Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It began as a thought. Then, it converted itself into a feeling—a feeling that is lounged deep inside people's hearts. All the happiness, joy, and love one carries must be balanced out into anger, sadness, and hopelessness.

Light and dark. That is the way of the world. 

A world the Darkness wants no part of. 

Banished from the land of the Light and stripped away from every power and form it took, it had been reduced to nothing but a thought.

And then a feeling. A feeling that harvested dark energy. Humans are impressionable beings with fragile hearts. So easy to manipulate.

With all the clouded energy it took from all the broken hearts of the world, it named itself Kumori Heart.

Kumori Heart relished in being able to materialize once again in the land of the Light. For this time, it won’t be stopped, for its greatest desire is to permanently cloud the hearts of everyone and everything and create a loveless world.

But it needed more of that clouded energy.

And there existed a problem. 

Kumori Heart needed to do something about them. The Guardians of Light, Pretty Cure. 

They will only stand in its way. 

“How about we play a little game? Who will be the first to fall into the dark abyss of a clouded heart.”

And then and only then, will it get rid of the problem.

Chapter Text

Two hearts joined as one.

Two hands joined as one. 

Two souls joined as one.

No matter who or what came between them, nothing and no one could separate them.

Just like it had been many times before, this time was no different.

Or was it? 

- 

Scribble scribble

“AaaAAaaAaa”

Scribble scribble 

“AaaAAaaAaa”

Snap!

Honoka rubbed her temple. “I thought you'd start writing that book report by now.” 

Nagisa turned away from the fan and looked at her with a pouty expression. “It’s too hot to work in these conditions, not only is my body melting, but so is my brain.”

Honoka giggled. She couldn't argue with that.

The summer air was thick with humidity, which stuck to her skin like a damp cloth. 

Honoka reached for her cup of barley tea, took a sip, and relished in the cool sensation.

She set down her cup and picked up the pencil sharpener. 

Ever since they were assigned the book report for their literary class, Nagisa had been coming over to her house to work on it. They had spent the last week going through countless books in the library, as well as her bookshelves.

Honoka knew Nagisa wasn’t a big reader, so she suggested that she should pick a book that she actually would enjoy reading.

“What’s your favorite book?” Nagisa had asked. “Even though my attention span isn't the best when it comes to reading, I'll pick the one you like most."

This caught Honoka off guard. But then she smiled.

"In that case, I recommend the novelist Natsume Soseki." Honoka grabbed several books and handed them to Nagisa.

And Nagisa read like her life (grade) depended on it. 

They were in their second year of high school now and ever since they defeated the darkness for good, things have been calm in the Garden of Rainbows. 

Honoka turned to look outside her bedroom, Mipple and Mepple were cooling off by the pond, not taking any more of the intense summer heat. They jumped in as soon as her grandmother advised her she would head out for the afternoon. 

She recalled the first day they joined forces back in middle school. At first,  it seemed as though they would never get along and yet here they were. Being around Nagisa brought sunlight into her world. She grew to care for the person who was the complete opposite of her. But she knew that's what made their friendship and partnership, work so well.

Honoka rested her chin on the palm of her hand and sighed.

Doing any sort of work in this heat was unbearable. Even for her. 

She too, needed a break. 

She eyed Nagisa’s blank paper report and then at Nagisa, who continued to make robotic noises with the fan.

“How about,” Honoka began to sharpen her pencil, “you start the first body paragraph and then we take a break and head out for parfaits?”

Nagisa’s face lit up. “Parfaits?!”

Honoka smiled and nodded. “Yep! And if you need any help, just let me know.”

It didn’t take much convincing on Nagisa’s behalf as she pulled away from the fan and sat across from Honoka.

Honoka turned back to her work and then she glanced up at Nagisa, who appeared to be stuck in the process of writing. 

Nagisa tapped the end of the pencil to her lip and then groaned. She brought up her hands and ruffled her hair in frustration.

“Honoka, it’s impossible to work in these conditions! All I hear is a chocolate parfait calling my name.”

Maybe she shouldn’t have brought the parfait's up so quickly.

“What are you struggling with?” 

Nagisa pouted. “Everything.”

Nagisa banged her head on the table. “Besides, aren’t you the one who always says one cannot concentrate without proper rest?”

“Are you using my own words against me?”

“Maybe. But it’s true!”

Honoka couldn’t argue with that. It might be better to continue once the sun sets and the heat isn’t draining them.

“I guess we should take a break now.”

Nagisa leaped with excitement, hitting her knee on the edge of the table in the process.

“Ow, ow, ow…” But once the pain subsided she began to chant. “Choco parfait, choco parfait, choco parfait!” 

Honoka shook her head and then laughed. “Come on, let’s go.”

-

The ice cream shop they headed towards wasn’t too far of a walk. 

Upon entering, they sighed in relief as the cool air hit their face.

The ice cream shop had a vintage feel to it. The walls were coated in a pretty pink and almost everything was heart-shaped, from the chair seats to the tiled floor. 

Nagisa and Honoka sat in a booth. After ordering their parfaits, the two girls chatted amongst themselves.

“I let Rina and Shiho know about the summer festival coming up, they said they’d meet us there,” Nagisa said. 

“I let Yuriko know, too.” 

The two of them often hung out with their friend group from middle school. They’d all become close, thanks to Nagisa who would plan outings with all of them. The more the merrier, she’d say. 

The upcoming summer festival was tanabata. And as tradition followed, they would all go out together.

Their parfaits arrived. Chocolate and strawberry. 

Honoka took a bite of her strawberry ice cream. The perfect combination of sweet and cold hit her tongue. “It’s delicious! Want to try?”

Nagisa nodded eagerly. 

She held out her spoon in front of Nagisa. “Say ahh.”

Nagisa adverted her gaze and rubbed the back of her neck. “That's a little embarrassing.”

Honoka tilted her head. “What? Are you afraid we’d be mistaken for a couple?” 

Of course, she was only teasing her, until she noticed a blush spread across Nagisa’s face.

“It was a joke," Honoka said in between bites. "You can still get some with your spoon if you'd like."

“Y-yeah!” Nagisa scooped up some strawberry ice cream and brought it to her mouth. “Mmf, it's good, but not as good as the chocolate one. Try some!”

Honoka nodded and when she went to scoop some ice cream off Nagisa’s cup, she heard a tiny voice coming from her pocket.

It was Mipple.

Even after so long, she and Nagisa still carried Mepple and Mipple everywhere. It had become an unbreakable habit.

She pulled out the card commune. “Mipple, what’s wrong?” 

At the same time, Mepple started to talk from Nagisa’s pouch. 

“I sense a strange presence, mipo!” Mipple shook.

Nagisa and Honoka looked at each other. 

“It feels distant, but I can still feel it, mepo!” 

They looked around the cafe, then out the window to see if anything seemed suspicious. They were given a clear view of the passersby and the city outside. 

It had been so long since the fairies had spoken those words. 

The idea of transforming into Pretty Cure was always etched in the back of Honoka’s mind. But with every passing day, the probability became less and less. 

Until today.

“Do you see anything?” Nagisa asked her.

Honoka furrowed her brows. “No, not even inside the cafe.”

“I…I…I don’t sense it anymore, mipo…” 

Mipple’s words made both of them exchange looks again.

“Huh?!” 

“Are you sure you felt something?” Nagisa questioned. 

It truly was hard to believe.

“I don’t feel anything anymore either, but I know it was, mepo!” Mepple exclaimed.

Honoka pondered what had happened. It did not make sense. How could it appear and disappear in an instant? 

She looked out the window. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was strange nonetheless.

“Then that could only mean one thing,” Nagisa turned to look at her and whispered. “We must fight as Pretty Cure again.”

Pretty Cure. The one thing that brought them together in the first place.

No matter what happened, Honoka knew they would come out stronger together. Just like they always had in the past. They always managed because they were together.  

“As long as we stick together,” Honoka smiled at Nagisa. “We’ll be alright.”

Nagisa mirrored her. “Of course we will. Always.”

Chapter Text

Nagisa found herself under a tree seeking shade from the scorching sun. 

Today was Sunday, and she and Honoka had arranged to meet at the aquarium. She had spent all morning rummaging through her closet for what to wear. 

“Should I wear casual cute or cute casual?” Nagisa had asked Mepple. 

“What’s the difference, mepo?”

Nagisa groaned. She didn’t know why she cared so much about her appearance (or why she asked Mepple for his opinion). It was only Honoka who she’d be going out with. Then she asked herself the difference between a casual hangout and a date. 

Would it even be considered a date? What defines a date anyway? 

She’d been snapped out of her thoughts when Mepple scolded her to check the time.

"Unbelievable! I don't even have an outfit picked out!"

Nagisa stumbled over her shoes, deciding on the first choice, a more casual than cute one.

So much for putting in effort, she thought.

Nagisa fanned her face with her hand. 

“Nagisa… how much more do we have until we arrive, mepo! This is your fault for missing the train! What was the point of doing all that with your clothes if you still look the same as always, mepo!” Mepple complained, he too was exhausted from the heat. 

“Quit your yapping! If you had been a little bit helpful, we could have been out the door on time,” Nagisa snapped back.

“Don’t put the blame on me, mepo!”

They both let out a sigh. A silence stretched between them, their energy to bicker ran short. 

Nagisa pulled out her flip phone and checked the time. She had exactly twenty-five minutes to make it on time. 

“I don't believe this! Honoka is going to be upset if I show up late!" She exclaimed.

She still had a few more blocks until she reached the aquarium. 

Even in a frenzied state, her body refused to move. 

Nagisa scanned the surrounding city. She turned around until she read Shopping Center in giant red letters from the building behind her. Her hopes lifted when she realized she could cut through the shopping center and it would lead her to the other side of where she needed to go. The aquarium would be that much closer right outside the other entrance. 

How lucky! She beamed. 

Nagisa walked inside the building. The mall was flooded with people. She hadn’t come to this shopping center in a while, and every few steps she took, she became distracted by all the stores and displays. 

She was so engrossed with window shopping, that she accidentally bumped into someone.

“Ah, excuse me,” Nagisa apologized. 

The woman she had bumped into turned to look at her. Her dark eyes bored into her own until a small smile twitched on the woman’s lips. “No worries, be careful next time.” 

Nagisa continued to walk until she spotted a stationary store. 

It was towards the end of the semester before summer vacation and during this time, many stores advertised lucky talismans for students. The image of her mom scolding her (again) for her bad grades popped up in her head. 

She shivered. 

The lacrosse team was also preparing themselves for the last game of the season. 

Nagisa stepped inside the store, awing at all the cute things she passed by. She picked up a mini frog eraser until a flash of light caught her eye. 

She set down the eraser and turned to look at the source. In the corner of the store, a sparkly necklace winked at her. 

Taking a closer look, a black heart pendant dangled from the chain. 

A sign in bold lettering read:

Lucky Charm Heart Necklace

Wear It And Your World Will Change

A tall saleslady approached her. “You have a good eye and I'll add, good luck. They are selling fast and this one is the last in stock.”

“Oh, I’m only looking around,” Nagisa said with a wave.

“Only today will it be twenty percent off!” The saleslady said, her dark eyes hypnotizing. 

Nagisa took a good look at it again. Although the sales lady was only doing her job, she rationalized with herself that it wouldn’t hurt to wear it and see if it worked.  Maybe today was her lucky day. She couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

“Well actually, I was meaning to buy a lucky charm… I’m sold!”

“Perfect."

-

Nagisa walked out of the store, and when she reached into her pocket, she froze. 

Mepple was gone. 

“Mepple? Mepple!” She called out.

Nagisa scanned the mall, only to be met with a sea of people. 

That Mepple, he probably left without me!

Nagisa squinted when she spotted someone who resembled Honoka near the water fountain. 

“Honoka?!” 

Honoka turned around to face her. “Nagisa?”

Nagisa made her way towards her. “What are you doing here?”

Honoka handed her a pink pouch. “Mipple sensed something strange around here so we came as fast as we could. And then she sensed Mepple around this water fountain.”

"I don't feel it anymore, mipo." Mipple said.

 Nagisa’s eyes widened. “The dark presence again?!”

“Where were you?” Honoka asked.

But before she could explain what happened, Mepple yelled, “NAGISA! How could you be so careless that I was pickpocketed and had to land in the fountain to escape, mepo!” Mepple shook. “What would have happened if they had taken me, mepo!”

Nagisa crossed her arms. “They’d return you in an instant."

Honoka interjected before they could continue their argument. “Either way, this is the second time this strange presence has happened. I don’t know what’s going on but…”

This time, Mipple spoke, “but we can’t let our guard down, mipo!”

Nagisa rubbed the back of her neck and apologized. She promised to make sure not to get distracted and stay focused. 

A downcast look displayed on Honoka’s face.

“I’m sorry, Honoka. I should have watched the time more closely, I’ll—“

“I wasn’t worried about the time. I was worried that something had happened to you,” Honoka fretted. “When I saw that Mepple wasn’t with you, I didn’t know what to think…especially since this dark presence comes and goes.”

Nagisa’s shoulders slumped and her heart squeezed inside her chest. Honoka was worried about her.

She didn’t mean for this to happen. Especially to upset her best friend.

Nagisa took hold of Honoka’s hand. “Nothing that has happened before, has stopped us now. We are still here, aren’t we?"

"I know but—"

"No use in worrying about something that hasn't happened. Come on, we still need to head over to the aquarium or else we’ll really be late.” Nagisa squeezed her hand in reassurance.

The corners of Honoka’s lips pulled up into a smile. One that Nagisa returned.

-

The heavy mood from before had lifted once they were inside the aquarium.

Honoka smiled at her and reached for her hand. 

They always held hands like this, but this time Nagisa’s heart skipped a beat.

When had she begun to feel this way? Every little thing that Honoka did or said made her heart swoon. 

It reminded her of the feelings she used to have towards Fuji-P but she convinced herself it couldn’t be the same.

Could it? 

Honoka was her best friend. And a girl.

She always said if she were a boy, Honoka would be the type of girl she’d like. 

But she wasn’t a boy. And she liked Honoka. 

Nagisa's cheeks burned when that thought popped up. She quickly shook it away. 

They watched as two penguins swam together in one of the tanks. 

Nagisa grinned and pointed to them. “Look Honoka, it’s you and I.”

Honoka watched too. “Some species of penguins mate for life, did you know?”

"I, I didn't mean it like that!" Nagisa stammered.

Honoka raised an eyebrow at her.

Nagisa pointed to where the jellyfish tanks were. "Look! Lets go look at the jellyfish."

She pulled her away.

At the tanks, Nagisa watched in awe at the glowing blue color they produced. Ignoring the informational guide, she asked Honoka what kind of jellyfish they were.

“Those are called Moon Jelly and appear translucent. Unlike other jellyfish, they have short tentacles.” Honoka responded, her gaze not moving from the floating blue blobs.

Nagisa turned to look at her, the light of the jellyfish made Honoka’s skin glow. Her indigo eyes sparkled with every word she spoke. Nagisa could listen to her talk about everything and anything for hours. 

She hadn’t realized she’d been staring until Honoka tilted her head and called out her name. 

“Nagisa?”

Nagisa’s eyes widened. She waved her hand and nervously laughed. “D-don’t mind me, I think the summer heat is getting to me.”

“Really? But there’s air conditioning in here.” Honoka blinked at her. She touched her forehead with the back of her hand. “You’re warm. Are you okay? Do you want to sit down?"

They sat on a nearby bench. 

Nagisa sighed. Maybe she was overthinking these things, these feelings. A part of her wished she could be a little more honest. But what would Honoka think if she were to explain them to her? Would she think she was weird for having them?

A tiny doubtful voice would always say it’s better to keep them hidden. 

Because she didn’t want to ruin their friendship or worse, risk losing Honoka.

Instead, she'd opt to bury them whenever they surfaced and hoped they'd go away.

Nagisa reached to touch the black heart pendant around her neck. 

“Is that a new necklace?” Honoka asked her.

Nagisa removed her hand so Honoka could have a better look at it.

She sheepishly explained the reason she'd been in the shopping center in the first place. And how she got distracted at a stationery store.

Thinking about it now, she mentally slapped herself for falling for a sales trick.

“Who knows, maybe it will help you perform better on the upcoming exams,” Honoka teased. 

“H-hey…” Nagisa pouted. “Well, that was one of the reasons why I bought it. Do you want to know the main one? The end-of-the-season lacrosse game is coming up soon and we’re up against our all-time rivals! Practice starts this week andwe’re going all out!”

Honoka giggled. “I’ll be there to cheer you on then. Are you feeling better?”

Nagisa stood up with a newfound confidence. She extended her hand for Honoka to take. “Yep! Come on, let’s go see the beluga whales!”

Chapter Text

Clouds filled the evening sky, pouring out the last remnants of raindrops, which had been falling all day. 

Nagisa opened the window to her room's balcony. The fresh scent of rain lingered in the air. 

Tonight was the Star Festival. And as much of a relief it was for a single day without insufferable heat, it rained on the one day it shouldn’t have. 

Nagisa’s fingertips grazed the cool metal of the pendant around her neck.

I hope the clouds clear up before the fireworks.

She stepped back inside her room, staring at her reflection in the floor-length mirror. She cringed at the wrinkled sash and lopsided bow around her waist. 

Nagisa pulled the bow apart with a groan and attempted to try again.

She glanced at the clock by her bedside. Honoka would be here any minute now. 

“Fu—“

“Nagisa!” Her mom called. “Honoka is here!”

No matter how many times she tried to wrap it properly, it came out worse than before.

A knock on the door. “Nagisa, I’m coming in.”

It was Honoka’s voice. She opened the door, peeked her head in, and caught her in a jumbled mess.

“Do you need some help with that?” Honoka went up to her. “Here, let me help you.”

Honoka took the sash from her. At the same time, Mepple and Mipple turned into their fairy forms and embraced each other, affirming their love for one another.

Nagisa turned around, facing away from her, and allowed Honoka to wrap the sash around a few times, adjusting when needed. 

She circled her and taking a closer look at Honoka, her breath hitched. She was beautiful. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a neat bun. White and blue carnation flowers adorned her silky hair, which reminded Nagisa of butterfly wings. 

“You look really pretty,” Nagisa breathed out. 

A hue of pink dusted Honoka’s cheeks. Her cherry lips curved up into a smile. “Thank you. You do too.”

Honoka tied a neat bow behind her, fluffing it out. “Done.” 

Nagisa twisted her body in the mirror, admiring the other's handiwork. “Thanks for that. I wouldn’t have ever made it look like this.”

“Don’t worry, I struggled with mine too. I had my grandmother help. It’s better if someone helps you.”

“I still feel like I’m missing something,” Nagisa said. 

Honoka pulled out a white carnation flower from her hair. She reached over, brushed a strand of Nagisa’s hair behind her ear, and pinned the flower.

“Better?” She asked. 

And Nagisa did a quick once-over again in the mirror before responding with “better.”

“Oh, one more thing.” Honoka reached into her small purse and pulled out a lip gloss. She applied it over Nagisa’s lips, with careful application. Their faces were inches apart and Honoka’s long lashes fanned as their eyes met. And for a split second, Nagisa forgot how to breathe. 

Then the moment passed as Honoka leaned back and nodded. “We should get going. The others are probably waiting for us.”

“Right,” Nagisa said, her breath caught in her throat. 

The fairies returned to their card commune form and they headed out. 

-

The streets bustled with people, all heading in the same direction. A cool breeze brushed against Nagisa’s skin. She glanced up at the sky, the clouds giving way for the setting sun to rest. Her worries about the night sky’s visibility came to a halt. 

As if reading her mind, Honoka broke the comfortable silence. 

“I’m glad it cleared up, otherwise Orihime and Hikoboshi would’ve had to wait another year to reunite,” she said. 

“Only meeting once a year, huh?” Nagisa added. She thought back to the legend of the two star-crossed lovers. About how their love was too great they were forced apart and were cursed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month. 

Then she compared the story with hers and Honoka’s. A world without Honoka was a world she couldn’t imagine. They’d been attached at the hip since the day they became friends. And for it to one day change… she shook those intrusive thoughts away.

Laughter and chatter rang through the air as they arrived at the festival’s entrance. Ambient light strings hung from wooden poles, greeting them with a warm welcome. Colorful lanterns danced above the stands that sold all kinds of goods. An aroma of savory and sweet filled Nagisa’s senses. Her mouth watered at the sight of it all.

Honoka took her hand and leaned in for her to hear. “So you don’t get lost.”

They slithered their way through the crowd, and the festival swallowed them the more they continued to walk until Nagisa heard a voice calling out to them. 

Rina waved her hands in the air and called out their names, gaining their attention. Their friends stood in front of Akane’s takoyaki stand. 

Greetings and compliments bounced back between each other, as they each admired their yukata and appearance. 

“Let’s take a picture now that we’re all here!” Shiho pulled out a pink digital camera. She extended her hand and they all posed.

With all the commotion, Akane popped out from the Tako stand. “Woah, Nagisa you clean up nice.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Nagisa said with a cross of her arms.

Their friends giggled. 

“It means exactly that. Well since everyone is here and I’m in such good spirits.” Akane retrieved some freshly made takoyaki and handed them a serving. “The takoyaki is on me tonight!”

Their faces glowed in unison. “Thank you for the food!”

Nagisa speared the takoyaki and popped it in her mouth. 

“Hot, hot, hot!” She fanned her mouth, the heat burning her tongue. 

“Be careful,” Honoka said beside her. 

Sharing festival food with her friends made her feel alive. 

Akane encouraged them to enjoy the rest of the festival and they properly thanked her again.

They lost themselves in the maze of people once more. Without coming to a single option, they each lined up for various food stands as they couldn’t make up their minds about what to try next. Throwing in cotton candy, shaved ice cream, and crepes into the mix, their appetite was sated. 

And a festival wasn't complete without games. 

“Aw, look at the fishies,” Yuriko said. The attention turned to the pool filled with goldfish. “We should all give it a go.”

A competitive blaze set off inside Nagisa.

“Alright!” Nagisa rolled up her sleeves. “I challenge all of you to see who can scoop the most goldfish!”

With the paper net in hand, Nagisa spotted her fishy target. The fire within her quickly burnt out as the net ripped before she could catch a goldfish. She turned to Honoka, whose bowl was filled with many fish.

“No way! How’d you get that many?” Nagisa pouted. 

“The trick is not scooping too fast or too slow.” Honoka angled her paper net and scooped up a goldfish. “Like that.”

“Woah!” they all said in unison.

The game continued until each of their nets ripped (with Honoka winning).

Nagisa’s fiery spirit ignited once more and burned brighter with determination to win at least one game. She searched for what game to play next.

A popping sound caught their attention. 

“Look, look, look!” Shiho pointed to the shooting game. “Let’s play that one.” The group ambled their way towards the stand.

Instinctively, Nagisa rubbed the pendant. She wasn’t going to lose this time.

She rolled back the sleeves of her yukata, leveled her gaze, and brought up the air rifle. She aimed towards the teddy bear. 

In all reality, she knew she was terrible at these games. But Nagisa decided to test her luck today. 

She pulled back the trigger and—

Pop!

Cheers erupted from her friends. The elderly man handed her the teddy bear and she squeezed it close to her, eyes twinkling at the prize. 

"Unbelievable!" Shiho clapped, in which Nagisa eyed her and told her that was her catchphrase.

“You totally got lucky that time,” Rina teased. 

Luck. Yes, it was luck that won her that.

Nagisa turned to Honoka and extended the teddy bear to her—since she didn’t receive a prize for her efforts in goldfish scooping, Nagisa decided to give her one instead.

“You make life.” Nagisa’s eyes shot up, her brain scrambled for what to say. “Bearable.”

Honoka shook her head and let out a laugh that sounded like music to her ears. “Thank you.” 

Yuriko suggested they should all make wishes before the fireworks started—countering that that’s what the whole festival was about. 

With the twinkling stars guiding them, Nagisa and her friends walked to another part of the festival grounds where bamboo trees sprouted in bundles. Hundreds of rainbow strips of colored paper decorated their leaves, each swaying with the gentle breeze of a summer night. 

The group picked up a strip of paper from a wooden table.

“What are you guys going to wish for?” Rina asked to which Yuriko responded that a wish cannot be spoken out loud or it won't come true.  

“Makes sense.” 

Nagisa picked up a marker. Various wishes popped up in her head, from winning the lacrosse game to wishing for more wishes. But another wish nudged her to acknowledge it. She peeked over to Honoka, who had already written her wish and tied it to the bamboo tree. 

On the blue colored paper, Nagisa wrote:

I wish to hold Honoka’s hand forever. 

Nagisa tied her wish along with all the others, where they basked in the light of the moon and the stars above listened to everyone’s wishes. 

“It’s almost time for the fireworks,” Honoka reminded them.

“Ooh! Let’s find a spot quick, quick, quick!” Shiho chirped. “Before they start!”

Rina promised a spot where they could watch them with a clear view. They made their way up a grassy hill and as soon as they sat down, brilliant colors painted the sky. Their eyes glittered with every spark. 

Nagisa’s gaze shifted from the fireworks to Honoka. 

Honoka, the girl who made fireworks explode inside her whenever they held hands or whenever she was with her. 

Honoka faced her, their eyes meeting.

“You’re like a firework,” Nagisa said without thinking. Then her eyes widened as she realized she’d said that out loud. 

Honoka laughed. And the embarrassment disappeared because Honoka’s laugh enveloped her like a warm blanket. Nagisa wondered how the other would react if she leaned closer and stole a kiss. 

Boom! The fireworks.

That thought alone…

Boom! Her heart. 

Is this love? 

It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. 

Because in a way, it scared her. 

What could she do in a situation like this? She could take the leap—

And risk losing it all.

A voice echoed in her mind.

Nagisa buried the thought, like all the others that slipped her mind. 

She didn’t mind being friends as long as it meant staying with Honoka like this. 

Honoka’s slender fingers slipped between her own. “You’ve been in your head a lot lately. Is something wrong?”

Nagisa shook her head and slumped her shoulders. “Nope, everything is fine,” she lied. 

Because the more she convinced herself she wasn’t in love with her best friend, the easier it got.

Or was that a lie too?

Chapter Text

KABOOM!

Pieces of shattered glass rained down on the lab table. A smoke cloud erupted from the broken lab equipment. 

Honoka adjusted her glasses, and the sound of a pencil on paper filled the room. Yuriko and Momo peeked over the lab table they hid behind.

With a sigh, Honoka set down the clipboard, tapping the end of the pencil to her chin. “We need to adjust the measurements again.”

Yuriko sprung up, removing her goggles with a nod. “Yeah… I don’t think we can keep damaging lab equipment like this.”

It was late afternoon after school. The evening sun poured through the classroom window. Honoka and her group had made progress in starting their chemistry lab experiment early, but their efforts were stumped when it wasn’t producing the expected results. Their lab report was due by the end of the week and their progress was nowhere near finished. 

Honoka glanced over to the written reports scattered on the table, it would be another day figuring out where they went wrong. 

“It’s getting late, I think we should meet up again tomorrow,” Momo said.

“I think so too, we’ll review what went wrong once we clear our heads,” Yuriko added. 

Honoka nodded in agreement.

Once they cleaned up the mess and removed their lab coats, Yuriko and Momo waved their goodbyes as they trickled out of the lab room.

Honoka removed her glasses and laid them back in their case.

The clock ticked away the minutes of the day. Her mind traced back to Nagisa wondering how long they’d be practicing for today. As summer vacation approached, it meant studying for the final exams. Every day they’d alternate between each other's houses for study dates.

Honoka pushed down the excitement that bubbled up inside her. Even though she and Nagisa saw each other every dayshe couldn’t resist the happy feeling when it was only the two of them.

Honoka gathered the sprawled-out sheets of data tables and sighed. She had forgotten to make copies for them. The copy machine room was on the first floor of the school building.

She walked down the flight of stairs, reaching the bottom and when she rounded the corner, a gasp escaped her lips. 

In front of her, stood Yuriko.

Honoka blinked. “Yuriko? I thought you went home already?”

“Honoka! I’m glad you’re still here. I forgot to give you something.” Yuriko’s lips curved upward, reaching into the pocket of her skirt. She pulled out a sparkling necklace with a black heart pendant. “It’s a good luck charm. I bought one myself but I got you one too.”

The necklace gleamed as Honoka took it into her hands. “Thank you, Yuriko.”

There was something off about Yuriko’s appearance but Honoka couldn’t pinpoint what exactly.

“I heard it’s a popular item at the moment. Oh! I have to go now, see you tomorrow!” Yuriko waved to her before walking away.

Honoka glanced down at the necklace. 

It was the same one Nagisa had.

When she returned to the laboratory, a tiny voice startled her. Mipple shook in the pink pouch from her school bag. Honoka hurried over and pulled Mipple out. “What’s wrong, Mipple?”

“Honoka! I got a bad feeling while you were away, mipo!” Mipple said with an edge to her voice. “It’s gone now… but I still don’t like it, mipo!”

Honoka narrowed her eyes. For the third time, a dark presence had come and gone. 

Buzz buzz

She pulled out her flip phone, an envelope stared back at her from the screen.

1 New Message Received

A message from Nagisa.

R U OK? Strange presence alert :-O

Honoka replied saying she was and asked her the same question. Within seconds a new message appeared. Her grip around the phone loosened, relieved that Nagisa was okay.

“Don’t worry Mipple, Nagisa and I are in contact, if anything were to happen we’d be ready,” she said with a reassuring smile. 

Her words came more so to comfort herself, as confusion clouded her mind. 

Another message.

Meet me @ the g8 when ur done :-P

It took a while to decipher that Nagisa meant the gate to the school's entrance. Honoka decided they would focus on grammar lessons today.

-

“Nagisa, it’s been thirty minutes and you still haven’t opened the textbook,” Honoka proclaimed. 

They sat in the middle of Nagisa's room. Nagisa flipped through the pages of a magazine, cookie crumbs littered around her mouth. 

“Hold on, Pretty Holic introduced a new line of matching jewelry sets.” She flipped over the magazine to show Honoka. “Aren’t they pretty?”

Honoka eyed the pages that displayed pictures of necklaces and rings. “Very much so.”

She pulled out the necklace from under her collar. “Speaking of, I was gifted the same necklace from Yuriko.”

Nagisa put the magazine down. A grin spread across her face. “Then there’s no reason to study!”

Honoka raised an eyebrow.

“What I mean is,” she continued, picking up another cookie. “These necklaces are indeed lucky. I have a plan. Hear me out on this one, I’ll use the necklace as a pendulum to guide me on all the answers on the test! I mean, that’s what I did for the quiz we had yesterday. And it worked!”

Nagisa pulled out the quiz paper with an “83” written in red ink at the top. “Brilliant, isn’t it?”

Honoka gaped at the score. “You might have gotten lucky that time, but what do you have planned for the written portion?”

Nagisa’s smile dimmed. “Hm, I didn’t think of that.”

Honoka shook her head in disbelief. She lectured her about the importance of education but it all went in through one ear and out the other. 

Mepple popped out. “Nagisa! When will you ever learn, mipo!”

Nagisa grabbed Mepple by his cheeks and stretched them out like mochi. While they bantered back and forth, Honoka picked up the magazine and flipped through the popular items pages. 

Nagisa’s and Yuriko’s voices rung inside her head. 

None of the pages mentioned a lucky black heart necklace.

Her eyes drew to the matching rings on one page with sterling silver and black coating. Promise rings given in the moment of a wish wanting to be granted , it read. 

A promise to stay together. 

She glanced over at Nagisa, who met her gaze. 

“Are you ready to study now?” Honoka asked her, ignoring the warm sensation that arose every time they locked eyes.

With a nod and a smile that could rival the sun, Nagisa replaced a cookie with a pencil.

The rest of the evening flew by until it was time to depart. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow!” Nagisa said. And Honoka left feeling content because there was always a tomorrow to look forward to.

When Honoka arrived home, Chuutaro was the first to meet her at the door. She crouched down, running her fingers through the golden fur of her beloved pet. 

“I’m home!” 

Her grandmother, ever so gentle, greeted her with a smile. “Welcome home, dear. Something came in the mail for you.” She handed her a postcard.

On it, a picture of the Eiffel Tower glittered against the night sky.

The corners of her lips pulled up as her eyes widened. It was from her parents.

Her parents worked overseas and the only time they ever came to visit was on her birthday. 

She read the writing on the back.

For the first time in years, her parents made room in their busy schedule to visit on another date that wasn’t her birthday. Honoka could already feel them smothering her with love and warm embraces. The thought alone filled her heart with joy. Although the pain of having her parents so far away for most of her youth faded over time, it still stuck with her ever so often. Some days were easier than others. 

The expression on her grandmother's face mimicked her own, hinting that she too couldn’t wait for their visit.

When Honoka entered her room, she made her way to the calendar which hung from the wall. With a red marker, she circled the date they’d mentioned in the postcard.

September.

-

Honoka stood under a tree, the sun's blinding rays piercing through its leaves. 

Anticipation spread through her, although she didn’t understand why. 

They’d been doing this every day for years now. 

Every morning she would wait for Nagisa here to walk to school together and each morning it was a game of whether or not she would arrive on time. 

But even then, Nagisa’s presence filled her with warmth, like morning waiting for the sun to appear. 

Honoka flipped open her phone, checking the time. 

“Yukishiro, good morning.” A deep voice said.

She glanced up to face the source.

A tall figure approached her. Honoka instantly recognized him because Rina had pointed out on several occasions how dreamy he was. An upperclassman that every girl in their grade seemed to have a crush on. She had also mentioned his name numerous times but at that moment, Honoka could not remember. 

Was it Yada? Yuma? Honoka opted to exclude his name when she returned the greeting.

“Do you need something?” She added.

“Not exactly. Are you waiting for someone?” He replied. 

“Honoka!” Nagisa’s voice called out to her from a distance. 

Honoka turned to face her, for dawn had come. 

When Nagisa drew near, she bent over with her hands on her knees for support. 

“I’m sorry I’m late." She panted between words.

“Jeez Nagisa, this is the second time this week. And the week just started.” Honoka redirected her stance back to the upperclassman. “Excuse us, if there isn’t anything you need, we’ll be going now!”

She reached for Nagisa’s hand and scurried away. 

Despite the morning's inconvenience, both made it to school on time. 

Honoka opened her locker. 

“Was that Yamada? The guy Rina has had a raging crush on since, like forever? The Yamada? What did he want?” Nagisa bombarded her with a plethora of questions. 

“So that’s what his name was.” Honoka switched her street shoes for her school ones. “I had completely forgotten. And I have no idea. He asked if I was waiting for someone.”

A pause. 

Nagisa’s next question caught her off guard. “Do… do you like him?”

Honoka found the question odd. Because she never really thought about the idea of crushing on a boy. 

She pursed her lips and thought about the last time she had a crush on anyone. Then her eyes shifted towards Nagisa. 

Her face shone with sweat. Honoka reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out her handkerchief. 

“Why? Are you jealous?” She teased and handed Nagisa the handkerchief.

Nagisa blinked and averted her gaze. “Of, of course not! Why would I be jealous? I was just curious if you liked him or not.”

She took the handkerchief and patted her temple, muttering a “thanks.”

Honoka tapped the tip of her shoe on the ground. “I didn’t even know his name until you reminded me.”

“But do you find him attractive?” Nagisa blurted out. “Guys don’t approach girls and ask if they’re waiting for someone unless they have an alternative motive, you know.”

“Are you suggesting he wanted to walk to school with me?”

“You’ve always been popular with the boys, it wouldn’t surprise me if Yamada had a crush on you.”

Crushes. They were a popular topic among all her friends. But even when they nudged her about which boy she liked, she could never answer them. 

Honoka closed the locker shut and half shrugged. “Looks aren’t everything, I think what matters most is how the person makes you feel. Now let’s get going, or we’ll be late.”

-

After school, Honoka found herself with her group members dissecting the problem they had with their chemistry project. After several failed attempts yesterday, each member contributed to annotating their measurements and got to work. 

“What if we remove this amount and use this one instead?” Honoka suggested, pointing to Momo’s data table. 

Momo nodded. “Yes! Let’s try that. Yuriko, are you ready? We’re about to try it out again.”

Hopefully this time, they don’t end up blowing the equipment again. They corrected the measurements and set up the materials.

Yuriko threw a thumbs-up with a smile. She slid down her goggles and rounded the lab table, grabbing a Florence flask.

“Magnesium and a little bit of sodium.” 

Honoka closely observed her as she poured in the liquid. 

The liquid inside the graduated cylinder began to glow a neon blue. 

“A pinch of chlorate and strontium nitrate.” Yuriko poured both into the glassware and the liquid inside the graduated cylinder began to rise.

BOOM!

A show of colorful fireworks blew out of the glass. 

“Yes! We did it!” They all cheered. 

Honoka beamed at the display and let out a sigh of relief. Their lab assignment was complete. As the excitement died down, they all wrote down additional data and notes.

“We’ll need to make more copies of these.” Momo gathered all their papers and joined them together with a paper clip. “I’ll be right back!”

Yuriko perched the goggles back onto her head. “I always enjoy working together alongside you!”

Honoka smiled at her. They’d been friends ever since they met at the chemistry club in middle school. And Honoka would say the same thing about her.

They chatted amongst themselves. About their plans on how they would spend summer vacation. Yuriko told her she'd be going on a family trip, which drifted Honoka's thoughts to the places she could take her parents once they arrive.

“Thank you for the necklace again. It might have been the reason we finished on time.”

A crease appeared between Yuriko’s eyebrows as she tilted her head. “Necklace?”

Honoka pulled it out as it hid behind her collar. “This one. You gave it to me yesterday, remember?”

Yuriko glanced up at the ceiling as if trying to recall. “If I did I’d remember giving you such a pretty thing.” She paused. “Have you been working too hard, Honoka?”

Yes, she’s been studying nonstop but the encounter yesterday wasn’t a figment of her burned-out mind. Before Honoka could tell her she wasn’t going crazy and that she bumped into her at the bottom of the stairs, Momo slid open the door. “I made copies!”

Honoka bit her bottom lip and grazed her fingers on the pendant. 

Uneasiness spread through her. She took the necklace off.

-

The sun's orange beam painted the riverbank in a shimmering gold. Honoka stared out at the long ribbon path that connected the sun and the water. The water ripples resembled tiny dancing goldfish.

But all that shimmers isn’t gold. She replayed back the conversation with Yuriko. She tried connecting the pieces of a mismatched puzzle and certain pieces would not fit. 

She pulled Mipple out of the pouch. 

“Hey Mipple, do you sense anything…strange about this necklace?” Honoka flipped the card commune for Mipple tosee. 

“Hm, I don’t sense anything, mipo. Why do you say that?” Mipple asked.

“Yuriko gave this to me, but when I thanked her again she said she never did. It doesn’t make sense. And the appearance and disappearance of the dark presence. Something isn’t adding up.”

Honoka thumbed the pendant. A streak of light bounced off it as she studied it in her hand. 

"That does sound strange, mipo."

She recalled the times Mepple and Mipple sensed something strange. And they all took place when the necklace appeared. Although nothing had happened, she still felt apprehensive about the situation.

They shouldn’t wear them, she concluded. 

Honoka took out her flip phone and messaged Nagisa. 

Meet me at the riverbank. There’s something I need to tell you.

Chapter Text

Warm sand slipped between her toes. A cool breeze carried with it the scent of sea salt. 

Nagisa let the waves kiss her feet as she bathed in the sun's rays. She walked along the shoreline, and with every step, the wind brushed against her.  

From a distance, she saw her.

Honoka.

But the more she walked towards her, the more she couldn’t close the distance between them. The sand swallowed Nagisa’s feet with every step she took. 

The sky above began to darken as ashy clouds rolled in. 

Nagisa called out to her, but the wind carried her name away into the stormy sea. Her body stilled as a tall figure approached Honoka.

It was Yamada. 

He reached out, taking Honoka’s hand into his. 

“What’s the matter? You didn’t expect her to say no to him did you?” A voice behind Nagisa said. A voice that sounded like her own.

She could not turn around, her body frozen in place. 

Honoka glanced up at him, a smile blooming on her face as they walked away together, hand in hand.

“Even if it’s not with him, it will never be with you.” 

And then she’s drowning. The water pulled Nagisa in, angry and harsh until it filled her lungs. Until she’s falling deeper and deeper into the ocean’s belly. 

Moving tides , they ripple inside of her, daring to cause a storm. They jump and splash with a story of how much it hurts not to tell Honoka that she loves her. 

“And you never will.” 

The hollow expanse of water took Nagisa in deeper and deeper until there was nothing but darkness. 

Nagisa opened her eyes. 

Relief washed over her. She thanked her lucky stars that it was only a dream. 

A dream that felt too real. 

She turned over and read the clock on the nightstand. For once, she had woken up earlier than her alarm. 

“Ugh, I don’t believe this.” She groaned, draping her arm over her face.

Nagisa spent a restless night making a mangled mess of her bedsheets, the hours stretched on like minutes.

Nervousness and excitement had kept her up all night. When sleep finally visited her, it resulted in a nightmare. 

It will never be you.

She gritted her teeth, not wanting to think about it any longer. It only expanded the heavy weight on her chest.

Nagisa threw the bedsheets off, forcing her thoughts to steer away from her feelings because today was game day. The day she and her team had spent days practicing for. 

As she finished getting ready, habit took her over to her desk where the necklace lay on a yin trinket dish. Her fingers itched to pick it up until the conversation between Honoka replayed in her head. 

“What is it Honoka?” She had asked her as soon as she arrived at the riverbank. 

Honoka explained her worries about the times Mepple and Mipple sensed something strange.

“Remember how I told you Yuriko gave me the necklace? I thanked her again the next day but she said she doesn’t remember giving it to me,” Honoka explained. “It’s a popular item right now, but I don’t ever see it being advertised or on anyone else.”

Nagisa’s eyebrows furrowed as her fingers touched the pendant. 

“That’s why I don’t think we should wear them anymore.” 

But an inkling inside her begged to differ. How could something so positive be the result of something negative? Ever since she put it on, her luck skyrocketed. Mepple and Mipple didn’t sense anything strange from the necklace either. 

Nagisa bit her lip and stared down at it.

“Nagisa! Let’s get going!” Her mom’s call snapped her out of indecision. She snatched the necklace and stuffed it into the pocket of her sports bag.

-

The sun roared with an intense heat, mimicking the spirits of all the players on the field. 

Nagisa fiddled with the necklace in her hand and sighed. Honoka’s warning rang in her ear. She shoved it back into her bag, deciding not to wear it. 

Honoka caught sight of her and walked over. 

“Honoka! I’m glad you could make it.” Nagisa grinned.

“When have I ever missed a game of yours?” She replied with a laugh and reached out, holding her hand. “I wish you luck.”

Nagisa’s heart skipped a beat. “Thanks.”

The first half of the game went by swiftly. Their families and friends' cheers reverberated from the sidelines, fueling their spirits. The scoreboard read 3-2 with Nagisa’s team in the lead.

Every night before a big event, Nagisa would spend it tossing and turning but a restless night wasn’t enough to slow her down. Playing lacrosse fueled her and with friendly competition mixed in, she was unstoppable. 

Nagisa’s fixated her eyes on the scoreboard. They needed to expand the gap between the opposing team.

She then shifted her gaze to where Honoka sat, on the top row of the bleachers. Her eyes widened when she noticed who sat beside her. 

It was Yamada. 

“Nagisa!” Rina called out to her. She pointed to the far end of the field, her cue to run towards that direction. 

Right, stay focused. 

Nagisa sprinted across the field, her eyes locked on Rina, who threw the ball in her direction.

Focus, focus, focus.

Despite the mantra she repeated, Nagisa couldn’t help but catch sight of the two of them again. She watched as Yamada’s body turned towards Honoka, initiating conversation with her. Her grip on the lacrosse stick tightened. 

A wildfire spewed inside her chest. Her focus turned back on Rina, who shot the ball toward her. Nagisa raised her stick and caught the ball. Her jaw clenched as she twisted her body to shoot towards the goal. 

Only she missed. 

The ball hit the edge of the goal fence and bounced back onto the field. 

Cheers erupted from the sidelines, along with disappointed groans. 

One player from the other team took possession of the ball and dashed towards the end of the goal. Nagisa watched as her teammates tried blocking, but their efforts were futile. 

The whistle blew, followed by an uproar.

3-3 marked the scoreboard.

“Let’s try to make it inside the goal this time, alright?” She heard Rina say. 

“Sorry! I won’t slip up again.” 

Both teams positioned themselves again, while Nagisa and the opposing captain stood midfield, the ball pressed between their sticks.

The whistle blew and the ball flung in the air.

Nagisa cradled the ball as she sprinted by the other player, and passed it to another teammate. 

The members moved across the field, sweating with determination. 

Nagisa took a moment to catch her breath. Flashbacks to her dream snapped her out of reality. She remembered the way their gazes held onto each other, as well as their hands. A future where Honoka is with someone else. In love with someone else.

It will never be you.  

The world stilled for a moment. 

Wasn’t it obvious? Why would Honoka ever fall for someone like her?

Nagisa bit the inside of her cheek, hoping the pain would distract her wandering thoughts. 

Her team had possession of the ball now. Her teammate tried to swerve away, but it got knocked out from the pocket of her stick. Rina stepped in and whacked the ball out of the opponent’s pocket. Quick on her feet, Shiho slid in front and scooped it up.

Now focus, Nagisa thought. Her heart pounded like a drum. She wiped the sweat off her palms in a swift motion. 

Nagisa locked eyes with Shiho, her grip tightening. 

This is it.

Shiho passed the ball to her. It flew in the air. 

Nagisa extended her arm, but the pass was blocked. 

Her stomach sank.

The door to victory shut in her face as the timer counted down.

Five, four, three, two…

The other team scored.

One.

The referee blew the whistle.

And half the crowd erupted in a deafening cheer.

-

“Nagisa, what the hell?!” Shiho flared. “We had it twice and both times you missed!”

Nagisa balled her fists, the storm inside her whirling in a tidal wave. “Don’t put all the blame on me! You miscalculated the distance that last time!”

Shiho stormed towards her. “Are you saying it’s my fault?! You should have known to close the distance, we’ve practiced it a million times!”

A couple of their teammates interfered, not wanting anything to escalate. 

A wave of fury and guilt washed over Nagisa. Everything spun around her and the sun didn’t help. She stormed away, ignoring the yells behind her.

Nagisa gripped the edge of the outdoor sink until her knuckles turned white. Water dripped down her face as she stared at her reflection, distorted by the running faucet. It mirrored how she felt. 

In her scurry to break away from the tension on the field, Nagisa snatched the necklace from the pocket of her bag.

She pulled it out. The necklace, cool against her hand, shined up at her. 

None of this would have happened if—

Footsteps approached behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. For Nagisa could recognize her anywhere. Recognized her touch, or by the way she walked, the way she laughed.

Honoka.

And yet, it will never be enough. She will never be enough. 

Nagisa turned to face her. 

“Nagisa,” Honoka said her voice gentle and sincere.

But the storm inside raged. All the emotions she’d bottled up poured out of her.

“I messed everything up!” Nagisa clenched her fist, the pendant digging into her palms. “I practiced so hard and yet… I let everyone down. If only I could have—” 

If what? There were so many things wrong with today. 

A lump formed in her throat, with a sinking feeling in her chest.

“A dark presence, mipo!” Mipple shouted from Honoka’s pocket. 

Honoka pulled out the card commune. “What? Right now?!”

As if the day couldn’t get any worse, a charcoal cloud loomed overhead, warping itself into a bulky shadow monster. It brought down a giant fist in their direction. Nagisa and Honoka jumped out of the way. 

The time had come. 

“Nagisa!” Mepple hopped towards her in his fairy form before returning to the card commune. 

“Now!” They swiped the queen's card and held hands. “Dual Aurora Wave!”

They transformed into Pretty Cure!

“Emissary of Light, Cure Black!”

“Emissary of Light, Cure White!”

Together they yelled, “We are Pretty Cure!”

“Servant of the Dark Power…”

“Return to the darkness from which you came from!”

Wasting no time, Cure Black attacked first. Despite not transforming in a long time, her abilities never weakened. She sprinted towards the shadow monster, gaining momentum, and sprung upward. With a balled fist, her punch clashed against the monster's own, deflecting her blow.

Cure White attacked the monster from behind, causing it to whip around and face her. Cure Black landed, dashing towards it again while it was distracted. She pulled back her fist and when she made contact with its back, it vanished. She narrowed her eyes, scanning the area for it. 

The monster reappeared behind her, a giant hand wrapped around her body. 

“Gu—!” She wiggled in its grasp, trying to escape. But the grip tightened. It brought her close and Cure Black came face to face with its twisting dark eyes. 

Darkness enveloped her. 

A voice that sounded like her own echoed in her head. 

Is this the world you want to live in? A world where love causes nothing but pain.

Cure Black’s eyes widened. 

Everything always comes to an end. The things and people you love will one day abandon you. What will you do then?

The world around her came back into focus as the grip around her loosened. Cure White kicked the monster's arm, setting her free. 

“Black, watch out!” Cure White shouted.

The shadow monster swung its heavy fist down again, creating a crater. Cure Black dodged it, running up its arm with lightning speed. 

That voice sounded like her own. But at the same time, it didn’t. Her pent-up fury exploded in a fiery blaze. She pulled her fist back and punched it between its eyes. Again and again and again. The last punch sent the monster flying backward. 

“Let’s finish this,” Cure Black muttered out. She and Cure White joined hands, calling down black and white thunder. 

“Marble Screw!” Their attack soared across the open field, striking the monster. It exploded in a dark cloud before vanishing like pepper specs.

They returned to their normal forms. 

“It wasn’t a zakenna?” Honoka said beside her. 

But Nagisa wasn’t listening. “The one time I don’t wear it, all these bad things keep happening… we don't even know what you said to me was true!”

Honoka took a step back. “What are you saying? I explained to you why I thought it was a bad idea to wear them.” A pause. “Are you saying this is my fault?”

“No! I just…”

“Please stop fighting, mipo!” Mipple interjected.

“Yes, now more than ever we need to be united, mepo!” Mepple added.

Nagisa rolled her eyes. Irritation clouded her rationality. 

Honoka stepped closer, nodding. “Mepple and Mipple are right. You can’t blame it all on bad luck. I noticed you were distracted during the game. Is something bothering you? You know you can tell me.”

“How about you tell me what’s going on between you and Yamada?” Nagisa blurted. She didn’t mean to say it out loud, but she couldn’t take it back.

Honoka furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”

Nagisa clenched her fists. “I thought you said you didn’t like him!”

“What? I already told you that I don’t even know him!”

“Then why was he so close to you…” Nagisa’s words trailed off. “You know what? Forget it.”

“Nagisa.” Honoka tried to stop her from leaving but she shoved her hand away. 

“Leave me alone.” She walked away.

Honoka didn’t follow her.

Chapter Text

She stared at her phone. Zero new messages. Three unread ones. 

With a sigh, Honoka flipped it close. It had been three days since she last talked to Nagisa—three days without the sun orbiting around her. 

Honoka tried to convince herself that the reason Nagisa had been distant these past few days was because she was focused mainly on finals. Every student for that matter was. They were preoccupied with passing their exams before summer vacation, but she knew that wasn’t true.

Honoka’s mind reeled to the events that unfolded on the field. Too much happened that day, things she still didn’t quite understand. The argument that started all of this. Honoka thought back to the things Nagisa had said. Although she didn’t play a sport, she could empathize with the other's feelings for their loss. Skill and determination was what it took to win. Relying on luck was not always an alternative. But of course, rationality isn’t always something you think about after a lucky streak. That was the main reason she decided to give Nagisa space. But the other she could not. The other was Yamada. 

As much as Honoka jumped hurdles to understand why she was so upset, she could not pinpoint the reason behind it.

Until today. 

Was Nagisa jealous because she had a crush on Yamada?

It wouldn’t be the first time it happened. The first time they met, Nagisa had confused the relationship between herself and Fuji-P until she confirmed they were only childhood friends. After making up and becoming friends, Honoka had put it upon herself to help Nagisa get closer to Fuji-P. Was this the same situation?

If Nagisa had developed a crush on him, would she help her again?

No.

That thought came too quickly.

Honoka’s eyebrows knitted. Why did she feel differently now? 

She flipped open her phone again, the unread messages taunted her. Being away from Nagisa reminded her of how much she missed her presence. She missed her laugh, her jokes, and spending time with her. The distance between them felt wrong, unnatural.

Thankfully, no evil threat had emerged these days they'd been apart. That was another thing that bothered her. Where did it even come from? It spawned from a dark cloud out of nowhere. As if sensing her dismay, Mipple popped out of her card commune form and into her fairy one. She jumped in between Honoka’s arms. A gesture she often did whenever Honoka was upset.

“Don’t worry, mipo. I know you two will make up soon.”

Honoka half smiled. It must also be difficult for Mipple, not to be able to see Mepple. They were the same, the two of them. Missing their other half.

Her thought bubble popped as Mipple turned back into the card commune as her grandmother called out to her from behind her bedroom door. 

“Honoka dear?”

“Come in.”

The door slid open and her grandmother came into view. “Do you mind stopping by the market and buying some things for dinner tonight? I made a list.”

Wallowing in her room didn’t help her wandering mind. She replied with an “Of course” and stood up. The clear weather and fresh air would bring her inner peace—at least for a little while. 

She took the longer route to the market, enjoying the sweet melody of the birds chirping and the sun's warmth. Although summer still brought with it intense heat, her body had become accustomed to it. 

There weren’t many people when she arrived. Honoka took her time picking out the vegetables, making sure they were firm and vibrant with color. But despite her best efforts, she still couldn’t brush away the dull ache in her chest every time she thought about Nagisa.

Honoka pulled out the list, hoping that rereading it would distract her desolate thoughts. She glanced down at the basket, making sure she had everything.

“Honoka, what a surprise!” It was Mrs. Misumi. “I see you’re shopping for dinner. Oh, how I wish Nagisa would help me out a bit.”

A pang shot up upon hearing her name.

Honoka greeted her, hoping her smile didn’t waver. Would she ask her why she hadn’t been over the past couple of days? Her heart thudded and she swallowed not knowing how'd she answer her.

Even if she tried to mask her emotions, Mrs. Misumi already knew about it. Call it motherly instinct. 

But instead of prying, she simply offered a smile. Warm—like the ones she remembered her mother gave her whenever she was little. It brought her comfort. And so did her words when she spoke them.

“I know you’re upset because Nagisa has been distant. She had been talking about winning for a whole week and well… you won’t always come out as the winner, is what I told her. She won’t be upset forever, trust me. I know she cares a lot about you as you care for her.”

She was right, they’d gone through several turbulent things, as all friends do. This time, it was no different. With her hopes lifted, Honoka thanked her. 

That night after dinner, while Honoka put away the dishes, her grandmother asked her about Nagisa. “Have you talked to her?” Honoka had tried to, had tried several times during school hours but Nagisa always disappeared during lunch time or walked home without her. She was obviously still upset and Honoka respected her alone time. Even though she wished they’d make up soon. 

Honoka’s pursed her lips. “Not yet,” she responded. “I haven’t had the chance to since we’ve been focused on final exams.” A lie. It’s summer vacation now and there’s no excuse. “I’ll talk to her soon.” Her grandmother listened attentively as she pulled out a wooden cutting board. 

“It’s hard to talk things out sometimes,” she said, cutting up some honeydew melon. “Give her time, I’m sure you two will be attached at the hip again. Here, have something sweet to sweeten up your night.”

Her grandmother set the honeydew melon on a dish and they sat together while they ate it. “Thank you,” Honoka said, grabbing a piece of melon. “Not only for the melon but for always knowing what to say.” She bit down on the fruit, the juice bursting in her mouth. 

Her grandmother laughed. “Of course dear. I will always be here when you need me.”

The night air carried with it a sense of relief as the two of them ate.

-

The crickets filled the garden with their midnight song. Honoka stared at the night sky, hugging the teddy bear Nagisa won for her. She’s outside her bedroom, unable to sleep. 

On nights like these, when the rest of the world sleeps, she lies awake, alone with her thoughts. She held the teddy bear tighter, wishing it was Nagisa instead.

Her peace was interrupted when Mipple broke the silence.

“Honoka! I sense something coming, mipo!” 

Honoka’s head shot up. The question popped up as to why now. On instinct, she stood up. She was about to check her phone and notify Nagisa but remembered Mepple had alerted her. She wasted no more time as she slipped on her shoes and sprinted out the door. 

Mipple led the way to where she picked up on the dark energy. Honoka moved through buildings and roads until finally the shadow monster came into view near an open space on top of a hill. As Honoka approached the shadow monster, she spotted Nagisa on the other side. They had met halfway. 

As much as she wanted to reach out and talk to her, she knew they both had a duty to fulfill first. Their gazes met and they dashed towards each other, reaching for the other’s hand, the contact electrifying. 

“Dual Aurora Wave!”

The only thing on Honoka’s mind was to defeat the enemy as soon as possible. She needed to talk things through with Nagisa—the one thing that had been on her mind. 

The shadow monster moved like smoke, twisting and curving, aiming for the two of them. They leaped out of its way, Cure Black a series of blows at it until the monster sprung backward. Cure White narrowed her eyes, ready for the next step, as she twisted her body to deliver a powerful kick, sending the enemy sideways and crashing into a line of trees. 

Their eyes met. 

“White.”

“Black.”

The shadow monster leaped back into action, snarling at them, the sound rumbling through the darkness. It sent a shiver down Cure White’s spine, but she shook it away as it teleported in front of her—so quickly that she almost didn’t have time to dodge it. Cure Black slid in front of her, delivering an upward elbow strike to the monster's abdomen. It roared. 

Cure White jumped and flipped several times in the air to gain momentum before extending her dominant leg down and smashing it on the monster's head. It crashed down on the ground, unmoving now. 

Cure White landed and held Cure Black’s hand. 

“Black Thunder!”

“White Thunder!”

A clash of thunder. 

“Pretty Cure Marble Screw!”

Their combined attack cut through the air with rapid speed, obliterating the monster and it vanished like a fire being put out. 

Their Pretty Cure outfits disappeared leaving them in their pajamas. 

The night returned to its peaceful slumber. Mepple and Mipple remained quiet, their way of letting them know that it was time to make amends. 

Nagisa spoke first, cutting through the silence.

“Honoka…” Her voice came out in a whisper. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’ve been distant these past days I just— I just didn’t know what to say. I shouldn’t have assumed anything or taken my frustration out on you. I’m sorry for being such a terrible friend.” Tears spilled down her cheeks and Honoka took her hand into hers, hating to see her cry. Her heart pounded, she had repeated this scenario in her head as to what to say.

“You’re not a terrible friend, you were only having a terrible day. Don’t let this bring you down. The Nagisa I know always pushes through, no matter what happens. And if you need to let it out, I’m right here.” Honoka gently embraced her. Deep down, she knew Nagisa never meant to hurt her. Like this, they fit together like missing puzzle pieces. Their hearts beat in sync.

She let Nagisa cry on her shoulder. Let her release all the things that troubled her. She held her, rubbing circles on her back until her sobs quieted. 

“Took me long enough, but I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“I couldn’t sleep, knowing I hurt you. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

“I forgive you.”

And of course, she did. Honoka loved her, cared for her. After a moment, they parted and Nagisa wiped her tears away. 

“I’ve missed you,” Honoka said, her words leaving her mouth like a sigh of relief. 

“I’ve missed you, too.”

After a beat, Mepple and Mipple pop out, returning to their jocund selves as they embrace.

There’s going to be times where they disagree, where they argue. But it’s moments like these that Honoka treasures most. Because the two of them come together despite it all. When they put their differences aside and come out stronger. And that’s what makes their relationship worth fighting for, she thinks. In the past, in the present, and the future.

Chapter Text

It’s late summer and the nightmares hadn’t stopped.

Sometimes they were short and when Nagisa would wake up, they would vanish from her memory, but a lot of times, they were vivid and terrorizing. They all left her waking up in a cold sweat. 

And then there was the voice. 

The voice sounded a lot like her own, but at the same time, it didn’t. It would tell her things that made her question her relationships—her world. And why did she sometimes listen to it? They left her feeling alone at times, but then she recalled the night Honoka had held her and told her she’d always be there.

And she couldn't keep it a secret anymore.

One afternoon, when they stopped by Akane’s Tako Truck to enjoy a savory treat, Honoka had brought it up again. “What did you mean earlier about the nightmares you were having?”

Nagisa didn’t expect her to pay much attention to them—after all, they were only dreams.

“It’s not that important,” she said mid-bite.

“It must be if you brought it up.” Honoka’s tone was serious. And Nagisa had no other choice but to tell her (leaving out the parts that she didn’t want Honoka to know about.) Because she liked her too much to ruin everything they'd built. Even though it hurt her.

“How about you come with me on a trip? One of my grandmother's friends has a lake house and invited us for a weekend. We can invite Shiho and Rina as well.” Honoka had suggested. “It’ll do you good. It might even help.”

Nagisa had made up with her friends as soon as she made up with Honoka. The next day, she had called them to meet upat a park. It never felt right to leave on bad terms with them, and with little surprise, Shiho and Rina showed up. Their expressions were ones that Nagisa hadn’t expected. She half expected them to still be angry with her and her performance at the game.

“Shiho, Rina, I…” Nagisa fiddled with her thumb and swallowed. “I want to say sorry for what happened. I know I didn’t give it my all and that’s why we lost, I shouldn’t have put the blame on anyone.”

“I should be apologizing too, I’m really, really, really sorry for getting angry at you,” Shiho said. 

Rina nodded. “We can’t win all the time. We’ll practice harder! Especially since the coach will have us doing line drills as soon as we return from vacation.”

They all sighed at the punishment that would take place in the future. Then they laughed. And the heavy tension haddisappeared in that moment. Nagisa wrapped her arms around the two of them, pulling them close to her. Her heart lighter now. 

Nagisa had agreed to the trip. And so did Shiho and Rina (except for Yuriko, who was spending her vacation with her family.) Away from the bustling city and into the heart of nature. And at last, here they were.

“Thanks for having us!” They all bowed down in thanks when they arrived at the lake house. The elderly woman—Mrs. Hoshizora greeted them with a warm smile and welcomed them into her home. 

Tall pine trees hugged the two-story wooden house. It faced the lake, the view of the crystalline waters clear from where they stood.

“The more the merrier,” she said. “It’s awfully lonely here by myself, that’s why when Sanae informed me Honoka was bringing her friends, I was delighted!”

As they made their way inside the house, Nagisa admired the polished interior, with its spotless wooden floors and large windows that allowed the sun to spill in. Mrs. Hoshizora gave them a quick tour of the house and where they would be staying. 

Nagisa had to beg Mepple to be careful and not pop up unexpectedly. As she rummaged through her bag to look for her phone, a hint of silver caught her eye at the bottom. As much as she wished to stop wearing it, she couldn’t bring herself not to bring it with her everywhere. 

-

Blue waters reflected the dome above. The sun beamed down on all four of them, a story of what it meant to feel alive. And Nagisa forgot all the troubles that clouded her mind and her heart. She forgot about the nightmares that visited her every night. 

Today, they decided to spend their day down at the lake and enjoy the last remnants of summer vacation on its sandy shore.

“Unbelievable!” Nagisa pouted, staring at her hand. She had picked scissors while Honoka, Shiho, and Rina all picked rock. “You guys plotted against me.”

“Yeah right, we played five—no, six times because you said you wanted an extra round and you still lost in all of them.” Rina laughed.

“Loser gets buried in the sand!” Shiho added, sticking her tongue out.

Nagisa turned to Honoka, hoping her puppy dog eyes would work on her, but Honoka only shrugged and smiled. “Rules are rules.”

She remembered the necklace she left in the pocket of her shorts and sighed.

Her friends giggled as they dug a hole in the sand. Rina told Shiho she needed to dig deeper and Nagisa crossed her arms. “Can we have a rematch?”  The two of them shared cunning glances. 

“Nope!”

Nagisa was buried in the sand. Honoka walked over and giggled. 

“Picture, picture, picture!” Shiho sing-songed as she made her way to grab her digital camera. 

Snap!

They swam, they ran, they whined (as Honoka told them to reapply sunscreen.) The sun glided across the sky and soon, it tired, and turned orange, leaving residues of its color in the clouds. 

Nagisa sat on the sand, digging her hand in it as she propped herself back and watched ducks lined up in a v shape fly by.She relished in the sweet juice of the watermelon chunks Honoka’s grandma had cut up for them. They watched the sunset.

-

The evening brought with it a cool breeze. 

Nagisa poked a marshmallow with a wooden stick. And another and another, until the stick was filled with them. She took a seat next to Honoka by the fire. 

Ending the day with a bonfire sounded thrilling and that’s what they ended up doing. 

“I sense that this is the perfect setting to tell scary stories!” Shiho chirped. 

“Do we really have to?” Rina said with a weary voice. 

The fire in front of them spat and crackled. Their surroundings danced with shadows.

“We can stop if they get too scary,” Honoka reassured her. She then turned to Nagisa with a smile that provided more warmth than the embers burning in front of them. 

Shiho cleared her throat. “Any volunteers? No, okay I’ll go first.”

“You didn’t even—“ Nagisa began but Shiho raised a finger to her mouth. Nagisa took a marshmallow into her mouth, wincing at the crispy edges that burned her tongue. "Hot, hot, hot!" 

“Are you ready? Okay. A man went for a hike in the woods… like this one. And he hiked until the sunset, not because he wanted to, no, but because he had no other choice.” She paused for dramatic effect. Or more so to take a bite out of a marshmallow. “He was lost. The trees began to scratch him and it was impossible to keep going. He couldn’t sleep out in the open, so he hoped to find a place to stay. And then that’s when a miracle happened, he found a cabin that emitted no light. When he knocked on the door, no one answered.” 

Honoka interrupted. “That’s expected. No one was home.”

Shiho continued. “He turned the doorknob and it opened. It was dark but one thing he could definitely make out was all the paintings on the walls. But! The paintings were of pale children with sunken dark eyes. As the man walked through the house, he noticed that all of them were staring at him, with an open mouth frozen mid-scream. Here’s the thing though, when he woke up the next morning..." She jumped. "All the paintings were replaced with windows!”

They gasped.

"The end."

Nagisa shuffled closer to Honoka. “That—that wasn’t too bad.”

Rina asked where she even came up with a story like that.

“Well, if I want to become a movie director, I have to explore every possible genre!”

“I’ll go next then,” Honoka said. They all turned to look at her, waiting. 

“There’s a story that takes place in this very lake. It is said that if you go near the lake late at night, you’ll hear the wail of a woman.”

“Have—have you heard her?” Rina murmured, clinging to Shiho. 

Honoka closed her eyes. “One time.”

They gasped.

She continued. “Once you hear her wail, it’s already too late. She will rise out of the water and drag you down with her.”

The fire cracked at her last word, making Nagisa jump and lean closer to Honoka. Too close now. Another crack was heard but this time, it came from something around them. 

“Okay, no more scary stories!” Rina shook her head, to which Shiho exclaimed that not everyone had a chance to tell theirs.

Nagisa shared a knowing look with Rina, neither of them wanting to continue. Her mind rambled for an excuse. She stood up, a little too quickly. “I’ll go get more marshmallows!” 

“I’ll come with you.” Honoka too, stood up.

“Don’t take too long!” Shiho yelled behind them.

The two of them made their way into the house and through the kitchen. 

Honoka pulled out a bag of strawberry marshmallows. “You know it’s not true right? I made the story up on the spot.” She set them down on the counter. 

Nagisa recalled how close she huddled next to Honoka and heat rushed up her face. “I know that I wasn’t scared at all. I was just cold…”

“It’s okay to be a little afraid sometimes.” Honoka took a step closer and Nagisa resisted the urge to step back. “I think that once we face those fears, we become stronger. Don’t you agree?” 

Nagisa’s heart skipped a beat. “Y-yeah.” 

They were both alone now and Honoka’s gaze lingered a little longer, her indigo-colored eyes focused on her own. She leaned in closer and closer and Nagisa’s breath hitched from the proximity. Their faces were now inches apart and although she had imagined countless ways of how to kiss Honoka, her body froze with nerves.

Was this really happening right now? 

Their lips were about to meet when a scream was heard from outside and they quickly pulled away. 

The two of them sprinted across the house and outside again to the sight of Shiho and Rina holding each other. 

“What’s wrong?!” Nagisa frantically searched the area only to see that her friends were freaking out about a squirrel. 

The tension left her body and she laughed in disbelief. 

“I, I, I thought it was something else!” Rina cried.

Plip plop.

Nagisa felt soft droplets of water land on her skin. Summer rain. An indicator that their night would be cut short and it was time for bed. 

That night, in their shared room, Nagisa lay awake, hearing the gentle pour of droplets on the window. Honoka shuffled and turned to face her. “Can’t sleep?”

She shook her head. How could she when all she thought about what had happened earlier? Or was she losing it? Honoka didn’t bring it up and she was too nervous to say anything about it.

Honoka laced her fingers between her own. "I'm right here in case you start having bad dreams.” 

Nagisa turned her body to face Honoka. “Thanks.” 

The gesture soothed her. As it always did. 

“About earlier…” Nagisa squeezed her hand.

“Hm?”

The thudding of her heart was so loud, she was surprised Honoka didn’t hear it. “N-nothing! Never mind. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Nagisa.”

The sound of the falling rain lulled her to sleep. She woke up the next morning, without any remnants of a nightmare. 

They say their goodbyes to Mrs. Hoshizora, thanking her for the wonderful weekend spent at her lake house. She wished them a safe journey back and told them to come visit her anytime. They headed back to the city, where nature was foundin parks and swimming was done in pools. 

And Nagisa thought back to the previous night and wondered how it would have been to be kissed by a pretty girl with indigo-colored eyes. 

-

Nagisa pulled a pillow close to her chest and buried her face in it. She squealed.

Was it real? It wasn’t a dream. Was that really about to happen? Did Honoka almost…

Kiss her?!

Thinking about it again and again made her kick her feet with utmost joy. 

“What’s your major malfunction, mipo?” Mepple asked, jumping on top of the bed. “Did you finally confess to Honoka, mipo?”

Nagisa peeked over at him behind the pillow. “What did you say?! How do you know that I like her? Wait—no, I didn’t mean to say that. Why did you say that?” She mentally slapped herself. She couldn’t have been that obvious, could she?

“It’s so obvious, mipo! If I were you, I would have told her my feelings of love a long time ago! Like I did with Mipple, mepo!”

Nagisa sat up, pinching one of Mepple’s cheeks. “Easy for you to say, what I’m going through is much more complicated.” She let go of his cheek. 

If only it were that easy. But now, replaying the night at the lake house, maybe it was. Because for a second there she could have sworn it would have happened. Then that means Honoka felt the same way, right? Her mind turned to jelly. She cupped her cheeks with her hands, daydreaming for the nth time that night about kissing her best friend. 

Until a thought occurred to her. If she couldn’t say her feelings out loud, maybe she could write them. Like the time before they became best friends and accidentally swapped their diaries. 

Nagisa hopped off her bed and plopped herself down on her desk, grabbing a rose-colored piece of paper. 

This is your first love letter from a girl…

Chapter Text

One more week. Honoka crossed out yesterday’s day on the calendar. One more week until her parents came to visit. 

Mipple hopped into her arms and she hugged her gently. “I can’t wait to see them,” Honoka told her. She imagined hugging her parents, telling them about everything that had happened these past months. 

One more week, she repeated. 

The sun cast a golden halo around Nagisa’s head as Honoka watched her from her seat.

Honoka didn’t know when her feelings began, nor could she predict how they would end. It felt as if these emotions had always been a part of her. The night she discovered that Nagisa might have developed a crush on Yamada, an emotion stirred within her: jealousy.

Nagisa resembled the sun, from the tips of her hair to the balls of her feet. Her blazing aura drew Honoka like a moth to a flame. And like Icarus, she would fly close to the sun if it meant being able to kiss her.

But Icarus’ wings burned and he drowned. And so would she.

The days passed by without another mention of it. Or it seemed as though the two tried to avoid bringing it up.

She didn’t expect herself to act so boldly that day. But something inside pulled her close to Nagisa, so close that she almost kissed her. It wouldn’t be the first time she had the urge; she only acted on it this time.

Honoka felt heat rush to her ears. What was she thinking acting on impulse? 

“Yukishiro, please read the next page.”

She woke up from her daydream. Honoka stood up, picking up her textbook. 

The rest of the day strolled by. Nagisa had waited for her by the school entrance and they walked together until it was time to part ways.

“Uh… Honoka?”

Honoka turned to Nagisa. “Hm?”

Nagisa adverted her gaze, something she often does nowadays. Especially when the two of them were alone together. This is what Honoka wanted to avoid. Awkwardness between them. She had spent years suppressing her feelings for the other, she could suppress more. It’s not like Nagisa would ever return them. 

“There’s something I want to talk about.” Nagisa shifted her weight.

And there it was. Nagisa was uncomfortable. She shouldn’t have tried to kiss her. The last thing she wanted was for Nagisa to feel that way. 

Honoka spoke before her. “Is it about the night in the kitchen?”

Nagisa’s eyes widened. “Sort of… yeah?”

She had to save it—their friendship—even if it meant lying to her. “It was a mistake.”

“Huh? A mistake?”

“I don’t know what crossed my mind. I didn’t mean to do that.” Honoka readjusted her school bag. “Let’s pretend it never happened.”

But the truth was, she did know. That night, while they were telling stories, Nagisa had clung to her. Her touch set her heart ablaze. It had all happened so fast and soon, her body acted before her mind did. 

A silence stretched between them. 

Nagisa huffed out a laugh. “Y-yeah… let’s… I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Same time?”

“Same place.”

Honoka sighed and told herself not to do that ever again.

-

The golden rays of the sun spilled into the kitchen, and the sound of the knife hitting the wood filled the space, along with the gentle hum of Honoka’s voice. The aroma of broth and a hint of herbs enveloped her senses. 

The phone rang. 

Her grandmother answered, her tone enthusiastic when she heard the voice on the other end. Honoka put the knife down and glanced up. She immediately knew who it was. 

Honoka made her way towards her grandmother, wanting to listen closely. And as the conversation continued, there came a pause. More talking and then a pause again. Her grandmother cleared her throat. “Yes, she’s right here.” She passed Honoka the phone. 

Honoka put the phone to her ear, eyes widening when she heard her mother greet her. Due to their busy schedules, they rarely had the chance to call but when they did, Honoka always treasured those moments.

In the background, she could hear her father speak. Her parents filled her with greetings and what seemed like a million questions. 

How have you been? How is school going? We miss you so much! 

Honoka responded to all of them. 

“I can’t wait to see you next week.” Honoka couldn’t help but smile. “You can tell me more about Paris in detail and we can also go to this restaurant that opened recently and also—“

Her mother spoke softly, the giddiness disappearing. “Honoka honey, the reason we called today was because…”

Rustled motion over the phone.

Her father spoke next. “You see, Honoka, we received a crucial offer—one that we simply cannot decline. And well… we won’t be making it next week. But there’s always your birth—“

“Why…?” Honoka’s voice cracked. Something inside of her shattered. Her grip on the phone tightened. 

Why did it have to be like this?

She wanted to tell that they never considered her feelings. But instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I understand.”

“Oh, Honoka!” Her mother. “We wish things didn’t have to turn out like this, but this is very important.”

More important than her?

“We miss you so much!”

But not enough.

She shook those intrusive thoughts away, knowing that her parents did miss her. They did. But they were also busy, she told herself. And that’s okay.

Is it?

They exchanged a few more words, mostly her parents telling her what she wanted for her birthday. And Honoka didn’t care about material things, they could shower her with gold and diamonds, but nothing could compare to the warmth of their presence. That’s the only thing she’d ever wanted. She missed them.

Honoka hung up. 

During dinner, Honoka had barely touched her food. Her arm felt too heavy to pick up the spoon. Her grandmother noticed the change in her behavior. She tried to soothe her, telling her she’ll see them soon. But her words fell on deaf ears. 

The spoon clinked against the bowl. “I’m going to bed early.”

“Honoka…”

In her room, she crossed out the date for next week. Waiting was pointless now. On her desk, the black heart pendant lay untouched on her Yang trinket dish. Honoka bit her lip and picked it up. Tears blurred her vision.

“What’s wrong, mipo?” Mipple asked softly. 

Honoka sat down on the edge of her bed and Mipple sat down next to her. She thumbed the pendant, then closed her fist around it, the metal jabbing at her palm. She blinked rapidly not wanting tears to fall.

“My parents… they’re not visiting anymore.” 

This was the way it had always been. And as much as Honoka tried to convince herself that she was used to it, she would be lying. A part of her—one that she kept deep inside—wished they’d chosen a different profession. One where she didn’t have to live without them. 

Mipple began to tremble. Honoka turned her head at her. “Mipple?” 

She zapped back into her card commune form. “I feel a dark presence nearby, mipo! It’s… it’s getting closer and closer, mipo!”

Honoka stood up, scooping Mipple up. “Where is it coming from?”

“Outside, mipo!”

She slid open her bedroom door. A dark cloud loomed overhead, covering the light of the moon.  Its dark and jagged edges were like messy pen doodles. It grew bigger and bigger before turning into a shadow monster. 

Honoka dashed out of the house. She needed to stray it away from the residential area. It caught sight of her and began to follow, hot on her heels. Mepple would have sensed it by now, and Nagisa would soon show up, she just needed to run faster to meet her halfway.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she sprinted out of the residential area and to the main road. 

Why did it have to appear now? It’s as if it always appears at the worst times…

The ground trembled behind her, causing her to lose her footing. Her palms scraped the pavement as she fell. 

“Honoka!”

Relief filled her body as she heard her name being called. Honoka pushed herself back up to her feet.  Not daring to look back at the approaching enemy. She mustered all the strength in her legs to move faster and reached out to Nagisa.

“Dual Aurora Wave!”

They transformed into Pretty Cure. 

A shockwave of dark power charged towards them. They jumped away from each other, barely dodging the attack. Cure Black went for a punch, but the enemy disappeared before she could hit it. It reappeared in front of Cure White, its twitchy movements were hard to calculate. It opened its mouth with a scratchy cry. Its shriek was jarring, goosebumps prickled her skin. Its scream reverberated power and Cure White lost her balance from the force, blowing her backwards. 

She picked herself up, a shadow on the ground getting bigger and bigger and her heart stopped, as she looked up. The monster's giant fist came down behind her. Reflexes took over as she brought her hands up and caught the fist in defense. Using her upper body strength, she swung it over her and it came crashing down in front of her. 

The shadow monster regained its footing, charging towards her once again. She spun, kicked, and hit away the monster's swinging hand, trying to grab her. It crashed into a nearby building. A screeching sound came out of its mouth, creating a ripple effect. Cure Black and Cure White stumbled as they covered their ears. 

It emitted a cloud of smoke and in a second, it attacked them both with impeccable strength. Cure White coughed from the rubble she landed in. 

In the blink of an eye, it slid in front of her. Her eyes widened as its abysmal eyes bore into her own. The world around her faded into black. 

Your parents don’t care about you. If they did, they wouldn’t have lied to you. Not even the love of their only daughter can reach them. 

Cure White’s body stiffened. The voice was low and dark and… her own? 

The darkness faded away as she felt a heavy weight hit the side of her body. The monster swatted its heavy arm onto her side, sending her sideways until she hit the ground, rolling away to a stop. 

“White!” Cure Black shouted. 

What good does waiting do, if all you do is suffer?

Cure White shut her eyes. It was still there… taunting her. She balled her fists, wanting it to stop. They weren’t her actual feelings. They were merely intrusive thoughts. She shakily picked herself up and pressed a palm to her temple. “That’s not true,” she muttered weakly. 

Haunting as they were, she needed to end this fight. 

The monster lunged itself upwards, a giant fist pointed right at her. In a matter of seconds, Cure Black dashed towards her right side. “Block it!”

They both used their fists to deflect the attack. The sheer force it used against them pushed both further into the ground. It was a challenge to see who would prevail. They dug their heels into the cracking pavement. Electricity zapped around their bodies. Their hands quickly found each other as they yelled out.

“Pretty Cure Marble Screw!”

They pushed their attack upwards, sending a powerful wave of roaring thunder. The shadow monster degenerated with a grainy cry.

Cure White’s knees trembled and she collapsed to the ground, returning to her normal form. 

Nagisa kneeled beside her, her hand resting on her shoulder. “Honoka, are you okay?” 

Honoka's heart squeezed. Because no she wasn’t okay. She threw herself onto Nagisa, feeling despondent. Tears streamed down her face. Nagisa stayed quiet and held her tightly. She let her release the ache she tried so hard to ignore.

For a moment, Honoka lost herself in their embrace. And for a moment, she forgot the pain she harbored. 

Chapter Text

She sat on a park bench. A dim streetlight flickered above her. The starless sky stretched beyond. 

After Honoka calmed down, she explained everything that happened that afternoon. Nagisa too, felt the heavy weight in her heart when she was told Honoka’s parents would not be coming for a visit. She recalled how happy Honoka had been when she first told her the news a while back and now, seeing her in this state, she could only hold her in her arms. 

“I miss them so much.” Honoka sighed. “Sometimes I wish I would have accepted going to live in Paris back in middle school. And… sometimes not.”

Nagisa remembered that day how she tried so hard to talk to her about the decision and how she kept getting interrupted. A smile tugged at her lips as the memory of them both playing catch popped up. It was the first time they both had done it. And the indecision had vanished. But now, hearing Honoka semi-regret her decision, she’s speechless. She doesn’t know what to say because in one part she still thinks she should trust her feelings and do what’s best for her and in another, she doesn’t ever want to be without Honoka.

Honoka must have noticed because she followed it by saying, “I’ll think about it more seriously after high school graduation. Besides, I want to keep being by your side. And, of course.” She cleared her throat. “There’s Pretty Cure.”

Nagisa let out a sigh. She was now alone. She couldn’t bring herself to walk back home. Not when another worry clouded her mind. 

Mepple broke her concentration. “What are you thinking about, mepo? Honoka assured us that we would never be separated. I can’t be apart from Mipple either, mepo!”

“I know that it’s just—“

It’s just… what?  

Another nightmare scenario.

-

Nagisa opened her eyes. A fence was enclosed around her and the open sky expanded above. She was at the school’s rooftop. A gentle breeze brushed her skin, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about it now and…” A voice beside her said. “After graduation, I’ll leave to study in Paris.”

A punch to the gut.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.” Now, Honoka came to view. “I leave next week, I’ve already packed up all my belongings.”

Nagisa swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Honoka had decided to leave. To leave her.

Another voice. “What will you do, Nagisa? Shiho and Rina have also decided to go to different universities. What do you plan on doing?”

Oh. 

Nagisa was in the future . A future where all her friends, including herself, already graduated. But she never imagined it like this. She never wanted to imagine a future without her friends . Or without Honoka.

She didn’t know what to respond with. What could she say?

Not wanting to lose her so easily, her gaze fell to the ground. “I thought we would always be together forever—“

Selfish. 

Clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. A dark shadow cast on Honoka’s face. She covered a laugh with her hand. “Did you really believe that? I mean, we made that promise when we were young. And now that we’re older, we must go our own way. It’s part of growing up.”

A lump built inside Nagisa’s throat. 

The ground began to crack beneath her feet. She lost her balance as the building crumbled. Nagisa was the only one who fell through and instinct took over as she extended her arm for Honoka to take. 

But Honoka never grabbed her hand.

Honoka became smaller and smaller as she fell further and further down the black hole.

Her vision turned black. 

“Nagisa!”

Nagisa jolted awake. Sweat rolled down her temples and her back. 

Her mom stood in front of her, holding a chocolate cupcake with a single pink candle in the middle. “Happy Birthday!” 

“Jeez mom, can’t you at least knock first?” Nagisa put her palm against her temple, rubbing the nightmare away.

“You were in such a deep sleep, I called your name several times and you wouldn’t wake up.” She placed the cupcake down next to her bedstand. “Chocolate, your favorite.” Her mom smiled at her and walked out the door. 

“I can’t wait to see Mipple today, mepo!” Mepple jumped out of his card commune form. 

Nagisa pinched his cheeks. “You’re not even gonna wish me happy birthday? What is wrong with you?”

They both got into a banter about birthday etiquette and Nagisa was sure they were being too loud about it too. But it wouldn’t be the first time her mom questioned her about why she talks (and argues) with herself. 

When did any of this become a normal thing, she doesn’t know, but what she does know is that she won’t waste any more time arguing with a plushie. 

Nagisa gave one last final pull on Mepple’s squishy cheeks before flipping open her cell phone. 

She had a few messages from Shiho and Rina reminding her about birthday plans.

Honoka had messaged her too.

That’s when images of last night's dream came reeling back in. Nightmares would be a better term. How many nights has it been now? They would torment her at every waking second because they felt a little too real. The taunting thoughts of those dreams becoming real were too much to deal with. 

She couldn’t risk her special day to chaos today.

“You look hungry Mepple. I think it’s time for breakfast.”

It didn’t take much convincing as Mepple jumped in joy. Nagisa pulled out the Omp chef card who was ready for anything Mepple requested to eat.

Nagisa sneaked over to where she kept her jewelry on a trinket tray (she didn’t have much) picked up the black heart necklace and turned her head around to see Mepple inside a bubble, entertained by a giant omurice in front of him.

She tried to wear it less often, telling herself that nothing bad had happened when she tucked it under her shirt. She reserved it for special occasions when she needed a bit of luck, such as on test days or when she wanted to avoid doing chores. However, the shadow monsters would show up when she wasn't wearing it.

Nagisa couldn’t risk it today. She was determined to spend her seventeenth birthday with the people she cared about most, which did not include fighting monsters.

She swung open her closet door, facing the dilemma of what to wear.

By mid-afternoon, her mother prepared a feast with all the dishes Nagisa loved. Sukiyaki, yakitori, and—

Nagisa’s eyes sparkled and her mouth watered when she spotted takoyaki balls.

“Freshly and recently made from Akane’s takoyaki truck! I just went to pick them up,” her dad said.

They all ate and celebrated as this was the only day it was deemed acceptable to splurge on savory food and sugary pastries (without the constant side eye her mom would throw her.)

And so Nagisa indulged until her heart was full—as well as her stomach. She spent the first half of the day with her family until the time came to meet up with her friends.

-

The karaoke room echoed with the instrumental of an upbeat pop song mixed in with Shiho’s singing voice. 

Rina cheered next to Nagisa, whose eyes were glued to the lyrics depicting a love story on the screen.

Yuriko sighed in awe. “It must be so nice to be in love. Don’t you think, Honoka?” 

Nagisa’s ear perked, wanting to hear her response. Shiho hit a high note, destroying that chance. 

“Have you guys noticed that life is boring without a crush?” Rina added.

Nagisa thought of her younger school years and her major crush on Fujimura. After high school, she continued to see him around, but the crush slowly faded and was replaced with a new one. 

Rina looked between the three of them, wiggling her eyebrows. “Do any of you have crushes at the moment?”

“Nagisa doesn’t need a crush when Honoka is right there!” Shiho’s voice blared over the microphone, the song coming to an end.

Nagisa choked on her strawberry soda. “E-eh?!”

“I’m right, I’m right, I’m right! There’s no need when you two are already lovey-dovey!” 

Rina nodded eagerly, cupping her face with her hands. “You could feel the love between you two!”

Nagisa almost choked on her soda again. 

What is going on right now? It’s one thing for Mepple to notice but now her friends too?! 

 “Unbelievable! Honoka and I are just really really good friends, right Honoka?”

“Of course,” Honoka said with a small smile. 

Nagisa rubbed the back of her neck. “Jeez, you two just be saying anything.”

Shiho raised an eyebrow, her expression mischievous. “Are we now?”

The tune of a pop song Nagisa knew all the lyrics to began to play on the screen (but she couldn’t admit that out loud!)

“It’s your turn, Nagisa! I chose this song for you, and don’t act like you don’t know the lyrics!” Shiho handed Nagisa the microphone.

“Sing with your whole heart, Nagisa!” Rina added.

The song Je T’aime ★ Je T’aime by Tommy february6 began to play. 

Nagisa could not believe this! She couldn’t sing this song in front of the person she always thought about! Nagisa glanced over at her star-shaped-eyed friends. Their overeager smiles told her that they had planned this whole thing. She mentally cursed herself for being so obvious about her crush on Honoka. The lyrics popped up on the screen and she had no choice but to follow along.

Nobody knows about the photo

I’ve hidden inside my heart locket  

Nagisa’s heart thudded rapidly. This was all too embarrassing especially when she could feel Honoka’s eyes on her. Could she read her thoughts? What a silly thing to say… Of course, Honoka couldn’t read her thoughts, that’s impossible. 

Candy shops

And record stores

Are so boring when you’re not around!

She grinned at Honoka when she sang that part.

Shiho, Rina, and Yuriko squealed.

Nagisa turned away, the next part she couldn’t sing to Honoka. Was she making this too obvious?

…and now, all I dream about is you

Mon amour

Je t’aime, je t’aime~

Honoka stood up, grabbing the extra mic that sat at the table. She sang the next part.

I don’t wanna have dreams that won’t come true

But a romance is awakening

“I love you”

Nagisa locked eyes with Honoka and for a moment, it was only the two of them in the room. Honoka took her hand in hers and began to dance. A style between improvised and idol-esque. Now both of them danced. A smile spread across Nagisa’s face, her overthinking replaced with ease.

Shiho, Rina, and Yuriko began to cheer them on.

Nagisa’s nerves calmed down. There was no reason for her to act any differently with her best friend. The only thing that mattered now was how joy spread throughout her body.

La La La La

La La La La…

They both sang the last part of the song in unison and the rest of their friends joined them, the five of them in harmony until the song ended.

Honoka squeezed Nagisa’s hand, her thumb brushing her knuckles in comfort. She hadn’t let go throughout the entire time. Not only were their hands connected, but so were their hearts.

As the evening grew older, Honoka suggested they stop by a very famous cafe and bakery called the Sweet House. Everyone wholeheartedly agreed. 

Nagisa almost reached to take Honoka’s hand as they walked. She couldn’t believe what had happened in the karaoke room. Honoka didn’t seem upset and the lyrics she had sung to her…

I love you.

She began to overanalyze why Honoka decided to sing that part. Did she mean it? It was part of the song but still, thinking about it caused her ears to warm up.

This whole dealing with your feelings thing overwhelmed her. 

Nagisa stuck her hands in the pockets of her jean skirt. 

When they arrived, Nagisa admired the design of the Sweet House. It was enormous, reminding her of a toy house, with its pastel-colored walls and castle-like architecture. Warm light emitted from its heart-shaped windows—an invitation to a delicious dream.

Once inside, the aroma of baked sweets and coffee filled the room. The workers were styled in cute outfits, all with a different color theme. They moved quickly on their feet, helping and attending to the wave of people that flooded the cafe. 

They wandered around, stars filling their eyes and the rich smell of chocolate filling their senses. 

Honoka informed them that they give away a free miniature cake of the person's choice whenever it’s their birthday. The proof was her student ID card.

“Unbelievable!” Nagisa beamed. “You mean I get to choose whichever cake I want? This is certainly the best birthday ever!”

Nagisa zoomed towards the colorful display of cakes of various shapes and sizes. She didn’t have to decide for long when her eyes caught sight of a chocolate lava cake with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

“This one for sure!” She pointed to it through the glass.

Upon receiving the cake in a cute stylized box they went back outside where Rina waved them over to the table she reserved. 

They took the cake out of the box and Honoka stuck rainbow-colored candles. 

Then the obvious question arose. “Wait how are we going to light them up?”

Rina clapped her hands once. “Don’t worry ladies, I got this.”

She pulled out a lighter and lit the candles up one by one.

Nagisa questioned why she carried a lighter, to which Rina responded to her oblivious friends that it was cool. 

“No, I don’t smoke, F.Y.I.” She said and none of them questioned her anymore.

“Okay, okay, okay! Is everyone ready?” Shiho pulled out a sparkly digital camera. “It’s picture time!”

They gathered around and waited for Shiho to extend the camera before posing. 

Click! 

“Wait! Let’s take another one, I think I blinked,” Nagisa said. 

They all said her name in unison but obliged as they posed again.

Click! 

Nagisa’s heart threatened to beat out of her chest from happiness as her friends began to sing Happy Birthday. 

She touched the necklace that hid under her shirt—out of habit. 

And then her mind clouded with worry because she didn’t want this moment to end. She didn't want to think of a future where her friends weren’t here to celebrate her birthday. 

She noticed their faces turn from cheerfulness to worry as their song cut short. She was confused until she felt her cheeks wet with tears. 

“No, no, no, what’s wrong, Nagisa? You’re supposed to be happy on your birthday!” Shiho exclaimed.

“What’s wrong, Nagisa?” Honoka asked her with genuine concern. 

Nagisa shook her head, not wanting to worry her friends.

 “I’m just really happy right now.” She said between what sounded like a laugh or a cry. She didn’t know. 

They all huddled over her, cracking jokes about how Shiho would pull out the digital camera and snap pictures of her puffy face.

Nagisa wiped away her tears, not wanting to dwell on her dark thoughts. She wanted to bask in this moment of gratitude and hope.

And she did just that when they all dived into the chocolate lava cake. It’s sugary goodness sweetening up her mood.

The time came when they had to part ways, leaving only the two of them again. Nagisa and Honoka.

The two of them walked together. Again, the thought of holding Honoka’s hand flashed in her mind, but instead, Nagisa walked over to the railing that overlooked the city. Honoka followed suit.

Down below, the city lights reflected the sky above.

“Wow! You can see the stars from here!” Nagisa pointed out. 

She turned to face Honoka to make sure she saw them too. 

“I know of a place where you can see them clearer. We would have to go further away from the city to avoid the light pollution. Would you want to come someday with me?” Honoka asked.

“Is that even a question? Of course, I would!” Nagisa grinned.

Just as Nagisa was about to turn away and keep walking, Honoka tugged at her arm, stopping her.

“Honoka?” She noticed that Honoka was looking towards the ground, adverting her gaze.

“I have a present for you.” Honoka pulled out a small square box. She handed it over to her. 

When Nagisa lifted the lid of the box, her mouth opened in awe, and a black ring with a pink rhinestone greeted her. 

It was the promise ring she spotted in the magazine. Committing to the act of staying together for a long time.

Honoka raised her hand, wearing a similar one but in silver with a blue rhinestone. “I wanted us to match.”

Nagisa took the ring out of the box and slid it on her middle finger, admiring it. “Thank you, Honoka.”

You have no idea how much this means to me.

“I want us to be together for a long time. Not only for Pretty Cure reasons but as best friends. I hope you feel the same way.”

“Of course, I feel the same way.” Nagisa grinned. “No matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side, forever.”

“Happy birthday, Nagisa.” Honoka held out her hand. “Let’s get going.”

Nagisa saw the stars in Honoka’s eyes. She saw the moon reflect on her skin. She felt the warmth of her touch when she took her hand into hers. 

She couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Unbeknownst to them, a single shooting star danced across the night sky, granting their wish of an unbreakable bond.

Chapter Text

“Hurry up, mepo! I want to see Mipple as soon as possible, mepo!” Mepple jumped up and down on Nagisa’s bed. 

“Can you quiet down? I’m kinda busy right now and plus, you just saw her yesterday!” Nagisa stuffed her bag with CDs and new edition magazines. She couldn’t blame him, though. If she had it her way, she’d want to see Honoka every day. And that’s why she needed to get her things together to get to her house faster. Because tonight she was going over to Honoka’s house for a sleepover. 

A laugh escaped her lips, understanding how Mepple felt now.

It was another one of those days where Honoka’s grandma would meet up with an old-time friend and not wanting to be alone, Honoka would call her over for a sleepover. The first time, Nagisa had invited all of her friends—the more themerrier. But over time, she began to come alone. She kind of liked it better that way.

Nagisa bounced back and forth between the pile of clothes and the mirror. 

“I thought we were going to a sleepover, not a beauty pageant, mepo.” Mepple crossed his little arms.

Nagisa added her favorite pink slippers into the bag. “You would know a lot about those, huh?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and reached for the zipper. “Can you jump on this, I can’t close it properly.”

“Are you taking your whole room, mepo?!” 

“Less lip and more zip!”

She glanced over at her study desk where the love letter lay crumbled. So many times she tried to hand it over to Honoka and so many times she failed. Instead, shoving it into her blazer or bag where she kept all her feelings of love. One day courage pumped through her veins, Honoka had told her to forget about their almost kiss. And that day she decided she’d stop trying. 

But no matter what she did, she couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way she made her feel.

Nagisa only drowned deeper and deeper the more she tried to hide her feelings. The surface rippled further away while she desperately gasped for air.

Of all the futures her nightmares presented, only one truly terrified her. It was the one where she never tells Honoka her feelings and risks the unknown of what could not have been. Or what could have been. 

Maybe, just maybe she’ll get the willpower to swim up to the surface.

-

When they arrived at Honoka’s house, they were greeted by Chuutaro who wagged his tail at their arrival. Nagisa crouched down and petted the back of Chuutaro’s ears. “Who's a good doggy?”

“Welcome,” Honoka said with a smile. Nagisa could never get tired of that sight.

“Thanks for having us,” Nagisa said, averting her gaze when she realized she might have been staring a little too long.

As Honoka closed the door behind them, Mepple and Mipple quickly converted into their fairy forms and clung to each other like gum. They spun around, saying words of love to one another.

The afternoon was spent cooking dinner. Although Nagisa wasn’t particularly skilled (too many over-peeled vegetables and pans catching on fire later…) she still tried her best—with Honoka keeping a close eye on her.

Tonight’s course was tonkatsu , an easy but tasty meal.

Nagisa was put in charge of frying the chicken cutlets. Easy enough, right? Or so, she thought. She leaned as far away as possible from the sizzling oil pan flinching every time the oil popped. 

“How about you cut the cabbage instead?” Honoka switched places with her. 

“Sounds simple enough.” Nagisa picked up the knife and stared at the cabbage in front of her, unsure of how to cut it.

Honoka stood behind her and reached over to grab Nagisa’s hand, which held the knife.

“You do it like this.”

Nagisa’s pulse spiked in her throat. She couldn’t focus on the motions she was being shown because she could only focus on how close Honoka was to her. Even though they’d been close before, this was a totally different feeling. Every little thing made her heart flutter. 

“Do you understand how to do it now?” Honoka turned to her, her face inches away. 

“I, uh— I think so?”

“Were you even paying attention?” Honoka pouted.

How cute, Nagisa thought. But no, she has not been paying attention at all. Not when Honoka smelled of honey and rose petals which made her mind a jumbled mess. “One more time from the beginning?”

Honoka showed her again.

After they ate dinner, Nagisa beamed as it was time for her favorite part of the visit.

Dessert.

Before she stopped by Honoka’s house, Nagisa would make a quick run to the store and buy goods they could bake. Tonight she chose brownies. 

They wrapped around their aprons and headed back into the kitchen.

Nagisa mixed the dry ingredients with the wet ones. In her eagerness to enjoy a sweet treat, she got carried away with the mixing, and the chocolate mix splattered on her face. 

Honoka glanced over at her. Her hand covered a giggle which then turned into a laugh. She walked over to Nagisa and wiped off the chocolate from her cheek. “Mm, yummy!”

Nagisa could see her future and it was bright. Nothing could ever compare to moments like these. She breathed them in, hoping they would come back as vivid and bright in her memories.

They returned to their whisking and mixing.

Ding!

The kitchen filled with the scent of chocolate.

“They’re done!” Nagisa pulled the tray out of the oven, feeling the warmth through the oven mitts, being extra careful not to drop them (and avoid burning herself.) 

After they had cooled off a bit, Honoka cut them into neat squares. She handed one to Nagisa and they both brought their brownies together in a cheer.

Upon the first bite, Nagisa melted like the chocolate on her tongue.

The shared sweetness made it all the better. 

-

As night fell upon them, they snuggled into their pajamas.

They both lay on Honoka’s bed. Nagisa was on her belly and Honoka sat in an upright position.

The album The Best Damn Thing by Avril Lavigne played on Nagisa’s portable CD boombox.

Honoka flipped the magazine's page. She turned it for Nagisa to see. “Look Nagisa, on the horoscope page it says you and I are sister signs.”

Nagisa raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“It says here they are signs opposite on the zodiac wheel but complement each other really well!”

Nagisa read the rest of the paragraph. “They are compatible in friendship and romance.”

Honoka nodded with a smile. “I think we make a good pair.”

Nagisa mirrored her smile, kicking her feet together. “I agree! Hey, what does my horoscope say? Ooh, I hope it says something good.”

“It says ‘what started as a friendship has been developing into something deeper. Libra, when will you finally get the courage to confess your true feelings for this special someone? The planet Venus is always in your favor.’” Honoka eyed her, a small smile creeping up her lips. “Is this true, Nagisa?”

She rolled over and sat up straight, her cheeks burning at the accuracy of the horoscope. In disbelief, she laughed to cover up her nervousness. “What? There’s no way it actually says that.”

“Hah! I’ve never heard of something so accurate, mepo!” Mepple popped out of nowhere. “Why don’t you tell her—“

Nagisa slapped a hand over Mepple’s mouth. “Mepple, do you want to go to sleep early?” 

“Nnff!”

Honoka and Mipple shared a confused look.

“Sorry about that. Where were we? Oh right, what does it say for Aries?” Nagisa plopped back down on her stomach, throwing a warning look Mepple’s way.

Honoka blinked but didn’t question any further. She read out loud. “‘The boys at school are a bore. Aries, you need someone who can match your passion and drive. Maybe it’s someone closer than you think. Expect big changes soon.’ Hm, I wonder what those changes are.”

Without thinking, Nagisa asked if she had someone she liked.

Her heart rate increased. Should she have asked that? Maybe it was too sudden but her mouth is always quicker than her brain.

“I like you. And I like Mipple and Mepple. And our friends, too. Does that count?”

Nagisa slumped her shoulders. She hadn’t meant like like that. But the little bit of courage she had flew out the window and she wasn’t about to clarify what she had meant.

“Why? Do you like someone?” Honoka turned to face her. Her big eyes awaited an answer. 

Yeah, you. 

Nagisa bit the inside of her cheek. “I would say the same thing as you.”

And if Nagisa wasn’t paying close attention, she wouldn’t have noticed disappointment flash across Honoka’s face but it left as quickly as it came.

“Yeah?” Honoka said.

“Yeah,” Nagisa repeated.

“Nagisa! Quit lying and tell the truth, mepo!”

“I don’t need comments from the peanut gallery.” Nagisa tried keeping her cool.

Mepple threw her a look. “What did your horoscope say? It said to be honest with your feelings, mepo!”

“Will you excuse us for a minute?” Nagisa scooped Mepple up and headed outside, sliding the door behind them.

She crouched down to Mepple’s level as she set him down on the floor. “Mepple stop saying weird things out loud! What if Honoka gets the wrong idea? Then what, huh? I’ll tell you what, she’ll stop talking to me! And then Pretty Cure will cease to exist!”

Mepple crossed his little arms and huffed. “I doubt any of that would happen. I’m only trying to help you, mepo! I don’t think I can take any more of this, mepo!”

She sighed. “Please not now.”

Not ever. But she knew she couldn’t live like this forever.

“I don't want her to think of me any different.” Nagisa reasoned. But deep in her core, she hated to admit he was right. These feelings consumed every fiber of her being and to think that they only grew stronger and stronger every day. She imagined one day, she would combust. 

“You should—” the door slid open. “Just tell her, mepo!"

“Tell me what?” Honoka popped into view. 

And maybe, that day would be today. It was scary and daunting, but when Honoka listened to her, acknowledged her, and continued to be by her side, all that worry vanished. She had to take that leap or face an unforeseen future where she stayed glued to the spot, wondering about the what-ifs. And that was scarier.

“Honoka, I—”

Mepple leaped back inside the bedroom, sliding the door shut and leaving the two of them alone. With nothing but the stars and the moon.

But before she could take that first step, Honoka’s mouth downturned. “You’ve been acting strange. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

An apology was something Nagisa was not expecting at all. She blinked in confusion.

“I never wanted to make you uncomfortable.” Honoka sat down and Nagisa followed. “I know we promised to forget about what happened… you know… how we almost—“

“Kissed.” Nagisa finished for her.

“Yeah. That should have never happened.”

Nagisa took a shaky breath. She needed to know one thing for sure before she could continue. She needed to know Honoka’s feelings towards her. “Do you regret it?” 

Honoka turned to her. “Do you want me to tell you the truth?”

Nagisa nodded. 

“No. I wish we would have kissed.”

A beat passed. And Nagisa pinched herself, hoping this wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t. 

She was at a loss for words. Honoka regretted not kissing her. Then that would mean only one thing. She shared the same feelings she’d been keeping locked away.

“Do you… want to kiss?” Nagisa held her breath. It was bold coming from her. But nothing compared to the feeling of having Honoka feel the same way towards her.

She needed to be sure. Maybe it would mean nothing. Maybe it would mean everything.

Honoka stared down at her hands in her lap. “Only if you want to kiss me too.”

“I do.”

Nagisa’s dubious thoughts quieted and the sound of her heartbeat became louder and somehow, some way, they leaned into the other's space, slowly at first. As if she hadn’t been yearning for this moment. As if she hadn’t imagined it a million times already. Nagisa’s lips brushed against Honoka’s tentatively and uncertain but then she could feel the softness of her lips and she leaned in deeper, falling into Honoka’s sweetness, her warmth. 

The kiss left her breathless. Their foreheads touched as they stared into each other's eyes. This was real. Her feelings were real and she couldn’t believe it. 

“I love you, Nagisa. I always have.”

Those words filled her heart, her soul. Nothing tasted sweeter than this moment.

“I love you, Honoka.”

Finally, Nagisa floated on the surface of the water, the heavy waves of emotions that drowned her before, no longer could. Now she could breathe. And for the first time, she came to realize that taking that leap was the best decision she’d made. 

Because she loved Honoka. And Honoka loved her back. Of that, she was certain.

“Why did it take us so long to realize?” Nagisa leaned back using her arms for support. She felt lighter, happier.

“I thought you had a crush on Yamada this whole time. I guess I was a little jealous and almost kissed you.”

Nagisa’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you thought I had a crush on him? I thought you had a crush on him!”

“I don’t even know him!”

It all made sense now. Nagisa let out a laugh and Honoka questioned what was so funny. 

Nagisa shook her head. “All this time I was worried about nothing.”

Honoka then laughed too. “Me too. I’m happy you feel the same way I feel about you.” She leaned in and kissed her cheek. “It’s getting chilly, let’s head back inside.”

The rest of the night was spent eating popcorn and telling cheesy jokes (which mostly came from Nagisa) but Honoka didn’t mind.

Until sleep slowly took them over. And somewhere during the night, in a deep sleep state, their hands found a way towards each other.

Chapter Text

The time has come. 

The world and its people will be covered in darkness. But it can’t be done without Pretty Cure getting in the way. Their bond proved to be formidable. That won’t do. It must be unwinded.

Let’s see whose heart gets clouded first and go from there…

Black or White.

The voice echoed. It was that same voice that taunted her every night. 

And tonight was no different.

Nagisa looked beyond her. The world was swallowed in darkness. A giant shadow monster towered over her. 

Her body ached from fighting. But she couldn’t let this continue. They needed to finish this battle. She reckoned that if they didn’t, the world as they knew it would cease to exist. 

They would cease to exist. 

The shadow monster turned its body to where Cure White stood, she too battered and bruised.

It charged towards her. 

“White!” Her lungs screamed. 

She pinched her arm raw. Wake up, wake up, wake up!

If this was any ordinary nightmare, this would be the part where she woke up in a cold sweat. But no, this nightmare was cruel.

Cure Black’s legs burned with every step she took. But she was too far away. 

She was forced to witness as the shadow monster extended its arm and a black poisonous spike erupted from its palm.

It pierced Cure White’s heart.

It’s all your fault that she’s gone, the voice thundered. You did nothing to save her.

The rain blurred her vision. Or was it her tears?

A guttural scream erupted from Cure Black.

The darkness had taken over.  

-

“On today's weather report, clear and sunny skies all day,” the weatherman on the TV said. 

Nagisa was almost out the door when her mom called out to her, “Nagisa! Don’t forget your lunch!”

Oh, right.

She had been distracted all morning, slipping on mismatched socks and finger-combing her hair quickly. She was running late.

The nightmare was still fresh in her mind. It was different from all the previous ones, more direful. She tried brushing it off, but the more she did, the more uneasy she felt. Something in her core refused to ignore it. 

Nagisa turned back around, grabbed her lunch, and waved to her mom goodbye.

A chilly breeze bit at her nose and she shivered at the contact, crossing her arms for warmth. The weatherman didn’t say anything about wind gusts. 

Overhead, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. She hoped it would remain that way.

But by noon, thick clouds rolled in like smoke. The trees began to sway with a gentle wave. The weather forecast hadn’tpredicted a storm. And if it had been any other day, Nagisa would only be worried about not bringing her umbrella. But the uneasy feeling hadn’t left. 

She glanced over to where Honoka sat. The other reassured her that the nightmares she’d been having weren’t real. And that no matter what evil arose, they would stop it, as they always had in the past. 

Nagisa took a deep breath and rested her head on her palm, looking out the classroom window. The wind began to pick up.

The image of Honoka being impaled flashed across her mind. She shut her eyes, shaking it away. 

It was just a dream. It’s not real.

“Misumi! Please pick up where we left off and read the next paragraph.” Her teacher’s call snapped her out of it.

The chair beneath her screeched as she stood up. 

A pause.

“Uh… what page number was it again?”

The bell rang, signifying lunchtime. Nagisa couldn’t be more relieved. She made her way over to Honoka’s desk.

“Ho-no-ka~” She greeted her in a singsong voice. “I uh, kinda zoned out during the second half of the lecture, can I borrow your notes, please?”

Nagisa hadn’t mentioned the nightmare she had recently, deciding to put it past her. None of them were real, she repeated. But what was real, were Honoka’s feelings towards her, and that made her days brighter. Because there was nothing to worry about.

Honoka handed her her notebook. “Please pay attention, you don’t want to score poorly on the upcoming exam. Again. Do you?”

Nagisa shook her head. “I’ll do my very best next time. Plus, I have the best study partner in the world!” She linked arms with Honoka, who filled her ear with more words of advice. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

This was her reality. Not the fears that held her back. Not the endless nights of doubt and insecurity. But the love that found and surrounded her. The love that grounded her.

The two of them headed out the classroom door when Mepple shook in her pocket.

“Nagisa! Honoka!” Came two muffled voices.

Nagisa’s body tensed. Her hand covered her pocket to prevent Mepple’s voice from being heard. Distracted, she bumped into Yuriko, who dropped the pile of books she carried.

“I’m sorry about that. Are you okay?” Nagisa crouched down to help pick up the fallen books. She handed them back to Yuriko, who took them back from her without saying a word in return.

Nagisa and Honoka exchanged a puzzled glance as Yuriko paid them no mind, continuing as if nothing happened.

“Weird,” Nagisa muttered.

Honoka furrowed her eyebrows. “I wonder what’s wrong with her…” 

She called out her name. But Yuriko ignored her.

A strange and heavy aura enshrouded the hallway. 

“Something dark is coming, mepo!” Mepple yelled.

“It’s getting closer, mipo!” Mipple followed.

The students around them slumped. They were emotionless and their eyes coated a cloudy white, appearing zombie-like.

The wind created a whistling sound as it slipped through the cracks of the windows. 

Nagisa and Honoka rushed over to witness the storm brewing outside. The clouds rolled in thicker and darker. The trees leaned as a gust of wind spiraled, turning into a tornado.

Nagisa’s eyes widened. Panic rose in her chest.

Beyond the courtyard stood a massive shadow monster, bigger than the ones they fought before.

“Come out, Pretty Cure. Quit hiding,” it bellowed.

That voice. It was the same one that followed her in her nightmares.

Except this time it roared with a determined force.

A knot twisted in her stomach. Images of last night's nightmare flooded her mind again.

It’s all your fault she’s gone. You did nothing to save her.

“Nagisa! We need to transform now!” Honoka called beside her.

Nagisa’s knees buckled beneath her, keeping her frozen in place. 

She had no other choice. They had to fight.

Nagisa clenched her fists. Now more than ever, she needed to be strong. All those bleak futures were behind her now. She would stop at nothing to prevent the nightmare from becoming reality.

She wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to hurt the people she loved.

“Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

They arrived at the courtyard already transformed.  

The shadow monster stood tall and lean, waiting for them. Its figure was unique from the ones they fought before, with black flames spitting off its body. A wicked smile spread across its face when it noticed their arrival.

“Pretty Cure,” it hissed, words dripping down like venom. “What a lovely duo you two make… it’s a shame human hearts are fragile things. This world relies too much on useless emotions such as love.”

Neither of them replied.

It threw its head back and cackled. “Don’t you think?”

Cure White scowled. No matter its motives, they’d make sure to put an end to them right here. 

She turned to Cure Black who matched her expression. If anything, they’d fought many enemies before. They were usedto this. But they still needed to be cautious.

“Whatever you do, don’t look into its eyes.” She warned.

Cure Black nodded, her expression stern. “Be extra careful… please. Keep your defenses up.”

“You too.”

Lightning struck, marking the beginning of the battle. 

Both Cures charged towards the enemy in a swift motion, with Cure Black taking the lead. She entered the shadow monster's range, throwing powerful blows. Each punch pushed it further back. 

With a lunge, Cure White sprung upwards opting to use her feet instead of her fists. She spun in midair, landing kicks to the rhythm of Cure Black’s punches. 

It flew backward, crashing into a nearby building.

To no avail, it sprung back on its feet and speeded towards them again. It extended its arms and spun in a fury, sending gusts of ferocious wind.

Cure White raised her arm to cover her eyes from the dust and lowered her stance to avoid being swept away.

“You think this time you’ll win? I’ll create a world where darkness reigns, along with the hearts of everyone in it!” The monster bellowed in a chaotic rage. The wind was stronger now, making it difficult to stand still. “I am the manifestation of all the clouded feelings stored in the hearts of the despaired!” 

The ground beneath them crumbled as thunder rumbled across the sky. 

“That’s where you’re wrong! As long as we have each other,” Cure White extended her hand as Cure Black approached her, taking her hand. “We’ll stop you!”

They raised their arms to the angry sky, calling upon the power of the balanced forces of the universe. 

“Black Thunder—!”

“White Thunder—!”

But before they could bring down its power, the shadow monster swung its long slender arms and wrapped around them both like a snake. Their fingers slipped away from each other's grasp as it pulled them apart. 

“NO!” It roared. “You won’t get rid of me that easily!”

They were thrown in opposite directions. 

Cure White coughed as the impact left a cloud of dust. A large black snake coiled around her leg. “Ah—!” It tossed her up in midair and caught her upright, its squeeze crushing her body. Air escaped her lungs.

“Let her go!” Cure Black yelled as she launched herself off the ground, slicing the arm that constricted Cure White with a burning fury, setting her free.

In an instant, Cure Black rushed to her side, asking her if she was okay. Cure White nodded in response. She narrowed her eyes at their enemy.

“I, Kumori Heart, will show you that love is meaningless. It only clouds your sense of judgment and thoughts, and soon… your heart. Isn’t that right, Cure Black?” 

Cure Black’s gaze fell, hands balled up into fists. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Kumori Heart’s lips twisted up into a sinister smile. Its hand turned into a spike. “Oh really?” Then whose…”

The monster faced Cure White. “Heart…”

Then Cure Black. “Should I take?”

It faced Cure White again. “YOURS!”

Kumori Heart’s spike of a hand shot across the wrecked courtyard, aiming straight for her heart. 

Cure White’s eyes widened and then she shut them, embracing for impact.

“HONOKA!!!” 

Cure Black sprung in front of her. 

Her eyes shot open and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

Because the spike pierced Nagisa’s heart right in front of her.

“NAGISA!!!”

-

Nagisa opened her eyes and squinted, the sky above her too bright. 

Above her, the shadow of a long-haired girl peered down at her. 

“Honoka?” Nagisa breathed out. 

Cold slender fingers caressed her cheek. Nagisa flinched at the contact. She realized she was lying on Honoka’s lap. 

“Nagisa!” Icy tears sprinkled down on her cheek like spring showers. “I’m so relieved… that you’re okay.”

Nagisa sat up straight, the grass pricked beneath her. Blinking a few times, she took in the sight before her. A colorful field of flowers stretched out for miles, the cool breeze making them dance.

She turned her body and kneeled in a sitting position. With her thumb, she gently grazed the tears off Honoka’s face. 

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She smiled.

Then she remembered.

Honoka embraced her, pulling her in close. “Nagisa…!”

She wondered if by some miracle they’d been transported away from the battle. Nagisa wrapped her arms around Honoka, relief washing over her body. She was okay. They were okay. The world around them shone vividly and she wouldn’t be anywhere else.

Honoka loosened her arms around her and leaned back. 

“Wait, Honoka, how did we end up—”

She cut her off. “Will you stay by my side even when this world crumbles away?”

“I will,” Nagisa replied without hesitation.

Honoka placed her hand on her heart and after a moment, reached out and placed the same hand over Nagisa’s heart. “And if I said I wouldn’t do the same for you? Would you still stay by my side then?”

A cold breeze made Nagisa shudder. Her head tilted at the odd question. Then her blood ran cold. Honoka’s vibrant eyes were replaced with pools of black.

“A heart that always beats, but never receives.” Honoka’s frigid hand grabbed her own. Nagisa tried to pull away, but the other’s grip tightened. “A world where love doesn’t exist sounds perfect doesn’t it? No one gets heartbroken.”

“Stop! You’re not Honoka… she would never—”

“You’ll be the one to create a loveless world.”

The false illusion shattered, leaving the world around her in pitch darkness. Only she remained.

Nagisa’s whole body trembled with cold. She sat and hugged her knees, trying to retain as much body heat. Each time she opened her eyes, her world was filled with darkness. She was stuck in the cavern of her mind, insecurities and doubts clouding not only her thoughts but her heart as well.

A cacophony of voices whispered all around her.

“She’ll leave you eventually. They all will.”

“You’re no good for her. Or for anyone.”

"You really think she'd love someone as useless as you? Who would?”

They rang louder and louder. A Hell she couldn’t escape no matter how hard she covered her ears to stop them from tormenting her.

“SHUT UP!” Nagisa doubled over, curling herself into a ball, her jaw clenched.

“Isn’t that why you kept wearing the necklace?” Kumori Heart’s voice echoed throughout the dark cavern.

Nagisa’s eyes shot open. 

It continued. “The necklace was a way for me to look into the dark crevices of your heart. All the things that cloud it. That is why I knew you’d be the one to tip the scale. You're secretly afraid of the future. And how it’s ever-changing. You may have the love you always wanted now, but how long will that last? In my world, you won’t ever have to question it.”

Nagisa didn’t answer.

“In the end, we’ll be doing the world a favor. I’ll be doing you a favor.”

A violent storm brewed inside of her. All her anguished and insecure thoughts and feelings surfaced.

This isn’t what she wanted. But it was too late.

A wave of pain shrouded her body and she screamed.

When she opened her eyes again, a cloud of heavy smoke dispersed away from her body, she tilted her head up to the ashy sky, feeling the first few droplets of rain fall on her face.

Her new incentive: to create a loveless world.

Chapter Text

She waited for impact. But it never came. 

Cure Black had jumped in front of her and been pierced by the shadow monster's blade instead.

Her body stiffened at the sight. She screamed Nagisa’s name until her throat was scratched with use.

The shadow let out a twisted laugh before warping into a black cloud, enveloping Cure Black’s body like a cocoon.

Cure White pushed herself up and ran towards the large smoky cloud. A gust of sudden wind halted her sprint as it raged fiercely, preventing her from getting any closer.

Her mind raced. A dark and volatile aura surrounded the cocoon, reverberating like a heartbeat. Now more than ever, she needed to do something, anything to save Nagisa. But each heartbeat pushed her further and further away, and she couldn’t approach it. Her breathing quickened as panic set in. There was no doubt in her mind that each second she didn’t do something was a second that Nagisa suffered.

She bit her lip, hard enough to bruise, as she fought against the raging wind.

It settled around her as the cocoon unraveled, and Cure Black emerged.

The air returned to her lungs, and she called out her name. “Nagisa!”

No answer.

An icy chill crept up her spine as she blinked away her dry eyes.

Nagisa was different.

A dark version of her had been born. The pink accents on her Pretty Cure outfit were no longer there. Her entire outfit was replaced with ink black, and a smoky aura emitted from her body, like snakes escaping the pits of hell.

Drip, drop.

The first few drops of rain landed on her skin. The cold air didn’t compare to the ice that was her body. Because it wasn’t Nagisa, and that terrified her.

Cure Black lowered her gaze and bore into her with eyes the color of the darkened sky. The warmth they once carried, a summer's day, was now an endless abyss. 

“Why are you so shocked? I thought you’d be happy to see me.” Her mocking expression turned stoic. “Oh, that’s right, you don’t care about me.”

Cure White stepped back, stunned by her words. It disturbed her that it was Nagisa, but at the same time, it wasn't. Nagisa would never say that to her. Something had taken over her, something sinister.

She shook her head in disbelief. “That’s not true… and you know that.”

Cure Black tilted her head in amusement. “Oh, really? Don’t you know you’re the reason I’m like this? It’s all because of you! But it’ll all be over soon.” She took a step forward, and Cure White took a step back. “I will make it so that love won’t exist in this world.”

Thunder struck and rain crashed all around them.  

Nothing she said made any sense. Cure White took a tentative step towards her, throwing away her fear, but her next words ended her approach.

“But first, I need to get rid of something. I need to get rid of you.”

Cure Black lunged towards her, not giving her a chance to react. She swung at her with such force that she was lucky to have brought up her arms in defense in time. But it proved futile as the shockwave from the hit threw her backward. Cure Black shortened the distance again, bringing her leg up and kicking Cure White’s side. She screamed as pain sprang from the impact. The force from the kick made her tumble down.

“White! Are you okay, mipo?” Mipple cried out. 

She hugged her body with one arm as she coughed. No, she wasn’t alright. Her best friend, her partner, had been taken over by the dark presence. And she had no idea what to do.

Because she would let the world crumble before she dared lay a finger on Nagisa.  

“What’s the matter? Afraid to fight me?” Cure Black threw her head back and laughed. “Works out better for me. Because I’m not.”

She charged towards her.

“White, look out, mipo!”

Cure White picked herself back up on her feet, brought her hands up in defense, and avoided the punches that the other threw at her. Her power was immense.

Her mind twisted with every turn this situation would have her in. And they all led to ruin. Using every bit of strength, she pushed Cure Black back, giving her time to run in the opposite direction.

“White, we need to do something, mipo! Black and Mepple have been taken over by the dark energy, mipo!” Mipple cried. 

“I… I don’t know what to do… I don’t want to hurt her!” She stopped mid-run as Cure Black landed in front of her. 

“You’ve already done that. There’s no point in running away.” Each word made her aura spit out flames. Her energy clouded Cure White’s mind like smoke in a burning building.

“I don’t understand why you keep saying I’m the cause of your pain…” Cure White balled her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. A heavy weight pressed on her chest as she fought back tears. “You’re not making any sense. I don’t want to fight you, I don’t want to fight the person I’m supposed to be protecting this world with! We promised to stay together forever, don’t you remember that?”

“Forever doesn’t exist, and I’m tired of pretending that it does.” Cure Black spat out. “Everything comes to an end eventually. Why care about meaningless things like friends, family, interests, or… love?”

The dark aura rose higher.

Cure White’s eyes widened. The dark power fed off every negative thought and emotion Nagisa had, and strengthened it. It took everything she kept locked away in her heart.

Her heart. How had she not noticed it before?

At the center of Cure Black’s bow was the black heart pendant.

Cure White’s mouth fell agape. Why was she wearing it, even after they promised not to? Fury burned in her at the realization. The plan was to show them that love doesn’t exist.

But it does because love is all the things she sees in herself and others. Love is the feeling Nagisa opened in her.

“How cruel to use Nagisa’s insecurities and twist them to your liking. How cruel to turn her against me. When I know how she truly feels.”

Gasoline made the spark in her rise to burning flames. She now knew that she needed to remove the black heart pendant and destroy it.

“No matter how much you want to split us apart, I’ll never turn against her!”

In the past, when she needed her the most, Nagisa had never given up on her. And now, she won’t give up on their love.

Honoka’s driving goal was to bring back the sun.

This time, Cure White made the initial move. She sprinted towards Cure Black, her hand reaching for the pendant. Cure Black snatched her wrist and twisted it away. Pain shot up her arm and was tossed aside. She hit the wet ground.

A flash of lightning. Cure Black tutted. “Don't even think about it.”

With a shaky breath, she locked eyes with her. “I’ll bring you back, Nagisa. No matter what it takes. No matter how long it takes. I won’t give up on you. I won’t give up on us.”

Because a world without Nagisa was a world without warmth. 

Picking herself up, she wiped away the water from her face. That’s a promise she’ll do anything to keep.

Cure Black positioned herself into a fighting stance. “Ha, you can try all you want. But nothing you’ll do or say will work. This is the real me.”

Lightning and thunder struck. The wind roared on, and the rain continued to pour.

The two of them lunged towards each other.

The balance of dark and light. Between insecurity and security. Yin and Yang.

The two of them were never meant to oppose each other, not like this. Nagisa. Her Nagisa was somewhere in there, and she needed to talk to her, needed her to listen.

She dodged every attack that Cure Black threw her way. With a wince, she caught one of her punches. “I’ll bring you and Mepple back.”

Mipple shared her feelings, and now more than ever, she depended on her.

With her free hand, Cure Black gutted her abdomen, knocking the air out of her.

“Gu—!” Cure White doubled over, her arms crossing her stomach. She heaved as her head pounded.

This is nothing! Nagisa needs you.

She straightened her posture as Cure Black gained momentum again.

“You dummy,” Cure White said with every deflected attack. “To say I don’t care about you, when all I ever do is think of you.”

She leaped to the side, causing Cure Black to halt her attacks. 

“I still remember the day you called me by my first name, the day we became friends. It made me so happy, and every day since then, I wished for nothing more than to be by your side.” Tears stung her eyes.

The fiery momentum that Cure Black had before came to a stop.  

A crack of light in the dark.

“Everyone cares for you, Nagisa. I want to keep making memories with you, our friends, and our families. Living in a loveless world will never let us do that.”

“Shut up!” Cure Black yelled. Her body tensed as her gaze fell. “I don’t want to hear your lies!”

“They’re not lies! Nagisa, I do care—” Cure Black cut her off by attacking her.

Cure White skidded backwards, gasping when Cure Black entered her space again in a flash with a powerful kick. She hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.

“White!” Mipple called out.

With a grunt, she supported her body weight on her forearms. She blinked away the rain that blurred her vision.

“Nagisa!” Her body refused to stand up. “Nagisa… please listen to me.”

Cure Black stepped towards her, ignoring her pleas. The smoky aura she emitted twisted down her arm like a vine until a black spike erupted from her palm.

“It’s time to end this.”

Honoka caught a change in Nagisa's expression and wondered if those were tears falling from her eyes or the downpour of rain.

Chapter Text

Cure White’s face turned pale. She believed for a moment that this was how the battle between darkness and light ended.

With every step that Cure Black took, a no was followed. Every second that passed was a grain of sand from an hourglass. 

Her body tensed while her mind screamed for her to get up and remove the black heart from Nagisa. But the rain poured down harder, and everything around her blurred together.

As much as her duty as Pretty Cure obliged her to fight for the world, she wouldn’t dare hurt Nagisa. 

Which path would she need to choose for it to be the right one? 

Without much room for question, a spike erupted from Cure Black’s palm. 

“It’s time to end this.”

Five words and the answer was clear. Honoka would have to test their love. The darkness was holding Nagisa captive, but she knew that she was in there somewhere, waiting, listening. She’d take the chance that might lead to a path of destruction. As much as she wished to let the world crumble before hurting Nagisa, she knew it would be going against what she fought for. What both of them fight for. As Pretty Cure, they fight for the sake of the world. And without it, no future exists where both of them can be together. 

Cure White shakily stood up. She couldn’t afford to lose that either. She’ll bring Nagisa back—their world back.

“There’s so many more memories I want to create with you.” And she meant it with every fiber of her being. Because…

Because she loved Nagisa.

An ounce of warmth returned to Nagisa’s eyes. “Ho-Honoka…”

A sliver of hope struck down like lightning. Nagisa had listened to her.

A weight was lifted off her shoulders and she let out a sigh of relief. Her body moved towards Cure Black, fully knowing now, that she was in there. 

With every step, she kept her gaze locked on the other, hoping that she could stay like this and take the black heart before darkness took over again. But before she got too close…

“NO!” A raging wind erupted from Cure Black and with it, the black aura rose higher, making the earth beneath crumble. 

“Nagisa…” Cure White hated seeing her rage in anger and pain. She wanted nothing more than to end Nagisa’s suffering and bring her back.

Bring back her sun.

A tiny glimpse of light sparkled from Cure White’s finger.

It was the ring.

She moved closer, tentatively, and reached for the pendant. “We promised—!”

Cure Black outstretched her palm. 

Pain stung Cure White’s chest and her breath escaped her. She glanced down at the spike that pierced her heart. 

Her reaching hand trembled. She faced Nagisa again, but this time, she was gone. The darkness had taken over again. With the tiny strength she had left, Cure White loosely wrapped her arms around Cure Black. “To see the stars together…”

The last thing Cure White heard was Mipple screaming her name.
-
Honoka woke up to a loveless world.

She blinked, taking in the world around her. Empty and soundless. She found herself in the middle of the courtyard where she last remembered being and wondered if this was the end. Only she remained. Her still point in this turning world was gone, and the last thing she remembered was being impaled by the person she loved. 

Honoka placed a hand over her heart. There was no beat. 

“Doesn’t it feel wonderful?” A voice told her. 

She scanned her surroundings, but no one was around.

Her hand reached down to where the card commune hung, but Mipple was gone. Instead of her Pretty Cure outfit, she wore a flowy white dress. 

Why was she here and why? 

Alone. 

“Apathy brings your world freedom.”

Those words evoked no emotion out of her. Honoka assumed she should be feeling hopeless, and lost. But she felt none of those things.

“Free from all pain, sadness, fear.”

Something didn't seem right. Her emotions should be scattered and all over the place but instead, she was afraid to admit, that the voice might be right. 

Is this freedom?

She explored her new world, memories flooding with every sight she took in, but strangely she still felt nothing. 

Nothing when she passed by the library. Nothing when she passed by the middle school where she first met Nagisa.  

Was she supposed to feel something?

This world as lifeless and bleak as it looked, also had a sense of tranquility. There was no uncertainty here.

Until her steps took her somewhere that reshifted her emotions.

Her house. 

She walked through the place that held countless memories of her entire life, of the place she grew up in. The entrance where Chuutaro was the first to greet her. The kitchen where she cooked with her grandmother. The hallway that led to her parent’s room. 

An ache rose inside of her. 

The storage shed where she found Mipple and how her journey as a Pretty Cure began. The garden where she spent countless nights with her thoughts—the place where she had her first kiss. 

Honoka clutched onto the warm and gentle feeling that blossomed when she thought about the people she loved. 

Love. That’s what that was. 

And then everything came back to her. All the emotions that were suppressed by the illusion flooded back. Anxiety, fear, powerlessness, and hope. 

Honoka’s body trembled and her knees buckled. Her head began to swim with the overwhelming sensations taking over her body once again. But she didn’t hate it. It was part of being human.

The world around her shattered and so did she. There was nothing left but darkness. Faint voices whispered all around her, which made it hard to decipher what they were saying.

A labyrinth unfolded before her. Its dark, thorny walls towered above as the whispers around her grew louder. A tiny bright light twinkled from her finger and she brought it up close to observe its shine. 

Something in her told her Nagisa was close. That alone snapped her focus back.

Honoka took a step into the maze, letting her instincts be her guide. Every turn and misstep made the voices grow louder, shattering her line of concentration. 

“Wrong way.”

“Dead end.”

They were a mix of static and echos, vibrating against the maze walls. Honoka shut her eyes and covered her ears, unable to tune into the wavelength of Nagisa’s soul. The voices overwhelmed her sense of thought and feeling.

“Honoka.”

Honoka opened her eyes. Nagisa had sensed her. She couldn’t give up now, not when she was so close. 

Redirecting her energy and attention, Honoka concentrated on where her heart pulled her. Twisting and turning into a garden of uncertainty, she ignored the buzz that tried to stray her away. Her ring shone brighter, and soon, she had made it to the center of the labyrinth.

In the middle, Nagisa stood in a pool of darkness, whirling with negative emotions, tugging and crashing.

Honoka gasped. “Nagisa!”

She ran to her, ignoring the rising tide of black liquid. Her focus remained on one person. 

When she reached her, there was a stillness.

One of relief. One of hope.

When Nagisa opened her eyes, Honoka took in their fear, their surprise, their warmth. Because it was Nagisa—her Nagisa—not some twisted version. She was in a sea of insecurities and Honoka needed to bring her back to shore. 

“Honoka?” Her voice came out in a whisper. She scanned her face as if searching for a sign that she was real and not some illusion. After all, they were in the mindscape. 

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore.” Honoka cupped the side of Nagisa’s face, her thumb gently grazing her cheek, reassuring her.

Nagisa flinched. “Why… how are you here? I don’t believe it…”

The water began to spin making Honoka lose her balance but she kept her stance. She pressed her forehead with Nagisa’s. “It was hard for you wasn’t it? But I’m here now. For you."

“I can’t go back. Not until the world is free—” Nagisa pulled away.

“From?”

“—love.”

Honoka shook her head, pulling her back in. “That’s not what you really want. It was all a ploy set by Kumori Heart.”

“How do you know it’s not what I’ve always wanted?”

“Because I once felt the same way you did. I was afraid of the unknown, especially when I realized I had feelings for you.” She took Nagisa’s hand in hers. “No matter how sad and painful life can get, if you have someone who loves and cares for you dearly, you’ll never be discouraged and you’ll always have the willpower to continue.”

Nagisa gazed up at her, tears prickling her eyes.

Honoka once told her that holding hands transmits feelings. And she hoped that this time it would be no different. For she wanted nothing more than her true feelings to be conveyed.

Heart to heart. 

Hand to hand.

Soul to soul.

“No matter where life takes us, I want you to be there. You’re the most important person in my life.” Honoka smiled, meaning every word.

“Honoka…!” The water pulled Nagisa in, swallowing her whole, and creating a split between the two of them.

Without letting go of Nagisa’s hand, Honoka crouched down, using her entire strength to try to pull Nagisa back up.

The ripples distorted her image.

Right when she had been able to find her, she was losing her again. She couldn’t bear it, not when she was this close to bringing her back.

Honoka let the waves pull her in and darkness wrapped around them both. Until it was her and Nagisa and nothing else but the deafening silence of being underwater. 

It scared her, that this might be the end. The end of them and their world. Would it be selfish to embrace this final moment and not care about anything else? This is all they had.

The two of them.

In this state, they didn’t need words to convey what they wanted to say. They could hear everything. They could feel everything.

I imagine life without you and I start to cry. Nagisa wrapped her arms around her, tight.

Honoka succumbed to her touch. I’m right here and I’ll never leave your side.

Maybe this world is worth protecting.

The light from their rings shone brightly, enveloping them in a protective layer and the light overtook their darkness.
-
Honoka woke up to rain dripping down her cheeks. When her blurred vision became clear again, she realized it was Nagisa’s tears.

The dark aura that surrounded her was no longer there. “Honoka!” Nagisa heaved, her eyes darting all over her splayed-out body.  “I can’t— I can’t believe I did this to you…”

Cure White laughed softly. “Nagisa… its really you…”

Tears streaked down Cure Black’s face as she took both of Cure White’s hands into hers. “I’m so sorry! I never wanted this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you!”

“I know. I know it wasn’t you.” She gave a reassuring squeeze. “That’s why I needed to bring you back.”

Awoken from their sleep, Mepple and Mipple had too returned to normal. 

They needed to end things once and for all. 

In a heartbeat, Cure White yanked the black heart off of Nagisa and smashed it into the ground.

A cloudy shadow figure erupted from it with a shriek, growing bigger.

“You.”

And bigger.

“Will.”

The dark energy surrounding it evolved with it.

“PAY!”

Their rings began to glow. Cure Black and White brought them up to observe their light.

“The rings!” Mipple said.

“They hold a special power that will help defeat the enemy!” Mepple added.

It was their moment to put an end to such a lifeless world.

With determined expressions, the moment they held each other's hands, a bright white aura enveloped them. A shower of sparkles painted their outfits in pastel rainbow colors. In the middle of their bow was a rainbow-colored heart. 

They extended their hands and yelled.

For love. 

“RAINBOW METANOIA!”

A wave of pink and blue surged from their hands and twisted, creating an ultraviolet light. Kumori Heart launched a dark wave of power, making the balance of light and dark clash with one another. 

They squeezed each other's hands and planted their feet on the ground, putting their entire strength into their attack. With a yell, they pushed their combined powers harder until the light swallowed the darkness whole.

A giant explosion of light ruptured from the attack, destroying Kumori Heart.

Wherever the darkness had come from, it had been banished away with the power of love. 

The clouds dispersed taking away its never-ending rain, making room for the sun. A double rainbow shone across the blue sky.

And the world regained its color.

Chapter Text

Days passed by after their final battle with Kumori Heart. The Garden of Rainbows was once again, blanketed by peace and light. The legendary warriors, Pretty Cure had brought back their world from darkness.

Their inner world as well.

Nagisa applied cherry chapstick and fixed her bangs in the mirror.

Tonight, she was going to see the stars.

The past few months, in her clouded heart and mind, she’d been shown all the worst possible outcomes for the future, resulting in nothing but inner turmoil, which reflected her outer world. However, it was Honoka who brought her out of it.

No matter what the past reminds one of, or what the future brings, what matters the most, is the present. 

And right now she needed to head out the door or they’d miss the last train. 
-
The setting sun basked the train interior. 

Honoka had told her the best place to stargaze was on the outskirts of the city, up on a mountain. 

“Where’d you even learn about this place?” Nagisa asked her, skipping through countless songs on her MP3 player. She reached the album she’d been meaning to show Honoka and brought up an earbud for her to take.

Honoka took it. “I like sightseeing.”

There existed a time when both of them were complete opposites until fate brought their paths together. Now, they meshed together in unity. Nagisa would recommend Honoka music and Honoka would recommend her books (she must admit that she tried her damn hardest to begin reading for fun in the first place.)

But seeing Honoka’s face light up at the suggestion was worth it.

Honoka leaned in closer, with their shoulders pressing against each other. Their fingers intertwined. “There’s something I want to do before we go stargazing.”

When they arrived, Honoka held out her hand and led her to a nearby bridge. 

The sun's orange beam painted the water below in a shimmering gold. 

“Why are we here?” Nagisa asked. 

Honoka reached into the pocket of her skirt, pulling out a black heart necklace. “For a new future.” 

She threw it overboard. 

They followed a trail up a steep hill, with a world of trees around them. 

Komorebi. When sunlight leaked through the trees.

When they reached the top, nature cleared the way and made room for the view.

“Here we are!” Honoka beamed.

They laid out a picnic blanket and talked about their upcoming play. This year, their class was doing The Little Mermaid, upon Shiho’s request. They were too distracted discussing their roles to notice that night had befallen them. 

Until Mipple had gasped and told them to look up at the sky. A million twinkling stars shone for miles.

“Woah, unbelievable!” Nagisa breathed out. “This is so much better than the city.”

“Told you.” Honoka giggled.

They sat underneath the same sky and the same moon, existing. But despite all the beauty that existed in the cosmos, Nagisa was drawn to the one person sitting next to her. The girl with stars in her eyes.

“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” 

Honoka’s face softened. “It is.”

Neither of them was looking up at the moon.

Nagisa thought how could she ever regret anything if all it did was lead her to this moment right here?

She leaned in and pressed her lips against Honoka’s and a thousand sparks lit up inside her. Honoka was soft, sweet as honey (tasted like it too), and everything in between. 

When they pulled apart, Nagisa smiled at her. “There is no other place I’d rather be than to spend this moment with you.”

Nagisa pictured her future now and it was brighter and more colorful than ever before.