Chapter 56: Cages

*Purpura*

A frown creased across my face as I watched the pandas locked behind bars. Their expressions didn't radiate joy. Despite their enclosure being more open than mine, it must've still felt like a prison to them.

"Is something bothering you, Purpura?" Sou asked, gently touching my arm.

I turned my head slightly toward him, while keeping one eye on the pandas. "It's just... I don't know, Sou. It feels wrong to keep them here, doesn't it?"

He followed my gaze, his eyes softening as he looked at the pandas. "I understand what you mean, Purpura. But remember, these pandas are here to help educate people about them, especially adults. Also, for their own protection. They're endangered in the wild."

I sighed, leaning against the railing. "Isn't that just lofty excuses? If I were them, I would prefer being dead than having to live in captivity. Even if not an excuse, that doesn't make it any less sad."

He nodded, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I know, Purpura. I know."

We stood there in silence, watching the pandas. Despite the sadness, there was a certain beauty in the moment. The pandas, despite their confinement, were still eating away without much of a care in the world. They sort of reminded me of Sou with his laidback personality.

"Let's make a promise, Sou," I said suddenly, turning to him. "Let's promise to do everything we can to protect these creatures. To make sure they don't disappear from this world."

He looked at me and smiled. "Sure thing! Although, it might take a while. Their native environment is on the eastern part of the country, so it's not like we can just plant a bunch of bamboo." He gasped. "Or maybe, we can! I can ask Sehun!"

I frowned. I didn't like the idea of asking that guy for a favor, even if it was through Sou. However, if I had to swallow my pride so that these big fluffy critters could keep on existing in this world, then I would. Replanting their natural habitat was likely a small step, but it was a step nonetheless. And it was a step in the right direction.

After waving good-bye to the pandas, we continued on our way to the other exhibits. 

The zoo was a sprawling complex, perhaps more so than the aquarium we visited the other day. It was filled with a variety of animals from all corners of the world.

We finally passed by the lion's den, where the king of the jungle lay lazily in the sun, his golden mane glistening.

Sou's dad was still taking pictures of them. 

Seiya carried his little brother on his shoulders, allow him to get a good view.

"Hey, big bro!" Sou's sister said, smiling at her brother.

"Want me to lift you?" Sou asked.

She giggled. "I'm fine."

Ava's younger brother smiled. "Hey, let's go see the monkeys next!"

Ava chuckled. "Of course, a boy who loves to monkey around would want to go see monkeys."

The kid stomped the ground. "Are you calling me a monkey?"

She smirked. "Oh, no. I just said you act like one."

Zivan sighed. "Ava, be nice."

Sou put his hands behind his head and snickered. "Ava and nice? That's an oxymoron!"

Ava shot him daggers with her glare. "I can be nice!"

Sayuri hugged her. "Yeah. She's helped you out a lot before, Sou."

He scratched his head and blushed a little. "I guess she has." He glanced at his dad. "I want some of those pics."

"Sure!" Mr. Citrine said as he tilted his head and camera to get a different angle of the lions.

Sekin chuckled. "Seems your dad and big brother are bigger lion nerds than you."

Sou grumbled. "Who are you calling a 'nerd'?"

"Does that mean you're knowledgeable about lions, Souta?" a voice called out. We all turned to see Davina. She wore a blue skirt and a black blouse.

He put his hands on his hips and nodded. "Yup! I know a lot about big cats."

"Well, you are very cat-like," Sekin said, smirking.

Sou blushed.

"Woah, she's pretty," Sayuri mumbled, blushing.

Ava grumbled. "Sayu..."

Sayu snickered. "But not as pretty as you."

She blushed.

I shook my head. Ava had no reason to be jealous in the first place. After all, she was the one who had betrayed Sayuri first.

Davina turned to look at them. "Hmm, is this the one you're dating, Ava? I was sure you and Sehun were an item."

Ava blushed.

Sou stomped his foot like how Ava's younger brother had done earlier. "Why do you think that?"

"Well, the way they look at one another is very... uh, suspect."

Sayuri frowned and turned to look back at Ava. "Avala..."

Ava raised her hands. "D-don't look at me like that."

She hugged her pink-haired girlfriend. "Hmph! I won't let that flirty prince take you away from me!"

Ava chuckled weakly.

I sighed. Sadly, Sehun already got her. Granted, it was just one night, but still. That sort of betrayal had to sting.

"Let's go see the monkeys," Kai said, smiling.

"Another monkey boy?" Ava asked, chuckling.

He blushed. "W-what? They're cool!"

Ava's little brother nodded his head. "They sure are!"

"Okay, okay. Let's go see them," Ava said.

We left the lion pit and walked over to the monkey exhibit. They swung from branch to branch, their playful antics bringing a small smile to my face.

"So cool!" Ava's brother and Kai said in unison.

Sayuri giggled as she watched their faces.

Sou moved his hands as if imagining himself swinging through the tree tops.

"What are you doing?" I asked, chuckling as I poked his back.

He jumped. "Hey! Don't do that!"

Davina snickered as she stood beside him. "Wish you could join them?"

Sou lowered his head and blushed as he nodded slowly.

"Sou's always loved swinging and climbing," Ava said, sighing as she continued to stare at the monkeys.

Sayuri snickered. "I remember you used to joke about whether he was a monkey in another life."

"Maybe that's why I'm fond of Sou!" Ava's brother said, chuckling.

Sou grumbled. "Not helping."

I patted his head. "So, you're a cinnamon roll, a lion nerd, and a monkey boy!"

"Sounds adorable," Rena mumbled.

Sekin snickered.

Sou blushed. "You guys."

Kai turned around and laughed. "It's great how you can all banter like this." He looked away. "I, uh, still have a hard time with it."

"Really?" Sayuri asked.

He looked down. "Well, I did explode a little back there."

Ava shrugged. "It's okay. Sou's had worse outbursts and we've known each other since we were in diapers."

Sayuri snickered awkwardly. "Uh, that might just be because you enjoy poking his buttons a little too much."

Sou nodded.

Ava blushed. "True... Well, how about we go check out the next exhibit?"

"My turn to pick!" Sayuri said, raising her hand. "Let's go see the birds!"

She nodded.

Birds... were they in small cages? No, right? That wouldn't have been much of an attraction. Although, people could be cruel...