Chapter 280

Ninth: The Intimate Relationship Between Ash and Lily?

“Mmm…”

Despite just losing the battle, Erika continued dreaming blissfully, smacking her lips in her sleep and turning over.

“Mm…”

Lei, on the other hand, was not in such a good mood. Pulling the blanket up to cover half of her blushing face, Lei found it difficult to speak seeing Ash’s smiling expression.

Lei, you must gather your courage. Don’t get shy and hesitant just because he’s handsome; courage—use the same courage you had when facing the Desert Beast. Yes, you must clarify things with him!

“Hanazaki Lei, right?”

“Yes!” The courage she’d mustered melted away instantly at the sound of her name being spoken. Her blush intensified as she subconsciously replied. “Why… do you know my name?”

“You just passed by my café not long ago, and introduced yourselves. I don’t think I would forget something like that. Isn’t that right, Miss Lei who loves flowers?”

“Mm, it’s true… I forgot.” Having never been treated so gently by an adult man besides her father, Lei couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with Ash, as her heart seemed to race every time she saw his smile.

But,果然 handsome—Could it be that Lady Hanazaki Lei’s romantic luck has finally arrived?!

Ash didn’t know that Lei had placed him under a manga-style filter in her mind, but even if he did, he probably wouldn’t care much about it.

However, despite her fantasies, Lei hadn’t completely drowned in them; she still remembered that the matter at hand was to understand what happened from the moment they lost until they appeared in the café.

“You want to know about this?”

While talking with Lei, Ash glanced covertly towards the curtain leading backstage where Lily was hiding.

Through the girl’s thin lips moving back and forth, Ash understood her.

Keep it a secret… Lily, is this what you meant? It seems you’re still struggling to move forward, even if you act fine in front of others.

Do you still want to hide it? Sorry about that?

But I refuse.

It seems a catalyst is needed to help you rise again and revive CureMoonlight.

No matter how his thoughts shifted, externally, Ash continued to talk calmly with Lei.

“It was one of our staff members who found you, so you should thank them.”

“W-What…”

Ash shrugged indifferently, sensing another person’s gaze become more complicated; while he was willing to help her most times, he felt that helping his staff member move past their shadow was more important.

Oh, thinking about it, I am indeed a top-notch savior.

“Lily, come greet everyone.”

With a sigh, the stagehand, Tsukikage Lily stepped out from behind the scenes, recognized immediately by Lei.

“Oh, you’re the person I saw in the botanical garden!”

Noticing Lei’s reaction, Ash understood instantly.

“What? You two know each other? That makes it easier then.”

“The last time you gave me advice that helped a friend of mine.” Facing what seemed like an unexpected response, Lei sent waves of gratitude towards Lily. “And this time, you saved me and Erika. Thank you!”

“No, last time I only told you the language of flowers. This time, I simply brought you here again. I didn’t do much—”

“But these acts are incredibly meaningful to us, so thank you!” Taking note of the nametag on Lily’s chest, Lei bowed deeply. “Thank you, Ms. Lily!”

Hearing Lei’s heartfelt gratitude, a strange feeling flowed through Lily. Looking beside her, she saw Ash smiling knowingly. As she turned her head back, Lily noticed her own lips curling up slightly.

“Manager, were you expecting this?”

“What? I’d say this is good, isn’t it?”

Coffee cups unknowingly appeared on the tray in her hands. Picking up hers, Ash blew away the steam before drinking it down.

“Lily, you need to be more open to gain many true friends.”

“I have friends. Getting involved unnecessarily can be tiresome.”

“Well, someone once called me the most selfish person in the world. And everything is for your growth, Lily.”

If you don’t snap out of it soon, how can you return to being the dazzling Cure?

“Manager.” Without altering her expression, Lily pushed her coffee away. “That was harassment.”

“Heh, Manager and Ms. Lily’s relationship is really close.” Lei chuckled quietly, but her heart full of hope rapidly sank to an irreparable depth.

“Are they already dating? Does that mean there is no chance for me? My love…has failed again?!”

“That’s correct, since Lily came here just for me due to a crush—a serious one, wanting to marry me.”

Tsukikage Lily pulled out a flip phone from her pocket and dialed three digits silently.

“Hello, is this Flowers Hope Police Station? I want you to come over to Nasta Café. There is a harasser here that needs to be arrested.”

“Wait, Lily! Calling the police is cheating!”

Witnessing the conflict between the two over the phone, Lei’s mood soared back to its best.

“Ah, so it isn’t that kind of relationship? Then, Lei, there’s still a chance for you!”

“Ugh, it’s noisy…” Erika rubbed her sleep-filled eyes, lifted Lei up gently, looked around at the chaotic scene, and finally focused on Ash, mouth agape.

“Oh, you are that—”

Not until all attention converged on her did she finish, her voice fading at the end as if in disbelief.

“That…who again?”

“Seriously, if you forget, don’t scare people like this, Erika!”

“Ah, that annoying Spiderman called me a fool. Why is Lei saying the same now?!”

“Because Erika really is a big fool!”

The playful banter of the girls didn’t last long. After Lei politely declined the coffee due to its taste, Ash swiftly slid the cup towards Erika, explaining everything to them.

“So, that’s the situation, Misses Pretty Cure.”

“Splatter!” The coffee spurted from Erika’s mouth onto the shield-like tray Ash prepared. “Horrible! It’s such an upscale café, yet the coffee tasted awful—wait!”

“Why does Manager know about it!”

Lei too widened her eyes and, in her agitation, ignored her shyness and clenched her clothing nervously, waiting anxiously for Ash’s explanation.

“Because…”

Pulling up Cifrey and Caffrey from below, who were licking ice cream, Ash said like lifting a rabbit.

“Snu—”

“Ahh!” Erika leaped straight at Caffrey and started to pinch her soft cheeks. “A traitor who forgets partners once they have ice cream! Give me a bite of your ice!”

“Let go of her!”

“This, Mr. Ash, we—”

Facing the jittery Lei, Ash gestured for her to sit, calming her down.

“Relax, I won’t tell anyone. Let’s keep this a secret between us.”

“Considering that you are the city’s super heroes,” Ash continued as he saw their embarrassed smiles, “I am a supporter too. Being able to serve Pretty Cure here is truly an honor.”

“Why don’t we use this place as the secret base of Pretty Cure instead?”

“Oh, we can’t—”

Breaking in promptly, Lei turned to Ash earnestly.

“But, why would you allow this?”

After pondering for a moment, Ash replied seriously,

“Because I adore Pretty Cure.”