Afterword

Afterword

 

THANK YOU for picking up Volume 7 of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear. Time really has flown by. It’s been two years since the first volume went on sale. Whenever I complete another volume, I wind up anxious it’ll be the last, but we’re just three volumes from breaking into double digits. That’s my dream! And it’s only possible because of everyone who’s cheered me on. I never imagined this bear world would come so far.

At her core, Yuna is a girl who says she’s doing things for herself, even though she’s acting for the sake of others. In my mind, Yuna’s fun brings happiness to those around her.

Volume 8 is planned for release before long. The bear world has plenty of stories left to tell, so I hope you’ll come along for the ride!

In Volume 7, Yuna heads to the mines when she’s asked by Ellelaura to take care of golems that have appeared there. However, she can’t use her OP bear abilities in a cramped tunnel! If she overdoes it, the tunnel will collapse, and she’ll cause a dreadful cave-in. Yuna digs deep, trying to find a solution, and manages to overcome the obstacles in her path.

 

Then—new to the books—Morin’s relative Nerin makes an appearance. She’s Morin’s niece through her older brother. She was taken care of at Morin’s house since she was little, when her father would have to travel for work. Since she grew up like that, she developed an interest in baking and made a pact with Morin to work at the bakery when she turned fifteen. Nerin ends up baking cakes at Yuna’s shop and it flourishes even more than before.

I think Volume 8 might just have something to do with bear stuffed animals. Please look forward to it!

 

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who worked to get this book out.

The illustrations, done in a legendary storybook style, were made by 029, who drew Yuna as the hero, Fina as the princess, and Ellelaura as the witch. Thank you so very much for fulfilling my requests and making them come true. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

I must thank my editor, whom I’m always causing trouble for because of my typos and omissions. And to all the many, many other people who were involved in the publishing of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Volume 7—thank you too!

I’m so grateful to the readers who’ve followed me this far. I hope we can meet again in Volume 8.

 

KUMANANO – ON A DAY IN JULY 2017