Chapter 289

The Eighteenth Date That Was Only Half Successful

At first, the Dark Pretty Cure did not approve of Ash dragging her around, after all, she wasn’t there to have fun.

“Isn’t this cool?”

Placing a pair of sunglasses over his mask, the funny appearance made even the Dark Pretty Cure couldn’t help but allow her lips to curl up slightly.

“After all, this kind of outfit is the most comfortable.”

Putting on a brown-black leather jacket, tugging at the collar, Ash nodded in satisfaction at how fitting the clothing was.

After all, he had spent quite some time in the Showa era, his gloves were even given by Kotarou Mitsuomi. Before he knew it, his aesthetic sense was somewhat influenced… Well, indeed, compared to feminine style, tough guy style was more handsome.

“Don’t you want to buy any clothes?”

“No need.”

The Dark Pretty Cure awkwardly fidgeted with the school uniform on her back, the wing roots under her clothes were unusually uncomfortable due to space folding.

After walking around, the two arrived at the baseball field. With Ash’s playful mood, he dragged the less resistant girl to buy tickets and enter.

Looking at his face, for a moment, one might be confused whether he is here for his sister or just to enjoy himself.

“Three!”

Ash precisely caught the baseball shot from the automatic pitching machine and waved it proudly in front of everyone, the ball marked with a number.

Upon seeing this, the Dark Pretty Cure remained silent, picked up a bat, and stood in front of the pitching machine, adjusting the speed to maximum.

“Hiss!”

For someone with dynamic vision that can easily catch bullets, such a game lacked challenge.

With a crisp sound, the flaming baseball flew higher and higher, soaring towards the unseen distant horizon.

“Wow… It’s a home run.”

Indeed impressive, with the spirit like Sky Ninja.

The two locked eyes, a similar arc appeared on the girl’s lips.

“Haha.”

Did she just smile?

Ash continued to lead her around, and he would drag her to strange places whenever he felt like it; once outright refusing the Dark Pretty Cure now followed silently.

Finally, they stopped at the entrance of Hope Flower Station, where many vendors attracted his attention due to high foot traffic.

“How about it? Are you enjoying yourself?”

Picking up a Q-version doll of Shadowmoon from a stall, Ash threw it to the Dark Pretty Cure.

“Enjoying…?”

Holding the Shadowmoon doll, she tilted her head, only having one eye open observed the silver doll in her hand.

Her fingers wrapped in dark gauze gently touched the green compound eyes of the doll, feeling the softness there, creating a peculiar feeling in her heart.

“Yes, like when you finished Shabak’s instruction, and eliminated Lunar Angel.”

“Maybe,…why?”

“Why? Well… I suppose, for the first time, everything was enjoyable.”

Seemingly reminded of something by what Ash said, he paid money distractedly and changed the subject.

“Wanna try it?”

Taking a steaming paper box from a vendor, Ash handed it to the Dark Pretty Cure behind him.

“I don’t…”

“Just give it a try, my friends say this is really good.”

Opening the lid, inside were steaming little dumplings, with golden yellow skin painted with tempting sauce. The girl poked one with a toothpick, skeptical, but eventually stuffed it in her mouth.

Why does he always bring me to this world and make me try these?

Chewing, the warm aroma burst in her mouth, the crispy skin opened, revealing slightly resilient filling. The perfect mixture of salty and savory exploded in her mouth.

Unlike nutrient fluids…it was a taste she had never experienced before, yet delicious.

The slightly sweet aftertaste made her unable to stop chewing, finishing it quickly.

“What is this?”

“This is Takoyaki! Even the Prince likes it!” He also ordered a box from a nearby vendor. Ash had originally planned to just play along, but the surprised look on his face showed otherwise.

Hmm, on the tongue, there seems to be a hint of sweet and salty flavor? What’s going on?

“Delicious, no wonder people like eating this… Hmm, you’ve never tried this?”

In an instant, the box on the girl’s hands was empty, she stared blankly, seemingly in doubt as well.

“The Desert Apostle doesn’t need food to function, only humans do… Timons, are all humans in this world eating this?”

“Not necessarily, there are many kinds, because humans can and want to eat anything delicious.”

“Why does humanity divide us like this?”

“Because humans are expert at enjoying life, truly the best in the world at this aspect.”

The girl crumpled the paper box unconsciously.

For the first time, she felt a feeling of “envy” towards the existence called “human.”

“Humph, merely an existence that lives on Earth,” The Dark Pretty Cure threw away the paper box, which was kicked mid-fall by Ash into a trash bin.

“Yet we are destined to be annihilated by the Desert Apostle, too.”

That’s right, even CureMoonlight can’t save them. Dr. Shabak commanded her to defeat the new Precure, if she was still around, she’d definitely help him achieve this goal.

“Oh, no work talk during easy times.” Ash lightly patted her shoulder, evading her displeased glance.

“Besides, no law says only humans can enjoy these. Living in this world, one can do things never restricted to anyone, aren’t you doing the same things humans do too? In essence, we’re not that different.”

“No, difference…”

Are you saying I am not different from humans like this?

Yes, indeed, I have a human-like appearance, even able to consume human food. Me…

As she thought, she suddenly realized what she was thinking.

“What a joke!” The Dark Pretty Cure suddenly propped herself up in front of an astonished passerby and cornered Ash against the wall.

“I am Dark Pretty Cure created by Dr. Shabak, to defeat pretty Cure! You dare to say I’m the same as a human?!”

Surprisingly, this date turned out better than expected; her intense reaction was the best result.

“Calm down.”

Raising his hands in surrender, Ash shook his fingers, ignoring the remarks ‘Is this a new way for young people?’, ‘Could it be practice for a play?’ from the crowd around, he continued explaining.

“Nothing proves anything, you know. Look, Pretty Cures are also human.”

What?

Upon hearing, the arms of the Dark Pretty Cure relaxed unconsciously.

“Perhaps there’s a possibility.”

“That we’re even more human than we think? Yeah, of course, I’m pure human~ Besides.”

Ash wasn’t worried about the other party possibly being harmful to him; he simply kept smiling.

“After all, the boundary between humans and monsters is thinner than imagined.”

This is true for either side.

“…”

The Dark Pretty Cure let go of her grip, letting Ash free.

“If you put it like that.”

Behind her, large bat wings spread open under the alarmed eyes of the surrounding crowd, completely blocking out the sunlight from reaching them.

She pulled hard at the remains of her school uniform, tearing it apart with a rip.

The naive girl who had been pretending disappeared, Dark Precure came back at this moment!

“Attack, Snakies!”

At the command of the Dark Pretty Cure, numerous black and white sacks of humans with funny smiles on their heads jumped out as minions named “Snakies.”

“Do whatever you want, capture Pretty Cures, lure out CureMoonlight!”