Narrator
Let's recap what happened the past two chapters. Reiko, Masaru and Yuu first went to choose their clubs for the next three years of their middle school life. And everyone managed to get into the clubs of their choice! How nice!
What's even nicer was that Reiko thought of a way to save her family from debt. She initially wasn't sure how to do it but a fated meeting with a mute boy gave her the solution of starting her own online business. She took that opportunity and has decided to start selling the soft toys. Running a business in middle school is tough but I'm sure with friends by her side, Reiko would be able to take her business to greater heights!
Story
"I will be giving out your science midterms in a moment," 1-3's science teacher announced. "Your class had the most extreme performance among all classes. There were students that scored a perfect score, which I'm greatly impressed since I never saw such cases in my entire career. However, some of you failed badly."
The room became silent, then broke into gasps and chatters about who could have failed. Reiko started biting her fingernails since she knew she had always been bad at Science more than anything.
"Quiet!" The teacher instructed, clapping her hands. "I will give the papers out to the students that failed first so they can figure out what's wrong. All students have failed will need to take a retest... Hanadera."
Reiko's heart skipped a beat.
"Just... get your paper," Yuu advised. "She wants you to see what's wrong with your science so you can pass the retest." She patted Reiko's shoulder and Reiko finally walked up to get the paper.
"You can do better than this. You need to work on your physics explanations," the teacher coldly told Reiko. Reiko gripped her paper tightly, expecting herself to get a 0. Sitting on her paper, she bit her lips while gingerly turning over the paper. 46.
"Let me see," Yuu remarked gently while taking the paper from Reiko. "46... that was better than what I expected. I'll help you."
"Thanks..." Reiko replied dejectedly. All of a sudden, a monotone voice said from nowhere, "Yuu, here's your paper. The teacher says it's a good try but she hopes you can do even better." He then crashed on his table.
Reiko turned around. That was Masaru, but he definitely looked flushed and exhausted. It was as if something sapped out of all the energy from him and that his outgoing, energetic self was now just a shadow of him. "Masaru, are you ok?" Reiko asked out of concern. "You don't look like yourself."
To Reiko's shock, Masaru actually changed the topic. "Why didn't you tell me you failed?" Masaru replied coldly. "You actually told Yuu instead of me. I'm better at Science than she is! I can help you better!" Yuu pointed at herself while staring at Masaru, her mouth wide open and her eyes as wide as saucepans. The blame had been shoved on her, and little did she know it was going to escalate into an argument.
"But I saw you look sick and sad, so I didn't want to disturb you!"
"You- You don't understand a thing! We've spent all these years together and you don't know a thing! We practically live next to each other! Don't you know I'm up before you are and I sleep after you do?! That's because I have to study after long trainings!"
"You should have told me, then we could have worked something out to help you!"
Masaru stormed up to Reiko and gave her a strong push. Reiko bounced off the walls of the classroom. "I can't believe you're just a selfish ignorant hermit that pretends to be sweet all the time! I have to turn up for school and practice. You know practice is obligatory for all soccer members and we have to be there, rain or shine, and whether we're sick or not! Yes, I may have an actual fever but that doesn't give you the excuse to lie to me!"
Reiko stared at Masaru in a mixture of fury and shock, as she bit her lips with strength, too angered to say anything more.
Narrator
This is bad! Reiko and Masaru just argued! I know this usually doesn't happen since they're childhood friends but I do hope they fix this up soon!
...wait, what? And now Hitoshu-oni is taking advantage of their argument to defeat them?
Story
Hitoshu-oni closed her tablet and smiled. "You two argued over a small thing... got it," Hitoshu-oni mumbled with a hint of plotting in her eyes. "After all, I have done my homework much better than you too did."
(Cut to Tayoseishi Private Academy soccer field)
"No. 9, over here!" One of Masaru's soccer teammates screamed. Player 9 stumbled clumsily to Player no. 15 but as he wasn't able to control his kicks, he scored a point for the opposing team. The entire team but Masaru booed him.
"Ask the school why they inducted you into this club! You don't deserve to be in this club!"
"What a burden!"
"So you say you try so you avoid a scolding! How fake!" Clenching his fists, Masaru clenched his teeth and stumbled forward.
"I know him personally. He may have Down Syndrome but he always means it when he says "Today I'm going to do my best." So stop making remarks... unless you want me to give you Down Syndrome," Masaru remarked, before giving a sly wink. Everyone got scared and froze in their steps.
"Wait... Masaru, are you sure you're ok?" No.9 asked out of concern.
"I'm fine," Masaru replied casually. "Let's continue the game."
Meanwhile, at the other side of the corridor, Reiko and her senior were walking around the school to get the inspiration for their club activities. Her senior was doing an artwork of what the sports clubs look like in Tayoseishi, she was doing an artwork about the textures she could find in school. Just as Reiko was about to find a texture to scratch on, a familiar giggle stopped the duo in their tracks during their club activities. Reiko and Masaru instantly turned around, knowing who the enemy was immediately.
"I think your differences suck! Go, Sabetsuta!" Hitoshu-Oni screamed.
"Sabetsuta!" The cone shaped Sabetsuta echoed.
Everyone but Masaru ran from the field. When Reiko realised people were running to the corridor, she told her senior without hesitation, "I've got to go!" She immediately dashed around the class like a headless chicken locating the source of the Sabetsuta until she reached the school field, where she witnessed Masaru breathing heavily while gripping his InfiniMo.
Whipping out hers, she rushed to his side and told him, "Let's transform."
"A-Are you really sure about that?" Masaru asked back weakly. Reiko nodded and prepared to say something else.
"Besides, I'm sorry for not informing you about my science grade earlier. And I will be looking out for you this time for your fight."
"... thanks. And sorry for jumping to conclusions about why you didn't tell me. I'll help you with your retest." With them making up, Reiko and Masaru got back to back, ready to transform and save the world once again.
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
"For today, just do whatever you can," Reiko reassured. "I'll do the rest." Without much hesitation, Reiko sprung off, ready to put up a fight with the villains.
Jumping up, she formed a gun-like signal and screamed, "Granite Banger Attack!" However, that attack was clearly only enough to shock the villian rather than actually defeat it. Clenching her teeth, she muttered, "Damn it... I thought this attack was going to do it."
She was unaware she was about to spiral back to her self-destructive thoughts when something in her short-circuited. That lead her to confusion but also a sense of understanding. After all, if Masaru was in that same situation, what would he do?
Just find another way to tackle the villain!
Running to Hitoshu-oni, Reiko found a good position to confront Hitoshu-oni. Once she located that position, she went all out to deal kicks and punches to the villian and ended off with a backflip that only gymnasts knew.
Hitoshu-oni just brushed off the dust from Reiko's boots and muttered, "I can't believe she's actually improving..."
"Reiko, you never learnt martial arts or gymnastics before," Masaru asked. "How were you able to do such a thing?"
"I watched some fights online and kind of picked it up..." Reiko admitted. "I just wanted to match up to you."
"Nah...don't say that. I'd say you're better at magical attacks than physical attacks. I got to build up my 'inventory' of sub-attacks , y'know." Reiko smiled weakly, but their conversation caused an opportunity for Hitoshu-Oni to defeat them.
Masaru was shot in the legs, causing him to be paralysed and had to sit on the ground. Reiko knew that Masaru was once again counting on her to finish the fight.
"Precure, Love Chain!" Reiko screamed, pulling out a pink and golden chain from behind. "Charge, electrifying love!"
Masaru looked at her dumbly and wondered: Hey, who would think love is electrifying? Other than the pop songs she listened to.
Reiko's body glew with a shining pink. "Precure, Electrical Love Attack!" She hopped side to side before pointing the chain at Hitoshu-oni, ultimately defeating her once and for all.
By then, Masaru could walk properly again, but he got up with much difficulty. When he tried to run, he did so with much difficulty, often stopping to catch his breath.
Reiko noticed her friend's condition was getting worse and caught him in his arms. "You've done well today," she reassured. "We just have the final attack to perform."
His conviction was temporarily renewed. "...thanks, Reiko," he replied.
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 Face Towel Jewel fell from the sky and into Reiko's hands. Reiko kept in her skirt pocket, reminding herself to keep the Jewel in the Jewel Album, not before mumbling, "Why are we getting weird items all the time..."
As if Masaru picked up her signal, he replied, "No idea. But it's as if it's helping us live our best middle school life."
"Right. But today was a wild ride. Nonetheless, I'm just glad we got a little closer after all that chaos."
"Yea..." Masaru trailed off, before Reiko heard a thud sound, throwing her into instantaneous panic.
"Hello Masaru? Are you ok?" She asked frantically as she went to his side, shaking him up and down. All of a sudden, while shaking him up and down, she realised Masaru was shivering. This caused suspicion and she gingerly placed her hand on his neck. His heck was hot to the touch.
"He's got a serious fever!" Reiko screamed. As if the soccer team picked up her cries, they all gathered around her and stared at their teammate in worry, frantically thinking about what to do next.
(2049 words)
To be continued