Precure Short Stories

Mental Block

Erika has no clue what she wants her new design to be and stresses herself out over it.

Erika Kurumi skipped to her Fashion Club meeting. She was pleased to see that everyone was on time today.

"Welcome to the first meeting after winter break!" said Erika in her usual confident manner. "I bet you are all refreshed and ready to get to work on..."

The girls leaned forward with interest. But Erika didn't say what she wanted them to work on. She just stared blankly with a frozen smile on her face.

"Erika, are you okay?" asked Tsubomi.

Suddenly, Erika freaked out. "I don't know! I don't know what my next design should be!"

The girls looked shocked. "You don't know?" asked Itsuki.

"I don't understand! I always have brand new ideas for designs! Where did they go? I must have left my brain at home!"

"Actually, Erika," said Tsubomi. "I believe you might be having a mental block. Grandma says it happens when you struggle to think of creative ideas."

Erika looked stupified. "Then what do I do? I can't just do nothing."

"How about you take a break?" asked Nanami Shiku. "I mean, you had been working hard on that fashion show from last semester. Your mind just needs a reset. I always feel like I am out of ideas when I overexert myself."

"Take a break? From fashion?" asked Erika. You would have thought she was told to give up ice cream for ten years. "But fashion is in my blood! I can't just take a break! I..."

Tsubomi gently pushed Erika out of the room. "Okay, let's go for a nice walk."

Two days later, Tsubomi and Chypre were planting new flowers in flowerpots. It was the weekend, so Tsubomi enjoyed the mindless activity.

"Everything has been so hectic lately," said Tsubomi. "I am glad to do something relaxing."

Chypre nodded. "I am glad to have a break desuu," she said.

Just then, Coffret flew in the greenhouse, looking worried. ""Tsubomi! You have to help Erika desu!" he said.

Tsubomi looked up from shovelling the dirt. "Coffret? What's wrong?" she asked.

"Erika hasn't slept for two days and she keeps making new designs desu!" said Coffret. "She has gone mad desu!"

Tsubomi quickly ran to Erika's house and found her room in a huge mess of paper, material, and sequins.

Erika was still wearing her school uniform and her hair was in a mess. She looked disheveled and had dark circles under her eyes.

"Oh, hi," said Erika. "Just working on this shirt."

Tsubomi stared at the "shirt". It resembled a limp sweater and was made of three different types of material. Half a tub of glitter had been poured on it.

"Erika, are you okay?" asked Tsubomi.

"Don't worry, it's almost done," said Erika behind a yawn. "Then I will have a good dinner and maybe some sleep."

"Erika, I thought you were taking a break!" said Tsubomi.

But Erika was humming as she sewed together two pastel coloured skirts with black thread.

Just then, Momoka, Erika's sister, peeked in. The fairies immediately flopped on the ground, playing the role of plushies.

"Erika, are you..." Momo stared at the mess.

"Never mind. I don't want to know what's going on," said Momo before she shut the door.

"It's official. Erika has cracked desuu," said Chypre.

Tsubomi knew she had to snap Erika out of this state. She went into the bathroom and came out with a cup of water. She splashed Erika's face.

Erika coughed and spluttered. "Tsubomi, what are you doing?"

"More like what are you doing?" asked Tsubomi. "Don't you realize what are you doing?"

Erika blinked before looking at her work. "Oh my god! I am insane! I sewed my favourite skirts together! And what's with all the sequins on the shirt? Gold, really? I couldn't have at least used blue sequins?"

Coffret flew up to Erika's face. "Erika desu, get a hold of yourself! You haven't slept for days desu. All you have been doing is to force yourself to make a nice design. You are not going to get rid of your mental block by doing... This desu!"

Erika sat down. "I... I thought I lost my creativity. I thought I should try and... What's wrong with me?"

Tsubomi sighed. "We should clean up this mess."

A few hours later, Erika's room was clean. Coffret insisted on Erika taking a shower. She went in the bathroom for half an hour and came out wearing her pyjamas and her hair wet.

"Sorry if I worried you," said Erika. "I was trying to..." She started sniffing.

Tsubomi was shocked. Was Erika crying? She never cried! It was usually Tsubomi who would be crying.

"I... Wanted to think of an idea. I think I must have lost it."

Tears were running down Erika's face now. Tsubomi gave her a hug.

"Erika, it's fine to have a mental block. You just needed to relax a little. How about you take a nap?"

But there was no answer. Soft snores were coming from Erika, so Tsubomi helped her lie down on her bed.

The next day, Erika arrived at Tsubomi's house with a shopping bag. She looked much better than she did yesterday. "Tsubomi! Tsubomi! Tsubomi..."

Tsubomi came out wearing her glasses. "Erika? What is it?"

"This is for you."

Erika pulled out a jacket with a rainbow sewn in it. "It's my new design, and it suits you perfectly!"

Tsubomi smiled. "So that nap helped?"

"Yeah," said Erika. "I woke up in the early morning and spent three hours making this. You're right. I did need a break."

Erika's face grew serious. "Don't tell anyone you saw me crying."

Tsubomi smiled. "Don't worry, I won't."