"Ageha?"
The blonde was equally shocked as her. Both of them simply stared at each other, frozen as if playing a game of Statues. Tsubasa, Mashiro, and Sora didn't move either, constantly looking back and forth at the two and wondering what's going on.
Immediately, like a light switch, Ageha's face brightened with pure joy.
"Ruru, it's YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!" She screamed while running up to the formal teenager. Embracing the blonde in a big hug, Ageha lifted him up and twirled in a rapid circle, laughing with delight.
"Wh-wh-whoa!" The blonde managed to sputter out. Despite being a detective, he did not see this coming.
After several minutes, Ageha finally released the teen who stumbled in different directions. His eyes swirled from being dizzy in the surprise spin cycle.
"Oopsie whoopsies!" The auburn-haired lady grasped his shoulders, steadying him. "My bad, Ruru. Guess I got a liiiittle excited." She squeaked with a sheepish grin.
Tsubasa stared at her with half-lidded eyes. Little? More like over excited. That word doesn't exist in her dictionary. Nothing she does is ever small.
Soon, the blonde regained his balance, shaking his head and smoothing out his clothes.
"Not to worry, Ageha. I was merely caught off guard." He let out an amused smile. "I see you're just as energetic as ever."
Ageha giggled. "Ooooh! Such a polite gentleman. You haven't changed a bit either." She gestured to the three younger teenagers. "Ruru, meet Mashiro, Sora, and Tsubasa. They're my closest friends!"
He bowed before the three younger teenagers. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hakuba Saguru, a detective attending Ekoda High School. I recently transferred from London Bridge High School. I was a childhood friend of Ageha's during my time in Japan. She was the one who gave me the nickname, Ruru."
"Wait, so you're THE Ruru?" Mashiro exclaimed. She was astonished at first but soon became thrilled. "I'm also her childhood friend. She's told me a great deal about you through her letters and calls. Since then, I've wanted to meet you someday."
"Then, today's the day." Saguru gently lifted up her hand and kissed it. "It's a pleasure to meet you." A shy smile crossed Mashiro's face as she blushed.
He then did the same to Sora who was confused yet appreciative at his gesture.
Tsubasa studied Saguru with curious eyes. "London… that's in England, right? If you're from there, does it mean you're half-British?" The blonde gave the orange-haired boy a nod. "Ohhhh, no wonder your accent was different! I thought it sounded wonderful."
Saguru's eyes widened slightly, then he gave Tsubasa a warm smile. "Why, thank you. I did spend a lot of time in Britain. You're the first person to show open interest in my ethnicity. I appreciate it."
The younger boy shyly smiled. For the first time, he felt comfortable around someone besides his friends. Especially with a unique and foreign background. Not completely in sharing his true identity, but good enough.
"Wow, it's the same for me and Tsubasa. We came from another wo…" As Sora talked, Mashiro and Tsubasa grew alarmed at her next words. Thankfully, the bluenette caught herself at the last second. "Wooonderful country, Scandinavia! That's right! So yes, we know exactly how you feel!" The other two teens softly sighed in relief, while Sora had a nervous laughing fit.
"I see." Saguru positioned one hand under his chin. He deeply studied the Skylandian, from her facial expressions (eyes darting everywhere, crooked smile) to body language (fidgety hands, foot tapping). Courtesy of a detective. It was obvious to him she was hiding something related to her and Tsubasa's homeland. Question is: Why?
An apprehensive Mashiro began sweating bullets. Knowing his detective profession, she feared he would uncover her friends' secret and Skyland's existence in minutes. Though he seemed nice, the pink-haired girl refused to take chances. A floating kingdom, talking birds with human forms, superheroes with magical powers…? People on Earth aren't ready for it, especially logical ones like Saguru.
Her mind raced furiously over ways to stop the detective's line of thought. Suddenly, a lightbulb pinged above the pink-haired girl's head.
"Excuse me, Hakuba-kun?" Mashiro stepped in between the blonde and bluenette. "How did you and Ageha meet? I want to hear all about it. Ne, Ageha?"
She glanced over her shoulder to look at Ageha with the most desperate face that screamed 'Please help. He mustn't find out about Sora and Tsubasa.'
Thankfully, the adult got the message. "Okay!" She winked, forming an OK sign. "But first…" With a hand salute over her eyes, Ageha rotated her head, searching for something.
She stopped, pointing at a café in the distance. "Let's go there. What better way to tell a story than to sit down in a nice, relaxing place?"
Saguru thought for a while, then nodded. "Very well. I do enjoy a nice reminiscence with a refreshing drink."
"Coolio! Let's go!!" Ageha declared, picking up her bags. She and the younger teenagers carried the other bags, along with the blond gentleman who offered his assistance. With each person holding a suitable number of bags, they head off to the café, Ageha taking the lead.
After the five ordered beverages and found a table, they began to chat. Ageha, Sora, Mashiro, and Tsubasa learned that Saguru is a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes who greatly inspired him to become a detective. His father is the Superintendent General of the Tokyo MPD, and his mother runs a famous clock industry in Britain. The blonde continued talking about the cases he solved in his foreign country. The Hirogaru Sky Pretty Cure, in exchange, shared their stories of how they met and their adventures and fun activities in Sorashido City and Scandinavia. They were cautious in omitting parts about Skyland and the Undergu Empire, even Sora who mostly stayed quiet.
Finally, their drinks arrived: Earl Grey tea for Saguru, chamomile tea for Tsubasa, two fruit smoothies for Sora and Mashiro, and an English tea latte with extra whipped cream and white chocolate for Ageha.
Ageha's face lit up like a Christmas tree. Drinking her latte with one hand, she whipped out a tablet and swiped its screen until she found what she's looking for.
"Quick recap: A child called Ageha lived in Sorashido City with her friend, Mashiro. But one day, her mother announced they're moving far away because of her new job. Angry at her mother, the devastated girl ran away. However, because of Mashiro's kindness…" She winked at the said girl who blushed at her compliment. "She returned home and accepted her mom's decision, promising to stay in touch with Mashiro."
Ageha's excitement bloomed in her eyes and grin. "What happens next? Wonder no more!"
The adult rotated the device to her friends, revealing a drawing of a car driving through a city while being followed by a moving van.
" 'Ageha's Big Move to a New Town: Part Two!' "
As Ageha told her story, she used one finger to switch from one picture to another.
"After Ageha and her mom moved, everything changed. For a week, she couldn't make new friends, not knowing anyone. Ageha remained close with Mashiro, though. Every day, the two called and wrote to each other. Still, Ageha was very lonely. Remembering the fun times with Mashiro, she wished she stayed in her old town. One day, Ageha napped alone under a tree. When she woke up, she saw someone."
The adult paused for dramatic effect, glancing around her audience. "Who do you think it is?"
"No idea, who?" Sora leaned forward, totally engrossed in the story.
Ageha scrolled to another picture in response. "Look familiar?"
Sora, Mashiro, and Tsubasa gasped.
"K…"
"K…"
"KAWAIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!" The female teens squealed in unison. They crowded around the tablet, which showed a young Saguru standing in front of a young Ageha.
"Oh my sky! He is so adorable!!" Sora exclaimed.
Mashiro giggled, zooming the boy's face in and out as if pinching his cheeks.
"Is that really you, Hakuba-kun?" Tsubasa said, facing the older male teen.
Saguru shyly looked away as a pink blush dusted his face. "Y-yes, but that was twelve years ago."
He cleared his throat. "Ageha, please continue the story. We mustn't get sidetracked."
She pouted a little then hummed in agreement. She leaned toward the two girls and whispered, "I'll show you more photos of him later. 'Specially the one where he eats ice cream!"
"Ageha!"
"Hai, hai." She playfully shooed Sora and Mashiro to their seats with a free hand.
"Where were we…? Oh, right!" The auburn-haired woman went to the next pic. "When she saw him, Ageha was surprised.
The boy looked at her with concern. 'Are you okay?'
Suddenly, she cried, shaking her head. Worried, he sat next to her and gave her a handkerchief. After drying her tears, Ageha thanked the boy, returning it to him.
'Wanna tell me what's wrong?'
Hesitant, the little girl told him everything, from her parents' divorce to moving here. The boy listened the whole time, offering her silent comfort.
Then, Ageha went from sad to mad. 'I hate Mama.'
Her words shocked the smaller child. 'Why?'
'She pushed everyone away! My daddy, my sisters, Mashiron… SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ME!!'
Ageha was about to cry again. Until the boy offered her a cup of brown liquid from his thermos.
'W-what's this?'
'English tea latte. Okaa-san often makes it for me when I'm upset.'
She accepts it and takes her first sip. Her face lit up at the delicious taste, helping her calm down. The two sat in silence, sipping their drinks.
'I know how you feel. My parents are always busy. It makes me sad and lonely and angry sometimes. But, I also know they love me. So much. That's why they need jobs: for money to feed, cloth, and take care of me.'
Ageha is shocked at his words. All this time, she believed her mom only cares about herself. But perhaps, deep down, Mama still loves her, even at work.
She smiles at the boy. 'Thank you for being here. I'm Ageha.'
He returns the smile. 'You're welcome. I'm Saguru.'
'Saguru… Can I call you, Ruru?'
'Sure, I love it.'
And that's how the two became friends.
The end."
Sora, Mashiro, and Tsubasa looked at Ageha in utter amazement.
"Wow, what an incredible story!" Sora said.
Mashiro turned to the detective with deep gratitude. "Arigato, Hakuba-kun! For reaching out to Ageha. I can't imagine what would've happened if she never met you."
Saguru smiled warmly at her. "Think nothing of it. I couldn't stand by and ignore someone all by their lonesome. Ageha seemed like she needed a friend."
"That explains everything." Tsubasa added. "Including why you love English tea lattes."
"Yup!" Ageha proudly raised her drink. "With a few extras." She took a swig from it and let out a satisfying sigh. "Gotta admit: It's delicious. But my favorite is the first one Ruru gave to me."
The blonde appeared flattered. "Really? Then, perhaps I'll make you one next time."
"Eh, hontou? I'd supes appreciate it!"
The childhood friends smiled warmly at each other. Ageha was overjoyed to reunite with Sageru after so long. Too bad she's only staying for 5 days. She'd love to spend more time with him, and for him to know her friends better.
Suddenly, the adult perked up. Unless…
"Ne, Ruru?" Ageha put her elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands. "Have you heard of the Grand Sunflower Hotel?"
"Ah, yes. The one that opened three weeks ago? I heard it's the second most popular hotel in Beika due to its sunflower theme and eco-friendly atmosphere. Why do you ask?"
Sora and Mashiro looked at each other with wide eyes, knowing what she's thinking.
Ageha's grin grew wider. "How do you feel about sharing a hotel room with Tsubasa?"
"WHAT?!" Tsubasa shouted, jumping out of his seat. Saguru too was surprised, yet more controlled and curious.
"Excuse us. We'll be right back." Quickly, the young boy yanked her away by the arm 'til they're far from hearing distance.
"Ageha, are you sure about this?" Tsubasa frantically asked.
"One hundred percent! I trust Ruru. He's smart, kind, and polite. Plus, you two were getting along so well."
"Yeah, but he's a really popular detective! What should I say? What should I do?" He wrung his hands, anxiety starting to hit the roof.
"Hey, it's okay." Ageha placed a gentle hand on the quivering boy's shoulder. "Just talk about anything. Be yourself. Remember, he's a human being like you and me."
"Half human," Tsubasa corrected her. "Besides, didn't we agree earlier to find another girl? I'm fine by myself."
"True. Though, if I'm being honest…"
The adult put another hand on his shoulder and knelt down, eyes filled with serious concern. "I'm still not comfortable with you alone. Thirteen years is too young an age." He pouted at the last sentence. "I understand you want to be independent, but I promised your parents I would protect you. If it means finding a reliable male chaperone, then so be it. I've seen what a good person Ruru is, including you." She gave his shoulders a light squeeze. "So please… let him stay. For your safety."
The orange-haired boy sighed. "Alright. But let's ask Sora and Mashiro before we get ahead of ourselves."
"Seems it won't be a problem," She said, with a grin. She pointed at the two girls who were happily chatting with Saguru.
"Hey, Ageha! Tsubasa!" Sora waved at the two walking back to them. "We were just explaining about the empty guest spot to Hakuba-kun. And guess what?"
"He accepted!" Mashiro chirped in, clasping her hands together. "After discovering Tsubasa had a room to himself, he wanted to watch over him as another chaperone. Sora and I were so happy!"
Saguru nodded, holding up his phone. "I texted Baaya earlier for her permission. She agreed, as long as I do my duty. But first…" He brought out a silver pocket watch with a horse emblem and opened it. "She will pick me up in 10 minutes, 29 seconds, and 50 milliseconds. It takes approximately 2 hours, 32 minutes, 54 seconds, and 22 milliseconds to drive to my house, pack my essentials, eat dinner, and arrive at the hotel. So, I'll meet you there at 6:35:11:24."
Sora, Mashiro, Tsubasa, and Ageha gawked at him as if they'd seen a ghost.
Saguru lifted an eyebrow in confusion. "Is… something wrong?"
Ageha merely blinked. "How did you do that?" She whispered.
Another eyebrow was lifted. "Do what?"
"Tell the time, of course! I've never heard anyone announce it down to the millisecond! It's so kakkoii! Are you some kind of time wizard? Are you? ARE YOU??"
With each sentence, Ageha leaned more toward Saguru, her face overflowing with excitement. He flinched at her enthusiasm, leaning back inch by inch.
"Actually… It's because of my eidetic memory."
"Ei-de-tic memory?" Sora struggled to pronounce. "What's that?"
"It means remembering sounds, events, and images with excellent precision after a short period of time. Detectives, including me, possess this skill. It assists us in finding clues, piecing them together, and uncovering mysteries or catching criminals."
"Oooooh!" Ageha again hugged Saguru who smiled a little.
The Precures and Saguru left the mall and packed the shopping bags in Ageha's car. On cue, a white British sports car drove into their view. In the driver's seat sat an older woman with gray curly hair, glasses on sharp nose, and a flamingo pink dress. The blonde got in and bid his friends goodbye before his nanny drove them away.
"Problem solved!" Ageha cheerfully declared. She twirled her car keys with one finger. "Since we've got time, let's go to Yoyogi Park!"
15 minutes later, the car stopped near a huge park filled with many green trees. The four friends walked leisurely across the green grass, fascinated by nature's wonders. Birds of beautiful colors perched in tree branches, chirping songs or building nests out of sticks. A few raccoon dogs peeked from behind trees, shyly looking at people before climbing up the trunks. There were even domesticated dogs brought by visitors who let them run around and play. Sometimes, children would pet them or play fetch with their toys, laughing as they had fun.
Traveling further, the Precures paused to sit down on a bench. In front of them, they admired a small lake with spot-billed ducks floating on the surface. Alongside the river were water fountains spraying higher than the trees themselves. Small wooden bridges connected separate parts of the park for people to walk across.
On one bridge, a teenage girl was leaning against the rail. She had long hair frizzy at the top and a sun hat nearly covering her deep blue eyes. She wore a yellow and periwinkle dress, along with cream colored sandals. The quartet noticed she seemed worried, judging by her frown and furrowed eyebrows.
"That girl… I wonder what's bothering her," Mashiro said, feeling concerned.
"Me, too." Sora said. "Let's ask her."
So, the four strolled to the girl's location. Ageha was the first as she got closer and tapped the girl by the shoulder.
"Kaito?" The latter sounded hopeful. She swiftly stood up and turned her head. But when she saw Ageha, she was soon disappointed and a little confused.
The adult gave a friendly wave and smile. "Hello, I'm Ageha and these are my friends. Hope I'm not nosy, but you seemed unhappy. What's wrong?"
For a moment, the female teen studied her, as if trying to read her intentions. Then, she relaxed a little.
"I'm Aoko. Forgive me, Aoko was waiting for a friend. His name is Kuroba Kaito. He promised he'd be back in a few minutes. But it's been almost an hour, and Kaito hasn't shown up. Aoko even called him seventeen times, yet nothing."
She showed the four a picture on her phone. It revealed a boy around the same age as her with short brown hair messier than hers, indigo eyes, and a wide mischievous grin.
"Have you seen him?"
When the Precures shook their heads, Aoko's head bowed in utter disappointment again.
The colorful quartet glanced at each other with worry. Then, it transformed into determination.
"Aoko-san, we'll help you find your friend." Ageha spoke up.
"Eh? Are you sure?" Aoko's head jolted up, her face filled with shock and a glimmer of uncertainty. "Aoko doesn't want to bother you."
"Daijoubu!" Sora said, pumping her arm. "We love to help anyone in need, no matter the challenge and sacrifice. That's what heroes do!"
A spark of hope became bigger in Aoko upon witnessing their kindness and support.
"Arigato, everyone!" The brunette smiled brightly. "Aoko appreciates it."
Tsubasa nodded. "First, did you see where he went?"
Aoko thought for a few seconds. "Not exactly. He just ran off in that direction." She pointed to the other side of the bridge, opposite of the Precures.
Instantly, the orange-haired boy pulled out a map of the park. He then opened it and used his Mirage Pen to circle the section Aoko pointed at.
"Ok, this narrows our search a bit. Still, Yoyogi Park is one of the largest urban parks in Tokyo. It might take a while, so we should split up."
"Aoko will stay here, in case Kaito returns." Aoko said.
Tsubasa drew lines, dividing the section into four parts. Each Precure chose one location to explore. After he wrote down their names for their chosen sections, Ageha and Mashiro took a picture of the map. The four waved to Aoko who wished for their safety and started heading to the marked area.
"Yosh! Time to search for Kaito. First person to find him calls the others, and we'll meet at the entrance." Ageha said.
"Um… Ageha," Mashiro said with uncertainty. "Tsubasa and Sora don't have phones. How can they contact us?"
"I know!" Sora slammed her fist into her palm. "In Skyland, we have birds who carry letters from one far place to another. Since Tsubasa talks to birds, he can persuade some to inform the rest of us if someone found Kaito."
"Sora, no!" Tsubasa frantically whispered. He nervously checked for nearby people. "If people see me, they'll think I'm crazy or suspect I'm not human."
"Hey, as long as it's not in public, no one will know." Ageha said. "We'll cover for you. Don't worry about it."
Tsubasa mulled his options. Using his unique ability is a high risk, one that could land him in unwanted trouble. Not just him, but Sora and the other Skylandians at their supernatural existence. On the other hand, he and his friends have successfully guarded their secrets (except Takeru who agreed to keep quiet) over the past year. Tsubasa's seen how capable and loyal the girls are. And he wholeheartedly trusts they aren't careless enough to expose him to the entire world. Besides, with no communication, he and/or Sora can end up lost, too. That would lead to a bigger mess.
Making his decision, the Puni Bird said, "I'll do it."
Tsubasa wandered near the trees, head scouring the tops for signs of birds. Seeing something rustling above, he climbed up the trunk and discovered four white doves nestled together on a branch. While he gently talked to them, the three girls stood by the same tree, detecting any curious eyes. Few minutes later, three white doves flew out, each one perching on a girl's shoulder.
The orange-haired boy slid down, a white dove also on his shoulder.
"Great job, Tsubasa!" Ageha patted him on the head. "The hunt for Kuroba Kaito officially begins now!" The team went their separate ways.
Now alone, Ageha wasted no time. She scoured the grassy grounds, peeked in trees and bushes, and asked several bystanders about Kaito's whereabouts.
However, her efforts met a dead end. Defeated, the troubled adult closed her eyes and sat in a tree's shade, wondering her next course of action.
Out of nowhere, the dove cooed loudly, startling Ageha awake like an alarm clock. It hopped side to side, head bobbing in different directions. Spreading its wings, the dove jumped off her shoulder and flew away.
"Wha?!" An alarmed Ageha rose to her feet. "Come back! Where are you going?"
She quickly ran after the little bird, unwilling to lose it.
The chase happened for a mile or so. Finally, the dove rested on a perch of a birdhouse. It observed Ageha who staggered and stopped a few feet from it. Worn out, she bent down and put her hands on her thighs, panting heavily.
"Th…th…there y…you are. W…wh…why did you t…t…take off?"
Immediately, her attention was caught by a nearby male's voice.
"Thank you, little boys and girls! It puts a smile on my face to see your smiles. I will perform one final magic act."
At the word, "magic", Ageha straightened up with glee. A magic show? Here?
She twirled around to view a child's birthday party at a distance. Adorable children were jumping up and down in their seats, brimming with eagerness. Following who they were looking at, Ageha couldn't believe her eyes.
It was Kuroba Kaito.
No mistake. The messy hair, the indigo eyes, the crafty grin. It's him.
He was dressed in casual clothes: a white shirt, emerald blue jeans, and red sneakers.
Relieved, Ageha stroked the dove three times as a signal to the others that she located him. The dove flapped into the air, leaving to deliver the message.
Jogging toward the party, Ageha stood behind the young audience and waved at Kaito.
"Oi, Kuroba-kun! Over here!"
Despite her loud voice, it's no match for the kids' sea of screams. So, she decided to sit down on the grass and wait until he's done. Show must go on, after all.
In the blink of an eye, Kaito produced three red, yellow, and blue linking rings. He raised the red and yellow rings up high.
"Ok, everyone! Here are two colorful rings. Nothing out of the ordinary, right?" He said, twirling the rings on each finger like a basketball.
"But what happens if I put them together?"
Kaito crossed the rings a few times. Then, when he pulled them away, they were connected.
"WHOOOOOOAAAAAA!!!!" The audience, including Ageha, was delightfully surprised at the magician's trick. Only to see another surprise.
Like cloth dipped in dye, the intersection of the circle gradually turned bright orange. When the rings were pushed inward, the orange color remained on the intersecting parts. When pushed out, it followed, too.
Pulling out the blue ring, the magician announced, "Let's add blue to the mix!"
The blue and yellow rings were also joined, creating a brilliant green color in the middle. He repeated the trick with the red and blue rings, which gave birth to a rich purple.
All the rings were now attached to each other, merged into a lovely rainbow. Ageha and children erupted into a chorus of "ooh"s, "aah"s, "wow"s, and other gleeful sounds.
Kaito fitted his index finger in the small middle hole and spun it around.
"Okey-dokey, minna! When I toss this in the air, you're in for a huge surprise. Count with me!"
"1… 2… 3… GO!"
Everyone shouted as the rings were launched up high. Instantly, the orange, green, and purple intersections expanded into rings, still connected to their respective colors. The six rings fell back down, only to be skillfully caught by Kaito. He spread his work far and wide for his audience to see, grinning widely.
Yells and squeals of shock and joy escaped from the children's mouths. Multiple hands gave the magician a round of applause, their clapping echoing across the park.
Ageha's jaw fell on the ground, and her eyes shone at the spectacular display. She was beyond impressed. How could a teenager execute such advanced magic tricks? He must possess serious talent.
Using his deft hands, the messy-haired teen separated the rings and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, thank you! That concludes Kuroba Kaito's one-of-a-kind magic show. Thanks for watching and Happy Birthday, Nana-chan!"
He bent down and smiled at a young girl wearing a birthday hat with a number seven.
Nana returned the smile. "I love you, Kaito-kun! You're the best magician ever!!"
The grin grew bigger on Kaito's face as she and her friends crowded around him. They were talking all at once, showering him with endless compliments.
"Alright, kids. Settle down." A male adult clapped his hands three times, getting their attention. "I know you're excited, but please give him some space. It's piñata time!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!" shouted the kids, scrambling to the tree with a piñata dangling from it.
"Arigatou gozaimasu, Kuroba-kun." The male adult stook out a hand. "You did a wonderful job. I can tell Nana-chan and her friends really adore you."
"No problem," said Kaito, shaking his hand. "Anything to make these adorable kiddos happy!"
He returned to the children. Seizing her chance, Ageha ran up to the brunette.
"That… was… IN-CREDIBLE! How did you do that?! Wait, don't tell me." Ageha pretended to tip an imaginary top hat with one hand and placed the other on her hip. "A magician never reveals his secrets."
"Oh ho! You know the magician's code by heart. I take you're a magic fan?"
"A SUPER fan! I'm Hijiri Ageha. I've attended many magic shows. But your performance was the greatest!!"
The teenager released a large, toothy grin. "Why, thank you! I am the greatest magician, after all."
With a flick of his wrist, the teen magician made an autograph appear and handed it to Ageha.
"Here, a gift to one of my adoring fans!"
The adult accepted it with both hands. Written on the paper was, "To: Hijiri Ageha. From: Kuroba Kaito." in big kanji letters.
"Thanks. Actually, I've been looking for you. Aoko-san's waiting for you. Why're you here?"
"Well, long story short. While Aoko and I were walking around, I saw that guy super frantic 'bout something. Turns out: the magician he scheduled was too sick to arrive at his daughter's birthday party. So, I told Aoko I had urgent business to attend to and left to offer my magic services. Hence, here I am."
Kaito leaned forward, took Ageha's hand, and kissed it. She blushed at his gentlemanly action.
"Take it as my apology for your troubles. And gratitude for finding me. If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to Aoko."
"TOO LATE." A cold, flat voice rang out.
Ageha and Kaito froze in shock, the latter more scared than the former.
"Uh… ohhhhh." The brunette squeaked.
He hesitantly turned around, fearing the worst.
Standing an arm's distance away was an enraged Aoko. The female's expression was dark enough to cover the entire sun. Her eyes glared razor-sharp daggers at him, ready to kill him. Fists clenched tightly by the sides, almost almost painfully.
"Heyyyy, Aoko! You're here!" The male brunette laughed nervously.
"Weren't you waiting at the bridge?" Ageha inquired.
"Aoko was but got more worried. Aoko thought you and your friends needed an extra hand, so Aoko left. Heard everything Kaito just said."
She then jabbed a finger at his chest. "How DARE you make Aoko wait! Aoko nearly called Oto-san for help. However, Aoko wanted to search first before doing so. If Aoko knew it would take so long, Aoko should've tagged along."
"Hehehe," Kaito chuckled sheepishly, pressing two fingers together. "Time flies when you're having fun, eh?"
Big mistake. Aoko now shook with uncontrollable, seething anger. Engulfed in imaginary flames, the female teen growled deeply, like a coyote wanting to tear Kaito to shreds.
Suddenly, she calmed down, her fiery aura vanished. Confused, Kaito and Ageha watched Aoko casually stroll to Nana's dad carrying a piñata stick.
"Sir, may Aoko have the stick, please?" She said, holding out her palm.
The male adult blinked. "Um, sure. But why? Piñata's already smashed." He said, giving it to her. Scattered on the grass were countless candies, which the kids gleefully picked up and stuffed into their pockets.
Aoko shook her head. "Oh, no. Not THAT piñata. Aoko meant a new piñata."
All blazes broke loose when she whirled around and aimed the stick at the teen magician.
"And his name is KAITO!!!!!!" She hollered, dashing toward her target.
Horror crossed the two's faces as the raging ball of fire ran in their direction.
"Whuh-oh! Look at the time." The male teen peeked at his wrist, as if checking his watch. "See ya, Ageha-san!"
Like in cartoons, Kaito sped away from Aoko, his legs blurring in a circular motion. Unfortunately for him, Aoko was faster. Before long, the stick whacked at him, landing several hits on the head.
"OW, OW, OW, OW!! Quit it, Ahoko!"
"That's for making Aoko worried sick, Bakaito!!"
A terrified Ageha stood rooted on the spot. This wasn't what she imagined their reunion would turn out. Is this normal for those two?
She mentally slapped herself. Now's not the time. Help first, question later. The auburn-haired adult ran as fast as her legs could go to rescue Kaito.
X
Sora, Mashiro, and Tsubasa are presently waiting outside the park's entrance. Fifteen minutes ago, Ageha's dove flew to each of them, prompting their doves to fly off. It was the signal that one of the Precures located Kaito, so the teens returned to the agreed spot after their doves left.
The girl with pink hair looked around worriedly. "Ageha found Kuroba-kun, right? Why isn't she back, yet?"
The bluenette's expression became serious. "Maybe something happened to her. I'll go look."
Before she could take a step, the boy with orange hair grabbed her shoulder. "Wait, Sora. Let's give Ageha a few more minutes. If it takes too long, we'll search for her."
"No need," Ageha said, walking out of the entrance.
Tsubasa waved at her. "Hey, Ageha!" When he didn't see Kaito, he stopped, looking around. "Say, where's Kuroba-kun?"
"Well… about that…" The adult winced, rubbing a hand over her arm.
To answer his question, Aoko showed up, dragging an unconscious Kaito by the collar. There were big bumps on his head, spirals over his eyes, and low groans from his mouth.
The younger teens were totally stunned and concerned at his poor state.
"Arigato, everyone!" The female brunette said, an innocent smile plastered on her face. "It's getting dark, so I'll just tuck Kaito in for bed. Bye!" Waving to the colorful bunch, she strolled off with her childhood friend in tow.
Tsubasa, Sora, and Mashiro stared at Ageha with confusion.
"What happened?" Sora first asked.
The oldest Precure shook her head. "You don't want to know."
Judging by the boy's injuries and Ageha's expression, the three decided not to pry.
The four friends drove to a nearby restaurant for a nice, quiet dinner. After the meal, they went back to their hotel and met Saguru carrying three suitcases. Inside, Ageha registered Saguru as an official fifth guest to their reservation.
With everything settled, the girls and boys entered their respective rooms where they made themselves comfortable.
In room 909, Sora was doing training exercises. She practiced her punches, kicks, chops, and different techniques to hone her fighting skills more. Sitting on the desk, Mashiro began to create a new picture book. Using the picture she took during the car ride to the train, she applied colorful pencil and brush strokes to create an eye-catching story. Ageha lied on her bed, happily viewing today's pictures on her phone. She posted a couple of them on social media and typed how much fun they had, ending with a plethora of emoji's.
Meanwhile, it's quieter in the boys' section. Saguru was sitting on an armchair, reading a Sherlock Holmes book. Brown eyes studied every word with intrigue, deeply engrossed in the plot. When he finished a page, fingers delicately turned to the next one, hardly making a noise. Tsubasa, sitting in bed, observed the blonde in awe. It felt wonderful rooming with a talented detective. Though Tsubasa tried to go over and talk to Saguru, like Ageha suggested, he was too nervous. The disguise Puni Bird was scared of making a bad impression, especially in front of someone who is cool and kind. Saguru started to lift his head, causing Tsubasa to panic and quickly bury his face in a book. Too anxious to try again, the young boy lowered his book to read it.
When it was time for bed, everyone said goodnight before falling asleep. Tsubasa laid awake, unable to sleep in his new surroundings. Sitting up slowly, the Puni Bird stole a glimpse at his roommate's sleeping form.
Perfect… that defines Hakuba-kun. Like Ageha said, he's smart, kind, and polite.
And I'm…
With a soft sigh, Tsubasa laid down, pulled up the covers, and finally went to sleep. Hoping tomorrow will be better.