Ahh, so this is the place...
What a mess...
Hmm... Building 3, second story... cracks in the northwest side...
Man...
The management ain't doing a thing here.
Oh?
Bet they don't have any budget neither, what with all these vacancies.
Hm?
And who might you be?
I'm from the property management company.
I'm checking up on this apartment complex for possible renovation needs.
Uh-huh... "Renove..."?
Oh no, "renovation".
Basically, building repairs and improvements.
W-w-what's wrong!?
Are you okay, Ma'am?
Ehh!?
Ahh!!
Hold up, who are you?!
♪ Around me, the world is glittering ♪
♪ Because that's what I've decided on ♪
♪ Unto beaming smiles, the light scatters once more ♪
♪ But this is not for anybody else ♪
♪ I'll keep on dancing for myself, see? ♪
♪ These exciting days of mine will never end! ♪
Kibou no Chikara Otona Precure '23
♪ Even if you don't love everything in this world ♪
♪ It doesn't mean that your heart is bad ♪
♪ Your tears will surely form a new dream ♪
♪ But this is not for anybody else ♪
♪ I'll keep on dancing for myself, see? ♪
♪ These exciting days of mine will never end! ♪
Wings of Doubt
Saki: Yesterday sure was fun. We were in top form!
Nozomi: Let's have another Precure drinking party!
Precure
JPK Agency
Manager!
You were friends with Saki-chan and Mai-chan all this time?
Ahaha.
Sure am.
We were in the same class back in middle school.
Yuuko and I made quite the battery together on the softball team!
Right?
Yep!
Wow, what a coincidence!
I told you, this is no coincidence.
This was all inevitable.
So, what're you two doing these days?
Mai is working as a graphic designer for JPK!
JPK... You mean, JPK Agency?
Uh-huh.
JPK Agency
So you work at that major advertising agency?
Yep.
You're a creator then, right? That's so great!
Oh, it's not a big deal...
Sake Festival (temp name)
Mai's work schedule can get crazy busy!
It's been a while since we went out drinking!
And what've you been up to, Saki-chan?
Me? I've been helping out with my family's bakery, so...
The baguettes here are all from Saki's place.
No wonder they are so delicious!
Looks like the bakery is in top form too, eh?
Pretty much.
The bakery is just one thing.
She even has a fiance now!
Ehehe.
— Ehh!?
An engagement ring!
Ehh!
So you and him got engaged, huh?
— Woah!! — Congratulations!
What's your fiance like?
Back in culinary school, we were always together, and...
Farewell, my first love...
What're you grumbling about, huh?
Ehehe.
the other day...
About our talk
I think we should break up.
Let me know how you feel, Mai.
Mishou, the meeting is starting up.
O-okay.
Anything else to report?
Okay, then lastly. Next month, Sekine-san will be on maternity leave.
You don't need to stand up.
Sorry.
We're counting on the rest of you to pick up the slack in various areas.
We're basing the web graphics and station posters on the material we presented the other day.
For the magazine publication though, the logo has been modified.
The magazine's main demographic is 40 and over, so we made the logo a bit larger.
So they'll have no trouble seeing it, even without reading glasses.
Seems pretty good.
Yes.
I will propose this to the customer.
Thanks. That attention to detail is really appreciated.
Yes!
"Appreciated", oh gimme a break...
Eh?
We've been doing nothing but resizing logos bigger or smaller.
I didn't suffer through art school to do this kind of work. You know?
Yeah...
Hey look. I went to art school with this girl.
She's been uploading videos of her paintings, and they all get like 300,000 views or so!
That's amazing!
Man, I can't stand this.
I keep thinking "Is this really what I want to do with my life"?
Do you two have a second?
Yep.
I'll be leaving early today, so...
Ah, okay then!
Don't you worry about work.
Leave the rest to us.
Thank you both very much.
I'll leave it to you, Mishou-san, Sasaki-san.
Don't work too hard, okay?
Please take care of yourself.
Please excuse me.
— Thanks for the hard work!
I just saw my junior off for her maternity leave. One of life's little joys, I guess.
Yep.
I'm always so impatient...
And I don't even have a boyfriend like you do, Mishou.
About our talk the other day...
I think we should break up.
Let me know how you feel, Mai.
You see it? Dark Night Light's latest stream?
Ah yeah, saw it. "Shadows" or something?
And you can't take pictures or video of them?
Come on, that's ridiculous!
I think it's some kind of ad, and they're trying to push it as some new urban legend.
How 'bout lunch?
Thank you very much!
Ah, Mai!
Saki!
As popular as ever, I see!
Yeah, and the customers keep pouring in for our mobile sales!
Good to hear!
Here you go, the usual. I saved it for ya.
Thanks!
I thought work had settled down a bit?
Eh?
I mean, you haven't shown up lately to buy anything.
Eh...
Yeah.
The design was approved, and work has settled down a bit.
What's up?
Come on, don't play dumb with me!
There've been more Shadow sightings lately, all over the place.
We need to think of a plan here.
You're right.
Hey, let's ask Saki-chan and Mai-chan to help us out too!
The more allies, the better.
Yup.
Why didn't I think to tell those two about the Shadows yesterday?
I messed up!
Well duh, hearing all that about her fiance and everything,
That took over the whole conversation!
Yeah, I guess so.
Saki-chan sure looked happy, didn't she?
And what about you, huh?
How've things between you and Coco-sama been since then?
Nothing much to talk about... I figured I couldn't see him until I was a fully-fledged teacher.
Hahh?!
I've been exchanging letters with him though, thanks to Syrup's help.
— Really? — Yep.
You pick the weirdest things to get all old-fashioned with. So irritating!
Yeah...
But seriously, I can't believe you took a paid vacation just to come and help me on the road!
Well, you're the one who said work has been hectic lately.
That's Mai for ya! Everyone needs a best friend like you!
My boss even told me to take a vacation, so it's no problem!
No customers, huh.
Yeah... I thought for sure they'd be happy to come, those that can't go out shopping at least.
Follow the garbage disposal rules!!
Notice of bus route discontinuation
I guess a lot of families used to live in these apartments, but...
Apparently their children have long since moved out.
Now it's mostly just old folks.
Nobody's here.
Danger Do Not Use
Yeah...
I feel bad, making you tag along with me.
You were worried about me, weren't you.
Eh?
Don't play dumb.
Ehehe... I wasn't all that worried, it's just...
We weren't able to talk one-on-one that night, since we ran into Nozomi-chan and the others.
Ah, not that that was a bad thing!
Yeah.
You asked me out for once, so I figured you had something you wanted to talk about.
Come on, you can tell your big sister all about it!
Ahh!!
Are you alright?
Ouchie...
That's why it says "Do not use", silly.
Ehehe. That's right.
They gotta fix these swings...
Things haven't been going well with my boyfriend.
So I was thinking of asking you for advice yesterday.
I see.
Yeah.
But he texted me this morning, saying we should break up.
Eh?
I see... But what about talking things through first?
I got in soo many fights with my boyfriend too.
And like, we still fight now and then!
But, it's not that I feel sad about it.
Eh?
I did think about it a little, about how it would be to marry him.
But somehow, it just didn't feel right.
I see.
Yep.
Well, there's a lot to consider when you actually think about marrying someone...
That's not it.
Eh?
It was less about him specifically, but more like, what even is marriage anyway...
My coworkers and others my age are all deciding on their future. Getting married, or having children...
Or career-wise... They say there's a time limit for these things, you know?
Everyone else is worrying about these things, and coming to decisions.
So I wondered if I'm just not a normal person.
But Mai, you can't really wrap your head around marriage right now, can you?
Yeah.
And you love your job, don't you?
Yeah.
It's a little different than what I hoped for back in school, but it still feels rewarding.
Hmm...
It sounds like you're just worried that you don't have the same worries as everyone else.
I'm worried that I'm not worried?
I don't think you should pay so much attention to how others are doing, or what they're worrying about.
Mai is Mai!
Mai, you should just do what you think is best!
And I'll always be there for you, too!
Saki...
Ah! There's one of the residents!
Excuse me!
Thank goodness! I didn't see anyone around, so I wasn't sure what to...
U-uhm, are you okay sir?
Ehh?
What is this thing?
What's going on!?
Hey, wait up!
This way!
We were able to shake them off, but now what?
We can't just stay here forever...
Kurumi-chan
Ah... Kurumi-chan!
Thanks for yesterday. Actually, I have something I need to talk with you about.
Ah, no I'm sorry!
I'm pretty tied up at the moment!
There's some weird monsters!
Eh? Saki-chan, where are you right now?
Midorihara Apartments!
Mai!
Mai-chan? Saki-chan?
Nozomi
Hey, this way!
What are those things?
Who knows. They've been cropping up left and right, so I can't leave the apartment complex.
— Here? No, over here! — Ahh, wait!
Quit it! Lemme go, you!
What do we do?
No good. We can't get in.
Up here!
— Ahh!!
It's alright now!
— Nozomi-san! — Nozomi-chan!
Looks like we came just in time!
Ropu!
Wait! There's still another person down there!
— Eh?
Vrooom!
Hehehehe.
Thought I was gonna die there fer a second!
Almost forgot, I can fly!
— Ehh!? You're that guy!?
Bunbee!?
But why?
Man, that sounds rough.
Hehehe... Because of that I couldn't get back from lunch in time, and I got scolded.
Hahahahaha! Welcome to the real world!
I'm glad y'all finally appreciate the cruel reality of adulthood!
I can't believe you already knew the others!
Yeah, I guess you could say we knew him.
He's the one who put us through so much trouble back then!
So, what were you doing out at that apartment complex?
Well, they got some plans to renovate those buildings.
I was out surveying the place for work.
Maintenance Management, Inc.
Maintenance Survey Department Chief
Building Maintenance Mgmt Inc. Survey Dept.
Land ・ Building Mgmt ・ Surveys ・ Renovation ・ Maintenance ・ Cleaning
I work for a building maintenance and management company.
Look!
We're here, live at the scene.
According to the police report,
Gas Leak at Midorihara Apartments?
Residents Transported to Hospital
Broadcast
Residents all throughout Midorihara Apartment Complex have lost consciousness,
And have been transported to a local hospital.
Most of them are believed to be residents here at the complex.
Doesn't look like there are any Shadows.
Gas Leak at Midorihara Apartments?
Residents Transported to Hospital
Broadcast
Given that many suddenly lost consciousness at once,
It is speculated that a gas leakage from deteriorating plumbing may have been the cause.
It's from Karen.
Well?
None of the people who lost consciousness have woken up yet...
But it doesn't appear to be life-threatening.
I see. If anything changes, let us know then.
Thank you.
What the heck is going on here?
And what were those...
We don't understand their true nature yet.
What we do know, is that the Precure can defeat those Shadows.
If the Shadows are defeated, those people will go back to normal.
Wait just a second here!
You're saying you became a Precure!?
Yep. Pretty much!
That black light that Bunbee saw.
If we can determine what that light is exactly, we should be able to learn more about them.
You can count me outta this mess!
I already told you girls everything I saw!
We weren't expecting anything out of you, anyway.
I told Syrup about it, and he's already on the case.
I'll help you!
We're gonna put a stop to them!
I pour my heart and soul into that bread everyone loves!
So I won't stand by and let them harm any of my customers!
Me too...
I'll help too!
Mai!
Saki-chan, Mai-chan!
Then that's settled already!
We were thinking of asking you two anyway!
It's reassuring to have you with us!
— Yes! — Yeah!
— Yes! Thank you!
Okay then! A toast!
Team Precure is formed!
— Go team!
We're in top form!
I think we should break up.
Let me know how you feel, Mai.
I guess I should've responded by text, but...
I wanted to tell you directly.
Work?
It's settled down now, but I'm sure it'll get busy again pretty soon.
No, it's not about work, more like...
I was just thinking, I want to try doing everything I can right now.
Be more true to myself, or something...
Thank you for everything.
Ropu.
It's from Milk-ropu.
♪ When I awake, these eyes will have grown stronger ♪
♪ Spilling a single drop of light ♪
♪ (Drops of hope, The power of hope) ♪
♪ I used to think adults could do anything they like ♪
♪ I imagined how fun it must be to be free ♪
♪ Everyone had a childhood of their own ♪
♪ I want to keep protecting this fantasy ♪
♪ Swirling around, we lose sight of things ♪
♪ And there are days where no answers come ♪
♪ Don't let them all dry up ♪
♪ Those tears quietly confronting it all ♪
♪ When I awake, these eyes will have grown stronger ♪
♪ Spilling those unstoppable drops of light ♪
♪ All my feelings are held within those tears ♪
♪ Those eternal dreams of mine, and my friends ♪
♪ Overflowing drops of Precure ♪
Kibou no Chikara Otona Precure '23
Before we knew it, lots of people started getting their shadows stolen.
We need to hurry and find those Shadows, and fix this!
But is that really something we should have to do?
Only the Precure can fight against those Shadows!
We need to do this!
You're right.
I'll send word to Coco-sama and Nuts-sama, and ask them to join us.
Eh? Coco!?
Next time, Episode Five: Nozomi's Wish
Nozomi's Wish