Chapter 10: Stronk!

Third POV

Cherryton Academy was more alive than ever, scoop were easy to make with Cahaya's 'I don't give a fuck' attitude, the fact that he beat multiple carnivores and herbivores and that he was the first in the freshman examen ranking of the first semester something abnormal since a dog is normally first in position. He does also take classes that are for the upper years.

He was both strong physically and mentally. He was a symbol of strength and fear for both carnivores and herbivores. But also respected since he helped the ones with difficulty that asked him and he had a no-tolerance policy for bullying.

He was compared to Louis but way more chaotic, also they became sort of friends in those weeks, they didn't hate each other in the first place. They simply had a rocky start.

Louis respected and envied Cahaya's strength, that he accepted himself and that he didn't care about what species or status was his interlocutors and he was bluntly honest.

And Cahaya respected Louis' will and determination to better himself despite his physical weakness and the limitation of his species.

It started when Cahaya directly found out that the deer had his left leg broken and helped him by making a mixture of plants that numbed his pain, he also didn't tell others about it.

If he didn't see it immediately that would have been more than embarrassing since he must deal with his broken bones nearly every day.

His muscles were certainly stronger than that of the norm for his weight, that is but not at a supernatural level. 

He simply didn't have muscle inhibitory mechanisms, just like some zombies in fiction, his muscles can work at practically 100℅ capacity even if they can and will tear them apart, damage his tendons and break his bones. He also frequently injures himself like this.

His seemingly unnatural strength stems from this, added to this his absurd regeneration, plus the fact that he doesn't feel pain and that he eats meat. 

That makes him a monster in his own right, well some other hybrids are monsters themselves too… but not this much. 

That is why he is extremely careful with each of the movements he makes and it's mentally taxing for him, sure he is used to it but it's still hard to be meticulous about everything you touch or you put it at risk of breaking it or injuring yourself.

The main thing that made the school active was the upcoming two performances of the play 'Adler' to welcome the new students.

_______________________

In a massive auditorium.

Third POV

-we present the Cherryton Academy honour award… to our drama club!", announced the principal in front of 3000 students.

His assistant next to him said in the mike, "Our principal will give you the award."

"We're looking forward to this year's performances.", said Gon to Louis while giving him the mike, the deer accepted with a smile, "We won't let you down."

"Coexistence and prosperity are of the utmost importance! That's what we will continue to represent to you on the stage. The first performance of our play to welcome new students will be the day after tomorrow. I hope you can make it.", he said with confidence, then bowed.

*Clap*Clap*Clap* clapping sounds of hands, paws, claws and wings could be heard.

He lifted his left hand to show that he wasn't finished, a smirk adorned his snout that made Cahaya who was on the stage with the other drama club members and felt like something he won't enjoy was going to happen.

"On the same theme, I would like to introduce you to a new student that you probably already know. Cahaya, a naga freshman, the first amphibian of our Cherryton Academy and a potential Beastar!", he boisterously declared.

He looked at Cahaya with a smirk and made a gesture with his head for him to come to the front of the stage. He gave him the mike and walked behind him next to the headmaster and his assistant.

'Fuck you Louis and your crazy idea, but I have anticipated this kind of low blow from you. Still, I feel a bit like a fish out of water, heh. It's more than 3000 animals that I'm going to talk in front of, after all.', thought Cahaya in nervousness, while slithering at the front, mike in front of his snout.

"Good afternoon everyone! Like Louis-senpai said earlier, I'm a new student like many of you this year, like you I was sent into this unfamiliar place where most was unknown to me and still is. 

Many of you may feel nervous, scared, excited and many more and that's normal. 

The next few years will be hard and full of obstacles,  that's why everyone should aim to be their best individually and collectively to surpass those obstacles!

We must aim for a better future not only for ourselves but for the generations coming after us!", Cahaya finished with passion in his voice, he was smiling broadly, piercing lavender eyes gazing at his audience, his gills extended showing their true lengths and vibrant blue colour, same with his colourful body coiled around itself and arms spread, all of this making him more imposing, nearly majestic.

He bowed, cheering and clapping sound as strong if not stronger than the one caused by Louis could be heard, while he slithered back to his place next to a congratulating Bill and an awestruck Legoshi.

Louis looked… pleased with himself as if he was right about something and a bit upset. The headmaster was beaming that he will have more potential Beastars for the coming years. 

A snake was also watching, getting more and more interested in this new student that possesses the same eyes as those inbred psychos. 

She knew he wasn't just an amphibian, he was more than that, only ignorant about what real amphibians are would assume there's nothing unusual about his body, meaning almost all of the land animals would think he is just another freaky amphibian, certainly a beautiful one but still a freaky amphibian nonetheless.

Since most only think of them as some sort of creepy herbivores, fish and reptile hybrid things that can talk and move on 'their' land. They only know that they don't have claws/nails, feathers and hair/fur.

The PR photographers were also delighted with both of their 'cash cows', they did take photos of both Louis who was considered handsome, charming the most popular boy on the campus and Cahaya who after his mould was like a piece of art or a piece of jewellery with the lighting reflecting on his scales he was simply beautiful.

He cringed a bit internally at his speech, the sound of his two hearts slowly descending from their loud stressful beating on stage but could be heard by the other next to him. He thought one of his two hearts was going to burst with how stressed he was during his speech.

But it was so freaking good to feel the cheers and clapping just after it.

_______________________

Cahaya POV

'Wow, this was an experience for sure. I'm so glad I didn't crack under the thousands of pairs of eyes. It was quite overwhelming. Dad was also clearly proud of what I did with how proud he sounded when we called just after.', I thought while slithering to the drama club.

Everyone was doing their own thing, it was one of the numerous rehearsals for Adler. I won't be in the play, normal since I joined recently and I wasn't even in a fixed group, yet. Well, I was helping around so I was more with the production crew and the sound team, but I will join the dancer or the actor team after the play.

I felt Bill wrapping his arm around my shoulder, "Hey still cold as ever, huh. What you just did just now was honestly amazing! You are just 15 and made a speech in front of 3000 students!", he said proudly and very loudly.

'Too much physical contact and too loud, that Bill yay… mammals need to really learn what personal space is.', my gills twitched in annoyance. I abstained from smacking his broad smile full of fangs off his muzzle.

The beasts close to us except Louis who concentrated on his sword practice nodded in agreement and praised and complimented me for how courageous I was and how hard it must have been to speak in front of so many.

'Why would I refuse their praises? Praise me more!', I thought egotistically, I then expressed my thanks and now searching for the blue peafowl. 

I looked up to see Legoshi and the little shi-hum Kai, he is a mongoose so my instincts want to butcher him, good thing for his life he doesn't know I'm part cobra. 

Both were talking together about something and with the grey wolf's stupid face it must be something obvious he didn't know.

I slithered up the wall easily to where they are, scaring the shit out of Legoshi and asked, "Do you know where Dom-senpai is?"

Kai replied, "He should be with Riz-senpai in the storage room, they are verifying if everything is in order … hey Cahaya-kun… could you tell us the reason you got invited?", the mongoose asked.

"Hmm well without going into details. I lived outside of society for most of my life, so 15 years, this year is actually the first year of school in my life.", I said with my left hand under my chin. They don't need to know more at least Kai, Legoshi is Gosha's grandson he will know at some point.

"And you still are better than us with all of this arg… life is unfair.", he mumbled in fake self-pity. I deadpanned him, making him scratch one of his right ears in embarrassment. Then I slithered down on my way to the storage room.

I opened the door of the storage room to see a tall muscular male brown bear with a goofy face holding big boxes in his paws and a tall blue male peafowl with red eyelashes pointing at things with his wings.

"Dom-senpai! I am bringing you what you wanted!", I said while opening my grey backpacks, taking out a bag full of dried sea stars of all sizes and shapes, same for urchin skeletons and a box of dead corals. I don't think he realised he asked me to bring dead animals, he might in fact think they are simply plants or minerals. 

Well, it is legal for marine animals to bring this on land.

"Oh! Thank you so much Cahaya-kun you're a lifesaver! Legoshi-kun didn't get the flowers but now we don't need them, we can just paint what you just brought!", he cheerfully cried out, he was examining the dead animals while muttering about how he is gonna use them.

'A little creepy...', I looked up to see the face of Riz peeking at us from behind the box he was carrying, 'He did bulk up a lot in the short amount of time I was here.', I noticed but it's nothing really amazing in and of itself, he is a teenage bear after all or simply workout.

_______________________

Third POV

The first play of Adler had just finished, the cheer and clapping of the audience were heard in abandon, and the curtain was dropping.

'What a great final. I made it. Did you all see that? I made it!', was the thought of the deer in the Adler costume.

Behind it, Louis was incredibly relieved that he made it to the end, he didn't feel much pain in his body since the amphibian helped him and he was grateful for that.

That doesn't mean he wasn't furious at himself, his body betrayed him again. He couldn't feel his cursed left leg. And that meant he wouldn't be able to do the next one.

"So, I guess you don't feel your leg?", he heard the barely worried voice of Cahaya and the soft sound of his scale moving on the wooded ground of the stage.

"A dazzling display of logic. Help me to get up instead, Cahaya-kun.", he retorted sarcastically but his body was exhausted beyond belief, while Ellen, now out of her trance, heard their conversation put the two and two together and she ran searching for others' help, she didn't ask why Cahaya was here, not that she particularly cared at the moment.

_______________________

In the nurse's office.

Third POV

Louis woke in the bed, he fell unconscious while being helped by Cahaya, an IV on his right arm. He looked sleepy, all the members were around his bed looking at him with worry and pity except Cahaya.

Bill started to talk gravely, "It's 8.00 p.m, now, you are in the nurse's office. According to the nurse, you're-", he was interrupted by the red deer, "I know my left leg is broken I won't be able to perform tomorrow that why, you will take my role.", he said calmly pointing at the tiger, "And you will take Bill's role.", he finished by pointing at Legoshi.

Cahaya's chuckle could be heard at the difference in reaction to the news between Bill who was elated and the grey who like he was sent to his death.