Chapter 354

The Eighty-Seventh: The Heartbeat of Erika

“It hurts so much…..”

“Who told you to stay up all night? You almost fell asleep during battle. It serves you right for getting hit.”

With a cotton swab dipped in iodine, he gently dabbed some on Erika’s nose. Looking at the medicated water clinging to her nose, Erika, with tears welling up, let out a painful cry.

Wuki and Lily went out to buy more coffee beans, while Lei had gone out at Erika’s strong request to buy her strawberry daifuku. In this immense coffee shop, there were only Erika and Ash left.

Erika, injured by Timons’ finishing move, ran back to her hideout like an injured beast. Ash, who barely escaped from Wuki’s pursuit, originally planned to let Erika tend to herself. However, under her persistent demands, he eventually ended up injuring himself to tend to her wounds.

Even Ash could not help but sigh: “When did I become so patient with them?”

“I know it was my mistake, but it still hurts a lot…..”

“Pain helps you remember better next time.”

Of course, these were his own injuries inflicted upon her.

Here, once again, we must praise the durability of the Pretty Cure battle suit. The neighbor, Kamen Rider, and the squad were heavily damaged; they were so beaten they had to revert to their human forms. Their injuries were particularly gruesome, especially those on their faces resembling being hit by shrapnel up close.

However, Pretty Cure fared much better! Although she received his fatal flying kick as well and had to revert to her human form, Erika, clad only in blue light, rolled on the ground. Aside from scratching her nose on a rock, no other significant harm came.

“If you forget about fighting in the battlefield, this is how you end up,” Ash poked Erika’s cheek, which had puffed up like a frog’s after jumping due to her dissatisfaction. He couldn’t help but poke her a few more times because of how soft and springy it felt. “If Wuki hadn’t appeared in time and chased that person away, who knows what might have happened.”

Indeed, who knows? Probably, he doesn’t know at all. (Laugh)

Today, Erika didn’t jump up to argue like she usually does. She simply nodded to indicate she heard and glanced sideways at Ash with a blushing face before quickly turning away, leaving Ash confused.

What’s wrong? Did I reveal something, or did something strange stick on my face?

“Are you still sleepy?”

“Seriously, how can I sleep after being hit?” With a red face, Erika pushed away Ash’s hand and held her cheek. “Attacking a lady’s face, I won’t forgive whoever that is!”

Smiling slightly, Ash responded that there are many people who talk like that.

“Learn from this, you mustn’t be lenient when dealing with enemies.”

“In any case, I understand… don’t lecture me, I will change.”

Ash finally nodded. Since you can learn from your mistakes, I suppose it’s fine if I kicked you this time, indeed a promising student.

Although I don’t know why, today Erika is unusually compliant.

Glance—

This is not an illusion.

From occasional glances to prolonged stares, Erika is now staring directly at Ash’s profile.

Of course, Ash completely ignored his line of sight, which is one of the skills of a villain—to have a thick skin, this is a survival skill—

“You saw it, right!”

Erika’s blush wouldn’t dissipate, so she herself broke the tacit agreement of two to maintain silence, shattering the quiet.

After all, in such a restless state of mind, Erika cannot endure anything anymore.

“What?” Ash replied with a slight tremble.

“You’ve known all along that I’ve been watching you!” Finally exploding, Erika flailed her fists wildly, cheeks flushed red by the apple blossoms already. “You’ve clearly noticed but pretended not to know. Now just go ahead and laugh!”

Her heartbeat could no longer be stopped, she needed to say it out loud now!

Exhausted, Erika, now with rosy cheeks, flailed her fists and started making a fuss loudly and carelessly.

“We’ve tried so hard in battle, yet you keep mocking me and Lei with your sarcastic remarks! You don’t know at all about our feelings and efforts!”

Frustrated, Erika wiped her nose, but the mucus still dripped onto Ash’s clothing.

“No matter whose concerns you show or who you tease, it’s because you’re not aware of how much we pay attention to you!”

“Though you treat everyone well, this only makes us even less sure of what you think, or what you actually want!”

“How could you do this to us and say you know nothing?!”

“It’s all your fault!” While she continued to punch Ash’s chest, at this point, not transformed, she lacked strength to even give him an effective back massage, Ash simply watched as Erika, overwhelmed with anger and shame, lunged towards him.

“If it weren’t for your odd remarks, I wouldn’t have slept uneasily all night!”

“Ah, what did I say? A young girl shouldn’t be thinking so much, right?”

“Why wouldn’t I?!”

“Clearly—you—clearly, I am a girl too, and—I—!” Almost unable to bear it, Erika’s tearful eyes overflowed, and the punches that kept striking Ash’s chest weakened. “And you continue to make such odd remarks, even I would be affected!”

How dare you say such things if you know how it hurts!

“That’s hot… but finally got it!” Under the scorching sun, after a long wait in line, Lei successfully bought the limited edition strawberry daifuku for Erika, drenched in sweat. Yet, Lei smiled with satisfaction.

Because it was for someone dear, a little sweat was nothing. Plus, Erika’s condition seemed not quite right recently, hoping this would cheer her up!

Unfortunately, she has no idea what the manager likes, or she would also package something for him.

With simple hope, Lei pushed open the door.

“Erika, Manager, I’m back!”

”