Narrator
Last chapter, Reiko and Masaru became Precure for the first time. They learnt to get used to their powers and what it means to be a Precure.
This chapter, Reiko and Masaru have something else to get used to. They have to get used to a new phase of life: middle school. Let's see how they adapt to this change!
Story
Reiko was ready for school early. As her mum has yet to serve breakfast, she decided to kill some time by checking out the functions of the dango Jewel... but not before declaring her excitement for her first day of middle school.
"Oh my gosh!" Reiko squealed. "I'm in middle school now! I'm a teen with new uniforms, can't wait to see what this phase of life brings me!"
Taking out the Jewel Album, Reiko took out the Dango Jewel and inserted the Dango Jewel into her InfiniMo. "Let's go! Dango!" The InfiniMo's voice echoed. A dango stick dropped from the sky.
"So who's going to have the dango?" Reiko asked.
"Let me have it!" Can-do replied eagerly. "I haven't eaten anything today!" Can-do pounced on the dango and gobbled down the dango stick. Meanwhile, Reiko secretly put the dango Jewel in the Jewel Album.
"Are you happy now?"
"Happier than ever!" Reiko smiled gently before leading Can-do into her satchel.
"Rei*, breakfast time!" Her mother called out. Reiko quickly picked up her satchel and headed out to the breakfast table.
(Cut to breakfast table)
"Good morning Rei," her mother greeted.
"Good morning Ma," she greeted back. "Do you need me to do anything after school today?"
"Let's see... nope. I should be good. Thanks for asking." She then served Reiko her toast. "How about taking the time after school today to get to know your new friends better? It's great you and Masaru are still after friends after all these years but... a few new friends won't harm, will they?"
"Sure, mum. I'll try. I have your number so I'll contact you about my plans after school. Thank you for the food!" Reiko took a bite into her crispy toast, savouring the taste while gushing about how great the toast tastes every bite. Soon, the doorbell rang and by then, the doorbell rang. Hastily putting the plate with the toast in the sink, Reiko put on her shoes and helped Shizuku do the same. She guided Shizuku out of the door so she can walk to school with Masaru.
(Cut to Shizuku's elementary school)
"Have a good day at school, Shizuku," Reiko said while leaving her sister's elementary school. Her middle school was just a few doors away. Reiko and Masaru continued to talk about the things they would expect on their first day of middle school.
Narrator
It looks like they have just arrived at their middle school! Wow... a coral pink signage. I have never seen a coral pink signage anywhere in my life. Ooh... their middle school is called Tayoseishi Private Academy. Remember this name from now on as it's going to be really important.
And as the duo walked to the front of the school, there seems to be a wheelchair blocking the way. Oh wait... someone is sitting on the wheelchair! What will our diversity ambassadors do?
Story
"Stop daydreaming! Move your @$$!"
"No wonder people don't want to talk to you!"
These were the words that stood out the most to Reiko and Masaru when they first entered the school. They saw a bob of dark green hair and light green satchel attached to the wheelchair. "Reiko, let's go. We better find our class before we're late for the entrance ceremony," Masaru instructed, pulling Reiko's blazer sleeve.
Reiko resisted his grip and checked the time. There was about 45 minutes to the start of the entrance ceremony. "Masaru, we have a lot of time," Reiko explained indignantly. "Rather than quickly settle down and find our classes, shouldn't we help that person in the wheelchair?"
She calmed down quickly and strided to the person in the wheelchair. Tapping her shoulder, she asked empathetically, "Hi, are you a first year?"
"You can tell? Yes, I am..." the girl meekly explained. "I wanted to check for my classroom but there's a huge crowd so it's difficult to manoeuvre my wheelchair to get there."
"Ok, I'll find a way to help you. Mind if I get your name?"
"Sakurachi Yuu. Yours?"
"Hanadera Reiko." She looked for Masaru and got him to check for all three of their classes and told him to let both of them know. While Masaru checked the trio's classes, Reiko made an effort to go to the sides and get to know her better. As it turned out, she was a music lover and prodigy talented in singing and piano.
When Masaru came back, he informed the other two their class, which was Class 1-3. They immediately agreed and started settling themselves down for the entrance ceremony in the hall. Once they settled down, they got to know one another better.
The student council president gave her welcome address before the various school staff gave theirs. After that, Hase Masaru was declared by the school to be the year representative, being asked to deliver a speech on behalf of the entire incoming cohort. He delivered one about he was excited to start a new chapter of his life. After which, he returned to 1-3's holding area before waiting to leave.
(Cut to 1-3)
The home room teacher introduced herself as Izanagi-sensei. She set some ground rules and gave them an overview on what their middle
School life would be like. After that, she let everyone introduced themselves.
"Hi I am Hase Masaru. I like sports of all kinds, but more so football and I like maths too. Looking forward to working with all of you," Masaru introduced with confidence. The entire class applauded enthusiastically.
"And who is Hanadera Reiko?" The teacher asked curiously. Reiko raised her hand shyly and stood up. She bit her lips and took a few deep breaths, telling herself: Reiko, you can do this! Remember what you prepared and don't look at that script and you should be fine!
"Hi, I am Hanadera Reiko. I like to write and draw. Looking forward to make some new friends here," she introduced calmly. She then sat down, with a reasonable level of applause.
Many names later, it was Yu's turn. Yuu was asked to stand, but she had asked to sit down since she couldn't. This caused a roar of evil laughter throughout 1-3.
"What's your problem? All you need is just a few seconds to stand up, right?"
"You're just being an attention seeking and lazy b*tch!"
"No one asked for your thoughts!" Masaru boomed, instantly standing up and screaming with all his lung power. "She told me everything before the entrance ceremony. She can't stand up at all! She's confined to her wheelchair! What do you want her to do? Listen to your orders, stand and fall and possibly never walk again?!"
"Hase-san's right. This place is called Diversity City Private Academy. Please have some respect for your classmates that are different from you," Izanagi-sensei warned. "Sakurachi-san, anytime you're ready."
"I'm Sakurachi Yuu and I love music, singing and playing the piano. I hope you will look forward to work with me," she introduced gently.
Rather than a round of applause, Yuu was greeted with mean laughter. "Which girl on a wheelchair would want to play with the piano? Let alone sing??"
"No wonder only Masaru wants to protect you!"
"I saw Reiko and Masaru talk to her before the entrance ceremony started. What bad taste to be talking to someone confined to a moving chair for their whole life." This was enough to drive Yuu to silent tears.
Being told to advocate for diversity as Tayoseishi's Diversity Ambassadors, hearing the growing volume of the remarks made Reiko and Masaru lose it entirely. As if connected by telepathy, they took out their hair accessories and flung it at the rest of the classmates, screaming concurrently, "Stop making comments about someone who can't walk! They did nothing wrong to receive this treatment!"
Narrator
Oh dear... problems in the making on the first day of school. Just making for making one (1) friend that can't walk like them. Hopefully it was just a misunderstanding.
...wait, what? Oh no! Looks like the villains are plotting something against our heroes! Please... don't let the victim be Yuu!
Story
Floating along the clouds, Ijime-O was watching a recording. That recording was none other than the aftermath of the backlash Yuu, Masaru and Reiko received simply for being friends with one another. And Yuu was practically sobbing for the bullying she was being subjected to.
"Being bullied all because your thin little legs can't move?" Ijme-O asked sarcastically before smiling smugly. "Don't worry, I feel you." Ijime-O clenched his fists and puffed into thin air, ready to capture Yuu.
Story
After the introduction section that went bonkers, it was time to buy textbooks. Reiko managed to get hers early as she was attached to a Tayoseishi-exclusive financial scheme, the Golden Scheme. She secretly took this opportunity to comfort Yuu, who actually felt better after her consolation. One of the boys then tapped her shoulder and asked, "Why aren't you getting your books?"
"I already got them," Reiko replied, refusing to make eye contact with the boy while leaving to push Yuu to pay for her books. She knew what the boy wanted and wasn't going to fall for his tricks again.
(Cut to breaktime)
After the book purchases were made, Reiko was about to ask Masaru whether he wanted to accompany her and Yuu for morning break when a crowd formed over Masaru's table. Many students start asking him many questions but Masaru manages to calm them down and calmly answers the questions one by one. Knowing Masaru wouldn't be done anytime soon, Reiko went to Yuu's table and pushed her wheelchair out of the classroom, whispering to her gently, "We can go anywhere you want to go."
"Oh no you won't!" An angered, deep voiced boomed.
"Wait, who are you?" Reiko asked in shock.
"Ijime-o, the great king of bullying!" He pointed at Yuu. "I think your differences suck! Go, Sabetsuta!" Yuu and her wheelchair disappeared as she teleported to the cage.
"Sabetsuta!" The monster echoed.
"Damn it!" Reiko echoed out loud. "Masaru, we have no time to waste. Come with your InfiniMo now!"
"Got it!" Masaru screamed, excusing himself from the unannounced "Hase Masaru fan club" and joining Reiko in preparing their hearts and souls for the fight.
Transformation
Locking the InfiniJewels into the InfiniMo, Masaru removed his glasses while Reiko took off her headband. Tapping their shoulders next to each other, they chorused, "Precure, accept my difference!"
The duo then bounced off each other. Reiko gained her warrior dress while Masaru gained his warrior suit. They then went back to each other and held each other's hand, tapping their feet for shoes and bumping each other's heads for their new style. The duo's InfiniMos went to the side of their outfit, their weapons were summoned and landed on their hands and the duo jumped down to pose.
"Embracing everyone for their true selves, I'm Cure Embrace!"
"Respecting others for their strengths, I'm Cure Respect!"
"One plus one is more than two! That's what differences do! Go, Accepting Diversity Precure!"
Story
"Sabetsuta!" The Sabetsuta yelled as it rolled to the heroes. Masaru was quick enough to throw his dagger to the leg of the wheelchair but it quickly bounced back and landed on the ground.
"Damn it..." he muttered. "There are 25 letters in the alphabet for a reason!" He dashed up to the Sabetsuta and gave it a karate kick.
"Reiko, today we are fighting against a really stubborn villian," he told Reiko.
"No, you're the stubborn one!" Reiko scolded. "We are working with metallic objects and not food. So don't think your dagger and kicking will work!" She pushed Masaru aside and ran in front of the villian. Summoning her sword with a magnet attached on it, she pointed the sword at the Sabetsuta. Thankfully, the Sabetsuta started inching closer and closer to Reiko...until Reiko tumbled to the ground.
"Reiko!" Are you ok?" Masaru screamed while rushing up to her aid.
"Ahaha," Ijime-O scoffed. "Who asked you two to become besties with someone confined to a wheelchair?"
"You're only making such remarks because you yourself have never been confined to a wheelchair," Reiko stated firmly. "People on wheelchairs can only get around with ramps and lifts. They need help wearing clothes, bathing and even using the toilet. Can you even imagine what it is like for someone like the victim you trapped in your cage? Sigh... you'll never learn."
"Embrace Sword!" She screamed. Walking confidently to Ijime-O, she then broke into a run ready to Pierce through Ijime-o's heart. Ijime-O summoned his sword to attack Reiko, but Reiko successfully managed to Pierce his chest, supposedly killing him.
Masaru stood rooted to the ground for a moment. "Reiko, that was unlike what you have done before!" He remarked in amazement. "Tell me how you did that!"
"I didn't do wonders," Reiko admitted humbly. "I just need less time to get used to my powers, y'know. Let's end the fight, here and now!"
Attack
Taking out the InfiniMo from her skirt, Reiko held the InfiniMo in her hand. Masaru inserted the Spectrum Wing Jewel into the InfiniMo hole, and Reiko released it.
Standing together, the duo put their hands together and raised it together. "Accepting ourselves and each others for who we are! Spectrum Colourful Splash!" The duo chorused. The splash of colours overwhelmed Ijime-O and pushed him back to the sky.
Story
The Sakura jewel fell from the sky and landed in Reiko's hand. Grasping it in her hand, Reiko promised herself to install said jewel into the Jewel Album after she returned home.
After her internal promise, Reiko and Masaru detransformed while Yuu broke out of her cage. "There's still some time left before break ends," Reiko remarked. "Shall we proceed with our ride?"
"Sure!" Yuu chirped, as the trio proceeded to push her around the school.
(Cut to after school, school gate)
As the trio walked out of the school gate, Masaru asked Yuu, "Is there any place you wanna go?"
"Let's see..." Yuu replied. "This sounds exotic but can you bring me to the art museum?"
"Sure. Let's stop at the bus stop to wait for the bus and let our parents know."
"Ok. Let's go!"
Story
Phew... the first day of middle day didn't end off too badly after all. Let's thank Reiko and Masaru for turning things around!
Also, is it just me or is Reiko actually becoming more confident? It might only be as a cure at this point but Reiko surely is making progress in her self-confidence! Let's see what wonders she'll make next!
(2525 words)