Just as Jiang Xia was watching the canaries and the canaries were warily watching Suzuki Sonoko, someone walked up behind them.
Seeing the two high school students gathered around the birdcage, the lobby manager lavishly praised their taste. "Do you like them? These canaries are actually my pets."
"!" Suzuki Sonoko straightened up and nodded repeatedly, guilty as charged. "Of course we do! We were just complimenting their feathers."
Jiang Xia gave an obliging hum, helping his classmate keep up the lie.
The lobby manager brightened and walked over to tease the birds through the cage. "I thought they'd get lonely if I left them shut up in a room by themselves, so I put their cage here. Who knew there'd be a murder case in the lobby... Sigh, there are so many people coming and going now. I wonder if they've been frightened."
Suzuki Sonoko: "..." She didn't know whether the birds had been frightened, but this manager who kept appearing out of nowhere had certainly startled her.
Though things were somewhat chaotic, thanks to the tireless efforts of both companies, the wedding dress runway competition was held as scheduled.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Bodhi-Rokujo Wedding Dress Design Competition." The host tried hard to forget the horrifying sight of President Rokujo collapsing with a thud and worked to raise the atmosphere. "Next, please enjoy the heartfelt performances of the models from these two major brands—these beautiful wedding dresses will surely add a brilliant splash of color to the lives of newly married couples!"
After a brief opening speech, the runway show began.
The lights in the venue dimmed, and models in wedding dresses of various styles walked back and forth along the runway.
"Look, look!" Suzuki Sonoko shook Jiang Xia and Mouri Ran beside her. "Masumi's coming out!