Hello everyone! Although this is the first story published on this account, I have experience in writing before (albeit it was old, cringy, and had horrible grammar). I absolutely love the Beastars anime and manga, but on occasion I question how things would have gone if the characters took different paths. After chapter 173 took a complete 360 (because Paru just loves plot twists and cliffhangers) I immediately thought of what the outcome would be if Legosi actually was hungry. I know the manga is far away from that part now and I'm rather late, but it took me awhile to think about how the story would possibly turn out and summon the courage to publish a story.

So here it is! I don't expect this to be very long or go on for many chapters, but it's been awhile since I wrote so I'm probably somewhat rusty. Getting each character right is difficult too since all of them are complex in their own ways, but I hope that doesn't deter anyone. But nonetheless, please enjoy!

They had learned about this in school before...

Back when carnivores were barbaric and would commonly eat each other, the winters were some of the toughest time periods.

Sure when it was warm the carnivores sometimes still fought each other to the death and the victor would get to feast upon their opponent, but they didn't just solely live off of eating each other. The various plants and trees surrounding them provided plenty of food for the taking. They started to grow every spring, flourish in the summers, but slowly die out in fall.

That's where the harsh winter months come in. By then all the plants had withered away, leaving nothing left for anyone to eat. The leftover food ran out very quickly, which led the carnivores with no other options but to turn on each other once again to stay alive. It was survival of the fittest in a never-ending cycle...

..That was the case until the herbivores suddenly appeared one day.

They were practically a saving grace. In many ways the herbivores were different from the carnivores. Along with being new specie's, they learned how to adapt a lot quicker and not turn to cannibalism. It took awhile to teach, but sooner then later most carnivores were equipped with the knowledge of how to make food last longer, how to preserve it, and how to grow their own.

But those weren't the only things they learned to keep hunger at bay. They also learned how to efficiently preserve their own energy.

It wasn't easy for the carnivores at first, but after years of practice and following in the herbivores footsteps they were akin to going into deep slumber during winter much like the herbivores already could. Once they were asleep their bodies had to do very little in order to keep functioning until they woke in the spring.

As soon as this became normal for the carnivores, the consumption of meat went down immensely and fights rarely ever broke out (despite the stubborn few who enjoyed the taste of meat and turned on the easily vulnerable herbivores, hence why that's an issue they still face).

But back to the point, the carnivores and herbivores learned how to co-exist with one-another when the winters no longer became an issue for the carnivores. From this point civilizations began to slowly build and prosper. Hundreds of years of ever expanding cities, growing populations, and a war breaking out later, they were now in the modern age, or the period where the story currently takes place.

There is one change though...

The winters were slowly no longer becoming a problem. With new technologies animals created all sorts of new ways to make food more sustainable and longer lasting. Once resources could be used all year around without totally depleting, more people decided to continue working and skip hibernating away.

Not long after, the once useful practice was unused by all. It became completely obsolete and left for the history books.

Evolution had even chipped away at the strength of newer generations as they no longer needed to be the hulking beasts their ancestors once were to survive. And as you'd expect, no modern carnivore could go a day without getting hungry.

Which is how Legosi's fasting comes into play...

When Kyuu told him to go on a fasting, he didn't think he'd actually make it 3 weeks later without eating. The power of the "wait" command was really working its magic.

He knew he had trained for months to gain the immense willpower over his carnivorous instincts, but fighting them on an extremely empty stomach was proving to be a fight too hard. Most carnivores probably wouldn't have even lasted a week without going berserk. Legosi could've even beaten a taboo world record.

Nonetheless it was far too late to go back, he was past the point of no return.

Now he lies on the floor of his hot and dingy apartment, clawing into the floorboards as the seconds agonizingly ticked by. Until the 25th of December he was intent on secluding himself from the outside world for the safety of everyone else.

The only company Legosi had was his inner monologue, running for eternity no matter how much he screamed for it to stop. The never ending thoughts of eating his favorite food. The constant worries over the scents his outstanding snout picked up when even the smallest herbivore walked by his room. But most of all, his friends.

In this time of pain he felt like he did nothing but push them away all his life. Jack was without the person he grew up with, Louis's phone calls have been repeatedly denied over concerns with the upcoming fight, and especially the rabbit of his dreams. Neglecting to spend time with her just to train himself, only to realize how lonely she must be.

Without her proclaimed boyfriend.

The sting of hot tears were threatening to emerge from his eyes as be dwell more. He would do anything just to see her delicate white fur and cute little ears again, whether it was face to face or trapped behind a glass wall, he wouldn't care at all. The only thing preventing this was himself. Just the mere image of her made him want to hug her and eat her ali-

knock knock knock

It came from the door.

"Legosiii~"

Within seconds a new scent pumped through the tiny crevices of his door and completely flooded his surroundings, it the smell he could recognize the quickest of all. He had derived himself of it for far too long, he desperately hungered for the owners overwhelming aroma.

Haru's.

"I made it here completely unscathed to see youuu!"

For a moment he laid still, hoping her voice was just a figment of his imagination. But the harsh knocking pounded his ears again for a second round. He slowly peeled himself from the damp floor of his musty flat to walk over to the door. If anyone else were to knock they would receive no answer and see a near pitch-black room beyond the doors window. But this was Haru, Legosi simply couldn't resist even if he tried.

He made his way to the door, a creak following with every step. His face immerged from the darkness to look into the square box that gave off the slightest of light. He looked down to see the person he wanted to all along, but wanted to stay far away from at the same time.

Haru looked up to be met with the dark silhouette of Legosi. She could barely see his face, only being able to make out his long protruding nose and the large eyes from her short height below.

"There you are!" She gleamed

She looked happy. Of course she was happy, today was Rexmas Eve. She was probably looking forward to spending time with him for the holidays. Legosi would've done anything to just have a normal life with Haru, but from his own fault he is stuck in this situation. He had priorities to take care of first.

"Haru... get away from me right now..." Legosi beckoned.

His words vibrated with an uncontrollable growl. He was trying his best to prevent it from happening, but in his currently hungry state it was to no avail.

He realized Haru was looking at him through the window so he swiftly ducked down, not wanting to be seen like this.

"You need to hurry Haru, right now I'm just a starving beast... It's too dangerous for me to be with you."

"But please, go now! I haven't eaten anything in weeks. I'm so sorry it has to be this way..."

Unbeknownst to Legosi though, in the middle of his speech Haru gave off a "I'm so tired of this crap" look and headed for the stairwell.

"When I'm done with my battle, I promise we can see each other right away again. Until then I must remain here... Alright?"

He was expecting an angry response or something similar, but for an awkward amount of time there was complete silence.

"Haru?"

This time he did get a response though, but it was in a voice much deeper and not very feminine-like. It took him a second, but he quickly realized that was the voice of Zaguan, his spotted seal neighbor.

"Legosi, that bunny you were talking to left."

Legosi's eyes widened, within seconds he could already feel his body temperature rising and his anger boiling. This simply just wouldn't do.

"...She WHAT?!"

"I'm so sick and tired of his shenanigans! It's like any time I try to see him he comes up with an excuse to purposely avoid me!"

Haru was already out of the Hidden Condo and stomping angrily along the sidewalk. She thought he had a fetish for rabbits, so why was he so afraid to be near one!?

"If you really want me to go away then fine! I am so done with you!"

A few people were watching her angrily stomp by, but shrugged it off and went back to buying their gifts for Rexmas.

"I even wore a skirt today so he could catch my scent easily.."

But that wasn't the only reason she was a wearing skirt...

She had a slight feeling he would reject her yet again, so she wore one knowing he could undoubtedly take in more of her scent then. And if this plan worked out the way she wanted it to, he would come chasing out of the apartment complex to see her again and apologize.

And in a way, she was actually right.

She continued her tantrum-like walk, supposedly distancing herself far away from Legosi. But soon she felt a weird itch on her back, one that spread instead of going away. It was that feeling you get when you think someone is secretly watching you.

A smile slowly crept upon her face when she got an obvious hunch of who it may be. She twisted her head around to scan the crowd of variating species to find a specific wolf out of all.

When some people started to clear from her direct path of vision, she finally saw what she was looking for. In the far distance she could make out the slight silhouette of a tall wolf. There was no doubt it was him from the unusual eyes and his pointed ears.

Haru quickly spun back around in hopes Legosi didn't notice her. She couldn't help but giggle knowing her plan was a success.

"These lights are so dazzling in the evening! I want you to see them and talk with me Legosi. I really love you, but to show it you have to catch me first!" Haru quietly giggled to herself.

"My stomach is completely empty. This is the night before the big fight. In this town full of commotion, the first prey I happen to lay my eyes on tonight so happens to be Haru..."

That's currently it for now. I don't know when I'll manage to upload a second chapter yet so I'm not going to make a scheduled release date, but hopefully I can finish it soon. I hope this was still enjoyable though.