"The show is wonderful in that it is simultaneously unbelievably simple to learn the texts and, at the same time, complex in its execution," Louis explained to the students gathered around him. The tapping of Legoshi's tail was slightly distracting, so the deer shot him the best of reproachful looks and continued, "Without a guide, even a helmsman, it's very difficult to follow the path of a great and famous author. But I will make every effort to make it enjoyable for you."
"But is it not related to the ancient legend?" Tao clarified, still embarrassed by the mistake.
"It is… Bearnard Shaw captured the essence and gave it a more modern retelling, adding a bit of irony, satire, and humor. For those who have never read Shaw – and I strongly recommend reading 'Pygmalion,' even the parts unrelated to your future roles – I'll explain that it's about two animals from the upper class who make a gentleman's bet. One of them will be obliged to teach etiquette a flower selling girl from the street within six months so that she can convincingly portray a noble lady at an upcoming gala ball."
Louis pulled a chair closer and finally sat down, as standing and lecturing was becoming a bit tiresome, especially after a day of shopping and company. He continued, "There are no direct insults in the play, but there are many hints of rudeness. Usually, animals start laughing at this part, but our task is much more interesting. To show that world, to present the real show according to Shaw's vision. We can even modernize the play, but I don't think it's necessary – it's literally the beginning of the last century, not so long ago in history. Actually, the flower girl, Eliza Dallittle and Professor Hedgehoggins form the main interacting couple. I don't think anyone will mind if their roles are given to Juno and Pina, respectively," Louis pointed to them with graceful gestures of both hands. The students applauded, and Kibi whispered quietly, "It's only fair… Juno suffered so much when the club closed."
"I suffered no less, oh, my beautiful anteater," returned to his usual self Pina, slightly turning his head. "By the way, it's amusing that in the original, Eliza was the Dall's sheep."
"Don't worry, Louis hasn't said yet who will play Eliza," Tao chuckled in a half-whisper, but Louis still heard and cut him off, "Eliza will be played by Juno, and Pina, if someone is unclear, will be Professor Hedgehoggins."
"Well, I'm just…" Tao stammered.
"Next, for me – and for us – comes a much more difficult task. I don't know all your theatrical skills yet, you are not familiar with me as a director, so I'll say it right away. Minor hitches are an absolute norm. This phrase doesn't mean that you shouldn't learn your lines, especially since there will be a double load before the exams, but be prepared that things won't always go smoothly, and work on it harder, don't give up."
"If Louis-san is not around, you can always come to me," Juno added, smiling gently. Louis nodded, "True. And remember, I studied here myself and performed on the school stage, I understand the burden you'll have to deal with."
"How old are you, Louis-san?" asked Ayako with curiosity.
"Twenty," he provided a short response. "Is that important?"
"No more important than the roles," Bryce said firmly, shaking his horns. The deer pointed at him with a finger, "Very well, because I would like to entrust the role of Colonel Piggering to you. You may not be familiar with Pina's character, but you instantly become friends – you, besides being a colonel, are also a Central Asian phonetics researcher, the author of a popular book, and he is a linguist-scholar, not too old, whom you greatly respect. You'll have a wonderful duality of a strong amateur and an academic professor."
"Okay. Thank you, Louis-san!" Bryce enthusiastically thanked him, almost bowing his black horns to the ground. Louis let out a satisfied laugh, "I'm glad to see your enthusiasm. Pina, what do you think?"
"We'll work well together," the ram nodded. He looked appraisingly at the massive body of his new clubmate and added, "The uniform will look great on him."
"I don't think I ever saw any uniform in that play, but if time allows we sure can talk about it later. Let's continue. The families of the main characters – or rather, the mother of the professor and the father of Eliza – are also a bit burdened with text, and the roles are emotional and sensitive. I'm giving the role of Eliza's father to you, Tsutomu."
"Me?" the flying fox asked in surprise, closing his mouth – he was about to yawn.
"Yes. Alfred Dallittle is a commoner, critics usually say that it's the most serious role in the play. You will be simultaneously emotional and ruthless, almost a swindler, but only by occasion. I'll go over the details with you later."
"If I didn't want the lead role so much, I would have taken the role of Alfred," Pina said half-whispered, turning his head towards him. "Don't worry, but don't take it lightly, Tsutomu-kun."
He nodded silently and folded his wings on his chest, shivering slightly.
"I'm entrusting the role of Professor Hedgehoggins's mother to Fumiko with a light heart. Fumiko, you are a kind and fair elderly lady from the aristocracy, who initially sees danger in the female stranger and commoner for her son and therefore wants to keep her away from him. But later everything's changed."
"Understood, Louis-san."
The deer nodded approvingly to the skunk, and spread his hands, "Now we have to show our talent for improvisation. In our drama club, it so happened that there are many more males, so instead of the Hedgehoggins' housekeeper, Mrs. Pearce, we'll have a butler, Mr. Pearce, in the play. Male housekeepers didn't exist back then, and I don't want to emphasize the comedic effect of cross-dressing. Our gharial, Izumu, will be Mr. Pearce."
The slender-snouted reptile bowed silently, embodying the epitome of composure. Louis had hoped for exactly that.
"Next… one of the secondary centers of the play is Mrs. Eynsford Mandrill and her family, which includes both a daughter and a son. The role of the son, Freddie, is quite important but not very bright. He is a weak-willed and helpless character, and someone experienced should play him. Tao, this role is yours. You fall in love with Liza and write her love letters, but you listen to your family in everything. As for the family, we have to improvise again. Instead of Mrs. Mandrill, we'll have Mr. Mandrill, a lonely father of two sons, who is a descendant of a long aristocratic line but is now impoverished and trying to support his children."
Louis surveyed the room and shrugged.
"I would have given this role to Ryu if he honored us with his presence, but Goro will play Mr. Mandrill," Louis said.
"Louis-san, I auditioned as a dancer," the white lion began, but Louis interrupted him.
"You will dance. We'll minimize the father's lines, and you'll only be needed in a couple of scenes. A bankrupt aristocrat dancing at a party with potentially rich female partners fits well into the plot."
"Clear," sighed Goro.
"Akihito, you'll play the role of the second son accordingly. You're stubborn, sometimes foolish, cruel to your brother, but your father still cares for you more, so you'll tease Freddy as you please," Louis said to the crane.
"Understood," said Akihito thoughtfully. "As long as Tao-kun doesn't mind."
"You're actors. Beginners, but there shouldn't be anything personal on stage. What you do as characters stays on stage," Louis declared, thinking about Bill's and Legoshi's issue.
"And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," someone from the back row chuckled.
"Exactly. Philipp, we'll figure it out. You'll play minor characters as well as Ryu. The dance group may get episodic roles with one or two lines, no more. We don't want to overload the costume and set designers. First, let's work on the script and turn it upside down. Then," Louis leaned in conspiratorially, clenching his fist and displaying it, "we'll make this school the talk of the town, and the newspaper department will dedicate the headlines to us."
"Yes! Let's go, we'll give'em 'Pygmalion'!" more lively exclamations echoed. Louis pointed to the empty, carefully wiped shelf.
"On Monday, I'll borrow several copies of the play from the library, and anyone interested can take them for a thorough reading. However, if you prefer, the school website provides access to all literature online, including Shaw. For now, contemplate what I've told you about your characters and their relationships. Juno, could you please print a few sheets with examples of lines? I didn't have time…" Louis admitted apologetically.
"Of course, Louis-senpai," she nodded and went to the office. They had a small ancient printer.
"Legoshi!"
"Yes?"
"The porcupine is our guy?"
"Yes, he's a computer specialist. I think he'll figure it out," the wolf affirmed. Oris had already flown upstairs and observed the club from the same beam where Legoshi was sitting when the deer returned. "Gadzmir-kun, come here, please!"
The porcupine leisurely approached them, slightly bowing.
"Louis-san, I understand you're in charge here?"
"Juno is in charge. I'm just the play director. Could you find samples of songs from the early twentieth century for the dance group by Monday? Then we'll talk about the future stage design. Can you work with sound editors?"
"I'm almost a doctor in everything related to software and hardware, boss," Gadzmir grinned. "I've worked with sound, among other things. Connections won't be a problem, not a total newbie"
"Very well. Then on Monday at four. Don't forget to sign up with Juno and fill out the club membership form."
"Okay, Louis-san."
"And read 'Pygmalion.'"
"Why would I?" the porcupine asked, surprised. Louis smirked mysteriously.
"You might have suggestions for the presentation, inspired by your favorite bands. It can give the play a touch of modernity."
Leaving the puzzled porcupine to contemplate the idea, Louis turned to the next victim.
"Yuki!"
The high school female student, probably a second-year student, was taller than him. Like Ellen back in the day when Louis played Adler. The horse with copper short fur and a black mane looked at him questioningly.
"Yes, Louis-san?"
"I need you as a scriptwriter. Can you rewrite the lines simultaneously for the opposite gender and make them look authentic to that century and the situation I described?"
"Yes, but I've never tried…"
"Experience comes with practice, Yuki. How about you try rewriting the scene with Mrs. Pearce, the housekeeper, as Mr. Pearce, the butler? The one where Eliza appears at Mrs. Hedgehoggins' party?"
The horse blinked sadly, resigned to the task.
"Alright, Louis-san."
"Don't be disheartened," the deer encouraged her. "A month of rehearsals with Juno, and you'll be ready to dance on stage. Besides, 'Pygmalion' is mostly straightforward. Unless the president wants to change something."
But overall, we could use a separate head for the dance group.
Juno is now under incredible pressure the club president, the lead role in the play, and still needs to find time for Yuki. Louis genuinely wondered why they hadn't devoured him yet for such delegation of responsibilities. As the first few scenes were read with enthusiasm and expression, Louis strengthened his belief in the play. 'Pygmalion', despite its gender composition, was perfect for the school troupe, and Bryson embodied the role of Colonel Piggering as if he had spent the last five years in South Asia, studying local dialects, and before that served in the army Rex knows how long. Pina, too, was good in the role of the stern and curious professor, and Juno… he caught himself thinking that the impulsive, sharp-tongued flower girl seemed to be copied from a she-wolf.
Shaw, the old grizzly, clearly knew something.
When the club meeting ended just over an hour later, and everyone dispersed to their tasks, bidding farewell to the inseparable trio, Louis approached the gray wolf. At that moment, Legoshi was winding the cable back onto the reel, leisurely turning the metal handle. Louis patted him on the shoulder.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Amazing!" Legoshi wagged his tail. "I would never have thought you'd want to do something funny."
"I was more asking about how Oris feels under the spotlights… but thanks anyway."
"Oh, he's good. Still memorizing not too fast, but moves perfectly. That guy and height an exciting combination."
Louis lightly nudged the wolf, who was staring at the empty ceiling beams.
"Are you envying qualities you can't have biologically again?"
"You know… I might want gills. Or the ability to hold my breath for many hours to explore the underwater world with my own eyes."
"Ah, until you get devoured by a shark."
"Wasn't devoured. Well, one didn't devour me… others, maybe, could."
"Is this happening to you all the time?" Louis gave him a strange look. The wolf clarified with a puzzled expression, "What exactly?"
"This. I mean, I try to make a joking remark, and the next second, it turns out that something like that has already happened to you. Or not, for the better, but almost."
Legoshi smiled, "Maybe. Let's go check on Sisu."
They headed to the club president's office. On the way, the wolf carefully placed the coiled cable by the wall and nudged it closer with his foot. Louis entered the room and let Legoshi in, closing the door tightly. He asked without turning around, or rather attempted to:
"Juno…"
"A-a-are y-y-yoou…," came from the desk. Louis turned his head sharply and exhaled relaxedly. There, in an embrace, sat a blue dragon and a wolf much smaller, crying together – Sisudatu silently, as promised, and Juno loudly, emotionally, as if she had lost something unimaginably dear.
"Louie-e-eaw…" she sobbed.
"Is everything okay?" the deer asked for form's sake, approaching them. Legoshi, seeing this scene, stuck to the wall, clearly refusing to know the reason. Peeking behind the screen, Louis understood the cause of the sobbing – a psychologically intense movie of recent years, "The Return Ticket," where the protagonist, a young white wolf, makes a second suicide attempt.
"What a lousy choice you've made," he shook his head and hugged Juno.
"You heartless deer. You uploaded it yourself," accused Juno. Louis shrugged.
"Didn't know. I didn't make any special selection; I just uploaded all the new releases of the past years. The theme of teenage suicide is a dangerous thing to play with in movies… I don't think I'm ready to recognize the masterfulness of such films. But if you like it…"
"I don't like it," Sisu angrily wiped her eyes. "But I want them to fix everything in the end! Like with you guys!"
"We're not doing too well yet. Metaphorically speaking, I slept on a bed of nails for a very long time, and then dragged Juno through it face down. She suffered from my idiotic standards, and now those small signs of attention we show each other must take root."
"Or now you're enjoying another fruit of your idiotic standards," Legoshi intervened. The deer sarcastically asked, "Bold of you, the hero-lover. Mister 'No-No Until Marriage'…"
"I just want to say that…"
"I don't care. Yes, it's a path of pain, and I'll go through it back and forth, but the conclusions I draw must be mine alone, period," Louis cut him off, accusingly pointing his finger at his friend. Forgetting about the movie, the women watched the argument, threatening to grow from a playful one into something dirty and unattractive. "And you're afraid to understand what your girl wants, besides what you want yourself."
"What are you talking about?" Legoshi's voice became colder. "Haru and I agreed that…"
"Either she spares your tender feelings, a rabbit in a wolf's body," Louis sneered.
"Both of you are fools. And don't you dare fight in my office, or else I'll hang your torn bottoms over the club entrance!" Juno exclaimed angrily. Her fuse was always barely visible above the explosion level and burned very quickly. "You — tomorrow you call Haru and talk to her earnestly for a long time! You — come here, cursed be your pride and honor!"
She pointed with a claw next to her. They exchanged glances, Louis slowly exhaled the air he had inhaled into his lungs, and approached Juno. She grabbed him around the waist, almost growling:
"Idiots. It feels like you're arguing for the first time."
"Don't do that please," the dragoness supported her, nervously twitching her tail. She reached out and gently pressed the spacebar, pausing the movie.
"Actually…" Legoshi said quietly. "The last time was a year ago."
"At the bridge, where you almost died," Louis blinked, feeling his emotions betray him. He stroked Juno's head. "You're usually… just as stubborn but less objecting. It's even not so important…"
"Juno — that's what important," Legoshi insisted. Louis nodded:
"Haru too. Tomorrow, Sisu and I will deal with Juno's businesses. You need to meet your bunny to spit out your usual gum of Dignity and Righteousness. Either break up, or move forward, but for heaven's sake, stop standing still."
The wolf remained silent. The pause stretched uncomfortably, and then he scratched the wall with his claw and mumbled:
"All right."
Louis shook his head disapprovingly, then remembered something:
"So, Juno…"
The door swung open abruptly.
"Louis-senpai, I wanted to ask about next Saturday…"
Pina froze after only two or three steps inside. All four of them froze, except for Louis, who sighed wearily and finished:
"…I've been trying to ask for the second time already; do you have the key to the door?"
An old door not having a common easy-turning lock, but only a keyhole, just became a very small and distant problem.
"Pina, calm down. She's just our guest. Yes, she doesn't have the right to be on school grounds, but Sisu is harmless and won't harm anyone," Juno quickly said, rising from the table. And preparing just in case to rush after Pina if he runs away.
But Pina didn't run away.
Pina, in fact, showed no signs of life, except for his eyes, which stared intently at Sisudatu and strangely gleamed.
"She's not dangerous," Louis said, taking a careful step forward. "Do you hear, Pina?"
"Yes. I don't eat anyone," Sisu said quietly, lowering her head. "I've never eaten any sentient being in my life. I haven't even tried."
Tears slowly gathered in the blue eyes of the creature. Legoshi approached closer and exclaimed in surprise, pushing a chair under the door:
"It's not fear. He doesn't have a frightened expression; it's more like…"
"Hey! Cherryton calls Pina; are you okay there?" Juno waved her hand in front of him. At the same moment, the Dall's ram finally stirred. He made a feeble attempt to push her hand away but missed.
"Don't bother."
"I think I understand," Legoshi said, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. "And I understand deeper than I wanted… Pina is an aesthete. And I'm not just talking about a pompous pose but about the essence that keeps him sane as a creature. Louis has the same monstrous pride, I probably have… a sense of justice, and Pina has…"
"Beauty," the latter finished. Pina reached out to the magical dragon that appeared out of nowhere:
"Can I touch you?"
Sisu smiled:
"Why not?"
She approached, and with her mane, touched his outstretched hands. Pina first ran his fingers along individual strands and tufts of fur for a long time, and then silently hugged her around the neck. Louis couldn't help but make a sarcastic comment:
"The plus is that now I know how to make Pina shut up. The minus is that this method is not suitable for public spaces and requires a godd… well, a dragon."
"I'm meeting such a perfect being for the first time in my life," the ram said dully from somewhere in the fur. It seemed he was coming to himself when he didn't see her but only touched her. "But you have every right to laugh, of course…"
"You're beautiful too," Sisu replied, stroking his back. The ram was as fragile as the deer, and she didn't want to hug him tightly… or rather, she did, but restrained herself. Finally, the dragoness stepped back and hid behind the table, showing only her head. Pina continued to look at her, frozen, for so long that Sisudatu wanted to hide completely just to escape from such expressive admiration.
Moreover, tears escaped from the ram's eyes, whether from delight or because he had kept them open for too long without blinking.
"As you understand, it's a secret," Juno said, crossing her arms, leaning back against the table.
"Okay. And can…"
"And no photos."
"…can I sometimes come here? I feel like being around her opens some new doors into the unexplored within me," Pina muttered. Now, compared to his usual self, bold and bright, he looked like a shadow. "Who are you? Why does your presence enchant me so much?"
"I think Legoshi already answered the second question. And yes, you can come, provided you don't hang around here all day. Juno has a reason to be here, and so do Legoshi and I. But the more animals gather here, the more suspicious the situation becomes," commented Louis, twirling his cane between his fingers.
"I'm Sisu, a water dragon from… another world," the one he was initially addressing said with a melodic voice.
The ram nodded expressively:
"I thought from the very first second that our world is not capable of producing such a beautiful creature."
Sisu chuckled:
"Did you decide to shower me with compliments the size of me? What if my appearance was just bait to feast on unsuspecting beings?"
"Now I would probably pay attention to the threat," Pina said thoughtfully, finding the strength to look away for a moment. "But if you had told me a minute ago that you wanted to eat me, I would have jumped into the mouth myself."
She grimaced and, not knowing what to say, looked around for support from Louis. He shrugged:
"Yes, our world is a bit resembles of insanity. If you needed proof – here it is."
"But why would anyone want to be eaten at all? After your stories I understand why some carnivores become wild; it's the barriers in the mind that have been there for millions of years. But such conversations still bother me…"
The blue-eyed sophomore smiled:
"Reason… is not always reliable. We are all slaves to our instincts in some way, and that's why society here is firmly divided into two parts – carnivores and herbivores."
"But in the club and during lessons, students go together, don't they?" Sisu clarified. Juno smirked:
"But they still live separately. The gender division is not news to you, is it?"
"No… but you have so many rules and rituals; I couldn't remember them all my life."
Legoshi quietly said:
"That's why we keep Sisu's presence here a secret. It's safer for her here than in the outside world."
"I don't argue. Sisu… don't you suffer without water?" Pina asked sympathetically. Legoshi and Juno, although long acquainted with him, saw for the first time that something concerned the ram so much.
"No, I'm not a frog," she said sadly, spreading her arms. "I'm a very bit happier near water; it makes me stronger. Besides, in my homeland, almost all dragon magic is connected to water. But even without any magic, I swim perfectly!"
"I would like to see that…"
"Pina, did you want to ask something about next Saturday?" Louis brought the conversation back to a relatively stable course. Pina looked at him brokenly:
"Do you think I remember?"
They all laughed together, even the perpetually shy wolf emitted a few chuckles. The club president stated with a smirk:
"I never thought you'd find a handle for yourself. All it took was a magical dragon from another world. What's the name of your country, Sisu-chan?"
"Kumandra…"
"Exactly, a Kumandran dragon."
"And completely non-magical," Sisu said gloomily, recalling her attempts to return. "I've already tried. So please, don't tell anyone I'm here. Usually, they hide me in the attic, but today it was needed…"
"I swear, by whatever you want," Pina replied with a completely sincere bow, "I will keep your secret." Juno discreetly covered her mouth with her palm and, almost without lowering her volume, said to Sisu:
"Watch out, don't overdo the encouragement, or he'll build an altar for you and start offering numerous bloody sacrifices," Juno warned. Sisu responded with a disapproving tone, "Juno, it's not funny," but the female just chuckled.
"To be honest, Pina is no saint himself. He'll take any opportunity to get on everyone's nerves, always with a sweet smile and impeccable appearance. So personally, I'm pleased to see him temporarily disarmed. Let's schedule hugging sessions – every odd Tuesday, for example," Juno suggested.
"I always thought making a carnivore the president of the club was a bit reckless. You're so cruel, Juno-chan," Pina smiled.
"He's coming to his senses. Quickly, another dose of dragon!" Louis couldn't resist making a sarcastic comment and promptly received a tail swipe, "You can't divide me into doses!"
"Hmm…" Everyone looked at Legoshi, who only uttered a thoughtful 'Hmm.' The puzzled deer asked, "What's the 'hmm' about?"
"We have a very strange and very… deep connection. Unexpected for everyone," Legoshi said, looking at each animal in the room. "Maybe… we do need a symbolic ritual?"
"Like a candle at the Meteor Festival?" Juno quickly asked. The wolf shrugged, "Probably."
"I won't pretend I'm not curious about what was born in your scarred head," Louis grumbled, pointing a finger towards the wolf. "Just tell me – no one will get hurt?"
"No. It's a very simple ritual. I can't keep a secret for long," Legoshi smiled, taking scissors from a cheap plastic organizer. "In my childhood, my grandfather cut a piece of my fur to preserve dear moments in memory. But I'll change the meaning a bit. Sisu, may I?"
"Yes," she said in bewilderment. Legoshi snipped a small strand from his silky mane, carefully divided it into four parts, placing three on the table and wrapping one in paper, tucking it into his pocket. Placing his hand on top, he said, "I don't know how, but we must bring Sisu home. Or, if all our efforts are insufficient, let her live a full life here in our world. This will be my talisman and reminder." Dragoness' eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, "Legoshi, I…"
"Agreed," Louis firmly said, picking up one strand. "I hate and simultaneously adore this trait in you, Legoshi. In crucial moments, you always do what you think is right, and somehow it turns out to be correct."
"He knows how to be perfect sometimes," Juno chuckled. "Although in other respects, he's as foolish as you."
Pina dreamily looked at the silky hairs in his hand and said, lifting his head, "I'll give myself entirely to this goal… and I have nothing more to offer."
"Thank you, friends," Sisu said through tears, getting emotional and hugging Legoshi. "I don't know if it's possible to return from here."
"We'll explore all sources on paranormal phenomena, magic, advanced technology, and try," Louis declared, squinting. His finger unconsciously stroked the polished wood of the cane. "And if it won't work – we'll comfort you as long as it will be needed."
Haru could have gone to college – despite her school reputation and constant care for flowers in the gardening club, her grades surprisingly looked good. However, she decided to work to avoid burdening her large family with the extended payment of higher education. After a few attempts, she found something acceptable – a job at a supermarket, one of the international franchise chains SunCus, in the plants and garden equipment department. Haru's responsibilities (along with two colleagues in her shift) extended beyond the huge building since some inventory, like fence materials or bulk artificial covering material in boxes and bags, was unloaded directly onto the outdoor shelves.
The dimensions of the warehouse-store might initially be overwhelming, but not for Haru, who had long been accustomed to handling the club alone. Additionally, a small, easy-to-operate forklift for heavy items was at her disposal, as well as the assistance of colleagues who unexpectedly gained a not-so-strong but meticulous and plant-savvy rabbit in their shift.
"Hey, Myron! What's with the plaster on half your face?" she yelled at the black bear in the company's green polo and cap with ear holes, unloading rolls of wire mesh from a pallet onto the shelf. She didn't wear a cap herself, opting for a shirt, a thin green woolen vest with the store emblem, and a dark, almost black pleated skirt. Although Myron wasn't the largest representative of ursoids, he still possessed enviable strength, manually doing what Haru needed a forklift for.
"Oh, that's," he touched his nose, "a bar fight."
"Who could be idiotic enough to pick a fight with a bear?" She actually knew a couple.
"Any animal after a couple of stiff drinks," Myron grinned, returning to work. Haru scoffed arrogantly, "I doubt a small and harmless animal would suddenly feel brave enough to get into a fight."
"Haha," the bear chuckled loudly, "remind me to show you the scar on my neck, left in a bar by a goat's bite! That damn horned guy tore a piece of my skin while I was just sitting and watching football. I felt someone attacked me from behind and barely managed to shake him off."
"Disgusting," the dwarf rabbit shook her head disapprovingly. "Better to stay away from bars with such individuals. I don't drink myself, but I'd probably harm myself more than anyone else."
"You underestimate drunken recklessness," the colleague shrugged. "Do you know Vicki from the tools department, the morning shift?"
"Gazelle or zebra? I'm not very familiar with the staff yet."
"Gazelle. So, at the corporate party, it was like she lost her mind – she climbed on the table and started undressing to the music. And when they tried to take her down, she gave managers and the logistics guy a bruise in the shoulder with this hole in the shoulder," he showed with filed claws, "no kidding."
She chuckled, saying, "Impressive," and continued. "Seeds won't sort themselves out."
At the entrance, a visitor's shadow loomed over her. Haru instinctively stepped back, her heart beating faster. Then she looked up and found the calm gaze of a strange, a very strange wolf. She grimaced and lightly hit him on the thigh:
"Fool! I'll start stuttering because of you soon!"
"Sorry," Legoshi stupidly smiled, pulling a small box with golden lettering from his pocket. "Here. It's like an apology."
"Scaring and then compensating with sweets…" Haru began grumbling, but when she saw the name, she exclaimed, "Legoshi! Did you sell a kidney?! They're terribly expensive."
He awkwardly shrugged, "The important thing is they taste good. I knew flowers wouldn't surprise you… thought this would be better."
"Better… for what?"
"Just in general. I rarely give you gifts."
"I don't need gifts, I need my gray wolf!" she chuckled, patting him reassuringly on the hand. He could be such a charming fool sometimes… except for the times when he irritated her to no end.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," sighed Legoshi. Haru's ears suddenly drooped. He quickly added, "No, I didn't… didn't find another, not leaving, not wanting to break up."
"Then what?" the rabbit frowned. He looked up, then around at the shelves.
"Will the boss scold you?"
"I'll say it's a persistent visitor. You haven't been here once. Well, you did show up but never got past the parking lot! And I really wanted to brag to the girls at the cash register… they're nice, not like high schoolers with arrogance to the stars," she either complained or assured him that she liked it here, Haru couldn't tell. Legoshi wagged his tail:
"It's good when you have friends. Haru, I… just wanted to ask you."
"About what? Come on, spill it."
"Do you love me?"
If Haru could growl, she would have done it already, maybe even bitten him:
"Yes! Arrrgh… Legoshi, maybe I don't express my love enough, but you just won't let me do it! 'Unsafe, can't, wrong place, no-no-no'…"
"And that's why I wanted to ask another question. Am I enough for you?"
Haru looked at him warily, and the wolf continued hesitantly:
"I mean, for some reason, I was sure I was doing all this for our common good, but… I didn't take into account your desires and thoughts. But yesterday… one friend of mine yelled at me and called me an idiot."
"And that shook you so much?" she asked incredulously. After a short pause, he said:
"Best friend. Well, now one of them. And he explained in detail why. Am I an idiot?"
"You're a cute, soft plush wolf who looks like an underground ring fighter, covered in scars with an almost torn ear," she sighed, shaking her head. "And sometimes you act like an overly caring idiot. What do I want?"
She grabbed both his hands, pulled him down to the floor, and took a step forward. Looking into his gray eyes, Haru said:
"If you still don't understand what to do now, then I'll reconsider my previous decision about idiocy. In the worst way."
Feeling a large hand on her back, she flinched. Even carefully trimmed tools of fighting, grappling, killing couldn't help – the wolf was just too big. Haru smelled the carnivores scent, knowing that Legoshi's nose relayed information hundreds of times more than hers. Her heart raced, but not out of fear.
"I'm a coward," he quietly confessed.
"You fought with a gang of lions," she stroked his cheek.
"I'm a coward when it comes to expressing my feelings. I can fight, shed blood with anyone. But I'm so afraid to spill your blood again…"
Haru forced herself to refrain from the usual impulses of anger and asked quietly:
"So, were all the training, all our getting used to each other in vain? You said you overcame instincts and kept them under control. And I… I swear I won't jump into your mouth."
"Sorry," a small, strange tear rolled down from his left eye, the other also glistened with moisture. Legoshi mentally kicked himself and opened his mouth a little, leaning forward.
Not being an idiot was so difficult…
This time, Haru decided to behave like he usually did – not showing initiative, not getting closer, not doing anything at all. Even after the Ritual of Claw Purification, he was still afraid. If he couldn't overcome the fear…
Feeling warm lips, she couldn't resist and made a quiet and delicate sound. Finally, Rex tear him apart… clumsily and very carelessly, but the wolf pressed her to himself, and in the difference in sizes, Haru completely dissolved in the kiss. His strong fingers, slightly squeezing her back, now produced not a deeply hidden fear but an entirely different feeling. Haru's hands unconsciously glided along the fur on his cheeks. Finally, Legoshi pulled away. And found that he was holding her in the air, slightly leaning forward.
I… was ready to knock her to the ground? The wolf's eyes widened slightly, but Haru unintentionally brought him to his senses by patting his head and whispering between breaths – their breathing was slightly off:
"Good boy…"
His tail started moving, sweeping the floor once again. She slipped out of his arms, subtly biting her lips, and looked at him with a mischievous smile:
"But now the excuse with the visitor won't work."
"Well," a bass voice came from the side. Legoshi stood up – no, leaped to his feet, instinctively covering Haru. The bear grinned, folding his arms across his chest:
"Buddy, this flower is not part of the goods being sold."
"It's Legoshi!" Haru protested, stepping forward and shielding about half of the wolf. "And he's my boyfriend!"
"I noticed," Myron chuckled. "But there's still an hour and a half left in the shift, and they'll chew on your little bushy tail until then."
"Hello. My name is Legoshi," the wolf shyly scratched his head.
"Myron. Wait for your… thrill-seeking admirer in that cafe across the street. The manager is not around, but somewhere there's a regional director who is much stricter with employees than the boss," warned the bear. Haru stood up for Legoshi:
"He will help distribute the seed packets where they are needed."
"Whatever you say," Myron shrugged and slightly moved Legoshi, blocking the passage. "I'll be back in five minutes for my coffee."
The gray wolf, with a dreamy smile, followed the rabbit to the next row. He spoke, barely noticing the surrounding goods:
"There are so many plants here…"
"Yeah, and I don't even have to constantly watch over them, transplant them, and keep them in good condition," Haru proudly nodded, pointing her finger at a high shelf, literally overflowing with paper and plastic small bags, mostly green.
"These. Look for the price tag with the name or where most of the seeds of this kind are and throw them there. Visitors always leave a mess here, although it's nice to interact with them."
"I guess animals think that all rabbits are experts on plants and flowers," Legoshi speculated, to which she just snorted:
"Most of my classmates couldn't tell a cactus from a violet, despite being herbivores. So, you say Jack called you an idiot and scolded you? I mean, how much can you push animals that even a friendly labrador…"
"Jack and I fought on the first day we met. Back in childhood. But yesterday… I wasn't talking to him."
"Did you get a second close friend? Well, well," she ironically noted, rearranging the lower shelf. Legoshi treated the seeds just like his beetles — carefully took them with his fingers and placed them in the right spot, seemingly afraid to damage the packaging.
"Yes… Louis."
"What?!"
"Louis," he repeated, guiltily shrugging his shoulders. "He's always been a shadow behind my back… and, as it turned out, he did much more for me — and for us — than I'll ever be able to do for him."
"Are we talking about the same Louis now? The deer, the former star of Cherryton Academy…"
"Yes…"
"And now he's the one who's sorting out your brain," Haru skeptically shook her head. Legoshi mumbled, burying himself in the shelf:
"I think he w-was unhappy. Even back when he was in school. But the last year changed all of us."
"I know he wasn't happy."
"Hm?" the wolf looked down, surprised.
"The burden of the future Beastar… Mr. Perfect."
"The burden of a father trying to turn him into a flawless creature."
"I… didn't know."
"Louis didn't like to share. He always wanted to be strong until the end."
The rabbit nudged him:
"Don't talk like he's dead!"
Legoshi smiled:
"In a way… the old Louis is gone. He's — how to say it — more alive? Learning to express his feelings?"
"If he's attending some special courses, ask for the address," Haru muttered.
"Erm…"
"Nevermind," she chuckled.
Finally, today's kiss was… Haru shuddered and slowly exhaled, biting her lip again, but something troubling refused to let go of her thoughts. In the end, she grabbed one of them by the ear.
"So, where did you and Louis meet? He's supposed to be the heir to the Horns, I saw it in the news."
"In Cherryton. We met at the door of Director Gon's office, where both of us came to request the opening of a drama club. Simultaneously, without planning it," Legoshi smiled. "Now he's the new director instead of San, the former one, and I'm in charge of the technical side."
"I'll never believe it's not about money."
The wolf waited for a group of visitors to pass by, seemingly a family, and reluctantly shared:
"Louis offered a charity donation for the funds."
"And the club magically opened," Haru sarcastically remarked, momentarily feeling nostalgic for her old gardening club.
"We have… a lot of magic in the theater."
We have a live dragon, Haru! Huge and long, like four of me! She's very sweet and friendly…
Legoshi restrained himself by sheer willpower. He knew how to keep secrets — if they needed to, secrets would reveal themselves. But he wouldn't be an accomplice. And being the proud owner of a criminal past… the one Yafya skillfully erased after the war for territory on the black market, using connections. Legoshi didn't check, but he hoped there were no more records, as the horse claimed. That someday he would be allowed to marry Haru.
He asked, squatting down:
"When's your next day off, Haru?"
"On Wednesday… why are you asking?"
"Don't you want to go somewhere? I have a free morning and most of the day, and I can be a little late to the club…"
"Suggest something," she smirked cunningly.
Show some initiative, wolf. Be at least a bit of the beast you look like, although I love you just for your delicate soul… for sensing in me not a toy for entertainment, but a living and equal being.
"My hoodie tore when I was fixing the spotlights," he said, reflecting. "Maybe to the shopping center? Let's see something for me… and for you."
A pleasant tingling sensation tickled her behind the ears, warm shivers ran down her spine. Haru squealed:
"Yeees! You! Asking me! To go with you to the clothing store?!"
"Did I do something w-wrong?"
"Fool! Yes! Of course, yes… Legoshi, this is every girl's dream – to dress a guy in something to her liking!"
Legoshi hesitated:
"I was thinking of something simple – black or dark."
"No freaking way!" she declared decisively, smiling. "You invited – now deal with it."
And before Legoshi could object, she pulled him by the collar of his jacket – or rather, pulled herself to him – and quickly kissed him on the lips. The wolf blushed slightly but didn't say anything, just smiled sweetly and wagged his tail.
"So, will you pick me up on Wednesday at my parents' house? I'll stay overnight with them on Tuesday, and a cute shopping center just opened in our area. There's so much there!"
"Okay," he nodded. "I think I can stay and wait for you after work before going home. Cold soba?"
"And dinner too," Haru melted. "I won't ask who you are, and what happened to Legoshi, but I prefer udon. And not a wolf-sized portion! And then we'll unpack the sweets, hehe."
She flicked his nose: "And if you try to escape – I know where you live, scary gray wolf."
Legoshi wagged his tail even harder but remained silent. He had learned to recognize her playful mood, but in verbal games, he was still just as bad. And, as much as Haru wanted to leave him here…
"Go. I won't disappear in an hour, Legoshi."
"Okay," he nodded, then smiled. "Besides, I'm good at finding what's lost."
Haru mentally made a note to ask Louis about the magic which stimulated the wolf to finally step forward to bear some fruits. There should have been a curse of something.
Or a cleanse, speaking of.