I hummed softly to myself as a smile of content was frozen on my lips as I made my side bangs into a braid starting from one side of my face across to the other, creating a cute new style. After what happened last night, I could just feel myself becoming more alive and actually eager and ready to take on each new day that was coming. Already I noticed a few changes in myself since my last encounter...with him.

I had more energy. My eyes looked bright and inspiring. Even my white uniform looked just as bright as my happiness.

Running fingers through my hair to add a bit of a bounce to it, I smiled satisfied coming out from the bathroom and grabbed my satchel slipping it on over my shoulder before I left my dorm room.

The smile from my face didn't seem to falter as I made my way down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Some of the students around me did give me strange looks, but nothing could ruin my good mood today. Bouncing down the stairs to the cafeteria I got myself a fruit salad, along with a croissant with strawberry jelly and a glass of apple juice and made my way outside to enjoy the warmth of the early spring morning.

Sitting outside on the grass in a nice sunny spot, I ate quietly as I stringed together a few plastic flowers that I had gotten from my art class working on an assignment of creating a piece of art that holds a special meaning in your heart. As I chewed on a piece of melon, I stringed together a long vine of leaves around woven branches in the shape of a heart, some of the leaves I had painted gold to give it a bit of a shimmer. But soon the movements in my hands had slowed to a stop as I stared down at my work, the flowers were starting to remind me about Haru. I haven't seen her since that day when I first joined her club, I wasn't so sure on how to approach her after witnessing what I had seen happening between her and Legoshi.

I was still very confused on why she did what she did. It didn't make much sense to me but seeing how it was reminding me of the many similar experiences I had in my past, it was starting to make my stomach sick. But something in my heart was telling me, that there had to be more to that than what I had seen. I wanted to talk to her about it. She was my friend after all I should be able to ask her, if I was still her friend that is. I wasn't so sure. But still, I only hoped she was doing okay, and she would still be wanting to talk to me after all this time. After finishing up my breakfast and my art assignment, I slid everything into my satchel and slipped on my earbuds walking my way towards class, humming softly along to the lyrics.

Towards the end of the day, I made my way to drama club, this would be officially my first day back and I had to admit I was pretty nervous. I could already feel my happy mood that I had during my classes, was slowly starting to slip away and be replaced by my anxiety once again. "Are you sure that this will be the right time to introduce me? I mean after all the performance is tonight and I don't want to add more to their stress, I mean I still think they are still a bit shaken up by my first introduction by yelling at them"

As I stood with Sanu in front of the double doors to the drama club, tonight was the first performance of Adler, and I knew that everyone would be stressed to make sure that the play came out smoothly. After all I knew if it didn't, they wouldn't hear the end of it from Louis. "I know you are nervous Aayame especially after everything that has happened, but rest assure you, changes have been made, and I want you to get yourself more familiar with the stage crew for tonight's performance that way you will be able to perform tasks easier"

Changes? Yeah right, if its anything like before, I am not going to bother to stick around...

I gulped hard nervously. How would this play out? I already made such an awkward introduction by yelling at everyone to stop fighting, and now I had to face them all over again! Maybe this was mistake, maybe this was a bad idea to give this club another chance. I could already just be thinking about what they might say or think about me! But even though its nothing I have already heard; I could already feel the anxiety building up inside of me close to exploding. What am I going to do?!

"You will be fine Aayame, come on let's go in, everyone should be coming out right about now"

He pushed open the double doors and with a heavy sigh I followed him inside. This was starting to feel like my first day of school all over again. Like I was walking into unknown territory, being the arrival of fresh meat like I was waiting to be picked and pulled apart by anyone in proximity. But as we entered the room, no one was around. That's strange, where was everyone?

"Looks like everyone is still getting ready for rehearsal, you just wait here Aayame, I have to go grab something really quick"

Before I could even protest, he quickly left the room and when the sound of the doors quieted, I was left in silence. But it wasn't long till I heard a creaking sound of a door, I thought it was Sanu again, but then I could hear quiet whispers coming from two rooms on the other side. "Hey guys do you see that?"

"Hey it's that girl again, I can't believe she came back"

"Those horns on her head are quite strange, you think they are used for attracting mates or just to show off?"

"Oh, stop it! Go out there and say hello!"

"I don't know, does it look like she is going to yell at us like before?"

"You know what I'll do it myself"

"She is the weirdest looking species I have ever seen"

I gulped softly; great they were talking about me. I wasn't sure whether to stay or leave, some sounded nice while others didn't sound so certain. Man, I wish Sanu would get back in here quickly, I could already feel my anxiety getting worse and if I am left alone here with all different species of herbivores and carnivores who knows what could happen. Slowly a leopard came walking out following behind her was a goat and a few other female students in white shirts and red shorts.

"Oh she is adorable! Guys come out here and meet our newest member"

"I'm coming. I swear Sheila the funnier looking the species, the more you want to get to know them"

"We kept you around, didn't we?"

"H-Hi, you must remember me from before, I-I'm new here in drama club...I-I'll be here working on the stage crew, it's nice to meet you all again"

I give a shy a smile and held my forearm uncomfortably. Oh, great this was so awkward; I am facing everyone who I yelled at and now I can only think of the worse that must be running through their minds right now.

"Hey guys, can anyone help me with these walnuts? I can't crack them!"

A female chipmunk came pushing through the legs of the taller species holding a tall glass jar of uncracked walnuts inside, wobbling a little side to side carrying a bigger item than herself. But without seeing the leg of the rhino beside her, she tripped over the large foot. Acting quickly, I bent down catching her in my arms as she squeaked looking up to me, with wide eyes.

"Are you alright?"

The little chipmunk was just in awe of how gentle the strange looking girl was, as she gently helped her stand to her feet, using her forearm for support. "Here I think I can help; I hope I still got it"

I carefully take the jar from the chipmunk's hands and opened the jar and took a couple of the nuts into my hand and with one hard squeeze, the sound of cracking reached the ears of everyone giving me a surprised look as I let the nuts slide back into the jar. "Wow! You are really strong for a girl! How did you do that?"

I giggled softly closing the lid on the jar, before handing it back to her. "Oh, just prior experience, be careful where you are going next time okay? Don't want you to hurt yourself"

A giraffe stepped forward and her long neck craned down to me, giving me a curious look. "Question, what exactly are you? I don't think ever seen a species like you before"

"I-I don't know, it's kind of a mystery even for myself"

"Can rule out genius..." The tiger said, giving the eagle a nudge to his arm as they both snickered

The leopard slapped the tiger in the chest with the back of her hand giving him a stern look. "Don't make me make a nice pelt out of your ass!"

"Save the sweet talk for later"

I couldn't help but giggle to myself, at the remarks given off by the pair were a bit funny. I felt a hand touch my shoulder, turning my head a zebra gave me a smirk shaking her head. "Look don't pay any attention to him, he is all growl and no bite, I am Ellen, that's Sheila, this is Els, that's Aboa, Mina, Moro, Fudge and mister mocho there is Bill, you know you really left us spell bound with your speech"

"O-Oh yeah that, listen I-"

"Hey, don't worry about that! We understand why you did it, I think we all got a bit carried away with everything that happened, and we apologized to each other, it's great that you decided to join here! You are going to love it here!" A lemur piped in and suddenly gave me a tight squeeze and giggle

Woah what just happened here?! I couldn't help but smile towards the lemur, I could already feel a warm blush spread across my face. Suddenly Sanu returns through the doors and alongside him was a peacock student, holding a clipboard.

"Okay guys, lay off for a little while, don't need to be making our new member feel overwhelmed with your curiosity, you must be Aayame. I'm Dom, the leader of the art department, come on I'll show you around and we will get you set up for tonight's performance"

"O-Okay, I'll see you all later, but I appreciate the welcoming"

I give a shy wave goodbye before I followed Dom. I could already hear the excited and curious whispers of the others, and they sounded...like this time...they were, interested. The overall energy coming from them made me feel welcomed and oddly accepted. It was a bit hard for me to understand, only just a few weeks ago I was known as the mutant freak that everyone was avoiding and now it's like a light switch had been flipped and now, I was being treated normally. What could have happened?

When I was interacting with them, I didn't get the usual looks of fear or disgust, instead they were just curious and surprisingly accepting. This surely wasn't the welcoming I was expecting, but seeing how good it was going so far, I wasn't going to protest.

Dom gave me a tour of the building, and I had to say I was pretty awestruck of how drama club looked. It looked amazing; I never have seen anything like it. There was so much for me to learn and explore here, no wonder this club was the most popular in the whole school. As we made it towards the backstage of the auditorium, Dom and I were having a nice conversation and it felt amazing to be able to be talk more to other students. It's like I was finally coming out of my shell. "I see the others are treating you well"

"Y-Yeah surprisingly, I mean I wasn't expecting such a warm greeting, I-I mean after all I am the unknown mutant horned freak"

"Unfortunately, a lot of students here can be narrow minded about a new species, especially one that doesn't resemble an herbivore or carnivore, it's the flight or fight instinct kicking in"

"W-Well that's good to know I guess"

"H-Hey I am not one to judge but I think your species is quite interesting. After all, you should see me with all my tail feathers out, they really do turn heads as much as you do"

"Well, I appreciate the compliment, I will admit it's been hard to fit in since I arrived here"

"Well, I think with you joining a club with all unique kind of species, you are going to be a great addition. We can definitely use someone with a creative mind like yours"

"How would you know that I have a creative mind?"

"We are in the same art class; I just sit near the front where I always see you in the back and I have seen some of your work on the wall and some of the other students and I are quite impressed with some of the things you have made"

"W-Wait you are? Really? We are in the same class? I-I guess I just didn't notice...but thank you!"

Wow! I guess I was so lost in my own world I didn't even realize the world around me, that some students were actually paying attention to me and actually in a good kind of way.

"You always seem so focused on your work so that's why I didn't bother, you are pretty quiet"

"Y-Yeah I get that a lot" I rub my arm shyly and Dom gave me a nudge to the arm

"Well, you are going to love the stage crew, I think it's a good first step till you get more comfortable with everyone else, they can be a bit overeager sometimes"

"Y-Yeah I think it will be too, I can't wait to meet everyone"

This can't be real. I wasn't used to getting this much positive attention, I wasn't so sure what to do with it. Why was everyone being so nice to me all of a sudden? Was it just a miracle or maybe just maybe, did my speech do something?

As we climbed up the ladder to the platform where the lighting for the stage was centered. It looked amazing from being so high up. You could see everything!

"Aayame this is Kai one of our stage crew members"

"Hello there Kai"

I wave with a small smile towards Kai, and he flinched back a bit surprised, but barely I could see the faint blush coming from the small mongoose as he waved back. "Hey where is-?"

Then we heard the sound of clinking metal, and a loud shriek was made seeing something come collapsing down in front of us. Dangling by a wire wrapped around his leg, I gasped softly in surprise to see Legoshi hanging upside down in front of us, bouncing up and down a bit. "Legoshi!"

"O-Oh Aayame! H-Hey! I-uh"

"Well, I see you that two know each other already, Legoshi be careful! These are very expensive spotlights you know!"

"I-I'm sorry I just wanted to make sure they were functioning properly, but my foot slipped and-"

"Don't worry Dom, we will make sure we won't break the lights and we will be careful up here...here Legoshi let me help you down"

I grabbed a stool nearby and took a hold of the wiring wrapped around his ankle untying it loose. "Now I know it's pretty sudden we are having a new member for you guys up here, but Aayame is a part of the art department now and will be helping out with the performances. It will be easier for her to have hands on experience for her to learn to know how everything works up here"

Trying to get the last knot that was wrapped around Legoshi's ankle, I had to stand up on my toes to get the cord loose. "Just about there-"

Reaching up higher till I could feel myself wobbling out of balance on the stool, I got the last bit of lighting cord loosened up around Legoshi's ankle. But unfortunately, due to his weight it came down faster than I could grab him and Legoshi came down knocking me backwards off the stool as he landed on top of me causing us both to land on the floor with a thud.

Groaning from the pain in the back of my head, my blurred vision cleared till I realized I was once again face to face with the wolf hovering over me on his forearms, coming out of his shaken state. But as our eyes met, just like last night, we both were frozen to realize how close we were and the sort of intimate position we were in as well. Oh my god I am freaking out! What should I do?! Shove him off? Say something? Look away?

But my body didn't move, I couldn't speak nor look away. In the moment I felt so warm, so content being this close to him. I could feel his strong well-toned chest and abs barely touching me, I wondered how they felt, if I could just let my hands explore it, feel every muscle and cervice. My heart began to race rapidly and suddenly I could feel this strange tingly feeling in my lower belly, something I never felt before. I don't know what this feeling was but, it felt amazing. Like I felt excited.

Legoshi's face was becoming so flushed, his long face was even closer to hers than the other night outside walking with her to the dorms. Curse his long snout! He could almost sense on how close her lips were to his, like he could just barely taste them. In the many dreams he keeps having of her, her lips looked so plush and sweet he only wanted to know how they really tasted. She was so small underneath his large frame; he could completely hide her with his size alone. Her red silky hair splayed out on the floor, her crystal blue eyes staring up at him, he just wanted to have her this close to him all the time. He could feel her breasts barely brush up against the edge of his lower chest, sending a shiver down his spine. They felt so soft and plump. His mind wondered on how they would feel in his hands...

But that thought would seem to be always out of his reach. How could he after everything? If she only knew what he had done, what possibility he could have with her would be gone forever...

Aayame...I...I just want to..

"Guys! Guys! Hey guys!"

Both the wolf and girl were snapped out of their thoughts seeing how they were still stuck in their same position, looking towards the mongoose and peacock with shock. Kai could barely contain his laughter hiding his wide smile behind his fist.

I couldn't help but blush nervously. Oh my god this was so embarrassing! I know we had a similar interaction but to have prying eyes watching, damn this was nerve wracking! I can only imagine how I really embarrassed Legoshi with this! Curse my dirty thoughts!

He blushed embarrassedly, as he rushed to climb off of her and offered a hand to help her up to her feet, which she bashfully accepted before smoothing out her uniform.

"I-I guess this gives new m-meaning to the phrase of hanging around, d-doesn't it?"

"Uh y-yeah...I-I am s-such a klutz...s-sorry about that"

The mongoose couldn't help but snicker seeing the interaction between the wolf and mutant. Dom elbowed Kai in his side snapping him out of his thought, making the mongoose hum innocently acting like he was oblivious to his actions.

"As I was saying...we think Aayame will be a great new source of ideas for design, costumes and layouts. We really need all the help we can get for this part of the team"

"Hey! We are doing the best we can, you know it's only two of us up here!" Kai protested

"Exactly! None of you have a single clue about what colors fit well together or the emotional importance they have to the play, you and Kibi wanted to make a funeral outfit yellow!"

"Well Dom some people just have a different outlook on certain ideas, and some just might not agree with it, but taking on some sense of perspective from others, I think that I can create a few ideas for costumes that could correspond with the scenes"

"That's why I think that you will be the hero here in our stage crew! I have utter fate in you, I will leave you guys to it, be nice to her boys!"

He gives a friendly pat to my shoulder before leaving the platform. "Well, you heard the leader, I think with a little teamwork, we can make this work! Let's get to it!"

All three of us got straight to work and positioning and angling the spotlights to the appropriate places to give the stage the best chance of light to make sure the entire stage was set to be filled with life. Kai and I were having some small talk here and there while doing preparations, I caught on pretty quick on what tasks he was doing, but when it came to the lighting that's when Legoshi came in and surprisingly this wolf was pretty smart in explaining his tasks in detail.

The wolf explained the basics of how the lighting works to the girl standing beside him. Giving her the best information in a way that she could easily understand, while allowing her to work the lights herself. Even when she had questions or seemed a bit confused on working the spotlight, his gentle guidance answered anything she asked, and his gentle hands guided her on how to move the spotlight properly and efficiently.

The mongoose Kai, watching the pair without their knowledge from the sidelines couldn't help but smile seeing the two together, he knew just from how they were interacting and the smiles on their faces, there was something there between the two of them...

A few hours later after doing tests and last-minute checks for tonight's performance everything was ready to go. So far being a part of drama club was different than I expected, but the fact that I was being accepted by the other club members, and I wasn't having any intense stares or discrimination being given to me as much anymore, I was now beginning to believe that maybe coming to this world after my death was actually turning into a good thing.

After being allowed to change out of my uniform and get into club attire I joined up with Legoshi again up on the platform. The only problem was, it was a bit chilly being high up, I wish I had brought my hoodie along with me since it was a bit cold up on the platform, but when Legoshi moved in closer, his tall body blocked the breeze providing me with some relief. Even with him crouching down I still looked so small in comparison with the wolf, but still his presence still brought a smile to my face being this close to him. If it weren't for Dom and Kai being there on the platform with us, I only wished that more could have advanced...

The auditorium began to fill up, every sit was taken, and everyone seemed excited for the play to start. Everyone seemed to be talking and awing over the star of the play, Louis. I know he and I were still on a rocky path, and I was still getting over my shaky feelings from our confrontation, I was still wanting to be supportive in his role for the play and hoped he performed well.

As Legoshi and I sat in comfortable silence, I began to think on what Sanu had said before I came back to the club, how changes were made, surely a change like this wouldn't happen this quickly...not unless someone had talked to them. A thought began to cloud my mind, how the others were suddenly so accepting of me, did someone tell them to do this for me? To give me a chance? Wait, did he...?

The deer paced past every individual member his posture was tall and powerful. "Beyond those curtains, new students, who have never experienced our performance before are eagerly waiting with great expectations. Don't worry, do it like you always do it. Our last rehearsal went quite well"

Who am I kidding...it was laughable.

"Despite the incident, the solidarity of this club remains quite strong"

Solidarity doesn't mean anything now. I'm here. That's all that matters.

"This club is very special. On stage, we can portray all species, each of us working together as one unit! Right?"

Devote yourselves...to me!

"Yes!" All the actors reply with high elation, a high energy to impress and perform incredibly

Good. Nobody's getting in my way. This is my battle!

Watching him closely, I could sense that he was telling these words more so to himself than to the others that stand before him. I don't blame him though; he must have a lot of pressure on his shoulders for being the star of the play. I guess even the ones who are most popular have their own demons to battle too, to impress and inspire those around them. The spotlight constantly being on him must be difficult, always having to be the one to perform the best and meeting the numerous amounts of goals and high expectations that have been placed on them to meet.

No wonder many looked up to him to be the next Beastar. If I only was more confident in myself, maybe then I could be the next Beastar, but I knew I had no chance of competing against him.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a voice go through Legoshi's headset, asking if the lights were ready to go. "Uh, spotlight one is good to go"

I couldn't help but giggle softly to myself, he is so shy and sounds a little awkward, but I didn't mind. Those were those just a few of the many things that I liked about him. In fact, there wasn't even one thing that I did not like about him.

Legoshi was so lost watching the girl beside her, that he barely could form a straight answer into his headset as she looked down at the stage below them. He was becoming more and more infatuated with her. She was changing him in a way he never thought no one would be able to change him in a way that she could. Now sitting this close to her, he was drowning in her scent, the sweet smell of cherry blossom and honey had overtaken him, like as if he had taken a drug, he only wanted more of it. This was an addiction that would be impossible to break.

As his eyes watched her closely, he couldn't help the warm blush spread across his cheeks nor how his palms were now becoming sweaty. He glanced down, his hand was so close to hers, how he just wanted to hold it again and this time he would never want to let her go.

Then the show begins!

Now, I'll show you something great. All eyes on me!

Louis dressed in the reapers cloak runs out on to the stage with such confidence and ferocity, and lands perfectly in the spotlight.

The wounded, the grim reaper is here!

But even with such perfection, looking closer I noticed something wasn't right. Unbeknownst to the audience, the atmosphere seemed to be filled with energy, but deep down there was more to than what could be seen under Louis's costume. That's when I noticed the angle of his leg. I sensed something hidden, something that I should have seen earlier, he hid it so well. Oh no...

Oh god, is he? Was he really going to do this? Right here on stage?

"Oh no"

"Aayame what's wrong?" Legoshi asked, sounding concerned as he leaned over closer towards me

"Something is not right, it's...it's Louis"

This...this is what I live for!

Louis' performing is astounding, every movement he made, even with him standing still, shakes the stage and the audience to the very core. It is so mesmerizing, and I let my eyes observe every second of it.

The hero, the grim reaper, comes alive by the deer, is given a story, life and a purpose. His true deep passion hadn't ceased for a second until the very end of the final scene of the play. As the female lead Ellen, dies in the hands of the ones she loves, I was left spellbound of how my first time of seeing such a strong performance play out in front of me. Even though it was just a story, it almost sounded like it could happen in real life. Imagine if they had made a play about my life, surely anyone would think it would be fiction, but if anyone knew that it was a true story, I think they would been left speechless.

"Ellen, you have bid farewell to this world"

The audience applauds and screams with a high level of adoration and the curtains began to descend down, the audience was disappearing from view.

Louis?

Before the curtains could close halfway down, I noticed Louis began to sway side to side on his feet.

Louis?!

"Oh god! He is hurt!"

Without warning or a second thought, I took off running across the platform, jumping down to the stage as two vectors spread out to my sides catching me to steady my landing.

Louis, you didn't! Why would you do that?!

"Louis!"

Two more vectors emerged out from behind my back and quickly slithered out and caught Louis in their grip before he could hit the stage floor. As I ran up closer my vectors slowly released him into my arms, before they retract back and I turned him over carefully and removed the skull mask that was covering his head. "Louis, can you hear me? Louis!"

I gently tapped his cheek with my hand to hear him moan as he laid unconscious in my arms. I looked down his body and see something protruding out from his leg. Carefully my hands rolled up part of his costume pants' leg to see a terrible injury, one that I have experienced that was excruciating and unbearable. His leg was broken, the bone was close to protruding out from under his fur and muscle. "Hold on Louis!"

I had to get him help! I know we were still a bit on uneasy grounds, but after what he did for me, now is the time for me to do my part. I carefully picked him up in my arms, a few of my vectors came out to support the excess weight of the male deer and began to trudge as fast as I could off the stage. "I need some help! Get a nurse on standby!"