Chapter 69

Arthur gulped as he awkwardly walk towards the stage. He was capable of walking all by himself but Els offered to walk beside him only because she told him that he looked nervous. The Honduran white bat was grateful for the sheep's help.

Plus, his ears were picking up various sounds from the students murmuring, to the deep rumbling of the principal to even the slightest breeze inside of the room.

"Almost there, Arthur," Els whispered. "You can go on from here?"

Arthur nodded. He could feel Els' hand slowly letting his wing go. He made his way on stage carefully, trying not to trip while his wings were folded to avoid bumping into anything. The Honduran bat didn't have time to react when he was hoisted up gently.

"H-hello Principal," Arthur bowed his head, trying to stop himself from shaking like a leaf. He recalled eavesdropping on how some students wished they were blind so that they don't have to feel embarrassed.

Try having sensitive ears where it could pick up ultrasounds!

But Arthur pushed those feelings aside so that he could get over with whatever he was called up for.

"The school and I would like to know why you like to play music in the early morning and evening close to nighttime," Principal Gon explained. "You see, the sounds of the melodies you played has brought some positive outcomes for all of us."

Arthur said nothing but he felt annoyed to know that the students' sudden change of attitude towards him was because of his music rather than who he is. After all, he can recall some of them still think of him as a Vampyrum due to his species as a bat.

"Well, I'm glad my music is comforting to others," Arthur finally spoke up, his fur fluffed up to resemble him puffing out his chest. "I...only played it during those days because it's one way to calm myself besides tea of course."

His ears picked up a few laughs and chuckles.

"Interesting! Yet you don't join the music club or drama club for that matter. May I know why?"

Arthur's ears drooped. He dreaded a question like this was ever asked. It's not that he doesn't want to join but he wasn't too familiar with anyone unlike Haru, Legosi, Aoba, even Bill or Els. He doesn't want to come off as rude towards the principal or the students.

"I...I wasn't too familiar with most of the clubs," Arthur admitted, which was half-true. "I just heard the flowers talking and thus led me to join the gardening club."

There was a dead silence, making Arthur tilt his head in confusion. He hoped that he hasn't offended anyone.

"Of course he would say that," his ears picked up a mutter from a familiar voice.

"Well!" the principal cleared his throat. "That's one way of knowing your reason. But enough about that. The reason why I asked you to come up to the stage is because all of us want to hear you play."

Arthur wished his stomach was sewn with a bomb like his grandfather at this moment.

"We have the piano that one of our music club members play before the assemblies. Why don't you try before we are all dismissed."

There was no way Arthur is going to back out. Not when he could feel all students and teachers were expecting him judging by their silence. Well, it was going to happen anytime soon, right? What's life without a risk that will either make you regret it or cherish it?

With a sigh, Arthur ruffled his fur before nodding. "I will do it."

...

While the students and teachers are waiting for the Honduran white back to play, a figure was sitting on one of the rafters at the ceiling. It was none other than Ten herself. She had wanted to learn more about Arthur and the school he enrolled in.

It was no different than the one she experienced when she was a young girl.

It took her some negotiations for Cherryton's security guard, a large rattlesnake named Roukume to help her get a better view of the assembly. She could spot the fluffy white fur of the little bat. Poor thing was shaking but managed to hold eye contact with the principal despite being blind.

"What is the bat to you?" Roukume hissed softly. "You know him?"

"I do," Ten nodded, remembering the night when he and that Shishigumi lion arrived at her territory. "I thought he would be an annoying child trespassing but I was wrong. He proved to anyone that he can be content with himself despite his differences amongst other animals. Maybe that's why most of us feared and are in awe of bats: they are two sides of the coin that made them part carnivore and part herbivore."

"Hmm, you do have a point there- Shh, he's about to play."

On cue, Arthur was gliding his wings on the keys as he started to play. The tune sounded sad yet it was uplifting. It was a song Ten could describe as a journey to find a meaning in life in this hustle yet cutthroat world.

Something about the build up and repeating tunes made her cry from her single eye.

Needless to say, she came not just to see him but to also send him a letter at his dorm. She asked Roukume if she could show her where is the carnivore dorm.

"Certainly," the rattlesnake nodded before gazing down. "It's as if he could see every time he plays music."

Ten only smiled, gazing down at Arthur with adoration that similar to a mother proud of his son. Then again, it could wait for a few months or even next year before she could officially call Arthur her own son.

Before she leaves, Ten could hear the thunderous applause of students and teachers cheering for the Honduran white bat.

...

"Are you okay, Arthur?" Mizuchi asked. The both of them were under a tree with Arthur hanging upside down from a branch.

"It feels strange," Arthur commented, flicking his ears from the harlequin rabbit's poking. "One minute everyone here is calling me a Vampyrum and now they want me to play for them song request. I don't even know half of the songs they want!"

Mizuchi stroked him on the head. "You don't have to cater to everyone's needs, Arthur. You play beautifully. It was your choice to let Genji spread the message. Other than that, he's already suspended from school so he doesn't have to bother the both of us."

Arthur knew she was she was right. For now, he will carry on with his life.

"Are you working on another design?" he enquired, his leaf-shaped nose wiggled from the scent of fruit coming from Mizuchi's markers.

"Yep. Just trying to trace the rough sketches with my coloured pens. Trying to design what is suitable for amphibians and reptiles. But, we only learnt through our biology textbooks about their body structures and ideal temperatures."

Arthur pondered a moment before stretching his wings. Mizuchi was impressed by his wing span, which was orange like marmalade with specks of black as if someone had splattered ink along with long fingers acting like mast for the wings' membrane. It was the first time she has gotten a good look at his wings.

"I was thinking maybe for amphibians like frogs, you could try to make the clothes waterproof since they have moist skin while reptiles, they might need a type of fabric that won't tamper with their poikilothermic bodies. My old friend Sameer mentioned to me that for snakes, you don't have to make sleeves."

Mizuchi smiled before briefly pecking Arthur on the lips when no one was looking.

"I love you," Mizuchi spoke softly. "You know that?"

"I love you too," Arthur giggled, puffing his fur in embarrassment. "Excuse me, I am going to make a call, okay?"

When Mizuchi resumed her drawing, she heard him plugging the headphones for his phone before using voice command. His voice sounded so quiet.

"Hello Nana, it's been a while..."

...

"Are you sure you want me to be here?"

"Of course!" Dr Kirk insisted, gesturing to the empty spare bedroom. "You can stay in the spare bedroom there. I was going to use that for Arthur if he ever comes to stay but I think he wouldn't mind having you for a roommate, Legosi."

Legosi had just recently told the astronomer professor that he had left school because of a brawl with the school's killer. He figured that he would need to find work and a place to stay instead of going back to his only surviving family member.

He happened to bumped into Dr Kirk while trying to buy something at a convenience store. He was buying iced tea and some onigiri. He figured that besides Gouhin, the grey wolf can trust the old Honduran white bat and maybe learn some advice about surviving the working world.

"I've been thinking," Dr Kirk's voice wavered, making Legosi tilt his head. "Maybe I can speak to Animal Resources at the university about you becoming my lab assistance."

The grey wolf almost fell from the chair he was sitting on. Getting a job this instant? His tail wagged automatically at the thought.

"However, you might need to write your resume first before you can apply. I will help convince the university about this. It's not that difficult to be an assistant for an astronomer. I will give you a bit of a run down."

But Legosi was quiet, waiting for Dr Kirk to finish before asking: "Why are you doing this?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I'm...I'm just a wolf you barely know only through your son. Why do you go through all the trouble helping me?"

Dr said nothing but spread Maple Mite onto his toast. Legosi hoped his question doesn't come out as aggressive since it was something he's trying to avoid when talking to small animals. Then again, most animals feared him because he is a wolf.

"Because...I was in the same position as you when I was little. To be honest, I am much much lazier than my son. Some role model I am to him! But I never regret it and I sort of saw that in you."

Legosi slowly form a small smile. Just then, Dr Kirk's phone was ringing to which he answered. The grey wolf observed the body language of the old bat becoming stiff, then his ears drooped as he answered.

"Hello mum...Yes...Yes...Arthur told you? Yes, I am well, I hope you are alright too....That's great! Um...Mum, please don't bring that up!"

Legosi was surprised. Arthur did mention his grandmother was still around but he never knew the details.

"Mum, when I have time, I will introduce you to her. She's a very nice vixen and intelligent as- What?! Mum, you shouldn't be asking me that! No...I don't know any handsome animals in their sixties or seventies...No, I don't know any handsome widowed males here...Okay, love you too...Bye."

Dr Kirk adjusted his glasses, his face was red with embarrassment. "Sorry you had to hear that, Legosi. Now then, let me show you how to write a resume."