#sheephound

[thisisthepartwhereyou]

BEASTARS MINI-STORY #5: “Everybody Play the Game pt. 5” (FIN) by JCL

---

Haru, Legosi and the 701s are standing on the street outside of Yanni's, with Yanni himself talking to them with a nervous look.

TEXT BOX: We were asked to leave after that, despite the fact that we didn't start the fight. We were also asked not to come back.

In the background we see that Mizuchi, Melissa and Mica are still stuck between the door and the wall, while two repairmen are working on unscrewing the hinges.  

TEXT BOX: We didn't really protest much, for we had already been there for quite a bit, and after all that, we just felt tired of playing games. ---

Later, we see that the group are now travelling by tram-train. There are not many other travelers in the wagon, so they have proceeded to take up six seats alongside the windows. Through the city we can see the city pass by.

MIGUNO: "Damn that was intense...!"

Durham gives Legosi an impressed look.

DURHAM: "Yeah, when you turned up, I swear one of those girls must've pissed themselves! Man, even I was scared by the threatening aura you were giving off!"

Legosi looks like he does not see that as a good thing.

LEGOSI: "...!"

The coyote then looks down at Haru (who is sitting between Collot and Legosi) and makes a boxing motion into the air.

DURHAM: "And you, you slapped the fur outta that girl's face!"

HARU: "Yeah, well, I didn't like what she was saying..."

Collot, who is sitting next to Haru, gives her an approving little pat on the back, which almost makes her fall forward.

COLLOT: "You were totes badass, babe."

She sweat drops at this, while Legosi, who is sitting on Haru's other side, gives the sheep hound a look of disapproval.

LEGOSI: "Oi, you're gonna make fall out of her seat."

Voss, who is sitting next to Collot, follows up with his own impressed words.

VOSS: "I was aroused!"

Jack shakes his head at Voss inappropriate behavior.

JACK: "Class Voss, class...!"

HARU: "M-hm..."

The boys quiet down and look at Haru sideways from their seats. They notice that she is looking kind of depressed. Legosi watches her with a concerned expression.

LEGOSI: "Haru, are you alright?"

Haru's right ear twitches a little.

HARU: "Yes... Well, not really. It's just... One would think I'd be happier to hand it to those girls. I mean, hitting her felt really-really good. But now I just feel bad about it."

MIGUNO: "Why? They were the ones who started trippin'!"

HARU: "Yes... But just so you know, she was right about something: I did sleep around when was in Cherryton, and I did break a lot of relationships."

This seems to surprise the 701s a bit. Legosi stare at Haru as she continues to talk.

HARU: "I couldn't help but to think of that thing about karma, where it comes back to bite you at the most unexpected of times. Feels like that fits in pretty well here. After all, I was the succubus of the gardening club, who devoured young males and then spit them back out by choice... Sounds like a solid case of cause and consequence to me."

Jack blinks. He looks regretful for bringing up karma, now that it appears to be a source of sadness for Haru.

LEGOSI: "You were more than that!"

Legosi stands up, surprising the group. He looks upset.

LEGOSI: "If they really would have loved each other, they would have stayed with them or at least talked their problems out. Blaming you rather than their own issues is not right! It's petty!"

Haru blinks and gives Legosi a patient look.

HARU: "Legosi... That's not how it works. The first thing a girl thinks of when she finds out that her boyfriend is messing around is herself. She asks: 'what did I do wrong' or 'what makes this girl better than me'?"

The tram then passes through a tunnel; the city outside disappears. It goes darker in the tram, the remaining light coming from the electric lights above the walkway. A shadow goes over Haru's face.  

HARU: "That's why it's easier to imagine this 'other girl' being the one at fault, because an external problem is always easier to deal with. It can be pushed around. It doesn't make you question yourself. It's never your fault if there's a villain to deal with."

Legosi looks upset by this, cause it seems like Haru is trying to justify her mistreatment.

LEGOSI: "That doesn't make it right!"

HARU: "There are many things that aren't right Legosi, but they happen anyway! High school bullies ruining a pleasant evening for shit that happened years ago isn't right, but it happened didn't it, because of ME!"

Legosi and the boys look surprised by this outburst. Haru then looks sad.

HARU: "I never deliberately broke a relationship or or sought boyfriends out... I always figured that I was not half as bad as them or their girlfriends for being more angry at me than at them. But, maybe it would have been better if I had rejected them. I never imagined that someone would still be so angry because of me... She was unnecessarily rude to you, and I can't help but to feel that it was my fault that she was like that. I don't care what those girls think about me, but I don't like it when others take the brunt for it. Especially people whose only crime was to be nice to me."

The tram comes out of the tunnel. We see the city through the windows again, and the tram is now lighter. Haru gives the 701s an apologetic look.

HARU: "I'm sorry about getting you thrown out and barred."

She then meets their looks, looking like she is expecting them to see her in a different light after what she has told them.

JACK: "You have nothing to feel sorry about. You stood up for us back there."

Haru gives off an uncertain expression.

HARU: "That... It was nothing."

JACK: "It was more than you think!"

DURHAM: "Yeah, no herbivore has ever done that for us before."

Haru shakes her head though, unable to take the compliment.

HARU: "But I caused a scene and got you barred!"

Jack waves this off.

JACK: "Eh, that's not a big loss. I mean the atmosphere was just not up to par anymore and board games are pretty square anyways. We should just go to the arcade next time."

Collot interjects at this though, giving Haru and excited expression.

COLLOT: "No, bowling! We gotta go bowling!"

VOSS: "Not before we see something at Biorama. I vote for that new dinosaur-film! What do you think Haru-chan?"

Haru looks increasingly surprised as the 701s all suggest places where to go next time.

MIGUNO: "Karoake bar! We haven't been there in like forever!"

DURHAM: "Mini-golf!"

Haru and Legosi stare at the the guys as they argue about where they all should go next time they meet.

HARU: (They're already talking about where they want to go with us next time?)

Legosi sits down next to Haru again. The two smile warmly at the boys. ---

Skipping ahead for a bit, we see that the tram has stopped at the train station. Haru and Legosi is stepping off, having reached their destination. The 701s all wave their goodbyes to Haru.

COLLOT: "Hope to see you again soon!"

VOSS: "Remember to show me how to do that ear-trick next time!"

DURHAM: "Take care of that big lug in the meantime, or else he'll get into trouble!"

Haru laughs, while Legosi look a little bothered by being called 'lug.'

HARU: "It's a promise!"

Jack gives her a kind smile.

JACK: "Take care of yourself till we meet again."

Haru smiles back, though she also has a bit of a concerned look as she gives Jack a reply.

HARU: "As long as you promise to do the same."

Haru and Legosi go out, with the door soon closing behind them, and the tram proceeds to go. Suddenly, they hear a banging noise coming from behind them. They turn and see that the 701s are banging against the window and waving and saying goodbye excitedly. Legosi and Haru smile and wave back as the train passes and eventually disappears out of sight.

As they proceed to walk through the train station, walking down the steps towards the exit, Legosi turns to Haru.

LEGOSI: "So what do you think?"

HARU: "Well I understand why you're thorn. They're all so nice."

She hugs the Danny-doll a little tighter, thinking back to how Jack helped her get it.

HARU: "Though if I had to make a choice, I think like you: Jack should be your best man. Not that the others couldn't do a great job, but you two have the longest history."

LEGOSI: "I know. It's just that I hate the idea to make people feel less for selecting just one of them...!"

HARU: "They're still gonna be your groomsmen. And who knows, maybe Miguno and his band could lend their services at the reception. What kind of music do they play?"

LEGOSI: "Alternative Punk Rock."

Haru gets a disdainful look.

HARU: "Yikes... I wonder what kind of wedding march that might lead to... What about the stag party?"

Legosi stops as he reaches the end of the stairs. He gets a disdainful expression.

LEGOSI: "I dunno if I'd even like one..."

HARU: "Oh come on, its your right. Surely one of the guys could organize something for you?"

Legosi, noticing that the shoe on his right foot is untied, kneels down and begins to tie it.

LEGOSI: "Well, I suppose... Though I have to ask them about being my groomsmen first. I mean they don't even know we're engaged. But before any of that, we should probably tell our families."

Haru walks down and joins Legosi at the end of the stairs, looking him excitedly.

HARU: "Such as when we meet your grandfather?"

With his shoe tied, Legosi stands up.

LEGOSI: "Feels like a good time for that."

Haru stares up Legosi. He meets her look and blinks.

LEGOSI: "What?"

HARU: "Can I... Try something?"

LEGOSI: "Try what?"

Looking around, she then beckons him with a finger, gesturing him to come down to her level.

HARU: "Come down here."

Legosi crouches down. Haru then gets close and whispers something into his ear. Legosi's eyes widen at whatever she just said.

LEGOSI: "Are you-" ---

DURHAM: "-KIDDING?!"

We see the 701s as they continue to travel by tram. Durham and the others are giving off incredulous looks directed at Collot, who has put his hands behind his head in a relaxed pose.

COLLOT: "Yeah... I mean if they're anything like Haru, dating herbivores mustn't be that bad. You see, she made me realize something tonight:"

He raises a clenched fist and showcases a dramatic, convicted pose.

COLLOT: "As long as a girl is nice, has a pretty face, a fine rack and decent butt, it doesn't matter what species they are... They should all have an equal right to some COLLOT!"

Jack looks like he cannot even compute what he has just heard.

JACK: "I... I don't know if that is open-minded or just new levels of objectification."

DURHAM: "Yeah, it sounds more like it was your dick who learned a lesson tonight."

Collot gives off a jovial laugh.

COLLOT: "Heh!"

DURHAM: "Although... I can understand it better now. I mean I am still a little mind-boggled as to how it works, but now I at least understand the attraction. She's quite exciting, that one..!"

Collot nods.

COLLOT: "She's a little firecracker, that's for sure."

MIGUNO: "But still perfectly pleasant, like you said Jack."

VOSS: "And hot. A little small for me though..."

Jack gets a contemplative expression.

JACK: "..." ---

We enter a short flashback, where we see Haru talking to Jack back at Yanni's.

FLASHBACK-HARU: "When I am with him, I feel neither scared or sad." ---

JACK: "Yeah, I like her."

Miguno nods.

MIGUNO: "Same for me."

Voss crosses his arms.

VOSS: "If Legosi makes her cry, I'll kick his ass."

Durham mimics the fennec's gesture.

DURHAM: "And I'll join you."

Collot, sporting a goofy grin, leans his chin in his hand.

COLLOT: "I like her personality AND her cinnamon buns!" ---

We see a crowd of people from a bird's eye point of view in the street, staring up at something with weirded out looks.

HARU: "I got to admit... Voss was right."

LEGOSI: "M-hm...!"

We then see what it is all about: Legosi is walking through the street while Haru is sitting on his shoulder in the same manner that Voss usually does with Collot. Haru looks like she is really enjoying herself, while Legosi looks uncomfortable.

HARU: "This is pretty damn awesome!"

LEGOSI: (I feel like a rookie father carrying his kid on his shoulder!)

THE END... FOR NOW ---

[thisisthepartwhereyou]

BEASTARS MINI-STORY #5: “Everybody Play the Game pt. 3” by JCL

---

We see the interior of a claw crane machine full of plush dolls. These plushies look like adorable chibi-versions of characters in Cat's Don't Dance (1997), such as Danny, Sawyer and Pudge. A claw moves down into frame and makes a grab at a Danny-doll. While the claw succeeds in clamping the body, the doll still slips through the grip and remains down with the rest of the dolls.

HARU: "Damn."

We see that Haru is the one playing with it, holding its joystick with an irritated expression as the claw returns to its default position. Now seeing the whole machine from the exterior, we see that it has an aquatic theme, with the picture of a cartoon crab and the title 'Treasure Trove' printed between the top of the machine and the display glass.

Legosi is standing next to Haru, leaning against the wall next to the machine.

LEGOSI: "I think you're throwing your money away. I've never actually seen anyone win something from these things."

Haru takes up a coin from her pocket and pushes it into the coin slot. The machine begins to play a short melody (which sounds like a sea chanty) and the crane inside it starts to blink, signifying that a new round has started. Haru's ears (who following the events of the last chapter look a little reddish) flicker. She got a frown on her face.

HARU: "It's not a waste of money if it keeps you distracted for a bit."

She glances over her shoulder, over which we see that the boys from 701 has taken a seat at their reserved table.

HARU: "He's still feeling pretty bad, isn't he?"

Legosi turns his head to look at Durham. The coyote look depressed for some reason.

LEGOSI: "Yeah..."

Haru pulls the joystick in a L-shaped motion, goading the claw back to the Danny-doll.

HARU: "I don't get it, it's not like he pulled my ears off or anything. He already apologized... He doesn't have to look like he's on a funeral or something."

She presses a large and red button on top of the joystick. This makes the four-fingered claw inside open up, descend and make another grab at the plushie. It goes a little better, with the doll actually being elevated for a short distance, before sliding off the grip and falling down. Haru gives off a disgruntled growl.

HARU: "Damnit! I get knocked around by accident almost daily by animals bigger than me, but they usually just apologize and then it's done. I don't take it personally, and they don't linger on it."

She quickly puts in another coin. The melody plays again and she maneuvers the claw into the same place as before. She really got in for that Danny-doll!

HARU: "I don't like getting treated like a little porcelain doll. Most of the world pities me already for being this small and fragile, he doesn't have to feel so sorry for such a little thing! It's like with you and that yakisoba-incident*...!"

She presses the button and the claw goes down again, except now it misses the intended target completely.

HARU: "SHIT! It was just a stupid mistake, and you still feel bad about it."

Haru turns her head to look at Legosi, who is still looking in Durham's direction.

HARU: "What is it with you canines and your overabundant sense of guilt?"

LEGOSI: "I think you've misunderstood why he feels as bad as he does. After he hurt you, did you happen to get a good look at the other visitors here?"

Haru's brows go up. She turns to look at the other visitors in the café besides them. We see that there is like 10 of them, all of them herbivores of varying sizes. She does not notice anything special about them though.

HARU: "What about them?"

LEGOSI: "Look at them for a little longer..."

Haru takes another, longer look. Doing this, she eventually notices how the other visitors are throwing them and the 701s nervous and/or unfriendly glances.

HARU: "... They keep looking our way?"

Legosi nods. He then crouches down, gets close to Haru and whispers into her ear.

LEGOSI: "It's because they're expecting us to attack and eat you at any moment. You probably didn't notice in the commotion..." ---

We enter a flashback, taking place right after Durham accidentally clamps Haru's ears on the Fivelimbs-carpet.

LEGOSI: "...But when you cried out they all immediately stood up or reached for their phones, probably ready to call the police."

As this happens, several of the other patrons stand up at their tables with their phones up, or look like they are about rush out or rush in.  

LEGOSI: "Two of them even ran out the door."

We two scared-looking visitors, a goat and a llama, running out through the door.

LEGOSI: "Yanni reached for something behind the counter. I don't know if it was a phone, a baseball bat or a even a firearm."

Finally we see the owner, Yanni, reaching down for something behind the counter. ---

Returning to the present, Haru look upset by what Legosi just told her.

LEGOSI: "That's why Durham feel so bad. You see, because of his accident, everyone in here is now watching us with scrutiny. After all, we are six male carnivores, with one female herbivore..."

We go over to the 701s, sitting at their table. In an illustrative way, we see disembodied eyes filled with scorn spawning around them within a cloud of resentful aura, illustrating how they are currently perceived in the café by the other patrons.

LEGOSI: "People are always quick to assume the worst from us, and now that one of us has actually hurt you, it's hard for the other ones here to get the idea of us eating you out of their head."

Haru turns to Legosi. She has gone from being upset, to angry.

HARU: "But it was just a stupid accident!"

Legosi acknowledges this with a nod and a melancholic expression.

LEGOSI: "There are no accidents, not with carnivores. That's what they think."

He sighs.

LEGOSI: "That's what they always think, and we're always supposed to feel bad about it, even if it isn't true. That's the reason behind our... Overabundant sense of guilt."

Haru stares at Legosi, looking very sad for a few seconds. She then groans with a voice that sound so frustrated, deep and rough that it might as well have come from some wrath-filled creature from the darkest pits of hell.  

HARU: "Son of a BITCH!"

The sound hilariously catches Legosi off his guard. Haru then swiftly turns and hits the crane machine with her fist. She leans forward, her forehead resting against the glass. Her eyes focus in on the Danny-doll; the orange feline sitting in there like an unattainable object of desire.

HARU: "It pisses me off. And as a cherry on top of the situation, why must that darn cat mock me..!?"

Legosi puts a hand on her head and scratches it affectionately.

LEGOSI: "There, there...!"

HARU: "So what are we supposed to do?"

LEGOSI: "Buy the doll online?"

Haru backs away from the machine and turns to Legosi.

HARU: "No... I mean about the atmosphere. What can we do about it?"

LEGOSI: "I am not sure whether there is anything we can do.... I guess we could go to another place."

This makes Haru's ears twitch in annoyance.

HARU: "No way! You guys rented a table, we have as much right to be here as any other paying customer."

Haru seems to ponder hard about what to do.

HARU: (The issue is fear and ignorance... How does one deal with silent fear and ignorance withpout causing a scene?)

Thinking about this, she then looks like she realizes something and turns to Legosi with an apologetic look.

HARU: "I am sorry about what I said about canines and guilt. That was very speciest of me."

Legosi shrugs.

LEGOSI: "It's alright, you didn't know better. Also, you should probably stay away from the word 'bitch'. That's kind of an offensive therm for us..."

Then, all of a sudden, a light bulb appears above Haru's head. Meanwhile, Legosi's stomach begins to grumble.

HARU: "Hey... You just gave me an idea."

LEGOSI: "Good. Could we get something to eat while you explain it to me?" ---

We skip ahead for a bit. We see that at their reserved table, each of the 701s have individual trays with food in front of them. Durham is continuously dipping a wafer into his cup of coffee with a vacant look in his eyes.

DURHAM: "This is unbearable. First impressions are everything, and now I've turned this game night into a stare off..!"

Jack, who is eating an English muffin whilst carefully wiping the crumbs from it into a napkin, gives the coyote a tired look.

JACK: "You should try and cheer up, you know, for her sake. She probably doesn't understand the situation."

It is about then that Haru return to the table with her own tray. Sliding the tray up on the table (which has a carrot cake, a cup of black coffee and a small bag of sugar cubes on it), she then hops up on the sofa and scooches in next to Miguno, who straightens up with a nervous look as she gets close. She doesn't appear to notice this though and looks around with a friendly face.

HARU: "What are you guys talking about?"

DURHAM: "Oh... Nothing."

Durham's eyes go directly to Haru's ears, taking notice of their reddish tint.

DURHAM: "... You're sure that you're alright?"

Haru looks a bit annoyed. She proceeds to rip open the little bag with the sugar cubes, making them fall out on her tray.

HARU: "I told you, I'm fine. You don't have to keep apologizing when it was just an accident."

Durham nods, but still look quite guilty. A hand lands on his shoulder. He looks up and sees that it is Legosi, who is giving him a look that appears to say 'it's okay.' This seems to calm Durham's conscience a bit. We then hear Collot growling at Durham.

COLLOT: "You should apologize to me too...!"

We then see that Collot has ordered a very large glass of ice tea, which he has positioned between his legs.

COLLOT: "Or at least pay for the damn tea. I'm not even an ice tea kind of guy...!"

Durham raises an eyebrow and stares at Collot with an unsympathetic eye. Meanwhile, Legosi sits down next to Haru. We see that his tray has a latte and a pound cake on it.

DURHAM: "Just consider it a bad case of karma for something you've done and gotten away with."

Haru sweat drops at this.

HARU: "Actually, I should be apologizing for that one... I am sorry that I bust a nut."

All the boys give her a weirded out looks. Realizing what she just said, she blushes and looks embarrassed.

HARU: "Okay, lousy choice of words, but you get what I'm saying, right?"

Collot gives her a little nod and smile, showing that he is not holding any grudge. Haru sighs.

HARU: "My karma must be wicked bad. First the crane robbed me, and now I put my foot in my mouth...!"

Voss, who has been busy gorging on a piece of blueberry pie, looks up from his plate.

VOSS: "No disrespect, but I don't think a crane machine is such good indicator to the legitimacy of karma, cause in that case everyone who has played it must've been real ass... ASSemblings of bad actions. I mean when did 'Cat's Don't Dance' come out? Twenty years ago? I bet the owner have to take those plushies out every weekend just to remove the cobwebs."

JACK: "Actually, there is some scientific legitimacy to karma."

Now everyone turns to look at Jack.

JACK: "Not that one can actually collect supernatural points that will determine what you're reborn as. I mean, if you see karma as an outcome of action, one should remember the third law of motion: for every action, there is an equivalent and opposite reaction... Meaning that good actions will affect your odds favorably, just as how bad actions can come back to bite you, sometimes when you least expect it."

Collot huffs at this, lifting the iceatea off his crotch and putting it on the table in front of him.

COLLOT: "Whatever you say Earl."

Taking a sip from the tea through a long straw, his face lights up a bit.

COLLOT: "Mmm... Its actually pretty good!"

Haru and Legosi share a look. He nods, prompting her to clear her throat, which directs the 701s collective attention towards her.

HARU: "Excuse me, I was just wondering... Do you guys have any questions about me and Legosi?"

This question catches the boys off guard. They all look a little uncertain.

HARU: "It's okay to be curious you know, I mean you gotta wonder how it works."

MIGUNO: "You mean... It's okay to ask questions?"

Legosi nods.

LEGOSI: "Well to be honest it would be nice if more people asked questions about us."

Haru takes the sugar cubes up from her tray and puts them into her coffee. She then proceeds to stir it with a spoon.

HARU: "Most people seem scared to ask, or maybe they're afraid of the answers."

DURHAM: "So it's really okay?"

Haru takes her spoon up and points it at Durham.

HARU: "As long as it's not too personal."

Miguno leans forward, looking at her and Legosi eagerly.

MIGUNO: "Okay... Um, stop me if I overstep any boundaries, but what do your families think?"

Haru takes a sip from her coffee.

HARU: "They all like Legosi, but I don't think they quite get that he's my boyfriend."

LEGOSI: "Actually, your dad knows."

Haru looks surprised by this, and she puts the cup down.

HARU: "He does?"

LEGOSI: "I told him when he gave me a ride home the first time I had dinner at your parents house."

HARU: "Really? Huh."

JACK: "What about Gosha?"

Legosi meets Jack's look.

LEGOSI: "He knows, but we haven't really had a chance to set up a formal meeting. Things have been pretty hectic since last Rexmas, with my job, his job and Haru's studies, so finding a date that works for all three of us have been pretty difficult."

HARU: "Golden week is soon. How about then?"

Legosi look at Haru with uncertainty.

LEGOSI: "I am not sure. A lot of people order udon during golden week... I'll have to talk about it with my boss before I can say for sure."

A little vein pops on Haru's head; she gives his arm an annoyed little poke.

HARU: "Considering you almost never take any time off, even during the holidays, he should give you a break...!"

JACK: "I have a question."

Jack stares at the two with a quizzical expression.

JACK: "How did you guys meet?"

Haru and Legosi look comically stunned... Like how are they supposed to explain all the bizarre details of how they got together without freaking everyone out?

HARU: "Uh... Well we actually came across each other one night, but we didn't really say hello to one another...!"

LEGOSI: "Y-yeah, we didn't really have a proper meeting until I went to the gardening club to ask for some plants for the drama club to borrow."

The 701s listen to this (very censored) re-telling with interest.

HARU: "Then we kind of met back and forth during the preparation for the meteor fest. It was a rocky time for both of us, during which we got close and... Well..."

Putting her hand on Legosi's, Haru gives him a tender look.

HARU: "Things has just continued to develop since then."

Legosi responds with a tender look of his own, and puts his other hand over hers. Seeing this, the 701s look touched. Durham even lets out an effeminate sigh. Strangely enough though, Jack doesn't seem to share the same sentiment as his friends, having a rather neutral expression on his face instead.  

DURHAM: "Did he go after you or did you go after him?"

Haru awkwardly thinks back to when Legosi almost ate her in their first meeting, while Legosi simultaneously thinks back to when tried to have sex with him in the storage room of the gardening club. They both look a little awkward about this and reply with deadpan voices:

HARU & LEGOSI: "Both."

Haru then points a finger at Legosi.

HARU: "Though I'd have to say he made the first move."

Legosi blinks and gives her an odd look.

LEGOSI: "Are you kidding? You totally came onto me first."

Haru looks at him in an argumentative way.

HARU: "No way... It was you who started it."

LEGOSI: "Did not."

HARU: "Did too."

The boys stare at them as this interaction takes place with amused expressions.

LEGOSI: "Nuh-uh!"

HARU: "Yuh-uh!"

Haru takes a bite out her carrot cake with a stubborn look.

HARU: "Whatever, I know I'm right though... Mmm, a little dry...!"

Legosi look a little annoyed, and he begins to eat from his pound cake.

VOSS, COLLOT, DURHAM, MIGUNO & JACK: (What is this? Elementary school?)

HARU: "Anything else you wonder about?"

Voss then holds his hand up, like a little kid in class.

VOSS: "Me-me-me! I'm next! I'm next!"

HARU: "Shoot."

Haru takes her cup and takes a little sip of her coffee.

VOSS: "What is the sex like?"

Legosi's eyes bulge open and he bites down hard on his spoonful of pound cake. Haru chokes on her coffee, Jack facepalms and the other 701s stare at the fennec in a scolding manner. Even some of the other patrons (who appears to have listened in on the group's dialogue) look uncomfortable.

JACK: "Idiot...!"

Voss on the other hand look adorably clueless.

VOSS: "What? Was that too personal?"

Legosi opens his mouth. We see that he bit down of the spoon so hard that it is now bent out of shape... And with Legosi's set of false teeth attached to it.

LEGOSI: "Of coff itf too peffonal! What could poffibly be-"

Legosi then notices that his dentures are missing. He looks down, pulls them off the spoon and puts them back into his mouth. The boys look stunned and confused by the reveal that Legosi now wear dentures, while Haru can't help but to give off a little laugh at the slapstick-esque situation. With his teeth back in place, Legosi gives Voss a stern look and finishes his sentence.

LEGOSI: "- more personal?"

HARU: "I have to agreed, that is too personal." (I mean we haven't even...!)

Voss is visibly amused by all their reactions.

VOSS: "Yeah-yeah, I know. Honestly I just wanted to see your reactions!"

He then gives Haru a more serious look.

VOSS: "Serious question though, from one small mammal to the next: How do you deal with the size-difference? Like, when you're hanging out and stuff?"

Haru seems to think about this as she wipes some coffee stains off the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

HARU: "That was mostly a problem in the beginning... I mean I am a bit self-conscious about my size, and when I first started being with Legosi, I felt constantly reminded of it. But now I don't think about it as much."

She pats at the backpack which she is seated on.

HARU: "I mean we find ways to make it work, with him bringing a backpack when we eat out so that we can sit at the same table, and I got him a pair of big chopsticks whenever we stay at home to eat together."

VOSS: "Do you ride him?"

This question causes another wave of extreme reactions across the café. Legosi now look angry and embarrassed.

LEGOSI: "VOSS!"

Voss rolls his eyes at all of this.

VOSS: "I meant non-sexually you dirty-minded doof! Like how I ride Collot or Durham when we're up and about!"

The fennec points his thumb at Collot. Both Haru and Legosi sweat drops at the idea of them doing this.

HARU: "No... No offense, but I think that would be weird."

Voss points at her with his own, blueberry-stained spoon.

VOSS: "That's what I used to think, but it actually makes you feel surprisingly empowered. I mean the view is great, you don't have to worry about anybody stepping on you or knocking you down. And on top of that, it's like you're piloting your own, giant furry MECHA!"

Hearing this, Collot turns and gives his small friend a look.

COLLOT: "Is that why you hum Cruel Angel's Thesis whenever we're walking through the school halls?"

VOSS: "Maybe."

COLLOT: "Nerd."

Voss glares at him.

VOSS: "Oh yeah? Get fu... STUFFED!"

The 701s all turn to stare at the fennec.

DURHAM: "... Fu-stuffed? You know, now that I think about it, you've been awfully reserved with your vocab tonight Voss.

MIGUNO: "Yeah, most of the time you're like a little Chucky-doll."

Collot puts  two fingers on Voss forehead, checking the fennec's temperature.

COLLOT: "Are you ill or something?"

Voss look annoyed and pushes Collot's fingers with his hands.

VOSS: "I am fine!"

Voss then looks away with a pair of puffed up cheeks.

VOSS: "I just don't think it'd be appropriate when there's a lady present..!"

The group at first look stunned by this. Then they all go "aaaawww" and lean in towards the embarrassed-looking fennec. Haru even finds it so cute that she holds her hand over her heart.

VOSS: "SHADDUP!"

Looking at the group around her as they make fun off the fennec fox, Haru then stares at Durham, who does not look the least bit depressed anymore.

HARU: (To think a mood can change so drastically... )

She shares a look with Legosi, who gives her an approving smile.

HARU: (... when you know a little better)

LEGOSI: "Hey, is anybody up for a game of Hungry-Hungry Wolf?" ---

We see a compilation of Haru, Legosi and the guys getting back to playing multiple games across the passage of time: These include Haru, Legosi, Durham and Miguno playing Hungry-Hungry Wolf, using large, plastic wolf heads to eat as many of the little red marbles as possible. After this they play Whodunnit, where Jack seems to have come to the conclusion that it is Captain Mustard who murdered the victim in the kitchen with a flatiron. Then, finally, we see Haru and Voss play a tug of war with a rope in their mouths (the same game played by Legosi and Bill during the Riz-arc) while the others cheer them on. ---

Later, we see Collot and Legosi competing against each other at the Whack-the-Weevil machine, furiously beating the the artificial bugs that go up and down from the holes while collecting points on a scoreboard each. Completing the round, Collot does a victory-pose while Legosi looks like he's out of breath.

COLLOT: "And the title of district weevil-swatting champ goes to..."

He points at Durham, Voss (who is currently sitting on Durham's head) and Miguno, who un-enthusiastically complete Collot's sentence.

VOSS, MIGUNO & DURHAM: "Collot, the sultan of swat...!"

Collot proceeds to make audience sound effects in a boastful fashion, while Haru puts her hands on her hips and gives Legosi a confounded look.

HARU: "Are you tired or something? I mean I've seen you at full speed, you could've totally beat him!"

Legosi, who has his hand over his stomach, looks like he is in some pain.

LEGOSI: "It's probably because I need to got the bathroom... I'll see you guys in a minute."

Legosi walks off to the bathroom, Haru and the guys following him with their eyes as he leaves. Collot begins to eagerly rub his hands.

COLLOT: "Very well then, who'll be the next victim? Haru?"

HARU: "No thanks, I am still tuckered out from the tug of war...!"

Hearing this, Collot turns to Durham instead.

COLLOT: "How about you then Durham? Get over here!"

Haru looks around, and then notices that Jack is sitting by himself at their table, looking though his phone. She walks over, hops up on a seat opposite him. He looks up at her.

JACK: "Just looking through my schedule for the next week. Did you want something?"

Haru pulls up a coin from her pocket and places it on the table, she then leans forward and gives the labrador a curious look.

HARU: "Penny for your thoughts."

JACK: "Don't worry about it, my thoughts are free."

HARU: "I am just a little curious. We haven't really talked a lot this evening and... Well, you are Legosi's oldest friend, aren't you?"

Jack nods and looks down at his phone again.

JACK: "That is correct."

HARU: "Meaning that me coming into his life was either the biggest or the smallest surprise to you."

Swiping through a schedule on his phone, the labrador doesn't look up as he replies.

JACK: "Probably the biggest."

HARU: "Is that why you don't like me?"

Jack looks up from his phone with a shocked expression.

JACK: "I... Why would I- Why would you think I don't like you?"

HARU: "Just a feeling. Back when when we talked about how we met, you could probably tell that we skipped over quite a few things. Things that were not very pleasant. Also, when I asked if it was true whether you were the smartest guy at school like Legosi thought, you acted like it wasn't a good thing."

Haru looks over to the rest of the 701s. They are enjoying their game of Whack-the-Weevil, unaware of the serious conversation taking place.

HARU: "This is just me guessing, but you probably consider it a burden rather than a strength, because it forces you to see the whole picture of something."

She looks down.

HARU: "Meaning you can see what an effect that our relationship will most likely have on our lives. You want to be happy for Legosi, but it's hard when you're certain  that he most likely won't have a happy life with me..."

Looking at her, Jack's expression gets increasingly sadder as she continues to talk.

HARU: "I doubt I am as smart as you, but I am a realist. I know what it means for Legosi to be in love with a herbivore, and I wouldn't be surprised if you hate me because of that."

JACK: "I don't hate you!"

Haru meet Jack's look, which is a bit on the shocked side because of Haru's observation.

JACK: "It's just that... Well, it's complicated... And a bit selfish actually." ---

Entering a flashback, we see Jack's collective memories of Legosi from his childhood.

JACK: "We've been like peas and carrots since kindergarten. We've gone through basically every tough thing and fun activity together, outside and inside school. I... Well I guess with him, I eventually came to believe it would be like that through Cherryton, then through university and then through... Everything really. Always."

He thinks to back to his first meeting with Legosi in kindergarden, then playing in the sandbox together, him comforting Legosi at his mother's funeral and then finally attending Cherryton together. ---

Returning to the present, Jack looks depressed.

JACK: "But he chose you. He's not the kind of person to abandon someone, but still, after he met you, he's just drifted further and further away."

Haru stares at Jack with a knitted brow.

HARU: "... Y-You wouldn't happen to be in love with him?"

Jack looks up, looking kind of disturbed by that thought.

JACK: "It's not like that. For most of my life I've relied on him to feel strong... And now that he is living his own life, I've come to realize just how weak I feel without him."

He sighs and gives her a serious look.

JACK: "So no... I don't hate you. I am just jealous of you."

Haru looks skeptical.

HARU: "And you're sure you're not in love with him?"

Jack's face twists into an irritated grimace.

JACK: "Don't be ridiculous, I like girls!"

HARU: "Yeah-yeah, I was just kidding."

She then transitions to a more serious expression.

HARU: "Believe it or not, but I understand how you feel. This relationship has not been easy to keep going, especially not since we both left Cherryton." ---

We enter an illustrated train of thought in Haru's mind, where we see Legosi from the back as he is walking straight into a vast darkness ahead of him.

HARU: "It's frustrating... That feeling that he keeps going to places where you can't follow him, followed by that fear that one of these days, he won't come back...!"

In this domain of thoughts, Haru tries to follow Legosi into the darkness. But as they move further in, Legosi becomes one with the darkness and disappears, while Haru is left alone in the dark. ---

Back to reality, Haru gives Jack a melancholic smile.

HARU: "It's a hard thing to confess to, both as a female and as a herbivore that you actually need someone."

She leans forward against the table, her chin in her hands. Her eyes go tender.

HARU: "But at the same time... When I am with him, I feel neither scared or sad. What people think, the risks, all the realistic and horrible things that might happen, even my pride... All of that just go straight out the window."

She looks up at Jack, a great smile on her lips now.

HARU: "So I'd say I have grown dependent on him too."

Jack looks stunned; he never would have guessed that her feeling for Legosi were so similar to his.

JACK: "I really am happy for him though, and I am happy that you make him happy."

Haru meets his look.

HARU: "So... It's not impossible for us to get along?"

JACK: "Well the parameters certainly argue against the improbability."

Haru stares at him. Jack looks a little self-conscious about his convoluted phrasing.

JACK: "That means-"

HARU: "That it is not impossible."

The two are quiet for a few seconds, then they share a little laugh.

HARU: "Speaking of improbability, what are you thoughts on that?"

She nods towards the Treasure Trove crane. Looking at it, Jack cocks an eyebrow.

JACK: "Well, research does indicate that one in fifteen people can win a prize from them."

HARU: "Really?"

She hops down from her seat with a convicted look.

HARU: "Sounds like good enough odds to me!"

She proceeds to go over to the machine and puts the coin in. The machine plays the melody and blinks again. Haru grabs the joystick and aims for the Danny-plush again.

JACK: "Wait a minute!"

Jack walks over and crouches next to Haru, looking in through the display glass.

JACK: "If I were you, I would try to go in just a little further in from where you have it now..."

Haru looks back and forth between Jack and the machine. She looks doubtful.

HARU: "But then I'll miss the head..."

JACK: "Trust me."

Doing as he suggests, Haru moves the claw in just a little bit more before pressing the button and making the claw go down. As Haru predicted, it misses the plushies head and goes behind the doll instead. Haru does not look surprised.

HARU: "Knew it."

But as the claw goes up, she sees to her great surprise that the plush follows it all the way up. It turns out that while the claw missed the the head, it did get a grip of the plushies tail.

HARU: "...!"

JACK: "See?"

Getting a really focused expression, Haru gently pulls the joystick to the left, goading the claw back to the deposit-hole.

JACK: "Careful now... Steady...!"

Once there, she presses the button again. The claw opens and drops the plush down the hole successfully. Both she and Jack looks overjoyed and victorious.

JACK: "Ah!

HARU: "YES!"

Haru pulls the plush out of the hatch and looks at it with stars in her eyes. She then turns to Jack, looking all impressed.

HARU: "I can't believe it! How on Earth did you do that?!"

Jack rubs the back of his neck.

JACK: "It was just a well-educated deduction. I mean the head is covered in fake fur, which is why the claws keep sliding off it as it deals with the full weight of the doll. The tail on the other hand is made of a less slippery fabric."

Stars appear in Haru's eyes.

HARU: "Wow... You're like Sherlock Hound!"

Jack gives her a surprised look.

JACK: "You know about Sherlock Hound?"

HARU: "Know about it? I watch that show anytime it's on! I especially love Moriarty and his bumbling sidekicks."

Jack, looking happy over the fact that they have found a common ground with something and goes full fanboy on the subject.

JACK: "Yeah I know, they're hilarious! And Mrs. Hudson!"

Haru nods with a knowing expression.

HARU: "I know right...! Personally, I think the show is really underappreciated."

JACK: "I think it's really underappreciated too!"

Haru then takes another look at her newly acquired Danny-doll, looking really happy. But then she gets an uncertain expression and looks up at Jack.

HARU: "But what should we do? By right half the plush should be yours..."

Jack chuckles.

JACK: "I am not really a plushie kind of guy, you can have it. Besides, it was your coin."

To his great surprise, Haru then hugs him around his neck. He looks stunned by this.

HARU: "Thank you."

She then lets go to look down at down at the plushie again. She playfully makes the doll dance while humming 'Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now.' Jack still look stunned and has a noticeable shade of red on his face.

JACK: (That was the first time ever a herbivore gave me a hug..!)

HARU: "We gotta show this to the guys! They'll be so impressed!"

Jack smiles and points over his shoulder with his thumb.

JACK: "I'll fetch them so that you can surprise them."

HARU: "Great idea!"

Jack gets up and proceeds to walk over to where the rest of the 701s are. As he goes, Haru begins to play with plushie again with a happy expression.

HARU: "~Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now!"

???: "Well-well, look who it is."

Haru's happy expression dies in an instant. She looks around, seeing three familiar figures from her past: Mizuchi the harlequin rabbit and her two friends. Her former bullies.

TO BE CONTINUED...! ---