Chapter 161

Chapter Fifty-Five: What Is Friendship

Regina sang a lullaby while hugging Ai-chan, gently swaying her arms to the rhythm of the song. Listening to the lovely voice of the girls made the drowsy baby fall asleep in no time.

Currently, Regina seemed far from a member of an evil organization planning to invade the world. Instead, she looked more like a young lady enjoying herself with her friends.

As for Ash wearing a vintage biker jacket and sunglasses trailing behind, he was purely acting as a bodyguard for these ladies.

“What a cute sleeping face. It makes my heart feel so happy! Mana was right; everyone playing together indeed feels better!”

“Yes, it’s great if Regina can understand.”

The girls happily chatted, and their initially awkward relationship rapidly warmed up. Ash, finding no suitable topic to butt in, maintained his stoic expression, pretending to be a figure similar to a spark figurine nearby.

“I also really like this sculpture,” Regina said as she gazed up at the stone carving that seemed to depict the princess of Poketto Kingdom. She found it increasingly familiar, as if she knew her personally. “Especially the red gem on its chest. I really love it! Do you know what kind of gem this is?”

“Based on our speculation, this should be the Royal Gem… Mmph!” Without realizing what she was saying, Makoto blurted out their assumption, only to snap back to attention when she noticed everyone’s gazes shifting toward her. Too late, she instinctively covered her mouth.

“Royal Gem—wasn’t that something Arisu mentioned? You girls collect these artifacts, right?”

Ugh, Mr. Ash already knows about it from Arisu?!

The girls once again turned their gaze toward Arisu. The girl with orange hair lowered her head under everyone’s “traitor” looks, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“Even if Mr. Ash didn’t learn it from me, he would certainly have learned it from everybody else.”

“Though it is true… anyway, this Royal Gem is a very important thing we’re collecting!”

“Oh, you mean this. I see.”

Isn’t this just like collecting core medals, assembling Lockseeds, getting all switches… it’s Dai-ge’s usual sales tactic.

“Can your Royal Gem link with your weapons and transformation devices? Do they produce sound and light effects?”

“Mr. Ash, that’s way off topic.” Arisu started to explain. “Gems don’t usually make sounds or produce light, not like children’s toys.”

“It seems this iteration of Dai-ge isn’t putting much effort into selling toys.”

Ash’s eyes drifted past the fourth wall in C05, looking distant yet pointed.

“Let’s not be so absolute. Maybe among your successors, a Pretty Cure might emerge who uses gems to transform.”

“A Pretty Cure transforming with gems, it feels so glamorous!” Hearing Ash’s words, Mana’s eyes lit up with admiration. “I really want to meet those pretty cures!”

“I guess it won’t be long. After all, tie-in movies with联动剧场版 are Dai-ge’s favorite way to milk fans for money.”

“Feels like you are always saying things others don’t understand today.” Unable to join the conversation, Regina puffed her cheeks discontentedly. Reflecting on what they mentioned, she pointed at the gem on the statue. “Ash, since this is what Mana and the others are looking for, let’s give them this gem as a gift.”

“Wait, this is an artifact from the museum, you can’t just take it!”

Ai immediately tried to stop the impulsive action.

But Regina couldn’t be reasoned with. Of course, Ash understands the rules, right?

“Princess, take it.”

Hey, that was awfully fast!

“Mr. Ash, you’re committing a crime here!”

In response to Six Flower’s accusations, Ash shrugged innocently while holding the red gem.

“You know, with how I’m currently part of a dark organization intending to invade Earth, you asking why I grab things without paying? That’s quite a question.”

“There isn’t much to counterargue… But it still feels awful!”

They didn’t want to accept this reality; it felt like all their efforts were for naught.

Playing with the red gem, Ash felt disdain for its plastic texture, reminiscent of DX toys.

While the others argued about whether to return it or keep it, the statue, from which Ash had plucked the gem, began cracking from its chest outwards. Soon, pieces fell in shambles onto the ground.

“What, what, what do we do now?!”

Distraught by the destruction of the museum piece, the girls panicked. Who could say the actual value of such an exhibit? If they couldn’t reimburse the costs if sold…

“There’s no use. We’ll just have to buy the museum.”

Arisu immediately pulled out her phone and took charge of contacting the housekeeper to discuss acquisition matters.

“At least we can restore it by repairing the broken pieces.”

Seeing Ash lift and put together the shattered piece, the corners of the girls’ mouths twitched uncontrollably.

“What is this mess?”

Originally a beautiful, elegant female statue had been turned by Ash into something grotesque with limbs in unusual positions—a nightmare fit for an investigation scene in the COC universe.

“Mm… A giant robot perhaps?”

“Of course it looks wrong!”

Distressed to the point of tears, the other girls directed their frustrations at Ash, who stood there indifferent, tossing the plastic gem in his hand and sizing up the situation. He proposed a plan.

“I have a great idea.”

“Nobody here knows us. If we run, we could escape.”

Hearing Ash’s proposal, the girls couldn’t help but wish to transform into Pretty Cure and give him a piece of their mind. While this shows Ash’s ability to stir irritation in critical moments.

“My deepest apologies!”

Finally, the girls decided to honestly apologize to the museum authorities. Fortunately, the craftsman who created the stone statue wasn’t too harsh but generously stated it wasn’t their fault.

“That sculpture was not something a little girl’s power could break. It was probably already on the verge of breaking. So it couldn’t be your fault.”

Of course, it wasn’t their fault. The true culprit was hiding behind a column, whistling.

“And besides, seeing a red plastic stone at the seashore gave me inspiration to create it. It barely felt like my own work, so its breakage doesn’t matter.”

Even though the artisan reassured them, Ai and others insisted on helping with the cleanup. They couldn’t just stand idly by.

“Mr. Ash, this is your fault. Don’t just watch!”

Six Flower picked up a broom, frustrated, seeing Ash not lending a hand like usual.

Initially, Ash planned to refuse as always. However, he felt a bit guilty seeing the girls help out—so he threw a green-faced watch at her.

“[Water Armor ~ Watermelon ~]”

“Haha, but this tiny robot… ” Six Flower shut up mid-sentence. This small watermelon robot swiftly cleaned up, at multiple times their speed. Not a single shred remained.

Now Six Flower was left speechless, not knowing what to say next.

Unlike unresponsive Ash, Regina still couldn’t comprehend the girls’ proactive help.

“Why is Mana trying to help even though she’s been forgiven?”

“It’s about being considerate towards others,” Ai began explaining earnestly. “Even if we can’t fix everything, we must do our part.”

“But I assigned Ash to take the gem, and this is unrelated to Mana and them.”

“But we are already friends, right?” Six Flower added, capitalizing on Ai’s statement.

“Because we are teammates, we share everything; the good and the bad, right?” Recalling Ash’s earlier words, Regina felt some realization.

“You get it, Regina!”

“But if a friend is like Mana, burdening others can be tough.”

“Don’t say it like that Six Flower, it’s embarrassing.”

Hearing her words, the girls laughed together. Even Ai couldn’t help but laugh. Maintaining such a pure friendship felt joyful in their everyday life.

However, as Regina watched, her heart churned with mixed emotions, waves of conflicting thoughts stirring in her.

It feels both painful and joyful inside, she thought.

Could this be what true friendship is?

She looked over at Akash, who gestured ‘Keep watching me’ with his finger.

Even Akash is encouraging me… Now I understand.

It’s not that I just want to be friends withMana, I want to be friends with everyone!

“I want…”

“I want to be friends with everyone like Mana does!”

When she resolved to express her feelings, she saw all four smiling at her.

“Regina is already our friend.”

Not only Ai, but Six Flower, Arisu, and even Makoto nodded affirmatively toward her.

“So, Mr. Ash.”

“If so, then I’d be fine being the rival character.”

“KORA!”

Seeing Mana bickering with Ash again, Regina understood.

This is what friends mean…

As the black-clad girl solidified in her newfound understanding, a dazzling crimson beam shot from the gem in Ash’s hand.