Chapter 519

The thirtieth illustration: Ash Joins the Team.

[Ash, haven’t you witnessed their miracle and were defeated by them?]

As Ash was planning to give up, as if it had heard his thoughts, a screen suddenly popped out near the corner of his eye, reminding him that he still had many tasks to do and could not afford to slack off yet.

[In that case, believing in them again wouldn’t be too bad, would it?]

Tsk… I’m telling you, System, no one would mistake you for being mute; as someone who’s an auxiliary to a time traveler, you sure show too much humanity!

“Miyuki, did you hear what he said? Give up.”

As his companions began to persuade and comfort her, Miyuki, cheeks puffed up with frustration, suddenly stood up and moved closer to Ash from where she originally stood beside him.

“I know…you don’t approve of me, you don’t want to be friends with me so you’re rejecting me…if that’s the case!”

To be friends…I know what true friends would say to each other. Even though this sacrifice is huge, but I’m going all out!

“Mr. Wangjian, please listen carefully!”

Miyuki took a deep breath, held it back, and then suddenly shouted loudly.

“I—actually!”

“Actually, at my age, I still need to hug a teddy bear to fall asleep!”

Truly going all out, Miyuki’s cheeks turned red like a ripe apple, whether from blushing beforehand or from shame now.

“If I don’t do it, I, I, I can’t sleep!”

This sudden, shocking statement not only stunned his companions who couldn’t look straight at her with a face full of “What are you doing!” but also made Ash widen his eyes in disbelief.

But unlike being shocked by her nonsensical statement, now Ash’s grip on his sword tightened, shaking violently, as if…

“Why…Why are you saying that?”

What did he see? Something that seemed unbelievable from a future perspective?

“You… What are you talking about?!”

If the future didn’t change, why did it suddenly change?!

“In fact, when I sleep, sometimes after rinsing my mouth, I secretly eat candy in my bed.” This may seem trivial, but to Miyuki, it’s a secret that makes her feel intensely ashamed. “Mom always said this could cause cavities, but I couldn’t help myself from eating more!”

Ah! Why am I saying such embarrassing things here! But if I weren’t, how else could I come up with ways to become friends with him?

“What are you talking about!”

Ash saw it! After she said these words, why was the bad ending scene transmitted through the dark sword changing like an old TV with unstable signals?

Why? Is this reasonable? Is it reasonable?! She was just spouting nonsense, and yet the future started to change!

Could it be, because as she said, becoming friends led to changes?

“In fact, I also secretly write some fairy tales…” Realizing that everyone’s gaze was focused on her, embarrassed Miyuki still pursued her goal without stopping. “Because I really like Peter Pan, I write my own stories with me as the heroine, having adventures with Peter Pan. However, I felt too shy to let others read them, so they are all hidden under my bed.”

“Hmm? So that’s what Miya secretly wrote but wouldn’t let me see?” Sugar’s realization made Miyuki’s embarrassment peak, almost making her explode on the spot.

“What are you saying, I told you to stop, did you hear me?!”

“Huh?” Hearing Ash’s growing conviction, Miyuki raised her head, fidgeting and avoiding direct contact with his gaze. “But, but I heard that true friends share unknown little secrets among themselves, knowing each other inside out—that’s what truly makes friendship…”

“I’m telling you…” Ash couldn’t resist holding his forehead and eventually lost his composure both in his facial expression and tone. “Those who have gone through those experiences became especially close first, hence they know each other’s secrets without offending each other.”

“Such reasoning is backwards…”

“Wait!?” A confused Miyuki slapped her cheeks, eyes wide. “Is that how it works?”

“Bam!” Five crisp slaps rang out around the girl. Like a symphony celebrating a fool’s behavior, even naive Sugar confirmed that Miyuki was indeed doing something foolish.

“But, tell me, you…”

Ash wanted to get angry, thought he would be furious, but besides a long sigh and some inexplicable happy feeling, Ash surprisingly wasn’t annoyed.

Was this person really so intent on making me part of their group to become friends?

To become friends with me, willing to do such foolish things, I’d naturally think it was foolish as an observer, but if being the recipient of goodwill, how should I feel? Somewhat happy?

After all, actually reaching out to me to such an extent isn’t just a matter of being a fool anymore.

“Are you…that eager to be my friend?”

“Yeah!”

Gazing into Ash’s dark eyes without any starlight, Hoshizora Miyuki nodded decisively.

That’s what you feel?

If I were like you…

“You…are quite a fool.”

Those innocent and pure light warriors, right now, seeing you, I can’t help but tremble inside. Perhaps you’ve altered some part of my heart, maybe even my destined fate.

“Why are you calling me a fool! —Ugh!” As Miyuki strongly protested, a male hand landed on her head, ruffling her bubblegum-colored hair, which looked so appetizing like soft croissants, into a chaotic mess.

“But, I like fools.”

“Fools are not stupid; their hearts are free.”

Amidst laughter, when the future image from the dark sword returned to the bad ending, Ash laughed.

Stupid sword, showing me such madness. If I had succumbed, I might have been forced to eliminate the original possibilities with the worst means.

Now, I wouldn’t let such a level of future influence me!

“Away from me, this outsider, this world prefers you!” Ash’s eyes, trembling with emotion, revealed the five girls’ beautiful figures. “Perhaps, you all are truly the ones burdened with the era’s destiny. Women, answer me! What did you see in the darkness?”

“What did we see…If we were to say what we saw.” Miyuki could not fully grasp Ash’s question, but upon reflection, a word flashed in her mind.

“Smile!”

Hoshizora Miyuki answered decisively, without hesitation.

“I believe, we will all smile together, just like after the storm, appearing in a rainbow.”

“Smiling again….Hm, such a typical answer.” Although a typical answer, Ash showed no dissatisfaction.

“That’s right…I was so fixated on眼前的景象, I forgot what truly captivates me. Shaking fingers lifted to cover his face as regret overtook him.

“For heroes, perhaps what’s needed is not absolute victory, but the posture and mindset shown in battle may shine brighter.”

Surely, even with truly favorable endings brought about by my dark methods, I would still feel these are mere farces, unworthy of attention, like low-budget stories.

“Moreover, in your pureness, my sword fails to perceive its path.”

“Well, Pretty Cure!”

Hoisting the Dark Sword, Ash stood up, towering over the girls as he rose from the ground. The men’s tall figure now unmistakable in close proximity.

“My name is Ash!”

Ash?

“If you don’t give up.” Drawing the Dark Sword from the ground, he gracefully flipped it, storing it neatly in its scabbard.

“I will wield my sword to fend off tragedy when it comes.”

What does that mean?

“Aah.” Gazing into the twinkling eyes of the girls, Ash solemnly nodded.

“I join.”

“Wonderful!”

While the others’ reactions might vary, Hoshizora Miyuki welcomed this with genuine joy.

Jumping in happiness, her face speckled with dirt, her joyful laughter infected Ash, drawing a smile from his lips too.

How beautiful…

For such smiles…

In the future…

My efforts, no matter how arduous, will be worth it.