[audio > text]

[willchange]

[There's a brief moment of audio. There's a bit of background noise, but not a lot. Louder than the rest is the voice of a very panicked girl.]

Ah, I'm terribly sorry, sir, but, um... The cash register seems to be malfunctioning. I'm not sure what's... I think I pressed the wrong things, I'm really sorry.

...w-what the...

[There's a different voice, a male one, but he's barely audible. The girl speaks up again after him.]

N-No, everything is alright! I'll just-

[The audio cuts out. About an hour later, a text post follows.]

Um... I guess I should be polite and introduce myself? My name's Cerise... but Cherry is fine too, everyone calls me that. Anyway, could... someone please explain this to me?

I mean, what kind of network is this even? I thought it was fake or something... Not that I wanted to doubt anyone or anything, it's just a little unbelievable. But how did it just show up on my cash register?! I don't get this at all...

Comments

[willchange]

I'm... okay? I think so, anyway. Honestly though, I'm not sure if any of this has actually sunk in yet. But at least the feeling of losing my mind seems to be lessening a little... So that's something.

[peacefulwinter]

It t-takes a little while before it sinks in. For me, I think it was... the first time my l-life was in danger. I got my partner back then, too. Just... try to keep it together. It'll b-be okay. I promise.

[willchange]

Does that happen a lot? Um... being in that kind of danger, I mean.

Also, partner?

[peacefulwinter]

Not terribly o-often. It feels like it's just... maybe once a month? [Don't lie, Winter, that's still a terrible amount of danger.] It's n-not so bad, though. Not with so many people to help.

Oh... you w-wouldn't have met him. This is Raquel. [She lifts a blue plushie into view, the plushie in question smiling back at her.] Say hi, Raquel.

Hi, Cerise! Nice to meet you!

[willchange]

That's... actually more often than I was expecting and honestly a little worrying.

Ah... [For a moment, she just kind of... stares. What are you even supposed to do when confronted with a sentient plushie?

...

Yeah, that's an actual thing that is happening and not a dream (probably). Well... then...]

Um... it's... nice to meet you, too?

[peacefulwinter]

W-well... I put it like that, but I kind of invite danger. I'm t-too visible, too active. Don't worry about it... we'll h-help you, if anything happens. I know it's hard, but you'll be okay.

[She glances down at Raquel.] Maybe you sh-should introduce yourself properly?

Oops, right, sorry! I'm Raquel. I'm Winter's partner... and I was her past-self's partner, too, as far as we can tell.

[willchange]

Well, um... If you say so, then okay. I'm not really planning to be very visible, so maybe I can just slip under the radar.

Ah... r-right... And I'm Cerise, but you knew that already, huh? But... how exactly are you two partners? Because I'm not sure if I'm really getting that.

[peacefulwinter]

There's a... c-certain amount of that you can do. But it won't last forever... please, be p-prepared. It would be... unpleasant, if you were trying to hide when life came calling.

Well, to put it simply, I help Winter turn into a magical girl, a Precure.