Chapter 257

The intertwined two hearts

“What’s going on?!”

The girls outside the mirror saw nothing but white light flash through the mirror world, shattering all the mirrors with not a trace of any person remaining inside.

The anxious crowd eagerly wanted to know the outcome — who won, who lost, and who would be left standing in the end.

Was it Ash?

Or Mana?

No matter who the victor was, there would be no true winner in this battle; everyone would be a loser who had lost something precious.

Regardless of the result, if someone were to fall in this fight, it would cause them unbearable pain. Still, they clung to hope in their hearts.

“Isn’t there any way we can enter the mirror world?”

“Right! With this!” Akuri suddenly remembered as she pulled out Ryuuga’s card case from her pocket. She called forth the Jet Dart from within the mirror and began preparing to start it up, but she had to halt when it could not go any further.

“With this, we can enter the mirror world, but…”

Akuri nervously glanced around; these middle schoolers and elementary students rarely had access to motorcycles—how could they possibly take one?

“Let me do it.”

Surprisingly, in front of everyone, Arisu climbed onto the motorcycle and revved the engine, lowering the protective cover.

“Arisu knows how to drive?!”

“Ah, Sebastian taught me in Hawaii, and now it’s time we set off. I hope we’ll still make it.”

The cool sensation on his forehead awakened Ash out of his consciousness.

Without evil or darkness stirring within him, no past shadows plaguing him, and without distractions, he felt a deep cleansing clarity.

Ash’s bones and muscles ached terribly, but his heart felt inexplicably pure and clear—he felt more alive than ever.

His mind now fully awake, began recollecting the past events.

Lying amidst ruins, his messy black hair buried in the dust, Ash sighed deeply and repeatedly struck his head with his clenched fist.

“What did I do? What nonsense was I involved in…”

Forcing a girl to kill, robbing him of his life, knowing it wasn’t simple—he was at his lowest.

“It’s too much…”

“Ash.”

“Mana…”

Mana helped Ash stand up; Ai, trembling uncontrollably, raised her quivering fist, her golden-haired PreCure regressed to a red-haired girl, and landed a fierce punch on Ash’s face.

“You idiot!”

Ash flew back to the ground, filled his mouth with blood and saliva dripping down his chin. He watched Ai approach him speechless.

“This is what I deserve. Her pain is heavier than mine…?”

A warm, familiar sensation touched him again.

Ash was momentarily stunned, opened his eyes, staring directly into the ruby-red ones.

Instead of another hit, he received a tight embrace, afraid he might escape.

“For thinking that saving you isn’t worth the effort, even if the entire world’s fate is in my hands, I’m…”

“The biggest fool in the world!”

Her ruddy hair grazed Ash’s chest, tickling his neck, her tiny fists weakly hammering against him. Despite being unable to cry, Ash’s throat felt constricted.

“I’m sorry…”

Gazing at the moving ruddy color, the man also wanted to hug her tightly, his arm hovering above her, trembling, then slowly retracting.

So he just let her hold him, let her “indulge” herself.

After some time, breathing in the scent of flowers from her hair, her voice finally emerged.

“Ash, do you feel anything?”

“Yeah, right now, this sorrow intertwined with love fills my heart.”

Finally…

The words she constantly repeated, the punches aimed at conveying something, and her repeated prayers have reached their destination.

Between them, they’ve started understanding each other.

“Ash, I know you don’t like it, but I want to hear from you.”

“Why did you hide it for so long?”

“Why did you torture yourself like a prisoner?”

“… …”

“Wanting to know.”

I’ll tell you.

He didn’t want to deceive himself anymore, nor her, nor continue running away.

He’d tell her everything he needed to express, even if it didn’t ease him.

“Mana, I’m not of this world.”

Although he’s a traveler, unlike other travelers who never reveal their origins, he didn’t mind such matters.

When Ash narrated, Ai first witnessed his eyes so earnest, devoid of the usual emptiness, mocking, or wrathful yet weak look; now, those pure, blameless black eyes almost captivated her.

“Hmm, we already knew that.”

“But this isn’t the first time.”

“Wait, what?!”

His wound throbbed.

The fighting will was gone.

Lost in the memory, Ash pieced together his fragmented past and recounted it to her.

“In the past world, other than this instance, I’ve done similar things more than once; they were often far worse.”

“To fill my body with darkness, endless battles, births, deaths, and repeats.”

“Despite making many friends, compared to battling days, times of peace and joy with you all were few.”

Looking into Ai’s immaculate eyes, Ash smirked bitterly.

When Ash read online novels, he hated scenes where protagonists chuckled bitterly frequently. He didn’t understand why they’d laugh when happy and frown when annoyed, yet express both grief and laughter.

Now, he got it.

In times lacking freedom to even grieve, there was only laughter left.

“Most days were full of pain and hatred.”

So he forgot pity, shut his heart off, and concentrated more on fighting.

And gradually, only fighting seemed to be truly living, leading him to wonder if he lived for battle’s passion alone.

“Being with you all indeed made me happy—I’ll thank you for it… Huh?”

Opening his eyes, he saw Ai’s close, swollen red eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, despite her attempts to suppress her sobs.

Unable to find words, the girl simply hugged Ash tightly, fearing he might truly slip away.

All Pretty Cures are kind; they feel sadness for others’ pain and happiness for their joy. It was bewildering for Ai to hear these words from Ash.

“Guh…”

Behind the rocks, Arisu and others couldn’t help covering their choked mouths; clear tears fell from their fingers.

Especially Rikka, her blurry glasses reflecting her heartache and eye strain, making her almost tear up in disbelief.

Was she upset seeing Mana with others or actually envying someone else?

She couldn’t figure out anymore.

“Did you keep fighting alone?”

“Like always in this isolated world, drifting according to fate?”

“Not knowing where I came from or where I’m headed, guess so.”

Then why? Why continue? Why keep it secret from us?

What’s the purpose of it all?

“Purpose… I don’t know, I just felt I must.”

At least System knows, but He wouldn’t tell him, and he wouldn’t ask either.

“So, dying like this isn’t your first time, right?”

“Why! Why give up hope! Why don’t you try harder—”

Seeing Ash’s indifferent smile, her voice choked, love couldn’t ask any further.

“I tried.”

“Straining to reach, even when grasping, turning to dust anyway.”

“If destiny is destined to fade, then I no longer need it.”

…

The slender, gentle fingers of the girl gently entered Ash’s dark mess of hair. Like a mother, she embraced him tenderly, feeling the warm breath on her chest, sadness dripping onto his hair.

“I’m sorry, sorry…”

“You have no reason to apologize for me. You’re a good person, and I haven’t wronged you.”

In the past, Ai often said that, oddly, they resembled each other.

Ash’s independent manner was known; once, Ai acted likewise, determined to become friends or foes regardless, unknowingly hurting those who cared deeply.

The somewhat similar pair, Ai had hoped for this mutual understanding.

But in this moment of mutual understanding, Ai felt regret.

Her heart overflowed with unspeakable sorrow and guilt.

Clutching tighter.

“Mister Ash, please, never let anything like this happen again.”