Kamen Rider is playing the villain in Pretty Cure

But I just made it up at that time. After all... I really forgot about it.

The constant traveling through life made him forget many things that ordinary people take for granted very early on, including the period of his own "birthday".

"The last time I was happy about celebrating my birthday..."

What time is it again?

I still remember that there was no one beside me to celebrate this joy with me. But when such a person came to me, I had already forgotten it very early.

"Flower~"

Ash smiled, a happy and satisfied smile just from saying her name.

Although it doesn't matter to me that I have already lost it.

But, when she said this, she was all smiles...

So happy.

So, is this what it feels like to share your feelings with the one you love, through thick and thin? Really, I'm happy just by having them by my side.

As long as you're always by my side...

"Snapped."

The beast electric gun fell to the ground with a loud bang due to Ash's mistake in rotating his fingers.

"Ah... That's too bad."

Ash suddenly came to his senses and hugged his head, a look of infinite pain and confusion on his face for a moment.

"I've changed."

He had never thought he would be so emotional.

"I've become, really a little reluctant to..."

"I don't want to leave here... leave the flowers."

He never imagined that he would feel so regretful... and reluctant.

"What should I do?"

No one could give him a standard answer.

"[.......Feel sorry.]"

Even the "system" that has been with him from the beginning cannot give an answer.

"Ash?"

Hua pushed the door open after hearing the noise and looked at him worriedly.

"Are you in a bad mood now? Was my suggestion of celebrating our birthday together really too weird? Or maybe not..."

"No, how could that be?" A smile replaced the original expression on Ash's face. "Being able to celebrate with flowers, there is nothing more joyful than this~"

"If you're really happy," Hana pouted as she stared at Ash's expression. "How could you have such an ugly smile?"

"Am I not overly happy?"

Nonoka said nothing, staring at Ash who was obviously hiding something from her with his exaggerated movements but was unwilling to tell her.

Some are angry, more worried, and...

fraud"

--------

"Happy Birthday to You~"

Not only were the Nono family present, but Hideo, Saaya, and the others also came to celebrate the two's birthdays. Saaya, once a world-class actress, sang with a sweet voice like a play, casting a sacred glow over the two who now led the "Golden Crown."

"Happy Birthday!" The intense rock guitar and electronic music broke the atmosphere. The "Happy Birthday" song adapted into rock music was played from the strings plucked by Hui Meiliu's hands, and it immediately made the audience excited.

"Gaoh~RoarroarGahou——" Even V rex, who had transformed into the size of a DX toy, was singing and dancing along, performing a dinosaur version of the birthday song.

"thank you all!"

Nonoka, who rejected Ash's suggestion to book the entire hotel for the celebration and simply decorated her home and invited all her friends, sat in front of a cream cake with 23 candles on it, picked up V rex and kissed its nose, then smiled foolishly at the fact that she had grown another year older.

"Really, Ash~" Noticing how quiet it was, Hana nudged his shoulder with her elbow, deliberately adopting a coquettish tone. "You're the star of the show today, too. How can you be unhappy?"

"No way," Ash explained hastily, his arms folded across his chest, his feet tapping the rhythm of the earth. "I just don't show my joy on my face. It's a reflection of my reserved nature."

"If that's the case, then why didn't you even put in some candles?" Hua said, jokingly, taking the candles nearby. "The number of candles... How old is Ash now?"

"Emmm..." This question was really hard to answer, mainly because Ash really didn't know how old he was. It would be too embarrassing to ask the system about this question. "Just pretend I'm four years old."

"Okay~" Hua placed five candles on the cake in front of Ash and lit them one by one. "So our little Ash is already five years old!"

"..."

Hearing the clapping of everyone's laughter, Ash, who was squeezed out of the crossroads on his temple, couldn't help but laugh.

Is this why humans celebrate their birthdays? If someone were there...it would be really fun.

"Come on, make a wish!"

"Snapped!"

The two of them put their hands together in front of them, took a deep breath, closed their eyes and made a wish in their hearts.

"I hope that after overcoming these difficulties, I can continue to live happily with Ash~"

'....I don't have any wishes.'

Another voice appeared in Ash's mind.

'[You can make a wish for her.]'

"Then I hope the flower's wish will come true."

The two opened their eyes and blew out the flickering flames on the candles together.

【Bonus】Case File 96 Losing a lot, winning little

Cutting cakes, playing games, chatting with each other about all kinds of surprises and private topics, the flowers with smiles on their faces always have a way to spread their happiness to others.

Except Ash.

He didn't think they were noisy, he just couldn't get used to it, and he was also entangled in another...

"question."

Gently shaking the goblet in his hand, Ash could see his serious expression from the champagne swaying in the glass.

Without joining in their happiness, Ash, who was preoccupied with his thoughts, leaned quietly against the wall.

"Even if we defeat that monster, there's still a more serious problem."

Or, there is more than one problem.

The more Ash thought about it, the more he became obsessed with it, and he couldn't help but enter a mode of thinking that was like consulting the "library" in his memory.

When he and Hana finally reached an agreement in their hearts, the miracle that was triggered even dyed the entire V rex robo into a golden color like "clear mirror and still water", and then distorted the darkness of the entire world and sent it into the sky... It seemed like a very powerful thing, but the problem lies here.

The current problem has indeed been solved by "Love is Infinite", but what about the future? It doesn't mean that the problem will be solved by just throwing a punch of "Super Invincible I Love You!" and turning all darkness into dust, because the violent energy still exists.

"Tsk, a miracle that was supposed to happen actually happened... If only the solution was this simple."

Based on Hua's observation and the description of the old man named Traum, Ash finally understood the characteristics of the "violent energy" in this world.

The "tomorrow energy" used by Yunoka, which represents the "vision for future development", is in contrast to the "violent energy" that "symbolizes stagnation and despair". However, this "violent energy" does not exist in a specific person or thing. It cannot be solved by just going over and hitting it with two swords "Sarilang!"

Where there is light, there is darkness. This is the eternal truth in the world.

This truth is even more evident in this world. When one side becomes stronger, the other side will also secretly accumulate strength. The eternal cycle of reincarnation will never be able to destroy the other side's existence. This is the rule of the balance of light and darkness in this world.

"Rather than some dark energy, this thing is more like a natural disaster like a rainstorm or tornado...ah."

I have said this conclusion before.

According to the rules of this strange world, any negative emotions generated when a person hesitates to move forward will accumulate "violent energy"... Well, there is no doubt that I am now secretly aiding the enemy.

"Tsk, as expected!" Ash's lips curved in a nasty arc as his heart twisted in frustration. "I should have carefully studied what that guy left behind, to see if I could find the weak point of his violent energy!"

Ash was immediately furious when he thought of the thin dog who seemed to be recognized and controlled by the violent energy and claimed to be Nonoka's future "husband".

But my first priority at that time was to save the flowers, so I didn't have even a Planck second to care about him.

"You keep saying you're here to save the flowers... but why the hell are you saving them?"

As a result, apart from the Riddler feeling sad and moved by himself, the only answer you came up with was to use violent energy to make emotional creatures lose their future and fall into stagnation, making the whole world stop?

Your way of saving her is to destroy the world she's been protecting? Even priests aren't that outrageous!

Look at you, is what you're doing humane?!

"If I try to find it now... Damn, it seems like it's already gone back to the future."

Ash, who was secretly angry, took silent steps while holding a goblet. His thoughtful body followed his instinct and moved between the shadows of people like a ninja without attracting anyone's attention. He was obviously one of the protagonists of this party, but he sat on a plastic stool in the corner like a transparent person.

"The fact that the monster hasn't appeared during this period isn't a sign of a happy ending after everything is over. Instead, it's proof that it's secretly accumulating strength in the dark!"

When the time comes, the enemy will reappear and Hua will be drawn into battle again. If this continues, it will be just the two of us in the end... No, will I still be by Hua's side at that time?

So, the question is not how to solve it.

The question is how can I make the flowers survive better.

"Ash?"

It should be a happy time now, but Ash was feeling more and more uncomfortable the more he thought about it. He was in no mood to enjoy this happiness. Even the flower that had walked up to Ash and started calling his name did not wake him up from his thoughts.

“My question is…”

What I know now is that even though the dark echo has been unusually stable since that day and no longer destroys my body, the shadow from the past will eventually catch up with me and take me away one day. Even I don’t know if I will have the chance to see Hana again by then.

“The problem with flowers is….”

For her, this is basically a marathon where she has to run and spit out blood. If she wants to protect the world, she must fight. Without any rest time and alone, if she continues like this, she will completely fall on this "road of justice" in less than 7 or 8 years.

"The worst."

There's no magical conch shell that can give me a perfect answer. After all, these problems are caused by the inescapable dark forces, the darkness...

dark...

“That’s right—!”

Hana, who was observing the frown on Ash's face, was startled by the sudden widening of his gaze.

The "violent energy" that symbolizes the negative emotions of stagnation in humanity...

After being chosen by violent energy, one can control it and act as a "spokesperson"...

I have always been like a "dark echo" carrying the resentment of all defeated enemies...

There is a connection between these existences!

"My brain cells are boiling!"

These routes instantly appeared in front of Ash as a road... a "road" that was not even a road.

The bubbles that kept rising from the bottom of the cup exploded on the reflection in the cup, and the distorted and blurry other self seemed to be asking itself questions.

'So, what are you going to do?'

'There is no happy ending option. The only choices available to us are bad and too bad.'

'So, what's your choice?'

That's right.

Sometimes the choices you make in life are not about choosing the correct answer, but about how much you will lose.

"My goal."

There is always only that one.

"What goal?"

Nonoka's face, which came closer, was reflected next to Ash in the golden liquid along with the bubbles rising from the champagne.