Chapter 103

Extra Case File 103 Crossing

· Changing 4K

“Don’t push yourself too much, Flower.”

Once upon a time, men roared and fought for women! He crossed through arduous challenges and finally won over his beloved, which was a good outcome but not the end.

“What’s wrong, Ash? Have you become perceptive to words?”

As Ash said, monsters that should have only existed in his memories began appearing in this world.

“Ah ah ah ah—”

The screaming woman held onto Ash’s shoulder, slamming the grayish, mundane soldiers back with rocks tumbling down. Using the power of Pretty Cure, she forced her way through the increasing horde of enemies.

Now, the woman was roaring for the man.

In the overwhelming charge, the exhausted man could no longer fight against himself and tumbled onto the ground. Flower saw Ash losing strength and about to be attacked by other miscellaneous troops surrounding them both. She immediately yelled at him.

“What are you doing, Ash! Where has your willpower gone? Where is the Timefire who was mad with rage and absolutely arrogant?!”

“I don’t allow you to be alone and dodge everything at such a time!”

“Flower… Little Flower.”

Among the crowded monsters almost drowning her small frame, only one hand reached out desperately toward the man on the ground amidst all the chaos.

“Living itself is also a battle!”

“Ah ah ah ah!!”

Picking up the DV Defender, the blazing crimson beams shot through and melted the enemies around Flower.

“Don’t die!”

Ash, having completed his mission, would die today…

“Don’t just follow what’s predestined!”

Pulling Ash up from the ground, the two staggered and continued to move forward despite their suffering.

They ran, running with all their might.

Until Ash used up his last bit of strength and closed his eyes on Flower’s shoulder.

—

“Ash~”

“Mm…”

Still feeling sleepy, Ash emitted a muffled sound and stretched his arms to yawn when he felt fingers poking his nose. Rubbing his eyes, he looked at the chestnut-haired girl sitting next to his bed, greeting her weakly in his current state.

“Good morning, Mana.”

“Well, get yourself together first before saluting everyone with a good morning.”

Passing through Miyuki who greeted him cheerfully, the boy, after getting dressed, slapped his face with a cold towel but still didn’t feel awake. Turning to grab some breakfast and seeing another someone squinting awake beside him, he handed over his glasses with a sigh.

“Lei, here.”

“Ah, thank you, Ash!” The twin-tailed girl hurriedly put on her glasses and surveyed Ash with a hint of confusion on her face. “Ash, you…”

“Heehee~ What shall Ash do today?” Another girl’s voice echoed from behind Ash, also puzzledly continuing Lei’s question.

“Ash looks so tired today, unlike before!”

“Um…” Another girl on the sofa finished reading her book and looked concerned before gently suggesting to him. “Maybe taking another nap would be better?”

“Haa—” After a long yawn, the boy leaned heavily on the table and started fidgeting aimlessly with his mouth.

“I think… I had a dream… In my dream, I died.”

“Huh?” The girls gathered around out of curiosity. “But, Ash doesn’t need to die anymore, right?”

“Is this a nightmare?”

“Nightmare… huh?” Ash continued to fish absently, almost resting his head on the desk. “If it is… a nightmare…”

Why then do I feel so happy when thinking about it?

—

On the cold makeshift bed, Ash suddenly opened his eyes.

“Oh, good!”

First, he saw Flower’s surprised expression. Her relief at seeing Ash alive was evident.

“Ash isn’t really dead yet~”

Where am I?

Sniffing the smell of disinfectant, Ash, supporting his weak body with effort, got up and looked around. He saw white coats rushing between injured pedestrians. This was undoubtedly a hospital ward.

“Hospital?” Touched the bandage on his forehead from a fall; it had been covered already. “You saved me once again… But if we’re in a hospital, where are those enemies?”

“Look here!” Flower invited him proudly by pulling the curtains, revealing an impressive V-Rex battling a gigantic robot outside the window.

“It was originally just some petty foes, but more monsters resembling those from TV shows began to appear.”

Just see all the places you’ve been, Ash!

“It was during this moment that I saw a baby raptor appear against the flow!”

“I brought you to this temporary hospital sheltering monster accidents. Let it protect you and everyone else.”

“You suddenly fainted and scared me half to death.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Together, they turned their worried eyes towards the robotic dinosaur outside, its once shining red armor now charred with burns and battle scars.

Despite the powerful firepower and AI capabilities of the modified V-Rex and its self-healing nanofiber, how long could it endure the endless waves of enemies?

“Ash, you shouldn’t push yourself.” Flower voiced her concern for Ash. “After doing such a thing, it’s okay to rest.”

“I’m fine, really. It was just a dream.”

“A dream?”

“Yeah, a good one.” Ash’s face showed nostalgia. “I dreamt of living happily with many new Pretty Cures. No enemies or shadows, so blissful.”

“If we can go into dreams together, that would be great.”

“That sounds like something you’d say, Ash,” Flower laughed sarcastically. “So fond of Pretty Cures? Even with so many people? But fine, go alone if you want to. I don’t care about sharing with anyone.”

“Getting jealous of dreams? Don’t mix fiction and reality. They’re clear to me.”

Now, after experiencing ups and downs and being dragged out by Flower, Ash felt quite grateful.

“In my dream, do they belong to me, or am I part of their dream?”

“If it’s all mere fantasy, I’ll definitely share with you until the end!”

To let Ash verify the reality, Flower gripped his hand with a squeeze.

“Whether it’s real or not, I’ll stay by your side.”

“But looking weak, that’s not like you, Ash.”

Gazing through the window and seeing the crowd of people and machines watching V-Rex from outside, Flower noted the absence of despair on their faces compared to their previous moments of fear.

“The heroes are fighting and so should we!”

“Right, aren’t we the same ones who saved the world with Cureyell and Timefire? We won’t lose to these new monsters!”

Reassuring voices echoed from elsewhere. Witnessing true miracles made them cease seeking despair.

“You’ve shown how things aren’t so bleak.”

What you and I did, wasn’t bad, right?

“Even the smallest chance holds hope.”

Soft hands squeezed Ash’s hands gently massaging callused fingers.

“Isn’t it our responsibility to fight till the end?”

Ash released her hands, reclining back on the stretcher.

“Apologies, even as a warrior, my words were weak.”

“No one blames you… Tell me, Ash.”

Now, Flower couldn’t help but ask. “Seeking those dark echoes… and sacrificing life for power and glory, what lies beyond?”

“There lies nothing more important than life itself.”

Finally, I stopped moving toward you, Flower, wanting to reclaim lost things, yet catching nothing.

“But haven’t you also done the same?” Ash challenged back. “Fighting alone, endlessly against raging energies—what’s the point?”

Avoiding despair, I acted for you.

“Uncertain…” Flower shifted her gaze away slightly, unable to meet Ash’s eyes. “Earlier, I thought another Pretty Cure would appear no matter what. But…”

Having an answer earlier, now in front of you, it vanishes.

“Perhaps we’re similar. I’ve sought death as well, like you,” Flowers laughed with a shake of her head.

“So, we are indeed alike?”

“At this moment, the many choices made, every decision.” Ash covered himself with a blanket, giving his final answer. “I have no regrets.”

“Trouble!” A staff member shouted. “Some smaller foes are about to break through V-Rex’s defenses. Everyone, evacuate!”

“I’ll drive them off!” Flower let go of the man and rushed towards the exit. “We mustn’t involve innocent bystanders.”

“I aim to lead them away from the crowd!”

“Ash!” Flower turned back to look seriously at him from her escape route “I’ve changed!”

It’s all about self-revival.

“Change too! You can do it!”

Watching her pink silhouette run away against the flow, Ash felt a stir within his heart.

“Change…”

I can change and do something good.

Seeing your determination Flower, I knew that after me, you’ll continue to live.

Your unwavering confidence, still foolish yet brilliant, pushed you to enact miracles.

So, you will survive…

“If… I can too survive…”

Living would be good too.

“Dad…”

“Not dad, I’m not that old yet—” Ash instinctively responded, spotting the cute blonde girl with twin tails at the end of the corridor. “What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t that Dad, the boyfriend of Cureyell in news?”

“Not Dad, but he’s the boyfriend.” Sitting up from the bed, Ash gently patted her blonde head. “Waiting for me, next time, I’ll deal with these pests with Cureyell!”

“Wonderful! This is awesome!” Watching the girl’s sparkling eyes, Ash felt his mood uplift and his smile fell upon an empty cage in her hands.

“Did your bird not return?”

Small changes start with small actions, right?

“Come, give it to me.”

Confident they were all lured away by Flower, Ash struggled to climb the stairs leading to the rooftop. Finally, he found the little green bird and coaxed it with a ‘coo coo coo.’ After some effort, he finally captured the bird.

“At last… Hm?”

“Chu—!!”

Just about to place the bird into the cage, his rough handling ripped open the bottom. Panicking, the bird flew away through the hole.

“It flew off.”

The cage…

No longer suits you?

Debris fell upon the top of a damaged Jaenett below, causing the robot to grab for a nearby weapon and clumsily aiming at Ash above its head.

“Not being able to manage even this much… Change is hard.”

“Bang—!”

Looking up as the bird soared, a shot rang out, and blood oozed from Ash’s mouth as he slumped down.

“Quite a struggle…”