Right, beginning of Chapter two… probably going to be much longer, if not chapters, in length. Take note, this is probably where the original plot will start falling apart, since the entire Manga is about reconciling nurture vs nature hardcore as well as other themes. As an extra dimensional entity, a human, we've kinda said fuck it to instincts and all that. The issue won't be thrown out entirely, but it's going to be a lesser concern over what our MC will be facing. If you haven't seen the manga yet, go read it, as this part will now count as spoilers. Chapters shall now always come every Friday.

I put away my phone, I had looked at it five times already despite knowing there wouldn't be any new text messages from Haru.

It's been two months since the day of the Meteor Festival, And I've been keeping up with Haru… I generally text her when I want to meet, and she sets the Location. Although it's always the same west stairway on the third floor…

"Thanks for waiting Legosi." Speak of the rabbit. She bounded down the stairs before sitting at the bottom of the steps, I was leaning against the window opposite from those steps, The sun always felt good on my fur, still weird thinking of it that way, no matter how much time passes...

"So anything interesting happen, Haru?" I always started with this line, I enjoyed hearing her talk, her mature and honest voice made me feel giddy on the inside. As much as I outwardly show it I guess.

"Not much, but a few things, So on my way here I bumped into this African elephant and almost fell on the floor!" I looked over her for injuries, I couldn't smell any blood, and I couldn't see any injuries that might not have been under her dress. "I could actually hear the Tremors From the elephants Stomping, This entire building is falling to pieces." She frowned, "I bet the mouse family have it really rough."

Not entirely. "The mice have their own passages near the ceiling." I've been doing some reading in my spare time. If I was stuck here, I needed to learn more about it's inhabitants and my own body. For instance, the resting heart rate of Haru's and mine is 50 beats a minute off. It really went to show you how amazing a wolf's body was that I could raise mine enough that we were in sync that… one night.

"Really? Wow, I guess I would appear big in the eyes of a mouse!" her voice is always cheerfully bright when we meet, as she switches between facial expressions pretty quickly when we're alone.

"Haru… you always choose this place for the meeting… Are the rumors still going around?" as a much as biology went bonkers in this world, they at least gave each animal the correct abilities. I guess the original was just unobservant. Wolves have insane hearing, If I strained, and there was no other noises, I could probably hear a conversation outside from here. So it's really hard not to hear them.

"Y-You know!?" Haru... don't look so surprised, Herbivores have been getting really chatty recently. So far, the entire school knows I saved Haru, nobody has gone out and said it was the Shishigumi who did it though. Although there's been several rumors spreading around about me despite that. Some of them using me saving her as the springboard. They aren't that bad , but they're gaining traction. And if they're gaining traction against me, then they must be absolutely horrible to Haru.

"I'm a wolf-" Those were the wrong words, I realized as they died in my throat. We always try not to mention our species to each other, It's not serious, but I always feel self-conscious when I do so. "-I have really good hearing."

"The thing about small animals." She started, "Is that rumors spread really fast, and stay for a long time… I'm a pro at being bullied, and a Rumor is like a big ball on a hill, the more scandalous, the steeper the hill, and eventually they can become unstoppable."

Who knew animals were more prone to gossip than a race predispositioned to socializing? "They'll probably stop gossiping if we come clean about our relationship." This one was actually a semi-trap for Haru. Ever since I told her upon that overlook that I loved her, we've never actually defined our relationship. I'm too afraid to, and she probably sees no reason to.

"…Coming clean would be weird wouldn't it?" what is she implying? "Because of our relationship... we don't need to change our relationship." Seriously… this wasn't the answer I was expecting. What did that mean? Are we dating? Are we just friends?

I don't really get what she's talking about. I probably didn't when I read about it before as well. She's probably scared of committing while Louis has been for all intent and purposes missing. I obviously hadn't told anyone where he was, because either they'd laugh me off, or they'd wonder why I didn't save him as well if he's with the Shishigumi.

Speaking of that night… I haven't really kept my promise. I know all the methods of training that I could go through, but almost none of them apply to me. I can't train myself to have no craving for meat, because I myself have no craving for it, it's this body that does. Learning to appreciate life… I don't know where to begin, since it requires enlightenment, and I don't want to eat something living just yet...

And I obviously couldn't fast to the extreme because I'm in a school filled with herbivores. I'm afraid the instincts in me would grow out of control. I could see the headlines, 'wild wolf s- sees Louis, he walked past me as I was entering the bathroom.

"hey.." I stood there for a few seconds, he's back? isn't he supposed to be leading the Shishigumi?!

"Louis..." I wasn't prepared for this! I thought I'd have more time to reconcile my feelings with him. I bear him no ill will… but we kinda parted on awkward terms! I stole his girlfriend, Juno stole his popularity and status, it's just really awkward!

"Long time no see Legosi..." he stopped and turned towards me, his face… was neutral, even when he was greeting me like we were old friends.

"so..." god this was awkward. "How's life in the darkness treating you?"

..

…

…That was obviously the wrong thing to say, he turned around faster than I think he should have realistically been able to with those antlers, his entire body was tense, and his eyes had a dark glint. He shoved me against the wall in the empty hallway, I was stronger, but I let him.

"How much… Do you know..?" he asked with venom in his voice, his neutral features turned into a dark sneer, as if he couldn't accept that somebody knew… how do I get out of this? I shouldn't know that he's been in the black market this entire time, but I was just too surprised.

"I… you've been gone for two months, so I figured… you weren't at home… since nobody knew where you went… I figured you followed me all that time ago..." it's stupid, it has a bunch of logic leaps, but I can't just say I read about it in a Manga!

He slowly pulled his arm away from my neck, again, it didn't hurt, I stood myself back up. "Your deductions are unnerving… I see you still haven't changed..." He turned away and began walking, I… I want to tell him.

"Louis!" I began before my brain caught up, "I have grown! I'm more confidant, I- I made a promise that I intend to keep! Just wait! I'll get stronger, so that I can help you change this society!" have I… really grown this much?

He can't do the daunting task of changing this society… he doesn't want to. Let's just act like Legosi, it shouldn't be hard…

I wanted to fight, to rage against this cage of flesh. To rage against this cage… of my own making!...

"What do you think of this world..? Haru."

"Legosi… My name's Legosi..."

If you refuse to change… If you refuse to take another path… then… "Haru, will be mine!"…

"You're the only Legosi, I've ever known… I wouldn't change it for anything."…

"Because I love you."…

Everything from when I first came here came rushing back… I've gone through a lot, haven't I? There were several times my knowledge could have avoided so much pain for everyone involved… but I was too stuck on the fact that I didn't belong…

"The tables have turned Legosi… I'll be waiting, as you struggle in the shallow light..." I thought I saw him smile, before walking away. Later that day, he quit the Drama club, and then he turned in an absence of leave. It's his turn to struggle in the darkness…

"Hey Legosi!" it was later that I ran into Juno… I was unsure what to think, She's been strangely friendly to someone who rejected her. She smiled at me as we met outside the territory room… right, the territory room is a place that every animal has to spend one hour in per month, they simulate an animal's natural habitat to remove stress.

"Oh… Hey Juno..." Man this was weird for me, Usually girls avoid you when you breakup with them, this one just stick to you closer. "So… About the festival-"

"We should start heading inside, okay Legosi?" Uh… okay.. I guess she didn't want to talk about it.

We entered the room lit up by artificial moonlight, I kept walking in but Juno stopped at the door, causing me to pause and look behind me, She was staring at the other wolves in the room, prompting me to look again, all of them were… chatting amicably. Usually wolves don't speak much during territory time…

A few of the wolves got up, smiles on their faces as they came over. "Hey Juno! We wanted to say, Great job at the festival! You gave a speech about a wolf that saved a herbivore, everyone was moved by you!" they started clamoring, all of them excited over this.

"W-What do you mean moved?" Really Juno, you haven't noticed it?

"Herbivores are seeing us in a better light! They don't even care when they get within a meter of us! Your fan club is thirty percent herbivores!" They started thanking Juno, Their Happiness unmeasured… as much as I disagree that carnivores should be revered because of our strong bodies and our instincts. You've done something amazing Juno…

She turned around, her cheer back in her step as she smiled at me. "Legosi, I was wrong about you, I liked your mask, not you… but I still want to be friends! Because your eyes… Look so clear and beautiful in the moonlight!" right… I suppose I've changed a lot, I thought as I looked up at the artificial moon… Society will get worse from here on out…

It was dodge ball… I hated dodge ball. You'd think for a canine I'd be good at this, but I'm actually quite uncoordinated when I have the lock on my instinct-

Pa!

Right in the face! Sorry, that was me getting hit in the face, not me hitting someone else.

"Play ball like a canine and don't suck!" Like I could! If you don't want to be eaten I gotta play this bad!

As the entire school went back to normal, several things were still different. With Louis gone, Juno took his place as most beloved idol, and with it, carnivores and herbivores have been closer than ever before. The rumors about me and Haru have actually decreased, at least in number.

A horrible rattling sound met me as I took out our dorm room's garbage since it was my day for chores… it's been going on for a bit, a few days at least. It come and goes, and generally leaves when I'm in class. It's a horrible sound, since the instincts in my body seem to seethe behind the lock whenever I hear it.

Me and the guys were talking in the dorm when the rattling started up again. I looked at the others, they didn't seem to hear it. "You guys really don't hear it? The rattling sound that's been going on for days?"

They all shook their heads, disconcerting, they're all dogs, so they should be able to hear it. "I'm not kidding… It's a rattling sound, and it's been getting louder everyday..." It doesn't help I've been feeling like people have been watching me...

"I heard a ghost story about this school like that once! A six eyed ghost that goes around the school making weird noises!" the other large canine seemed excited for knowing about it, he still believed in ghost stories at his a-

Wait, six eyes? Why does that sound-

THUNKK!

My instincts reacted on their own, trying to rush through the lock, something dangerous was in the wall beside me, and my arm moved involuntarily… A large hole was in the wall, showing the piping beyond. The others were looking at me in fear, since I did just punch a hole in the wall for no seemingly normal reason.

"I'll get the toolbox after I'm done with the laundry." For teenagers, we have a lot of it. I got up and left the room, they probably didn't want me around after I just did that, and I needed to confront who ever is doing this before they make my instincts lash out.

I brought our laundry to the laundry room and I started the machine… I could still hear them, my instincts telling me they're in the room. "You can come out now, I'm alone..." there was still no answer.

"You've been staking me for a while now… Least you could do is tell me you're name, and stop trying to get a reaction out of me… it's annoying." I only had to wait for a few seconds before they dropped from the ceiling, a Large rattlesnake, coiled up, they were as tall as me.

Predator…

"I suppose the time has come to reveal myself to you… Your secret activities have driven my heart wild..." I squashed down those instincts as I took in their form. "I've been watching you eeever since you fought that tiger on the stage… I saw how you fought outside the school, how you chose a tiny bunny over you're own species..."

"You're a loose cannon, and a shameless lolicon, There's nobody crazier than you in the entire school… I've kept my eye on you, or rather my six eyes..." ah right… security guard, her scales formed patterns in the shape of four large eyes on her back, "I know everything about you… If you think you were going to live the rest of your schooldays in peace, Then you were wrong."

I don't know whether to deadpan or laugh. I never had any plans to pursue a peaceful life, even my past delusions were to be Louis' eternal bodyguard…

"You are much too unobservant, in all the Time I spent watching you, I saw-"

Bzzt!

"Sorry, can you hold that thought please? My laundry's finished..." I wasn't afraid of her attacking me while my back was turned, my instincts would warn me. "Sorry, but I need to take them out now, otherwise the smell sticks.." never thought I'd have this issue, but the soap the school uses is actually really fragrant to a canine's nose.

I put the clothes back in the basket as I turned around. "So why have you been watching me? Who are you?"

She picked up an officer hat from the floor with the end of his tail, "How rude of me… My hat seems to have fallen off, it's been many years since I approached a student in this fashion. I am the one and only security guard at this school, my name is Rokume." Right… I just wanted a name...

"During the drama clubs spring performance, I was hiding on the ceiling, Looking for Suspicious behavior. During the second day performance, Everyone, me included, were enchanted by the devilish energy of a certain actor! His act left me speechless… Your act that is..." Their energy was quite exuberant saying that.

"… That takes me back a bit… Well, I wasn't acting, I had a lot of issues I was sorting out-"

"I know. That dwarf rabbit was the cause of your insane actions… she was also the cause of you're actions during the summer isn't she… those scars on your arm look like feline bite marks. To think you'd fall in love with such a petite and immoral rabbit, you must be just as bad."

I had to fight down a growl at that, I knew she was correct, Haru had a reputation before I tried to devour her. But… I guess I'm just as bad. I've stopped feeling guilty about being in this body…

"The more I watched you… The more intrigued I became… I would like to see your capabilities once more, for the school..." she started surrounding me, her large bulk circling me twice.

"An animal of your caliber shouldn't be hiding from the public, it's such a waste..." Her scales slid across my clothing, soon lifting me gently up in the air and restricting my movements, although her grasp wasn't tight, I still had to shove down my instincts.

"But you hide from the students Rokume, They only know you as a ghost story… why?" I was genuinely curious, my memory of the story has been getting blurrier, I don't know what's causing it, but I can barely remember any of the other people I've yet to meet.

"I doubt anyone could understand how I feel… I was once an ordinary rattlesnake." She lifted me up in the air, my feet no longer touching the ground as they flailed for traction. "For my entire life I've been forced to live with the shame of Having no Arms or legs…" She's ashamed..? "Only by hiding myself can I endure living with this shame..."

Was racism… speciesm? Whatever, so prevalent in this world..? I can't see how anybody could make this strong of a creature feel shame… she has perfect control over her body, and she's lifting me without any limbs… and her scales are so smooth...

"I rattle my tail whenever I see a troublemaker, my job is to act as a whistle… I'm jealous of you, so tell me young wolf, Those beautiful legs of yours… How strong are you with them?"

"I didn't think… I never thought snakes had it so rough..." Rokume… I'm terrible with my legs…

"I'll be excusing myself!" she suddenly untangled me as I fell on my front. I had quickly gotten up to my feet.

"W-wait!" I ran out quickly, she's still making the rattling sound… she wants me to follow her as she went to the left… down the hallway to the right! Down the stairs as I passed by a young Herbivore, throwing an apology behind me… Until we ended up at the door.

She circled the wall, like an overhang showing the door that was dented and cracked by a carnivore's monstrous strength… The flowers, several of them wilted and dry for being left out… this was where-

"I assume you remember the case where your Alpaca friend was murdered? Even though I'm the security guard, I failed to capture the one responsible… the culprit should still be in this school."

I walked forward… there was a fresh placement… it was Louis'…

"I'm sorry, as a Security guard and a fan of yours, I want an encore in this school."

"Legosi, why don't you ever utilize your own strength?"

"… I wouldn't blame you for hesitating, this must be the first time you've been told to do something based on your strength." It's not…

"No… There was a time when someone told me that I should use my strength…" I looked down at the flowers I had picked up, the card… "I want to be stronger, but I also don't want his Apology… To be for nothing!"

I'm coming for you Riz!