“Uh,” Gantz stammered. “I… Was talking to your parents?”

Bear tilted his head. “You guys talk to your dead parents?”

Gantz smacked his forehead. Right, differences in habit and cultures. Right. Gantz can’t retort back because he knew Bear was genuinely curious when he asked him that question, and he knew Bear wasn’t curt enough to throw offensive remarks.

“Well, you see…” Gantz groaned a bit, forcing his brain to storm for ideas on how to properly explain his actions. “In certain countries, there are people who conversed with dead people in the graveyard. Obviously, the dead can’t reply, except on certain circumstances, but they can hear us. Which is why we talk to them.” Gantz tried to briefly explain the reasons, which in return, gained an understanding nod from Bear.

“So yeah, you can talk to them if you want, but again, that’s only what some countries do, okay?” Gantz added. “If you didn’t want to do it, then it’s completely okay not to do so.”

Bear nodded again. He then paced closer to where Gantz was, and looked down on the grave. For the next few moments, all Bear did was stare at the grave.

“…Mama, Papa. Bear is alive and well. Thank you.” His speech was prompt and short, but one can never know what hides behind those few words. Gantz was silent while he waited for Bear to speak more. Bear then flopped his butt next to Gantz. And the very next moment, silence…

“That’s all?!” Gantz retorted.

Bear turned to look at Gantz and innocently fluttered his beady eyes. “Does Bear have to speak more?”

Gantz’s eyelids twitched a bit. “No, I mean, you can go on about your life or something. Like how’s your day today, what kind of thing you eat, or any interesting herbs you found during your herb-seeking or something. You can say anything you want; you know?”

Bear fluttered his eyes again. He seemed to be pondering for something; looking around and shifting his gaze between Gantz and his surroundings. His gaze stopped at the crude-looking flower necklace Gantz just made.

“The flower necklace Gantz made for Bear’s parents is pretty.” Bear commented, earning Gantz’s look of surprise. “Much like how Gantz has customs of putting flowers on graves, or talking to dead people, Bear has never heard of such things, or know of such customs.”

“Bear, the world is a vast place of wonders. Explore and be amazed by it, but don’t succumb to it and forget your origin.”

“Bear’s parents once said about the wonderful things in this world. About how civilization develops, and the people of it. But they also warned about the dangers of the outside world.” Bear said to Gantz. He was more talkative in that moment, in which Gantz settled down and took the role of an avid listener. He doesn’t mind bear talking more.

Bear suddenly turned to look at Gantz. “You have a wonderful custom, Gantz.”

Gantz’s eyes faltered a bit, feeling a bit astonished. He replied with a sheepish smirk, and as the night went on, they silently enjoyed the night scenery.