Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 7 - Chapter 4.1

Chapter 4: Operation Riko Shiratama's Big Revenge
The long Golden Week holiday has ended, and the four of us, Yanami, Prez, Shiratama-san, and myself, gathered in the clubroom after school. Asagumo-san's forehead gleamed with determination as she addressed us.

"The plan for Operation Riko Shiratama's Big Revenge is finally complete. The operation is divided into two major phases. First-"

She wrote "Phase 1" in bold letters on the whiteboard.

"The goal of Phase 1 is to have our fake Shiratama, Yanami-san, infiltrate the venue."

Yanami gave a thumbs-up, munching on a banana.

Her diet is going well, and she seems fully motivated.

"However, the real Riko-san is already known to the staff at the wedding venue. It would be difficult for someone else, even in disguise, to impersonate her and get in unnoticed."

She scribbled "8:30" on the board.

"So, the real Riko-san will first enter the venue in her school uniform, establishing her presence with the staff. After that, she'll switch places with the disguised Yanami-san. Riko-san, you're clear on the steps, right?"

Shiratama-san nodded with a distant look in her eyes as she sucked on a tube of sweet bean paste. Is she really clear on the steps?

Her weight gain plan isn't going as smoothly- Yanami could've packed on 2 kg in a snap, but it's a different story for Shiratama-san. We can't push her too hard.

"The most important thing in this operation is to prevent anyone from realizing that Riko-san is in the wedding dress. If we establish in their minds that she's there in her uniform, even if someone sees her in the dress, they won't suspect it's her. After all, they would believe that Yanami-san, disguised as Riko-san, is still around."

After making sure everyone understood, Asagumo-san began writing on the board again.

"Once the switch is successfully made, we move on to Phase 2."

She circled "Phase 2" in red.

"Hokobaru-senpai, disguised as the photographer, and Nukumizu-san will enter the venue. Your job is to draw as much attention as possible. While you're doing that, Yanami-san, as the fake Shiratama, will help the real Riko-san, who will be in her wedding dress by then, sneak into the chapel."

Yanami nodded solemnly, still eyeing the banana peel she had just finished.

As for Shiratama-san, her face looks a bit pale…

"Once Riko-san successfully infiltrates the chapel, Yanami-san will give the signal. At that point, Hokobaru-senpai and Nukumizu-san will bring Tanaka-sensei to the chapel under the pretense of a camera test."

Asagumo-san snapped the marker cap shut and smiled brightly.

"Now, the most critical part is the photoshoot. Nukumizu-san, it's crucial that you ensure Riko-san stays out of Tanaka-sensei's line of sight. You'll be responsible for guiding them."

"Uh, how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

"Well, since we're dealing with real people, you'll need to improvise, adapt, and overcome the situation."

"Improvise and adapt-"

I was about to protest when Asagumo-san dropped a thick stack of papers onto the table.

"You'll be fine as long as you follow this manual. The flexibility part is based on this."

She flipped open the cover of the manual.

"Phase 2, in particular, needs to be executed within the tight window of 9:30 to 10:00 AM. We have one shot at this- there are no do-overs."

The detailed schedule for the day is meticulously outlined inside the manual.

Tanaka-sensei would arrive at the venue at 9:00 AM. Prez and I, posing as fake photographers, would infiltrate at 9:30 AM, and we would need to complete the photoshoot and leave by 10:00 AM before the real photographer arrived.

"If anyone has questions, now's the time to ask. Let's address any concerns here."

Asagumo-san's disciples exchanged glances. There are plenty of questions, but...okay, let's start with the basics.

"The schedule says the family gathering time is 10:30 AM. Shiratama-san is supposed to enter at 8:30 AM, but will they let her in?"

"It's common for the bride's mother or sisters to accompany her to the venue, so it won't be an issue. The bride will enter at 7:30 AM to change and do her makeup and her hair, so during that time, she'll be too preoccupied to come looking for Shiratama-san."

Asagumo-san flipped through the manual.

"The chapel decorations should be completed by 9:00 AM roughly. After that, there won't be many people entering or leaving the chapel, if any at all."

For some reason, Asagumo-san seemed highly confident. Prez, however, looked skeptical.

"A simple question, but how are you so well-informed?"

"I observed five weddings during this holiday, and Komari-san discreetly gathered lots of information, too."

...Komari? But she seems like the least suited person for a reconnaissance mission.

Yanami seemed to share my skepticism, her expression puzzled.

"How did Komari-chan manage that? Didn't the security guards approach her?"

Asagumo-san pulled out a sketchbook with a black and orange cover.

"She stayed in the parking lot near the venue, sketching landscapes while keeping track of the comings and goings."

The sketchbook is passed around, revealing beautifully detailed drawings of the venue's surroundings.

As I flipped through the pages, I noticed small, neatly written notes in the corners, documenting the times and the people entering and leaving the area.

"Yesterday, she kept watch over the chapel from the roof of Kirinoki High School. She's got a pretty good idea of the staff's comings and goings."

"That's really helpful, but why didn't you tell us? You could've mentioned it."

Prez took the sketchbook from my hands and stared at it intently.

"Probably to prepare in case things went south. It would be a disaster if the plan fails and we all end up suspended."

…Yeah, that makes sense. She must be worried watching us going forward with this batshit plan.

So she took it upon herself to gather this intel quietly-

"Komari-san asked me to keep it a secret, so please keep it under the rug, okay?"

Asagumo-san added with a playful smile, raising a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

Words like "confidentiality" mean nothing to this person.

Yanami, who had been silently flipping through the manual, spoke up.

"Hey, isn't Shiratama-chan going to change into the wedding dress at the venue? It would be more conspicuous for her to sneak out and go back and forth to Kirinoki High."

"Given Shiratama-san's history, carrying a large bag would definitely raise suspicion. Plus, there's a chance that a relative might show up early, so bringing the dress into the venue is too risky. Of course, the dress will be hidden under a coat during transport."

"That's why we chose a dress that's easy to move in and not too bulky."

Shiratama-san added, before taking another sip from her tube of sweet bean paste.

Once we ran out of questions, Asagumo-san placed two 10-yen coin-sized, black metal pieces on the table. One of them has a button.

"And Yanami-san, please take this clicker. It's the one with the button."

"A clicker? Can I eat that-"

"It's not edible. This other receiver will vibrate when you press this button."

Asagumo-san explained, pressing the button to demonstrate. The other piece buzzed softly.

"One click signals 'advance', two clicks mean 'retreat', and three clicks mean 'hold position'. More than that- it's 'get out of there ASAP'. Shiratama-san will carry the vibrating receiver, and she'll follow the instructions accordingly."

I see. This is much more intuitive than using a smartphone or hand signals- just a simple button press that triggers a vibration.

The slight thrill I felt was purely because my mind was wandering where it shouldn't.

"Once the photo shoot is complete, you two, as the fake photographers, must ensure Tanaka-sensei is escorted upstairs. During that time, Yanami-san will guide Shiratama-san out of the venue. Please go over the finer details in the manual."

Now that I'm taking another look, this is a thick-ass manual…

As I hesitated, I noticed the cover of the manual had a square labeled "Approval Stamp".

"Uh, what's this Approval Stamp for?"

"Well then, Project Lead, please give your official approval for this operation!"

Asagumo-san declared, staring directly at me. …I'm the project lead?

I recoiled slightly, but Asagumo-san leaned in even closer.

"Come on, just stamp the cover! Firmly and decisively!"

"Uh, well, I don't have a stamp or anything..."

Shiratama-san then handed me a stamp.

"That's why I had one made for you. I also have the ink pad ready. Please, go ahead and use it."

…She went ahead and made a stamp for me. How thoughtful, heh.

After they urged me, I pressed the stamp into the ink and firmly stamped the middle of the manual with it.

This is my first time seeing such a beautiful stamp with the name "Kazuhiko Nukumizu" on it.

*

The day before the operation.

We have all agreed to rest today in preparation for tomorrow.

I strolled leisurely through the school grounds, heading toward the bike racks.

…I've crossed so many lines in this half a month.

I would probably have a chest full of medals by now on a battlefield, but unfortunately, this is just a regular school during peacetime. Society isn't exactly kind to those who willingly dive into trouble.

As the sun began to set, the sports clubs on the field started packing up their equipment.

I was scanning the track team for a familiar face- smack! A hard slap hit my back.

"Ouch!"

I turned around, tears forming in my eyes, and saw exactly who I expected- Yakishio.

Dressed in her practice gear, she gave me another gentler slap on the back and then fell into step beside me.

"That hurt. Shouldn't you be practicing?"

"Practice just ended, and I'm cooling down. I'm on my way home."

"Yeah, well, I'm just taking a walk to the bike racks."

Without another word, we started walking together.

Yakishio glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot, before lowering her voice.

"...I heard from Yana-chan. You're up to something crazy, aren't you?"

"It's not crazy- well, maybe just a little bit crazy."

I admitted with a wry smile, and Yakishio's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Need help? You can count on me if it's something physical."

"Don't. Things are going well in the track team, right?"

Yakishio grinned, showing off her white teeth.

"Yeah, things are good. If I win the prefectural qualifiers this month, I'll go to the Tokai regional qualifiers next month. And if I win there-"

"Nationals, huh?"

She nodded enthusiastically, clearly enjoying the prospect.

"So, how's your condition?"

"Perfectly tuned! Wanna see my abs?"

"Wait- no! And don't show it to other boys either!"

She burst out laughing at my flustered reaction.

Our conversation is light and easy, a far cry from the slightly awkward atmosphere we had had since our little race a while back.

I don't really understand why things have felt weird between us, nor did I know what had brought us back to normal.

"Hey, you and the Literature Club should come to my meet. I'll show you something awesome."

"I'll definitely come to the Tokai qualifiers. I want to see you make it to Nationals."

"What, you're not coming to the prefectural meet?"

Yakishio pouted and poked my back playfully.

I sidestepped with a wry smile.

"Because you're going to win anyway."

"Yeah, I will win."

We exchanged smiles.

Everything went back to normal- but something feels a bit different.

Maybe something has passed us by, like the changing of seasons, leaving behind a subtle shift.

Perhaps we're too young to fully grasp what that something is.

But I have a feeling that when we're older, looking back on these days might bring a smile to our faces.

*

Finally, the day of the wedding arrived.

7:00 AM. The clear morning sunlight streamed into the Drama Club room at Kirinoki High School.

Gathered here are me, Asagumo-san, Prez- and two Shiratama-san's.

Indeed, Yanami, disguised as Shiratama-san, stood side by side with the real one.

With matching wigs, makeup, uniforms, shoes, and accessories, they look remarkably similar.

…This is actually working.

Sure, there are some differences in volume, and it has a bit of a "before and after" vibe.

But we might just be able to pull it off as long as they don't show up at the same time.

Yanami's bust has always been a source of concern, yet it has been carefully adjusted to match Shiratama-san's more modest proportions. Even their leg lines manage to look quite natural despite the apparent differences in their figures.

Just as I was marveling at how convincing it all was, Asagumo-san's forehead gleamed with her usual confidence.

"Alright, everyone, as I predicted, Nukumizu-san reacted exactly as expected."

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

The girls all turned to stare at me.

"Guys usually look at the face, chest, and then legs when they see a girl in a school uniform. That's why it's difficult to notice the switch by aligning these key features."

"Asagumo-san, what are you even saying?"

Hold up, don't give me that look, girls.

Ignoring my discomfort, Asagumo-san continued her explanation.

"In contrast, girls tend to focus more on makeup, accessories, and clothing details. Since the uniform is the same, we matched the hairstyle and makeup and added blue accents to unify the overall impression."

Indeed, the pens in their chest pockets, the wristwatches, and even the nail polish are all in shades of blue.

Prez spoke up after comparing the two Shiratama-san's.

"But their voices won't be easy to disguise. Will Yanami-kun just avoid speaking?"

"That's already been taken care of. Yanami-san, if you would?"

Yanami nodded and put on a blue mask. The voice that came through was-

"I'm Riko Shiratama. I'll be in your care today!"

…It's Shiratama-san's voice.

Yanami managed to shoot me a smug look even through her mask, clearly proud of herself.

Asagumo-san pointed at the mask Yanami is wearing.

"We embedded a thin piezoelectric film speaker into the mask. During the operation, Yanami-san will use pre-recorded lines in Shiratama-san's voice. The quality is high enough that it's difficult for the human ear to tell the difference."

"It was pretty expensive, you know?"

Shiratama-san added with a serious nod.

"The wig Yanami-san is wearing is also made from the hair of an Asian woman of the same age. We had it styled at a salon to match Shiratama-san's hairstyle perfectly."

"It was pretty expensive, you know?"

Shiratama-san repeated, nodding again. Asagumo-san apparently has no qualms about spending other people's money.

Yanami then pulled an IC recorder out of her pocket and began pressing the buttons.

"Sorry, I'm changing." "I'm feeling a bit under the weather." "Can I get a large portion?" "Could you wrap the leftover rice into onigiri for me?"

Though the content clearly has Yanami's personality mixed in, the voice is unmistakably Shiratama-san's.

As I stood impressed, Asagumo-san nodded seriously, assessing the success of the disguise.

"The prep work for Phase 1 is flawless. Now, let's move on to-"

The girls all turned to look at me at once for some reason. What's going on…?

"Uh, I guess Prez and I need to disguise ourselves too, right? Asagumo-san, you mentioned you would handle the outfits..."

"Yes, considering you two will be in direct contact with Tanaka-sensei, we've arranged for particularly thorough disguises."

At Asagumo-san's signal, Yanami silently revealed what she had been hiding behind her back with a smile- a black, elegant-looking dress skirt.

"...Excuse me?"

No, wait, is this really what I think it is? Are they seriously expecting me to crossdress to infiltrate the venue?

Yanami's face split into a mischievous grin, barely holding back laughter.

"It's my best outfit. I'm lending it to you, so let's accept it, shall we?"

"Wait, wait, wait, let's think this through. It's definitely going to be obvious. This is a bad idea."

I tried to back away, but Asagumo-san swiftly blocked my path.

"Ara, Nukumizu-san, you've already demonstrated that even close family members can fall prey to the 'normalcy bias'- that belief that 'there's no way this could happen'. They won't suspect a thing."

"...But wait, that would mean Prez would have to crossdress as well, right? You wouldn't want that, right, Prez?"

I turned to Prez for support, only to be met with her bright smile as she casually ran a hand through her hair.

"I don't mind at all. In fact, I rather look forward to it."

…Prez's totally on board.

My fate is sealed. Asagumo-san gave me a reassuring smile as I despaired.

"Don't worry. We have called in an expert to handle your makeup."

"Huh? I thought you were going to do the makeup, Asagumo-san."

"Transforming a man into a convincing woman requires a high level of skill. Plus, Yanami-san and I need to focus on Phase 1 preparations-"

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine as the corridor outside the window seemed to darken.

The barely ajar door creaked open slightly, revealing a pair of white eyes staring intently at us.

"Shikiya-senpai!?"

"I heard…there's a chance to…play with Nukumizu-kun…"

Shikiya-san slipped into the room quietly and approached me-

*

...There's no way I can let Kaju see me like this.

I reluctantly pulled on the white blouse Yanami lent me over my running shirt.

My broad shoulders made me uneasy, but according to Yanami, it's "an oversized top meant to be layered", so I managed to button it up without too much trouble.

The frilly collar is uncomfortable, but I have passed the first hurdle. Now for the next one-

...I swallowed nervously.

Lying in front of me is a black, no-pleat skirt, another one of Yanami's personal items.

It has a slight flare toward the hem, resembling the shape of a tulip.

Wearing a women's blouse is one thing. Well, it's not exactly acceptable, but I could tolerate it. But putting on a skirt feels like crossing a line I'm not sure I could handle.

"Uh, maybe I should just-"

"Can't…do it alone…?"

Shikiya-san started to come in, and I quickly pushed her back.

"No, no, I can do it myself! Please don't come in!"

Ahh, damn it, no choice now. I slipped the skirt on over my pants.

…Okay, so this is the front. Hook it, zip it up. There.

I took a deep breath and checked myself in the full-length mirror.

Forget disguise. What I'm seeing is just a high school boy wearing girls' clothing.

This is way harder than I thought…

Reluctantly, I grabbed the long-haired wig that had been left out for me and put it on. It only made the cross-dressing even more pronounced.

"Nukumizu-kun, aren't you going to take off your pants?"

"I am! But stop peeking, Yanami-san!"

My my, now I have no choice but to commit.

I stripped off my pants and, without thinking too much, stepped out from behind the curtain.

"Okay, I did wear it, but…"

"Ohhh!" (x4)

The girls' voices chorused together, followed by a round of applause. Why are they clapping?

"Look, it's totally unnatural, right? I can't pull off this disguise."

Yanami, looking far too amused, pulled out a small elastic band from her pocket.

"The skirt didn't fit quite right, did it? I brought an adjustment band for you-"

"...Huh? No, it fits just fine."

I said, slipping a finger between the skirt and my waist.

"If anything, it's a little loose. Can you really adjust it with that band?"

"............"

"Eh? Hey, the band…"

Why are you looking like you're trying to kill me…?

She looked like she was about to strangle me with that band, but just as I started to worry, Asagumo-san put a calming hand on her shoulder.

"Looking good so far. We've got some stage-quality shapewear and wigs here, so let's use those to finish the look. Shikiya-senpai, I'll leave the rest to you."

Asagumo-san ushered Prez and Shiratama-san into the changing area.

Prez's going to do a male disguise? I bet it will suit her really well…

Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed Shikiya-san staring at me intently.

"Uh, so you're doing my makeup, right?"

"That alone…isn't enough…"

Shikiya-san moved closer as she wobbled.

"We need to...hide your hands and feet...and your neck..."

"My neck?"

Her slender fingers lightly touched my neck.

"Men have...an Adam's apple..."

She paused, her hand resting on my throat, and tilted her head curiously.

"Why is yours…so…small…?"

Eh, that's the first time anyone has said that. Yanami leaned in closer to examine my neck.

"Even Nukumizu- uwah, it's really small."

"Yeah, it's…tiny…"

"Indeed, yours is much smaller than Sosuke's."

Surrounded by the two girls, repeatedly hearing them call me "small" was doing a number on my self-esteem. What even is this situation?

As I instinctively stepped back, Shikiya-san started to touch me more insistently.

"Your legs...are so smooth..."

"No, well- fuah!?"

Without warning, Shikiya-san's hand slipped under my skirt.

But Yanami quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her away from me.

"Hold on, senpai! What do you think you're doing!? No touching in the Literature Club!"

Yanami dragged Shikiya-san to the corner of the room.

"But…his legs…are so…smooth…"

"Even so, he's still a guy, after all. Sometimes, he even gives me those lewd looks."

Yanami muttered, giving me a sidelong glare. Really, woman? That's how I am in your eyes?

"But…Nukumizu-kun's body is like…a girl's…"

"Eh? Really?"

No, I'm all man, body and soul.

Feeling their intense stares, I instinctively tugged at the hem of my skirt. Just then, the curtain to the changing area quietly parted, and Prez emerged, fully dressed.

She walked to the center of the room with confident strides.

Prez's wearing brown leather shoes and checked slacks held up by suspenders.

A black turtleneck is tucked under a light brown jacket, and all her hair is neatly hidden under a flat cap. Her outfit gives off the vibe of a Taisho-era newspaper reporter- distinctive, commanding, and entirely fitting for someone of her presence.

"Hmm, I don't think it looks unnatural. Though it's hard to judge for myself."

"It's very fitting. There's just…something about it that's so convincing."

I'm not even sure of my compliment. Asagumo-san nodded in agreement and stood next to her.

"The turtleneck conceals any difference in necklines between genders. Her hair is tucked under the hat, making it look natural."

Asagumo-san explained, gently tapping Prez's shoulders.

"Next, we'll focus on the body shape. We can adjust the body's volume with shapewear, layered clothing, and towels wrapped in a sarashi. Shikiya-senpai will handle the makeup."

Asagumo-san glanced at the clock on the wall.

-7:30 AM. That's when the bride, Minori Shiratama, enters the venue.

"Let's move on to Phase 1. After Shiratama-san enters the venue, we'll swap her out with Yanami-san. Now, Project Lead, give the order!"

Right, I'm the Project Lead. I had forgotten- ugh, I really don't want to do this…

But there's no turning back now. Straightening my posture, I looked around at everyone's expectant faces.

"Alright then, let's begin Operation Shiratama Riko's Big Revenge...or something like that."

My half-hearted command marked the start of our plan.

*

Yanami and the others have set off. It's time for us to prepare for Phase 2.

The soft touch of the brush on my face, the cool press of Shikiya-san's fingers against my cheek, the rustling of clothing, her shallow breaths... And the scent of her perfume, mingling with the smell of the makeup…

When you close your eyes, your other senses become heightened.

As I stood there frozen with my heart pounding-

"Open…your eyes, please…?"

I heard Shikiya-san's hoarse voice close by.

When I slowly opened my eyes, Shikiya-san was holding up a hand mirror to me.

Is this...me...? I looked completely different from just a moment ago…

The person in the mirror appears to be 20 years old. It's the image of a simple girl, not flashy but dressed up as cutely as she could, trying to look a bit more mature. She's probably someone who enjoys reading and dreams of a wonderful encounter.

It's not just the makeup. My body shape is adjusted by wrapping a towel like a sarashi, and my neck is hidden with a scarf. The jacket is chosen to make my broad shoulders less noticeable, and my legs, extending from the skirt, are covered in nude tights.

"Yeah, you look…pretty cute. I want to hug you…"

Shikiya-san muttered to herself in a heartfelt tone.

Just then, the door to the room burst open, and Asagumo-san and Shiratama-san rushed in.

"The switch with Yanami-san is a success! Phase 1 is complete! We don't have much time. Let's get you into the wedding dress!"

"Yes, understood!"

Asagumo-san hurriedly slipped behind the curtain into the changing area, with Shiratama-san following closely, untying her ribbon as she went.

"I'll...help you…change..."

Shikiya-san, looking dazed, stumbled behind the curtain.

I have a vague sense that this could be bad, but since I couldn't quite put my finger on why, I decided to ignore it.

Prez snapped her suspenders into place and threw on her jacket.

"Alright, next is Phase 2. We need to lure Shiratama-kun into the chapel with Yanami-kun's help, then get Tanaka-sensei out and take the photo- this is actually making me nervous."

In a way, this is the real test. The entire plan will fall apart if the fake cameraman's infiltration fails.

"By the way, where's the camera, Prez?"

"Ahh, I've already requested Basori-kun's assistance. It must be in the student council room-"

Prez and I froze as we looked at each other.

"Wait, you mean it's in Tsuwabuki!?"

"Maybe Hiroto packed it with the other gear. Wait here for a moment."

Prez slipped through the curtain into the changing area.

Wait, we can't be cameramen without a camera.

Just as I was grappling with this major crisis, a knock came, followed by the door opening.

"Excuse me. I'm a student from Tsuwabuki High School. My name is Basori..."

Teiara-san?! I quickly turned my back to her.

"Sorry to bother you, but has Hokobaru been here by any chance?"

"Eh!? Ah! Yes! She was here, but she just stepped out for a moment!"

Teiara-san muttered "I knew it" and began to walk briskly towards me.

"I've come to deliver something she forgot. Where can I find her?"

"S-She might not be back for a while, so you can just leave it over there!"

My voice came out higher than usual, and Teiara-san abruptly stopped in her tracks.

"I would prefer to hand it to her directly. Would it be alright if I wait?"

"Ah, yes, sure."

…She hasn't figured it out, right? I stood with my back to Teiara-san, holding my breath, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.

Indeed, I'm a fairy of Kirinoki High School. People with brain rot can't see me-

"Uh, can I ask you something?"

She can totally see me. I nodded silently, trying to play it cool.

After a brief hesitation, Teiara-san spoke up.

"What exactly is Hokobaru doing here?"

Wait, could she have figured out our plan...?

"What? Uh, she's here…to cover the Drama Club. For an interview."

"But she came with the Literature Club, right? Why is she doing an interview with the Literature Club people for the Drama Club?"

"W-Who knows? I'm just here to help out."

Gulp. I swallowed nervously.

There was a pause. After a moment of silence, Teiara-san murmured softly.

"...Nukumizu-san's too lame."

"Eh, me?"

"Eh!?"

Oh, shit. I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, but it was too late.

"Please let me see your face!"

Teiara-san grabbed my shoulder and forcefully turned me around.

She stared at me in shock, her eyes wide.

"Nukumizu-san!? Why are you dressed like that!?"

"U-Uh, well, that's because..."

As I struggled to come up with an explanation, the curtain suddenly opened, and Prez emerged.

"...Oh, that voice? Is that you, Basori-kun? How did you know we are here?"

"It was written on the student council room's schedule! What's going on- gurk!?"

She sounded like a strangled chicken.

Prez smoothly took the camera bag from the frozen Teiara-san's hands.

"Did you come here to bring us the camera? Thanks a lot. I appreciate it."

"Pre- Nu- eh- this-"

Teiara-san's mouth opened and closed as she kept looking back and forth between Prez and me.

"Prez's now a guy, and Nukumizu-san is now a girl. Does it mean- you two are like that!?"

No.

For some reason, Prez nodded as if she had just reached an understanding.

"Hmm, I don't really get it, but I guess we are."

"Shut up, Prez!"

Teiara-san let out another strangled chicken noise.

Then, with a trickle of blood running down from her nose, she collapsed on the spot.

*

9:30 AM. The operation entered Phase 2.

I adjusted the weight of the bag slung over my shoulder and looked up at the entrance of the venue.

This is my second visit. The last time, I was a visitor, and now I'm an intruder.

"...Will Teiara-san be okay?"

Trying to mask my nerves, I muttered to myself. Prez reassured me with a pat on the shoulder.

"Shikiya's with her, so she should be fine."

That's why I'm worried. I don't think I need to explain why.

Glancing sideways, I saw two figures in the gap between the buildings.

They are Asagumo-san and Shiratama-san. The latter has a coat over her wedding dress. She will sneak into the chapel with Yanami's help once we're inside.

Prez gave my shoulder another firm pat before pushing open the large entrance doors.

The venue is just as stylish as before, with its high, elegantly muted ceilings. But unlike our last visit, the staff are bustling about, clearly busy with preparations.

Without hesitation, Prez approached the reception desk and handed over a business card.

"Pardon the intrusion. I'm Toratani from Studio Damonde. We're here for the photo shoot with Tanaka-sama and Shiratama-sama today."

The staff lady who had been filling out paperwork looked up at her with a puzzled expression.

"Thank you for your hard work. I was informed that the meeting was scheduled for 10 AM, though..."

"This is my first time at this venue, so I was hoping to do a quick walkthrough of the photo locations. If possible, could I have the pleasure of greeting the groom, Tanaka-sama?"

Prez smiled charmingly while dressed as a guy.

The staff lady seemed to catch her breath for a moment, nodding as if she were in a dream.

"...Ah, of course. I'll go check with the groom if that's the case."

"Thank you very much. We'll accompany you."

Ever the lady killer, Prez.

I followed behind them, trying to stay out of sight by keeping my head down.

...Ah, there's Yanami, the fake Shiratama, lurking near the restroom.

Yanami, who had been aimlessly wandering around, noticed us and gave a sneaky thumbs-up. Stop that.

"-I think it's a wonderful job, giving out dreams to everyone. Be proud of yourself."

"Thank you. I feel a bit more at ease now."

"If you ever want to talk, I'm always here to listen. Please feel free to visit the studio anytime."

Wait, what? Prez is now listening to the staff lady's life story? How long was I distracted by Yanami's thumbs-up…?

I continued to follow them as we headed up to the second floor.

To the left at the top of the stairs is the conference room where the briefing has been held. To the right are the dressing rooms for the bride and groom.

The groom and bride each have separate rooms, and since the venue hosts two weddings per day, there are a total of four dressing rooms lined up.

A staircase leads down to the reception hall beyond the rooms.

The staff member knocked on the door of the second-to-last room, which had a sign that read, "Tanaka Family - Groom's Room".

"Tanaka-sama, the photographers have arrived."

The door opened almost immediately. Tanaka-sensei, dressed in a tuxedo, looked at us with surprise.

"Oh, you're a bit early."

"Yes, it's our first time at this venue, so we wanted to do a camera test. I hope we're not interrupting."

As he accepted the business card handed to him, Tanaka-sensei looked pleased.

"No problem at all. We men finish getting ready quickly, so I was just waiting around."

Prez flashed a smile at the staff member who was still staring at her in a daze.

"Thank you, Natsumi-san. You can return to your duties now."

"Yes, of course. If you need anything, just let me know."

Natsumi-san gave Prez a meaningful glance before turning away. Huh, so that's her name.

...I hope Shiratama-san's infiltration of the chapel went smoothly.

I discreetly glanced at my smartwatch as Prez and Tanaka-sensei chatted.

A message popped up on the screen right on cue.

<THE RICE IS COOKED>

—That's Yanami's signal. Riko Shiratama has successfully infiltrated the chapel.

I gave Prez a light tap on the back while she continued making small talk with Tanaka-sensei.

"Toratani-san, the sun is getting higher."

Prez raised the camera beside her face, flashing a charming smile that defied gender.

"Well then, Tanaka-san, if you would kindly follow me- let's take the best photos possible."