The teddy bear of memories

“Come to think of it, this guy’s gotten pretty worn out, hasn’t it…?”

I murmur, gazing at the bear plushie lying on my bed.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

I can’t help but think I’m pretty good at keeping things—or rather, that this has held up so well. The only reason I’ve cherished it despite its condition is because it’s become my one and only connection.

“The one thing… Kouki gave me…”

I hug the plushie tightly, memories flooding back.

“How old was I…?”

It’s been so long I can’t quite recall exactly.

It was that summer festival, the first time we went out together without our parents.

◇

“Kouki! Hurry up!”

“Whoa, hold on! Didn’t they tell us not to get separated?”

“I know, I know!”

A summer night.

Amid the twinkling scenery, I had this strange confidence that I’d never lose sight of Kouki, no matter what.

The stalls set up in the shrine grounds.

The crowd bustling between them.

And the pretty clothes Mom dressed me in.

Everything sparkled, and I was captivated by it all.

“Next, over there, Kouki!”

“You’ve gotta be careful, or you’ll burn through your allowance in no time.”

“It’s fine! Oh, cotton candy!”

“Hey! I said don’t get separated!”

Even getting scolded by Kouki was fun—it was that kind of dreamy, magical day.

Going out at night like this, being out with just Kouki, spending our money freely—everything was fresh, thrilling, and without a doubt, that day, I was living the happiest moment of my life.

“Haa… finally caught up… Wait, what’re you looking at?”

“Wow…”

I didn’t even glance at Kouki catching up to me; my eyes were glued to one of the stalls.

“A shooting gallery, huh? Oh! I want that game too!”

Looks like Kouki spotted something he liked.

“One round’s three hundred yen, so… let’s see…”

“Three shots! We brought a thousand yen each, so we can do three!”

“No way, Aisa, you’ve already spent quite a bit up to now, haven’t you?”

“Oh…”

His words made me hurriedly check the coin purse hanging around my neck.

Sure enough, I only had enough left for one round of shooting.

“What do I do…?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do I do’? Do you even need to play that many times?”

“Yeah! I really want it!”

“What do you want?”

“That one!”

I pointed out the bear plushie to Kouki.

It felt like fate.

It was love at first sight.

I’d never seen such an adorable plushie before.

“I really… really want it!”

“Alright, let’s do it…?”

“Yeah!”

Holding Kouki’s hand, we headed to the stall.

“Oho, what a cute pair! Wanna give it a go?”

“Yeah! I want that bear, that one right there!”

“Got it. Let me set up a step for you.”

The stall owner brought over a platform to match my height.

I remember getting even more excited standing on it, the bear feeling just a bit closer.

“Aim carefully now!”

“Okay! Um…”

I’d never done a shooting gallery before and had no idea where to start, fumbling nervously.

I glanced at Kouki, but before he could say anything, the stall owner spoke up.

“I’ll load the gun for you, here you go.”

“Yay!”

All I had to do was pull the trigger.

I felt a tiny bit bad aiming at the plushie, but my desire to knock it down and take it home was way stronger.

“Here goes!”

“So close!”

“Mmmgh…”

My shot flew off in completely the wrong direction.

“One more!”

“Alright, alright. You’ve got three shots, so take your time.”

This time for sure…!

The next shot went the opposite way from the last one.

“Oh no…”

“Last one now. Aim well, okay?”

“Mmph…”

Holding back tears, I tried to steady my aim.

This was my last chance.

I wanted it to hit.

I needed it, no matter what.

“Here goes!”

The cork bullet shot out with a pop, grazing the bear’s ear before falling.

“Oh…”

“Tough luck… Well, come back and try again sometime.”

“Sniff…”

I can’t cry.

If I cry, I’ll cause trouble for everyone—the kind stall owner, Kouki…

But that bear…

“Ugh…”

As I fought back tears, Kouki handed some money to the stall owner.

“Alright, kid, what do you want? I’ll move the prize for you.”

Kouki had said he wanted that game.

Unlike me, he’d been careful with his money, so he should have plenty left to play.

“Uuuugh…”

Thinking about it made me frustrated, and tears threatened to spill again.

But then…

“This is fine as is.”

“Oh? Alright then, give it your best shot!”

Kouki loaded the gun himself and then…

“Huh?”

His first shot.

It wasn’t aimed at the game…

“Ugh, missed.”

The bullet hit the bear’s head dead-on, but it only shifted slightly, not falling.

Why?

“Don’t make that face. Knocking it down is what makes it a shooting gallery.”

Kouki said that as he loaded the second bullet.

“Go!”

“Oh!”

This time, the bullet hit its body.

It shifted a bit again but still didn’t fall.

“One left…”

“It’s fine. I’ve got two more rounds.”

“But…!”

If he does that, then Kouki…

“It’s fine.”

The third shot grazed the ear like mine did, moving it slightly, but that was it.

“One more!”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’ve got one more round.”

“Alright then, go for it!”

“Kouki, it’s okay! I can handle it!”

“Just let me.”

Kouki was using the money he’d saved up for me.

The last bullet of his second round.

“Oh…”

“So close!”

It was almost there, nearly falling.

One more shot. If it hit the head, it’d fall for sure.

Kouki reached for his wallet without hesitation, but the stall owner stopped him.

“I’ll give you one shot for free. Make it count and use the rest of your money to grab something to eat.”

The final bullet from the stall owner flew straight toward the bear plushie…

“Yes!”

In that moment, I remember being more focused on watching Kouki than the bear.

Kouki, who was just as happy as if it were for himself, handed me the plushie he’d won.

Somehow, that alone filled my chest with something more than just the plushie, something I couldn’t quite name.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ve been captivated by Kouki ever since that moment.