Chapter 89

Aoba was concerned when he had heard of Bill getting a trauma egg when he wanted to make himself a cup of instant ramen. Most carnivores would've eaten that egg despite the chick that hatched out of it, a weird logic most carnivores made for themselves. For the bald eagle, it still felt wrong.

He was making his way to the gardening club, hoping they would have something to keep the egg warm. Thinking back to Bill, he was surprised that the Bengal tiger wanted to care for the egg since he had been to the Black Market before. But he was willing to help his friend out since Cherryton was not the same as it used to be.

The adults that he could rely on for now were his parents and Arthur's father. Dr Kirk was just as interesting as his son. No matter how much had happened, he was still cheerful and always lending his ears for support.

Without anyone knowing, he secretly asked him for some advice about parenting a newly-hatched chick despite him being a Chiroptera.

When he arrived at the gardening club, he was tackled by an unexpected figure. "Oooh! I got you this time! Although you're a bit heavy for me to knock you over. Could you pleeeasse fall over to pretend that I knocked you down?"

"Hello, Yuri," Aoba greeted the energetic pangolin bouncing on top of him as he laid down. He chuckled at how this herbivore was ready to take on the world if she was given an energy drink. She eventually got off of him so that he could stand up. "Are you the only one here?"

Yuri shook her head. "Nope! Kane is at the back checking on our herbs we are planning to sell to the cooking club and home economics class. Though a few Felidaes keep requesting us to grow more mints. Seriously, what is it with them and mints when there's a convenient store a few minutes away! So, what can I do for you?"

Aoba clicked his beak. "I'm looking for some lavender flowers to help me sleep. Other than that, maybe a few herbs to add to my cooking."

Yuri nodded before humming to herself as she gathered the required herbs. The gardening club was still standing strong despite the tensions spreading across the school. The drama club became a spot to study besides their club activities and was one of the clubs with interspecies members. "Aoba, are you sure you're not here for Kalliste?"

The bald eagle ruffled his feathers out of embarrassment. "W-what makes you say that?"

The pangolin came back with a cheeky grin. "She's been mooning about you. Her lips are sealed but I know the look of someone who's into a specific bird~"

Aoba cleared his throat, trying to shake off the blush that formed on his face. "I see..."

"Maybe we should change the name of our club to wanted-for-bat club since everyone's been asking for Arthur. First the drama club, then this dreamy hyena from a rock band called the Leftovers and-"

"Miguno? I wonder what does he want with Arthur?"

"Beats me! So, here's what you're looking for."

Eventually, he thanked the pangolin before heading out. Cherryton was acting strange with the whole Melon trend from greetings to even changes in the cafeteria's menu. Aoba placed his wing onto his chest to stop the hammering he was feeling.

"Oh, Arthur....What's going on? What's happening to us?"

...

Arthur was wobbly in his step as he walked alongside Mizuchi. His ears listened to her descriptions attentively while his mouth opened to give him an idea of his surroundings. It really irked him that the students were obsessed with melons lately.

'For the love of Nocturna,' Arthur thought to himself, wrapping his wings across his body. 'I hope Melon did not start a cult outside of the Black Market!'

Mizuchi continued to describe each part of the campus, the lecturers and the classes she attended. Arthur smiled, knowing that this university was a dream for anyone who wants to pursue anything creative or business from architecture, fashion, culinary arts, and even music.

He might apply to this university. Not because he wanted to get close to Mizuchi or anything!

"So Arthur, shall we continue our chat over coffee- Oh, I mean tea?" Mizuchi asked him, guiding him by holding onto his wing. He faced at the direction of her voice and nodded with a smile. No matter how much they have chatted over the phone, Arthur enjoyed listening to Mizuchi's voice in real life.

At the university's cafe, Arthur's ears picked up a few chitters from the orchids. He still couldn't understand what they were saying but it was a good distraction from the raining bullets of murmurs from other students.

"How's your matcha, Arthur?" asked Mizuchi, sipping on her mocha. Arthur clicked his tongue and said, "It's very nutty and it compliments our pastries of cinnamon rolls, does it not? The campus sounds lovely aside from a few herbivores talking about how their carnivore friends bit them. Is that a university thing?"

He could heard Mizuchi clinked her fork to slice her pastry before nibbling it slowly. He imagined her expression to be hesitant since the tensions between carnivores and herbivores were still wobbly despite being in a liberal environment such as a university.

"No, it's just that carnivores have been open about the Black Market," said Mizuchi, sipping her mocha. Arthur does the same with his tea, hoping that it will soothe his nerves. Not only was school a priority, but the whole situation with Melon could really make his brain short-circuit itself.

"That's horrible!" Arthur squeaked, his fur bristling. "I-I mean don't they know how tensed things are at the moment? How about you, Mizuchi? Are you alright?"

He felt her hand gently cupped his cheek over the table. The Honduran white bat closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. It still amazed him to this day on how he had started off with a scratch across his cheek and now the very same hand was comforting him.

"I'll be okay, Arthur. Besides, I've got Riley and Tanya."

He enclosed her hand with his large wing. As much as he wanted to kiss her at this moment, the both of them knew that a public place would draw a lot of attention. It would be the equivalent of performing on stage all alone again.

'But I won't be alone,' he reminded himself, trying to stop those thoughts from crawling back. "Even though I am not much of a fighter, I will protect you, Mizuchi. It's going to be a difficult one for me to tell you this..."

Thus, he told her everything. From the issue at the Black Market, Melon and how he was involved with all of this. During his explanation, the harlequin rabbit was silent. Arthur feared the worst but there was no turning back after this explanation.

"- Mizuchi, I understand if this is too much to take in," said Arthur, his voice was becoming soft. He will admit that he was afraid of losing her after delivering this bombshell. "I-I also have a feeling that-"

He felt a finger silenced him on the lips. "Arthur, I'm glad you told me all of this. I just can't believed that you have to face this all by yourself while trying to focus on school before graduation. Arthur...Whatever happens, I'm always here for you."

Arthur began to smile but then frowned. "Mizuchi, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

I- Am I causing a strain in your relationship with your parents?"

There was silence except the soft murmurs from other students and the orchids. It was crossing the line to ask such a question but it is better late than never, right? He immediately wrapped his wings around his body like a cloak.

"Arthur...you are not straining my relationship with my parents. Of course I am a harlequin rabbit and will always be their daughter but if they can't see how happy I am with you, then they're blind!"

"It's just that I don't want them to put more pressure on you. With your classes and adulthood-"

"I don't need you to GIVE me this lecture," she snapped at him, causing Arthur to leaned back against his chair. Her voice caught a few attention, judging by the sounds. "I know what I am doing! I thought when I am in this university, I can be free. But nooooo, my mother just wants to control me from far! I..I...Arthur, don't you dare say that what we are doing is a mistake."

Arthur only nodded, wishing he would have more tea to calm his nerves. Not only that, he was feeling his eyes welled up with tears. Had he failed Mizuchi ever since her graduation?

She stamped her foot onto the floor, a trait he recognised when she was frustrated with something. Arthur wasn't sure if he should just let his ears listen or give her some comforting words. However, that moment was short-lived when his phone rang. He gave Mizuchi a nervous smile before answering the call. "Hello?"

"Arthur, are you available this Sunday?" the voice belonging to a certain red deer asked. Arthur blinked, as if that would've changed anything. Louis' voice sounded urgent as if he was being hunted. "Well, it depends. Why?"

"We need your blood."



(Author's Note: It's just a commissioned comic I want to show you guys. And yes, Tek the raven, Sameer and Arthur are in this one as the Gryphon Cross Boys)