Yuu glanced at the coordinator and said coolly, "This wedding was a conspiracy from the start. A conspiracy against Sayuri's life."
The room went dead silent. Outside, the guests were whispering, wondering where the couple was.
"Are you trying to ruin my wedding?" Toshihiko demanded, his face pale with rage.
Yuu smirked. "I'm not the one ruining it. You and your ex-girlfriend are."
Toshihiko's expression shifted to sheer panic. "What are you talking about?! I should be asking what you were doing to my bride in a locked room!"
"Careful, sir," Kazumi added, trying to play it cool. "I saw Sayuri hugging you earlier. I didn't say anything to avoid a scene, but clearly, you two took advantage the moment we left."
"Oh? And why didn't you mention it? Afraid of something?" Yuu retorted. He walked over to the table and picked up the can of lemon tea with the straw in it. It was still slightly warm from the sun. He tilted the can.
As the liquid hit the floor, it began to hiss and bubble, corroding the wood and emitting a faint, acrid smell. Ran and Serena gasped, covering their mouths.
Kiyonaga's face turned as black as coal. He turned his terrifying gaze on Toshihiko and Kazumi. "Is what he's saying true?"
The conspirators panicked. Toshihiko tried to bluster. "How do we know you didn't poison it? You're the one who picked it up. You probably just put your fingerprints on it to frame us!"
"Yeah!" Kazumi chimed in. "You're trying to help her get out of the marriage!"
"I was with Sayuri the entire time," Yuu said. "She can testify that I never touched that can until now."
Sayuri nodded silently.
"Hmph, you're in it together," Toshihiko snarled. "No wonder she didn't want to marry me. She's been seeing you!"
"Actually," Sayuri said weakly, "I met Mr. Hoshimiya for the first time today."
"First time? And you were hugging him like that? I've known you for years, Sayuri; you aren't that 'open,'" Kazumi spat.
Yuu sighed. They were going to play the long game. "Fine. Serena, get your camera. Let's see who really touched that tea."
"On it!" Serena chirped. She was thrilled her camera was finally being useful.
They connected the camcorder to a monitor in the room. The footage started from just before Kazumi entered. Everyone watched the yellow can on the screen.
The footage showed Kazumi bringing it in, then Toshihiko touching it. However, because Serena and Ran left to find batteries, the camera had been placed on a chair, pointed at the table. It didn't catch the actual act of poisoning, only who had access to the table.
Yuu was a bit disappointed. Then he noticed the progress bar was still quite long. High-end cameras usually have a "reserve" battery life even after the warning.
As the video played on, the image remained of the empty table, but then... a sound began to emanate from the speakers.
A soft, rhythmic creaking... and a woman's unmistakable, breathy moans.
Yuu reacted instantly, grabbing the remote and muting the volume.
The silence that followed was deafening. Everyone in the room knew Sayuri's voice. Even for just a few seconds, the sounds of her pleasure were undeniable.
Yuu and Sayuri shared a look. They had both forgotten the camera was still recording audio.
"Focus on the tea," Yuu said, forcing a calm expression.
The video continued until Yuu's back appeared on screen, picking up the can.
"There. Only you two touched it," Yuu said, turning to Toshihiko.
"That proves nothing!" Toshihiko yelled. "Maybe she poisoned it herself to frame me because she wanted to be with your 'teacher'!"
He felt confident. He had been careful to block the camera's view with his body when he slipped the toxin in.
Yuu chuckled. "You're right. A video might not be enough. But Kiyonaga, I suggest you search him. And check the trash."
Kiyonaga didn't need to be told twice. He was furious—both at the murder attempt and the sounds he just heard. He ordered his men to tear the room apart.
Toshihiko Takasugi was a failure in high society for a reason—he was incompetent. He hadn't even wiped his prints off the small glass vial of poison before tossing it into the bin.
A few minutes later, an officer produced a small bottle with white powder residue. A quick test confirmed it matched the toxin in the tea. Toshihiko's fingerprints were all over it.
"Toshihiko Takasugi, Kazumi Takenaka," Kiyonaga growled, his voice like grinding stones. "You're under arrest."
The wedding was officially over.