"So that's what he meant, so we can just enjoy it with peace of mind~"
"That's it."
After hearing Erika's explanation, Itsuki also nodded and understood.
"It seems that Ash has used his far-sighted side this time. I wonder what he is busy with now..."
"I don't know, I just saw him going to the kitchen."
And the Ash that they were talking about all the time at this moment slowly opened his red eyes, cleared his throat, and put on the uniform after a long absence.
"You miss me, what's the matter?"
"Ash... ah."
When they saw his long-lost outfit, the four people who were worried about Precure were all stunned for a moment.
No, at this time, I kind of want to call him another name from the past.
"Store manager?"
161
Chapter 161 You are not Ash. Who are you?!
After Ash left, the "Nasta Cafe", which was once destroyed and rebuilt, was assigned to the common property of the five of them through a series of operations by Ash.
Whether in terms of fact or emotion, this coffee shop, which carries so many memories for them, plays a decisive role for HeartCatch Pretty Cure. So this place is mainly run by Yuri or her mother. Occasionally Lei and others will come to help as shop assistants or the proprietress. Everything is just like it was in the past when Ash was still there.
With good business planning and gimmicks such as "cold and beautiful boss lady" and "young and beautiful waitress", the "Nasta" business that gradually re-established its name in Hope Flower City has become ten times or even nine times more popular than it was in the hands of Ash in the past!
After all, the customers who came here with the intention of consuming drinks all entered vertically and came out horizontally, which is really beyond imagination for a coffee shop.
However, when these regular customers were preparing to visit as usual today, they found that a notice for reservations had been hung at the door. Among the customers who were sighing with regret, there were some old customers who looked through the window and saw a man standing at the front desk today, and their expressions instantly changed to look ugly.
Today's Nasta actually belongs to this person? Go, go, go - go quickly!
"Hey, I didn't expect that Ash would have such an experience in the past?"
"I opened a coffee shop and played with the Pretty Cure I picked up..."
But no matter what outsiders think, when they saw Ash coming out wearing an apron, the whispers between them never stopped.
"Uh huh huh!"
In response to the girls' nonsense, he raised the corners of his mouth strangely and shook his fingers in dissatisfaction.
"Don't say it so harshly, this is called rational investment in the objects you value!"
"The result is still the same!"
Although they kept arguing, the Precures who were so excited about such a "store manager's limited" version of Ash couldn't help but cast envious glances at them. The Towa even raised his hand curiously.
"Um... if you are the store manager, can you place an order?"
Yes, I'm really looking forward to it when I think about it!
"Of course~"
So under the horrified gazes of Lei and others, Ash, who enjoyed being surrounded by such gazes, flipped over the modified signboard next to him and replaced the menu selection of Nasta with the style of a few years ago.
"Whether it's Saturn, Jupiter, or Mars—"
"I can satisfy you all!"
"Wow, I'm looking forward to it!"
After looking at it for a while, they became interested. They crowded in front of Ash and rushed to order. The "HeartCatch" people behind them who were about to say something were also hesitant to say anything.
What else can I say? What a group of brave Pretty Cure who are not afraid of death.
"Oh... Store manager, give me a drink too."
"Eh, Yuri-nee?"
In the eyes of Erika next to him, who was so shocked that he sat up from the sofa, Yuri waved his hand as if nothing happened.
"I just want to try the craftsmanship after a long time."
And to Ash, who is squinting his eyes and tilting his head... she always feels like something is wrong?
"I'm starting~"
However, after drinking it, it will bring a stimulating impact to the taste buds on the tongue like a stellar explosion... Looking in awe at the few people who drank the contents of the cup without knowing anything about what was going to happen next, Lei and the others also swallowed their saliva inexplicably feeling the same.
After drinking it, they really drank it without squirting out!? And the reaction was...
"It tastes delicious——!"
Anyone who drank this cup would sigh with satisfaction as if they were ascending to heaven, and then lie down on the table with their heads dropped.
Wait, what's this reaction?
While the others were dumbfounded, Yuri, who instantly transformed into "Cure Moonlight", pointed the moonlight magic wand at Ash amid the splashing sound caused by the cup breaking when it fell to the ground.
"Who are you?!"
There was no hesitation in Tsukikage Yuri's voice, which was full of anger and seriousness.
"You didn't drink it~you just had a taste, right?"
Ash, who was pointed at, didn't show any expression at all. He just spread his hands indifferently and started pacing among the fallen people. The other three people, who were instantly put into such a tense situation by the pleasant atmosphere from the beginning, even froze on the spot without reacting at all.
No... what, what, what happened? Isn't it normal for people to drink the drinks made by Ash?
"Although it is indeed very unpleasant to drink... he personally taught me how to make it during that time, and I'm almost used to it."
As he spoke, Yuri, who was gritting his teeth, changed the magic wand in his hand, which was gradually trembling with force, to holding it with both hands.
"And the bit I drank just now... how did it taste so good!?"
Not to mention the juniors like Miyuki and Haruka, they were so unprepared that they drank your drink and were released! If you were our enemy, wouldn't this be a super beneficial development?!
Now Yuri only hates himself, because he found out too late and harmed others!
"Oh, Ash will be sad to be spoken to like this by his own store clerk, right?"
"You are not Ash. You are pretending to be him or possessing him. Who is it? Come out!"
Through Yuri's angry words, the other three people who gradually understood what was going on also quickly reacted. After transforming into Pretty Cure with the same serious expressions, they aimed their weapons at the current "Ash".
No matter what... it's fine just to attack them, but if it concerns Ash, don't think they can calm down easily now!
"It turned out to be really seen through..."
With three magic wands and a tambourine locked in front of him, "Ash" knew that he could no longer pretend, so he also untied his apron and walked to the opposite side of them with a clear clicking sound when twisting his neck.
"That's right...!"
When the original back was gradually turned back, the flashing red light coming from between the fingers covering the face, combined with the increasingly wild smile underneath, gradually created an extremely terrifying scene.
Boom, boom, boom! They were so nervous that they could even hear the sound of their own heartbeats, and even though they had sorted it out repeatedly and clenched it tightly into their trembling hands, sweat was still overflowing to moisten the gaps in the weapons...
"I just-"
162
Chapter 162: The guy who wants to possess Ash.
"That's right... I just--"
"Kain da!"
"???"
When the man suddenly turned around and said "Can anyone else do this?!", the four Pretty Cure almost couldn't help but let a Heartthrob Symphony hit him in the face.
No, what do you mean this is?!
"Kain?!"
"Yes, it's me!"
With a very coquettish gesture, they gently swept the black hair rising from the top of their head. The man who was very satisfied with their shocked expression almost wanted to dance on the spot.
"Don't be so weird. I am his devil. Is it normal to be in his body?"
And as a demon, just by imitating the original body, I can imitate it to perfection~!
"As for Ash, please wait a moment."
He closed his eyes for a moment, and a small elf emerged from his chest. As soon as he opened his eyes, he turned around and played around him as if he was announcing good news.
"Hahaha~ I'm just telling you! They will really be frightened like this, right?"
Look at the way they were worried about you just now, they seemed to be more than just scared.
"Okay, you win."
"Yeah!"
As for the man and the devil who were clapping in mid-air, Yuri and the others who were holding magic wands on the opposite side were already so embarrassed that they were about to explode.
"Wait, wait, then-then why did they collapse after drinking coffee?"
"Because I am a demon, and I am a human being, there is a certain correspondence and rebellion."
Continuing to rub the soft hair on the top of his head, Kain explained matter-of-factly.
"For example, Ash's hobby is to create the ultimate excitement that contains almost all flavors, so it is also the ultimate taste. If I were to make it, of course it would be the ultimate deliciousness."
As for my eyes being a little red or something... Heh, maybe I've been staring at the screen for too long recently, so I need some eye drops.
"Then...!"
After such an association, Erika, who was so greedy that he was drooling for a moment, quickly shook his head and came back to his senses.
"Why did Megumi and the others still fall down?"
"Because, as long as you drink coffee, a refreshing drink like coffee, you will feel energetic, right?"
"Huh?"
"So if you let me, a devil, do it... it will become a piece for sleeping, and you will feel sleepy after drinking it!"
No, what is this called?!
"Puff puff puff..."
Lei, who had nothing to say to these two guys, pouted and kept scanning Ash and Kain with contempt behind her round-bottomed lenses in protest.
"So, Ash is not doing it for that reason... it's just to trick us on purpose."
What am I saying? This is the reason why everyone is here?
"No."
When everyone was speechless, Ash took out a strange fan-shaped device and badge from his hand and said seriously.
"The story that someone is planning to possess me is actually not false."
"Huh?"
Things have to go back to a while ago.
Ash, who took the parasitic life form from Hui's hand, was about to take it to the kitchen for processing, but was suddenly bitten hard by the thing that jumped up from the corpse state.
As a "parasitic life form Celebro" that spans several universes, it loves to cause trouble and watch the "Civilization Suicide Game". Its strongest point is not its ability to possess people or its tactics to cause trouble, but its ability to escape every time!
After all, it was caught quite a few times, but it managed to escape every time before embarking on a bigger and more ruthless job! Including this time, the individual who tried to possess the legendary warrior Pretty Cure, but did not want to choose it, actually had such unfathomable darkness in his heart, and he was also blasted out of the possessed state and suffered a tragic ending.
So it simply did nothing, pretending to be completely beaten to death, and then waited for opportunities to lurk until it struck Ash at the perfect moment!
If it had been in the past, it would certainly not have chosen Ash as its target, because there seemed to be a dedicated person protecting the depths of his mind, and there was no way he could find a gap to get in and control him. Of course, don't ask him how he knew.
And now... he can feel that the existence that used to protect him has now left - so if he doesn't take action now, when will he wait?
"Ah~"
In the back kitchen, "Ash", whose eyes were flashing red, was holding his twisted neck and sighing amidst the clicking sounds.
"This is the body of Ash... how, how powerful!"