Osamu-kun, Kuro, and the Circus 3

If it is not a bother, could you please take my child along with you? I beg of you.

Without even waiting for an answer from the surprised Osamu-kun, his mother said this to Yumi-chan's mother and bowed her head.

That is a good idea, Kashiwabara-san, please do something about it.

We are fine with it, so please go buy an admission ticket. Yumi-chan's father readily agreed to the father who was asking while bowing his head.

However, Osamu-kun shook his head from side to side, gripped his mother's hand tightly, and said this.

No, I'm not going.

What is wrong? You were looking forward to it so much, weren't you? Yumi-chan is your friend, so go watch it together.

But I wanted to watch it with everyone. I am absolutely not going alone.

Osamu-kun had been looking forward to watching the circus together as a family of three with his father and mother. He had told his father that he was "fine," but until now, Osamu-kun had been desperately holding back his tears.

Well then, it cannot be helped. Father, let's go home today.

Since our child is saying this, we have decided to go home today.

The father bowed to Yumi-chan's father and began to walk slowly again.

"This is a problem..." said Mr. Fudo, who was watching the situation, to himself as he looked at the circus manager, who was looking at the admission tickets in an envelope. They were meant to be given to the mayor, who was supposed to come today.

Saying "That's it!", Mr. Fudo jumped off Kuro's back, went to the manager at incredible speed, and hopped onto his shoulder. Then, miraculously, the manager began to run after Osamu-kun's family.

The one most surprised by this was the manager himself. Before he could even think, "What am I doing? Stop, stop running," he had already caught up to Osamu-kun's family.

And, out of breath, the manager said to the father.

I am sorry about earlier, please show me the admission tickets once more.

It is already fine, we are going home, so please leave us alone. I will return these to you.

So, you cannot get in with these after all... Boy, do you like the circus?

I liked it until a moment ago, but now I hate it. With a face that looked like he was about to cry, Osamu-kun said this to the manager in a small but honest voice.

Looking at the admission ticket he had received from the father, the ringmaster spoke.

That is a problem, so let us do this. I currently have an admission ticket that allows entry at any time. Would you mind exchanging this for the admission ticket you have here?

What am I saying? Why am I saying something like this? Stop it, stop it! The ringmaster felt like he was going crazy because his body was moving and speaking on its own. That is right. With Fudo-san riding on his shoulder, the ringmaster was being controlled by Fudo-san just like a robot.

No, that would be a problem, so please don't do that, the mother said, troubled by the sudden proposal.

I am the ringmaster here. So, I could let the three of you in as you are, but if I did that, the young guy selling tickets over there would imitate me and start letting his friends in without taking money. That would be a big problem. And what is even more problematic is that this child would end up hating the circus, the ringmaster said to the mother.

No, that would be a problem, the father said, not knowing what to do, but the ringmaster pressed the admission ticket into his hand and said this.

Now, please use this admission ticket to enjoy my circus. If you don't hurry, it will be time for the show to start. Please walk in with your heads held high, the three of you. I want children like this little boy to enjoy the circus. That is why I don't want the boy to hate the circus. Saying that, the ringmaster showed a smile to Osamu-kun for the first time.

That was when it happened. Just as I thought I heard the sound of hands clapping, 'Clap! Clap!', that sound immediately turned into a loud round of applause. When I realized it, a large crowd of people had formed a circle around Osamu-kun's family and the ringmaster. Yumi-chan's family was also there. Everyone was moved by the ringmaster's actions. Some people were even clapping while shedding tears.

Let's accept it gratefully.

That's right, let's enjoy the circus together. I could even hear voices saying things like that.

Then we will gratefully accept your offer. Thank you very much, the father said, bowing his head along with the mother to thank the ringmaster.

Thank you, Mr. Ringmaster, Osamu-kun also said with a smile, thanking him.

It should be fine now, Fudo-san said, and hopped off the ringmaster's shoulder.

I was watching, Ringmaster. That was a wonderful response. When the ringmaster turned around at that voice, the mayor was standing there.

Oh, Mayor, you were here. I didn't notice. I am sorry for not greeting you. Also, I just used the admission ticket I had prepared for you. I am sorry, please wait a moment while I get a replacement.

I don't believe I asked for such a thing, the mayor said to the apologizing ringmaster. Then, receiving the admission ticket that his secretary had bought, he said, My admission ticket has arrived as well, so let's all go watch the circus together. Since it is the circus of such a wonderful ringmaster, the show must surely be wonderful too, and he began to walk toward the entrance.

While everyone was enjoying the circus, the ringmaster was alone in his office.

Why did I do something like that? he thought, holding his head on his desk.

...To be continued...

Facebook publication date: February 20, 2019