Chapter 98

Extra Case File 98 Information Through Time

Such a melancholic yet handsome demeanor from Ash… Ah, no! I really can’t do this!

Snow-white teeth—haha, Ash, how did you know I liked this kind of thing?

“Ha ha ha~”

Looking at the wild girl, Yuno, who was drooling next to her as if a crazed fan, even Ash felt his mouth twitch uncontrollably.

So much of a fan?

Should I be more careful to protect myself?

“No wonder your true identity wasn’t really hidden, but it has never been exposed.”

It’s like saying Batman in Gotham City is actually a rich kid living a life of luxury; no one would believe that.

The difference is too great, it’s not my fault I didn’t see through it at all back then.

“After all, she is a woman…”

“Wi-woman—I’m definitely a woman!” Yuno hurriedly wiped away drool from her lips when she finally realized her inappropriate behavior. “Besides, what’s wrong with women! If they like something, they like it!”

“And besides, Ash isn’t innocent either! He ogles girls’ chests during such times and likes to bully me!”

“But I also like,” Ash happily imitated Yuno’s manner of speaking to respond.

“You shouldn’t just jump on it!”

“Who said not to let me come down?”

While I consider myself not at all inferior to anyone for the first time, unlike those miscellaneous fighters who can barely keep up with me and just say whatever I ask them.

“Wait—” Yuno flushed red, wishing to hide in a crack in the ground when she was outed by Ash. “How can you say such things outside—extremely shocking!”

“Oh, it’s just us two here~”

Ignoring the sight of a tidy row of curious eyes peeping from around the corner, today’s party was finally enlivened by Ash finding humor in Yuno’s embarrassment.

“Or do you want to settle old scores with me?”

“I—who’s afraid of who! Watch me beat you up—”

Yuno started shouting without regard for volume until her mouth was clamped shut by Ash’s hand. Facing Ash’s smiling gesture of silencing her, the poor girl realized she was hit precisely by Ash’s provocations.

“What do you want to do with me? Oh, to boldly say such things even in broad daylight~ How pitiful, Ash, I’ll face this alone today. Really perverted, Yuno ❤”

“Extremely shocking!”

“Heh heh~ What’s this, it’s Cureyell’s catchphrase, right?”

“It’s Yuno’s catchphrase now!”

Ash smiled half-heartedly while Yuno’s cheeks puffed up angrily as gazed fiercely. The intense stare-down lasted until both, unable to hold it anymore, smiled and shared a mutual laugh, thus breaking the heavy atmosphere surrounding Ash.

“Aren’t we having fun?”

Yuno naturally sensed Ash’s burdened heart, even though Ash made it clear that he didn’t want Yuno to know about any secrets.

Although she would be more concerned…

But since you don’t want to talk, I won’t force you.

Because, no matter what,

I will always be by your side… sharing everything with you.

“Certainly.” Laughing and shaking off concerns, Ash finally picked up the champagne. “Today, I’m happy.”

“Hold on.”

Just as he was about to finish his drink in one go, Yuno leaned closer, swinging her glass toward him instead.

A gentle breeze ruffled the black and pink hair strands of the two standing opposite each other, stirring up ripples in their hearts.

“Do you want some?”

Hearing Yuno’s slightly shy voice, Ash could hardly refuse.

“Happy birthday, Ash.”

The two琉璃 cups collided, producing a crisp sound. They wrapped their arms around each other, making the drinks in their glasses shimmer in front of their faces, savoring the enticing aroma as they raised them to their lips and laughed together, tasting the sweetness.

“Happy birthday, Yuno.”

Indeed, drinking together is much better.

“I’ll go fetch some cake,” said Yuno, after arranging the table for others to make use of the special time for them.

However, she jumped at what happened suddenly. Without any warning, a hole shaped like a vortex appeared out of thin air before her.

But that wasn’t the most shocking part. What truly stunned her was the energy of “Mirai Power” that she sensed seeping from the vortex.

But, how could there be Mirai Power here?! Ash had relinquished it of his own accord; I am confirmed as the only Pretty Cure left in the world! Then, where did this Mirai Power come from, unless—

Unless, it’s not from now?

The vortex finally widened considerably enough for a golden hue to emerge. This action seemed to have a significant impact on the vortex, pushing flower pots off the balcony and forcing Yuno backward as she shielded herself.

“Woah—”

Startled, Yuno and the golden figure simultaneously exclaimed, their voices overlapping so closely they couldn’t be distinguished.

“What’s going on…”

Raising his head up in disbelief, Yuno saw a young girl appearing through a temporal rift, a blonde figure wearing clothes similar to hers after transforming.

“Y-You…”

Their gaze met; though meeting for the first time, Yuno detected familiarity and memories of trials in her eyes, but before she could speak, the girl intervened.

“Am I late? What day is it today?”

“This day…” Stunned by the unexpected question, Yuno responded subconsciously. “It’s, my birthday today…”

“Damn, I’m late!” The blonde girl’s face contorted with regret and pain at once. The black and red bracelet on her wrist caught Yuno’s attention.

Familiar looking… Could it belong to Ash?

“I’ll go find Ash!”

Seemingly having said too much, the blonde girl hastily rectified, yelling loudly.

Both could discern much more from each other’s eyes, but due to time limitations, the blonde girl could only shout in her final moments to Yuno.

“Ash is right here.”

“Not here, it’s another Ash!”

“Go find him!”

“He’s key to everything!”