The Sixteenth Ash’s “Date” Plan
“What is the meaning of being friends…?”
After all, the Dark Pretty Cure was developed as a living weapon, so to her, everything other than strength and enemies that needed to be defeated were impure and unnecessary.
However, when she was now held by this person’s hand, she did not have the usual desire to throw this overly domineering guy away.
The naturally cold palm of the girl gained an extra bit of warmth from the touch, and while feeling this warmth, she felt somewhat reluctant to let go…
“Friends? Who knows, I don’t know how to explain it, but if it’s a friend, then it is.”
“Hmph, vague.”
Ash, who was flipping through various tokusatsu clichés in his mind, continued to impart his thoughts to the Dark Pretty Cure.
“But wouldn’t it be troublesome without a name? If Callmoonlight is called Tsukikage, then shouldn’t you, who defeats her, be called Shadowmoon—”
“Hey, don’t hit me just because you’re dissatisfied with the name!”
Having started to find the fun in this ‘friend game’, Ash tossed aside the hat he had been poking through with and dodged the cold fist swung by the girl, his voice half complaint, half teasing.
What’s this, apart from fighting, making friends can also be quite enjoyable, especially when they react like this!
Silently removing his hand from the shoulder of the Dark Pretty Cure, some darkness was extracted from within the girl, slipping along the tip of his finger into Ash’s body.
“If you dislike it, I’ll call you Little Dark, okay?”
The shadow resonates, indeed, there is quite a lot gathered on you.
“Don’t use such a name—” Halfway through, the dark beauty saw the smile beneath the mask and turned her head away, crossing her arms across her chest.
“Hmph, do as you please.”
“Then I will take it as your consent.”
Habitually absorbing these shadows, Ash’s power increased slightly.
[Absorbing dark echoes…]
[You have received rewards: Sin Mark [Mole], Stamp Destroyer, Stamp Warhammer.]
Well, they are things that would only marginally improve things. After all, emergency relief certainly trumps embellishment; though, to my luck, I do happen to need them now.
Putting the demon head emblem into his pocket, Ash noticed the Dark Beauty turning her gaze back to him.
She was holding half of a purple heart seed between her fingers.
Just right, Ash had seen similar things at Lily’s place. It seemed the other half was made into a necklace by Tsukikage Lily and hung around her chest.
“Timons, do you think CureMoonlight is still alive?”
Living as a cute shopkeeper at the café, of course, she is still alive. This is something Ash knows, but Timons has absolutely no clue about this “secret.”
“Who knows? Besides, didn’t you intend to eliminate CureMoonlight yourself? Why ask me this question?”
“Because I saw her…”
The Dark Pretty Cure lifted her eyes to look at the bright moon outside the window.
What she referred to happened before Timons arrived. At that time, she had defeated the Pretty Cures Erika and Rei. Just as she was preparing for the final blow, the supposedly deceased CureMoonlight surprisingly reappeared, and before she could react, two Pretty Cures were rescued by a mysterious person wearing glasses, leading to her mistakenly missing the opportunity to finish off the Pretty Cures.
“I saw her alive, but Dr. Shabak told me it was merely an illusion, and what I should do now is defeat the new Pretty Cures.”
“At first, I believed this too, but…”
But she hesitated—hesitation toward her creator, whom she should never doubt.
In her view, CureMoonlight was certainly killed by her, yet she didn’t believe that what she saw was an illusion.
“I understand.”
Perplexedly looking at the Dark Beautiful Face’s cool expression, the man’s mouth curled into a subtle arc.
You both like to cover your emotions with a cold exterior? How alike you two are, I’m becoming more curious with each passing moment.
Since that’s the case, why don’t I devise a little scheme? After all, even with immense power, you’re only an innocent little girl.
“Little Dark, you’ve never really left this room unless it’s necessary, correct?”
Leaning against a tank filled with an unknown substance, Ash gently tapped a glass jar, producing a dull sound.
“—”
The Dark Beauty did not respond, but Ash could tell from her gaze that he was correct.
“So, Little Dark, shall we go on a date?”
“Are you mocking me?”
Pulling out her magic wand directly, pointing it at the man’s throat. She was never one to show weakness—even friendship could not temper her fury if provoked further.
Yet, although she held the wand, this man showed no fear, still maintaining his relaxed smile.
“You won’t learn anything by staying here. We need to go on a date—to experience firsthand.”
“Weren’t you very concerned about whether CureMoonlight was dead or alive? Go see for yourself with your own eyes. Since you doubt it, prove it by finding your own answers.”
To go and…find the answer?
“Following orders all the time must be boring, isn’t it? You want to find her, don’t you? Then do it! I fully support you.”
Putting away the magic wand, Ash’s words somewhat persuaded the Dark Beauty. Within her, a tiny flame ignited in places unknown to her.
“So, do you want to go on a date?”
“I refuse.”
“Oh! Little Dark!”
The next morning, staring at the man in silver ceremonial attire wearing a mask from the other side of the street, the Dark Beauty did not know how to respond.
Why did I really come?
“As expected of you, I’ve always believed in you.”
“Shut up.”
Ash was confident in his prediction; after all, how could someone who lives solely in one place resist the allure of the vast world outside?
Seeing the Dark Beauty standing out on the street, observing everything with her single eye, Ash knew his scheme had succeeded.
After all, to lead someone from darkness to light, it’s necessary for them to experience the beauty of the external world themselves. To merely stand still offers no chance of unexpected redemption.
