tears of mercury | beastars

chapter 4. A MODERATELY BUSY DAY EVEN FOR A HUMAN

𖤣𖥧.𖤣𖥧𓆏𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
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Eight Hours earlier, morning at Cherryton Academy was as chaotic as ever. The school grounds buzzed with activity as students of all species—herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores—rushed to their respective classes, navigating the maze of social dynamics that defined their unique world. Among them was (Name), one of the human students affectionately nicknamed Von by her admirers and followers.

(Name)'s presence was an anomaly. While the anthropomorphic animals that populated Cherryton had learned to coexist over generations, humans were a rarity in this society. Her sharp tongue and blunt demeanor were as much a topic of conversation compared to her seemingly fragile form.

She adjusted her bag over her shoulder and strolled through the hallways, dodging a stampede of herbivorous students rushing to their first-period class. A gazelle nearly collided with her, but she sidestepped with practiced ease.

"Watch it." she muttered under her breath, though her words were drowned out by the noisy crowd.

Her day had barely begun, and her mental checklist of responsibilities already weighed heavy. Between schoolwork and her duties as a member of the Drama Club, she barely had time to breathe.

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The first period was Biology, taught by the strict but fair Mr. Kiba, a wolf with a knack for making even the dullest topics sound engaging. She found herself seated next to a sheep, who glanced nervously at the carnivores in the room.

As Mr. Kiba lectured on the delicate balance of ecosystems, (Name)'s mind wandered. She doodled absentmindedly in her notebook, her pencil scratching against the paper. She had always been a decent student, but her interests leaned more toward creative endeavors than the sciences.

"Ms. Amamiya, could you explain how carnivores and herbivores maintain balance in the world?" Mr. Kiba's voice snapped her out of her daydream.

She blinked and straightened in her seat. "Uh. . . sure. Carnivores keep the herbivore population in check, and herbivores maintain the plant life. It's a cycle."

"Precisely," Mr. Kiba replied, his tone approving. "Now, can anyone elaborate on how omnivores fit into this equation?"

She breathed a quiet sigh of relief as another student volunteered an answer. She was eager for the period to end so she could move on to her favorite part of the day: Drama Club.

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The Drama Club was a melting pot of species and personalities, and (Name) thrived in its creative environment. As she entered the rehearsal room, the familiar scent of sawdust and paint greeted her. The carnivore members were busy constructing props, while the herbivores practiced their lines under the watchful eye of their club leader, Louis.

"Amamiya, you're late." Louis remarked without looking up from his script. His tone was sharp, but there was no real malice behind it.

"Blame Biology," she replied, dropping her bag in the corner. "What's on the agenda today?"

Louis sighed, pinching the bridge of his snout. "Everything. We're behind schedule, as usual. You're on costume duty with Hana."

(Name) groaned internally but nodded. Hana, a female peacock, was a flamboyant designer student specializing in vibrant, elaborate costumes. She suspected she'd end up doing most of the work in drafting.

As they sorted through fabrics and patterns, Hana chatted animatedly about the upcoming performance. She found herself smiling despite the exhaustion. Hana's enthusiasm was contagious.

"You're really good at this, Miya-san," Hana said, holding up a piece of fabric for approval. "Have you ever thought about designing costumes professionally?"

(Name) snorted. "Not really. I'd rather be on backstage, honestly."

Hana nodded thoughtfully. "I. . . you know, you have a way of commanding attention, even when you're not trying to. You'd be a natural on stage."

Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden crash. Both girls turned to see Bill sheepishly picking up a fallen stack of props.

"Careful with that." (Name) called out, her tone firm.

"Yeah, yeah." Bill muttered, brushing off the dust on his paws.

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Lunch at Cherryton was always a strategic affair. The cafeteria was divided into zones—herbivores on one side, carnivores on the other, and omnivores somewhere in between. (Name), as a human, had no designated space, which often left her wandering until she found a seat.

Today, she joined the Fujisaki brothers and some other carnivores at their table.

"Big day at the club?" Jiro asked, taking a bite of his meal.

"You have no idea," she replied, stabbing at her salad with a fork. "Louis is on my case, as usual."

Jiro chuckled. "He means well. You're one of the few people who can handle his attitude."

She groaned in response.

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The rest of the school day passed in a blur of lectures and note-taking. By the time (Name) returned to the Fine Arts Team for her Drama Club duties, she was running on fumes.

She found herself paired with the shy and awkward Legoshi, to paint the forest backdrop for the upcoming play. His strokes were hesitant and uneven, his nerves clearly getting the better of him.

"Legoshi, you're gripping the brush like it's going to bite back." she said, walking over to him.

Taking the brush from his hand, she demonstrated smooth, confident strokes. "See? Let the brush do the work. It's not about perfection, just flow."

Under her watchful eye and sharp instructions, Legoshi gradually loosened up, his strokes becoming more confident. For the first time, he seemed at ease, and together they created a good backdrop with their efforts.

By the end of the session, Legoshi stepped back, looking at their completed work. "Thank you, Miya-senpai." he said, his voice quiet but sincere.

She hum, wiping her hands on a rag. "What can I say? I'm good at fixing things." As the team buzzed around, praising their work, she caught the flicker of joy in Legoshi's eyes (and the small swish of his tail), for a moment, she felt the exhaustion of the day melt away.

Her gaze lingered on his form, a small frown crossing her face as she eventually looked away from him and the other members. The sight brought back a troubling thought—he was still her first suspect.

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As the day finally wound down, (Name) returned to her dormitory room, her body aching from the constant activity. She collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.

The day had been exhausting, but it was also fulfilling. Despite the challenges of being an omnivore at Cherryton, she had carved out a place for herself.

She glanced at the gray blazer draped over her office chair, a reminder of her humanity in this world.

"Another day down." she muttered to herself, a small smile tugging at her lips.

The fog outside thickened as the night deepened.

✅ EDITED