This time, Reika met his gaze without the slightest hesitation. She even pressed her forehead against his, the distance between them so close that their noses nearly touched, each able to feel the warmth of the other's breath.
Taking advantage of the silent standoff, the others rushed forward. Holding back screams at the sight of his horrifying burns, they swiftly applied medicine with trembling hands and clumsily began wrapping his wounds in bandages.
"..."
The black and blue stared at each other for who knew how long. In the end, Ash was the one who relented and raised both hands, only for Miyuki to press one of them down with a pained expression and start wrapping bandages around his arm.
"Yes, Your Highness." Ash lightly raised his other hand to his chest. "Your will."
This was the first time Ash had cracked a joke in front of them today, seemingly trying to ease the tense atmosphere. Yet everyone could hear the bitterness and sourness beneath it.
"Ash."
Someone called his name, followed by the girls' voices, thick with tears and apology.
"I'm sorry...!"
"..."
This was a hospital. On his way to the ward, he had seen the victims. Even though he had tried his best to do something he was not good at, trying one's best did not guarantee success. For upright people like Pretty Cure, this outcome probably hurt them even more than losing a battle hurt him.
"Yeah..."
Sitting beside Akane, Ash gave a slight nod.
He could not even come up with a single comforting thing to say.
The wind and rain continued to rage. After that violent day, the night passed in silence, and people licked their wounds without a word.
"Good afternoon, Ash."
As Yayoi, the last to enter, closed the door, the girls