Music of the Night

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," Arthur laughed nervously as his two fingers were grasped by the familiar paw he has associated with. He used both of his fingers to hook onto the paw, feeling the softness of fur.

"No, you're just in time, Arthur," he heard a smile in Mizuchi's voice. "Don't worry, I brought my messenger bag with me. If we don't have anything to talk about, we can just do our homework."

"Not doing it with your friends?"

"Well," Mizuchi's ears lowered under her hoodie. "I want to spend some time with you. After all, these moments are rare, right?"

Arthur laughed. He had to agree. Also he wanted to ask her about the note she sent via Aoba. When the both of them entered the carnivore dorm, Arthur wrapped a wing around the harlequin rabbit. Mizuchi felt like being in a sleeping back when the large wing enclosed her body close to him.

She doesn't mind if he does it again.

"Alright, we are at my dorm and I hear a few carnivores on my left....about a few feet away."

"I can hear them too. So your ears can tell how far the sounds are?"

"Well, I just make rough estimations that at least make sense to me," Arthur explained as he unlock his dorm door. "My dad can since space and the galaxies are his level of expertise. My grandmother could detect the type of animals just by their footsteps while my grandfather could detect concealed items when he was still around."

Mizuchi is still amazed at how clean the room was. She wondered if he is particular about cleanliness like her. She doesn't want to sound creepy but today, Arthur smelled of peach today with a hint of apple.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Arthur asked as he was taking off his shoes. Mizuchi does the same and helped him put his bag away as she accepts his offer.

She watched with interest at how he boils the kettle before mumbling to himself when opening the top shelf that was filled with different types of tea boxes! From Earl Grey matcha, cardamom, jasmine and even exotic vanilla.

"You have a lot of different tea flavours," she points out, kicking her feet as she sat in a chair. "Do you ever take decaf?"

"Oh no!" Arthur smiled, turning his head at her direction. "Tea's caffeine is special for me. Some makes me relaxed while some helps me get through my day. How about you? Do you have a favourite beverage?"

"I love coffee," said the harlequin rabbit. "Mocha, soy lattes, you name it! Like you, I use it to get through my day too."

Arthur poured the hot water into the cup with the teabag. He lets it set while he took out a jar of honey. He had always preferred honey to sugar since it's a natural sweet to enjoy. While wait for for of their teas to set, the both of them tried to finish their homework.

"Geez, you ever wonder if teachers have a sick pleasure for making us students do all of this? They preached about mental health yet don't do anything about it!"

"Hmmm, I don't know," Arthur shrugged before eating Maple Mite on his crackers. "Life is like a box of chocolates since we don't know what we'll get."

Mizuchi smiled and tapped his finger lightly. "Mizuchi, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Arthur! What is it?"

The Honduran white bat slowly passed her the folded paper that has the morse code. The harlequin rabbit blushed but saw Arthur's cloudy blue eyes twinkled. "I...I feel the same too..."

Mizuchi grabbed his right wing to hold it, trying to process what the bat just said. "You mean it?"

Arthur smiled and nodded. "But you know this is going to be difficult since I'm younger than you by a year. So..."

Mizuchi's green eyes softened before she strokes his cheek to comfort him. "You're afraid that things might change after I graduate, right? Arthur, we don't know what might happen but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't enjoy our time together. Like you said, life is a box of chocolates."

Since the both of them felt awkward about the kiss, Mizuchi and Arthur settled for a nuzzle between both of their noses. Arthur turned his head and sneezed, making the harlequin rabbit giggle.

Arthur was just too adorable!

"I still owe you a breakfast," said Arthur who fluffed his fur. "So, does Saturday morning sound alright with you?"

"Yeah, it does."

Since that was settled, Arthur was planning to play a song on his piano. While he was practicing, he could feel Mizuchi sitting close to him. He smiled, ears wiggling in excitement.

"Can you teach me?"

He stopped. "To play a small note?"

"Yeah, a little bit."

Arthur felt honoured but he will start slow with a song that was simple enough for two animals to play. A duet, if you might put it.

Throughout campus, most of the students were listening to the songs with the poor notes in-between. No one except the drama club knew who it was.

Along with a certain brown and white buck, narrowing his eyes at the carnivore dorm.

...

"Aren't you pushing him too hard?" asked Dr Kirk, who was drinking a glass of bamboo tea. He was called to help his friend/colleague Gouhin sort out some notes. He has a few papers to review once he gets back to his apartment.

"If he really wants to be strong, he should sacrifice whatever he has. That pup's young and really pushing my buttons. All because he wants to protect this rabbit he loves, thus making him want to protect all herbivores."

"Sounds noble," Dr Kirk commented. He was also recalling the story Arthur told him last night about his encounters with all of the gangs. "Can he take on most of the organisations?"

"If that pup does something stupid, yes."

Dr Kirk before bidding his friend goodbye. Again, the Black Market became silent whenever he flew over them. He grinned, thinking that this scenario reminded him of a scene in a movie about a Vampyrum who lives in a castle and comes out to feed.

Though, he is not a bloodsucker since actual Vampyrums need blood to survive since their biology cannot accept other food as nutrients in their bodies.

Just as he was flying over to escape the Black Market, he heard a cry that resembled a screaming  banshee. Now being a bat of science, there has to be some logic over supernatural but Dr Kirk has experienced some paranormals in his younger days. 

Curiosity got the better of him and he used his clicks to locate the sounds before hanging under a roof. 

It was just the foxes from the Inarigumi having a sort of screaming competition!

He was about to leave when a vixen leaped on the roof. "Hello, Dr Kirk."

"Evening," he greeted the vixen. "I thought I heard a scream and was curious about it."

"We're having our screaming competition," one of the members explained. "It's something only vixens do. Do you want to join us for tea?"

"Thank you but no, I have to leave. I have some papers to review for tomorrow."

The Inarigumi were disappointed since they never allowed any male to get close to their hideout or make sure they leave without a mark to ward others off. The two Honduran bats that have entered their lives were a different matter...

They were planning on having them over if they ever make time for it.