Class had just barely started when the teacher quieted all the students down, preparing to give them a big announcement. Based on the writing on the board, the students could get a pretty good idea of what was in store for them.

"Good morning everyone!" Their teacher announced, she sounded much more excited than usual.

"Good morning!" The class all replied back.

"If you've read the board, I bet you all have a very good idea of what we're about to discuss! Today, we're going to discuss what our class is going to do for the school festival!" She exclaimed as the class cheered enthusiastically.

"A school festival?" Suzuko asked quietly, turning to Sora.

"You've never been involved in a school festival before?! Wow Suzuko, I'm surprised!" Sora replied. "Anyway, basically all the classes in school prepare cool things like food booths and haunted houses or cafes, stuff like that!"

Suzuko's eyes widened at the explanation. She thought about how a school festival would be the perfect time to try and plan her next attack. She knew she had to tell Tsunami the moment they met back up again.

"That makes a lot more sense, thanks for explaining, Sora." Suzuko quickly smiled so Sora wouldn't assume anything was wrong.

"Now," the teacher continued, "who has suggestions for what our class should do?"

More than half of the class raised their hands immediately. One by one, students shouted out their suggestions while their teacher wrote them down.

"A cafe!"

"Trivia game!"

"Takoyaki making station!"

"We should do something with cats!"

"Flower garden?"

The board was filled with suggestions, but no one knew what to vote on, there were so many good suggestions.

"Awww there's so many ideas! Come on you guys, make it easier for all of us to decide!" Izumi complained, yelling at her classmates.

"Well it's not my fault that we're all excited to try and have the best booth at the festival!" A student shouted back.

"Guys! Please don't fight! Why don't we put it to a vote?" Emiri suggested.

The class began to calm down and agree that voting was probably the best idea.

After everyone submitted their vote, the options were narrowed down even more. The class did yet another vote. Unfortunately, the votes were tied and no one could compromise on either idea. That's when Sora thought of an even better suggestion, one that everyone could possibly agree on.

"Hey, does everyone mind if I make a new suggestion?" Sora asked.

"Go ahead, hopefully it's something everyone is willing to agree on." The teacher replied.

"How about we have an ice cream booth? I'm pretty close with Riko who owns the Softserve Shop and I'm sure she would love to help us with a booth for the festival! Plus... her ice cream is the best and I know everyone would totally go crazy about it!" Sora's eyes lit up just thinking about the ice cream and how popular their booth could be.

The class seemed much more on board with Sora's idea than any of their own. Everyone started to nod their heads in agreement and comment on Sora's idea.

"That's perfect!"

"Yeah, why didn't I think of that?"

"As expected of Sora to think about ice cream!"

"So, we all agree to do Kato's ice cream booth idea then?" The teacher asked.

"Yes!" The entire class said in unison.

"Perfect! It's decided that Shizen Town Academy's middle school class 2-B will do an ice cream booth at the festival!" The teacher said.

"Yaaaaaaay!" The entire class cheered. Sora felt so happy that her suggestion was the one to bring the class together and help them ultimately decide what they'll do for the festival. She knew that she was going to make sure her class had the best thing in the festival.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

Later that afternoon, Naru arrived at Pollution holding a flier promoting the school festival. She had to find her brother as soon as possible so she could give him the rundown of her plan.

"Hey! Tsunami!" She saw him and then tossed the flier at him. "Check this out!"

Tsunami, who had been laying on his bed, looked at the paper, reading the announcement on it.

"A school festival? Is this what you guys are doing in school now?" He asked.

"Yep, but lucky for us right? A perfect opportunity to attack!" Naru said, starting to smile.

"For sure! Wow Naru, you're such a genius sometimes! And I like that you're more confident again. Especially after what happened last time we fought together." Tsunami said.

"Yeah... I guess I'm more confident... I'm pretty sure it's only because we have the perfect opportunity for us." Naru said. She didn't feel like she was that confident but she at least felt a little better knowing her older brother thought she seemed confident again.

"So, any idea of how we'll attack?" Tsunami asked.

Naru shook her head. "I doubt I'll know exactly what to do until the day of the festival. If we get there early and see how everything is set up, we can plan a little something that way. Do you think that would work?"

"I think that'll be brilliant." Tsunami smiled.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

"You want me to help with the school festival?" Riko asked, looking at Sora and Emiri.

"Of course! Everyone in town knows your shop! It'd be perfect to sell your ice cream at the festival!" Sora said.

"Heh, you think so? Well I can't say no to that. I'll be more than happy to help your class out with the festival!" Riko said.

"Yay!!" Sora cheered. "This calls for ice cream!"

Riko quickly put a cone up to the ice cream machine and made a Soft Serve cone for Sora. Sora happily started licking her ice cream as Emiri waited for hers.

"So, what exactly are you thinking? I mean, how is this going to work for the festival?" Riko asked as she handed Emiri her ice cream.

"Hmmm well... shoot I didn't think about that very much. I was thinking you'd get some ice cream machines to bring to the school and then we can have different toppings or something for students to choose from. We're going to talk about the booth design a bit tomorrow so maybe after that's done, I can be more helpful." Sora explained.

"I see... ohh I could just use my portable ice cream machines I use for big events! That should be easy enough! And I can get extras of some of the most popular toppings as well." Riko said.

"That's perfect!" Sora and Riko high fived each other. "Look at us thinking kind of alike!"

"Yeah! You're really good at coming up with fun ideas Sora! If only you were like this with your homework too!" Riko teased, holding back her laughter.

"Heeeeey! I'm trying! Emiri is helping me and I'm going to do okay on my midterms because of her!" Sora argued.

"I hope you do okay! You have been doing better on your homework assignments so hopefully the test is no different!" Emiri said.

"I sure hope you're right." Sora said to herself.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

"Is there something on your mind Emiri? You usually talk more when we're eating. Is everything okay?" Sora asked Emiri as they walked home together.

"I can't stop worrying about Suzuko. She's told us some worrisome things and I honestly can't believe she's never been to a school festival. She had to have gone to a school before this one... right?" Emiri replied. "And the things she's brought up about not having many friends or not having great food at home... somethings wrong with her and she hasn't told us yet..."

"I guess so. But I don't want to make her share information that might be hard for her. It's not easy to talk about having a difficult home life if you have one, you know?" Sora said.

"I suppose. I definitely wouldn't want to talk about my home life if it wasn't good. I just hope she's okay..." Emiri said, looking down at the ground.

"It'll be okay Emiri! I promise you that you don't have to worry that much, okay?" Sora said. She looked at Emiri right in her eyes. She watched as Emiri started to smile again.

"I'll try not to. Thanks Sora. I think focusing on the festival is more important anyway." Emiri said.

The duo continued to talk a little more until Emiri left Sora to finish walking to her home. The moment Sora returned to her house, she sat on her bed and sighed.

"What am I doing? I swear I keep having people expect a lot of me when I'm given these tasks but I just don't know how to live up to it... Skyla, what do you think?"

"Hmmm... that's a difficult question for me to answer ~Sky. I really don't know." The little fairy floated over to Sora. "But I trust your judgment Sora! I believe in you ~Sky! It'll be just like you managing your family's shop or being the leader of the Precure, you'll do amazing and meet people's expectations!

"I'm glad you think so Skyla. I'm also happy that I can open up about things like this to you. And Emiri too of course, even though she isn't here." Sora said.

"It's my job to be there for the Precure ~Sky! I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't help you and Emiri out ~Sky." Skyla said.

"That's really sweet. Speaking of Precure stuff... I know you mentioned there being more Precure appearing in the future. Has there been anyone that has gotten your attention?" Sora asked.

"Well, I've had a few strange feelings around this one person but I don't think it had to do with Precure..." Skyla replied.

"Oh? Who was it?" Sora looked really confused but also curious.

"It's Suzuko... She gives me this strange feeling. One that I can't explain, but something is off about her ~Sky..." Skyla explained.

"Off? What do you mean?" Sora tilted her head like a puppy.

"I don't know. I think it's because of how mysterious she is, she always seems like she's hiding something." Skyla said.

"That's what Emiri was saying earlier, or similar to that. She just said that she's worried about her after she's mentioned a couple things to us..." Sora said. "I don't think something is that off about her but she's not like other girls I know."

Sora continued to wonder about Suzuko until she decided to stop thinking about the situation until later.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

The next several days in class were spent planning the festival and getting the booth ready. Sora was in super close contact with Riko, discussing what flavors she should sell and the different toppings she should bring. By the end of the final day before the festival, the entire class felt happy with how the booth looked. They were all confident that they would be the most popular booth at the festival.

Sora made sure to get to school early the next day since she couldn't wait to help finish setting up for the festival. Most students were actually surprised when they arrived at school and saw that Sora was already there.

"Kato? You're here so early!"

"Yeah, I've never seen you show up to school this early. What gives?"

"I was just too excited to help finish prep for the festival I guess!" Sora replied.

"Ohhh well that makes sense, since you were the one who helped with most of the planning and everything." A student replied.

"Oh Sora! I wasn't expecting to see you here!" Emiri had just entered the classroom, she seemed like she was in a good mood.

"So I've been told..." Sora quietly muttered before walking over to Emiri, whispering something to her. "Me and Skyla have been talking with each other and she senses something off with Suzuko. Has she said anything like that to you?"

"She's mentioned it before. I told her that I was worried about her and after hearing what Skyla mentioned, I think she may be onto something. But I don't want to believe anything unless I see it for myself." Emiri responded quietly.

"Guess we'll have to make sure she's doing alright today or something like that." Sora said.

"Make sure who's doing okay?" A voice asked, making Sora and Emiri turn. It was Suzuko.

"Ohh! Nobody! Nothing! Nothing at all!" Sora said, laughing nervously.

"Okay? You know you're acting really weird Sora..." Suzuko said, looking at Sora with confusion. She soon walked away and sat down at her desk.

"Well... that was awkward..." Sora felt a little embarrassed after that encounter.

"Yeah, you don't usually act like that around her. I know you're worried about her but at least try and act a little less weird?" Emiri suggested.

"Yeah, I know... I have a lot on my mind and I don't worry about people this much! Let's just get through today, okay?" Sora said.

"Deal." Emiri agreed.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

A few hours later, the festival had begun! Students and people visiting the school surrounded the school grounds, lining up at different food booths to get some snacks. Others entered the school and visited different classes and their attractions. It was a very successful event to say the least.

But most successful of all was Sora's class. Their booth had such a long line, it took up at least half the space of the school grounds! Riko was busy at work making sure people got their orders while Sora and her classmates all asked people what they wanted or helped put toppings on people's ice cream.

"I can't believe it! We have the most popular booth at the festival!" Miyuki said, looking over at Sora.

"Yeah Sora! This was a great idea! You're the best~!" Izumi said.

"Thanks guys, it means a lot!" Sora smiled, holding up a peace sign. "Wait... where'd Suzuko go? Wasn't she just helping??"

Sora looked around the booth, noticing that Suzuko was nowhere to be found. Emiri caught on to the situation and started to worry. The two of them quickly apologized to the others and ran off to go look for her.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

Suzuko had to catch her breath when she met up with her brother to carry out the plan.

"Geez... took you long enough." Sho complained.

"I'm sorry, I had to find a way to sneak away without bringing too much attention to myself... They made me work in the booth so I had to tell someone to cover for me so I could go to the bathroom." Suzuko explained.

"Fair enough. We should probably get going." Sho said, transforming into Tsunami.

"Agreed." Suzuko said as she transformed into Naru. The two of them quickly formed a KuzuBug that began making its way toward the festival.

People noticed the large monster coming their way and began to panic. Sora and Emiri noticed what was going on immediately and turned around.

"A KuzuBug?! Right now? Are you kidding me?!!" Sora yelled.

"I know but looks like we have no choice! We have to keep the people here safe!" Emiri declared.

"Right!" Sora nodded, pulling out her Commune. She and Emiri made sure that nobody was nearby and they soon transformed.

"Precure Nature Flash!"

"Striking in the Great Forces of Nature! Cure Lightning!"

"Bringing Nature's Sweet Scent! Cure Ginger!"

"Guardians of nature, protecting the earth! Sweet Nature Precure!"

Naru and Tsunami finally noticed that the Cures had arrived. Tsunami quickly ordered the KuzuBug to attack the Cures instead of the school.

"We were wondering when you'd show up!" Naru said.

"Yeah, isn't this festival lovely? Too bad there will be nothing left of it when we're finished here! And once the festival is ruined, we'll find a way to steal our keys back! Mark my words!" Tsunami continued.

"Not if we have anything to do about it!" Lightning shouted, lunging at the KuzuBug. Her attempt to strike however, was unsuccessful. She was kicked away by the monster, landing on the ground.

Ginger decided to try and attack while Lightning recovered herself, but also to no success. The KuzuBug could throw shards of ice as a result of it being made from a shaved ice machine and it began throwing them at Ginger. Not even her barriers could withstand the icy shards.

The duo looked at each other, not sure what to do. Ginger then looked at the KuzuBug again and noticed a major detail. She turned to Lightning again.

"Hey I think I know what to do!" She said.

"Explain! We have to hurry and stop this thing!" Lightning said, pushing her and Ginger out of the way to avoid being hit by another ice shard.

"Since it's made out of a shaved ice machine, there's a way to turn it off!" Ginger explained, "do you see the switch on its back?"

Lightning gazed over at the KuzuBug. Sure enough, there was a switch on the back of it. "I see it now! Guess we're gonna have to try attacking from behind!"

"Right! Let's try it! Those two seem pretty distracted so now's the perfect chance!" Ginger said, getting up and running to start waiting to make her shot. She watched the KuzuBug's every move until it finally turned around. She used her powers to throw several blades at the switch, turning it off successfully. She gave a thumbs up to Lightning, letting her know she could attack now.

"Hey, why isn't this making any more ice? I thought this was an ice machine!" Tsunami asked, noticing that the KuzuBug was no longer throwing ice shards.

"I don't know, okay?! Whatever... KuzuBug! Fight those Precure!" Naru commanded.

The KuzuBug picked up one of the nearby ice shards and started using it like a sword. Lightning started fighting back, using one of her swords. After a few more attacks, Lightning finally slashed the ice shard out of the KuzuBug's hand. Ginger returned from her hiding place to reunite with Lightning so they could deliver the final blow.

"With force and sweetness together! Cleanse the World! Precure Nature Slicer!"

The same giant sword came and destroyed the KuzuBug as Tsunami and Naru retreated from the scene. The surrounding area returned to normal and civilians slowly started returning from their shelter inside the school. The girls smiled at each other and detransformed quickly before anyone would see them.

~⚡️⚡️⚡️~

The rest of the festival went on without any further issues and by the end of the day, Sora and her friends were finally able to try food from the other stands.

Suzuko walked up to Sora and Emiri who were eating some takoyaki and cotton candy.

"I've been looking for you two. Where'd you guys go?" She asked.

"We went to go look for you, weren't you in the school?" Sora responded.

"I was, but I came back the moment before that fight broke out." Suzuko lied.

"Ohhh! We must've just missed each other then! Anyway... try some of this takoyaki! Ooh! And this cotton candy! It's so tasty!!" Sora handed Suzuko a takoyaki as well as the cotton candy.

Suzuko reluctantly tried both of them, but she seemed to like them. "Hmm, these are delicious! I like them a lot!"

"Right? Takoyaki is so good!! Oooh I wonder what it tastes like with the ice cream!" Sora ran back to her class' booth to get a bowl of Softserve. She put her remaining takoyaki on top and then ate them both together. Izumi and Miyuki watched Sora in shock.

"Ewww Sora! That's so gross!"

"I know! Takoyaki on top of ice cream?! Are you crazy?!"

"Aww come on!! It's actually really good! Trust me!" Sora held out her bowl of ice cream and takoyaki, further grossing out her friends. Suzuko watched them but didn't know what to say. As Sora continued messing around with her friends, Emiri became lost in thought.

There's something really weird about Suzuko's disappearance... she disappeared supposedly to run to the bathroom inside the school but... the KuzuBug appeared shortly after she disappeared. And she only returned after it was defeated. That seems too long to be taking a bathroom break... Emiri stopped thinking for a moment and looked over at Suzuko, who was staring blankly at Sora. I have a feeling that Suzuko isn't who she says she is. Maybe she's involved in Pollution, but that seems like too big of an assumption to make as of right now. I'm going to have to watch her closely for a little while...

To be continued...