The next day, I went to "Bear's Relaxing Shop" for lunch.
There, the scenes of everyday life flowed as usual.
Children dressed as bears moved around, Karin-san's voice could be heard giving instructions, and people were eating delicious food.
"Thank you for your purchase"
A girl thanked a customer for purchasing bread.
I felt like I was used to customer service.
"Yuna-onee-chan!"
As I was looking around the store, a certain girl noticed me and came over to me.
When I patted her on her head, she seemed happy.
If you patted one person on the head, they would gather one after another.
It's the same situation as when I went to the orphanage yesterday.
"As always, they still like Yuna-san." (Karin)
Karin-san was coming.
After patting the heads of all the children in the store, they quickly returned to work.
It seemed like Liz-san at the orphanage and Karin-san at the shop were educating the children well.
Above them were the director and Morin-san.
"Yuna-san hasn't been here for a while, so you're happy." (Karin)
"Even though you said it’s been a while, it’s probably been less than a week." (Yuna)
"A child's week feels longer than it does to us." (Karin)
I'd heard that adults' days and children's days were certainly different.
"Karin-san, you're like an old person[1]." (Yuna)
Karin-san looked surprised at my words.
"Oh, that's what mom said. I was also lonely because Yuna-san never came." (Karin)
Is that true?
Well, I also felt like I hadn't been to the store for a long time.
Did that mean I was still young?
However, compared to now and when I was in elementary school, I felt like the days were certainly longer when I was in elementary school.
"So, where have you been? I heard from Fina-chan that you were going somewhere." (Karin)
"Just, defeat some monsters." (Yuna)
I fought the Ice Dragon, so I was not lying.
"Come to think of it, Yuna-san is an adventurer. I had completely forgotten about her appearance." (Karin)
Karin-san looked at my clothes.
I dressed like a bear.
Not like an adventurer.
Karin-san said, "Please take your time," and went back to work.
I chose bread and ate it at an empty seat.
Morin-san's bread was delicious as always.
I looked around.
Everyone was smiling and eating bread, cake, pudding, french fries, and potato chips.
It's really peaceful.
Up until now, I'd been in a quiet world of ice, so the hustle and bustle made me happy.
I didn't really like noisy things, but sometimes I missed them.
As I was relaxing and eating bread, I heard a familiar loud voice.
"Yuna-san, I'm here!" (Noa)
A girl with long golden hair came to me.
"Noa, what's wrong?" (Yuna)
"It's not what's wrong. Where have you been?" (Noa)
I'd only been out for about a week, but everyone was making too much noise.
"I was just visiting the Land of Harmoni for a little while." (Yuna)
I answered in a low voice so that others could not hear.
"Please take me too." (Noa)
"No, I was planning on taking a day trip. But there were a lot of troubles that came up." (Yuna)
"What's that troublesome thing? No, I'd rather you come to my house." (Noa)
Noa pulled my hand.
"Eh, why?" (Yuna)
"Father told me to call Yuna-san." (Noa)
"...I'd like to refuse." (Yuna)
I just got back two days ago.
Summoned by Cliff just seemed like a hassle.
Kagari-san's words came to mind.
"I guess you are loved by the god of troublesome things."
It was said many times, but I didn't like that kind of God.
"No. I've been asked to bring Yuna-san home." (Noa)
"You can just say I wasn’t there." (Yuna)
In fact, I wasn't here until the other day, so I hoped I wouldn't be around for a few more days.
"That's impossible" (Noa)
"I have to go home now and take care of Kumayuru and Kumakyu." (Yuna)
Translation: "I'm planning to go home and chill with Kumayuru and Kumakyu, so I can't go."
"I will take care of Kumayuru-chan and Kumakyu-chan." (Noa)
Noa wouldn't let go of my hand.
It seemed like she wouldn't let me escape.
"Then let's take care of them with me." (Yuna)
When the enemy was strong, just pull them towards you.
I used words that I thought Noa wanted as bribes.
A conflict arose within Noa.
Either took me or played with Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"Uh, no. Mother will be angry." (Noa)
Noa shook her head.
"Ellelaura-san? Isn't Cliff the one calling me?" (Yuna)
"Actually, I received a letter from my mother, and my father would like to talk to you about it." (Noa)
Apparently, it was better to get angry at Ellelaura-san.
Kumayuru and Kumakyu, defeated.
But is it a call from Ellelaura-san?
I guess it's a nuisance.
I guess it's a hassle.
I don't like it.
I just got back.
Maybe Flora-sama wants to meet me.
In that case, I have to go listen to the story.
"Noa, do you know the contents of Ellelaura-san’s letter?" (Yuna)
Just listen to the story and then decide.
"Um, do you remember making pressed flowers with Fina, Shuri, and my sister earlier?" (Noa)
Pressed flowers? …………Pon.
After returning from a company trip, I made pressed flowers with Noa and the others.
"So what?" (Yuna)
"I haven’t heard any details either, but it seems to be about the flowers used for the pressed flowers." (Noa)
If I remembered correctly, the flowers I used for pressing were the ones I picked at Targui and the ones Noa brought.
"Maybe there was a problem with that flower?" (Yuna)
"Please ask father for details." (Noa)
If she said so, I had to go see Cliff.
I put the bread in my mouth.
When I finished eating the bread, Noa took me there.
"Father, I brought Yuna-san." (Noa)
"Have you come?" (Cliff)
I was taken to the office, where Cliff was working.
Noa and I were asked to sit on chairs.
"I heard that something happened to the flowers we used in the pressed flowers we made. Was there a problem with the flowers we used? Maybe they were poisonous plants?" (Yuna)
Was it said that the flowers used for pressed flowers were poisonous or dangerous?
"According to Ellelaura's letter, it seems that precious flowers were used. It didn't say it was poisonous or dangerous, so I guess it's okay in that respect." (Cliff)
That would be fine.
It would have been a big problem if there were poisonous plants in Noa and Fina's house.
"What kind of flower is that precious flower?" (Yuna)
"It wasn't written in the letter. I asked Noa to show me some pressed flowers, but even though I don't know much about flowers, I couldn't figure it out." (Cliff)
"As I told Father, each of us chose flowers according to our preference, so the pressed flowers I made may not be the same." (Noa)
It's true that they chose the flowers they wanted and pressed it the way they wanted.
"In other words, that flower was in the pressed flowers that Shia made." (Yuna)
"That seems to be the case. From what I heard from Noa, it seems like it was made with the flowers that Noa and you prepared." (Cliff)
"The flowers I prepared are ordinary flowers that Lala prepared for me." (Noa)
"Well, I can’t say that there weren’t some rare flowers among them, but I think they were the ones you prepared." (Cliff)
The flowers I prepared were the ones I picked in Targui.
There should be no problem with the flowers that Noa prepared as Cliff said.
In other words, there was a high possibility that the flowers picked at Targui were valuable flowers.
"It seems Ellelaura would like to hear more about that." (Cliff)
After all, it became a hassle.
The only saving grace was that the flowers weren't dangerous.
"Urgent?" (Yuna)
"It's not urgent, but she said she wanted you to come early." (Cliff)
"I want to go with you too." (Noa)
"No. You have gone to fairyland a while ago." (Cliff)
Noa looked at me as if asking for help.
"And I'm getting yelled by Ellelaura." (Cliff)
If he said that, I wouldn't be able to send a rescue ship.
I needed parental permission to bring a child, Noa, with me.
I couldn't just take her away without permission.
Even if I could convince Cliff, Ellelaura-san would be mad at me.
Also, like Cliff said, I'd been taking Noa out too much lately.
"Noa, you're going to stay home this time." (Yuna)
"...Uh, I understand." (Noa)
"Then I'll just go to Ellelaura-san." (Yuna)
"Please do" (Cliff)
Well, if it's not an emergency, I guessed I could just take it easy.
"Then, in lieu of not being able to go with you, I would like to hang out with Kumayuru-chan and Kumakyu-chan for the first time in a while." (Noa)
"If that's the case, then it's okay, but..." (Yuna)
I looked at Cliff to confirm.
If she had plans to study or something, I couldn't say it's fine.
"Then, if you give up, that's fine." (Cliff)
Noa looked happy at Cliff's words.
Noa grabbed my hand and took me to her room.
And, as promised, I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"Kumayuru-chan, it's been a while." (Noa)
Noa jumped on Kumayuru.
"Kyuu~n" (Kumayuru)
After greeting Kumayuru, she then hugged Kumakyu.
"Is Kumakyu-chan okay too?" (Noa)
"Kyuu~n" (Kumakyu)
Noa was smiling.
"But, what is that precious flower?" (Noa)
Noa looked at the pressed flowers on the shelf.
These were pressed flowers that we all made together.
"I don't know much about flowers either." (Yuna)
Even though I was not familiar with flowers in the real world, these were flowers from another world.
Also, I wondered how many types of flowers there were all over the world.
"Yuna-san, where did you pick those flowers? I believe they were the ones you picked with Shuri and the others." (Noa)
She asked while being sandwiched between Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
Noa didn't know that they were picked on Targui.
"Um, I picked it up on that moving island." (Yuna)
Last time, Noa went to the moving island, Targui, so I told her about it.
"Is that the island? That makes sense. That island moves to various places around the world, right?" (Noa)
"I don’t know the details either, but I guess so." (Yuna)
"Did the seeds fall somewhere?" (Noa)
Seeds are often blown away by the wind or brought in by birds. Sometimes they are attached to people or animals.
In this world, there was a possibility that monsters brought it there.
"That would make it difficult to explain to mother." (Noa)
"Hmm, I'll answer that as I see fit. The moving island is known to the fishermen of Mileela." (Yuna)
There was no problem in honestly talking about going to an island during a company trip.
Shia, who went with me, also knew.
Noa seemed satisfied and didn't ask any more questions.
Author's Note
I don't know how many readers remember this, but it's about pressed flowers.
*April 18, 2017 "Chapter 377: The Bear Makes Pressed Flowers"
Volume 20.5 of the book and volume 10 of the paperback version will be released on May 2nd.
I have written information about volume 20.5 in the activity report, so please take a look.
[Book]
Volume 21 of books scheduled to be released on May 2, 2024. (Next volume, 21 volumes planned, under construction)
Comicalized volume 11 released on December 1, 2023.
Comicalized Gaiden Volume 2 released on March 5, 2024.
Paperback volume 10 scheduled to be released on May 2, 2024. (The application deadline for the BIG acrylic stand giveaway campaign of Yuna and Sanya on the cover is August 20, 2024, and will be given to 20 people by lottery)
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.
Translation Note
[1] As suggested by MiddleAgedGamer89, probably some people couldn't understand what it means: Saying "you look old" to someone to express that this person already has the mindset of an adult/old person. (See comments for details)