Hm? I’m getting a call from cica.

A call? How do you know? I thought you didn’t have your phone.

It’s coming in through my headset. Excuse me.

(Headset?)

Hello, cica.

(What happened to his rope…? Did he…?)

(Oh, he freed himself. That’s a relief.)

Yes, I’m glad you called me. I’m in quite a bind. I was taken to an unknown factory by some suspicious men with a minivan.

(I didn’t notice since it was hidden behind his hair, but I guess Kuguri was wearing a headset this entire time. It’s good that he was able to use it to get in contact with the chief.)

…Hm? You’re wondering where Yukikaze and Tsubaki are?

?

Who knows? I haven’t seen them.

…?!

Netaro knows where I am, does he not? Come quickly.

…Kuguri?

Lord, Netaro is a handful. He’s throwing a wrench into my plans.

Well, it’s about time for that lány to begin her journey into the sky anyway.

…? Her…journey…?

Oh, I suppose I should contact my lambs as well.

Can you hear me? My dear lambs, I’m sure you understand the situation.

Playtime is over. It’s time to reveal my hand.

I can’t believe Kuguri-san got caught up in this too…!

Yeah, we have to go and save him…! Netaro-kun, show us where⁠—

…Wait, huh?

Kuguri-san said that he didn’t know where Yuki-nii was, but he knew that Netaro-kun had his location…?

What? Wait, and how did he know about Netaro-kun’s tracking device in the first place…?

That’s because Kuguri has been eavesdropping on us.

Come on, explain it to them. It’s too late to run away now.

I understand.

? Aren’t you the person who saw Yuki-nii last night? Kafka, why’d you bring him here?

He’s Kuguri’s spy. I caught him talking to him through a headset earlier.

Whaaat?!

Hohhh. In other words, you are Kuu’s mole.

Mmgrr… I knew I should have kept the listening device on my mole!

Does that mean he’s been conveying all of our conversations to Kuguri-san?

Yes. I have been delivering regular reports on your movements to Kuguri-sama. After all, granting Kuguri-sama’s desires is our greatest joy.

So that Kuguri guy is the one who kidnapped my wife after all?!

Is he also the reason why Yuki-nii is missing…?

Yes. It was all according to Kuguri-sama’s orders.

We were forced to take Kamina-sama as well after he saw us accompanying Tsubaki-sama…

Please rest assured. Kamina-sama and Tsubaki-sama are not injured.

You sure coughed that up quickly. So why is Kuguri doing this?

I believe it would be best to ask Kuguri-sama himself. We operate as his worker ants… So we fulfill his commands and nothing more.

The only reason why I have revealed myself is at Kuguri-sama’s request.

Umm… So that means…

That means it’s quicker to just find him. Especially since he told us to come to him over the phone.

…Yeah, I guess so.

Ahh, I can’t believe this…! How did this happen…?! If anything happened to her, I… I…!

……

These guys are bad news! They’re too out of their minds to cooperate with us! We need to go and find Tsubaki-san as soon as possible!

Yeah. You wrote the location down, right? Let’s get in the car and head over now!

Alright!!

…They sure left in a rush. They didn’t even give us a second glance before running off.

Um, I searched for the bride’s location again out of curiosity, but…

It seems like they’ve changed direction. The car’s headed towards the mountain where we detected the GPS signal now.

Ooh! Yet another twist.

Mmm, curiouser and curiouser and curiousity-er… ♪

If Toi’s divination and Netaro’s tracker are pointing to the same location, we should head there too. Chances are high that we’ll find both the bride and Yukikaze there.

I doubt that Kuguri would do anything to hurt them, but…we should find them before the situation really gets out of hand.

Yeah, you’re right…!

(Yuki-nii, please be okay…!)

…Kuguri. Why didn’t you tell the chief about me?

Hm? Oh, well… Before I explain, allow me to clarify something.

I’m not a victim. I brought you here, and I locked you up. I’m the culprit.

Naturally, I’m also behind the disappearance of the bride.

…!

Haha, that’s the face I wanted to see. Having to spend hours in this filthy place was worth it.

So you’ve been lying since the beginning…?

Exactly. It was all an act. And what a great actor I am to keep you here this whole time, aren’t I?

And the reason why I lied about you over the phone… It was just for fun. You only see me as the kind of person you want to see, so I decided to betray and backstab you a bit.

Are you disappointed I’m not the “little brother” you expected me to be?

……

Haha, it feels so much more sinful to dirty a canvas when it’s pure and untouched. I thank you for entertaining me.

Why would you…do this…?

I couldn’t tell you. But I’ve accomplished what I came here to do, so I’ll be leaving now.

Don’t worry, you have that GPS on you, so cica and the others should come for you soon enough.

Hm? My lambs are kicking up a fuss. Did something happen?

…Ohh, so Tsubaki wants to see me?

!

Deary me… That lány is quite the lonely one. Fine. I suppose I’ll come to her.

Kuguri, wait.

Hm?

If you did this, then I assume you have the key to my handcuffs.

I do. My lamb has one as well, so they’ll free you later.

Could you do it now?

…Why?

Because if you’re going to see Tsubaki-sensei, I want you to take me with you.

(I don’t know what Kuguri’s thinking or what his relationship to Tsubaki-sensei is, but…)

I just want to see the truth with my own eyes.

Hm. And if I refuse?

…I wouldn’t like that.

Ahaha. Really, now?

Let me think… It would be amusing to keep troubling you, but…

Alright. Since we had fun playing prison together, I’ll show you the things you’re unable to see.