The idea of using his battle-hardened tactics and skill to make up for the gap had already been put into actual combat. As for the rest...
Well, Ash had no idea either.
A machine's performance was not the absolute deciding factor in battle... It sounded inspiring, but the guy who said that would soon be so stunned by the opponent's performance that he slammed the table in frustration.
Fortunately, he was not the only one troubled by this right now.
"Why, why!?"
While Ash kept thinking, Rikka on the other side was not merely venting her anger. After the tears on her pale face dried, two streaks remained beneath eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
"Why do I feel so familiar with you too?!"
The more she fought, the more Rikka noticed that instinctive sense of rhythm with him, as though it had been ingrained into her body. It was as if she had known him since much earlier.
"Why? Why is this happening?!"
In truth, Rikka's anger was not solely directed at Ash because of the malice from the past. It was also directed at herself—starting with that inexplicable flutter in her heart that she had never been able to forget, that feeling of being inexplicably tied to him and utterly unable to let go.
He was obviously an enemy, so why was she harboring such two-faced feelings, like some utterly shameless bad woman?!
Why was she so skilled at this?!
"Ugh..."
At some point, Diamond Angel's assault stopped. All that remained was Rikka shaking her trembling little head again and again, utterly baffled and conflicted.
I, Rikka, am not some lewd, indecent person! Because if I were—
What right would I have to be a Pretty Cure? How could I call myself everyone's companion?!
How could such an