Afterword - A Doki Doki Precure Story

12 - Recovery

Mana stared up at her ceiling, almost disconnected from reality.
Each day was usually the same. Mana would wake up, do her morning routine, go to the hospital, spend time with Regina and help her on her road to recovery and then when visiting hours were over she would go home and lose all motivation to do anything.

But today was different. Regina was being discharged from the hospital. After two weeks of monitoring, she was finally able to return home.
A smile formed on Mana's lips.

"I've missed seeing that smile, you know," said Sharuru, placing down some breakfast and coffee on Mana's desk.
"How could you tell I'm smiling? I'm in my bed," replied her Precure partner, now sitting up in her bed.
"We pixies can sense emotion. Did you forget?"

Mana chuckled nervously and twiddled her hair, "perhaps?"

Sharuru only rolled her eyes and smiled.

——————

Aguri sat at the dining table and sighed. She was looking through some images she had taken with Erumi on her phone.
She knew she liked her, but she didn't know how to say it to her face.
Perhaps she could consult her big sister for advice? After all, she confessed to Mana and now they've technically been dating for almost ten months.
'Maybe I'll ask her. She gets out of hospital today.'

"Is something on your mind, Aguri?" Asked Mari as she poured some tea into a cup.
Aguri shook her head, even though she knew her grandmother could see through her blatant lie.
"You can tell me anything, dear. Is it about that Eru-chan girl?"
Aguri nodded slowly and decided to eat her breakfast.
Mari, sensing her granddaughter didn't want to talk, decided to drop the conversation. She kissed her forehead gently before leaving to go outside. There was a tea ceremony today.

After finishing her breakfast, she decided to message her big sister to let her know that she was going to be visiting her before she was discharged from the hospital. Then she left her home and walked in the direction of the hospital.

——————

Rikka pounded on Mana's door, in a desperate attempt to get her attention. Makoto stood beside her, anxiously tapping her foot against the ground.
A moment later, the door opened revealing a cheery and confused Mana, clad in a pink cat T-shirt under a blue hoodie with a black frilly skirt.
She quickly identified the girls' serious demeanour and composed herself.
Did they have to be the bearer of bad news for today in particular?

Mana folded her arms and closed the door behind her.
"What happened?" She asked, knowing it was something bad from the way they were acting.

"Mana, have you even looked at your phone at all today?" Asked Makoto, her expression turning into a more serious one.
Mana shook her head. "No. Why?"

Rikka sighed and unlocked her phone beside them and cleared her throat before she began.
"It is with great sadness that the deceased body of thirteen year old Kenji Ikari has been founded in the music room on the second floor at Oogai Middle School. His head was severed from the body and was located on a desk in the art room on floor three. Police are currently investigating the school and any potential suspects for this tragic incident. Until further notice, the school will be closed."

Mana's expression darkened, and she visibly did a double take.
A murder, in their own school?!
"Who would do such a thing?!" Mana exclaimed, suddenly angry, upset and confused.
Both Makoto and Rikka wore deadpan expressions, as if the answer was painfully obvious.

Mana shook her head. "Regina can't have done it. She's been in hospital, and even if she did leave the hospital, everyone would know."

"Regina and Yuki are being investigated. Mana this is serious." Rikka lectured.
"The Precure are clear, as it'd be very obvious if one of us were to wipe out an innocent life." Said Makoto.
"But we need to get to the bottom of this. We need to let Regina know."