Ellias887;
"Thanks for all the support. I think we talked on PM about what I intended for those characters, now that Season 2 is out I'm really picking up the pace on updates. Lots of come for sure. Thank you very much!"
Tommy423;
"Yeah, it was a difficult time last year with the whole C19 stuff, besides other life issues, but I got myself clear this year, good to start running this story all the way up! Thanks for the support!"
nadillaandlaprastherfireandice;
"I had great fun trying to type your nickname right, haha. Also that happened at the Festival that is bound to happen next weekend (in the fanfic itself, not the update date) so I do have a lot of ways to go about how the reaction will occur, and the release of Season 2 gave me enough safe ground to where I can work that towards. Thanks!"
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"Let's try not to be late, we have to go to the plaza tomorrow, something about 'feeling the environment' or whatever Louis said. Honestly I was hoping to not have a reason to see his stupid face."
"You would have to, eventually. Besides, I wouldn't mind going out with you again."
"I see that smirk on your face, it better be a joke you're remembering of."
"Don't be such a spoilsport Stripes. You know I love going out with you."
"What you're talking about? This is the first time we're doing it so."
"Meh, outside the campus I guess. No big difference. "
"Sure, but we ain't exactly walking out carefree. It... ain't safe out there, nowhere as safe as it's in here."
Durham nodded thoughtfully. He could understand Ellen's concern regarding safety. Her worries were equally shared as Jack, Shiira, Juno and Legosi joined the group moments later. They gathered at the main gate, the only one that would lead outside to the only street that gave access to the school. Everyone was using social clothing for the occasion, the boys with simple shits and jeans, the girls with more elegant skirts than the ones the school used. For whatever reason Ellen decided to wear a shirt and jeans, her tomboyish look didn't went unnoticed.
"Huh, you're feeling cold or something Ellen?" Jack asked, eyeing her with confusion. The zebra merely shrugged off his question. This was the first sign that something was off with her.
"So, we are aware of where we're going, right?" Shiira asked, ignoring the zebra's strange clothing as she glanced around expectantly. The group nodded, each of them with their own concerning looks. Durham, despite glad that they all were on alert, wasn't very fond of the heavy atmosphere that was settling over the group.
"Yeah, we all know how spooky and whatsoever the outside world is, not like we haven't know it any better since we were kids. We are more than capable of taking care of each other, if someone tries something we just beat the crap out of them. I bet Stripes is looking forward to beat someone today."
Ellen chortled, the others were a mix of chuckles and awkward stares. Shiira raised an eyebrow at the coyote.
"There's things we cannot simply go out to beat, you know what I mean." She pointed out. Durham shrugged, his hand pulling at the side of his jacket, revealing a hidden gun carefully placed at his hip.
"Don't worry, I came prepared. Any objections?" He asked as he glanced at the others. No one seemed to be in the mood to argue, but it was clear that him carrying a gun had some of them on edge. "I'm looking forward to have a fun night with ya'll, but I would be even happier if everyone came back without being hurt. I'm not taking any chances, whatever ya'll prefer."
"I get what you mean." Jack said, looking at the others with a conflicting expression. "Not everyone here is a Carnivore so we are taking a risk, and I don't want us to be worrying about it. Better safe than sorry I suppose."
Durham smiled brightly at the Labrador.
"Now ain't that right? Jack being smart just as we known him. Not that it matters what we are anyways. We still risk the usual society problems like robbery and kidnapping and whatnot." His face turned more serious as he continued. "I guess I don't need to say that no one here should go anywhere alone. Not once and no matter how short of a time it would take. We stick together at all times, or at least with someone else."
The girls shared looks in between them, seemingly coming to an agreement. Durham was particularly worried about Ellen, she would be the most targeted of their group. No way he would ever let her out of his view during this night. Legosi and Jack nodded quietly, the wolf was seemingly calm, but it was just how he looked most of the time. Durham was well aware that Legosi had been in places he was not supposed to, at least he would be able to prevent the group from getting lost in a very inconvenient area.
"Say, Jack, you told the others were we would be going tonight?" Durham asked casually, his intent being of changing the subject, once it was clear there was nothing more to be said in regards to safety. Jack smiled awkwardly, looking torn between laughing and grimacing.
"Err, yeah I did. Collot was kinda going over the walls since I also told Legosi would be going out with Juno today, he was already feeling a bit worked up that you and me got two... huh, dates?" He paused, looking hesitantly towards Shiira. She chuckled at his uncertainty.
"Yeah, we can call it that. Especially if it makes his fur stand up so much." She said with a mischievous smirk. Jack raised an eyebrow but made no comment before he resumed the conversation.
"Sooo, yeah. The others were more or less okay with it, I can tell they're feeling a bit left behind with us going out like this. Not that I blame them, we usually do this kind of stuff together all the time."
"Eh, they will get over it, eventually." Durham said, although he was pretty sure Collot was going to pester them to no end until their summer vacations were over.
"Oh, I'm so happy we're going outside!" Juno said, looking every bit of her usual self. "It's been so long I got to see the town square, do they still have that shop with exotic hats?" She asked excitedly. Shiira and Durham gave her astonished looks in return.
"Juno, that shop closed four years ago." Shiira replied, giving her a long glance. "How often do you go to town?"
"Oh." Juno's delight shimmered down a bit. "I've been there about six times. I guess I was twelve last time I went there. My... huh, parents don't like going to center very much."
"Hmm, I wonder if Tokei will be open this late. I need to get some supplies for my beetle. He's running out of seeds." Legosi inquired loudly to himself, seemingly alienated from the conversation taking place. Juno regarded the taller wolf with a puzzled look.
"You have a beetle?"
"That's his pet." Explained Jack with a sheepish grin. "He's very fond of him. So, yeah, don't think too hard on it."
"Tokei has a store downtown. Mostly for fruits and vegetables, since he does have a growbed of his own. He normally stacks a fair amount of seeds." Durham added with a chuckle."Honestly it's where I go whenever I need good tomatoes to make sandwiches."
The group had been walking for a few minutes now, heading towards the staircase that would provide a shortcut all the way down towards the busy streets below. The staircase was often used by students and teachers during the week, but it sees it's fair share of all types of animals that travel across Cherryton, either those in search of business opportunities or just curious tourists.
It was almost night time, the amount of activity at this hour was nearly nonexistent, although they did meet up with some familiar faces on their way down. Kai was walking alongside Tao and Bill, the three heading to an arcade shop. Kai confided to the coyote that they were mostly going there to help Tao get his mind away from Shiira. Durham was thankful that Shiira didn't took notice of his presence, but he did wonder if Tao saw her. The black panther simply vanished from view after he noticed the larger group approaching. Bill greeted them rather cheerfully;
"Ah, would you look at that! Having a night out, aren't we?" He said with a mischievous smile on his face. "Say, Legosi, didn't think you had it on you to ask Juno out, although I'm not surprised to see Ellen here with Mr. Skeptical."
Legosi's reply was akin to an agonizing whimper. His deadpan stare towards the tiger spoke volumes on how he felt. Durham raised an eyebrow at how himself was addressed.
"Skeptical? Well, perhaps. Can't really can go around claiming I know everything nor that I believe everything that's being said. Can't fool myself nor get fooled either. Works fine for me." Durham replied with sincerity. Bill snorted.
"If you say so. I hope you can keep a leveled head while going out with an Herbivore. Besides, be wary while you're in school, some folks are getting worked up with the whole Beastars thing."
This caught the interest of most of the group.
"Whatever you mean Bill?" Ellen asked somewhat testily. It was the first time she spoke ever since they left the school grounds and Durham couldn't help but notice a certain edge in her voice. A second sign. "It's more than obvious that Louis is the next Beastar. That is certain as the rise of the sun, to whoever cares at least. What's there to get worried about?"
"Of course you would said that, not that an Herbivore would know any better." Bill replied with a roll of his eyes. Ellen's brow furrowed.
"Fuck off Bill. I don't give a damn about this Beastar crap. Whether it's because I'm a Herbivore or not doesn't even fucking matter. I don't need you to remind me of what's there to be really worried about. I know my own problems just as anyone else here."
Durham stared, Ellen's incensed reply surprised him. Bill also was somewhat perplexed by her more-than-usual fiery attitude, but before the tiger could reply he heard a call from below.
"Hey, Bill!Hurry up!"
The tiger glanced back to find out that Kai and Tao were already way ahead of him, he grunted before turning his attention back to the group.
"I guess we can talk about that tomorrow. Later, and I hope I don't wake up to see Durham on the news, victim of a terrible beating." He joked. Almost immediately Ellen tried to jump on him, but Legosi held her back just in time. The wolf was taken aback by the amount of strength she possessed, he had to held her firmly by the shoulders as to not let her escape his grasp.
"Let go of me Legosi!I will make a fucking carpet out of his fur!" She yelled as Bill walked away downstairs. Jack and Shiira gawked in shock at what the zebra just said.
"Calm down." Legosi advised, a frown on his face as he tried to make sense of her anger. He glanced at Durham for support, but the coyote was clueless on what had her acting like that.
"Ellen, focus. You know better than to let these thoughts take over you. The day has not arrived yet, worry about the now, not the tomorrow." Shiira said, approaching the zebra wearily. Ellen's nostrils were flaring wide open, such was the intensity of her breathing. Yet, something on the cheetah's words seemed to have reached into her. She slumped her shoulders, looking extremely dejected and lost all of sudden.
Durham, Legosi, Jack and Juno exchanged confused glances at each other, none of them with the slightest clue of what was going on.
"Huh, may I ask what was that all about?" Durham questioned, looking straight at Shiira. The feline crossed her arms, her expression of weariness wearing off as she regarded the coyote with mistrust.
"If she haven't told you anything I'm in no place to tell you either. This is just something personal, it would be best if you didn't bother her."
Durham glared defiantly back at her. If Shiira thinks he was just to let this slide she has another thing coming for her. He will be damned if he ignore Ellen's distress as if it was just a normal occurrence.
"How about no? I care her as much as you do Shiira. Ellen may not want to tell me, but I ain't sitting idle and pretending this was nothing. If I have to put up with her beating me up a thousand times for pestering her, so be it."
"Durham..." Ellen said with some exasperation, followed by a humorless laugh. "Fiiine, I will tell you tomorrow. Not like we ain't spending most of the Sunday doing nothing anyway."
"Ellen, are you sure?" Shiira asked worriedly."This is kind of... a lot to deal with, I know you avoid this kind of talk for a very good reason."
The zebra glanced back at her feline friend, seemingly conflicted and extremely anxious. Yet, her resolve didn't falter at the end.
"No, I'm sure. Just... I trust Durham. We... talked about things before. I know I can trust him with this. But only him." She added coolly as she regarded the rest of the group."Sorry, I hope you all understand, maybe... one day I will feel okay to talk about this openly."
Legosi, Jack and Juno nodded. They were curious but respected her wish for privacy. Ellen regarded them with something akin to regret.
"I... sorry for going out like that. I should've know better. I hope I don't ruin the night with my shitty temper."
Before anything could be said the ringtone of Durham's cellphone reached their ears. The group stared at him with mild curiosity.
"What kind of ringtone is that? Sounds... odd." Jack asked, as he tried to identify the types of instruments playing.
"It's Electro Swing, pretty popular on western these days. I personally love it." The coyote explained as he reached a finger towards the safety's touchscreen. The ID call flared into view and he smiled at seeing who was calling.
"It's quite catchy." Ellen said, as she listened to the song with avid attention, although the entertainment was short lived once Durham opened the call. "You gotta show me these songs later."
Durham winked at her as he placed the phone at one of his ears, although he kept it a few inches away. He had enough bad experiences with people trying to blow up his eardrums.
"Hi Durham!Are you all out yet?" The sweet voice of Els greeted him. Durham smiled, glad that she kept her promise of returning his earlier call.
"Yeah, we are just moving down the staircase. Say, did you talk with her?" He asked with a hint of anxiety. The rest of the group stared at him, curious as to who he was talking with.
"Yeah, I did. Haru said it was fine, she wasn't going to be at the garden for most of the day anyway. So you're good to set up tomorrow, though..." Els sudden hesitancy worried the coyote.
"What?"
"She's fine with you two having a launch, but she doesn't want anyone...err... screwing around in her garden." She replied with a nervous chuckle. Durham snorted, both in shock and disbelief.
"Well, damn. It's not like we are getting to that any time soon anyway." Durham with a strained laugh. Els gasped.
"Wait! You... are you going to ask her? Tomorrow?"
The coyote paused, unsure if he should spoil the surprise at all. Els and Ellen were roommates after all, he didn't felt like risking it, even if she was trustworthy.
"Who is he talking with?" Jack wondered somewhere on the back. Everyone had kept quiet so far as Durham was busy on the call.
"Maybe, I gotta see how it goes. We... have lots to talk about still." Durham replied rather evasively.
"Oh, if you say so." The silence that stretch after that disappointed response made the coyote a bit uneasy. "I see you tomorrow then. Just don't forget to make the invite today. I dunno if Ellen is planning on doing something for tomorrow aside the visit to the plaza. Louis will be expecting us to be there to get acquainted with the setting before the Meteorite Festival. Kinda silly since we all did this last year if you ask me, but oh well. Also don't forget the things I told you to buy, there's a store near the plaza that has everything you will need. Bye Durham, have fun!"
The coyote let out a weary sigh as he turned off the call, turning around to talk with the others he noticed their expectant expressions.
"So, just talking with a friend. I got some errands to do for tomorrow. Say, any of you feel like helping me with them on the way back?" He asked with a sheepish grin.
"Huh, I can walk with you. I need to buy some things too." Legosi offered rather timidly. Durham wasn't sure if he could accept his offer, especially considering that the wolf was more than capable of taking care of the group in case things went bad.
"Perhaps, if the rest of you go back to school right away. The sooner, the merrier."
"I think we can handle it, don't worry." Shiira replied, an amused smile on her face. "Say, what's the name of the place we are going again?"
Durham blinked, realizing he hasn't really told them where they were actually going other than a general location. He reached to his phone in search of Zoozle, tapping in the desired location he wanted to reach.
"Name's... Fujiwara's."
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The group reached the front of what appeared to be a convenience store, nothing about it indicated that it was any kind of food shop. The name Fujiwara's stood on timid letters above the entrance door. There were window's at both sides that were completely covered on advertisements. The weirdest of all was the huge garage door that stood connected to the store at the far side. The street that the store was located was relatively empty, aside some bystander cars parked nearby, the illumination was decent, few houses and several building complexes covered the rest of the street. It was far from being a commercial area.
"Not the ideal place one would set a store." Jack commented as he glanced around the area with intrigue. "Why would he set a shop here? Doesn't seem he would be getting any costumers at a decent rate, it's hardly noticeable and nothing on the store itself mentions anything about food."
The group seemed to share the Labrador's questioning. They weren't sure either of what to make of the odd place they were setting foot in.
"Let's get inside, see what this place is all about anyway." Ellen suggested, making her way to the door as the other followed more hesitantly.
The zebra opened the door with haste, looking from side to side with apprehension. They were taken aback as they were greeted with an interior that strongly resembled a cafeteria of sorts. The lights were dim, several small tables with couches spread across the surprisingly vast room. The walls painted on a rather pale brown color, at the far end a balcony of wood stood, a cash register that was hardly used nowadays stood proudly on top of it. Behind the balcony several shells with all types of liquor and other variations of drinks they hardly recognized. The area felt warm and the scent of flowers permeated the air, probably due the several vases hanging on the walls.
"Huh, this actually looks..." Ellen started, looking around as she tried to absorb every detail.
"Very cozy. I don't think I ever saw a place like this that uses couches instead of chairs, it's almost like we are at someone's home." Juno completed, looking absolutely marveled by the sight.
"Well, in a way, you are." Replied a voice from the other end of the room. Several heads turned their way towards the origin of the sound, they all were taken aback by the person standing there.
Durham, despite not meeting in person previously, had a vague idea of who that person might be once he talked. What he did not expect was that the voice would belong to a hybrid.
The man dressed in old style clothing, that more resembled majordomo than anything, stood proudly as he glanced at the group with an air of interest. His face presented with a huge smile on his rather elongated muzzle, his fur pristine with a variety of orange, white and black. His limbs seemed extremely long for his body type, as if his legs and arms grew far more than they should. His golden shiny eyes were alight with the joy he has at seeing them present at his humble location. A tail swinging at his back, completely covered in orange fur with a tip of white at the far end.
"Welcome! Welcome to Fujiwara's! I imagine it was Durham that brought you all here." He welcomed them with a rather cheerful and enthusiastic voice, the energy in it was felt by all the others. "Oh, and before you all ask. Yes, I'm a maned wolf, nothing really exotic I dare to say."
"You're Fujiwara?" Durham asked as he approached the wolf, walking by the several couches and tables with ease. The wolf-fox like creature nodded.
"That I am. Glad to see you all could make it here without much of an issue. Please, take a seat, I will bring the menus right away." He offered, his hand waving towards the couches. "We can discuss more once you're all served."
An offer that no one dare to refuse, they quickly made themselves comfortable. It took them no more than few seconds to add the couches to their list of favorite things about the shop.
"Oh, this place feels great! I hope the food is just as good." Jack said once he was sunk deep in his own couch, looking very pleased with himself.
"True that, I was not really expecting any of this. It's beats any other place we've been. It's quiet, has a mysterious air to it, and it doesn't feel like I'm waiting at a bus stop." Shiira agreed, looking very relaxed for once. "Honestly, I'm rather hesitant to ever mention this place to anyone else. I prefer it this empty."
"Eh, you think? Maybe Fujiwara would appreciate having more people. I'm not really sure, but I understand why you prefer it this empty. Less people to worry about it's a good thing after all." Jack replied unconvinced. The cheetah shrugged.
"Say, Stripes, I was kinda wondering... you said you would be dancing in the Festival, right?" Durham asked distractedly. Fujiwara had just returned with the menus and place them on the table the group currently surrounded. The maned wolf glanced at Legosi with mild curiosity, but his attention quickly shifted away towards the conversation taking place as he stood expectantly, awaiting for them to decide on what to order. "I thought you were in the acting team, not the dancing one."
"Oh, that's cause, well..." Ellen shifted uncomfortably. "I was in the dancing team originally. After what happened with Tem... I got shifted back and fort. Had to fill two roles. It was really wearing me out a bit, which is why Juno joined the crew, but we usually seek replacements when someone is at their third year anyway. We do have about eight people on the dance crew, it's the actors that are lacking at the moment. Even Juno is being shifted to dance because some members won't be able to join the Festival."
"Hmm, I believe Louis, Sanu, Kabiro and Haman will be leaving at the end of the year."
"Who is Kabiro and Haman?" Durham asked, realizing there was still a bunch of people he didn't met that belonged to the club.
"One is our script writer, the other is.. heh, the advisor. Not like he ever manages to advise anything with Louis running the show all the time." Ellen said as she rolled her eyes. "I am worried about Dom, he will be leaving soon and he's the only designer we have. Production crew is a big deal after all, he's been in that all by himself for two years."
"Indeed. Sanu has struggled to find proper candidates this last few months. He mentioned something about a new member joining the next semester, but the details were very vague." Shiira complemented as her eyes studied the options provided by the shop's owner. "Huh? There is a lot of things here that I did not expect, amazed there's so much sea food options, considering how difficult that is to get." She mentioned, her eyes immediately traveling towards the price tab, but there was nothing there out of the usual. "Mr. Fujiwara, I imagine you have a good provider to be able to sell sea food. I'm well aware how problematic that tends to be at times."
The maned wolf chuckled, looking very entertained for whatever reason.
"Not at all. I'm running a small filial. Fujiwara is a big business deal, and I just so happened to choose this town to set one of the locations that I was offered to administrate. The supplies are easily provided, I just gotta make sure they are not overloading my storage and refrigerators. Anyways, have you all decided what to order?"
The group slowly assented as they made their individual requests. It was so strange to discover what each of them preferred as the orders were being inserted on the small tablet that Fujiwara was holding. The coyote, while watching as the maned wolf walked away to prepare their requests, suddenly realized that Fujiwara seemed far too young to be running a shop by his own. Perhaps just a few years older than Durham himself.
"Say, Legosi, what is a maned wolf? I never heard of it before." Jack asked as Fujiwara was far away from hearing distance. Legosi scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Me neither, perhaps from another province far away, I'm not sure."
"You think he's an hybrid? He does look like it, I never seen a wolf with that long arms of legs, he easily can reach further than Legosi." Jack wondered aloud, no one else knew what to say on that regard.
"I don't know, and I rather just take it as it is. He's nice and all, suits me fine. It's not like he doesn't look cool either, I don't really mind." Durham replied with a touch of humor. "Careful Legosi, Jack might start hanging out with his new wolf friend more than he does with you."
Legosi snorted, looking somewhat amused, a rare smile on his face that the others were unused to see.
"I don't know, but he does look interesting. Say, you are looking to work here, ain't you?" The gray wolf said as he glanced back at the coyote. Durham nodded.
"Hopefully so, now that I saw the place, I actually look forward for this summer vacations. Say, what ya'll be doing in the mean time?"
"I think my parents wanted to travel somewhere, I'm not really sure to where though." Juno said, a thoughtful expression on her face as tried to remind what she's been told months ago. "Perhaps we do go away for few days."
"Hmm, we kinda never saw you parents or heard of them before Juno, what are they like?" Ellen asked with mild curiosity. "I know Durham's mother is ten times more of a pain in the ass than he can be, but only to Durham."
"Haha, ain't you a comedian." Durham replied with all the sarcasm he could muster. Ellen rolled her tongue at him. "Urgh, how often do I have to see that huge tongue of yours? It's getting old."
Shiira and Juno giggled at his reply, Ellen blushed profusely as she looked away. Durham stared at the girls, unsure of what caused the commotion. As soon he saw Legosi and Jack giving him weird looks he realized what was going on.
"Fucking hell, why you all thinking it like that? Grow up."
"Aaaaanyways... where were we?" Ellen said, looking somewhat flustered. Juno was about to reply but Fujiwara cut the conversation short as he returned with most of their orders. Everyone stared in shock.
"That was insanely quick!" Jack commented as the maned wolf distributed the plates and drinks. Fujiwara merely chuckled at their amazement. "How did you do it?"
"Now, now. One does not reveal their tricks so easily, besides, in this business you do have to be quick anyways. Speaking of quick... " His eyes traveled towards the coyote, a expression of wonder on his face as he measure his words carefully. "... this feels like an appropriate time to discuss your application."
A/N: Beastars Season 2 is up and running! And so am I! :) Weekly updates are back on schedule! No BS, no excuses. A chapter per week without a miss! I'm pumped. Have a great week and see ya'll after Episode 3!