A few days had passed. A new school year was starting soon, and students were slowly coming back to Cherryton. Summer was slowly turning colder and days seemed to fly by so fast. Still, most students enjoyed the free time that was slowly running out. That included Jack and Legoshi. The pair didn't spend much time together this summer, with Legoshi's focus on Haru, hanging out with Keanu and fighting mobsters, he kind of set Jack aside. Finally though, they found some time to spend together. They were sitting on a bench in the town center, enjoying some watermelon.
-"So, how'd you spend your summer?" Jack asked Legoshi, munching on a slice of watermelon-
-"Well, it was okay I guess. I didn't exactly do much other than stay in my dorm. I did go for a lot of walks during the evening though. It was relaxing. What about you?" Legoshi asked.
-"Oh you know, the usual. Visiting family. Ma still spoils me like I'm a kid." Jack told him. "Have you talked to your grandpa recently?" He asked.
-"No... Not really." Legoshi responded quietly. Almost as if he was embarrassed. Jack sighed.
-"You know he loves you right? You really should call every once in a while." Jack scolded.
-"I would, it's just... What is there to say?" Legoshi questioned.
-"Plenty, you should at least seek some closure Legoshi." Jack pushed on. Legoshi sighed.
-"Can we drop this? We'll talk about it some other time." He cut Jack off.
-"No, I don't think we should drop things anymore." Jack persisted. "You've always been my friend, since day one. And this year, all of a sudden it's like you're a completely different person. And it all started with that bunny girl..."
-"What, with me falling in love for the first time in my life?" Legoshi asked.
-"I- you know I didn't mean that!" Jack defended.
-"Then what did you mean?" Legoshi continued.
-"I mean...ugh... It's just that we... we don't spend time together like we used to. This is the first time we've hung out together all summer, and all it's doing is making me feel like a bad friend because I feel like I'm not always there for you." Jack confessed.
-"Jack, don't say that. You're still my best friend." Legoshi comforted.
-"Yeah? Well you've sure been spending a lot of time with Keanu instead of your best friend..." Jack muttered, crossing his arms.
-"That's what this is about?" Legoshi asked
-"Legoshi I just don't trust him. He seems nice enough but he's so shady. And I can't even hate him for taking my best friend away because of my nature! I'm just so frustrated..." Jack confided. He sighed sadly. Legoshi looked up for a bit, silent.
-"I don't either." Legoshi responded. Jack looked over at him. "But the fact of the matter is, he was the one who showed up and helped me save Haru, despite all the danger. He let me into his home, he gave me advice with women...I know that you see how shady he is, so do I. I know there is so much that he isn't telling me. But somehow, he cares. And that's good enough for me." Legoshi explained.
-"I just don't want you to get hurt." Jack told him.
-"I'm not afraid of pain. If I have to go through more for you, Haru, my friends... I will." Legoshi declared. Jack was silent for a bit
-"Man, that's grim." Jack responded. The two sat quietly for a bit, munching on their food.
-"So... What do you wanna do next?" Legoshi asked, breaking the deafening silence.
-"Well...You wanna go see a movie?" Jack suggested.
-"Hm, that seems fun. You wanna pick a genre?" Legoshi agreed.
-"Yeah, comedy. Should lighten the mood a bit." Jack continued. The two got up and started walking towards the subway.
-"You look...skinnier. Are you feeling healthy?" A voice spoke from across the room.
-"I guess. I haven't been eating much lately." Keanu explained.
He was laying on a couch in a white office, smoking. The sun pierced through the windows, lighting the place crystal clear. Across from him sat an animal in casual business attire, holding a pen and a pad, gazing at Keanu.
-"Maybe it has to do something with your new...habit?" He spoke in a soft tone. Keanu chuckled.
-"15,000 yen an hour for something Gouhin could'a diagnosed in two minutes." Keanu replied sarcastically.
-"It's not something to gloss over. You started using right around when you came back from Cuba, isn't that correct?" The man asked. "It's likely that it's a way of coping with guilt." Keanu was silent.
-"What happened back there, it wasn't right." Keanu replied.
-"Of course. But the past is the past. All we can do is work on a better future." The man comforted.
-"I can't help but feel like we aren't accomplishing much here doc." Keanu retaliated.
-"Change is a slow process. Look back at what has happened in the last few months. Your social circle increased ever since you started trusting others more. Remember the Keanu that used to come here, who was oh so afraid of the world. Who closed himself off because he thought everyone was out to get him. It took a few sessions for the two of us to even slightly establish a connection, no? And now look at you. You're instantly befriending your peers." The man explained.
-"Yeah, I guess." Keanu replied. The room was silent for a few moments. The doc scribbled something onto his pad.
-"Have you made any progress on cutting back your vices?" He asked.
-"No. Not really. It's been a stressful summer for me." Keanu answered.
-"Yes well, it's not every summer that you take down a mob organization in a single night with your friend." The doc chuckled.
-"You're under that therapist/patient confidentiality thing, right?" Keanu asked suspiciously.
-"Of course. Everything spoken in this room stays right here." He replied.
-"Good, just checking again." Keanu sighed.
-"Remember, if you have nobody to confide to, I am always here." He spoke.
-"As long as I pay ya, huh?" Keanu chuckled.
-"We all gotta make a living." The doc responded. He checked his watch. "Oh, that would be all the time we have for today, Keanu. Same time next week?"
-"You got it." Keanu said, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray on the table and walking outside. He stopped right at the door for a second. "Hey, just outta curiosity, why exactly do you keep working with me? I ain't your usual clientele." Keanu asked.
-"Well I'm always looking to expand my field. I'm still learning to get better at carnivore psychology. Large herbivores are a bit easier to deal with anyways." The doc responded.
-"Oh great, always wanted to be a lab rat." Keanu chuckled and walked outside. The doc smirked, watching him leave the room.