Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093083511177921/episodes/16818622176113077301
As the year drew to a close, the hustle and bustle of the end of the year began to envelop the city.
I had a Christmas party with my classmates, Hina and Sakine.
With many special memories and my heart filled with warm light, I headed to my usual part-time job.
Today’s job was to wear a costume at the event plaza in the shopping mall as usual.
During winter break, there are many events, so there are more opportunities to wear the costume.
This was the last big job of the year-end season, and there were five costumes, including mine. When I went to the costume warehouse behind the employee entrance, my colleagues were already busy preparing.
Once I put on the panda costume, I hardly noticed the cold outside.
My field of vision was narrow, but I felt a sense of familiarity and security.
“Alright, let’s give it our all today!”
As I stepped out into the square with renewed determination, it was already bustling with families and couples.
When the children spotted me, their eyes lit up, and they ran toward me.
As usual, I waved my hands and patted their heads, interacting with the children.
After a while, a familiar voice drifted over from the distance.
“Hello, Panda-san!”
My heart skipped a beat. It was Sakine’s voice.
But the moment I saw Hina walking beside her, my heart started racing.
She was wearing a cute coat and had her usual gentle smile on her face.
However, her eyes were fixed on my costume.
It was as if she had known I was here from the beginning.
Hina took Sakine’s hand and came up to my costume without hesitation. Sakine innocently hugged my legs.
“Panda-san, you’re so fluffy!”
I gently stroked Sakine’s head.
Hina watched us intently. Her lips moved slightly.
“…Because I wanted to see you.”
Even amid the surrounding commotion, her voice reached my ears clearly.
So she knew from the beginning. Inside the costume, I couldn’t hide my confusion.
Hina, unconcerned with the eyes of those around her, took one step, then another, approaching my costume.
And in the next moment, she embraced my costume tightly without hesitation.
Hina’s voice resonated through the thick fabric of the costume, echoing in my chest.
Her warmth and sweet scent enveloped me inside the costume.
The children around us stared in surprise at Hina’s sudden action.
“Eh, nee chan? What’s wrong?”
Sakine was confused by Hina’s actions.
I felt sweat pouring out inside the costume. What should I do?
How should I react in this situation?
Then, Hina moved her face away from my costume a little and brought her face close to the side of the costume’s face.
For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.
The noise around us and Sakine’s voice all stopped.
With my vision impaired and unable to see what was happening, the noise around me returned with cheers and cries of surprise.
Hina returned to my narrow field of vision, her cheeks reddened, and she looked up at my costume and smiled.
“…I found you.”
Hina’s eyes sparkled with teasing and genuine affection.
I could only stand there in my costume, stunned.
Sakine tilted her head next to Hina.
“What are you doing with the panda, nee chan?”
Hina gently stroked Sakine’s head and replied with a big smile.
“It’s a secret, Sakine. I was having a little secret conversation with Panda-san.”
With that, Hina left my costume and took Sakine-chan by the hand.
“Come on, Sakine, let’s go.”
Hina whispered shyly in a small voice that only I could hear, “See you later, Hikaru. Next time…”
Then, she disappeared into the crowd with Sakine.
I stood there, staring blankly inside my costume.
Other costume characters gathered around me.
My part-time coworker, dressed in a giraffe costume, patted my panda head and spoke to me in a low voice, but I could tell he was excited.
“Hey, panda, what happened? That was a super beautiful girl, wasn’t it?”
The rabbit costume continued in an excited voice.
“Did you see that? She was so cute! Are you friends with her?”
I shook my head inside the costume.
I couldn’t say anything to them. I couldn’t say anything.
“Maybe Panda’s finally getting some attention! Hey, tell me all about it later!”
The bear costume slaps my shoulder repeatedly.
Inside the costumes, the excitement is building even more.
All I can do is think about how to get through this situation.
Even after finishing my shift and taking off the costume, my friends keep teasing me.
“Panda, you were amazing today! Getting hugged by such a beautiful woman—you’re actually quite the guy, aren’t you!”
“Who would have thought the person inside the costume was such a handsome guy! Hahaha!”
I laughed awkwardly, changed clothes, and left the workplace quickly.
When I got home, I collapsed onto my bed. Burying my face in the pillow, I could still feel the warmth of Hina on my cheek. The moment kept replaying in my head.
I finally fell asleep around 1:00 AM.
――――――――――
【Hina’s Perspective】
――――――――――
“Ahhhhh, what am I doing?!”
I wanted to scream. Why did I act so boldly at that moment?
But I don’t regret it.
Even though I couldn’t see his face through the costume, just imagining his surprised expression and his warm reaction afterward makes my heart feel warm.
“Next time, I’ll do it properly… okay?”
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