"Is this all because Ash is too ungrateful?" Lei Ya, who had eaten too much cold food in a short period of time, complained in a low voice with pain about Ash's personal problems.
The store manager I know, although he can always give us reliable advice and guidance when making decisions, he is more stubborn than elementary school boys at ordinary times and critical times. Really... When we first met, where was the handsome and decent guy who fascinated me?
"But it's no wonder, after all, Ash is the dignified Kamen Rider~" As he spoke, an aura of resentment gradually emerged. "Different from the detectives and police officers shown on TV now, this is the 'different' Kamen Rider who attacks girls."
"Of course that half-hearted person can't catch up with me, but when did Lei's mouth become so vicious?" When being stared at by resentful eyes, Ash didn't panic at all and still wanted to laugh. He supported his chin with his numb hand and leaned on the table. "The characters don't match up, or is this also part of the change?"
"I wouldn't treat others like this. Really, Ash would like to think about whose fault it is."
After finishing her meal, Lei rubbed the spoon she had just licked against the wall of the glass and drew her inner symbols on it.
"When the store manager Ash suddenly revealed his identity as Timons, the powerful enemy we have always hated, I was really scared."
"Yuri-nee, you know the saddest thing. Even if Itsuki didn't say it, everyone could see her clenching her fists. Especially Erika was crying... Her eyes were swollen from crying."
"Is it that serious?"
What does this mean? There is such a girl crying for me behind my back. Now, don't I become the worst person in that girl's mouth?
How can I say that I apologize for feeling a little bad, but I'm also a little happy?
"Of course it is. You didn't tell me anything. You are obviously the store manager but you are causing so much trouble for us clerks."
"However, after knowing some of your stories on that date, I am no longer surprised by what you would do."
After all, it is indeed because of this kind of thing that we have liberated ourselves and become stronger, although the process is very strange.
Let all the beautiful shop assistants miss you, and then break our hearts... Well, you are indeed the biggest and most evil enemy of Pretty Cure.
"What about Lei?"
The accumulated joy on Lei's face became a little depressed, and the movement of shaking the spoon in her hand stopped. She was silent for a while and then raised her fingers to gently rub the corners of her eyes. Her moist fingertips were lightly stained with a glistening smoothness.
"I cried."
The man's hand quietly leaned on the girl's back, moving in the direction to soothe her slightly trembling back.
"I'm sorry for lying to you."
But it is true that we are happy when we are together.
"Apology, I accept it."
Chapter 198 The Last Date
Lei took Ash's handkerchief to wipe away her tears, and then suddenly asked a question.
"Ash, does this count as a date?"
After all, the two of them had already had a date experience before, even though it was a "bad" experience.
"If that's what you think."
"Pfft——" Hearing Ash's answer, Lei let out a sigh and laughed out loud with the tears she squeezed out. "It's disgusting. The store manager is so carefree. He's already done that with Yuri-nee!"
"So even if I have confessed to you, if you do such a sorry thing, I will be super angry! I will definitely report it to Yuri-nee!"
Although I, Hanasaki Rei, have always been timid and lacking in self-confidence, I am by no means a woman who will hesitate to move forward when encountering difficulties!
Although I did have insomnia that day and felt very uncomfortable... I have no complaints about losing to Yuri-nee. Whether it is a confession or a broken love, I will not be too entangled. But if Ash wants to create a messy relationship between men and women that is sorry for her... Even if the target is Ash, I will definitely not be able to bear it!
"I refused." However, Lei, who was racking her brains to make Ash correct herself, was shocked by this sentence.
"Fortunately, your soul was not taken away by that kiss, otherwise, given your state, if you agreed, you would have left a lifelong psychological shadow on the little girl." The devil's voice, which only he could hear, Kain's voice, which became much weaker, echoed in his body.
I thought about all the developments at that time, but I just didn't expect that someone would take away my first kiss. I don't know if it was my first kiss. But before someone confessed to me, I didn't realize that you were actually in love with me.
"But Yuri was no longer sad at that time. He just told me that he would not give up and that he would definitely impress me... ah."
Ash I later realized that I seemed to be disappointing no matter what.
"That-like that!"
That way, I can enjoy this time to the fullest!
No further questions were asked, just the twinkling stars in Lei's eyes once again twinkled.
"Lei, actually after that day, I have a question and I have been very curious about you."
After settling the bill, Ash strode out of the store in the voice of the rabbit-eared clerk "Welcome to visit again!" Lei quickly followed behind him.
"Yuri has always admired me. Itsuki I personally pointed her out. Erika is a fool who can't even understand herself. Lei, why do you like me?"
"Well..."
Lei, who unknowingly held hands with Ash and walked side by side with a reddish face, asked after pondering for a while. "Then, is there any special reason for Ash to like heroes so much?"
"Reason? Because the way a hero saves people, the way he works hard, and the way he never gives in is very handsome, right... Are you asking for a special reason? That's not true. To me, heroes are regardless of high or low."
"Then, neither did I."
Under the bright sunshine, Lei smiled.
Ah... I hate it. Since when did the lenses of my glasses have water mist on them?
So Ash also laughed.
The two of them walked through the very familiar streets and were about to say goodbye. When they came to the shade of a tree, Lei suddenly stopped.
"Answer."
"Huh?"
"I answered Ash's question, so Ash also has to answer my question!"
Lei closed her eyes and pointed in the direction of Ash. Her round cheeks were completely flushed with shy red. She stood on tiptoes and pouted her small cherry-colored lips.
Since you want me to be serious about it, I won't allow you to have any hesitation!
It's hard to imagine how much courage she mustered up, which was not easy for her.
"At least give me the final answer!"
Lei closed her eyes tightly, and her heart was extremely throbbing. After waiting for a while, Lei felt a slightly rubbing feeling on both sides of her cheeks, and then she realized that he was holding her cheeks.
Lei didn't dare to open her eyes, but she felt the body temperature transmitted along her fingers, giving her a very warm feeling.
Although I thought I was mentally prepared, I was still really shy... but I couldn't escape! No matter what you are now, you can no longer be timid!
The slightly trembling cherry-colored lips waited, and then the man's outstretched index finger pressed lightly on them and pushed back slightly.
"I refuse."
"If the withered flower in my heart could be made to bloom again, would it be possible for me to change my mind?"
"That's really exciting."
We are certainly good at making flowers bloom in our hearts!
The two of them put the matter aside in a tacit understanding, as if nothing had happened, and Lei still acted very happy.
Although his youthful love affair was put in doubt by this man, Yuri's father came back, the duel between the old enemies was finally resolved, the battle with Desert Apostles was finally coming to an end, and even Ash came back without any fuss.
Everything is developing for the better, and everything will be fine, right?
"By the way, Christmas will be here in a few days, Ash-sensei must come!"
"I can't guarantee that."
Ash shook his head. Not only did he have to hold on for a while to avoid showing off his current bad situation, but it was also the festival for Christmas... Hahaha, Christmas in Team World was more friendly.
"Really! Ash, do you want to play the game that suddenly disappeared again?!" The very dissatisfied Lei puffed up her cheeks and there was nothing threatening about it, but Ash felt that it was getting cuter and cuter.
"If this happens, I will really be angry! It's not just me, if the same thing happens again, everyone will be intolerable!"
"Yes, yes~" Ash naturally and lovingly reached out his hand and placed it on her little head, rubbing it again.
"Speaking of which, you have an extra brother or sister... I can't help it. Seeing that Lei is so happy, I'll go out of my way to prepare something."
After pretending to have it in his trouser pocket but actually reaching into the inventory for a while, Ash pulled out a long, thin object named "Gaia Memory".
"This is still the year when Kamen Rider w is popular, right? Then I will give you a memory as a gift!"
"[Weather]!" After pressing the button above, sound effects and energy reactions visible to the naked eye were heard from the memory.
"If it's a toy, I can accept it. If it's genuine, I can only refuse it on behalf of the child."
"No way." Ash shook his head and took back the memory. After another period of fumbling, a cherry blossom magically appeared in his hand.
"Don't worry, it won't eat people or spread any strange pollen. It's just an ordinary cherry blossom that has been specially treated and will never fade."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Lei looked extremely surprised, and Ash couldn't help but shook his head after seeing it.
"Don't you think I can't find some normal gifts? I still have some common sense."
"But, there is this, for you."
Putting an envelope in Lei's hand, Lei held the envelope that seemed to contain some hard card, her eyes full of doubts.
"This is a Christmas gift. Don't ask why I gave it to you in advance. In short, you must promise me that you can't open it until Christmas. After all, it is a surprise prepared by me."
"Yeah."
Although full of doubts, Lei nodded solemnly.
However, Ash still did not respond directly to her invitation to him after all, which really made her feel a little concerned.
Chapter 199: Men just want to go to the end of the world alone
"Ash, store manager!"
The girl's call made the man stop.
"Can we meet again?"
"Goodbye."
The man with his hands in his trouser pockets walked far away towards the sun in the girl's slightly worried eyes.
At this time, I will really want to sing some cool songs.
"What's on the other side of the mountain~?"
A magnetic voice that only three people could hear echoed around the man.
After walking to the end of the street and separated from Lei, Ash began to feel the severe pain caused by the collapse of his body. He casually found a bench and sat down on it, closing his eyes and preparing to take a short rest.
But not long after, I felt that I was being poked in the face by something thin. The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Erika with a funny look on his face and Momoka behind him, covering his mouth and snickering. The two sisters who came home from school together at noon saw Ash lying dead on the bench and curiously came over to take a look.
After lifting the watch, he realized that two hours had passed. He lamented that time was running out and things were changing. Then he was stunned by Erika who seemed to have noticed something and was hesitant to speak. He smiled at Erika's angry face, waved his hand and left with Erika's puzzled expression.
"Is it love? Is it honesty? Is it bitterness~??"
After being in a daze for a while, Ash re-selected a direction. This time he met Itsuki's brother on the road. This overly delicate-looking brother's body had recovered well, but he was still a little shaky while carrying a lot of things, so Ash helped him.
I was grateful to know that Ash knew Itsuki and invited Ash to his house for sukiyaki on the grounds that "Itsuki would invite friends", and Ash also agreed.
During this period of time, the two naturally chatted about things they knew about Itsuki, until Itsuki came back, and his brother, who was smiling with his new friends today, left space for Itsuki and Ash.
The two people who had not seen each other for a long time also talked a lot. Itsuki mentioned that if possible, he hoped that Ash could spar with her again, but was rejected. However, with a mentality that he could not explain himself, he taught Itsuki one or two tricks.
"It's the road of battle, it's the fiery hell~?"
After waiting for a while, Lei and the others were also invited to gather at Itsuki's house. Everyone gathered together happily to eat sukiyaki. During the dinner, Ash even took the initiative to make a little joke about the previous barbecue party, and got a reply from Yuri: "At least you are with us now, right?"
"Although I don't know what's ahead~?"
After eating, everyone went home together until only Yuri and Ash were left together. Yuri took the initiative to talk about the incident again. She talked about her various thoughts about Mirai until finally she said goodbye to Ash at the door of her house after receiving some strange gifts from Ash.
When they waved goodbye, everyone had smiles on their faces, and everything seemed to be going in the right direction, except for Ash, who was born at night, and looked like he was alone again.
"A man just wants to go to the end of the world alone~!"
Ash looked at the moonlight shining from the sky and the empty place beside him and laughed.
"Okay, now there are no regrets. It's almost time to get down to business."
The streets around him had been replaced by an extremely desolate desert wilderness at some point. Apart from the moonlight shining on his face due to the same loneliness, there was no trace of the happy time with the girls left on the lonely desert.