Human (An Oc insert of Beastars!)

Chapter 29 - No Heroics, Stop Riz

The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over Cherryton Academy, its sprawling campus unusually quiet as most students lingered in their dorms or clubs. David adjusted his school jacket, the faint weight of his hidden knife pressing against his side as he walked with purpose down the concrete path. It's contraband, but he needed it just in case Riz decided to blindside David, just like with Legosi. Nothing like that has happened in a long time, David assumes Riz thinks they are no longer investigating. David asked Pina to meet with him, which he could see was hanging out along the sidewalk. Pina the dall sheep leaned casually against a bench, the picture of nonchalance. His pristine fur and smug smirk belied the tension hanging in the air. As David approached, Pina greeted him with his signature mock cheerfulness, but the subtle flick of his ears gave him away. They both knew the stakes, tonight was the night Riz would be confronted.

"Pina, good afternoon. How are you feeling? Nervous?"

David stops a few feet away, but Pina waves off the question of feeling nervous. Pina was a great actor, even Louis could admit that after the training they've had.

"Nervous? Me? Please. I've got the starring role tonight, David. If anything, I'm wondering if Riz will be able to keep up with my performance."

It was nice to know Pina was confident, but David had to help keep the sheep in check not to be arrogant. He's been building up their friendship this entire time, Riz has to trust Pina.

"I hope you know how serious this is. Are you ready? What did you learn?"

In the time Pina has had to gain Riz's trust, Riz believes they're genuinely friends. It's unclear they hold a strong bond as Tem with Riz, but Riz seems to hold Pina in a close regard.

"Riz is... fascinating, really. He's not just some brute, you know. He hasn't told me much about Tem, but I would try to bring up subtle hints about him. Riz believes their bond was strong, that he'd do anything to keep his memory strong, but knowing he ate Tem, it feels like a tragedy."

David would sit on the bench, getting interested in this conversation they're having about what they learned

"And you're playing along? Like, you're slowly opening his eyes into thinking something?"

Pina nods, his voice going softer as he imagines himself as a handsome spy.

"Riz thinks I understand him, that I get his twisted little worldview. He told me... he sees the world as divided. Prey that submits and prey that fights back. He's obsessed with the idea of finding someone 'worthy' to eat. Someone who won't just scream and beg. I... can't help but feel sorry for him."

David is surprised that Riz admits to that much, Pina must have worked some sort of method to have Riz believe he figured him out, but doesn't judge what he did. Pina did already have a fascination with carnivores when he first arrived at Cherryton, Riz must believe Pina was trying to find someone worthy to eat him.

"Alright. Just remember, the second you see him, you call out. We'll be waiting in the shadows, and we'll handle the rest. If anything feels off, you get out. No heroics."

Pina grins, his usual demeanor returning, and stops leaning on the bench.

"Please, I'm too handsome to die. Although, you're sure to give me the most interesting first year a student has ever had, probably more than yours."

David would be deadpan looking at Pina, finding it a bit ridiculous this is being thought of as a competition.

"Just be careful. Text me if anything changes, okay?"

Pina would fix his hair, continuing to act nonchalant. If he was masking his nervousness, David couldn't tell, and Pina really is as impressive as he claimed to be.