Kamen Rider is playing the villain in Pretty Cure

"Leave me alone for a while."

"....Um."

Ayumi withdrew her hand somewhat reluctantly and nodded, giving him room to think.

"..."

A closed his eyes, relaxed his body and began to review everything that happened today.

I wanted to stop the ambition of my other self, but the gap in combat strength was too hopeless. I didn't even have a chance to resist and I was defeated.

I tried, I resisted, but to no avail. The disparity in strength meant that impossible things simply couldn't be done... It seemed there was nothing I could do. All that was left was to wait. The only one who could stop him was Pretty Cure. If even Pretty Cure couldn't stop me, then I would be waiting for death.

I am too weak and the result will not change.

But is this a good idea?

The memories and thoughts I inherited made me want to help those girls caught in the vortex of conspiracy.

If that's the reason, I have no complaints about sacrificing my life, but if that's the case...

It seems that there is something not enough...

In the short time left, what exactly are my "desires (things I should do)"?

"If it were me..."

If Ash were here, what would he do?

Taking a deep breath, A immersed himself in a deeper level of thinking. What he didn't notice while swimming through the cell coins that had just been digested was that there was a faint light flickering in the core.

Another me thinks that I am Ash, and even if I am not, he said that he wants to become the same as Ash.

I am just the opposite. I don't even have a name. I just used a fake "A" to deceive the little girl. I am even afraid that I can't face the "acquaintances" from the past, so I don't think of myself as Ash.

I can't fight as bravely as Ash, nor can I understand his awareness. I just inherited his "adult" growth. I can't have the same "courage", "miracles" and "love" as him.

So, what is my biggest difference?

It's not about strength or appearance. I have the same memories inherited from Ash's soul as he has. He was even able to defeat the Pretty Cure group, but I don't have any real sense of "victory".

From my perspective, I am not as good as Ash, and I am also not as good as my other self...

"I don't understand."

I don’t understand, I can’t figure it out, I just don’t understand what I can’t figure out!

only...

"I must figure out what the difference is between him and me."

The difference between me and "Ash".

This biggest and decisive difference may be the only way I can stop him...

Here's your chance.

“Puka!”

As he thought about it, his weight fell back and pressed down on the girl's bed with a loud sound. After another crisp sound of being cut in half, A collapsed with its left and right sides as the center.

"Ah...broken again?"

Feeling the piercing sound of broken wood behind him, A, who was lying on the broken bed, couldn't help but think so.

This is really terrible. The first time I came here, I broke Ayumi's ceiling and bed, and now I broke it again. I feel so embarrassed in every way.

Not only did she save me twice, I feel like I owe her even more. But honestly, I don't think I'll be able to repay her even if I don't have more than two days left to live...

Um....

Ok?

"A, are you still there?" There was a knock on the door, and after a while, Ayumi pushed it open again. "I've already prepared the bath water. It seems like you haven't taken a bath since yesterday. How about you... um?!"

As she was still speaking somewhat embarrassedly, the girl was startled by A who suddenly appeared in front of her and even stared at her with bright eyes.

"What, what happened?" the girl asked shyly.

Is there something dirty on my face? No way, it's just some water. Seeing how serious I am, I'd be embarrassed too...

"Is that the difference...?"

"Eh?"

Chapter 43: I only help you, no reason needed

"Take a bath? It's not a big bathhouse, I don't need this extra enjoyment..."

Although I really want to say that.

But the bathtub in Ayumi’s house is so comfortable!

"Gululu..."

The young man, with his entire body below the nose submerged in the warm water and his eyes slightly narrowed, looked at the boy with a comfortable look on his face. Bubbles kept floating up and bursting around him.

"Ah, is everything okay? Is the water too hot?"

Even through the door, one could hear the owner's unconcealable shame from the sound coming from outside the door. It made sense. After all, talking to a person of the opposite sex who was taking a shower through the door was too stimulating for such innocent girls.

"No, it's just fine."

When we first met, perhaps because I made such a shocking appearance, the welcome gift I received from her was a big slap in the face, which made me think that she was the kind of unruly and difficult person to get along with.

But now I understand that although she can't even speak when meeting strangers, she is actually a good woman with a gentle heart that is no less gentle than anyone I have ever met.

If I think about it this way, I feel a little uncomfortable when I think about her giving this kindness to someone else when she grows up...

“…”

A emerged from the water and leaned against the smooth bathtub, twisting his wet hair with his wet fingers.

Water can wash away the dust and blood on his body, but it cannot make his armor stronger. Feeling the temperature of the warm water flowing through his body, A did not feel that the fatigue in this body had lessened.

"Want more time..."

I managed to get by with the coins this time, but how much longer can I expect? What about the next time? There probably won't be a next time.

“Or maybe it would be nice to have more helpers…”

Thanks to my other self, the Pretty Cure girls probably won't trust me anymore, not to mention I can't overcome my inner desire to face people I know. Besides, it's impossible for me to give up Ayumi and switch to the other Pretty Cure camps now.

Forget it, I can stop daydreaming here.

The guy who only thinks about himself can of course say that he is Ash without any psychological burden.

So he can show his desire to "get" Pretty Cure without reservation.

Can I?

As for me, all I want is for the Pretty Cure to be happy and satisfied... For that, as a disabled person like me, anything is acceptable.

Haha, not even enough desire, it really is more like a human than a greedy person.

"Is there nothing wrong with your parents?"

The boy who came out of the bathroom took the towel, turned his body away and wiped his wet hair.

"Mom and Dad are going on a business trip today, so they're not at home."

"Yeah."

Judging from the casual tone in Ayumi's voice, she must be used to it.

I remember she said that she had a bad relationship with her parents. Miyuki also said before that she transferred from another school. It seemed that this was not the first time. So when she was in Nanaseigaoka, she didn’t have many friends other than Miyuki...呍.Is that so?

"Is this a common thing?"

"Are you worried about me? Don't worry, I'm fine!"

In order to reassure A, the girl showed him her smile openly, but it still couldn't be hidden from the boy's eyes.

I couldn't maintain my friendships because I had to change schools all the time, and I always felt lonely because my parents were on business trips for a long time. As a result, I became afraid of losing people and became afraid of making friends. But if I did have friends, I would cherish them very much.

It's somewhat similar to me.

"What about clothes?"

Putting these thoughts aside for the moment, A began to change the subject as if nothing had happened.

"It looks like there's nothing left in Dad's closet. I'll just have to wait until they're done washing in the washing machine and then hang them out to dry tomorrow. Is that okay?"

At worst, you can just go to bed and don’t have to worry about catching a cold.

"There's nothing wrong with what I said." The shirtless A raised an eyebrow at Ayumi. "But Ayumi, you're surprisingly brave. Except for that idiot croissant, you're braver than any precure I know."

This is your home, and it's just you and me.

"Hey, thank you..." The girl thought he was praising her at first and was about to thank him subconsciously, but suddenly she realized what he meant and her face flushed instantly.

I seem to be...used to something incredible!

"Anyway...if mom and dad are not around, you can sleep on dad's side!"

The stuttering girl covered her face with one hand and pointed to the room on the other side. She was also in a panic and wanted to change the subject quickly.

"Oh, I thought you were going to let me sleep in your closet."

"Pfft~"

Listening to what A said, she laughed.

"It's not Doraemon or anything, puhuhu~"

The originally awkward atmosphere was dispersed by the girl's lighthearted laughter. They didn't know when, but even though they had only been together for a day or so, their relationship seemed to have become quite close.

so...

"Why is Ayumi still helping me?" A asked, hoping to resolve the doubts plaguing his mind. "The scope now has already exceeded the scope of the original agreement."

In other words, I can no longer repay your kindness any more, right?

"That's not the case, my friend A~"

A actually felt doubtful about my feelings. He was so cool and indifferent at the beginning, but now it seems so rare.

But if A was really a nuisance, we wouldn't be the friends we are now.

"Although there were misunderstandings at the beginning, we've been working together well, right? Whether it's becoming a Pretty Cure or partnering with A, I'm very happy!"

"I don't know what you think, A, but I'm doing something happy!"

Imitating A's frivolous tone, Ayumi also took the initiative to joke with him.

"Besides, it's not all for A. Ayumi, I'm also acting for my own goals now!"

Ayumi couldn't help but laugh.

"Why..."

A was a little stunned.

"I want to help my good friend. If you want to help a friend, you don't need a reason!"

He had never seen this ordinary girl smile before, and unexpectedly, there was such a beautiful scene.

------

"Step~"

In the darkness, two figures that almost blended into the night were jumping between the buildings and seemed to be bickering with each other.

"This time, we've made a deal. Cooperation with you will only happen on special occasions like this!"

"Hmph, alright. Anyway, I won't lose no matter who my opponent is."

Following the breath and the smell, the two of them, like butterflies and shadows, peeled off the intersection of light and darkness in the city, and finally landed on a famous house and locked onto the only target.

Through the window glass, two pairs of similar eyes locked onto the sleeping face of boy A.

“Found it~”

"Sleep so soundly."