Big Bear sniffed deeply, then looked ahead after pinpointing the direction.
Standing not far away was Miss Yui's friend, folding up a dark brown cloak she held in her hands.
At the sight, tears instantly streamed from Big Bear's eyes. Sniffling hard several times to keep a runny nose in check, Big Bear rushed forward, wailing pitifully:
"Oh! One of my own! Who was it? Who did this to you... you poor thing!"
Throwing caution to the wind, Big Bear charged forward, pushed off with both legs, and lunged at the cloak in Nai Hyuga's hands.
Nai Hyuga froze. Watching Big Bear hurtle toward her, she could not help frowning. "What is this bear playing at?"
She turned slightly sideways, dodging Big Bear's lunge. At just the right moment, she reached out an arm, spread her slender fingers, and closed them firmly around Big Bear's neck.
"What are you trying to do?" Nai Hyuga asked, puzzled.
"Boohoo!" Big Bear sobbed and flailed in Nai Hyuga's grip, pointing at the cloak in her other hand and saying indignantly, "Th-that's one of my own!"
"Boohoo! My brother, whom I never even met! You suffered so terribly-they actually made you into a cloak!"
Hearing Big Bear's words, Nai Hyuga frowned. "Are you saying this cloak was made from the hide of your kind?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Big Bear nodded miserably.
No wonder there had been a familiar scent when they set out earlier. No wonder Nai Hyuga could turn invisible. She had been wearing an invisibility cloak made from the hide of Big Bear's own kind.
Big Bear knew the person who had killed that fellow bear was certainly not Nai Hyuga, but the thought still hurt every time it came to mind.
Yui approached from behind, apparently having noticed something. When she