Chapter 190: The Sad Quarrel
Within the ruins of Nasta Cafe, an unprecedented confrontation was unfolding.
The severely injured Dark Pretty Cure continued to sleep beside Lily, silently playing the role of a good listener as she listened to the two contestants’ “debate.”
“Plan?”
If there is a plan, indeed… But since you, these Pretty Cure, started causing trouble, and due to my meddling changes because I couldn’t ignore your feelings, the supposed plan has long been thrown out of the window.
Ah, speaking of which, I still owe Lei an explanation. I don’t even know how to tell her.
After all, when things get complicated, they often multiply instead of being resolved—the logic here being, System?
“But if I did say so… well, fine, not lying to you, when it comes to the plan, we’re only halfway there.”
As usual, it’s Ash’s light-hearted demeanor in his tone, but this time, Lily isn’t giving him any room to dodge the issue anymore.
“You—”
Still dressed in a hospital gown, Lily struggled to sit up, her usual calmness having been thoroughly provoked by him.
“From the moment you betrayed us, always and forever! You’ve always acted like everything was under your control. Do you think something like that is amusing?”
“How could it be possible? I’m not some god’s favorite son; how could I foresee everything? That’s a worry for the gods; I’m far from it.”
“You bastard, have some restraint!”
Angered, Lily struggled, ignoring her recovering injuries, immediately sitting up to stop Ash’s detour.
Surviving a near-death experience left Lily with no intention to yield. Facing Ash, she wished to vent all the pent-up gloom in her heart, hoping a fierce argument will cleanse her soul!
“Do you want to muddle through with some ridiculous excuses? I can no longer tolerate it!”
Lei, wearing a pajama, together with Erika and Wuki, who had waited until late at night by her side, suddenly sneezed, waking up everyone around her.
“Whether to betray us for power, to release Qijiera, or to betray the Desert Apostles again for us…”
“You always do incomprehensibly ridiculous things for incomprehensible reasons! Could it be that we, the Pretty Cure, and even the Dark Pretty Cure lying beside me, are just tools for your own fulfillment?”
Lily’s words were intense, with an unmovable resolve.
The reason, as she said, is that she had finally reached her limit after enduring it for so long; she was tired of his “empty show of force.”
“No one ever said it is!”
Ash, almost staring into Lily’s eyes, with very little patience left, let emotion show in his voice.
“Being the manager, jumping sides with the Desert Apostles then returning, all of it was my wish!”
Sigh, if I truly wanted to use you, you would have been sold out and counting my money a long time ago. Isn’t it true that now, you’re the result of the change brought about by the existence of Pretty Cure?
“As for you, because of spending too much time with you, I ended up developing extra emotions!”
With changing emotions, Ash involuntarily held onto his arm.
Damn, it is due to such matters that I become sentimental and weak. Next time, I must maintain distance.
“I wish I had known, I should never have indulged in such softening games…”
“—!”
Hearing Ash’s low muttering, the suppressed anger and sorrow and love erupted fully at that moment.
“Ash—how could you say such cruel things?!”
“Slap—!”
A crisp slap broke the silence of the night.
Ash’s face stung, clearly visible was the fresh, red handprint from the girl’s palm.
“Tsukikage Lily—”
Instinctive anger ignited like flipping a lighter switch, but before it could fuel the rest of his heart, it was extinguished by the tears that began to fall uncontrollably, expressing infinite sadness.
If last time Lily cried out of anguish over Ash’s unbelievable actions, this time she silently cried over the loss of her cherished existence in her heart.
“Like…”
It seemed that a keyword triggered Ash’s heart, making a slight tremble.
“In those days, meeting with Nasta Coffee, and meeting Lei and the others, and then meeting Manager Ash, it was truly wonderful. These memories are treasures in my heart… so, I really like it.”
As her cheeks drooped, her deep-purple hair cascaded down like a waterfall, as her violet gemstones glistened with tears. Supporting herself on her knees while leaning forward, her bent back trembled continuously.
“You once said you wanted to witness Pretty Cure’s miracles, so I worked hard to regain my willpower, trying to believe as you do!”
“I strived with Lei and the others, believing that with love, no dream is unachievable!”
Ash, back then, when you transformed into that train-shaped Kamen Rider and fought by my side, how happy I was! Yet now you tell me that it was merely an illusion?
I pledged to fight until my heart was filled, but why has the one who could fill it gone?
“Now, tell me! The former manager who helped me, the playful yet kind-hearted manager who guided and encouraged me—where has that person who I used to admire gone?!”
Beside them, the electrocardiogram machine faithfully recorded Lily’s heartbeat, as tears fell straight onto the bed, wetting her trembling hands placed on her thighs.
“Is it possible that he was just a figment of my imagination, that the person named Ash never existed from the beginning?!”
Hearing Lily’s initial criticism and now cries of sorrow, Ash felt as though he was hit in the gut.
In her, and their, eyes, had I become such a significant role?
Such a feeling, it feels as if yesterday’s me jumped into today and punched myself…
