Chapter 3: Meet Bob The Bear

"Camping!" I declared, throwing my arms into the air as we stood outside Soseki's house, which was basically a bunch of trees with a roof on it. "We're going camping in the great outdoors! Nothing but nature, fresh air, and us—surviving like real men!"

Soseki stared at me with his usual deadpan expression. "You know my house is in the forest, right? We live in the forest. We don't need to camp."

"Nonsense!" I grinned. "This is different. We're going to rough it out, like true adventurers! And I've got a special guest joining us." I pointed over to a large, lumbering creature near the tree line. "Meet Bob, our very own bear!"

The others, Hiyori, Fukuhara, and Koyasu, turned their heads in unison to see Bob—a massive, overweight bear—slowly making his way towards us. He looked more like he belonged in a bakery than in the wild, with his plump body and sleepy expression.

"Why the hell did you bring a bear?" Hiyori snapped, crossing her arms. Her fox ears twitched in irritation, her five tails swaying behind her. "We're supposed to be camping, not hosting a zoo!"

"It's simple," I explained, flashing her a grin. "There's this trend going around called 'Man or Bear,' where women are asked if they'd rather be stuck in the forest with a man or a bear. And most of them choose the bear, probably because they think men will do... you know, 'things.' So, I figured, why not bring a bear? Bob here will be our forest companion!"

Bob, seemingly unfazed by all the attention, let out a low grunt before plopping down on the ground and promptly falling asleep.

"You've officially lost your mind," Koyasu said, his glowing blue skin and hair shimmering slightly in the sunlight. His ethereal form made him stand out, even in a group as unusual as ours.

"I second that," Fukuhara added, his dark brown hair tousled by the breeze. His hazel eyes were narrowed with suspicion as he eyed the bear. "That thing is going to get us all killed."

"Nonsense!" I waved them off. "Bob's harmless. Look at him, he's practically a teddy bear. Besides, he'll protect us from any real threats."

Soseki just sighed. "If he tries to eat me, I'm killing him."

"Deal!" I said cheerfully, ignoring the disapproving looks from the others. "Now, let's go shopping for our camping trip. We need supplies—food, tents, and all that good stuff."

One hour later...

The bustling shopping district was alive with the sound of people chatting, vendors shouting, and the occasional stray animal weaving through the crowd. We were all loaded up with bags full of camping gear, food, and enough marshmallows to feed an army.

"Alright," I said, checking off the last item on our list, "I think we've got everything we need. Now, let's—"

I suddenly froze, spotting something out of the corner of my eye. A sleek red car parked by the curb, and inside, on the passenger seat, was a crisp 1000¥ note just sitting there, practically begging to be taken.

"Hold up," I said, narrowing my eyes as I made my way over to the car. "There's some easy cash just sitting there."

As I got closer, I noticed something else—sitting in the backseat was a massive black dog, its eyes fixed on me with a look that could only be described as murderous. The dog growled lowly, a deep rumbling sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

"Huh," I muttered, taking a step back. "That might complicate things."

Soseki, who had followed me, looked at the dog, then at me. "You really thought you could just walk up and steal it?"

"I was considering it," I admitted. "But, uh, that dog looks like it would rip my face off."

Soseki's black form shifted slightly as he observed the dog. "And you're thinking what, exactly? That I should go get it because I'm black too?"

"Exactly!" I said, snapping my fingers. "You blend in perfectly! It's like... stealth mode! The dog won't even see you!"

Soseki stared at me, his expression unreadable. "You're an idiot."

"But a clever idiot," I countered with a grin. "Come on, Soseki, you can do this. It's just a dog."

Soseki sighed deeply, clearly exasperated, but after a moment, he stepped forward. His pitch-black form melded into the shadows, making him almost invisible as he approached the car.

I watched with bated breath as Soseki reached the passenger door, his hand inching closer to the 1000¥ note. The dog, still growling, seemed unaware of his presence.

Just as Soseki's fingers were about to touch the money, the dog's growling stopped. It tilted its head, as if sensing something off, and then—

"WOOF!"

The bark echoed through the street, and Soseki jerked back, nearly losing his balance. The dog lunged at the window, its teeth bared, and slammed into the glass with a loud thud. The car shook, but the window held firm.

Soseki stood there, a hand on his chest as if trying to calm his racing heart. He shot me a glare. "Not worth it."

I shrugged, giving him an apologetic smile. "It was worth a try."

As we walked away from the car, empty-handed, I couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess some things just aren't meant to be."

With all the supplies in tow, we headed back to the forest, where Soseki's house was waiting for us. It was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the trees.

Bob, who had somehow followed us all the way from the shopping district, was lazily dragging his massive body behind us, occasionally stopping to snack on berries he found along the way.

"So," I said, clapping my hands together once we reached the clearing, "this is where we'll set up camp. We've got a week out here, just us and nature. It's going to be great!"

"Yeah, great," Hiyori muttered, her orange-brown eyes narrowing as she set down the pile of firewood she was carrying. "I can't wait to be eaten alive by mosquitoes."

"That's the spirit!" I said, either ignoring or completely missing her sarcasm. "Let's get everything set up, then we'll start a fire and roast some marshmallows!"

The others set to work begrudgingly, setting up tents and unpacking the supplies. Soseki, being the one most familiar with the forest, took charge of the fire, his black form blending into the shadows as he worked efficiently.

I, on the other hand, took it upon myself to keep Bob entertained. Or, more accurately, I watched as Bob entertained himself by knocking over a stack of firewood I had just finished organizing.

"Bob, buddy, come on," I said, trying to wrestle a piece of wood from his mouth. "You're supposed to be helping, not making things worse."

Bob just grunted and let go, sending me stumbling backward. I fell flat on my back, staring up at the sky as Bob lumbered off to find something else to chew on.

Well, at least one of us is having a good time.

Once everything was set up, we gathered around the campfire, the flames crackling and casting flickering shadows on the trees around us. The night had fallen, and the forest was alive with the sounds of crickets and the occasional rustle of leaves.

Hiyori had taken it upon herself to roast marshmallows, though it was clear she was still irritated by the whole situation. She speared a marshmallow with a stick and held it over the fire, her expression one of concentration.

Fukuhara was busying himself with sharpening his sword, as if expecting something—or someone—to jump out of the woods at any moment. His dark brown hair was illuminated by the firelight, casting shadows over his serious expression.

Koyasu, meanwhile, was floating a few inches off the ground, his blue glow giving him an ethereal appearance. He stared into the fire, his expression thoughtful.

And Soseki, ever the loner, was sitting a bit further away from the group, his black form barely visible in the darkness. The only sign of his presence was the occasional flicker of light from his eyes.

"So, here we are," I said, breaking the silence. "First night of camping. Any thoughts?"

Hiyori shot me a look. "You mean besides the fact that this was a terrible idea?"

"Yep!" I said cheerfully, ignoring her sarcasm. "We're out here to bond, enjoy nature, and maybe learn something about ourselves. It's going to be a great week!"

Koyasu glanced at me, his expression skeptical. "And what exactly are we supposed to learn from this?"

I grinned. "That bears make great camping companions, for one. And that sometimes, you have to face challenges head-on. Like trying to steal 1000¥ from a car guarded by a possible demon dog."

Soseki let out a low growl. "Never again."

Fukuhara, who had been silent up until now, spoke up. "As long as Bob doesn't roll over and crush us in our sleep, I guess we'll survive the week."

"Bob wouldn't do that," I said, giving the bear a pat on his massive head. He responded with a lazy grunt, clearly more interested in whatever he was daydreaming about than us.

"Yeah, but he might roll over and flatten the cabin," Koyasu pointed out, hovering just out of Bob's reach. "And since it's Soseki's cabin, I'm not paying for damages."

"Don't worry about the cabin," Soseki said, his voice as flat as ever. "It's sturdy. And if it breaks, I'll just haunt all of you until you pay me back."

"Sounds fair," I said with a grin, already picturing Soseki floating over our heads like some kind of pissed-off ghost. "Alright, guys, let's hit the sack. It's been a long day."

We made our way to Soseki's cabin, which was a surprisingly cozy little shack nestled deep in the forest. The inside was simple—wooden walls, a small kitchen, and, most importantly, a single bed. A single, small bed.

"Well, this is gonna be interesting," I muttered as we all stared at the bed. "Who's sleeping where?"

"Obviously, I'm not sharing with Bob," Fukuhara said, eyeing the bear who was already eyeing the bed like it was his next meal.

Koyasu floated closer, his transparent form almost blending into the shadows. "I don't need sleep, but I do need a place to meditate. So... I'll just float above you guys." Neither do I.

"How considerate," Soseki muttered, already climbing into bed and laying down on one side. "Hurry up and get in. The sooner we sleep, the sooner this nightmare ends."

"Fine," I said, squeezing in next to Soseki. Fukuhara reluctantly climbed in on the other side, trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. Bob, apparently deciding he was part of the group now, lumbered over and collapsed onto the bed, causing it to groan under his weight.

"This is ridiculous," Fukuhara grumbled, his voice muffled as he shoved his face into a pillow. "I can't believe I'm sharing a bed with a bear and a bunch of idiots."

"Hey, we're not just any idiots," I said, trying to find a comfortable position between Soseki and Bob's massive, furry body. "We're THE idiots."

"That's not a compliment," he shot back, but I could tell he was too tired to keep arguing.

"Shut up and go to sleep," Soseki muttered, already sounding half-asleep.

With a few more grumbles and groans, we all finally settled in, crammed together like sardines in a can. It wasn't exactly the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, but we'd had worse.

Morning came way too soon, and I woke up to something soft and furry pressing against my face. What the Hell?

I cracked open one eye and immediately regretted it. Bob's giant, fuzzy rear end was practically smothering me. "Gah, Bob, get off!"

I tried to push him away, but the bear was like a damn rock. Immovable. I groaned and tried to roll over, only to find Fukuhara's foot jammed into my side.

"Fukuhara, move your damn foot," I grumbled, trying to wriggle free. That's when I noticed that Soseki's arm was draped over my chest, and Koyasu's ethereal form was hovering inches above my face.

"This is the worst," I muttered, finally managing to push Bob off just enough to breathe. "Hey, wake up! It's morning!"

Soseki stirred, opening one eye to glare at me. "Why are you so loud?"

"Because I'm being smothered by a bear's ass, that's why!" I shot back, finally freeing myself from the furry prison. "And you're practically spooning me!"

"Not my fault you're in the middle," Soseki replied, not even bothering to move his arm. "Deal with it."

"Ugh, this is disgusting," Fukuhara groaned, his face half-buried in the pillow. "I've got your hair in my mouth, Y/N."

"Better than having a bear's butt in your face," I shot back, finally managing to sit up. "Koyasu, how the hell do you sleep floating like that? You almost gave me a heart attack."

"I wasn't sleeping," Koyasu said calmly, hovering back to his usual spot near the ceiling. "I was meditating. But I did get a good view of Bob trying to roll over on you."

"Great," I muttered, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "Let's not make this a habit, okay? One night of bear-cuddling is enough for a lifetime."

"Agreed," Soseki said, finally pulling his arm away and sitting up. "Next time, we set up shifts. One person sleeps, the others keep watch."

"Good plan," I said, hopping out of bed and stretching. "But first, coffee. I'm not surviving another night of this without caffeine."

Fukuhara finally managed to free himself from the tangle of limbs and blankets, glaring at Bob, who was still snoring away peacefully. "If that thing eats my breakfast, I'm killing it."

"Good luck with that," I said, patting Bob on the head as I headed for the kitchen. "You'll need it."

The morning passed in a haze of grumbling and attempts to make coffee with a janky old percolator that Soseki insisted was 'vintage' and 'authentic.' Personally, I thought it was a piece of crap, but it somehow managed to brew something resembling coffee, so I wasn't complaining.

By the time we'd all managed to get some food and caffeine into our systems, the sun was already high in the sky, and the forest was alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Koyasu asked, floating near the window and looking out at the forest.

"Exploring, of course," I said, downing the last of my coffee. "We've got a whole week out here, and I intend to make the most of it."

"Exploring what, exactly?" Soseki asked, raising an eyebrow. "You do realize this is my house, right? I've seen it all."

"Yeah, but we haven't," I pointed out, grabbing my gear. "Besides, it's not just about the destination. It's about the journey."

"That's the dumbest thing you've ever said," Fukuhara muttered, but he was already gathering his stuff too. "Let:s just get this over with."

"That's the spirit!" I said cheerfully, heading for the door. "Let's go on an adventure!"

We spent the rest of the day hiking through the forest, exploring the various trails and paths that wound through the trees. Soseki led the way, his pitch-black form blending in with the shadows as he navigated the forest with ease.

Bob, who had finally woken up, lumbered along behind us, occasionally stopping to snack on whatever he could find—berries, leaves, small trees. The usual.

Hiyori, despite her earlier grumblings, seemed to be enjoying herself.