Chapter 41

Arthur never knew he would be in this predicament.

Mizuchi was here and now sitting next to him on the piano stool to hear him play. With jittery fingers, he cringed when he accidentally played off-key but Mizuchi did not complain at all. So, he decided to play as if he was in his dorm all by himself.

"It's beautiful," said Mizuchi. "I could never play like that. And by ear too, that's really something."

Arthur blushed. "Why, thank you. But can you promise not to tell anyone about me playing on campus? I'm not much of a conversationalist or quick when it comes to large crowds."

Mizuchi wrapped an arm around him gently. "Sure, Arthur."

An animal clearing his throat made Arthur whipped his head around to find the source of the sound. He opened his mouth a bit and sighed, realising it was Legosi and that tamandua he can't recalled his name. He was around backstage and was the one who allowed him to play the piano anytime if he stumbled into this room.

"How long were you two listening?" asked Arthur meekly. Mizuchi was gripping the Honduran white bat tightly, probably because of the grey wolf. But Arthur assured her by draping his wing over her back like a blanket.

"Just your music and talk," Legosi reported. "Is this is Mizuchi?"

"Yes," both Kibi and Arthur answered at the same time. Arthur tilted his head at the direction of the tamandua. "You know her too? Oh, of course you both are in the same years and took some classes together!"

"That's right!" Mizuchi huffed but glared at Kibi. The poor tamandua was ready to hide behind Legosi. "He sent you here, right?"

Kibi blinked. "What?"

"Don't lie to me. He sent you here with this grey wolf to spy on me, right?!"

Legosi felt hurt, since he was used to herbivores and smaller animals being afraid of him since he is a large canine. But Kibi jumped into his defence much to his surprise. "Wait just a minute, Mizuchi! Did you just assume that your ex sent me and Legosi to spy on you?"

"Why else were you here?"

Kibi just pointed at the boxes that were at the corner. "This is the drama club's backstage and no one is allowed in here except drama club members. Well, Arthur's an exception since he plays the music."

Both Arthur and Legosi were standing at the side while Mizuchi and Kibi argued. The grey wolf crouched down to whisper to Arthur's ear about what was happening.

"She reminds me of Haru," Legosi murmured. "She's not afraid to say what she wants on her mind."

"Hmm, maybe more than that, Legosi. I'm sure you have some experience with Haru to give me an advice on this?"

Legosi almost had his fur shaved off when Arthur asked this unexpected question. "N-no! I am still trying to understand even these feelings for her. How about you?"

"I...I don't know..."

Arthur walked between Mizuchi and Kibi, gently spreading his wings out. "Hey, hey! There's no need to fight. Mizuchi, Kibi and Legosi mostly come here to unload the props. And Kibi, I am rather curious to know what is going on but I won't probe. Shall we head back and have some tea?"

...

It took some time but Arthur was walking close to Legosi as they head back to the Chiroptera room. The last time a herbivore has ever entered the room was Louis and his bombshell secret.

Both herbivores were very surprised to see how clean was the Chiroptera dorm. Then again, Arthur is the only bat on campus so it does make sense. What interested them the most was the four instruments at different parts of the room.

"Would you call your room your little studio?" asked Kibi with a laugh. "Because I've never seen any animal with a lot of instruments in the room."

Mizuchi was taking everything into detail. So this is how a maestro works in the evening! From the instruments, his computer and even the braille machine she remembered how he could read and write.

Also, there was the photo frame of Arthur and his old friends back in Gryphon Cross.

Arthur smiled with his tooth smile. "I would think so. I will brew some tea so please, make yourselves comfortable."

While brewing tea, he eavesdropped on the conversation:

"I never knew he was this small when he was younger."

"I think I can carry him. Bats have very light bone structures so I guessed even a rabbit can carry him without problem."

Arthur shook his head and brewed matcha tea. Most would call it green tea but what is green tea when colour has been an unsolvable puzzle for him? And why does it have to be called green tea when clearly from the dried leaves and the smell, he could tell that it's either jasmine or or matcha leaves?

He was thankful that the four of them can drink tea and talked about something other than the incident backstage. At least listening to Mizuchi and Kibi talking about certain designs and costumes were a relieved. He could also listen to Legosi's tail wagging.

He made a mental note to arrange a meeting with his father to give him the photo and call his grandmother. He needs to check the timezone first or else she might be cranky. There are a lot of things he would like to discuss about.

...

After an hour, it was time for the guest to leave because of the strict dorm rules that applied to both carnivores and herbivores. Legosi was heading back to his dorm to deal with some things while Arthur decided to take a small walk.

"Arthur?" Mizuchi's voice made him jumped.

"Do you need something?"

"I..." she looked around to see if there are animals within earshot before approaching close to the bat. "I want to say thank you. For listening to me and not telling anyone."

"You're welcome," Arthur's ears perked up. "And likewise, I thank you for that too. So, I figured we part ways tonight before anyone finds out you are here?"

"I guessed so," Mizuchi laughed nervously.

There was an awkward silence but before Arthur could comprehend his surroundings, he felt a pair of arms wrapping around his torso for a brief moment before they were released and the sound of footsteps faded.

He wondered if this is how any animal would feel from that. Then again, he enjoyed her company and he had to keep it discreet because of the tension between carnivores and herbivores here.

He decided to whistle to himself the tune from the film he and Mizuchi went to. It was something other than tea or his music player to calm these jittery spasms he is experiencing

Suddenly, he felt a force punching him on the right side of his face before he fell to the ground. He tried to use his clicks to help him identify the source but he felt a foot near his neck.

"I don't see what's so scary or special about you," a voice Arthur doesn't recognised remarked. "All I see is just a pale, blind freak who can't even walk right."

"W-who are you?" asked the pained Honduran white bat. If he ever struggled, there was a chance that his neck might snap.

"A warning," the voice told him before easing his foot off before kicking the bat in the face. Arthur held back the urge to scream because he doesn't want any animal to know or think he is the attacker.

Arthur was confused and could taste his own blood from his lips.

"Stay away from her," the voice warned. "If you ever talk to her, sit with her or even hold hands, I will spill your secret to the newspaper club."

"You wouldn't-"

SLAP!

"I would so be a good bat and be silent like the rest of your kind."

Arthur could only hold onto his pain, tears were forming into his eyes.

How was he going to keep all of this a secret to anyone and even himself?