"Reika's path! I will go abroad for studies!!" (れいかの道！私、留学します！！ Reika no michi! Watashi, ryūgaku shimasu!!)? is the 43rd episode of the Smile Pretty Cure! and is the 432nd episode of the Pretty Cure franchise overall. In this episode, we see Reika's decision about moving to England.
In the English dub, Glitter Force, it is called "Abroad Decision" and is the 35th episode.
Summary
Reika is unable to make up her mind after she is chosen for a student exchange in England. She will leave in one month, but if she decides to go through with it, it means giving up her friends and Pretty Cure.
Major Events
- Cure Beauty uses Beauty Blizzard Arrow for the first time.
- Cure Beauty shows her ultimate form for the first time.
Synopsis
At school, Reika's teacher delivers the news that she's been accepted as an exchange student to England. She will leave in a month, and will be there for a year. While the others seem happy for her, she is left feeling uneasy.
On her way home, Reika expresses concern that leaving may mean leaving the Pretty Cure without a member. Miyuki assures her that they'll be able to find a solution. At home, her mother starts planning for the journey right away, and her brother congratulates her, saying that he also once applied for the same prestigious opportunity but wasn't selected.
She pays a visit to her grandfather, who has always been a source of wisdom. He draws the kanji 「道」 , meaning "path" or "way", which Reika recognizes. Next he draws the same kanji in a different style, which Reika also recognizes. Her grandfather says that both are different, both are paths. Paths may be indirect, winding, or unplanned, but they are all paths. He asks Reika what kind of path she is following.
That night, Reika takes out her calligraphy brush and writes the kanji "path" many times. Staring at a blank page, she wonders what her path in life is.
Meanwhile, in the Bad End Kingdom, Joker plots alone after the defeat of his three generals. He decides to attack Cure Beauty, theorizing that she is the brains of the group, and without her the group will fall.
She speaks to the others about it, and they encourage her to take the opportunity. Nao notes that Reika always does things for others, and suggests that she take this chance to do something for herself. However, when she leaves, it turns out that everyone is heartbroken to lose their friend for a year.
Reika practices at the archery club, but her shots are unusually off-target. A dart hits the archery target—it is Joker, who summons Bad End Space. Before Reika can transform, Joker turns the archery target into a circus ring and sucks her inside.
Reika transforms into Cure Beauty. Unexpectedly, he congratulates her on her student exchange, since it'll benefit him reduce the number of Pretty Cures. She tries to fight him, but he dodges her moves and creates a Hyper Akanbe from a mirror. He does not merge with the Akanbe, but stands aside to watch the fight.
Outside, Candy uses the Dog Decor to track Reika to the archery target. They aren't sure how to get inside, but decide to transform anyway.
As Beauty fights the Akanbe, Joker argues that she should quit being a Pretty Cure. He reminds her that she had her heart set on the student exchange, and that if she doesn't go, it would disappoint everyone who believed in her: her teachers, her family, and her friends. He shows her a vision of London, England, and argues that taking the trip is the obvious choice, since it would make her happy and make others happy.
In a psychedelic scene, Joker addresses her not as Cure Beauty, but as Aoki Reika. She is shocked to see herself de-transform. Joker explains that she has already given up being a Pretty Cure in her heart. She falls to the ground in defeat. Joker draws a sword and readies himself to finish her off.
Just then, they hear Cure Happy's voice. Joker tells Reika that her friends are here to see her off. In his hubris, he transports the four Pretty Cures into his circus world, hoping to wipe them all out at once. They see Reika on her knees and run toward her, but Joker raises a lion tamer's cage around the circus ring, blocking them out. The Hyper Akanbe leaps over the barrier and fights the Pretty Cures.
Candy refuses to believe that Reika has given up being a Pretty Cure. Joker speaks on Reika's behalf, claiming that she already quit to pursue her dream, and so the Pretty Cures should see her off with a smile. This seems to convince the Cures, who want nothing more than to support their friends.
Just then, a tear rolls down Cure Happy's face. She admits that she's been hiding her true feelings, and she can't smile when she's losing her friend. The others admit the same, and soon they are all crying their eyes out. Reika realizes she feels the same way, and doesn't want to leave her friends either. The thought of being apart from her friends is painful to her too, and she begins crying her eyes out too.
Joker has the Akanbe attack Reika, but she interrupts it. Joker asks what a former Pretty Cure could possibly have to say, but Reika points out that she never said she was quitting as a Pretty Cure. A new Decor appears in her Smile Pact and she she is surrounded in an blizzard that fills the entire battlefield with ice, Reika's preferred element. When the blizzard clears, Reika has once again transformed into Cure Beauty.
Joker merges with the mirror Hyper Akanbe, transforming into a more powerful version of himself with a sword and shield. With determination, Cure Beauty draws an ice blade and engages Joker for a sword duel.
Shattering Cure Beauty's ice sword, Joker argues that Reika should live up to her social expectations. Beauty refuses, picking up an icicle from the ground as sword and insisting that she will find her own answer. Joker accuses her of having lost her path, but Beauty declares that she has only just found her path. Drawing two ice swords, she quotes her grandfather's wisdom: paths may be indirect, winding, or unplanned, but they are all paths.
Finally, she disarms Joker of his sword, declaring that she will decide her own path. Joker creates dozens of illusory duplicates of himself, and they dot the sky like stars. Reika joins her two swords at the hilt to form a bow. A line of stage lights target the true Joker. Beauty launches her new ultimate attack, Beauty Blizzard Arrow, shattering Joker's illusory world.
The others are in awe of Cure Beauty's ability. The five change into Princess Form and vanquish the Hyper Akanbe with Royal Rainbow Burst, but Joker un-merges from it just before the attack hits. Joker retreats, and the girls gain another new Decor.
Reika tells the others that she plans to give up on the student exchange, even though she won't have another chance. Instead, she wants to stay with her friends. The girls hug Reika. She declares that to walk her path in life with determination, with her friends by her side, is her true path.
Characters
Pretty Cure
- Hoshizora Miyuki / Cure Happy
- Hino Akane / Cure Sunny
- Kise Yayoi / Cure Peace
- Midorikawa Nao / Cure March
- Aoki Reika / Cure Beauty
Mascots
Villains
Secondary Characters
Trivia
- This episode features some clever shot framing. Before Reika asks about leaving the Pretty Cure, she appears reflected in the mirror. After Miyuki accepts her decision to leave, she is not reflected in the mirror, reflecting her absence. The scene ends with her walking in a different direction than the other four, representing the group splitting up. Then, on the bridge, Reika is facing away from the others, suggesting that they are going to move in different paths.
- Mirrors and reflections appear throughout the episode as a motif representing Reika. "Your Mirror", a character song for Cure Beauty, plays during her fight with Joker. The song is sung by Cure Beauty's voice actress, and is only used in this episode.
- The ceramic cup that Reika made for her mother in episode 15 appears again.
- This episode marks the last appearance of the regular Cure Beauty eyecatch.
- Aoki Reika's stance when she confronts Joker is reminiscent of her stance in episode 5, where she confronts Majorina immediately before becoming a Pretty Cure. That episode also features an Akanbe in the form of a mirror.
- This episode makes several callbacks to episode 16, also written by veteran Pretty Cure scriptwriter Narita Yoshimi.
- Both episodes explore Beauty's struggle to determine her own path in life instead of doing what others expect of her, and ultimately deciding on her own path.
- Both feature Reika defiantly asserting that her name is Cure Beauty.
- Both have the villain accuse her of having lost her path. In episode 16, she admits that she has, and is uncertain. In this episode, she responds that she has now found her path.
- Cure Beauty's upgraded attack, Beauty Blizzard Arrow, is similar to Cure Aqua's Sapphire Arrow from Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GoGo!, but Cure Beauty combines two ice swords into a bow and then forms the string and arrow.
- The kanji 「道」, meaning "path" or "way", appears throughout this episode. The box art for Volume 15 of the Smile Pretty Cure! DVD and Blu-ray release, which includes episodes 43-45, depicts a scene where Reika and Miyuki are drawing calligraphy together, and Miyuki writes this kanji.
Edits in Glitter Force
- All appearances of Japanese text are removed. This is despite Japanese text in the Aoki household being left alone in episode 16.
- Removed shots include Reika bowing, some shots of the Cures crying together, and two shots of Cure Beauty charging Joker. The iconic kanji 「道」 appearing during Beauty's charge was also removed, and her speech about following her "path" is is shortened to fit.
- There is no special song that plays during the fight. Instead, ordinary background music is used.
Gallery
- Main Page: SmPC43/Image Gallery
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| Suite♪ | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 | |
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| Happiness Charge! | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 | |
| Go! Princess | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 | |
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| HUGtto! | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 | |
| Star☆Twinkle | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 | |
| Healin' Good | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35• 36• 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 | |
| Tropical-Rouge! | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 | |
| Delicious Party | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 | |
| Hirogaru Sky! | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 | |
| Wonderful | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 | |
| Kimi to Idol♪ | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 | |
| Meitantei! | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 | |
| Kibou no Chikara | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 | |
| ~MIRAI DAYS~ | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 | |