864 Mr. Bear, checks things out Part 2 - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

After having dinner at the orphanage, I make my way to the Bear's Rest Shop. Morin and Karin live on the second floor of the shop. "Yuna, what brings you here at this hour?" The sun has already set, and the sky is dark. I relay what we discussed at the orphanage to Morin and Karin. "If it's just for a couple of kids, that's fine. But if it gets busy, we'll likely need some help." Morin agrees, and the task of organizing shifts is entrusted to Karin. I'm exhausted. I soak myself in a bath and then collapse onto my bed. Summoning Kumayuru and Kumakyu, I hold them tightly. It's strange. I finished my work in the capital and only returned yesterday, yet I’m already busy the following day. I had hoped for a few leisurely days. Still, I can't just leave matters unattended, and I've promised to draw the poster. However, I'm too tired to draw anything tonight, so I decide to sleep. After all, I'm neither a manga artist nor an illustrator. I sleep when I want. I'll do the drawing tomorrow. The next morning, I prepare to draw the poster. I'm using a special pen that Mane gave me. This pen is quite remarkable; the colors change based on the magic power supplied. Laying the paper out on the table, I begin to sketch. The content of the drawing is a reversi match, in line with the rough sketch I made. I draw a table in the center, the reversi board on top, and people on either side. It's tempting to make the characters Fina or Noa. But if the poster gets stolen, it would be problematic, so I draw imaginary girls. The opponent is an adult man. Initially, in the rough sketch, it was children against children, but if only children are depicted, adults might feel unwelcome. Conversely, depicting only adults might discourage children from participating. Thus, the choice of a girl and an adult man for a more inclusive image. And after a few hours, the drawing is complete. "Something like this should do." The poster featuring a girl about Fina's age and an adult man like Gentz playing reversi is done. Next, I just need Riana to make some copies. I'd love to relax, but a day's delay here could lead to delays down the line. I store the drawing in my Bear Box and head to the Commercial Guild. Waving to Riana at the reception desk, she acknowledges me and, once free, passes her current tasks to another receptionist and approaches me. "Yuna, have you already finished drawing?" "Could you take a look?" "Sure, let's review it in the back room." We move to the same room as yesterday. Sitting down, I take out the drawing from my Bear Box and lay it on the table. Riana handles the paper with the care of something precious. "It’s good! Even from a distance, it’s clear they're playing reversi. A young girl is playing against an adult man." I explain why I chose to depict the players as a young girl and an adult man. "Indeed, if both were children, it might only attract kids, and adults might not participate. If it's the reverse, kids might find it hard to join. A single illustration can alter perceptions." A single image can change the viewer’s impression. The aim is to pique interest with the illustration, leading them to read the accompanying information. Though it's a simple notion, I think it makes sense. Professional manga artists or illustrators likely consider composition and other factors far more thoroughly than I do. "You even added color, didn’t you?" Since Mane kindly provided me with a pen that alters color based on magic use, I decided to try it. "Is it a problem?" "No, but colored prints are more expensive..." True, color printing costs more than monochrome printing, both in this world and the one I’m from. "I'll cover the cost." "We can't impose on you that much, Yuna. You've already provided prizes and the drawing itself. We should be paying you for it." "That's unnecessary." "No, really. Mylene would scold us. We’ll cover the cost of the drawing, even if it isn’t much." Her voice becomes smaller by the end. "Heh, there's no need to push yourself. I don't need payment. Instead, please print it in color since I went through all the trouble." "A-Alright then, we’ll allocate the payment intended for you towards printing." "That's fine." I discuss with her the simplified reversi, an idea that Tirumina and I had considered. "Gridded paper and a paper with one black side?" "Yes, with just two sheets of paper, anyone can play reversi at home. This might inspire more people to participate in the tournament or even buy a real reversi set!" It’s speculative, of course. We won't know the outcome until we try. "I’ll cover the printing costs for this. It’s Tirumina’s idea, but it’s something I want to try." "Oh, that helps a lot." Originally, as Riana mentioned, organizing a reversi tournament entails various expenses. This applies not only to reversi but to any event. Things aren’t free; somewhere, someone covers the cost. Whether it’s money or effort, something is always needed. "In that case, what if we print the rules on the back of the grid paper?" The original reversi sets come with instructions included. "Yes, if it's not too much trouble, having the rules would be beneficial." The rules essentially boil down to: 1. Place two white and two black stones diagonally at the center. 2. Decide the order of play. 3. Place a stone to enclose opponent stones. 4. Flip enclosed stones. 5. Alternate stone placement. 6. If no valid moves are available, the turn passes. (No stones to enclose the opponent’s) 7. The player with the most stones wins. With these rules printed on the back, the decision regarding the accompanying text for the poster is concluded, and our discussion ends. I thought it would be quick, but it took longer than expected. "We’ve talked quite a bit. Are you sure your work is okay?" "Yes, I’ll be fine. Everyone has offered to assist if needed, and this is part of my work at the Commercial Guild." After arranging for the printing of the poster and simplified reversi with Riana, we part ways. With nothing else pressing, I head home to relax with Kumayuru and Kumakyu. The next day, as I visit the Bear's Rest Shop for lunch, I notice the new poster already up on the wall. It was completed and displayed the day after yesterday. "Welcome, Yuna," Karin greets me as I enter the shop. "They're already up, huh?" I comment, noticing the new posters. "Riana came by before the shop opened and asked us to put them up. She also left the simplified reversi papers." Quick work indeed. "How's it going?" "With the illustration, it seems to catch people's attention. Many patrons stop to take a look." Looks like the illustration is doing its job. Now we just need more sign-ups for the tournament. "So, Yuna, when's the hands-on section starting?" Oh, right. "When Riana brought the posters, the store kids were already organizing the schedule." I hadn’t told the orphanage kids when they should come by. "We can't start until we have reversi sets ready, though." "Riana left some with the posters," Karin informs me. We hadn’t discussed a fee for lending them out. "I'll go check with the orphanage later." I decide to confirm after finishing my meal. Karin returns to her work, and I purchase some bread before sitting at a corner table, observing the shop. The posters are displayed in several spots, and some people pause to look at them. Among them, I spot a girl with golden hair. It's Noa. She examines the poster for about a minute before scanning the shop and spotting me. Our eyes meet, and she breaks into a smile, running over to me. "Yuna! Did you finish my mother's errand?" Noa asks. "Yes, I'm back now." "Did Mother give you any unreasonable tasks? It seemed you returned quite late." "It was a bit late because I went gathering medicinal herbs with someone Ellelaura knows." "Oh, I see. And, Yuna, what's that? The reversi tournament?" Noa points to the poster. "It’s just as it says. We're holding a reversi tournament and looking for participants." "The reversi game you made, right?" "Yes, it seems to be selling well here in Crimonia. Riana from the Commercial Guild wants to hold a tournament. Interested in joining, Noa?" "I don't need an all-you-can-eat prize, though." Well, she's the daughter of a noble family. She probably doesn't eat that much anyway. "The plushies of Kumayuru and Kumakyu are tempting, but since I already have them, I can even make them myself." Noa had made her own plush versions of Kumayuru and Kumakyu as a birthday gift for Fina. She's got patterns and can make as many as she likes. Given that, the prize might not be appealing to her. "So, you’re not joining?" "No, I am. As a pioneer, I can't lose." True, in this world, Noa and Fina are pioneers of reversi. However, that doesn't mean they play every day, so their victory isn't guaranteed.