Work Text:
It wasn’t often she would retreat to her room. It made her feel immature, like the kid everyone recognized her as. It’s because most of the time she wasn’t. She got this position because she wasn’t. Yet, after today's case, she retreated to her bed like a child, petting Mashutan as a distraction. And despite Luluka reassuring her whenever she asked if she was okay, she really wasn’t.
Howa-san was on her mind.
Luluka didn’t initially have a strong opinion on her assigned partner. She didn’t have an opinion on most of her peers. But she did know that Howa-san didn’t like her that much. Back in London, she criticized the way Luluka talked, deeming her “blunt and arrogant”. And Luluka would say it’s better than being naive and careless. She thought her point was proven by Howa-san’s lack of offense.
But now she was questioning Howa-san’s words.
A Phantom Thief showed up in their town today. They held a power the girls have never seen before. Yet Luluka was confident she could take care of it. Maybe too confident. She refused to rely on Eclair, not even considering any bystanders in the area. And while she managed to take care of the Phantom Thief, Eclair was the one who protected the civilians from the attacks.
It was then Luluka realized the truth behind Howa-san’s words. It was then Luluka realized the thoughtlessness of her own. Howa-san wasn’t naive or careless. That was Luluka alone. And Howa-san’s distaste for Luluka made much more sense. She wouldn’t be surprised if she hated her now. They haven’t spoken a word to each other since they took care of the Phantom Thief.
But Howa-san was awfully quiet, even considering the circumstances. All her criticisms of Luluka were direct. The fact she wasn’t trying to tear down her door this very moment was… surprising, to say the least.
Was she taking this to heart? Luluka couldn’t help but wonder. If so, she probably shouldn’t hide away in her room like some kid. If they were going to continue being partners, Luluka should at least try to mend whatever remains of their relationship.
She owes Howa-san her due diligence as well.
Mashutan immediately recognized Luluka shifting to stand up and snapped out of her haze to float by her head. “Luluka?”
“I’m going to see Howa-san.” she explained, reaching for her door.
“Very well. Allow me to follow.” Luluka allowed her to float into the hall before closing the door. She then approached the door at the end of the hallway, Mashutan following suit. It was silent in there. Granted, Howa-san and Shushutan weren’t necessarily the boisterous types, but she could still hear them talk every now and then. This was quiet even for them. “Luluka?”
Luluka snapped out of her thoughts, smoothed out her skirt and knocked on the door. She didn’t mean to stare. “Howa-san? It’s me. I’d like to speak with you.” It was silent. There wasn’t even movement to be heard.
“Shushutan, are you there? Do you know where we can find Howa-san?” Mashutan decided to speak up. Even if Howa-san didn’t like Luluka, the same could not be said for the fairies. Mashutan and Shushutan got along exceptionally well. But even with Mashutan’s contribution, there was still no answer. “Guess they’re not in there.”
Luluka only hummed, walking away from the door and allowing Mashutan to rest in her arms. Perhaps they were in a different part of the building.
“It’s fine if she’s not here. She’ll be back soon. Those two don’t like to stay out late.” Mashutan explained.
“You’re not wrong.” Luluka agreed, exiting the annex. As she got closer to the main entrance, she could hear the voices of Howa-san and Shushutan. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it sounded like they were in the kitchen. She approached the door, opening it to call “Howa-san?”
Luluka was not expecting the sight. Howa-san was scooping up ice cream out of one of three tubs. The counter had two glass cups, one with a scoop already inside, a whipped cream bottle, a jar of cherries, a bag of sprinkles, a chocolate syrup bottle, and a dish filled with marshmallows and donut holes. Shushutan was sitting away from Howa-san’s work. And while Howa-san whined at the sight of the two, Shushutan smiled and said “Well, well. How the tables have turned.”
“What do you mean?” Luluka asked, not sure what to make of the display.
“I wanted to surprise you, that’s all.” Howa-san explained, a smile entering her face as she placed the scooped ice cream in the empty cup. “I was making us sundaes.”
“Us?” Luluka questioned.
“Yeah, us.” She lidded the tub then opened up another. “I didn’t know your favorite ice cream so I just went neopolitan.”
“I don’t have a favorite.”
“Oh, perfect!” she cheered, placing a scoop in one of the cups. “I guess my intuition paid off!”
Luluka stared at Howa-san, processing what she just learned. These tubs were going to last them a few weeks. She got a good brand too…
“Mashutan, the marshmallows and donuts are for us to share.” Shushutan explained, interrupting the silence.
“They are?” she perked up in Luluka’s arms.
“Yup! All yours!” Howa-san sang, finishing up with the second tub.
Mashutan flew out of Luluka’s arms and towards Howa-san, shouting her gratitude, only for Shushutan to fly up and stop her. “Hold on, allow her to finish first.” But Mashutan only held onto her friend and spun around in happiness.
“I was going to hunt you down as soon as I finished, but since you’re here already, you can just wait until I’m done.” Howa-san explained as she scooped from the third tub.
Luluka waited patiently, watching as Howa-san worked diligently yet happily on the two sundaes. She added the toppings, put away the ingredients then added two spoons and handed off Luluka’s share. “Can we eat outside?”
Luluka looked at the sundae, then looked at her. “Why outside?”
“The skies are clear and it’s a bit warmer than usual. I think it’s the perfect way to end the night.” Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the fairies carrying the dish of sweets.
Luluka nodded. “That sounds fine.”
Howa-san giggled, following Luluka out into the garden then bounding for the bench. Her eyes remained on Luluka as she approached. The fairies sat on the edge as Luluka paced herself to be the last one to sit.
“Luluka.” She looked over at Howa-san, who was raising her cup slightly. Curious, Luluka mimicked the action. Then the glasses clinked together. “To our first success as Star Detectives!”
The fairies did their own toast from where they were sitting then proceeded to eat away. Luluka blinked as Howa-san started to enjoy the sundae. “Our first successful…?”
Howa-san nodded. “Yes. We haven’t transformed since we transferred. And even then, we took care of a new power all on our own! That has to be celebrated.”
“She’s right,” chimed Shushutan, who was munching away at a donut. “I’m very proud of both of you.”
Mashutan hummed in agreement.
Luluka stayed silent, deciding to finally take a bite of the sundae. It was really well put together. “I’m surprised you spent so much money on ice cream.”
“Like you don’t do that every week.” Howa-san teased.
She wasn’t wrong. Most of Luluka’s money went to ice cream. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting you to spend so much on me.” she elaborated.
“I think celebrations are worth the extra cost.”
“Howa-san.” Luluka looked at her cheerful face, “I thought you hated me.”
Luluka watched as Howa-san’s smile faded. She could hear that the fairies stopped eating as well. Howa-san took a moment to scan her face, then tilted her own head. “Why’d you think that?”
“You called me blunt and arrogant when we met.” Luluka started.
Howa-san raised a brow. “Because you are.”
“The only thing we have in common is being Pretty Cure. We don’t really work together. And today I was…” she took a breath, looking down at her thighs, “…reckless.”
“You were?”
“If I wasn’t so focused on the Phantom Thief, I would’ve realized those people were nearby. You had to make up for my mistake. And you didn’t say a word to me afterwards.”
“You didn’t say a word to me either.” replied Howa-san, teasing tone returning. “Though I guess that’s on me. I was only thinking about celebrating.” Luluka looked back up to see Howa-san smiling once more. She blinked at the sight, but Howa-san looked down at her own thighs. “Luluka, if I hated you I would’ve requested an exchange a long time ago. It’s one thing to have problems with your co-workers, another thing entirely to hate them.”
Then Howa-san looked up, smiling at the sky. Luluka decided to do the same. The sky was beautifully clear, blue stars especially bright against the dark night. “I think what you did today was amazing. If anything it made me realize why we need to work together.”
Luluka’s head snapped back to meet Howa-san’s soft smile. “We need to?”
Howa-san nodded. “If I were on my own, I wouldn’t have had the chance to notice those people. I would’ve made the same mistake as you.”
“How can you be so certain?”
Howa-san grinned wide. “Intuition.” Luluka didn’t smile back. “But that’s the point of being in a team. Someone has to make up for what the other can’t do on their own. You had my back today. That makes us a team.”
Luluka’s heart sank at her words. “I… You misunderstand.” She took a spoonful of ice cream before continuing, “I was just standing on business.”
“And I had your back for that.” Howa-san scooched closer to Luluka, smile softening. “We’re a team. And I’m sure we’ll make a pretty great one if we keep at it.” Luluka leaned back slightly due to the new proximity. It was hard to tell if Howa-san was leaning in. “I do think you’re arrogant, but you’re so much more than that. You’re logical, strong, intelligent and honestly one of the best detectives I know. I’m thrilled to have you as my partner.”
Luluka felt her face heat up. She immediately looked away to feel at her cheeks, not sure what exactly caused it. But then a poke came to her cheek and she looked back at Howa-san, who was grinning once more. “Caught you.”
Luluka blinked. “What?”
“I wasn’t expecting you to get embarrassed. Are you trying to prove me wrong?” Howa-san giggled, retracting her hand. Luluka’s face only got hotter. Howa-san’s giggles faded and she waved her hand apologetically. “Sorry, sorry. But I meant what I said.” She straightened herself out, smile softening. “I want this to work out. No matter how much work we have to do.”
Luluka tried to focus on that instead of the confusing emotions she was having. Howa-san had the same wishes she did. That knowledge was enough to make her crack out an “I-I agr-ree”
“Great. Now drop the formality.”
“E-excuse me?”
“If we’re going to work and live together, I think you should at least call me by my given name, Luluka.”
The heat on her face was consistent. What is wrong with me? But despite that, she knew she had a point. So Luluka swallowed and said “K-Kurea-san.”
Kurea-san sighed. “Close enough. Now get used to it because I’ll be on you if you ever slip up.” She then held a hand out towards Luluka. “Partner.”
Luluka looked at the hand, then at Kurea-san’s face, then back at the hand. Reluctantly, she took it. Then yelped as she was pulled into an embrace. Luluka’s mouth moved before her brain in incoherent noises before she finally shouted “Wait! Wait! The ice cream!”
“Oh, right.” Kurea-san let go and the two looked down at the sundaes. “I didn’t ruin them, did I?”
Luluka scanned them for any spills or damage, but neither were present. “No, it looks fine.”
Kurea-san sighed. “That’s a relief.”
Luluka nodded, taking another bite. “Thank you for this by the way.”
“Of course.”
Luluka smiled in her direction, heart beating strangely fast. “I look forward to working with you.”
Kurea-san smiled back, making Luluka’s heart beat faster. “I am too.”