Chapter 461

The少女, Lei

Hm, to be able to say such things must have shocked him as well! I’m really cool!

Getting slightly carried away in self-admiration, he didn’t care whether Ash was listening behind him and continued talking to himself.

“However, if you plan to proceed like this, all I can tell you is that your existence is becoming increasingly striking to certain people.”

“The road ahead will surely see more people coming after you—” Just as he was preparing to sternly warn her, Eddie froze mid-turn because he discovered that the place where the person originally stood was now empty.

“This guy, thinking he’s Batman—no, wait!”

Eddie’s eyes widened abruptly; only then did he suddenly remember that he wasn’t just there to bid farewell.

“You—this—idiot!”

Hearing the voice, Ash turned back curiously. The figure standing behind him had already vanished due to distance.

“My little shark! You unrepentant scoundrel!”

“Return my Beast King Shark Bullet Key to me!”

A man’s lament for the loss of his enhanced tool sounded heartbreaking, so much so that it could move anyone who heard it—except perhaps the police, who, upon seeing Eddie shouting, immediately put him in a patrol car on charges of “noise pollution” to avoid further disturbance.

“Ahh.”

It was then that Ash remembered grabbing the Beast King Bullet Key from the other person.

Thinking back, such occurrences happened before too. Grabbing a possibly useful item only for its use to fade with plot progression, then stashing it away in an immense inventory until even when someone came knocking, he couldn’t even recall what they were talking about.

“Hmmm…”

He flicked the Bullet Key from his thumb towards the sky, watching intently as gravity pulled it back into his palm.

Forget it, I can give it back if we meet again.

“Cough cough—”

Covering his face with his hand, Ash coughed twice before wiping his fingers red and finally cleaning them off on his pants. Then, he headed to develop the photos taken today with his camera.

“Although it’s better than the passing pink technology… but…”

In his eyes and the photos, scenes matching his memories were gradually fading from his view, becoming increasingly pale.

How time flies.

“Do I still need to?”

“ASH—!”

The familiar call from behind caught Ash by surprise. It was Hanazaki Lei, who was running over in school uniform, breathing heavily.

“Todays not a rest day; it’s still class time,” Ash responded teasingly to Lei, who teased him in turn. “What’s up? Deciding to play truant because you want to turn bad?”

“It’s not like that! Ugh, I’ve asked leave from the teacher; I can’t focus now!” Lei’s anxious expression was genuine, not faked. “Mother! There’s a call saying Mom collapsed and is at the hospital now!”

“But it’s quite far from the hospital, so Ash—”

“Pfff!” Before she could finish, Ash tossed her a helmet he found somewhere. “Get on!”

Lately, have too many women ridden behind me?

As the motorcycle raced through the wind, dangerously speeding along the road amidst traffic, the naturally timid girl clung quietly to the back. She hugged Ash tighter, as if gaining courage this way, wanting to freeze this moment in time.

Though both of them wanted to share many thoughts, under such urgency, neither spoke, feeling instead the strong breeze on their faces.

“Thank you… Mom! Mom!”

Leaning against the motorcycle, Ash watched as she rushed into the hospital, coincidentally finding his father. The two of them hurried upstairs to check on a patient.

Did she thank me specifically just now?

Ash wanted to take something out of his pocket to help soothe his unease, but realized he didn’t smoke.

“Have we become distant?”

System, how much game time do I have left?

[Advice: Do something that makes you happy.]

“So, let me pick then.” With patience running thin, facing the bouncing, relieved Lei, Ash whistled. “Haha, just kidding.”

Though the matters involving the Pretty Cure are mostly resolved now… if I don’t get a good punch in on that “Doon” who mocked me, I won’t live up to being this endlessly resurrected joker!

“Worry dispelled?”

“Mhmm!” Lei responded enthusiastically to Ash. “Mr. Ash, Ash! I’m going to be a big sister!”

“?”

After explanation, Ash understood that Lei’s mother had checked in at the hospital and learned, rather unexpectedly, that she was pregnant again, not sick.

“Amazing, Ash. So love’s miracle is truly wonderful… Could it be QiJiera’s pollen has these effects too?”

“Of course not.”

With a radiant smile, Lei seemed joyous and ready to share her happiness with anyone, even if realistically it remained just a wish.

“Is being a big sister really this enjoyable?” However, Ash, being an only child, couldn’t comprehend the joy of having a brother or sister to share resources with.

“Of course it is!” Yet, unlike Ash, the men saw Lei’s hopeful eyes gleaming brightly. “I can hardly wait! Will it be a boy or a girl!”

“Regardless, they’ll be cute, and seeing either one will make you like them!”

“Introduce the others if you want; no interest if you ask me.”

Time’s running short.

“Really, Ash is too cold!”

Slightly pouting and somewhat upset, Lei waited for no reply from Ash, instead finding his silence akin to patiently awaiting her response.

Their conversation needs restart; Lei is good at starting such dialogues, and Ash struggles in return.

Lei maintained her smile, and the wind played with her pigtails and skirt hem, her hands quietly clasped behind her back. The young girl approached Ash.

“Ash Manager, I really like it.”

Very much enjoying this carefree, joyful atmosphere and time.

Because it feels exactly like our past…