A/N: Hello, all. It's been 4-5 months since the 1st chapter was released, but the 2nd chapter is now finally ready after all this time. Enjoy. :)
BNA: The Beast Heroes Academia
Rabbit Town
Act I
"That's right. We're human. Or rather, we used to be at the very least.", Nazuna responded.
"So, you three a wolf, fox, and raccoon.", Shirou guessed.
"We weren't always like that, but yeah. I guess we kind of are, now.", Sichiru responded just before both Kazuma and Shirou's wolf ears pricked up.
"Sounds like someone's coming.", Kazuma spoke.
"We have to go.", Shirou responded.
Meanwhile, the police car arrived before stopping by with a dog beastman stepping outside to notice a sign on one of the tied up criminals, which reads "These scum are the barbaric bombers."
"Once again, we're a step behind.", the dog beastman spoke.
Later, with dawn fast approaching, Shirou, Kazuma, Nazuna, and Sichiru arrived at a sort of alley way after running on rooftops.
"So, where are we headed anyway?", Sichiru asked before she, Nazuna, and Kazuma noticed that Shirou has now assumed human form.
"Hold on. You just...changed back into a human?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Just how long are you planning on showing your tails? Hurry up and take on your human forms.", Shirou spoke.
"Uh..., yeah. About that...", Nazuna began.
"Don't tell me you can't.", Shirou puzzled.
"We've been trying for sometime now since we changed, but there wasn't any luck.", Nazuna responded before Shirou then walked out the alley as the trio followed.
"I kinda thought he'd be older.", Sichiru commented before she and the others followed Shirou out to the alley way where they noticed several Beastmen in human form already.
"Hey, wait.", Nazuna spoke.
"What is it?", Shirou asked.
"Nobody's in their animal form.", Sichiru responded.
"No, of course not.", Shirou explained.
"But they were a while ago.", Kazuma responded.
"That was only for the festival. This is normal.", Shirou explained.
"They were?!", Nazuna exclaimed before whining.
"Don't whine.", Shirou spoke.
"Huh. We kinda thought everyone who lived there would always be in their animal forms or something.", Sichiru responded.
"That is really such a human thing to say.", Shirou responded before turning around and walking away.
"Well, that is because we're humans. Or at the very least, we were, so that's saying something.", Kazuma responded before then following him.
Later, the group arrived at the Beastman-Cooperative building.
"This is it.", Shirou spoke before a few bandage-looking markers were then removed from on top of Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru's noses and they all appeared blue as a man with red hair and a red mustache noticed.
"They're Beastmen, all right.", the man spoke.
"Hold on, we're what?!", Sichiru exclaimed as Nazuna gasped.
"You can really tell from just that?", Kazuma asked, just as puzzled.
"The beastman marker is a simple, yet reliable method of verification. I can confirm without a doubt, you three are Beastmen.", the man explained.
"What? No. This has to be a mistake. We're humans! Can't you tell?", Sichiru responded just before the man noticed her tail and spoke again.
"Even without the marker, there's no two ways about it.", the man responded.
"Don't you get it?! We were human until a year ago!", Kazuma only shouted.
"Yeah. One day, I was in music class by myself when I suddenly changed.", Nazuna added.
"Impossible. It simply can't happen. A human is a human. A beastman is a beastman. You three can't just change suddenly.", Shirou argued.
"Yeah, well, my memory begs to differ.", Nazuna argued.
"There has to be some kind of explanation for that. Like some kind of disease.", Kazuma spoke.
"Such as what?", Shirou asked.
"I don't know, Beastman-itis?!", Kazuma retorted.
"There are others like us, right?", Sichiru asked.
"There's no one else like you three.", Shirou responded.
"So, what? That makes us some kind of special type?", Sichiru asked.
"Yes, it's true, I've certainly never heard of anyone.", the man responded, adjusting his glasses before Nazuna only groaned.
"I have heard talk of human delusional syndrome catching on lately.", the man added, shocking Kazuma as he gave a slight gasp and then started growling.
"We could have you three admitted to the...", the man continued only for Kazuma to snap at him.
"IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF DISEASE!", Kazuma snapped, taking the man aback.
"Okay.", the man responded a bit nervously before Kazuma puffed his nostrils in annoyance.
"Gem, there's really no need to talk to them like that. Subtlety has never been your strong point, has it?", the woman spoke as she walked in.
"See? She gets it.", Kazuma spoke calmly.
"I'm so sorry. You two are Mr. and Ms. Hiwatashi and Ms. Kagemori. Is that right?", the woman asked.
"Y-Yeah. That's it. I'm Nazuna Hitawashi.", Nazuna greeted.
"I'm Kazuma.", Kazuma added.
"And I'm Sichiru.", Sichiru greeted.
"And my name is Melissa. You three've met Gem here and, despite appearances, he is the head of the Beastman-cooperative. Part of our job is to look after all newcomers. Anyway, you three are going to need to fill these out so you can register as residents of the city hall.", Melissa spoke, handing each of the three registration forms, much to their shock.
"Are you serious? We just told you we're not Beastmen! We shouldn't even have to fill out forms like these.", Nazuna shouted.
"It's just standard procedure here.", Melissa spoke.
"Oh, yeah? Well, here's what I think about your so-called standard procedure!", Kazuma snarled, aiming to tear apart the form with his claws only for Nazuna to speak up in realization, stopping him from doing so.
"Wait a minute! What about our student ID's?", Nazuna realized, puzzling Kazuma enough to refrain from doing so.
"Huh? What about them?", Sichiru puzzled.
"Good question.", Shirou spoke up.
"Our blood type and species are printed on our student ids. Humans and Beastmen have different blood types and it's printed on ids just in case we need transfusions.", Nazuna responded.
"That's actually a great idea. Except...", Sichiru began.
"A certain thief stole our wallets a few hours back.", Kazuma spoke, making Nazuna blanch.
"Oh, yeah. I kinda forgot...", Nazuna blanched as her ear wiggled slightly.
"Well, it's a good thing we still have our IDs, then.", Sichiru grinned as she and Kazuma got their IDs out.
"I think this is enough proof for you, wouldn't you say?", Kazuma grinned with both Gem and Melissa looking quite surprised about their lineage.
"So, it's true, then. You actually were humans before now.", Gem spoke in surprise and concern.
"Yeah. That's what we were trying to tell you before.", Kazuma responded.
"Honestly, it is a bit surprising. But it's a relief to know that you three are one of few humans who support Beastmen.", Melissa spoke.
"Well, uh, the fact of the matter is, they're people, too.", Kazuma responded.
"So, I assume that's the reason Nazuna here is adopted into your family?", Gem asked.
"What?", Nazuna puzzled.
"No. She's always been my sister. What gave you that idea?", Kazuma puzzled.
"It's a good thing our IDs weren't stolen with our wallets.", Sichiru grinned only for Nazuna to give a sad look.
"And your ID was in your wallet when it was stolen, wasn't it?", Kazuma guessed before Nazuna sadly nodded.
"Well, it looks like you'll just have to accept it.", Melissa guessed.
"I don't wanna...!", Nazuna whined.
"Unfortunately, things stolen in Anima City are generally lost forever.", Gem stated, only making her distraught before Kazuma then went over to Nazuna.
"Don't worry, Nazuna. We'll find our wallets and your ID soon.", Kazuma assured.
"In the meantime, why don't you three call it a day? You all look pretty tired.", Melissa suggested.
"Well, we have been running a bit more than we should have.", Kazuma understood, taking her point.
Later, the three were then brought into a sort of room with a desk, shelves, and boxes before the light turned on.
"For now, you three'll have to make due with this.", Melissa suggested before a bed from the wall was then laid down on the ground next to the other bed, which was twice as big.
"At least the bed is clean.", Melissa spoke.
"It's okay. We're pretty much used to sleeping outside.", Sichiru spoke.
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask Mr. Shirou over here.", Melissa spoke, opening the door, slightly surprising the three as a sort of crow flew in and perched itself on Nazuna's head, puzzling her.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's his pet, right?", Kazuma spoke.
"Kurow.", Shirou spoke before the crow then flew off Nazuna and perched himself on top of Shirou's shoulder.
"We'll start early tomorrow. Get some sleep.", Shirou suggested before closing the door.
"Mr. Shirou isn't very sociable, but he's not a bad person.", Melissa assured.
"Yeah. I can see that.", Kazuma spoke.
"Matter of fact, he's our social worker here. He's the one who's going to take you three to city hall tomorrow. We've got no bathtub, but I bet you three want to take showers, right?", Melissa guessed.
"Oh, yeah.", Nazuna responded.
"But we'll be taking one at a time.", Kazuma added.
Later, all three had already showered and were already in bed with Kazuma and Sichiru in the big bed and Nazuna in the other with her blanket barely covering her as it only covered the middle of her body.
"That wasn't quite what I had in mind.", Nazuna spoke before drifting to sleep.
The next morning, Shirou had taken Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru to the station.
"Wow, it's pretty packed.", Sichiru spoke.
"See you later.", Shirou spoke before walking away.
"So, you're leaving us on our own?", Kazuma puzzled.
"I happen to have a few errands I need to run here, too. Do the rest on your own.", Shirou spoke.
"Well, if you insist, I think we will.", Kazuma responded just before overhearing a voice nearby.
"Move it! I'm in a hurry.", one of the Beastmen spoke.
"Hang on. Did he just cut in line?", Kazuma asked just before another beastman confronted the beastman who cut in line.
"I was next here.", the beastman spoke.
"Yeah? I don't think so.", another retorted while morphing into a sort of dog beastman with short ears while another beastman morphed into his bull form.
"Uh, what's going on?", Nazuna asked.
"The young ones always want to assert their dominance on the others.", Shirou explained.
"But aren't there any rules about that kind of thing?", Sichiru asked.
"There are.", Shirou spoke before it then showed the two Beastmen tussling with each other with the dog beastman knocking back the bull beastman with a headbutt, prompting the bull beastman to retaliate with a ramming headbutt of his own, although thankfully the horns didn't penetrate his opponent.
"The strongest survive. It's the only rule.", Shirou added.
"Is it normally like this all the time?", Kazuma pondered.
"If you three just stand there, your turn will never come.", Shirou spoke while walking away before the trio then stood in a line.
"I heard about street fights, but not like this.", Sichiru commented before Kazuma's ears shook a bit and he then turned to see a familiar figure from last night, making him give an uneasy glare.
"What is it, Kazuma?", Nazuna asked.
"Don't know. But I can't help but feel I've seen him before.", Kazuma responded just before the figure then quickly removed the wallet from a sleeping passenger's backpack and made off, making Kazuma gasp in realization.
"It's him! That creep who took our wallets and your ID with them.", Kazuma realized before he headed out after him.
"Kazuma, wait!", Nazuna shouted as she and Sichiru followed him.
Meanwhile, Shirou was speaking with Mayor Rose in her office.
"We appreciate the capture of the bombing perpetrators. Turns out, they were terrorists hired by the human anti-Beastmen organization.", Mayor Rose spoke.
"They would target their fellow Beastmen in order to make money. It's really quite tragic.", the secretary added.
"They bring shame to every beastman on this planet.", Shirou added.
"On that note, before you leave, I have another request to make of you.", Mayor Rose responded.
Meanwhile, the thief from last night was looking inside the wallet before Kazuma shouted to him.
"Hey! We've got a bone to pick with you!", Kazuma shouted, making the thief blanch a bit in fright before he turned to notice, much to his horror, the same wolf beastman who caught him last night as he remembered him roaring at him.
"Aaah! I-It's you! From last night!", the thief exclaimed right before turning into a spider monkey beastman and taking off.
"Come back here!", Kazuma shouted before running after him with the spider monkey beastman eventually catching up to him before lunging at him with a yell and pinning him to the ground just as Nazuna and Sichiru caught up.
"Hey! What are you doing?!", the thief puzzled.
"Give us back our wallets and Nazuna's ID now!", Kazuma demanded.
"Don't know what you're talking about!", the thief grunted.
"You know very well what I'm talking about! It happened last night at the festival!", Kazuma snarled.
"That's ancient history!", the thief fibbed.
"Oh, yeah? Then how come you knew me from last night?! Got an answer for that?!", Kazuma retorted.
"No, he was talking about what happened in this town.", Marie spoke up from behind before Kazuma then turned to notice her as did Nazuna and Sichiru.
"Wait. You're that broker who saved us and made us pay a hefty price afterwards, aren't you?", Kazuma realized.
"Well, it is kind of a step-up from weasel, so, yeah.", Marie responded while morphing into her mink form.
"Just stay out of this. I'm in the middle of interrogating this suspect about our stolen wallets and Nazuna's stolen ID, the latter of which is more important.", Kazuma spoke.
"Oh, is that what this is about? Well, what if I were to tell you that I know someplace where stolen things like that end up?", Marie asked.
"Really? Where?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Don't fall for it. She's lying.", Kazuma warned.
"Well, seems to me like you've lost your suspect.", Marie spoke.
"No, I...", Kazuma began before noticing that the thief escaped.
"You wolves really are all bark and no bite. Later.", the thief spoke before taking off with laughter, angering Kazuma as he growled and then hit the wall with his fist before calming down.
"All right, fine. Let's say that there is such a place. Where's that?", Kazuma asked.
"Well, the answer's in the advice, compliments of the house. All lost belongings eventually end up on Rabbit Town.", Marie responded.
"Wait, Rabbit Town?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Yeah. Go there and pay Grand Grandma a visit.", Marie advised.
Later, the trio arrived at Rabbit Town, which apparently looked more like some kind of ghost town.
"Well, this is the place, all right.", Sichiru spoke.
"Nothing about that place says 'Rabbit', though.", Kazuma commented before a gang arrived.
"Huh? Who the heck are you?", one of the gang members asked.
"We're visitors who'd like a word with your Grand Grandma.", Kazuma responded before the gang suddenly morphed into their animal forms, taking the trio by surprise and making Nazuna nervous with Kazuma then getting serious about protecting Nazuna as he stood in front of her.
"Hey! If any of you wants to get to her, you gotta go through me!", Kazuma shouted.
"Kazuma, stop.", Sichiru spoke.
"Heh. You got spirit. Grand Grandma will want to see you.", one of the members spoke before later, the trio were brought before Grand Grandma in question.
"You sure got a lot of guts walking in here all morphed you like that.", one of the members spoke.
"Not like we had any choice.", Kazuma responded.
"Don't give us that crap. When it comes to gangs, morphing is a signal for a fight. You three marching in here already morphed tells us that you're looking for a fight. Is that it?", the member asked.
"Not exactly. 1, if anyone tries to hurt my sister, Nazuna, then yeah. Otherwise, no. And 2, we've been trying to morph back to human form ever since we changed, but we still weren't able to morph back so far.", Kazuma responded.
"Wait. You three can't change back? What are you three some kind of amateurs?!", one of the members spoke.
"Technically, we're still trying.", Sichiru responded.
"We were actually human until last year.", Nazuna added.
"Oh, really. You three were humans?", Grand Grandma asked before the members laughed.
"You really think a ridiculous excuse like that is gonna work in here?", the member asked.
"This isn't a joke!", Kazuma shouted in response.
"Our Student IDs confirm it and Nazuna's was in her wallet when it, along with ours, was stolen last night.", Sichiru responded.
"Is that so? And what makes you believe you'd find it here?", Grand Grandma asked.
"A certain mink named Marie Itami tipped us off. Maybe you've heard of her?", Kazuma responded.
"Oh, Marie said that, huh?", Grand Grandma guessed was she held out Nazuna's wallet.
"That's my wallet!", Nazuna exclaimed while pointing to it.
"If you at least look in there for her ID, you'll see that she actually is a human. Or rather, was, at least.", Kazuma suggested.
"So, you three are actually students, then?", Grand Grandma asked.
"What?", Nazuna puzzled.
"She just asked you if you're students.", one of the members explained.
"Oh. Yeah. We are.", Nazuna responded.
"And if you three really are students, that must mean you're all able to read and write.", Grand Grandma guessed.
"Uh, yeah. What's your point?", Kazuma asked.
"Okay. Then, I'm going to give this back to your sister. But in return, I'm going to need a little favor.", Grand Grandma responded.
"And what favor is that?", Kazuma asked.
Later, the trio were brought before a group of young kids, albeit Beastmen kids.
"I just want you three to teach these kids to read and write.", Grand Grandma spoke.
"I had no idea there were kids here.", Nazuna spoke.
"The fact of the matter is that this Rabbit Town is where all those betrayed by men eventually end up. For female Beastmen with no other clear path to take in life, they are forced to choose one that is more or less a dead end. The pain and struggles of a beastman life is all these children have ever known.", Grand Grandma responded.
"That's...horrible.", Nazuna spoke in worry.
"Yeah. No one should have to go through that.", Kazuma agreed.
"If they could at least read and write, they would certainly have a brighter future in this world.", one of the members assured.
"If you three do this for us, then I'll return your wallet.", Grand Grandma assured to Nazuna.
"I understand. We'll do it.", Nazuna responded.
Act II
Later, the trio were teaching the kids as the kanji for their names were written on the chalkboard as follows, 「ナズナ」 (for Nazuna), 「カズマ」 (for Kazuma), and 「シちる」 (for Sichiru).
"Okay, class. What do these say?", Nazuna asked.
"Well, can anyone read what they say?", Kazuma asked before one of the kids raised his hand.
"Yeah? You in the top right?", Kazuma asked.
"It's poop.", the child responded, making Kazuma blanch in shock as Nazuna giggled slightly and Sichiru snickered before Kazuma growled in annoyance and sighed.
"No, I can tell you with certainty that neither one of these words say that.", Kazuma responded.
"What they do say, though, are our names. Like this one for instance. It says, 'Na... zu... na'. This says Nazuna, which is my name.", Nazuna grinned.
"And the one below hers is my name, which says, 'Ka... zu...ma'. Get it?", Kazuma added.
"And don't forget my name. It says, 'Si... chi... ru'.", Sichiru added.
"And if it's still confusing, then we'll show it by example if we can. So, what's your name?", Kazuma asked as he knelt down to a boy.
"It's Youta.", Youta responded.
"Youta, huh? Not a bad name.", Kazuma spoke while standing up.
"Okay. Now, this word here says your name, Youta. Like this. 'Yo... u... ta'. Try writing it.", Nazuna suggested as she then drew the kanji for his name, which is 「ようた」(Youta), before giving it to Youta, who then drew his name just below what Nazuna drew.
"Yeah. That's Youta. You've written your name.", Sichiru spoke with a grin before Youta grinned.
"Is there anyone else who wants to give it a try?", Nazuna asked before the other kids raised their hands.
Play DB Super Broly Music: "An Unexpected Bounty"
Meanwhile, in an alley, Shirou walked over there and jumped up to the rooftop before then bending on me knee and then using his sense of smell to pick up certain scents just as another one arrived by car and stopped near the entrance and got out the car.
"This place always reeks of lowly women.", the man spoke.
Then, Shirou picked up three more scents and noticed that these scents belonged to Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru, all three of which noticed one of the kids drawing a sort of wolf.
Pause DB Super Broly Music: "An Unexpected Bounty"
"Wow. Cool drawing. Is it some kind of wolf?", Kazuma asked.
"Not just any wolf. It's the Silverwolf.", the boy responded.
"What's the Silverwolf?", Nazuna asked.
"Wait a minute, Nazuna. You don't know about Silverwolf?", another asked.
"Apparently, neither do we.", Sichiru responded.
"But it looks like you might know something. So, what is it?", Kazuma asked.
"He's, like, the god of Beastmen. When a Beastman is in some kind of trouble, a silver wolf comes to save them. Everyone's known that since, like, forever.", the boy explained, giving Kazuma food for thought as he remembered a time when the trio saw a glowing, bright blue Wolf with a tail that looks like flames last night.
"Wait a second. Could that wolf we saw last night be that silver wolf?", Nazuna asked.
"Guys, have you three seen him?", one of the kids asked.
"No way, are you serious?!", another interjected excitedly.
"Yes, but...it's complicated.", Kazuma responded before Nazuna saw Shirou on top of a building with Kazuma and Sichiru noticing briefly before Shirou vanished.
"What was he doing up there?", Sichiru puzzled.
Meanwhile, Grand Grandma and her gang were having a talk with the man who recently arrived.
"All right, Kusakabe, what are you doing here?", the gang member asked.
"I'm here for business, obviously. Why else would anyone actually come to this pigsty?", Kusakabe responded.
"Business, Huh? I'm sure you're here to extort more money.", the gang member spoke.
"I already told you that we don't have the money for you right now.", Grand Grandma responded.
"No money? THAT'S NOT GONNA CUT IT! If you ain't got it, then you better find a way to get it! Who should you girlies be thanking for letting you operate under the gang? Give that a little thought, would ya?", Kusakabe asked before the gang member grew agitated and morphed into a lioness.
"What was that?!", the lioness snarled.
"You're asking for it!", Kusakabe retorted while morphing into a hyena before both growled.
"Cool your head, Kusakabe.", another man spoke before he stepped forward.
"Boss...!", Kusakabe spoke.
"I have no intention of fighting with women. This will all be resolved once you pay what you owe.", Flip assured as Kusakabe morphed back to human form.
"It's not very often that we get a visit from you personally, Flip. Why now?", Grand Grandma asked.
"Naturally, I have to pay my respects to the great grandma from time to time.", Flip responded.
"No need to be facetious. I can't pay what I can't pay. Your presence doesn't change that.", Grand Grandma refused.
"Then, perhaps, our presence could.", a voice spoke up before the source and three others with him entered with their names being Chrono, Nemoto, Irinaka, and Ketsukame, shocking Grand Grandma.
"The Shie Hassaikai...!", Grand Grandma spoke.
"That's right.", Nemoto spoke before then raising his right hand and then aiming it at Grand Grandma before sending out small, dark blue waves.
"Tell me. Have you acquired any new items recently? New...subjects, perhaps?", Nemoto asked
"Yes. But they aren't subjects.", Grand Grandma spoke before gasping.
"Oh, really?", Nemoto spoke before lowering his hand.
"Play this right from here on out, and you could sell them while you get loaned the money as promised.", Nemoto assured.
"How'd you know that?", Grand Grandma asked.
"Did you think you could hide it? Well, the officials have started to take notice.", Flip spoke.
"What did you just say?", Grand Grandma puzzled.
"Leave it to a woman and this happens. They're way too sloppy.", Flip commented as he turned around.
"I agree. And that's why we'll take over from here.", Chrono responded.
"If you don't sell before it's too late, you won't make a cent. In fact, the boss has been very patient, but even he has his limits.", Flip spoke before Chrono and the others present gave looks of surprise and fear on their faces (mainly because they thought that Overhaul was there with them), not knowing that Shirou was listening in nearby before heading out himself.
Later, Kazuma, Sichiru, and Nazuna were trapped in a cage along with the children as Nemoto and his men (two of which were checking for cops and getting the boat ready while Nemoto and Chrono were in front of the cage) were with him as well as Grand Grandma and the gang member.
"What's going on here?! What are you going to do with us?!", Sichiru shouted.
"Don't even entertain us with the notion of calling for help. You'll all be going back to the mainland.", Nemoto responded.
"Wait. Are you planning to sell us off?", Kazuma asked.
"I could've gotten a higher price for them if they learned to read and write a little bit. Unfortunately, it turned into a bit of a rush order.", Grand Grandma spoke.
"In other words, it was originally her plan, but she got sloppy, so we're finishing it ourselves.", Chrono responded.
"And more than that, we're collecting you as subjects for the leader of the Shie Hassaikai.", Nemoto responded.
"Wh-what? The Shie Hassaikai?", Nazuna puzzled.
"You all should feel honored to be a part of something bigger than yourselves. While you may die, I believe your sacrifice is a necessary evil.", Nemoto responded.
"What part of our sacrifice is necessary?!", Kazuma shouted.
"Then, who are those?", Nazuna asked.
"They're brats, who got separated from their parents or lost them after coming to Anima City.", the gang member responded.
"Bluntly accurate as always, Elsa.", Nemoto spoke.
"What…? How could you…? What you're doing here is cruel!", Nazuna shouted.
"The weak live on by trampling the weaker. It's a matter of survival. That's the kind of place this is.", Grand Grandma responded.
"THEN TO HECK WITH THIS PLACE! I'LL TEAR THIS WHOLE CITY APART WITH MY OWN HANDS FOR THIS!", Kazuma snarled just as Mimic arrived and caught up with Nemoto and Chrono.
"Like heck you will. We can't afford to let you destroy the equipment we need here, which is part of why we're sending you off as well. Hey, Ketsukame. Is everything ready?", Chrono asked, looking up to Ketsukame, who just got into the driver's seat for the crane.
"Yeah. It's ready.", Ketsukame responded.
"Good. Then, get the cage to the boat.", Chrono ordered.
"You got it.", Ketsukame responded before the cage started lifting up from the ground, much to the worries of the children as a couple of them morphed into their beastmen form.
"Please save us, Silverwolf.", Youta spoke in fright.
"Look. I get that he's really important to you, but there are times like that when prayers aren't enough by themselves.", Kazuma responded.
"And at times like these, you have to take action.", Sichiru added.
"They're right. Sometimes, it's up to you to save yourselves if… no. When you can.", Nazuna responded before looking up to see the controls from above.
"That's it. If we could just reach for the controls…", Nazuna spoke.
"All right. What do you have in mind?", Kazuma asked.
"If we could push the cage back and forth, it might either give out and break at this height or it could force whoever's lifting us to lift us all the way so one of us could reach for the driver's seat.", Nazuna explained.
"Okay. I can tell you have something in mind on how to do that.", Sichiru spoke before she and Nazuna then squeezed their tails through the openings in-between the bars and grunted while causing their tails to grow bigger and puffier, surprising them briefly, even Nemoto and his men, all except Ketsukame.
"What the…?", Nemoto exclaimed.
"Okay. So, now what?", Sichiru asked.
"Try shaking the cage.", Nazuna responded before she started doing so.
"But…", Sichiru began as Nazuna then started moving the cage back and forth, puzzling Kazuma and Sichiru before they understood what was going on.
"Oh. I get it now.", Sichiru understood.
"Same here.", Kazuma agreed before all both helped push the cage back and forth, causing the wires to become unstable.
"They just don't' know when to quit, do they?', Chrono pondered before shouting to Ketsukame.
"Reload the cables, Ketsukame!", Chrono shouted before the cables were then reloaded, stabilizing the cage.
"This isn't gonna work.", one of the beastmen children spoke.
"Well, at least we got this close to the driver's seat, didn't we?", Nazuna responded before she then went for the bars with her hands and started to push them away from each other only to wind up turning into gorilla arms, breaking the bars.
"Huh. That works.", Nazuna spoke in surprise while blinking once or twice.
"I got this one.", Kazuma assured before he then climbed the cage by the cables, much to the shock of Grand Grandma and Elsa while Nemoto was intrigued.
"Impossible…", Nemoto spoke.
Then, all of a sudden, Kazuma knocked on the windshield of the crane operator, attracting Ketsukame's attention.
"You! How did you break out?!", Ketsukame shouted.
"The same way I'm gonna break in.", Kazuma responded before then bursting inside and then pushing him out the operator, but not before he managed to hold onto the edge of the bottom of the window just as Kazuma then helped lower the cage back onto the ground.
"Way to go, Kazuma!", Sichiru shouted before Kazuma nodded and then headed out the way he came and climbed down the cables.
"Okay, everyone! Let's get out of here!", Nazuna urged before she, Sichiru, and the others urged them forward only for Chrono to use his hair to slow Nazuna down for an hour upon hit.
"Nazuna, no!", Sichiru shouted.
"Wh… What's going on? Why can't I… move?", Nazuna puzzled just before Elsa appeared in front of Sichiru and the others.
"Hold it! You and your friends have interesting techniques. You're obviously no ordinary beastmen.", Elsa spoke.
"Run!", Sichiru shouted just before charging at her only for Elsa to grab her and restrain her just as Kazuma arrived just in time to notice her and Nazuna in danger with the former caught in a bear hug.
"Hey! You can't do this!", Sichiru shouted.
"Try to keep her still, would you?", Grand Grandma requested.
"On it.", Elsa agreed.
"No…", Kazuma spoke as he noticed the children then getting rounded up by Nemoto and Grand Grandma before noticing Chrono.
"Tell me, beastman. How does it feel to be helpless to do anything?", Mimic asked rhetorically before then pushing Nazuna to the ground.
But that was a mistake. The instant he did that, it made Kazuma mad as he growled angrily with his eyes flashing red.
"What?", Chrono puzzled just before Kazuma's claws sharpened and he then roared like a beast as he then leapt toward Chrono, who was ready to slow him down the way he did Nazuna, surprised as he was, that is, until Shirou suddenly appeared and kicked Elsa in the face, distracting Chrono just enough for Kazuma to get a good slash in, not only cutting through the mask, but also giving him a scar, much to his shock before Kazuma roared loudly.
"Not good…", Mimic spoke before Kazuma then dashed toward him and slammed him into the ground with 10 times as much force as the hassaikai member did to Nazuna, breaking some of his mask in the process.
"That was for my sister.", Kazuma spoke as his eyes then lost its red glow, returning to normal.
"And who are you?!", Elsa exclaimed before Sichiru then saw Shirou and the furious Kazuma.
"About time you showed up…", Sichiru spoke before standing back up.
"We'll show no mercy to those who sell beastmen to the humans, even if you are a woman.", Shirou spoke.
"Is that right?", Elsa retorted before roaring only for Kazuma to snarl slightly and then quickly dash toward Elsa and the gang in a split second, taking them aback before fighting off half of them as they were closest to Nazuna while the rest were equally dealt with by Shirou, especially Elsa, who was knocked back before Kazuma then growled at Nemoto and Chrono, who picked Mimic back up.
"Are you all right.?", Nemoto asked.
"He just took me by surprise, that's all.", Mimic assured.
"Ketsukame, come in. The plan didn't work.", Chrono urged.
"Aw, man. This sucks.", Ketsukame spoke.
"You may have won this round, but you won't be as lucky the next time.", Nemoto spoke before the four Hassaikai members took off elsewhere, leaving Grand Grandma behind.
"Fine, I surrender. You have to show respect to your elders.", Grand Grandma spoke before Shirou turned to Sichiru, who was speaking with Kazuma and Nazuna.
"Are you okay, Nazuna?", Sichiru asked.
"Yeah. Just a bit slower than I'm used to.", Nazuna responded.
"I'm sure it'll wear off son.", Kazuma assured.
Sure enough by the time Nazuna started to move as normal again, Grand Grandma and her gang was already getting arrested by the police.
"You came to the rescue again, Ogame. We were in a bind. Not able to catch even one of the beastmen traffickers.", the chief spoke.
"It was a favor for the mayor.", Shirou responded.
But what about the kids?", Nazuna asked before the two noticed her, Kazuma, and Sichiru.
"And who are they?", the chief asked.
"The newcomers. We're looking after them.", Shirou responded.
"Not exactly a great welcome to the city for you three, huh? The kids'll be under our protection. No need to worry. And there's an institution for children with no living relatives.", the chief assured.
"Thanks.", Nazuna grinned before Kazuma then spotted Grand Grandma being hauled away and then went toward her, puzzling her as Sichiru and Nazuna caught up.
"Hm? What do you want?", Grand Grandma asked.
"How could you do this to those poor, innocent children!", Kazuma growled.
"Who in their right mind would actually sell them away to be subjects of some kind of illegal experiment like that?!", Sichiru added.
"What?", Grand Grandma puzzled.
"Just because you're a beastman doesn't mean you shouldn't have a human heart!", Nazuna shouted.
"Heh. Oh, I see. Looks like you three really aren't beastmen after all." Grand Grandma smiled.
"What do you mean?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Let's see how you feel once you know what it is to live as a woman in a beatsman world. We'll talk then.", Grand Grandma spoke while getting out Nazuna's wallet from in-between her breasts and chucking it toward her before she caught it with the criminals getting carried away to the station.
"Congratulations, Nazuna. You finally got your ID back.", Sichiru grinned.
"Yeah. I did, didn't I?", Nazuna grinned before then frowning a bit in concern.
"But what was that all about?", Nazuna pondered.
Meanwhile, at Nighteye's agency in Japan, someone named Bubble Girl spoke to Sir Nighteye, the man in charge, but not before the latter spoke first.
"What is it, Bubble Girl?", Sir Nighteye asked.
"It's about the Shie Hassaikai, sir. Apparently, they've been sighted in Anima City. The only thing I can't understand is why.", Bubble Girl reported.
"The Shie Hassaikai… In Anima City? Why would their leader send them here when Anima City's relations between humans and beastmen are strained enough as it is? What could it mean…?", Sir Nighteye puzzled.
A/N: What, indeed? Whatever it is, it certainly can't be good and it needs to be stopped. Somehow. Someway… Anyhow, we'll see the next episode soon. Until next time. :)