Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san Meets Suzuran-san

When we walked through the gate of Sakura’s mansion, Noa and Misa were amazed at the sight.

“It’s different from the houses in our country.” (Noa)

“It’s like nature is inside the house.” (Misa)

“I’m glad you like it.” (Sakura)

We headed for the entrance, removing our shoes and entering the building.

“You can see wood everywhere.” (Noa)

“It’s like a work of art.” (Misa)

“Oh, you’re exaggerating.” (Sakura)

“I’d like to take it home with me.” (Misa)

“You can’t take a house home with you.” (Sakura)

Maybe with my bear box, I could manage; I internally retorted.

However, I think the house would crumble the very moment I take it out.

After all, unlike my bear house, it wasn’t made to be portable. To begin with, I would need a foundation for me to place it.

We walked along the corridor.

Noa, Misa, Fina and Shuri let out sighs as they gazed at the scenery that spread out over the garden.

“It’s entirely different from the garden at my house. The garden at my house is gorgeous, but this one is more serene.” (Noa)

“Look at those big and small stones of various shapes placed in the garden…” (Misa)

“Even though they’re just placed there, they give off an indescribable feeling.” (Noa)

“In our country, we don’t use stones like this.” (Misa)

“Is that so?” (Sakura)

“Yes, we do have beautifully crafted stones, but…” (Noa)

Indeed, in Noa’s mansion and the Castle in the Royal Capital, you wouldn’t find stones left in their natural state like in the Land of Wa. You would more often see stones that have been processed.

Sakura looked happy as Noa and Misa praised the garden.

“This is the guest room, so please make yourself at home.”

We were shown to a Japanese-style room. When we were about to sit down, Shinobu took the cushions that had been piled up in the corner and placed them in front of the table in the middle of the room.

“These are the cushions, please sit on them.” (Shinobu)

“Thank you.” (Noa)

Once everyone was sitting on the cushions, they looked out at the garden again.

“I wonder why? The view of the garden makes me feel very calm.” (Noa)

“There are no flowers in bloom, though.” (Misa)

In the gardens of Noa and Misa’s houses, many flowers were in bloom in the flowerbeds. I think that was beautiful in its own way.

But this garden had a different kind of beauty.

“I’ve made some tea.” (Shinobu)

While we were looking at the garden, Shinobu made us some tea.

“Thank you.” (Noa)

“I noticed it when we were eating the dango; you were drinking it normally, but does Noa have green tea at your place too?” (Sakura)

“Yes, there’s a restaurant in the town where I live that serves food using ingredients from this country. You can drink it there.” (Noa)

At Anzu’s shop, green tea was served when you ordered onigiri.

Incidentally, I also kept some green tea with me because I sometimes want to drink it.

“It’s rare in my town, but I’ve tasted this before. It’s different from black tea, but it’s really delicious.” (Misa)

Misa said this and took a sip of the tea.

“That’s good to hear.” (Sakura)

“If your stomach is okay, I have rice crackers. Do you want some?” (Shinobu)

Even though we came to Sakura’s house to rest because we were full, Shinobu still wanted to feed us.

“Well, a little bit…” (Noa)

“Me too.” (Misa)

“I’ll have some as well!” (Shuri)

The three of them, apart from Fina, picked up their rice crackers.

No one stopped them.

However, I have to warn them.

“If you eat rice crackers, you won’t be able to eat dinner.” (Yuna)

Besides, overeating would not be good for you.

“Yes, I understand.” (Noa)

The three of them looked disappointed, but they understood.

“That’s a shame. There were all sorts of rice crackers.” (Noa)

“We can eat them tomorrow.” (Yuna)

As we were relaxing, Kagali-san came over.

There was a woman that looked about 20 years old with her.

“I heard you were all back, so I came to see you, but it looks like you’re all just lazing about.” (Kagali)

Well, since we came to rest, it was fine.

“Kagali-sama, who are these people?” (Suzuran)

The woman behind Kagali-san asked.

“The girl in the bear costume is a friend of mine.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san introduced me while looking at me, then turned to Fina and the others.

“The others are friends of the bear.” (Kagali)

The woman’s facial expression changed to one of surprise.

“Kagali-sama… you have friends!?” (Suzuran)

“You’re being rude. Of course, I have friends.” (Kagali)

“But they are very, very young to be friends of Kagali-san…” (Suzuran)

If Noa and others knew Kagali-san’s true appearance, they wouldn’t have found the woman’s statement strange.

But now, since Kagali-san looked younger, the conversation may sound strange to Noa and the others.

The woman looked at us again.

“My name is Suzuran. I look after Kagali-sama.” (Suzuran)

Was she the Suzuran-san that everyone was talking about?

I’ve heard her name many times.

“My name is Yuna. I’m not sure if I can call myself a friend of Kagali-san, but she’s helped me out a lot.” (Yuna)

“Don’t give me such flattery. I’m the one who’s been helped.” (Kagali)

“That’s not true. There have been times when things would have been difficult without Kagali-san.” (Yuna)

It happened not only just during the giant snake incident. Kagali-san also helped me during the slime incident.

Also, having Kagali-san living in that mansion was a big help to me.

“She knows things about Kagali-san that I don’t…” (Suzuran)

“That’s right. Kagali-san also knows things about Yuna-san that I don’t know…” (Noa)

Suzuran-san and Noa nodded in agreement with each another.

“I don’t know a lot at all.” (Misa)

“I don’t know much either.” (Shuri)

Misa and Shuri commented.

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to Fina.

“I don’t know everything about Yuna Onee-chan either.” (Fina)

“That’s true, but Fina knows the most about Yuna-san.” (Noa)

“It’s always just you and Yuna-san going out together.” (Shuri)

Shuri delivered the final blow.

Seeing the situation, I decided to intervene.

“I don’t always hang out with Fina. Look, the two of us went to cheer on Noa at the school exchange event, and the other day when I went out, it was with Noa and not with Fina, right?” (Yuna)

“Yuna Onee-sama went out with Noa Onee-sama… Is that true, Noa Onee-sama?” (Misa)

Misa’s eyes now turned to Noa.

“Well, yes, I did go out with Yuna-san.” (Noa)

“I’m also jealous of you, Noa Onee-sama and Fina-chan. I heard that you were also taken to that island, Shuri-chan.” (Misa)

Misa sulked a little, as she had never been taken anywhere by anyone.

“I didn’t mean to exclude you. When we were at school, it was because of my sister’s support, and the other time it was an emergency. But this time I did invite you, Misa.” (Noa)

“That’s true.” (Misa)

Noa, unusually, hurriedly soothed Misa.

“Fufufu, Yuna-sama is popular, isn’t she?” (Sakura)

Sakura said with a smile.

“Yuna will probably be stabbed to death one day.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu said with a serious expression.

What kind of stupid thing are you saying? There was no way Fina and the others would do something like that.

“Huh, so you’re the girl who’s rumoured to dress up as a bear, aren’t you?” (Suzuran)

Suzuran-san asked with a smile.

“You know about me?” (Yuna)

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard that Sakura-sama brought you home before, and also a little from Kagali-sama.” (Suzuran)

I looked at Kagali-san.

“…it was only a little information.” (Kagali)

“Please continue to be Kagali-san’s friend.” (Suzuran)

Suzuran-san said with a slightly serious expression.

Perhaps she might be one of the few people who knew about Kagali-san’s truth.

“Yeah, as long as Kagali-san doesn’t mind.” (Yuna)

“You can come and visit anytime. So, weren’t you all going to look around the castle town?” (Kagali)

“Well, we’ve been looking around town, but everyone ate too much food that was new to them, so we’re taking a break…” (Sakura)

“Oh, and we’re all supposed to be wearing clothes from Sakura-sama’s collection.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu added to Sakura’s words.

“Clothes?” (Kagali)

“Yes, because Noa and Misa said they wanted to try out our country’s clothes.” (Sakura)

Kagali-san, who had heard the story, let out a light sigh.

“Well, if that’s the case, Suzuran should help out too. It’ll be too much for Sakura and Shinobu to handle alone.” (Kagali)

“I’m taking care of you, Kagali-sama.” (Suzuran)

“You don’t need to look after me here.” (Kagali)

Suzuran-san agreed to help Noa and the others get changed.

“Well, it looks like your tummy is feeling better now. Let’s go to my room and change our clothes.” (Sakura)

We moved to Sakura’s room.

Sakura took out some clothes from the wardrobe when she entered the room, and Shinobu and Suzuran-san brought a wicker basket from elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Noa and Misa were looking around the room.

Then, Noa noticed something on the chest of the dresser.

“What is that?” (Noa)

Noa approached the dresser and stared at the object on top of it.

“Ah, that’s the picture Yuna-sama drew for me when Fina-chan and Shuri-chan came last time.” (Sakura)

What Noa was looking at was a picture of Sakura that I had drawn, framed in a luxurious frame.

“Sakura and…” (Noa)

The picture showed Sakura and another girl next to her.

It’s Ruimin, the elf.

“The girl next to Sakura is a friend who lives far away.” (Yuna)

“A distant place…” (Noa)

“But I’m not lonely anymore because Yuna-san drew me a picture with her. This picture is my treasure.” (Sakura)

I was glad she valued it so much, but I was also embarrassed.

Noa said, “I see” with an unreadable expression.

Meanwhile, the clothes have been prepared.

The kimono clothes were laid out on the tatami mat.

“Do you have any colors or patterns you like?” (Sakura)

Everyone looked at the clothes.

“They’re all beautiful.” (Noa)

“This is a kimono I’ve worn before!” (Shuri)

“This is the kimono I wore.” (Fina)

Shuri and Fina pointed at the red kimonos.

I remembered the two of them wearing red kimonos, but I didn’t remember it so well.

“Do you want to wear a red kimono again, Fina and Shuri?” (Sakura)

“Is that okay?” (Fina)

Fina looked happy.

Fina watched silently all this time, but it looked like she also wanted to try it on.

“If that’s the case, Yuna has to wear one too.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu said so.

“No, I don’t want to…” (Yuna)

I tried to escape, but someone grabbed me.

“Let’s wear it together, Yuna-san too.” (Noa)

“I want to wear it with Yuna Onee-sama.” (Misa)

“Yuna Onee-chan…” (Shuri)

Noa, Misa and Shuri were holding my bear costume.

“Fina…” (Yuna)

I looked at Fina as if asking for help.

“Yuna Onee-chan, let’s wear it together.” (Fina)

Fina said with a smile.

I looked at Sakura and Kagali-san, but Sakura was smiling, and Kagali-san was yawning as if she weren’t interested.

There was no one here on my side.

Someone, help me…

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