Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san, Goes To Eat Breakfast

We took Sakura home.

“Well then, everyone, please enjoy yourself.” (Sakura)

“I wish Sakura-chan could have come with us.” (Ruimin)

Sakura looked apologetic at Ruimin’s words.

“But I can stay with you this afternoon. I’ll come to Yuna-sama’s mansion later. Shinobu, please take good care of everyone.” (Sakura)

“I understand. I will take care of them properly.” (Shinobu)

After parting with Sakura, we headed for breakfast.

By the way, I’ve been getting a lot of stares from residents since I entered the town. It’s still ongoing.

“Sakura-neechan’s house was big.” (Shuri)

“That’s not just Sakura’s house. It’s a place where all the Miko gather.” (Yuna)

“Miko?” (Shuri) (「巫女？」)

Shuri tilted her head at the word miko. She doesn’t seem to understand the phrase miko. Even here, cultural differences are apparent.

It’s difficult to explain the culture of each country. Even I don’t know some things that were common knowledge in other countries. Something difficult to explain will also be difficult to understand.

“Etto… Sakura’s house is also her workplace, I think? They live there besides Sakura.” (Yuna)

So I briefly explained that it’s also a place of work and that they live there along with Sakura.

With such an explanation, Shuri seemed to understand somewhat and nodded her head.

“So where are we going to eat?” (Yuna)

“I’m thinking of going to my favorite restaurant for a light meal. Then we walk around the city, and then eat and drink as we go.” (Shinobu)

“First of all, I don’t want to eat weird food.” (Yuna)

“It’s rude to call it something strange. Sakura-sama eats it too, so it’s not weird.” (Shinobu)

“Just because Sakura eats it, I refuse to eat insects.” (Yuna)

They eat locusts and such, but I’d rather not. While I have never eaten locusts, I reject them because they’re insects. It’s not a question of whether it tastes good or not, It’s still the fact that it’s an insect.

“You like insects?” (Shinobu)

“Are you listening to people? If you take us to a store like that, they will go berserk. The store will be destroyed. And Shinobu will die.” (Yuna)

“Oi, don’t kill me! It’s okay because they don’t serve insects.” (Shinobu)

Looking at the expression on Shinobu’s face just now, It’s still suspicious, so I can’t drop my guard.

“You guys, there’s nothing you don’t like, right?” (Shinobu)

“I don’t want to eat insects.” (Ruimin)

“Yes, me too.” (Fina)

“Me too~” (Shuri)

Not only me, but also Shuri, Fina, and Ruimin disagreed. I am glad I have good friends.

Since we all agreed on the same thing, Shinobu would not take us to a strange restaurant.

We arrived at a restaurant that looked like a teishoku-ya. We entered the restaurant with Shinobu in the lead. The inside of the restaurant was much larger than I expected. There were about 10 tables and counter seats. (定食屋)

However, there were no customers. It’s not possible to judge whether it’s a little-known, unpopular spot or a completely popular joint.

“Good timing. It’s empty.” (Shinbu)

“Ara, Shinobu-chan. Welcome.” (Lady)

As I was worrying, a middle-aged woman wearing an apron and a triangular cap came out from behind the counter. The fact that she called out Shinobu’s name suggests that this was indeed her favorite restaurant.

“By the way, the reason there are no customers is that everyone has gone to work.” (Lady)

“Oh, you heard that?” (Shinobu)

“I’m all ears when a customer comes in. So, you’ve brought some pretty girls with you today. I wonder if they are Shinobu-chan’s girlfriends? Shinobu-chan is popular with girls, after all.” (Lady)

“It’s not like that. They are my friends. We just came to have breakfast together.” (Shinobu)

“Is that so? Even so, these children are wearing unusual clothes.” (Lady)

A woman looks at us and her gaze stops at me.

“And a bear? I’ve never seen a child dressed like that before.” (Lady)

If you’ve seen it before, that will be a problem.

“Please don’t pursue her about her outfit.” (Shinobu)

“Is there a reason?” (Lady)

“There is a reason.” (Shinobu)

“Then I’ll leave it at that. Sit down and relax.” (Lady)

We took our seats at a table in the back.

“Is Shinobu-neechan popular with girls?” (Shuri)

Shuri, who’s sitting in a chair, asked with an innocent look.

“I’m not popular. Auntie just likes to make jokes.” (Shinobu)

“That’s not the case.”

The woman listening to the story denied Shinobu’s words.

“Shinobu-chan is stronger and more dependable than most adventurers out there, so even girls like her. If a man is harassing a girl, Shinobu will help that poor lady out, so many girls look up to her. Many girls even say they wish she were a boy.” (Lady)

I’ve heard that line somewhere before.

“Auntie, stop saying strange things to everyone. We’re here to eat. If you keep talking about strange things, we’ll go somewhere else.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu forcibly broke off the conversation.

Too bad, I thought I would get some material to make fun of her.

“Well then, before you leave, let me ask you what you want to order. What would you like?” (Lady)

Before I can ask, “What do you have?” Shinobu answered.

“We’ll have the usual breakfast set.” (Shinobu)

“OK. Then, please wait a minute.” (Lady)

The woman took Shinobu’s order and went behind the counter.

It shouldn’t be anything strange if it’s called a breakfast set, right?

“Do you always come here, Shinobu?” (Yuna)

“I come here because it’s cheap, fast, and delicious.” (Shinobu)

As Shinobu said, cooking began in the kitchen. There’s a middle-aged man. Was he the husband of the woman who just came in?

And without much of a wait, the couple placed the food on the table. Indeed, it was quick.

Rice, miso soup, nori, natto, and grilled fish.

The fish was salmon, and the miso soup was simple, with wakame seaweed and tofu. It was indeed an ordinary breakfast typical of a Japanese country.

“Well then, itadakussu.” (Shinobu) (いただくっす)

“””””Itadakimasu’””””

I pour soy sauce over natto and stir it.

It becomes nice and sticky. It has been a long time since I ate natto. Yes, it looks delicious. But the reaction of the people around me was different.

“U~u, it’s sticky and gross.” (Shuri)

Shuri, who was stirring it to imitate me, stopped her hand.

“And it stinks.” (Ruimin)

Ruimin put her face close to the natto and made a funny face, the two of them moved the bowl of natto away from them. Fina held the bowl and was in trouble.

“Etto, Shinobu-san. Isn’t this bean rotten? It’s sticky and stinky.” (Ruimin)

Ruimin asked with some difficulty, looking at the natto.

“Yes, it’s rotten.” (Shinobu)

“”“It’s rotten!?”””

The three were startled by Shinobu’s words and turned away from the natto.

“But you can eat it, so it’s okay.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu said so, but the three of them were anxious. Indeed, if she said it’s rotten, then, of course, they would be nervous.

“It’s okay, you three. It’s not exactly rotten. They’re just fermented, so you can eat it.” (Yuna)

I ate natto on rice to prove it.

It’s the first natto I had in a long time. It’s so delicious.

“Yuna-san…” (Ruimin)

“Yuna-oneesan…” (Fina)

“Yuna-oneechan, are you okay?” (Shuri)

The three of them looked at me with concern.

“Oh right, I’ve heard that you don’t eat natto in other countries. Anyway, many people are not good at it.” (Shinobu)

“I wouldn’t say they don’t eat it, or rather, they don’t have it. So people who see it for the first time may be surprised.” (Yuna)

I have never seen it outside of the Land of Harmony.

“I’m sorry. I completely forgot about it. Go ahead and eat it, please.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu apologized.

Well, she might not think that they would hate what she usually eats.

“Then I’ll take one, too, because it’s one too many.” (Yuna)

“That helps, but Yuna, are you okay with it?” (Shinobu)

“Yeah. I’m okay. I used to have it in my hometown, too. It’s been a long time since I’ve had it, so I’m thrilled.” (Yuna)

“I’m glad that you said that.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu looked happy. I felt sorry for her if I didn’t eat at least another one.

I received a bowl of natto from Shuri.

“Yuna-oneechan, is it really that good?” (Shuri)

“I don’t know. Some people like it, some don’t. But you don’t have to force yourself to eat it.” (Yuna)

I have heard that people in Kansai don’t like it. If the food culture was different, anyone would be afraid to eat them. I, too, would like to refrain from eating insects.

We grew up in different environments. It is what it is.

“I’ll take Ruimin’s share, then.” (Shinobu)

“I’m sorry, Shinobu-san.” (Ruimin)

Ruimin offered a bowl of natto to Shinobu.

“What about you, Fina?” (Yuna)

“I’ll try it.” (Fina)

“You don’t have to force it.” (Yuna)

“No, because you can’t take the food for granted.” (Fina)

“I’ll eat it, so it won’t go to waste.” (Yuna)

“But……” (Fina)

Fina was looking at the natto. She looked a little disgusted. I guess she can smell it after all?

“Well then, just take a bite, and if you don’t like it, give it to me.” (Yuna)

In my words, Fina put a bite-sized piece of natto on top of the rice, held her breath and put it in her mouth. Then, she moved her mouth with a mawkish movement. Finally, she swallows it with a gulp.

“So?” (Yuna)

“Oneechan?” (Shuri)

“Fina-chan?” (Ruimin)

Me, Shuri, and Ruimin looked on anxiously.

“The beans were soft and mixed with the soy sauce, it tasted magical.” (Fina)

“How’s the taste?” (Ruimin)

“It wasn’t that bad.” (Fina)

Shinobu was relieved to hear that. Of course, so was I.

“Then I’ll take the rest.” (Yuna)

“No, I’ll eat it.” (Fina)

“Don’t force yourself.” (Yuna)

“It’s not that bad.” (Fina)

With that said, Fina began to eat the rest of the natto on top of the rice. Shuri watched her.

“I will try it too.” (Shuri)

I put the bowl of natto that was left on my side back to her. Then she stirred the natto and poured it over the rice. She imitated Fina and put it in her mouth.

“Delicious,” (Shuri)

“Yes, it’s not bad.” (Ruimin)

The impressions of Shuri and Ruimin were not bad.

“But it stinks.” (Shuri)

Well, that can’t be helped. I have never eaten kusaya, but I hear it tastes good even though it smells bad. It’s the same thing. I wonder if there were kusaya in the Land of Harmony? (くさや)

Well, I don’t think I would eat it myself.

In the end, we ended up eating natto, all of us, and we could finish the meal without incident.

“The fish was delicious, too.” (Ruimin)

“I’m glad you said that.” (Shinobu)

Do they sell natto anywhere?

I think I’ll buy some for myself next time whenever I have a craving for natto now and then.

=====

Author’s Note:

I used one chapter just to talk about natto……

=====