Chapter 426

Chapter 161: Expectations, Your Possibilities

The speed at which Tsukikage Lily fell was faster than anyone else.

“Hu… Hu… Hu~”

Lily’s rapid breathing gradually calmed in the sweet scent of the flower pollen.

Her transformation state dissipated in the glow, her soft body leaning backward into Lei’s arms, limp like a reed.

“Lily… Lily!”

Tsukikage Lily naturally gave no response as her towering figure curled up in the petite Lei’s embrace.

A delicate voice, akin to the faint sound of mosquitoes, emerged from her slightly opened lips, as if what she saw was both beautiful yet heartbreaking, leaving tears to streak down and wet Lei’s armor.

“Daddy… Ash… Don’t leave me again…”

“Lily…”

It was the first time that Lei had seen strong Tsukikage Lily, so vulnerable.

That means, is it because she was always putting up a strong front in front of us?

“In dreams, anything is possible compared to the harsh reality.”

In Ash’s arms, holding a昏睡暗之美少女who draped an arm over his neck, the bat wings behind her also naturally folded in. Her murmured dream speech was remarkably similar to Lily’s.

“Professor… Ash… It’s good that everyone is together…”

“……”

Finding a soft, clean spot, they each laid their sleeping companions down. The faces of those sleeping together now wore expressions full of contentment.

“Their faces look… so relieved.”

Yet why do I feel so sad looking at their expressions?

“Because they are in their happiest dreams right now.”

Ash returned, took off his belt in front of Lei, transforming back into his human form underneath, wearing a black leather jacket. Only the armor under his jaw remained, covering his nose and mouth to avoid being affected by Qijiera.

“For someone living in darkness, beauty is their light, and they don’t want to give it up; yet for someone already living in beauty, they seek even better futures without stopping.”

His muffled voice came through from underneath the mask.

With no more reason to fight, Lei silently undid her transformation and helped the changed-back bespectacled girl look for the sprites. In no time, she noticed three sprites snoring in a pile atop a nearby tree.

At this moment confronting Ash, Lei felt neither excitement nor anger, only genuine sorrow.

“Don’t you feel sad, Mr. Ash?”

“To me, once I resolve to do something, I have no regret in doing it. What’s the point of feeling sad? Feeling sad is truly a weakness.”

“Can’t you be sad? That’s really…sad.”

This time it was Ash who fell into silence.

“Ash, can’t you try to understand others?”

“No, it’s boring.”

Rather than not understanding, he didn’t want to understand. After all, on his journey, understanding such things would likely make him lose his courage to continue.

“Stop saying that kind of thing.”

Ash’s words made it seem as though Lei’s ears drooped down.

Oh no…

For some reason, in this world where it’s just the two of them, seeing Lei with such a pained expression, Ash felt a sort of…pleasure?

Seeing a hero’s difficult expression in the face of hardship—no, feeling joy, my heart isn’t that weak! It’s too shallow!

“Come to think of it, you aren’t joining the others in the dreamland now, are you, Lei?”

Ash clumsily shifted topics, but it did work on Lei who noticed herself.

“This.”

Even though she’d undone her transformation and returned to being just human, Lei didn’t react. The fragrance of the spreading pollen could be smelled as a gentle breeze passed.

While the pollen was everywhere, Lei showed no inclination to sleep.

“Is it because you’re the caretaker, so Qijiera deliberately avoided you?” Ash speculated, rubbing the steel chin on his fingers. “Or perhaps due to prolonged contact, you’ve developed antibodies to Qijiera?”

Either way, it meant that for Hope Flower City, aside from Lei and Ash, everyone else was presumably asleep.

“Being in a pleasant dream, while the rest of you enjoy yourselves, does it mean you suffer instead?”

“No way! It’s… just…”

Watching the sleeping faces, Lei felt no longer needed to maintain her tough exterior and finally broke down.

“Why… why me!”

“Compared to everyone else, I’m the weakest among the Pretty Cures, and I have no high moments to brag about!”

“Why… why do I have to be the one!”

She seemed to understand Ash’s words; if she were to remain alone in such a world, it would indeed be far too painful.

But just as Lei was feeling self-pity, the man in front of her hesitated, then extended his hand, firmly placing it on Lei’s shoulder.

As if lost in a memory, she felt like she was back in the cafe, hearing Ash encourage her.

“Lei, I speak truthfully; I believe you possess extraordinary potential.”

Though lacking courage and frail, the moment she steps out to stand firm against any enemy, it’s without a doubt the most admirable heroic action!

“Your combination with the other three is absolutely correct; you will surely become the best partners. Even if you deny it, the answer has always been there!”

“But me… me!”

Surprised to still be receiving encouragement from Ash, Lei hurriedly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.

“I believe in your potential, so you should believe in yourself!”

“And show me the determination to keep going!”

Meanwhile, undetected by both, Demon Kayin, unaffected by the pollen, descended from the street lamp. After rummaging around Wuki’s body, he struggled to retrieve the Mirror of Resentful Illusions and inserted the unique heart seed he had obtained from Lei’s grandmother into its central slot.

“Alright, this should be enough…”

Pushing aside a mirror nearly as tall as himself, Kayin carefully adjusted it until the figures of the three lying on the ground were all reflected. Straining, he turned the central dial, summoning the pure power.

“I am his demon, so I share the same expectation. Allow me to see the possibility of Pretty Cures.”