NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22 - Episode 022: Headhunter, Taking Care of the Fluffy One
Episode 022: Headhunter, Taking Care of the Fluffy One
In order to let the Puribear rest as soon as possible, Ack ran as fast as he could, being mindful of the creature in his arms. On the way back, nothing happened, and they safely reached home.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome home.”
As soon as he entered through the back door, Tina welcomed Ack. Snow and the others were behind Tina.
“What’s that?”
Tina tried to hug Ack, but when she saw what Ack was carrying, she made a puzzled face. Ack squatted down and showed it to Tina.
“It’s a monster called a Puribear. I found it injured, so I brought it back.”
“Is it okay?”
Tina looked worried as she saw the unconscious Puribear. Ack looked at her face.
“Yeah. I used a very effective medicine. There shouldn’t be any danger to its life. It’s probably not waking up because it lost a lot of blood.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
After hearing the explanation, Tina breathed a sigh of relief. Ack gently placed the Puribear on the bed, then skillfully manipulated some thread to create a cushion for the Puribear and laid it on top. Tina and Snow surrounded the cushion, watching over the Puribear. Ack entrusted them with the care of the Puribear and began preparing lunch.
After a while, a pleasant smell filled the room. As they sniffed the air, the Puribear slowly opened its eyelids.
“…!?”
Then, realizing it was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people around, it jumped off the cushion and tried to intimidate them.
“Don’t worry. There’s no one here who will harm you.”
Ack, who had brought the pleasant smell, approached and calmed the Puribear. The Puribear noticed that it was somehow still alive despite being close to death. Just as it looked at its belly reflected in the mirror, it noticed that the wound it had should have had was almost gone.
In its fading consciousness, it remembered that the human who had helped it was the Ack in front of it. As soon as it remembered, its guard dropped, and it collapsed on the spot, feeling its strength leave its body.
“Eat.”
Ack approached the Puribear and placed a container of soup in front of it. An indescribable aroma tickled the Puribear’s nostrils.
“Kyuuruu?”
“Yeah. Eat well and heal your body.”
When the Puribear asked if it could eat, Ack nodded. The Puribear timidly touched the soup.
“!?”
As soon as it tasted the deliciousness, its eyes widened, and it began to drink the soup in earnest.
Seeing that the Puribear was okay, Ack laid out lunch for everyone and they began to eat.
“Do you want seconds?”
“Kuruu.”
The Puribear, who had quickly finished its soup, nodded shyly.
After having multiple servings, the Puribear, still not completely healed, fell asleep on the spot due to its full stomach.
Ack lifted it up and placed it back on the cushion.
“So cute.”
“Yeah.”
Looking at the Puribear sleeping soundly, Tina murmured, and Ack nodded in agreement.
A few days passed.
Ack took care of the Puribear diligently, feeding it, brushing its fur, and wiping its body, in between running the Fluffy Cafe. As a result, the Puribear’s wounds completely healed, and its condition improved significantly.
“Wait.”
“Kurur.”
It was now well enough to run around outside and play.
Ack was soothed by the sight.
With the addition of the Fluffy to the usual members, the preciousness increased, and the healing effect also increased.
At first, the Puribear was wary, but once it realized that Tina and the others wouldn’t harm it, it quickly became friendly and approached them.
Now it sleeps with us on the same bed.
However, although it had become accustomed to us, the Puribear was not a member of Ack’s family.
“What do you plan to do from now on?”
And a few more days passed, Ack brought up the topic, asking about the Puribear’s future. Tina hugged the Puribear and didn’t want to let go. Snow and the others also crowded around the Puribear, not wanting to leave.
I understand their feelings well.
For Ack, too, the Puribear had become like family.
“Tina and the others are saying this, and I’ve been thinking the same. If you’re okay with it, would you like to continue living with us?”
Ack also wanted to continue spending time together like this, but the most important thing was the Puribear’s own will.
“Kururuu!!”
And the Puribear felt the same way. It wanted to stay here where it was cared for and valued.
“I see, thank you. From now on, you’re also part of our family.”
“Kyururuu!!”
As Ack joyfully lifted the Puribear, it happily made a sound. Tina and the others also hugged Ack, rejoicing.