What's Love Got To Do With It?

Okay, good. Renri's not around.

What's up? You said you wanted my advice?

Did you hear about Cetie from Renri?

Yeah. He's her friend and your master, right?

Right. And...he's my sweet, sweet darling! My love, my life, my everything!

Your love?

He and I, we don't care that we aren't the same manner of being. We laugh in the face of stigma. We swore eternal love to one another!

I, um, see...

But our love might be torn apart!

By the shady syndicate he belongs to?

Nope!

By my partner, Renri! She's in love with my Cetie, too, I just know it!

Huh? But I thought Renri said that he was just a friend.

Ugh, you're so dense! You think she'd abandon her life in her home world to pursue "just a friend" across the time layers?

She has to have more-than-amicable feelings for him. Why else would she be willing to go through all this?

You know a word to describe that level of dedication and attachment? Love.

I guess that makes sense...

...I think?

Are you doubting me right now? Look, if you really don't believe me...

I'm about to meet up with Renri to stake out some deal involving Cetie's syndicate.

Come with us. Watch Renri chase after him and then tell me how you think she feels about him.

I want a man's perspective!

Uh...that isn't really in my skill set...

Wouldn't it be easier to just, you know, ask her? You're close, right?

You just don't get it. We're close, but not close enough to ask something so personal! Besides, I'm way too scared to ask!

That was Renri. She wants to meet up at the airport.

So, you'll help me, right? Let's get going!

Ah, there she is. Ren...

Wait!

Ugh...sob...

Is she...crying? And she's holding a photo of Cetie...

She does look like she's crying.

Her vitals are irregular, too.

It's heartache, it has to be. She's distraught that she's not been able to reunite with the man she loves.

(Ugh, my stomach is killing me... I think I'm gonna be sick.) (That stupid tavern master told me I could eat and drink as much as I liked as long as I kept our interview secret.) (So what was a girl to do? Of course I took as much as I could...) (But ugh, that must've been some cheap, processed stuff to have this effect on me the next day.)

(I should have stopped when he said I was about to bankrupt the store...) (It's been a long, long time since I've wrecked my stomach this bad. Oh, the humiliation...)

(And now, I have to stop the syndicate's dodgy dealings in this state?) (This is all HIS fault! I swear, when I finally find that guy, I'm gonna give him such a piece of my mind!)

Ugh...

Huh?

Oh, you're here already?

Renri? Something wrong?

(If I tell Macaron, she'll ban me from tavern hopping for good...)

I-I'm fine, honest! All good here.

Okay, it's almost time for this deal. Come on, it's not far from here!

See? She's keeping things from us. It's definitely lovesickness!

Hmm...

They must be the syndicate's trade partners.

Okay, as soon as the syndicate gets here, we capture them and make them reveal Cetie's whereabouts!

Well?

Quiet! You'll give away our position.

'Kay! Got it.

'Kay, we're done here. We got a new location for the deal.

What was all that about?

They said they had a new location. Should we follow them?

No, somethin' doesn't feel right about this. I think we should drop it.

Then now what? That was our only lead into...

Renri! Renri! It's him! What should I do?

Perfect timing. Put him through.

Seriously?

About time you picked up! How's my favorite newshawk feelin' today?

Not so peachy, to be honest.

Yeah, 'cause we're stuck talking to you!

Now, now. There's no need for that.

Um, who are you talking to?

He's someone from our time layer.

Yeah, a middle-aged detective.

Middle-aged? More like aged to perfection. You're Aldo, I take it? Renri's told me all about you.

I'm Hardy, everyone's favorite dashingly debonair detective. Nice to meet ya!

(If he's from Renri's time layer, he can't be the Hardy I know.) (Besides, that Hardy's definitely no detective.)

He also came to this time layer to investigate the syndicate.

Right. I have my own beef with these people, and my own investigation goin' on. So sometimes, we link up and share information.

I see. Well, it's nice to meet you.

So, what do you have? You wouldn't have contacted us unless you had something, right?

Maybe I just wanted to hear the sweet sound of a lady's voice.

Eww. I'm hanging up.

Cool your jets, Macaron! I'm only messin' with ya. I got some info for you, freshest of the fresh. You guys screwed up your deal stoppin' operation, right?

I wouldn't say we screwed it up. They just decided to change location.

Interestin'. Well, guess who's got the deets on the new location?

And you know what else? I hear your old pal Cetie's gonna be there.

What?!

Huh?!

My, Renri. You seem shocked to hear your beloved Cetie's name.

Beloved?!

Keep talkin' garbage and I'll hang up, ya know.

All right, all right! I'm sorry. The thing is, this info was all too easy to come by. Like, suspiciously easy. Anyway, I sent you the coordinates. Ball's in your court how you wanna proceed. But be careful, yeah?

Right. Thanks.

Till next time. Good luck!

Hm. What should we do? He's right, information that's too easy to come by is usually too good to be true.

It could be a trap.

What do you think, Macaron?

(Beloved? What does he mean by beloved?!)

Macaron?

Huh? Oh... My darling might be waiting for us. If there's even the slightest possibility...

You're right, we should go. Even if it's a trap, it could still work in our favor.

Okay, looks like the new location's on Route 99. I have something to do first, so you two go on ahead.

(I feel like death itself. I gotta do something about my stomach or I swear I'm gonna collapse...)

Renri? What's the matter with her? Where's she going?

See? Totally suspicious. Anyway, let's get moving over to Route 99. I wanna hear your opinion on Renri before she gets back.

R-Right...

(Is it love? I really don't have a clue...)

Still no sign of Renri, huh?

While we're waiting, what're your thoughts? Do you think she's in love?

I don't know. It seems like they're just friends to me.

But she's been acting so suspicious!

And you must've heard how the detective joked with her! He called him her beloved Cetie! They must've been together in the past, and he must've known about it!

Well, you were also there back then, weren't you? Did it seem to you like they were an item?

How should I know? I only met Renri after Cetie joined the syndicate.

Oh...

Renri told you how this syndicate was like, super bad news in our time layer, right? Well, there was this one law firm brave and stupid enough to try to bring them to justice. Cetie was a lawyer there, and Renri was his assistant.

They were coworkers?

Together, they helped so many of the syndicate's victims.

They were harassed and threatened for their efforts, but that never, ever fazed them. They were never the type to give in to bullying tactics.

Then why would he join them?

That, I don't know. One day, he just disappeared into thin air. Renri and the detective searched for him, but they couldn't find him anywhere. Then after a while, they heard Cetie had joined up with the bad guys. Weird, right?

Very weird. No wonder Renri's so desperate to find out why.

And at this point, I'd been put into sleep mode for what felt like an eternity... When Cetie joined the syndicate, that's when I woke up. And I had a message waiting for me.

A message? From Cetie?

Yup! But all it said was, "I'm transferring ownership of you to Renri." So that's how Renri and I met! There must've been a reason why my darling would do that, but we're still no better off...

Anyhow, that's a problem for another day. Today's conundrum is Cetie and Renri's relationship. Did my darling fall out of love with me while I was sleeping? And what will happen if he really does turn up for this deal?

Hmm...

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Oh! Uh... Hi, Renri.

Huh? What's up with you?

None of your business!

My, someone's in a mood today.

So, um, where'd you go?

Oh, I just had to do some shopping.

SHOPPING? At a time like this? What for?!

Oh, uh, it's just some candy that helps you stay focused. I ran out.

That's a thing?

Y-Yeah, I eat them all the time! I got caught up in my work and didn't get enough sleep yesterday, so I figured they'd help.

It's called ramone. Ya haven't heard of it?

Wait a minute...

(Eep! Don't tell me she's noticed that they're actually just stomach meds!)

Cetie loves ramone!

(Does he?)

Trying to score some brownie points with my darling, huh?

, YOU HOMEWRECKER!!!

Um? What?

Macaron, calm down!

It's no use trying to hide it! It's obvious you're in love with my darling!

What are you talking about? And keep your voice down!

Don't change the subj...

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Wh-Who's there?!

You're braver than I thought, sniffin' after us without the slightest attempt at precaution. Or are you just stupid? 'Cause you sure fell right into our trap.

Since this is likely to be the first and last time we ever talk, mind tellin' me what you mean by that?

Yeah, I don't see why not. See, I knew someone was chasin' after us, and Mr. Cetie in particular.

"Mr." Cetie? Guess he's some kinda big shot now, 'eh?

I thought I'd try an' test the waters, send out false information about the location of a deal... And sure enough, there you were, hidin' in the shadows.

You realized we were at the airport?

Yeah. So then I decided to switch to a new location and even throw Mr. C's name into the mix. All to lure you here to kill you.

I knew it.

Wait... My darling's NOT gonna be here?

I think I've answered enough questions. Any last words?

Yes, actually.

What the?!

You might think you've answered enough questions, but I don't. First, I'll bring you to your knees, and then I'm gonna beat the answers out of ya.

In your dreams, lady.

Aldo, Macaron! You got this?!

On it!

You better believe it with the mood I'm in today! Sometimes a little violence can be therapeutic!

Heheh! I love you, Macaron!

What a coincidence! I love you too!

Dammit! How was I s'posed to know you were gonna be this good?

Hmph. You better start talkin', chum.

I ain't sayin' nothin'!

Hey! Stop right there!

I'll take care of this! You two go after him!

He's not here! I must've lost him.

Any luck on your end, Macaron?

No sign of our target, huh?

Huh? Is that...

Clock, analyze the area.

Understood. Accessing...

It IS him! It must be the Cetie from this time layer... If I come out now, it'll only complicate things. I guess I'll just hide out here for a bit.

Renri! I can't find him anywhere!

Shh!

Why're you shushing me?

It's just, um...

It's just what? Something up?

N-Nothing at all! Let's just go regroup with Aldo, okay?

You're hiding something from me! I know it!

Hey! Cetie!

Huh?! Cetie? CETIE?! Why're you hiding him from me? Where is he?

Why are we tracking some random syndicate when the Administrator didn't even ask you to?

A hunk of junk like you wouldn't understand. Cetie just has an eye for these things.

Who're you calling junk?

I may not know much about 'em, but what I do know has me worried.

Yeah, isn't there some imposter going around pretending to be you? What a scumbag!

As if scrap metal like you can tell the difference between a fake and the real thing.

Hey! Give me some credit here!

Yeah, I'm sure Retro would be able to tell the difference in an instant.

See?

...... Must be nice...

...... Looks like the thug got away...

Let's just pick up Aldo and go swing by the tavern. Okay, Macaron?

I think we've earned ourselves a little R&R.

Yeah...

Okay... Let's do it.

Sigh... Another day's work, and no new leads to show for it. Same old, same old.

Only now, they're onto you. This will only make your investigation harder.

I suppose. But Macaron and I will manage somehow. We're the dream team.

Right, Macaron?

......

Macaron?

Thanks, Renri... For telling me to stay in the shadows before, I mean. You just didn't want me to get upset seeing this time layer's Cetie hanging out with his pods, did you?

Maybe.

Um, can I ask you something? Why're you going to such lengths to pursue him? Is it...for love?

......

Hahaha... I guess ya could say that. It is for love, in a way.

I knew it!

But not love for him. Love for the justice he always stood for.

Those who are kind to others should be happy. Those who hurt others should be punished according to the law. As a colleague, I always respected his sense of justice and his will to pursue it. That's why...

I can't believe that he's really turned to the dark side. I have to find out why he joined them, otherwise I can't help him.

That's it? Honestly?

What, ya don't believe me?

It's just...earlier today, you were crying over a photo of him.

Ah, that. I just went a bit too crazy at the tavern last night. Well, a lot too crazy. I REALLY didn't want to have to spend my morning chasing after him while feeling this awful... And seein' his stupid face in that photo, honestly, I just snapped. I'd had it with him.

That candy from earlier was actually just something to settle my stomach. I didn't even know he liked ramone!

B-But the detective called him your "beloved Cetie"!

Oh, you know what he's like. He just likes to tease.

Oh...

I'm sorry. I just didn't want ya to get mad at me for overdoin' it again...

But it looks like I only made things worse by hidin' it from ya. Were ya gettin' jealous?

Maybe a little...

In that case, I'll tell ya my other reason for wanting to track him down. You see...

I want to see my partner reunited with the man she loves.

Renri...

I'm sorry for doubting you. I love you, Renri.

What a coincidence. I love you too, Macaron. You know I always got your back.

......

Looks like I was worrying for nothing! What is your type, anyway?

My type? Hmm...

Someone who can out-pace me at the tavern.

Yeah, good luck with that. And I thought the search for Cetie was a challenge...

Ain't that the truth!