"Let's all head home for now. I need to go pick up Mana and the others too... Hm, why isn't this thing responding when I press it?"
Clap, clap, clap~
When applause rang out from behind them, Ash reacted almost instantly, stuffing Puka into his arms as he turned and assumed a fighting stance. At the same time, Itsuki, Tadashi, Iona, and the others swiftly moved into position, standing guard in front of him.
It was familiar. That overwhelming sense of déjà vu was far too familiar!
After all, when someone appeared from the shadows applauding right after the enemy they thought was the final villain had been defeated... they were usually an even more evil mastermind lurking behind the scenes.
"So you were the ones deliberately putting on this little show, weren't you? Light, Kaler!"
To dare swagger out in front of everyone like this, what an idiot... No, it was only a holographic projection? What a coward!
"Well done, heroes. As expected of humanity's last hope."
When enemies said lines like that, they were usually dripping with mockery. But when Kaler said it, with those dead fish eyes and that utterly listless air still clinging to him, nobody could tell for a moment whether it was praise or sarcasm.
"Such valiant fighting never gets old, no matter how many times I watch it. At the same time, I must express my gratitude to you."
"Gratitude? Could it be—?!"
For everyone present aside from the Pretty Cure, the implication was hardly surprising after they thought about it. Using their enemies to eliminate troublesome allies... it was simply a routine tactic for villains.
"Even if they were bad guys, they were still your companions! But you treated them like disposable pawns?"
Once the Pretty Cure understood as well, their kind