Chapter 5

After that incident, Arthur was careful with how he planned his routine for the day.

He will wake up as usual to go to the gardening club but before that, he had two food containers with him in his backpack. One was the breakfast he packed from the cafeteria before the other students arrived while the other was a lunch he made for himself which was a peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich with crispy crickets.

He was greeted by the sweet fragrance of the flowers and tiny whispers around him. He could hear Haru watering some of the plants. The dwarf rabbit on the other hand was glad to see him on time but was picking up that something was wrong. His hand-wings were shaking when he was placing his backpack aside to help her.

She wished she knew what's in the mind of that bat.

'Maybe Legosi knows what's up,' she thought to herself. She knew that the bat had some classes with the grey wolf and it would be logical to ask him when she bumps into him. While Arthur was tending the soil and pulling up the weeds, Haru got a glimpse at his student card. It was like hers with the photo and description but she wondered why are there little dots at the bottom of each section.

She traced them, wondering what the bumpy dots meant. This was what the card read:

Arthur (Age 17)

Male

Omnivora Chiroptera (Honduran White Bat)

Birthday: December 16

Astrological Sign: Sagittarius

Blood Type: B

Height: 5 Ft ., 5 In

Haru found it interesting that he is neither a carnivore nor a herbivore. But Arthur seemed to keep it to himself and focus on his task. She giggled, thinking that she's finally a president in her own club now that there's another member besides her.

After tending the garden, Haru would give some horticulture tips, which Arthur listened with interest. He in exchange told her about the garden his grandmother had back at where he used to live with his father before they moved here.

"So what does your father work as?" asked Haru, as she sipped her cup of tea.

"He's an astronomer at Manticore University," said Arthur. Judging by his tone and toothy smile, he seemed to be proud about him. "He works at the observatory there, sometimes telling me about the universe and constellations on the phone when he's not busy or teaching the students."

Haru was surprised. She can't remember the last time she had contacted her family because they always warned her about the dangers since she's small for a dwarf rabbit. The both of them decided to chit chat before Arthur heads off to his classes. The bat used the last moments to have his breakfast he packed in his container.

It was breakfast from the cafeteria menu containing egg sandwiches, a hash brown and mixed fruits and nuts drizzled in honey which was meant for herbivores but because of what happened on his first day, he received it out of pity.

"Would you like some of the mixed fruit and nuts?" Arthur offered. Haru kindly refused, seeing that this bat had an episode yesterday if he had to eat his breakfast here before class. She's heard all about it from some of the students and even her roommate, Sally.

Arthur ate slowly, still listening to the wonderful sounds of the winds and flowers. He was also savouring his breakfast, since it was delicious. He finished drinking his tea and then decided to help Haru wash both of their cups. Haru grabbed his hand-wing before he could leave.

"I know what happened to you during your fist day," said Haru.

Arthur stood still but his ears twitched, indicating that he is listening.

"I just want to let you know that I understand. I too have been tormented over some things. But you have to keep going, Arthur. It sounds hard, I know but that's the way it is. Show them that you are not helpless."

Arthur said nothing but know that what she said was true. He had to step up his game if he wants to stop the torment and at least some respect.

Or not...

"Thanks, Haru," he turned back to give her a smile. "I'll remember that."

...

Arthur proved some students wrong about how he submitted his homework. They all assumed he will just send his braille writing but he had a special printer back at his dorm to transform the braille into normal alphabet texts.

Out of all the subjects Arthur sucked at chemistry and geography since he is blind. He can't tell what is in front of him unless he could smell, hear, feel and taste. To a certain extend, he can't play sports unless it is just warm ups and those exercises that could help him lose weight.

So far, the only animals that made him comfortable were Legosi, Jack and Aoba.

Besides, there were a lot of animals so Arthur sometimes had a hard time distinguishing who's voice is whom if he doesn't recognise anyone.

He was just walking down the hallway, headphones in his head when he halted in his steps. The bat turned his head in a direction, swore he could hear someone mumbling something. That animal sounded so sad....

He figured that he should get back to his dorm room before another animal decided to tear the membranes off his wings.

Little did he know, the animal he just heard was staring right at him. He was intrigued but cautious about the new bat.

Like a deer caught in the headlights.

...

Mizuchi was tired after a long day.

She can't imagine how some students could finish all of the homework or pull an all-nighter to study. Just to boost up grades and prove to everyone that they are worth something. To the harlequin rabbit, it was more on the beauty of someone.

Because beauty can be both charming and vicious at the same time.

She decided to finish the homework that were easy for her while the harder ones later or tomorrow morning while skipping her breakfast.

So much needed to be done!

Mizuchi would rather have a girls outing with Riley and Tanya at their favourite shopping centres or window shop. She smiled when she remembered window shopping and found a beautiful looking dress that had a particular design.

She was fascinated on how clever and creative some animals can do in order to design comfortable yet elegant clothing.

Her roommates were busy chattering away to some mundane nonsense she won't care about. In her room, she felt at home. With her posters, magazines and even her pink laptop that could stream her favourite shows to binge during weekends.

She wanted to forget him.

He may be a harlequin rabbit like her but being apart from him made her saw some sides of him he never revealed to her before. Like with that slut, Haru! She would've stripped that dwarf rabbit naked and make her parade around campus if she wants to without getting caught.

All of these negative feelings almost made her crush her own phone in her paws.

Suddenly, her long ears picked up music coming from outside. She opened the balcony in the main dorm room, allowing herself to step outside to listen. In fact, she noticed that other animals from both herbivore and carnivore dorms had their balconies and windows opened.

'Such a wonderful melody,' She thought to herself. Something about the sound of the piano filled her heart with wonder about things she never thought of before. Mizuchi couldn't help but leaned close to listen more.

The music that flowed throughout campus could be described as something that's never known. It's like seeing the entirety of animal's existence, the rise and fall of the greatest empires, witnessing the most pure acts of kindness and savagery.

And then..looking back on everything that has been done, and being grateful to have participated in the flame that is life, because it is precious.

Mizuchi shook her head. Since when does she ever had these deep thoughts?!

About to go back inside, she turned her head back to where that melody was coming from.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For making my day better."