Chapter 468

Chapter Two Hundred and Three: Where Did He Go?

In fact, it was when Lei returned home and saw the calendar that she realized she had made a mistake. Tomorrow was Christmas after all, no wonder Ash gave her a gift today. So they had spent a happy day together on Christmas Eve!

“Tomorrow…” Although Ash said he wouldn’t come, he shouldn’t just disappear out of thin air. If that was the case, she would drag him out tomorrow to spend a joyful Christmas together!

She really looked forward to it.

With this thought, Lei bid the sprite goodnight and closed her eyes.

Not long after, she opened them again.

“What is it, Lei?”

Facing her partner, who was tossing restlessly in bed before suddenly sitting up, the sleepy Cifrey asked in worry.

Because of that man, the Pretty Cures’ spirits were like riding a rollercoaster, always up and down. Ever since Ash announced his identity as Timons and voluntarily left, Lei had seemed gloomy.

Except for today.

After conversing with Caffrey and Popuri, she found that Erika and Wuki were also like this. This was what they called the troubles brought by young love. She didn’t understand, but she must make Ash properly apologize to Lei and the others!

“I can’t sleep…”

With messy pink hair covering her face, Lei ignored such matters and raised her hand to press her chest distractedly.

“Ash… Are you here?”

It felt like something bad was happening…

Why did she feel so lost?

Even though her date with Ash and their party together were happy times, why did thinking about them now made her feel so… sad?

‘Precures… hurry…’

“Heart Tree?”

The gentle voice resounded beside Lei’s ear, instantly waking her from her half-asleep daze. Wanting to ask further, she received no response.

She couldn’t wait anymore.

Adjusting her glasses back on, Lei regained clear vision. Holding the startled Cifrey, she would do something she had never done before—a good kid sneaking out at midnight to meet a boy.

Although she had no reason… but, Ash, what happened to you?

“Precure Open My Heart!”

Lei wasn’t a detective or skilled in hunting. She was just a student who liked tending flowers. The only thing she could do was use the convenience of her transformation to follow her heart and search for where Ash might be.

On the streets, the adults were preparing Christmas decorations for the next day in their lively evening. Colorful lights and joy enveloped the city, but Lei didn’t feel any joy as she usually would.

Her heart was already occupied by a man, leaving no space for enjoying holiday scenery.

There were no clues on the road, where she went on a date today…

And there was still no news at the Hope Flower Market Hospital, even though there was an additional cherry blossom in the vase beside her sleeping mother.

At Nasta’s Café, even the ruins had been cleared, revealing nothing.

Finally, she searched the park, near the bench on the children’s beach, which still seemed to carry a shadow. This was where he last said goodbye to her and the girls.

“There’s nothing here… Who!”

Hearing footsteps coming from a direction, Lei turned and immediately got into fighting stance, shouting towards the sound in anger. Lei was both nervous and hoping for the best, hoping that Ash would answer her call, yet dreading discovering something happened to him.

“Lei?”

“Erika?!”

A soft blue figure emerged from the shadows like a wave, and Erika’s appearance here hinted she felt the same unease. Tonight, Erika lacked her usual vibrant, comical cheer; the round cheeks displayed obvious worry.

“Are you searching too?”

“It’s hard to sleep tonight for some reason… And I am not alone.”

“Wuki? Lily!”

At this time, for no apparent reason, everyone from HeartCatchPrecure gathered here.

“Everyone is worried,” whispered Wuki, whose golden twin-tails, usually bright with cheer, drooped due to her owner’s mood.

“Lei, were you dating Ash today?” Lily asked with hopeful curiosity. “Did he say anything strange or show anything peculiar?”

“Peculiar?” Leh recalling the whole date she shook her head. Maybe Ash’s acting was convincing, but she truly didn’t notice anything amiss. “Oddly enough, he said goodbye when we parted?”

All frowned. Such a vague statement didn’t help.

“You think maybe we’re worrying too much?” Erika patted her cheeks, creating a loud sound, while hiding her fearful expression under a joyful facade. “Maybe he’s just gone missing again. He probably secretly hatched some plan this time, waiting for us to worry only to surprise us when we least expect it.”

“He’s done it before, not once or twice.”

“Indeed…” Even Wuki joined the laughter, the tone being hollow. “He is Ash; such behavior is unremarkable. Considering this, it seems logical.”

Only Lily remained uneasy, constantly biting her lips. She wished her “Moonlight Angel” title could come true so she could ask the ever-present moon where he was.

“Dark Pretty Cure woke up and spoke to Father a few words before leaving. Although she no longer attacked me, I am concerned…”

“This shouldn’t be a problem, right? After all, she was close to Ash.”

Lily hesitated momentarily, recalling how tenaciously she had stuck to Ash. Eventually, she nodded reluctantly.

“Everyone—” Lei interjected, drawing everyone’s attention.

Her hands slowly raised to her chest, making a praying gesture. There was still unease pulsating beneath the loving charm, which she couldn’t suppress.

“Let’s search one more time.”

Despite varying expressions, everyone nodded in agreement.

“Of all people, why does Ash make us worry so much…”

“All we can do.”

“Yes…”

They searched every corner of the Hope Flower Market until the sun rose again.

They didn’t find out where Ash had gone.

This became a small… regret for them.