Kamen Rider is playing the villain in Pretty Cure

"Of course it's pasta, Ash, haven't you ever eaten it?"

"Of course I know it's spaghetti, I'm asking what it is."

Ash turned his gaze back to the bowl. Putting aside the question of how the noodle soup had acquired a distinct green color with the seasoning and soy sauce, the overcooked, limp noodles were paired with the world's strangest combination: creamy noodle sauce mixed with instant curry sauce, and a bunch of vegetables that looked uncut were stuck on the side.

The man stared straight at the bowl of noodles in front of him, as if questioning how it had the nerve to be born into this world.

"I've been having a lot of fun with Ash over this period of time. Ash also said that he regretted not having tasted my cooking, right? So I asked my mom to teach me how to make pasta, even though it was my first time making it!"

"I'm a person who always returns the favor, Ash, just take it as a thank you! You're welcome!"

Who am I being polite to? Are you so proud of yourself?

He kept his neck still and turned his gaze towards Ikuyo, and received a slightly apologetic smile from the beautiful woman in response.

"Well, if Ash doesn't like it, you don't have to force it."

Ash withdrew his gaze from the new band-aids on the girl's hand, sighed imperceptibly, and then picked up the bowl and chopsticks.

"That's really cute. I'll just... take it as a 'thank you'."

After stirring the noodles and coating them with soup, Ash slurped them down his throat in one go, and then paused briefly.

Ah...new discovery, my sense of taste has almost recovered.

Also, I don't dislike strong flavors. In fact, I like them very much, so it wouldn't be considered an alien taste... But simply being unpalatable is another matter.

So, with Miyuki holding his face and looking at him expectantly, Ash simply picked up the bowl and swallowed it in big gulps.

"Miyuki, make it spicier next time."

The empty bowl was placed neatly on the table, just like the expression on Ash's face at the moment.

"Eh?"

-----

"Brother, this way!"

Standing at the agreed commercial street, when Yayoi saw a familiar person appear, she immediately waved happily to Ash.

Instead of wearing the dress she usually wears, she specially chose a wool shirt and short skirt to match it, which gave Yayoi a somewhat youthful vibe that was different from her overly weak look, making her look quite fresh.

"Well?"

Yayoi poked her head out to look left and right, but didn't see anyone else and made a puzzled sound.

"I thought Miyuki would come with you. Are you really the only one here, Ash?"

"She's only had her scars healed. It'll take some time for her to fully recover. Even if she doesn't like it, she should stay home longer." Ash shook his head and patted Yayoi on the back to bring her back to her senses. "Besides, didn't Yayoi say she wanted to go out with me? I won't break the promise."

"I feel like my brother has really changed a bit."

It was clearly a question, but it had a statement in it. The girl laughed as if she had discovered a new world.

Chapter 194 Stories from Various Parties

I have changed.

"Have it?"

Without answering Ash's question, Yayoi took his sleeve and happily trotted towards the toy store that would excite both older and younger friends.

"But no matter what he's changed, Ash is still Brother-sama! Hey, our latest DX toy series has arrived here, Brother-sama, hurry over, otherwise you'll have to wait in line for a long time!"

Her timid nature would not change, but her past timid attitude had disappeared from Yayoi's bright smiling face. At this moment, she only had the excitement of a fan, so Ash could not help but smile.

Has he changed... Probably, he has. If he hadn't changed, he would be the hopeless character who would be completely destroyed by the change.

In so many worlds he had experienced, this extra character of his, who originally did not exist, had brought unimaginable troubles to almost everyone, both friend and foe. In response, had he ever made them and his friends smile even brighter than before?

Ash couldn't guarantee it 100%, but at least the smile he saw in front of him was definitely not fake.

Besides, aren’t you doing this kind of thing right now?

"Don't run so fast, I'll catch up soon."

------

"Then, I'll leave first."

Standing at the door of Midorikawa's house, he waved goodbye to Nao. This time, he got along much better with her family. Not only was Nao smiling, but all the little ones hiding behind their backs were also laughing with him.

Ash also laughed. It seemed that what he hated was not his family, but the irresponsible adults.

"But, since you were able to stand by my side that time, I also..."

"I just did what I wanted to do. No need to thank me." Zhi waved his hand cheerfully. "We've had our fair share of unhappy moments and happy ones. If we start thanking each other, we'll never stop."

"Oh, you're indeed as majestic as your name." Ash gave her a rare compliment. "But it's hard to find a man willing to date you."

"Ha, you say it so lightly, are you trying to pursue me?"

Let me tell you in advance, I won’t trust you as easily as Miyuki!

After becoming a little angry, Ash didn't respond to her until his back was revealed before he disappeared.

"I'm more used to having others love me~"

"Megalomaniac!"

After sending Ash away angrily, he was about to turn around and go in when he turned around and saw the strange smiles on his brothers' faces.

"Sister Zhi, is that really not your boyfriend?"

"I've already said it's not true! Why are you guys still imagining things?"

Besides, if it came true, what would happen to Lihua? We grew up together, friends who see each other all the time! If we were together...it wouldn't seem like a big deal, right?

"Ah, I get it!" The second-in-command, who was standing behind her, saw her sister's thoughts and nodded in understanding. "Looking at this, it must be me forcing him! If he doesn't agree, I'll beat him to his knees and drag him into the basement—"

"I think you're itching for trouble!" He pinched his fingers, making a crisp sound, and several crossroads popped up above his head. He walked slowly towards his younger brother who had started to tear apart the roof after not fighting for a few days, with a momentum comparable to that of facing a clown monster.

"Wow, my sister is going to silence me!"

"Don't run, it's your brother who's running!"

"I was originally your younger brother!"

Today's day at the Midorikawa family was also spent in the laughter and pursuit of brothers and sisters.

------

"And then... here."

After pushing aside the curtain and entering the "Hino Okonomiyaki" restaurant, Ash saw the busy orange-red figure and took a seat like the other customers and picked up the menu.

"Two okonomiyaki orders, please."

"There's someone waiting ahead. Please wait a little longer. Is this guest...?"

"Why, can't I just write a death-or-death service just because it's me who's here?"

The familiar smile on Qian's face suddenly turned into a stunned expression when she saw Ash, especially when the other party was making gestures to her, she didn't know what expression to use.

"Did you forget? You said you would treat me, so I came here by myself."

“This…”

Qian couldn't help but feel conflicted. She had work to do for other customers right now. What should she do?

"Okay, let me do this." At this moment, the old man, who was still taking a break, came up and took over the work in her hands. "Qian, you go and serve this 'customer' first."

Qian's father could see his daughter's little thoughts at a glance. He winked at her and looked so encouraging that Qian was very moved.

Dad, I love you!

"Of course I heard that the person who invited you was Akane, right? Then this gentleman's bill will be charged to Akane's pocket money~"

Dad, I hate you!

Sitting at the dedicated table the owner had cleared for them, Ash tapped his fingers on the tabletop, observing Akane's movements as she prepared the okonomiyaki. From the perspective of grilling to stir-frying and preparing the ingredients, she was an impeccable veteran. It was worth the wait! It made Ash's double taste in his mouth seem less disturbing.

"Did you learn Okonomiyaki from your parents when you were little?"

"That's right, we have a daughter who will inherit this store!"

"Really? That's great."

Originally, Qian felt a little inferior and thought that Ash was just mocking her out of habit, but after hearing his tone, she felt like he was really envious.

"Last time, to be honest, it was all thanks to you. If you hadn't come down from the sky like a god, I might have driven myself to death."

The orange light that stood in front of his former friend for her was so dazzling that he realized that the gentle words left by the King of Gaiety were not from her sadness and sentimentality, but were sincere and real proof of her existence.

"Don't say that. Ash is very powerful. He can wake up without me."

Compared to Ash, Akane, whose inner thoughts are hard to see through, seems much more dull.

"Besides, we're just keeping our promise."

With thousands of thoughts running through his mind, Ash stopped tapping on the table and fixed his eyes on the girl's busy back.

"Xia, do you like me?"

Straight to the point, the Okonomiyaki on the iron plate makes a satisfying sizzling sound as the oil temperature rises.

"Yeah." Qian nodded slightly with her shoulders shaking. The blush on the half of her face that was exposed when she lowered her head made it hard to tell whether it came from the heat on the iron plate or the power of emotion in her words.

"like."

"I do like Ash. After all, even though he's very strong, he also has his moments of weakness."

At times like this, I would want to get closer to him.

I am also a woman, and I can't help but sympathize with the weaknesses of a strong man, and I wish I could warm him up. Ash at that time is very attractive to me.

"That..."

Looking at the Okonomiyaki in Akane's hand, the man's gaze jumped up as it was flipped, and then dripped onto the iron plate again to finish grilling the other side.

"Perhaps, I cannot respond to Qian's feelings."

Chapter 195: The Story Written by Qian

As for the so-called liking and love, if both parties just want to be happy and ask for each other, then it would be simpler. There is no need to worry about anything, and it is enough to just stick together all day long.

However, if what you desire is "feelings" that go beyond that... the result will be that you will sometimes over-consider the other person's feelings, which will lead to the bad behavior of being indecisive and careless. It will be too late to regret it later.

So he pretended to be the same person who didn't understand people's hearts. Even if people hated him for being too straightforward, he had to explain his feelings clearly in front of Qian.

"You all say I'm not a bad person, but I'm not a good person either, so I may not be able to respond to your feelings."

Even though Ash was a straight man made of Gundamium alloy, he had never thought about the series of attitudes displayed by Akane. However, no matter how slow he was, he should have realized the facts in front of him.

"Especially when I don't know how heavy the price will be."

The bottle of barbecue sauce slipped from Qian's hand, and was quickly caught by Ash who leaned forward with quick eyes and hands, and then handed it back to Qian.

In the slightly awkward silence, the only soothing aroma was the pleasant blend of Hino's secret sauce and the baked noodles.

Qian was a little angry.

If they had just pretended nothing had happened and let her simply enjoy the intimate feeling of being a "partner", Akane would have felt very satisfied. However, Ash didn't even give her this little wiggle room. She felt a little aggrieved that her girlish heart was exposed in front of her.

So she just gave up and asked directly.

"As for Ash, do you already have someone you like?"

"Ah."

"So, Ash is in love with her too?"

"That was too much of a burden for her."

Ash closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. This was too much of a luxury for him.

"That's a cunning answer." Akane curled her lips, feeling a little unhappy. "Let me guess, Miyuki and Reika? They're people we all know, right?"

"Yes and no."