"That trick actually made me go through such a big detour. Damn it, can't it be simpler!"
At this time, another cadre of the Tragedy Kingdom was wearing a tiger skin apron and holding a thick red-skinned Kanabo. The "Akaoni" looked exactly like an evil ghost in a neon fairy tale. He put his big stick on his shoulder and stood bored in a place covered with various metal pipes. This is a processing factory engraved in the DNA of Toei tokusatsu enthusiasts.
Around him, there was a dark purple "tragic ending" barrier that unfolded. However, this barrier did not expand to the entire world as usual, but only enveloped the factory, causing the workers inside to fall into despair.
"Tch, no one is stopping me, it's so boring!"
The reason why the previous consistent F2A strategy was not used was due to the special plan put forward by Guipai this time. First, Wolfurun released clown monsters outside to attract Pretty Cure's attention to fight with them. In fact, Akaoni was secretly allowed to start another tragic ending in such a secret place with a large population gathering, absorbing people's Tragedy Energy.
Akaoni, who has always been careless and careless, and only thinks about how to get in front of A, certainly doesn't like such conspiracy. If the ghost card hadn't brought out the Emperor Pierrot sign, he wouldn't have bothered to pay attention to any battle plan.
'This is what humans call a plot to slay Chencang. If we don't know it from the ground up, Mr. Wang Jian can't stop us, right? Huhuhu~'
Thinking of the ghost card snickering and explaining to himself, Akaoni was very unhappy and waved Kanabo, and smashed it on the big jar next to him as if to vent his anger.
"Whether it's Wolfurun or the guy with the ghost card, he's called the mask... the real face Rider is so frightened that he did this, right? Humph, then you should come quickly and let me, Akaoni, meet you properly!"
What he didn't notice, just to vent, was that cracks visible to the naked eye began to spread from the surface of the large jar next to him.
As his damage caused cracks on the surface of the tank, the value on the valve dial representing the pressure reading at the top of the tank exceeded the value of the originally set safety limit valve.
Chapter 38 Precious memories belonging to Yayoi
Yayoi gradually remembered that when the teacher assigned homework to them in the classroom today, everyone behaved differently.
Reika has always looked calm and confident, while Nao and Akane were worried that it was really unspeakable for them to ask their parents about such things at such an old age, while Miyuki was happily discussing and looking forward to getting some "super happy" answer.
Only Yayoi... At that time, in order not to disturb everyone's happiness, I deliberately lowered my head as if I hadn't seen it and didn't interrupt.
Regarding my name: I once asked my mother how the name "Yayoi" came about. My mother said that my grandparents actually gave me many names to choose from, but it was my father who overcame all objections and made "Yayoi" the first gift given to me in the world.
As for why dad did what he did, and why it had to be named Yayoi... Even if he wanted to get the answer, dad had already gone to heaven.
"What do I want to do, let dad tell me?"
Yayoi recalled carefully, trying to recall every detail of his relationship with his father, whose face had become blurry, before he was five years old. However, after the previous quarrel, Yayoi, whose mind was in a mess, could not remember the name clearly.
Gradually, memories about another incident began to become clearer.
My father has been very busy due to work and is not able to go home often, so I have to stick to my father more than my mother.
If my father was at home, when I was about five years old, no matter what kind of grievances I encountered outside, I would run home and cry in my father's arms.
At that time, after my father comforted me, he would always let me sit in his arms and watch popular tokusatsu dramas on TV with him. However, he often scared me, which led to my mother preaching to my father.
'Dad, why do you like these so much? Yayoi I'm so scared looking at the monsters above! '
At that time, I was not interested in special photography, so I only dared to watch the scenes on TV secretly through my fingers.
'Oh, I'm sorry Yayoi. Even though you are a girl, I asked you to watch this with your father, and it scared you. I'm so sorry! ' At that time, my father would always apologize and touch my head with his rough but warm hands. With such warmth, I could forget about the things I was afraid of.
'For example, if it's with dad...Yayoi wouldn't be so scared~'
'Yayoi is really strong. I will definitely become a gentle child like my mother in the future. '
Although my mother often lectured my father about this matter, what my mother didn't know was that there was a little secret between my father and me.
When I was a child, the reason why I naturally believed my mother's lie that my father was Kamen Rider was because my father also said similar things.
'Dad, why do you always have to be outside and can't always be at home with me? '
At that time, I didn't understand the concept of making money to support our family. When faced with my simple question, my father at that time pointed at the Kamen Rider on TV with bright red light flowing all over his body, and smiled like a child.
'Yayoi, do you know? '
'Actually, the reason why dad can't come back to see Yayoi often is because dad is actually Kamen Rider too! '
"Eh?!"
'Justice Kamen Rider is a righteous partner who protects children! So in order to protect a good boy like Yayoi, dad has to fight the evil weirdos outside and can no longer stay with Yayoi. '
'Is Dad going to fight such a scary monster?! ' Looking at the white centaur-like monster on the TV, little Yayoi, who didn't dare to take another look, shrank into his father's arms and began to cry excitedly. 'Dad will be hurt if he fights with such a scary monster! Yayoi doesn't want dad to be a hero anymore, Yayoi wants dad to just be my dad! '
The words that were originally just a joke caused such a big reaction from his daughter. The man, who was a little confused, quickly comforted the poor daughter, and then whispered in her ear in a serious tone with a gentle tone.
'Don't worry, dad will never leave, because as long as there is something to protect, a hero will never lose, and Yayoi is waiting for dad, right? '
'As long as Yayoi can obey her mother's words when her father is not at home, her father will be motivated to defeat the bad guys so that he can go home and see Yayoi! '
'Then, Yayoi will be a good boy! '
The calm and powerful tone from her father made Yayoi calm down, and the power of conviction in his words made her believe this sentence.
'But mom doesn't know about this yet, Yayoi needs to keep it a secret from mom. '
'Okay, hehe, in this case, it's the secret between Yayoi and his father! '
In front of the TV in the cozy living room, a middle-aged man whose face was blurred in his memory and his daughter who turned from crying to laughing in his arms hooked their little fingers together.
'Although I don't know which gangster could be so lucky! But dad promises that until Yayoi puts on the wedding dress, she will become a beautiful bride! '
In the memory of his childhood, his father's face has been blurred, but his rough but extremely generous and gentle hands, even now, Yayoi can still remember the sense of security he felt when he stroked her hair.
'Until you marry a man that your father agrees with and is worthy of your trust. '
'Dad will definitely protect Yayoi like the hero on TV! '
Tears flowed down uncontrollably.
Dad... clearly said that he would stay with me until I put on my wedding dress and get married.
Why, why did you leave Yayoi so early?
Why is my dad not the real Kamen Rider, and why is my favorite hero just a fictional character in comics and not a real person?
Not wanting to think about Ash that exceptional nuisance anymore, he instinctively walked in a certain direction, Yayoi covered his ugly expression and shook his head vigorously.
"Is it because it's a false dream that it always looks good?"
In real battles, you will be injured, and the injuries will be very painful. If the pain reaches a certain level, you may even die...
The original Yayoi, even if I saw the story of someone passing away in the comics, I would not dare to read it and turn the page. Even though he knew the fact that his father was going to heaven, he had no real sense of death.
But now that she thinks about this, she understands a little bit what the so-called terror of death is all about, and why Ash said she didn't want to fight.
Being able to achieve a natural happy ending without any effort is a beauty that only exists in dreams.
"So for me, it's about getting rid of cowardice and gaining the same bravery as a hero."
"This short and excessive experience of becoming Pretty Cure..."
Is it just a "dream" like the moon in the mirror?
Even if there is an occasional shining light, it is just a spark that flies away in the wind. It is just my unrealistic vision. And am I just a timid student who only dares to express my feelings in paintings?
Completely confused, Yayoi grabbed his face harder with his fingers, inserted them into his hair, and twisted his soft short hair into a mess.
No one can tell her the answer. No one can tell her the answer. The only one who can answer her own questions is her own answer.
Now she has no idea and can't come up with the answer even if she thinks about it.
"Hmm...?"
When Yayoi, who was carrying his schoolbag, came back to his senses, he realized that when he was in a daze, he had followed a certain direction and arrived in front of a city factory covered with steel pipes that could often be seen on TV.
Why do I have to come here... Ah, I seem to have remembered it.
"This is... where dad used to work."
Chapter 39: What are the qualifications to become a hero?
Yayoi walked into a factory built of various steel structures, with a scattered pipe structure overhead. Work composed of such intricate conditions, to a certain extent, was simply a complex environment created for "battle".
Yayoi walked uneasily on the only path between the overly quiet factories, passing by a rusty white control box and passing by a red iron box with "fire extinguishing equipment" written on it. Looking at the factory warehouse in front, Yayoi stopped.
This place really feels familiar... and it's not just that.
"This is... where dad used to work."
No amount of white lies can deceive a grown-up child. When he grew up, Yayoi learned from his mother that his father was just an ordinary factory worker who died in an accident. He was not a good partner "Kamen Rider" to protect the children.
However, my mother told me everything about my father's work. I've obviously never been here before, so why would I come here—ah!
Even though she didn't transform, the power hidden in Pretty Cure's body actually "collided" with the surrounding air, causing her to feel uncomfortable. This sensitivity allowed her to "hear" a hint of discordant strings.
"This feeling is... could it be said?"
Thinking of what would happen when he felt like this, Yayoi, whose legs were trembling slightly, froze in place, and his face began to turn slightly blue under his forehead that started to sweat.
I felt a little tangled in my heart, but it didn't last long. Yayoi shook his little head and patted his face, picked up his schoolbag and rushed into the warehouse!
"This is the barrier of the Tragedy Kingdom!"
Following the nauseating dark aura, he pushed open the ajar gate in front of the warehouse. As soon as he entered, Yayoi was instantly shocked and speechless by the internal environment.
A rich deep purple environment surrounded the entire factory, and the workers who were supposed to be on duty at their posts were now muttering negative words such as "The work is so tiring..." and "What's the point of going to work..." and fell to the ground, not caring that the equipment around them was about to go berserk because it had not been operated for a long time.
What's going on?! Miyuki Didn't they just defeat the clown monster Wolfurun? Could it be that Tragedy Kingdom appeared twice at the same time in one day? Moreover, this time the barrier does not cover the entire world, but is only limited to this factory. Tragedy Energy is extracting workers. What is going on? What is the plan?
Yayoi couldn't figure out what was going on. Just when she was about to escape from here and look for an opportunity to inform Miyuki and the others, a very unfortunate wind blew and closed the gate that had only been opened a little.
"Ah!" Yayoi, who almost screamed, quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Looking at the door lock that automatically locked, the girl's amber pupils began to tremble violently.
Even the escape route was cut off, this kind of thing——Yayoi today must be so unlucky!
There was no retreat, only forward. The girl carefully continued to move forward, climbing all the way to the control room at the top of the warehouse. Yayoi saw more workers who fell into despair because of the tragic ending.
And in the deepest place, she saw her old enemy, Tragedy Kingdom's cadre "Akaoni"! Fortunately, Akaoni was leaning beside the huge industrial tank out of boredom. Judging from the bubbles on the tip of his nose, he was fast asleep, so he was completely unaware of Yayoi's prying eyes and proximity.
Just when Yayoi was secretly rejoicing that it was great that she had not been discovered, her sharp eyes saw the spiderweb-like cracks on the surface of the huge tank. What was even more terrifying was that as steam leaked from the valve at the top of the tank, the pointer on the instrument panel that Yayoi couldn't understand began to rotate rapidly like a helicopter propeller.
"Ah wow wow wow - what should I do, what should I do!" Yayoi wanted to stop the rampage in the factory, but as she didn't know how to operate it, she could only circle around the control panel anxiously.
If the can explodes, Akaoni doesn't know what will happen, but the uncle worker near the can will definitely suffer! Well, if things come to this, we can only use the power of Pretty Cure to save people!
"Precure! Smile——" She took out Smile Pact from her pocket and was about to transform when Yayoi realized that her makeup box was still sealed. To her now, the transformer was just a plastic toy that couldn't even make a sound.
Yes, I am no longer [cure peace], but just a little girl without any power, Kise Yayoi.
The makeup box was held in the palm of the girl's hand and made a creaking sound. Yayoi, who did not shed tears like before, raised his head again and looked at the workers lying on the ground unaware of the danger. His eyes, which were originally empty except for confusion, became firm.
Throwing his schoolbag on the ground, Yayoi ran back to the working area under the warehouse, and with great difficulty helped a desperate worker. His small body almost used all his strength to support an adult who was much larger than himself. He supported the adult's body and moved step by step as far away from the tank as possible.
I admit, it was because of the influence of my father who likes Kamen Rider that I gradually fell in love with such a hero. This simple yearning made me want to be a person with courage like a hero.
But what Ash said is right. I am not qualified as a "hero". Compared with the powerful Reika and others, I am still a crybaby coward even if I transform.
'I don't know what I will do to become a hero. I don't know if I am qualified to be a hero. I don't know anything! '
Putting the worker uncle on his back behind a barrier specially set up to avoid danger in the corner of the warehouse, Yayoi, whose clothes on his back began to get soaked, continued to run towards the desperate people, panting.
'But... even I, a coward, know what I have to do now! '
Going back and forth again and again, it seemed as if a miracle really happened to her. The thin Yayoi actually dragged many workers who were much larger than herself from that area. The girl continued to go back and forth this dangerous distance regardless of the extremely painful pain in her lungs, which were panting like a broken bellows.
Like the heroes on TV, I also want to do something to the extent that I can for the innocent people who cannot protect themselves...
"Haha - yes, is it the last one?"
When his body could no longer feel the pain, Yayoi, who was still planning to save one more person, found that all the workers lying near the jars had actually been dragged away by him.
However, what Yayoi was worried about finally happened.
With a deafening loud noise, the girl who was standing there in sweat was knocked to the ground. The huge tank exploded continuously from the top. The flames of the explosion first engulfed Akaoni, who was sleeping on it.
Although the surrounding workers were dragged away by Yayoi under the nose of Akaoni, following the turmoil caused by the explosion, a huge steel bar fell from overhead and hit Yayoi.
Yayoi, who had already exhausted his energy, was unable to move a finger when he lay on the ground.
'I remember that my father died in an accident in this factory. '
So this is also my bad end?
"Dad.."
I'm so scared...
Yayoi closed his eyes and shed the saddest tears since today, which was full of sadness.