The wedding’s finally tomorrow, Yuki-nii.

Yeah.

The ceremony will be beautiful. I’m excited to see the wedding clothes too.

……

Yeah. I’m looking forward to it too. To your choreographer’s wedding, I mean.

Same. I’m surprised she invited me and Kafka, since we’ve only met a few times at your ice shows… Is it really okay for us to come?

Of course. As my cousin and my childhood friend, she said that you’re practically family to her.

She started choreographing for you through Uncle Sadayuki, right?

Yeah. My dad’s choreographer was her mentor.

She seems gentle on the surface, but she’s actually very passionate and makes sure to work with me until the choreo reaches a level she’s satisfied with.

It’s thanks to her that I’ve been able to expand my horizons. It’s a shame that she’ll be retiring after her marriage, but I want her to be happy.

She’s really important to you, huh… That means we have to put all of our energy into celebrating today!

Yeah. She’ll be moving out of HAMA to live with her partner after the ceremony. Let’s warmly send her off so she can leave with happiness in her heart.

Yukikaze-kun. Thanks for coming today.

Tsubaki-sensei…! Congratulations on your marriage.

Congratulations!

Thank you for inviting the two of us as well.

Don’t mention it. Today’s party is just a casual get-together to meet with the residents of HAMA. I hope you enjoy your time here.

(…Hm?)

Sensei, are you feeling okay?

Huh? Oh, no, is it that obvious? Sorry, I’m just a little tired is all. Don’t worry about it.

She’s got the pre-wedding blues. She saw a fortune teller recently, and he told her something about her marriage that’s been bugging her.

Well, I mean, he was a pretty well-known fortune teller. I had to make my reservation half-a-year in advance, and even that was considered lucky…

But it’s still just a fortune. I think you’re taking it too seriously.

Yeah, maybe you’re right… But still…

Come on, cheer up. You don’t have to be a perfectionist about everything, you know.

Your principle of eliminating as many worries as possible has helped me more times than I can count.

It’s a bit sad to know that I won’t be able to learn from you anymore, but… I’m sure you’ll raise a wonderful family.

Yukikaze-kun…

Fortune telling, huh… I can see how something like that can be upsetting.

It could be. But learning how to accept and take appropriate measures against a bad fortune is an important skill…

Ah, there you are, Tsubaki.

Oh, Miyamori-san.

Allow me to introduce you, Yukikaze-kun. This is Miyamori, my fiancé.

Hey. Nice to meet you, I’m Miyamori.

It’s nice to meet you as well. I’m Kamina.

My wife has told me about you. I watch a lot of figure skating with her, and I especially love watching you skate, Kamina-san.

You watch me…? Thank you so much. I’m happy to see that Tsubaki-sensei is marrying such a wonderful person.

Haha, no, I still have lots of room to grow.

That’s not true! You came all the way to HAMA to have the ceremony here for Tsubaki’s sake.

Yeah, your family even told you to have it at home, but you wanted to fulfill her wishes instead.

You really put her above everything else!

……

Uno and Sahara… Even you, Manaka…? Haha, come on, give it a rest. You guys are making me blush.

Oh, I forgot… I’m sorry, Kamina-san, we have to greet the other guests, so we’ll be taking our leave for now.

Of course. I’ll catch up with you later too, Tsubaki-sensei.

Thank you, Yukikaze-kun. See you tomorrow.

…Tsubaki-sensei met such a lovely person. That makes me happy.

Well, in my opinion, listening to what your partner wants is the bare minimum as a fiancé.

Hey, Chief, what kind of home would you want in the future?

Huh, you’re asking me? Hmm, well…

I think it’d be nice for all three of us to live together.

Huh? I don’t remember asking you. And there’s no way I’d ever agree to that.

Come on, guys. Don’t fight on such an important day.

…Hm? Wait, where’s Uncle Sadayuki?

He was talking with some people from the skating federation. He should be back soon.

Hey, you know who Domeki Kuguri is?

(…Hm?)

Yeah. Isn’t he one of the HAMA mayors?

So someone I know got really depressed after he couldn’t find a job…

But after he met Domeki Kuguri, he got better almost instantly.

? Isn’t that a good thing?

I mean, it’s nice that he’s feeling better, but…

It’s kinda scary how quickly he changed. He’s so happy these days, it’s like he’s a completely different person… Almost like he got inducted into a shady cult or something.

Ugh… They’re spreading weird rumors about Kuguri-san…

(I wanna butt in and tell them that Kuguri-san isn’t a bad person, but even I don’t know what he gets up to when he’s not at home…)

Just let it go, Chief.

Kafka… But…

They’re just rumors anyway, so you don’t have to pay them any mind. Besides, Kuguri’s not stupid. I think he knows very well what kind of influence he has on others.

It’s pointless for us to get swept up into these things. If something’s really bothering you, it’s better just to ask Kuguri himself.

Yeah, I agree.

Kuguri is a very smart and kind little brother. He must’ve lent an ear to someone he saw was feeling down. Since he was able to make him feel better, I think it’s a happy ending for everyone.

Haha… So even Kuguri-san’s one of your cute little brothers.

Yeah. Not just him either⁠—the Morning Team, the Noon Team, the Evening Team, the Night Team… Everyone in HAMA Tours are my precious little brothers.

*sigh…* Here we go again…

Oh, it’s raining…

(The weather forecast did mention that. I’m glad I got the chief and Kafka home before it started.)

Yukikaze-saaan, where do you wanna go for our second stop? I kinda feel like having some yakitori…

Oh, right. I was thinking⁠—

(I was…)

……

……

…Mm……

…Where……am I?

(This isn’t my house or the dorms… Yesterday I was…drinking with my skating buddies… What happened then…?)

(…? Huh? There’s something around my wrists…)

…Handcuffs?

(They’re cuffed around a steel beam… Does this mean…)

……Am I…being held captive…?