Whoa! This chapel sure is beautiful!

Now, they said this is where the audience is supposed to sit. Also, I guess Kanade and Honami are still getting ready...

Still, that title... “A Beleaguered Bride”...?
What kind of show do they have in store for us?

I've gotta think it's gonna be all weird and comical since Tsukasa and Rui were part of the brainstorming.

Now, let's welcome in our brides.

Oh, it's starting!
I can't wait to see them in their dresses♪

Wow, Honami looks gorgeous...!
She even chose to wear a veil. This totally feels like a real wedding...!

Oh, there's Kanade...!
You both look amazing!

Wait!
I've gotta take some pics and show Ena what happened!

*Sigh*
I-I'm having trouble walking in these...

Those heels are a little high.
But you look very pretty in them and they suit you nicely.

Thank you. I'm glad you helped me pick them out, Ms. Mochizuki.

Now, please present your vows.

Our vows...?
Oh, the thing about “in sickness and in health”...?

Yes, I believe so.
I didn't realize that we'd also be doing that part.

Do you take one another as wedded spouses for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish from this day forth...?

Um, so...

“Not so fast!”

Wait, huh...? Otori...?

Emu? What's she doing...?
Talk about a surprise entrance.

“I am Count Otori, and I will be helping myself to those young ladies!”

C-Count Otori...?

Huh? What's going on here?

“Wait, Count Otori?! As in the vampire who lives in that castle deep in the mountains...?! I'd heard rumors about you liking to feed on young brides, but I didn't think you truly existed...!”

“You kidnapping monster!
Appearing at a wedding like this means...”

“Those girls are about to get kidnapped!”

O-Okay? A vampire who likes to kidnap young brides...? That's what the title was talking about?!

“Hah hah hah hah! Now, my beautiful brides, come hither and relinquish to yourselves me!”

Uhh... What happens now...?

What happens? I, um...

(I-I'm not sure what we're supposed to do...)

(But the show must already be underway. That means we need to do our best to make it as entertaining as possible...!)

“No, a vampire! What do you want with us...? I'm so scared... Wh-What do we do?!”

Huh...? Ms. Mochizuki...?

Hey, Honami's totally into it!
Alright, let's see what happens next!

“Heh heh heh! Take a look at that bell over there, my lovely ladies!”

What bell? Oh, there's one in the middle of that garden...

“It produces an absolutely abhorrent sound! It would most certainly cause me to vanish from this place if you were to ring it!”

By ringing the bell...?

Oh, that's right... I've heard somewhere before that wedding bells are supposed to ward off evil spirits and such...

“However! Ringing it will be no simple matter! Meet my minions!”

Wh-Where did all these other vampire-looking people come from...?

“Hah hah hah hah!
If you wish to ring the bell, you must run!”

You can do it, Kanade, Honami!
Show Count Otori who's boss!

(R-Right. I need to protect Ms. Yoisaki by making Count Otori go away...!)

(S-Starting by running from Emu and the staff playing her minions. Once we reach the bell, we just have to ring it...!)

Let's go, Ms. Yoisaki!
We need to reach that bell!

Oh, um... R-Right...!

Huff... Huff... Huff...

Do you feel okay, Ms. Yoisaki?

Y-Yes, it's just... This dress... It's so heavy...

But we need to keep running if we don't want to get caught...

R-Right...
Wait, actually... Emu's minions don't seem to be moving very fast at all...

Yes, why is that...?

Could it be that they're taking how we're moving into account? We are both trying to run in heels...

I see. That's awfully nice of them...

Oh, Ms. Yoisaki, look.
The bell's just up ahead...!

“Hyah!”

(What?! Emu...?! Did she just leap over our heads...?!)

“Heh heh heh... You will not get away that easily, my beautiful brides. You shall join me in my castle and supply me with your blood for the rest of your days!”

But the bell... We're so close...

(What do we do...? Her minions are right behind us... At this rate, we'll be...)

“E-Emu... No, Count Otori!
You leave me no choice!”

G-Got you...!

Huh? Wah!

(M-Ms. Mochizuki just grabbed onto Otori...)

I'll keep Count Otori busy!
Ms. Yoisaki, you ring the bell...!

W-Wait, but...

D-Don't worry about me...!
Please, go...!

O-Okay...!

Hnng... So heavy...

Huh?! Oh no! I-I'm so sorry!
Are you okay, Emu?!

Huff... Huff... Huff...

(I have to keep running...
I have to ring the bell before Otori and her minions catch up...!)

(And save Ms. Mochizuki...!)

(Wait, what am I getting all worked up about?)

(It's not like Ms. Mochizuki's in any real danger...)

(But for some reason, I feel compelled to do what I can for her right now...)

(Ms. Mochizuki and Otori are both doing their best to make this show entertaining for everyone watching...)

(Oh...)

(Everyone's been showing genuine concern for me. Not just Ms. Mochizuki...
Mizuki, Otori and a lot of other people too.)

(That means I need to show them my appreciation...)

(So, I...!)

Oh, here it is...! I just have to ring this bell and...

...!

That sound...!

“N-Nooooo!
You rang the bell! How could you?!”

I-It's working...?

Ms. Mochizuki...!

Ms. Yoisaki!
Thank you for ringing the bell!

No, I'm just glad you're safe.
Also, what happened to Count Otori...?

Oh, um...

“Grr... Hearing the sound of that bell is making my powers wane... I have no choice but to retreat back to my castle...”

W-We did it...!

We did...? Thank goodness...

“However! Despite being rid of me, the journey you are both about to embark upon will undoubtedly test you moving forward...”

“But... If you truly care for one another, you may just be able to overcome any obstacles you encounter.”

“I certainly felt that from you just now!
So, I am sure you will have no trouble!”

“Go and live happily ever after!
I shall take my leave here! Hah hah hah hah!!!”

S-So, it's over...?

I-I'm not sure.

That concludes this showing of “A Beleaguered Bride: A Special Wedding Presentation”. Thank you all very much for watching and participating.

Th-Thank you very much...

That was great, you guys!

The story was kinda weird, but it ended up being really fun! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time♪

Yeah, definitely!
Honami, Kanade, you both did amazing!

Um, I sort of just let myself go with the flow, but I'm happy to hear that we did okay...

What did you think, Kanade?!
Did you enjoy our special show?

Oh, so...

Hehe.

Um, Ms. Yoisaki...?

(I wasn't sure how I'd do at first since we weren't told much about what would happen...)

(But I could tell Otori and Ms. Mochizuki were doing their best to make it as entertaining as possible for everyone...)

(Before I knew it, I felt that I had to do everything I could to save Ms. Mochizuki...)

Kanade...

*Nod*
That was fun.

*Gasp*

Really?! That's great!
Kanade, your smile's so wonderhoy that it's making me feel super duper happy!

Me too...

I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself, Ms. Yoisaki!

I was nervous about being in an improvisation show... But I'm glad we agreed to do this...!

I agree...

Thank you, Ms. Mochizuki...

Y-You're welcome!

Oh yeah, I was thinking.
Did you know that you're supposed to ring the wedding bell three times?

Oh, really...?

Yes. Once for the betrothed, a second time for their parents and a third time for everyone in attendance.

The two getting married ring the bell to show everyone their gratitude for joining them in this blessed celebration.

Yeah, so let's ring it two more times!

Huh?

You only rang it once just now, right?

I know this isn't a real wedding, but I'm happy I got this chance to hang out with all of you today. So, I wanna do something to thank you for inviting me.

Yeah, wow...!

I wanna ring it too!
I'm really glad that you all decided to come enjoy the fair today, so I wanna thank you somehow!

Cool! What do you say, Kanade, Honami?

Yes, of course!

I...

Yes, let's ring it...

Nice! Then, Emu, let's go first!

Okay!

Alright, ready?!

This is my second time hearing it, but it sounds very nice...

Hehe. Yes, it does.
Last time, the sound of the bell wasn't the first thing on our minds.

Kanade! Honami!
You two take it from here!

Then, Ms. Yoisaki, shall we?

Yes, let's.

(It really is a lovely sound... And it's probably echoing for miles...)

(I wasn't sure what would happen during that show, but it ended up being worth the effort.)

(Not only that, Ms. Yoisaki seemed to really enjoy herself...)

(A bell that represents gratitude and blessings... I couldn't be happier that she's hearing this sound right now.)