Kuguri, could you move your hands closer to me? If you’re tied up with rope, I might be able to bite it off.

…Are you a wild animal?

Sorry to disappoint, but I’m tied to an iron fence. I don’t think I’ll be able to make my way over to you.

I see… I wish there was something useful around us…

Where are we in the first place? It seems like we’re in some kind of factory…

Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem like it’s in use. It’s probably been abandoned for a few decades.

My goodness… I’m not sure who did this to us, but I wish they at least chose a comfier place to keep us in. It reeks of mold in here. I’m not a fan.

Yeah… Once we get home, we’ll be able to sleep in our soft bedsheets again. I’m sure Nagi will get us freshly washed sheets if we ask him.

If you’re feeling sleepy, just let me know. I’ll be able to sing you a lullaby, at least.

……

Anyway, it seems we’re either in the mountains or in a forest. And looking out the window, I would guess we’re on the second floor.

Yeah. If I could just get out of my handcuffs, we could jump out the window to escape.

Even though there’s a staircase right there?

*gasp…* You’re right. You’re very observant, Kuguri. I’m proud to be your big brother.

Ah, yes, thank you…

Doesn’t that mean you can see to the bottom from where you are? Is there someone down there?

Hm? Let me see…

Just empty space. I don’t see anyone.

Okay. Then doing something about these handcuffs is the only option… We can’t escape or search for Tsubaki-sensei until then…

……

Yukikaze, what do you plan to do with that lány after we find her?

Do you mean Tsubaki-sensei? I’ll bring her back to her groom, of course.

She’s helped me out a lot. I want her to have a wonderful wedding and be happy.

Hmm… Happiness, you say?

Does getting married always bring happiness?

…? What do you mean by that?

Nothing much, just a passing thought. A wedding is a wedding, and happiness is happiness. I don’t understand why two separate concepts are so often seen as equivalents to each other.

……

Haven’t thought about that before, have you? Haha, I’m not surprised.

Because unconsciously, you’re wanting to think of it in that way.

Only seeing what you want to see, only believing in what you want to believe. There are countless humans who are like that… Are you one of them as well?

Only seeing what I want to see…

(Now that I think about it, yesterday I…)

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.

(She…did seem stressed about something.)

(But after I heard that it was the pre-wedding blues, I just accepted it as is.)

(I didn’t even try to ask her what was worrying her…)

Yeah… I do think I only see what I want to. How about you, Kuguri?

I just see what I see.

I hope Yuki-nii’s okay…

Let’s start by investigating the tire tracks from that minivan. I’ll contact Sakujiro.

I’ll have my friends look for the van!

*yawn…*

Mmm, this is a bit plain… Toy, couldn’t you use your divination to find the minivan in a snap?

I could. I should be able to figure out the general direction it’s in… Let me give it a try!

Divination? Does that really work?

Toi-kun is the head of a very famous fortune telling house. You can trust him!

Hmm…

I found it! The bride is on the move along the eastern coast. I believe she’s in that car.

The eastern coast… I mean, I guess that’s better than nothing.

Hm? Nari is calling!

What is up, Nari?

Yowa-sama. Do you recall the Crazy Stalking Mole ver. 2.13 you attached to Kamina-sama the other day?

Woh?

I have searched for its location, and it seems it is in the north. I will send the data to your smartphone. Please review the information.

Mmmmmm…?

Yowa, you fucker! Did you put another one a’ those weird moles on Toi?!

Yes, the Crazy Stalking Mole ver. 2.13!

It is a new version equipped with a GPS function! To protect the wearer’s privacy, I have removed the speaker and listening device as a safety measure!

Here, look. I have created moles not only for Toy, but for you and everyone else as well!

You’re really out here talkin’ about privacy when it’s got a goddamn GPS on it?! I’m trashing these things!

NWAAAAHHH?!

Always some kinda shit with you. Sorry, Azekawa, couldja handle this box for me?

Order accepted. Administrator privileges will be transferred from Yowa-sama to myself.

You dummy-dummy-dum-dum! Ryooey, you are such a meanie!

(Grr… I want to at least use this one I have in my pocket…)

My little brothers, it’s time for your three o’clock snack. I made sesame balls for you today.

(! Ding, genius eureka!!)

Poke.

Hm? Netaro, did you just touch the back of my neck?

Nuh-uh! I didn’t do anything! I wanna eat some sesame baaaaalls!

……

Aaahh, yes! I completely forgot to remove it from Yuki after I attached it!

Th-That’s amazing, Netaro-san! Now we’ll be able to find where Yukikaze-san is!

Hm-hmmm! ♪ Only a true detective takes steps towards the solution before the case even happens!

Wait, hold on. If this data shows us where Yukikaze is, then… That’s weird.

Hm? It’s in the mountains up north.

According to Toi-kun, Tsubaki-sensei is being driven along the eastern coast, but…the GPS on Yuki-nii hasn’t moved.

But why? Does that mean both of them are…in different places?

No, come on, I think it’s clear that the divination just wasn’t correct.

Or maybe the tracker isn’t working right.

Hmph, that is rude. Rather than doubting my inventions, it would be wiser to suspect me as being the culprit.

For the culprit is always me!

Ahaha…

But what now? The eastern coast and the mountains up north… I feel like we should scout out both places.

Yeah, that would be the safest option…

But that aside, Groom! Why has your Beatrice vanished in the first place? Do you know what the culprit’s motive might be?

Huh? W-Well… Hmm…

Maybe… Since my wife is such a lovely person, maybe someone fell in love with her. Maybe Kamina-san⁠—

Yuki-nii wouldn’t go after someone else’s partner.

He would never do anything that crazy over anyone besides our chief.

Really? Well, if you say so, then…

…Oh, I just remembered something! There’s this suspicious man my wife has been talking to lately!

Oh, yeah, the one from that cult!

(…Are they talking about…)

(Kuguri…?)

My wife is really innocent. She might’ve gotten deceived by him and taken to some strange religious institution…!

Uhh…

Kuguri-san can be hard to read at times, but… I don’t think he’d kidnap someone…

You do not know for sure. Kuu’s actions are quite unpredictable, after all.

…Either way, now we know that Kuguri and the bride met each other at some point. It might be best to contact him to see if he has any info.

Yeah. I’ll give him a call.

He must be the culprit. He’d never pick up!

Ahaha, well, it doesn’t hurt to try.

(Let me just put it on speaker.)

…! Kuguri-san!