Chapter 573

The Eighty-Fifth Chapter: Hateful Words from the Pretty Cure

“Everyone….!”

Gazing at the powerless Pretty Cure (female) lying on the ground after their defeat, their only response was painful cries issuing from their throats, as they could not even lift a single finger. Naoko Mikutagawa’s (female) entire body trembled, her mouth full of incredulity. She could not fathom why everything had turned out this way.

We’re supposed to be the legendary warriors—the Pretty Cure (precure). Why did we lose? It doesn’t make sense!?

“Hurry…”

Seeing Yayoi (female), who was sprawled on the ground with numerous wounds, reach out desperately towards her while on her knees, Naoko (female) whispered,

“Hurry up… escape…”

Escape, should I run away? But, to leave everyone behind—

“That’s right, you should run, you should escape quickly.”

The chilling voice coming from behind almost made Naoko want to flee in terror. The cold touch at her neck seemed to deliberately leave her there, its long tongue eagerly licking away her despair and fear.

“After all, you can do nothing. Isn’t running away your only option? Besides, they’ve already stopped seeing you as a friend, so running away like this is naturally allowed, isn’t it?”

“How could this happen?!”

This fearful voice, which Naoko dared not turn her head to face, seemed to blend together the two voices she had feared—Joker (neutral) and Ash (male).

“Embrace your despair quickly at such an outcome. The despair that makes you fall behind—surely that tragic energy will feed Pierrot/Black Resonance wonderfully! HAHAHA!”

“Aaahh—”

Naoko screamed from her bed, her not-yet-awake face in disbelief as if trying to cover it.

“It was just a dream…” But could this only be a dream?

It wasn’t someone else, it was me. That Joker deliberately flipped the goodwill others had for me, he must have a scheme against us.

Yet, no matter what, they no longer see me as a friend.

“Even so….”

Remembering the almost suffocating despair in her nightmare, Naoko clenched the blanket by her side, still shivering in her heart.

“I will absolutely prevent something like this from happening!”

I promised to alter it and show him!

Strangely, unlike always, the Clown Monster (neutral) didn’t cause trouble this time, but merely showed up briefly alongside the Joker before disappearing, without creating a tragic barrier or collecting tragic energy, seemingly waiting and hiding for something.

Miyuki (female) and the others certainly couldn’t understand whatever scheme the enemy was plotting this time. Had they changed strategies? Yet, regardless of any plot, we were not scared, since, excluding the unexpected “spoiler” Ash (male), the Smile Pretty Cure (female) hadn’t suffered any defeats so far.

The next day they searched for clues about the Clown Monster, and the Pretty Cure (female) heard rumors of monsters spotted from other sources. When they gathered, they unexpectedly found themselves back where they were yesterday, at the green field.

“Did you also hear these messages?”

“But, no matter how you look at it, there’s no trace of the Tragic Kingdom here. Could this be a fake message for fun?”

They had been ambushed by the Clown Monster here previously, and now they return, with Akane (female) raising her hand and sweeping it around, not able to spot the Clown Monster.

At this moment, a busy back view of someone in green appeared within the girls’ line of sight.

“Let’s laugh together yeahyeah~♪ and chase away tears and sadness~♫”

Hearing the familiar voice singing the lyrics, the girls’ somewhat calm mood instantly transformed into one of disgust akin to swallowing a fly.

“Why are you here?” Akane (female) spoke bluntly. “Could you have spread these rumors yourself? Do you know what kind of trouble you’re causing?”

Yes, she really is annoying! The discomfort I felt earlier wasn’t a delusion!

“HAHA, bringing you all here required help from some club members. Sorry about that~” This time, Naoko (female) didn’t cower when faced with harsh words. She walked over with her signature cheerful laughter, holding something.

“If you misunderstand anything recently, I’m sorry for any mistakes I may have made!” With a sincere gesture, she brought a plate-like arrangement towards them.

“These are gifts for you. Let’s reconcile again!”

Behind the scene, Ash (male) couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

Such childish ways… Will these work?

Facing Naoko’s (female) smiling face, even the always-cheerful Miyuki (female) forced a laugh, while the timid Yayoi (female) hid behind Akane (female), stepping back whenever Naoko approached.

“Tsk.” Rihua (female), disdainfully turned her head away, uninterested in looking at her foolishness. “Calling us out for such a trivial thing.”

“Don’t say that, Rihua~”

“I helped dad with woodworking for a long time, and he rewarded me with those weird natto dumpling candies… HAHA, although it was odd-tasting, they still tasted good…”

“Please conduct yourself properly, Miss Naoko.” An unyielded Rihua (female) pushed back the hand nearly thrust into her face. “Have our words not been sufficiently clear?”

With the action of pushing back, the candies in her palm fell, scattering on the green ground, the packaging papers glittering under the sun.

“Oh…”

Naoko (female) froze in shock, then hurriedly knelt down and laughed foolishly, trying to pick up the scattered candies.

“It’s alright. Those that have dropped haven’t been on the ground for more than three seconds. It’s fine even if they’re dirty. Give them to me to eat!”

“No, please.” Miyuki (female)’s originally cold expression began to contort due to some inexplicable reason. Passing behind Naoko (female), she said, “Why do you insist on improving relations with us—making friends, when we hate you now?”

“You should appreciate yourself more!”

The candies fell again due to her rush, and Naoko (female), lifting her head, met the gaze of passing-by Akane (female). Her tone was not as gentle as Miyuki (female).

“Haven’t you thought about other friends apart from us?”

Naoko (female) paused her frenzied actions of picking candies, the natto dumplings in her palm squeezing and making a crumpling sound under the sand grains.