Chapter 253

Chapter 152: Who is the Groom?

Indeed, Ash was preoccupied with another matter.

Some faces among the guests, despite being somewhat different, seemed familiar for some reason?

The large clock at the entrance of the church, symbolizing vows, chimed as more guests pushed through the doors.

“Who could have imagined that guy would marry such a good wife!”

“But now we can rest easy.”

“Mana has truly grown up.”

“What a happy wedding!”

As more people poured out, not only Ash but also the girls found many familiar faces among them, such as more mature classmates and other close friends, and…

“Dad, Mom, Grandpa?!”

Familiar relatives had aged, and seeing their tears, Ai couldn’t help but cover her own open mouth.

“Is that us?”

Rikka and others widened their eyes as they saw the noblewomen chatting happily in the nearby seats. Knowing their future selves was indeed an attractive thing.

But why do our faces look odd in the future?

“Hold on, there’s no Mana here, does this mean…?”

When the center was surrounded by the newlyweds, the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles that nearly lifted the roof off the church.

Under the bright sun, shining with holy light, the bride’s enchanting veil was lifted by the groom, revealing underneath a beauty with red hair. The bride’s pure white traditional gown fit perfectly, enhancing her ethereal beauty and making her seem like the most beautiful princess today.

The bride held the groom’s arm, the happiest person today, waving continuously to all sides, while everyone smiled and blessed her with their wishes.

At this point, Belulu, sitting atop Ash’s head, wore a relieved smile.

“It’s finally seen…”

Amid the shock, Ai blinked blankly.

Could it be me?!

The girl almost screamed, covering her face, and soon a visible steam cloud formed above her. Others quickly joined the chaos, shouting out loudly.

“Who is the groom, who married Mana?!”

This was the more excited part.

“There will come a time like this; today is Mana’s happiest day.”

This was the calmer part.

“Eh, there are so many people by the groom, blocking everything!”

This described those who were shorter and couldn’t see properly.

“Uh?”

This was Ash.

“How beautiful…”

Hugging her arms, Ai sat on the grass, staring absently at herself in the pure white wedding gown on the other side.

Her cheeks, flushed with crimson, gradually softened. Holding her warm cheeks, Ai closed her eyes, unable to resist imagining herself as the bride today.

With her father by her side, stepping into the marriage hall, she hesitantly clutched the groom’s hand, passing her friends, where Rikka and Makoto offered their blessings, and under the priest’s witness, declared her love.

“Groom, do you promise to adhere to your marriage vows, whether in poverty or wealth, sickness or health, beauty or ugliness, success or failure, to love, comfort, respect, and protect her, and remain faithful forever?”

“I do.”

“Bride, do you promise (some content omitted)…”

Ai sighed deeply, forcing herself to speak with a strength she didn’t feel: “I…”

Just then, a loud noise came from outside; dressed in black, the thief stood in the doorway, blocking the light.

“I object!”

“Ash?!”

Everyone gasped at someone interrupting, but he ignored their shock, shooting at the ground with his gun to create smoke, holding a silver box and firing a rope through the dancing mask, pulling the mirror image of the pure white moon away amidst everyone’s screams like the swift thief he was.

“Hold on!”

Many guests panicked, grabbing their custom gowns to chase after, but the dark, agile thief escaped amidst a laughing whirlwind along with his prize.

“Hahaha, come chase me!”

Oddly, as the captive female, Ai felt her heart race faster in the thief’s sturdy embrace, more than any time as Cure Heart. Her heartbeat accelerated, making her feel overwhelmed with emotion.

In the moonlight that wouldn’t blind, the thief removed his mask, lifting the veil that shielded his true appearance. Staring into her blushing face, his finger touched her reddened chin, his eyes meeting hers, brighter than the night sky.

“Taiyou Ai, I prophesy that I take your heart!”

“Ah, this is slightly~dislikable, but so impressive~”

Glancing at Cure Heart, who blushed and grew hearts over her head, Ash raised the spyglass to his eye again.

What is this woman doing?

“Ash, don’t you care who the groom is?”

“Why should I care about that? Compared to this, didn’t we come here for something else?”

Ash, feeling irritated, wanted nothing to do with this.

After all, it couldn’t be him anyway.

Since his time limit was nearly up.

Although true, Rikka still frowned in dissatisfaction.

“You and Mana get along well, maybe you’re the groom?”

“If you keep joking like that, I’ll end our friendship. I’m serious!”

Ash blew on his whistle, avoiding attention, looking for the flying whale, until Arisu interrupted.

“The back of the groom looks very handsome. This black hairstyle is quite rare.”

Silence.

Ash moved his lens.

Who the hell is that person always jumping around and blocking the view, acting like a locust!

“Watch out!”

To pass happiness, the bride threw her bouquet far with her hand. The flying bouquet didn’t land in any guest’s hands but flew far away towards the other side.

“Eh?”

Ai subconsciously caught the flying bouquet. The round flowers exuded a scent of happiness, and she couldn’t believe her luck. From a distance, her future self encouraged her with a smile.

“Sizzle—!”

A gray wave emerged behind them, robbing colors from everything touched—a bird in the sky, swaying branches, guests’ shouts, and the smile of the bride and groom.

In the black-and-white world, everything stopped.

“Someone stopped time!”

Shining stars emerging from within, Ash and the Pretty Cures became instantly alert in this halted world, tracing the wave’s direction. They spotted an airborne whale construct, which had lost its usual gentle appearance, extended countless colored tentacles, releasing waves that halted time.

“What the heck, it looks like an octopus!”

“Don’t know, maybe a tribute to Cthulhu.”

Ash shook his head. The saying goes: clear or murky, tributes to Cthulhu.

“Now, I’ll destroy the future—what the!”

The huge flying whale faced the charging King Train, which, having driven the train to flip on its side, continued tearing apart viciously with crocodile-like teeth and mechanical fangs.