Fifty-Ninth Chapter Dark Acting
“Regina, do you think that this piece of plastic gemstone is more valuable to you than your friendship with them?”
Indeed, the unknown effect didn’t completely change Regina’s true heart, or perhaps even if it did, it couldn’t erase this friendship entirely.
Ash saw that the time was ripe and timely added fuel to the fire to expedite things.
The moment the heart wavers, whether one is good or bad, they are at their most vulnerable.
“I… I…”
I don’t know!
Unable to find an answer, the clash between her thoughts and instincts left Regina at a loss.
“But, I really want it…”
Though he couldn’t convince her right away, Ash understood her hesitation as he saw her wavering. Since she wavered, matters became easier to handle.
To further stimulate and awaken her, he decided to pull out a strong move. Fortunately, his experience in combat remained vivid in his mind.
Princess, you sure cause me some trouble.
So he loosened his grip and leaned in close to Ai’s ear, whispering softly.
“Next, I’ll let go of the knife. Use this chance and elbow strike me in the chest.”
“Eh?”
Ai initially couldn’t understand why, then quickly realized.
Right, Mr. Ash has a great relationship with Regina. If just us isn’t enough, adding Mr. Ash’s reaction should work!
“Follow my lead, three, two… one.”
Once he mentioned ‘one,’ Ash indeed moved the knife away. The reflexes of the Pretty Cure let Ai respond swiftly, elbowing Ash in the chest as he said.
Unexpectedly, the result was astounding.
“Gwa—!”
The scream from behind made Ai turn back to see the scene, eyes wide with astonishment as she watched Ash spin into the air. His chest exploded like a string of firecrackers, rolling fifteen times, losing the transformation near the iron fence beside the art museum, prone on the ground, side-handed and reaching out with a closed mouth.
“Mamna…?”
Hearing Rikka call to her, Ai snapped out of her daze and shook while pointing at some fallen figure.
“?”
I didn’t exert myself much?
Ai reckoned that the elbow strike she landed was nothing more than a normal girl’s force. Even without transforming into Longya, Ash would have felt only a bit of pain in his chest.
Though she guessed Ash would act, his actual performance was surprisingly good—no, too good!
Could it be so bad?
What’s with that spinning? Are you overdoing it? I’m粉色, not a dark Pretty Cure! What’s with that exaggerated look?
Plus, I saw you; it was when you were in mid-air that you pulled the card box off your belt. Why make such a clumsy transformation-disabling face like that? What do you think this is, some special effects footage?!
Nonetheless, Ai had to admit, Ash’s acting and demeanor were spot-on. From a glance, he seemed like a seasoned old scoundrel like Mach and Arashio.
If it wasn’t her own elbow doing it, she might have thought Ash truly had been beaten up.
“Ash!”
Unaware of anything strange, Regina didn’t expect such developments. Kamen Raider being defeated by Pretty Cure in a single move? How could this nightmare play out?
Her desire for the gem urged her to take it, but her concern for Ash kept her uneasy.
Under dual torment, beads of sweat rolled down Regina’s forehead. Finally, she made her choice, tremblingly gripping the gem she couldn’t let go of and putting it into her pocket before rushing to help lift Ash.
“Ash, are you okay?”
“Cough, cough, cough! Oh, Precure, you hit my old wound! It’s reopening!”
Crouched on the ground, clutching his chest, Ash looked so pained that even Ai felt pity for him. Anyone could likely think he was severely wounded.
“You’ve become so powerful, Ai!”
“Is it because you trained too much?”
Caught by Rikka and feeling a twitch in the shoulders, Ai couldn’t help but wonder how even they had been fooled.
“I’m fine, Princess, I can still fight!”
Seeing Ash, pale yet lifting the card box to transform again, Regina felt a sharp ache in her chest and could no longer bear it. She held Ash back, interrupting his transformation gesture.
“We… withdraw!”
Glancing back at Cure, Regina held onto Ash tightly, teleporting them away.
“They left…?”
Relief washed over Ai. Returning and seeing true concern on Makoto’s face as she stared worriedly after them, Ai wondered,
“Isn’t that old wound Mr. Ash spoke about nothing serious?”
“Not Macho-P; that was acting.”
Just as Ai explained to her companions, Joe Okada in his signature Silver Armor from Card Kingdom ran up from another corner of the art gallery, flustered.
“Ladies from Card Kingdom here, I came… where’d everybody go?”
Joe, planning to rush to support, found no enemies upon changing into his armor; only four puzzled girls looked at him as if watching a street performance.
“Haha, sorry, I guess I startled them. Can I ask where Miss Regina and the others went?”
“It’s over!”
Laughing awkwardly and picking up Ai-chan, facing the doubtful expressions, Joe knew he had to stop playing riddle master now.
Before the girls voiced their doubts, Joe quickly changed the subject, assuring them truths would follow afterward.
“My apologies, ladies, I always say such enigmatic things, arriving late during such a critical rescue—how embarrassing, hahaha…”
On the way back, holding Ai-chan, Joe began to apologize sincerely to the girls.
“I think it’s not your fault, brother. Although you often sidestep things, you’ve given us heart-shaped charms to help us through tough times.”
Listening to Joe’s words, Ai, being kind-hearted, easily forgave Joe for his riddles.
“You did this for our guidance, didn’t you?”
“Haha, I merely wanted to contribute what I could by helping you. After all, only legend tells of the warriors—Pretty Cure—who can defeat the Selfish King and save Card Kingdom.”
However, regarding guidance, Joe felt highly inadequate due to certain secrets. He then considered another person.
“I saw your battle against the black knight. Guiding you, he might’ve been better suited to this role than I.”
“Who, Mr. Ash?”
Not expecting such a statement, Ai was caught off guard.
“Even though his methods were abhorrent and excessive for you, there’s no denying that through him, you’ve grown quickly.”
Like a spring, rather than just throwing it upward, the real way to make it bounce high is pressing it down first. The spring wouldn’t break but would return greater strength, flying higher upon release.
Even Joe, who disliked Ash, had to acknowledge his methods.
Could all Mr. Ash does now be to guide us?
Thinking of this possibility, a new, unprecedented feeling brewed in her heart.
