NPPC07

**Valuable friendship! Elusive phantom thief, Cure Phantom!** (*貴重な友情！イルーシブ怪盗、キュアファントム！ Kichōna yūjō! Irūshibu kaitō, Kyua Fantomu!*) is the 7th episode of *Night Pursuit Pretty Cure*.

## Summary

Since Satoru agrees to practicing with Miwa and Yumia, the two invite him to their base, where Satoru gives Yumia tips for her acting. During his stay, Satoru notices some of the more peculiar aspects of the building but also comes to appreciate Miwa and Yumia as friends when the two suggest doing something together. When it's time to leave, Satoru takes what they made with him, as proof of their friendship. However, it is turned into a Nokachi due to the three valuing it. Miwa and Yumia transform and reveal their identities but can't defeat the monster because of its value to them. Last minute, Satoru steps in and protects them, saying that what they made isn’t as valuable as their friendship itself, which allows him to transform into Cure Phantom.

## Major Events

* Satoru is invited to the Pretty Cure's base for the first time.
* For the first time, the Nokachi is created from something with emotional value instead of something with a lot of monetary value.
* Satoru transforms into Cure Phantom and performs Phantom Illusion for the first time.

## Synopsis

Now that Satoru has (surprisingly) accepted to practice with the girls, Miwa wants to invite him over to their base. Both Yumia and Safe have doubts, even if Safe announces his more vocally than their shy friend. Eventually, Miwa convinces them both to allow it.

After school, the three student make their way over to the base. Safe is there already, but hiding for obvious reasons. Shortly after arriving, Yumia disappears into the kitchen to prepare tea and some snacks for them while Miwa gives Satoru a short tour through the building. They do actually practice acting, even if they get distracted several times, and Satoru shows off some of his acting skills, by which Yumia is especially fascinated.

Soon however, Satoru gets somewhat bored, which is nothing new for him. Deciding to look around more in hope of something of interest, he almost stumbles upon Safe, but the mascot manages to hide himself in time. Satoru also notices the shelf the Rheingold is displayed in. Miwa and Yumia notice his distraction, but defy their schoolmate's expectations with their reactions. While Yumia feels bad for what she perceives her boring him, both girls offer to take a break and Miwa explains some of the history behind the crystals sitting in the shelf, although she omits certain parts. Then, they ask him if there's anything more exciting they could do for him. Satoru laughs before proclaiming that he likes the girls as well as implies that this is probably the most fun he has had for a while.

The three eventually settle on making something together, with the base's peculiar amount of tools (courtesy of Yumia somehow aquiring them in case they needed them for Pretty Cure work), although it's kept ambiguous as to what the three actually create together. Safe watches the three and almost gets discovered again when he sneaks a cookie.

Outside, the sky is starting to darken, so the group accompanies Satoru to the train station, with Safe hiding in Yumia's bag to come with them. The girls give Satoru what the three made together as a proof of their friendship and Satoru seems to have genuinely enjoyed himself.

Unfortunately, their happy moment is interrupted by Cailte appearing. Initially, all four present are confused, be it for different reasons. While Satoru doesn't really know what's going on, the other three are confused why Cailte would appear before them seemingly without something valueable to turn into a Nokachi.

It turns out that objects of emotional value can be transformed as well, and while that answers the Cures' question, it only causes more for Satoru, who is now for the first time facing one of the monsters that have appeared in Casablanca City for some time. While one part of him is scared and concerned, he also is somewhat excited, as this is something he has yet to experience.

Miwa, Yumia and Safe shortly discuss their course of action but quickly agree that fighting the monster is their first priority, despite the danger of revealing themselves, as Miwa and Yumia believe Satoru would not sell them out to the police.

So the two transform and reveal their identities as Pretty Cure, much to the shock of Satoru. The Cures fight the Nokachi but it quickly becomes clear that they hesitate to defeat it because of its value to them. Little by little, they are beaten down.

Unexpectedly, Satoru, spurred on by both his desire to protect his new friends and the prospect of something thrilling as seeing the Pretty Cure in action, steps between them. He proclaims that while he had fun making something together with them, it wasn't because of the object itself but because he made it with his friends, stating that the object itself isn't as valueable as their friendship, which isn't something that can be taken.

This grants him a Special Lock and the ability to transform into Cure Phantom. During his first fight, he becomes very fired up and seems to enjoy the fighting, even laughing at one point from exhilaration. He defeats the Nokachi.

After the fight, at the train station, Satoru says goodbye to his new friends and promises them to meet again tomorrow, fired up to learn more about the Pretty Cure now that he is a part of them. Just before the doors close, he also tells Yumia that he thinks she'll do good at her audition.

## Characters

### Pretty Cures

* Mimoto Miwa/Cure Identity
* Nakajima Yumia/Cure Nocturne
* Azamugawa Satoru/Cure Phantom

### Villains

* Cailte
* Nokachi