Chapter 45: Legosi's Training Regimen, Day Three! Tuesdays With Louis And The Shishigumi!
Legosi shifted nervously the next afternoon. He was standing in front of the entrance to the Shishigumi mansion. Just standing in front of the mansion gave him an unsettling feeling. Even though Louis had made the lions mellow, Legosi still feels some bad blood. Legosi took a deep breath trying to calm himself and was about to knock on the door when it was opened by Louis himself.
"Oh… Louis!" Legosi exclaimed, a little surprised to see his deer friend.
"Legosi. It's good to see you." Louis greeted his friend. He stood off to the side as Legosi slowly entered the household. The minute he stepped in and looked around the area, adrenaline was already kicking in thanks to his first time being in the manor to save Haru.
"Follow me." Louis led Legosi to a room where a few of the Shishigumi lions were sitting in wait. Louis then turned around to stand in front of Legosi, and removed his jacket.
"Alright, Legosi, for today you will be trained on restraining yourself. Learning to not lose control of yourself and make mistakes. From what I've been seeing back then, you seem to let your anger or in most cases, your determination, get the better of you and cause you to be reckless. While it's okay to be determined, there's such a thing as too much determination." Louis began.
"So, what exactly can be done to help?" Legosi asked.
"You and I, as well as the few of the Shishigumi here, will be sparring, to teach you about controlling yourself." Louis continued.
Legosi raised a brow. How exactly would this help? Louis gets in a battle ready stance. "Ready yourself, Legosi! Here I come!" Louis chuckled.
Legosi prepared himself as he and Louis circled around. Legosi was still confused but tried to focus, as Louis soon came running in with a hard punch that Legosi managed to block. Legosi could feel the raw strength Louis had put into his punch, which was impressive given that herbivores were not usually very strong. Louis repeatedly threw more and more punches at Legosi as the wolf continued to block and dodge.
"Come on, wolf, is this all you can do?" Louis sneered as he kept going. As their spar continued, Louis began to increase the speed and ferocity of his blows. "You're not really this weak are you?" The deer taunted.
Legosi was completely bewildered by Louis's behavior, shoving the cervidae away only for him to come running back in and begin mixing some kicks into his attacking. The canine finally responded with a blow of his own, punching Louis in the chest.
"Tch, not good enough, wolf. You won't be able to handle any fight at this rate." Louis sneered.
"What are you talking about?" Legosi finally asked.
"You know what I'm talking about!" Louis growled. The two clashed with each other, exchanging punches and kicks as Legosi began to grow annoyed with Louis's outbursts. Why was he doing this?
"What happened to that strength you had when you punched me, Legosi. Show me that strength!" Louis kept the outbursts going, despite Legosi's annoyance. "Especially if you wish to be strong enough for Haru! Unless you think you'll never be." Louis taunted. Legosi snarled and shoved Louis again, this time running up and blindly throwing a punch, which Louis easily sidestepped and kneed Legosi in the crotch. Legosi grunted and stumbled backwards, losing his balance and landing on his butt.
"Why are you doing this?!" Legosi yelled, frustrated by Louis's actions.
"Is it not obvious?" Louis yelled. Then he slapped himself in the head. "Of course it isn't, at least it isn't to you . You were always naive." Louis sighed. He bent down and helped Legosi stand back up, pausing their training. "You know, there's a saying about anger, Legosi. Let it consume you, and you lose sight of everything." Louis told him.
Legosi's eyes widened when he heard that. Was that what Louis meant by restraint? Legosi slowly got up and tried to calm himself down and get back in his ready stance. He soon charges at Louis with another punch expecting Louis to dodge.
"Still not good enough! Why aren't you giving me everything that you have!? Show me the pride that you had when you performed as Adler and fought against Alex on stage!" Louis insisted.
"I… CAN'T!" Legosi bellowed, blasting Louis's face with a mighty roar.
"WHY? WHY CAN'T YOU!? I know you have that potential in you, dammit!" Louis screamed, burying his head in the gray wolf's chest.
"B-because I'm fighting YOU, Louis! I have to hold back! You're more than just a friend to me, and I don't want to hurt you!" Legosi exclaimed.
Louis froze when he heard the words 'more than just a friend' come out of Legosi's maw. "More than just a friend?" Louis muttered. He then grabbed Legosi's shirt tightly, pulling him closer. "What do you mean, more than just a friend!?" Louis growled, demanding an answer.
"U-uh… R-r-romantically, I think?" Legosi sputtered. Louis threw Legosi back on the ground and stood over him, directly staring into the gray wolf's eyes.
"What?! But you're with Haru!" Louis exclaimed.
"G-Gouhin told me that I might have a herbivore fetish, and I'm starting to think he's right… but you're really special to me, Louis. To both me and Haru." Legosi said.
The wolf then started getting back up, pushing himself off of the ground. His stomach rumbled, and Louis couldn't help but giggle at the wolf's tummy noises. Something about it was just so endearing to him. "Let's get you some food, and then we can continue training you." Louis commanded his canine companion.
The two were quickly brought their meals by the Shishigumi, Legosi getting a pure vegetable salad and Louis getting a salad that had bits of meat mixed in. Legosi was stunned to see his herbivore friend dining on the black market's meat. "Why did you decide to lead the Shishigumi?" Legosi asked.
Louis chuckled before responding. "After Haru got kidnapped by the lions, I felt that this world was corrupt, and that the role of Beastar was meaningless. I felt like the world needed to change, and that becoming the leader of the Shishigumi was the best way to make an impact. Do you want to know what I've accomplished since I started?" Louis said.
"Y-you haven't shot anyone, have you?" Legosi asked nervously.
Louis decided to omit the previous gang leader's death from his recollection to Legosi. "Nope. Me and the gang have been working to make the black market a safer place. No one gets plucked off the streets for a boss's appetite. We're making sure that students have a more difficult time getting in here. Some of the members guard the entrance and security check the animals who try to get in." Louis explained.
"Louis, everyone in the drama club wants you back. The school is falling apart without you." Legosi sadly said.
"How so?" Louis scoffed, beginning to take a long drink of his iced water.
Legosi fidgeted and shifted nervously. "They're planning on segregating the school once this term ends…" Legosi murmured.
Louis spat his water out all over Legosi's face, coughing and gagging. "They're WHAT?!" Louis gasped.
Legosi nodded his head. "Y-yeah… like I said, the school's kind of been falling apart. Tensions are at an all time high…" Legosi replied.
"I'll think about it." Louis told him. He then stood up. "All right, this break has gone on for long enough. Back to training!" Louis commanded. Legosi straightened up and got on his feet.
"If you have a problem fighting ME in particular… then perhaps I should have someone ELSE fight you in my stead." Louis mused. The deer motioned for some of the lions to come forwards. "Sabu! Free! Dolph! Get that wolf!" Louis ordered. The three lions chuckled as they leapt towards Legosi and began attacking all at once.
The group attacked all at once against Legosi who was feeling a bit overwhelmed but still remained calm and just focused on reducing the fight. Attack, dodge, and counter, those were the main three he focused on while enduring some attacks the Shishigumi and Louis were bringing. Louis was impressed with how Legosi was doing against a crowd. Usually when it comes to crowds Legosi used to act like staring in the eyes of Medusa, but now he was breaking through that. Eventually, Legosi managed to reduce the fight to just him and Louis as the few Shishigumi members were down for the count.
"Well, well, well..." Louis said with a chuckle. "Maybe you are strong enough after all."
Now, Legosi visits the manga club with Bill and Els! A brotherly bond is formed between him and the tiger! Come back soon for another chapter of BEASTARS: The Divergent Variable!