Chapter 125

Twenty What should one truly believe in?

“Haa… Ugh——Eh?” The truck driver, lying on the steering wheel, woke up with an odd sound coming from his mouth.

Just waking up, he looked bewildered, unsure of where he was, until he saw the phone in his hand and realized he was still buckled in the driver’s seat.

I remember looking at my phone while driving… Could I have dozed off and crashed somewhere!

The startled driver quickly got out to check and only felt relief when he saw that his truck was parked by the dock.

“That was too close… I absolutely cannot play with my phone while driving anymore!”

With Belu defeated by both Pretty Cure and Kamen Rider, the purified Spirit Heart returned to its owner, impressing upon him the importance of focusing while driving—a great relief indeed.

“Even two people could wield such power… No! Next time we’ll deal with you!”

Battered and bruised, Belu struggled to stand. He thought to himself that next time he’d teleport back to base.

But would Ash let him escape? After offending him, could he still run away?!

“No need for next time, it’s now. He’s yours.”

The Black Dragon, waiting patiently underwater, lunged out to grab him once more with its big steel teeth. It remembered the humiliation of being hit away and now sought to regain its honor.

“Again, you—”

Before he could finish speaking, Belu—who couldn’t escape this time—was thrown headfirst through a wavy mirror, leaving only water marks where he lay.

“That… That’s so scary, Shalulu…” Even his enemy, seeing Belu being carried away, made Shalulu shrink back into Ai’s pocket, frightened.

For fairies, known as symbols of kindness and purity, Kamen Rider had become a terrifying presence under Ash’s influence. Whenever fairies spoke about him, they trembled uncontrollably.

“Uh, did he get captured?”

Finally, Ai summoned the courage to ask Ash.

“How should I know?”

Ash said it wasn’t his place to answer.

“You should ask the Black Dragon about it. See what it says.”

“Qbi~”

As Akichan, who flew to her怀里 with her little wings fluttered behind, Ai transformed back only now realizing she didn’t need her fighting strength.

She was overjoyed at rescuing Akichan and defeating the enemy. Holding the equally delighted Akichan in her arms, rubbing her soft cheeks, Ai felt proud—she had also wielded the Heart Bow and Arrow in battle.

“Mr. Ash, we’ve done it! Surely as long as we work together, nothing is impossible!”

“Don’t tell me that,” Ash responded indifferently, summoning the Diago Swift Motorcycle, ready to leave.

Such collaboration was fine for good guys, not for him who had a system mission.

“He doesn’t even have a partner.”

“Isn’t that unfair? Mana saved Shalulu today!”

“One doesn’t save their enemies; needless action is folly. If it didn’t work, there was no point anyway. Your standing in place just invited punishment.”

Hearing Ash’s words, Ai felt disheartened. “I didn’t expect you noticed… Sorry, I acted in impulse…”

Actually, she only wanted to protect him instinctively then. Now being scolded overreaction seemed a bit much.

“It’s not your fault.”

Normally, she’d be entertained by good or bad guys getting hit, but today she felt gloomy.

Ash concluded he shouldn’t ignore help. Protecting another meant taking damage. Fighting results were one thing, getting hurt for someone was different.

Ash hated owing others.

Swiftly, Mana had no room to complain. She remembered promising the softball team to be their aid, but missed due saving Akichan.

Ai pleaded for Ash to drive her to school, but Ash refused.

“No way. Skipping is easy for you. Why care if they give you anything?”

“Even so, I worry. They need checking!”

She emphasized her girl charm with watery eyes, but Ash’s indifferent face showed little effect.

“What? We’re enemies.”

“Um, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

Her expectations were shattered, silence fell between them.

“…”

“…”

A helmet thrown to Ai, who recognized it from before!

Get in.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ai happily agreed but regretted it immediately after getting in.

Ash sped the powerful bike, drifting through turns, leaving no brake.

Flames lit diago’s sword. With a Mogido ahead, they’d be destroyed.

Riding was normal for knights.

Not for Akio. For a model student like Ai, this speed was terrifying.

“Stop! Stop, Mr. Ash, slow down!”

“Qbi—!” Akichan laughed, feeling the wind, oblivious.

Shalulu vomited the whole way during the race.

Glancing backward at Ai, clinging and screaming in panic after narrowly missing a truck, Ash smirked viciously.

Guess what? Seeing her distress, he chuckled.

He stepped harder on the pedal.

Ai clung desperately, shaking in fear.

“This settles the favor.”

Minutes later, he left her at school, only for Ai to stop him again.

“Mr. Ash, we can’t be friends?”

“I told you, dreams belong in sleep. Think of me as the enemy.”

As a System holder tasked with collecting “Dark Echoes”, he fought all sides—good and evil. Companionship was harmful.

Even if memory blurred, he believed past advice: [Companions bring pain].

Who’d hurt him?

And why single out pain given his resilience?

“Mr. Ash—”

Ai’s alarmed call stopped him.

“Sure enough—!”

He waved his hand and walked away.

“Goodbye.”

Hope of friendship faded. New power didn’t lift her mood.

After a reunion with clubmates, Ai found the softball team victorious without her. Joyous teammates confessed understanding the importance of self-reliance.

Just then, a student witnessed them racing.

Word spread fast, students buzzing over new rumors.

“Heavily embraced when she got off the bike. Is he her—boyfriend!?”

Enthusiastic fans surrounded the president.

“The president has a boyfriend, shocking!” Girls were distressed.

“Of course! He didn’t make it on time due.”

“That boy’s a high schooler? College? Or just casual?”

“President, any chance for me based on looks?”

Then everyone turned to Ai, breaking the chaos.

“All say is he boyfriend?”

Unflustered, Ai explained:

“No. Just came via ride. No love life for me.”

President should set example.

“Mana’s here with who?”

Suspicious, Rikka approached.

“Ash drove us.”

“Really?! So Rikka knew him.”

“Wow, Rikka!”