After getting out of the bath, Noa and I separated from Cereille, who returned to her room.
As we went our way, I was concerned about Cerreille’s expression, but could not speak to her.
“Even so, I didn’t think that the story of that time at the school festival would ever surface.” (Yuna)
“Yuna-san, I was surprised that you didn’t react when I mentioned Rutum-sama’s name.” (Noa)
“I remember his title of knight captain, but not his name.” (Yuna)
Moreover, I haven’t seen him since then, so how could I remember him? He was already erased from my memory.
“But I didn’t think she thought I was a man.” (Yuna)
“I think it’s because of the gag order, just like Cereille-sama said. If you look into it, you will soon find out that the girl in the school uniform had a match with Rutum-sama. Perhaps it’s just that Cereille-sama’s father didn’t tell her that much.” (Noa)
“Well, if he talks to his daughter and it spreads, it would be her father’s responsibility.” (Yuna)
“Maybe he only told her that there was someone who fought for Oneesama against Rutum-sama. That’s why I think she assumed that Yuna-san, who fought for Oneesama, was a man. Also, I don’t think that she personally received any information here, being far away from the royal capital, and I don’t think that she tried to gather information on her own. But since she met Oneesama and me, she may have just been curious about that incident at the school festival.” (Noa)
Noa explained it from Cereille’s point of view.
Well, even though she’s a daughter of a noble family, Cereille, a student, would not personally investigate Rutum.
“By the way, thanks for keeping quiet about me.” (Yuna)
“My mother has asked me not to tell anyone. Besides, Yuna-san, you didn’t want to be known either, so you used a false name at that time, didn’t you?” (Noa)
“False name? What are you talking about?” (Yuna)
I tilted my head to the side.
“……Yuna-san, you said your name was Yuuna, right?” (Noa)
Noa asked as if to confirm.
……Yuuna?
Gradually, the memory of that time comes back to me.
I clapped the bear puppets, and they made a pomf sound.
“……Ah, I have a faint memory of saying something like that.” (Yuna)
That’s right. When I was asked by His Majesty the King, I remembered calling myself Yuuna.
“Noa, you remember it well.” (Yuna)
I had already forgotten about it.
“Yuna-san, you just don’t remember it. I can’t believe you forgot Rutum-sama’s name after all that happened.” (Noa)
What? Normally, you wouldn’t remember the name of someone you’ve only met once or so, would you? And even more so, the name of someone you were not interested in. Even if you were introduced to someone when you changed classes, you wouldn’t remember the name of the kid you were not interested about. It’s the same thing.
And I feel bad for Noa, but I only recently learned the name Foshuroze. I didn’t remember it in the beginning, and it was lost in the memory of that time I was angry at Cliff.
I opened the window and cooled my skin after taking a bath. It feels good. After I cooled down, Cereille came into our room.
“The food is ready, so let’s go to the dining room.” (Cereille)
“I’ll be waiting for you here then.” (Yuna)
“What are you talking about, Yuna? You’re coming with us.” (Cereille)
“Cereille, I think your family would be there. As an escort of Noa, I can’t eat at the same table with the nobles, you know?” (Yuna)
“Don’t worry about it. As a friend of Noa and Shia, I would like to introduce you to them and invite you to dine with us. Besides, as I’ve said before, “I’ll be entertaining Noa and your friend”. Of course, that means you, Yuna.” (Cereille)
Cereille held out her hand.
“Let’s go, Yuna-san.” (Noa)
Noa also reached out and grabbed my hand.
Both of them took me.
“I’m telling you, I don’t know anything about manners.” (Yuna)
“Don’t worry and enjoy your meal as much as you normally would. My father is not that strict either. I think he will be happy to have a meal with pretty girls like Yuna and Noa.” (Cereille)
Is that something I should be happy about?
Honestly, I would really prefer not to have dinner with a noble family, but I will stay with Cereille for one day as per Noa’s words.
=====
After finishing the meal, we returned to our room.
“Yuna-san. The food was delicious.” (Noa)
“I was a little restless, though.” (Yuna)
As it turned out, Cereille’s father was a kind man. Sometimes he asked me about Shia, and Noa was asked about Cliff. We all had a pleasant meal, I think.
Also, at the table, was Cereille’s younger brother, who was a little older than Noa. He was surprised to see us together, but he still greeted us cheerfully.
However, it was supposed to be a family gathering for dinner, but their mother was not there. Perhaps she’s working at the castle like Eleanora-san.
If she works at the castle, she might know me as The Bear, so I have to be careful.
“Well then, it’s a little early, but let’s get ready for bed, shall we?” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Noa)
Noa pulled out a nightgown from her item bag and began to change. It was a nightgown with a cute white frill. It definitely wouldn’t look good on me.
“Yuna-san, are you not changing your clothes?” (Noa)
Changing clothes means changing into that thing, right?
Well, all I have to do is sleep. I’m not meeting anyone; I just need to get changed early in the morning.
I took my bear costume out from the bear box and put on my white bear costume.
As expected, I feel relaxed when I wear my bear costume.
It’s definitely a cursed outfit.
“Yuna-san looks best in that appearance, after all.” (Noa)
“Noa. That’s not a compliment.” (Yuna)
I looked at my reflection. I’m a polar bear. I’m tired today, so I’m going to take my fatigue away with my polar bear costume.
“I think I’ll go to bed dressed as a bear too.” (Noa)
Noa then took something out of her item bag and spread it out towards me.
“That’s from the shop.” (Yuna)
During Misa’s birthday party, an incident occurred, and Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear once ran throughout the city. The people of the city became afraid of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
So, to let them know that Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear were not scary, Noa, Fina, and Misa once wore my shop’s bear uniforms and played with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
That’s what she was wearing at the time.
“Yes, sometimes I wear it to bed. If I wore it during the day, I would get in trouble with my father and Lala.” (Noa)
That’s true. If an aristocratic daughter were seen dressed as a bear… Yeah, she at least pays attention.
Noa took off the cute nightgown she had just put on and started putting on her bear clothes.
“The colors are different, but we both dressed as bears.” (Noa)
Noa is dressed as a bear like me and looks happy.
“Yuna-san, what about Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan?” (Noa)
I don’t think there’s any danger. But I can’t say that there’s nothing like the incident with Misa.
Besides, you’ll never know what will happen in life. You could be playing a game and be transported to another world while being dressed as a bear. Or a dragon may suddenly appear while you’re sleeping.
But if Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear were there, they would tell us if there was any danger. Besides, if I return them in the morning, nobody would notice.
I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear as bear cubs.
Noa happily held Swaying Bear in her arms. I also held Hugging Bear in my arms, and they both squealed happily, `ku~u ~ n’.
At that moment, there was a knock, and the door opened.
“Noa, Yuna, excuse me a little.” (Cereille)
There was a figure of Cereille at the opened door.
“Yuna, what are you wearing? Even Noa? And are those bears you two are holding?” (Cereille)
Cereille was surprised to see the bears me and Noa were holding.
We were already late.
“Etto…” (Yuna)
When people are nervous, words don’t come out.
Cereille reached out to Hugging Bear as she approached me.
“I, it’s cute. What’s going on? They weren’t here until a while ago, right?” (Cereille)
Cereille was petting the head of Hugging Bear that I’m holding.
“It’s a bear, isn’t it? I’ve never seen a white bear before.” (Cereille)
With a big smile on her face, Cereille strokes Hugging Bear’s head, then she goes to Noa and snatches Swaying Bear away from her, and hugs him. Noa and I were stunned and watched as Cereille was left on her own with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
“……”
“……”
“My apologies. I like cute animals, and I got worked-up. I would appreciate it if you would forget about it.” (Cereille)
When she came back to herself, Cereille’s cheeks were a little red with embarrassment.
“So, would you care to explain?” (Cereille)
Cereille looks at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
I explain that Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear were my summoned beasts and could be summoned at any time at will. I also told her that they can turn big but right not now because it’ll cause trouble, and that we came from Crimonia riding on Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
“Riding on bears…” (Cereille)
“It’s a comfortable ride, and it’s swift.” (Noa)
Noa speaks boastfully.
Cereille was surprised when I made the bears bigger to show it to her.
“Such a cutie. No, if you have awesome summoned beasts that can change their size, please tell me at the beginning. Also, I’d like to……” (Cereille)
While saying that, she looked at Hugging Bear that I’m holding.
“So why did you summon your bears?” (Cereille)
“I have always summoned them whenever I’m sleeping at night.” (Yuna)
I cannot say that I summoned them because in case of danger.
Besides, it’s not completely a lie because I always summon them and sleep together with them at night.
“Okay, I understand about the bears. So why are you two dressed like that?” (Cereille)
“That is……” (Yuna)
What should I do? Should I say it’s my casual wear?
Or should I say sleepwear?
“I’m wearing this outfit because I love bears. Both Yuna-san and I love bears.” (Noa)
Noa answered for me.
“Is that so?” (Cereille)
“Ku~u 〜 n”
Looking at me as Cereille confirms, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear look at her with blunt eyes that I feel like they’re saying “What about it?”
After all this time, I am sure that I have become a bear lover, partly because of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. But it would be damaging to my heart to tell Cereille, whom I just met today, that I dress up as a bear because I like bears. That being said, when I look at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, I can’t lie about it. If I lie and try to deceive her, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear will be sad.
So I have only one answer.
“…I love bears.” (Yuna)
Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried happily at my words.
“That’s why you wore bear gloves.” (Cereille)
Cereille was convinced with my appearance.
“But I understand how Yuna feels. It is the first time for me to see a bear this close up, but it is so cute.” (Cereille)
Cereille’s expression loosened when she glanced at Hugging Bear.
“I understand that Noa and Yuna love bears and are dressed like that, but the others will be surprised when they see you like that, so change your clothes in the morning and unsummon the bears.” (Cereille)
I plan to return Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear back, to begin with, but does that mean I can’t be dressed as a bear?
Ah, I wanted to be dressed as a bear tomorrow?
It’s a curse after all.
“So, why did you end up here in this room again, Cereille?” (Yuna)
“Oh, that’s right. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about tomorrow. I have a class, so I’m going to the academy. And, You and Noa are going to the school to meet Shia, right?” (Cereille)
We are meeting with Shia at the entrance of the academy.
“I just came to tell you to go together with me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to bed. Noa and Yuna, you two must go to bed early.” (Cereille)
“Yes. Good night, Cereille-sama.” (Noa)
Cereille walked towards the door. But she came back as if she had remembered something and pet Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear on the head, a happy expression was left on her face.
Then she left the room as if nothing had happened.
=====
Author’s Note:
I have been known to like bears too. (lol)
[Notice] Today, episode 11 (first half) of [Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear] will be released on Nico Nico Manga at 11:00 a.m., please check it out.
[Notice] Episode 18 of [Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear] is now available on Comic PASH! Hugging Bear is cute.
