Story
"Let's go! Sakura!" Reiko's InfiniMo echoed and a bottle of soda landed on Reiko's table.
"Reiko, it's bad to drink soft drinks at night," Can-do cautioned. "Why are you drinking it?"
"I need energy. I have to do my science homework," Reiko explained in exasperation. "Science is hard to understand, boring, frustrating and my worst weakness." She sighed and took a gulp of the soda before banging it on the table, miraculously without a droplet of the soda spilling out of the bottle.
"If you need help, I can help you," Can-do said calmly. "Let's see..."
(1 hour later)
Reiko's soda bottle was half full at this point. Meanwhile, the room was silent other than for Reiko's scratching pencil and Can-do's occasional explanations.
"So you divide these two numbers and you should get your answer," Can-do explained calmly.
"Alright, 45 divided by 12... and there we have it!" Reiko mumbled. "3.75 Pa! Phew, I'm thankful this homework is done! Thank you, Can-do! You're such a life saver!"
"No problem! Just remember the formulas and you should do fine for Science... especially physics." Just as Reiko was about to finish the other half of her soda bottle, she heard some mumbling. She quickly scooped Can-do in her arms and leaned on the door.
"Why are you listening to these noises?" Can-do asked. "You know it's bad for you. You're wasting time working on your Precure story and who knows, you could be eavesdropping on someone's conversations! That's the worst, exclusive thing anyone can do!"
"I don't have a choice, Can-do," Reiko reminded coldly. "You should know my family by now... my autistic brother who could have a meltdown anytime, my parents arguing about money and us, their children... as the only able-bodied child of the family, I'm expected to intervene anytime something happens. Sigh... let me focus, Can-do."
So Can-do and Reiko stood near the door and listened to the mumbling for a while. As it turns out, Reiko's parents weren't arguing over money like she thought. Rather, it was a solemn tearful discussion about what to do since they are in debt and can't pay for their household bills.
If she didn't do anything, she could be homeless.
(Cut to the next day at school)
The next day at lunch, Reiko made a loud sigh at the courtyard.
"What's wrong, Reiko?" Yuu asked out of concern. "You've been looking down the whole day."
"My family's in debt," Reiko explained solemnly. "The only reason I can even eat a bento like normal middle schoolers do is because the Golden Scheme provided my family extra food this month."
"But why? I thought you had a normal room or something..."
"My family's situation is worse than you think. My dad is a manager at a factory; my mum is a caretaker. Even though my dad earns a decent amount at work, they all go to my siblings. Simply because one has severe autism and needs money just to talk and another has cerebral palsy just to walk. Their treatment costs a lot, so we don't have money to afford food even at restaurants. Only at the convince store and transport. And they've been struggling to pay off our household bills because of the medical treatment. If we can't pay next month's bills, we're going to be kicked from our apartment. I'm serious."
Yuu gasped, then turned around and looked at Masaru who looked surprisingly calm. "Masaru, you're not surprised?!" She asked in shock.
"Nope," Masaru replied calmly. "I've know Reiko since kindergarten. Her family has always been like this although things weren't that bad when she was younger. It was only at 4th grace did things seriously blow up." He turned to Reiko. "Reiko, you're the only abled child in the family. Do you think there's anything you can do about this? I don't wish to squeeze 5 more people into my small apartment."
"Things I can do...."
Yuu placed a hand on Reiko's shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. Let's find a solution together," she reassured.
Cut to library, after school
In the library, Reiko checked out all the books in the business sector. Meanwhile, Yuu looked up all the websites saying "Ways to earn money as a student." Occasionally, Yuu would roll her wheelchair to Reiko as they updated each other on their progress. Unfortunately, neither could come up with an answer.
All of a sudden, during their third check-in, Reiko felt a firm tap on her shoulder. He then typed something on his phone and his phone read out:
Hi, I am a third year in this school and I cannot talk. However, I am very interested in business and run one myself. If you are looking for ways to get your family out of debt, running a business is the way. In fact, there are websites that let you do just that nowadays.
Reiko replied, "There's such an option?! I thought I had to sell my artworks!"
I'm sure you don't want to sell them, I'm sure it's only for the money. After all, my best friend is an artist and to him, his artworks are his greatest happiness. So keep them, it'll be a great memory someday.
But yes, such an option exists. Lets meet back here on Thursday so I can help you start up your business. In the meantime, I just need you to think of some products you can sell. Anything but your own artworks, thank you very much.
"I will, thanks!"
Narrator
Sorry for only appearing this late in the game.
However, I have seen how things have been developing and I'll say it's quite the twist! Reiko now has a better idea of what to do to get her family out of debt so Masaru doesn't hVe to invite 5 people into his home or worse, all the Hanaderas sleeping on the street. Yikes! I mean, no offence to the people sleeping rough but I'm sure none of the Hanaderas want that!
And things are just getting from bad to worse! Looks like the villains now want Reiko to be kicked from the apartment and are going to do everything to stop Reiko's business from happening.
Story
Sitting on the cloud, the cousins cuddled together watching the footage of the cures' lives. At one point, the footage of Reiko accepting the mute boy's offer replayed.
"Do you think Reiko is still in school?" Hitoshu-oni asked.
"No idea," Ijime-o replied casually. "I'll figure that out!"
Cut to the Hanadera household
Reiko returned home from school after the offer was made to finish up her homework such that she could have more time finding product ideas. Thankfully, her mother was able to cope with the cooking that day so she was able to finish her homework just before dinner was served, which Reiko considered a "first."
At the dinner table, there was an assortment of food. There was the steaming hot show white rice, creamy yellow stew with an assortment of meat and vegetables and dark orange porridge. They all emitted a strong smell that was appealing in its own way. Shizuku and Reiko's brother, Sato, both fumbled out clumsily.
Shizuku took a look at the food and thanked her parents for cooking her favourite cream stew, not before staring at Sato's pumpkin porridge. "Pumpkin porridge again?" She scolded. "Can't you be like everyone else and eat different things? You're the oldest among us all and aren't even in high school! Be ashamed of yourself, Mr Autism!"
The room was greeted with silence, and said silence broke with Sato's sobbing. Mrs Hanadera tried to calm her son down, which went well but no sooner did she start scolding her youngest daughter than a familiar creepy giggle could be heard behind their main door.
"I think I know who it is," Reiko stated boldly. She opened it and was right. It was Ijime-o indeed.
"I think both your differences suck! Go, Sabetsuta!" Ijime-o screamed.
"Sabetsuta!" The cream stew and pumpkin porridge Sabetsutas echoed.
Quickly covering the food up, Reiko instructed her parents to get to safety and found Masaru, as they tapped their shoulders and got ready to save the day.
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
"H-How did the villains get there?" Reiko asked in shock, pointing at the monsters standing there.
"I have no idea," Masaru replied seriously. "Just take my hand, we'll jump down!" Reiko smiled at Masaru with hesitation and grabbed his hand, jumping down so they could fight the villain better.
When the duo landed on their feet again, Ijime-O glared at them. "So it's 3 v 2 today. Are ya excited?" He scoffed.
"Of course not! What's your problem?!" Masaru bellowed. He got on his feet, dashing as fast as he can while preparing a punch. "Precure, Fiery Fist!" However, as he prepared that attack to early, the flames from his hand burnt off.
"Precure, Love Chain!" A familiar voice echoed from behind. Masaru turned around in shock, only to see Reiko levitating mid-air holding a golden and pink chain. She landed on the ground before deciding to break the hook. After that, she summoned a bar magnet and attracted the chain to the magnet. Placing the magnet on her hand, Reiko ran up to Ijime-O and targeted his piercings. However, as Ijime-O resisted, not only was Reiko unable to pin him down, but she was thrown onto the ground and then knocked Masaru down.
Once they were lying on top, Reiko asked, "Are you ok, Masaru?"
"I'm ok, my leg just hurts with the impact of the knock," Masaru replied. "But more importantly, did you injure yourself anywhere?"
"No. I can continue." Reiko got up and summoned her sword on the spot. She emitted a strong pink glow, which initially made Masaru shocked but then he smiled. Reiko was getting used to her powers much quicker than he thought and clearly saw that as her biggest source of confidence.
She continued running and jumped up, making a clear red slash on Hitoshu-oni's arm. He was ready to hit her with her toy hammer, but thankfully Reiko was agile enough to see through that. She magically paralysed his hands and got ready to perform her sub-attack, one that she would soon call her own.
Jumping up, she formed a gun-like signal and screamed, "Granite Banger Attack!" Smile came out from her hand and that was enough to knock Ijime-O out.
Getting back on her feet, Reiko called out, "Let's do it!"
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 Telephone and Magical Cooker Jewel fell from the sky and into each of the guardian's hands. "Wow, they really have weird ideas for the InfiniJewels," Masaru remarked, before passing them into Reiko's possession. "You keep it, after all, I know you're the lead cure here."
Unsure how Masaru knew she was the pink cure, Reiko received the InfiniJewels and kept them in her pocket, promising herself to install them into the Jewel Album after dinner. Just then, they detransformed and both of Reiko's siblings were freed from the cages.
"Onii-Chan, sorry for making fun of you earlier," Shizuku apologised. "If your pumpkin porridge makes you happy, just have that for every meal, every day!" Shizuku let out a happy wink.
Sato smiled cheekily as he fumbled into the lift while Shizuku guided herself into the lift with her crutches. Seeing this made Reiko and Masaru smile pleasantly in the sunset.
"So Reiko, have you managed to find a solution regarding earning money for your family?" Masaru asked.
"Yes," Reiko replied. "I'm going to start an online business. 80% of the earnings goes to my family, 20% for me. And I think I know just what to do!"
"What?"
"Handmade items and DIY kits. And my mascot will be Happy Onigiri."
"Soft toy I suppose."
"Yes. But not to worry, I do have crotchet material from my mum so I can ask her if I can use them."
"Alright."
The next two days were busy for Reiko, as she juggled her school activities and coming up with ideas for her business. However, she knew her hard work was worth it when the senior approved all her ideas and even helped her think of a name.
After some discussion, Reiko settled with The Happy Lucky Store. She came to the final decision she would crotchet, sew and knit plushies from scratch as she believed sometimes a little bit of luck and a cute happy toy would make someone's day. The reason she chose an onigiri was because she knew many people that loved that food so it would resonated with many of her customers.
That day, at that moment, that senior and her starts up The Happy Lucky Store. And this senior was actually Minamino Souta, a young entrepreneur who made practical products from recycling bins and his business was called 4ever new. He agreed to help her wherever running a business was needed.
Shortly after releasing the store, she let the art club know and they supported her idea wholeheartedly, working hard to make a promotion board to encourage students and staff to check out her store and buy from her. When she carried the board around the next day, they immediately pre-ordered all the Happy Onigiri plushies and even suggested animal plushies she should make. Reiko took all these to heart and noted them down, promising herself to grow the store with these ideas.
When her family knew about it, they welcomed the idea with open arms and even Shizuku and Sota agreed to help her sew the toys when orders got overwhelming or when she had tests to prepare. Eventually, Masaru and Yuu got to know of it, and couldn't be prouder as their friend managed to find a way to solve her family's financial problems.
Narrator
Another happy ending! Since everyone is supporting her business, Reiko's going to get busy fulfilling all her orders but I'm sure with her closest friends and family, she would be able to make the business thrive! All the best, Reiko!
(2567 words)