This is an idea that was inspired from a talk on Reddit with a fellow fan Taliesaurus. We wanted to explore the life of Michiru Kagemori before her transformation and her arrival to Anima City.

I do not own BNA: Brand New Animal, nor am I making any money in writing this. BNA: Brand New Animal is the property of Trigger studio and directed by Yoh Yoshinari. This is purely for fun and I hope you all enjoy it.


Thump! Thump! Thump!

Running up the court, sweat pouring down her forehead, Michiru threw the ball up to the hoop. With intense anticipation, she watched the ball fly up to the hoop, but just as it passed the threshold it bounced off the board and rolled off the rim.

Panting from exertion and disappointment, Michiru walked to the bleachers and retrieved the ball. Glancing up at the empty bleachers, she sighed as she envisioned a face she had not seen in so long. A face that belonged to a near and dear friend. One who would always come to cheer her on as she played.

Nazuna Hiwatashi.

Spinning it on her finger, she sighed as she pondered the last few months.

'It all started with the accident,' she thought, memories flashing before her. 'It seemed like such a wonderful day too. Just me and Nazuna.'


She and Nazuna had just finished listening to their favorite tune, Running Night, after playing at the park. The breeze felt so cool and refreshing, the rustling leaves adding to the ambient charm, and the sun dabbled against their skin.

'Yes, this is perfect,' she thought, smiling. 'What could be better than this?'

Just then, they heard a growling sound from nearby. Startled, they looked around, but found no one else around. Looking at each other they heard the growling sound again, closer this time. Turning downward, the growling came in again, and they sighed in relief before heading for their bikes.

"Guess it's time to eat," Nazuna shrugged. "I thought it was a beastman for a moment."

"Yeah, me too," Michiru laughed. "I mean I don't hate them per se but they can be pretty scary."

"I know," Nazuna replied. "I mean we've both heard the stories about them, and some of their beast forms are scary, like wolves, bears, lions, and tigers."

"Just curious; have you ever…met a beastman?" Michiru asked.

"I don't know," Nazuna shrugged. "I mean they can take on human form so it's possible that I've met some without knowing it. But most of them live in Anima City so what are the odds of that happening?"

"No idea," Michiru replied. "Anyway, what are you hungry for?"

"How about some ice cream?" Nazuna suggested, hopping onto her bike. "My treat."

"Sounds great!" Michiru exclaimed, hopping onto hers.

The two raced down the street, smiling at the prospect of ice cream. Nearing a crossing, Michiru pulled out slightly ahead of her friend, who smiled and tried to catch up. Suddenly, they heard a loud honking noise followed by the screech of tires. Michiru turned to see a car coming their way.

For a moment, her vision became all too clear, like everything had slowed down. She saw the driver's eyes widen with shock and horror, along with Nazuna's. She saw the dice dangling off the rear-view mirror. She saw the silver logo on the front in exquisite detail.

Desperately, she tried to pedal faster, or turn sharply, or do something, anything to avoid the collision. But her body felt like it was stuck in quicksand, her limbs refusing to yield to her frantic yells for action.

After what seemed like forever, the car rammed into her and Nazuna.

Pain, pure unadulterated pain, ran up her leg and a horrible snapping sound rang in her ears as the rear wheel crumpled under the impact. Slamming her eyes shut, she screamed as she felt the bike lurch underneath, throwing her onto the pavement. Crashing onto her side, she instinctively tucked her head into her arms as she skidded across the pavement, intense stabbing pain running up her leg along with a warm wet feeling that chilled her to the core.

Slowing to a stop, she forced her eyes open despite the intense pain. She saw the bent tire of a bike, hers or Nazuna's, spinning feebly like a dying animal. Nearby, she saw the prone form of her friend Nazuna face-down on the pavement.

"N-Na-" she gasped, trying to reach for her but the words would not come out. Slowly, her vision blackened as the pain engulfed her and she lost consciousness, the last coherent thoughts hoping her friend was okay.


'What is that?' she asked. 'Beeping? And that smell? Antiseptic?!'

Opening her eyes, she saw she was lying in a bed with curtains drawn around her. To her right, she saw an empty IV bag suspended over her, the tube running down under the sheets. The air was heavy with the smell of antiseptic and dryer sheets, along with the ambient beeping of a heart monitor.

'I'm in the hospital,' she noted, trying to pull herself up, but a sharpness dug into her right elbow right before intense throbbing pain shot up her leg. Gasping, she lay back down and took some deep breaths to collect herself, impatient for the pain to fade away.

Eventually, the pain in her leg was replaced by a persistent itching, and a sensation of something chafing against skin. Gingerly, she looked up and found her leg suspended, encased in a plaster cast. Checking the sharpness in her arm, she lifted the sheets and found a needle inserted just under her elbow, a tube connecting it to the empty IV bag.

'Blood transfusion,' she guessed.

"Ah, you're awake!" someone exclaimed. As the curtains were pulled back, a young man dressed in a doctor's robe walked in, smiling warmly at her. "You've had a nasty accident I'm afraid. Your leg was broken and you lost a lot of blood. But you're expected to make a full recovery."

"What about Nazuna?" she asked. "Is she-?"

"She woke up not long before you did," he replied. "She had a broken arm and needed a blood transfusion, but like you she's expected to recover nicely."

"Can I see her?" she asked.

"Sure thing," he answered. "But I need to take care of some things first."

Moving to her side, he pressed a cotton ball onto her arm before carefully removing the needle.

"Press onto the ball and raise your arm above your head please," he asked. "Hold for about half a minute."

As she did so, he reached over to a control panel near her bed. A mechanical whir filled the air as Michiru felt herself being raised into a sitting position.

"Thank you," he said. "Lower your arm please."

Taking out a roll of blue tape, he wrapped up the ball on Michiru's arm, fixing it in place.

"Keep that on for at least four hours," he instructed. "Otherwise you might reopen it. And take it easy for the next few months. Not only was your leg broken, but there were severe lacerations after the collision. We needed to perform emergency surgery to suture it up and set the bone properly."

"Yes, doctor," she replied wearily. "And Nazuna?"

"She's all ready," he said, waving over to the side as Nazuna walked in, her arm suspended in a sling and her face a little pale from blood loss. Upon seeing her friend, Michiru broke into a smile.

"Michiru," Nazuna said, her eyes lighting up with joy. "They told me you would recover but it's wonderful to see you again."

"Same here, Nazuna," Michiru returned. "I was afraid you might have…died on the street. You weren't moving."

"Neither were you," Nazuna said. "I wriggled to my side and I saw you bleeding heavily right before passing out. I'm so relieved that you're alive."

"Me too," Michiru said.

For a moment, nobody said or did anything; the girls were just too relieved at seeing each other hurt but alive and awaiting recovery. Slowly, Nazuna moved toward the bed and reached out to Michiru, holding her hand as they broke out into relieved smiles.

"I think," the doctor interjected. "This would be a great picture."

"Really?" the girls asked.

"Yes, really," the doctor replied. Pulling out his phone, he held it up before angling it for a shot. "Okay, I got you two. Now if you could do a pose."

"Got it," they replied, holding out a victory sign.

"Smile," he said. "Got it! I'll print it out and send an e-copy to you both."

"Thanks doctor," they said, smiling.


"I'm so bored!" Michiru whined, leaning back into her seat. "I've done nothing but eat, sleep and play on my laptop for almost two weeks! I wish my leg would heal faster. I wanna get back to basketball already!"

"Now, now, Michiru," Nazuna said, seated next to her. "The doctors told us to take it easy until we're all healed. We're due for a check-up today, and with luck they'll remove the stitches soon."

"Luck?" Michiru sighed. "And if they don't?"

"Then we'll just have to wait a little longer," Nazuna shrugged. "It's a real pain in the butt and I want to get back to normal too. But still, we have to be patient."

"I know, I know!" Michiru said, throwing up her hands. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"I never said you did," Nazuna shrugged as the car came to a stop. "Well, here we are."

Nazuna exited as her mother grabbed Michiru's crutches and helped her exit the car. Slowly, they entered the hospital and were warmly greeted by the receptionist.

"Ah, so good to see you back!" she said. "IDs please."

Reading over their IDs, the receptionist nodded and said "Dr. Takahari will see you momentarily. Feel free to take a seat until he arrives."

Retrieving their IDs, Michiru and Nazuna took a seat near a reading stand while Nazuna's mother stood and kept watch. Sighing with boredom, Michiru grabbed a pair of magazines, handing one off to Nazuna before flipping through her own.

'A sports magazine!' she thought with delight. Turning to a story on a basketball game, she marveled at the pictures while memories of her school games came to mind. The thumping of the ball, the squeaking of shoes on the polished floor, and the pounding of her heart as she sidestepped the other players, eyes locked onto the rim as she lined up her shot.

'Oh how I miss it,' she thought sadly before her heart filled with resolve. 'Still, once my leg's better I'll be back. Reiwa High, here I come!'

Just then, she heard a gasp in the lobby. Looking up, she saw Nazuna and her mother staring at the TV. It showed a column of black smoke as a figure ducked and dived among police officers trying to assess the situation. The figure, moving far faster than a human should have been able to, closed the distance to an officer in the blink of an eye before sending him flying with a punch. Raising his, or her, head to the sky, the face extended into a snout as massive tusks merged from the lower jaw, and long ears and hair sprouted from the back.

'A beastman!' Michiru realized in shock. 'A boar? Or something else?'

The beastman's mouth opened wide as the officers recoiled in pain, hands clamping onto their ears as their target body-slammed the nearest one into the wall. As the unfortunate officer slid down, the beastman raced down the nearest alley, the police hot on their tuft tail.

"Michiru, what was that?" Nazuna asked. "A bomb? Or something else?"

"I don't know," Michiru replied. "But let me check the news."

Pulling out her phone, she drew up the Search app and typed in "beastman news". The first thing to pop up was a news article claiming there was "an incident" at a chemical plant where several people had died and dozens were injured. A boar beastman was found running from the scene when the police arrived but no word was made of the beastman being responsible for the "incident". It ended with a warning to watch for a man or beastman with stained jeans, torn sandals, and a ripped, black jacket and to alert the authorities if one could help.

"They're calling it 'an incident'," Michiru said. "But they're not saying if it was an accident or not. What's that all about?"

"I don't know," Nazuna shrugged. "Are they trying to hide something? So people don't panic?"

"Nazuna Hiwatashi, Michiru Kagemori," a voice broke in. Turning they saw Dr Takahari waiting as a nurse brought in a wheelchair. "We're ready when you are."

"Thanks doctor," they replied as Nazuna's mother helped Michiru to her feet.

"We have a wheelchair for you," the nurse said, but Michiru simply waved her away.

"I can handle it," she said, taking the crutches.

"Please," the nurse insisted, but Michiru once again waved her back.

"I've been doing fine without one," she said. "And I need to feel like I'm doing more on my own."

"I'm sorry doctor," Nazuna interjected. "Michiru can be pretty stubborn. We do appreciate it all the same."

"Well, I guess it can't be helped," he sighed. "Let's proceed."

Slowly, the group made their way to the doctor's office, the nurse bringing up the rear just in case Michiru needed the wheelchair.

"Who would like to go first?" Dr Takahari asked.

"Michiru, you go first," Nazuna said, taking a seat next to her mother.

Ambling onto the table, Michiru laid back as the doctor carefully lifted her cast onto the table. Leaning in close, he examined the exposed skin and said "No signs of infection; the skin looks healthy and I don't see any swelling or redness."

Running a finger lightly over the exposed skin, he winced as Michiru gasped at the touch.

"Does that hurt?" he asked.

"A little, but it's mostly just cold," she replied.

"That's normal," he said. "If there was sensitivity or pain, that might have indicated infection or a malunion, or improperly set bone. I'll run an x-ray to be sure, but it's healing very well. I'll check the stitches first."

Pulling out a paper towel, he dabbed it with fluid that reeked of antiseptic. "This will likely sting, but let me know if it hurts," he said. Gently, he dabbed at Michiru's stitches, the poor girl wincing as the cold cloth made contact with her skin.

"Does it hurt?" he asked worriedly.

"No, just cold," she said. "It stings, but I'm getting used to it."

"Very well," he replied. Slowly, carefully he moved a short distance along her stitches before pulling back. Seeing the towel stained with blood, he tossed it into the biohazard disposal bin and prepared a clean one for another go. Dabbing it against the skin, he slowly worked down the stitched laceration until the towel was red with dried blood. Disposing of the second towel, he prepared a third towel, cleaning the wound until he reached the plaster cast.

Leaning in for a secondary inspection, he said "You're healing very well. No discoloration or swelling at the laceration itself, and you didn't report any outstanding or extreme pain. It looks like we'll be able to remove the stitches today."

"Really?!" Michiru exclaimed. "That's great!"

"Wonderful!" Nazuna joined in.

"Given your enthusiasm," Dr Takahari chimed in, reaching for the cabinet. "We can get that taken care of right away."

Grabbing a pair of tweezers and some surgical scissors, he returned to Michiru's side with the nurse in tow. Carefully, he pried a loop of thread from the wound and cut it, the blade mere millimeters from the skin. Pulling the thread from the wound, he handed it off to a tray held by the waiting nurse before turning back to his patient. Slowly, he worked his way down the wound, snipping and pulling the thread as carefully as he could.

Meanwhile, Michiru was trying to decide whether she wanted to see the action or not. On the one hand, she never thought of herself as squeamish or easily disgusted, and wanted to see what the doctor was doing at every step. But she was finding it hard to picture the bloodied stitches being pried out with tweezers from her very flesh.

'If my body needs to be worked on,' she decided, turning to the doctor's work. 'I'd rather I know what's happening to it.'

After what seemed like no time, Dr Takahari put away his tools and cleaned the wound once more.

"Well, that's settled," he said. "Nurse, please contact the x-ray technician and see if we can schedule an appointment for Michiru Kagemori."

"Yes doctor," the nurse replied, reaching for the phone.

"In the meantime," he continued, helping Michiru sit up. "It's Nazuna's turn now."

Nodding, Michiru grabbed her crutches and ambled off the table as Nazuna stood to take her place. Seating herself next to Mrs. Hiwatashi, she watched as the doctor inspected and cleaned Nazuna's wounds.

"Well, I must say you're both healing quite well," he remarked. "Most people take a little longer to heal than this, but you're both young and very healthy so that's perfectly normal. But now, back to work."

Taking the tweezers and scissors once more, Dr Takahari carefully removed the stitches from Nazuna's wound. Seeing her friend's discomfort, Michiru gave an encouraging smile, which Nazuna returned.

That smile seemed to help because Dr Takahari quickly finished his work, cleaning Nazuna's wound and giving her a warm smile.

"Dr Takahari," the nurse said. "The x-ray lab just got word of a cancellation for two patients. So they can see the girls today if they want."

"How convenient," he said in utter disbelief. "Well, let them know we're heading there soon, I presume."

"Yes doctor," the girls replied.

"I mean we'll need an x-ray anyway," Michiru shrugged. "And we're already here so…"

"Very well," Dr Takahari replied. "I'll accompany you straight away. Nurse, let them know we're on our way."

Exiting the doctor's office, they ambled off to the x-ray laboratory, Michiru's crutches requiring them to walk more slowly than usual. To accommodate them, incoming staff kindly shuffled to the side or slid into offices to let them pass.

Upon their arrival, Dr Takahari met with the technician, an older man with thinning hair and thick glasses, before turning to the girls.

"Michiru, would you like to go first?" he asked.

"Um, Nazuna, is that alright with you?" she asked, glancing at her friend.

"Sure thing," she replied. "You go on ahead."

"Thanks," Michiru said, smiling as Dr Takahari ushered her inside. Ambling over to a table, Dr Takahari helped her into a lying position as the technician positioned a black plate under her leg. After making some minute adjustments to her positioning, the technician moved to a control panel as Dr Takahari smiled reassuringly.

"Hold still," he said as a beeping sound went off. "Okay, that's the frontal view. Now we just need the side view."

Carefully, he turned her leg so it lay on its outer side, Michiru shifting her body to accommodate the new position. As a second beep went off, Dr Takahari said "One minute please," and went over to the technician. After a brief consultation, Dr Takahari returned and said "We got excellent images. Great work Michiru."

"Thanks Doctor," she replied, smiling. "I guess we better make way for Nazuna."

Nodding, he grabbed her crutches as Michiru slowly moved her leg off the plate, taking great care as she neared the edge of the table. As she reached the edge, Dr Takahari reached out and helped lower her leg to the floor. Leaning on him for stability, Michiru stood up as he handed her her crutches.

"I'm alright," she reassured him. "Please get the door."

Sprinting ahead, he waited as she ambled over, opening it just as she reached him.

"Well, how did it go?" Nazuna asked.

"Very well," Michiru replied. "They got excellent images. They'll probably tell us what they mean once yours are taken."

"Got it," Nazuna said.

"Come on in," Dr Takahari said, ushering Nazuna inside as Michiru ambled over to Mrs. Hiwatashi. Leaning against the wall, Michiru sighed and stared up at the ceiling, prompting Mrs. Hiwatashi to ask "What's wrong?".

"Nothing," Michiru shrugged. "I'm just bored, and impatient for my leg to heal so I can start playing basketball again. I'm also worried about Nazuna. I mean she was behind me when it happened, and if she had been a little faster the car would have hit her in the side, not just the arm. If that had happened…"

Trailing off, flashes of the accident ran through her mind. The look of terror and helplessness on Nazuna's face as the car slammed into her. Nazuna's screams as she went flying through the air. The agony of her bones snapping like twigs, and the slick warmth of her blood as she rolled across the street like a ball.

The prospect of Nazuna, herself, or both getting slammed full-on in the side rather than just clipped like they were set a deathly chill deep into her blood. The thought of their ribs splitting like chopsticks, and their skulls bursting like beach melons as they splattered against the ground.

"Michiru," Mrs. Hiwatashi said, leaning in close. "It's going to be alright. You and Nazuna were both very lucky. And we're very happy you're both alive and will make a full recovery. And you both have our full support. We'll do all we can to ensure you and Nazuna live long, happy lives."

"I know, but…" Michiru sighed, looking up at her. "I still have flashes of the accident. I feel like I should have done more."

"You did plenty," Mrs. Hiwatashi replied, carefully wrapping her arm around Michiru's shoulders. "You did all you could. And you made it. You made it through that, you'll make it through this, and you'll have our full support. No matter what, we'll be there for you. Dr Takahari, myself, your parents, your teachers, your friends. You'll always have us to lean on."

"Thank you," Michiru sighed, leaning into her slightly. Inhaling deeply, Michiru took in a deep whiff of Mrs. Hiwatashi's perfume, a light, floral scent like spring flowers in the countryside. Leaning in a little closer, Michiru took in a deeper breath, savoring the scent, feeling safe and warm in Mrs. Hiwatashi's presence.

"Am I…interrupting something?" Dr Takahari asked, startling her. Seeing Nazuna next to him, Michiru felt herself turn red with embarrassment as her friend cocked a little smile at her predicament.

"Not at all doctor," Mrs. Hiwatashi replied. "Michiru was just tired and I offered to let her lean into me for support. I guess she just really likes my perfume."

"It smells like spring flowers," Michiru interjected, smiling sheepishly. "It was soothing and warm."

"Thank you," she replied, smiling warmly. "I'm glad you enjoy it."

Turning to Dr Takahari she asked "What are the results? How are they doing?"

"No signs of malunion," he replied, looking over the images. "By all accounts they're healing remarkably well. Arm and leg bones usually take between three and six months to fully heal, but these girls have already passed the hematoma stage and moved onto the second stage of healing. I would expect this to occur about three weeks after injuries like these, but healing time can vary based on diet, lifestyle, age, and other factors."

"Is there anything to worry about?" Mrs. Hiwatashi asked, slightly on-edge.

"I wouldn't say so," he replied, making her sigh. "For now, just take it easy, get a well-balanced diet, and don't hesitate to call if anything does happen."

"Thank you doctor," she said, smiling. "Well, looks like everything's going to be alright."


'That's what they said,' Michiru thought, sighing at the empty ballcourt. Absent-mindedly, she began dribbling the ball, the thump-thump-thump breaking the silence. 'And it seemed like they were right.'

The rhythmic thumping of the ball brought about new memories, filled with laughter, cheering, and joy.


"Go! Go! Go!" Michiru and Nazuna cheered as Ren caught the ball and began racing toward the hoop. Crossing the midcourt line, she twisted to the side as a teammate arrived at the far sideline, arms tucked as though to pass the ball. But as her competitors ran to intercept the pass, she ducked and continued racing down the court. As she crossed the three point line, she jumped and threw the ball to the hoop. The ball bounced off the board and fell back toward the court…

…if it were not for the rim. Upon impact, the ball spun around the rim and fell into the hoop, netting Reiwa High the win.

Michiru and all her classmates cheered for Ren, raising their hands in victory and yelling themselves hoarse. Ren's teammates crowded around her and hugged her while their competitors smiled in congratulations. The coaches then arrived, pulling the players into lines for the post-game handshake.

"Wow, great game!" Nazuna remarked. "I feel breathless just from watching it."

"I know," Michiru agreed, exhaling hard. "I wish I could have joined them."

Sighing, they glanced downward at their injured limbs, their spirits draining away at the reminder. While Dr Takahari had assured them, multiple times, that they were healing very well, it still felt like forever since the accident. And yet somehow, it also felt like it was only yesterday that they had their close brush with mortality. Feeling their spirits dwindle, the girls became an island of melancholy in a sea of joy.

Soon, currents and eddies formed in that sea of joy as the team players ran to their friends and families. The cheers faded as excited chatter and laughter took its place. Slowly but surely, the court began to empty as excited and exhausted teenagers headed for the locker rooms, their families in tow.

One player, though, took a different course. Ren, who scored the winning basket, ran toward Michiru and Nazuna and asked "hey, what's up?".

"Oh Ren!" Michiru looked up. "Not much. Just wishing I was playing with you and the others."

"Yeah, we did too," Ren replied. "But it's not for much longer. Your leg will heal soon, and you'll be back scoring baskets in no time."

"Thanks," Michiru smiled.

"You know what will really help?" Ren asked. When the girls merely stared blankly, Ren answered "Pizza! The team's getting together for dinner later on, and your bodies are going to need food to recover."

"Are you sure?" Nazuna asked. "I mean we don't want to butt in or anything, and we didn't play the game."

"Nonsense!" Ren insisted. "Everyone wants you there! Both of you! It's been a while since we all hung out together, and now's our chance! So come on!"

"Alright," Michiru said, pulling herself up. "We'll have to ask our parents first, but I'm sure we can do it."

"That's perfectly alright," a voice chimed in from behind them. Looking back, Michiru and Nazuna saw their parents smiling warmly. "We think it's a wonderful idea. And we'd be happy to help out."

"Great!" Ren said. "Meet us in the parking lot. We gotta hit the locker rooms. I stink like a skunk."

"Actually," Nazuna said, inhaling deeply. "I think you stink like a…a…"

"A what? A what?" Ren asked, looking scared.

"A basketball player," Nazuna finished, making Ren blush as the others laughed. "Sorry, couldn't resist. But really you don't smell that bad."

"Oh very funny!" Ren huffed. "Anyway, I'll meet you in the parking lot."

"See you then!" Michiru said. "Well, I need to freshen up myself. Be right back."

"Now that you mention it," Nazuna responded, standing. "I could use a powder break myself."

"In that case," Ren shrugged before ushering them behind her.


"Delicious!" Michiru declared, downing a slice of pepperoni.

"You got that right," Nazuna agreed, taking a sip of water. Sighing with contentment, she added "But great food is always best taken with company."

Looking around, taking in the scenery Michiru could only nod in agreement.

Everyone was clustered around four tables spread out under a series of posters, each depicting a famous site from around the world. Michiru and Nazuna found themselves sitting near a poster of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Nearby, Ren and her parents were contemplating a poster of the Eiffel Tower, alight against a dark background with a full moon. Further down, they saw a poster of the Taj Mahal, followed by a new poster they had never seen before. It showed a city straddling a bay or sea, with a large mountain sitting in the backdrop. The buildings all seemed new and shiny, made of gleaming metal and glass that cast a perfect reflection onto the water.

"What's that?" Michiru asked. Hearing this, Ren and a few others scampered to read the label under the poster. Seeing a waiter approach, she asked "Excuse me, but what poster is that?"

"Oh that's Anima City," the waiter replied. "It was constructed by the Japanese government to be a safe haven for beastmen. It's been almost ten years since it was built and I've heard that it's done quite well."

"Bah!" someone barked out from the pair behind the waiter. It was a man with a ruddy face, possibly inebriated, and definitely angry. "It's a zoo! A place for freaks and monsters to congregate and breed! And when they're not rut-"

"Jin Shirazaki, if you dare finish that sentence…" the woman next to him threatened and he backed down.

Inhaling deeply, the waiter turned to Michiru and said "I'm sorry about that. Not everyone appreciates what Anima City represents."

"Our loss! That's what!" someone with a gravelly voice yelled out. "How much money did they spend to build that place? And where did it come from? Us! The taxpayers! The government spent a massive fortune so beastmen could have a top-of-the-line city all to themselves!"

"Monstrous," someone agreed with them. "But what else can you expect? They're monsters after all."

At this the waiter bristled, a dark look crossing his face for a split second. But as soon as it came, it disappeared with a smile as he asked "Anyway, can I get you anything else?".

"Uh, just more water please," Michiru and Nazuna replied.

"Same here," the others added.

"And can we get the check please?" Ren's father asked.

"Certainly," the waiter replied.

As he departed, Michiru and Nazuna caught a glimpse of something trailing behind him, something furry. But in the blink of an eye it was gone.

'Was that a-?' Michiru wondered. 'Nah, it must have just been my imagination.'

Shaking her head, she turned to finish off her plate. But as she chewed, she kept thinking about what the nearby customers had said about beastmen. The anger, the disdain, the blatant bigotry on display. She had heard of anti-beastman prejudice, but this was her first time hearing it for herself.

'How can people be so harsh on others?' she wondered. 'Why? I mean what did beastmen do to deserve it?'

Her thoughts then turned to the news she saw at the hospital. The smoke from the chemical plant after the explosion. The boar beastman transforming on TV, sharp tusks and massively muscled neck and shoulders, right before her eyes. The way his head elongated into a snout, his hair giving way to a bristled mane, and how his body itself seemed to balloon in size.

And when he roared his mouth opened so wide she thought his head might split open. And when he body-slammed that police officer into the wall, the human seemed so puny next to the beastman's massive head and frame. And as the police officer fell to the ground, she saw the massive dent left in the wall, a wall made of solid concrete.

'Okay that was…scary,' she admitted. 'But we never found out if he was responsible for what happened at the chemical plant. Maybe he just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time? But then, why was he running?'

Feeling the onset of a headache, Michiru swallowed the last of her pizza and grabbed some water to wash it down. Turning she saw her father haggling over how to split the bill with the other parents while the waiter turned to the next table.

"Michiru, are you okay?" Nazuna asked. "You look distracted."

"Oh, I'm fine," Michiru replied. Sighing, she continued "Just thinking about some things."

"Like the game?" Nazuna inquired. "I know you're bummed out about not being on the team, but your leg will heal soon enough."

"Thanks, but…" Michiru replied, uncertain about how to answer. "That's not what I was thinking about. I was actually thinking…about…"

"About what?" Nazuna pressed. "Was it about what those guys were saying about beastmen?"

"Yeah," Michiru sighed. "I just…can't understand why people would be so harsh on beastmen. Why? I mean why hate beastmen? What good does it do?"

"I don't know," Nazuna replied, sighing. "I really don't know. If they can't accept beastmen, that's their problem, not ours."

"Yeah, you're right," Michiru said, smiling a little. "It's not our problem."

"Ready girls?" her father asked.

"Yeah, we're ready," Michiru replied, reaching for her crutches.

"Let me help," her father said, offering an arm.

"Thanks dad," Michiru smiled. Holding onto his arm, she slowly rose to her feet before taking her crutches and ambling out so Nazuna could stand.

"Thanks for coming," the waiter said as they departed. "Please come again."

"Sure thing," Michiru's father replied. "We'll come back soon."


'But we haven't,' Michiru sighed, juggling the ball. 'There was always more on our minds, more things to worry about, more important things to take care of.'


"Man, that was tough!" Michiru sighed, seating herself on the bench. "That quiz was just intense!"

"Like basketball?" Nazuna teased.

"Almost, but not quite," Michiru laughed. "At least with basketball when you miss a shot you know right away. But with a quiz you have to wait until you get it back. I hate waiting!"

"Yes, I know," Nazuna laughed. "You've made that all too clear for weeks now. And believe me, I know the feeling. I want to get my arm out of this cast and get on with my dream."

"Oh, what's your dream?" Michiru asked.

Smiling, Nazuna climbed onto a block in the park and pointed to the sky.

"What's your name? Nazuna!" she declared, pointing to Michiru.

"Say it backwards? Nazuna!" she said, pointing to herself before pointing in all directions. "And my dream is your dream! I'm an idol from whichever direction you look!"

Finishing up with a v-sign to her eye, Nazuna declared "The name's Nazuna Hiwatashi!"

Seeing this performance, Michiru broke out laughing as Nazuna stepped off the block. "Oh you're gonna be a big hit!" she exclaimed. "Why don't you audition?"

"I don't like having other people choose me," Nazuna replied as she took a seat on the bench, high-fiving Michiru. "I want to be the one who chooses them."

"Or maybe you're just scared," Michiru countered, slyly.

"What?" Nazuna asked, incredulous.

"We almost died in an accident, right?" Michiru replied. "So we're not afraid of anything now. Every obstacle is an opportunity. So just do it. Become a real idol."

Reaching for her crutches, Michiru stood up and ambled toward the mound in the park.

"What are you doing?" Nazuna asked, shocked as Michiru began climbing. "That's dangerous!"

"Listen, I'm not gonna give up basketball either, no matter what happens," Michiru said. Reaching the top, she turned to Nazuna and declared "We can be anything! Let's both climb to the top of our fields, okay?"

Below, Nazuna sighed and said "You're amazing Michiru."

Breathing deeply, she declared "You got it! No matter what, we'll reach our dreams! Nothing can stop us now!"


"And it seemed like we could do just that," Michiru sighed aloud, rolling the ball over her shoulders. "Especially once our casts finally came off and we started therapy. It seemed like just another obstacle to overcome, another hill to climb."


"Finally!" Michiru exclaimed as the cast fell away. Excited to see her leg, she turned to look…only to stare blankly at the sight before her. Her right leg seemed so thin and puny next to her left, and the hair seemed longer, thicker, darker than before. It looked almost like she had grown fur under the cast.

"Doctor, is that normal?" she asked, still working through the shock.

"Oh yes, perfectly," Dr. Takahari replied. "You haven't used that calf in quite some time, so the muscles will be atrophied. And the cast will have guarded the leg from abrasion so the hair will be longer. But before long things will be back to normal, but we'll need to get you set up for physical therapy."

"Physical therapy?" Michiru asked. "So I'll be doing leg exercises?"

"Yes, exactly!" Dr. Takahari confirmed. "We'll start off light and work our way up from there. I'm afraid that means you'll have to refrain from strenuous legwork for a while, say six to eight weeks. So, no basketball I'm afraid."

"Six to eight weeks?!" Michiru exclaimed. Slumping against the wall she groaned "But it's been so long already!"

"Yes, but not as long as you think," Dr. Takahari replied. Seeing her confusion he continued "Given how well you healed I'm guessing your body will react quite well to physical therapy. I'll put in a word with your therapist to push you, but be sure to listen to your therapist. I know you're eager to get back on the team, but it won't do for you to injure yourself in the process."

"Yes, doctor," Michiru nodded. "So, what will my therapy entail?"

"Stretching to get your tendons and ligaments ready," Dr. Takahari replied. "You'll still need to use the crutches for a while, but soon after you'll start doing leg exercises like one-legged squats to start reusing those muscles. A big part will be learning to walk like normal again after using the crutches for so long. It'll take a while, but I'm confident you'll make it."

"Thanks doctor," Michiru smiled. "Is there anything else or shall we bring Nazuna in?"

"No, we're done for now," Dr. Takahari answered, turning to his desk. "But I do need to give you some paperwork for your therapy, so don't amble off just yet."

"Alright doctor," Michiru replied as he worked at his desk. Reaching for her crutches, she carefully lowered herself onto the floor, setting her newly released leg last when everything else was ready. Making sure all was ready, she ambled toward the doctor just as he finished with his paperwork.

"Eager beaver, aren't you?" he teased, making her smile. Ushering her to the door, he held it open and handed her the papers as she exited the room. "Nazuna, your turn."

"Okay doctor," she replied, slipping inside as Michiru cleared the way.

Once the door was closed, Michiru began reading what Dr. Takahari had given her. It was much like he described, only more in-depth and detailed. She groaned in dismay at how easy the exercises seemed to be, feeling like she was being held back by her own body. Slumping against the wall, she sighed in frustration, only to catch a whiff of a scent, spicy with an undertone of wood.

"Michiru?" a voice asked from nearby. Turning she found her mother fumbling with her purse. "Are you alright?"

"Um, yeah mom," Michiru replied. "I was just reading the therapy material that Dr. Takahari gave me."

"Oh marvelous!" her mother exclaimed. "What do we have to do?"

"According to this," Michiru began, reading the papers. "We first need to contact a therapist to get a consultation about how best to proceed. From there, it'll be stretching exercises first, followed by muscle training like squats and leg raises, light but progressively heavier. I'll still need the crutches for a while but not the cast."

"So, no more signatures then," her mother said, making them both laugh. "Do you think Dr. Takahari would let us keep the cast?"

"I would not recommend that," he replied as Nazuna stepped out. To Michiru's delight, her arm was free of the cast but in much the same state as her leg. "Casts can accumulate oil, sweat, and old skin and hair from patients so keeping them would not be hygienic."

"Oh well," Michiru's mother shrugged. "Just a silly idea anyway. So we need to contact a therapist?"

"Yes," he replied. "Contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or problems, but I'm confident you can handle it. Have a good day."

"Bye doctor," Michiru and Nazuna said as he returned to his office.

"Well, let's be off," Michiru's mother said, leading them back to the lobby. "I'll call Mrs. Hiwatashi and let her know we're on our way back. I'll contact the therapist today or tomorrow and see when we can get started."

"Alright!" Michiru exclaimed, turning to her friend. "Maybe we can train together, Nazuna."

"That would be nice," Nazuna said, smiling. "Hopefully we have the same facility at any rate."

"No matter what," Michiru said. "We'll stick together."


"Or so I thought," Michiru sighed, spinning the ball on her finger. Staring at the spinning globe, she tried to focus on something other than the growing loneliness. But the ball reminded her of the therapy exercises she underwent.

She and Nazuna went to the same training facility every day after school. While they had different trainers, they frequently saw each other during their therapy sessions. It was comforting, knowing her best friend was close-by, and sometimes even within eyeshot.

'Like when I played basketball,' she thought. 'She would be there cheering from the sidelines. While she couldn't cheer during therapy, she would always send me a smile. And I would do the same whenever I saw her. We were both cheering the other on.'

A smile crossed her lips as she remembered the day they completed therapy. It felt so wonderful to hear that she could rejoin the basketball team. She and Nazuna were so happy they ran all the way home, or at least Michiru did while Nazuna raced home on her bicycle. Still, it was wonderful to know that all their hard work had paid off.

"And we simply couldn't wait," she said. "I hit the basketball court the day after, and Nazuna applied for an audition. I was so happy to hear that."

Smiling widely, she started dribbling the ball. Hearing the rhythmic thumping of the ball, new memories emerged.


Panting, she raced up the court as Ren passed the ball toward the far line. With one last sprint, she caught the ball just before a rival team member could block it. Turning to the hoop, she jumped and tossed the ball. With bated breath, she watched anxiously as it reached its zenith and fell straight into the hoop, a perfect shot.

With that, the crowd cheered in triumph as a player caught the ball and started running toward the other hoop. As Michiru turned to give chase, she caught a glimpse of Nazuna, cheering wildly for her and their school. Grinning widely, Michiru raced back into the fray, determined to give it her all.

Which turned out to be enough, for her team managed to pull out ahead just in time for the final buzzer. Grinning widely, she basked in the adulation of the crowd as the coaches formed up the line for the post-game handshake.

"Hope to see you again soon!" she said to the player opposite from her.

"Thanks, me too," she said, smiling back as her team departed.

"Great game, Michiru!" Nazuna exclaimed. "You were amazing!"

"Thanks, Nazuna!" Michiru replied. Wiping off the sweat from her brow, she continued "Gotta hit the showers. Be right back."

"Take your time," Nazuna said. "I'll wait in the lobby."

Nodding in response, Michiru headed for the locker rooms, catching up with Ren and a few others. Quickly stripping off her uniform, Michiru raced to the shower stalls and gasped as cold water struck her back. To her relief, the water soon heated to a hot but not scalding temperature. Sighing in contentment, she ducked her head under the stream to soak her sweaty hair before lifting her head up. Letting the water run over her, she started turning in a circle, making sure to rinse as much as possible before reaching for the shampoo.

"Great game, everyone!" she called out, rubbing the shampoo into her hair.

"Thanks!" Ren replied. "You were amazing today!"

"You sure were," another voice, Chika, cut in. "It's great to have you back on the team."

"It's great to be back," Michiru said, grabbing the soap. Lathering up, she started with her arms and shoulders before turning to her torso and stomach. "Anything new happen with you guys?"

"Not much," a fourth girl, Mina, interjected. "We've all been working hard, and not just in basketball. We've got a big test coming up in math, and we're hoping to get a study group going. You interested?"

"Yeah," Michiru replied. Finishing with her torso and stomach, she reached behind to do her back. To her frustration, she could not reach that small space below her shoulder blades, no matter how hard she tried.

'Wish my arms could extend that far,' she thought.

"So what's the plan?" she asked, lathering up more soap. "Are we meeting in the library? Or someone's house?"

"Not sure yet," Ren replied. "We're still asking for others to join, but probably the library so we can focus. Do you think Nazuna would like to join us?"

"I can ask," Michiru replied as she rubbed down her legs. "So anything else?"

"We've talked about our career plans," Chika said, a shrug in her voice. "I'm thinking about becoming a business mogul. Mina wants to be a detective. And Ren is thinking about being a researcher."

"Oh that's cool!" Michiru exclaimed. "What kind of research, Ren?"

"Biology," Ren answered. "Genomes, that sort of thing."

"Wow," Michiru said. "Sounds like you all have pretty solid plans."

"What about you Michiru?" Mina asked. "What would you like to do for a career?"

"I haven't really thought about it," Michiru admitted, moving to rinse the soap off. "I've thought about going into basketball, but I don't know. I know what Nazuna's setting out to be."

"Oh?" Ren inquired. "Let me guess: idol."

"How'd you know?" Michiru asked, surprised.

"I overheard you two talking about it," Ren answered. "It wasn't exactly a secret, you know. So how's that working out for Nazuna?"

"Well, she's been working hard," Michiru explained, a small smile crossing her face. "Though she has had a few cheats in the meantime. Remember that dorayaki you gave us after completing therapy? She started a diet for her audition, but then claimed that dorayaki WAS part of the diet."

"Really?" Mina pressed as the others laughed. "Well, a cheat now and then is good for stress relief, and like you said she has been working hard. So we forgive her."

Emerging from the shower, Michiru shivered slightly as the cold air brushed against her wet skin and hair. Quickly, she darted for the towel and began vigorously drying herself off, the other girls following suit.

"So anything else?" Michiru asked, folding her towel quickly before grabbing her clothes.

"I heard the Anti-Beastman League's been active again," Chiko sighed. "They've been protesting outside city hall and the dock leading to Anima City. They're so angry."

"What about?" Mina asked, a note of fear in her voice. "I haven't heard of any more incidents like the chemical plant."

"Speaking of that," Michiru interjected. "Did they ever catch that boar beastman or find out what happened?"

"As far as we know," Ren answered. "They ruled it as an accident. They said that someone failed a safety check and a number of staff were dismissed. As for that boar beastman, he was arrested but they couldn't find any hard evidence against him so he was sentenced to prison for assaulting a police officer and damage to private property."

"The Anti-Beastman League, however," Chiko sighed. "Have a different idea of what happened. They think that the whole 'accident' angle is just a cover, and that the government is trying to cozy up to beastmen and their sympathizers. They want a thorough investigation for the chemical plant and for beastmen to be rounded up, like animals."

"But wasn't that whole thing a while ago?" Michiru asked. "I mean I was at the hospital getting my x-rays when I saw it happen, which was months ago. So why hold onto it all?"

At this the girls simply shrugged in resignation.

Sighing, Michiru pulled her shirt on and turned to her skirt.

"More than that," Mina added. "I've heard something weird's going on."

"Really? Like what?" Chiko asked.

"Apparently, and this is only what I've heard but," Mina stalled, turning to look around. She looked not-so-much afraid as cautious about those around her. "I've heard that there were men in black investigating the chemical plant. Not police officers or detectives, but men in black suits and sunglasses. No one knows where they came from, and no one's tried talking with them."

"Oh come on!" Ren said. "Men in black? That sounds like an alien movie or something. That doesn't happen in real life."

"Still, I've seen photos and videos online," Mina argued. "I can't verify them as authentic but I can't entirely rule them out either."

"Mina, really?" Ren pressed. "You believe that?"

"I'm just relaying what I've heard," Mina countered. "I think these guys are some sort of beastman watch or something because they've only been seen after the boar beastman was arrested. So maybe they're here to keep the peace or something."

At this Michiru merely rolled her eyes as Ren and Chiko laughed at Mina's ideas.

'Yeah, right,' Michiru reassured herself. 'That sort of thing never happens in real life.'