Narrator
Let's take a look at what happened the past few chapters. Reiko and Masaru got into an argument after they struggled to understand each other's lifestyles. However, a certain incident forced them to understand their differing lifestyles. This caused them to get closer, not just as friends, but also as teammates, now performing a new attack called Double Electrifying Zap! I'm just so glad they made up in the end!
Our story continues after school today. Masaru just finished his soccer training and is on the way home, thinking about the homework he needs to do. However, when he gets home...
Story
After unlocking the door to his house, Masaru was greeted by an abnormal silence. At 6pm, his parents would be with his little sister, but that day, there was no one there. Only a little white piece of paper on the table.
Knowing his parents had a reason for putting that piece of paper there, Masaru picked up the little piece of paper and read it.
-
Dear Masaru,
Mum and dad both need to go to Fukushima to see grandpa. Once you go home, go and pick your little sister Rina. Take good care of her and manage your homework while taking care of her.
Lots of Love,
Mum and Dad â¤ï¸
-
"Take care of Rina? No problem!" Masaru declared, slipping on a pair of slippers and then going to Rina's daycare.
(Cut to Rina's daycare)
After a run to Rina's daycare, he realised her daycare teacher was carrying Rina. Realising his presence, the daycare teacher let her into the ground and gave her her bag. "Sorry I'm late!" he screamed. "Did she have to wait long?"
"A little longer than usual, unfortunately," the teacher explained. "We got the call that your parents can't pick her only this afternoon. Thank goodness you came... but she managed to adapt to the change quite well." After Rina greeted her daycare teacher, Masaru took Rina to the convenience store to get dinner.
(Cut to Hase Household)
After getting home, Masaru reheated their dinners before having dinner, talking about what happened during their school days. They changed out of their school uniforms after that, and Masaru brought some books and toys for Rina.
"Rina, onii-san needs to do some homework, so play with yourself first, ok?" Masaru instructed politely. Rina agreed and went to play with her toys.
10 minutes became 20, and 20 minutes became 30. The reality of seventh grade hit hard for Masaru, as he realised he only finished his English book report by then. He was about to start the set questions for Maths, when Rina ran up to her brother enthusiastically and asked, "Onii-chan, can you read this book for me please?
Sighing, Masaru agreed and quickly finished reading for her sake. After that, the duo did their things silently for the next 15 minutes. 15 minutes later, Masaru was being disturbed again. "Onii-chan, can you play with me? Please?" Rina asked innocently.
"Why should I?" Masaru replied in impatience. "I have lots of homework due tomorrow!"
"But a few minutes wouldn't hurt, right? You can do your homework at school..." Triggered by her innocence, Masaru mercilessly took his Japanese exercise book and flung it on Rina's head.
Rina burst into tears, leaving Masaru paralysed to the ground and unable to register the full impact of what he did in what he merely thought was "a fit of anger."
Narrator
Oh dear! Masaru was too focused on his studies and ended up neglecting his sister's feelings! I really hope he can make things right with his sister before his parents find out the chaos that had happened...
But it looks like Hitoshu-oni wants to add even more chaos into Masaru's life! Hitoshu-oni, please, just don't disturb Masaru until he resolves the conflict between him and his sister...
Story
Watching how Masaru threw the exercise book onto his sister's head, Hitoshu-oni then focused on the sister bawling in pain. "Being hurt by your angry sibling..." Hitoshu-oni smiled before breaking into an evil smile. "Don't worry. I've felt all that in my past life before."
(Cut to Hase Household)
The sound of keys jolted Masaru out of his daze. Masaru turned around and saw Reiko's serious face, a far cry from her sweet smile.
"What did you do to your sister?" She asked coldly.
"I threw her with a book because she disturbed me with my homework," Masaru replied.
"No, that's not how you do it." Reiko suddenly disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared with an ice pack covered in cloth. Pressing the area of the hit gently, Reiko explained to him why what he did was wrong and what he should do instead if he ever encountered the situation again.
But before anything else could happen, another sound of jingling keys could be heard again. Jumping up in shock, Reiko and Masaru initially thought it was one of their parents and turned around but screamed in terror when they realised who the real predator was â Hitoshu-oni.
"Didn't think I didn't catch you red-handed!" Hitoshu-oni screamed, pointing at the trio threateningly. "I think your differences suck! Go, Sabetsuta!"
"Sabetsuta!" The monster echoed, breaking through the entire apartment. The house exploded and Masaru and Reiko were taken back by the impact of the explosion.
Looking at each other, they nodded in determination and prepared themselves to 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
"Go Sabetsuta!" Hitoshu-oni ordered. The Sabetsuta roared.
"Precure, Love Chain!" Reiko screamed, wrapping the string around the Sabetsuta and paralysing it. She stayed in that position but soon enough, the chains broke off, leaving the duo in shock.
However, Masaru was quick enough to recover from said shock. He got on his feet, dashing as fast as he can while preparing a punch. "Precure, Fiery Fist!" However, for some reason, the flames extinguished on its own, leaving both Reiko and Masaru in confusion.
"Maybe Hitoshu-oni extinguished those flames," Masaru remarked casually. "I'll try more ways." Yet, no matter whatever he tried, nothing worked.
"Hahaha," Hitoshu-oni mocked. "Finally coming to realise the impact of your folly?"
Masaru stood rooted to the ground and looked at his hands. Has what he had done not only impacted his sister but also...himself? But before he could do anything, the dollhouse Sabetsuta opened up and ate him up alive, trapping him in the dollhouse.
In the dollhouse Sabetsuta, Masaru realised he had shrunk alongside the dolls. Trying to turn on the lights, he finally got to see his sister's world. The cute dolls in the house, her idea of her animal friends being homeschooled and even a note. When he opened it, the note read: I look forward to a day Onii-Chan can come home from soccer training and play dolls with me.
Masaru withheld his tears at that point. His sister always thought him, but he brushed her off when she wanted to play with him for the first time in a few months. He went to the toy piano and pretended to play it. For some reason, even though the piano was made out of rubber and plastic, he could hear sound coming out from it for the first time.
He entered his sister's world for the first time in 6 years.
(Cut to battlefield)
Outside the Sabetsuta, Reiko was about to finish her duel with Hitoshu-oni when she realised Masaru had yet to be out of the dollhouse. She opened the door to check on him.
(Cut to Sabetsuta)
Masaru played a clumsy tune, the one he remembered Yuu playing earlier that day. Absorbing the sound the mini doll piano made, Masaru's tears naturally flowed down his cheeks, and he choked on his own tears after his hands stopped playing that tune.
"Wha- What kind of big brother have I been the whole time?" Masaru questioned himself.
(Cut to battlefield)
The Sabetsuta emitted a strong red glow even before Reiko could go in and investigate the matter. Something must have clicked in Masaru, the fact he hasn't been the best brother and needs to be more sensitive to the feelings of others.
(Cut to Sabetsuta)
Wiping his tears off, Masaru mumbled, "I can't let this go on. It's my time to change so I don't keep hurting those around me." His body then emitted a very strong red glow and he broke out from the Sabetsuta, landing on the ground. Reiko gasped at this revelation.
The Fiery Phoenix Jewel spurted out from Masaru's chest and landed on his hand. Can-do broke into the apartment giving him his InfiniBoard.
Looking at Can-do, Masaru asked, "So what do you want me to do with these things?"
"Just insert the Fiery Phoenix Jewel into this board," Can-do replied. "And let the flames in you burn."
"Right."
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
"Tsk, not that Gary Sue's character development starting," Hitoshu-oni scoffed before disappearing into thin air.
Two jewels fell from the sky. One was the Tennis Racket Jewel, the other was the Gummy Bear Jewel. Reiko kept the jewels, reminding herself to keep it once she got home.
Rina was freed from the clutches of Hitoshu-Oni and the apartment was restored to its original state. Masaru hugged his sister and apologised, "Sorry for not playing with you and losing my cool. I shouldn't have been so selfish."
To his shock, his sweet sister forgave him and even put the blame on herself for being just as selfish for disturbing him. She then looked at Masaru's funny hairstyle and asked, "Where's Onii-chan?"
"I'm your Onii-Chan," Masaru admitted, before detransforming back into his original form. "That's Onii-Chan's special costume so he and Rei-nee-san can save the day."
Rina broke free from her brother. "So that means heroes are real!" She exclaimed.
"Yes," Reiko replied calmly, detransforming back into her original form. "I also have a special costume to save the world with your Onii-Chan."
Masaru smiled sheepishly and closed his homework books, mumbling, "I'll get Rina to bed and then back to this..." Knowing what Masaru was going to do, Reiko smiled and unlocked the door before latching it again.
"Sorry for not having the time to play with you recently. Come, tell me about everything happening in Animal Magical Residences!" Masaru said.
Knowing her brother was finally able to play with her, Rina beamed from ear to ear and opened the dollhouse and handing him a toy animal. Masaru knelt down and the siblings started playing dolls together, something that they haven't done in a while.
Narrator
So they managed to make things right! Another happy ending battle after battle!
And it's not just a happy ending; it's a thrilling cliffhanger! Now that Masaru has set his mind to being more sensitive to others' emotions, I can't wait to see what he would do to reach his goal. All the best, Hase siblings!
(2038 words)