Can I brag about my very devoted wife to you?

[Past Episode 2] Bear Cub Riko

I moved to a plaza in a shopping mall with my cub friend. The round tables placed at equal spacing were filled with couples sipping coffee in their spare time and families spreading out their meals. There was a never-ending stream of people moving around, but also avoiding the fountain placed in the center.

“There are more people here than in front of the movie theater, and more importantly, the majority of people around this square are aimlessly wandering around. I think these people who are bored are more likely to take an interest in the flyer and receive it, don’t you think?”

“Wow… ! I hadn’t even thought about that at all… !”

The cub acted cutely, clapping their hands and jumping up and down.

“So, let’s take on this challenge.”

“Y-yeah. I’m nervous though… “

“Don’t worry. I’ll hand them out with you.”

“Eh?”

“I’ll call out to them, you stay next to me and hold out the flyers. It might not be good if they find out that a civilian helped you, so this will be a secret.”

“… Ah, yes…”

I was not afraid of other people at all, so I went around calling out to them, hoping that it would help her even a little. At first, the girl hid behind me, but as I kept telling his, “Don’t worry,” and “You’re doing fine,” she gradually started to come forward and eventually became able to hand out the flyers with a cheerful voice.

–After two hours of enthusiastically handing out flyers. We were able to finish handing out all the bundles of paper that seemed like a mountain of paper before we started.

So, we came back to the front of the movie theater where we had first exchanged words.

“Um, thank you for helping me…! It was really nice of you…!”

“No, I didn’t do anything important.”

“That’s not true… I’ve always had a complex about my accent and the way I talk, so I’m not very good at interacting with people… If I had been alone, I would never have been able to talk to strangers like that and offer them flyers… But because you were next to me and gave me courage… you erased the feeling of being afraid from my mind again…“

What do you mean again? It’s a contradictory way of saying since we had just met today. Aah, since you sound somewhat nervous, it’s probably just a miscommunication. It might be connected to the ‘complex’ in the way she speaks, and I didn’t want to point it out.

” … But it’s not due to my efforts. You’ve been handing out most of them since the middle of the day, and the kids have been gathering and not leaving at all.”

The energetic little bear cub handing out the leaflets quickly became a favorite among the children. It was cute to see her scurrying around surrounded by them. As I smiled, remembering that moment, the bear stared at me. I still couldn’t see the face of the girl in the costume, but for some reason, I felt excited.

… No, what’s with this pounding? I don’t have a fetish of fawning over costumes… do I?

“You’re still the same… I love your kindness and your smile…“

I couldn’t hear the small words that were muttered inside the costume. Before I could ask her what she said, she suddenly clasped her hands tightly and made a gesture as if she was gathering her courage.

“Ah, you know. I’m working here part-time until next Saturday, so…”

“Hm?”

“If you don’t mind… Can we meet again next Saturday?”

“Meet again? That’s totally fine, but… But why?”

“I’m going to do my best for the rest of the week with the courage you gave me, and when I do, I’m going to take off this costume and tell you something.”

You want to tell me something…? You are working part-time now, and I know it’s bad if you expose your face in the costume …

This is like… like the start of a love confession… no, no, no, no, we just met today, there’s no way… No… that’s impossible…

“I’m going back to the movie theater… Thank you so much … ”

“Ah, y-yes. Good luck.”

I couldn’t ask her back what she wanted to say, and she treaded away. She left me with an unfamiliar feeling of excitement in my heart.

Translator & Editor: Riciel