Chapter 108 - The Meteor Festival Done Right - Part 2| Seeing Old and New Friends With New Hearts

Legosi's ears perked up as he looked around for the source of the voice. "Hello?"

A female gray wolf ran forward and hugged him. "It's been so long!"

"O-oh! Juno!" Legosi managed before returning the hug, albeit awkwardly. "Hey! How's it going?"

"Very well!" She stepped back, and Legosi got a good look at her beautiful makeup and rather adult blue dress. "It's good to see you too, Bill-senpai, Pina-kun, and Louis-senpai."

"Heya, Juno-senpai! Although, I guess I don't have to call you that since I dropped out," Pina said sweetly, eyes squinted.

"Hmm. I suppose. But maybe you should because I'm going to be the next Beastar!"

Legosi's eyes widened a bit. "Oh, have they already decided?"

"Yep! It's going to happen after the festival. They're going to be even more sure once they see how I lead the Tem and Els Memoriam!" she smiled.

"Surely you're not using their deaths to further your career, right?" Pina asked, finger under his chin.

"Of course not!" Juno regarded him with a judging look. "They chose me to lead it anyway!"

Bill laughed. "That does sound like something you would do, though! Let's admit it, ha!"

She sneered at him. "Excuse you. I'm more mature than I used to be now!"

Legosi looked back at the two, managing to give them stern puppy eyes somehow. "Guys, stop being rude to her."

Louis had his arms crossed, just looking at her. "So you don't steal kisses anymore." Sure, he knew it was immature, but he had to.

The female wolf rolled her eyes. "I have a boyfriend now, thank you. He's a lovely gray wolf who treats me better than Legosi ever did."

"That's because he wasn't into you," Louis added.

Bill nodded. "Yeah, he was simping out for deer butt. Oops. I mean dick."

Legosi grumbled and turned back to Juno. "S-sorry. They're all very energetic today."

The bitch looked unamused. "Well, I made mistakes in the past, but now we're in the future where I'm going to be a Beastar. I guess I won the war against Louis, after all."

"You won the chess game by default because I quit," Louis fired.

"God, you sure do love chess," Pina murmured.

"I barely get to play…"

Legosi tried to turn the conversation back to Juno. "So, what would be some goals of yours as Beastar?"

Juno stood straighter at that. "Well, at first I wanted a better light for wolves and carnivores, but after the segregation happened, seeing how miserable my fellow student body is...I'm going to fight for the unity of carnivores and herbivores."

That got Legosi's tail wagging. "That sounds like a great idea, Juno! That's exactly the sort of job a Beastar should do! It's a shame it's not seen much..."

Louis crossed his arms. "What does your boyfriend think about you being a Beastar?"

She smiled. "He's very proud of me, naturally~"

"He agrees with your views, too?" Pina asked, cocking his head.

Bill nodded. "Yeah, and is he another shy Legosi type who would probably agree with it just to avoid conflict?"

Legosi turned back and squinted at Bill, but said nothing.

Juno rolled her eyes. "He's his own type. And yes, he agrees with my views. I wouldn't date him otherwise."

"Seems like the segregation pushed all the students into wanting unity anyway," Pina observed. "On top of our generation being the one breaking down all these barriers, to begin with."

"Yeah! Exactly! I don't think Cherryton can handle another year of this. Fewer and fewer animals are going to want to attend."

Pina flourished with his hands to indicate the four of them. "Ta-daaa~! The Cherryton Dropouts are present!"

Juno nodded. "Exactly! I have to prevent more of you from being created!"

Bill made a strange cat noise. "We're not that bad!"

Meanwhile, Pina was laughing. "Oh man, I didn't know you were good at burns, Juno!"

"Pfft. And yet me and Louis got Legosi when Juno kept trying and failing! And it was so easy, too!" Bill barked.

Louis looked at him. "That's false. Maybe for you."

Juno squinted. "What did you say?"

Legosi waved his big hands frantically in front of the other wolf. "O-oh! No, it wasn't your fault or anything. You just aren't my type, as I said at the dance..."

The female wolf looked at the four of them. "What's going on here? Bill said he and Louis had you."

Pina's smile spread wider. "Oh, yeah. Well, recently our little group kind of started inter-dating. Me and Louis are having a go at each other while Billy and Legosi are, too. Meanwhile, we're still very much involved with our original relationships." The sheep puffed his chest out proudly at finding a script to explain the situation in a way he thought was adequate.

Juno just looked at them. "Uh...then how is it love?"

Legosi scratched at his cheek. "Well...love can come in a lot of different forms. My love for Louis is different than my love for Bill, but it's still love, I feel. And they can both exist at once."

"Mm...I think I'll just stick to one animal," Juno said. "It doesn't really make sense, otherwise. Anyway...I'm gonna...go do something." She had already turned around before they could continue.

The group watched her walk away, and Legosi's ears drooped down. "I guess she doesn't like us..."

"That's her problem," Louis said, grabbing his hand. "I know that, as a canine, you want everyone to like you, but what we're doing isn't exactly normal, even if it makes sense for us. Animals aren't going to understand it very easily."

Bill nodded. "I mean, Pina had five girlfriends at once before. He knows how it is."

Pina nodded. "It's a lot easier when all the animals are aware of what's going on, though."

Louis blinked. "Excuse me?"

Pina snorted. "Let's just say they all teamed up against me when they found out I was dating them all without them knowing."

Bill nodded. "Yep! He was quite the whore."

"Untiiiil~" Pina reached out and tugged on the tiger's furry cheek.

"Until he realized tiger dick is the best there is," Bill purred.

Pina glanced over at Louis. "Deer is a pretty decent rival."

"You've only had it once!" Bill argued.

Louis grinned. "It must be that good."

Legosi nodded. "It is."

The tiger squinted. "Well, I don't know that."

"Do you want to find out?" Pina teased.

Louis shook his head. "Not happening. Sorry Bill, but you're...not my type. Honestly, it would be a turnoff."

"Ugh, but you three are my type!" Bill complained. "Louis is a little short, though."

"Bill, will you ever recover from not being up to Louis's standards?" Pina asked with a serious face.

"Hey, if he wants to miss out, that's fine with me," Bill shrugged. "At least I still get my video."

"Oh yeah, the video." Legosi looked around, starting to look for someone else they knew. "Where should we go now?"

"Let's continue to head to the meteor," Louis said. "I'm sure we'll see someone on the way or from there." The four continued on their way, keeping close and chatting. As time went on more and more animals started to appear.

"Hey!" Bill pointed his striped hand at two animals in the distance. "It's Aoba and Tao!"

Pina squinted at where he pointed. "Well, son of a gun, it is!"

Louis turned to him. "Son of a gun? What does that even mean? Guns don't have children."

Pina shrugged. "I spent five minutes around Gosha today. His old man sayings rubbed off on me."

"After five minutes?" Louis said. "So Bill is going to become an old man?"

"Yes. He will turn gray."

Bill ran forward to go meet his friends, seeing them both turn around and giving him a bro hug.

Legosi was close behind, with Louis and Pina not far from him.

Tao looked at the group, a playful smirk across his face. "So, ya all stuck together huh?"

"You surprised?" Pina asked, returning the expression with a similar one.

"You left at very different times!"

"We caught a killer together. Kind of a strong bond."

Legosi cleared his throat, interrupting anything the sheep may have said next. "It's nice to see you two again. It's been a while."

Tao and Aoba both smiled, and the avian spoke next. "Good to see you guys, too. Man, you dodged a bullet."

Louis nodded. "So we've heard."

"Is it true the drama club basically collapsed?" Legosi clenched his fists, unconsciously.

The bird put his hands in his school uniform pockets and sighed. "Yeah...Fast, too."

Tao sighed. "It's really a shame. We all loved it."

Bill shook his head. "It was esteemed too, damn."

"What are you two doing now?" Legosi stepped a bit closer.

"Nevermind about that," Tao said, looking at Louis. "You're really fine being back here after all of that...?"

The buck frowned. "...Yes."

"Cause that was crazy, dude. You almost died."

"I see myself with an eyepatch every day. I know."

"Everything is fine now," Legosi interjected. "Louis knows he's safe."

"I'm just saying it because...Damn, you're strong, you know."

Louis blinked. "Oh?"

"Damn straight he is," Pina declared. "Or should I say damn gay?" He placed a finger under his chin, stroking the wool.

"Ha! Good one," Aoba smiled. "Tao wasn't trying to offend you or anything. It's inspiring, actually."

Louis smiled. "Well...that's something, at least. Plus, it didn't even happen here. Now if the festival was in that basement..."

"It wouldn't be a very good festival," Legosi joked, although discomfort pervaded his tone.

"Cramped as hell," Bill chuckled.

Tao looked to the tiger. "And what about you and Legosi? People still talk about that fight. Hell...people still talk about everything. Mostly with Louis at the forefront, though. Kidnapped, rescued, taken away, rescued again, then teaming up with carnivores to stop a killer in the school? Dude, he's like the face of the pro-integration movement!"

Louis blinked, having had no idea about any of this. "That makes me feel...strange."

Pina put a hand on his shoulder. "It's flattering, at least, and stands with your ideals. As long as they don't expect anything of you..."

Aoba shook his head. "Nah, the story is enough."

Louis sighed. "I'm way too busy to help, so that's good at least."

Bill frowned. "I feel like I should get more credit but I also didn't come in until the end and I wouldn't have if my boyfriend hadn't got kidnapped."

The eagle laughed. "I'm surprised you even hang around with Legosi after that play. I remember you telling us how you scratched his back and everything."

"Don't worry, he scratched mine back~" Bill purred, looking at Legosi.

The panther raised a brow. "Wuh?"

Legosi just blushed and looked away, bashfully, although his tail waved freely behind him.

Bill laughed. "Yep! Legosi and I are together now!"

Tao blinked, looking at Pina. "Uh?"

Pina held up two fingers. "Billy's got two boyfriends. I managed to nab Louis, too. It's a new thing but it's working so far."

The dark-furred feline just blinked again. "Hey, man! I thought you said you weren't gonna be a whore anymore!"

Aoba furrowed his brows. "You're a really strange group of animals."

"I said no such thing!" Pina argued.

"I was talking to Bill," Tao corrected.

Legosi held up his hands. "But it doesn't change who we are!"

Bill rolled his eyes. "Whores don't love their fuckmates."

The other cat just stared at him. "Welp. Cool."

Aoba shook his head. "Not sure many animals are gonna get it."

Louis raised a brow. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just different."

"Hey, man, you do you," Tao said.

"Yeah, we sure are doing." Pina looked around. "Hey, is Kai around? I miss that idiot."

Aoba nodded. "Yeah! He's around here somewhere. I know I saw him. Just look and I'm sure you'll find him."

"I'm sure he'll start screaming in disgust as soon as I walk within fifty meters of him," Pina joked.

"I could just text him," Legosi suggested.

Louis nodded. "Go ahead."

"How about you guys?" Pina asked Aoba and Tao. "Gonna buddy up or scram?"

"We're gonna scram. Still got some things to do here."

"I'm texting Kai," Legosi said to nobody in particular. In response, his deer leaned against him. "Wanna add anything?" Legosi asked, tilting the phone to him. All he had typed was, 'Hey we're here'.

"Anything I need to add, I'll tell him in person," Louis said.

"Alright." Legosi typed some more, telling Kai where they were at as the eagle and panther said their farewells.

Bill looked around, eagerly. "Aw, man it's been forever. I can't wait to see that little fucker again."

"Me, too," Legosi agreed. "Well, I've seen him a lot more than you have, of course. We're practically done with the website."

Bill grinned, teeth showing. "Can't wait to see it, babe."

Louis rubbed his nose. "I can't wait to see it, as well."

"Dom's with him, right?" Pina asked. "He has to be."

"Kai said he would be," Legosi confirmed. "I guess we should just hang out and wait for them."

"Oh, they're coming to meet us?" Louis asked.

Bill put his hand on his forehead, looking around. "Hmm..."

Legosi looked down at his phone. "Yeah. Kai said he was busy setting up a stand or something."

The group continued to wait for the mongoose and the peafowl, excited to see their friends again.

Soon enough, the long-necked couple emerged from the crowd. Kai waved, wearing simple shorts and a t-shirt outfit, unsurprisingly.

Dom was wearing a sweater and jeans, similar to how a certain nonbinary elk would.

Bill waved. "Hey! Hey! Over here!"

"Yeah, we see you, you oaf!" Kai might have sounded harsh, but his face said otherwise. He jogged over to them, absolutely beaming. "How the hell are you no good dropout bastards?"

Bill grabbed him and wrapped him in his arms, lifting him and squeezing. "Pretty good you fucking homework jockey."

Dom smirked. "Homework jockey~ I like that~"

"Nghghghk! What the fuck does that mean?" Kai managed between being suffocated.

"Means you're a slave to the system, man!" Bill said.

"I can't very well be a software developer without graduating high school, now can I?" The helpless brown animal turned to Legosi, pleading. "Legosi, get me out of here!"

Legosi stepped closer to Bill. "Drop the mongoose, Bill," he said calmly.

"Or what, lover boy? You'll use those claws on me?" He turned, holding Kai away from the wolf.

Legosi crossed his arms and smirked, slightly. "I'll cancel our next date."

"Yeah right."

Dom blinked. "Date?"

Kai looked between them. "Uh, you guys have a new inside joke?"

Pina smiled and stepped forward, arms flourishing as he continued to enjoy his emerging role of unveiling this. "Yes, if the inside joke is 'polyamory'."

Kai hung a little limper in Bill's grip as he processed the information. "I...uh...huh...well okay. Kinda makes sense. Bill put me down so I can move my arms while I think."

The tiger did so. "Also I could make a dirty joke about us having an inside joke but you'd scream and run off or some shit."

Dom put his hands over his mouth as he snickered. "You boys. So dirty~"

Just as Kai said he would, he started gesticulating. "Okay, so I'll say it's not surprising you all formed a close connection considering what you all went through. Plus, Pina clearly used to have a thing for Legosi. Are you all like, involved with each other, or are there certain barriers?"

"Wow, he didn't gag and run away," Pina mused.

"Hey, give me more credit! I'm working on it," Kai complained.

Dom giggled again. "So, so~ Who is with who? Wait, wait! Let me call it! Louis is with Pina!"

Pina clapped his hands. "We have a winner! Ding, ding, ding!"

Kai cocked an eyebrow. "Oh? I guess I could see that, but I thought you liked Legosi."

Pina shrugged. "As a friend. He's an absolute sweetheart and I'm totally down to snuggle with him in the future, but nothing much beyond that. Bill's really staked a claim on him, though."

The cat purred. "Damn right!" He moved and whacked Legosi's butt, but not too hard.

Louis scratched his cheek. "It's a little complicated with Pina and me..."

Legosi yelped a bit and rubbed his rear while the sheep spared Louis a glance. "Mm? Howso?"

"Well, you know...with the..." The deer looked to the side, blushing.

Dom tilted his head. "What is it?"

Pina's eyes widened a bit and he turned to the bird and held a finger to his mouth. "Secret."

Kai looked up at the group. "I'm still surprised about Bill and Legosi. I mean, I always thought you two were, you know..." He brought his fists up and smashed them together a few times. "You butt heads."

"Tao and Aoba said the same thing. I'm sure all of the drama club thinks that," Legosi sighed. "But we've been getting along for a while now! And it's not like we don't still get on each others' nerves."

"Yeah, now we're..." Bill made a ring with his hand and pushed a finger into it.

"Yes, I gathered, William," Kai said in an overly-calm manner. "So what are you all gonna do?"

"Like, in life...?" Bill blinked.

Kai snorted and shook his head. "Naw, at the festival! If you don't have any idea you can come by my stall."

Louis blinked. "What's your stall?"

"For my club! I'm handing out pamphlets and flags and bracelets and stuff. All made by the club! And Dom!" Kai stepped aside and gestured to the tall avian. "Behold his majesty!"

Dom smiled and blushed. "Ah! It was nothing, really...A nice side activity from all my school projects."

"Buncha normies over here," Bill thumbed at them.

Louis looked around. "Where is the stall? It sounds lovely."

Kai clapped his hands together and his voice got significantly louder. "Alright, boys! Follow me!"

The group began marching forward, Louis thinking back to what Tao and Aoba had said about him being the face of pro-integration.

"You okay?" Legosi poked his cheek with his nose.

"Yes, I'm just...in my head right now." Even though I should be focusing on the festival.

"You don't have to be anyone's figurehead, Lou," Legosi reassured, rubbing his claws softly on his back.

The deer felt calmed by this. "What do you mean?"

"You don't have any responsibilities here anymore. Just relax."

"Right. I'm alright, sorry," Louis smiled. "I'm just...thinking."

"Of course." Legosi continued to graze his claws on his back.

"I suppose it's just interesting," Louis huffed. "Being gone and yet still important to people."

"Because you are," Legosi assured as Kai made a right and they found themselves in an even thicker crowd.

"As long as I don't have any more responsibilities."

"You're responsible for keeping my stomach happy," the wolf joked, sliding his arm around his back.

"Is that what I'm good for?" Louis chuckled.

"One of many."

Meanwhile, Pina was in the front fighting the crowd. "God, is it just me, or are there more people this year?"

Bill nodded. "No, it's not just you!"

Kai turned back to the group. "That's what good PR does! We had the newspaper club make posters and advertise that this year's festival will be bigger and better than ever!"

"Wow...nice," Bill grinned.

Louis looked around. "Looks like there are more booths this time around, too. You know, I've never ridden the Ferris wheel."

"First time for everything," Pina winked at him. "All six of us couldn't fit in a car, though."

Dom shrugged. "We rode it when we got here. You four can go."

"I was on one when I was little. How about you two?" Pina indicated the two big carnivores.

"Me, too. When I was little, I mean," Legosi answered.

"My whole family had to keep being split between cars," Bill chuckled.

"Oh yeah, you and your huge family we can never meet," Pina sighed. "Like, at least one of your siblings has to be cool, right?"

"Nope," Bill shook his head.

Pina then looked around at the whole group. "Huh, you're the only one with siblings then, huh?"

Kai raised his hand. "Uh, me? A whole family of hyenas? Remember?"

"Oh yeah. Well, you never talk about them."

"Yeah, because I've never had to."

"Having siblings must be interesting," Legosi thought aloud, finger on his chin. "Like, just another animal your age that lives with you."

"They're not always your age," Bill exhaled. "Younger siblings suuuck."

"Well, close to your age, usually. Sometimes." Legosi looked up at the sky. "Having any extended family at all is a strange concept to me, actually. I never thought about it until I made more friends."

"Eh, a small family is simpler and easier to manage. Friendships are what's important." Pina reached up and cupped his shoulder with his hand and jostled it. "Blood of the covenant or something like that. Religion."

Louis furrowed his brow. "What does religion have to do with it?"

"You know! Blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb! That's like a religious thing, right?" Pina looked around.

"Yeah," Kai responded. "Don't say that too loudly around here, though. That religion doesn't like dinos or something."

"Then why would they be here?" Louis queried.

"Dinosaurs? I don't know. I'm not a theologian. That's the word, right?" Kai looked up at Dom.

Dom nodded. "I think so."

"Did you guys ever hear how the meteor that wiped the dinosaurs out was so fucking massive that it's possible it sent matter flying into space?" Pina exclaimed. "That means bits of dinosaurs could be floating out there! Forever! Guess the story of Rex might have some credence after all."

Bill looked up. "Gross."

Louis also looked up. "I guess that's rather fascinating."

Legosi looked up too. "It's a miracle anything survived that. It's a miracle we're even here."

"Somehow," his deer added. "Knowing how the animal race is."

"Pretty inspirational, Legosi," Pina said. "Always had the feeling you were the poetic type."

"He has such a way with words," Louis smiled, looking at the ram. "Plus his voice in general is incredible."

Pina looked over the group. "So, are we just collectively a Legosi Appreciation Squad?"

Bill wiggled his nose, looking back down. "It's not that hard."

Unsurprisingly, Legosi's response was to look down, fiddle with his hands, and wag his tail. Everyone had a good hearty laugh.

Dom clapped his hands together. "I can't wait till you guys to see what I've made for you!"

Pina gasped. "Presents? We get presents?"

The peafowl nodded, eagerly. "Hell yeeeah!~"

"What for?" Louis asked.

"Why not?"

"We've been good little boys all year so the pretty blue bird gives us gifts!" Pina explained.

The buck shook his head. "Have we?"

The sheep held a pinky to his mouth and twisted it, giving an innocent look. "Well, I have." This prompted a 'pff!' sound from Kai.

Louis smirked. "If I could say what I was thinking right now, you'd be shot down."

"We have to be almost there by now, right?" Legosi was obviously piqued by the prospect of a gift.

"It's just around this corner," Kai announced.

A hyena with wireframe glasses wiggled his fingers in a sort of wave. "W-w-welcome back K-Kai."

A white ferret jumped up beside him. "Our beloved leader returns~" She then looked at the group and her eyes went wide. "Oh! It's! It's it's it's!" She pointed frantically at the group and Kai raised his hands.

"Yeah, just keep it down. Louis isn't comfortable with-"

"Not just Louis! All four of those guys are pretty much legends in this club!" she squeed.

"W-wow..." the hyena blinked. "We always h-h-h-h-heard stuff about you but s-ssseeing it is s-s-s-something else."

Louis raised a brow. "Is something the matter?"

Kai turned to face them. "I mean, you and Legosi, and then Bill and Pina...you guys were the first to really kinda broadcast your big queer energy to the world. It's inspired a lot of people to come to my club!" He puffed out his chest proudly and put his hands on his hips. "But you both dropped out now so you're kind of like cryptids."

"V-v-v-very cool c-cryptids," the hyena added.

Louis tilted his head. "Again, is something the matter with your hyena friend?"

Bill turned his head. "Hey, chill with that, Louis."

"What?"

The hyena's ears went back a bit and he fumbled with his hands behind the stall.

Kai looked up at the buck and spoke quietly. "Marley's fine. He just has a speech impediment. Sort of like when Legosi stutters when he's nervous only it's all the time."

Marley nodded, rubbing his arm. "S-s-sorry."

Louis' eye widened. "Oh, goodness! I apologize. I've never met anyone like that. I wasn't trying to be rude."

"I-I-I-It's okay...I've had w-w-worse said to me bef-f-f-f-fore...Lots of b-b-bullies."

The ferret immediately reached up and hugged Marley around the neck. "You have an amaaaazing voice, Marley!" She then looked back to the group and smiled. "Oh, I'm Noodle! Over there in the back reading is Pascal."

Sure enough, sitting in the back listening to music through earbuds was a lemur who either didn't know they had company or didn't care.

Legosi bowed his head slightly and smiled. "Nice to meet you all." His eyes were quickly drawn by all the colorful flags and buttons throughout the stall.

Pina flipped some wool out of his face. "Nice to meet you all too. Do I assume you know our names?"

Noodle nodded. "Yup! That dress you wore at the New Year's dance was so beautiful, Pina!"

Bill nudged his boyfriend. "I'm not the only one."

Legosi looked over at Dom. "Oh, Dom! How did your dress assignments go at your school?"

The bird grinned. "Very well, actually! I'm one of the best in my class and I have drama club to thank for that."

Kai reached up and hugged one of his wings. "I'm so proud of him~"

"Wow, Kai. You're like, being actually pleasant," Pina noted.

"I'm pleasant," Kai stated, still holding onto his boyfriend. "I've always been pleasant."

Dom nodded. "Agreed. And look at what a little leader he's become, oooh!~"

Marley smiled. "W-w-w-w-we couldn't have h-h-h-had a better one..."

Kai scratched that back of his neck. "Aw, it's not much, really." He broke away and walked toward the stand. "Anyway, you guys want anything? Flags, pins, posters...all designed by our members!"

"There's more than just us three, I swear!" Noodle assured. "We're just the ones that didn't mind spending the festival here!"

"And why is that?" Louis asked.

"Cuz we're losers," Pascal finally spoke. They held out a thumbs down and blew a raspberry.

"Then why are you part of the club?" the buck squinted.

"Cuz we're queer. Not all of us can be super cool like you guys." They didn't look up from their book.

"Oh, just ignore them!" Noodle insisted. "Take a look at our stuff! Our big fat stuff!"

The group started scanning the stall, Bill holding a hand to his chin. "I've never really thought of wearing anything to show my pride. No, that isn't a tiger joke."

"What even are you?" Pina asked. "Like, you made a hard shift for dudes so you're gay? Bi with a preference?"

"I've been asking myself the same damn thing, babe," Bill exhaled.

Legosi walked forward, his eyes still wide. "Wow, there's so many."

"Yeah. It all depends on what you wanna label yourself as, if anything. Of course you have the rainbow which is pretty much the catchall."

"I like the colors on the one you're wearing," Legosi said, indicating the black, gray, white, and purple pin on Kai's chest.

"Oh yeah, the ace colors. I figured you'd like this one, since it's more lowkey. You're not asexual, though."

Legosi looked between Bill and Louis and shook his head. "No...not really."

"Not at all," Bill punched his arm.

"There's some alternate stuff here too. Like the rainbow flag only with more muted, pastel colors," Kai pointed out. "Just look around. First one is free for you guys if you want any."

Louis was perusing, slowly. "I'm trying to choose the right one."

"I made this one!" Noodle beamed, showing off the light blue, pink, and white button on her shirt. "And all of the glow in the dark ones!"

"Glow in the dark, too?" Pina laughed. "Now that really grabs attention."

Bill furrowed his brows. "Pfft, when have you ever worn anything that glows in the dark?"

"Never! I'm just saying it would. Besides, I already practically glow~" The ram fluffed his wool.

The hyena smiled a bit more. "Y-y-y-your wool is l-l-l-l-l—sorry—l-lovely..."

Pina placed a hand on his chest and fluttered his eyes. "Why, thank you~"

Louis picked up things and put them back down again. "Legosi, would you mind helping me out? What do you think would look good on me?"

Legosi peered inside, getting a look at everything on display. "Hmmm..." He reached out and grabbed a bracelet with rainbow accents. "Put this on."

The buck reached out his arm, looking at Legosi expectantly with a small smile.

The wolf clasped it around his wrist, its design understated and tasteful.

"What do you think?" Louis asked, turning his arm this way and that.

"It's nice." Legosi smiled and grabbed another bracelet to match it and put it on as well. "We can match!"

"Ha! Gaaay!" Bill pointed.

"Yeah, you guys are so gay. C'mon, Billy, let's pick out something cooler!" Pina turned to the items on display.

"You guys are so silly," Noodle giggled as she rolled her eyes, playfully.

"W-w-wish I had something like that..." Marley whined.

"Oh, you'll get a boyfriend some day!" the ferret encouraged. "You're sooooo talented and nice!"

"T-t-t-talented, yeah..." he mumbled in response.

Meanwhile, Pina reached in and grabbed a rainbow flag on a small stick. "Here, you can hold this between your buttcheeks, Billy!"

The tiger just laughed at that. "My butt is too big for that, Pina!"

"I know," Pina sighed, biting his lip and checking out said ass. He reached out and grabbed a yellow, blue, and pink flag. "I think the pan flag is really pretty, don't you?" He held it next to his face.

The feline nodded and grabbed it from him. "Reminds me of baby colors."

"You remind me of baby colors." Pina stuck his tongue out at him.

Bill blinked. "Uh, huh?"

"Oh my god, you big dope." Pina reached up and noogied him.

"Orange is not a baby color."

"I knooow I was being a bitch." Pina turned to the ferret. "Noodle, darling, how about you pick out something for us?"

Noodle stroked her chin. "Hmm. So, Bill doesn't identify as anything concrete yet, but he is dating you..."

"And Legosi," Bill added. "Is there a polyamory flag?"

Legosi looked over. "Huh? Did you say my name, Bill?"

"Just saying you're dating me, too. That's why I'm wondering if there's a flag for us."

Noodle scratched her chin. "Hmmmm, polyamory flag...it's not really a sexuality so I don't think anyone thought about it." Her face then went deadpan and she gasped. "Wait! You guys are interdating, too?"

"Too?" Bill's head moved back a bit.

"Yes! You're like a polycule too? That's awesome!"

Pascal didn't seem to share her enthusiasm. "Woo, rub it in us dateless losers' faces."

"Pascal, what's the matter?" Kai asked, firmly.

The lemur held their hands up. "Just a joke...chill..."

Louis couldn't decide if he really liked this lemur so far.

Bill shook his head. "It'll happen one day, man. Don't worry."

Pina tapped his chin. "Well, looks like they don't have a flag you want, Billy. Do you want a pencil or something?"

"Pencil? As if! What would I do with a pencil?"

"There are pencils?" Legosi asked, poking his head through. "Ohh, these are cute! Look at the one with rainbow bugs!"

Louis came over to do just that. "It suits you well, my love. Is that what you want?"

Legosi nodded. "We need to get a pencil sharpener for our place, though."

"Are you going to draw bugs with your new bug pencil?"

Legosi grinned and wagged his tail. "Among other things."

"My big artist," Louis hummed, moving back into him and still looking about. "I don't know what I would like still."

"Y-y-y-you don't have to g-g-get anything..." Marley piped up.

"Oh, but he should!" Noodle exclaimed. "Maybe just a sticker!"

"But I can't decide," Louis responded.

"Here." Pina reached in and grabbed a sticker that said 'Proud Gaymer' on it and handed it to him, face stone serious.

Louis frowned. "I can't believe this is really a thing you just handed me."

Noodle groaned. "Chase made that. He's such a stereotype. He's not a cool gamer like Kai is."

The mongoose smirked up at Dom. "Hear that, Dom? I'm a cool gamer."

Dom was looking at a shirt, holding it between his fingers. "Words, words, words~" he hummed.

"Uh oh, Dom's lost in la la land," Pina snickered. Meanwhile, Legosi took the sticker and slid it back across the counter.

"Louis can't have that because he plays dirty," the wolf said, with a playful air.

"And wins," his husband added.

"Only because you play dirty!" Legosi poked him.

Louis nodded. "But I still get results. You understand!"

"Therefore, you deserve the gaymer sticker," Pina concluded.

"I don't want it!"

Pina poked a finger into his own cheek and smiled. "How about this, then?" He leaned in and gave Louis a peck on the forehead. "You're cute when you're frustrated."

"I am?" Louis' face softened.

"Yeah, but only if it's not serious." Pina brushed his fingers across the buck's jawline before looking over at the peacock. "Dom, what are you looking at, anyway?"

"I'm just looking around," the bird answered.

Legosi started to look around. "I wonder if my roommates are around...they can't be that hard to find but I haven't smelled them at all."

"Maybe they aren't here yet," Louis said, smiling at Pina as he smiled back. "I'm sure we'll be seeing them soon."

Kai looked up at them. "Well, I don't want to keep you guys or anything. We can reconvene later if you want. Go out and say hi to everyone."

Bill's ears perked and he looked over. "Heck yeah, guys! Let's find some more peeps so we can play some games!"

Marley and Noodle waved at the departing group. "Byeeee guys! Come back if you think of stuff you want!" the ferret nearly yelled.

"S-s-s-see you!" Marley waved, shyly.

"Bye, bye~" Dom cooed.

Pina sighed as they walked away. "I hope they all find the love they seek."

Louis looked down, nodding. "I am as well. I feel bad for being rude to the hyena."

Pina reached over and patted his back. "Aw, it's okay. It was just a classic Louis moment."

"Classic? Am I rude all the time?" His head turned to look at Legosi for a second opinion.

Legosi just smiled at him and didn't offer anything, so Pina continued. "No, just how you come out and speak whatever's on your mind. You and Legosi are kind of similar in that regard."

"I don't see it as a bad thing," Louis muttered. "I was always taught to be honest."

"Just said it was classic, not bad. So where should we go next, boys?"

"Wait, wait," Louis blinked. "Is that...?"

Pina squinted, following Louis' line of sight to a red panda off in the distance. "Hmm, I'm not sure..."

"It couldn't be, right?" He began walking in that direction, faster and faster.

Pina set off too, leaving Legosi and Bill looking at each other.

The closer they got, the more Louis realized that this wasn't the red panda he had assumed it was, but rather Fudge, a member of the old Cherryton Drama Club.

The omnivore turned and saw Louis and Pina approaching and waved, apprehensively. "Oh, uh, hi guys."

Louis waved back. "Apologies. We thought you were someone else."

Fudge's eyebrows went flat on his eyes. "Oh. I see." His expression then turned to a more positive one as he saw Legosi behind them. "Oh, hey Legosi!"

The wolf waved. "Hey, Fudge. Did you do any of the work for the festival here?"

Fudge shook his head. "Nah. It's the first year I got to opt out so I took a load off. I'm sure you would have, too."

Legosi scratched at his cheek and cocked his head. "So, what are you doing just standing here?"

"Oh, waiting for Kibi. How about you guys? You're all dropouts but you still stopped by, huh?"

"We didn't want to miss the festival this year," Louis said. "It's important..."

The red panda nodded. "Yeah. With the memorial, it'll feel like Els and Tem's souls will finally be put to rest."

Legosi whined softly at the mention of his dead friends' names. He looked back to see how Bill reacted, since he had been close to Els.

Bill grinned. "Yeah! We want to light candles, too!" He was never one to show his emotions around his Cherryton friends.

Fudge nodded. "Ah, yeah, of course. You're all hitched up now. And with Kai's club gaining more traction, there'll probably be a lot more gay couples lighting them this year. Not that that's a bad thing, of course."

"It's kind of awesome," Bill responded, chuckling. "It's having an effect on people!"

"Man, what a change. The Bill of last year would have never been like this," Fudge laughed. "All 'no homo' this and that!"

Pina reached out and twisted the tiger's tail around his arm. "Yeah. Not sorry for bringing all the homo out."

"Does it work for me?" Bill asked. "Or is it, like, weird AF?"

Fudge shrugged. "I dunno. Louis being gay wasn't surprising, and neither was Legosi. Or Pina, for that matter. You were the most surprising one."

"Well...yeah, duh. I was a womanizer."

"Hey, so was I!" Pina argued.

"Sure, but you're also a pretty boy. I'm not sure what other use that has other than attracting dudes," Fudge laughed.

"Some ladies like it. Not that it matters anymore." Pina posed, holding a peace sign across his face.

Louis furrowed his brows. "How could you tell that I was into men?"

"I didn't think you were, but I also wasn't surprised. I mean, you're an actor. All dramatic and such."

"Wow."

"Just being honest." Fudge looked off into the distance and turned back to the group. "Ah, I see Kibi over there. See you guys later, I guess."

"It was good to see you again, man!" Bill waved.

"See you!" Legosi waved as well as he left.

Pina looked up at the sky and sighed. "Man, they really do look similar."

"Yeah, they do," Louis frowned, shoulders slumping. "I suppose I was just being hopeful."

"Yeah, Bill could have met him," Pina added.

"I want to see what it would be like if Kai met him."

"A bomb!" Pina laughed.

Bill shrugged. "Like Pina said, never met the guys. Is he like Kai or something?"

Pina hummed."A bit, but honestly Kai's mellowing out a bit now so I'm not sure."

"Well, it wasn't Nori, but there's the 701 boys over there," Louis said, jamming his thumb in that direction.

Legosi immediately jumped up and his tail was wagging. "Oh! The wind is blowing toward them so I didn't smell them!" The group could tell he was using every ounce of energy not to take off running toward them.

"Go get em," Bill said. "Before you become a bomb."

And off Legosi went. They could see the other canines (and one hyena) jump up when Legosi was near and they all collided in one giant hug.

Jack laughed and was sandwiched between everyone. "Legosi, wow! That came out of nowhere!"

"Woah, woah, big guy!" Collot pat his back. "We missed you, too!"

"We did!" everyone else chimed in. Legosi was too excited to respond.

The straggling group caught up and Louis had a big smile as he looked at all of them. "Hello again, canines."

A chorus of "Hi Louis!" greeted him before they all turned their wide eyes to the other two animals, who they definitely knew but never had a proper introduction to.

Bill held a hand up. "Yo. I'm assuming your Legosi's...friends?"

Durham nodded. "Friends and former roommates."

"His A Pack. You guys must be his B Pack," Voss stated from atop Collot's shoulder.

"Pffft, as if," Bill chuckled. "If you saw the things we get up to, you'd say different, little fox dude."

"We came first," said little fox stuck his tongue out. "I'm just messin' anyway."

"I'm Bill, you probably know me for scratching up the wolf's back."

"Yeah! Jeez, you method actors..." Miguno chuckled.

"And I'm Pina, his boyfriend as you all probably knew."

"Who could forget that entrance at the dance?" Collot said with a laugh. "I think you emasculated all the dudes there by making such a badass entrance wearing a dress!"

Bill grabbed Pina's shoulder. "Didn't he look fuckin' sexy? I'm such a lucky guy."

"You sure are!" Pina said with a nudge. "We all are here in B Pack. I like that name. That can be our second name next to The Cherryton Dropouts or whatever."

Louis cleared his throat. "So how have all of you been since Legosi left?"

Jack kept his cute smile as he turned to the deer. "School is a lot different because of the segregation, and it's pretty lonely sometimes without Legosi there."

"He wears his old shirts!" Durham blurted out.

"I might need to take those off your hands," Louis answered.

Jack gasped. "No! It's all I have left of him!"

Legosi's ears folded. "We'll have to get together more sometime. I really did miss you guys, it's just life has been hectic."

"Very," his husband inserted.

"I can't believe Legosi engaged someone before any of us even got a date!" Miguno groaned.

"Hey, speak for yourself!" Collot interjected.

"You've been single for like a year!"

"...True..."

Bill laughed. "You guys don't got any game, huh?"

"And you do?" Louis raised a brow at him.

"He has two boyfriends," Pina pointed out. "Of course, all of us do."

They 701 room all raised their ears. "Eh?"

"Short and simple," Bill said. "Me and Pina, Me and Legosi, Legosi and Louis, Louis and Pina, that's it. Man, I'm getting tired of explaining it to people."

The dogs' eyes all went wider while Legosi blushed. "It's...not as weird as it sounds," the wolf explained.

"It's really fuckin' fun!" Bill said. "And good and nice and soft."

"Wow, no wonder you guys dropped out," Durham mumbled. "Bet you're having the time of your lives."

"I am, maybe," Bill said. "Can't say the same for these three."

Louis looked down. "It's just...very busy. That's all."

"Yeah. Me and Louis work this really shitty overnight job while Legosi and Bill have it easy working at a bug shop."

"Bill doesn't work there yet," Legosi pointed out.

"Oh yeah. He's just playing trains with Legosi's grandpa."

"I live there now. Kinda crazy," Bill said. "Feels nice, though."

Louis blushed, slightly. "And I get to be with Pina overnight."

"A pack that's all dating each other. Damn, maybe we should try that," Voss joked.

Jack laughed. "Most of us are straight and not that lonely...right?"

"We'll all graduate before we'd have to resort to that, I think," Miguno said. "Still, never thought Legosi would go for a guy like Bill. I mean, it's like we don't even know you anymore!' The hyena's voice was filled with levity, thankfully.

"I'm learning a lot about myself too," Legosi mumbled, face in his hands.

"So are you guys just gonna move along as a single unit or are you going to break off into pairs?" Durham asked. "There's so much couple stuff to do here, after all."

"We're breaking off into pairs then switching," Louis said.

"Sounds cool..."

It went silent, all the canines looking over at Legosi again, sensing that they would have to part soon. The wolf felt it, too.

"It's alright, guys. We'll all get together soon, when we can. Louis, Pina, and Bill too, if you want them to. Or maybe just one or two of them, or..." he was about to ramble again.

"That's a lot of people to keep track of..." Louis muttered. "They definitely wouldn't fit in our apartment."

"It wouldn't have to be our apartment," Legosi pointed out. "Just...somewhere."

"Anywhere is fine with us! Right guys?" Jack asked.

They all responded with "Yeah!" along with yips and howls, all which made Louis' chest swell.

After a deeper blush, Louis waved his hand forward. "You all can talk a bit more...We have time."

"Well, when were you guys planning on splitting up?" Collot asked.

"Oh, good question," Louis responded. "When were we planning on doing that?"

"How about you guys leave Legosi and Bill with us and we'll all head to some of the carnivore games!" Miguno suggested.

The deer looked at Pina. "What say you?"

"We get to have some stress-free time to ourselves, so I'm all for it. How about you, Billy?"

Bill grinned with his teeth. "I'm gonna show these canines that felines rule."

Legosi groaned with a slight smile. "You guys brought this on yourselves. I don't know who to root for..."

Louis grabbed Pina's soft hand. "What kind of thing should we do?"

"Food?" the sheep suggested. "Maybe find a game you can't cheat at?"

"You don't want to do anything romantic?"

"What is there besides the candle?"

"Durham," the coyote corrected. "And there's stuff like...things! I don't know, I'm single!"

"You're the one who said," Louis reminded.

"It's just the atmosphere," Durham suggested.

"Yeah, let's just walk around and make it romantic," Pina said, arms behind his head, one of his hands fiddling with a horn. "Or at least fun."

"Or both." Louis grabbed his hand and pulled him along. "Off we go. Bye, hon," he waved to Legosi.

"See you later!" Legosi waved back, tail wagging.

"Have fun with the pooches, Billy~" Pina blew a kiss.

Billy hit his fist against his palm. "Wrong. It will be them who's gonna have fun losing to me!"

"I didn't even say anything about winning or losing!" the sheep laughed.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of him," Collot assured.

Jack waved. "See you two! Have fun!"