The Cherryton Cooking Club

by Mr.Dr.Sadperson

Taking place one year before the events of the show, this story is a simple look at the (relatively) normal lives of average students attending Cherryton Highschool.

9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Totally Normal Week Where Absolutely Nothing Happened

As Monday came and went for the students at Cherryton, Yasui noticed something strange. He was beginning to feel like life here was becoming… normal. He realized that he had managed to settle into a routine that he was pretty comfortable with. As such, the rest of the week seemed to blur together into his new normal life. The only exception being on Wednesday when he received his first ever letter. He brought it to his room and flipped it over a few times in his hands.

Wow, somebody sent me something! I wonder what it is? Maybe it's from Mom and Dad!

He eagerly tore the letter open and began to read.

Let's see… "Greetings. I am Nabuyo, the owner of Cafe Lapin. I heard from my friend Misuki that you were interested in a part time job here and am willing to interview you this Saturday at noon. Let me know if you are able to come!"

Yasui sighed and set the letter down beside him. He'd been here for over a full week and had only heard from his family once. And even then it was rushed.

I get that I'm growing up and in high school now, but I was hoping they would at least send me a letter or something to try to keep my spirits up. You know, a little note that says "We love you! Hope you do well at school!" Instead I got my hopes up for nothing.

Yasui flipped the envelope over to reveal a return address printed at the top. If he was going to make the most of his time here at Cherryton, he would need some money.

Hmm… maybe I should write him back and say yes. I still have a decent bit of money left from selling my fur, but it won't last long.

Yasui flipped the envelope end over end in his hands before setting it aside.

"It can wait… for now I should see if Shin wants to do something. Or maybe I should do some school work? Errr… screw it. I'm only going to be young once! Or whatever!"

As he left his room he bumped into Jack and some of his roommates in the hallway. Jack waved.

"Hey, uh… Yasui, right?"

"Yup. Hi, Jack."

Jack's hyena roommate grinned and held his hand up for a high-five.

"Ayyyy! Frisbee! How's it going!"

"Oh, uh… pretty good I guess."

"... Dude don't leave me hanging."

"Oh! Sorry!"

He completed the high-five as Jack asked,

"So, what are you up to?"

"Me? Well, nothing yet. Been trying to think of something to do actually. I figured I'd go see if my friend was free."

"Cool. If that doesn't work out feel free to drop by our room. We're going to play some games. Most of them are four-player so we can fit you into the rotation. That is, so long as the rest of you guys don't mind."

As he turned to address his friends Yasui crossed his arms.

That does sound fun, and I don't even know if Shin isn't busy. He did say he was in a club so they might be meeting today. And where would I even find him?

Yasui shrugged.

"I'd be happy to play some games with you guys. If you don't mind."

The coyote gave him a light punch in the shoulder as he passed.

"Bring it frisbee! I am a pro at cart racers!"

The big sheepdog whose name was on the tip of Yasui's tongue grinned and said,

"Hey, the more the merrier, right?"

Yasui followed them to their room and sat a little bit away from them as they got the game set up. Jack glanced over and held the controller towards him.

"You want first?"

"Oh, I'm good. I'll just watch first. I've never played one of these before so I really don't know what's going. This way I can at least see what I'm supposed to try to do."

The hyena whistled.

"Man, being you as a kid must have sucked! I played so many video games back in grade school. I don't know if I could have survived at your house."

Jack huffed.

"Miguno! Don't be rude!"

"I wasn't! Nothing against it but he's definitely stronger than I am. Like, what would you even do all day?"

Yasui shrugged.

"Well, chores for some of it. But also reading and doing stuff with my brother and sisters."

The sheepdog asked,

"Oh, you have siblings? How old?"

"Let's see… Yone is going to be eighteen this year. Kime is fifteen. Mina is twelve. And Lily is nine."

The coyote "ooh"ed and waggled his eyebrows.

"A sister that's one year younger than us? Is she cute?"

Yasui pulled back a bit with an incredulous look.

"Huh? W-What do you mean?"

"Relax! I'm just messing with you! … But I mean, is she cute? Objectively speaking."

Yasui scratched his head.

"Well… she's my sister so I've never thought about her like that, so I don't know if she's 'cute' or not."

Miguno, who was furiously clicking away on his controller, piped up.

"Well would you say that other guys say she's cute?"

Is this sort of stuff normal for guys our age to talk about? This is kinda weird.

Jack waved his hand.

"You don't have to tell them anything. They're just being idiots. Besides, the only reason they're so girl crazy is because of the Festival of the Meteor."

Yasui crossed his legs.

"Oh yeah, I heard about that. What exactly is it all about?"

Collot, whose name Yasui managed to remember at long last, shrugged.

"Officially? It's something about the dinosaurs and them being killed by a meteor or something. What it's actually about is an excuse to have a festival. Usually the reasons behind them are kinda dumb."

The coyote snickered.

"Yeah, something about honoring the spirit of the dinosaurs or something. All that really matters is that it's the perfect way to get a girl to go out with you. I mean, it's literally the perfect excuse! You just gotta be like, 'oh yeah, that festival thing is in a few weeks right? Whaddaya say we go together? That way it might actually be fun.'"

Yasui nodded.

"Huh, and that works?"

The room fell deadly silent before a voice piped up from overhead.

"I wouldn't listen to these dorks, Frisbee. None of them have ever even been on a real date, let alone had a girlfriend."

Everyone jumped and turned to look at the speaker. Leaning over from his bunk was the tiny fennec fox named Voss. Collot shook his head.

"Dude, quit sneaking in like that! You scared me!"

"I was here before you!"

"Then say hi or something!"

"I DID!"

As the two roommates bickered back and forth, Jack shook his head.

"So other than that, the festival is also where a bunch of clubs set up a booth to either sell something or do something entertaining. Like sometimes the school paper does a special game, or the drama club puts on a performance and builds a dinosaur statue."

Huh, I wonder if I could do something like that? Maybe sell food or something? But I would need to find someone who would know about something like that, because I sure don't! Oh! That's right! Miss Diana is a business person! I should totally call her and ask for some advice on what to do!

Soon the four dogs finished their race and the coyote groaned.

"No fair you turds! You timed that blue shell for when I was going over a ramp!"

Collot chuckled and pressed his hand down on the shorter boy's head.

"Tough break, Durham. That's just how it is."

"I want a rematch! Blue shells are total BS and you know it! I was in first the whole time!"

Jack gave him an apologetic look.

"Sorry, dude. You know the rules. You gotta swap out now."

Durham sighed before giving Yasui a pleading look.

"Frisbee, you gotta take my side with this. I was robbed! Can I rematch?"

Yasui shrugged.

"Okay."

"C'mon man, ple— wait, what?"

"Go ahead, I'm fine with watching anyway. Besides, this seems a little too… complicated for me."

Durham gave a triumphant laugh and pointed mockingly at Collot.

"In your face!"

He quickly rounded on Yasui and flung his arm around his shoulder, jostling him back and forth.

"My man Frisbee is a real bro! You turds could learn a thing or two from him!"

The hyena rolled his eyes.

"Shut up and play you crybaby."

"Get ready to eat my dust, Miguno!"

Jack groaned.

"I swear, you two get way too into this. I mean, it's just a cart racer."

As they started back up again, Yasui finally decided to ask something that had been bugging him for a bit.

"Hey, uh, guys? Mind if I ask you something?"

Jack kept his eyes glued to the screen as he replied.

"Go for it. I'm all ears."

"Okay… what's that weird smell?"

Everyone froze before bursting into riotous laughter. Miguno was the first to recover, although he was still gasping for air.

"Oh man, that totally would be something you're not used to."

Collot wiped at his hidden eyes.

"Yeah, we've been roommates for so long we must not smell it anymore."

Yasui raised an eyebrow.

"Uh… am I missing something?"

Jack shook his head as he slowly answered Yasui.

"No… it's just kinda an inside joke of sorts. That smell is Legoshi. He's a wolf, so he's kinda…."

Durham toppled over cackling as Jack paused to compose himself.

"He kinda smells like… like…"

"Like if steamed broccoli and damp socks had a baby!" Durham interjected. Jack gestured to his friend.

"Like that. It… definitely takes getting used to."

Voss chose then to chime back in.

"Apparently female wolves find it attractive. Something about it indicating high masculinity."

Collot blew a raspberry as he punched buttons on his controller.

"Lucky guy. I wish all it took for the ladies to be interested in me was some serious BO."

Miguno sighed wistfully and gazed at the ceiling.

"Dare to dream, friends. Dare to dream."

Voss chuckled as he slid down the ladder to join the rest of the boys on the floor.

"Not that it's helping him at all. I don't think the guy has ever even had a thing for a girl, let alone gotten some action, right, Jack?"

Jack sighed.

"No… he still hasn't even looked at a girl. I had hopes for a while because he ended up sitting right beside this cute wolf girl in class last year, but he never even spoke to her."

Durham rolled his eyes.

"I swear there's something wrong with that guy. Like, he's not even super ugly like Miguno is and he doesn't even try."

"Hey! Watch it butthead!"

"No you!"

"No you!"

The two began shoving each other with their shoulders, gaming the whole time. Yasui was actually impressed by their determination to both race their carts and try to hurt the other physically. It was true multitasking. He scooted over to Jack and whispered while pointed between the two.

"Uh… do those two hate each other or something?"

"Hm? Durham and Miguno?"

"Yeah."

"Nah, they're best friends."

"But I've only ever seen them fight?"

"That's just how they are. They like insulting each other and fighting. Some people are just like that."

Yasui shrugged and leaned back to watch the race. Soon they were finished with the game, and Jack was the one who lost. He groaned.

"Aw c'mon, I hate that track and you know it. Why'd you have to pull a cheap move like that."

Collot sniffed.

"Because, Jack. I must game."

Miguno continued to hold Durham in a headlock as he joined in.

"Yeah, Jack. It's real gamer hours! Get that weak stuff outta here!"

Jack shook his head and handed Yasui the controller.

"Whatever. Here you are Yasui."

"Oh, uh, thanks. Uh… could you tell me how to play?"

"Sure, you press 'A' to accelerate, 'B' to break, right bumper to jump, and left bumper to use items. It's pretty simple so you should get the hang of it pretty fast."

"Oh, okay."

...I'm going to lose.

The game was… rocky to say the least. Apparently Yasui was holding down the wrong button when it started, and he stayed completely still while everyone else fed him some dust. Jack cleared his throat and tried to contain his laughter.

"Uh… wrong button."

"Oh, uh, this one?"

He pressed a different button and watched as his cart started to drive.

"Yup, there you go. Oh, turn! Turn!"

"Huh? How?"

"The arrow buttons!"

"Okay!"

Yasui smashed into a wall and slowly scraped against it while he tapped at the left arrow button.

"No, press and hold the buttons."

"Sorry!"

Miguno smirked.

"Dude, Fribee, you are absolutely terrible at this."

Yasui's ears flattened and he tried to peel himself off the wall.

"Well it's my first time so…."

"I still find it hard to believe that you've never played a video game before. Like, not even at a friend's house."

"I, well, I didn't really… have any."

Miguno's smile fell.

"Oh…. I'm sorry dude. I didn't mean anything by it."

"No it's okay. I just never really fit in with anyone my own age. Even at family get-togethers I'd either hang around with my parents or Great Grandpa. He never got annoyed when I would just sit next to him instead of playing with the other kids."

Collot cut the awkward silence that followed by asking,

"So you've got a living Great Grandfather? How old is he?"

"Sheesh, I dunno. No one really does. And he doesn't really talk much anymore. At least, not since Great Grandma died. He mainly just sits on his porch smoking and staring at the trees."

"Well do you have a rough estimate of how old he is? My great grandfather was ninety when he died."

Yasui pursed his lips as his cart fell off a cliff.

"Well… he used to talk about back when the war was going on."

Jack frowned.

"Wait, which war? You don't mean…."

"Yeah, the Herbi-Carni War. Apparently he said it felt like the whole world had just gone crazy overnight. He… doesn't like talking about it."

Jack gave Yasui a disbelieving stare.

"There is no way he was around for that! I mean, he'd have to be over a hundred! Like… really over a hundred!"

"I mean… I guess? I dunno, like I said he doesn't talk much anymore."

"That… is so cool! Lucky!"

"I guess you're right, it is pretty cool."

It was no surprise that Yasui came dead last, or that he even lost to the racers controlled by the game. As such, he was more than happy to pass off his controller to Jack and move back to his spot a little bit away from the group. As he watched the others playing the game, Collot tilted his head to glance at him.

"Hey Frisbee, sorry to bug you, but could you grab a game called Street Brawler for me? It should be somewhere over there."

"Oh, uh, sure. Let me look."

Yasui looked around him before Voss whistled.

"Yo! Over here!"

"Oh, thanks. Uh… where?"

"It should be in the drawer down there, the one marked Durham."

Durham's ears shot straight up in alarm as Yasui opened the drawer.

"Wait! Don't—"

"What the… uh… uuuuuuuh."

Sensing something off, the rest of the boys turned to see Yasui standing wide eyed with Voss peering down into the drawer in disbelief. Jack frowned.

"What is it? Is there something in there?"

Durham's face was beet red and he was sweating profusely as Yasui pulled a magazine from out of the storage compartment. They all looked in varying degrees of shock and amusement. Meanwhile Durham was doing his best to vanish by sheer willpower. The magazine in question was brightly colored and entitled—

"BIKINI SAFARI!?!"

Collot, Voss, Miguno, and Jack all started dying laughing as Yasui stood there holding the magazine while trying not to look at the scantily clad lioness on the cover. Miguno gave Durham a little push as he groaned in embarrassment.

"Woooooow Durham, is it a good read?"

"Shut up!"

Collot snickered and added.

"So you're a swimsuit guy, huh? I mean, it could be worse I guess. You could be reading some of that really weird stuff."

Jack rubbed his eyebrows and shook his head.

"Even still! Who reads porno mags anymore!? Just use the internet like a normal guy!"

Durham shrugged.

"I just found it! I can't help it! I'm not the guy who bought it, I swear!"

Voss gave him a doubting look.

"You found it? Where?"

"Here!"

"What do you mean here? Like, in someone else's stuff?"

"No! It was taped to the top of my drawer! Honest! I think it's from whoever had this room years ago."

Collot shook his shaggy head and laughed.

"So you're telling me that you discovered a secret smut stash from over four years ago."

"Yes!"

Jack rubbed the back of his neck and looked around.

"Sheesh, what if there's more? That could be awkward."

They all glanced around suspiciously before Yasui finally spoke.

"Uh… can I throw this somewhere please? I don't want to hold it anymore… or ever again."

(Later that day)

Yasui yawned as he left Room 701. While he hadn't been very good at any of the games they had played, he still had fun. He left the dorms and headed down the path towards either the library or cafeteria. He scratched his ear and mulled over what he should do next.

I could eat dinner early I guess? Or just go back to my room and do a little reading or homework or—

"Ah! There you are!"

Yasui pulled himself back to Earth and glanced down the hall. Shinrai was jogging towards him and came skidding to a stop right in front of him.

"Just the dude I was looking for! Got a favor to ask of you."

"Uh, okay. Whatcha need?"

Shinrai pointed in the general direction of the school as he began.

"Well, me and the other guys in the AV club were thinking about doing a photo booth with props and stuff for the Festival of the Meteor. So we're going to need our box of supplies from down in the basement of the main building."

"Okay… so what do you need me to do?"

"Well the thing is, it's probably way too heavy for me to lift up the stairs by myself and the other two guys aren't exactly strong either. So I was thinking you could help me! If you don't mind of course."

Yasui put his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

"Well I'll help, but I'm not exactly what you'd call strong. I mean, I am kinda a runt back home so I tend to not do the heavy lifting."

"Well you're probably stronger than me so we can manage… I think."

"Well we can try. Lead the way."

As they walked, Yasui kept his hands in his pockets and glanced around.

"So, this festival thing. I keep hearing about it. Is it important?"

Shinrai picked at his hand and kept walking as he answered.

"Yeah, it's a pretty big deal around here. Why, do you not do it back home?"

"No, we don't have a, uh, Festival of the Meteor? Is that right?"

"Yup."

"Well we don't have that. Only festivals we have are the Spring Dawn festival, the Harvest Festival, and the Solstices."

"I literally don't recognize any of those."

"Well, the Spring Dawn festival is to celebrate the beginning of spring. So we all get up to watch the sunrise before having a big feast with the last of the winter stock. And there's contests and games and stuff before the ceremonial retirement."

"Ceremonial retirement? Like what old people do?"

"No it just means we all go to bed as the sun sets to prepare for the planting the next day. The Harvest Festival is the opposite, with everyone making a ton of food to celebrate the end of harvesting the crops before winter. And then we all help prepare our family's house for the snow and wind."

"Those all sound very… farmy."

"Well it is a farming village."

"I guess. What was the last one? Solipsips?"

"Solstices, the summer and winter solstices."

"Okay and those are?"

"The longest and shortest days of the year. The summer solstice is our day off from working to have a festival and some fun for a day. The winter solstice is where we all make a massive bonfire and give each other gifts we made."

Shinrai grinned.

"So like Rexmas! But with fire!"

Now it was Yasui's turn to be confused.

"Uh… Rexmas?"

"Y'know, Rexmas! You can't honestly expect me to believe you don't know about Rexmas either?!"

"Sorry, I don't. So what's it about?"

Shinrai opened his mouth to answer before pausing and growing a pensive look.

"You know… I don't think I'm entirely sure? I think it's supposed to be about some dinosaur called a T Rex or whatever and something it did, but I don't think I ever even paid any attention to that stuff. I mean, same as the Festival of the Meteor, it's kinda just an excuse to have some fun!"

"Huh, well I can live with that. I guess it's different here than it is back home. Everyone makes sure you know the traditions and ceremonies for all the special festivals."

Shinrai darted a bit ahead before turning and walking backwards so he could face Yasui.

"I'm telling you, I want to go to one of you festivals. They all sound super cool!"

"Really? I was kinda worried that you'd think they were dumb because they're all about farming."

"Okay I don't care about the farming stuff, but the idea of going to some ancient, tradition filled festival in some remote mountain village is definitely something I'm down for. Also I bet the food is good."

"Oh it is. I miss the food back home. Everything here is just so… not filling."

"Hmm? Whatcha mean?"

Yasui scratched his head.

"It's hard to explain. It's just… the food back home is all really filling and hearty and whatever you want to call it. Oh! Speaking of, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Is there, like, a reason why everyone here is so… skinny?"

"Skinny? How so?"

"Well it's just that nobody here has, like, any muscles or fat on them. Back home I'm super scrawny and runty but here I'm almost average."

"Well gee, I don't know. I didn't know that everyone here was unusually skinny."

"Honestly I don't even know if that is the case, it's just something I noticed."

Shinrai stopped them in front of a nondescript door and pulled it open. Inside was a flight of stairs leading down. Shinrai flipped a switch and a weak light flickered to life at the bottom. Yasui poked his head in and let out a low "hmmmm."

"Well… this place is… uh…."

Shinrai brushed past him and grimaced.

"Crappy?"

"I was going to say dingy."

"Yeah… I think they meant to renovate this place but just never got around to it because nobody ever used it. It's literally chock full of old garbage nobody uses."

"Wait… so why are we here?"

"To snag some old garbage nobody uses."

As Shinrai carefully navigated the dimly light stairs Yasui made sure to follow from a safe distance. Just in case the steps gave way. Shinrai shook his head and sighed.

"Sheesh, it's so dark down here. I feel like it's a safety hazard or something. I mean, I can barely see!"

"Really? I don't seem to be having any trouble."

"Well… duh. You're a carnivore."

"Oh… I forgot."

Shinrai laughed.

"How the heck do you forget you're a carnivore?"

"I dunno it's just not something I remind myself about a ton. And the whole being nocturnal thing is something that I'm so used to I kinda forget not everyone can see in the dark."

"Well then Mister Nightvision. Keep your peepers peeled for a cardboard box with 'AV Club' written on the side."

The basement itself was pretty small, with dusty shelves filling the space and a single lightbulb hanging in the middle of the room. In its flickering light the shadows seemed to shuffle and shift in the corners of your eyes. Shinrai rubbed his palms against his thighs and released a slow breath.

"Sheeeeeesh. This place is like ten times more creepy than I remember. They really need to fix this dump up."

"Yeah. It's kinda surprising how run down this place is."

"Well nobody really uses it so it sorta makes sense. See anything yet?"

Yasui scanned the room before shrugging.

"Well… not at first glance. Do you want to look around the light while I go check the corners?"

"That's probably the best way to do this."

As Yasui began shifting old boxes and dusty containers around, Shinrai slowly scanned over the shelves in the middle of the room. Way at the top of one shelf was a box too faded to read. With a grunt Shinrai began climbing up to get a closer look. With slow, winding progress, Shinrai was soon halfway up the monument to forgotten club garbage. However, as he was climbing, one of the boxes he was using as a foothold gave way. Shinrai flailed and reached for a handhold. The protruding item he grabbed turned out to be an old prop sword from the drama club, and the box of costumes it was beneath went tumbling down… and straight onto the lightbulb.

There was a loud *pop* followed by the room being plunged into total darkness. Yasui blinked as his eyes adjusted to the sudden absence of light. There was silence until a shaky voice came from the center of the room.

"Y-Yasui?! Where are you!"

"I'm over here! You okay?"

There was a pause before the squirrel responded.

"I think so, nothing landed on me. But I can't see anything. I can't get down."

"Okay, I'll come help you down. Hang tight."

"Will do… and please hurry. Us herbivores… we don't do well in the dark."

Yasui wound his way through the shelves and finally found the one Shinrai was holding onto. The squirrel was staring wide eyed out into the darkness, his head swiveling at every little noise.

"Y-Yasui? Where are you?"

"I'm here. I'm right below you."

"Thank goodness! Can you help me down?"

Yasui sized up the situation. Shinrai was a good meter and a half up the tall shelf with no clear way down. Climbing up had been precarious in the light, so trying to blindly climb down would probably land him in the hospital with a cracked skull.

"Uh, Shin. I hate to tell you this, but I don't think you can climb back down, even if I was giving you directions."

"Yeah.. I figured as much. Should I just jump and you catch me?"

"I don't think so. These shelves are so close together I'm worried you might hit your head on something sharp."

"So what should I do?"

"Hold on, I'm thinking."

Yasui scratched his head and thought of a possible solution.

"I think I should just go get a ladder. That way I—"

"No! Please don't leave me alone down here!"

This sudden outburst and Shinrai's increasingly agitated expression were not something Yasui had expected.

"Oh… uh… your fear of the dark is that bad?"

"Yasui, all herbivores are naturally terrified of the dark. We're all helpless when we can't see."

"Oh, that makes sense."

"That and… well… you know. It doesn't help that almost all predations happen in the dark."

Yasui's stomach tightened uncomfortably at that. Predations, a crime that up until he came to school here had seemed so strange and distant. But now, it was just one of the dangers in the city. It was something Yasui had never really wanted to think about. Crime statistics found that the vast majority of predations occurred in urban environments. With nearly eighty percent being committed in cities.

"Oh…."

Shinrai whined in distress and fidgeted in place on the shelf.

"There has to be some way for me to get down. I mean, I am a squirrel. I feel like I'll only get a little bruised up if I jump from here."

"I'm just worried that without you being able to see where you're jumping you'll smash into a shelf and get buried under it. Maybe… I might be able to climb up to you and carry you back down. I can still see so it shouldn't be too difficult."

"Well… we can try it. Worst case scenario and you get stuck I can hold on to you while you jump down."

As Yasui slowly climbed the shelf, he had to freeze a few times as a shaky box or loose item almost made him slip. He sucked in a breath and sighed.

"Uuuugh. Why'd you have to climb up so far?"

"I thought I saw the box I needed."

"Well remind me to never help you carry a box ever again."

Above him Shinrai laughed.

"Wait, was that sarcasm? Holy crud I didn't know you knew how to be sarcastic."

"W-what's that supposed to mean!?"

"You kinda seemed a little… too sincere for sarcasm to me."

"Well sheesh, is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"It's a you thing."

Yasui stopped when he was directly beside Shinrai and slowly reached out towards him.

"Okay, I'm going to grab your shoulder. Just follow my arm back to me and I'll try to get us down."

"The sooner the better. I want out of here as fast as possible."

Yasui did his best to hold steady as his friend awkwardly clambered onto his back. Once he was securely holding on, Yasui looked down and began trying to safely climb down. As he did, Shinrai snickered.

"Y'know, I can't remember the last time somebody gave me a piggyback ride. Must have been when I was little."

"Well hopefully we won't be doing this again."

"Aww… it's kinda fun being tall, uh, taller for a change."

Yasui frowned.

"Only taller?"

"You're not exactly a giant yourself Yasui."

"Did you have to bring it u—AAAH!"

The box Yasui had used as a foothold suddenly gave way wrenching Yasui free of the shelf. Fortunately because of the angle his foot slipped from he was carried almost straight down and landed with a thud on his butt. The force of the impact broke his passenger's grip causing him to roll across the floor. Yasui groaned and Shinrai cautiously got to his feet, hands outstretched in his current state of blindness.

"Yasui! Are you okay?"

"Unf, yeah. But my butt's pretty sore now. How about you?"

"A-Okay over here. I think you took the most of that fall."

Yasui looked over and saw him carefully getting to his feet. The squirrel's eyes were wide open as he fumbled around for something to orient himself.

"Hey Shin, grab my hand."

"Huh? Where? I can't see it."

Yasui carefully met his friend's grasping hand. Shinrai immediately clasped it with both of his hands and shuffled over.

"Well, this has been… a disaster. And we didn't even find the box."

"Well… actually we did."

"Huh? We did?!"

"It's right here. I think it's the one that you knocked over that broke the light."

"Oh shoot! The light! There's probably broken glass all over the floor!"

Sure enough, there were sharp bits of the stuff littered along the floor all around them. Upon noticing this, Yasui nervously glanced at his legs and arms, checking for any cuts. Shinrai moved over and held onto Yasui's elbow.

"So how exactly are we getting out of here without stepping onto broken glass?"

"Do you think it could cut our feet through our shoes?"

"Well I don't know about you, but my shoes are pretty thin, so probably."

"Oh… that could be a problem."

There was silence before Shinrai voiced an idea.

"I mean… I guess I could ride on your back again? If you don't mind."

"I guess so. Probably the only way we can make this work. Good thing you're not very heavy."

"Cool cool cool, let's get out of here!"

Yasui picked up the box of props and crouched down so his friend could climb onto his back. Shinrai awkwardly felt around to try to find where he was supposed to grab on, accidentally grabbing Yasui's nose in his search.

"Guh, Shin, that's my GLLRK!"

Yasui gagged as Shinrai twitched and stuck his whole arm inside Yasui's mouth. The squirrel immediately screeched and pulled it free, swatting the back of Yasui's throat in the process.

"EW! EW EW EW! Sticky! What was that!?"

"My, *hack* mouth! You, *Heruk* stuck your arm down my throat."

Shinrai cringed as he shook the fox slobber off his hand.

"Gah, that was very unpleasant! Why is your mouth so wet and sticky?!"

"Aren't *cough* they supposed to be wet and sticky?"

"Well yeah, but probably not that gross!"

"Well… thanks for that. Let's get out of here."

"Yeah, the sooner the better!"

Yasui awkwardly stumbled through the room and up the stairs, arms shaking from the box he was carrying and the boy clinging to his back. He staggered up the stairs and back into the well lit hallway. Immediately Shinrai breathed a sigh of relief and got down.

"Oh man, I am so happy to be able to see again!"

"Yeah… that's good."

"Thanks for helping bud, I appreciate it."

Yasui set the bulky box down and waved Shinrai off.

"No worries. It's all good."

"No, like seriously, I owe you one. I'll have to buy you an ice cream or something later."

"No no! You don't have to buy me stuff! I really don't want people to think they have to—"

Shinrai reached up and lightly knocked on Yasui's head. Yasui frowned and rubbed his skull in confusion.

"Uh… what was that about?"

"Just let me get you an ice cream later. We're buddies after all. It's what you do."

"Okay… fine."

"Good! Well I got things to do so I'm gonna bounce. See ya around!"

Yasui watched as he struggled to pick up the box and slowly dragged it down the hall.

"Uh… bye?"

…

"Geez why was he in such a hurry."

(Later that evening, on top of the school roof.)

Shinrai stretched his back as he crested the top to the stairs and reached the roof. Waiting for him were his two friends, Kashikoi and Don. The rabbit spun around to face him, arms crossed.

"There you are! Took ya long enough."

"Hey, cut me some slack. I got trapped in the basement for a bit."

Kashi gave him a concerned look.

"Really? How'd you get out?"

"Oh I asked a buddy of mine to help me get the box I needed and he helped me out."

Don furrowed his eyebrows.

"How'd you even get trapped? Lock yourself in or something?"

"Nah, I accidentally shattered the lightbulb down there, so I couldn't see. Good thing the guy I was with was nocturnal though. He could see perfectly fine."

Kashikoi gave him a questioning look.

"Why didn't you just use your phone as a flashlight?"

Shinrai looked down sheepishly.

"Well… I forgot where I put it. I only just found it back in the clubroom."

Don slapped a hand on the squirrel's shoulder and laughed.

"Yup, that's Shin alright. He'd lose his tail if it wasn't stuck to him."

"Haha, very funny. Like I haven't heard that a thousand times."

Don clasped his hands.

"Enough small talk. In two days we're getting Fantasy Quest, and we need to not get caught. Now, let's review the plan one more time."

They huddled around a crate they were using as a table and looked at a sketch of the school. Don used a pencil as a pointer and slowly walked through the plan.

"So, we meet up behind the dorm building at eleven. Avoiding the paths and lamps, we carefully sneak to the back wall where Kashi found a gap we can slip out of. We get through the wall and creep down the hill through the trees until we hit the main road. From there we have to worry less about school security and more about police. They're sure to stop us if we look suspicious. Fortunately it is a midnight release so lots of students are going to be out waiting for it, so we should be able to convince them that we're out with a parent's permission. After that we get the game and retrace our steps. Any questions?"

Shinrai pursed his lips before asking.

"Yeah… how are we going to see to get out of the school? It's going to be pitch black out."

"The lights on the sidewalks of course. We just have to not be directly in them which is why we're not using the paths. And in the city itself it's not a problem. Heck it would be suspicious if we didn't use the sidewalks that are light there."

"I'm talking about going down the hill. There's no lights there."

Don and Kashikoi looked down at the map and frowned. Don bit his lip and shrugged.

"Well… flashlights I guess."

Kashikoi shook his head.

"Wouldn't work. Too big of a chance of us getting caught by security. That's why we aren't using flashlights anywhere near the school."

Don huffed and grabbed his ears.

"Well there has to be some way for us to do this! Dang it I didn't put all this work into the plan just to not be able to do it because none of us can… see… in… the… see in the dark! That's it!"

He whirled about and grabbed Shinrai by the shoulders.

"You said this buddy of yours is nocturnal, right?"

The squirrel awkwardly looked away from his friend's intense stare.

"Uh… yeah?"

"Well do you think you could convince him to help us?"

"Well… maybe?"

"That'll work perfectly! Go ask him if he would be willing to come with us when we sneak out on Friday. All he would have to do is meet us at the dorm and then guide us through the dark. It would also help with the first part before we reach the wall."

Shinrai rubbed his elbow.

"Well… I dunno. Isn't it kinda bad to try to convince him to sneak out? I mean he doesn't even want the game."

"It's an experience! A little friendly rule breaking. No harm in asking."

"I guess."

Kashikoi smiled.

"You could offer him something in return. Maybe an IOU or something like that. Sweeten the deal a bit, you know?"

Shinrai sighed.

"Maybe… I guess it won't hurt to ask."

Don clapped him on the shoulder and beamed.

"This is gonna be awesome! I've never done something this cool in my life!"

Kashikoi sighed.

"Let's just not make breaking the rules a habit. I think I'm getting ulcers from worrying about this. *Sigh* The things we do for games."

Don laughed, his ears drooping.

"Haha, yeah. I'm losing so much sleep worrying about getting caught. I mean, how do delinquents do it!? This is so stressful! Exciting! But stressful."

Shinrai groaned.

"I know! I mean, I keep having the same nightmares over and over. We get caught, expelled, my parents LITERALLY kill us, and we end up haunting the third floor bathroom for the rest of eternity."

Kashi gave him a slight smile.

"Well… at least we can haunt it together as friends?"

"No, because you two never stop arguing about who got us caught!"

Don sniffed and elbowed Kashikoi.

"Totally you. I can see it now, we're hiding from a guard and he sneezes. You just can't help yourself but say "bless you" and boom, busted."

"As if! I bet it would be you getting a splinter and screeching like a banshee with your low pain threshold."

"I do not have a low pain threshold!"

"Oh yeah?"

Kashi reached over and flicked his rabbit friend on the ear. Don yelped and rubbed at the spot.

"What the hell dude! That hurt!"

Kashi smiled and patted the top of his head.

"See… low pain threshold."

"You just surprised me is all!"

Shinrai rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Sheesh, get a room. I'm going to go ask that dude if he'll help. Smell ya later."

Don waved as his friend left, still arguing with Kashikoi.

"Yeah, later. But we still know it would be you, Kashi! You'd probably start freaking out because you got some dirt on your pants and wake the whole school up!"

"Or maybe you hear a bump in the dark and squeal like a little girl."

"No you'd totally start feeling bad and—"

Shinrai yawned as he closed the stairwell door. He liked Don and Kashi, but sometimes he felt a bit like an extra. Just some bland, nondescript gremlin there to fill up the empty space. Shinrai clapped his hands against his cheeks and huffed.

"No whining, Shinrai! Remember, you're going to be positive! Because the ladies like a dude who's confident, cool, and collected!"

He straightened his posture and did his best to confidently walk down the stairs. His confidence wavered a little bit when he realized that in order to find Yasui, he'd probably have to go look in his dorm… the carnivore dorm. As he stood in front of the doors, he looked nervously around at the sparse smattering of students hanging around. Fortunately it was a pretty off time for students to be running to and from their rooms as they were for the most part either hanging out with friends or studying in the setting sunlight. The only people who were holed up in their rooms were people with consoles to play games on or lonely nobodies with nothing better to do. Shinrai felt a twinge of guilt at realizing he sort of called somebody he considered a friend a lonely nobody.

"Okay, you can do this. You've been up here before, you can do it again! Nobody will even see you! I mean, hardly anyone is even around! Hehe, yeah… piece of cake. It's only a building full of nice… studious… big… violent… hungry students…. I wanna go home."

However he did not go home. Instead he stiffly put one foot in front of the other as he did his best not to attract attention. To Shinrai, it felt like an eternity had passed before he finally reached Yasui's room and knocked on the door. Yasui's voice came from inside.

"Uh… come in?"

Shinrai poked his head in and glanced around to see if there was anyone else around. Yasui gave him a look of curiosity as he closed his book.

"Oh, hi Shin. Come on in. Do you need something?"

Shinrai carefully closed the door and stood uncomfortably in the middle of the room.

"Uh… well… I was wondering if… well, sorry in advance if this is too much, but would you be willing to do me a favor?"

"Hmm? Another one? Depends what it is."

"You see… me and my friends really want this game that's coming out on Friday. So… we're going to go get it."

Yasui just stared at him expectantly. Shinrai coughed and continued.

"Well… it releases at midnight. So we're planning on… uh… sneaking out."

"Sneaking out!? Isn't that, like, super against the rules?!"

"Yeah… which is why… um, I'm sorry to ask this… but could you help us?"

Yasui jolted and gave Shinrai a worried look.

"M-me! Why me!"

"Well… because you can see in the dark. And we can't. Please, I know this is a really big favor, but I'll owe you big time! You can have anything you want! Promise!"

Yasui looked away and sighed.

"I dunno…. If we were to get caught we'd be expelled! And I… I can't get expelled! I'd never be able to face my parents."

Shinrai slouched over and sat on Yasui's bed.

"I know… I'm really worried about it. Honestly I don't know if I really want to do this. I mean… is it worth it? And I… I'm really scared. You don't have to answer right away, but if you do decide to just… let me know. Also, I'm really sorry to bug you. It feels like I'm always asking you for something."

Yasui shook his head.

"No it's fine. Feel free to come visit me anytime. I like helping people. It's just… sneaking out is really risky so… I'll think about it."

Shinrai smiled.

"Thanks. Also… what's in here?"

Shinrai held up one of the bags Yasui had packed in. Yasui looked at it and frowned.

"There shouldn't be anything else in there. I thought I unpacked it all. There wasn't anything I was missing."

"But I can feel it, there's something in here."

"Well that's weird. Maybe it's some extra shirts or underwear I forgot about?"

Shinrai unzipped an outside pocket before laughing.

"Hey Yasui, you said you have little sisters, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Well I think one of them left something in here!"

He chuckled as he pulled out a dull reddish-pink rabbit stuffed animal. It was very worn looking and had a sort of lopsided, malformed appearance. Shinrai held it up and snickered.

"Oh man… look at this thing! It's totally—"

"Mabbi!"

Quick as a flash, Yasui snatched the toy away and cradled it against his chest. Shinrai just gave him a stunned look.

"Mabbi? What the…."

"Don't laugh! He… I mean it's mine. I just didn't think I brought him, I mean it."

"Dude… why do you have a rabbit plushy?"

"I-it's sentimental! I've had ever since I was really little!"

"Ooooookay. And also… Mabbi?"

Yasui blushed in embarrassment.

"I had a speech impediment when I was younger. 'R's and 'T's were hard for me."

"Where'd you even get it? It's kinda… grungy looking."

"Don't talk bad about Mabbi!"

Shinrai held his hands up defensively.

"Okay! I take it back! He's not grungy, just… uh… different."

Yasui sighed and held his beloved toy out at arm's length.

"Well… I might as well tell you. Although I don't remember it very well, my parents told me about it a few times."

[Many years ago, the town at the foot of the mountain.]

Yasui, his parents, and his older brother were taking one of their trips into town to get anything they couldn't get back in their village. As they entered the main grocery store, Yasui, who was three at the time, tugged on his mom's dress.

"Mumma, can we go look aah uh goys?"

His mother smiled but gave him a tired look.

"Toys, Yasui. Can you try saying that again? 'Can we go look at… the… toys.' Now you try."

Yasui screwed his face up into a look of the utmost concentration and tried again as his brother wandered after their father.

"Can we go look… aah… aaaaak… aaaaapf. I canf, igh oo haughd."

He looked like he was on the verge of tears as his mother gently stroked his cheek.

"It's okay. You'll get it eventually. And yes, you can go look at the toys. Just make sure you stay where I can see you. Oh, and stay with Yone."

Yasui beamed and scampered off.

"I will!"

His mom, Ino, went and joined her husband, Ibiki, at the cash register. She sighed.

"I'm getting a little worried about Yasui. He's still having trouble talking and he's just so… little. It's like he isn't growing at all!"

The shopkeeper, a short ram with grey wool, stroked his beard.

"Ah yeah, I'd heard a rumor that one of you village sorts had a sickly child. Careful, winter up there is brutal. He might not make it."

Ibiki clasped his wife's hand.

"He'll be fine. He's just… behind."

She sighed.

"I hope that's all it is. I couldn't bear it if he got too sick and…."

She left the sentence unfinished, hanging in the air like a bad omen. As the two adults bought what they needed, Yone and Yasui came running back over. Yone easily swung around his parents and went giggling towards the small candy section, whereas Yasui stopped panting and wheezing beside his parents. Once he had caught his breath, he held something towards them and beamed.

"Look, Mumma! A Wabbi!"

"Hm? Oh, Yasui dear, you can't just take the toys. They don't belong to you. Give it here."

Yasui frowned and dejectedly gave his mother the toy before trotting off to join his brother. The ram sucked his teeth as the little boy left.

"Did the doctors say what was wrong with him? Is it asthma or something?"

Ino shook her head.

"No, they can't seem to figure it out. I'm just… I'm really starting to worry. Oh, I'm sorry. Here's your toy back."

She handed him the light red stuffed animal and he chuckled.

"Of all the toys that caught his attention I wonder why it was this one?"

"Hmm what do you mean?"

"Well look at it. It's defective. I've been meaning to throw it out for a few days now, but I just keep forgetting. See, it got stitched up all crooked and mismatched. And it's frowning instead of smiling."

Ibiki took a closer look before huffing.

"Shame. I hate to see goods wasted."

The ram considered the toy a bit longer before walking over to where Yasui was watching his brother balance on the raised area where small animals could see the products.

"Hey there little man."

Yasui turned and stared up at him with wide eyes. The shopkeeper smiled and held out the toy.

"Did you like this little rabbit?"

Yasui nodded.

"Well, he told me he likes you too. So here, it'd be a waste not to let him stick with you."

Yasui smiled and eagerly accepted the toy.

"Wheely? I can keep ich?"

"Sure can. So long as you take good care of him."

Yasui grinned and squeezed the rabbit as his mother placed a hand on his head.

"What do we say, Yasui?"

"Ffffank you!"

The ram laughed.

"Oh, it's no problem at all. What ya gonna call him?"

Yasui looked down at the admittedly sad looking toy and clutched it closer.

"Imma name 'im Wabbi! Because he a wabbi."

The shopkeeper shook his head as the runty fox hopped over to his brother to show him his new toy.

"Well, hopefully he'll grow out of it."

Ino sighed.

"I really hope so. If he doesn't start getting healthier I don't know what I'll do."

[Back in the present]

Shinrai was cackling as Yasui looked away in embarrassment. The squirrel slapped his knee and asked.

"So wait, you actually couldn't say the letters 'r' or 't'? I never would have guessed! You're always so, you know, wordy. With your books and big words and stuff. You really had a speech impediment?"

"Yeah, for years. It only got better when I was five or so. Even still I have to be careful when I'm talking or I go back to that."

"Oof, really?"

"Yeah. A couple years ago I relapsed during dinner and asked if someone could pass the 'wammin'."

"Aw, dude. That sucks."

Yasui shrugged and absentmindedly hugged his grungy toy. Shinrai saw this and smirked.

"You, uh, you really like that thing don't you?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Habit."

"Heh, you are one strange dude."

Yasui sighed.

"Yeah… I know."

Shinrai laughed.

"But it's cool that way. Makes you interesting, y'know?"

"Huh… I guess that's one way of looking at it."

Shinrai yawned and flopped backwards to lie on his back.

"Gosh, I'm freaking beat! I slept like crap last night because I ate too many sweets. That and all the excitement from today have me lagging, dude."

Yasui smiled. This was honestly the first time he saw Shinrai completely relax around him. It was nice to know he trusted him. Shinrai rolled onto his side and looked at Yasui.

"Well since I'm here, anything you wanna talk about?"

"Huh? Like what?"

"I dunno, your home, your club, anything that's on your mind or whatever."

"Oh, well, I don't really know about any of that. Where's this coming from?"

The squirrel rolled back onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

"Well… you remember how I told you I was doing a self improvement course thingy?"

Yasui nodded.

"Yeah, you haven't mentioned that in a while though."

"Well that's because I didn't want to sound annoying or preachy or whatever. But anyway, because of it I realized that I never really… talk to people."

"But we're talking now?"

"No no no! Like TALK talk. About stuff that matters! Not just what games we've been playing or what show we watched. Actually talking about real stuff with somebody. It just kinda bugs me, y'know? Like, why is it so unusual for guys to do that."

Yasui scratched his cheek and curled his legs so his knees were under his chin.

"I guess I understand, but I've never really been much good at that sort of stuff."

"Me either. So… I dunno, I guess I just want to try or whatever."

"Uh, if you really want to."

"...Sooooo."

"Gee I dunno. Do guys even do this sort of stuff?"

"Not really…. You know actually that's pretty unfair!"

Yasui gave him a confused look.

"What is?"

"That it's weird for guys to, I dunno, talk about stuff with each other. Like, it's perfectly normal and common for girls, but for guys it's weird! Same with touching each other! Like, girls get to hug, but not guys! And crying! Like, if you cry as a dude you're just officially 'that guy' who's a wimp and unmanly."

"Uh… I guess I never gave that stuff much thought? Is that… something that bothers you?"

Shinrai let out a long, tired sigh.

"I dunno. Crap like that has just started really bugging me all of the sudden. I guess it's just because of how stressed I am right now. I mean, high school only just started and I feel so… lost. Like, I feel like I'm screwing everything up and wasting my time. Because it's just… just the next few years that I get to still be a kid. And then it's on to either college or just work work work until you die. Does that bother you too? Do you feel the same way? Like what little bit of fun you have left is slowly melting away?"

"Well… I guess. But honestly I never thought that I would leave home. I figured that I'd live the same way everyone in my family has for generations. That after high school I'd start farming full time. That I might get married to somebody who doesn't find me too repulsive, and then I'd spend the rest of my life on that mountain. And now, well, it's like being thrown into the ocean. I feel like I'm drowning with all the craziness that's going on. And sometimes… sometimes I wish I hadn't come here. Some days I'm so lonely I can barely stand it. At least back home I had my family when I had no friends."

Shinrai rolled back over and gave him a hurt look.

"I thought I was your friend?"

"You are! But I know that I'm not your main friend, because honestly I'm nobody's main friend. I mean, I'm pretty boring and not funny or anything. I think I'll always just be that guy in the back of the classroom, or at best a pity friend."

They were both silent for a while before Shinrai asked.

"Do you think that?"

"Hmm?"

"That I only spend time with you out of pity?"

Yasui sighed.

"Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but yeah. I just have a hard time believing anything else. I mean, you mentioned how your other friends watch movies with you or you go do fun stuff. I just sit around reading. I can't imagine why anyone would find that cool."

"Well that's not true. I spend time with you because you're interesting in your own clueless, weird way."

Yasui smiled.

"Thanks Shinrai. I like being your friend even if you do make fun of my prized stuffed bunny."

"Oh come on! Even you have to admit that it's really weird!"

"It is not! It's sentimental."

"Still weird."

They both stared at the other, locked in a glaring contest. However, Shinrai started to twitch and squirm while Yasui had to pinch himself before they both started breaking down laughing. Shinrai shook his head.

"Dude! Your face is just, Hahahaha! You look like you just bit a lemon!"

"And yours is so… so…."

Yasui wheezed and doubled over as Shinrai gasped.

"Why are we even laughing?! I just, I just— Bwahaha!"

"I-I-I fink ichs because of how widiculous it is ooh argue abou."

Shinrai wheezed and fell backwards, tears streaming down his face.

"Yo, what the heck was that!"

Yasui curled into a ball, still laughing.

"I warned you! I welapse someimes! And-and- Gyeheheh! Waughing makes ich warws!"

"Yasui! Stop! You're killing me!"

"Sowwy! I canf sahp lauphung! Ich igh maying my mouph all schicky."

It took awhile but eventually they were able to pull themselves back together. Shinrai yawned again and checked his phone.

"Hmm? Oh crap. Sorry dude, I gotta bail."

"Oh, okay."

"So… you'll let me know if you can help me and my friends?"

"I'll have to think about it."

"Yeah, I understand that. Honestly I'm having second thoughts myself. Well, just let me know. Later, Yasui."

"Yeah, later."

Yasui returned to his book. As he read, he frowned and his mind wandered from home to cooking to what he was going to do for the Festival of the Meteor.

I should really call Miss Diana today and see what she thinks. If anyone will know how to do a food shop or something there, it's her. I bet they have a phone down at the main office.

So Yasui made the trek down to the main building and pushed the door that was supposed to lead to the main office. Unfortunately the door didn't budge at all.

"Locked? Why is it locked? I thought it was open until at least, like, nine."

He glanced around and saw a piece of paper taped to the door. On it was a note from the office workers.

Due to a staff meeting tonight, the main office will be closing early today and will not reopen until tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yasui huffed.

Well that's dumb. I guess I should have asked Shin if I could use his. Is there a phone somewhere around here I can use?

After a quick investigation of the area he found that there was not a phone in sight. It was then that he saw a sign for the student help desk pointing downstairs in a familiar direction.

That's right! The tiny office where that crazy duck works! She probably has a phone!

Yasui walked down to the tiny, almost abandoned looking office where lo and behold the same duck from before was sitting. She looked up and gasped.

"Oh… my… gosh…. You came back? You came back! Hi! Can I help you?"

"Oh, uh, hi. I just need to use a phone."

"Oh! Of course! No problem! Here!"

She reached down and thumped an outdated landline on the counter. She blew a little dust away and nodded.

"Here you go! So, who you calling?"

"Oh, just a… friend I guess. I need some advice."

"What kind of advice? Academic? Social? Or maybe… romantic?"

She wiggled her eyebrows as Yasui pulled Diana's business card out of his pocket and punched the number in.

"No, advice about business stuff. I was thinking about trying to make a stand for the Festival of the Meteor."

"Well that's no fun. Alright, I'll keep quiet."

The phone rang a few times before the very professional voice of Diana came through.

"Hello, this is Diana. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

Yasui cleared his throat.

"Uh, hi. It's me, uh, Yasui."

"Yasui! What a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you could help me with this thing. You know the whole festival thing that's coming up?"

"The Festival of the Meteor?"

"Yeah, that. Uh… I was thinking about maybe doing a stand or stall or something. Like, to sell food for my club and make money to make food and such."

"Hmmm… I see. Well, I'm more than happy to help you. Although, didn't you say that you were the only club member?"

"At the moment."

"Well, I'll do some asking around on my end and find out what you need to do to set up a stall. I figure it won't be too difficult for a Cherryton student given how many of you do set up stands. However, I will say that before all that, you should try to get at least one more person to join with you. Maybe ask a middle schooler or something? Cherryton has a middle school too, right?"

"I… think so? I'll do my best at least."

"That's all we can ask. So, how about we meet in person to talk details, say, Saturday around lunch?"

"Well, I think I have an interview at the place I'm hoping to work Saturday at noon. So probably after."

"Oh, what's the place? I'll pick you up from there."

"It's called… uh… I think it's like Cafe Lapin or something?"

"I don't recognize the name but I'm sure Charles can find it. Anything else you need?"

Yasui scratched his chin.

"Uh… how are you doing?"

Diana laughed and responded.

"I'm doing fine, thank you for asking. How about you? Is school going well?"

"Oh, it's... fine I guess."

"You don't sound very convincing. Are you having trouble with classes or something like that?"

"Well, not really. I guess… I've just been a little bummed because I got a letter and got my hopes up that it was from my family, but it wasn't."

"Oh that's too bad. Have you been able to call them at all?"

"Once but I think it was a bad time or something. They couldn't talk long and just said hi before hanging up."

"Oh… I'm really sorry."

"It's no big deal, they're busy people. Well I won't keep bugging you, so I guess… bye? Sorry, I'm not experienced with phone call etiquette."

She laughed.

"Oh don't worry, this is informal anyway. Besides, you aren't bugging me. All I was doing was half watching some mindless television. At least now I have something to do."

"Oh, well that's good. But it's getting a little late so I should probably go do some studying or homework before I sleep."

"My word, Yasui. You're such a stick in the mud. Every time I talk to you it seems all you want to do is study or school work. You're what, sixteen? Live a little while you're young enough to enjoy life. Go goof off with your friends or flirt with a girl."

Yasui blushed.

"Wha— I… I do do some of that stuff! I spent like an hour with my two friends! And well… uh… I don't really know how to talk to girls that aren't my sisters."

"Tsk tsk, oh Yasui. Somebody really needs to give you some pointers. Oh well, at least try to have a bit of fun before our meeting on Saturday. And see about getting another member too. Well, I guess I'll leave you to your studying Mr. Responsible. Ta-ta now!"

"Oh, uh, bye! Thanks for helping!"

There was a click as she disconnected, and Yasui put the phone back on the receiver. The duck at the help desk gave Yasui a quizzical look.

"All done?"

"Yeah, thanks for letting me use it."

"Oh no, thank YOU for coming. You would not believe how boring it can be around here. So, you're looking to recruit some more club members?"

Yasui frowned.

"Huh, you heard that?"

"Yuppers! I mean, you weren't exactly whispering you know."

"Oh… but yeah, I'm trying to get someone else to join. Maybe somebody in middle school? Where even is the middle school?"

"Oh just across campus. They use the same dorms and cafeteria as the high school, but they have a different building for their classes. Trust me, you can't miss it."

"Okay! Thanks a bunch!"

So it was that the next day Yasui was standing in the hallway of the middle school holding a small stack of club enrollment forms and looking awkwardly around for a suitable target.

Let's see, I want someone who looks like they will be a good clubmate. Preferably standing by themselves so I don't have to worry about a crowd. Hmm… probably best to stick to a carnivore for now. An herbivore might get a little intimidated.

Upon his third scan of the area Yasui saw his ideal target. Standing by her locker was a medium sized wolf with brown fur and a kind looking face. As she got something out of her locker Yasui steeled himself.

Okay! She's perfect! Not big so she isn't scary, alone so no crowd, and she seems normal!

Yasui walked up behind her and waited for her to notice him. However, she appeared to be engrossed in something and failed to notice the diminutive fox lurking behind her. Yasui coughed and called.

"Uh, excuse me?"

The wolf looked up and spun around to face him. Upon seeing him she bent down to be at his level.

"Oh, hello there little guy. Do you need something?"

Little guy? Is she… is she talking down to me because I'm short!? Whatever, don't panic. You rehearsed your pitch. You can do it.

"Uh… well… uh… uhhhhhh…."

I said don't panic!

She frowned and dropped a little lower.

"Are you lost? Did you come to visit your older sibling or something? I can take you to the main office if you need me to."

Yasui shook his head.

"No! I'm, uh, well… are you in a club?"

"Hmm? Am I… in a club?"

"Yes!"

"No, I'm not. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm Yasui! And I'm Cooking Club! I mean, I am recruiting for my club. The Cooking Club…. That club."

She tilted her head.

"The… Cooking Club?"

Yasui vigorously nodded.

"Exactly! I am looking for new members!"

"Wait, you're in middle school?"

"No! No no no! I'm not in middle school."

She gave him a sympathetic smile and laughed.

"Well I don't think that I can join an elementary school club, but thanks for—"

"I'm in high school."

This caused the wolf to freeze. She worked her mouth and winced a little.

"You're… in high school?"

"Yeah, I know. I'm pretty… tiny. But yeah, I'm sixteen."

She clasped her hands over her mouth and stood back up.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be patronizing! I didn't realize you were a year older than me! Please forgive me."

"It's fine! I'm used to being mistaken for a kid. I'm Yasui by the way, and you are?"

"Juno. It's very nice to meet you."

Polite, friendly, NORMAL. This girl is a total catch for my club! Now if only she would join.

Yasui gave her his best winning smile.

"Nice to meet you, Juno. Now, as I was saying, I was wondering if you were interested in joining the Cooking Club."

"Well… it sounds fun and all, but I really have my heart set on joining the Drama Club."

Curse you drama club!

"Oh, really? You're into acting?"

She beamed.

"Well yes, but mainly dancing. I've loved dancing ever since I was little. Although, I don't know if I'm any good or not."

"Oh I'm sure you're great! You definitely look like the dancing type."

She smiled.

"You really think so?"

Yes but I want you to join my club! Stop encouraging her to follow her dreams, me!

"Totally. I can just tell."

"That's really sweet of you to say. I appreciate it. Tell you what, if I don't make the cut for the drama club, you're my second choice."

"Well I'm glad to hear it! Anyone is welcome!"

She finished getting her things out of her locker and gave Yasui an adorable smile.

"It was nice to meet you. See you around."

"Y-yeah, see you!"

Yasui waved as she left, his eyes shut to hide his frustration.

Well that blows. How many more people are going to be in the same boat? I can't compete with the drama club! The only thing I can offer is that we don't care who joins the Cooking Club.

"Were you telling the truth right now?"

Yasui jumped as a strange, sibilant voice drifted quietly from beside him. He jumped and whirled to face the speaker. Beside him, lurking in the shadows, was a large snake with brown and tan scales wearing a modified school uniform to accommodate its unusual body. It flicked its tongue.

"Ssssssorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

Yasui gulped. He was willing to guess, based on the pitch of the voice, that this was a girl. However he wasn't sure just yet.

"Oh! I just didn't notice you is all. But, uh, what were you asking about?"

The snake flicked her tongue again and adjusted her coils.

"I wanted to know if you were telling the truth. About anybody being allowed to join your club."

"Uh… yeah? Why do you ask?"

"Well if you were telling the truth, I would be interessssted in joining."

Yasui froze and stared at her.

"You… you wanna join?"

"Indeed. But I'm pretty certain that you really don't want—"

"Oh my gosh! You really want to join!"

The snake looked taken aback as Yasui practically leapt for joy.

"Yes! Yes, totally! Uh, here, fill this out! Oh, unless you want me to or…."

She gave Yasui a look of surprise.

"No, I can fill it out just fine. You're certain you want me to join?"

"Absolutely! If you want in, you're in!"

"I… wassss not expecting that. Well, I guesssss I'm in then."

"Sweet! So I should probably give you the tour of the club room. Are you free now?"

"I am."

"Alright, let's go. I'll answer any questions you have on the way. Fortunately it's not far from here so you won't have a long walk…. I mean slither."

She hummed a little in the back of her throat (or the part of her whole… body that was closest to her mouth) and said.

"You can just ssssay walk. No need to try to change how you talk to fit that I don't have limbs."

"Oh, uh, got it."

They walked out the door together, the snake raising up a bit to try to stay at least around waist height. Yasui awkwardly fidgeted before realizing he had forgotten something.

"I'm sorry, but I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yasui."

"My name isssss Chaussssette."

"Chaussette? That's… an interesting name."

"My father issss a professsssor of ancient literature at one of thissss city'ssss universssitiess. He wrote his dissertation on Chausser's Canterbury Talessss. He and my mother decided to name their firssssstborn after him. Sssssso Chausser if a boy or—"

"Chaussette for a girl. That's pretty neat actually. Does your mom like old books too?"

"Hmm… to ssssome extent. She'ssss a history teacher at an elementary school. They met at a library."

Yasui laughed.

"Well that's one way to do it. I might have to try that."

Yasui looked down at her and couldn't help but stare at her odd appearance and way of moving. She noticed and asked,

"Firsssst time around a sssnake?"

"Yeah, sorry if I'm embarrassing you."

"You learn to live with it. Mossst people don't really know what to make of ussss. It happenssss to be why we prefer to remain out of the public eye."

"Oh… it's just… I imagine it must be difficult. Living without, you know, limbs. Sorry if that's rude or anything."

"No it'ssss… okay. I prefer pity to disgust any day."

"No, it's not pity. At least, I hadn't meant it to be. I'm just curious. You know, just wondering if they made special doors or stuff like that. You know, like how there are wheelchair ramps and stuff. Does this place have things like that to help you?"

"There are a few thingssss like that. Sssssome rampssss and the like."

"Well that's good. So, anything you need to know about the club? Anything specific you want to do?"

She lowered her head a bit and mulled it over for a second before asking,

"Am I the only other member?"

Yasui faltered mid step and weakly tried to laugh.

"Hehe… was it that obvious?"

"To a certain extent. You just had an air of… dessssperation."

"Oh."

Silence returned once again as they finished their walk to the club room. Once inside, Yasui gestured around.

"So, uh, here it is. There's the stove, and the fridge, and other stuff."

"It'sssss… nice."

"Yeah, pretty cool. We, uh, don't exactly have a budget yet, but I'm working on setting up a stall for the Festival of the Meteor to make us some food money."

"Ah, hence why you were sssso eager to recruit another member."

"Yeah. I hope that's okay with you."

She donned what Yasui assumed was the serpentine version of a smile as she said,

"I am fine with it. I'm jusssst glad that I get to join an actual club for once."

"You weren't allowed to join any clubs?"

"Not any that were interesssting. Only clubsss like the school newsssspaper or other boring oness would allow me to join. Because of my whole not having limbs thing."

"Oh… well I'm sure you'll figure out some way to cook without hands and such. And I'll help you as much as I can."

"Hmmm… I appreciate that. Alsssso, what ssshould I call you? Ssssenpai? Or Ssssensei?"

Yasui hopped back a bit.

"H-huh? What's with the formal talk!?"

Chaussette tilted her head.

"I apologize. Manners are incredibly important to snakes. Would… would you prefer me be casual around you?"

"Please. I think I'll get a headache if you start calling me senpai. Just call me Yasui."

"Okay… Yasui. Isss that better?"

Yasui nodded.

"Yeah, that's fine. You can drop the proper speech too if you want."

She sighed and some of the tension in her posture lessened.

"Oh good. I wassss jusssst sssso nervousssss. I haven't talked to anyone in high school before. I hope you don't mind the hisssssing. We ssssnakes view it assss improper to use wordssss that have "s"ssss in them when usssssing formal sssspeech unlessssss you have to. Issss that okay?"

"Totally, and holy crap that sounds exhausting!"

"Ugh, it isssss. That'sssss why I wassss talking sssso ssssslow."

"Wow. Being a snake sounds tough."

"It isssss. If reincarnation issss real, don't pick a ssssnake to be reborn asssss."

"Noted."

They both chuckled a bit at this and Chaussette averted her eyes and twitched her tail.

"Ah, Yasui? Can I assssk you ssssomething?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"Do… do you actually even know how to cook?"