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They rehearsed all night. When Legoshi broke the news that he'd be Bill's replacement, it caused quite a stir within the club. After all, the wolf always stayed out of everyone's way and never came into the spotlight. But Bill and Sanu were already considering the wolf for the role, given that he had a similar stature to Bill; to have Louise nominate Legoshi was...peculiar. Legoshi wasn't fond of the idea and tried to avoid everyone else during the night's emergency rehearsal.

'An unexpected turn of events for sure,' the wolf thought, clutching the wooden practice sword. 'There are three villain roles in the play. One of them, Bill, is now performing as Adler, which left an open spot for the third villain. Unfortunately for me, that is, I was chosen to fill in that slot. I've been in the Drama Club for quite a while now, so that'll be the first time I've ever performed on stage.'

Kai snapped Legoshi from his thoughts as she hefted a box onto a table. "Hey, you should consider yourself lucky. Some of us want to perform but can't." With that, she strode to a far corner of the room and sat down with a loud huff, arms crossed over her chest as she wore a frown.

"That's not the problem," Legoshi said with a frown before Bill approached him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Oh, come on, Legoshi," the tiger said with a smirk. "You'll be fine! Besides, if you mess up, it won't affect the play entirely. It is a minor role, after all."

Legoshi sighed and glanced sideways at Bill. "If it's a minor role, why not eliminate it entirely?"

Bill rolled his eyes and shook the wolf none too gently. "Legoshiiii. It's not that big of a deal. You'll finally get your taste of fame, however small and brief it is." He clapped Legoshi's back, sending a resounding smack that echoed in the room, causing the wolf to wince in pain. "Come on. Let's practice for a bit; refine your swordsmanship, huh?"

Legoshi later found himself on the mock stage with Bill, a wooden stick in hand. "You work the lights from above, right?" Bill pointed at Legoshi with his stick. "You should have a basic idea of the staging itself, then. So, let's give it a try."

Legoshi shuffled from one foot to the other. "I-I don't know. I'm not really the best athlete."

Without warning, Bill leaped forward and pressed his attack, striking down from above. Legoshi barely had time to react, but he managed to block and glance it off to the side. Then the tiger quickly jabbed to the left and right, the wolf moving his head in the opposite direction to avoid being stuck in the face. Bill's attacks were relentless, quick, and without hesitation, keeping Legoshi on the defensive. But the wolf was more agile than he thought, dodging and weaving around the tiger's offense. Until he was forced to block again.

Bill chuckled, grinning at Legoshi. "Well, would you look at that? 'Not athletic,' huh? You're certainly putting up a decent fight, that's for sure. But let's see what else you got." For several minutes, the two carnivores went at it, striking, blocking, jabbing, all the while the rest of the Drama Club could only watch in fascinated concern.

"They're...they're only rehearsing, right?" Sanu asked worriedly, looking at Aoba.

"And venting a little," the eagle replied with a slight smirk.

Once it had gotten late, the time reaching almost a quarter-to-nine, Bill called it and ended the mock sword fight. He and Legoshi panted heavily, catching their breath after the intense practice. "Well, come tomorrow, it'll be one hell of a show," Bill said with a wink. "Don't worry, we got this." Legoshi looked off to the side, a cloud of doubt hanging over his head. 'Do we?'

Legoshi later found himself leaving the Drama Club building, his body slightly sore from the impromptu workout Bill gave him. His thoughts drifted to everything the tiger said while waving a stick at him. The wolf wondered how he'd come to that conclusion? As Legoshi strolled in the semi-darkness, a soft female voice called out to him, and he froze when he recognized who it was. "E-Els?"

The lithe Angora goat emerged from the side exit and jogged toward him with a pep in her step, the bandages on her right arm a grim reminder to the wolf of what happened that night. She stood beside him, broadly smiling as her golden-yellow eyes glimmered in the moonlight. "Long day, huh? Come on. We can walk to our dorms together."

Legoshi opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come out. Instead, he wordlessly agreed with a nod and walked alongside the Angora goat. The two walked silently, the crescent moon shining an eerie, faint glow on the school grounds. After a while, Els finally spoke up. "It's been crazy lately, hasn't it?" She looked up at the night sky. "But I'm sure everything will be fine." Els turned her head to Legoshi and smiled. "Don't you think so?"

Legoshi only shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Bill's great, but he's a bit...I don't know. His confidence is overbearing."

Els giggled. "Well, I think you're great, too. And you're right about Bill. He is overconfident and can be a bit full of himself, but I think it's just a front to hide his nervousness."

"Really?" Legoshi asked with a tilt of his head.

"Mhmm!" Els hummed with a nod. "And tomorrow, he's going to need your full support. Just remember that, okay?"

Legoshi thought for a moment, running her words through his head. 'She's right. Bill is running around boasting and acting like he's the big deal. But I could smell the nervousness radiating from him. As much as I don't like him for his ego, I'll do my best to support him.' "Yeah," he said finally, cracking a soft smile. "Yeah, you're right."

Els giggled, smiling widely now. "Wow, so you do smile!"

"H-hey! What do you mean? Of course, I can smile!"

"But I've never seen you smile," Els said, still giggling but to a lesser degree. "You should do it more often. It's a really nice smile."

Legoshi felt his cheeks warm, and he looked away from the goat bashfully. "T-thanks. I...I've never had anyone say that to me before."

Els reached out and touched his arm, causing the wolf to freeze. "Well, now you have." Legoshi turned back to her and saw Els smiling at him softly with her big, yellow eyes shining in the moonlight.

"T-thanks," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess. You have a really nice smile, too. Tem mentioned that before he-" Legoshi trailed off and diverted his gaze to the ground. "S-sorry. I shouldn't have said-"

"It's okay, Legoshi," Els reassured him, giving his arm a quick, gentle squeeze. "It's nice to hear about him from you. I wish I'd known him a little more before his passing. You were close friends, weren't you?"

"Not as close as me and Jack are," Legoshi said with a shrug. "But yeah, we were."

Els giggled and released his arm before continuing to the dorms. Legoshi quickly caught up with her, walking alongside the Angora goat in his usual hunched-over posture. "Tell me more about him, Legoshi," Els requested, looking up at the wolf beside her. "Tell me what he thought of me."

"Well," Legoshi began, pausing as he thought of what to say. Flashes of his previous conversations with the alpaca appeared in his mind, echoing faintly in the distance. "Where to start? Tem thought you were the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen when he first looked at you."

Els giggled with a blush. "Really? He said that to you?"

Legoshi hummed affirmatively and nodded. "Yep. He was absolutely lovestruck and infatuated with you." He cracked a smile and chuckled softly. "I still remember the look in his eyes as he came into the locker room before our first practice and went on a rant about this Angora goat in his Chemistry class. And when we walked out into the practice hall, that same goat just happened to be standing there." Legoshi shook his head with another chuckle. "I thought Tem was going to dye his wool with how red his face became."

Els giggled in amusement. "I remember that. I thought he was a rare breed of alpaca at first. His face was as red as a tomato!" Legoshi chuckled, his soft baritone voice soothing to the goat's ears. As they neared the herbivore and carnivore dormitories, silence fell upon the two mismatched companions once their laughter died. After a moment had passed, Els suddenly stopped with her eyes fixed on the ground. Legoshi kept walking before sensing that the goat was no longer beside him, and he, too, stopped before looking at her over his shoulder.

"Els?" he called out, but she remained motionless, head bowed down slightly. Feeling a wave of concern wash over him, Legoshi backtracked to the goat and knelt before her. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Legoshi," Els said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you...do you think I'm beautiful?"

Legoshi was taken aback by her sudden and out-of-pocket question. "What...what do you mean? Of course, I think you're-"

Suddenly, Els threw herself at him, smashing her lips against his in a frantic, messy kiss. The wolf stiffened, his ears and tail rigid when he felt the small herbivore's mouth contact him. Once again, Els kissed Legoshi, although this time it seemed deliberate and planned, as the goat reached up with both hands, grabbed Legoshi's face, and held him in place. The wolf felt helpless as to what he should do next. Return the kiss? Pull away, turn tail, and run? Neither, as Els broke the kiss with a soft gasp and rested her forehead against his muzzle.

"Legoshi," she said breathlessly. "I'm sorry that this is all so sudden, but...but I want you to know that I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, for being a great friend to Tem, and for giving me that letter."

"Els, w-what are you-?"

"Legoshi," Els cut him off, touching his lips. "Shhhh. Don't say anything. Maybe I should have realized sooner that he liked me. But I can't think about that now." She continued sadly, "Tem is gone, and there's nothing we can do to bring him back. The best action for both of us is to move forward and honor Tem's memory. You were a great friend to him, and I'm sure he couldn't ask for a better one than you." Els paused as she thought of what to say next. "You're very kind, Legoshi. Despite what people say about your appearance, it doesn't change how sweet you are." She said, bringing her hand to Legoshi's cheek, with the wolf flinching a little at the somewhat intimate gesture. "I'll reiterate what I said the last time we talked, Legoshi: You're a kind and generous wolf. And I want you to realize that sooner rather than later."

"Els..." Legoshi began but trailed off, unsure of what to say to her. The Angora goat was right. There was no sense in holding onto the past, especially concerning Tem and his unspoken love for Els. He was gone now, and the only thing they could do was move on. But to do it like this? For the two of them to...date (Legoshi wasn't too keen on using that term)? It felt like he was stealing Els away from his friend. Then again, the alpaca trusted Legoshi enough to reveal his feelings for Els, let alone keep it a secret. Perhaps Tem trusted him to...love her in his stead? Legoshi mentally huffed; he doubted it. But now, here he was, with the same girl standing before him and pouring her heart out. What was Legoshi to do? He bit his lip as he thought of what to say.

Els smiled softly as she looked at the wolf, looking anywhere but at her. "I know what you're thinking. 'Wouldn't I be stealing away my friend's secret love?'" Legoshi perked up and stared at her in mild surprise. The goat giggled and pecked him on the nose. "I wouldn't exactly say that, Legoshi." She continued, gazing at his dumbfounded face. "It's alright. You don't have to feel guilty."

"But I-"

Els shushed him before pulling the wolf into another kiss. And this time, Legoshi didn't fight it; he embraced it, wrapping his freakishly large hands around her shoulders and holding her in place as they ate each other's faces with passionate vigor. When the two finally pulled away with a gasp, mouths hanging open and panting heavily, they stared longingly into each other's eyes. "We," Legoshi began, licking his chops and swallowing the lump forming in his throat. "We should probably head back before we break the curfew."

Els nodded wordlessly. "Y-yeah. Let's."

With that, the two headed for their respective dorms lest they receive a stern lecture from the Housemother. But not before bidding each other farewell with one last kiss.

---

The next day, the theater was packed as usual, with the students buzzing with excitement from last night's performance. They were eager to see what today had in store for them. As for the actors and other Drama Club members, tension was starting to run high, evident the most in Bill. As he sat alone in the green room, head lowered, and eyes closed, his mind was riddled with doubts for today. The silence was broken by a door opening, followed by staggered footsteps mixed with a wooden thumping. The tiger couldn't help himself, saying, "Did you come here to wish me luck, offer me some last-minute words of wisdom, or maybe you're here to crush me before I head out on stage?"

Louise raised an eyebrow at Bill, crutches tucked under both arms and keeping weight off her left foot. Then the tiger raised his head with a shit-eating grin spread across his face. "Just kidding." Louise only huffed in response. "I'm honored that you'd take the time to see me."

"Why wouldn't I? Louise asked flatly.

Bill rolled his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll still play the Adler into which you've put your heart and soul. That way, the audience can feel your presence in my performance." He laughed softly and crossed his arms. "They'll say, 'Not bad for an Adler with stripes.'"

Louise paid little attention to him and glanced to her right, with Bill following her gaze. A poster for Adler hung on the wall, the antlered, skull-faced Grim Reaper posing on the front of it with a scythe clutched in its skeletal hands. "It's another sold-out performance," Louise said wistfully. "To move the hearts and minds of the students at Cherryton and every single species; that's the duty, and the curse, of playing Adler." She looked at Bill, her brown eyes dull and emotionless. "If you let the curse win, Bill, the pain will be much worse than a broken leg. Come on, let's get you to the stage. The show is starting soon." With that, she turned and approached the door, with Bill following close behind.

"Here," he said, startling her slightly as he placed a clawed hand on the deer's shoulder. "Let me get that for you."

The two exited the green room into a lengthy corridor, walking side-by-side. "You sure know your way around," Louise commented. "That poor wolf; he needs a lesson from you. He could learn much about being a proper carnivore, not just some herbivore-wannabe."

Bill curled an eyebrow and smirked at the female red deer. "You seem to have taken quite an interest in Legoshi lately."

"He aggravates me, is all," Louise deflected too quickly, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the ground. "He constantly acts like he is helpless and weak. To a deer like me - an herbivore - it's absolutely revolting; it sickens me to no end." She gave the tiger a sideways glance. "You two are the exact opposite of each other."

Bill chuckled, standing tall and proud. "Well, unlike Legoshi the 'sad wolf,' I'm grateful to be born as what I am: a tiger. I refuse to waste my entire life away, living in the shadows. And also, unlike him, I have the makings of a true carnivore. Oh, and don't worry." He winked at Louise, causing her to stop and give him a suspicious glare. "I won't tell anyone that you sucked Legoshi's dick."

Louise's eyes widened, and she stared in disbelief at Bill, who was wearing his signature shit-eating grin. Then she threw her head back and laughed. She laughed so hard that tears formed at the corner of her eyes and streamed down her furred cheeks. When the deer had finally calmed down, she used one of her hands to wipe her face dry before saying, "Bill, you have a crude and strange sense of humor. Where'd you get such a ludicrous idea?"

Bill snorted and rolled his eyes. "You might have everyone else fooled, Louise, but you can't fool a carnivore's nose. Especially a tiger's." He tapped the tip of his snout to emphasize his point. "I can smell Legoshi all over you."

Louise shook her head, a faux smile plastered on her face. "Maybe it was because he carried me to the infirmary and unintentionally rubbed his scent all over me. That, and I haven't showered since yesterday morning. So, of course, I'd smell like him."

But Bill wouldn't buy Louise's excuse. "No, I mean, I can smell his cum on your breath."

"And how, exactly, would you know what cum smells like, Bill?" Louise asked with a teasing smirk. "Do you have a secret boyfriend I don't know about? Don't worry," she winked at him and hobbled away, leaving the tiger behind as a blushing mess. "I won't tell anyone."

Bill snarled softly and called after her. "That's not what I meant! And no, I don't suck my own dick, either!"

Louise paused and looked over her shoulder at the tiger. "I didn't ask that, did I? Now I'll think you did suck your dick, Bill. Honestly," she shrugged before moving on. "I wouldn't be surprised, given the size of your ego and how much you love yourself."

---

It was almost showtime, and the theater was more packed than yesterday. It was a tad unnerving for Legoshi, but he attempted to steel his resolve and distract himself by rehearsing his lines. Off to the side, Sanu, Dom, and Kibi reviewed the final preparations before the play began. As Legoshi read the script, muttering the lines to himself, the door behind him opened, and Bill stepped in. Sanu looked at the tiger and said, "It's almost showtime, Bill. Are you ready?"

The tiger snorted and rolled his eyes. "'Am I ready?' Please. I was born ready, Sanu! And, before you ask, I got plenty of sleep." He was cut off abruptly when Legoshi started sniffing rapidly, his head tilted back, and eyes closed as he searched for the source. When he opened his eyes and locked his gaze with Bill, the tiger froze, and sweat dripped down his forehead. "W-what is it?" he asked, hiding the nervousness in his voice.

Legoshi raised an eyebrow at him, staring silently, judgmentally at the tiger. Bill gulped and said, "L-Louise and I were just gossiping about you. Don't worry, it wasn't anything bad." Legoshi rose to his feet and approached Bill. The wolf started sniffing around the costumed tiger when he was close enough. "H-hey!" Bill said in protest. "You're making me nervous, buddy. What's gotten into ya?"

"Bill," Legoshi said menacingly, glaring at the tiger. "You-"

"Oooohhhhh, I've gotta use the bathroom!" Bill interrupted. "I'll be right back!" And then he rushed back into the hall. Legoshi looked at Sanu, Dom, and Kibi before turning away and chasing after Bill without another word.

"Hurry back, you two!" Dom shouted after them. "We begin in ten minutes!"

Legoshi followed Bill through the door and out into the hall to the men's restroom. The wolf stormed inside, his eyes narrowing at the tiger near the window. Bill whirled around on him and sneered. "Oh, so you followed me here, huh? What are you, in love with me or something?"

Legoshi ignored Bill's taunt and said with a low growl, "Tell me, Bill. What do you have?"

The tiger chuckled softly and shook his head. "I guess there's no fooling a wolf's superior sense of smell, right?" He reached into the costume's right pocket and produced a small vial of crimson liquid. Legoshi's eyes widened, and his body went rigid. "You want a taste? I don't mind sharing it with a fellow carnivore."

"Is...is that-?"

"A mix of rabbit and goat's blood," Bill said for him, wearing an evil smile. "A concoction of my own making. It goes without saying, but this isn't from our fellow students. A couple of seniors who felt bold and rebellious gave it to me. One vial of each. I just combined the two because it gives me an extra boost. And don't worry, I only use it for emergencies." He chuckled, holding the vial higher for Legoshi to see it more clearly. "And this is qualified as one, don't you think?"

Legoshi glared at the tiger, his mouth pulled into a tight, thin line with the corners pointed down. He attempted to refrain from growling at Bill lest he start a fight before the play began. But he couldn't help it. Memories from that night when he hurt Haru and Els flashed in his mind's eye. And it pulled on him, disgusted him. The wolf unconsciously stalked toward Bill, hands clenched into fists.

"So," the tiger began, his attention elsewhere as he put the vial back in its place. "You just gotta understand, I-"

Legoshi threw himself at the tiger, but Bill was prepared and caught the wolf's fist in both hands. The two carnivores wrinkled their muzzles, bared their teeth, and growled at each other. At least, Legoshi did. Conversely, Bill chuckled and said, "Hey, take it easy, bud. At least hear me out." His eyes then narrowed at the wolf, full of revulsion and hate. "It's easy for you to hide in the shadows. But not me. Unlike you, I want to be in the spotlight and not constantly downplay myself for the sake of the herbivores!" Using his slightly larger frame, Bill turned the tables and slammed Legoshi against the window, rattling the glass and wooden frame. "It's justifiable doping, Legoshi. That's all. But why would you understand? You just avoid the truth." He released the wolf, turned around with a huff, and left the bathroom.

Legoshi stood there, glaring in Bill's direction and breathing heavily. He took a moment to relax, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before letting it out. Once he was calm, he opened his eyes. But the anger directed at the tiger still lingered. "He's right," the wolf said, following suit and leaving the bathroom. "I've got no right to judge him." 'Why don't you take responsibility for your own strength?' Louise's voice echoed in his mind. Legoshi stepped into the hall with a huff and went to the stage. "I will, Louise. Because I'm tired of running now."

---

Everyone was...disappointed, to say the least. Not having Louise play as the iconic Adler brought down the excited, expectant buzz from the audience; one of the students even called it a scam. All of the negative feedback, although no louder than a hushed whisper or two, was taking a toll on Bill as he sweated bullets and stumbled over his lines. After 'slaying' the spirits chasing after him and Ellen, Bill grabbed the zebra girl's hand and pulled her off-stage, the lights turning off as the next scene was set up. A moment later, Bill appeared with a spotlight focused on him as he spoke his lines.

"Ellen, if you are the thorn of the rose I desire to seek, even I, the Grim Reaper, would give my life! It's okay. There's nobody after you now."

Off-stage to the side, watching from behind the scenes, Sanu, Els, and Sheila could only look on with slight apprehension and worry. The Angora goat was the first to ask what was on everyone's minds: "Is Bill doing okay out there?" she whispered, hands clutched to her chest.

Sheila the leopard shrugged. "Yeah, I think so. He's doing great so far."

The sound of bare, heavy footsteps behind them drew their attention, and the trio was shocked to see the tall, lanky figure of Legoshi, clad in his costume and slowly stalking towards the stage. Sanu attempted to get his attention, but the wolf ignored him. However, he spared a glance at Els and gave her an apologetic look. The goat could only shake her head in confusion before he looked away and continued past her, Sanu, and Sheila. 'I'm sorry you have to witness this, Els. But Bill...you don't know what he's done. I have to do this.'

Bill turned to the newcomer, his eyes widening - and narrowing - when he saw that it was Legoshi. The wolf's head was wrapped in bandages, partially covering one eye, and his attire was a pair of tattered brown trousers and a white tunic, topped off with a red cloak that hung off his shoulders and reached just below his waist and a prop dagger held in his right hand. As he approached the stage, his eyes locked onto the tiger. Legoshi felt his instincts slowly take hold of him, unleashing every bit of the strength he'd been trying so hard to hide and hold back.

'Alright, Bill. If you think drinking herbivore blood is a justifiable performance enhancement, why don't you show me what it can do.' "So, you must be the last demon!" Legoshi narrowed his gaze. 'I'll destroy every part of you!'

The wolf threw his prop weapon to the floor, catching everyone watching off-guard, including Bill. Then, in the blink of an eye, Legoshi sent Bill flying across the stage. Gasps of shock and astonishment filled the auditorium as the audience watched the sudden turn of events in disbelief. Bill staggered, shook his head, and stared at Legoshi wide-eyed. "Hold on!" he hissed loudly, putting his hand out. "What's wrong with you?" Legoshi ignored him as he tackled the tiger to the ground and straddled his stomach. He raised a hand and clenched it into a tight fist.

"I'll never forgive you," the wolf snarled, throwing his fist forward. It made contact with the tiger's face with a resounding smack, drawing gasps of shock and astonishment from the crowd. Then came another flying fist, another, and another; Legoshi alternated blows between his left and right, his growls turning into screams of rage as he whaled on the tiger beneath him. Until, finally, Bill stopped him. At some point, the Adler mask had been knocked off, revealing the tiger's bloody and bruised face twisted into an angry snarl.

"That's enough, Legoshi," he growled, pushing the wolf off him and rising to his feet again. With Legoshi's hands locked in both of his, Bill held him back and glared daggers at the wolf. His left eye was swollen shut, and his nose dripped with blood. "Is this some kind of punishment?" he spat in Legoshi's face. "Do you think that you're the perfect carnivore?" Bill pulled Legoshi around so that the wolf was facing the audience. Then he threw his hands down, opening Legoshi to an attack, and pulled him into an embrace that trapped the wolf's arms. "Well, let me tell you something, Legoshi," Bill whispered. "You're not."

With that, he dug his claws into Legoshi's upper back, breaking his skin underneath the costume. Legoshi choked and gasped as his eyes widened. When Bill spoke again, his words carried a hint of smugness and mocking to them: "You've smelt rabbit blood before, haven't you? Or was it a goat? Perhaps both? Were they your prey?" When Legoshi didn't answer, Bill proclaimed in a loud, boisterous voice for all to hear, "Now, silence! After all, remember that you also have blood on your hands!" And then the stage was filled with the sound of flesh and fabric tearing.

A strangled gasp escaped from Legoshi, and tears stung his vision as he felt his back being ripped open by Bill's claws. His ears caught the faint dripping of his blood falling onto the wooden stage floor, and he fought the urge to scream. 'D-damnit! It's...it's so warm...'

"You need to calm down for my sake, Legoshi," Bill said, digging his left hand deeper into Legoshi's shoulder and back. "Let this be a mark, a symbol of our bond, for these will be the stripes we wear with pride."

'The blood dripping down my back...the blood of a carnivore.' Legoshi mentally sighed despite the pain afflicted by the wound showering his body. 'I am just like him. It's warm, and yet it revolts me. Ever since I was a kid, I've always struggled with the sight of blood, even my own.'

"Legoshi," Bill continued, his voice a soft but menacing whisper. "You can barely stand. Give up now, and the show will be back on track. All you have to do is fall to the ground." True to the tiger's words, Legoshi felt his legs growing weaker by the second, losing much more blood than usual from Bill's violent marking. And no matter how hard he tried, the wolf couldn't stand much longer. And so, after Bill retracted his claws, Legoshi slowly fell to the ground, gasping and panting from the pain overwhelming his senses. "Pathetic wolf," Bill shouted for the crowd to hear him. "Surrender to your fate, and I'll make your passing quick and silent."

The tiger grabbed his sword and stood over Legoshi before bending down slightly. "I'm the star, Legoshi," he said, his voice dropping to a hoarse whisper. "Let me deal the final blow, understand?" Bill punctuated his demand by firmly planting a foot onto Legoshi's chest, causing the wolf to choke out a pained gasp. Then Bill raised his sword to deal the 'killing blow' on the wolf, the audience waiting with bated breath. And just as Bill swung downward, his sword was sent careening in the air before it landed on the ground with a loud clatter.

Flabbergasted, the tiger turned to who had dared to take the spotlight from him, only for his eyes to widen when he saw that it was none other than Louise herself. The antlered doe wore her modified uniform with the white shirt partially unbuttoned, revealing a substantial amount of cleavage. In one hand was her sword, and in the other her mask. The crowd cheered upon seeing their 'hero' on the stage, but she wasn't finished making her debut:

"You were having way too much fun, weren't you? Well, I'm afraid I've come to put an end to that. You'll have to play the villain now, unfortunately." With that, she donned Adler's visage with a clack of the plastic mask and pointed the sword at Bill.

"I know who you are!" Louise declared before stabbing forward and barely clipping the fur on Bill's cheek. "Let me show you, impostor, who the real Grim Reaper is!" She circled around until she stood beside Legoshi, keeping the tiger at bay. Once she stood beside the wolf, Louise said to him, "Legoshi, let me handle this. Don't let the audience see your back, got it?" The wolf nodded wordlessly, straining to hold himself up on his elbows.

Louise redirected her attention to the tiger, who was baring his teeth and glaring daggers at her, and slowly approached him. "As for you, you should back down now. If you're not prepared to face the many sins you've committed, then you're not fit to exist in this plane of realms. If you think you belong, then why don't you have a taste of my blood? That way, you'll become a true reaper of souls." Bill, whether it was genuine or one put on for the sake of the audience, snarled at the antlered doe.

Louise was unfazed and reiterated her point. "So be it. Go! Whilst I'm merciful. I have no time for pretenders and those who sully my name and image!"

Bill huffed and, with a sweep of his cloak, dashed off stage. The lights overhead went out, plunging the auditorium into darkness before two of the lights illuminated the spot where Louise and Legoshi were. "As for you, spirit, you will disappear with the morning dew, along with my withering, weak form." Louise turned to Legoshi, 'sheathed' her sword on her left hip, and extended her right hand towards the wolf. Legoshi stared at the offered appendage, unsure of what to do next. But Louise was more than willing to guide him in the right direction. "It's okay," she said softly, her brown eyes fixed on him as he reached to take her hand. "You're alright now."

Legoshi gulped, the pain in his back having dulled by now, and firmly grasped the deer's hand in his own. 'Louise's delicate hands, ordering me to stand, were the same ones that touched me in a way I never could have imagined, even in my wildest dreams. Feeling them in mine sent a spark of...something that brought me closer to her.' Louise pulled Legoshi to his feet but quickly caught him when he lost his balance and stumbled. "We'll have to get you to the infirmary as soon as possible," she said firmly as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and supported him, to which the wolf could only respond with a weak nod. "But for now, stay with me until curtain call, okay?"

Legoshi swiveled his head towards the cheering crowd, most if not all of them standing for what they thought was an altered version of the original play. 'The audience's cheering is immense.' He glanced at Louise, who kept her gaze fixed on the audience. However, the wolf thought he saw her side-eye him briefly but quickly dismissed it as his imagination. 'I wonder what the others thought about this performance?'

---

Louise's Office

Shortly after the play

Bill reeled backward with a yelp, clutching the side of his face as a red handprint marked itself on him. He glared daggers at his assailant but made no move to retaliate. "You dare spill blood on my stage?" Louise huffed angrily, leaning to the right to keep weight off her broken ankle. "I know you're a carnivore, and I expected nothing less from you when I found that vial of blood but to spill blood - a student's and fellow club member's blood - on my stage in front of hundreds of students, staff, and faculty?" She gritted her flat, plant-eating teeth and growled at the tiger. "I should have you suspended from Drama Club and then report you to Headmistress Gon to be expelled."

Bill snorted and rolled his eyes, unfazed by her threats. "Please. You're just mad I hurt your little boy toy, Louise. You said it yourself: I'm a carnivore, a powerful meat-eating beast that can kill with little effort. Besides, Legoshi will be fine."

"Had you gone any deeper, you would have hospitalized him," Louise accused.

"Relax, Louise. Your walking dildo will survive. I knew what I was doing."

Louise sighed and shook her head, turning away from the tiger. "For the last time, Legoshi and I did nothing."

"Oh, come on, Louise!" Bill shouted, spreading his arms out. "You and I both know that that's bullshit! I can smell him all over you. And it's not just his normal scent." He sighed, letting his arms drop to his sides and taking a moment to calm down. "Look, I don't want to be suspended. Being in Drama Club is the only place I feel validated as a carnivore. As for being expelled over a vial of herbivore blood? Well, you did say that you didn't expect any better from me, right?"

Louise arched an eyebrow at him. "And your point is?"

"If you tell Headmistress Gon about my blood doping, I'll start spreading rumors about you." Bill flashed a devious grin. "It's no secret you've already been promised to someone as soon as you graduate. How do you think your precious daddy will react when he hears his daughter is sleeping around with a 'big and scary carnivore' and not the buck she was betrothed to?"

Louise narrowed her eyes at Bill, but she knew that his words rang true; even if she were to deny everything the tiger alleged about her, the school would no doubt gossip about the 'star student of Cherryton' and her activities with a carnivore. And once the news reached Oguma, there was no doubt that he would disown her as soon as possible. And Louise genuinely didn't know what to do there. So, for now - and with no other choice - she'd humor the striped nuisance before her, just this once.

The doe closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose before looking at Bill. "Alright, fine. You win. But I expect you to uphold your end of this poorly structured deal and keep my interactions with Legoshi under wraps, understood?"

Bill nodded with a soft chuckle. "Don't worry. My lips are sealed, much like yours when Legoshi stuffed his dick inside your-grrk!"

Louise limped away on her crutches with a smug smile, leaving a mewling tiger on the floor as he held his hands over his crotch. "With a mouth as big as yours, I'm surprised you haven't tried Legoshi yourself." She paused and looked over her shoulder at Bill, her smirk widening. "That wolf is quite the mouthful."