"Miss Kobayashi and Mr. Hirata seem to have vanished into thin air."
Everyone chattered among themselves. When they were done, they all turned to Amamiya Natsuki.
"Natsuki-kun, what do we do now?"
"What do we do?" Amamiya Natsuki's expression turned serious. "We keep looking, of course. They came here from another world with us. We need to see them alive or find their bodies. You're not thinking of abandoning our companions and going back already, are you?"
Everyone fell silent.
Some of them really did feel cold and tired, and wanted to return to the warmth of the underground internet café.
But not one of them dared say so.
The merciless moral condemnation that came with abandoning their companions would hurt too much. No one could withstand it.
Amamiya Natsuki waved a hand.
"Let's search the shop next door. We might find a clue."
Everyone headed silently to the neighboring shop.
Once they were gone, Amamiya Natsuki summoned Human-faced Dog Yuzuki and spoke quietly.
"Yuzuki, I need your help with something."
Human-faced Dog was quite displeased.
"Jerk, you only call me out to help when you need something. When you don't, you never think of me."
"This is important." Amamiya Natsuki made her a promise. "If you help me find them, I'll let you pick out ten chew sticks."
"I don't want those things!!!"
Despite her anger, Human-faced Dog didn't mess around when it came to serious matters. She knew all too well that if she angered this man, he'd subject her to all kinds of inhumane abuse.
"Smell this."
Amamiya Natsuki held out a pair of black tights.
"Gross!" Yuzuki's face immediately twisted in disgust. "Why are you making me smell something like that?"
"Because the owner of these tights is missing," Amamiya Natsuki replied calmly. "You're the only