#detectivesword

NOTE: TOY LEAKS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THESE POSTS.

The mystery of Cure Eclair has begun and our first suspect is Kurusu Eriza! My personal favourite character of the candidates! She is an author with a passion for mystery and is an aspiring detective herself! Could she be star detective, Cure Eclair herself though?

Evidence FOR:

1. Eriza already has a passion for detectives, she's a successful mystery book author and wants to be a detective herself.

2. She has shown to not only have a passion for detectives but the skills of one herself, she's shown observation, sleuthing and practical skills, such as when she successfully identified where Miko the cat had run off to and knew to figure out who stole her editor's phone.

3. Her BACKSTORY! She wanted to a detective but couldn't for unknown reasons... Just as how Cure Eclair was a detective PreCure who disappeared, likely lost her powers, never to be a PreCure again However, the Tome of Mirages has predicted otherwise and now Eriza is now realising her own dream of being a detective, returning to her dream, the two coincide don't you think?

4. She does have a catchphrase ready to go, "An unwavering heart fills the pages with truth, Star Detective, Cure Eclair!" Sounds good, doesn't it?

5. Her detective outfit is reminiscent of Shushutan but the design work for all the Eclair candidates are all tied to the characters, I felt like mentioning this but it's not something I'd push all that much.

6. Mentioned that if she were part of a duo, she'd likely be a Star Detective by now! Do you know who could've been a duo but ended losing their dreams after facing the Phantom Thieves alone, probably, LULUKA AND ECLA-

7. And she did recognise that the Anna and Mikuru had the same room layout but we're decorated differently, could be observation, could be familiarity she already had.

8. Nearly forgot such an important aspect, THE NAME! eclairs may be a dessert however they share the same name as the french word for a flash of lightning, Eriza is writer who's revelations and inspirations come to her in a flash, such as how the experiences with Anna and Mikuru strike her with flashes of inspiration for her stories. The name Cure Eclair is fitting for Eriza.

9. Cure Eclair is symbolised with blue butterflies, Eriza literally has blue butterflies in her hair.

EVIDENCE AGAINST:

1. Luluka seemingly KNEW Cure Eclair as a friend and lived with her in the detective agency, she has met Eriza but didn't have any reaction that evoked a sense of them having a past together.

2. Eriza does NOT seems to be on the ins and outs of the world of the CUREtto Detective Agency, confused about what Jett meant by Anna becoming a Pretty Cure, she was given a tour of the agency as if she needed to be shown what it had. She didn't even know how often the agency received visitors and most of all, that you needed to pass a test to become a Star Detective. You'd expect Star Detective, Cure Eclair to be familiar with all things CUREtto Agency, right?

3. While Shikuru may suffer from looking too much like Cure Eclair, Eriza feels too far from Cure Eclair, I know Mikruru has reds that lighten to pinks but the greens on Eriza feel too light to just transition to that lighter blue, I didn't even register Eriza as an Eclairling when I first saw the intro. Like heck I'm pretty sure that even during episode 2 I didn't view her as an Eclairling.

SUMMARY:

Eriza has all the pieces going for her to be a Pretty Cure, the drive, the emotions, the skills, the catchphrase, the story, however she lacks the knowledge of the CUREtto Agency and a connection to Luluka that Cure Eclair would have likely have.

How would I feel?:

I love Eriza! Would be happy for her to become Cure Eclair, wouldn't be upset if she didn't though, charming character with good stuff going for her as a character to fill in the shoes of a Pretty Cure. As artist and writer myself I do gear towards Cures with more creative passions like Peace, Papaya, Lilian and Prism! I don't feel as if Eriza will be Cure Eclair though, not alone atleast, this post still has one more section I would like to cover...

FUSION THEORY:

Many people believe the four candidates will fuse into the one Cure Eclair and I will touch upon that here, with points and my one glaring issue with the theory of all four being Cure Eclair in general.

Could it be that when Cure Eclair shattered the Makoto Jewel, she herself and her power was shattered, as a person she is no more but her power lies in four fragments... When she shattered, she was believed to be no more but now, the Tome of Mirages has predicted the return of the blue butterfly, searching to rest her wings from four flowers. However what if instead of following the Tome of Mirages as if it was eternally determined truth, another solution was found, the fragments of Cure Eclair's powers are found within four flowers, the four candidates. When the four fragments of power are awakened, the four wings of the blue butterfly will come together and fuse into the original Cure Eclair. The spirit of the girl before she shattered.

This would be very cool, but it'd also bloat the cast y'know, you'd be shoving four characters into the main group and they'd all be fighting for screentime in this seven character group. (Anna, Mikuru, these four + Luluka eventually) Sounds off, unless they're fused entirely as civilians but you'd just be axing four really well liked characters.

NOTE: TOY LEAKS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THESE POSTS.

This week we met our third Candidate for Cure Eclair! Howa Kurea! And well, with what I have to say, I may as well get right into it!

Though sorry for being late! Life's been pretty chaotic for me!

Evidence FOR:

1. Luluka was once partners with Eclair in the detective agency, Kurea was given a whole episode to establish a connection with Luluka. Luluka is also upset about Kurea not even knowing her name and gets emotional when Kurea uses it. Like she really wanted Kurea to call her that again maybe...

2. Continuing with Luluka, Luluka is a regular to the patisserie! Is it really because the food tastes good or y'know, so she can see Kurea. Luluka also never reacted much to a presence like Eriza, sure she noted things about Shiruku but Shiruku is a celebrity but she actually seems attached to Kurea.

3. Not the episode having an actual parallel between not just Kurea and Eclair but ALSO Kurea and Luluka, with the focus on getting into dangerous situations, maybe even making wrong decisions in the process of following your truth, (Eclair risking everything to shatter the Makoto Jewel, Kurea searching for the photo and Luluka joining the Phantom Thieves)

4. I'd say even if Cure Eclair doesn't remember, Kurea's actions say she subconsciously knows things, placing the lillies, a flower heavily associated with Luluka on the desk. Or when she added Pochitan as a decoration on Anna's cake, like she subconsciously knew of Pochitan's presence as a fairy. Her actions this episode really do feel like she's treating Luluka is an old friend, even if she isn't aware of just how much of a friend she is.

5. Somehow Kurea just kind of wanders through the parallel dimension the fights this season take place in, y'know the dimension only for Phantom Thieves, fairies and Pretty Cure! People who've been right by Anna and Mikuru's side don't make it in but somehow Kurea enters because she "followed her truth", okay sure buddy.

6. Name! Sure there is the double meaning, that eclairs are dessert and a French term for a flash of lightning, such as how revelations can come in such a form, but I wouldn't use the fact "eclair" could refer to something else as evidence against it being Kurea. Kurea is a baker and it's not the first time they took advantage of a dessert meaning something in French. (Cure Parfait very much plays on parfait being the French word for perfect. Also if any Cure Parfait fans are reading this then omg hi thanks for being fans of the QUEEN)

7. A fragrance motif. Writing and acting aren't tied to scents but baking is. Earlier on Cure Eclair's room was marked by its scent, the connection between scent and memory is established this episode by KUREA, the baker who bakes things which would have a nice fragrance.

8. When the letter from London came, it's established that Luluka will be turning 16 in 1999, Kurea does say she's 16, I know Eliza called herself a highschool author and Shiruku was also called a highschooler in an earlier episode, but they really had a whole to give Kurea set-up to establish being 16, placing her in the same age range as Luluka. Okay.

9. Her design suits a civilian form for Eclair the best, she deeper shade of blue than Eclair is, her hair evokes Eclair while still getting the wow factor for the transformation unlike Shiruku, she has the butterfly motif which is stronger than the diamond/ star motif in my opinion. Also this isn't evidence but I find the civilian designs for this season so pretty😭😭 Even the complete randoms can look gorgeous, Kurea was my favourite of the Eclairlings initially purely off of how much I loved her design.

10. Currently have episode 17 playing last minute and am noticing how Kurea's detective skills isn't just observation and intuition but an active attempt to understand the sentiments and feelings of her clients. Star Detective is all about the sentimental value of memories and protecting it. Kurea doesn't just read a situation, she understands, feels it, truly fitting for a Detective PreCure.

Evidence AGAINST:

1. Um uhhh, she got no catchphrase or mantra like Shiruku or Eliza, this be so sad😔 Okay admittedly Kurea doesn't feel as balanced as Eriza and Shiruku did. I know with Shiruku I put focus on her being a red herring, but while Shiruku paralleled the lore, Kurea has an emotional presence within.

2. I mean you could say Luluka is happy to have a friend who truly cares for her and is reminded of Cure Eclair by her, but girl.

Would I like it?:

I do enjoy Eliza and Shiruku more as characters so I'd honestly be a little happier if they were Cure Eclair! Sorry Kurea💔 Your connection to Luluka is cool though and I feel like you don't have quite as much sense of Kurea's character as the other candidates so making her Cure Eclair would REALLY let you see just who Howa Kurea is.

Summary: With her character establishing motifs like fragrance and lilies which are tied to Eclair for both and Luluka for the latter, and Luluka having a richer connection to Kurea than she did with Eriza or Shiruku, I believe we may just have the mystery herself on her hands.

At the end of the episode we see Usonoir himself show Luluka a light blue Makoto Jewel, could that be where Cure Eclair's memories reside? And is it the reason why Luluka joined the Phantom Thieves? And it seems Usnoir may be aware of Luluka's lies... What will happen to our girl!

ALSO WE GOT MIKURU LORE CRUMBS YESSSS!!! My one issue with this season is that Anna and Mikuru are underutilized tbh.

This week we got to meet a Cure Eclairling and she brought along a message about not making assumptions, just because you believe or think something doesn't make it true? Could she be Cure Eclair??

They do look alike

Shikuru has similar eyes, she's blue, she has the same star motif as her earring, she even has a sunhat reminiscent of Eclair's! And most importantly, THE HAIR, her hair is long, blue and is designed very intentionally to lead you on.

Shikuru is designed to make you assume she's Cure Eclair and that's exactly why I don't think she is the same person. Looks too much like her.

Do the other Cures look so alike in their civilian forms?

I don't think so.

I'm choosing to leave Shikuru as a red herring for who Cure Eclair could possibly be!

Silly Agehseine bonus

NOTE: TOY LEAKS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THESE POSTS.

So I may have put off this for a little but here I am with our second candidate for Cure Eclair! Leiri Shiruku, though the foundations for her identity as Eclair feels less tied to her character than Eliza and more about how her story this episode mirrors what we know of Eclair...

Evidence FOR:

1. Her story of the earring could parallel the fate of Eclair, she gave up her earring, a treasure of memories for what matters most to her, the audience, like how Eclair sacrificed her memories in the name of protecting Luluka and the world from Usonoir's lies?

2. Like Eriza, Shiruku has a mantra to live by, "Don't make assumptions," She knows to take a step back and think things through like a good detective, while practicing meditative excersies, balancing out Anna's impulsive heart and Mikuru's overthinking, making a fitting third for our detective duo!

3. And like Eriza she's proven to have good detective skills, having great intuition when it comes to the behaviour of those around her, +her being an actor could bring along the philosophy of using lies as a tool to the Star Detectives themselves. We've already started entering that territory with Cure Arcana Shadow and the episode of the two sisters, where one lied so the other wouldn't be sad.

4. Luluka spoke to her by name, seeming familiar with her, that she wore an earring that contained valuable feelings and memories and saying she's a performing star just as expected, like maybe she knew that Shikuru was just a star but was expecting something more.

5. I do note the letter in the bouquet of lilies but I'm more focused on the mirrored story, I don't really have much to say about this one but wanted to take note of it.

6. Living her life acting as roles she is not, all while living her life not knowing her role as a Detective PreCure, pretty fitting don't you think? The actor not knowing her role as Cure Eclair. Just sounds cool, oui.

7. Okay this is last minute but what if Shiruku knows she lost her memories from a past life and that's why she's so focused on making new ones????

Evidence AGAINST:

1. DESIGN, she looks too much like Cure Eclair as a civilian I'm sorry, transforming into LONG light blue hair wouldn't be very impactful considering she already has long light blue hair, especially with the context of how much the hairs change for the other Cures this season.

2. Sure Luluka seemed to have familiarity with Shiruku but Shiruku is a celebrity! She's well known! The earring having memories is implied by its presence in the tome of mirages, though Luluka KNEW the book was talking specifically about Shiruku's earring and not some other star...

3. Like her design, the story lines up too well... She's already being painted as Cure Eclair, from the very start I've read Shiruku as a red herring, her design alone nullifies Shiruku as a candidate for Eclair to me.

Would I like it?: I do love Shiruku so I'd love for her to get a bigger role in the show through one form or another.

Summary:

Shiruku's story this episode mirrors what can be deduced of Eclair, giving up a treasure of memories in exchange for the happiness of what matters most to her, she has everything the character, the parallels and the signs of a connection, yet with her already looking too much like Eclair and already being passed off as the diva herself things are just a little too good to be true.. However as Shiruku would say, "Don't make assumptions," don't just wave things off because of rigid beliefs you already have, don't just assume that Cure Eclair is the only mystery figure for her to be....

Shushutan Theory:

Many people believe that Shiruku is not our mystery detective Pretty Cure but is truly our detective fairy, Shushutan!

Evidence FOR:

1. "Don't make assumptions!" Maybe even if Shiruku isn't who the Cures thinks she is, it shouldn't be assumed that automatically means she lacks a connection to the agency at all, after all we've heard nothing of Shushutan and maybe our adorable star is a fairy acting as a human.

2. Shiruku may look too much like Eclair but who says she can't be a human Shushutan? Even her name feels more reminiscent of the fairy than the PreCure herself. Also I know I mentioned avoiding costume design because all the candidates are echoed of Eclair but Shiruku's acting costume literally had Shushutan's bow this episode. (Love Shushutan's bow btw it's adorable)

(On the dress, not hair)

3. What if the reason Shiruku is so focused on making new memories is because of her best friend lost her old ones? Making a new life for herself to honour the happiness Eclair gave her

Evidence AGAINST:

1. Shiruku has mentioned her parents worrying if taking on an acting career would be too much combined with her high school life. We haven't seen anything of Shiruku's life to say this absolutely evidence against? Was she acting while saying that? Do fairies this season have parents? Are her parents also fairies?

Summary:

Shikuru may be too good to be true as Cure Eclair, but with her name and design it is possible that she is Shushutan, valuing making new memories and making people happy, even when Cure Eclair isn't in action

Would I like it?:

Yes. And it'd be exciting for kids with keen eyes to realise that there's a second member of the detective agency hidden among the candidates and tbh if I was a kid noticing that and having it come true would be the greatest thing ever.

Also her design is gorgeous, I'm in awe everytime she's on screen