"This deployment won't do at all. What are you people doing, needing completely unsuspecting civilians to take part in the drill?" Juzo Megure's rebuke was anything but polite. "The security arrangements need to be redone. The actual use of firearms could also injure other innocent participants. These are all factors that need to be considered..."
"What? So it wasn't a wedding after all." Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya, dressed in a little suit, sighed. "It was some kind of assault drill..."
"Yes, it was an assault drill disguised as a wedding." Hitoshi Shiratori nodded. "Assault drills require simulations resembling real situations, so we needed some completely unaware spectators. That's why we didn't explain things to you in advance..."
"No wonder." Ayumi Yoshida rested her chin on her hand and muttered softly, "I was wondering why Teacher Kobayashi had been invited too. She doesn't even know Officer Takagi and the others."
"I was startled too. I thought there really had been some kind of accident." Sumiko Kobayashi patted her chest. "Mr. Shiratori didn't tell me beforehand either."
"This is what police work is like every day. You said before that you were interested and wanted to hear me talk about some stories from work, so I thought this was a good opportunity." Hitoshi Shiratori's attention immediately turned to Sumiko Kobayashi, and he smiled. "Besides, once the drill is over, everyone will have a meal together. It's the Metropolitan Police Department's way of thanking the civilians who came all this way to help."
"I see. Well, it is very interesting. Mr. Shiratori really does look like such a dashing police officer when he's working..."
Watching the two of them chat back and forth, the elementary schoolers exchanged knowing looks.
Miwako Sato had been Hitoshi Shiratori's previous romantic target. Bringing someone he had only just entered