So this actually took me 3 rewrites of the ending, not because I couldn't get the kiss right, but because I couldn't find a reason for not having the kiss. Everything else just felt like he had no differences from Legosi, Which isn't the point of this arc.
Rokume had left shortly after I said I would find out who killed Tem… I'm sure she'll still be watching. She has no idea who it is, but I do… Riz, the Brown Bear… I suppose before this moment, despite knowing who it was, my mind was occupied… I hadn't really felt like I was a part of this world… My first response should be tell the police that I know who did it… but I can't.
My body is weak and uncoordinated, at least while these instincts are locked behind their cage. If I let them free, I'll definitely lose to a bear with more strength than me. I need to figure out how to get stronger… Otherwise I can't change this society! If it's one thing I remember, it's that you can't do anything without being able to defend your beliefs!
It was after Practice one day that I brought up Tem… I needed Riz to suspect I was getting close, otherwise he'll never be anyplace where I could fight him alone.
"Legosi, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare or something?" No Aoba. Just poor decision making. I didn't think Bill would go off.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You go on bringing up his death and now you're suspecting that one of us killed him?! Have you gone crazy?" crap, Bill's really loud…
"I'm only bringing it up because I feel we need to keep it in our minds." not really, but I don't know how else to respond!
"That's not the point! Why are you bringing it up Now? You're good at playing the canine idealist. Sorry, but I don't trust anything from a no good Bunny fucking wol-" He didn't get to finish that sentence before he was shoved against the lockers…
Devour...
My instincts… wanted the same thing as me in this moment. I could feel his skin on my claws. He was gripping me with the same look I imagine I had. While I kept my reason, he dug his nails into my skin, barely managing to break the surface. I caged them back inside.
"I don't care what you say about me… But you don't get to say anything about her! You're more untrustworthy than me." I can't even remember why I'm arguing with this idiot…
"What? Don't try to accuse me, I've got more friends than you, I am way more trustworthy than you are." He's got me there, I really only know my roommates…
"Yeah, well you went-" crap, I can't say that in front of the herbivores! We were told to avoid that place, and if I say we went there, we'll probably get suspended, or worse.
"Went to the what?! Say it, I dare you."
knock knock.
"Is this the drama club's male dressing room?" thank god, distraction… "Wow! Were you in the middle of an argument?" An annoying distraction, a goat. Considering I don't know much about how goats look, but he looks like the pretty boy of woolly animals. Even his voice was slightly feminine. "he he he. Smells like Males in here, oh, Excuse me Doggie." He reached for Locker #2, Tem's old locker.
"… Those scratches on your right arm look painful." huh? Oh, the arm I put in the Lion boss's mouth… "How many stitches did you need?"
"About 35 I think..." stitches aren't pleasant especially in a body where my muscles seem to strain against them despite being lean.
"Whoa! I couldn't handle that. I had my wisdom teeth pulled out the other day and that made me cry." He closed the locker and started leaving. "I'll be leaving now, so fight to your hearts' content. I'll be seeing you guys later."
We had a short meeting, and the new guy, Pina, Insulted all the carnivores. The divides going to get larger if this keeps up…
"I want to crush that materialistic Goat Bastard into a pulp and Swallow him whole!" Bill yelled as he crushed a can on top of the roof… it was the carnivore Gathering, where the carnivores gather on the rooftop under the dusk sky… I came here for the same reason I talked about Tem's death earlier. Riz needs to know I'm looking for him. Otherwise I'll never get a shot at him.
"I know why you're here Legosi, you think one of us is Tem's killer, No one's forgotten about that case. One of us was eaten alive… I'm actually offended that you thought that..." Dolph the Hippo said. He's sitting next to bill, who in turn is sitting right next to Riz… even sitting down he's larger than the other two by a few feet…
"Sorry… I'm not trying to suspect you guys of anything… I just wanted to talk, see, because I'm a wolf, I'm a suspect too. But I don't have proof that one of you didn't kill Tem…" uh… where do I go from here… I know I need to say more, but I have no idea what... "so, uh, well, us carnivores should be prioritizing protecting the uh, herbivores… to prove our innocence. We shouldn't be bad mouthing our new member… But come to an understanding, and we shouldn't antagonize ourselves, we should be working together… also-"
"Stop! Stop! You're not made for that leadership crap Idiot! We'd treat our herbivores nicely without you telling us to!" phew… I was running out of things to say, thank you for stopping me Bill. "besides, you're an animal of action, not words, right?"
"What?"
"You slept with that bunny, didn't you? There's only one thing we want to know right now…" They all leaned in close, blurting out their question at the same time..
"Can Large breed carnivores fuck bunnies!"
"Like, is it physically possible..?"
"Does it take effort?!"
"I always thought it'd be dangerous! Like putting a large truck through a Garage door!"
Wha… Why are teenagers such perverts! The worst part is I can't answer any of that, we didn't even get all of our clothes off…
"If that's what you want to talk about, then I'm leaving." As I got up to leave, more out of trying to get out of answering than embarrassment, Bill grabbed my shoulder.
"Oh Wait, wait! Don't get mad! I'm just curious." I turned back to look at him, the night flashing through my mind…
"Oh… what, so you didn't fuck?" yes bill, we didn't…
"I don't have to tell you guys anything! This is way too weird for me! My memories of that night..." I… I actually hadn't thought about that night… I've just been going with the flow… I… What is my feeling on that night..?
I turned around and left. I ignored their calls as I took out my phone. I… Need to talk to her…
(what are you doing right now?)
(nothing much.)
(can we meet?)
(of course.)
We met in one of the outdoor hallways, She was there before me, since it was closer to the dorms than the carnivore gathering.
"What's up? You normally don't contact me at night."
"Yeah..." Man… How do I start… We haven't talked about that night since it happened…
"What? What's the matter you big weirdo?" She said after giggling, she's cute, she's really cute and my heart is already thumping…
"Nothing much… What happened to your right hand?" Her middle finger had a band aide attached to it… I figured it could get us started in conversation as I gently grabbed her smaller hand in my gigantic in comparison one.
"Oh, I accidentally cut it with a knife while cooking. I grabbed the knife in a hurry and..." how do I ask her about the night? I said some things then that I've accepted but-
"You have to slump down so I can see you at eye level." Suddenly I was staring into Haru's eyes, she had yanked me down by my tie. Her face was in front of mine... I could just lean forward…
"So I..."
"Stop talking!" she said with a pout, a blush on her cheeks…
"Okay..." I put my hand against the pillar she was sitting against. Her face was in front of mine… I leaned in as she grabbed the side of my face… our lips met, it wasn't blissful or sweet, it just was… I had closed my eyes, afraid to see her expression. I didn't need to. I felt that this was all I needed, all I wanted from this world was this, the feeling of belonging…
I was the one who had to break off, I wasn't staring at her when I opened my eyes, so I still didn't know her expression, perhaps she disliked me now for taking advantage of her, perhaps she was disappointed because she wanted more.
"I've got so many questions Haru… but I can't ask them now… Wait for me..."
"Wait for me until I get stronger..."