Kamen Rider is the Villain in Pretty Cure Chapter 10

Although Ash, the center of attention, quickly lost his novelty and was now tapping his foot impatiently, the girls' eyes were shining with curiosity, almost to the point of killing him with their gazes, piercing through Ash's disguised shell. It was as if their sole purpose at that moment was to completely expose the inner world of this young doctor before them.

"That's all I can tell you. Aside from things concerning my own little secrets, that's the story between me and Nono Hana."

Stare----------------

"Believe me, we're just a doctor and a patient. At most, I have a little more authority because her family entrusted me with it. You can put away your curiosity. By the way, my own little secrets have nothing to do with Nono Hana. I won't say any more about my personal privacy, no matter how much you ask."

Facing Emiru, whose interest was particularly high, Ash, speaking at an extremely rapid pace without even punctuation, quickly delivered the lines prepared by the system.

Ah, although unlike other systems, I don't get to flirt with the protagonist and make my presence known, it's quite useful in crucial moments!

Despite Ash's lengthy explanation and the effort he expended, Emiru's curiosity and thirst for knowledge did not diminish. She leaned forward, almost pressing herself onto the table, the words "I'm very curious" practically written in her eyes.

"But, I still feel like there's something else."

Ash bent his fingers and rubbed his temples. How did that saying go? I hate kids with sharp intuition.

"Emiru, Mr. Ash doesn't plan on saying any more. Pushing him further would be rude to both him and Hana." Yakushiji Saaya, a seasoned actress who had become more adept at social interactions than anyone present through her experience in the entertainment industry, noticed Ash's growing impatience. She spoke up to stop Emiru and gently patted her head, guiding her back into place.

"Ah... I-I'm sorry!" Reminded, Emiru finally snapped out of her excitement. Seeing Ash's darkened, impatient face, she realized she had been dancing on the edge of his temper. She sincerely apologized, understanding that further questioning would lead to an unpleasant situation for everyone.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Ash. Emiru was a bit too excited today." Saaya, a working professional, stood up along with the college student. She gracefully apologized on behalf of her companion. Glancing at Nono Hana, who was looking away with a scattered gaze, she bowed again.

"And thank you for taking care of Hana. She's our important friend, we're truly grateful."

"It's fine, I won't dwell on such small matters."

Seeing the beautiful blue-haired woman apologize and express gratitude, a large portion of Ash's anger dissipated.

As the mighty Time Fire, I wouldn't care about such trivialities... that's the kind of character I am, I guess.

However, as his gaze passed over Saaya and landed on Emiru, who was cringingly bowing and apologizing, Ash's sharp senses detected something unusual in her demeanor, which was filled with a sense of ritualistic formality in every movement.

Is she finally letting loose after being suppressed for so long, seizing this rare opportunity to vent?

Feeling utterly exhausted, Ash slumped back into the soft sofa chair. Dealing with girls' interrogation-like questions was truly the most troublesome thing for him. He would rather fight a hot-headed Red Warrior from a Sentai team after assassinating a cruel emperor. At least those guys, whose eyes were redder than their battle suits upon seeing him, never made him feel so powerless and stifled.

Oh, strictly speaking, I'm a Red Warrior now too.

Emiru's questions were about to make him explode. He really wanted to lash out. If anyone dared to bother him like this normally, he would have flipped the table and shoved a gun into their mouth. If the other party wasn't classified as a person by biological or ethical standards, there was a high probability he would have pulled the trigger while they were still talking tough. He had done the same to Banno when he was first born, without any hesitation.

But he couldn't. If he wanted to enjoy the fun aspects of this identity, he had to abide by its rules, otherwise, it would lead to even more troublesome things.

Ah, thinking about it, I guess time has really smoothed out my rough edges.

Until the "balance" from Nono Hana saving his life was depleted, Ash's principles wouldn't allow him to embarrass his savior. Besides, he was a good doctor.

He picked up his glass of orange juice (ordered by Saaya) and drank it down in one gulp, then asked the waiter for another.

"It's a bit surprising, Dr. Ash also has a side to him that can't handle people."

"Even geniuses aren't omnipotent. Unless I decide to stop being human, I have my limits... One more orange juice, please. And thank you for the hospitality. I'll pay this time." Saying something incomprehensible, Ash raised his hand and ordered a third glass of orange juice, then asked the waiter who brought the drinks and desserts for the bill.

"Ah, how can we let you do that, Dr. Ash! Let me!" Emiru reached out to stop him, taking the bill the waiter presented and signing her name.

"This is our little get-together, after all. We can't let Mr. Ash pay."

"Then I gratefully accept." Without refusing, Ash stood up, feeling at ease. He patted his increasingly wrinkled white coat and took out his phone.

"I have some other matters to attend to, so I'll be heading back now. Hana, if you want candy, go to the clinic yourself. If you forget the way, ask your sister."

"And..." Ash, with his hands in his pockets, stopped and turned back to Hana. "You have wonderful friends."

"Okay... Ah, wait! Dr. Ash—See you agai—"

Hearing Ash's words, Hana, who had just snapped back to attention, tried to wave goodbye, but the corner of Ash's coat, like the wind, had already disappeared around the street corner.

"Ah, he left."

"A strange feeling?" Nono Hana pondered the meaning of the phrase, finding riddles like this to be too much for her.

But since everyone said so, she decided to try and feel it.

Feel, feel... a little happy, a little lost... and a movement, no, that doesn't seem like the feeling in my heart, it's a real movement.

Nono Hana closed her eyes, as if this would strengthen her senses. Wait, senses? What were Homare and the others asking her to feel?

Her thoughts gradually quieted. Saaya and the others watched Hana's increasingly serene expression, exchanging glances that conveyed "just as expected." A fond smile bloomed unconsciously on their faces.

Nono Hana was still trying to feel. She had indeed sensed something strange, something peculiar and very dark. It felt like a feeling she encountered often.

Wait, feel, feel, this feeling is—

"We're doomed—a Doomsday Monster!" Nono Hana suddenly stood up. The others were startled by her abrupt action. Before they could even ask what was wrong, a rumbling sound, the shattering of glass, and the crash of furniture and pottery hitting the floor mixed with beast-like roars assaulted their ears.

"Doomsday Monster (We're doomed)!"

A blast of wind shattered the glass and surged towards everyone in the cafe. Saaya, reacting the fastest, lunged towards the immobile Homare, shielding her from the flying glass shards and gale with her own body. With her free hand, she grabbed Nono Hana, pulling her behind her. Emiru immediately threw herself onto Saaya, reducing Saaya's exposed surface area. She then quickly grabbed the expensive leather coat that had been taken off and placed aside, covering herself and the others for added protection. Homare and Nono Hana pressed themselves down with all their might, huddling together tightly to resist the impact. Only when the initial gust subsided did the four of them release each other.

"What happened?" Kagayaki Homare gasped, looking out the window. The act of pressing herself down had also compressed her internal organs, and her face was flushed red as she clutched her aching stomach.

"It's a Doomsday Monster, and it's right near us! Emiru, carry Homare. Hana, stop spacing out, we need to leave quickly and get away before the Doomsday Monster gets here!" Saaya, with her quick reflexes, was methodically directing the four-person team's retreat.

In the years since the Doomsday Monsters appeared, there hadn't been a lack of courageous individuals who tried to fight back. However, human strength and weapons were completely incapable of inflicting any effective damage on these monsters born from volatile energy. The only one who could fight the monsters was that one girl... and now, perhaps, that guy as well.

Emiru draped the coat over Homare and picked her up, following behind Saaya. Nono Hana trailed at the end, the group keeping as low as possible as they quickly navigated the streets, darting past the feet of the rampaging Doomsday Monster.

"What do I do... what do I do, what do I do, what do I do!" The Mirai Crystal and Light Heart in her pocket radiated a scorching heat, urging Nono Hana to fulfill her mission as a Pretty Cure and defeat the Doomsday Monster. But her companions before her were someone Nono Hana absolutely could not abandon, and they wouldn't just stand by and watch her leave abruptly.

Biting her lip tightly, Nono Hana made her decision. She would first get Homare and the others to a shelter to ensure her friends' safety, and then she would immediately run out to transform and fight.

She hoped it wouldn't take too much time...

However, fate had other plans. As the four of them continued to hide in the Doomsday Monster's blind spots, an alarm from a nearby shop's wreckage was accidentally triggered. The Doomsday Monster's attention was naturally drawn to this area, and it spotted the four of them on the move.

"Run! Run fast! Don't stop for a single step!" Saaya shouted, and everyone immediately quickened their pace, breaking into a sprint.

"Doomsday Monster!"

The Doomsday Monster's massive body crushed and destroyed buildings on both sides as it strode forward at an incredible speed, chasing after the four of them.

Emiru, carrying Homare, was naturally the slowest. Their combined forms were also the most conspicuous target in the Doomsday Monster's eyes. As Emiru's stamina waned, the two of them gradually fell to the rear of the group.

"Emiru—No, just throw me—!"

"Don't say that, don't say anything. The Pretty Cure will come! We'll be safe, don't say foolish things!" As a friend of many years, Emiru knew exactly what Homare was about to say, but she would never do such a thing. They had to escape together, they absolutely had to escape together!

Sacrificing a friend to escape herself was something she absolutely would not do, nor had she ever considered it!

The emotions were intense and deep, but the Doomsday Monster's approaching steps and their slowing pace were undeniable realities.

The feelings in their hearts couldn't influence reality so easily.

"Damn it!" Kagayaki Homare gritted her teeth, her face filled with unwillingness.

If she hadn't encountered that car accident not long ago, if her legs could still move... My legs—move, legs! Why, they should have healed already, why are they only trembling and unable to move—!

She tried to command her paralyzed lower body to act, but the deadness in her senses remained undisturbed by this will.

She thought of her past self. In junior high, she was a dazzling ice skating star. Everyone believed her professional future was limitless. But the reality was that after one failed jump, she completely lost the courage to leap. Even now...

Thinking of the past, tears couldn't help but stream down her face.

How can I be so useless!

"Honestly, always causing trouble for me..."

A figure standing atop a tall tower, overlooking the disaster below, quietly rolled up his sleeve, revealing the V-Commander hidden beneath.

"Honestly, I didn't plan on going too wild from the start, this is all your fault."

Complaining, he brought the Commander to his lips and uttered the command that would set the world ablaze and transform it.

"Time Fire."

[Extra]Case File 17 V

The Doomsday Monster's shadow loomed closer, eventually engulfing the four of them.

Nono Hana knew she couldn't go on like this any longer. She had to transform, otherwise, everyone would be in danger.

The identity she couldn't reveal was cast aside. She forgot her fear of not being accepted. If transforming could save her friends, any price was acceptable.

She turned, preparing to take out the Light Heart, but saw the Doomsday Monster's right foot about to stomp down on Homare and Emiru. It was too late to rush over and transform.

It's no use, unless a miracle happens, unless a miracle saves everything.

Miracle—miracle, miracle! Miracleeeeeee—!

As the crying call of the little girl with her hair covering her eyes echoed in Nono Hana's heart, a miracle... no, sparks of light responded to her, igniting the world.

Unsure of what happened, in just a thousandth of a second, the Doomsday Monster's body was sent flying by a tremendous force. The resulting dust storm blinded everyone. When the dust settled, they saw...

"Stomp, stomp, stomp—"

The first thing the unsteady ladies saw was a figure entwined in flames slowly approaching the other, overpowering it despite being smaller.

Crisp footsteps shattered the fear.

Crimson flames illuminated the shadows.

A body of silver and red steel roared, descending, ready for action.

"Have you forgotten Time Fire?"

As if to remind them, Ash, who lightly brushed his fingers over his smooth helmet, added.

Red flames enveloped and burned everything. Bursting forth from the heat was Ash, naturally, clad in a scarlet combat suit.

"V-Rex! Knock that bastard Doomsday Monster away."

Raising the V-Commander on his wrist, he issued a voice-controlled command.

"ROAR!!!" The mechanical dinosaur V-Rex, having somehow completed its remagnification, responded to Ash's command with a roar. As if returning to the Jurassic era, the massive dinosaur accelerated its enormous, heavy steel body directly towards the Doomsday Monster.

Zeeeeng—!

The sound of steel colliding spread like a shockwave, causing Saaya and Nono Hana to cover their ears.

The Doomsday Monster, which was lifting its foot to take its next step, was caught off guard by the heavy impact and lost its balance, flying backward. With the explosion, building after building became casualties of the Doomsday Monster's massive body. Fortunately, after eight years, even if they couldn't damage the Doomsday Monster, the escape skills they had honed allowed the people to retreat into the nearest underground shelters the moment the Doomsday Monster descended.

"Well, their evacuation and escape skills are comparable to those of the TPC."

"Doomsday Monster!" Grabbing onto the ruins with both hands, the Doomsday Monster roared furiously back at V-Rex. At both ends of the "passage" created by this collision, the steel behemoth and the dark monster faced each other, flexing their muscles and ready for action.

"Doomsday Monster!"

The Doomsday Monster charged towards V-Rex. Its equally heavy body made the very ground tremble, leaving a dusty trail behind as it crushed the ground. V-Rex lowered its head, its massive claws leaving similar indentations on the road. With every step forward, countless dust fragments and objects like cars were sent flying by the impact of its heavy body.

Both sides began their charge simultaneously, clearly intending a head-on collision. The two giants grew closer and closer. The Doomsday Monster swung its arm, its extended reach allowing it to strike V-Rex first and stop its charge. However, V-Rex was more than just a mechanical dinosaur; it was a product of future cutting-edge technology, a mobile arsenal. Its missile pods opened at this moment, and missiles whistled through the air towards the Doomsday Monster. Continuous "boom!" sounds erupted on the Doomsday Monster's body, the immense impact force flipping it onto the ground. Immediately after, V-Rex, having already reached the Doomsday Monster, lunged with its gaping maw towards the Doomsday Monster's left leg.