UPON A NEST OF DRIED NOODLES
DRAMA CLUB
We're off.
Bill, lock up when you're done.
FESTIVAL OF THE METEOR
Sure thing! Just finishing up.
But before I do, time for a little bite to eat.
ORIGINAL EGG-FLAVOR ABURA SOBA
No way...
Uh... It's gotta be dead.
So if I ate this... would that be bad?
Bill the Bengal Tiger, you better think about this.
Devouring is a serious crime,
so that's why carnivores stick to getting our protein from milk and eggs instead.
This is a tricky one.
Can I eat it? Or not?
Well, I mean, look. This tiny thing's probably going to die.
I have to say...
It would probably be crazy delicious.
Honestly, I couldn't care less about you swallowing some animal blood
to pep yourself up.
Apologies, buddy. This is just who I am, Louis.
I'm a fan of instant gratification.
And if I'm being real with myself, I half-ass everything.
I guess I'm just carnivore trash who loves eating meat!
Are you going to eat that?
Wow, first time I've seen this.
I've heard of situations like this occasionally, but...
I thought you went home!
Ah, now I see.
You were hoping nobody would be around
to see you end that thing's life, am I right?
I'll be able to use this when I play a carnivore.
Go ahead, don't let me stop you.
- As if I'm not even here. - Huh?
I'll be taking a few notes.
The world is strange... It's unfair and cruel.
Huh?
Riz, for example, is sitting in juvie right now for eating a classmate.
Meanwhile, you'll eat that thing,
and your peaceful life at school continues on as if it never happened.
Of course I won't eat it!
Oh. If that's the case, what are you going to do?
Save the thing, obviously!
Wow! Carnivores are amazingly complex. I'm learning a lot.
I didn't realize you had as many layers as you do stripes.
You little...
- Hmm? - Huh?
Oh, boy.
Ah...
You're all warm and cozy now, I bet.
It says the parent bird's body heat is...
It's burning!
Sure you weren't making yakitori?
Not funny, Pina.
But, speaking of yakitori, what's this thing eat?
Let's see.
What does a baby chick eat?
A FEW DAYS LATER
I mean, come on, I just wish those two would cut it out.
Huh? Juno and Pina?
Yeah. The tension between them is totally ruining the vibe, if you ask me.
Well, hopefully those two will get all that sorted out.
If they don't, we're screwed.
Sorry about that. My bad, you guys.
Hey! You know how much it would've cost if you broke one of our lights?
Like it would've mattered.
You know the principal would just buy you babies a new one.
What?
Everyone at school knows you rejects are all the principal's little pets.
Even after that devouring, you little brats are still spoiled.
All you carnivores and herbivores playing pretend.
So who's gonna be on the menu at your next rehearsal?
All right, enough!
Your paws are gonna look good
- shoved up your-- - Cut it out!
Huh?
The drama club president's here to save the day.
Have you guys had lunch yet?
Those look sharp.
Yeah. Time to go.
Don't know about you, but I like living.
We gotta keep our heads down. Let's just focus on the show.
Yeah, but come on...
Hurry up, this stuff needs to get to the club room.
Hey, you're stronger than all of us. Wanna lend a hand?
I'm busy right now.
I wonder what's going on with him.
I heard he spaced out in class, and the professor called him on it.
And he hasn't been at his dorm much.
I bet it's got something to do with a girl.
So who we talkin' about?
It felt like I saw the start of an argument from over there.
I came over hoping to be entertained.
It wasn't a show for you!
Oh, really?
Bill doesn't seem like himself lately.
He doesn't really strike me as the broody type.
Hmm.
Hmm?
Ugh, why is this so tough?
Sorry, I couldn't find very much today.
Don't choke on this, huh? Open up.
Yeah, I knew it wouldn't be enough.
Apparently they like eating rice too.
You scared me!
Hello.
Aoba's the one that told me they like rice.
You told Aoba?
I didn't tell him about your little guy.
I told him I only wanted to know
just in case the day came when I happen to get a bird pregnant.
Thanks for that.
Would you look at that. Isn't it great?
Huh? What's great?
That it's looking healthy.
You are happy, right?
Of course I'm happy! However...
However?
- No, it's nothing. - Hmm.
You can go.
I'm not here for this little bird,
I told you I'm observing you for my acting research.
It's weird seeing your tender side come out.
What? I'm just calm.
Sometimes I'm even able to scare myself, but this bird has no idea what fear is.
Do you know how close I came to eating you?
Ah, let's see...
Mm-hmm.
Mm.
Mmm-hmm...
Ugh.
The east side is certainly no good.
Well, this is an off-year, remember.
But that doesn't mean quality can have an off-year, too.
By the way, did the Shishi-Gumi come to pay for the Melda?
No. They were busy with the Masquerade Party,
then said they were short on cash.
And here I was thinking that the lions would make a good target.
The problem is their leader, isn't it?
And speaking of, I heard their boss is missing.
There's a reason I've been doing so much research into hybrids like him, you know.
We'll just have to make sure that Melon takes responsibility.
The first victim was a herbivore. The culprit, a carnivore.
SUSPECT DEAD, VICTIM DEAD
Then it was lights out for that same carnivore.
Which brings us to this delightful case.
We're seeing the same pattern pop up again.
The carnivore culprit turns into the victim.
Are we seeing a vigilante punishing devourers then?
Maybe we have a psychic vigilante who knew they'd be committing a devouring.
And in this morning's case, our greatest hits again.
Look what we have here.
Kines?
Their entire stock was supposed to be discontinued.
So where are they getting their supply?
I've got a theory on the victims--
I'm gonna feel that one.
Reason 100 I hate using a mouse. Oh, that smarts.
Ms. Seven!
Huh?
Legoshi, you came all the way to see me?
I took it upon myself to call him. They say the more the merrier, right?
- Are you okay? I... - Ah, I just discovered it.
That's all that happened.
This morning, when I stopped by the shop, it was such an awful scene.
And so I ended up fainting right on the spot.
Oh... Ms. Seven, are you hurt?
Ah, I'm fine. Not hurt at all.
That's great!
I hear the crime scene's weird.
The culprit devoured the shop clerk and then was killed by someone else.
And whoever did it, they still haven't found him or her.
Wait, so, you're saying there were two separate murders?
It seems the shop clerk was devoured by her own lover.
An interspecies couple, yeah.
Oh...
There's been a lot of devourings lately between interspecies couples.
It makes you wonder
if interspecies relationships can ever be safe.
Or are they always deadly?
Well, I guess that's for them to figure out themselves.
Yeah, you're right about that.
But anyway there's nothing to worry about. I'm totally fine. Really.
Right.
I'm glad to hear that. If you need some quiet time, I understand.
Yeah.
You show concern in a different way than most carnivores do.
Oh, uh...
It was sweet of you to check on me.
Oh, uh...
I've gotta make my way back to work.
I'm glad you're okay. Call me if you need anything.
Bye!
Legoshi. Feelings make him bashful.
Ah.
Sorry for dragging you along.
Is this guy really that cool?
He's amazing.
I saw him on the news and I was like, "Oh, there's my boy!"
So cool, and it doesn't hurt that he's such a cutie.
Ah, over there!
So, uh, what sport does he play?
Well, I don't think he's really a sports guy...
Look! There he is!
What?
All right, everyone!
Today's guest is our ambassador for the Zoolympic bid,
and I can't think of a better choice to represent us!
He's the heir of The Horns Conglomerate. It's Louis the red deer!
It's a pleasure to be here.
I LOVE LOUIS
We're all thrilled to be empowered
by the wisdom I'm sure we'll receive from our guest.
Ready, and...
- Empower! - Empower!
I had no idea he'd been so... public lately.
He's really in another galaxy now.
- I mean, he always was. - All right,
we've got some great questions from our listeners! Question one.
Were you only chosen as ambassador because you're related to a big sponsor?
Not at all.
Just as we can't choose what species we are before we're born,
we also can't choose our family, right?
It just so happens that my father is chairman of Horns.
Empower!
Have you ever seen more amazing eyelashes?
I guess...
And I heard you had your own fan club in high school?
Where'd you hear something like that?
I'm sure you were around all walks of life in school, like carnivore ladies, right?
Well, some carnivore gals made their way here to see you!
Someone's species is really nothing more than an attribute.
In my opinion, the path we choose to walk is what matters.
The choices we make as individuals,
not what species you happen to be.
Empower!
So great!
Now let's dig a little bit deeper.
I'm gonna read an email we got. Uh...
"I'm afraid to tell my friends and family I fell in love with a carnivore."
How would you handle this, Louis?
Well, I have a friend...
Huh?
- Their worry has been weighing on them. - Hmm.
They're scared that living the way they want
might cause trouble for their parents or those close to them.
Oh...
And they weren't sure if the thing they actually wanted was worth
- all the trouble that would come-- - Empower!
Oh, I didn't mean to press that!
I don't think we missed any wisdom from me.
Okay! Let's move on to a request.
All right, here we go.
Thank you. You're so sweet.
My pleasure.
I can't believe you're actually friends with him!
Since when?
All right, well, it's good to see you.
What? You're leaving?
Yeah, Lisa and I have shopping to do.
- Aw. We can go another time! - Huh?
The mall's not going anywhere! He's your friend, right?
- Well, it's just-- - Stop it. Just stay and chat him up!
Ah, he's busy! I thought we were shopping.
Oh, we can do it another day. See you back at school.
- Uh, okay... - Later!
Well, I guess... Bye!
It's kind of refreshing, seeing you with a friend, Haru.
That's not rude at all. I've had friends since elementary school.
I didn't mean to insult you.
Wow... She might be just the person I most wanted to see right now.
From the very beginning, with Haru,
I never had to be something I wasn't with her.
Well, nice chatting with you.
What?
I... I need to get back. Assignments due.
Let me walk with you.
ODD SOUL FESTIVAL
Isn't this pretty far out of the way for you?
- It's okay, it goes back around. - Well, if you say so.
You know, Legoshi told me he takes this bus,
even though his house is nowhere near its route.
Stalker behavior.
Legoshi is such a weirdo sometimes. But I like it.
That's nice.
It feels kind of strange.
There was a time her white fur and innocent face were so delicate
I could've sworn she'd vanish at any moment.
But now, this rabbit is so defined.
Even though you and I didn't end up together,
I like the Haru you turned into.
Uh... Really?
Aren't I kind of a square?
- What do you mean? - Uh...
Lately, I've been learning to think before I leap.
Before, no matter what I did,
even if I got into trouble, I'd just think,
"stuff happens," and threw caution to the wind.
But now I think... "Is Legoshi worrying about me right now?"
Ah. Well, yeah, that's definitely not like the old Haru.
Changing for some guy seems kind of corny if you ask me.
Doesn't being able to change like that prove it's a good relationship?
That's the corny stuff I'm talking about.
But then I get caught up in the moment.
They were serving corn soup for lunch today. It gets caught...
I had my doubts you and I would cross paths again.
Especially, of course, after being fired.
This might be the last time we see each other.
Oh, uh, is that right? Sorry to hear that.
If you're disappointed, I can't tell.
Weird question for you, Professor...
But are you mixed? Carnivore and herbivore?
Hmm, how to respond to that...
People who ask that usually end up with a frown on their face.
So then mixes can grow up healthy and strong!
Amazing! I'm so glad!
I was thrilled! Because, you know, like,
if Legoshi and I wanted to have a child, it sounds like it'd be okay, right?
Wait, uh, back up...
Was he a mix of gazelle and leopard?
Yeah, you know, horns and all. They go up and out like this.
Oh, that... uh--
Uh-huh. And he's got these...
Somebody being happy I was born is certainly a new one for me.
I must say, you're really quite unusual.
What? No way. It's normal. We all celebrate birthdays.
Well...
No one's ever celebrated mine before.
No?
It's on the same day as a festival.
Oh, I see.
What are you gonna do, right? The Odd Soul Festival.
A day to be thankful that herbivores weren't eaten by carnivores. Eh.
Ironic, that a mix like me was born on that day.
So your birthday's coming up soon then?
Do you have a birthday wish? You've gotta treat yourself!
Oh...
You might be right.
Hmm. What I really want is...
Yeah, yeah, I'm listening.
What?
He said that he wants to eat your flesh?
STOPPING
So, what did you say back then?
I said, "Sure."
Huh?
I was caught off guard.
Oh, uh...
A pinky promise?
Uh...
Okay, you got it.
Are you supposed to be some kind of convenience store snack?
Oh, that's harsh.
I'm more like a fancy desert at a fine dining restaurant.
Anyway, I'm fine being the kind of girl who gives rather than takes.
Herbivores are meant to be eaten, right?
I never thought that one day I'd be dealing with your prenuptial doubts.
You're neither a snack, nor a dessert.
You're neither herbivore, nor are you prey.
You are Haru. You're just yourself.
Complain all you like. Cry about it. Whatever.
But you have to keep living. You have to live!
I don't need you bossing me around.
Goodbye.
Wait! Haru!
CENTRAL BUS SHIOKUMIZAKAUE
There were tons of blueberries growing behind the fountain,
so I picked these.
Uh-- Oh.
Hey, Bill? What's going on? You okay?
It was so full of life.
Now it's just cold and still.
I'm sorry.
There was a power outage.
And because of that, its heat lamp shut off.
If it was going to die anyway,
maybe you should've eaten it right from the start.
Not funny.
If you think about eating and loving,
both of them should bring us happiness.
But when those two things intertwine, someone always ends up getting hurt.