Kamen Rider is playing the villain in Pretty Cure

"Ah."

The sparkling cherry pink was blurred by the emotion that unconsciously surged from within.

"To Alice? Hmm... it's too classic."

As Emi's slender fingers plucked the piano, the melodious piano music brought the people who were enjoying the music into a wonderful process. Even Ash, who rarely sat in his seat, propped up his face and listened attentively. He could only occasionally sense some sadness coming from Hana.

"What's wrong? You don't seem to hate this song, so why do you look unhappy?"

"It's indeed a beautiful song, but Emi plays it in a very sad way."

Looking at Emi Ryo sitting upright on the stage, the keys were plucked and moved as her fingers pressed down and bounced back. It was a dreamlike scene for both the audience and the performers, but the more Hana understood, the sadder she felt.

"In fact, when I first met Emi, his favorite instrument was actually guitar, and his favorite music was rock music."

"However, as someone from a prominent musical family, her hobbies were not supported by her family. No, it would be more accurate to say that they were completely opposed to it."

Hua told stories between herself and her friends, and now she started to talk more and more.

"A long time ago, she once came to me, whom she always called her senior, to cry and complain, but I couldn't do anything except hug her and comfort her."

"After a long period of awkwardness, she ultimately followed her family's plan to become a pianist. While she's certainly achieved remarkable success, I can't help but wonder if I had been able to support and help her back then." As she spoke, Hua's gaze lingered on Ash's face, as if trying to discern something. "Just like how Ash had worked so hard to achieve this, wouldn't she have been happier?"

"Hana, I want to tell you something... No, you should have known this a long time ago." Ash flicked the collar of his vest, his gaze behind his glasses becoming profound. "In this world, perhaps like in every other world, only a few can truly live according to their true desires and thoughts, let alone find happiness in them."

Countless people have fallen in the pursuit of so-called "truth".

"Indeed, it is."

After all, I am the same. If it weren't for Ash's miracle, I would probably... work hard until the black ash is burned out, that would be my end.

Thinking of this, Nonoka scratched her head and laughed in a funny way. "Hahaha, really, you must be troubled by suddenly saying this to Ash? Even though we're not even familiar with each other—huh?"

Hana made a puzzled sound as she felt the broad hand pressing down on her head.

"flower."

"I think your life has been changed by me now, right?"

"Yeah....so?"

"It's never too late." The man grinned at her. "It all depends on whether you're willing to change."

【Bonus】Case File 84 Date (Part 3)

"This...this..."

Pretending to be calm, Hua put down the front page of the newspaper in her hand and tried to appear calm and composed. However, her constantly avoiding gaze and low stuttering revealed her true feelings at the moment.

After a cycle of inhaling and exhaling, the girl, believing she had calmed down enough to endure the subsequent amount of information, turned her gaze back to the front page of the newspaper.

The two people in the center of the photo were himself and Ash who were standing on V-rex's chest at the time. Their movements were coordinated as if by telepathy. Cure Yell took a step forward and hooked his arm around Ash's neck, while Time Fire lowered his arms and held Nonoka's waist.

Her sweat-soaked pink bangs stuck to her pure white forehead. With their eyes closed, they leaned closer under the rising sun, kissing each other for love and for tomorrow. The incredibly beautiful scene, like the last bit of beauty left in the ruins, seemed both cruel and romantic.

This was, admittedly, the most beautiful moment of Nonoka's life to date. But that would be if it hadn't been captured by a reporter and put on the front page of the United Nations World News for billions of people to see, with a headline like "Love, the Future, and Robots" underneath... Also, how come this photo is so high-definition! Not only is there a blush on my face, but even the water droplets on my lips are still slightly connected... Ugh! No way! Shocking! Shocking!

Looking at Nonoka rolling on the ground because of extreme shame in her heart, Yu, who had brought a group of people to the underground bar after finishing the performance, changed the direction of his legs and deliberately made a teasing tone with interest.

"Not only will it be a front-page headline, but this year's Pulitzer Prize is probably a sure thing," Yu continued to tease the flower that was visibly steaming from his head. "I don't know why, but I've also seen countless desperate and frantic comments on the anonymous forums, shouting, 'My idol's reputation has collapsed!'"

"So, how does it feel to make billions of men around the world heartbroken? Warrior of love ~cure yell-chan~?"

"Really? Yu, you're so annoying!" Hua, feeling uncomfortable from being teased, simply puffed out her cheeks and started a fight with Yu. "Ten billion or something... that's not even that exaggerated!"

"Maybe it's really that exaggerated, Mr. Ash."

"Well, that means my kiss of love not only won the heart of the Pretty Cure, but also eliminated over a billion competitors." Ash, also sitting at the front of the stage, enjoying the music on the phonograph, didn't look embarrassed at all. Instead, he rubbed his chin with a look of great satisfaction. "As expected of me, I easily defeated the Precure of Conservation City because I'm a Time Ranger."

Ash called out to Saaya, who was acting as a guest bartender, and gave additional instructions.

"Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred."

"Of course." Saaya's face was beaming, the despair she'd felt when she'd become a Terminator gone. "But to be honest, a certain Time Flame is feeling the same way right now. There are so many girls online crying about heartbreak."

"That's what I mean." Yu deliberately leaned back with his hands behind his head and sighed emphatically. "Oh, I didn't expect that Time Flame actually has a girlfriend or something. He's also heartbroken."

"Wha-what?!" Hana, no longer shy, approached with wide eyes and a dazed expression. "Yu actually-actually likes Ash too?!"

"Huh? Huh?" Yu was surprised by Hua's reaction, then laughed it off. "Although his actions were a bit harsh, he was indeed a benefactor who helped me get back on my feet. Indeed, I was quite moved by him..."

I have said it so bluntly, I hope Hua won't misunderstand me again.

"Hmph..." Nonoka let out a heavy nasal sound, with a somewhat aggrieved and angry expression, and hugged Ash's waist from behind while he was tasting the wine. "No..."

"Eh?"

"No!"

"Ahaha, Xiaohua is disgusted by my joke..."

"Well, let me tell you..."

After finishing her performance, Emi was put into a van in a sack by four people wearing sunglasses and masks backstage. Thinking she was being kidnapped, she kept begging for mercy until she found out that she was taken to the underground bar owned by Saaya by her friends.

God have mercy on her, this lady from a noble family who received an elite education since childhood has never been to an underground bar, let alone a proper KTV. Just being in this kind of atmosphere with music and dim lights makes her whole body numb!

However, it’s fun to see everyone joking with each other here, even arguing for fun. How long has it been since I laughed at such a simple thing since junior high school?

Emi, who had been unable to participate in the conversation and could only watch, couldn't help but speak up. "Can I go home now? My curfew is about to expire at 6 pm."

"Take out your phone."

"Eh?"

"Just take it out when I tell you to."

"Oh, oh..." After taking the phone from the timid girl, Ash turned it off and placed it on the table without any protest.

"There's a curfew at 6pm or something... Oh my god, are you that elementary school kid who used to live next door to me and could never get ahead of me?"

"Okay, that way no one's going to bother you by calling." Seeing Emi's hesitant expression, Ash, after downing the vodka martini Saaya had prepared, pointed at the four people present, including himself. "Also, why do you think we suddenly came to this place?"

"Um, because it's fun?"

"That's part of it, but the main reason is of course for you, Ms. Emi, because you have a great group of friends."

"Emi's performance earlier was indeed beautiful. The melodious melody was tinged with a touch of sadness that added to the melody's richness." Saaya's eyes gleamed with wisdom as she adjusted her glasses. "But that was precisely because of the sadness you felt while playing. It was a reflection of your feelings."

"Ha...hahaha, Saaya, you're kidding too. What are you talking about?" The blonde girl, stared at by four people, smiled sheepishly. "I've been practicing this with my family since I was a child. How could I say this in such a sad way?"

"That's the problem, Emi." This time, Lian Yu also shook his head and continued, "Remember you told us before? What you really like is rock music, but you just don't have the courage to change the fact."

"Whoo~"

Ash blew out a breath of alcohol, and his eyes glanced at Nonoka who was also worried.

Is it the girl's dream that is slowly being extinguished by the so-called reality? Being able to become anyone and do anything is, after all, a privilege only for a few who are strong both physically and mentally.

Reality is just like this! Thinking about the face he might have to deal with, a look of disgust and disdain appeared in the man's eyes.

Tsk... even for me!

[Extra] Case File 85 Date (Part 4)

"It's been so long, have you even forgotten your dream?"

The girl instinctively wanted to refute Yu's words, but she didn't know when her tongue became numb and she couldn't open her mouth. When this long-buried idea was mentioned again, her old dream came back to her like a snake bite.

"These are irrelevant..."

Besides, we are adults now, what else can we do - huh?

"This is yours." Ash raised his hand and threw a bright purple electric guitar to Emiru, who was still in emo. The guitar head was specially shaped into the shape of an uplifting mechanical falcon head.

"When it comes to rock beats, there are no limits or impossibilities."

"Everyone, it's time to show your stuff!"

He pushed up his glasses and clapped his hands in surprise at Emi's surprise. Everyone seemed to have been prepared for this. From the box under Saaya's bar, they took out the special musical instruments that Ash had been interested in. Saaya was holding a bass decorated with ivory and mammoth head shapes, Hana had set up a folded dragon-shaped drum set, Yu was holding a key that seemed to be entangled by vines, and the sound receiving part of the microphone in Ash's hand was made into the shape of a wolf's head with its mouth wide open.

"What is this?!" Faced with the electric guitar that was suddenly thrown into her arms, Emiru seemed very at a loss, especially when she saw the falcon head on the guitar headstock that seemed to look down on everything and rebel against everything, the girl could not take her eyes off it.

[The eagle's eyes are looking at me, and I seem to have seen it somewhere.] Although she knew that this was just a well-made decorative part, for some reason, this thought popped up in Emiru's mind.

She stroked the unruly falcon and looked up at the people who had stood up.

"This is my great idea. You must accept it with gratitude."

"Hey, but I think this dragon doesn't look very good." Nonoka raised her hand weakly. She was a little overwhelmed by the green dragon shape on her pink drum set. From then on, what Ash received was not the gratitude of the ladies, but continuous complaints from everyone.

"Why did you put this thing on my piano keys, Ash? The piano keys are heavy enough as it is, and my old shoulder strap has an uneven weight distribution. Now add this on top of that, do you want me to go to work with uneven shoulders tomorrow morning?" Yu played with the heavy artillery decoration on the piano keys in his hand, complaining about Ash's strange aesthetic.

"Although I'm definitely better at playing bass, didn't we agree to put the drum kit under my seat?"

"Well, maybe I didn't hear it because you were a little less noticeable."

"Ha, how can you be so excessive!!" Sa Ling instantly got furious after hearing Ash's light words. She seemed to have entered the [Fierce Killer] mode, holding the ivory decoration on the bass as if she wanted to stab Ash through.

He raised his little finger and rubbed his earlobe. Behind his back, Hua hurriedly smiled and tried to comfort his friend, but he blew away the debris on his finger, pretending not to hear anything.

"Um..." When the atmosphere on the scene was about to change from an underground bar to an arena, Emiru, who had been silently stroking the eagle's head, spoke.

"Isn't this the same guitar as in the book 'Summoning the Killing Eagle'?" Emiru raised the electric guitar in her hand and pointed at the scarlet eagle head.

Don't think I can't see it, it's such a classic logo——

"Oh, you also read comics about rock music, Ms. Pianist~"

Ash, whose fishing scheme had succeeded, raised the corner of his mouth and smiled triumphantly.

"No, uh... I just, just, read it occasionally! You know, bookstore discounts are always hard to resist, and they always stuff some when bundling books... you know that, right?!" Emiru seemed to have exposed something, dancing with her hands and explaining to her girlfriends who looked at her with "I see" expressions, something that seemed impossible to explain.

Seeing the embarrassed expression on Emi's face that said "His trick is exposed!", the others couldn't help but laugh along with Ash.

"Emiru." Saaya interrupted Emiru's defense.

"You will believe it, right, Saaya?"

Holding the guitar in front of her chest with both hands, the girl's eyes sparkled as she longed for help from her friends.

"The single volume of "Summoning the Killing Eagle" is currently only available to those who made advance reservations online half a year ago." Saaya pushed her glasses and calmly spoke the words that would break Emiru's last hope.

"It's a very expert-level collection. Emi Ryo really likes it, right?"

The ship Emiru Aizaki was sunk.

"Listen up, Miss Emi." He approached Emi, who looked completely gray and white. The arrogant chuckle on his face gradually subsided, and Ash adjusted the sound quality of his instrument to maintain his composure. "This is a flower—no, more than just a flower. These people are worried about you, but I wonder if your dream is real or dead."

With the help of others, a stage that was much simpler than the one in the square was set up in the bar. Seeing that there seemed to be a performance, other customers came over in twos and threes to see what kind of stage it was.

"Let us see it and prove it!"

"Or, you don't dare~?"

I don't dare? Ha, this is a low-level provocation... provocation...

At some point, the fingers pressing on the guitar strings began to pluck along with the background music.

"Wuuuuuuuuuuuu!! I know, I know. I just can't let this go. Whenever there's something related like Lonely Rock or I'm Crazy About Music, I'll secretly buy it and watch it. Okay, are you guys satisfied now?!"

As if accepting her fate, Emiru, who had originally had a dazed look on her face, suddenly exploded. The unprecedented emotional outburst made Yu and Saaya subconsciously close their eyes. Ash felt a soft touch against his right half of the body. Turning his head, he saw Nonoka leaning against him tightly, burying her head in the side of his body.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-" After venting her resentment, Emiru looked up and looked directly into Ash's eyes.

"Are you done venting?"

"I'm done venting."

"What, do you want to continue?!"

"Come, come, come! I'm coming!"

"Ha, that's exactly how it should be done!"

They also became excited and grabbed the microphone in front of them. Following the exciting melody behind them, this amateur band began their first melody.

Before starting this plan, Hua expressed her concern that she had only learned to play drums for a while before and could not be considered a good player at all. However, Yaxiu said that as long as she could make sounds, nothing else mattered.

After all, for rock music, as long as it can convey the power to uplift people's spirits, everything else is unimportant.