Kaigoshi

The tan halls of Cherryton Academy were eerily silent on the morning of rehearsals. Legoshi plodded down the familiar route to the drama classroom, a path he took twice a week. The Theatre Club had been wearing on his nerves lately, what with all the confusion surrounding Haru and Louis. The blue-ish double doors of the classroom loomed ahead, and he pushed one open, stepping into the dimly lit room.

Although a few days had passed since the clocks changed, Legoshi still hadn't adjusted his body to the new schedule. He glanced at the clock to check if he had come an hour too early for the first class. Tracing the numbers with his eyes, he saw six, seven---

"Hey! Legoshi! You're an hour early like me, I guess!"

A bronze figure with silver whiskers emerged from the lighting scaffolding, meeting Legoshi's surprised stare. It was Kai, Kai had become a close acquaintance, a petite and tawny mongoose adopted by hyenas after his abandonment. someone Legoshi talked to the most in the stage crew.

"Kai! Damn those time changes, huh?" Legoshi stepped away from the clock-facing wall to greet his friend.

"Can you believe I messed up the timing for the first period? Well... we both did, I guess. An hour to kill is gonna be hard, huh, Legoshi?"

Kai's laugh had a subtle hint of a hyena's cackle as he nervously hopped down from the ladder to no reply. The two shared a seat on the wooden dance floor, Legoshi lowering his towering self slowly to sit next to the smaller door meant for herbivores, which he had only noticed in the hall now.

"It's going to be a long hour," Legoshi replied, trying to stifle a yawn. "I've been so tired lately, with everything going on."

Kai nodded sympathetically. "I get it. The Theatre Club can be pretty intense, especially with all the drama off-stage."

They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, the quiet of the early morning enveloping them. The dim lighting Kai previously switched on cast long shadows on the walls, adding a sense of calm to the usually bustling classroom.

"So, what do you think we should do to pass the time?" Kai asked, breaking the silence. "I mean, we could always go over some lines or check the props. Or maybe just talk?"

Legoshi considered the options. "Umm.. well, Talking sounds good! It's been a while since we've had a chance to just sit and chat."

Kai grinned. "Great. So, tell me more about what's been on your mind. Maybe I can help?"

Legoshi appreciated the offer. "Well, it's mainly the stuff with the carnivores. It's complicated, and I'm not sure how to handle it." Contemplated Legoshi, avoiding the Taboo of Tem's death in the early hours of his mind.

Kai listened intently as Legoshi began to open up, the hour slipping away as they delved into deeper conversation. For a brief moment, the pressures of the Theatre Club and the outside world seemed to fade, leaving only the understanding and camaraderie between two friends.

---

Only minutes remained until the start of the club, and the conversation between Legoshi and Kai began to feel stale. Kai's whiskers twitched with the movement of his speech as he broke the silence, "Hey Legoshi? Did you ever mention anyone at Cherryton you, well, you know… had an interest in?"

"W-WHAT?! You can't just throw that out there, Kai! I-I don't really know if that's crossed my mind. I've been more occupied with exams, drama club, and... and Tem." Legoshi stuttered, He felt as though he had been given a kick in the gut for his carelessness feeling his heart race. The mention of Tem brought a bitter aura to the conversation, a sickening reminder of the taboo of a carnivore eating another student. Legoshi felt as though Kai might lunge at him for breaking a sacred rule.

"I'm glad someone—someone has mentioned it! Legoshi, it's been killing me not being able to talk about what happened... perhaps... no. Never mind." Kai turned slightly, shyly looking away from the mirror.

Legoshi felt a pang of guilt. "Hey! I'm sorry if I upset you but—"

"Thank you, Legoshi. I needed someone to at least admit it happened." Kai met Legoshi's startled gaze, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief and vulnerability.

For the first time in a few minutes, Legoshi truly looked at Kai. The mongoose's small frame seemed even more delicate in the dim light, his usual energy subdued. Legoshi felt an unexpected warmth in his chest, a protective instinct mingling with something deeper.

"Kai, I... I think about it a lot, too. It's hard, not being able to talk about it." Legoshi's voice softened, his usual guarded demeanor giving way.

Kai moved closer, their shoulders almost touching. "I know. Sometimes it feels like we're all just pretending it didn't happen. But we can't ignore it forever."

Legoshi nodded, feeling the weight of Kai's words. The room felt more intimate now, the shared confession creating a bond between them. "You know, Kai, it's not just the incident with Tem that's been on my mind. I... I've been thinking about other things too. Like what you asked earlier."

Kai's whiskers twitched again, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what's that?"

Legoshi hesitated, his heart pounding. "I mean... I've been thinking about someone. Someone I might have feelings for."

Kai's eyes widened slightly, a hopeful gleam in his gaze. "Really? Who?"

Legoshi took a deep breath, the words catching in his throat. "It's... it's you, Kai. I've been thinking about you."

A silence settled over them, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Kai's expression softened, his eyes shimmering with surprise and something else. "Legoshi, I... I didn't know. I never imagined you'd feel that way."

Legoshi felt his cheeks heat up, his nervousness replaced by a strange sense of relief. "I didn't either. But being here with you, talking like this... it made me realize."

Kai smiled, a gentle, genuine smile that made Legoshi's heart flutter. "I'm glad you told me. Because, if I'm being honest, I've been feeling the same way about you."

The two sat in the quiet room, the clock ticking down the remaining minutes until the start of the club. But for now, time seemed to stand still, the new understanding between them creating a moment that neither wanted to end.

---

As their mutual affection kindled in the growing stage light before any realized a hand had each slipped into another,