Season two begins now. I'm happy to be back and I hope you enjoy the start of this new season!

- Malik Syv

CHAPTER 22: Distant Memory

Calm, warm air floated by Cherryton. The breeze blew past the freshly blooming cherry blossom trees, their petals decorated the ground beneath them and the paths which led all across campus. The petals were pink, their tips gently colored by hints of red. An especially beautiful sight for the late spring.

"It's hot outside today." Riz pulled his collar to let a little air in.

"You should shave your fur for the summer already."

"It's not easy to find time. Professors have been handing out work every single day."

"That's no excuse. I shaved my wool last week and we've got some of the same classes!" Tem replied.

"Your wool can get matted and you could overheat, so you have to put it at the top of your list of priorities."

"Exactly and the same could happen to you too!" Tem responded worriedly.

"Okay, I'll handle it as soon as I can today. You don't need to be so worried." Riz waved off his friend effortlessly much to the alpaca's slight dismay.

"Alright, if you say so then I'll believe you!" Riz smirked at his friend's cheery response. He leaned back to relax a bit under the shade of the cherry blossoms overhead. The bright and light pink hue of each petals' were kind to the eyes. Their slight movement from the breeze held an intense wonder from the bear who saw them.

"So gentle, so bright, so simple." Riz thought calmly as the heat trapped in his fur began to dissipate. Soon he became still, closed off to everything except for the tree above, the ground beneath, the breeze around and friend beside him. He'd reached a sense of peace and a moment of temporary belonging. Tem looked at his friend with a similar sense of peace in the atmosphere.

"Riz."

"Hm?"

"Seeing you like this… makes me feel like I don't know you at all." Riz looked at his friend, understandably confused. "I know, I know. We've known each other and been friends for an entire year at this point. Carnivores are characterized by their threatening, monstrous appearances and their greater threat to herbivores across society. You're nothing like that. You're so calm and peaceful… like there isn't anything different between our people. A brown bear, supposedly one of the most deadly carnivores because of their "inability to control even their most primal urges!" What a load of crap. If anything, I've been more fearful of Louis than you and he and I are supposed to be friends." Tem smiled brightly to himself, for a moment he became the sun itself and the sun burned away all shadows.

"... My grandmother taught me to be kind to others. She also said to be true to myself but that's contradicted by her teaching me to hold back all the time. Since I was little I constantly believed that, I constantly believe everything she says, even now. Tem. Could you see my "true" self and still accept me?" Riz's serious expression was met by a slight boop on his nose with a honk noise made by Tem.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I would. I'm surprised you were hiding anything at all." Riz felt a warm sensation chest fill his chest. He felt truly at home.

"Thank you. Tem." The bear's warm smile made Tem feel a bit embarrassed but he smiled back regardless. The two shared in each other's presence, peacefully hiding away from the end of the year ceremony for the drama club. However, they're peace would soon end thanks to a certain wolf.

"Tem! Riz! What are you guys doing? I've been calling you guys, why didn't you answer?" Legoshi asked while he caught his breath. Tem and Riz looked at one another then back to Legoshi.

"We're skipping the ceremony." Tem answered politely.

"I mean- I- I thought maybe something happened to you guys!"

"With Riz around? We're perfectly fine. I'm assuming Louis sent you on a hunt to find us?" Legoshi lowered his ears, confirming Tem's suspicion. "You don't have to always act as his minion, you know. Why don't you skip the ceremony with us?"

"Uh… well first I'm not his minion. Second-"

"You do everything he asks, never really object to what he says even when you have your own objections and you go fetch people whenever he asks. I'd say that's minion behavior." Riz commented.

"A bit harsh but he does have a point. You shouldn't be so passive, especially when it comes to Louis. He's a piece of work when you let him walk all over you." Tem concurred.

"...Secondly, this ceremony is important so we can say goodbye to the seniors who taught us so much." Legoshi did his best to brush off the earlier comments but his defeated nature came out in his facial expression. "Before you guys say anything, at least consider that I'll have to hear Louis complain to me about all of this if I show up without you two."

Tem and Riz looked at each other once more then whispered between themselves. The two brought up different points as to why they should or should not go to the ceremony after skipping about the first fifteen minutes of it. Legoshi stood back watching the two, growing more and more impatient by the second.

"Could you guys-"

"Uh uh! We're still discussing." Tem responded, his back still to the wolf who went back to waiting. After a minute or two the bear and alpaca looked at Legoshi.

"We've decided to go." Riz announced. The two stood to their feet and walked past Legoshi who followed behind them. The three made their way there to the club room, Legoshi remained silent for the most part, something Riz and Tem took note of. The three arrived as the previous club leader officially handed over control of the club to Louis. Sanu officiated the meeting and thanked the seniors for their hard work in making another successful year for the drama club. Everyone clapped as the meeting came to its end and soon began speaking amongst themselves. Louis stepped towards the trio that arrived late.

"Legoshi, seems like you've made yourself quite useful in finding these two. Nice work. As for the two of you, what do you have to say for yourselves?" Louis narrowed his eyes at the duo.

"Didn't think it was all that important. I mean we're first years, plus the seniors barely talked to us." Tem nodded in agreement with his friend. Louis gave them a tired sigh.

"This was your idea wasn't it Tem?"

"Yeah I'll admit that." Louis gestured for Tem to follow him which the alpaca did.

"The two of you wait here while Tem and I have a talk." Louis said to Riz and Legoshi. The two carnivores silently agreed and watched the two herbivores exit the room.

"I hope Louis doesn't get too mad at Tem." Legoshi said.

"It'll be fine." Riz reassured him.

Louis led Tem down an empty hallway for a few short minutes until they arrived at a nearby stairwell. The two sat on the second step up.

"This ceremony was important so you shouldn't have tried to miss it." Louis started. "It's good to pay your respects to your seniors even if they haven't done much for you."

"You're right I should have been there but like you said the seniors didn't do anything for the first years. They barely mentored you or any of the other second years either. You know that." Tem responded.

"That's true but I can't really blame them. The seniors prior acted in the same way so it's all they know."

"If that's true me and everyone else will be relying on you, Sheila and everyone else to be better."

"I'm not the most empathetic so I'll need you to be the softer hand when it comes to the upcoming first years in the actors department." Louis admitted.

"Why do I have to be your right hand?" Tem playfully asked.

"You won't be my right-hand rather my equal. You've earned the respect of everyone in the club through your acting skills and you're arguably the best in the club. The first years will be looking up to you regardless."

"Arguably? Thanks for the compliment! Although, I think you're a lot better than me. Wait a second… were you trying to lure me into place using some fluffy words?"

"Is it working?" Louis asked which Tem answered with a goofy grin.

"You should use the fluffy words on that girl you keep seeing in the gardening club. I think she could use your sweet talk more than me."

"Speak for yourself, you're the one that has a big crush. Aren't you?" Tem blushed at Louis' callout.

"You're mean, you know that?!" Louis chuckled at his friend's embarrassment.

"In all seriousness Louis, you really should try hanging out with that girl more often. She seems to make you happy."

"As the heir to the Horns Conglomerate being in a relationship with someone like her would be seen as… distasteful." Louis responded with a sense of reluctance.

"Does that matter? It's not like you're getting married. Try to enjoy your time together instead of worrying about how many people know or feel about it."

"Remember what I told you about my public relationships?" Louis argued.

"If you keep sneaking around, someone is going to figure it out. Better to be out in the open than always behind closed doors." Tem's words struck a nerve.

"I'll… take it into consideration. Hm, now that I think about it you've turned this conversation on me, haven't you?" Tem used another grin to answer Louis. "I suppose you have learned something from me."

"Yup!" Tem agreed and the two went back to the drama club. The room was empty for the most part except for Riz, Legoshi and some other members. Louis left Tem with Legoshi and Riz

"Is everything alright, Tem?" Legoshi asked.

"Yeah nothing to worry about!" Tem's cheerful expression put the wolf at ease.

"I told you there would be nothing to worry about. Now let's get going." Riz said.

"Where are we going?"

"I told Legoshi we'd have dinner at my place. I've been practicing a tomato and soybean curry dish that my grandmother always makes for me. I want you guys to be the first ones to taste it." Riz happily explained. "Are you in?"

"Of course! I just hope it isn't too spicy." Tem responded. The three gathered their things from the locker room then made their way to Riz's dorm. The bear had his friends sit at a small dining table before going into the kitchen to begin cooking. Legoshi still wasn't too talkative but Tem changed that rather quickly after he apologized for he and Riz's rude behavior from before. The wolf perked up a bit after this and engaged in some light conversation. Soon he opened up even more, displaying a relaxed side he rarely showed to anyone outside of his dorm. Riz finished their food and sat down with three plates. He assured them both that it should not be too spicy, so after a brief prayer the three began eating and the first couple of bites made Tem's face turn a bright shade red. Riz and Legoshi began to laugh aloud as Tem gulped down his glass of water only for that not to be enough.

"You said it wouldn't be spicy!" Tem cried as he scrambled to get more water to drink. The two carnivores continued laughing until Tem finally calmed down. Riz apologized for the spice and made him a bowl of salad.

"Hey Legoshi, will you be here for the summer semesters? Riz and I will be."

"Not for the first semester but I'll be here for the second." Legoshi answered, finishing his plate.

"Maybe you could room with us during the second semester." Tem responded.

"You and Riz are rooming together? Isn't that against the rules? What if you get into trouble?"

"No, of course not. Don't believe a word he says. It's all wishful thinking on his part." Riz responded honestly.

"No one's gotta know plus if no one sees me then they'll be no trouble I'll just use one of your roommates beds." Tem argued but Riz shot him a look of disapproval.

"Okay, I'll stop bringing it up buuuuuuut, I have another idea. During the second semester we should do this again. Minus the food that sets my mouth on fire!"

"That does sound nice." Riz agreed with a chuckle.

"I would like that too." Legoshi followed up.

"Perfect. I can't wait for us to do this again." Tem spoke full of anticipation. He wanted to stay there forever. Riz and Legoshi felt the same oddly enough, their night lasted for an extra hour or so before Tem and Legoshi left for their dorms. The two arrived at Legoshi's dorm first before Legoshi could say goodnight, Tem spoke up.

"Legoshi."

"Yes?"

"Don't let people walk all over you. You are much too strong for that!" Tem exclaimed.

"Thanks for the encouragement. I just try to stay out of trouble, that's all." Legoshi replied politely before going into his room. Tem worried about Legoshi, however, something in his gut told him that he would be okay. That feeling of ease stayed with him as he walked to his dorm.