An Oddity Among Beasts (BEASTARS)

A New Calling

'Meet Alan Newport! Cherryton's First Human Student!'

    The headline made Alan smile, remembering the humorous situation when the interview took place. Todd didn't seem to have a role in writing the story, so he supposed there was something else to fill in for him. The stares diminished a little, but still continued. Although, whenever he looked back at some students, they seemed to smile at him like he was apart of their world. It made his heart feel warm, like he was being accepted for who he is.

Today, he started his classes, one of which being creative writing. Alan had a knack for making stories—characters who wanted to be more or forge a new identity for themselves. He sometimes wondered what the world would be like if humans truly integrated themselves with animals. Would it be better? Worse? Would they help evolve the world or bring it to ruin? They weren't exactly bad questions, but curious ones. The ones that make him think long and hard.

He walked down the hallway, still thinking when he bumped into someone. He snapped out of it to see a short alpaca on the ground, rubbing his head. It seemed like he was thinking too, based on the way he muttered under his breath. His eyes widened when he realized who he bumped into.

"O-oh wow, it's you!", he stuttered out in shock and maybe even amazement.

Alan bent down and held out his hand, "You alright?"

The alpaca chuckled as he took the human's hand, "Yeah, sorry about that. I was kind of spacing out."

"It's alright, I wasn't really watching my step anyway."

"I'm Tem, second-year."

"Alan, though you probably already know."

"Yeah, pretty much everyone's talking about you.", Tem said gleefully. "It seems like you're already popular without meaning to! Plus a few members of the Drama Club thought you'd be perfect for the acting team."

That got Alan's attention, "Really?"

He nodded, "They're mainly going off the interview, though. Have you ever thought about acting?"

"Hmm...I never was that big on performing, but writing's something I can really do! Making worlds, forging legends...", the human looked up wistfully.

Tem laughed, "I bet you'd make amazing plays. Oh, I gotta get to the alpaca room. Nice meeting you!"

"Same here.", he said with a wave. "Jeez, I'm making friends already..."

He looked out one of the windows, watching the clouds roll by.

I wish you could see me now..., he thought before a set of footsteps snapped him back. He stepped to the side instinctively, watching a deer walk past him silently.

    Alan felt his heart pound for a second, the air warming up around him. He looked at the deer, seeing him stop for a moment. His antlers were miraculous, almost making him wish he were a deer himself. Even with his back turned, he could tell the deer was important. His movements, the air around him, the way everything  around Alan seemed to freeze the moment they crossed paths. It overwhelmed him in the end.

Briefly, if for a second, he thought he could see the deer turn his head towards him slightly.