Chapter 418

The 153rd Chapter: Revived Battle Intent

“Yashu hasn’t returned for quite some time.”

“In that case, what will Nasta do?”

“Couldn’t we restart the cafe ourselves?”

“It’s not feasible… We are students, how can we manage school if we open it?”

“Even if we asked Mr. Eddie… it wouldn’t be possible either.”

The spare key remained in Lily’s possession. When she reopened the locked door, sunlight streamed inside, illuminating the counter layered with thin dust, everything just as familiar to them but forever missing a person and a flower.

Everyone was silent, Lei felt sorrowful.

“First… let’s close the shop door…”

Lily, after a long silence and a brief lip bite, stepped back two paces, closing the main door in front of everyone.

“But what if Mr. Yashu returns?”

“No…”

Someone hesitated; others shook their heads.

“He probably won’t come back.”

“Is that so? That café owner is a member of the Desert Apostles.”

After learning about Yashu’s actions from Lei and the others, Hanazaki Kuriko, the former Pretty Cure, also fell into a painful silence. She sighed deeply before stroking her granddaughter’s dry hair comfortingly.

“It must be very tough for you, little Lei.”

“No…” As Lei tried to say she was fine, lifting her head, she met her grandmother’s worried gaze. Unable to hold back, she sobbed into her grandmother’s embrace, her voice quivering despite her efforts at bravery.

“I—I’m okay.” Her tiny head trembled slightly, yet her words stayed strong. “I will fight to protect everyone’s Heart Flowers, even if my opponent is Yashu… But right now, I feel sad about his choice.”

“It’s alright, Lei. It’s not your fault,” Kuriko’s eyes softened as she sensed her granddaughter’s sorrow. “If you want to cry, cry in my arms. I’m both a senior to you and your grandmother.”

“Granny—!”

Seeing Lei’s grieving figure, the others and the fairies also felt their noses sting, almost breaking down in tears.

“Ahh—”

Kuriko sighed.

“Were we wrong to trust him?”

Just as everyone was finally getting through their difficult moment, a wave of energy, dark and defiant like an oath of existence, spread from afar. Everyone instantly sensed it.

“That’s—!”

Their faces darkened; the Desert Apostles didn’t seem willing to give them more time to recover.

“Let’s go, everyone!”

“Lily!”

As the group started running silently toward that direction, Kuriko suddenly called out to Tsukikage Lily.

“Grandmother Kuriko?”

“Lily?” Faced with Lily, whose face was cold like never before, Kuriko felt a haunting sadness that lingered on. “Are you still going? Now, when everything is in disarray?”

“But Lei and the others are still fighting.”

“I mean, if your enemy was he at this moment, would you still intend, could you still fight?”

Lily stood silent for a while, and just as Kuriko was about to urge her to rest, Lily moved.

She raised her hand, palms pressing together over her heart. Beneath the warmth was a steady pulse.

“I will fight… although I lost the reason to fight now, Ren’s words have motivated me; my original determination is still there.”

“Since Yashu is gone… I must not forgive those who took Kuron’s life and stole mine from the Desert Apostles.”

Looking on, Kopo, who had been acting as a large puppet to comfort the girls, turned its seemingly innocent face. It sensed something new awakening within Lily, despite the devastation akin to a withering flower hit by a heavy rain.

“I swear to my Heart Flower and the Earth’s Heart Tree.” Lily closed her eyes in focus, like a devout nun in a church—there was a sense of sacredness. “I will guard everyone’s Heart Flowers, and I will protect all who are dear to me.”

“I will never allow sorrowful hearts to weep again.”

With these words, Lily’s graceful figure vanished with the wind, heading toward her companions. Her plain shoes were transformed into CureMoonlight’s sleek heels when they touched the ground again.

“Lily!”

Barely landing on the ground, Lily leaped skillfully among buildings. Soon, she joined her transformed comrades in a composed stride towards that location.

“You anticipated it, didn’t you? You were waiting for us to become strong.”

“Then I will demonstrate my resolve to fight!”

Seeing the Dark Pretty Cure recklessly attacking Snakies, who were beating up a little girl and driving away the crowd, Ash felt a headache coming on.

“Actually, there was no need for such exaggeration.”

In truth, without Dark Pretty Cure’s involvement, this task might not have required any battle. But Dark Pretty Cure insisted on getting involved and began fighting without further ado.

“Doesn’t Ash wish someone could be beside him?”

Ash shifted his glance to meet hers.

Yes, downward. Unlike before where Dark Pretty Cure usually spread her bat-like wings arrogantly, she now perched on Ash’s shoulder, using his ear as support—much to his discomfort despite his robust build.

Dark Pretty Cure had the strength to lift mountains, yet she maintained the slender model-like frame. Otherwise, Ash’s shoulder might not handle her weight.

Indeed, even if she perched like this, one small shift made Ash notice her skirt’s frilly movement and, inadvertently, the black lace panties peeking beneath from somewhere—likely safety trousers.

“Odd smell… well, though Dark Pretty Cure probably didn’t notice or care, even Ash knows better than to see what isn’t his business.”

High-heeled boots occasionally brushed across Ash’s chest like light scratches.

“No, it’s fine by me.”

“Glad to hear it, because friends are always together, aren’t they?”

This girl… seems to misbehave more than usual.

“Oh, look. Here come the losers!”

Dark Pretty Cure smiled, narrowing her eyes as Lily approached, flames burning in her eyes as she jumped toward them.