A/N: And here, we finally have another chapter for BNA: The Beast Heroes Academia as well! Yay! And there would be a few surprises to show how serious Nazuna is at times, especially thinking back on some past memories soon to be experienced in this chapter. Enjoy. :)
BNA: The Beast Heroes Academia
Chapter 5: "Greedy Bears"
One morning, Nazuna was eating breakfast when she overheard what the radio spoke about.
"Wild calling on last night's game 6-2. The losing team, the night runners, had 3 casualties. The last remaining dodo beastmen died in the game. With that, all dodo beastmen have officially gone extinct. And now for the weather.", the announcer spoke over the radio, prompting Nazuna to feel sad before she could even continue eating.
"That's so horrible…", Nazuna spoke fondly.
Sometime later, Nazuna was practicing her singing as Nina, who smiled, and Shirou watched her.
"Totsuzen ni mō Up side Down Sekai wa kawari dasu. Inori mo todokanai. Boku ga kawari dasu.", Nazuna sang just before Shirou spoke up, puzzling Nazuna.
"Aren't you able to turn back into a human?", Shirou asked.
"Huh? Well, I can, but while in human form, I kinda feel like I'm in high heels. Understand?", Nazuna responded.
"Not a bit.", Shirou responded.
"It means being like this is way simpler than I thought it'd be.", Nazuna responded.
"Being a fox is easier, huh?", Shirou asked as he then got up off the deck chair and walked up.
"Hey, Mrs. Melissa! Are there entertainment places that I can go to for fun?", Nazuna asked.
"Entertainment places?", Melissa asked.
"Yeah. You know, somewhere I can cut loose, get out, and have some fun?", Nazuna explained.
"You wanna go somewhere for fun? We do have one.", Melissa spoke.
"Really?", Nazuna asked.
Later, Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru were now in a baseball stadium.
"Well, how's this?", Melissa asked.
"But isn't that baseball? It doesn't even have any singing.", Nazuna responded.
"Oh, dear. Sorry, hon. I honestly thought you wanted some entertainment. You should have said that you want to sing there. A karaoke place isn't too far from here, though, now that you mention it. We'll go there after this", Melissa responded as she then walked away with a reassuring and apologetic smile, making Nazuna sigh in slight joy.
"Hello to all you 5 or 6 baseball fans in Anima City. Today, we have the pink Flamingoes, a team of pretty ladies vs the bears, a team of dumb bears who hold the record for most consecutive losses.", the announcer spoke.
"Wow. They all transform into beastmen and play baseball.", Sichiru spoke in amazement before a baseball suddenly landed on the seat and bounced up near a contender before landing in Nazuna's hands before someone spoke up to her flatly.
"Here! Here! Here!", one of the bears shouted while slowly waving his arms.
"Huh? All right. Here goes nothing!", Nazuna spoke before winding up for a release with her arm then bulking up in muscle and size before launching the ball toward the pitcher, sending the ball crashing into the mitt at a high speed, sending a few bystanders falling off the bench before the ball landed in the pitcher's glove and spun him around as well before stopping and landing on the ground gently.
"Oh, no…!", Nazuna gasped, realizing what she had just done.
"Bold move, sister.", Kazuma sighed before the ball stopped spinning and fell off the mitt.
"Wha…?! Wha…?! Wha…?! WHAT A PITCH!", the pitcher shouted.
"What have I done…?!", Nazuna squeaked before scooting down all the way to the bottom.
"Time to switch sides and the girls form the pink flamingos are playing the field! It's a hit!", the announcer shouted as a panda bear with a french mustache swung the ball, hit it, and ran one flamingo caught the baseball and tossed it to another flamingo, who caught it and smirked as she sneakily drew 4 daggers in her wing and tossed them toward the panda, effectively killing, or at the very least stopping, him before he landed on the ground.
"He's out!", the announcer shouted before Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru grew shocked with Nazuna shouting to the umpire while everyone else cheered.
"Wait a second! She just pulled those daggers form under her wing and threw it at him! This isn't fair at all! Not to him, and not to everyone else! Aren't you going to give them a penalty for that?!", Nazuna shouted before the flamingo girls ganged up near Nazuna.
"You got a problem?", one of the flamingos spoke.
"What's wrong with you?", another flamingo added.
"I hate goody-two-shoes like you who always tell on other people. Got that, big mouth?", another added before the trio walked away, giggling, earning an angry growl from Nazuna before a familiar voice spoke.
"Oh, foxy lady, I never imagined I'd run into you again.", Maria spoke.
"And would you look who it is? It's Maria the so-called Mink.", Kazuma sighed.
"M I N K! Maria Mink! I'm no weasel!", Maria shouted in a dark, scary voice.
"We didn't even say you were that time since it's obvious.", Sichiru responded.
"So, which side did you bet on?", Maria asked.
"Actually, we didn't bet on any side.", Nazuna responded.
"And what do you mean by that?", Kazuma puzzled.
"You really don't know anything, do you? In Anima City, Baseball is a duel to the death that people place bets on.", maria responded.
"WHAT?!", Nazuna exclaimed before it then showed the 2 incapacitated bears on each stretcher, the score board, and the cheering audience.
"Beastmen care about winning, even if they have to kill to win. The more you kill, the more the audience cheers. Baseball is a form of gambling here. Do you win or do you lose? Do you live or do you die? That's how baseball works here.", Maria responded, making Nazuna shocked before she quickly got angry and shouted.
"That's horrible! Sports aren't supposed to be about winning! It should be about having fun and allowing any instance of killing in sports is just sick and inhumane!", Nazuna shouted.
"Well, she definitely knows how to preach.", Kazuma spoke, surprised about how serious Nazuna is about how sports work.
"Now, then, the flamingos are up. Flamingo style batting! A line drive straight at the pitcher!", the announcer shouted as it seemed like the ball was hit three times before then hitting the pitcher squarely in the right eye in the face the same amount of times.
"The ball hits Winnie the Pooh, the bears' pitcher! Poor poor Pooh Pooh is taken away on a stretcher.", the announcer spoke as this happened, leaving Nazuna wrought with awakening fury.
"How could you all let this happen to a poor bear like him…?!", Nazuna growled angrily.
"Oh, dear. The game can't go on without a pitcher.", one of the flamingos smirked.
"The bears only have 9 players now. We've practically won at this point.", another smirked.
"And now, they're not even trying to hide it…?!", Nazuna shrieked quietly before the umpire went to the coach, who was apparently asleep and drinking lots of cans of beer, evident by a few crushed cans.
"Wake up, Coach. Wake up, Coach. Wake…up, Coach.", the pitcher spoke before popping the bubble that the coach was making in his sleep, waking him up.
"Nice hit, boys! Hole in one…", the coach spoke before drinking again as the young umpire then went away and spoke up.
"We're changing pitchers! We want her!", the young ump shouted, pointing to Nazuna, who grew quite surprised.
"What…?! Me?!", Nazuna shouted.
"Are they serious right now?", Sichiru puzzled.
"Well, she did throw that really great pitch just now.", Kazuma responded before Nazuna was carried off with her clothes coming off.
"We can do it, right?!", the young ump shouted.
"Yeah.", the bears spoke flatly.
"The bears have changed pitchers! They brought in an amateur form the bleachers. Apparently, there aren't enough beastmen around these days.", the announcer spoke.
"What am I even doing here?", Nazuna, now in a baseball uniform for the bears, complete with the hat.
"Hey, ugly girl! I'm talking to you! I said hurry up and pitch!", the flamingo shouted.
"No, you didn't…!", Nazuna growled.
"You're so ugly and you're a fox! I feel so bad I want to cry. But I have a nail appointment after this. I don't have time to feel bad for you. If you're not gonna pitch, ugly girl, then go crawl back to your dirty, smelly old den and be stupid all day.", the flamingo laughed, finally setting Nazuna off.
"STUPID?!", Nazuna snarled, clenching her baseball tightly with her claws.
"That's it! Nobody insults my sister and gets away with it!", Kazuma growled as his eyes glowed red before Nazuna spoke up to him, causing the red glow to cease.
"Don't. I can handle this.", Nazuna assured.
"Really?", Sichiru puzzled.
"But..., Nazuna...", Kazuma began.
"I SAID I GOT THIS!", Nazuna shouted back, taking Kazuma aback.
"Woof. Now, we know if she gets any of that rage from you.", Sichiru spoke.
"Yeah. And unfortunately, she does.", Kazuma responded.
"You're the stupid one here! You're pathetic!", Nazuna snarled at the flamingo who insulted her.
"What?", the flamingo puzzled.
"No one can change the face they're born with! How dare you make fun of them? How dare you make fun of ME?!", Nazuna snarled, slightly surprising the coach, who recovered.
"You're just labeling people the same way humans did beastmen like me! You never knew how much my brother, my friend and I have suffered because of it and now, you think you're better?! Well, guess what?! YOU'RE ALL NOTHING BUT SCUUUUUUUMM!", Nazuna roared, not only pitching the ball toward the umpire, but also sending an apparent slash toward the flamingo, clipping her wings as all the feathers came off her and slicing through the metal cage, causing it to fall backwards.
"What a ferocious strike! I don't believe what I just saw! I just witnessed the birth of Super Magic Ball!", the announcer spoke as Nazuna growled lividly at the flamingo girl while the coach rubbed his eyes and grew surprised as did Kazuma and SIchiru.
"Did she just…?", Sichiru began.
"Yeah. I didn't even know she could.", Kazuma responded.
"Crap!", the flamingo girl exclaimed.
"This is for Winnie the Pooh!", Nazuna roared again as she then relentlessly tossed the ball again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again with her rage, although not berserk, only dissipating after the first two pitches, although Nazuna was still serious.
"Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! You're out!", the umpire called as each strike occurred before Nazuna took a deep breath, pressed her hands against her cheek, and giggled.
"It's the bottom of the 9th inning. The bases are loaded, the bears are up to bat! This is their chance for a comeback!", the announcer spoke excitedly.
"Well, I have to go crawl back into my den so I can take a nap from all this. Could please do me a favor and hurry up?", Nazuna smirked.
"Nice burns, sis! You show those Flamingos what happens when you mess with us!", Kazuma cheered.
"Why, you…!", the flamingo spoke before she pitched only for Nazuna to enlarge her arms and swing the bat, sending the ball up to the sky before it blinked out like a star/
"It's a hit! They did it! They did it! The bears come form behind to win the game! Amazing!", the announcer shouted as the coach watched in surprise.
Later, Ogame and Nina were with Mayor rose as she spoke to him.
"Ogame. Have you ever played Baseball?", Mayor Rose asked.
"No. Never.", Ogame responded.
"Then, have you ever bet on Baseball?", Rose asked.
"What?", Ogame puzzled.
"I want you to find the big 6 and get proof of the baseball gambling that's been going on in the city.", Mayor Rose responded.
"There's an unspoken understanding that the person behind the gambling racket is Flip from the family. It's going to be difficult.", Ogame responded.
"That's the thing, though. After the stunt I pulled to get to the human world, Overhaul went over to Anima City and took over the whole gang.", Nina responded, shocking Ogame as he gasped.
"Well, that is a startling development. First, Overhaul and his gang take over the entire gang, and now, the dodo beastmen went extinct in yesterday's game. I wonder which beastman's species will go extinct next.", rose spoke.
Meanwhile, the bears sang as they marched forward to their home with Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru coming along.
"We don't have money at all and we don't have nay dreams, but we can sure play ball and the bears are the best of the teams!", the bears sang before arriving at a sort of makeshift home.
"It's not a big place, but come in anyway.", the young boy offered.
"Uh…, thanks.", Nazuna spoke before a pillow was laid out for her.
"Wow. You weren't kidding when you said it wasn't very big.", Kazuma spoke in surprise.
"They've cut off our water, so we got some water from the park. Here you go.", the young boy offered as he prepared a cup and set it out for Nazuna.
"Uh…", Nazuna began before the young boy spoke.
"I have a favor to ask you, Nazuna. Will you please become the pitcher for the bears? Please, please, please, please!", the young boy asked as he bashed his head on the floor before winding up tearing a hole through the floor, shocking Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru.
"Please! Please! Please!", the other bears pleaded, taking the same page form the book as the young boy, practically bouncing Sichiru up a bit in the process.
"Hold on! Wait a minute! Would you hang on?! I'm not even a bear! I'm a fox!", Nazuna shouted in reply.
"But your strong like a bear, so that should help.", the young boy responded.
"We're so happy! We've never won before!", another bear spoke.
"We did once when the other team didn't show, but that wasn't even close.", another added.
"If we add you, we might have a shot at winning the league.", the young boy responded.
"Victory. Victory. Victory. Victory.", the bears chanted.
"I don't think I can play baseball with you guys. I'm sorry.", Nazuna refused sadly, standing up and walking out.
"Huh?", the young boy spoke in shock.
"It's just that… as much as I want to help you guys, I don't really do sports. Besides, I have a karaoke place to go to tonight. I'm really sorry I couldn't help you…", Nazuna sighed as she walked out the stairs before Kazuma and Sichiru went out with her, if only to catch up to her.
"Nazuna, wait up.", Kazuma spoke.
When the trio got outside, they overheard the bears being filled with despair.
"That was a short-lived dream.", one of the bears sighed.
"We can't play baseball without a pitcher and baseball is all we have.", another added.
"Because I was born here, I'm going to be sipping muddy water for the rest of my life! So sad…", the young boy spoke before he and the others sobbed.
"Oh, all right, I'll help youall!", nazuna spoke, being guilt-tripped by their wailing.
"Yay!", the young boy and the other bears cheered.
"But! On one condition. As of right now, no more killing each other! Got it?", Nazuna requested,
"Huh? Why not?", the bears puzzled.
"Because killing anyone is sick and inhumane, especially in a sport like this! All that should matter up to now is to keep the focus on fun.", Nazuna responded.
"Can we just injure them really badly?", the young boy asked.
"No.", Nazuna refused.
"Sprain their finger?", another bear asked.
"No.", Nazuna refused.
"Cut in their toenails too far?", another bear asked.
"Give 'em a wedgie?", another asked.
"No! None of the above!", Nazuna shouted in response, her voice echoing across the sky.
The next morning, the bears were now facing a team of bulls.
"Hello, all you penniless residents of with too much time on your hands. Today, we have the bears, a group of losers who used up all their luck on a comeback during the last game. And the heavy hitters of the baseball gambling world, the Buffalos!", the announcer shouted.
"Give me an N! Give me an A! Give me a Z! Give me a U, N, A! What's that spell? Nazuna!", Sichiru cheered while doing cheerleader poses.
"Time to play ball! The stupid and broke bears are up first!", the announcer shouted as one of the buffalos tossed a baseball toward the umpire.
"That's a slow pitch. It's a hit! He's running for first base! Safe!", the announcer shouted as the bear hit the ball and went for first base, succeeding, before the old coach started to give signs.
"The bears' manager is giving signs! That's the sign for a bunt!", the announcer spoke.
"I think we get it already!", Nazuna shouted before the buffalos started stepping in inside the diamond.
"The buffalos are moving in to prevent the bunt. But they did it anyway! He's out! The bears' manager signals to bunt again! Seriously?! Oh, is this some special trick? It's a bunt. He's out. Not exactly geniuses on that team. The 4th batter for the bears is the fox girl.", the announcer spoke as the first two bears did a bunt and then lost as a result with Nazuna up to bat next with the coach giving the same signal as before, infuriating her, but none more so than Kazuma, who realized not only that bunts aren't getting anywhere, but also that the coach is intentionally setting the team up to fail.
"Oh, for the love of…!", Kazuma snarled.
"Oh, let me guess. They're signaling for a bunt.", the announcer spoke.
"NAZUNA, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! JUST SWING AND HIT WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT!", Kazuma shouted, taking over, while Nazuna was swarmed by several buffalos, one of which tossed a baseball forward, prompting Nazuna to buff up her arms and swing it, hitting the baseball.
"The Fox Girl's Gorilla Swing! That ball went far! The bulls are chasing after it! The Fox gorilla girl can sure run fast!", the announcer shouted before Nazuna's legs then turned into cheetah legs, her shoes slipping off her feet, which allowed more speed to build up.
"She has the legs of a cheetah!", the announcer shouted before the bulls then practically hit each other, trying to get the ball while one of the bulls got the ball and tossed it out.
"Who's faster? The ball or the cheetah? The Cheetah or the ball? The ball or the cheetah? The Cheetah or the ball?!", the announcer shouted as Nazuna noticed the ball passing her before going faster than the ball and making it to the base just before the ball then made it to the bull's mitt, but not in time as the smoke cleared to show Nazuna grinning as she held onto the base plate.
"Safe at home! The stupid and broke bears actually won! I can't believe it! All that money I bet on this game, what a waste!", the announcer spoke as the coach grew very worried.
"Hey, what's wrong? We won. Nothing wrong with that, is there?", Kazuma asked.
Later, there was something wrong as later, a few men handpicked by Overhaul himself, otherwise known as Toya Setsuno, Yu Hojo, and Soramitsu Tabe, were beating the coach up.
"You were supposed to lose, right?", the boss asked before Toya turned to the boss.
"This here is today's profit.", Toya reported before the boss then put the money from the bag into the safe one pack at a time as he spoke to the coach further.
"No one is going to want to place their bets on a bad team like the bears, don't you agree? And, of course, if that were to happen, you'd make baseball less popular and hurt my profits.", the boss spoke with a nonchalant grin.
"I'll make sure we lose! I swear!", the coach pleaded.
"You'd better. Or else next time, we'll throw you in the ocean!", Yu shouted as he then kicked the couch out, literally, and slammed the door behind the coach, who barely got up and walked away, passing by Shirou, as well as Mirio, Nejire, Tamaki, Miria, Kejire, and Mamaki present.
"What were you doing in that restaurant?", Ogame asked.
"Eating pizza, what do you think?", the coach asked.
"Really? Because it really sounded like you were getting your butt kicked back there.", Mirio responded.
"But that's beside the point. I need proof of the baseball gambling racket. Can you help us?", Ogame responded.
"If I defy Overhaul and his gang, I won't be alive for very long.", the coach only responded.
"If you do work with them, you're just going to end up getting yourself killed.", Mamaki responded.
"This is the only way for us beastmen to survive in the world of baseball.", the coach spoke before walking away.
"Sounds like you're in quite the pickle there, man.", Mirio responded.
"You have no idea.", the coach responded as he continued walking away.
"Geez. Whatever happened to him?", Nejire puzzled.
Later, the next morning, Nina was in the bleachers when just below, the coach drank before then pointing to Nazuna and then one of the bears.
"You're playing right field today. And you are pitching.", the coach spoke, puzzling Nazuna and worrying the other bears.
"You're pointing at me?", one of the bears asked.
"Are you serious?", Kazuma asked.
"You're dang right, I'm serious.", the coach responded.
"But, Coach, you know that Nazuna is our ace! She has to be the pitcher!", the young boy shouted.
"That's right! That's right!", the bears agreed before the coach broke his can of beer, crushing it with his hand in response.
"SHUT UP! I'm the coach! You all have to listen to me and that's final!", the coach shouted before drinking another can.
"No way I can be the pitcher.", the bear spoke in fear.
"It'll be fine. We're all gonna help you. If we win this game, we go to the finals. You want to win, right?", Nazuna asked.
"Yeah.", the bear spoke.
"Let's all go win together!", Nazuna shouted before the team then cheered.
Meanwhile, Ogame and the big 6 walked over to a sort of room with Ogame picking up a baseball.
"Hey, what's that?", Mirio asked.
"I think it looks like some newspaper about some baseball player a long time ago.", Tamaki responded.
"Not just any baseball player. It's a baseball player named Dante. I thought he was familiar. Nejire and I've heard about him.", Kejire began before it then showed Dante not exactly being welcomed into the team, who refused him at every turn, especially with the audience booing at him and throwing the eggs at him, being refused access to the bathroom, or even sitting in the bench before then showing a big diamond with people booing at him.
"When he first joined team Odaibo, he wasn't remotely welcome. Matter of fact, he was turned away by the team numerous times. Even the audiences hated his guts just because he's a beastman. The fact he couldn't even use the bathroom, let alone sit on the bench was bad enough, but one day, during the big finals, it happened", Kejire spoke.
"Hey, beast.", the first umpire in front of the other spoke.
"Hurry up and die, would ya?", the other added, making Dante angry.
"He completely lost it. Enraged by his abusers, he morphed into his animal form and took out his rage on them all, killing them in cold blood, all with a single bat. After that, Dante was never the same again.", Nejire responded as Dante exploded, morphing into his Aye Aye form and then smashing the bat on all his abusers, blood seeping out and soaking the bat in the top part of it before panting, dropping his ears in shame and becoming depressed.
"So, where is he now?", Miria asked.
"Wanna take a guess?", Kejire responded, gesturing to the current coach of Anima City, who was now drinking a can of beer.
"Wow. I really had no idea.", Mirio spoke in shock.
"That's horrible. To think that he became a broken man because of how those people treated him before he came here… That's horrible…", Mamaki spoke fondly.
"Yeah. It really makes you think, doesn't it?", Kejire responded.
Act II
"Racoon Arai is pitching for the bears today! He's wearing an oven mitt instead of a baseball mitt. Not a good choice. They are up against…the tigers, who are quite ferocious.", the announcer spoke before a tiger beastman roared, scaring the heck out of Arai, who weakly pitched the ball, which was then struck for a homerun.
"A long flyball? They're watching it go! This one is outta here!", the announcer shouted just before Nazuna dashed for the scoreboard, puzzling Ogame and the big 6 as they noticed her as well as Nina, who saw her up close as she made her way across the scoreboard.
"Wait. The fox girl never gives up! She's using her cheetah dash. Cast love to chase after anything that moves! So pathetic. She's climbing and climbing, almost there, not gonna make it, no way!", the announcer shouted in surprise as Nazuna then leapt off the scoreboard and stretched her hand out, literally, for the ball, catching it.
"That idiot.", Ogame spoke in slight disgust before Nazuna landed on the ground and landed on her bushy tail before it then morphed back to a fox tail.
"Nice catch! The bears win! If you bet a hundred, you just made 10,000! They're going to the finals next!", the announcer spoke with the team cheering and pushing Nazuna up into the air in celebration while Dante slouched down in extreme worry.
Meanwhile, Nina was quite surprised.
"Wow. I didn't know Nazuna was into sports and singing. I should go cheer her on.", Nina grinned.
Later, both Nina and Ogame went in the room with Nazuna, Kazuma, and Sichiru together.
"Hey, Gorilla Fox. You promised not to use your power in front of others. What exactly would you do if someone finds out?", Ogame asked.
"I don't really know.", Nazuna responded.
"If they learn about your power to transform, you might have to leave before we can cure your beastman-itis, let alone theirs.", Ogame spoke.
"But the bears, they're all so stupid that they loved baseball so much. We've never met beastmen like them before.", nazuna spoke.
"Yeah. Whenever she plays baseball with them, she ends up forgetting she had beastman-itis.", Kazuma added.
"You think that's okay?", Ogame asked.
"Not to me. But honestly, this is the most fun I've ever had since getting here. Even since catching this beastman-itis.", Nazuna grinned in response.
"Wow. And Lisa thought I went through so much.", Nina spoke.
Meanwhile, Toya, Yu, and Tabe were walking down the pier together to accompany the boss, thinking back on what Overhaul said.
"It seems I wasn't clear on what I want you three to do so here's what you'll do. You're going to go to the slums and offer this money to the Bears and get them to lose. Use the carrot, not the stick. Be someone they trust and rely on.", Overhaul spoke to the trio in a flashback before it showed them finally making it to the boss just as Dante was on the verge of drowning only to get lifted back up by the crane operator.
"I have good news. The bears are getting popular. Maybe it's because people always like the underdog. If you lose next time, I'll forgive everything that happened up until now. If you disobey, you're gonna be fish food.", the boss spoke before driving away as Dante was now back on the pier as he then got out his cigar, which was no doubt soggy now thanks to the water before Kurow turned up near him and gave a puzzled caw.
"What am I gonna do? How did this happen? Where did I go wrong? No matter what I do, I'm gonna die.", Dante spoke in despair and regret.
"You should look back at the good times you had and make things right.", Mirio spoke up before Dante turned to see Mirio.
"You again…?", Dante puzzled.
Meanwhile, it showed a big finale taking place with Nina being a cheerleader alongside Sichiru.
"Hello, all you gambling addicts. The time has come! The final match in the Anima City Baseball League! It's the bears, who used to be idiots, but are now the stars of the slum, versus the Killer Animals, whose motto is 'Kill them before they kill you'.", the announcer spoke.
"If you don't really wanna die, then go back home and lick some honey, little girley bear.", the mouse beastman sneered, making Nazuna growl at him.
"Why don't you crawl back to the mouse hole you came from if you don't want to get caught in a mouse trap, you rat!", Nazuna growled.
"Nazuna! Nazuna! She's our woman! If she can't beat them, no one can!", Nina cheered while doing poses, even finishing up by flipping in midair and turning into her dolphin form and landing with a giggle.
"Okay. Looks like you got the cheering part down.", Sichiru grinned.
"Let's play ball!", the announcer shouted before the crowd cheered as Toya, Yu, Tabe, the boss, and even Overhaul watching the match.
"The fox girl is rarin' to go! The rabid dog has a spiked bat, looks scary! Don't worry, just throw the ball, Fox Girl!", the announcer spoke before Nazuna pitched the ball toward the rabid dog, who then hit the ball, breaking his bat apart not just into pieces, but as shards as they then dashed toward Nazuna.
"There it is! Shotgun batting style!", the announcer shouted before Nazuna gasped in shock and ducked, her tail then growing bigger and fluffier enough to stop the shards in a way to show that they stung far less than before, much to her surprise.
"Hey. That actually hurt less than I thought it would.", Nazuna spoke before then flinging the shards up into the sky with her tail morphing back to normal only to bear some minor cuts from the assault as Nazuna noticed and frowned.
"Aw.", Nazuna groaned.
A moment later, a mole beastman dug underground with one of the bears catching the ball before looking around in puzzlement and then getting slashed in the chest from below by the mole beastman as he emerged from the ground before it then showed a cat beatsman spinning his mace around before another of the bears caught the ball only to get struck in the face with the mace.
"They're hitting one after the other! Impressive, Killer Animals!", the announcer shouted as the scoreboard went up to 4 for the Killer Animals.
Then, the mouse beastman pitched the ball toward the umpire three times, all 3 batters of which were completely surprised as no points were scored at all.
"That's out number 3! The bears are completely helpless! What a boring game of baseball.", the announcer spoke with Nina and Sichiru growing worried, but none more so than Nazuna, who was twice as worried.
"Coach, they're…!", Nazuna spoke in fright before noticing Dante was gone.
"He's gone?!", Nazuna exclaimed.
"I know. And right after he said he's going to make things right.", Kazuma responded.
"What? He really said that? But why?", Nazuna puzzled.
"Never mind that. What's wrong with all of you?", Sichiru asked in worry.
"Huh? Nothing.", the young boy responded.
"Are you hiding something from us? Tell us right now!", Kazuma urged.
"It's nothing. It's not like we're hiding the fact that they're going to give us money if we lose.", one of the bears responded.
"You idiot!", the young boy shouted.
"Tell me everything.", Nazuna urged before it showed a flashback of Toya, Yu, and Tabe with the boss, who presented the bears with a briefcase of money.
"I'm gonna give you all of this when you lose to the Killer Animals.", the boss assured, astonishing the bears.
"You mean you were actually going to sell out to them and lose on purpose?!", Kazuma shouted.
"We're not sure if we can win. But we know we can lose if we try.", the bear responded.
"I thought you guys said it was your dream, though.", Sichiru responded, making the bears sigh in shame.
"Are you seriously throwing your dream away just to get some extra money? How stupid could you all be?!", Nazuna spoke in shock.
"I know we're stupid! We've been poor ever since we were born, and we'll stay poor for the rest of our lives! We just want money to escape form this hell! There's nothing wrong with that!", the young boy shouted in reply, only further agitating Nazuna.
"THERE'S EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!", Nazuna shouted, shocking the bears, even Sichiru, Nina, and Kazuma.
"Where's the honor in sucking up to scum like them just to make a quick buck? I, for one, refuse to suck up to them and sell out! And you should make that decision, too. For your dreams. I know that there is a way to both fulfill your dreams and escape form this nightmare. And we'll find it together.", Nazuna responded.
Meanwhile, Dante was sneaking along the ceiling before he got down very quietly, opened the safe and made off with the money just before someone woke up and saw that the betting money was all gone, much to his shock before calling the boss, who was in the middle of watching the game.
"This is Saotome.", Saotome greeted only to hear the bad news,
"What'd you say?! Someone stole the money in the safe?! You idiot! All our gambling money was in there! You're a moron wrapped in an idiot!", Saotome shouted as the audience overheard, morphed into animal form, and sent angry messages.
"Did you say our money was stolen?!", one of the audience shouted.
"What are you gonna do about my money?!", another shouted.
"Give me my money!", another shouted in outrage.
"No one's gonna watch baseball if there's no money in it!", another exclaimed.
"What's going on? The stadium is getting worked up. The game will have to be postponed.", the announcer spoke in surprise before Nazuna stepped up and then reeled in and tossed the baseball toward the wall with a shout.
"ENOUGH!", Nazuna shouted, making the audience gasp after the ball hit the wall with Nazuna then catching the ball with her mitt.
"The game's not over yet!", Nazuna shouted before tossing the ball toward the wall again.
"Are you really gonna give up that easily?! Are you really that scared to lose?! Don't be cowards! On this city, Baseball's about winning or losing! And living or dying, right?! Then, put your lives on the line and play fair and square! You need to fight so you can live!", Nazuna shouted as she repeatedly tossed the ball toward the wall only for the young boy to catch the ball, surprising her before the boy then sang.
"We'll win this, have no doubt! We'll beat them or anyone who dares!", the young boy shouted before the rest stepped up and joined in.
"We'll fight 'till the very last out! Cause we are the bears!", the rest of the bears sang before Nazuna giggled.
"All right, let's do this!", the young boy shouted.
"Yeah!", the other bears shouted cheerfully before the mouse beast man hit the bat against the ground, breaking off the chain and revealing a rotating, spiked layer underneath the bat as it started spinning very fast.
"That's a scary-looking pitch you got, fox girl. Of course, if you actually hit me with that, it's the last pitch you're ever going to throw, understand?!", the mouse beastman threatened.
"You don't have to worry about that. We're not here to kill. Just play ball the way we should've done a long time ago. Now, it's game on!", Nazuna responded, holding the baseball.
"Hold on a second! The game is resuming!", the announcer spoke in surprise.
Frankly, Overhaul was quite intrigued.
"Well, now. That's quite an intriguing and enlightening experience.", Overhaul spoke to himself.
Meanwhile, Dante ran off with the money only to be cornered by Ogame, Nejire, Tamaki, Miria, Kejire, and Mamaki.
"It's you! Please! Can't you just let me go?!", Dante pleaded, fearing the worst.
"I'm afraid we can't do that. At least not until you listen to this.", Kejire responded, getting out the radio as it was turned on.
"It's a hit! Back, back, back, back, back! It's a home run! The bears have closed up the gap and are now only 1 run behind!", the announcer spoke through the radio before Dante remembered the times when he used to love playing baseball for fun and even caught one as a kid, despite his animal form in public before he started crying.
"Well, what are you waiting for? The bears need their coach, don't they?", Nejire grinned, puzzling Dante before she giggled with a wink with Dante's puzzlement now turned into that of fierce determination as he nodded.
"Are the bears going to turn this game around?", the announcer spoke as Dante then ran off back to the stadium as the big 6 looked on with grins, joined by Mirio.
"This is an unprecedented turn of events in the history of baseball in Anima City! People from all over are coming to the stadium to watch the game! The Killer Animals are ahead by one run!", the announcer shouted before Nazuna noticed Dante.
"You're back, Coach?! Where have you been all this time?!", Nazuna shouted before Dante started doing signs form before, but different with Nazuna having trouble understanding them.
"Get in on the other side? No, wait. Bunt? I don't want to do it, though. Huh? Just do it? All of it? I don't understand…", Nazuna puzzled.
Finally having had enough, Dante just used words and finally shouted.
"GIVE IT YOUR ALL, YOU GUYS! THIS IS WHERE THE GAME BEGINS! GO OUT THERE AND WIN!", Dante shouted, making Nazuna grin as well as Kazuma.
"YOU ALL HEARD HIM, GUYS! GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!", Kazuma shouted in agreement.
Meanwhile, Saotome was quite furious as he marched forward with Toya, Yu, and Tabe following him as he spoke angrily.
"Find him, hurt him really bad, and then kill him!", Saotome ordered.
"Yeah!", the trio agreed before the bag of money was suddenly found on Saotome's hands.
"I found this. It's yours, right?", Ogame asked.
"Are you the one who stole it?", Toya asked.
"Don't mess with us!", Yu added, both preparing to fight.
"And here I am generously giving it back to its owner. Or do you think I should turn the money over to the police?", Ogame asked.
"So, why'd you bring it back?", Saotome asked.
"I placed a bet on it as well. 'Cause I love baseball.", Ogame responded before walking away.
Then, as he turned to the right, a voice spoke up to Ogame, attracting his attention.
Play DB Super Music: "Bad Premoniton"
"Well, well, well. It seems like we meet once again. But this time, we finally meet in person, face-to-face.", Overhaul spoke to Shirou.
"So, I finally meet the man behind the Shie Hassaikai in person. You should know that what you're doing is illegal and wrong.", Shirou spoke.
"And what exactly am I doing that's illegal and wrong, officer?", Overhaul asked.
"The trafficking of Beastman children, the smuggling of stolen technology and drugs, and illegal gambling that resulted in the extinction of the Dodo Beastmen? Where would you like me to start?", Shirou responded.
"Well, then, let's see where exactly you're at with my involvement in all those. The Trafficking; you can only prove that The Grand Grandma of Rabbit Town was involved as my men were already gone and there was no video that proves they were there. The Smuggling; all that technology and drugs was willingly given to us by those two Beastmen that you arrested that day. And the Gambling and Extinction; gambling isn't technically illegal in stuff like this and as you can see, I don't have a drop of blood on me. So, in short, you have nothing on me or my organization.
"It doesn't matter. You're taking advantage of those Beastmen out there.", Shirou argued.
"Am I really? Or is this what's inside every Beastman from the start? You Beastmen like to think you're human like the rest of us, but put something like this in front of you and you're just like any other animal in the world. That's just your nature. I'm just doing what I can to survive and I use whatever I can to ensure that not only will I survive, but the Yakuza can thrive and I won't let you or anyone else get in my way. I have worked too hard to let my plan be thwarted by anyone or anything. You think this city and its people can be saved, protected when you lay your head down tonight,? Let me ask you. 'Who's really in control here: the ones who make the law? Or the ones with all the power'? You give a man a bit of power and he'll do anything to keep it but if you have all the power, then no can stop you as your basically untouchable. Flip's gang was in chaos before I gave it purpose, direction, and a goal, and they will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal even if it means running right… through…. you.", Overhaul responded, making Shirou tense his eyes slightly with a soft growl.
"You may protect this city, but it's always been mine and you and that useless mayor just haven't realized that yet. Oh, and tell Nina this as a warning: If she even tries to help you beat me, her father will pay the price for her actions.", Overhaul warned as he then walked away, giving Shirou an uneasy feeling about where this is headed.
End DB Super Music: "Bad Premoniton"
Meanwhile, the game has just concluded.
"That's Nazuna and Kazuma Hiwatashi and Sichiru Kagemori.", the scientist spoke to Alan, who watched from afar.
"They've transformed into unusual beasts. I find it…quite interesting.", alan grinned.
Meanwhile, the announcer shouted.
"Game over! The Killer Animals win!", the announcer shouted.
"Seriously?", Nazuna spoke in disbelief.
"I never thought losing would hurt as much as this hurts right now!", the young boy shouted, shedding tears.
"Good job, bears!", one of the audience cheered.
"The audience is giving a warm round of applause for the bears! I've never seen a match like this in Anima City! What a moving game! What a great final game! Thank you, bears, the true stars of the slums!", the announcer spoke as the bears then smiled despite their loss, even Nazuna before she turned to the young boy.
"Hey. You never told me your name.", Nazuna realized.
"My name? Oh, it's Jackie.", Jackie responded.
"Nice to meet you, Jackie.", Nazuna grinned with a giggle.
Meanwhile, Shirou went over to Nina, Sichiru, and Kazuma.
"Hey, Shirou, what's up?", Kazuma asked.
"Nina, listen. I met with Overhaul just tonight and he asked me to give you a warning.", Ogame spoke, worrying the trio.
"What is it?", Nina puzzled.
Meanwhile, Dante thought he was in for a world of pain when Saotome opened the safe, revealing that the money was back inside and was giving him a wad of cash.
"Here's your reward. Next time, follow my orders.", Saotome advised before Dante then got up and left, puzzling Saotome.
"Thanks, but I don't want it. I don't want to gamble anymore. I just want to play baseball.", Dante responded before leaving.
The next morning, Shirou spoke to Mayor Rose.
"I couldn't get my hands on the proof of the baseball gambling racket.", Shirou responded.
"It looks like it's going to take time in order to change the city. There's also a matter of Overhaul to be concerned about. Something has to be done about the Shie Hassaikai.", Mayor Rose responded.
Meanwhile, Nazuna sang while practicing her baseball pitch for next time.
"Oshiete Yoru ni haseru kono yurameki to Omoinomama ni tobimawatte Motto jiyū ni kakete ikou yo Hoshi o miagete sa.", Nazuna sang before she noticed that Nina wasn't there much anymore and gave a sad sigh.
"Nazuna!", Jackie shouted, making one of Nazuna's ears twitch before she rushed over to see him and his teammates.
"What the…? Jackie?!", Nazuna asked in surprise.
"We used the money to buy equipment that'll help us get better at baseball! It's in a 500% load! Yay!", Jackie cheered with nazuna growing shocked to hear that.
"You idiots! Go return all this right now!", Nazuna shouted.
"Huh? Why?", Jackie and his teammates puzzled as Shirou watched before grinning.
"Fun, huh?", Shirou grinned.
Elsewhere in Anima City, there was an apparent Church of The Silver Wolf building as inside, a man named Borris and an apparent woman named "Dèesse Louve" were seeing everything in Anima City.
"Can you imagine all those crimes that have happened here, Dèesse Louve? Those beastmen are clearly in a state of chaos. It appears something needs to be done and we are needed there.", Borris spoke to Dèesse Louve, who took off the hood, showing her face, which is now revealed to be that of Michiru's.
"I hope no one knows I'm in Anima City.", Michiru thought.
A/N: And with that, the next chapter is set to begin, this time, being called "Tanuki Waltz". I wonder where this is headed. Well, either way, I'm gonna get another chapter for Monsters vs. Aliens ready for tonight (or tomorrow morning, whichever comes possible). :)