Chapter 378

Chapter 111: Crisis!

Putting spare clothes from the store on the three demons to avoid causing panic among passersby, this mixed team composed of Pretty Cure and Kamen Rider partners set out one after another.

With the help of their small size, the three spirits took flight and began a thorough search, while the others looked at people on the street with magnifying glasses or telescopes, asking about the whereabouts of the person they were looking for.

“Are you talking about that ice-maiden-looking Moon Shadow Lily from the neighboring class?” A hip-hop style passerby considered for a moment and pointed in a certain direction when asked. “I saw her looking very sad, she walked away with a gloomy look; she’s probably long gone from here by now.”

Thanks to dealing with the demons in the middle, all traces left behind by Moon Shadow Lily had disappeared.

“Okay, I heard there’s a dance master arriving at the Hope Flower Market. I’m rushing over there to challenge him. So, I’ll say goodbye!”

“No way…” After saying goodbye to the passerby, who was thrilled by the prospect of the challenge, Wuki, who had been asking around without success, shook her head dejectedly. “I asked so many people but still got no results, Senior Lily might have already moved far away.”

“If that’s the case… Momotaros, I assign you as our watchdog; utilize your keen sense of smell and search for her through scent!” Thinking quickly, Ash immediately handed this responsibility to Momotaros right away.

“Alright, I’ll handle it—no, wait, how can you think of me as a dog?!”

Seeing Ash playfully bickering with the trio of demons, Lei, who was gently patting her own head, couldn’t help smiling.

“Pfft, seems like the manager is quite energized this time?”

Even though it was strange that the manager seemed so familiar with these demons, considering that he was a hero enthusiast, one could understand it.

“You know, the manager isn’t he just cooped up watching anime and live-action shows every day, really fond of heroes, he said he would support us?”

“That’s true, right…?”

In between laughter, Rei, hearing Erika’s words, suddenly felt something. Her lowered eyes couldn’t stop glancing towards Ash’s direction.

Indeed, we all knew the manager loved heroes and Pretty Cure; even when they weren’t very close before, he was already deeply captivated by Pretty Cure when he saw them. Only during those times did his usually aloof demeanor appear excited.

But now, compared to when she was a Pretty Cure, Manager seems happier more frequently during our daily interactions. Although he always says that Ash brought a different change into our lives, on the surface, it also means we inadvertently became important to Ash too.

For Rei, who yearns for change and made herself become a Pretty Cure as a starting point for transformation, this matter was particularly important.

In other words, has the manager, Mr. Ash, changed too?

“As for why Senior Lily suddenly left the store…”

While Ash was still scanning for clues, behind him, Wuki posed this question.

“What, it’s all because of this ring.”

Sighing, Ash explained thoroughly the past dealings he had with the other party. Hearing the conversation details between Ash and Lily, everyone, including the spirits and the demons, fell silent.

“In the end, it’s like this; you’re saying dressing up just a bit would offend someone I don’t offend?!”

Shaking his head helplessly, instead of responses, the odd looks he received grew stranger.

“What’s wrong with you, all acting as if you just heard Oda’s joke?”

“Ah, what’s going on here?” Eventually, Urataros gently pressed her forehead, shaking her head sadly. “Isn’t it that, could it be, this is Ash’s romantic misfortune?”

Demons who often drifted across different timelines were well aware of Ash’s life. According to them, apart from those who turned hostile, due to his truly impressive face, Ash indeed attracted quite a lot of interest from the opposite sex, albeit rarely from the same.

However, it wasn’t the kind of interest; for example, Yagami Rio, and Miss Origin Girl, just viewed him as another brother, possibly waiting for him to come back…

Yeah, surely because of age issues, peers share more topics; although this peer level might be a little difficult for these Pretty Cures.

Following Urataros’ comment, others gradually realized and started pointing at Ash.

“Lily… How dare you ask!”

Though never spoken out loud, everyone was cognizant of the feelings Moon Shadow Lily harbored, even if they didn’t voice it out.

“Your actions naturally caused Lily to cry, which she naturally felt heartbroken for!”

“So in short, you’re being too self-absorbed,” Ash replied, feeling bewildered, not believing he had done such things.

“Be quiet! If you call yourself a man, you should care more about how your words and actions affect those around you! Consider the feelings of others around you…”

“Hah, what sort of discriminatory remark is that? Just because I’m a man, I have to act like this? No way!”

“What’s the rush, stop arguing!”

The pink figure of Cifrey plummeted down and clung to Ash’s face like a facehugger, delivering some good news. “We found Lily! She’s at the park on the left, but she doesn’t seem to be in a good state; everyone, hurry over quick!”

“There’s nothing more to say.” Ash plucked the spirit off his face and tossed him back to Lei, stepping forward. “Let’s go, lead the way!”

Arriving first at the park which Cifrey mentioned, Ash passed by a stream and brushed aside some willow leaves before reaching the surprisingly quiet park center. Sure enough, he saw Moon Shadow Lily sitting on a bench, head bowed, presumably still distressed.

“What is this, making me worry so much over just a ring?”

Ash extended his hand to Lily, intending to pull her up, but when she showed no response upon approach, after some internal struggle, he finally spoke.

“Okay, okay. I admit I sometimes don’t notice others’ emotions when I’m in high spirits, but is it my fault? Alright, let’s call it mine, I’ll explain everything; an apology for… Anyway, you shouldn’t—”

Noticing the people approaching behind, Ash continued speaking and patted Lily’s shoulder. But it was at this moment that, as soon as he removed his hand, Lily’s upper body fell forward into Ash’s instinctively catching arms.

“Lily?”

“PSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH——”

With a slight sound, gray and white granules of time slipped through Lily’s unfocused eyes, gracefully cascading down through the seams of her clothes.

“Lily!”

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