Chapter 42

Outtake Case File 42 Interesting Side Entertainment

This was at [TOMORROWRESEARCH], a place where business was unusually poor due to the eccentric nature of the sole doctor and poor customer service. In front of a computer in casual white coat attire, Ash sat in an extremely unprofessional posture, moving the mouse and browsing the most popular topic on the largest chat forum online – the new report about him and her.

The incident between Time Fire and Cure Yell had once again risen to the top of the热搜 list. They were two of the only heroes capable of fighting the incomprehensible “Final Monster.” Their every move garnered worldwide attention.

Unlike conventional starlet hype, the hype was chasing them instead of the other way around. Especially now, with the recent event, there was widespread criticism aimed at Ash’s character, Time Fire. He was more despised than a mangaka who drew a bad ending for a manga, or a novelist who abandoned their story mid-way, or even流量 celebrities playing with people’s emotions.

Because of Time Fire’s overly aggressive provocation and his twisted comments about “Cure Yell” that resembled those from stalker fans, the originally ambiguous “anti-hero” had become a universal target of disdain, and even those previously drawn to his efficient style had shifted from supporters to critics or even haters.

Time Fire’s popularity was now left with only die-hard fans with peculiar tastes still supporting him, but their occasional statements on forums would quickly be drowned out by the overwhelming number of Cure Yell fans criticizing them.

However, they might not know that Time Fire’s real persona was watching these comment threads, occasionally sipping on freshly brewed coffee, smiling while liking positive comments and disliking negative ones.

Was Ash angry? No, he certainly wasn’t angry. Such meaningless online arguments didn’t affect his reality. He wouldn’t have survived countless journeys otherwise.

Ash remained indifferent.

“Alright, let’s set aside this trivial entertainment…”

After finishing the highly-sugared coffee, Ash shifted his attention to the virtual panel of the system popping up beside him.

As he reviewed text messages on the panel, his eyebrows once again furrowed inward.

“So, you’re finally willing to tell me? Hmm, so you say this world isn’t similar to the main universe?”

About half a month ago, arriving in this world and nearly drowning, Ash quickly sensed something amiss based on his many cross-dimensional experiences. Although Cure Yell was a bright and exploitable role, the enemy side consisted of mindless monsters, lacking even a speaking officer-level character, which made Ash suspicious.

If one considered this world as a “story,” it lacked enough plot elements to sustain a normal narrative, maybe just like a prequel mentioned briefly.

[Correct, the world we’re in right now is like how the film *Paradise Disappeared* stands in relation to the original TV series *Kamen Rider Faiz*.]

[So, because of this, my suggestion is…]

“Don’t speak of such matters any further.” Ash preemptively grabbed the back half of the virtual screen, his thumb pressing hard enough to create cracks, preventing subsequent text from appearing. “Otherwise, I too will be angry.”

[Why?]

Seeing the system ask such a question, Ash smiled slightly.

“Very simple, because she’s suppressing herself, and I want to see more of her.”

“The masquerade dance with her is really interesting.”

“She belongs to my Cure Yell, regardless of whether it’s the main story or main universe.”

The sound of a bell, triggered by the wind from the door opening, snapped Ash from his reverie. With the system’s panel clamped between his palms pressed together, he withdrew the virtual panel into his hand.

To be honest, it was quite amusing.

“Ash-kun, I’m here!”

The visitor was of course Yano Hana, whose health had improved visibly under Ash’s care.

Hearing Hana’s clumsy yet energetic voice approaching, Ash couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh.”

“What do you mean oh?” Hana, still dissatisfied with Ash’s terse and cold attitude, puffed her cheeks angrily, inflating her face like a deflated pufferfish. “Every time I come over, I greet warmly, yet Dr. Ash is so cold!”

“I understand.” Ash reached out a hand towards Hana’s soft, pink-fluffy head sitting opposite him and stroked her, seeing her reaction, which resembled a cat enjoying her chin being scratched, “Impressive, quite impressive.”

Do you remember the person who said one shouldn’t touch someone’s head casually? She clearly enjoys being touched.

She’s quite easy to please, isn’t she?

“Purrr~” Only half a minute after emitting a contented purr, Hana realized she was taken advantage of and immediately blushed, stepping backward. “N-no way, Dr. Ash! You can’t just touch girls’ heads, it’s rule-breaking!”

Watching Hana hastily cover her right eye with her hands and tuck her long hair behind it, Ash burst into laughter.

Over time, Ash found his patient increasingly fascinating, not just in her active response but also in her hidden merits that ordinary people couldn’t see. Despite her belief that she was just a common woman, Ash viewed her differently.

Unintentionally, he started diverting some of his attention from Precure to her, quickly developing a bit of a habit…

But what does it matter? He had jumped across worlds before, fought against friends, and played villain roles for a long time. Is it so wrong to take enjoyment from someone who makes you happy?

After all, isn’t this quite an interesting diversion?