Teddy Bear - Epilogue 2

[shivalries]

Season: Autumn

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[Fancy Shop]

Mika: Family… I gotta wonder, did I really become Oshisan’s family?

Can I even call myself that when I just barged in and started livin’ with him?

Tsumugi: Fufu. For Shu-kun, I’m sure all dolls are family. That’s exactly why he takes such good care of them.

He’s the very same Shu-kun who, instead of throwing it away like most people would, treasured an old teddy bear until it started falling apart, after all.

I’m sure he won’t ever throw you away, either.

I don’t think there’s any need to feel uneasy about it… Mika-kun.

Mika: ……

...Nghaa?! A-Are you hearin’ some weird jingly noise?

Tsumugi: Um, I think it’s a call… Is it coming from your phone, Anzu-chan?

Mika: Ngha? Huh, for me? It’s your phone, Anzu-chan, you can talk on it, y’know?

But who’s it from…?

Um, hello~...? Who is this?

Wah, eek?! This voice -- Oshisan?

Ah, mm… I’m okay. I’m real sorry to worry ya.

Yeah. I’m with Anzu-chan, and Tsumu-chan-senpai and stuff. Umm, we’re just -- we’re out shoppin’.

Nghaa?! D-Don’t go shoutin’ so much…? Your voice is breakin’ up, I can’t catch what you’re sayin’ over the phone, y’know?

...Yeah. ‘M sorry, Oshisan. I’ll come back soon, so let’s talk, mkay?

Yeah, uh-huh. Bye-bye~...♪

Nghh. I guess Oshisan got super mad at me~

Tsumugi: Anyone would get angry at that, of course. As far as I’ve heard, you left without any kind of note and just disappeared.

If it’s Shu-kun, he probably got all worried and went around searching for you, don’t you think?

So that’s how it was…. So from there, Anzu-chan, Shu-kun called you up and asked if you knew where Mika-kun was.

Fufu. Too bad we didn’t have a way to contact him first. He hates me, so I can’t ask for his number, after all.

Leo: Speaking of which, doesn’t he hate electronics in general?

I don’t have any phone numbers besides the bare minimum I need for work, so I didn’t know how to reach him!

Hm? What’s that, Anzu?

Ahh… I see, I should’ve asked you for Shu’s number when I called you last night! I didn’t think of that!

Tsumugi: Mmm… I never thought “genius” and “irrationality” were synonyms, but yet, why do they always seem to go together?

Leo: I wouldn’t know either…

More importantly, let’s hurry and find a bear!

Shu sounded pretty threatening. I wouldn’t put it past him to come rushing here at top speed to meet us!

Tsumugi: Yes. Let’s search for the sake of Shu-kun and Mika-kun’s reconciliation… for that teddy bear.

Come on everyone, please help if you can~♪

Adonis: Hm. They all look relatively the same to me, so I don’t think I’ll be much help in finding what you need…

But if everyone can get along without fighting, the world will be at peace.

It might be idealistic, but I’ll work toward it anyway. If everyone puts forth a little bit of effort, someday ideals will become reality.

...However. This is the first time I’m seeing a teddy bear up close, but it really is a bear, isn’t it?

It seems to be a common motif for plush toys. Why a bear? It’s a large carnivore, you know?

Depending on the species, they can be extremely intelligent and vicious, and many hunters have lost their lives to them.

Tsumugi: Fufu. Turning something like a monster into a cute toy to hold… it’s a bit magical.

If you ask Natsume-kun, maybe he can tell you why they’re bears.

Mika: Well, it ain’t ‘cause bears look all that lovable on the outside… It’s human nature to want to hold something if it’s cute, even if it’s a terrifying predator.

I’m not a cute, perfect, artful doll like the kind Oshisan likes…

But he still wanted to hold me in his arms.

I’m still kinda confused with his new attitude now, but…

I wanna accept it, y’know. In truth, I’ve wanted him t’hold me all this time.

Fufu. I shouldn’t make him too lonely, so I gotta go back to my owner soon.

Together with a new teddy bear… No, together with a new family.

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