Chapter 367

Chapter 100: Clash of Young Hearts

“Damn it, what’s going on, Lei? Follow my rhythm!”

“We’ve always been working together! How can you just say something like that suddenly?!”

Never did she think that there would come a day when Lei would rebuke her, making the anger in Erika’s chest flare up instantly.

“What do you mean how? It’s because you have never taken the initiative. I was responsible for making you keep up with my pace, but you actually blame me for it?”

“It’s you! You’re the one who randomly acts, making it impossible to cooperate. Now you’re saying such unreasonable things; I can’t accept that—!”

“You—!”

“You!”

The disagreement ignited their rage, quickly magnifying all the small cracks accumulated over time between them. The resentment they barely managed to suppress earlier erupted again, turning into sparks and pouring onto each other without mercy. While burning the friendship they once held dear, it only fueled more anger.

As the situation was heading towards an even worse spiral, the outside disturbance drew their attention away. Timons ruthlessly attacked Wuki, the pain vividly displayed on her face, causing those as her companion to feel their hearts being torn apart.

“Wuki!”

Wuki, after being thrown and hitting the outer wall, saw her worried expressions through the faint light. She mustered a forced smile to reassure them and continued to struggle to her feet, facing the attacks under her deteriorated state.

“How could this happen… Wuki, Sunshine!”

Faced with her impotence, Lei collapsed in anguish, her futile attempts at defending from within were useless. All she could do was helplessly watch Wuki being overwhelmed by the combined attacks from both sides, yet powerless to intervene.

However, the cruelest part was that they weren’t even given the chance to watch. The black curtains falling from the desert beast’s arm covered the sight and sound, leaving the girls unable to see their comrade battling fiercely outside. Only muffled ominous noises were heard.

“No, no! Wuki—ahhhhhh!”

Seated on the ground with legs spread like a duck, Lei cried out, recalling moments of laughter and combat shared as friends. The care shown by Wuki at school came flooding back, making Lei’s inability to help her now遭受的敌人的难以想象的折磨 even more heartbreaking. Tears streamed down her hands as she wept uncontrollably.

“Cursed, even the bottom is covered! Is there anything we can do, anything at all? Lei!”

Erika, pacing back and forth and pulling her hair into a tangled mess, even getting covered in dirt, found no solution. Lei’s cries finally triggered Erika’s explosive response.

“Cry, cry… what does crying do?! Lei, what good will this accomplish?!”

Under normal circumstances, Erika wouldn’t have been so harsh, but the two had just cut off contact, and Erika, consumed with anger, didn’t bother thinking rationally.

“What are you thinking, Erika?!” Lei now stood her ground, tears streaming down her red eyes as she glared at Erika level-eyed, her own rage and frustration not a bit lesser!

“Because we lack unity, and our disagreements led us to be unable to achieve anything!”

“In other words… it’s our fault for what happened to Wuki! Don’t you feel heartbroken too, Erika?!”

Normally, Lei would never push responsibility this way, but her words struck a vulnerable spot in Erika.

“This… this…”

As Lei spoke, tears formed in Erika’s eyes.

“I regret it too, truly!!”

Unable to hold herself up, Erika sat down and sobbed with Lei.

“Why did this happen, why did Wuki have to suffer in particular? We were supposed to be a team…”

In the shadow of the black curtain, voices from outside faded away, and they wept silently until only faint sobs remained.

Is it all over?

“Why… why would he hate us so much?”

Lei’s “he” referred to Timons, who, calling himself a Kamen Rider, was nothing like the city protector seen on TV now; a man whose actions were nothing short of sinister.

Talking about helping and training them, he took their hearts, hurt Wuki, and now turned against them, only increasing their suffering. What kind of training is this?!

“All of this is because of him—that shameless scoundrel!”

“If he goes after someone else next, what then, Lily? Ash Director? Such a thing…”

The thought of her own predicament brought a wave of melancholy and struck a blow to Erika’s seemingly strong heart.

Thought becoming a Pretty Cure would protect them all, turns out it was all meaningless.

“Erika…”

The overly sensitive Lei naturally fell into a deep sadness, and her emotional nature made her notice Erika’s sorrow.

Hearing the anguish in Erika’s voice, Lei composed herself despite her runny nose. As she looked at Erika’s blue hair stained with dirt, the anger she felt seemed to vanish. Without thinking, Lei instinctively approached the trembling blue-haired girl, facing away.

“What can I do… I don’t want everyone to get hurt like this, no! I hate it!”

Lei rarely showed her vulnerable side, which was revealed through tears filled with agony.

Yes, Erika had always been worried about everyone…

Lei had so many questions for Erika, but seeing her shaking, she let the words spill out:

“Erika… you’re so strong…”

“Huh?”

Taken aback by the unexpected words, Erika stopped crying momentarily.