Chapter 496

Bear-san, Wears Kimono

We bought wind chimes, took a peek at a street performance, and returned to the front of the mansion where we left Sakura. A gatekeeper stood at the entrance of the mansion.

Yuna-san, if I show them this card, I can meet Sakura-chan, right? (Ruimin)

I think so. (Yuna)

Thats what King Suou claimed earlier on.

This time, Im here with you, so its okay. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

So, does that mean I didnt need it this time? (Yuna)

Its unnecessary, but its still a good idea to show it. The influence would be different between the guest I brought and the holder of the card given by King Suou. Even if you do something rude, you wont be scrutinized. Besides, they wont ask any unnecessary questions. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Is that so? (Yuna)

If you have that card, it means youre one of the kingdoms officials. No one would want to incur the displeasure of such a person. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

On the other hand, doesnt that mean some strange people might approach me for this? (Yuna)

Well, I cant say it wont happen, but as long as you dont show it off too much, you should be fine. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

We came to the gate.

Thanks for your hard work. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Good work, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-dono. Are they guests of Sakura-sama? (Gatekeeper)

Thats right. All of them are Sakura-samas friends. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

The gatekeeper looked at us.

The bear from the other day? (Gatekeeper)

Apparently, he knows me.

I dont remember his face, but he looks like the gatekeeper who was there when I was first brought here by s.h.i.+n.o.bu.

Are you listening? (Gatekeeper)

I hear ya. (Yuna)

Then, after he said that, he looked at Ruimin and me.

Perhaps hes piecing together the connection between my bear outfit and an elf girl.

Both of you, please show them your cards. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Ruimin and I showed our cards to the gatekeeper.

Please, come in. (Gatekeeper)

The gatekeeper let us through without saying anything else. We entered the building and went to Sakuras room.

Sakura-sama, Im back. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Please come in. (Sakura)

When I entered the room, Sakura was sitting on a cus.h.i.+on by the wall, writing. Then she turned around.

Are you working perhaps? (Yuna)

No, Im not. Its all right. Did you all enjoy the city? (Sakura)

Yeah, I had a lot of things I hadnt seen before, and it was fun. (Ruimin)

Ruimin answered with a smile.

Im glad to hear that. Now, I would like to visit the places where you live. (Sakura)

I will invite you next time. (Yuna)

Ill look forward to it. (Sakura)

Yeah, Id like to take Sakura to Crimonia and the elf village.

So which places did you visit? (Sakura)

We talked about what we saw and what we ate.

It stunk so bad. (Shuri)

Fufu

, natto was it? It certainly has a peculiar smell. It may be difficult for the first-timers. (Sakura)

Sakura, do you eat it too? (Ruimin)

Yes, I eat it. (Sakura)

Well, if you grew up in a culture with natto in your diet, you would naturally eat it.

Then Ruimin and Shuri happily talked about the city. Fina was sitting next to me, smiling.

Also, Yuna-san bought me something that makes beautiful sounds. (Ruimin)

Makes beautiful sounds? (Sakura)

Sakura tilted her head slightly without being able to understand what Ruimin was saying.

Wind chimes. They dont sell wind chimes in our country. (Yuna)

I see. (Sakura)

Ah, I didnt buy Sakura-chans wind chimes. (Ruimin)

Ruimins expression darkened as she remembered.

Fufu

, dont worry. I have a wind chime. When I heard your story, I suddenly had the urge of wanting to hear the sound of the wind chime. Ill put it out later. (Sakura)

After that, they happily continued to talk about eating shaved ice or seeing something. Sakura enthusiastically listened to their stories.

She really was a mature girl. Shes an adult-like child with a different type of spirit than Fina.

Youve all been to a lot of different places. (Sakura)

We also looked at the clothes. Clothes in this country are beautiful, but they look hard to move in. (Fina)

Indeed, it was inconvenient to move around in a kimono because it goes down to the feet. The cuffs of the arms were also wide, so it was inconvenient to swing the arms around. Also, I have an image that the obi was tight. If the stomach swelled up, it would be painful.

Did you want to wear one? (Sakura)

I told her I would buy it for her. But Fina said no. (Yuna)

I looked at Fina.

I cant ask you to buy me something that expensive. And even if you did, I would never wear it so that it would be a waste of money. (Fina)

Well, I know the feeling. Neither Fina nor I have ever worn the dress Noa gave us for Misas birthday party. Even if I had bought them kimonos, they would never have had a chance to wear them. Its no wonder she thought it was a waste of money.

Im not copying Fina-chan. But I dont want you to buy me such an expensive item.(Ruimin)

I prefer food over clothes. (Shuri)

Such words coming out of Ruimin and Shuri.

But I would like to see you guys in kimonos. (Yuna)

Thats right. I want to see it too. (Sakura)

Sakura agreed with me. Then Sakura looked at Fina and the others.

If its my clothes, Fina can wear them. If its the clothes I wore when I was little, Shuri can wear them. Ruimin is a little bigger than me, but we dont have anything she cant wear. (Sakura)

Sakura nodded as if to confirm.

Perhaps shes trying to get them to wear a kimono?

I agree with her, but I would like to refrain from wearing one.

Fufu

, Yuna-sama, Ill prepare your clothes too, so itll be okay. (Sakura)

Sakura says with a smile on her face.

Nah, Im good(Yuna)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu, please help me prepare kimonos for everyone. (Sakura)

Roger that. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Sakura and s.h.i.+n.o.bu got up and left the room without listening to my words.

Will I have to wear one too?

After a while, a

wicker clothes hamper

was brought into the room.

Thank you for your patience. (Sakura)

Sakura opened the lid, which was as big as her body.

Now, which one would suit you? (Sakura)

Sakura happily checked the inside of the hamper.

Let me know if you guys have any favorite colors. (Sakura)

They couldnt escape from Sakura and became her dress-up dolls at that moment.

Me? I tried to escape, but I couldnt. In the first place, there was nowhere to run, and I couldnt leave Fina and the others behind. So, I decided to join the others and wear a kimono. Unlike the party when I was wearing a dress, I wasnt going out in public, so I didnt feel as much rejection as I did then. I would have resisted if I had to walk around town in a kimono.

I think Yuna-sama would look good on this. (Sakura)

Sakura showed me a black kimono with a bright white and red flower pattern.

Ill try it on later. (Yuna)

If Yuna-oneesan changes clothes, I will change my clothes too. (Fina)

I want to see Yuna-oneechan change her clothes. (Shuri)

I will change my clothes when Yuna-san changes clothes. (Ruimin)

Look, everyone is saying the same. Please take off your bear clothes. (Sakura)

I gave up, summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, and then undressed.

Then, I was dressed as Sakura told me. Sakura tied up my long hair, and a hairpin was attached.

Yuna-sama, youre beautiful. (Sakura)

I stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked at myself.

Its not a matter of looking good or not, but its somewhat embarra.s.sing.

Why was it embarra.s.sing in a different sense from the bear costume?

What kind of clothes were not embarra.s.sing in the first place?

I was embarra.s.sed to wear a dress before, and I still feel embarra.s.sed to wear clothes from this world.

Then, with Sakuras help, everyone finished changing into their kimonos.

Fina and Shuri were wearing red kimonos. They both have the same color as sisters. Ruimin was wearing a light green patterned kimono, perhaps to match her hair. s.h.i.+n.o.bu was made to change from her ninja uniform into a navy blue kimono, and she looked even more embarra.s.sed than I was.

Sakura also changed into a cherry blossom kimono. (TN: pun intended.)

Everyone looks pretty. (Sakura)

Yeah, everyone looks beautiful, including Sakura. If I have a camera, Ill take a photo. But I dont have a camera, digital, or smartphone.

At times like this, I wanted skills like bear telepathy or something. Like being able to capture what you see and transfer it on paper. If I had such a skill, I could have left an image of Fina and the others right now. Then I could have shown it to Tirumina-san, how lovely the girls were, but G.o.d was not so flexible after all.

But if I cant take a picture, I can draw one.

Fina, Shuri. Come over here and sit on that cus.h.i.+on. (Yuna)

I pointed at the cus.h.i.+on in front of me.

Etto

, yes? (Fina)

Un

~ (Shuri)

Fina and Shuri, dressed in kimonos, sat on the cus.h.i.+ons. I took out paper and something to write with from the bear box.

Stay still for a while. (Yuna)

Are you perhaps going to draw us!? (Fina)

You will draw a picture? (Shuri)

Yeah, now dont move. (Yuna)

Its embarra.s.sing, please stop! (Fina)

I told her not to move, but Fina reached for the paper I was holding.

Hey, dont move! Im going to show this to Tirumina-san. (Yuna)

I push Fina back and sit her down on the cus.h.i.+on.

Shuri, hold Finas hand so she cant run away. (Yuna)

Un

, oneechan, dont move. (Shuri)

Shuri grabbed Finas hand. Fina did not shake off Shuris hand.

I started drawing while Fina was not moving.

U~u~

, its embarra.s.sing. (Fina)

Fina turned over, her cheeks flushed red.

Fina, dont move, raise your face. (Yuna)

Fina looked up, embarra.s.sed.

After all, its nice to have a good subject. They were close sisters.

But kimonos were challenging to draw. Well, its easier because its all black and white. I dont need to add colors.

Yuna-sama, are you drawing a picture? (Sakura)

Its a keepsake. (Yuna)

I wish Fina would wear it all the time, but it doesnt look like she will.

Yuna-sama, youre so good at it. (Sakura)

So Yuna can also draw pictures. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

U wa~a

, youre really good at it. (Ruimin)

Behind me, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Sakura, and Ruimin were looking at the picture.

Yuna-sama, would you draw us next? (Sakura)

Okay, sure. (Yuna)

I drew a picture of Fina with an embarra.s.sed expression on her face, then Sakura and Ruimin. After that, I drew Sakura and Shuri with Hugging Bear, Fina, and Ruimin with Swaying Bear, and s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Sakura together.

And finally, I drew Fina, Shuri, Ruimin, Sakura, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Swaying Bear, and Hugging Bear together.

It had been a long time since I drew portraits, but I enjoyed it.

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Authors Note:

They all changed into kimonos.

Its been a long time since Yuna changed clothes.

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