Searching For You

Chapter 5: Lovesick

Kounoa entered the Inflame Factory. She looked around to see workers at their stations and heavy things getting moved around.

The shiba woman was on edge.

The Raiser could be anywhere. They watching me right now, aren't they? I know they are. Just show yourself! I swear I-

"Miss Kounoa!"

Kounoa nearly screamed and punched in front of her. She felt something soft, like a large pillow.

"Holy hell! That hurt!"

"H-Huh?" Kounoa saw what she punched. She punched the gut of her boss, Mr. Sky. "Oh- Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Kounoa went over to him and patted his back. "Are you okay?"

Mr. Sky held his gut out of pain. "Yep... All good!" He struggled to get his words out. "I knew you packed a punch, but damn!"

Kounoa bowed to her boss. "I'm very sorry, sir... is there anyway I can release some stress today instead of doing my normal lifting today?"

The bear chuckled and rubbed his stomach. "Don't worry about it! If you need to relieve some stress, then you can go throw things into the compacter for today. We have others that can heavy lift for you."

Kounoa smiled and wagged her tail before heading off to the locker room. "Thanks, Mr. Sky!"

"Anytime, Kounoa."

She entered the locker room and opened her locker to put her bag away, but there was a letter taped in the back of her locker.

"Have a good day at work, my love. Don't hold back what's inside of you~"

-The Raiser

Kounoa ripped the letter out of her locker and crumbled it up. "You dirty pervert..." she slammed her locker and then punched it, leaving a huge dent in it.

People in the locker room looked at her and gave weird stares. Some feared her strength. Kounoa chuckled nervously as she scurried out of the locker room. "S-Sorry! Don't mind me. Just having a bad day!"

The shiba sighed and got to work. She looked at the enormous pile of metal near the compacter. Piece of cake. She lifted some metal and easily threw it into the machine. A bang echoed from the machine as the metal fell to the bottom.

What the hell do they mean by "hold back what's inside of me?"

Kounoa gathered more metal, lifting it up more metal and tossing it inti the compacter.

It has to be something sexual. That creep. I wouldn't be surprised... It's expected from something like them.

But... Does it mean something else? It can't, right? All this Raiser person has written is sexual and gross. There shouldn't be a meaning to any of these letters.

She threw more metal into the machine as she pondered her thoughts.

*

Taida was in the hospital, waiting for someone. She was in a room with a red panda child that had one arm. Taida gave him a daily checkup. "Okay, Poncho. Have you worked out your arm recently?"

Poncho nodded. "Yep! I've used the weight you gave me!" he flexed his left arm proudly.

Taida checked his blood pressure before moving on to using the stethoscope to check his heartbeat. "Good! Are you eating your diet?"

"Yeah! It's delicious!"

The rabbit woman smiled and patted his head. "Good!"

"Ahem."

Taida turned to the door to see Yoku leaning on it with his hands in his hoodie pockets. Poncho followed his gaze to see the opossum. "I'll get another doctor to finish your checkup and take to exercise, okay?"

"Okay!"

Yoku rolled his eyes as he waited for Taida.

The rabbit pressed a button on the bed to call for another doctor. She walked over to Yoku. They stared at each other before walking away from Poncho's room.

"These letters might get out of hand. Whoever this Raiser loser is gave Kounoa another one. It was disgusting." Yoku said.

Taida shook her head and sighed. "Do you think these letters have anything to do with the nightmare Kounoa had?"

Yoku shrugged as they headed out of the hospital. He held the door open for Taida. "I don't know. I won't deny it, but I will not agree with it. Those nightmares don't mean shit."

They stood outside of the hospital. Taida looked up at Yoku. "You're right, but it's best to stay cautious."

"Let's just..."

Yoku stopped himself as he and Taida hopped out of the way of an envelope, shooting like a meteor from the sky. The envelope pierced into the sidewalk. Yoku snatched up the letter and ripped it open, revealing a letter inside.

Taida walked over to see the letter. Yoku lowered it so she could read it as well.

"Stay out of my way, or else you will regret it. I don't like others interfering with my love life."

-The Raiser

They looked at each other after reading the letter. Yoku didn't look happy.

"It's time to go to the others for this." Taida said.

Yoku groaned in annoyance and ripped the letter apart. "Whatever... I just want this creep to die already." Yoku replied.