We're Only Animals: Book 2 - Part 1: Building the Tower

Chapter 82 - Flaws

After a while of talking and really calming down, Hachi and Nori decided to try and understand each other better. They both agreed on something to tell Ichi and after saying goodbye to Legosi and Louis, they departed.

By the time they left it was already pretty late. As per usual, Legosi and Louis stripped down after they cleaned everything up.

"So, that wasn't something I expected to happen...ever," Legosi admitted.

"Ever?" Louis smiled at him, despite the topic.

The wolf looked up, thoughtfully. "Well, maybe not. I did see those conversations they had with you, after all. Now, them getting into a fight was unexpected."

"Yeah...I can't believe Hachi of all animals did that. Nori...not really surprised."

"You think him eating meat isn't surprising?"

"I meant the fact that he got into a fight. I didn't see the meat coming, but it makes a lot of sense."

"I wonder what Gouhin-san would say about Nori," Legosi pondered.

"He has to know about omnivores," Louis responded.

"Yeah...I wonder if he's ever had to treat one. I mean, I can't imagine an omnivore going meat crazy or killing anyone over it...unless they were just a murderer in general." Legosi winced a bit at how stupid that sounded.

"Wow. Good one," Louis chuckled. He rubbed Legosi's face softly as they spoke. The wolf was lying in between his legs and they were both on the futon. "But even if he never treated one, he'd still know, right?"

"Yeah. I think regular pandas can eat meat too without problems, but I'm not sure." At this, the wolf huffed some breath out his nose in thought. "I wonder why they're called 'red pandas'. I don't think they're related closely at all.

"Well, the color of their fur...and I guess the fur pattern? You have to wonder who named everything."

"Yeah...and like, did each species name themselves? Did one do it for them? And...and how did language even begin." The wolf could feel his head spin, so he stopped that disastrous train of thought by rubbing his head on Louis' chest.

Louis gave him a helping of rubs. "Think too much about it and your brain might explode, hon."

"Yeah. I should probably tell you about the Shishigumi then. Hard to think I spent the day with a criminal organization from the market, and then I come home and something happens that almost makes me forget about it."

"Oh boy. What happened?"

Legosi scratched at his cheek. "Well, Melon-san kept telling me on the ride there that the members would hate me because I'm a canine, but we ended up getting along, I guess."

"No way. Really?"

"Not right away, but by the end of the visit, they certainly didn't seem to hate me. I even saw that one with the glasses you sent me to for the gun! Ibuki."

"Oh, wow...I know we say this all the time but that feels like forever ago. When I was still in that tower..."

"Your dad doesn't live in a tower," Legosi stated.

"I meant the Horns Conglomerate. You know what I meant, wolf."

"It's not a tower, though!" Legosi complained. "Now is when you're in a tower."

"And I'm not even really in the tower."

"Nope. You're under a wolf," he smiled, showing his sharp canines.

Louis huffed. "And what a place to be..."

"Anyway, I showed Melon-san Pina's notes, and he agreed to be a Plan B sort of deal, but he didn't seem too happy."