Narrator
Last time, Yuu was sent out for an international recital by her external piano teacher. While preparing for it, she grappled with her own feelings of self doubt, her traumatic past that prevented her from having a dream and what her calling was. Thankfully, she not only re-found her calling in music but her international recital was a success!
Story
After the class had a read aloud of an excerpt of Ten Nights of Dreams, Abiko-sensei started going into the lesson and talked about the abstract concept of a dream. A fruitful discussion happened about the different "takes" of a dream.
For Masaru, the lesson went on smoothly until Mai brought up how a "dream" wasn't the thing formed while sleeping, an illusion or if one wasn't paying attention, but also a goal. Abiko-sensei looked at Mai approvingly and nodded, and wrote the word "synonym for goal" on the chalkboard.
"Akiyama-san brought up a really good point. A goal for yourself," Abiko-sensei explained. "It might be as small as getting that 80 for your finals or as big as reaching your dream career. However, in all languages, when we refer to Akiyama-san's meaning of dream, we usually mean the second meaning." Abiko-sensei went around asking the whole class about their "dreams."
When it was Masaru's turn, Masaru froze. He always wanted to be an engineer when he grew up, but it seemed like that changed ever since he joined Tayoseishi's soccer team.
Soccer for him was a leisurely affair so he wanted to pursue that sport as a hobby in the soccer club. But in the soccer club, everyone constantly remarked how "he was the best player in the history of Tayoseishi Private Academy" and "he must go pro."
After what seemed to be an eternity, Masaru flushed madly and admitted, "I DON'T HAVE A DREAM!"
"Relax, Hase-san," Abiko-sensei. "It's nice to see most of you already have a dream, I don't usually have students that know what career path they want at your age. But for those who don't, take things one step as a time. If it helps, high school can help figure things out."
After Japanese class
Everyone ran out of the classroom like birds while Mai, Masaru, Reiko and Yuu walked out calmly. Masaru was pouting over the fact he was the only one in his friend group not to have a solid dream yet unlike his female counterparts.
"Don't think too much about it, Masa-kun," Mai reassured. "You still have 5 years to figure things out."
"But Masa-kun," Reiko admitted in concern. "Didn't you want to be an engineer?"
Masaru's eyes widened like saucer pans. He had such a dream? And Reiko remembered it?
Flashback
Fifth grade
It was Career Day and after a few talks about different careers, the students were ushered back to class to do "the gallery walk of careers."
In class, the students were seen drawing and writing what they wanted to be. Reiko simply wrote "artist" and wasted no time drawing herself as one, and even took things a step furtherâin a manga style. Masaru, on the other hand, just implanted "engineer" and pondered what an engineer would do. He saw the kanji and drew a stickman of him fixing machines.
"Rei," he whispered*. "What do you wanna be when you grow up? I know there's many choices for you!"
"An artist!" She replied, showing her close-to-finished artwork for her as an artist, manga style.
"Engineer." Masaru showed his finished art piece while flushing.
"It's not an embarrassing dream, I'm sure you'll make a great one!"
"...thanks."
Present day
"That actually happened?" Masaru asked in shock.
"Yes it did," Reiko replied.
"Oh right right right. But I lost it because of everything that happened at soccer."
"Which is?"
"Everyone keeps saying I'm like Messi's son, if not they think I shouldn't be an engineer but a pro soccer player because of how good I am and the words I hear the mostâI'm the best player in the history of Tayoseishi Private Academy. Never got this in elementary when I played friendly matches. Faced with the harsh reality of my good soccer skills since I'm playing competitively now."
"You don't have to come to a decision now. Take the next few years to figure things out. And even if you go from engineering to soccer, I'll support you every step of the way. I mean, you stayed by my side even after I wanted to pursue my homemade business as a career."
"You're right. Thanks."
Narrator
Ah yes...dreams as goals. During adolescence, they become everchanging. Unstable. Wavering. I'm sure the cures aren't the only teens in the world grappling with this issue.
...oh no, not Hitoshu-Oni always making the cures' lives worse. What do you want now?!
Story
Narrator, whoever you are, I want to make sure Masaru doesn't find his goal in life. He should just be "Embrace's bodyguard after all."
I saw today's footage frame by frame. Yes, since the strongest hero is troubled, it's time to capture him!
(Cut to Tayoseishi Private Academy-Math Class)
"Let's get Hase-san to solve this math problem for us," their Math teacher announced.
Chewing his lips, Masaru slowly sauntered to the board, too reluctant to give the question a shot. Ever since he joined the soccer team, the pressure to go pro and be the best became realer to him than ever.
Just as he was thinking of the solution, 1-3 felt the ground shake. Everyone got ready for the earthquake drill when evil laughter could be heard.
"1-3, it's not an earthquake! Run! It's a monster!" Masaru screamed after looking up and seeing what was causing that sound.
"Yes, I am a monster after all," Hitoshu-oni declared. "I think your differences suck! Go, Sabetsuta!"
"Sabetsuta!" The chalk Sabetsuta declared.
Yuu, Reiko and Masaru prepared to transform together for the first time.
Transformation
Locking the InfiniJewels into the InfiniMo, Masaru removed his glasses while Reiko took off her headband. Yuu sprung out from her wheelchair and slowly saw herself stand in the presence of gravity in the first time. She then looked up to the sky and the InfiniMo and InfiniJewel came to her hands. Tapping their shoulders next to one another, they chorused, "Precure, accept my difference!"
Waving her phone in the air, Yuu released it before curling up into a ball, gaining her green dress. She admired her feet as if taking in the fact she can walk again, before clasping her hands and closing her eyes. Masaru and Reiko then went back to each other and bumped each other's heads for their new hairstyle. The trio's InfiniMos went to the side of their outfit, their weapons were summoned and landed on their hands and the trio jumped down to pose.
"Embracing everyone for their true selves, I'm Cure Embrace!"
"Respecting others for their strengths, I'm Cure Respect!"
"Uniting love and peace once more, I'm Cure Harmony!"
"Two plus one is more than three! That's what differences do! Go, Accepting Diversity Precure!"
Story
"I love how you all got a shock with that fake earthquake I caused, but it's not this little beesch that caused it, I caused it! Go, my Sabetsuta!" Hitoshu-oni declared.
"SABETSUTA!" The Sabetsuta echoed. The Sabetsuta forcefully whacked itself on the ground as the trio ran away and got ready to attack.
"Harmony Wand!" Yuu screamed. The wand landed in her hands. She spun the wand and posed, screaming, "Precure, Hopeful Light Ray Attack!" She threw the wand in the air in hopes of defeating the villain, but to her horror, the villain was still there.
"That villian might be stubborn..." Masaru remarked casually. "But I'm even more stubborn!"
Attack
Locking the Fiery Phoenix Jewel into the InfiniBoard, Masaru raised his hand up, screaming, "Precure, Dress Up!" He transformed into his Accepting Form before posing while saying, "Precure, Accepting Form!"
Jumping back down, Masaru shot the villains a glaring stare. He slowly swept his legs and stood back up before performing a jump with a gun sign, saying, "3, 2, 1, Fire Grenade Smash!" The grenade flew out from his gun signal but flew past the villains.
Story
"I know!" Reiko exclaimed. "We can strangle the Sabetsuta and I'll take it down with my solo attack!" Reiko summoned her Love Chain on the spot and tied the villain up, before showing her game face, ready to attack.
Attack
Locking the Overpowered Love Storm Jewel into the InfiniBoard, Reiko raised her hand up, screaming, "Precure, Dress Up!" She transformed into her Accepting Form before posing while saying, "Precure, Accepting Form!"
"Summon, wand!" Reiko screamed and her wand landed in her hand. She then drew a heart on her right side. "Overflowing you meanie with my endless love! Precure, Love's Whirlwind!" However, the villains were not defeated yet.
Story
Seeing how hard everyone was working, including himself, Masaru wondered if his dream was to be a hero that could save others. After all, he enjoyed competing with Reiko to see who was the better fighter and they even bickered over it.
He then set his mind on defeating the villain himself. Gathering his spirit, he got ready to perform his fiery punch.
"So found your dream, dreamless beesch?" Hitoshu-oni said condescendingly.
"A temporal one," Masaru admitted. "But still a dream nonetheless."
He got on his feet, dashing as fast as he can while preparing a punch. "Precure, Fiery Fist!" He yelled. This time, the fire shot at the speed of light and his punch really made an impact, extinguishing the other fire in his enemy's heart.
"And because I defeated the enemy, I'm going to do the last attack," Masaru told his friends.
"It's going to work, I suppose," Reiko said doubtfully.
"It will. I mean, as long as the villain is frozen."
Attack
Locking the Fiery Phoenix Jewel into the InfiniBoard, Masaru raised his hand up, screaming, "Precure, Dress Up!" He transformed into his Accepting Form before posing while saying, "Precure, Accepting Form!"
Jumping back down, Masaru shot the villains a glaring stare. He slowly swept his legs and stood back up before performing a jump with a gun sign, saying, "3, 2, 1, Fire Grenade Smash!" The grenade flew out from his gun signal and hit both the villains.
Story
The Selfie Stick Jewel fell from the sky. Reiko picked up the Jewel and kept it inside her, promising herself to keep it in her Jewel Album when she got home.
The trio detransformed and admitted, "What a ride...huh..." Masaru went back to his seat and got ready to continue the lesson. He knew he had yet to find his dream but will do anything to do so. Engineer or pro soccer player...he knows he has people that got his back whichever dream he chooses to pursue.
(~1825 words)
*- to keep the fact they are actually childhood friends a secret