Chapter 96: Ash Had Always Been, and Still Was, That Self-Centered Person.
"You are not allowed through!"
Her twin tails were just as fluffy and exuberant as when Miyuki was Cure Happy, while her simple yet elegant black dress made the purple-haired girl—who looked almost like Miyuki's double—seem like the Princess of some nation. Yet this very "Princess" was now standing between the two sides with a fierce expression.
It was more than a verbal warning. An invisible force accompanied her voice, forcibly blocking off both sides. Her slender legs, wrapped in purple tights, crossed inward into an X-shape as she strained with her entire body to hold back the enormous cage-like wall gradually solidifying into form before everyone.
"Nicole, don't do this!"
"Miyuki, don't stop me! I've decided I won't let this bastard lay a single finger on you again!"
When Miyuki tried to talk her down, the twin-tailed girl called "Nicole" stubbornly and forcefully insisted on her own way.
"What exactly did you do?!"
Anyone could see what was going on. Miyuki clearly knew the girl they had thought was a "kidnapper," but what exactly was this situation?
"You people are the ones who don't deserve to be her friends!"
"And who are you supposed to be?!"
Hearing that, the more hot-tempered Akane immediately confronted her.
"You talk like you're something special, but we're Miyuki's good friends!"
"Hmph. I was by Miyuki's side when she was little."
Since Miyuki currently had no objection—whether willingly or not—Nicole naturally explained on her behalf.
"I knew Miyuki long before any of you did!"
Eh? So Ash and we were actually the ones who came later? Seriously?
"Then, after Miyuki had grown up and so much time had passed, I had started to think she had forgotten me."
Nicole's low voice revealed