Kamen Rider Is Playing the Villain in Pretty Cure

Kamen Rider Is Playing the Villain in Pretty Cure Author: Wandering Soul of Slash Slash Slash

Synopsis:

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"I want to get cozy with Pretty Cure."

"You misunderstand me, buddy. I mean, why do you keep collecting darkness while appearing as a mysterious third party, playing both the hero and the villain? Where are you headed? Who are you fighting for?"

"To get a few Pretty Cure wives."

Side Story Case File 1: The Twenty-First Century Is Crying

Books had rough drafts and final drafts. So did worlds.

Only after countless corrections and revisions could the final "draft" be completed.

"Has it... become impossible to count?"

The haggard man stretched and rose from the desk piled high with papers. In his hands was the "book" he had just completed.

He lightly tapped the numbers on each bookcase and walked to the corresponding one. Would the remaining gaps still fit around two more books?

He nudged the previous volume aside and placed the new one inside. Faint traces swept past from beginning to end.

"Looks like I'll have to make a new one after the next book."

With that thought, the man returned to his desk.

There were some things that needed handling, and this time, it had to be done quickly.

He picked up a sheet he no longer needed and watched the words spread and connect. The paragraphs made of text looked like a diary, but a diary should not record future events. The desperate stories written in those interwoven passages eventually turned the manuscript paper into a meaningless sheet of black.

He shook it as if in disgust, then casually stuffed it into the shredder. He sorted out the ones belonging to the same version and fed them in as well.

More versions. Rough drafts, second revisions, third revisions...

He no longer intended to read them. The man merely stared at the growing pile of paper scraps inside the shredder while mechanically feeding stack after stack into the slot.

The future truly was something that could not be changed...

"!"

A burning pain ran across his fingertips, stopping his movements. The man gently blew on his aching finger, then turned his head in annoyance to see what it was...

"It" did not speak, nor did it make any movement.

What stood before him was far too astonishing.

It was a flame.

A weak, tiny flame dancing atop the manuscript paper, yet a flame brimming with life.

Surprised and delighted, he stood and brought his hands closer, but then stopped. This captivating miracle was far too fragile. If he interfered, this small surprise might shatter.

He slowly sat back down, bringing his gaze level with the pink cluster of flowers.

"The future changed itself. This really is...!"

"Ah—was it a miracle?"

The flame began spreading in every direction, yet the manuscript pages carrying the flower remained unharmed.

Upon the manuscript paper that recorded the future and despair, the flames left behind a brand-new hope never seen before.

[Go over time ＆ space...]

[An otherworldly person from beyond the Infinite World comes to meet a woman]

[To carve this brand-new moment]

That day, only one miracle stirred within that vast study.

Swinging her sword, swinging her sword, swinging her sword.

Pretty Cure continuously swung her holy sword, which radiated streams of light. Every strike carried nearly all her strength.

"Precure! Sacred Sword!!!"

Radiance blazed in every direction. The holy sword raised high was like another sun rising, emitting endless might.

"Yaaahhh!!!" She roared as she slashed the light toward the battered Doomsday Monster. Under the scorching radiance, its terrified and unwilling cries gradually faded. When the light dispersed, the Doomsday Monster's massive body had completely evaporated, and the Rampage Energy that made up the monster returned to the heavens.

She shakily rose to her feet. Her powerless hands trembled, and the Melody Holy Sword felt heavier than ever.

"It's over..." Cure Yell softly reassured herself as she sat on the ground, gasping for breath.

"Pretty Cure!"

"Thank you, Cure Yell!"

Tomorrow Energy repaired the damage caused by the monster. Gradually, unfamiliar voices began to rise from those places. She hid the unbearable pain beneath a smile, waved to everyone who had survived the disaster, then summoned the little strength remaining in her body and left the scene.

After reaching an empty place, her gorgeous pink cheerleader-like outfit dissolved into specks of starlight.

Leaning exhaustedly against a nearby wall, Nono Hana felt the spot on her lower back that had just been struck throb faintly. No amount of deep breathing could ease the bone-deep pain, and fine beads of sweat kept forming on her forehead.

Two years ago, an attack like that definitely wouldn't have even brushed my clothes! But I never expected that now—ow! It hurts, it really hurts! The waist I bumped the day before yesterday got hit again today, so of course it hurts! Did I overestimate what I could handle?

"Ha... ha, ah! I have to hurry. There are only fifteen minutes left."

Without stopping to rest, Nono Hana straightened her slightly wrinkled supermarket uniform, endured the pain, and hurried toward her father's supermarket.

My name is Nono Hana, twenty-two years old! I'm currently single, though rather than single, it would be more accurate to say I've never even been in a relationship... No, I'm getting off track!

Not long ago, I was still the president of Hope Tomorrow Company, aiming to bring happiness to everyone. But because my investment startup failed, I went bankrupt. Now I'm working at my father's supermarket... The gap is way too huge, waaah—!

But actually, behind the scenes, I'm a Pretty Cure whose true identity no one knows! Ever since long ago, I had protected everyone as Cure Yell, fighting the world-threatening Doomsday Monsters all by myself. Pretty amazing, right? But keep it a secret from everyone, okay?

"Ring ring ring~" Nono Hana jumped at the sudden ringing from her body, hurriedly dug her phone out of her pocket, and pressed the answer button.

"Yes, Saya? Sorry, I really didn't have time last time... Yes, this time, I definitely, definitely won't be late! Hehe, trust your Kotori one more time!"

Last time, she had been delayed by a Doomsday Monster that appeared at just the wrong moment. Come to think of it, that time had been truly dangerous. By the time she finally won, everyone had already gone home.

Trying to balance both sides, the unpredictable Doomsday Monster invasions consumed all her spare time. Although her failed business had not left her with debts that made life even harder, her work was never easy.

Without a miracle or any change, it seemed only a matter of time before her body gave out and she was defeated.

"Would it really... turn out that way?"

Just as Nono Hana was about to leave, she suddenly heard the rapid sound of water from beyond the woods on the other side. Even though she knew nothing, instinct still drove her to ignore the possibility that taking a detour would make her late. She pushed through the bushes and ran toward it.

Perhaps because he had fought without rest for too long, Ash was not in good condition, even though he had only recently arrived in this new world.

The existence of Dark Echo was far greater than he had imagined.

[The previous Dark Echo cleanup was incomplete. You should rest—]

"Shut up! If I rest, I can only watch opportunities slip through my fingers!"

And I would never let even the slightest opportunity go, even if the price was my life!

He waded deep into the rushing river, the current constantly lapping at Ash's cheeks as if trying to swallow him whole.

"Just... a little more!"

Finally, his hand reached the iron box in the middle of the river. But unfortunately, the current tore apart the rope in his other hand that had been keeping him anchored!

Not now, of all times—glug glug!

What an embarrassing way to die—

Unable to call for help, without any footing, his body was in such terrible shape that he could barely even move. Just as he watched himself about to drown, a voice suddenly came from nearby.

"Hey! Are you hurt? Are you okay?!"

"Quick, grab my hand! I'll pull you!"

Ash could not see who was speaking, nor did he understand why, despite being unable to move, after hearing those words, his other hand instinctively trembled toward the voice.

They were delicate, small hands, yet filled with determination. They tightly grasped Ash's hand, stepped into the river as well, and disregarded their own safety as they slowly dragged him away from the dangerous riverbank.

At that moment, Ash felt as though some kind of energy had been poured into his body. It was only a little, but it was truly healing his body and spirit, which had long been riddled with wounds.

His strength... had returned?

He used all his strength to turn his head toward the other side and saw the owner of those hands.

Side Story Case File 2: The Unseen Future

"Phew—!"

So tired, really tired. It felt like all my Tomorrow Energy had been drained out of me, hahaha...

Having used all her strength, feeling as if her arms were about to be torn from her shoulders, Hana sat back on the grass. The person she had desperately pulled from the river knelt on the ground, coughing violently.

It was early autumn, when the river water was at its coldest. Her soaked work uniform sent a piercing chill through her body, making her shiver all over. Yet when she saw the man beside her, she still smiled.

Thank goodness. I saved him.

"How did you fall into the river? It's flood season right now. It's really dangerous!"

"I..."

"Ah!" When she saw the hour hand on her watch approaching a certain number, Nono Hana cried out. "I-I-I'm out of time! Um, I'm really sorry, but I have to go first!"

"You should hurry to the hospital so you don't catch a cold, and next time, you absolutely have to be careful!"

"Hey!"

Ash looked up and called out, but received no response.

"Something... feels a little off..."

Watching the careless back of the pink-haired woman, who nearly tripped over a stone by her feet again, Ash brushed aside the wet hair stuck to his face.

Her movements... Well, forget it. She had already gone far away, and there probably would not be another chance to meet. More importantly, this thing...

He set down the black box that had nearly been swept away by the river. This thing, which had somehow been deployed incorrectly, had nearly gotten him killed before he could accomplish anything. He wanted to see exactly what it was.

He turned it over and over but could not find anything like a switch. He clearly remembered seeing this thing before, so why could he not recall it...? Oh!

After shaking the water from his hair, he suddenly remembered that when he had struggled through the rapids, that woman had placed her hand on the box and released a dazzling rainbow glow...

I remember, I pressed here, right?

"Now on start up, put your left hand into the box."

When his hand touched a certain spot on it, a crisp announcement came from the box.

"Hm?"

Seeing the empty opening in the center of the box, Ash hesitantly inserted his hand.

The enormous black box disassembled the instant he put his hand inside. After dazzling light covered his entire arm and slowly faded, only a small red device remained on his wrist.

"V-Commander mounted. V-Commander mounted. I'll record your voice."

"Input the start up code."

"TIME FIRE! TIME FIRE!"

"Oh, so this is how it goes."

No wonder. This really is... I like it!

It had been a long time!

With his back to the sun, Ash slowly raised his hand before his face, then sharply swung it in front of him.

"TIME FIRE!!!"

"Hana, how did you end up like this?!"

"I'm really sorry, Dad—" Suddenly remembering that she was not at home but at work, the embarrassed Nono Hana repeatedly bowed in apology. "No, I'm really sorry, Manager!"