There were lots of times I doubted myself and there were times where I was scared. But I pressed on anyway. It was because I never lost sight of why I was fighting! Can you say the same for yourself?!”
“Shut up!” Tsubasa stomped, causing a trail of ice spikes to burst onto the ground. Tender disappeared and reappeared to the side.
“You know I’m right, don’t you?”
“That’s not it at all! Don’t talk to me like you know anything!” Tsubasa threw a ball of dark energy in Tender’s direction. A single swipe of the hand was all it took for it to go careening into the pavement with a loud boom. The crater it left a distinct but horrid scent Tsubasa was all too used to at this point; it still caused her nose to crinkle all the same.
“Then what is it?!” Tender questioned. They both lunged forward; wind blowing past Tsubasa’s face as she prepared her fist. She drew it back. It collided against Tender’s punch, creating a shockwave that blew them both away. The sound of walls cracking reached her ears.
“I…” The all too familiar chill of her pain began floating around her. It was cold. So, so cold that it burned in her chest. Even the tears that threatened to trickle down her cheeks froze as she could feel power building within her— it hurt but that was fine if she could take down Cure Tender! “I DON’T KNOW!”
A blizzard of hatred burst from her body, freezing anything and everything it touched. It only took a few seconds before she and Tender stood before each other in a city blanketed in ice despite the sizzling summer sun beating down on them from above.
“Hah… hah… damn it…” Tsubasa growled as she tried to catch her breath. Her knees gave out from under her soon after, sending her hands careening into the freezing snow. Tender watched her with an expression Tsubasa could glean was likely pity. Why wouldn’t she look down on someone like her? After all, she was Cure Tender, the great and powerful solo act. Tsubasa grit her teeth as she slowly stumbled to her feet.
“Tsubasa-chan…” Tender took a step forward.
“Don’t you dare come closer!” Tsubasa snarled. “Cure Tender… consider yourself fortunate.” She summoned a mirror behind herself and began to step through it. It was most regrettable but she had to retreat; she hated that it was most likely Tender’s main goal.
“Hey! Wait a moment!” Cure Tender reached out but by then, it was too late— Tsubasa had already left.
“I’m beat…” Phanphan sighed as he lay himself across Yuko’s head. Her hair was nothing compared to the warmth of Mirage’s embrace but it’d have to do until she returned from her date with Blue. His body practically melted across his partner’s hair; cooking and shoveling snow in the middle of summer took a toll on him. The two of them currently stood outside of the Omori Gohan but at least there was a gentle breeze to make the heat a little less torturous. A gentle hand came up and patted him just near his top hat.
“There, there, Phanphan. We appreciate all the help you’ve given us at the Omori Gohan. You deserve a break from time to time!” Yuko said. “I’ll make you a nice helping of cream stew once we’re home, okay?”
“Okay, sounds good!” Phanphan’s mouth was already watering. There were many aspects of this modern age that baffled him but Yuko’s cream stew always made sense; he needed to learn the recipe so he could make it for Mirage someday. He was sure he was already a far better cook than Blue could ever be (he was a disaster).
“Yuko!” Hime practically rushed to Yuko’s side with her boundless energy, bouncing on her heels as she gave an expectant glance to the other girl. Yuko chuckled as she took out her candy bag (Hime was never subtle). “You done with deliveries for the day?” Her hand was so fast it was imperceptible; she ate Yuko’s candy like she’d been absolutely starved.
“Yeah, I was just heading home. Did you want to walk with me?”
“As if I’d pass up an opportunity to spend time with you!” Hime’s gaze turned to PhanPhan. “Is it true your family’s been letting him work the front counter?”
“Please don’t remind me…” PhanPhan murmured with a shudder.
“So much for being the fearsome Precure Hunter~” Hime teased. It was a mercy when the girls began walking and Yuko changed the subject to their schoolwork.
“Hey, those girls look like they might go to the same school as her!” PhanPhan froze when he heard the tall girl’s voice. He recognized her— he did for every Precure he fought back in those dark days— even if he wished he could forget.
Hime and Yuko were right in front of the Omori Gohan when that painfully familiar group of four approached. The Rising Precure— the eccentric team of four Cures hailing from Tokyo that he’d ripped apart with his own hands. What were they doing here, though?
“Hey, are you second years at Pikarigaoka Middle School?” The tall girl asked, concern clear in her expression. This girl… she was the sole survivor of his attack solely because the Happiness Charge Cures happened to unlock the Shining Make Dresser and become a higher priority at the last second. Cure Robin, the orange one who favored fire-based attacks.
“Yes, we are… can we help you?” Yuko jumped at the opportunity as expected.
“We have a friend who lives here. She went silent a few days ago and we just want to make sure she’s okay…” A plain-looking girl wearing a pink blouse and matching ruffled skirt said. She was the first one Phantom struck down and the one who made a gambit that nearly failed. Cure Cherry, the pink one and perhaps the most normal out of all of them.
“She got blonde hair, blue eyes, and she’s kinda puny. Like… barely more short than Miss Blue Hair over there!” A girl with green hair and freckles wearing a pair of overalls pointed to Hime. Cure Firework— someone whose repertoire included explosions and nothing else. Hime would’ve normally been offended by the girl’s remark; however, instead she wore a noticeable grimace.
“You seem like you know something,” a girl with long black hair and a fancy white dress observed, narrowing her eyes at Hime. Cure Snowflake— the white one whose name suggested an ice affinity and yet she used her powers to create guns. Many bullets were dodged that fateful day.
“Erm…” Hime shot a desperate look to Yuko. If they weren’t out in public, PhanPhan would’ve alerted them to the fact these girls were fellow Cures— that alone would’ve helped alleviate the tension thick in the air.
“…Would you like to come inside?”