Chapter 271

Hundred and Seventieth Chapter Still Not Enough Love With Illustrations

Makoto held the Spirit Heart in his hand; the red heart with wings fluttered around him, not willing to return yet. So he raised his hand and softly blew it away towards the distance.

“Go back to your proper place.”

Makoto sighed deeply, and his familiar interface opened up in front of him as usual.

“Is it no longer possible to continue?”

[I’m sorry.]

“It’s not your fault; you’re just doing what you always do, right?”

[I’m sorry.]

Makoto took out the Longya Card Box; when he opened it, the降临cards scattered all over. He panted heavily and picked up the Contract card, tearing it into two pieces with great difficulty.

“Growl…?”

“Oh dragon, thank you for all this journey; you’re free now.”

“You no longer have to stay by my side, so go live freely on your own now.”

“Roar——————!”

It was the first time it roared so loudly, powerful enough to pierce through the world.

“So, without a contract, you dare to roar at me….?”

“But saying that you won’t leave, you truly are a self-important guy.”

If I meet such a partner fighting beside me next time, I’ll try interacting more friendly, not just as a servant.

“Growl.”

“Farewell, friend.”

A small blue bird landed on Makoto’s shoulder and looked at him. He recognized it; this was the Bluebird that escaped from the little girl.

“So, you’re also free.”

“That’s wonderful.”

The blue bird chirped happily and spread its wings, flying towards the boundless sky which dazzled him with its freedom.

“Makoto!”

The girls stepped over the ruins and called out for him.

“Makoto! If you can hear me, answer!”

“Makoto!”

“Kamen Rider!”

Even knowing what had happened, no one was ready to accept it until they faced it head-on.

Ai covered her newly-healed chest and headed towards somewhere silent without a word.

She kept walking, running with large strides until her companions couldn’t keep up and she shook off everything behind her.

He’s still waiting for me, I—

“Hey there.”

The girls stopped. They saw a man greeting them while leaning against the car door.

‘System, how much time left?’

[Not enough for one Ultra-Man battle.]

“What a long time.”

“Ya…Ya修？!”

Yotsuba crouched nearby, her hands searching freely around his chest. Finally, she leaned closer to listen to his weakening heartbeat with her ear.

“Makoto…wait for me, take deep breaths, you have to hold on. I’m calling Sebastian to take you to the hospital—”

The man blocked Yotsuba’s attempt to call for help with her phone.

“It’s useless, you forgot, I am the best doctor.”

“How could it…be so ruthless…”

The composed smile couldn’t stay on his face anymore. Yotsuba collapsed to the ground, her expression collapsing and tears falling uncontrollably.

“Makoto…”

Rikka, who had been in a daze, finally reacted. She comforted her friend whose voice quivered with sadness and sorrow.

“Why…why is this happening?”

“Why….? Justice’s heroes defeated all the enemies, villains who had committed unpardonable deeds even succeeded in their redemption and death without being spared.”

“Weren’t these things for the better?”

“Just how could these things be better?” Rikka shouted, choked up and losing her voice. “Why…why should these things be any better….!”

“I don’t want it, I don’t want things like this!”

Regina ran towards Makoto with tears streaming down her face, only to be tightly hugged by Akuri beside her.

“Let go, I don’t want this!”

“I don’t want Makoto to die!”

“Calm down, Makoto did say himself that he—”

“I don’t care, I didn’t know this kind of thing!” sobbing, she choked up.

Regina understood what was happening, learned to consider others’ feelings and no longer acted as recklessly as before. But she could not accept reality and clutched the girl with similar origins, crying bitterly.

In a place unseen by everyone, Akuri quietly turned her head, wiping her eyes with her sleeves.

“Dad…”

The only one who could say this, Makoto looked at this unreasonable man. She once hated him, but imagined him dead was inconceivable.

“My parents died when I was very young, I grew up in an orphanage, cared by Princess An. So, I never saw my parents.”

“Sometimes, I wonder, who was my dad? Maybe he really was a detestable person like Makoto because he left me in the world.”

“So…Dad, I followed your wishes and called you Dad…please…”

Please, do not let me remember you again.

After hearing Makoto’s unheard-of confession to her, Makoto, rarely, was silent for a moment, then showed the teasing smile she knew.

“Stupid daughter, it was just a joke, you took it way too seriously.”

I cannot become your father, maybe I need to apologize to you instead.

“Scoundrel!”

Unfamiliar faces overlapped with familiar ones. Makoto didn’t want to see this tragic scene and covered her reddened eyes to flee.

“Yotsuba, you scoundrel!”

Finally arriving at Makoto’s side, it was Ai. Seeing his immobile body, Mana forced a smile.

“Makoto, you’ve been slacking off.”

“Haha.” Makoto also forced a smile at her. “I intended to pretend nothing happened, deceive you all, and then disappear alone somewhere.”

Unfortunately, if I persisted just a bit longer, I would’ve succeeded. How useless am I?

“If you do this, I will really hate you.”

“Then that’s perfect.”

Makoto P was right, you are a scoundrel.

This person has always been a scoundrel, in every aspect. Never changing, a lovable scoundrel who can’t be disliked.

“…Mana.”

“Yeah?”

“Christmas can’t be celebrated together.”

“Do you think I’ll even care about this kind of thing?”

Never, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t—

Ai, who decided not to cry in front of him no matter what, couldn’t hold the tears in her eyes anymore, and they burst forth.

If this were a fairy tale story, the girl’s tears would surely turn into miracles, saving the dying knight.

“Yotsuba!”

In everyone’s astonished gaze, with the rearview mirror supporting, unwilling to succumb easily to Death, Makoto stood weakly in front of them.

“My purpose has been achieved.”

“Precure, I am merely a past evil dragon, and all of you are future angels.”

“Thanks to you, I felt my heart swell.”

“There is no need for me to search for that feeling anymore.”

Satisfied in finding this fulfillment, he finally needed no disguise, only showing his true self, basking in the sunlight.

“Meeting you all is actually a good deal for me.”

Holding onto hope barely for a second, his body softened and fell forward into Ai and Cureheart’s warm embrace.

“What irony, now I want to live.”

How strange, I feel that this isn’t a bad ending after all.

“Then give it your all and live well!”

Love hugged Makoto again, trying to pass on her words to one who could no longer hear.

Makoto’s hand slowly lifted as if to wipe her tears or caress her soft cheek. His hand hung motionless in midair.

“Precure, all that we shared, was truly a blissful dream.”

“But now, I must forget.”

Farewell, dokidokinprecure.

Farewell, Mana, your great love shouldn’t be confined to myself.

Take your love for me and spread it across the world, Cureheart.

“No!”

Recognizing something ominous, Love screamed, attempting desperately to cling onto him, her hand reaching out towards his half-held arm.

She wanted to catch his hand.

But some things once lost, can never be retrieved.

“Splish splash~~~”

From this ungraspable hand, arms, shoulders, body, and a regretless face, the man’s entire being transformed into mirrors reflecting the girls’ expressions, the mirror that revealed人心—the human heart.

Sadness, resentment, terror, regret, pain, hesitation, despair…and hope.

“Clap.”

In the end, the mirror shattered on the ground along with the fallen black card box, breaking into pieces.

“Ahhh….. aah…..”

Love’s throat wailed, and she ultimately couldn’t catch his hand.

She still wanted to ask, wanted to ask him the question he never answered, wanted to ask whether he ever admitted being her friend.

Her hand slowly clenched tight until other girls covered hers, grabbing hold.

“Yotsuba…”

Today’s sadness is enough, no need to say anything else.

The girl picked up the last remaining card in the shattered card box, placing it over her heart.

“The words you and I both said, we are the same person…”

Gazing at the bluebird soaring freely in the sky, she looked up with the card clutched in her hand,

“The light.

“I will never forget this.”

“Me neither, I will never forget you.”

On that day, the evil dragon in the mirror turned to fragments and left.

On that day, people around the world saw the true angel.

Postscript of Heartbeat Group

The light released by the girls shone equally upon Oomi City. Damaged buildings were restored as if time had reversed, those injured recovered quickly with the touch of light, and the rampant selfish beasts transformed into spirit hearts filled with love, chanting “LOVE~LOVE.”

“Crackle—”

Flashes of sparks, the fragment of Another Ryuga scattered. It lay with the carefully collected glass shards.

As the last traces of the Selfish Ancestor’s influence were eradicated by the Pretty Cures, darkness withdrew, and the sky reclaimed its brightness under clear blue skies.

People began emerging from their shelters in disbelief, gazing upward until a girl with wings descended, causing roars of cheers.

“Thank goodness!”

“Pretty Cures, thank you!”

“The monsters are gone!”

“A friend on a motorcycle helped me find my granddaughter. I still need to thank him too.”

Even the fairies couldn’t help but comment.

“How beautifully Sharu dealt with it.”

“But the princess and him can’t come back…They should see peace between Earth and Poker Kingdom.”

Makoto bit her lip. The girls weren’t celebrating this victory.

Too many important individuals had been lost.

“Who knows, truly understanding pain.”

Despite feeling uncomfortable amidst the citizens’ cheers, she knew it wasn’t their fault.

“For them, the knight was always the villain.”

But no matter how they treated it, good or bad,

He wouldn’t hear it.

Still, the girls seemed to hear his voice:

“You shouldn’t cry. Smile instead.”

Thus, they wouldn’t drown themselves in grief, lest he scold them. With this thought, Ai smiled tenderly at the distant world.

Truly, she never expected to smile again in this world without him.

In the moment it clicked, the three sacred artifacts shone and wrapped Ai with a silver cloak, signaling the ultimate form of Pretty Cure — [Cureheart Parthenon Mode].

If she faced the Selfish Ancestor now, her powerful transformation would save Ash easily! But even with the power, time cannot be rewound.

“Really, we came too late.”

The strength given by Yushin only intensified the burning pain within the girl, prompting a heartfelt sigh.

“Come, everyone; Selfish Ancestor caused chaos far beyond Oomi City.”

“Yes.”

More than just the power of sacred artifacts, the flames of survival cards flew out from Ai and ignited a golden flame around the girls’ wings.

“Roar—!”

A black dragon appeared, hovering around the astonished girls, seemingly waiting for someone’s response.

“Dragon? You’re joining too?”

“Roar!”

“Then let’s hurry, there’s a whole world left to save.”

The girls climbed onto the dragon’s back and soared to the horizon.

No matter the enemy, justice triumphs over evil, and light restores all. This was another standard Pretty Cure victory.

The world was saved once more.

[Perhaps time can only move backward.]

[Its passage is always swift.]

Afterward, everyone embarked on new lives.

Ai resigned from her position as student council president. Though she occasionally guided student activities as a mentor, things had become easier for her.

Rikka diligently prepared for exams, needing to focus to reach her ambition.

Kanzaki’s fame skyrocketed after her identity as the poker kingdom’s singer, her performances ceaselessly touring. Not to mention being the “second place” for the next quarter’s rankings.

Akuri made more friends at school. Ruri always lingered beside her, wanting to meet the real Pretty Cures.

Each weekend, Akuri watched TV like her peers, but her motivation ran deeper.

“To the starting line of special train Shinkansen Tsubasa, don’t miss it!”

Watching the opening sequence, she glanced at the graffiti note that hadn’t been delivered.

“How do you use these tickets and where do they lead?”

Could anyone answer?

Yotsuba Arisu remained perfect in her aristocratic school, charming in life, savoring tea, chatting happily with Mana and others. She had one more excuse to refuse suitors:

“Four-leaf, Miss Yotsuba’s devoted, is it true?”

Facing a suitor’s tear-streaked face, Arisu calmly drank tea offered by her steward.

“Who knows such matters?”

“Miss,” as the lovelorn suitor left, the devoted steward couldn’t stop pondering, “Is she being honest?”

“Ah, matters of the heart…”

Lady has secrets not meant for others to know, doesn’t she?

“In any case, even against Kodama or other Pretty Cures, I won’t give up lightly.”

—

Standing at the familiar door, Rikka hesitated, then inserted the key.

She entered, smoke enveloping as she coughed in glasses fogged by tears.

“I really shouldn’t be here.”

Sweeping while grumbling, “This is the last time.”

Cleaned the room meticulously as usual, knowing it’d soon be vacated. She sat呆呆 on the bed.

He rarely slept in it, preferring sofas or chairs for naps. Unhealthy habits…

“Stupid…” sitting, lying down.

Alright, it’s the end. May as well stay.

“Just rest…”

The bed felt familiar. Rikka fell asleep.

—

“Thanks to everyone!”

As the final song ended, fans rose, waving glowsticks, shouting Makoto’s name, elevating emotions.

The performance wasn’t done yet. Music changed, different tone, confounding fans.

“Thanks. Before I finish, I’ll dedicate this to a friend! Though he can’t hear… witness for me!”

Fans listened closely, curious who deserved this.

Makoto took a breath, her voice different, singing with deep sorrow:

“Since I can get anything, I don’t know what I want.”

The song continued, chosen because it symbolized him.

—

“Regina?”

With a phone call from Poker Kingdom and Regina’s voice, joy flooded Ai’s face.

The girl carelessly flopped on the never-slept-on bed, playing with a toy dragon, chatting leisurely with her old friend.

“Regina, how are you?”

“It’s all fine. But due to the incident, Dad stepped down and retired to Earth.”

Regina lay in an office chair, leg crossed casually, smiling slightly, glancing at some noisy room.

“Everyone’s spirit heart is back, and I authorized everything to Jo.”

“Jo-senpai?” Imagining Jo balancing president duties and family life, Ai pitied him.

“He voluntarily took on too much.”

“Mischievous Mana suddenly quit student council. Unexpected.”

A lock of hair curled by her ear, Ai circled it around with her fingers repeatedly. “Just thinking that someone who’s always helping others can also consider herself and leave some time for herself.”

“Mana, you really have changed.”

Placing her phone aside, Regina subconsciously called out to the side.

“Ash—I’m thirsty, ice cream—I want ice cream! Cantaloupe flavor!”

It took a while for her voice to reach, and there was no reply from anyone; what could still be heard were only the noisy sounds from the next room.

“Ash—ah.”

Forgot again, already.

Regina placed both hands behind her head and kicked the round-toed leather shoes on the table lightly, causing her chair to spin around.

“Have I… gotten used to it?”

To make herself feel better, Regina picked up her phone again.

“After all this asking us, is everything okay over there? I heard from Arisu that a ten-kilometer asteroid came towards Earth two days ago!”

“There’s no problem at all, it’s already been shattered by the Parthenon Mode.”

If dinosaurs from ancient times had heard this line, they would probably have cried.

“How impressive…”

“Yeah, when we meet Ash again next time, if he ever dares to bully the Pretty Cure, hmm~ I’ll bully him instead!”

Seeming to have reached something amusing, both giggled.

“Mana, do you think we’ll see him anymore?”

“Of course!”

Ai raised her eyes to the starry sky above her, knowing well where Ash might be and what journey he might be continuing.

“So, I believe we will definitely meet again!”

Even in the sea of stars.

—

Unable to speak, unable to see, unable to think, even the concept of thought itself was nonexistent. It felt as though every meaning of his life had dissolved into this boundless void. Ash continued lying within this emptiness more familiar than his own home.

[The condition of the echoing darkness… is perfect, but precisely because of that, we can no longer progress as smoothly as before.]

[Higher-level conversion is needed… the memory retention situation is…]

[How harsh.]

Looking at the green card made up of memories of laughter and tears from the girls, the screen opened a window and swallowed it.

While the System was doing its preliminary work, three “people” suddenly appeared beside Ash.

“What’s going on, why add more complications now? Didn’t we say the Kamen Riders would be the final heroes?”

The first “person” spoke with a despondent tone, showing some insectoid traits in their limbs, wearing a belt adorned with a dial watch. They seemed to be complaining to the System.

“Are we adding new elements again? Involving more people, and then what about that Pretty Cure, Precure? It doesn’t fit with Ash at all.”

The second “person’s” voice carried energy; a gear spun on their chest, driving five colors to continuously rotate over their body. This person’s voice showed annoyance, as if blaming the System for straying off course.

“—”

The third “person” said nothing, standing silently with a multi-colored timer emitting a warm glow on their chest.

[I made this decision temporarily.]

“Hey, hey, you’re just adding more at the last minute! That’s just unreasonable!”

[There’s nothing wrong with that. Precure are legends too, right? More heroes involved means better results, don’t you think?]

“So you mean you’re pulling Precure along too? Well, whatever, just follow the original plan, right?”

[Please proceed as usual.]

“Then…”

The first “person” pressed a dial on their belt. The windmill belt began spinning, casting strange starlight, opening a passageway to an unknown world.

“The Kamen Rider world is under my control.”

The second “person’s” gear suddenly stopped spinning and then rotated in the opposite direction rapidly, revealing a gateway to the new world.

“I command the Super Sentai world.”

The third “person’s” multi-colored timer emitted golden light, and with indescribable power, it opened a shimmering portal. Stepping into it without hesitation,

“The Ultraman cosmos awaits me.”

—

Beyond the world, at the intersection of space and time, floating among countless mechanical and biological remains, a massive black iron fortress hung unsupported. Formed from unidentified metal, the fortress looked battered but remained solid. The numerous scars on its surface vividly illustrated the horrors of past battles.

Inside the core of the base, in a command center filled with the grim face of an experienced middle-aged man, deep lines etched by weathered years, who scrutinized a report with furrowed brows.

[Kamen Rider Universe, Super Sentai Universe, Ultraman Cosmic Universe. Three series of universes simultaneously experiencing odd, dark reactions…]

Individually, it would be fine, but happening concurrently is…

“But Demon Lord says there’s nothing unusual… The Deity’s words are not cooperating either, and even the Space Task Force hasn’t detected any abnormalities… Sigh.”

Out of habit, he brought an unlit cigarette to his lips, but his eyes drifted involuntarily to a framed group photo of five people on the table. He sighed heavily and extinguished the cigarette against the tabletop.

“Could it all just be an illusion… Ha, how could it be.”

He’d been through countless situations just like this before. Every time he thought it was an illusion, before long the shocking reality would prove otherwise.

He couldn’t help but wonder if many stories liked to play this “illusion” trope, turning it almost into a definite sign of trouble.

“Infinite Lord! Infinite Lord!” A bespectacled young man rushed over anxiously.

“Not Infinite, call me Commander. What’s up?”

“Found it! That dark conglomerate reaction we’ve been monitoring, we found it!”

The man stood up abruptly.

“Really? Not another miscalculation like last time?”

“There’s no mistake!” The young man panted, but he still forced himself to report. “This time, we intercepted information from temporal flows of a certain world with an accuracy rate of 30%!”

“Then what are we waiting for, connect it!”

The man put on his red uniform, pressing the all-frequency broadcast key, waving his large hand forward.

“SCSO First, Second Team, standby. Third Team, ready to move out immediately!”

“Cross Machine Units One, Two, Three, Four, Five, deploy!”

Cross Machine Units One, Two, Three, Four, and Five, deploy!

—

Special Chapter for the Qixi Festival: Ai Aida’s Happy Day 6K Words!

[On August 4th, it’s the Qixi Festival and Ai Aida’s birthday. How could I let such an auspicious day go to waste?]

[Thus, this special chapter is dedicated to you!]

“Haaaah…”

Because she stayed up so late yesterday, when the sunlight pouring through the glass woke her up, Ai Aida, who always emphasized healthy作息 (schedule), stretched out her arms lazily and yawned widely.

“Ash…why didn’t you wake me up…Ah!”

Ai’s internal clock, shaped by a healthy routine, reminded her that it was nearly 8:30 AM, the time she needed to be up for school.

“Oh no, oh no, I’m going to be late! That hateful Ash! I kept perfect attendance from kindergarten through high school…”

Worriedly looking for her underwear, Ai’s movements suddenly stopped. She immediately remembered.

Right, she’s graduated high school now. Once this break ends, she will be heading to Waseda University to register.

Sure enough.

The former hero who saved the world, CureHeart from DokiDoki PreCure, the daughter of the Aida family aiming for Minister of Finance, has crossed from yesterday into today and is now 18 years old.

“Yawn~~~~!”

Half an hour had passed upstairs, but despite her sleepy state, Ai dragged herself down, stretching in a yawn, until footsteps from below pulled her back to alertness,

Her parents left for a trip to the Maldives a week ago, so the sound downstairs must be…

Peeking out cautiously, and seeing her goal, Ai tiptoed quietly and approached from behind him.

“Woah!”

Not even startled by the face appearing suddenly on her shoulder, Ash placed his tray down without looking back.

“You’re no longer a high schooler, so if you’re tired, you can sleep some more. I’ll bring your meal upstairs.”

“I’m fine. I’m no child.”

Pats cleared the oil off her hands, Ash noticed many new things about today’s Ai.

No longer just a little girl, Aida Ai now grew into a stunning beauty with shoulder-length red hair tied back into a ponytail held by a bow. The look complemented her while maintaining her beauty, rosy cheeks and slightly shimmery lips indicated she was wearing makeup.

“Greetings,” lifting the hem of her skirt gently, Ai bowed playfully to Ash.

Though not as passionate as she once was, time hadn’t dulled the lively spark in her eyes.

“Why, not satisfied with Pretty Cure, wanting to be princess like Regina?”

“Heehee, who says I can’t have both?”

“Yes, My Princess. Please sit.”

Ash pulled out her seat, picking up her bowl with his name written on it. Taking a deep breath, a content smile spread across her face.

“Let me guess, pineapple?”

“Right. You’ve always complained about starting your day with oily foods, so today I made pineaple seafood fried rice with tomatoes, one of your favorites.”

“Huhu, I love you most! Let’s eat!”

Ash sat down on the other side, picked up his bowl, and ate speedily with practiced motions.

“The food.

“Ugh, as delicious as always!” The balance between the salty and savory of the fried rice and the sweetness of the fruits was perfectly adjusted by Ash. Feeling the pineapple and rice together in his mouth brought a beautiful smile to Ai’s face as she couldn’t help but hold her laughing face. “DeliciousSmile!”

“It feels like I’ve traveled through time… Well, if you like it, that’s enough. Father wouldn’t have given me the position of head chef at Butanastail Inn if I couldn’t do this well.”

Ash moving in with the Aida family had been four years ago.

After surviving the great battle, Ash continued living under Ai Aida’s roof. Through the true test of life and death, their relationship had reached an indescribably precious point.

However, they were not in a relationship. Neither Ash nor Ai confessed their feelings to each other; they just shared meals, drinks, and sleeping quarters for these four years… Well, the last part was due to parents requiring them to maintain a healthy relationship, so nothing could happen until love turned eighteen.

Even though they lived together for such a long time, Ai never thought Ash would one day inherit the Butanastail Inn… No, it would be strange to think otherwise compared to when he first came here and tried to pour all the condiments, almost making her father dizzy with worry!

As a result, under Ash’s challenge, both his father and grandfather admired his cooking, which was achieved just a month after his practice… People can’t be categorized universally.

“Genius is really great.” Ai said, her own words becoming as sour as her tongue after taking a bite of a fruit. “I used to think that Butanastail Inn would surely pass down to me when I was young.”

“You shouldn’t blame someone who prepared to be Japan’s first Pretty Cure prime minister, making the world more beautiful, right?” Ash teased, already quite adapted to the way they lived together. “So that the family tradition doesn’t die out, I reluctantly became a chief chef.”

“I thought someone with such high standards wouldn’t be satisfied doing just a cook in town.”

“True, but spending my talents on something like this is truly interesting too, haha!”

During breakfast conversation, they could see on each other’s faces smiles that made them feel content all day long.

“But….” Putting down his chopsticks, Ai looked at Ash in a teasing way. “Still calling my father Uncle? Even though we….”

“Cough-cough—” Ash, rare in feeling embarrassed, picked up the bowl and chopsticks he finished eating from, turning his head aside. “This, let’s discuss this later.”

“Haha, feeling shy!”

After putting all the dishes into the dishwasher, Ash’s hand was gently held by Ai, stroking the palm of his hand.

Ai playfully leaned against him, her red hair stimulating his senses while emitting a rose scent.

“Hey Ash, do you know what today is?”

“Of course, I won’t forget.” Ash lightly tapped Ai’s increasingly playful head. “Today is Qixi Festival and also your birthday. You, born in the overflowing love, don’t worry, this year’s cake will be the most luxurious, I’ll call Six and Arisu over, we’ll have a proper celebration—”

“No, no, no!” Ai suddenly threw herself into Ash’s arms, using a playful tone to make Ash’s heart soften. “No matter whether you’re around or not, I’ve always celebrated my birthday with Six and Arisu before, but this year…. I’m tired of it, I don’t want to do it anymore!”

Therefore…

“Ash!”

“What’s up?”

“Let’s elope!”

“What?!”

————At another scene————

“It should have come earlier at this time, Mana is so slow,” said Six-Hua, wearing a light summer dress, while Arisu, dressed like a doll, sat together in backyards resembling a plaza. While enjoying afternoon tea, they occasionally looked around, waiting for their friend to appear.

“Everyone knows they have been required to maintain a wholesome relationship, so now they might still be getting all cozy after finally breaking free from the restriction.”

“But….” Six lightly sipped her black tea, her eyes subtly shifting. “Arisu, I don’t like the way you put it.”

“At least I am not the only one who feels this way, Six-Hua. Oh, Makoto has arrived—hey!”

“N-no good!” Panting from being an idol worldwide, Makoto ran over, removing her dripping wet hat and coat disguising as the sweat flowed down, gasping for air.

“Mana, Mana she—”

“Mana, what happened!?”

Seeing the incredibly nervous Six-Hua and Arisu, Makoto took a deep breath.

“She—she stood us up!”

“Eh?!”

————Back to Ash and Mana’s perspective————

“What does eloping mean, Ms. Mana?”

Holding Ai’s hand, Ash was left speechless by her previous statement.

“If you wanted to date me, you should have said it straight out. I was about to pack our luggage onto the Jambo-A!”

Thinking back, after saying that, Ash immediately fetched the Jambo-A from underground, nearly scaring the neighbors to death!

She nearly got dragged off, if not for her transforming and shooting the person, they might have carried her off to the moon.

“There’s no help for it, that term fits best.” Holding Ash’s hand, the teenage girl who immersed in the Qixi atmosphere leaned half of her body on her man. “I’ve been preparing for exams recently, and you’ve been busy with Butanastail Inn stuff. We haven’t gone on a date alone like this in a long time, have we?”

Yeah, it did feel like we haven’t been together in a very long time!

“It’s true…. But won’t Six and Arisu get mad at this?”

“Hehe~” Ai laughed mischievously into Ash’s arms. “You’re right, it’s tiring for me to continue being someone always helpful, so let me enjoy being selfish a little. They won’t mind, right?”

*Groaning sounds*

Behind a building, Makoto hurriedly covered Six-Hua’s crying mouth to keep her from making noise.

“No need to be this sad?”

“You wouldn’t understand, Makoto~~!” Six kept tearing her dress to vent her frustration, trying hard not to cry loudly. “Mana is a friend I will be close with till our last breath, and Ash is the first异性

The child loved this the most, hehe~~

Ash did not speak, but only stroked the smooth golden hair of the Precure in his arms gently until she trembled and moistened his shirt with her tears.

“Wu wu wua…… Clearly, clearly!”

“What’s wrong, Mana? I didn’t go crazy today, so why are you crying?”

“I know, I know, it’s an unforgettable thing……” The voice of Ai Aida or CureHeart choked up with sobs as her grief seemed to swell infinitely. “From the very beginning, it was wrong, this happy life, everything happened exactly as I had imagined, it was like it was prearranged!”

“It wasn’t until I transformed just now that I finally remembered, Ash… Kamen Rider Ryuga has sacrificed himself to protect me, ah ah ah ah ah——————!”

In Ash’s arms, Ai Aida could no longer sob.

Mana…… words failed Ash, who struggled to hold her even more tightly.

“What should I do, Ash, I remember everything.” Tears continuously streamed from Ai’s eyes as she looked at him with an abandoned puppy’s gaze. “We encountered other Pretty Cures; even though it was fun to play together, we were attacked by new evil individuals.”

“I seemed to have fainted, but how can I leave my friends during such times….”

But why is this just a dream? Why can’t I accept waking up!

This feeling… why, and for what?!

“So, Ash…. Please, Ash, I want you to hold my hand and keep me safe. If you stay with me forever, I can live happily in this beautiful world, I may even obtain the happiness I want…..”

Saying these hopeless words was hard on Ai, as if she had lost all her strength, letting Ash support her body.

“Ai.”

Then, Ash’s warm, broad hand took hold of Ai’s tiny palm.

Ai felt an immense sense of security at that moment.

Such warmth…… With this, I finally can be with Ash……

“Stop talking to yourself, stand up, Ai!”

The loud roar of a man instantly blew away all of Ai’s weakness!

Asahi……?

Forced to look at him, Ai saw the same characteristic expression from Ash on the man’s face, as when they first met, and for the last time.

“Do you think that owning the right to happiness is enough reason for you to give in?!”

Th… I…..

Ai opened her mouth, speechless.

“Could this insignificant happiness possibly make your life fulfilling?! If you give up here, wouldn’t the others you believe in, Six Flowers, Arisu, Makoto, Akuri, and Regina, including the one who has already passed away, lose too? Isn’t that what you wish to see?!”

“No matter how painful the reality is, Pretty Cure will never compromise with deceptive happiness; this is the hero I know, this is the Precure I know!”

“You fought to win back everyone’s hearts, right? So fight along with those who believe in you, with everyone you trust! Fight!”

Never giving in!

Ash’s voice reverberated in her heart.

“Yes…. This is what I want to do….”

This is the story that starts with me!

“Ash, this is really a wonderful dream. Today’s date was so happy!”

Wiping away her tears haphazardly, Ai forced a smile that was less ugly than crying, but it was this very smile which made Ash feel more beautiful than anything else.

“But, my dream is about to end.”

Goodbye, Ash!

“Keep going, Ai Aida.”

“Keep going, CureHeart!”

I heard his voice!

Shooting up from the lying position, Ai’s dazed eyes seemed still not fully conscious.

“Mana, it’s good that Mana is awake again! Everyone, everyone got knocked down by that person. Xiaolu… Xiaolu…..?”

Summer the fairy Xiaolululu saw countless tears falling from Ai’s eyes onto the girl’s skirt.

“What’s wrong with you, Xiaolu?”

“I had a very nice dream, Xiaolululu.”

However, dreams always come to an end eventually.

Rushing over to where she remembered, standing in front of her was the enemy she must face. Her foot stepped on a Painful Light Precure, her body dressed in Kamen Rider armor different from Ash’s, a different Transformation Belt around her waist.

“Precure discovered.” The purple-haired girl cried out in pain as she was kicked aside after lifting a foot and deactivating. “Kamen Rider” approached Ai Aida, regaining his warrior’s gaze, “Be defeated.”

“No, the one to be defeated is yourself! Your greed!” I will fight for everyone, for you as you said!

“Xiaolululu!”

Gripping Xiaolululu’s transformed mobile phone in her hand, Ai along with two other pink-haired girls shouted their decisive transformation lines!

“Precure LoveLink!”

“Overflowing Love! CureHeart!”

“★ Chapter Two: Your true heart is held tight by us! (Heart Grasp) ★”

“The First Meeting Before Everything Begins

Today was destined to be an extraordinary night.

‘Splash splash———’

Heavy clouds pressed against the sky, the dark color almost like a weight hanging down, followed by rain. From scattered large droplets, the rain gradually thickened until a tumultuous flow drizzled from the sky.

Unexpected heavy rain made passersby either raise umbrellas or rush back home quickly. The sound of people collecting clothing, closing doors behind children’s playing, echoed. Amidst, a lone teenager walked amidst the torrential storm.

A deafening thunder cracked overhead, a silver flash lighting up Tsukikage Lily’s desolate face at that moment.

She once as a Precure, alongside [Curemoonlight] (Moonlight Angel) and their partner sprite “Kuron,” protected the city she lived in – Kiboga City – from alien “Desert Apostles.” Until today……

She failed; during the battle with enemies.

Not only was the “Heart Seed,” her transformation tool, shattered by her arch-rival DarkPrecure (Dark Cure), her intimate spirit partner “Kuron” also died saving her while she survived.

Her feeble body leaned against the wet wall, her dripping clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin, yet she felt nothing.

I’ve lost, and even the Heart Seed was broken. I’ve lost the qualification to transform.

What to do now? Will there ever be a new Precure to protect the world? Without Dad, will Mom always be alone? What about Kuron? Important people leave my side again…

“Kuron…… wu……”

Recalling battles as a Precure, shoulder to shoulder with a partner, being guided by each other, sharing joy and sorrow, memories swirled in front of her, lilies wanting to burst into tears, yet the rain from the rooftop kept washing her face, and with it, her tears washed away.

Cold rain robbed her of warmth; numb hands and feet, cold like ice. After a grueling battle, she was already in severe condition, and the sudden deluge nearly dispersed her consciousness.

Body is so cold…. so cold…. feels nothing at all…..

Am I dying? Disappearing in the rain….

Sorry……

Tsukikage Lily closed her eyes.

Then, the rain stopped.

Rain continued sounding ‘splash splash,’ but no more drops fell.

“Hey hey——!”

Who’s calling me…. is it you?

That person brushed the wet strands of hair aside to reveal her worn but beautiful face.

The warmth on her face made Lily open her eyes.

She saw a man in black butler suit, his umbrella shielding her from the rain, his black eyes meeting her disheartened “Purple Crystal” eyes.

“You…”

“If you fall asleep here, no one will care if you catch a cold.”

Everything started from that day.

Destiny began unfolding then.

[Prediction]

Scorching sands could not drown the courageous flower.

The sweet temptation of demons wilts the flower’s leaves.

The demonic heart within her awakened, flames of judgment burning fiercely. A place Ash was heading towards was still hell.

Hope Flower City, the town beloved by legendary warriors.

Yet, regardless of whether it was hope or flowers that were offered, both were inappropriate for Ash, who kept searching for the forgotten destiny in his journey.

Today is the same, tomorrow will be too.

If only through combat can peace be found, then let the burning passion explode entirely. If the sun cannot shine without stormy winds blowing, then Ash shall be that reckless wind sweeping away all gloom.

Unrepenting journey ahead; arrows shot will either hit their mark or sink into obscurity. Like a tennis ball bouncing off a net, this is the domain known only to gods.

But he who decides Ash’s fate is neither the god’s dice nor coincidence, but simply a young girl whose patience ran out; they shall provide the eternal riddle in the corridor of time.

Perhaps only a flower that blooms and wilts again is a deadly arrow aimed at the heart of the divine.

No matter when, no matter where, forgotten warriors remain beloved.

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