Holding Back the Tears! The Reason Ichika Smiles! is the 31st episode of KiraKira★Pretty Cure à la Mode, and the 666th episode of Pretty Cure as a franchise.
Ichika's mother Satomi is coming home from a business trip, and she is determined not to let herself cry in front of her.
Tropes:
- Breath Weapon: The giant Nendo breathes fire.
- Cool Shades: Ichika's cake depicts Satomi wearing a pair of these.
- Stepford Smiler: As a child, Satomi told Ichika to always smile, because it makes others happy. Ichika has carried this advice with her for her whole life, taking to an extreme, as she absolutely will not let herself cry.
