Kamen Rider is the Villain in Pretty Cure

"I see."

Then, who am I, really?

Nono Hana, the only thing she could do now.

Was to bite her lip hard, to stop herself from crying too loudly.

And to smile.

[Extra] Case File 55 No One Was Looking at Me

Drip, drip.

On the tear drops that slid through the air, one side showed Nono Hana's desolate smile, the other showed Ash's stunned, hesitant expression. The uncared-for tears fell, drop by drop, onto the torn hem of the girl's fluttering skirt, shattering.

In the unknown parking lot, the two hearts that had once been aligned now bore cracks, inevitably separating. One looked up at the false light in the sky, the other looked down at the heavy ashes on the ground.

Simultaneously, at the highly anticipated movie press conference, a change was also quietly unfolding towards an unknown path.

"Yakushiji-sensei is here!"

With a shout from someone unknown, the reporters who had been surrounding the movie's lead actress, Saya, all turned their long spears and short swords, rushing towards the more newsworthy direction.

After all, she was "Yakushiji Reiro," a national-level performing artist, not to mention she had semi-retired recently. Opportunities for interviews like this were rare!

But what no one noticed was that Saya, whose surroundings had been cleared almost instantly, maintained her previous pose. Only with stiff movements did her hand, which had been resting on her right leg, slowly tighten its grip on the skirt of her dress, trembling as she clenched it tightly.

It's... like this again?

Mom, does it always have to be like this?

In a world invisible to the naked eye, dark "Rampage Energy" gradually coalesced into twisting forms within her. These mold-like forms twisted into very human-like, increasingly jealous and violent expressions. The clamoring Rampage Energy gushed out from Saya's body, almost dyeing the entire indoor space black.

This was the "Rampage Energy" that contrasted with the "Tomorrow Energy" symbolizing future and dreams used by the Pretty Cure. It was also the reason why Nono Hana, in her identity as Cure Yell, had fought alone for eight years, yet had only just managed to avoid collapsing on the road without defeating the enemy.

After all, how could one person possibly resolve the darkness that could surge from human hearts at any time? Except for a god, no one could do such a thing, right?

"Yakushiji-sensei, can you answer my question?"

"Yakushiji-sensei, what are your thoughts on your latest work—"

"Yakushiji-sensei, what about your daughter, Miss Saya—"

The surrounding reporters completely surrounded the star, a star of stars, wearing sunglasses. If it weren't for her bodyguards desperately blocking the crowd, she would have likely been knocked over by the somewhat excessive throng.

Glancing at the noisy crowd in front of her, "Yakushiji Reiro" showed a clearly impatient look. She hadn't come for the spotlight in the first place. After all, she had already achieved everything in the film industry, so what was the point?

She could somewhat understand the reason for the cold war between her daughter and her recently. So, as a form of apology from an elder, she had asked some old friends to help Saya get the lead role in this highly popular movie. She figured it would make her feel better, someone who desperately wanted to become an even more dazzling star.

"Saya!"

Pushing aside the bothersome people around her, Reiro walked all the way to her daughter, who was still seated in her original chair. However, Saya seemed to ignore her arrival, her lowered face covered by an unseen darkness.

"Saya?" Reiro asked, a little uncertainly. "What's wrong? I heard about your excellent performance this time, Mom is..."

"Isn't that enough, Miss Reiro?"

"You... what did you call me?"

"Yakushiji Reiro," suddenly called by her daughter with such a strange address, her expression froze on her face.

Saya raised her head again. It was a face that seemed to be smiling, but whether it was a passerby or Homare and the others below, who couldn't help but cover their mouths, they couldn't find any trace of joy on it.

All that could be seen was an ugly and desolate mood.

"I said... isn't that enough? You say you're proud of me, but I got the lead role this time because of your help, right?"

"But, Saya... didn't you want to become a star as amazing as your mother?"

You've already done so well, you're already famous, why do you still...

"No—it's not like that!" Tears of grievance instantly streamed from the corners of her eyes, but this was not acting in a drama. It was all from Saya's sincerely distressed face. "What I truly wanted was to be an actress who could perform on the same stage as you!"

When I was little, I admired you, so I always moved forward with you as my goal, wanting to become like you...

"Click, click—"

More and more camera flashes lit up her face. No one was happy except for the reporters who had captured the scoop.

"But... no one, not even you, has ever thought that, have they?"

Everyone assumes that my current achievements are a matter of course, because I am your daughter, a world-class actress!

Everyone praises me, because praising me is equivalent to praising you, isn't it?

In that case, has anyone ever seen the girl who worked hard since childhood, trying to chase the back of the person she admired?

"Mom, don't you realize...?" At some point, Saya, completely enveloped in a dark aura, even floated up from where she stood. Her eyes were also covered by a dark crimson.

I can't become you, and now, I can't even be myself!

"If the future is bound to be painful—"

People shouted in panic, "Doomsday Monster!" "Precure, save us!" and scrambled to escape in all directions. The entire movie press conference hall descended into chaos. Only a few fearless reporters persistently kept their cameras steady.

"Saya?!"

The sunglasses fell from her face. Yakushiji Reiro watched her daughter, who was gradually enveloped by layers of darkness and transformed into a giant Doomsday Monster. Her face, unable to maintain composure, gradually shifted from dissatisfaction to shock and collapse.

"I wish I didn't have a future to long for—!!"

Standing with his back to Nono Hana, in the parking lot where panicked figures were gradually appearing, Ash, feeling increasingly agitated, finally called her name.

"Hana, I—"

Rumble—

A colossal Raging Ender, far larger than any before, emerged from the giant building in front of them. It roared with a mournful cry, wantonly destroying the structures that contained it, its entire body erupting with a tragic energy that seemed intent on dyeing everything in darkness.

"Tch, what timing. Couldn't be worse!"

"Hana, come with me— Hana?!"

After a blunt curse, Ash quickly turned to grab her, but his hand met empty air.

Now it was Ash's turn to be bewildered as he looked around, but Hana's figure was nowhere to be seen.

[Extra]Case File 56 After the Disappearance of Love, What Comes Next?

His Nono Hana was gone.

Gone.

"Hana—!"

Pushing against the flow of people, Ash loudly called Hana's name.

"Hana! Where are you, answer me!"

Ignoring the surrounding clamor of the crowd, Ash only wanted to hear that voice, weak yet filled with energy and silliness. But no matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't find her trace amidst the surrounding noise.

"Hana, if you don't come out soon, I'm really going to get angry!"

Seriously, even my heart will get angry, and you wouldn't want to see me when I'm angry!

However, until the fleeing crowd around him thinned out, and debris from the building above was about to fall and crush Ash, only to be shattered by his uppercut as he ascended.

Still, there was no response from her.

Ash retracted his bleeding right fist. His hand trembled uncontrollably, but not from pain.

"Damn it!!!"

Ash punched the concrete wall to his right. Under the force of his outburst, spiderweb-like cracks spread from the center until the entire wall was covered, then collapsed into a curtain of dust.

Damn it! Is it because of those nonsensical things I said earlier? All of this, all of this is the fault of that riddle-spouting, useless man! Next time I see you in Nursery City, I'll rip off your book cover, I swear I'll punch you in the face! I'll hit you so hard your own wife won't recognize you, and then I'll throw you into Arkham for Batman!

Casually shifting the blame to the man he had just beaten up not long ago, Ash, pinching the bridge of his sore nose, suddenly realized something while looking at the giant monster rampaging before him.

That's not right. Nono Hana is just an ordinary person, after all. She's not and can't be a hero. Why do I care so much about her? It's just that I often tease her, feel happy when I see her smile, and often...

"Sigh..." Ash let out a meaningful sigh. "It's all... because she always foolishly comes to find me, saying that the doctor-patient relationship is fun."

Is it because in this world, she has become too familiar a shadow to him, so he's naturally gotten used to her company?

As a result, by focusing on what's in front of him, he's inadvertently overlooked her presence beside him, only realizing now that something is missing?

"Yare yare DAZE." Ash adjusted a non-existent hat brim at his temple.

In fact, how could he not understand Hana's confession earlier? But he had truly focused all his attention on the more dazzling Cure Yell, neglecting this "little flower" that was always by his side, seemingly about to wilt?

"Perhaps, I do like you?" He placed the hidden Command Changer on his left wrist, and the popped-out band secured it in place.

It's just that, liking Cure Yell, and also liking Nono Hana, because I don't want to betray either of the too-beautiful Pretty Cures, I rejected you... What is this, being so insincere? What is this confusing haze?

However, one thing was certain.

Ash looked up at the giant monster. For the second time, besides the nameless rage he felt facing that man not long ago, a genuine, pitch-black will surged from Ash's shining black eyes.

"If you hurt her..."

Then what happens next will be a personal matter.

Ash took a deep breath and raised the Command Changer to his lips.

"Riiip—!"

Decisively tearing her long, pleated red dress into a more manageable short skirt, Hana instinctively ran towards the direction the Ender had appeared.

Saya, Homare, Emiru, and so many others must still be there. She had to hurry—

"Hana—!"

Hearing Ash's call, Hana, who was also moving against the crowd, turned her head in surprise. Seeing that the man was nowhere to be found, tears streamed down her face.

Ha... No matter what, he's definitely worried about me. Mr. Ash always has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. I like that about him too, but now... I'm sorry.

After the fleeting joy subsided, what followed was a hardship and sorrow that pressed down on her like a mountain, almost suffocating her.

Her first love had failed... Haha, that's only natural. After all, no matter how much longing there is, it can't change the fact that in my life, aside from things related to "Cure Yell," I've always failed more.

I love Ash.

But he doesn't love me.

I've always misunderstood. The one he loves is that always shining "Cure Yell."

Hahaha, I actually lost to "myself." If I told anyone this, they'd surely laugh. Maybe I could become a comedian! After all, Nono Hana can't do anything.

Hana, running, nearly fell, but was bumped by the crowd in front of her, causing her to stumble and stand up again. The pain in her chest made her want to cry out loud, so she forced herself to squeeze out a smile. She didn't realize how ugly her once quite pretty face had become with this smile.

Of course, she could transform on the spot and let Ash know she was Cure Yell. Then, everyone would be happy, a happy ending! What was wrong with that? Was she torturing herself here because she was stupid?

No, that kind of thing was meaningless for what Hana wanted. After all, even Ash had said he loved Cure Yell, not Nono Hana.

Even if he was willing to accept me after knowing everything, when he embraces me, will it be the invincible hero, Precure, or Nono Hana, who has always longed for warmth but was unknown to anyone?

Hana didn't know the answer, nor did she want to know. She was afraid of the answer.

"Swish."

Standing before a cracked cement wall, Nono Hana stopped her footsteps, her high heels broken. A desolate smile revealed the only confident smile.

"I... have to do my best. After all, I am the hero who saves everyone, Cure Yell!"

The pink "Mirai Crystal" and the transformation cellphone of the "Light Heart" were combined. Amidst the pleasant standby sound, Hana forcefully embraced the Tomorrow Energy, which was incredibly cold at that moment.

It doesn't matter anymore.

What Nono Hana longed for no longer mattered.

I just need to be the hero who protects everyone. It's my own fault for having superfluous desires.

Since it's always Cure Yell who is loved by everyone, then I must make sure Cure Yell shines.