Chapter 156

What was Hidden?

“Cough, cough…”

Arisue, lying amidst the rubble, could not help but cough. She had acted recklessly, forcing Ash to make a choice with almost no plan.

Yet when she was blasted by the Black Dragon, she realized she had made the right gamble.

The previous results indicated that while Ash had intense fighting spirit towards them, he did not intend to take their lives. It was almost as if he cherished them to an extent by “protecting” them in secret.

Could it be, as Mister Ash said, that he prefers shining heroes, so he would never let a hero perish?

Despite feeling very apologetic towards Mister Ash, Arisue still acted because she knew if she truly wanted to connect with Ash, she needed to do this, even at the risk of being disliked by him.

“This is…”

Glimpsing a flash at the corner of her eye, Arisue reached out from where the card was hidden beneath the debris. The girl looked at the symbol on the card identical to that on Longya, then her eyes widened seeing the astonishing large number on it. She seemed to understand something.

Indeed, Mister Ash had held back.

You are not someone who lacks love; you are just hiding your heart too deeply.

Squeezing the surface of the card, Arisue suddenly noticed that this wasn’t one card, but two cards fused together.

She pulled out the card from behind, revealing another underneath the [Final Descent]: a card without any markings except for the faded wings in the center.

Picking up the card, Arisue watched as dark energy emitted from her body mixed with gold particles, which flowed into the card, gilding the wings with dazzling gold. The flame at the background began to flicker as if it were real.

I seem to have done something… I should return this to Mister Ash later.

This was her last thought before consciousness slipped into utter darkness.

When Arisue opened her eyes again, it had changed from noon to dusk. Sitting beside her was Ash engrossed in reading what seemed like a treasure trove of knowledge in a golden book.

Just waking up with a foggy head, Arisue felt less pain from her wounds. Subconsciously, she reached for her face, touching a rough texture unlike skin.

Is this a bandage? Oh great, now I must explain to Sebastian after returning home. I’m getting a headache.

Her gaze drifted upward to Ash, holding a book titled *Lost Memories* by author Kamihama Hikaru. Never heard of this writer before?

But this angle looking up at Ash, couldn’t be…Ah, could it be…? A pillow under the head?!

Arisue hurriedly stood up, noticing Lance lying beneath her neck and the Supportbot acting as a pillow’s support.

“I can’t anymore Lance…” The spirit Lance looked lifeless face-down, while the little robot cheered happily.

“[Watermelon Armor ~ Small Ball Watermelon~]”

“Ash-san… Could you please stop using them like this?”

With a heartfelt touch, Arisue picked up Lance. After all, they were both her transformation apparatus and partner. If she squashed them, there’d be no laughter left.

Ash-san doesn’t seem to favor the spirits much. They are good and bad for us Precures, but they get ignored completely despite how cute they are?

“It was originally his idea, and I followed it.”

Ash flipped the page of the novel, blocking his view entirely.

Else, what were you thinking— knee-pillowing? No thanks, my knees would hurt!

Before doing so, Arisue noted the reddened mark on his cheek as if he’d been struck.

What’s going on? I didn’t hit him here. How strange.

They stared at each other, neither backing down. Ash blocked himself with the book; the sound of turning pages had ceased for quite a while.

Arisue opened her mouth to break the silence, yet Ash’s voice came first.

“Let’s talk. That dojo was our joint creation, so it’s not only my fault. Don’t look for compensation from me.”

Upon realizing, it was her search for a dojo owned by Yotsuba Corp that made it a battlefield.

She turned her head toward the dojo, which stood ruined, with its two-halves sign perched precariously atop, appearing desolate in the cold breeze.

It’s beyond needing demolition; bringing the recycling crew seems more convenient.

“I feel guilty. We’ll need to ask Yotsuba Construction to rebuild. Yes, let’s do it by renovating and adding a floor.”

“The rich live comfortably.”

At Arisue’s casual remark, Ash couldn’t find words. Such a global mega-corporation was often secretly sinister, acting as the antagonist and rarely as a supporting force of good.

“Ash-san, here, take this!”

Taking the card from Arisue, his fingers flicked over it, seeing the usable [Survive (Flame)] displayed. Even Ash showed surprise.

Turning to the girl, Yotsuba Arisue smiled obediently.

“Tsk… Are you still feeling pain?”

“Arah…” Her smile brightened further. “Not at all, Precure’s protection is thorough. I’m not injured. Is Ash-san worried about me?”

“Probably.”

Raising his finger, he massaged his temple. A strange sense of guilt tugged at his heart, making him uncomfortable, but it wasn’t all bad.

“I thought you’d scold me harshly.”

“What difference does it make?” Ash closed his book and stuffed it away behind his back. Arisue leaned in, searching in vain for its whereabouts. “Heroes are foolish for stubbornly sticking to their beliefs.”

“But honestly, facing that cannon, weren’t you scared?”

After all, such an attack grazed the Moon, destroying a portion. Ash couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed.

“Not really. Because I trust in you, there was nothing to fear.”

“Crack!”

Seeing the bump appear on Arisue’s head, Ash retracted his bended fingers.

“Don’t trust others so easily, especially when they aren’t good.”

Yet, he never imagined the person bet their life on him taking action. He, the adult, fell for the girl’s trick. What irony.

“Pain!”

The unexpected sharp pain from the strike reminded of her earlier collision upon hitting the ground. Now her tears welled up uncontrollably.

Uh… Though becoming one lets me endure pain, why not outside battle?

“Hey, I thought it was fine…”

Seeing Arisue shielding her head, looking up tearfully, Ash sighed. Gently wiping away her tears, he said, “Why are you crying?”

In battles against the Precures till now, am I satisfied?

Not knowing yet, I’ll keep watching, Precure.

“Ash-san, I’ve understood.”

Seeing the black luxury vehicle approaching, Arisue stood, bowed to Ash, and ran over.

Yet, her lingering words caught Ash’s attention.

“After all, you’re a person who finds it hard to act unless holding nothing back.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Hurriedly standing, wanting to clarify further, the luxury car sped away, vanishing swiftly around the corner.

This time, it was merely Ash who got left behind, gazing at its exhaust.

“Right, karmic reapings?”