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>You duck under the swing of a huge furry fist.

>Your opponent is pretty big, but kinda slow.

>It also helps that you've fought him quite a few times before, so you know what he's about.

>You dodge to the side of a jab next and follow with a hook that connects with his jaw.

>He always seems to wind up for like half a second, like he's trying to line up the perfect strike every time.

>Which gives you enough time to see them coming and dodge appropriately.

>He's a good head and some change taller than you, so you're lucky he doesn't do much kicking, since it would be tough to watch his arms and his leg movements.

>He tries for another hook and once again you duck under it.

>This time however, you close the small distance you have between each other, and throw your fist straight up in a dynamic uppercut, colliding with his chin with devastating force.

>His body goes slack, he's staring straight up at the sky, counting the stars that only he can see at the moment.

>A chorus of cheers and "oohs" of mock pain echo around you from the circle of humans and anthros watching your fight.

>Your opponent, the lion Caesar, looks like he's about to hit the ground and take a nap from that vicious uppercut you gave him.

>But fuck that, you aren't done with him yet.

>How many times have you had to teach him this lesson?

>Let's hope this time it sinks in.

>You throw your hands up and as best you can link your hands around the back of his neck.

>The crowd whoops and hollers as they recognize what you're going for.

>You do this so often it's practically your signature move.

>Even though it's just a simple clinch.

>You throw kicks into his poor, defenseless legs, alternating between the left and the right.

>Then come the knees to the gut.

>He's trying to defend, but that uppercut must've rattled his brain pretty well, he's not doing too good.

>You pull his head down and throw a knee up and into his face and at this point you can see the telltale signs of unconsciousness creeping into his face.

>You could let him go and watch him drop now.

>But it ain't over yet.

>You release the clinch and throw a haymaker with the intent to punch his lights out.

>Even though they are already out.

>Not one of those big side haymakers that come from way out right, but one of those straight lunging haymakers that you put all your body weight behind.

>Your right foot even comes up off the ground as you deck Caesar dead in the snout.

>He falls back and hits the ground. Hard.

>You actually feel a bit worried at that, you're on concrete, you hope he didn't crack his skull wide open.

>Apparently the crowd also has a bit of that same worry as they look at the fallen lion.

>A lanky elk, who happens to be one of your few friends, walks up and inspects Caesar.

>He inspects his eyes(out like a light), before checking his breathing. Having confirmed that there is still breath filling and escaping his lungs, he gives a little nod to himself, before turning Caesar's head and checking the back of it.

>He sifts through the thick mane and after feeling around for a while, deduces that Caesar's skull is still in one piece.

>"He's good, but he's done." Lewis the elk says, before standing up and pointing to you. "Anon wins. Again."

>Once again, the crowd erupts, most of the sound are cheers, but of course there are jeers as well. All in good nature of course.

>What did they expect to happen?

>You've been doing this for years, and ever since you became the Champion, you haven't lost a fight.

>You throw your hands up to the sky and turn in slow circles, basking in the cheers of the crowd, a wide grin of victory on your face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liZXofwkePE

>You are Anon.

>Young and fresh 18 years old.

>Senior year of high school.

>Pretty good grades.

>Pretty mundane hobbies.

>Just a normal teen amongst normal teens.

>Oh. You're also the Champion of this little thing in your town called The Circle.

>That's kinda important.

>Your town has this kind of city based fight club thing.

>It's not a secret or anything.

>In fact everybody knows about it.

> And you mean EVERYBODY.

>From the teachers, to the doctors, to the store owners, everyone.

>If you were born in this town, or even lived in it for longer than a year chances are you knew about The Circle.

>Chances are even higher that you participated in it, or at least came to watch the fights.

> Of course the fights are pretty much all for fun.

>It's like a sport, like soccer, or football. But with punching.

>What happens is, the referee at the time(the current referee is Lewis) will step up and call out "Who's stepping in the Circle?"

>If 2 people step up, they fight. If more than 2 step up, the referee will randomly choose 2 to fight.

>If only 1 steps up, the ref will choose a random fighter who he knows has previously fought.

>Of course, fighters can also call out other fighters if they wanna throw down with them.

>After fighters are chosen, they step up and the Circle is formed.

>Everybody not fighting stands in a circle, almost shoulder to shoulder, to enclose the fighters.

>It's a duel but the Circle itself is a hazard.

>Get too close and someone might punch you in the back of the head, or kick you right back into your opponent.

>Some people may grab you and hold you down for your opponent to wail on you.

>If a fighter wins 3 fights in a row, they can challenge the Champion whenever they feel they are ready.

>You are currently the Champion, and even though they think they're ready, they never really are.

>Well, they kinda are. Some people are pretty damn good. You just happen to be better.

>But no matter how good you are, there's always someone better.

>You just haven't met them yet. And you don't really plan to.

>You stretch as you watch a horse and a pudgy human carry Caesar out of the Circle and toward this little makeshift nursing area.

>There's a plastic sign with a little red cross on it, where this half-pint fox and well endowed cow wear little nurse hats and heal people's cuts and bruises as best they can.

>You step out of the center and walk toward your normal place in the Circle.

>On your way back you hear some guys talking, one apparently cursing his rotten luck.

>"Why would you think Caesar would do better this time, man?" you hear one say. "You should know better than to bet against the King by this point my guy."

>That's what everyone calls you here.

>Another facet of the Circle is shit-talking.

>Before the fists fly, you sling words like arrows in the hopes of demoralizing your opponent before you knock their block off.

>An angry man is a man who makes mistakes, or whatever the saying is.

>Racial and speciest slurs flow like water here, but by the end of it they glide in the same way like from a duck's back.

>Just don't use the words "rabid" or "savage" here. For certain reasons, those are words you can't use, even in jest, and are banned from the Circle.

>They're also in bad taste everywhere else too.

>Anyway, when you fight anthros, they like to throw the monkey jokes around a lot.

>Monkey, hairless ape, chimp in a monkey suit.

>So before you became Champion, in an effort to downplay his teasing, you told your opponent at the time, "I'm not just any monkey. In this place, right here, I'm king of the monkeys.", which you followed with some gorilla style chest beating.

>After you beat him, you followed with, "Long live the king.", with a few more chest beats for good measure.

>So after you became Champ, most everybody would call you the King, instead of the Champ.

>And after a while of pure wins, you began to feel more and more like a king, than just a simple Champion.

>So you embraced the King thing wholeheartedly.

>You head to your 'King's Throne' aka a little seat that only the Champ can sit in.

>It's really just one of those plastic rectangle milk crates with an old pillow tied down to it.

>But symbolically, it's your throne.

>Lewis referees a few more fights: 2 humans, 2 anthros, a human against an anthro, and that about wraps up the fights for the day.

>The Circle only stays up until the sun starts setting and those streaks of orange are beginning to appear on the horizon.

>Everyone begins grabbing their bags, since most people come straight here right after school, and begin taking off.

>Some people walk, a few get into their cars that they parked a few meters away.

>You jump on your motor scooter, and start it up.

>As you pull off, you shout to Lewis "See ya at school tomorrow, bro!"

>He nods at you and does that two finger salute thing.

>You reach the road and see a patrol car starting up and getting ready to pull off too.

>Even the local police know about the Circle, and they send patrols around to make sure nothing fucky is going on around here.

>It may be a sport for fun, but you never know when someone's going to get hit just the wrong way and flip their lid.

>Everyone fights with their fists in the Circle, but anthros still have their sharp claws and fangs.

>Never know when one might snap and draw claws on you.

>Of course that hasn't happened since you've been there, and you hadn't heard any stories from any of the older kids about it happening either.

>So as far as you're concerned, the cops are just there to dick around.

>But they get a pass, because it's not like you hear about a bunch of crime for them to stop in your town anyway.

>You take a look back at the patrol car once more, and catch the female officer giving you a disapproving look.

>What?

>Oh right. No helmet. You've don't wear a helmet with your scooter, even though it might be a law.

>Because teenage rebellion!

>You shrug and twist the accelerator just a little harder.

>You're riding down the road, not looking at much of anything, because it's all dirt and emptiness down this way.

>A few minutes later, you come to the edge of the lower income suburbs of your town that everyone calls The Valley.

>It's a bunch of houses that look like they cost about as much as a cardboard box.

>You don't know anybody who lives down here, so the only times you're through here is when you're leaving the Circle to go home.

>There are basically 3 tiers to your town in terms of living status.

>The Valley, The Plains, and The Hills.

>The Valley sucks. The Plains are good, The Hills are baller.

>You live in the Plains, but like, on the nicer end of the Plains.

>Not quite Hills status, because nothing will be Hills status but the Hills.

>But at the same time, you're pretty sure that the kitchen your mom had remodeled in your house costs about as much as an entire house in the Valley.

>Out of the Valley and another 10ish minutes and you're pulling up to your house.

>You dig in your backpack for your garage opener, hit the button and pull your scooter into the garage.

>You cut it off, dismount, hang your goggles off the handle, walk out of the garage and then hit the garage button again before walking up to your front door, grabbing your door key and opening the front door.

>Why didn't you just go through the door that leads into your house from the garage?

>Silence, you dare question the will of a king?!

>"I have returned to my castle!" you cry out into your home.

>Silence is all that answers you.

>Your parents aren't home.

>In fact they won't be for a while.

>Your dad runs his own business and is constantly opening new storefronts in places all over the country. He's been out and about for the past like 4 years. So like all of your high school years.

>Your mom was here up until you turned 16, then your dad flew her out West to come help him out and make him food.

>Your mom is like a professional cook or something, so her food is good as hell.

>So for 2 years you've been home alone.

>Mostly.

>Your neighbors come check on you at your parents' behest to make sure you're eating right and haven't dropped dead or almost burned the house down and all that good stuff.

>It was tough, but it gave you the freedom you needed.

> Freedom to go to the Circle.

>Your dad doesn't really like the Circle for whatever reason.

>He won't explain why, just tells you to keep away from it.

>"Focus on your grades", he would say, "Proper education is more important than Neanderthals punching each other for no reason".

>Mom won't tell you why he doesn't like the Circle either.

>But when he left to go West for his business, she basically said 'Go for it'.

>"When he isn't here you are technically the man of the house, so you should be able to decide for yourself what you can and cannot do. As long as it isn't illegal. Besides, being forced to avoid partaking in something that everyone else is allowed to is kind of fucked up, right?"

>She even covered for you at times, saying that you joined a school club when Dad would call and ask where you were, while you weren't home.

>She told him Anime Club when he asked which one.

>You like anime sure, but probably not enough to join a club about it.

>However, Dad seemed to accept it and left it alone after that.

>Good ol' Mom.

>You kick your shoes off at the door, and walk down the hall and up the steps, turn at the top and walk into your room.

>You set your backpack down on your desk and collapse into bed.

>Another day, another title match successfully defended.

>Feels good to be king.

>Long live the king.

>A rumbling in your gut breaks you from your momentary revelry.

>pizzatime.gif

>You stand up and make your way down to the kitchen.

>You don't actually have pizza.

>You do have chicken alfredo leftover from yesterday.

>Your mother you are not.

>But your mother's child you are.

>She taught you how to cook decently, so while you will never reach her level you can adequately keep yourself from starving and occasionally craft something more complicated than peanut butter and jelly or microwave burritos.

>You yeet your leftovers into the microwave and check your phone while you wait.

>No missed calls, no new texts.

>Good.

>Time for memes.

>You pull up Reedit for your daily dose of memes.

>Your daily dose that you've injected into your bloodstream 4 times today.

>. . . Memes are important, okay.

>The microwave dings and you retrieve your food.

>You consume the chicken alfredo and memes both.

>When you finish you yeet the dishes into the dishwasher and turn it on.

>You're running your dishwasher for like 3 things.

>Oh well, privilege!

>You walk back up to your room.

>Time for homework.

>You get it all done in a timely manner.

>Because you're a fucking genius.

>Not really, you just pay attention in class and take really good notes.

> Anon the A and B student, that's you.

>Who also knocks people's teeth out for fun.

>Back to your phone, this time on Yewtube, for your second helping of tasty delicious meme content.

>And before you know it, it's somehow time for bed.

>Goddammit.

>You stand and stretch, but get an oddly unsatisfying stiffness in your right shoulder.

>Hmmm

>You stretch a little more, still tight.

>Hmmmmmmm

>You roll your arms in windmills, and now that stiffness turns into a sharp pain.

>Oh hoh.

>Whatever it is, that's not good.

>Let's hope it goes away after bed.

>You go to the bathroom, shower, wash your hair, and brush your teeth.

> A few minutes with a hair dryer and a change into your pajamas(which are really just a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants) and you're ready for bed.

>You roll your shoulder one more time.

>Yep, still tight, still hurts.

>You head to bed, avoiding sleeping on that shoulder.

>You wake up to the sound of your alarm.

>wakethefuckupsamurai.mp3

>First thing you do is roll that shoulder.

>Still hurts, a little worse now.

>Well this is bad, you've never pulled a muscle during your fights before, so why now?

>Must've been that sweet shoryuken you hit Caesar with.

>You did it for the style points.

>Ballin', but at what cost?

>Whatever, let's just hope no one is trying to fight you today.

>Maybe you should actually keep track of which people are ready for a title fight.

>Nah, that's Lewis' job.

>You get up, and do your dailies.

>Bathroom shenanigans, cereal, equip clothes.

>You have a very singular clothing style.

>Flannel shirts, with an accompanying t-shirt of various designs or graphics, jeans, and a pair of Bans.

>You don't skate, but Bans are comfy.

>The flannels stay unbuttoned because leaving a button up shirt unbuttoned is a form of fashion rebellion. Or at least you tell yourself.

>You aren't a rebel, you just pretend you are.

>Anyway, it's time for school, so after you grab your backpack and make sure you've got everything(why you don't choose to dress first and grab your things before you head down to get food and then leave is an enigma even to you), you walk out, locking the door and opening your garage.

>Your chariot awaits.

>By which you mean your motor scooter, which has always seemed more like a mini motorcycle to you but you don't come up with the names for things.

>Your mom's car sits in the garage, your dad drove his out west so that he could have his own car to drive during personal trips.

>You don't have a driver's license yet, so no taking the car for you.

>You start up your scooter and pull out of the garage. Down goes the door and into the pack your garage key goes.

>You take off towards school.

>Good ol' Towngrove High.

>It's a pretty good school, since this is a pretty good town.

>Not much to say about the neighborhood, it's the same as always.

>You pass the EZ mart, the little convenience store you always go to when you need snacks.

>You pass the streets to the shopping center, and drive past the Towngrove Imperial Mall, or TIM, as everyone calls it.

>TIM has everything.

>You round a few bends, stop at the red lights you encounter, and a good 10 minutes later, you are at your school.

>A good 10 minutes early, because dad always said, "It's better to be 30 minutes early than one minute late".

>Being 30 minutes early would require waking up 30 minutes earlier, and fuck that noise.

>You park your scooter in the designated spot for vehicles that aren't quite vehicles, and on goes the anti-thief chain.

>Again, no crime to speak of, but hey, never hurts to keep your shit safe.

>You walk up to the front of your school and veer off toward the right in the direction of this weird mutant tree, that split off from the trunk and like, grew into two separate trees near the top.

>Like a Siamese tree twin.

>Under it stands Lewis Woodman, the elk and one of your best friends.

>He's standing there, that unchangingly bored expression on his face that he always has, scratching the fur underneath his chin that grows like a beard.

>You wish you had even a semblance of facial hair, but your face is criminally smooth.

>Hairless monkey would be right, but it's all on the top of your head, and it grows quick so you just started leaving it be and tying it back.

>MANLY ponytail!

>Like you, Lewis also has a singular style, looking like he just walked out of a prep school.

>Complete with sweater vest and white collar shirt, it's wild.

>He doesn't live in the Hills you think, so what does his parents make him dress like that, or does he do it himself?

>Something about dressing for success or some dumb idea like that?

>"Yo." you say as you approach and fist bump him(with your left because lifting your right is uncomfortable).

>"Hey, how are ya?" he replies, with that ever present look of boredom, as if life itself does not interest him.

>He's a good half foot taller than you so you have to look up at him a bit.

>"Think I hurt myself fighting Caesar last night," you say, rolling your shoulder grimacing at the slight pain, as if displaying your injury will maybe get him to share in it or something. "Might've been from that crazy uppercut, I'm thinking."

>"It looked cool, yeah," he says. "But you oofed your arm so congrats, you played yourself."

>"Yeah yeah, let's just hope I don't have a fight today. Do I?" you ask.

>"I don't think so, but even if you did I'd just postpone it. Not like anyone would enjoy taking the Champion spot from someone who can't fight right. That's a bitch move." Lewis says, nodding to himself at the last sentence as if it were some sort of sage wisdom.

>That gets a laugh out of you, Lewis' manner of speaking sometimes completely conflicts with the way he looks, so whenever he throws a curveball with his words like he did, it always catches you off guard.

>"Waddup bruhs." calls your attention as you look to your right and see another of your friends approaching.

>Verne Thresher, a lizard. Specifically a komodo dragon, if you remember right.

>He always looks high, with his half lidded eyes and his always slightly pleased smile.

>He always tells you he doesn't smoke.

>Press X to doubt, but whatever.

>His clothes don't help his case, he dresses like a skater boy from the west coast even though you're also sure he doesn't skate.

>Baggy long sleeved shirts, baggy jeans, he wears sandals because his toes are clawed and would shred his poor shoes.

>Toe claw safe shoes when?

>Verne is a few inches shorter than you, but instead of looking straight up at you guys he kinda just turns to the side and tilts his to the side, so it's kinda like he's giving you this shifty side eye.

>"What's up Verne, how are ya?" you say as he bumps fists with you and Lewis.

>"Man I'm Jesus." he says back to you.

> That's what he says when he means he's good.

>"How'd it go at the Circle yesterday?" he asks you two.

>Verne is in a club, so he doesn't come to the Circle everyday, and when he does he just spectates.

>He's too chill to brawl.

>He's in like, the Literature Club or something.

>Reading books and writing poems.

>You gave him flak for that at one point, before this gaggle of cute girls ran up to scoop him up for club that day.

>Ever since you would give a nod of approval whenever he said he was heading to his club.

>"How do you think it went, Verne, c'mon man." you say, almost hurt that he doesn't know exactly how it always goes, or concerned as to why he would expect something different.

>"Well I'm gonna assume you whipped somebody's ass, like always." he says with a shrug.

>"He also chin checked Caesar and fucked up his shoulder, apparently." adds Lewis.

>"Damn bruh. You dun goofed." Verne shakes his head slowly, like this news is a horrible travesty.

>"Yeah yeah whatever, I'll be alright. Just gotta give it a day or two." you say to them both, waving them off like annoying flies.

>You look up over Verne's head and see your third and final friend approaching.

>Mikael.

>Fucking Mikael.

>"Brothers! It's a good day."

>Mikael Bjornson. He's like, Scandinavian or Icelandic or something.

>So he's super into the whole viking heritage thing.

>Shit, he looks kinda like a viking too. The left side of his head is shaved and his long ass hair is side swept over his right side, almost reaching his shoulder.

>His hair is blonde, like golden.

Is it dye or genetics, no one knows.

>And his beard, dear god his beard!

>He's only 18 but he's already got the makings of a whole damn viking beard!

>And he's built. He wears these weird silk or something shirts that might as well not even be there because you can see his pecs and abs and everything through them anyway.

>Besides jeans and sneakers he wears this. Thing. Kinda like a kilt, but not really a kilt.

>Like half a kilt, it's weird.

>And the ladies, fucking love him.

>The human girls and anthro girls practically fall over themselves whenever he's around.

> It doesn't help that he's also a huge flirt, so it just makes their falling outs worse.

> But he's your buddy so you deal with it.

>Even when he has to stop every few minutes to wink, or finger guns at some passerby ladies, or when some girls will literally hipcheck you out of the way to talk to him or give him their number.

>This motherfucker must've been blessed by Odin.

>"There he is, the legendary raider himself." Verne says as he holds his hand up for Mikael.

>Mikael grips his forearm, in the viking handshake.

>He moves onto Lewis and repeats the gesture before holding his arm up for you.

>You won't deny tradition, so you lift your arm with a bit of apprehension and grip his forearm back.

>"What's wrong, you get hurt?" he asks, noting the difficulty you had at the simple lifting of your arm.

>Verne answers before you do.

>"He fucked his shoulder up at the Circle yesterday."

>Mikael looks at you like Verne just told him you'll never throw a punch ever again.

>"That's rough, buddy." is all he says as he lays his free hand on your shoulder, the one that is currently hurt.

>His hand doesn't hurt it, it's only when you move it that it hurts.

>You wiggle yourself free of his grip.

>"Alright I get it! I goobered it. That'll teach me to try and be cool for the crowd."

>"Who were you fighting?" Mikael asks you.

>"Caesar." you reply.

>"Man, he really doesn't give up, does he? Got to admire the tenacity."

> Mikael fights in the Circle, but very rarely. Only when "his ancestors sound the horn of conflict within his soul" or something crazy and poetic like that.

>But he hasn't fought you, even though he's gotten the 3 wins in a row required to.

>Maybe someday, but not any time soon it seems.

>You hear the bell, signaling that class is about to start and you all walk in, ready to start the day.

>You look around the halls, taking in the students around you.

>Your school, or more like your town instead, has a higher concentration of anthros than humans.

>So surprisingly, you are the minority, to a degree.

>Most anthros stick together, most humans stick together, but there are a decent amount of groups of anthros and humans that hang out together.

>Your group is one of them, even though you aren't really associated with any school cliques, like jocks, or nerds, or so on.

>Long long ago, there were a bunch of anthro/human social problems.

>Like negativity, and hate.

>But when have any living creatures ever found a reason to not hate each other?

>Race or species is irrelevant, only conflict matters.

>Of course things are better now. Or at least they seem to be getting better.

>People gravitate towards their own, more often than not, which is what you choose to believe when you look around.

>Of course seeing groups like yours gives you hope that the near future will be much different.

>Though you see humans and anthros hanging out however, you don't see any couples.

>At least you think you don't.

>But looking at Mikael, and his disposition to flirt with anything resembling female, you have to believe that couples exist.

>Or at the very least, they're fucking.

>You remember being at a house party last year and in an effort to escape the sweltering haze of body heat you went upstairs and hung your head from a window.

>From a bedroom next to you exited this pretty fine pig girl who looked like she just had a workout. And a few minutes later this lanky human guy fiddling with his pants button.

>That smelly smell that smells. . . Smelly.

>You remember watching him with a small mix of pride, and a hint of jealousy.

>Alright back to reality.

>You all reach your lockers, grabbing what you'll need or stowing what you don't.

>All your lockers are right next to each other. It's actually how you all became friends.

>A turtle once said "There are no accidents.", and you're inclined to agree.

>However the time for parting arrives, as none of you have classes together until the second half of the day.

>You say your farewells and make for your first class, rolling your shoulder as you walk in an effort to alleviate some of the pain.

>It doesn't help.

>"You have to do what's in the parentheses first before you double it." Lewis explains.

>"Riiight." is Verne's only answer.

>"And since there's a negative sign in there, you gotta make sure it's all negative by the end of it." he continues.

>Verne has effectively been left behind at this simple instruction.

>You take a bite of your bland lunchroom burger as you watch Verne's 2 brain cells struggle to make sense of Lewis' explanations.

>You're currently at lunch with your friends.

>RNGeezus managed to bless you all with the same lunch period.

>Surprise, surprise, Verne didn't do most of his homework last night, so Lewis is helping him out. Like he always does.

>But he's not giving him the answers, just explaining how to do the equations.

>Give a man a fish, and all that jazz.

>You take another bite of the soulless sandwich.

>Seriously, notebook paper has more flavor than this.

>Your mom would fall to her knees and cry if she ever tasted this.

>Actually you're pretty sure she has, which might be why she went into food.

>"So Anon." Mikael says to you, pulling you from your thoughts.

>"What's up?"

>What're you going to do about yor arm?" He questions, a look of genuine concern on his face. "If you can't fight, it stands to reason you can't defend your championship."

>"Apparently Lewis can just postpone my fights, because fighting an injured man is a bitch move."

>"Well, of course it is. But are you sure there isn't some sort of 'miss X amount of days and you lose your title' kinda deal?

>"I don't. Think so." you confess. "I've never heard of anything like that."

>Granted a lot of the 'rules" of the Circle are like, unspoken, so it's really just from what you hear and can confirm.

>There have been days where you couldn't make it to the Circle. Some things came up, or you didn't feel well. But you were never really gone long enough to worry about something like having to abandon the Champ title because of absence.

>A king is not dethroned so easily!

>"Well fear not, brother." he says, looking past you at this point, to something behind you. "I think I may know someone who can help you get back to form sooner, that way we don't have to find out if avoiding fights will give you the boot.."

>"Oh yeah, what do you have in mind?"

>He takes a deep breath and lets out with the booming voice of a Norse warrior, "LIIIIIN!"

>Some of the more sensitive eared anthros cringe and cover their ears at the powerful sound waves your friend just blasted them with.

>"Geez man, wanna try a little louder?! I don't think they heard you back in viking land."

>He doesn't respond to you, instead he's beckoning someone over to your table.

>Lin walks over and sits down next to you, rubbing her ear.

>"What can I do for you Mikael?" she asks, that twinge of far east accent in her voice.

>Lin is a panda. Lin is also what the scholars who study human and anthro body shapes refer to as, 'thicc'.

>"You've already done for me what I needed: you graced me with your beauty. However, it's what you can do for Anon that is truly important."

>This fucking guy.

>She turns to you. "What's wrong, Anon?

>Mikael answers for you, because you didn't really have a response to clearly give Lin.

>"Dear Anon here managed to hurt his poor shoulder in the Circle yesterday. I was hoping you could lay those wonderful healing hands on him and fix him up."

>She looks at you with a knowing grin. "It was when you uppercut Caesar near the end, wasn't it?

>"Oh you saw that?"

>"Yessir. It sure did look cool, but I couldn't help but think it was in poor form. Of course, I'm not a fighter or anything so I can't tell what good or bad form really is."

>"Oh please Lin." you say as you roll your eyes. "It's not like I took classes, all my form would technically be bad form.

>"Maybe so. But have you ever hurt yourself before?

>"Nnnnoo, can't say that I have."

>"Then it's good enough form to do its job. Anyway, I can probably do something about it. But it's gonna cost ya."

>"How much?" you ask, concern dripping from your voice.

>"About 60 bucks and an hour of your time." she smiles before she stops and thinks to herself. "Actually, as the King I can probably get you a discount."

>There's another facet to being Champion of the Circle besides just a title to defend.

>There's a thing called the Champion's Right, which you can basically invoke whenever you like. A lot of Mom and Pop stores all around who know of the Circle and the Champion in it will sometimes give you discounts or free things if they aren't terribly expensive.

>You can even invoke it to have other people who participate in the Circle do things for you, as long as they aren't too outlandish.

>Usually you only use it to have people bring you snacks.

>But when you're feeling particularly rebellious, you use it to have some of the older guys buy you beer.

>You can't fight in the Circle once you hit 21, but you can still stand in and be a part of it. And since that counts as participation, they are subject to your will.

>"Wait so. What is it I'm gonna be doing?" you ask, focusing yourself back to the issue at hand.

>"Lin's gonna give you a rubdown, work the kinks outta your shoulder." he says to you with a grin and several suggestive bounces of his eyebrows.

>As much as Mikael flirts with all the girls, he seems just as eager sometimes to get you to also flirt with girls.

>You don't really give ladies your attention very often.

>Mikael admitted to you in your junior year that he was worried for you. He also questioned your sexuality for a bit.

>But you are a man of singular purpose.

>Good grades, win fights. That's all you need right now.

>What would you even do with a girlfriend? Where would you fit her in? Would she be cool with you fighting all the time at the Circle?

>Would she fight too? Girls fight in the Circle at times.

>You've even fought a few girls at times. A cheetah and a wolf. None of the human girls who sometimes fight challenge you.

>They challenged you for the title and of course you can't say no or you are disqualified.

>But man, those were some tough fights.

>Can't hit them in the gut too hard because reasons. Can't hit them in the chest too hard because reasons. Avoid hitting the face too hard because reasons.

>But when you avoid all that, they call you a pussy.

>Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

>Luckily you haven't had to deal with fighting a girl since like, sophomore year when those 2 challenged you. They haven't done so since then.

>Anyway, focus.

>"Wait. Like a massage?" you ask.

>"Yep." Lin responds, side eyeing Mikael and noticing the eyebrow dance he's performing, she adds in, "Just know. We don't do happy endings, so don't come in with overhyped expectations."

>You laugh, "Happy endings. Everyone knows those are fake anyway." You look at her and she's staring straight at you. "They are fake right?"

>"No." she says with a completely straight face. "But they're really only in the super seedy, super shady places, that aren't entirely legit. Like, in the places where you wouldn't want one even if they did offer it."

>You shudder at the thought.

>"Anyway, I'll give you the address. You might as well come by after school, get it taken care of soon as possible."

>She tells you the address and you save it in your phone. Just in time, as the end of lunch bell rings.

>Verne slumps onto the table and Lewis gives him an exaggerated shrug.

>Lin waves goodbye and goes back to the table she was at, likely to walk to her next class with her friends.

>Likewise you and your goon squad have the next class together so you all make your way there.

>The day is almost over.

>You're sitting in your science class, your last class of the day.

>Science is your favorite subject.

>And Mr. Warburton has been your favorite teacher.

>He's pretty cool, and was apparently excited to have you in his class.

>So he calls on you a lot to test your knowledge and stuff.

>Which would annoy a normal student, but again you like the class so it doesn't bother you.

>Today is just a review of yesterday's lesson, so you're not really all there.

>But you do happen to get the feeling that someone's looking at you.

>You peek around and catch this huge black bull named Benji, peeking back at you.

>Likewise he has this self satisfied grin on his face.

>Well that's disturbing, but you ignore it.

>He probably just wants to fight you anyway. Most people tend to do that or say something to you, to kind of foreshadow that they're going to challenge you at the Circle before they do.

>You haven't fought Benji before, but you've seen him fight. He's pretty good.

>Let's hope Lin can help your shoulder before you do have to fight anyone though.

>The bell rings, and class is dismissed.

>You grab your things and head to your locker.

>You and your friends usually meet up at your locker one last time before you go your separate ways or make plans to hang out or whatever.

>You don't choose the Circle over your friends. Glory is temporary but friendship is eternal.

>Or so you'd like to think, but senior year will eventually come to an end, and you and your friends do have different ideas of what you'll be doing once the end arrives.

>But that's neither here nor there at the moment.

>You all meet up like always.

>Verne is going to his club today, and Mikael's parents are going to be home late today so he has to pick his little sister up from elementary.

>You split off, walking with Lewis and Mikael until Mikael breaks off to head to his car.

>"So you gonna head to the Circle today, even if you can't fight?" Lewis asks you.

>"Mm, nah. I'm gonna see if Lin can help deal with it and her place is kinda close to my house, so i'll just go home once I'm done there."

>"Oh that's what she was doing at our table, huh? Thought Mikael was just doing Mikael things."

>"You walk for a bit longer, before you get ready to head to your scooter. However a voice from behind stops you.

>"Heeey, Anon."

>You recognize that voice, it's one that has spoken to you about a million times.

>You turn around and see Bree Willshire looking up at you, with her big purple doe eyes.

>Literally, cuz she's a doe.

>"Waddup Bree." you say casually.

>You look back to Lewis, who gives you that 2 finger salute before walking off ahead, and you nod to him before returning your attention to Bree.

>Bree has this kinda punk rock aesthetic that you really dig. Some kinda grungy band t-shirt and black shorts. The big kicker is that she wears flannel shirts like you do.

>She ties them around her waist by the arms though, which you always silently think is a shame.

>It bugs you, like preppies who tie their sweaters around their necks.

>Her brown hair, the same shade as her fur is parted right over her left ear area and sideswept to the right with these dark pink(or are they light purple?) highlights.

>Bree also has a lot of piercings.

>Like a lot.

>Well not a lot a lot, but a decent few.

>Barbell piercings, 2 in her left ear, 1 in her right eyebrow, you think she has one in her tongue based on the tiny click you've heard whenever she talks.

>You've wondered to yourself if she has piercings in any other places, but you bonked the horny out of your head a few times.

>She's like 4 feet tall so you really have to crane down to look at her.

>"Your fight with Caesar was pretty dope, like always." she says to you. "And that uppercut was pretty mean, was that something you've been working on?"

>She's standing with a friend, this almost equally short kangaroo, whose name you can't really remember right now. She doesn't talk much so you never really bothered to engage her.

>Bree's friend is giving her this kinda smug smile, that you notice but Bree does not, her attention purely up at you.

>You don't really know what that look means, but whatever it's not meant for you so you ignore it.

>"Nah, that was just a heat of the moment kinda thing, hadn't been planning on it." you tell her as you rub your shoulder, reminding yourself of what it cost you.

>"Ahh, that's a shame, I thought it was gonna be a new addition." she sighs with a look of minor disappointment. "Oh well, at least there's still the Clinch, that's honestly the best part, I can't get enough of it. Especially yesterday, how you built up to that punch that laid Caesar out, it was like-"

>She grabs her friend in a mock clinch, and almost perfectly recreates the exact movements you used when you were fighting Caesar, albeit with some very dramatic vocal releases of 'hah! and 'yah!"

>Her friend, being a good sport, dramatically moves her body in response to being falsely kicked in the legs and gut, before Bree finishes with the big haymaker you used, thrown right over the friend's shoulder to avoid the face.

>It comes out just like yours, the same forward motion, the same arm extension, the same lift up of the right leg.

>Man, she knows you to a T, wild.

>Bree is apparently a big fan of yours. Which is understandable.

>What civilian does not admire their king?

>Well the jealous ones, probably, but whatever.

>"Why don't you jump in the Circle, Bree? You seem really into it." you ask her.

>"Hm? Nah, I'm into it, but only to watch. I'm not really in to getting hurt myself, y'know.

>"Makes sense to me."

>"Speaking of the Circle, you going today?" she asks. She always asks you this question.

>"Mmm not today, got some things to take care of that are kinda important."

>You don't tell her about your shoulder.

>To your fans you should be an indomitable, invincible champion.

>Injury should not afflict the body of a king.

>Or at least that's what you want everyone to think.

>She looks let down when you say that.

>"Oh, okay. I guess I'll see you there next time then."

>"You know it, you know I don't stay gone for long. But I gotta get going now, see ya Bree."

>"Mhm, see ya Anon."

>You walk off toward your scooter.

>Chain released, you climb on and start 'er up.

>You take a look at the address Lin gave you one more time.

>Yup, that's near the shopping center close by your place.

>You take off on your way.

>You reach the shopping center and travel down until you find the location Lin sent you to.

>Xinyan Massage Parlor.

>You park your scooter and on goes the chain.

>She said 60 bucks right? Even with a discount, better make sure you've got enough.

>You grab your phone and check your account.

>You've got a decent amount.

>Your parents send you a couple bucks every month for you to spend on bullshit.

>But with the discount you get from most places, you've been saving a lot, so you're sitting on a decent fund to waste on said bullshit.

>You walk in.

>It's dim as hell, and there's this kinda calming maybe Chinese, music softly playing.

>beifongxiaoxiao.mp3

>No one is at the front desk but there's a little bell.

>You hit it and wait.

>Behind the desk is a list of different available massage types and time lengths.

>And in big bold red letters next to the list are the words "We don't do happy endings."

>Huh.

>After a while, another panda, a couple years older looking than Lin comes out.

>This one is, uh.

>If Lin is thicc, this one is.

>EXTRATHICC.jpeg

>"Hi welcome, how can we help you?" she says, a pleasant, accommodating smile on her face.

>"Hi, uh. Lin told me to come by, said she could help me save my shoulder." you tell her, with a little difficulty forming sentences.

>She's wearing one of those China dresses and goodness gracious.

>C'mon man, keep the spaghetti in your pocket.

>"Oh right on. Lin, you have a customer! Must be someone from your school!"

>"Oh she's already here?"

>"Yup, she'll be right with you."

>After a minute, Lin pops from around the corner, you're guessing she just got there shortly before you because she looks like she just finished changing into her own dress and is still, adjusting in places.

>You're staring a bit.

>Reroute pasta to pocket protocol.

>"Hey there you are." she looks to her family member. "Put him down for an hour, sis. Also, he gets a discount."

>The sister lifts her eyebrow and gives a smirk.

>"He's Champ of the Circle." Lin quickly explains, shutting down her sister.

>"Oookay, that's fine then." the sister says with an amused shrug.

>"Alright follow me" Lin says, and you do.

>She leads you to a room, it's dim and smells really nice.

>"Alright bud, shirt, pants, socks, shoes, all off." she pauses, before adding " Underwear is optional, but know that if you do, and I happen to see anything. I will be brutally honest." she stares at you, looking like she's ready to kill you, with words.

>"Wait. If we're just working on my shoulder, why am I losing my pants?"

>"Because I've got you for an hour, you might as well get the whole package."

>You half shrug, accepting what she says.

>"When you're done with your clothes, face in the hole." she points to the little opening on the table.

>You nod, and she leaves you to disrobe, a little awkwardly. Underwear stays on.

>But you do as instructed and wait for her to come back.

>"Alright you ready?" she says as she cracks the door.

>"Yup." is all you say as you respond.

> She steps in, closes the door behind her and gets to work.

>As she works, you can't help but notice her kind of, speaking to herself.

>Not so much coherent words, as a simple "hmm" or "oh" or "huh".

>You're guessing she's finding bits of you intriguing enough to comment on.

>Maybe there's a lot of knots or something that she's concerned with.

>Or maybe she doesn't get too many human clients, so the slight difference in muscle structure is curious to her.

>Either way it's beginning to feel pretty nice.

>There are points where it's a little painful, she attributes that to being muscles that you work a lot but don't stretch.

>After some time she tells you to flip over, so you do.

>"Alright, I'm gonna take the rest of this time to work on your shoulder okay? It is definitely going to be a bit painful, but if it gets to be too much, just let me know."

>You nod, ready for the suffering.

>An almost eternity of her digging into the squishy bits of your shoulder, extending your arm straight out, pressing in more, rolling it, doing all kinds of torturous motions in an effort to rip the cries of agony from your throat, you feel like you've been torn asunder for a week.

>"Alright, hopefully that will do it." your torturer tells you. "It may still hurt for the rest of the day, but by tomorrow, should be good as new. One last thing though."

>She leaves for just a second before she comes back with a cup of warm liquid.

>"Have some tea. It will also help."

>You've come this far, might as well.

>You check the temp, and it's cool enough to drink but still pleasantly warm, so you take hearty sips, and have effectively drained your cup.

>She takes it from you. "Alright, you can put your clothes back on and pay my sister. Also, tips are very much appreciated.

>"What kind of Neanderthal doesn't tip?" you say, standing and reaching for your pants.

>"You'd be surprised." is all she says before she steps out.

>Clothes firmly returned to cover your hairless body and you walk to the front desk where the sister is already waiting.

>"Hey hey. How was it?" she asks.

>"It was great until we actually got to my shoulder and then it was agony." you say with a wry chuckle.

>"Oh, sorry to hear that, but it will definitely help, trust in Lin. People say she's got healing hands. Anyway. For your session, that will be 40 bucks."

>You pull out your wallet, hand her your card, which she charges and pull out a 10 to give as a tip.

>Hopefully that's good enough.

>"Thank you very much." she says. "Come back and see us again."

>You look back and see Lin standing and waving you off, you return the wave.

>You glance over at her sister.

>She smiles and winks at you as you walk out.

>You gotta say, 40 beans well spent.

>You're back at home now.

>Cooking dinner, spaghetti.

>You are also inhaling memes like oxygen as you wait for it to cook.

>Ahh, the sweet memes.

>Your food is just about finished, so you serve it up, and sit to eat.

>You get a text from Lewis.

>'Today was a good day for some challengers. Let's hope your shoulder is good, you're in for it soon.'

>'What. Who?' you send back.

>'Not telling. Gonna have to see for yourself.'

>"Then what the fuck was the point of telling me that people are gonna challenge me? People always challenge me.'

>'So you could be worried.'

>"You're kinda a dick.'

>He sends the sunglasses emoji.

>Whatever, that was random but okay.

>You eat your food, take the dishes from last night out of the washer and put the new ones in, placing your leftovers in tupperware.

>Homework done, food consumed and meme reserves refueled.

>Guess you'll turn in a bit early tonight.

>You shower, brush teeth and equip pajamas.

>Phone is plugged in to charge.

>Time for bed.

>Lewis' text still kinda bugs you.

>Why wouldn't he just tell you?

>It's not like it would be a secret, everyone who fights has challenged you at one point.

>Unless it's someone you've never seen fight before?

>Or someone new to the Circle?

>What did they do, fight 3 people in a row in one day while you were absent today, just so they could fight you tomorrow?

>Or maybe they just fight while you aren't there.

>It is true that you aren't there every single day.

>Whatever, don't lose sleep over it.

>It's a bit worrying, but also kind of exciting.

>You ponder the possible challengers it could be before you drift off to sleep.

>You wake up.

>Time to rise and grind.

>You get out of bed and holy fuck you feel amazing.

>You stretch every part of your body and you've never felt this good.

>Even your shoulder pain no longer exists.

>Wow. Lin must've been blessed by Buddha.

>You go through your dailies.

>If you can feel this good more often you'll definitely have to visit her shop a lot more.

>After taking care of everything you head to school like always, meet up with your friends like always, and shoot the shit till it's time to go to class, like always.

>You keep an eye out for Lin, so you can thank her and tell her how goddamn great you feel, but you don't see her.

>Maybe you'll catch her during lunch.

>The rest of your day goes by pretty quickly and at lunch you caught up with Lin and thanked her as you planned.

>She told you it was no big deal, it's her job after all, and you should thank her Ma for teaching her the trade.

>She also says you're welcome to come back whenever you need which you take her up on.

>The school day comes and goes, and now it's time to head to the Circle.

>See what poor vicitims you must put to the metaphorical sword.

>Benji wasn't glancing at you in class today, but you're still sure he wants to fight you.

>You doubt Benji is the one Lewis was hinting towards but he still won't give up any details.

>Verne isn't going to club today and Mikael has nothing to do either, so you're all heading to the Circle together.

>You didn't run into Bree today like normally, but oh well.

>Walking your scooter is a chore but you put up with it.

Mikael is walking with you guys. Apparently he didn't bring his car because he felt like walking.

>Why a man would willingly choose to walk when he has access to transportation is beyond you.

>But you may never understand the stormy sea of mental processes that is the Viking mind.

>Lewis also has a car, but chooses to walk.

>His reasoning is something about cardio, and not putting a lot of pointless miles on his car.

>Still more nonsense to you, but people will do as they please.

>Eventually you guys come up on the site where the Circle is hosted.

>It's really just this huge dirt field, with this big square of concrete formed right in the center.

>Maybe a construction site that never finished, you don't know.

>You can see people pulling up, mingling until it's time to start.

>Someone's gotten to the stereo they keep nearby and is playing some oldschool hip hop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqk5BLxd0ZY

>The good stuff, the stuff that you can actually understand.

>There's a raccoon at a table, sorting through a bunch of papers. It's like her betting table or something.

>There's also a squirrel sitting in a lawn chair with an ice cooler who sells snacks and drinks.

> You walk over and buy yourself a can of Dr. Bepper.

>She sells them for 1.50 but you get yours for a dollar.

>You crack open your cold one and plant your butt in your throne.

>It's good to be king.

>You sit and chat with your friends until it's about time to start.

>The Circle forms up and Lewis steps inside.

>"Alright, welcome back." He says with that infinitely bored look. "It's gonna be another good day. So let's get to it. Who's stepping in the Circle?"

>"I am!" booms a voice that you know.

>Who else but Benji Blackrock moves his way into the Circle.

>"And I want the King's crown!" he says looking straight at you, fire in his eyes.

>You stare at him blankly, and idly finish the last of your Dr. Bepper, before you stand up and move into the Circle.

>You feel fucking amazing today, you are going to demolish this goddamn cowman.

>"Alright." Lewis says, nodding to both of you. "Let's get into it. What you gotta say?"

>"Didn't catch you round here yesterday." Benji starts. "Thought you heard early I was comin' to fuck you up, so you ran away."

>"Look, I'm gonna need you guys at the tent to be ready!" you shout towards the nurse station.

>"Man you're the one gonna need a nurse when I fucking gore you!

>"Pfft on what? The little nubs you call horns? I don't think you're gonna be getting any use out of those, but it's okay. I hear some girls, like 'em small." You let out a taunting chuckle at those last words, and a few in the crowd join in.

>"At least when I take your spot from you, you'll have plenty of time to scratch your ass and swing from trees." he throws back. He looks a bit flustered.

>Size taunts mess with everybody, no matter who they are.

>"You know Benji, when I knock you out, I think I'll use my Right to make you get a tattoo. It'll say 'Property of Lonkhorn Steakhouse.'"

>He huffs, and you think you can actually see a cloud of steam exit his nose.

>"Alright alright." Lewis says, cutting the smack talk segment. "It's time, you ready?" He looks at Benji.

>Benji brings his hands up and nods.

>He looks at you. "You ready?"

>"You get into a fighting stance as well and nod.

>"Alright. Let's." He brings his hand up and throws it straight down, signalling the fight to begin. "Fight!"

>You are fucking dominating this bull.

>He hits kinda hard, and he doesn't telegraph his attacks like a certain lion.

>But even when he hits you it's like getting tagged by a damn water balloon.

>Goddamn this Lin buff is actually amazing!

>It fuels you, propelling you to a higher plane of excellence!

>He goes for a right hook but you block it and counter with a well placed uppercut(not a crazy one like you did last time, you've learned your lesson).

>You then tag him twice in his big, protruding pot belly.

>He swings with his left now but it goes wide and you duck under it.

>You drive your elbow into his gut and he doubles over trying to catch his breath.

>You throw a few punches to his exposed face, but through the assault he grabs on to your shirt.

>He pulls you toward him and throws you back in an impressive display of strength.

>You almost reach the other end of the Circle, but you steady yourself in time.

>The spectators are standing there, ready for you to come into their reach.

>Like a school of ravenous piranhas, ready to shred you to bits if you so much as step an inch into their space.

>Benji is charging toward you, shoulder out like a bull shaped battering ram made of meat and rage.

>You stand and face him, ready to intercept his charge.

>. . . Psych.

>You dive forward, low to the ground and go right through his legs as he attempts to shoulder check you.

>And right into the Circle.

>A few humans and anthros latch on to him like a writhing mass of undead.

>They punch and kick him in various places until he manages to free himself.

>He turns around a bit slowly, and there you are waiting for him, poised to deliver a heavy kick to the chest.

>This. Is. Towngrove!

>You kick him right back into the Circle and once again they set upon him.

>They lay into him like a giant punching bag with horns and hooves.

>He's getting gassed, you can see it in his face.

>But he's still got some fight in it.

>Time to beat the fight from his paltry flesh!

>You wait for the crowd to finish mangling him, and once he finally sets himself free, you're on him again.

>You jam your fist into his gut again and he doubles over, but still stands upright.

>He's still hunched over but he manages to tag you with a fist to the cheek.

>You spit a bit of blood from your mouth, that punch kinda hurt.

>Your hands go up to grab, and he notices this, blocking his neck with his arms.

>But you're not aiming for the neck. He's got too much muscle in that area anyway, you likely wouldn't be able to maneuver him around anyway.

>No, your hands go up and clasp on to his horns.

>They barely even fit in your hands, that's just sad.

>You pull down on his poor excuse for horns and simultaneously throw your knees into his nose.

>He tries to push you off of him, but you step slightly out of range of his hands until his arms fall limply to his side, then you reclose the gap and continue firing knees into his nose.

>"Stahb, stahb, I'b dun!" comes his nasally, lispy voice.

>You release his nubs and he drops to his knees, hands coming up to hold his nose, which is leaking blood.

>Lewis steps forward. "Welp there we have it. Your winner and still King of the Circle, Anon."

>The crowd explodes with cheers, but one is louder and more clear than the rest.

>It actually startles you, so you look over and Bree is standing in the front lines of the Circle, cheering with her phone aimed toward you.

>You guess she was recording it.

>Which would make sense, it was a new challenger, she probably wanted to save the moment of a completely new victory.

>You grin and look out to the crowd.

>You pound your chest with your right hand a few times, then as you turn in slow circles you throw your hands to the sky in imitation of the pose from that one wrestling heel.

>What was his name? Randall Orthon?

>Whatever, his pose is cool so you do it.

>Bree is cheering even louder as you show off.

>You walk over to Benji and extend your hand to him.

>"Good fight, Benji."

>He looks up at you. Then he wipes the blood on his hands into his shirt before taking your hand.

>You help him stand and when he's up, hands still locked, you shake.

Good sportsmanship is important.

>"Gud fied, Anom." He says, trying to staunch the blood. "Negs tibe doe, Ima gedchu."

>"I won't doubt it man. Go get some tissues or something from Hannah and Grace, make sure your nose ain't broken."

>He nods and hobbles off toward the nursing tent.

>Hannah and Grace are both college students, studying to become nurses, so they're applying what they're learning.

>They also give general first aid tips to people who want to know, just in case they can't show up.

>They taught Lewis, they're also teaching this freshman human girl and sophomore cat dude, because they're interested.

>Maybe the presence of the Circle is what drives these people to seek careers in the healing field?

>Watching people get hurt is a good reason to try and make them not hurt.

>And your dad calls these fine ragamuffins, neanderthals.

>Back to your seat, you fist bump some people who come to congratulate you.

>Verne and Mikael pat you on the shoulders with looks of pride.

>Bree strides up to you looking like she wants an autograph or something.

>"Oh man Anon that was great! You looked real good out there. Like even better than normal. You were flowing like water, like Brace Lee or something."

>"I know I felt pretty good too." you say as you stretch your arms straight up, noting to yourself that those visits to Lin's shop definitely need to become a regular occurrence now. "Hey, were you recording that fight?" you asks you remember her with her phone out.

>"Oh uh, yeah. I kinda record all your fights. Just for myself you know! I don't post them anywhere, I remember you saying that your dad doesn't really like you here, so I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

>Huh. You know you told your buddies that, but did you tell Bree? Eh, she probably just overheard it at some point.

>"Is that. Okay?" she asks, head turned down and violet lights peering up at you.

>She looks like she'd pour the sadness from her eyes if you said no.

>"It's fine, the Circle is a place of sport and entertainment, who am I to deny you your form of entertainment? So I'm fine with it." you give her a smile, and she smiles back.

>"As long as it's only my wins!" you add. "You have to delete any of my fights if I actually lose, okay?"

>She laughs. "Yeah right, at this point it's impossible to imagine you losing. You're gonna be the King until you have to hand over the title. No one's going to take it from you."

>She's right. You've held onto it for this many years, what's a few more at this point?

>Let them try to take your crown from you. They will try, and they will fail.

>Lewis calls for more fighters and to your surprise Mikael jumps up.

>You guess watching you fight a new challenger has awoken the boiling blood of his ancient ancestors or whatever.

>He gets put up against this other human. A junior and a part of the football team, judging by his letterman.

>But he's not swole or anything so he must be one of the runner guys.

>Mikael poses low with his hands out and up, kinda like some sort of angry mythological beast.

>The football guy has his hands right in front of his face and is swaying left to right, like a boxer.

>dempseyroll.exe

>Not quite, it's kind of just a bob and weave. But he fights like a boxer.

>Mikael dodges, or takes hits he can't seem to dodge.

>What people forget, is that even though most people throw punches and kicks in here, there is nothing that says you can't use tactics other than punches and kicks.

>The champion before you, a bear named Jayce, fought like a straight up tv wrestler. His favorite move to game end his opponents was a pedigree.

>He went to college right after his senior year and moved away, so there was a tournament for the champ spot, which you won.

>Mikael here, fights with submission holds.

>And he is really fucking good at them.

>Once he catches you in one, it's easier to just accept your fate and tap out than fight that losing battle.

>You've likened him to a boa constrictor once he latches on to someone.

>He referred to himself as Jormungandr.

>Which is apparently just a big viking snake, so you were still right the first time.

>But the poor guy currently fighting him, or more correctly, losing to him, is clearly learning how monstrous Mikael is.

>He's got him in an armbar that looks like he's about to dislocate his whole shoulder.

>Arms should not bend to such an angle.

>After about two minutes of futile struggling, the football kid taps out.

>Mikael stands, laughs and says something in viking speak that you don't understand.

>The girls are whooping and cheering and chanting his name as he fucking soaks it all up.

>Bree however is on her phone, completely removed from the cheering.

>As you're glancing at Bree, you notice something that catches your eye.

>A blur of pure white walks from the front to the back of the Circle and is lost in the crowd.

>It was short too, about Bree's height.

>Who was that? You don't remember seeing anybody with pure white hair and fur like that.

>Well, in the back of your mind you can kind of remember somebody looking like that. But who was it?

>Somebody you know, or at least have met.

>But you're drawing a blank. Whatever, not important, and if it is, it'll come to you later.

>You kick back and enjoy the rest of your time at the Circle before it draws to a close.

>You make your way home, and do the normal nightly things you do for the rest of the day, before it's time to clean up and hunker down.

>Tomorrow is Friday, and therefore it's almost time to enjoy dicking around for the weekend.

>You think back to that white form you saw one last time before you drift off to sleep.

>You wake to the sound of your alarm.

>It's another beautiful day.

>You don't feel as stellar as you did yesterday.

>Guess the Ultra Instinct you got from Lin only lasts for a day.

>You briefly consider going again today, just for the possibility of feeling amazing for Saturday.

>You decide against it though.

>That's how addiction starts!

>You do your dailies and get ready to head to school.

>You pull your scooter out. Good ol' Bonda PCX.

>You affectionately named it Yulia.

>It's a nice name, and it stuck with you ever since you played this game where this crazy merchant tried to kill you while screaming that name.

>You check your tank, gonna need to fuel up eventually.

>But it'll last you the rest of the day.

>Off you go to school, to power through the day.

>Day goes by pretty smooth, and before you know it, the final few minutes of your last class of the day are inching by.

>The weekend tension in the room is palpable.

>No one's really paying attention to the lesson as Mr. Warburton drones on a bit.

>Even he's not fully present at the moment.

>Benji throws his head into his arms to act as a pillow as he lays down on the desk.

>But as he does, you look past him and notice.

>A small white shape.

>Hmmmmm.

>Is that. Who you saw yesterday?

>Oh yeah, now you remember!

>You had a classmate like that.

>It's this kinda short rabbit.

>Snow white fur, so it could definitely be who you saw.

>She sits all the way in the front right of the class, and you're closer to the back left.

>Benji is smack dab between you, and as big as he is, you can't see passed him.

So all this time, she's been out of your line of sight.

>What's her name again? Martha? Mary Anne?

>Something like that, but you've never exchanged words with her so you aren't too sure.

>In fact, this is really the first time you've actually laid eyes on her, besides the occasional side glances as she wanders into class after you.

>Does she go to the Circle? Apart from yesterday you can't really remember her ever being there.

>You close your eyes and dig deep for a memory of spotting her before yesterday, but come up empty.

>You shrug to yourself and open your eyes.

>You cast your gaze back in her direction, and a flash of blue and a slight head turn back to the front of the class are the reward for your perception.

>Was she looking at you?

>She's resting her cheek in her hand and bouncing her leg like she's nervous.

>Or anxious?

>The bell shakes you back to attention, you grab your things and put them away.

>When you glance back up she's already packed up and out of there.

>Man, she's fast. But she's a bunny, so y'know, understandable.

>You didn't get a good look at her even.

>Now that you think about it, this is probably the most attention you've ever given that rabbit, and it was only for like 5 minutes.

>Shit you don't think you've ever actually caught a glimpse of her face.

>You wouldn't even know her eyes were blue if she hadn't been looking over her shoulder.

>But you don't attribute it to being a poor social classmate, just to the fact that you don't deeply concern yourself with people who aren't close to you.

>You know your friends, and even though Bree isn't exactly a friend(more like a good acquaintance), you talk to her quite a bit, so you can remember details about her.

>Mary Beth though(is that her name?) you have no idea because you don't associate with her.

>Whatever, you're getting a little too deep in your mind there, pal.

>You walk to your locker to meet up with your buddies to make plans for the weekend.

>"It's finally Friday." Lewis states calmly.

>"Yes... Finally here." Verne adds with the same lax tone.

>"Friday night." you and Mikael both conclude, looking to the school ceiling, knowing and understanding etched into your faces.

>You can practically hear the 80's disco music blaring in your ears as you all walk down the hall side by side to the school entrance.

>"So what are we planning?" Verne asks as you all stand under the Siamese tree.

>"We should go to that chicken place with the amazing bread." Mikael states.

>"You mean Ragin' Kanes?" you ask.

>"Yeah that's it. That place is amazing."

>"Okay, that sounds like a lunch plan. What about after?"

>"Oh no, that's all I had, I just really want the chicken." he shrugs.

>"You know they finished renovating the arcade in TIM." Lewis chimes in. "We could go there, check it out, see what's up."

>"I'm down for that!" Verne agrees.

>"Verne, you're down for everything all the time." you chide.

>He shrugs. "I'm easily pleased."

>"Yeah I bet you are." you say in a mocking tone. "Alright, Kane's and then the TIM. About lunchtime, so noon? That the plan?"

>Everybody nods, your plans for tomorrow effectively established.

>"Alright good. What about today? You know where I'll be, but what about you guys?

>I'm going, same as always." Lewis remarks.

>Verne nods along. "I'll go too, maybe I'll get to see you whip some more ass."

>Mikael also agrees with an eager nod. "I've got my car today, so I'll give you bums a ride. We'll see you there Anon, since I'm sure you have your scooter."

>You nod and part ways, heading to your scooter.

>"Heeey Anon." comes the familiar voice of your number one fan.

>You turn on a dime and about face and find Bree walking up behind you.

>You continue walking backwards while facing her.

>"Hey Bree, what's up."

>"You going to the Circle today?" she asks. Like always.

>"Yes maa'm I am. What about you?"

>"I'm going if you are."

>You look around and don't see her friend with her.

>"You by yourself today?" you probe.

>"Oh yeah, Rocky had something to do today, so I'll just be watching by myself."

>"How do you usually get there? You drive?" you continue your questioning.

>"Nah, I walk. Just barely got my permit, so I'm still hoofing it around."

>You snicker.

>Hoofing it AH-HYUCK

>"Well, I've got my scooter, since we're going the same way, you wanna hitch a ride?"

>She stares at you, taking a moment to register what you said.

>"You sure?" she asks, doe eyes wide and a drop of too much excitement in her voice.

>"Yeah," you shrug. "Granted it's not technically a '2 person seater'." you say wiith exaggerated air quotes. "But the back part is made of seat material, so you can still sit on it. Just be careful with your feet, y'know."

>"Okay sure, I'll ride with you! I mean uh, yeah sure, that's cool, thanks." She puts her hands behind her back and kicks a rock on the ground, trying to look a little more aloof.

>Maybe she's excited to ride the scooter? It's not a motorcycle or anything, it's not that cool.

>Maybe new experiences just excite people regardless of what they are.

>You walk to your scooter with Bree.

>You remove the chain, climb on and start it up.

>You offer her your hand to help her up, she is kinda vertically challenged after all.

>It wouldn't be impossible for her to get on herself, but your dad also taught you to be a gentleman.

>Hold doors, give 'em your jacket if they're cold.

>You have no girls to be a gentleman towards so you take the chances as you get them.

>She climbs on, close to height level with you at the moment, since the part she's sitting on is a bit elevated.

>"You ready?" you call out behind you.

>She bends and loops her arms around you, with a quiet but firm "Yes."

>You chuckle a bit. "It's not a motorcycle Bree, you won't have to hold on for dear life. It doesn't go very fast, you can just put your hands on my shoulders to keep steady."

>"O-oh, right, my bad." she says with a bit of hesitation in letting you go, before putting her hands on your shoulders.

>Hm, maybe you should've let her be. She did seem excited to take this ride, you might've dampened her enjoyment a bit now.

>Plus the skinship(can you still call it skinship if one party has fur?) was pretty nice, you will admit.

>Oh well the deed is done.

>You pull off and ride toward the Circle.

>The ride down is quick and before you know it you've arrived.

>You help Bree down.

>"Than- uh, thanks for the ride, Anon." she says, looking pretty giddy.

>"No problem." you respond. "I don't mind giving you rides while you're on your own. If we're both headed to the Circle, might as well."

>"Really? I'll hold you to that."

>"And I'll hold you to giving me rides once you get your license." you grin at her.

>"I'll give you, all the rides you want." she says, squinting her eyes a bit at you..

>There was uh, something in the way she said that, that makes you double take.

>You go to say something before she interrupts with "You know, cuz you're the King! Like you can use your Right to make people give you rides to places and stuff, haha!"

>"... Oh yeah, that's right." You laugh, of course that's what she meant.

>Bree is kind of a dork sometimes.

>When you first met her, you expected her to be like a little edgy, or brooding when you saw the way she dressed.

>Turns out she's actually pretty bubbly and upbeat, and kind of a doof sometimes.

>It makes you glad, you probably wouldn't get along with her if she were as much of a punk as her outfits suggest.

>"Anyway Bree, I'ma go settle in, I'll be seeing ya." you say as you start towards your tradition of grabbing one of those ice cold Dr. Beppers and planting your butt on your seat.

>"Alright Anon, I'll be seeing you. I'll make sure to record your next victory! "she shouts as you walk off.

>You throw a fist up and out to your side in quiet resolve.

>You're sitting in your seat and have downed your third Dr.Bepper.

>Soda addiction is real.

>A few fights have gone on, but nothing especially exciting.

>Not every day is a cavalcade of excitement, but it's all still entertaining.

>There's an intermission, people are chatting.

>Someone's playing old school hip hop on the speakers again, but like even more old school than the last time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgLEj0LBRZo

>Geez, who the fuck gave this man the aux?

>At least it's currently a song that fits with the Circle.

>You wonder what's taking Lewis so long to call the next fight, when you look over and see him.

>And he's talking to a white rabbit.

>Wait wut.

>He's got his attention on them, and nodding.

>Then he looks up, and sees you looking in his direction.

>For the first time in ages, the bored look of his shifts to one of amusement.

>It can't be.

>After the music dies down he steps up and commands the Circle's attention.

>"Alright alright everybody listen up! Day's winding down so let's get into it quick. We got us one more fight for the night, and what else would it be for but our very own King's crown."

>He can't be serious.

>"Some of you may not have seen this fighter around, which is fine, they don't step in to the Circle very often. But when they do, they put in serious work. And now they've decided it's time to dethrone the King."

>Is he really doing some kinda hype entrance?

>"So let's get into it. Step up Anon, and come defend your crown."

>You're a bit confused, but you stand and walk forward anyway.

>The crowd cheers as you stand and you do that fancy pose again as you soak up the hype.

>"You're going against someone you've never fought, and not only that. You've never seen them fight either. The odds may be against you, but no king should be easily routed. And don't pull your punches just because it's a girl, or you'll be in for it."

>Oh hell, it can't be. It must be. It really is gonna be.

>" Give it up, for our next would be usurper, Mirabelle Dunwick."

>He steps out of the way, and lo and behold, that white rabbit from your science class, strides up, emanating confidence.

>So her name's Mirabelle. Eh, you were kinda close.

>The crowd is cheering and whistling, eager to see this challenger fight.

>You haven't seen her fight once, she literally must've only stepped in when you weren't here.

>Judging by his look, and that hype speech, this must be the one Lewis was talking about when he texted you a few days ago.

>You wanna laugh, it's a bunny. And she's short, she's like barely a few inches taller than Bree.

>He can't seriously think this is what ends your streak, you've fought Caesar and Benji!

>You look at him, trying to confirm what it is you're seeing.

>The bored look is back on his face, but he looks to you and nods.

>You shake your head, and use this time to finally get a better look at this rabbit.

>This is quite honestly the first time you've ever laid eyes on her face to face.

>You look straight at her, trying your best to scowl and look unimpressed, but.

>You look at her, and.

>You look, and.

>...Uhh. Huh.

>She's kinda. Cute?

>No scratch that, she is really cute.

>Her hair is just as white as the rest of her body, cut kind of short, the back of it barely reaches the nape of her neck, from what you can see. Her bangs kind of, dive into the center of her head and land between her eyes in this sort of fluffy triangle, the rest of it wraps around the sides and back of her head.

>Her ears are currently laying down behind her head.

>Is she lop eared? You aren't sure, you think some bunnies can just flatten their ears like that when they want.

>They're currently behind her and pinned together with like a scrunchie or something.

>It's like a ponytail, but with her ears, it's kinda sporty and cute.

>They weren't like that when you saw her earlier.

>Probably to keep them from flopping around as she fights.

>Or to avoid as a weak point to attack.

>Alright focus, move on. You look into her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction at the moment.

>That look of confidence has been replaced with a grim scowl full of determination.

>It's not intimidating in the slightest, you think. Actually it's kind of cute.

>Her eyes are.

>Big and blue.

>Deep as the ocean.

>They're pulling you in, glorious azure gemstones that-

>Focus my guy, what's wrong with you?!

>Moving on, you cast your eyes further downward.

>Little button nose, standard bunny thing.

>Her lips are.

>Unblemished, and a light dab of pink.

>Soft, enticing.

>You stare. A little longer than you mean to.

>You blink your focus back to the forefront of your mind, and glance up, hoping she didn't catch you staring so hard.

>She's still looking dead at you, that scowl on her face.

>She must think you're sizing her up, not checking her out.

>Wait, you are sizing her up, you aren't checking her out!

>...Right?

>You scratch your head vigorously with your left hand, trying to rend the strange thoughts from your scalp.

>Stretch, limber up, get some blood circulating.

>At almost the same time as you, she also begins stretching.

>One knee is bent and the other leg is extended far right.

>Then the other leg.

>She's got, pretty nice legs.

>She's a rabbit man, all they are is legs.

>And she's wearing these shorts that really fucking show them off.

>She stands back up and reaches straight toward the sky.

>Minimal chest extended.

>She's got this pink fitted crop top that shows off a generous amount of her midriff.

>Thighs save lives.

>Midriffs can stop wars.

>This bunny's body is delivered unto us by the Messiah.

>And you, are actually losing your mind!

>Why is she commanding so much of your attention at this very moment?!

>This may be the first time you've really seen her for good, but she's just a living being like everyone else.

>This doesn't make sense.

>You've heard snakes and other reptiles can get into your head with their eyes, but can rabbits somehow do that with their entire being?

>She peels off her denim jacket and tosses it casually behind her.

>Her arms aren't crazy toned or defined. But then again, neither are yours and you knocked out a lion with an uppercut.

>You're running your eyes over her again.

>Once, twice, three times.

>Looking for a weakness you can exploit, a bruise from a previous match you can focus.

>You are looking for weaknesses right?

>You don't even register that someone has been talking to you, until he walks up and taps you on the shoulder.

>Lewis is looking at you, with a deep look of concern.

>"You uh. You good man?" he asks, eyebrow raised as high as physically possible.

>"Of course." you lie as naturally as you breathe.

>Lewis does not look convinced, so apparently it wasn't natural enough.

>"Alright, if you say so." is the only thing he says though, before walking back to his place.

>He looks to the both of you.

>"Alright. Let's get into it. What you gotta say?"

>She gets a word in before you do.

>Goddamn bunnies being all fast and shit.

>"Man you were looking kinda worried for a bit there. Lemme guess. You could clearly understand the fact that I'll be sitting in your seat very soon, and the idea scared you."

>Oh man, her voice is melodious, gentle and sweet, but with a vibrancy that-

>FOCUS you monkey brained bastard!

>You scan said monkey brain for a good taunt. You have never had to fight a rabbit, so you aren't pulling up anything too stellar, but you've gotta say something.

>Look Thumper, who even let you in here? I'm pretty sure there should be a height requirement." you say, motioning with your hand like you're measuring her height to yours. "Like, I won't have a shoe box big enough for you if something goes wrong."

>"Oh well, should be fun for you at least. I hear a lot of guys are into getting completely dominated by smaller girls." She bounces her eyebrows at you with a smirk.

>The crowd 'ooh's at you, that was kinda good, you admit.

>"Look, I really don't have time for your games here. I'm trying to get some real fights in. So why don't you jump to the moon, little bunny? Save me the time of having to lay you down like an arrow in the neck."

>"Why don't you fall out of your tree, little monkey? Save me the time of having to kick you out of it."

>"How did you even manage to make it all the way to fight me? ... Must be the feet, no other explanation. I might have to lob one off and keep it as a charm once I put you in the dirt."

>The crowd feigns sounds of mock pain. Sometimes getting gruesome produces results.

>A remnant of the bygone ages of conflict and hate.

>She lifts one of her feet and twists it left to right, examining it.

>She's got a nice clean pair of lowtop Duck Baylor's.

>Bans are for comfort. Chonvers are for style.

>She plants her foot back on the ground before she says, "Dude, you could take both of them if you want." She pauses and gives a sassy smirk, before adding, "They still wouldn't help you get lucky."

>The crowd goes ballistic at that one.

>buti'mnotarapper.gif

>You actually physically grip at your chest, like the words just punctured your heart.

>Mortality clarified in a single strike!

>You look around frantically, as if your next sick burn is out there waiting for you to notice it.

>But nothing comes.

>Damn, she got you good with that one.

>Granted you set yourself up for it, but still!

>"Alright, alright." Lewis calls, attempting to settle the crowd down and have them reform. "It's time. You ready?" he asks, looking at Mirabelle.

>She nods and brings her hands up a bit, bouncing forward and back in these little itty bitty short hops.

>Some kinda mobile stance, you don't know. It sure would've been good to learn moves and styles so that you could deal with them if you saw them.

>Oh well, it hasn't hindered you so far.

>Lewis turns to you. "You ready?" he asks.

>You take a deep breath, bring your hands up, look over at him and nod.

>He brings his hand up. "Then let's," he says as he brings it sharply back down. "Fight!"

>You take a few steps in.

>You don't know what she's about so you're just gonna go on the offensive and hope it pans out.

>You get right up to her and throw the quickest jab you can muster in an attempt to tag her right in the nose.

>Your jab comes out and she is no longer in the vicinity of your fist.

>wat

>She's actually beneath you, you didn't even see her dodge.

>Before you can register any other movements she pulls her uno reverse card and tags you right in the nose.

>You freeze dead in your tracks, and slowly stand to your full height.

>You slowly turn your head to look at Lewis.

>He's glancing wide eyed, like he blinked and almost missed what just happened.

>He looks at you and asks, "You okay?"

>"Yeah." you say with a bit of disbelief. "Just needed someone else to confirm that that was actually something that just happened."

>He gives a few vigorous nods.

>"Mkay, great just checking."

>She's fast as fuck boi!

>This is definitely how she wins her fights.

>You can't lose if you dodge literally everything.

>You look back at her, she's surprisingly given you the time to process that she just dodged and punched you in the span of less than a second.

>She's smiling at you, this cheeky grin.

>That smile makes you pause too.

>It strangely makes the inside of your chest like, itch or something.

>This is no time to be distracted by the rabbit's attractive qualities, you must fight.

>You are a King, you won't be defeated by an adorable little rabbit!

>You throw another punch and surprise surprise, she dodges it and throws 2 punches into the side of your chest.

>This repeats for a while, you swing, she bobs and fires, you swing again, she weaves and fires.

>Her punches aren't hitting too severely, but she's managing to clip you in the exact same spot twice in a row every time she dodges a swing and lets loose with her own.

>Sooner or later, that's gonna build up and become critical target spots.

>A few more iterations of this losing battle, and you decide you're going to have to change up your tactics.

>It's time for the legendary combat technique.

>Feinting.

>You step back to reposition yourself, then step forward and bring your hand up and fire off a punch.

>However, you pause mid swing.

>She caught the beginning of the swing and preemptively dodged in an effort to get into position for her counter punches.

>But since you didn't commit to your swing, she's effectively left herself open for a split second, which is enough for you to correct your trajectory and launch the punch which cracks across, her cheek.

>The force of your punch knocks her off balance and she falls to the side.

>She doesn't have much constitution, which is why she's dodging everything.

>Like a video game rogue or something.

>A few solid hits could take her out.

>Likewise you know from your science classes the points on most anthros that would be considered weak points.

>The nose like Benji, the legs, the neck.

>For rabbits it's the chest.

>If you can clinch, a few solid blows to the chest could give you the win, easy.

>If you can manage to grab her that is, she is still pretty fast.

>And shorter than you, a clinch might be tough, she might just duck out of your grasp.

>You throw a few more punches, some real, some feinted, in an effort to keep her guessing.

>Some do their job, but all in all, she's starting to get a read on what you're committing to and what you're about to feint.

>So you mix it up again.

>You throw a feint into a real punch, but as she dodges you use the momentum to follow up with a kick that catches her in the hip.

>Those well-rounded hips.

>She's modest up top, but her lower half has got it going on.

>Unfortunately, you distracted yourself long enough for her to punch you in the gut, causing you to take a few steps back.

>So you couldn't capitalize on the momentum from your kick.

>It's alright, you have a plan.

>You just need to stick to the plan.

>The fight continues, you get a few decent hits in, but so does she.

>All those minor punches she's been landing to your chest area are starting to weigh in.

>You haven't found a good chance to reel her in for the Clinch yet.

>You take a swing, but your footing was bad and you end up hobbling a few steps forward.

>But she doesn't take a swing, no.

>You look up and notice, her feet are not touching the ground.

>In fact she's currently nowhere near the ground.

>She jumped up, and lashes her leg out, kicking you right in the side of the head, before she falls on to her back and does that martial arts kick back on to her feet.

>That kick dazed you a bit, you find yourself getting a few feet away from her.

>She's not moving right? It must be you.

>Yeah, you're backpedaling.

>You stop, just in time as you look back and see the edge of the Circle, ready and waiting to rip and tear into you.

>Okay, so just like a rabbit, her legs are strong and her kicks are vicious. As long as you avoid those, you'll be fi-

>You turn towards her just in time to see her launching toward you.

>She jumps and extends her foot.

>It's less like she delivered a kick into your chest and more like she brought her foot into your chest and used her momentum to push you with it.

>Push you right into the Circle.

>They waste no time, a human on your left and a big cat type(a panther you think, but you can't tell from this angle) link their arms under yours and hold you down.

>Mirabelle walks up, cracking her little knuckles, and proceeds to literally body you, throwing all kinds of punches into your very exposed torso, before she turns on her heel and throws a reverse wheelkick into your side.

>The traitorous peasants finally release you after that, and you fall to your knees, the air escaping you and refusing to return.

>At some point your hair tie must've snapped or come loose, because now your hair is falling into your face, getting stuck on the sweat.

>You're losing momentum.

>The crowd is cheering and screaming at you to get up. You look out and see Bree throwing her fist in the air with her phone out.

>This is a really good fucking fight.

>The pain is secondary, the weird mental state Mirabelle has afflicted you with, in this one transcendent moment, none of that comes to you.

>The only thing your brain calls to attention, is that you are enjoying yourself.

>You haven't had this much fun in a fight in a while.

>All your fights are fun of course, but this one. This is different, it feels unique.

>You stand up and turn to face Mirabelle, sliding your hair back and out of your face as best you can.

>She looks shocked for a moment.

>And you know why.

>You're grinning.

>Not because you know you're going to win, but because you're enjoying yourself.

>She grins back at you, and there's that itchy chest feeling again.

>You ignore it though, this isn't time for that, whatever it is.

>You barrel forward and throw a combination of punches and kicks, watching, waiting, biding your time. She counters with a few punches of her own, but you eat those up and continue swinging.

>Eventually you see it.

>She misstepped during a dodge and slips backward over herself.

>And you set upon her, like a blood starved vampire stalking a lone maiden in the dead of night.

>You reach your hands down and around her and grab her in the Clinch.

>The crowd erupts in cheers.

>They know the rules, and so do you.

>You rear your leg back, poised to deliver swift and royal judgement upon this poor excuse for a usurper.

>But she's doing something weird.

>Her arms are straight up and close to her body, stiff as boards, her elbows are almost touching.

>She's gonna block your knees?

>You throw a knee in an effort to soften her up, and as it comes to connect, her leg also shoots up and comes to guard her.

>You throw a few more knees and the arms and leg stay put, softening the blow.

>She's become some weird wall of bunny flesh.

>>You shift to the other leg in an effort to shake her up, and the left leg goes down, the right one comes up.

>She's literally blocking all your knees this way, it's kinda weird but also impressive.

>She's got peak balance too, you try to throw her around to get the legs down, but she either stays upright, or takes short hops in the direction that you move her to stay upright.

>Maybe if you clock her in the side of the head, she'll loosen up from the daze.

>That turned out to be a mistake, as attempting to punch, basically means releasing half your grasp in the Clinch, and as you pull back to swing, the bunny in your clutches is no longer there.

>Well, she is. But she's low to the ground, in a pose like she's about to leapfrog or something.

>That wasn't too far off the mark.

>It was more like a bunny hop, kek

>As she springs up and throws an uppercut so fierce it puts your previous one to shame.

>She's shooting into the air, like a literal rising dragon.

>You get thrown back, and you slump to your knees, turned away from where you think she's landing.

>Your jaw hurts, the world is pulsing.

>Or is that just your heartbeat in your ears?

>You will yourself to your feet, and turn slowly towards her, trying not to turn too fast or else you might collapse from the twisting of the space in your eyes.

>But as you do, you look out in a strange fusion of terror and awe.

>Like a man witnessing the end of the world before his very eyes.

>It''s happening in slow motion.

>At least it seems like slow motion.

>Mirabelle is coming towards you.

>But she's not on the ground.

>She's tucked into herself like a cannonball.

>... Since when can rabbits fly?

>And then the detonation of agony invades your being.

>All those mediocre punches were just the buildup for this game ending devastation.

>Her legs come out and blast into your chest like rocket propelled sledgehammers.

>She just dropkicked the life out of you.

>Hard enough that you go almost flying across to the other side of the Circle.

>People have to step out of the way as you come skidding to a stop.

>Sweet merciful baby Jesus, your chest hurts.

>Breathing is a luxury you are not granted.

>You actually hope nothing is broken.

>The world is fading.

>Your ears are ringing, but you somehow managed to catch a scream that sounded like someone just witnessed a murder.

>The air around you is still, as if the world itself is holding its breath.

>You're on your back, trying to roll over, but you feel like every one of your limbs just spawned a malignant growth that weighs 200 pounds .

>You can't even lift your head to see where Mirabelle is.

>But something's approaching into your field of vision.

>It's hard to see through the blurring of the world around you and the dark wisps of hair that are impeding your vision.

>But it's tall, and has antlers.

>Lewis bends down, smooths the hair from your face and looks you in the eyes.

>You look back at him, signaling that you are miraculously still conscious.

>He's staring at you, like he just watched you shoot his parents or something.

>This mix of confusion, fear, and panic.

>His mouth moves, like he has something to say, but doesn't know how to, or doesn't want to say it.

>But say it he does.

>"You done?"

>No.

>Hell no you aren't done.

>You wanna stand back up right this instant and kick that fucking woodland rat's ass.

>But your body is screaming in protest and refusing.

>Your lungs refuse to fill with precious oxygen.

>The limbs will not obey.

>This can't be how it ends.

>You are the Champion, the King!

>You're gonna lose it to this goddamn bunny after all this time maintaining your spot?

>Is this truly how kingdoms fall?

>"You done?" Lewis asks again.

>Words don't come to you.

>You won't say it

>You refuse to say it.

>So you don't.

>You force as much air into your lungs as they will take, and let it out as painfully slowly as you can manage.

>You look right into Lewis' eyes.

>And slowly close your own.

>...You're done.

>When you open them, Lewis is looking like he just watched a nightmare made manifest.

>He slowly stands up, in a way that only a man who has received life altering bad news can.

>He slowly turns his gaze over the crowd, like he's trying to prepare to break bad news to everyone all at once.

>But instead he just comes out and says it.

>"He's done."

>Not a single sound is uttered.

>Until a clatter of plastic hits the concrete.

>Someone dropped their phone from the shock.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Circle." Lewis says slowly, like he's using words he never thought he'd have to say in his lifetime. "The winner, and new Champion of the Circle." He brings his hand up toward her. "Mirabelle Dunwick."

>And still not a single word is spoken.

>The spectators are stunned into silence.

>They just watched their king of three long years, usurped by this 4 and some change foot tall rabbit.

>Out of the corner of your eye, you see her approaching you.

"Ladies and gentlemen." she says. "The King. Is dead."

>She walks right up next to you, and squats down, before patting you on the cheek twice.

>"Long live the King."

>Now, a chorus of madness and hysteria breaks forth as everyone screams and shouts and lets loose their building emotion.

>Lewis picks you up by your arms and drags you to the nurse station before the Circle tramples you as they run in to bombard Mirabelle in congratulations.

>Hannah the cow helps pick you up and set you on the bed thing they have there, and goes about checking to make sure none of your bones are broken or anything serious.

>Seemingly confirming that there are no broken bones, and everything is just your poor flesh bruising, Grace grabs you some ice and some aspirin to take.

>Lewis, and the nurses give you some space to lie back and stay calm.

>Man it hurts.

>Not the wounds, the loss.

>You took victory for granted for so long that a defeat feels like the end of the world.

>God you feel like shit.

>The fight was absolutely fantastic, but you fucking lost, so now all that good feeling means nothing at the moment.

>On top of that weird goddamn itchy feeling in your chest, there's a throbbing pain there, as well as a rolling fire in your belly.

>What the fuck was wrong with you?

>Mirabelle kept distracting you in the weirdest of ways, you can't understand it.

>...Speaking of distracting.

>There's a 4 foot presence peaking in to the tent, violet lights trained squarely on you.

>You're kind of not in the mood for anyone to be around, so you get ready to tell her you want to be alone right now.

>"What. Do you want, Bambi?"

>Whoa man, all wrong what the hell, you save that for inside of the Circle, not out here!

>Even Hannah and Grace look over at you like you went too far.

>You realize what you said and immediately take it back.

>"Oh, my god Bree, I'm really sorry, I don't know why I said that, I didn't mean it, I'm just a bit-"

>"No no, it's okay. I get it. You're pretty upset, you just lost, I understand. I was going to ask if you were going to be okay, but in hindsight that kinda seems like a stupid question to ask, aha. So just forget it, I was never here, hope you get healed up soon Anon. We'll talk later, or something okay?"

>She holds up her hands in surrender and backs away from the tent.

>Fuck man, don't take your losses out on the poor innocent doe.

>You lie in your cot, until the ice from your packs melt.

>These bastards basically threw some kind of congratulations party for Mirabelle, they cranked the music, and got crunk.

>Alright, it's time to go home and soak in a bath or something, you decide.

>Sun's practically gone, Circle should've disbanded a while ago.

>You're about to walk straight to your scooter, but you remember.

>Good sportsmanship is important.

>You hobble into the mass of bodies, and look for Mirabelle.

>She's sitting inn the King's Throne, or you guess it would be the Queen's Throne now, if she decides to retain the whole royal moniker thing.

>You walk over and she looks up at you.

>"It sucks that I lost." you say. "But all in all that was a fantastic fucking time, Mirabelle. Good fight." You extend your hand.

>She looks at your hand before looking up to you.

>She stands up, takes your hand and shakes it.

>"I enjoyed it too, good fight Anon."

>She smiles at you, and it's not like the sassy smirks, or the taunting grins she had been giving you during the fight.

>This one is genuine and filled with honest joy.

>Okay, well, now that weird itch feels like tiny embers, ready to set your entire torso ablaze.

>"Alright well, just keep my seat warm for me, I'll be back to take it soon enough." you taunt her.

>"It's more like, you've been keeping it warm for me, but hey. You're always welcome to come try and take it back, if you aren't worried about getting your chest kicked in again.

>She laughs and it's like listening to your favorite song.

>What the honest hell is wrong with you right now?

>It occurs to you that you're still shaking her hand.

>Well you're kind of just holding it now.

>You kind of don't want to let go?

>But you do.

>It's time to go home, so you jump on your scooter, and head home.

>You don't bother with food, it's late and you don't have much of an appetite.

>You soak in a warm bath for a while, put your PJ's on, and head to bed.

>You wake up after a terrible night's sleep.

>It hurts.

>Not physically, you're used to that, you mean mentally and emotionally.

>You hoped sleeping on it would kind of help your shitty mood.

>Turns out if you go to bed in a shitty mood, you're likely to wake up in a shitty mood.

>Who would've guessed?

>You check the time: 10:40 a.m.

>Geez you don't normally sleep this long, even on weekends. You're usually up at least by 9.

>You're supposed to be meeting your buddies in a few hours.

>But you kind of don't really want to go.

>Maybe you'll just flake today.

>Nah, they're your friends, they did nothing wrong.

>Besides, who knows for how much longer you'll have to hang out with them.

>You only have so many more months before senior year ends, and the split paths of the future arrive.

>Better enjoy the time you have with your closest friends, in case your paths no longer converge.

>You clean yourself up and throw on your classic Anon outfit.

>It's almost lunchtime anyway so you might as well hold out until you all meet up.

>Your phone goes off.

>Lewis texted your group chat with a 'Picking up Verne, then we're on our way to Kane's'

> Verne sends a thumbs up emoji.

>Mikael responds with a picture of that screaming ball with the caption "Let's fucking go'.

>You send the letter K, and that's all.

>You decide to head out as well.

>You still need to fuel up your scooter.

>You grab your keys and wallet, hop on your scooter and head out.

>Today is an ugly day.

>Not really, it's very nice out, but to you it's fucking dismal.

>The sky is no longer as blue, the grass is no longer as green.

>The sun is too hot, the breeze is too weak.

>Is this what it's like to have the Big Sad?

>You reach the nearby gas station and fill up.

>It feels like it takes an hour.

>Time moves too slow.

>After you're done, you check the time: 11:49.

>You're gonna be a few minutes late but whatever.

>You'll probably get there before Mikael anyway, he's never on time.

>You ride off towards Kane's.

>You pull up a few minutes after 12.

>Everyone's already here, even Mikael.

>He was actually on time, wild.

>You get off your scooter and walk up.

>He's got this fake little pout on his face.

>"I told you I wanted this chicken, how could you make me wait?" he says.

>You give him a deadpan stare, channeling the energy of Lewis.

>"Whatever man if you wanted it so bad you could've got in line and ordered."

>He can sense the annoyance in your voice and puts a hand on your shoulder.

>"Will you be okay? We can postpone if you aren't feeling up to hanging out, it's no big deal."

>"No dude, it's fine. I'm just a bit put off. It's like, the same as losing a football game, or breaking your favorite headphones. Nobody died, I just lost a fight, I gotta get over it."

>You look up at him. "Besides I thought you wanted this chicken, you just gonna turn around and go home?"

>"Fuck no. I'd still get my chicken, I'd just go home afterwards." He laughs and shakes you by the shoulder a bit.

>You all walk in and order your food.

>Luckily, Kane's and a lot of meat based food places also have those vegan versions of their food, so Lewis can partake with you without getting something lame, like a fucking salad.

>The boys are talking about something, but once you dive into your food, their voices are a distant murmur.

>You're thinking about Mirabelle, and what you could've done differently in your fight.

>Maybe a ground takedown. You don't use those often but it could have stopped her from dodging and getting free.

>Maybe you should've focused her legs, all her power came from them after all. If you had made it difficult for her to keep her weight up or use her full power with them she may not have devastated you at the end there.

>As you're thinking about her legs, your mind wanders.

>Her legs, up toward her full thighs, climbing to her attractive hips and thin waist. Cascading up to her respectable chest, landing on her face.

>On her face is that smile, the one she gave you when you shook hands.

>Thinking about it seems to mash your bad mood into paste.

>This. Is okay.

>You need to get rid of your bad mood, and in a way, she was the cause of it.

>Maybe it's okay to also use her to get rid of it.

>You still don't really get why you're feeling how you are, but you accept it.

>You allow the thought of her face to travel your mind's eye.

>She's smiling at you, those azure gems of hers gleaming.

>She fades out of focus for a split second before she's back, closer now.

>She's right under you, staring straight at you, smile never leaving her face.

>She's standing on the tips of her toes, but she's still about a foot and a half too short to be level with you.

>But strangely, she's getting closer.

>Those glowing blue lights of her shrink as she closes her eyes.

>And then.

>You feel something smack your nose, and open your eyes.

>You look down and see a single fry on your plate.

>You look up and see all three of your friends staring at you, bewilderment on their faces.

>"My guy we've been trying to get your attention for like 3 minutes." Verne explains.

>"Oh. My bad, I was, uhh," You sigh. "Lost in my thoughts."

>Lewis returns to his bored expression, but has an eyebrow raised, visually questioning you.

>Oh-kay, well we were asking if you were ready to go? It's time to hit that arcade." Mikael tells you, already standing and dusting his shirt off.

>"Oh, right, yeah, okay. To the TIM, I'll meet you there."

>You walk to your scooter, and start it up.

>Before you pull off you catch Lewis looking at you.

>What. Why?

>He moves on to his car, and gets in with Verne in his passenger.

>Eh whatever, on to TIM.

>TIM has everything.

>Kind of.

>It doesn't actually have everything, but it's huge and has a lot, so it's just easier to say it has everything instead of "TIM is huge and has a lot of things, but not all the things."

>It does however, have an arcade, which you and your friends are currently in.

>It's got a kind of retro feel, but it's got some slightly modern cabinets too, they even put in Poc-Man carpet.

>You would be enjoying yourself.

>However your gamer energy is at a big fat zero today.

>You get slapped in Streed Fighter 4, even your kick queen Jury doesn't save you.

>To avoid getting tilted in competitive games you go play some others that don't require you to body or get bodied.

>The transition doesn't help.

>You get killed in the first mission of Medal Slug.

>You couldn't hit jack shit and you kept goobering your cover timing in Thyme Crisis.

>Every time you let your ship get captured in Galiga, you would miss all your shots and fail to save it, wasting a life.

>If there was a Low Score posting in Double Dance Revolution, your name would be on it.

>So all in all, a pretty shit Saturday to bring up the rear on your pretty shit Friday.

>The only thing that manages to salvage your mood, is the 4 man street racing cabinet that you four can play at once.

>Verne and Mikael leave their version in automatic, but you and Lewis use the stick shift input.

>You and Lewis leave Verne and Mikael in the virtual dust.

>You two are neck and neck, but in the end you shift into final gear just a smidge too late and Lewis pulls ahead, winning by a fraction of a second.

>You guys race like 5 times, you manage to beat Lewis once, but only because this little girl was flailing these streamers around and one got caught in his antlers.

>Turns out you had been here longer than you thought, it's almost 6 p.m.

>It was a kind of shit day.

>But enjoying a bad day with your friends, makes it less of a bad day.

>You guys are about to split off when Lewis calls to you.

>"Yo Anon, come here a sec, lemme talk to you.

>You do as asked, and Verne, who was initially waiting for Lewis to unlock the door, now wanders off toward Mikael to give you guys some space.

>"So what do you think of Mirabelle?" he wastes no time in asking.

>"What kind of question is that man?"

>"One that I want an honest answer to."

>"Pfft, okay. I mean, what is there to think? I don't know anything about her, she's just the person who beat me in a fight and took my Champ title from me. Our fight was fun, yeah,, but I lost, so while I respect her, I'm still a little pissed at her. Does that answer it?"

>He takes your words in, letting them linger in the air before saying "I don't think that's all."

>"Okay?"

>"You want to know what I think?"

>You shrug. You probably don't but he's going to tell you.

>"I think you fell for her."

>. . .

>brain.exe has stopped responding

>You angle your head down and blow the biggest raspberry your addled mind and heated face can conceive.

>"WHAT?! My dude are you crazy? How could that even be possible?"

>"I saw it in your face. I have good eyes you know."

>"Like hell you saw anything, what're you talking about?"

>"When you first saw her dude, you had this look on your face like you just watched an angel descend from heaven on high. And I know that look, because I see it all the time."

>You stand there, silent, allowing him to continue.

>My parents have been married for like 20 years or so, and they're still head over heels for each other. Whenever they get ready to go out together, dad'll sit on the couch and wait for my mom, and when she comes down the stairs, he'll give her this look. This kind of 'Oh my god, she's beautiful' look. And it was the same kind of look you were giving Mirabelle when you saw her."

>"So what, I took one decent look at her and I'm smitten? That bullshit doesn't happen in real life."

>"It wasn't just love at first sight." He wags his finger at you. "You've already had enough of an experience with her for your heart to decide that she is what it wants."

>"The hell does that mean?"

>"You thought she was cute, yes. That's the beginning of it. Physical attraction is a key to romance, and no one can pretend it's not. But beyond that, in those few moments during that fight, she put herself on full display in a way, and it enraptured you.

>Alright he's starting to lose you.

>"Let me explain." he says, quickly salvaging his points as he notices the building confusion in your face.

>"You liked her confidence, you liked her sassiness, that tiny hint of flirtiness. You like how she looks, you like how she sounds. Every time she smiled at you, whether they were taunting or what have you, you would give this 'oh my goodness' wide eyed glance."

>Wait is that. Is that true?

>"And on top of all this, she managed to reach you, she managed to beat you. You found your equal, no better than that, you met your match. Someone who would possibly drive you to reach heights you thought you were capped at. Because apparently a good partner is someone who helps you grow, or something."

>Does this. Does this all sound like you?

>Is this bastard speaking the truth?

>How can he know you better than you know yourself right now?

>"So in simple terms," he says, sounding like he's about to wrap up, "She's the queen to your king."

>That line hits you hard.

>Is he right, are you in love?

>You don't know, you've never felt like this before.

>You try and think back to a moment, any moment where you may have had this kind of experience, but you come back empty.

>If it's true, the hell are you supposed to do about it?

>Lewis is looking at you, maybe waiting for you to say something.

>But you don't know what to say, you can barely believe what he's saying.

>He comes forth with more to say, hoping to maybe silence your doubts.

>"I mean, even today, during lunch, you were thinking about her weren't you?"

>Now that spooks you.

>How the actual fuck could he even know that?

>"You had this faraway look in your eye for a bit, but then you started tilting your head down. And leaning forward. And I'll be honest, you looked like you were about to kiss your plate before Mikael bopped you with that fry."

>Oh god, you will never live down this shame.

>"So what am I supposed to do? I've never... Been in love before."

>Even saying those words is a difficult process.

>He shrugs. "I can't tell you. You have to decide for yourself what you want to do. Some hold on to these feelings forever, never making them known, some hold them until it's too late and their moment is lost. Some act on them after a while, and some act in the heat of the moment. You have to figure out what you want to do."

>"... I want to fight her again."

>He has this split second look of, like, disappointment, before he's back to boredom.

>That probably wasn't the answer he was expecting you to give.

>But it's an honest one. And that's what he wanted.

>"What I do afterward, will depend on how I feel after that fight."

>He seems to accept that, as he nods and pats you on the shoulder.

>"Alright well. Do what you will."

>"Dude how do you-" you throw out, grabbing his attention once more.

>"How did you figure all this out? Like, you've got good eyes, but eyes can't see all that, this is deeper than just surface stuff."

>He grins.

>"It's what I'm planning to go to school for. Matters of the mind, matters of the heart. Psychology, counselling, something of that nature. If you don't know what's wrong, or can't tell me, I'm going to have to be able to look deep enough to figure out what's wrong."

>Oh... Wow.

>He whistles to get Verne's attention and nods to his car.

>He unlocks it, climbs into the driver's side and Verne comes up to the passenger.

>Everything good, dude?" he asks.

>"...Yeah man. It's all Jesus."

>He gives you this big silly grin.

"Right on man, right on." he says as he brings his fist up to you.

>You bump it and he gets in Lewis' car.

>Likewise, you head to your scooter.

>You all part ways, but Lewis' words never once leave your mind.

>Not as you get home, not as you lounge around in your bed for a while.

>Not as you search the almighty internet for things like "how to know if you're in love" and "what to do if you fall in love".

>Of course a lot of it is laden with memes and entirely unhelpful.

>You blame your strict diet of memes and shitpost forums clogging your internet browsing so that everything you pull up is meme related or from some place like reedit or 44chan.

>Lewis' words do eventually leave you for a moment as you step into the shower.

>Unfortunately they are replaced by thoughts of Mirabelle.

>While you're in the shower? Oh no.

>You game end the hot water and a chilling cascade of cold assails you, saving you from acquiring any down bad syndrome.

>You actually just met her yesterday, and you just found out you were in love with her like 3 hours ago, you aren't about to have sexy thoughts about her so soon.

>Right?

>That's like a thing you shouldn't do, for the sake of wholesome interactions or something, right?

>Out of the shower, pajamas acquired.

>Into bed, it's time you finish out this day, like you finish many Saturday nights.

>With memes of the dankest variety.

>You also usually end your Saturday nights with porn, buuut after the mental and semi physical berating you just gave yourself, you decide to avoid that, for the obvious reasons.

>A few hours and several dozen Yewtube videos later, it's time for bed.

>You plug your phone in, turn your lamp off, and roll over.

>"She's the queen to your king."

>Those words bounce around your head a few times before you drift off to bed.

>You wake up Sunday morning.

>Rise and shine, give God the glory.

>Or whatever, you aren't super religious.

>You believe in a higher power, but not heavily enough to go to a place dedicated to Him every final day of the week to pray for forgiveness for the sins you did not commit.

>You get up and stretch.

>You're in a better mood than you were yesterday, but you still kind of doubt you're in love.

>Aren't you supposed to wake up and feel amazing, hearing the song of life play its alluring melody?

>Or at least that's what happens in movies. But then again people only fall in love at first sight in movies too.

>So is this real life?

>Whatever, don't get existential.

>You don't have a real plan for the day, so you do what any other teenager would do on a lazy Sunday.

>Besides, y'know, sin.

>Video games and memes.

>Chores are irrelevant in a home with no parental figures to monitor if they're getting done or not.

>You also have to wash your clothes this week so you set them aside for that.

>After getting slapped in a bunch of games just yesterday you don't have any confidence in going into anything online so you play some single player games.

>Since you still haven't finished it, you boot up that game about nuclear fallout in Russia.

>Matro: Exodius.

>Things are going good. You shotgun a monster thing, and then another.

>When you hear the ding of your clothes finishing in the wash, you set them in the dryer and put the next load in.

>By the time all your clothes are done, folded and put away, half the day is gone.

>Time for food, but you don't feel like cooking anything.

>Pizza time, for real this time.

>You pull up the website of your local pizza house and get a supreme with some bread sticks, and have it delivered.

>The gaming continues until your pizza arrives.

>You go to acquire it and pay.

>Delivery boy is a human, but it's usually this mountain lion girl.

>"What happened to Chase?" you ask him.

>"She got promoted." he says back.

>Nice.

>Pizza and bread sticks are like 24 and some change so you give him 25 bucks and slide a 10 in for a tip.

>You and your 10 dollar tips.

>Into the kitchen to plate up and consume.

>You pour yourself a glass of Dr. Bepper and dig in.

>While you eat, you let your mind go.

>When you empty your mind, it fills itself with the visage of a white rabbit.

>You enter this vicious cycle of trying to shake the thoughts out, but contemplating allowing them back in, just for them to invade anyway, so you shake them out.

>It repeats for a while, until you're done eating.

>Maybe Lewis is right, maybe you do love her.

>Or at the very least you like her.

>You're interested in her.

>Fuck it, you'll allow that at least.

>You're attracted to, and very likely interested in her.

>But whether you're interested in her romantically, you will debate vehemently until you have concrete proof.

>You put the leftover pizza and bread away, and head back to your room.

>You sick back at your desk, staring at your computer screen.

>Your game is still paused, but you aren't continuing right now.

>What should you do about the Circle and fighting Mirabelle?

>You're certain that you want to fight her one more time, there's no question about that.

>You kind of want to give the Circle a small break, but you also want to get an outside view of how Mirabelle fights, so you can finally gauge her, without taking all the hits.

>But if you don't go, you won't be able to watch, so therein lies the problem.

>Wait. No, there's a solution.

>Bree!

>She records your fights, she said it herself.

>The only problem is that in jest you told her to delete any fights you lost, so she might have took that to heart.

>You don't have her phone number, and you've never been really big on social media, so you don't have a way to contact her right now.

>Guess you'll just have to wait until after school tomorrow.

>That is, considering she even shows up to talk to you like she usually does.

>You did snap a bit at her, so she might want to give you space, and in that time she could delete the video if she hasn't already.

>It's okay, it's all fine, you'll figure it out as it comes along.

>You play your game some more to take your mind off it, and continue until it's about time for bed.

>Shower, teeth, pajamas.

>You let out a sigh as you crawl in to bed.

>Why do human emotions have to be so complicated?

>The school day practically flies by.

>You couldn't catch any sights of Mirabelle, even though you were actively looking for her.

>And in your science class, there's a giant bull in your way that completely blocks you no matter which way you lean.

>Seriously, what was Mr. Warburton thinking, putting this giant slab of meat right where he is, what about the people behind him?

>It's a human girl with a bored expression that would put Lewis' to shame, using the giant blockade as a cover to play on her phone. Behind her is a spotted hyena who is dead asleep, and finally a horse, who's about as tall as Benji, so he probably doesn't have a problem seeing over him.

>The bell rings and like always, she's up and out in seconds.

>You consider chasing her, but that won't help anything, so you forget it.

>Maybe you should just hit the entrance and hunt for Bree. Well it's more likely that she'll find you first, but same difference.

>However, unable to break tradition, you head to your locker first to meet with your friends.

>Everything proceeds as normal, but as you walk out of the school and tell them that you aren't going to the Circle today, they look at you like you just told them you have cancer.

>However, they seem to understand the reason and don't press the issue.

>You split off and as you're walking to your scooter, slowly in a deliberate attempt to summon a certain doe.

>"Heeey Anon."

>Like clockwork.

>"Bree Willshire, just who I needed to see!" you turn on a dime and look straight at her.

>She looks surprised that you just said that, but quickly regains her composure.

>"O-oh yeah? What makes you say that?"

>"I know I told you to delete them if I ever lost, but did you happen to keep the video of that fight?"

>She looks around a bit, like she's not certain if she should lie to retain the half promise she made with you, or tell the truth in an attempt to help you out.

>"I wanted to study it, see where I went wrong and stuff. I was hoping you still had it."

>"Ohh. Well, um. Yeah I do. I was just so shocked at the moment that I completely forgot about deleting it like you told me. I haven't even watched it either." she confesses.

>"Good, do you think you could send it to me?"

>She perks up.

>"Y-yeah of course, no problem. If you just, w-wanna like, give me your number?"

>" Yeah I- oh. Actually, can you email it to me? I'd rather put it on my computer. With my situation, a video of me fighting in the Circle might be a little safer on my computer than on my phone. Just in case, y'know.

>And now she deflates, like a child who's parents just told them they can't have ice cream.

>"Oh. Yeah. Sure, I understand, I can do that."

>She even sounds sad. Why? Sometimes you really don't understand this girl.

>She have mood swings or something?

>You give her your email address, and after confirming the video came through you thank her.

>"So are you, heading to the Circle today?" the everyday question has arrived. "I'm so looking forward to you mashing that cadbury bastard into paste, but I know you have to win your way back up to challenge her. So you're gonna jump on it right now, right?"

>Bree's use of a bunny based insult kinda takes you aback.

>She didn't seem the type for one, but also you aren't at the Circle, so namecalling shouldn't be getting done.

>Maybe she gets more leeway being an anthro herself.

>"Actually, no. I'm gonna take some time away to work on some stuff. She beat me, which means she's better than me, which means I have to get better myself or I'll just lose again."

>She scoffs. "No one's better than you Anon, she just got lucky this time. I know you'll beat her for sure next time you fight."

>You chuckle. "Thanks for the confidence, Bree. Now I definitely have to win and return to my throne, for you as much as me. Wouldn't be the Anon I am if it weren't for my number one." You shoot fingers guns and a wink at her.

>You left out the word 'fan', but you're sure she knows what you meant.

>Her doe eyes shoot open, and she looks like you just gave her a gift she's been wanting her whole life.

>How powerful words can be sometimes.

>She looks like she wants to say something but the words are caught in her throat.

>However you're not going to wait for them to get unstuck because you're eager to get home and dissect this video.

>"Alright Bree, I'm gonna get going, I'll see you later, thanks again."

>And you make it to your scooter.

>You punch it home.

> As quickly as Yulia will allow, which unfortunately isn't as quick as you would like.

>But eventually you do make it home.

>Homework and everything else can wait, this video requires immediate attention.

>You head to your computer, boot it up, open your email and download the video.

>You turn it on, and it starts at the smack talk segment.

>You skip that, you don't want to hear her clown you a second time.

>But everything else you watch and watch to the end.

>Turned out to be a twenty minute fight, but it felt like several hours.

>Apparently Bree was that banshee scream you faintly heard when Mirabelle almost shattered your entire torso.

>The video goes black after Lewis rises and says "He's done."

>She must've dropped her phone.

>It continues for a few more minutes but it's all blank screen and the noise of celebration until she picks it up and cuts the recording.

>You start it over from the beginning of the fight and watch it, really inspecting every second.

>You play parts over again, frame by frame, to really get an understanding of her movements and yours in those moments.

>You review the video for a few hours.

>You have homework today, you should probably do it.

>Don't want your grades to suffer for your hobby.

>Is it a hobby, or a way of life?

>Either way, you take your backpack and books downstairs with you, so you can have dinner while you work.

>And if you worked at your desk, you'd be too tempted to stop and rewatch the video.

>Leftover pizza consumed and homework completed, your deep analysis resumes.

>And it continues until bedtime.

>For the next week, you spend your time going to class, and heading straight home to review and practice.

>There's not much to practice, a streetfighter doesn't really have proper technique in which to refine.

>You don't even really practice kickboxing, you just pilfered the clinch from the style because you think it's cool.

>So most of your practice is just you attempting to swing faster.

>Mirabelle was fast so you don't honestly expect to be able to match her in terms of speed, but you don't have much else you can bank on.

>Bree still asks every day if you'll be going to the Circle.

>Guess tradition ingrained into you for years is hard to break.

>You feel kinda bad whenever you tell her no and see that little hint of sadness in her face.

>But it'll only be for a bit longer, when you take back your title, there will be no more sadness.

>You also do your best to keep Mirabelle from your sight and mind.

>Let the feelings grow, let them build.

>It's hard to see her anyway, and even when you do it's for a mere second.

>Everything was going well.

>That is until Caesar decided he needed to pester you for your loss, so he found you in the halls between passing period.

>"What the fuck, Anon?" he said. "What do you think you're doing losing to that runt? I was the one who was supposed to beat you, but I come back after a kickass training montage and find out you lost to some fucking half-pint bunny?"

>And for some reason, hearing him talk so much shit outside of the Circle kinda irked you.

>It was the talk, and not the fact that it was about Mirabelle, right?

>You kinda zoned out when you stared up at him with all the wrath of an old man of the mountain.

>"Hand over thy head" your eyes bellowed at him.

>You also zoned out when you fucking laid into him.

>"Look here Caesar. That 'fucking half-pint' ended up being more of a challenge to me than you ever were in our, what, 7 fights? She hit me like a hundred times, and you only hit me once, because I fucking let you. But hey, if you think she's such a goddamn pushover, you can go and fight her your own damn self. And now, whenever you want, you can fight me, because we're at the same level. You won't ever have to waste time getting to me ever again. But next time we throw down, I guarantee I'll crack your thick skull on the pavement like I almost did last time."

>. . . Geez you got pretty damn heated at that moment.

>Were you, defending yourself, or her? Who knows.

>What you do know, is that he shut the fuck up after that.

>And the rest of your week went swimmingly.

>After a week that felt like a month, you consider going back to the Circle.

>It's not like you'll be fighting Mirabelle immediately since you still have to win your 3 fights, and that will take time in itself.

>But you do want to get them done as soon as you can, because the need to meet Mirabelle in the Circle once more is becoming too much to contain.

>Fuck it, you're going back.

>Time's up let's do this.

>It's Monday, the start of a new week.

>The rise of a new Anon.

>The king must return to reclaim his throne.

>And come to understand the inner workings of his heart.

>School comes to a close on a boring, uneventful Monday.

>It's what comes after that will bring the excitement.

>You tell your friends you're going back, and they're stoked to hear it.

>You tell Bree you're going back before she even has the chance to ask, and she's almost more excited than you are.

>You make your way to the Circle.

>Right here, right now, your comeback begins.

>You're standing around, waiting for The Circle to form and for Lewis to call for fighters.

>Drinking a Dr. Bepper that you now have to pay full price for, oh the agony.

>You steal quick glances at the bunny perched upon your throne.

>She's chatting with a few people, maybe her friends, maybe new admirers.

>She smiles up at them as they talk, and of course that blessed sight causes your gaze to linger a bit longer.

>Perhaps the natural instinct of a prey species alerts her to the fact that she's being stared at from outside her field of vision, because in a moment her face twitches and her eyes jump to you.

>You lock eyes.

>She's already caught you staring, should you avert your gaze?

>Is this some unspoken staring contest, testing the willpower of your newly formed rivalry?

>You sip your drink, still locked onto her gaze.

>... She smiles.

>It's one of her taunting smiles, but it's still a smile.

>The embers to ignite the kindling in your chest return.

>But is it a fire of passion, or battle?

>She adjusts herself in your- ... Her seat. And sits like some sort of regal figure.

>Scratch that, this is a fire of battle, you won't allow yourself to think any differently.

>Finally, Lewis comes up.

>"Let's make it another good day." he says. "So let's get to it. Who's stepping in the Circle?"

>You throw your hand up and step forward as soon as he finishes.

>Some people from the crowd whoop and holler as you step up. You guess they're excited to see you back.

>Bree is cheering especially loud.

>Her hype will empower you.

>Lewis looks at you and gives a nod. You also think you see the flash of a smile on his face.

>Verne and Mikael are here too, so all your friends and supporters are front and center to bear witness to the return of the king.

>"Well well, welcome back." he says." Hope that week you took to nurse your wounds has done you some good. So, who wants to throw down against the now crownless king?"

>Nobody jumps at the chance. Nobody's even moving.

>Of course not. It isn't like losing your title suddenly makes you this combatant on par with everyone else.

>You were undefeated for a really long time, but one loss doesn't mean that anyone can just take you.

>And they know that so they don't seem too eager to get thrashed.

>"Alright," Lewis says. "If no one's stepping up, I guess I'll have to choose."

>Before he can though, someone does throw their hand up and move to the center.

>"I'll do it." someone says with a sigh.

>It's Lee. Lee is a timber wolf.

>"If someone has to be the stepping stone for the old king, let it be me."

>Lee is a good guy. Wolf. Whatever.

>This presents an opportunity.

>You've been wanting to fight Lee to test a devious tactic you saw on the internet a long time ago.

>Or really any canines, it apparently works on a bunch of them.

>"Alright cool." Lewis says. "Let's get into it. What you gotta say?"

>"I got just one thing!" you exclaim.

>You bring your hands up and cup them together, gently cackling like a movie villain.

>He looks confused, as do several other spectators.

>You bring your hands to your mouth, and keeping eye contact with Lee, begin to let out this low and slow "awoooooooooo".

>His ears twitch and his eyes dilate to near pinpricks.

>In that moment, he looks like he's having a violent contest within himself.

>He tries to yell out in anger, "Man what the fuck do you think you're do-"

>And in that moment something snaps in him, he throws his head back and howls to the sky.

>Hilariously, some of the other canine types are affected by this sudden onset of howling and join in.

>You stop your offending sound, and bask in the chorus you have created.

>You monster.

>This continues for about 30 seconds before Lewis regains control of the situation.

>He has an airhorn that he blows that's loud enough to cut through the howling and get them to stop.

>When Lee and everyone else regain their composure, first they're embarrassed that you managed to get them to do that.

>Lee is a mix of flustered and angry.

>Just as planned.

>You look at him and shrug.

>"Just had to let you know who the alpha here is."

>Lewis shakes his head at you then looks to Lee. "You got anything to say back?"

>Lee is shaking his head and breathing heavily through his nose. He gets in his fighting pose straight away.

>"Guess he's ready. You ready?" Lewis looks to you.

>You nod and enter your stance.

>"Then let's. Fight!" he signals to begin.

>Lee has an interesting fighting pose.

>It reminds you of the wolfman from that old Capcon game Darkstockers.

>You can't say he fights like him though, because that would involve his teeth and claws. Also nunchucks.

>But he does use the stance to good effect, throwing backhands and quick strikes, as well as decent low kicks.

>He's not too bad, but you are a man with a singular purpose.

>It also helps that you pissed him off so bad that he's rushing you and making simple mistakes.

>He opens himself up a little too much because he isn't focused on defending, just striking you.

>You quickly stepped back out of the range of one of his kicks that he delivered with a little too much force.

>It sent him a bit off balance and he lowered his hands in an effort to steady himself.

>You jumped up and off the ground a bit, and delivered a jumping punch to the side of his skull.

>That dazed him a bit, so you decide to press your advantage.

>You get in close and drive an elbow into his flank, and throw an uppercut when he doubles over.

>Another punch to the gut and a swift hook to the face is the punishment for his lack of guard.

>You could finish him off with a clinch, but you decide against it.

>You are no king now, you deny a king's tactics.

>You feel like mixing it up a bit on your ascent back to the top.

>With his back facing you, you get an idea.

>You invoke the crowd pleasing energy of the previous Champion, Jayce.

>You push Lee with all your might into the Circle, but before they latch on to you, you peer towards them and motion in a beckoning way, hoping they see you.

>Luckily they do, and instead of latching on to him like starving zombies, they reel him in and push him back toward you, where you have closed some distance, and stand in wait.

>When he reaches you, you place your left leg in front of his right, throw your arm around him and fall back, delivering a swift and effective DDT.

>You didn't chance doing it while he was facing you because you didn't want to screw up and smash his snout into the concrete.

>The buffer of your body and his hitting the ground made sure you didn't just slam this poor bastard straight into concrete, but the action may leave you a bit sore.

>It was effective though, the people are cheering, like it just won you the match.

>On the ground, you point your gaze up, and though she's upside down you can see Mirabelle laughing good naturedly at your display.

>Definitely worth it.

>You thought you learned your lesson about hurting yourself to look cool for the crowd, but apparently that was a lie.

>You sit up, and look over at Lee. He's still conscious, but he's wriggling and writhing on the ground.

>You get up to your feet and squat like a slav, as you wait to see what he's going to do.

>Eventually, he waves his hand like he's shooing bugs from his face.

>There it is, he's done.

>Which Lewis confirms. "He's done. Anon wins."

>Cheers echo around you, and even Mirabelle is clapping.

>Bree is whooping like a woman possessed.

>"Save that energy for when I win the Champion spot back" you want to tell her, but to be honest, you feel just about as good as she seems to.

>A good fight to ring in your return.

>A few more fights go on, but no one challenges Mirabelle today.

>You were hoping to get a view of her fighting in person, but oh well.

>You have time before you challenge her, maybe you'll be able to see it before you do.

>The day comes to a close, and you bid farewell to your friends who congratulate you on your victory and your return.

>You head home, and as you walk in, your eye is caught by a picture of your parents.

>You don't know when it was from but they're noticeably younger in it.

>...

>Maybe you can ask your dad what it was like when he figured out he was in love with your mom.

>Though he may still be handling work and not have time to talk, the west coast is 3 hours behind you.

>Oh well, doing it anyway.

>You aren't avoiding talking to him, you just keep your conversations brief to avoid any topics that may give you away.

>But this one has a clear subject, so you should be fine.

>You head up to your room, and give him a call.

>It rings a few times, before he answers.

>"My son."

>"Hey Dad. You busy?"

>"I'm always busy, son, I stay busy. But I'm not so busy that I can't talk to my boy. What's up?"

>"So uh." This topic seems a little more difficult to bring up than you initially though. "When you, kinda, figured out you were in love with Mom. How did it feel?"

>There's a long pause.

>"Are you in love?" he says after an eternity.

>"No? Maybe? I'm uh, kinda trying to figure it out."

>"Well, tell me about it. First off, what made you think you were in love in the first place?"

>"Well," you think a moment to give him information without explaining exactly where you met Mirabelle and why you think you like her. "I met this girl at school. And honestly, she's in one of my classes, but I actually paid no attention to her for a while. And then by a strange twist of fate, I happened to run into her, and got a good look at her for the first time. Lewis said, I stared at her like I just saw an angel descend from heaven."

>"Yup, that sounds like it. That's what I thought of your mom when I first met her too."

>"So it's likely that this is love?"

>"Mmm, could just be a crush. Just cuz you thought she's cute doesn't mean you love her just yet. However, love is a shrewd and fickle thing. It could come as easily as the sun rises every day, or it could be as impossible as snowfall in July."

>"Okay. Lewis seemed dead set on me believing it was love at first sight, and i was like 'that doesn't actually happen, man'."

>"Oh wait, Lewis. Your elk friend? No yeah, he seems pretty intelligent, I'd listen to him."

>"What. C'mon pop" you facepalm as if he could see it. "You just told me it probably wasn't love."

>"Well. There's an easy solution. You ready? You sitting down? It's a biggun."

>"Sure, let's hear it." you say, voice monotone and empty.

>"Ask her out on a date."

>...

>"Kinda, doesn't sound that easy, Dad."

>"It's easier than you think, trust me. And if she says no, you move on and let it be. Plenty of fish in the sea, and all that good stuff."

>He pauses, and says something to someone that the phone can't pick up.

>Alright, son, I'm still working, got a few things to do. I'll tell mom you called."

>"Okay, talk to you later, Dad."

>Okay- hey. You're still doing what I've asked of you, right?"

>He's talking about keeping your grades up and avoiding the Circle.

>"... Of course."

>"Good. Like I've been saying. No one's there to keep eyes on you so everything is trust based. I'm trusting that you're still listening to me." He pauses again. "Alright I really have to go now. Bye son."

>"Bye Dad." You hang up.

>You don't enjoy lying to your dad.

>But you enjoy the excitement of the Circle a little more than you dislike the guilt of your lies.

>"Ask her out on a date."

>Those words replay in your head.

>If you did, should you do it now, or after your fight?

>What if you lose the fight, and she thinks you aren't good enough to hang out with her?

>What if you win the fight, and she's too pissed about losing to you to want to hang out with you?

>Would you, be able to use the Champion's Right to make her go out with you? Everyone who goes to the Circle sees the Right as a thing to be honored.

>But would that even be a good idea? Forcing someone to do something that they don't want is a surefire way to be resented.

>You throw that line of thinking into a deep, dark hole to waste away.

>It doesn't matter now.

>Did this conversation help you at all? You aren't sure.

>Thoughts swim in your mind as you finish out the rest of your day.

>Another day, another chance at victory.

>Lewis calls for fighters.

>This time, however, you wait until some people raise their hands before you throw your lot in with them.

>4 people put their hands up, so you're gonna go against one of them.

>After some mental deliberation, Lewis forms opponents.

>So you're fighting Wayne, the hyena in your science class.

>The other 2, the panther you don't know and Benji are throwing down after.

>So you step up.

>"Alright, let's get to it. What you gotta say?" is Lewis' starting line.

>"I thought monkeys were supposed to be one of the most intelligent species." Wayne starts off. "But it's real dumb for you to try and step in here against me."

>He's trying, but everyone knows you aren't gonna lose. It's just bluster for the sake of playing the game right.

>But not everything in the Circle has to be insulting. Sometimes you can play the game differently and get similar results.

>"Knock knock." you say to him in retort.

>He looks at you in confusion, so you repeat yourself.

>"Who's there?" he says with some apprehension. He knows what's coming, he's just trying to prepare himself mentally to resist it.

>"An old lady."

>"... An old lady who?"

>"Oh. Nice man, I didn't know you were a yodeler."

>He freezes, like he's taking all the mental capacity he can muster to avoid the futility that is his fate.

>He loses.

>This massive grin appears on his face, and though he tries to hold it back, it's no use as he cackles like a maniac.

>You feel bad, Wayne has always had this weakness for jokes, good or bad.

>And of course when he starts laughing, he can't stop.

>He howls with laughter for a good 2 minutes, and it's so contagious you even start chuckling too.

>He finally catches his breath and manages to break his detrimental laughing fit.

>Lewis, smiling a bit from the sight, asks him, "Got anything else to say?"

>"Fuck, I had something, heh. But I straight up can't remember anymore. Goddammit Anon."

>You shrug innocently.

>"Alright." Lewis says. "You ready?" he looks to you and you nod, then to Wayne who does the same. Then let's. Fight!" And it begins.

>You both stand still, staring each other down. You haven't fought Wayne before, but you've seen him fight. Nevertheless, you don't want to get too confident and make silly mistakes. The less damage you take, the quicker you can get into a fight the next day without having to wait to recover.

>You wonder why Wayne isn't approaching at least, and as you look at him, you can see the edges of his mouth quivering and fighting to stayed turned downward.

>You lower your hands from in front of your face and stare dead at him.

>He's looking at you too, still fighting his own face.

>You curl your lips into a smile, and then a grin.

>Unfortunately, watching you do this involuntarily causes him to do the same.

>You open your mouth ever so slightly. And say in a singsong voice, "An old lady who.".

>And he fucking loses it again, returning to his breathless wheezing laughter.

>It's a shame the fight has started and there are no defining rules against attacking a slightly incapacitated opponent. So you approach, slowly. Like an executioner ready to bring the axe down upon this witless obstacle to your throne.

>You bring your fist back, and as he looks up at you, you slug him right in the jaw.

>He hits the ground, but he's still laughing even though you just clocked him as hard as you could.

>"Fuck! Ahahahah! Nope, I'm done, can't do it! Ahahahaaah!" And he crawls, toward the edge of the Circle, laughing all the while.

>... Oh. You actually didn't expect that.

>You turn back to Lewis.

>"Should I, uhhh. Fight someone else?"

>He shrugs. "A win's a win, I guess. I mean, I'm supposed to be completely impartial, but I'm sure you would've won anyway."

>A few of the spectators nod in solemn agreement.

>Back to the Circle you go.

>You watch Benji and that panther go at it.

>It's a really good fight.

>It also ends in a way you never expected.

>It ends in a tie.

>They both punched each other with these big haymakers and knocked each other out.

>You've never seen a tie in the Circle before, but it was kind of cool.

>After that, someone comes up to challenge Mirabelle.

>This is what you've been waiting for.

>Some sophomore guy or something, wearing this dark purple sweatsuit.

>He looks like he practices some sort of martial art.

>You aren't sure which one, but there's a lot of fancy kicking.

>Like the axe kick, you know that one.

>He's not landing any hits on her, but she's been tagging him in the legs.

>Specifically, the same leg every time.

>He goes for a kick at one point, but as he brings his leg down to put weight on it, it buckles underneath it.

>She takes this opportunity to kick him behind the knee and bring him down.

>One leg still up at a 90 degree angle and the other one below him.

>He's about to stand up, but she does something that will stay with you as the coolest thing you've ever seen anyone do in the Circle.

>She hops back, runs forward, and short hops forward, onto the poor dude's outstretched leg.

>Using the upward momentum as she jumps forward and off of his leg, she brings her knee shooting forward and into his face, launching him a good few feet away.

>Those legs are dangerous weapons.

>He shrivels up like a blade of burning grass.

>He's done for sure.

>Which Lewis confirms after he checks.

>You look at Mirabelle in awe.

>She catches your gaze and winks at you, before she walks back to her seat to the cheers of the spectators.

>Alright you'll admit. That lunging knee was really cool, and that wink was. Pretty attractive.

>Embers igniting.

>They will become a flame to fuel the furnace of your soul, soon enough.

>Dawn of the Final Day

>One fight remains before you can fight to reclaim what was lost.

>Your fight is already prepared and waiting for you.

>You're fighting Jerome, another human.

>It's been a while since you've fought any other humans, so you're excited.

>Jerome is in a club, dance club or something, one of those physically strenuous clubs, so he doesn't come around too often.

>He's also mute, like completely mute, so for the sake of honor and fairness you skip the smack talk segment.

>Doesn't feel right to speak ill of someone who can't retort.

>So you guys get into the fight, and Jerome is actually really fucking good.

>He does that dance fighting thing from Brazil, capoeira.

>And you don't want to get hit by any of those wild fucking kicks, so for a good while, you just bide your time with dodging, hoping he opens up.

>But all of these moves are so fluid, and flow together so perfectly that you can't really find a chance to counterattack.

>You can't count on him slowing down or getting tired, he's got endurance for days.

>So you have to improvise.

>You prepare yourself physically for pain.

>You step back a bit, as far out of his range as you can reach without also wandering into Circle range.

>He stops his spins of doom, and slowly does that capoeira shuffle towards you.

>Oh, so he's approaching you?

>You charge forward, catching him a bit off guard.

>He does this kind of handstand backflip kick, and while he manages to clip you with it in the head, you had your arms out wide to intercept.

>You grab onto his legs, and are holding him up, like a human wheelbarrow.

>You waste no time in delivering kicks to his midsection in wherever your foot can find purchase. The chest, the ribs, right now it's all free real estate.

>His arms go limp from the severe onslaught you gave him and you toss him to the side.

>He manages to scramble to his feet, and give you a swift roundhouse kick to the chest.

>You take it and latch on to his leg, delivering a swift kick to his chest of your own.

>Then you throw his leg to the side to spin and disorient him, then close the gap you created.

>Shoulder to shoulder, you throw your arm around his shoulder like he's your best friend.

>You then deliver swift and merciless punches to his exposed face.

>Another, and another, and another.

>You stick your leg in front of his and trip him forward.

>With him facedown, you look up to the crowd, towards Bree who is recording.

>You make a show of dragging your thumb across your neck, and as you reach the end, with your elbow still extended outward, you bring your left hand into the fist of your right hand, and jump backward into Jerome, delivering a devastating People's Elbow.

>More like a Tyrant's Elbow in this case though, with the amount of brutality you massacred this kid with.

>The crowd is losing their mind as you trot around the Circle like a true heel, soaking in the revelry of these raucous youths.

>Lewis walks up to Jerome and asks if he's done. Jerome nods and Lewis pronounces you the winner.

>The crowd screams even louder. They know what's coming next, and they're eager to see it now that your stepping stones have been laid.

>Mirabelle is their Champion now, but one does not so easily forget the one who has ruled above them for so long.

>You look to Mirabelle, those big blue eyes wide and gazing at you.

>You manage to rise to the surface of the ocean in her gaze long enough to deliver your own sassy wink to her, like she did just the other day.

>She chuckles a bit, then closes her eyes and shrugs, with this cute little smile on her face.

>The crowd sees this, and they're so hyped they practically want you guys to fight right now.

>They're ready for the rematch and you're ready to deliver it.

>But not yet. There's one thing you want to do tomorrow to prepare.

>Come Friday, you will sit upon your throne once more.

>And with the reclamation of your throne will hopefully come the answer your heart has been seeking

>You plan to go to the Circle tomorrow and fight Mirabelle.

>But today you want to do something to prepare.

>Bree asked you on your way out if today was the day.

>"Tomorrow," you told her. "Look forward to it."

>And she grinned, this wicked little thing that almost does not belong on a doe.

>You depart from the school, but you aren't headed home. You're headed to the shopping district.

>You pull up to the Xinyan Massage Parlor.

>You're here to acquire Lin buffs.

>You briefly considered that gaining strength from an outside source could be qualified as cheating.

>But whatever, victory at any cost.

>You walk in and see the older sister behind the counter, who greets you as you walk in.

>"Hi, welcome. Oh, hey it's you, welcome back."

>"Hello, uh, Lin's sister."

>"Rei."

>"Oh. Hello Rei. Is Lin working today?"

>"Yep. Lin! You have a customer!" she yells toward the back of the shop.

>You hear a faint "Kay" in response.

>"She'll be right with you." Rei says, looking back to you with a smile.

>"Okay cool." you say.

>And you wait.

>...

>"Do you, do the things too, or do you just man the desk?" you ask, mainly to start conversation while you wait.

>"Hm? No, I do massages too, Mom and Grandma just make me stand at the counter because they don't like to." Rei explains. "... Why? You wanna compare me against my little sister or something?" She throws this sassy grin at you.

>"... Perhaps." you simply reply.

>You won't lie, the idea does intrigue you.

>But not today. A Lin buff is guaranteed, but A Rei buff is not.

>Finally, Lin walks to the front of the store.

>"Oh hey, look who's back."

>"You did say I could come back." you tell her.

>"That I did. So what can I do for you today?"

>"The uh, same thing like last time, but like, without all the shoulder murder, please."

>"Haha, will do."

>Rei is writing something down, before she looks over to her sister.

>"Same discount as last time?"

>Mmm, she must be pretty disconnected.

>Lin looks to you and back to Rei, ready to explain, but you cut in.

>"No. No discount for me this time, I'm uh... No longer the Champion."

>The truth still burns like a horrid bile.

>"Ouch." Rei says, wincing like the words hurt her too. "That's rough, buddy."

>"But with any luck, I'll be back where I once was by tomorrow." you tell her, throwing your fist into your open palm for emphasis.

>She grins. "Well good luck. I'll root for you, in spirit."

>Lin puts you in a room, and you go through the necessities to get started.

>One hour and one heavenly massage later, you step out of the room feeling like the energy of the world is fueling you.

>You pay full price for your massage, and throw a 15 dollar tip, because you feel like Lin deserves more than just 10 this time.

>You head home and take it easy, hoping to store as much energy as possible for tomorrow.

>You throw some frozen pizza pockets in the microwave, and tear through your homework.

>You finish food, take a shower, brush your teeth and put on your pajamas.

>You imbibe a healthy amount of meme content, because no day is complete without a meme.

>And you turn in early, to rest yourself well, before the day of reckoning.

>"It's finally Friday." Lewis says.

>"Yes... Finally here." Verne follows.

>"Friday night." you and Mikael finish.

>"And Anon is going to get his revenge!" Mikael exclaims, slamming you on the back.

>"Hell yeah I am." you tell him. "You guys gonna be there for it?"

>"I would! But my old man needs my help at home, so I'm gonna miss it." says Verne.

>"Don't worry, brother, I'll be there, I'll give you a play by play of exactly what happens." Mikael tells Verne.

>"And once you have reclaimed what is yours. I say we celebrate. A couple Siegbraus at the hideaway? We haven't been there in a while."

>"Fuck. Yes." you reply.

>"That is, assuming he actually wins." Lewis chimes in, ruining everything with that sentence.

>"He will win." Mikael says. "He is ready, his warrior heart beats with the mighty sound of Thor's thunder."

>You all walk out and head your respective ways.

>3...2...1...

>"Heeey Anon."

>There she is.

>You turn. "Hey Bree."

>Today?" is all she asks this time.

>"Today." is what you reply with.

>You look down.

>She's wearing a red flannel around her waist.

>You're wearing a red flannel.

>What a coincidence.

>You take it as a positive sign.

>"Great." she says. "I'll see you there."

>You nod and take off toward your scooter.

>In moments you're at the Circle.

>Once Lewis gets there though, he tells you to hold off on your challenge until the end.

>If it ends one way over the other, the crowd might go ballistic and he won't be able to get them under control, then no one else will be able to fight.

>You're eager to get it over with, but you relent to his request.

>All things in due time.

>The Circle forms up, some fights go on, but you pay no attention to any of them.

>You're focused on drawing upon the inner well of strength you have accumulated for this one decisive moment.

>You glance over to Mirabelle, blue eyes open wide, taking in every facet of the combat unfolding in front of her.

>The embers are building.

>Embers of passion and battle both.

>You will them to unite, creating an internal flame that you will use to propel you right back into your throne.

>After the last fight, Lewis looks around, before his eyes land on you, and he gives a small nod.

>"Alright. Who's up next?"

>You throw your hand up, and wordlessly step into the center of the Circle.

>Hand still up, you slowly bring it down and point dead center at Mirabelle.

>She doesn't look too surprised, she looks like she's been waiting for this, just like you have.

>She steps up into the Circle as well.

>"Hope you've enjoyed it for the weeks you had it. Time to pass it back now." you say to her.

>"If you want it, then you'll have to take it." she grins at you.

>Oh, now you're motivated.

>You hope with those giant ears of hers, she can hear the storm that is approaching.

>"Alright." Lewis starts off. "Our fallen king is back to reclaim what was taken from him. It's gonna be a good fight. So let's get to it. What you gotta say?"

>Mirabelle goes first. "Man, I could've sworn I just thrashed you, and yet you're already back for more. I really was just joking when I said it, but maybe I was right about the whole 'getting dominated' thing.

>She gets a few laughs from the crowd as you roll your eyes.

>Lewis nods, acknowledging the severity of that sick burn. He looks to you, noticing you haven't retorted. "Got anything to say back?"

>You shake your head.

>You really don't and you're eager to fight.

>He shrugs. "Alright then. You ready?" You nod.

>He looks to Mirabelle. "You ready?"

>She looks confused that you didn't have anything to say, but focuses and nods.

>"Alright. Then Let's." He brings his hand up, and holds it for a moment, letting the tension build. Before bringing it straight down. "Fight!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkOJ9uNj9EY

>You don't have a plan. Or a strategy. Or anything that will help you win this fight.

>All you did was train to punch faster and study her movements.

>Nevertheless, you feel like that will be enough.

>You widen your stance, angling yourself a bit lower than you did last time.

>It might make it a bit easier for her to hit you in the face, but maybe it'll also make it easier for you to hit her.

>You slowly close the gap until you're in striking range.

>You stare into those shining azure lights that threaten to bore a hole through your soul.

>And you let loose with what might be the fastest jab you think you've ever thrown.

>It actually pays off, as you boop her right in her button nose.

>She blinks a bit, shocked that you managed to tag her before she had a chance to react.

>You don't have time to feel too proud about it though, as her blue lights shift into blue flames.

>She throws a punch up at you, which you lean back to avoid, but she follows up with 2 swift hooks to the gut.

>You tough through them, and swing back.

>She anticipates this and dodges, but just barely.

>You did manage to get faster, this is good.

>Last time she would dodge your swings by miles, now you're closing in.

>You throw punches and follow up punches immediately after in the hopes of catching her with the follow ups.

>Some of them do find their mark, but she's still fast.

>Actually, you think she might be slowly moving even faster.

>Like she's steadily kicking into maximum overdrive.

>Time to use new tactics.

>You start throwing feints in with your normal strikes, which begin to catch her unaware in the beginning, but she's seen this trick before, so she starts anticipating your feints.

>When she can tell you're about to feint, she throws her own punches to intercept you.

>If she can tell it isn't a feint, she'll dodge before counterattacking.

>So it's time to throw another mixup into the confrontation.

>A different form of the feint.

>Instead of going forward with the strike and stopping midway, you bring your hand up, as if to punch, and while she focuses on it, you lash out with the opposite hand to get a quick hit in.

>You don't let up, you return to your regularly scheduled program of normal strikes and feints, then bring your leg back to sweep at her shin.

>She preemptively lifts her leg to avoid it before catching that your leg hasn't left it's pulled back position.

>You fire down on her with a punch that hits her close to the forehead, and she shrinks down a litte from the blow.

>You seize this advantage and grab her in the clinch.

>The crowd roars in anticipation.

>Will it work this time? You don't expect it to.

>In fact, you aren't actually going to throw any clinch attacks at all.

>You wait for her to bundle up into that bunny ball like last time, which she does.

>All according to plan.

>You bend low and adjust the angle of your hold, and with a lifting motion you pick her up and yeet her like a sack of potatoes that you wanted to toss over a particularly high fence.

>You had hoped to toss her far enough to get the Circle involved but when her back hit the ground she managed to roll and catch herself before she went too far.

>She looks up at you and stretches her back a bit, before taking, 1, 2, 3 steps and jumping into you.

>It doesn't look like it has as much momentum as the one that game ended you, but it's one of her signature dropkicks all the same.

>You cross your arms in front of you in a big X, and angle yourself low as she collides with you.

>You slide backward, and now you're the one within harm's reach of the Circle.

>Eyes up and on her, she's about to try and push you into the Circle with her foot again like she did last time.

>You reach out and catch her by the foot and leg, and throw her back.

>She lands on her feet, but was a little shaky in the landing.

>You run up, and deliver a forward moving haymaker.

>You definitely don't expect this to connect.

>So you're surprised when it actually does, right in her cheek.

>She balls her fist and throws it back at you, hitting you in the mouth.

>You think she split your lip.

>No scratch that, she definitely did, that telltale sting is your evidence.

>She slides her left leg forward and right leg back, a telltale sign: she's hunkered down and won't be moving from this spot.

>You mimic her stance and bring your fist up.

>So it's a battle of attrition, then.

>She throws punch after solid punch at you, and you take each and every one.

>Likewise you throw punch after vicious punch at her and she stands strong and eats them for lunch.

>You two are literally just straight up punching each other. Like some kinda fighting anime.

>You can practically hear the shouts of "muda" and "ora" as you wail on each other.

>It's a true battle of attrition, the first to drop will lose.

>You've got this in the bag, if she keeps taking your punches, she'll run out of gas long before you will.

>You see the end approaching as she wavers and her head dips down.

>You swing one more time, ready to bring this fight to its thrilling conclusion.

>However, she had a similar idea, as she perfectly weaves her head between your strike and brings her own fist to collide with your nose.

>That hit you with a little, no a lot more force than you expected, and you realize she used the upward momentum from her legs to throw it into you.

>You backpedal a bit, breaking your stance and trying to keep yourself upright.

>But once again, like some sort of creature that flies. Even though she should not be there, she is in the air above you, bringing her leg out and around for a jumping roundhouse.

>You bring your arms up to block it, and even though you do, the power in them haunches is legendary.

>You spin around a bit, and hit the ground face up.

>But you're still good!

>You aren't done yet, you won't be beaten a second time.

>You quickly rush to sit up, before she leaps at you, forcing you down with her hands on your shoulders, and manages to pin your arms to the ground by planting her knees into the grooves of your elbows.

>Does this bunny really think she can pin you?

>You lift.

>And heave.

>...And you don't go anywhere.

>Huh?

>Is she. Actually managing to pin you?

>This 50 or so pound woodland rat is actually managing to pin you?!

>You look up at her, ready to tear into her throat with your teeth if you can't use your arms.

>But as you look up, you notice.

>Hey, she's kinda close.

>Her body is planted right above your upper torso.

>Her knees jammed into the crooks of your elbows, her legs are practically on full display on either side of you.

>And because her knees are planted in your elbows, her legs are uh, spread pretty far apart.

>Oh mama.

>You look into her face.

>She looks down at you.

>And a chilling smile creeps onto her face, all her teeth on full display.

>For some reason, the big rabbit teeth in the center make it more frightening than if she were a predator species with fangs, you think.

>You struggle a bit more, unable to wiggle her off you.

>And she's too far forward for you to hook your legs around her and pull her off.

>She brings her hands up.

>She's about to beat on your exposed face.

>Oh boy, here comes the pain.

>And come it does, as she punches and punches and punches.

>The more you struggle, the harder she hits.

>You start going limp, and though she's not hitting you as hard as you aren't struggling, she's still swinging.

>Through your ringing ears, you faintly hear someone scream out "Stop, he's already dead!"

>You aren't dead, but you sure are feeling dead.

>There's nothing you can do in this situation.

>Once again, she has laid you low.

>But this time, to get it to end, you have no choice but to end it with your own words.

>"I'm done." you manage to get out between the moments of her vicious onslaught.

>"Hm?" she stops mashing your face in. "I didn't catch that, what was that?"

>She could probably hear a goddamn mouse sitting in the back of the Circle whispering from here if she wanted to. But of course she has to tease you.

>"I'm done." you repeat, a little louder.

>"That's what I thought you said. "He's done!" she shouts over her shoulder to Lewis.

>The crowd "awws" and lets out their groans of disappointment.

>"It was a good fight though." she says. "You might've almost had me that time."

>She looks down at you, and smiles that genuine smile of joy again.

>Strangely, in this one fleeting moment, she is the most beautiful being you have ever seen.

>The fires of battle are snuffed out, overtaken by the fire of passion.

>The smoke of romance clouding your lungs make it hard to breathe.

>So you don't.

>The lack of oxygen flowing to your brain makes it hard to think.

>So you don't.

>As soon as her knees free your arms, they reach up.

>She didn't expect you to retaliate after accepting your defeat, so she never expects you to grab her by her collar and pull her down towards you.

>You lift your head slightly as you pull her in, brain function effectively ceased.

>You practically have no control of your body, you're on autopilot.

>As you bring yourself and her together.

>And kiss her.

>The world shuts down.

>Everyone is mute, silent as the grave.

>Your consciousness slowly returns to you as you break from the kiss of your creation.

>Mirabelle's eyes are open as wide as they may possibly go.

>Realization dawns on you as your brain processes resume.

>Your hands shoot open and you let her go.

>She scrambles a few feet away from you.

>You sit straight up, fear claiming your face.

>You think there's a tinge of red directly underneath the white of the fur on her face.

>Or maybe it's just blood.

>Her eyes are unfocused, darting around erratically.

>But her emotional state isn't what's important right now!

>Well it very much is, but what's more important.

>What the fuck have you done?!

>You look at her.

>She stares at you.

>Then she shoots up to her feet.

>And fucking hightails it out of the Circle, pushing past everyone she can, before grabbing her school bag and taking off down the road at mach speeds.

>You blink a few times, trying in vain to process what the actual hell you just did.

>You look around the Circle.

>Now everyone has that look on their face, like they just watched you shoot their parents.

>Bree looks absolutely mortified.

>And then suddenly, there's a loud "WHOO!" and Mikael runs up to you, laughing and smiling like a madman.

>He shakes you by the shoulders and says "That's my boy! Anon! That's how you show a woman you have feelings!"

>You aren't registering anything he's saying.

>You have no idea what you've done.

>You have no idea why you did what you did.

>What do you do now?

>What can you do?

>...

>That was your first kiss.

>"He did what?!" Verne explodes in your group text.

>3 out of the 4 of you were there to witness it, one of you actually experienced it!

>But Mikael had the nerve to text the group chat with your psychotic outburst, instead of Verne directly.

>You send a picture of a Pepe hanging from a noose.

"Damn Anon. When'd your balls get so big my guy?" is Verne's next response.

"I agree." Mikael says. "Whatever you're feeding yourself over there, I need you to start making extra for me."

>You send a gif of an emoji with a cowboy hat loading a revolver, before he spins it and aims it at himself before pulling the trigger.

>"I'll be honest Anon. When I told you that you had to decide for yourself what to do, I didn't expect such a forward action." Lewis follows up.

>You send the gif of JomTrom downing a bottle of advil before chasing it with vodka and laying pretzelled in his couch.

"Alright bruv, we get it you want to commit aliven't, but it's not that bad." Verne says.

>"Indeed. It could be worse." Miakel says. "How it could be worse, I'm not sure, but it could always be worse. Remember this."

>"You'll just have to try and talk to her and, I dunno, explain what possessed you to do what you did. Apologize, maybe she'll forgive your audacity." Lewis sends.

>"The biggest sadness to all of this." Mikael says. "Anon lost, so no siegbraus for us. :("

>You put your phone on silent and toss it onto your desk.

>You're going to have to suffer with your terrible actions for an entire weekend, before you can even have a chance to make things right.

>So you might as well take the time you would spend feeling bad, allowing the evil seed of what you've done to germinate within you, and turn it into time you'll spend figuring out what it is you'll say to Mirabelle once you have a chance to talk to her.

>It is currently Wednesday.

>Mirabelle is extremely difficult to get a hold of.

>After class she's up and out and gone before you can even react.

>And she hasn't been to the Circle in those days either.

>So today you have a new plan.

>As soon as the bell rings you're just going to jump up, ignoring your things and try to get her attention.

>With any luck she'll stop to talk to you.

>But if she doesn't want to talk and just keeps going, you're out of luck.

>You're staring at the clock, biding your time before the bell rings.

>...Any second now.

>It goes off.

>You leap out of your seat like a family of spiders just crawled out of it.

>And as you expected, Mirabelle is already halfway out the door already.

>Okay, she's not just any kind of fast, she's like, advanced fast.

>You throw yourself out the door in chase. You look down the hall and she's a good few yards ahead already.

>"Mirabelle wait!" you shout, pleading that it'll get her attention and cause her to stop.

>A miracle has been granted to you today, because she actually does stop.

>She mechanically turns around in your direction.

>She looks in your direction, but not really at you.

>"Wh-what is it?" she says, her voice barely registering in your ears.

>"Can I. Can I talk to you for a moment?" you say, taking a few steps forward.

>You don't wait for a response as you continue, fearful that she'll say "no" or "I'm busy". "I wanted to apologize for what I did. The other day. I dunno what got into me, and I didn't mean to. I'm really sorry, I hope I didn't make you angry or make you think I'm a creep or something."

>...Huh?" is all she says.

>You take that as a sign to keep going. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Like, I've never really liked a girl before, and I'd been trying to come to terms with the fact that I liked you, and it was a bit more difficult than I initially thought, and I guess all the building emotion just boiled to the surface before I could reel it in."

>"Wait. What?" She's got this unreadable expression on her face. Like, confusion, but relief, but also concern.

>"Yeah, so like I was feeling some kinda way after our first fight, but not just the upset from losing, and Lewis was like 'oh man, you're in love' and I was like 'bullshit, people don't just fall in love' and he was like 'well you gotta do something about it' and I was like 'I'll go fight her again', and I did, but I lost again, and it turns out the feelings I was having aren't just from the fun of our fights, I kinda really like you, so after I came to accept that, my stupid monkey brain just turned off on me and my body got free reign to run wild and I did what I did, I'm sorry, please don't already hate me."

>Whoa good going man. The spaghetti is firmly out of your pocket now, there's no picking it back up.

>Nobody would've guessed you spent hours rehearsing what you were going to say, only to vomit words at her like this.

>"...Oh." is all she says though.

>There's an awkward silence for a bit as she seems to be digesting everything you just said.

>You're just hoping at this point that she'll at least accept your apology.

>But she says something completely different.

>"Y-you...You like me?"

>"Huh. Oh, uh, yeah. I couldn't really understand it, because I have never felt this way before, but that seems to be the consensus, yes."

>You take a few steps closer to her now.

>She's actually looking at you now too.

>You really do think you can see her blushing.

>"Oh." she says again.

>Is this, a good thing?

>She hasn't really said that she accepts your apology or anything, but at the very least she seems to be listening to you.

>Maybe you can work things out after all.

>"Ask her out on a date."

>Your dad's words shoot through your mind like stars in the night sky.

>But the situation is shaky right now, should you risk that?

>...Fuck it.

>At the very least, you already goofed, you can't goof any harder at this point right?

>"Yeah, I may have done things a bit out of order, I really am sorry for that. I think I was supposed to ask you out on a date first, so do you mind if I remedy that problem?"

>She pauses and looks straight up at you. "Hah, w-what?"

>"Do you, uhhh. Wanna go on a date with me, sometime?"

>She looks at you.

>You look at her, trying really hard to keep her gaze.

>As you're both having this staring contest, it does occur to you that you're standing in the middle of the hall. People are passing by.

>You shift your gaze from her to your surroundings.

>The few humans passing by and the many anthros are looking in your direction, having witnessed you baring your heart to this little white rabbit.

>Oh boy, so if she rejects you right now, you're effectively going to be a laughingstock, or eternally pitied. Maybe both.

>You brace yourself for that inevitability, before Mirabelle gives her answer.

>"S-sure."

>Now it's your turn to act confused.

>"Huh?"

>"Sure, we can, uh. Go out, sometime, that's fine... Like when?" Her eyes are darting between you and the ground, and she's running her hands over her right ear.

>" Umm." You think for a moment. "Why not just this coming Saturday? If that's not too soon. Maybe like, 12 p.m.?"

>She thinks for a moment as well. "Uhh, okay, that should be fine. Are we gonna, like, meet somewhere or?"

>"Yeah, uh, how about, the entrance to the shopping center, kinda close to the TIM?"

>"Okay, that'll work." she says, giving you a slight nod. "So, uh. Saturday, 12, shopping center near TIM."

>"Yep, that's it."

>Oh dear god, did you really manage to salvage this situation?

>"Okay, uh, great. I... I guess I'll see you then." she says.

>"Yeah... See you then."

>She about faces and bounds down the hall in her typically speedy fashion.

>...

>Holy shit.

>Was your dad right this whole time?

>Was it actually that easy?!

>You're about to bound down the hall yourself to let your goon squad know, before you remember that you left your things in class.

>You turn around to see Mr. Warburton peering out the door, staring at you.

>He probably got concerned when he saw you launch yourself out of his class without your stuff.

>He adjusts his glasses, and smooths the hair on his head back.

>"...Congratulations, Mr. Anonymous." he says, before slinking back into his classroom.

>You look around.

>The ones still lingering are still kind of staring at you with these incredulous looks.

>But you could not care less at the moment.

>You have a date.

>With the girl you like.

>This is a huge fucking pogchamp moment.

>You walk back into Mr. Warburton's class and collect your things.

>You walk out and through the halls like you own this fucking place.

>Mikael is cheering.

>Verne is staring dumbstruck.

>Lewis is. Well, being Lewis.

>But there's a hint of admiration in his face.

>"I can't believe you actually managed to salvage that fuckup." he says.

>"Dude you're telling me! I was the one going through it and even I didn't expect it to work out."

>"And now you're going on a date." Verne says slowly, like he can't believe the words that just exited his mouth are truth.

>"I always believed in you, Anon. I knew you had potential." Mikael tells you with a hearty slap to the back. "Now you just have to manage to not completely screw it all up on the date. That'll be the hard part for you."

>"Wait what does that mean?!" you look at him, slightly offended.

>"You are not, what one would call, smooth with the ladies. But that's okay! You are not trying to be a ladies' man, like me. You are just Anon. And that might be best."

>"Well excuse me for not being born a viking chad."

>You guys walk out and head your separate ways.

>You consider going to the Circle, but decide against it.

>Gotta figure out where you're going to go on your date, it's a lot closer than you think.

>You wait a minute though, as you're currently used to doing, in anticipation of a familiar phrase.

>But it never comes.

>Come to think of it, you haven't seen Bree in a while.

>Did she get sick or something? That's a shame.

>But oh well, she'll turn up eventually.

>You head home, excitement and nervousness permeating your bones.

>And it's only Wednesday.

>The rest of the week flew by.

>Or did it actually crawl by?

>You can't be sure, the inconsistency of time holds no meaning before you.

>It's Saturday, the fated day, and you are ready.

>You were awake and alert at like 6 a.m., which is probably the earliest you've ever been up on a Saturday.

>You were a little too excited, so you didn't sleep perfectly, but it should be good enough to last without getting tired midway through your date.

>You showered for twice as long as you normally do.

>You brushed your teeth like twice, and used mouthwash for twice as long as is recommended.

>Besides combing it, should you do something with your hair?

>Nah, there isn't much to do, just tie it and keep it moving.

>You iron the clothes you're wearing on your date.

>You didn't want to dress like you're going to a wedding or anything, so you got a long sleeved button up and paired with the least worn pair of black jeans you could find.

>Like a casual, but not like your everyday casual.

>You get dressed, and admire how well you clean up.

>You apply deodorant and add a hit of cologne.

>Just a bit, you wouldn't want to assault her sensitive nose or anything.

>You check the time, and you should get going now.

>You have to leave a bit earlier because you aren't going to take your scooter.

>You thought about it, but decided it may not be the best idea.

>But then you thought, what if she thinks it's lame that you don't have a car?

>It'll be okay, not everyone has a car at this age, it isn't weird.

>Besides, your plans are within short walking distance of each other anyway.

>You grab your keys, wallet, and phone, and head out toward the shopping center.

>After a brisk 20 minutes of walking, you catch sight of the entrance to the shopping center.

>It's 11:45, so you're early, good stuff.

>As you approach however, you see a small white form, the object of your affection, has already arrived.

>You call out to her and she turns.

>You walk right up to her and.

>Freeze.

>You look at her.

>Oh my.

>She's wearing this kind of thick sleeveless turtleneck, and a black, wavy skirt that reaches her knees. A pair of shoes, not quite heels, but they have that little bump on the bottom so they aren't flat.

>Her ears are freed from their scrunchie today, though they still hang behind her head.

>... You're staring.

>And she notices you're staring.

>"It all looks weird on me, doesn't it? It's not my normal style but I-"

>You cut her off. "You look amazing."

>Her ears launch straight up, then slowly descend back to their resting place.

>"Ya think so? Haha, I wasn't really into it, but I ended up telling my mom I had a date. And she said you have to wear a dress on your first date. But I absolutely refused at that, so in the end, this was the compromise."

>You try to envision in your mind's eye a Mirabelle in a dress. "You would've looked good in a dress, I think. But this is amazing too, it's really cute."

>"Pfft" she scoffs. "I dunno... But I guess it's done it's job if you say you like it. So it seems my mom was right."

>It seems parents have more knowledge than we give them credit for. Perhaps it would be in one's best interest to listen to their wisdom more often.

>"Well, we're uh, both a little early." she says looking at the street clock. "But since we're here should we just. Get started?"

>"Oh, yeah sure." you say, kind of remembering the whole reason you're here today. "I was thinking we can start by going to Carroll's, get some food since we're here. Then spend some time in TIM, hit the arcade, maybe a movie."

>"Alright, sounds like a good plan." she smiles at you.

>Mm, that's good warm chest feeling.

>You walk side by side through the shopping center.

>In relative silence.

>Stores to the left of you, stores to the right of you..

>You pass by Xinyan, and Rei is outside talking to some human guy.

>They're both smiling and laughing, so maybe a friend of hers.

>... Maybe something more, you wonder.

>Another minute and you come to the end of the center, where an oldschool diner is set with a big sign that says "Carroll's".

>You walk up, and open the door, holding it open so Mirabelle can walk in.

"After you, milady."

>She chuckles at you, but accepts the gesture anyway.

>You walk in after her and look around.

>The place isn't too packed, but there's a few people filling the booths and tables up.

>There's a few empty spots though, so you should be able to get a seat.

>One of the waitresses, Brandy, comes up to you.

>"Hey welcome." she says on autopilot before she really gets a look and notices who you are.

>"Well well. Look who finally remembered where we are. Hey Elvira! Look who came to visit finally!" she shouts behind her.

>A large tigress peaks out of the wall window between the kitchen and the counter.

>She squints like she has bad eyes before realization dawns on her. "Is that Anon? Oh hey where you been buddy? Lemme guess." She gazes in your direction, fangs almost but not quite bared. "You been goin' to that burger joint on G Street."

>"...No." you say.

>They don't believe you, judging by the side eye and tilt of the head they both give you.

>"No for real I started making my own food."

>"Is that so?" Brandy asks, still not wholly convinced.

>"Yeah you know, my Ma taught me to cook before she went out west with Dad, so after a while I just started cooking for myself because eating out all the time, was getting kinda expensive."

>They seem to accept that finally.

>Brandy, finally noticing that you're standing with someone, says "Table for two?" which you nod to.

>She puts you two in a booth, and sets down two menus.

>She stands there, for a little longer than you would expect before she asks.

>"Hey Anon. Are you uh. Is this uhh... Are you two on a...?

>You look at Brandy, then at Mirabelle, and back to Brandy.

>"Yes." you say.

>No need to lie or hide it, you think.

>Brandy covers her mouth with both her hands.

>"Oh my God, little Anon is growing up. Hey Elvira!"

>"Hey hey hey!" you shout after her, but it's too late as she scurries into the back.

>You facepalm, but Mirabelle laughs.

>"I guess you used to come here a lot?'

>"Yeah." you say. "Parents and me came here all the time. You've never been here?"

>"Mm, it's not really on my side of town, so I don't really have too much reason to come over here. I hit the TIM, but that's about it."

>"Well you won't regret it. Food here is amazing. Even my Ma has to give Elvira her props."

>"Yeah, about that. You said something about your mom going out west with your dad?" Mirabelle asks.

>"Yeah, my dad runs his own businesses, so at some point he had my mom go out there to help him with some things as he sets up out there on the west coast. Also she's a professional chef or whatever so he got sick of food that didn't measure up to hers. They've been out there for about two years now, so I've practically been on my own since a little after I turned Sixteen."

>"You live alone? No siblings?"

>"Nope, not a one. It's kinda lonely but I've gotten used to it."

>"Haha, I can't even imagine what it's like to be lonely. Besides my parents, I have 9 other siblings so. Everyday is a bit hectic."

>"Oh man, that's a-" you pause.

>You mentally rewind and replay the sentence she just stated to you.

>"Did you say, NINE siblings?"

>"Yep." she says like it's the most natural information she'll give you. "I have 4 older brothers, 4 younger brothers, and one little sister."

>You take a moment to deeply ponder this information. Is this actually a rabbit thing, the necessity to create multiple offspring? Or do her parents just lack the almighty restraint?

>You want to ask her, but don't, not knowing if asking that question would be rude, for multiple reasons.

>"8 brothers. That might explain why you're so damn tough."

>"She laughs "Yup, that's likely it. I was practically fighting my brothers as soon as I could walk. And my dad advocated it, so I owe my skill to him."

>"Oh yeah? Your dad, what, taught you to fight?"

>"Sure did." she says with a look of pride. "He used to fight in the Circle back in his day too, but he never claimed the Champ spot. When I told him I was the Champ now. He looked like some sort of old promise had finally been kept. He actually looked up and said 'My saga is complete'."

>"That's cool." you tell her, with a small laugh.

>Must be nice to have a dad who supports your desire to punch people's lights out.

>Brandy comes back, with an ear to ear grin, ready to get you some drinks.

>Once you both decide on drinks, you take a break from your conversation to decide what you want to eat. Once you let Brandy know what you're having, Mirabelle has something to say.

>You mind if I ask you something?"

>Of course not."

>"Are you... Are you sure you like me?"

>That wasn't a question you expected at the moment, but you're happy to answer it.

>"I can say with certainty that I am sure. I didn't know what to think when I was first trying to come to terms with how I felt. And even now I still somehow doubt that it just, happened so easily. But apparently I have been convinced that falling for someone can be as easy or as hard as you make it."

>She seems to accept that answer, but here eyes are darting around, avoiding your direction.

>" Is that okay?" you ask her.

>"Yeah. It's just." she starts. "I'm uh... I've never really, gotten any attention from boys. Well, not in the way where I thought they'd ask me out."

>This surprises you. She's adorable. Who wouldn't want to ask her out?

>She continues. "So that's why when you ki-... You did what you did, I thought you were messing with me or something. And then when you asked me out, I really thought you were messing with me. So I'll be honest, I half expected you to not show up."

>Hearing that kind of hurts. It hurts you to hear, and it hurts that she thought you were faking. But you stay silent.

>"I'm glad I was wrong though!" she throws out, noticing the concern on your face. "And, I'm sorry for not having faith in you in the beginning."

>"Eh, I can understand how you feel. I don't think too many guys would ask out a girl that whooped their ass twice. Lucky for me, I've never been like most guys."

>"I can see that." she gives you that taunting look of hers. "You're kinda weird you know."

>"Hm? Well I mean, I won't deny that. But why?"

>Well." she starts, but pauses like she brought up a topic that she probably shouldn't continue.

>Eventually she manages to find her words.

>"You asked me out."

>"... Uh huh?" you say, not seeing her point yet.

>"And you're." She gestures to you. "And I'm." She pinches a bit of the fur on her face with one hand and flicks her ear with the other.

>Oh. You understand.

>"You haven't seen my friends have you?" She shakes her head.

>"Besides Mikael, I'm friends with an elk, and a lizard. Species doesn't present a problem for me in the least. Plus, things are getting better, and I know I can't be the only human currently interested in an anthro. I'm sure there are anthros interested in humans, and I know there have to be Human/Anthro couples out there.

>Maybe you haven't seen any in your school, but maybe they're around in the city, in places you haven't seen.

>Or at the very least they exist somewhere out there in the world. They have to.

>She nods, mostly to herself. "Yeah, you might be right. Huh, you might not be that weird then."

>You laugh a bit. "Well I appreciate the reconsideration."

>Your food comes, so you take the time to eat, internally shouting to the heavens in celebration of the blessed nourishment you have consumed.

>Mirabelle also has this look like it's the best thing she's ever had.

>It's still not on par with your mom's stuff, but it's pretty fucking good.

>Once you're done, you ask Brandy for the check.

>She brings it and sets it down.

>As you take a look at it, you can see Mirabelle moving.

>She has a small handbag, which she's reaching into.

>You know what she's thinking, but you won't allow it.

>"Whatcha doin'?" you say over the edge of the check.

>"Huh? I was gonna pay for my half of the-

>You scrunch your face, like she just started speaking fluent moon rune.

>"No you're not." you quickly interject. "I asked you out, why on earth would I let you pay? You're paying me, with your time. Which is all I'm asking for."

>"Oh." she says. She genuinely looks like she didn't expect that.

>But why not?

>What has the world become, where girls have to pay on dates they were asked on?

>Yeah yeah, gender equality but still, this is completely different.

>You throw your card down. Brandy retrieves it quickly.

>You look up at her, and she's got a cheeky grin on her face.

>Oh no, she's planning something.

>You go into your wallet to grab cash for the tip you're leaving.

>Once she comes back, she hands you your card, and sets a large milkshake on the counter between you and Mirabelle.

>It has 2 straws.

>You glance up at Brandy.

>"Wus dis?"

>"It's on the house." she says.

>And swiftly walks away.

>She walks to the back.

>You can see Elvira sneaking peeks through the window.

>You look at Mirabelle.

>She was looking at you, but quickly avoids your gaze as soon as you turn to her.

>"... Uhhhh. You want some of this?" you ask her, pointing to the shake.

>"Uhhh, do you?" she asks back.

>"Well. It was free, might as well have some, right?"

>"Yeah I guess so."

>...

>"Are we. Supposed to drink it at the same time?" she questions.

>"There's no rule that says we have to. Just because it has 2 straws."

>"Yeah but. Isn't that like, something you would do on a date?"

>"From like the 80's I guess... Do you. Want to?"

>For some reason, asking your date if she wants to share this shake with you is more difficult than asking her out.

>"We. Can try it." she says, after a moment of deliberating if she was ready to embarrass herself this way.

>You lean forward.

>She does as well.

>You clamp down on your straws at roughly the same time.

>You take a sip, so does she.

>The dessert is flowing through the straws at a decent pace.

>You look at her.

>She looks at you.

>With those big blue eyes.

>Those glorious sapphires invade your vision.

>They dominate your senses.

>Time stops, the world falls away.

>Only you two exist in this moment.

>And this moment lasts for eons.

>At least until the sound of air passing through straws brings you back to reality.

>You both slowly pull away.

>Even though you just had an ice based dessert

>Your face is on fire.

>Hers must be too, judging by the expression on her face.

>You look around.

>The other patrons are looking at you, with those "aww" faces that people have when they witness young love.

>Well, except for this old couple who look. Concerned? Disturbed?

>Who cares. The future is now old people!

>Brandy and Elvira are staring from behind the window too, giant smiles on their faces.

>You slide yourself out of the booth, and hold your hand out to help Mirabelle out.

>She takes it surprisingly quickly, and out the door you go, still holding her hand.

>...

>You're holding her hand already.

>Bold one, aren't you?

>You walk with Mirabelle to the TIM.

>Putting a giant mall a few minutes walk from a local shopping center seemed like shitty placement to you.

>You're practically at the front entrance when you reach up to scratch a sudden itch, and realize.

>Oh.

>You're still holding her hand.

>You look at her.

>She looks up at you.

>She doesn't seem to mind.

>In fact she isn't looking like anything's wrong.

>You still let go though.

>"Sorry 'bout that." you mutter, going for that itch behind your neck.

>"Oh uh, no worries." she replies.

>"Soooo, what're you in the mood for? Wanna see what they've got playing in the theater? Or would you rather hit the arcade?"

>"Hmm, the arcade sounds good. I'm in the mood to move around a bit after lunch."

>You both head off to the arcade.

>You have the play card they give out, which also keeps track of the points you gain from playing certain games.

>You load it up with about 30 bucks worth of game credits, and off you both go.

>You play a few rounds in some fighters.

>You're pretty neck and neck, you win a few, she wins a few.

>You move over to a basketball game.

>She's got a decent jump shot.

>You guys tie at this, even though you play like 3 times, insisting that ties don't count.

>There's a giant version of Battleships that you play.

>She slaughters you in that.

>That level of prediction was unreal, you had to scan your surroundings to make sure she wasn't cheating.

>You play Ski-Ball and this time you win by a huge margin.

>You've got the ancient forbidden tech of 100 percent accuracy when going for the 100 point slots.

>Then she drags you to the racing game, insisting this'll be the tie breaker.

>Oh you poor misguided bunny.

>You agree and start up.

>She uses the manual option.

>Ah, a woman of culture as well.

>Unfortunately her culture is no match for your skill as you leave her in the dust.

>"Best 2 out of 3!" she shouts.

>Which then becomes best of 5.

>Then 7.

>She won twice. But only because she actually cheated.

>The first time, when she had to hit a hard left, she leaned into it and slugged you in the arm, throwing you off course.

>The second time, you were a leg ahead and when you leaned to the right to turn right, she had to lean left, so she purposefully(she said it wasn't on purpose but you know better) threw her ears in your face to distract you.

>...But they were soft so you didn't mind too much that time.

>After your unspoken competition came to an end you play some games cooperatively.

>Medal Slug and Joustit.

>The Guitar Zero game.

>You even play this weird shooter about this college couple killing monsters in the jungle.

>You two score pretty high on that one.

>You two are laughing and having a lot of fun.

>This is what one would qualify as a successful date, right?

>You regain your senses long enough to remember to check the time.

>Damn, its almost 7 p.m.

>Where'd the time go?

>You relay this information to Mirabelle.

>You should probably start going before it gets dark. You have to walk home after all, and you aren't sure how she got here but it might be best for her to start heading back too.

>She agrees with this idea.

>However, before you leave, you head over to the prize counter.

>You played a lot of games even before they renovated, and you never use the points so you could likely afford anything at the counter..

>"You want any of these? "you gesture to the prizes crowding the shelves and hanging off of strings from the ceiling. "It's not as special as winning it for you from like, a claw machine or something cliché, but those are rigged anyway. So this is second best."

>You don't really expect her to want any of this stuff, it's just a bunch of cheesy toys and plush characters. But hey, offering never hurt anyone.

>She looks around with a bit of disinterest, before her eyes settle on one in particular.

>"That one." she says, as she points up at. Something.

>The lanky bastard manning the counter reaches up and pulls it down.

>It's something alright.

>It's like a human king, with black clothes and a red cape. The crown looks slightly tilted on his head, probably intentional. The hair is long and unruly, or at least it's shaped to look that way. He has this huge cartoony smile, one eye is big and round, and the other is slanted, like they cut the circle in half and slightly angled it.

>Makes him look kinda evil.

>"...Yeah?" is all you say.

>She nods, looking very pleased with it.

>You hand your card to the attendant and he charges for it.

>Mirabelle starts walking off as you get your card back.

>The lanky attendant looks over at her, before turning back to you.

>He gives you that "okay" hand signal and clicks his tongue twice.

>Hmmm.

>You walk away and catch up to Mirabelle.

>You walk out of the TIM.

>"Well, we spent a lot of time at the arcade, I guess the movie wasn't in the plans today." you say as you shrug.

>"Yeah. Guess we'll just have to do that part another time." she shrugs back.

>"...Oh? So you'd. Be interested in doing this again sometime?

>She pauses. "Well...Yeah. I enjoyed myself so. I'd like that."

>EXCELLENT!

>Continue. Press this advantage!

>"So uh. Maybe I can get your number. That way we can make it a little easier, to schedule future plans."

>Good. Gooood!

>"... Yeah, of course."

>Ladies and gentlemen, we got it!

>She gives you her number, and you shoot her a quick "Hey" so that she can have yours as well. For the sake of consistency.

>You look up to the sky.

>"So how'd you get here? Did you come on your own, or should I wait with you while you get a ride sorted?"

>"Eh, I got a ride, but it's still light out, I should be fine. I'll start heading home myself so that they won't have to come the entire way."

>"Alright, if you say so." You take a few steps in the general direction of your home. "I guess I'll see you at school Monday."

>"Mhm. See you."

>She waves, you wave back, and make your way home.

>One fulfilling walk later, you've made it home.

>You kick off your shoes, rip off your shirt and throw yourself into your bed.

>God this was the best day of your life.

>May they only get better, you silently pray.

>You lay back and sleep calls you already.

>The euphoria and adrenaline of the day's activities slowly ebbing from you like the retreat of the shoreline.

>However you get a text and it all returns in a split second.

>You look at your phone, and whoever could it be-

>It's Mirabelle.

>You've never opened a text so fast in your life.

>It's a picture, of the little plush she just got, sitting on what looks like the edge of a dresser drawer.

>Then she says "You know, it kinda reminds me of you."

>"What, you think I look like such a villain?" you send her back.

>"It kind of has that face you make when you do that pose sometimes. You know, before and after your fights."

>"Do I really look like that?" you say as you send an emoji that's gone blue in the face from fear.

>"I wouldn't say it if I didn't think so." she sends an emoji sticking its tongue out.

>Anyway." she follows up. "I really enjoyed today. I'm glad you asked me out. Have a good night."

>"I enjoyed it too. I'm glad you accepted. Good night."

>You put your phone down.

>You take a deep breath.

>You actually scream like you're trying to project your voice to the heavens.

>You whoop and holler like a man who has perceived an unobtainable eldritch knowledge

>You collapse once more into your bed.

>Man, you just split off half an hour ago, but you already want to see her again.

>This is wild.

>You roll out of bed to go shower and don your pajamas.

>There's still a few hours before you normally go to bed, but you just spend them idly, recounting the events of your date today.

>You aren't sure what time it is, checking would require energy that you no longer have.

>Instead you allow a blissful sleep to encompass you, followed by the prospect of sweet dreams.

>A good few weeks have gone by since your first date with Mirabelle.

>And everything has just been fantastic since then.

>You cursed the school system for the audacity they had to actually keep you two separated until your very last class of the day, but the slowly building anticipation seems to be worth it once you finally lay eyes on her.

>You two chat pretty often and text each other when you're not in class, or when you're at home.

>A few times you've texted while you were in class.

>She's been slowing down her mad dashes out of class, to give you the chance to catch up.

>You would break off for a bit to let your friends know that you were going on ahead, before going to meet up with her again.

>You may have a girlfriend now, but you won't forsake age old tradition.

>Even if you're not walking with them.

>You've been walking to the Circle together every day since.

>Unfortunately that meant you'd have to walk your cumbersome scooter, but you deal with it, because you enjoy all the time you get with Mirabelle.

>However you did give her a ride one time because she seemed interested.

>She put her arms around and held on tight as you went down the road.

>This time however, you allowed the action, fully enjoying the closeness that came with it.

>It did remind you though, that you still have not seen Bree for quite a while.

>Well you thought you had caught a glimpse of her at one time, but you weren't sure.

>But she probably isn't in any trouble so you push the thoughts from your mind.

>When you and Mirabelle would get to the Circle, normal Circle engagements would ensue.

>She still has the seat, but you stand near her.

>She'll fight like always, and win like always.

>Likewise, you fight too, and win, nothing has changed in that regard.

>But trying to get a normal fight for yourself started becoming increasingly difficult.

>People would keep back when you stepped up. If you waited until someone else went in first, or if Lewis had to pick a fight for you, they would end pretty quick.

>They would try for a bit in the beginning, but after a few good hits, or during the start of your infamous Clinch, they would concede quickly.

>No use fighting a battle you know you would lose.

>Not like when you were King, and those who you would fight, fought to win, because they wanted to usurp you.

>So you had to get your kicks another way.

>When someone would win two fights in a row, you would step in and call them out the next day to blacken their eyes and their spirits.

>Putting an end to their streak and forcing them to start over.

>But of course, you can only fight once, so some people whose win counts match up to two and three would still make it to challenge Mirabelle.

>Only to get destroyed in short order.

>So once people kind of noticed you two were dating.

>They were shocked initially. But not too put off.

>After what they had all seen you do not that long ago, they kinda figured that was the path you two were headed, especially after watching you show up together.

>They started referring to Mirabelle as a Queen.

>Which she didn't seem to mind.

>Which then led to them referring to you both as the King and Queen of Ruin.

>Which you thought was really fucking cool.

>Mirabelle seemed to enjoy it as well, drawing even more comparisons to you and the evil king plushie you got her.

>But you accepted that.

>Mirabelle is just so great.

>This is the best month you've ever had in your life. Better than all the birthdays and holidays and amusement park trips you've ever had.

>You want to scream to the world and tell everybody within earshot about the perfect being that is Mirabelle Dunwick.

>But you keep it to yourself, partly out of greed, but also because you don't want to become one of those creepers.

>You're pretty sure that's how people lose their friends in the first place.

>Speaking of your friends, you're currently at lunch with them, but your mind isn't with them until you manage to catch your name.

>"Well we can probably count Anon out." Lewis says, bored expression carved into his face.

>'Huh. What? Out for what?"

"C'mon dude." Verne says. "Like, we know you've got yourself a dope ass girlfriend or whatever, but as least engage with us a bit. Your boys. Y'know, the boys you've known for like 4 years." he holds his hands over his chest, feigning heartbreak.

>"I for one welcome your developments, Anon." Mikael adds. "I could not be more proud. Truly, you have even achieved more than me."

>"What's that mean?" you ask him.

>"I have never had a girlfriend." he says plainly.

>You stare at him like he just renounced every last one of his Nordic gods.

>"It's true!" he continues, noting the face of doubt you have. Even Verne and Lewis are looking at him funny. "I mean. I am a man of the ladies, all the ladies. I could not bear to tie myself down with just one. And attempting to pursue multiple behind the back of one you have a union with is unthinkable to me. It breeds heartbreak, and I could never."

>So all his flirting is just flirting, and not like some kinda playboy womanizing?

>Hard to believe.

>"... Moving on from that tangent. We've been talking about going to the party Jeremy Wheeler's having on Saturday."

>"Yeah you know. Saturday. The day that was for the boys. But not anymore apparently." Verne cries.

>You honestly aren't sure if his heartbreak is real or not. His face is scrunched up like he wants to cry, but he's overexaggerating the sadness in his voice.

>"Alright I get it!" you shout. "Geez, alright. Since Verne will probably cry if I don't, I'll go with you guys. I mean, how could I not? If there's a party that we wanted to hit, we've always gone together. Having someone else besides you idiots to spend my time with isn't gonna change that."

>"Nah man, don't feel like I'm forcing you or anything." Verne feels the need to keep this farce going.

>"Verne I will kill you. And then kill you again. If you don't cut the shit." you look at him with a blank face.

>"Alright alright." He throws his hands up in surrender and that trademark dopey grin makes its return to his face.

>"Okay so. We were planning on showing up a little after 8. So I guess be ready by then. I'll come scoop you up some time around then." Lewis lets you know.

>"Cool, sounds like a plan." you say.

>"Finally hanging out with our old pal Anon! Mikael says and pats you on the back with that heavy viking pat. "Feels like it's been a thousand years since we've had time, man."

>"It's been like several weeks my guy." you say to him.

>"Yes physically. But it's what you perceive that matters. Like trying to wait the minute for your mother's dessert to cool feels like hours. Or when you watch videos thinking it's only been a few minutes and suddenly hours have gone by."

>Okay, you understand what he's saying, but you're gonna move on from this.

>A party, huh? When's the last time you've been to one?

>There was that New Year's party Lewis' family had.

>That big thing in the park for Independence Day.

>You wonder if Mirabelle would want to go.

>Does she seem like the type that's into house parties?

>Guess the only real way to know is to ask.

>"Wait is it a costume party?" you ask. "It is like, the day before Halloween."

>"Eh. You can if you want, but he didn't say it was. I guess it's your choice." Lewis explains.

>Then nah, not gonna bother.

>You are kinda pumped though, Jeremy's parties are always dope.

>School's over, and you're walking with your favorite bun.

>Holding hands.

>...The degeneracy.

>You can't do it on the way to the Circle though, because you need both hands to maneuver your scooter when you walk there together.

>You remember wanting to ask her about the party. so you do.

>"Hey are you-" you both start at the same time.

>"Going to Jeremy Wheeler's party?" she finishes.

>Huh, what a coincidence.

>"I was just about to ask you that." you tell her.

>"Hey whadda you know? So I guess you're going."

>"Absolutely. Me and my friends never miss a chance to party. Especially not one of Jeremy's." you say, remembering Jeremy's last party.

>It was actually the one where you noticed those two leaving after their bedroom shenanigans.

>"I'm guessing his parties are pretty cool then?" she asks.

>"They're pretty dope. What you've never been?"

>She shrugs. "I don't really go to parties. I get enough of loud noises and crowded spaces at home. But a few of my friends said I should come to this one. So I said 'sure'."

>"Right on. I guess since your friends invited you, you'll be showing up with them?"

>"Yeah, that's the thing to do right? Go with the people who asked you?"

>"I'd say so. Well, I mean, as long as you see each other there, I don't think there'd be a problem but. My friends asked me and I'm going with them, so it's probably the right thing to do."

>"Makes sense... So I guess I'll be seeing you there." she looks up at you and grins.

>That's an interesting looks she's giving you.

>But you grin back anyway. "I guess you will."

>You get your scooter. You give her a ride today.

>The rest of the day proceeds as it normally does.

>You fight.

>No one challenges Mirabelle today.

>Most challengers have effectively been denied by your hand anyway.

>You're looking forward to Jeremy Wheeler's party.

>You're in Lewis' car, pulling up to Jeremy Wheeler's house.

>Luckily, Lewis manages to get a park very close, just across the street from the man's house.

>You can already hear the music from here.

>You all get out and walk up.

>He's even got a doorman of sorts, a college looking guy, sitting outside in a lawn chair.

>He looks up from his phone at you, then stands up.

>He has you guys stop and gives you each a halfassed pat down. Then opens the door, after confirming that nobody's packing anything dangerous.

>You guys step through the door and make it in a few steps right before the song changes.

>The first few notes come through the speakers and all 4 of you instantly know.

>This is your jam.

>You look between each other, a shared sense of understanding and readiness crosses each face.

>You've practiced for this moment, but you never thought you would actually use it randomly in the world.

>People put a specific dance to this song all the time on Yewtube videos, so on several particularly boring Saturdays, you guys decided to learn the dance they usually pair with it.

>Saying one day you could bust it out and impress people.

>But you never actually expected anyone to actually play this song in your day to day.

>Until now.

>Execute Groove Protocol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XFudmaObLI

>You all stand in a line and mimic the dance moves from the videos you've watched in almost perfect synchronization and coordination.

>Jeremy's house has carpet so it's a little more difficult to do certain movements than others, but all in all, it goes down pretty well.

>As evidenced by the crowd who has stopped their own grooving and given you all space to comfortably watch you idiots groove.

>When the song comes to its end you all pose like some kind of boy band or fucking K-pop group.

>The partygoers whoop and cheer, thoroughly impressed by your display

>Whether in the Circle or at a random house party, the peoples' cheering feeds you.

>You look to your boys, to find that they are already departing.

>Mikael is strolling up to a group of girls standing by the wall.

>Verne is headed to the kitchen for the food.

>Something caught Lewis' eye and he's headed to the back of the house.

>Why the fuck were they hazing you so hard about hanging out with them if they were just gonna split up as soon as you all got here?

>Whatever, you don't care. You showed up together, maybe that'll at least keep you in their good graces.

>You look around, hoping to spot Mirabelle, but catch something equally tantalizing.

>There's a table with 2 punch bowls. Strategically placed next to an open window.

>Likely to tactically yeet in case some unforeseen problems arise.

>You walk over and Jeremy Wheeler is there, leaning against the table right in front of one of the bowls.

>He sees you approach. "Nice fuckin' shmooves, man. I dig it."

>"We literally stole those from the internet." you confess.

>"They were still nice, don't give a fuck. Anyway. You here for some punch?" He points to the bowl next to him. "Or some pawnch?" He throws a thumb behind him at the bowl.

>"Dude gimme the pawnch, you already know."

>"Right on, right on." He grabs a red cup, and fills it with some of that good stuff, before handing it to you. "Enjoy, bud. There's soda and water in the kitchen if you gotta mitigate."

>"Cool cool. Thanks, Jeremy." You bump his fist with your free hand.

>You're about to turn and continue your scan for Mirabelle before you hear something directed at you.

>It startles you, but it's a good kind of startling, like thunderclouds in the desert.

>"Heeey Anon."

>You turn on a dime and almost spill your freshly acquired drink.

>"Oh my god Bree! You been okay? I haven't seen you in like, weeks!"

>"Huh? Oh uh. Yeah. Some uh. Some things happened, so I've been going straight home." she explains.

>There's a strangeness to her voice. Like it lacks the same energetic form it usually has.

>She also sounds a bit, anxious? Or something?

>"So uh. Y-your dancing was something else. I didn't know you were that good. You can just do it all can't you?" she says.

>"Oh, pfft. We took that from videos, anyone can do it if you practice it enough."

>You look around a bit, and you catch a glimpse of white fur near the wall.

>Has to be her, no one else is that shor- uh, vertically challenged.

>Well, there's Bree, but.

>"Anyway Bree. I'm glad I saw you, I was a bit worried for a bit, but I'm glad you're okay. I'll see you around." you tell her as you get ready to head off.

>"Huh? You're taking off already?" she says with a bit of urgency.

>"Oh yeah, I was actually looking for someone, and I think I spotted 'em so I'm gonna head that way."

>"...What. Who?"

>"Hm? Oh, uh, Mirabelle. Told her I'd catch up with her here."

>"...Why. Her?" she asks. Though it doesn't really sound like she's asking.

>The way she said it made it sound like her voice was just flooded with misery.

>You look back and down at her, and barely catch the edge of her face as she begins walking away.

>Her violet lights are no such thing at the moment.

>They are dim and drowning.

>As if a downpour of sadness is about to flow from her eyes.

>You double take and stand for a moment in absolute confusion as you watch her slink off.

>You regain enough sense to try and follow her to get some clarification, but she disappears in the see of bodies that encompass the room and you lose her.

>That was.

>...

>That was strange.

>You aren't sure what to make of it.

>Maybe you can find her again tonight and get to the bottom of it.

>Mikael would probably actually murder you if you did or said something that made her cry, and he found out.

>Best friends or not, he's like zero tolerance for that.

>A voice pulls you out of your thoughts.

>"Anooon!"

>You look over and Mirabelle is looking your way, bouncing up and down, high enough for you to clearly see her.

>She'll hit the ceiling if she goes any higher.

>Noticing her completely shifts your mood for the better and you stride up to her.

>"Where're your friends?" you ask as you reach her.

>"They're over there dancing." She pointes to a fox and a, what's it called, a red panda, dancing close to the center of the room.

>Damn, that red panda is even shorter than Mirabelle.

>"What about yours?" she asks.

>"Eh, we came in together, but they went their separate ways right after."

>"Was that you and them dancing just a moment ago, towards the front?"

>"Yeah something like that. It's just like, a meme dance we took from videos online, I'm not actually any good or anything." you confess.

>"No way, if you can even move like that, it has to mean you at least have rhythm. I definitely am not that good of a dancer."

>"Haha, trust me, neither am I. Look you'll see. Just lemme shove some more liquid courage down my throat so that I actually have the gall to make a fool of myself."

>"Liquid courage? she tilts her head. "Is that the punch?"

>"Well yes, but actually no. It's punch...With some punch." you tell her.

>She looks at you like you just started speaking German.

>"Alcohol. There's alcohol in it." you clarify.

>Her eyes shoot open and her eyes dart up for a moment.

>"I see." is all she says.

>...

>You take a sip.

>That's good pawnch.

>...

>You offer her your cup.

>She glances at it, then up to you.

>"Have a sip. It'll loosen you up."

>She looks a bit skeptical that you're attempting to offer her alcohol.

>Like she's some sort of church girl that would think underage drinking is a sin.

>Well it's kind of a crime, but. You're pretty sure the Circle is breaking at least a law or two, maybe.

>"Trust me," you tell her. "You have a sip. Then another. And then you literally will not care how badly you dance. Like I said, a bit of liquid courage."

>She still looks a bit unconvinced.

>"Besides." you continue. "Jeremy knows what he's doing. You'd probably have to have like, 3 full cups to even get to a point that could be considered drunk... Maybe a full 1 on an empty stomach."

>She looks at the cup, then takes it from your hand.

>She sniffs at it, and likely intaking more of the punchy smell than the alcoholic smell, takes a sip.

>Her face scrunches like she just popped a whole lemon slice in her mouth.

>Then she takes a bigger sip.

>Yeees. Imbibe.

>She hands the cup back to you.

>"It's. Not that bad." she says, eyebrows up, eyes cast down, like she's processing new information she's acquired.

>You take another sip yourself, and when you pull back, she's reaching for your cup again.

>Uh oh. Hopefully you haven't corrupted your snow white rabbit.

>Mentally wondering if her fur color would actually darken from that snow white to a slightly darker tone.

>You go though the cup together, and while it was a very low amount for you, you can still feel the telltale warmth that comes with a bit of alcohol.

>Mirabelle looks like she's holding up okay, too.

>After a bit of standing around, you begin to let the music in.

>The groove calls to you once more.

>You bounce and dip your shoulders to the rhythm.

>Mirabelle is kind of swaying and bouncing to the music herself.

>She looks at you.

>You look at her.

>Wordlessly she grabs you and pulls you toward the middle of the room.

>Oh my, how assertive.

>You aren't arguing though.

>The music makes you lose control, and you two start dancing.

>Contrary to whatever lies she was spouting earlier, this little bun can move.

>Maybe it was the pawnch.

>She's got this saucy little forward step into hip movement that's catching all your attention.

>In fact most of her movements are comprised of leg and hip.

>But you are not fucking complaining.

>You guys move and groove for a good while,

>You danced through a good number of songs without stopping.

>The spirit of the jam has effectively claimed you.

>Until this trashy song comes on where some female artist is talking about twerking and popping and throwing it back.

>It throws off your groove is what it does.

>Mirabelle is slowing down too.

>You still want to dance, so maybe you'll just wait this song out.

>Another bop will come back on soon.

>You look to your left.

>You notice Lee, dancing with some wolf girl.

>Except they are pressed very close to each other, looking in the same direction.

>And everything waist down it's all that's moving.

>Hmm.

>You look to your right.

>2 humans are dancing, but the girl is damn near bent at a 90 degree angle.

>Oh.

>That must be what it means to "throw it back".

>You realize.

>It's a bump and grind song.

>You look up and tug at your shirt, forcing some of the heat to escape its cotton confinement.

>You look at Mirabelle, also looking a bit wiped.

>Or maybe its also the embarrassment of seeing the strange teenage dancing ritual that you seek escape from.

>You reach for her hand and walk away from the dance floor, up some stairs, and down to the end of the hall.

>You open a window, the same window you sat at last time you were here.

>You both take in the gentle night air that cools your heated forms.

>You look down.

>There's a stretch of tile that comes out a bit right beneath this window.

>You could probably climb out and on to it if you wanted.

>You glance up and the roof isn't that far away.

>You could definitely climb on to the roof.

>You come forward and gently climb onto the stretch of tile, checking to make sure they aren't going to give under your weight.

>Satisfied that they seem to hold, you turn to Mirabelle.

>"What're you doing?" she asks.

>"Follow me, and you'll see." you tell her, and hold your hand out for her to follow you. "It's not like it's any more dangerous than getting in a fight at the Circle."

>She shrugs and takes your hand and you gently help her out the window.

>After she's got her balance, you hop up slightly and latch onto the edge of the roof, pulling yourself up.

>You reach down and Mirabelle grabs your hand.

>Pulling her up here is unbelievably easy, she can't possibly weigh anymore than 50 pounds, 60 tops.

>You're both sitting on the roof now, night sky spread out before you, in all it's cosmic splendor.

>You gaze up at the moon, almost full in its appearance.

>Ahh Kos. Or some say Kosm.

>It's actually less of a space egg tonight, and more of a space melon.

>Like if you could pluck it from the sky with the size it has now, you could play kickball or something with it.

>You look over to Mirabelle.

>She's looking at the moon too, you think.

>Her blue eyes are full of bountiful moonlight, and her pure white fur almost seems to absorb the lunar rays and glow.

>Such beauty was not meant for mortal men to witness.

>You lean back and gaze up at the sky.

>It's beautiful, but not as beauti-

>Alright that's a cheesy line that you won't have the audacity to finish.

>You feel a warmth on your outstretched hand.

>It's her hand on top of yours.

>She looks at you.

>"It's been fun right?" she asks.

>"Yeah." you say.

>"And to think." she smiles, before it shifts into that taunting grin of hers. "We probably wouldn't be sitting here like this if you hadn't randomly kissed me."

>Oh the shame.

>"I don't regret it... But I do wish it could've been a little different."

>"Honestly." she sighs. "That was my first kiss and everything. And it tasted like blood, and everyone saw it so it was super embarrassing."

>Yeah you really dropped the spaghetti with that one.

>"Yeah." you say. "I'm still really sorry."

>You sit in silence for a moment before she says

>"That's it. I want a do-over."

>"...Huh?" you squeak out.

>"Yep. If we just repeat everything that happened during our first kiss, but in a better location and setting, we can rewrite it and consider the new kiss our first. Or so I've been told."

>"I don't think it works like that." you say.

>"Won't know until we try." she says.

>Her hand goes up and pushes you back.

>Because of the roof, you're at a slight incline upward, but it's not too noticeable.

>"And then it was something like this." she mutters before moving over and basically straddling you.

>"Close enough right?" she asks.

>"Mhm." escapes you, a little higher pitched than you meant.

>"And lastly." she whispers, eyes half closed. She begins leaning into you.

>This is it.

>You take a slow deep breath, and crane your head a bit to reach her.

>And you kiss.

>For the second time technically, but it's magical and euphoric, as if it really is your first.

>You feel like you're floating.

>The stars twinkle, shedding cosmic tears at the sight of your passion.

>The night breeze sings a gentle hymn of passion.

>Her lips are soft.

>Her breath is warm.

>You want this blessed moment to literally last forever.

>But you'd probably suffocate if it did.

>...Wouldn't be a bad way to go.

>Eventually, she slowly pulls away.

>You already want more, a primal greed rising in you.

>So much better than the first time." you say.

>"What do you mean?" she asks. "This was the first time."

>"Uhh, I don't think it went exactly like it did the first time. If I remember correctly, I kissed you. This time, it felt more like you kissed me."

>"Ehh,, semantics." she says.

>She looks down at you, and slowly moves in for another round.

>You gladly accept and move to meet her as best you can.

>Another wave of euphoria hits.

>This one seems to last longer than the last.

>She breaks away once more.

>And once more she dives down to unite your lips.

>However right before contact is made

>Your fucking phone goes off.

>WHO DARES!?

>You look up at her, and she leans back.

>You jimmy your phone from your pocket and look at it.

>It's Lewis.

>You answer.

>"Where you at?" you hear, somewhere below you before you actually hear it in your ear.

>"Uh, outside." you say.

>"...Are you on the roof?" you hear, and then hear again.

>"...No." you say quickly.

>There's a pause.

>"I can see you."

>Another pause.

>"Is the bunny on top of you?"

>"No." you say even more quickly.

>"Mmmhmm, sure. 'No Lewis, that's ridiculous, people don't just fall in love.'" he says, making a terribly exaggerated mockery of your voice.

>"Anon."

>"Yeah?" you say into your phone.

>"Who was right? Who's the man?"

>You can feel the smugness emanating from the phone as well as somewhere on the ground beneath you.

>"You were. You are." you say in a defeated tone.

>"Damn right, bitch. Don't ever fucking doubt me again."

>You can't hold back a chuckle as you hear him say that.

>"Anyway it was getting late, so we were gonna take off. You gonna stick around or?"

>Aww man, things were getting great.

>Even though It's more of the Plains, walking back home from here would take a decent amount of time, especially in the relative darkness.

>Maybe Mirabelle's friends could give you a ride.

>Eh you'd better not chance it, best to leave the way you came.

>Even though you really don't wanna fucking leave right now.

>"Well, you're my ride. So" you say.

>"Alright. Bring that ass on." he says before he hangs up.

>"Aww. Leaving so soon?" Mirabelle asks.

>"Yeah. Gotta catch my ride." you say full of disappointment.

>"Lame....But it's okay." She leans in close. "We'll pick this up again some other time." she says before giving you one last quick peck.

>You two climb off the roof and back in through the window you left open.

>You make your way to the front door and outside, where Lewis, Mikael, and Verne are waiting.

>You bid farewell to Mirabelle and make your way to Lewis' car.

>You look over at Lewis driving as he lets out this big, contagious yawn, and wipes a tear from his eye.

>Speaking of tears, you never managed to find Bree again.

>You still have no idea what happened with her.

>Maybe you'll be able to talk to her and figure it out one day.

>Lewis drops you off, and you hit the shower immediately.

>Completely out of character for once, you don't brush your teeth before bed tonight.

>You're secretly hoping that the taste of Mirabelle's lips on yours will carry over into your dreams.

>You pull on your pajamas and jump into bed immediately, letting the excitement of the day filter from your muscles and bones.

>It's been about two weeks since Jeremy Wheeler's party.

>Nobody had any plans to hang together during Halloween or anything.

>Mikael took his little sister trick or treating and Mirabelle took her younger siblings around her neighborhood as well.

>Your mom sent you money to buy candy to pass out, so you did.

>You just ended up watching classic horror movies and passing out candy.

>The rest of the week had come and gone.

>And time moved ever onward, as it always will.

>Thanksgiving is around the corner.

>You don't have any other family out here.

>So it's likely you'll just end up receiving a plate or two from whatever neighbors remember you, or hear from your parents to make sure you felt included.

>It's been getting even colder as the months slowly edge closer to Winter.

>The cold doesn't bother you too much, so you really only wear a jacket when it's absolutely freezing.

>Your flannels and a few undershirts keep you warm enough.

>But it looks like it affects Mirabelle, since she's been wearing heavier clothes.

>She's also been huddling a lot closer to you during your walks or when you give her a ride on your scooter.

>You thought the whole reason for having fur was to keep them warm.

>But then again, maybe that's only for the ones with thicker fur.

>The closeness hasn't been bothering you.

>But then you remembered.

>Anthros seem almost as close to humans as possible, ignoring their animalistic traits.

>But there is one severe thing they haven't escaped.

>Heat cycles.

>There's always this part of the year, usually near the end of it, where most female anthros get a little frisky.

>Luckily there's a medicine that basically stops that shit dead in its tracks.

>Something-or-other estrus blockers, you believe.

>And then there's a pad that they stick to themselves that cancels out the scent.

>Because apparently smelling like you want to fuck is a real thing for anthros.

>Hell it could possibly be a thing for humans too, their noses just aren't strong enough to smell it.

>Wait, do you think anthros can smell when humans are horny?

>You may have to remind yourself to keep your monkey brain nuerons from activating.

>Anyway, you were a bit concerned that it could be due to heat or something.

>But aside from the added closeness she didn't seem to be acting different at all.

>So you decided to nix that line of thinking.

>You wouldn't want her to do anything she'd regret in the heat of the moment.

>Ha. Heat of the moment.

>Your final class of the day comes to an end as you put the class textbook away and pack your things.

>Mirabelle idles by the door until you get to her and like always, you head out together.

>You start thinking up plans for the weekend before you notice.

>You check your pockets.

>"Oops. Left my phone in class."

>You were messing around on it right before class ended and sat it in your desk to retrieve as you put your book away.

>Guess you just forgot the retrieval part.

>You tell Mirabelle to go on ahead and you'll catch up as you double time back to Mr. Warburton's class.

>You walk through the doors, and Mr. Warburton lazily looks up at you from his desk.

>"Hey, just forgot something, sorry." you apologize.

>He nods as you head to your desk.

>There's your phone. You grab it and

>"Mr. Anonymous." you hear.

>You look over at Mr. Warburton.

>"Do you mind if I ask you a slightly personal question?"

>"Uh, no. Go ahead." you say, with just a hint of concern.

>"Thank you...Well the answer seems a bit obvious, with present information presented, but I still feel the need to clarify...Are you and Ms. Dunwick, together?"

>"Oh." You didn't expect that, honestly. "Uh, yeah. We are."

>He looks at you and lets out this slow, measured breath.

>There's this look of gentle joy on his face.

>"I can't explain to you what a joy it is to hear that."

>Now that really catches you off guard.

>"Why is that, Mr. Warburton?"

>"It gives me so much hope."

>He brings his hands close together, and for the first time you notice there's a ring on his left hand. He's rubbing it affectionately.

>"You and Mr. Bjornson have close friends who are anthros. Mr. Bjornson gives as much of his attention to the anthro females as he does to any human females. And you are in a relationship with an anthro yourself."

>He closes his eyes and hangs his head down, looking very pleased.

>"As you know, there were severe problems with Human/Anthro relations several centuries ago. Centuries might seem a long time for any individual, but for a civilization, or a people, it's no time at all. Which is why it brings me so much joy to see today's youth continuing to break down the barriers that seperated us. The ones that still do, to an extent."

>Wow. You never would've guessed Mr. Warburton felt so strongly about the subject.

>"I knew I had a good feeling about you, Mr. Anonymous. I truly have been overjoyed to have a student like you in my class. I hope you and Ms. Dunwick live happy, healthy lives together for a very long time. If you so choose to take it that far."

>"Mr. Warburton, are you... Do you also...?" you start, but aren't sure how to finish that question.

>He seems to understand though as he gives you this pleased grin and holds up his hand, showing his ring.

>"Indeed I am. A snow leopard. And I have to say. Waking up to a face full of that divinely soft fur every morning is like my own personal slice of heaven. I'm sure you understand the allure."

>You nod sagely.

>Soft fur is soft.

>"Anyway. I'll let you go now." he says, turning back to the papers on his desk. "Have a good weekend Mr. Anonymous."

>"Yeah. You too, Mr. Warburton."

>"Actually, before you go, one last thing."

>His face is stern and serious.

>"Please do try not to rush your relationship. Especially in these coming months. If you've been paying attention in your classes which I know you have, this is a time where anthros are a bit more susceptible to certain things than they normally are. I would hate for things to take a bad turn."

>"I understand completely Mr. Warburton. I actually had the same kind of thoughts myself." you assure him.

>You don't want to mess this up either.

>Besides. It's like trying to smash a girl when she's drunk and you aren't.

>It may be easy, but it ain't right.

>That's some real beta male energy is what that is.

>And to hell if your inner gentleman would allow you to even attempt such shit.

>"I'm glad you understand." he says, and leaves you be after that.

>You leave, feeling, pretty good after that conversation.

>You zone out and almost walk straight by your friends, who were leaving since you weren't showing up.

>Luckily Mikael grabs you and you snap to attention.

>"There you are, brother. Thought you forgot about us."

>"Oh, nah." you explain. Got held up in class.

>"I see. Anyway what are your plans for tonight? The Circle, yeah? Anything after? No? Good, keep it that way, we're kidnapping you."

>...What, what do you mean?" you question.

>"Siegbrau." is all he says.

>It's all he needs to say.

>"You son of a bitch, I'm in."

>You think for a moment.

>Mirabelle seemed to enjoy the pawnch from the party, maybe she'd be into having a beer or two?

>"Can I uh, invite Mirabelle? She might enjoy a siegbrau, and I can finally introduce you all.

>Verne expresses his annoyance. "Man, you wanna bring a girl, to siegbrau time?"

>"Well yes. It's only Friday, so you can't use that 'Saturday is for the boys' line.

>"You are correct, but I can use the 'crack open a cold one with the boys' line."

>Damn he got you there.

>"Well yes, it says 'with the boys', but it doesn't expressly say only the boys."

>He looks at you, like he just got Uno reverse carded.

>"Damn you got me there!" he says, returning that chilled out grin to his face.

>"You guys okay with that?" you look to Mikael and Lewis.

>Lewis nods.

>Mikael has a huge grin on his face.

>So you guess he's okay with it too.

>"Cool, I'll let her know what's up."

>You all continue to the entrance and they part as you make your way over to Mirabelle.

>"Geez, what took so long?" she asks.

>"Talked to Mr. Warburton for a bit. And then those jokers snatched me up for a bit."

>She nods in understanding and takes your hand as you walk to grab your scooter.

>"So Mirabelle. Would you be interested in hanging out with me and my friends later on today?" you ask her as you unlock the chain to your scooter.

>"What did you guys plan?"

>"We were gonna head down the road a bit, to this place we like to hang out at and have a couple drinks. Nothing too exciting, but I thought I'd invite you."

>"...By drinks, you mean?"

>You scan your surroundings quickly. "A few beers. It's a liitle different than the pawnch from the other day. Okay, it's a lot different. But. You may like it."

>"...Sure, I'm in." she says after a moment's deliberation.

>"Great. I can finally introduce you to my goon squad, too."

>The trip to the Circle is quick and the day proceeds like any other day.

>Someone challenges Mirabelle and gets dropkicked straight to the nurse's station.

>You challenge someone close to finishing their streak and throw knees into their chest until they crumple like an old shirt tossed to the ground.

>Mirabelle runs over and buys 2 Dr. Beppers, and hands you one.

>You toast to your victories and have a drink.

>And before you know it, the day's winding to an end.

>Lewis nods to you as you two depart and heads on his way.

>He's gonna have to walk home, then grab his car.

>Either he or Mikael will have to pick up Verne.

>Since you're gonna head straight to your rendezvous point, you might end up waiting for them a bit.

>You walk with Mirabelle for a way.

>At least far enough to get out of sight of the patrol car that usually posts up near the Circle.

>You already ride without a helmet, you wouldn't want them to actually ticket you for having a passenger or something.

>Once you're far enough away, you hop on and help Mirabelle onto the back.

>Then you take off down the road.

>From here, at the speed you're going, its going to take about 20 minutes to get where you're going.

>The place you're headed is a very close to the edge of Towngrove.

>An old abandoned motel that no one bothered to tear down or anything.

>So it just exists there.

>Covered in graffiti and worn by age.

>You and your friends happened to see it one time, during a trip out of town.

>On your way back you stopped at it, and after exploring around it for a bit, found a service ladder that led to the top.

>The gate that blocked it off was ancient so after a good strong viking kick from Mikael, access was yours.

>Ever since, you decided to come by every once in a while, when you all wanted an escape or just had nothing better to do.

>You pull up to the motel and park your scooter however which way you want.

>Because no one cares about proper parking in an abandoned structure.

>You walk to the back and jimmy the gate that you guys strategically placed to make it seem like it was still locked.

>You offer the ladder to Mirabelle.

>Just so that you can attempt to catch her if she were to slip.

>Not to look at her butt. Definitely not.

>She makes it up without incident however.

>You place yourself right at the lip of the building's edge and sit, legs dangling over the edge.

>She follows suit and sits with you.

>You two sit in relative silence, watching the sun fade from the sky and cast it's dulling hues over the horizon.

>After a while, a yellow Mushtang comes speeding down the road and skids almost perfectly into a parking spot in front of the motel.

>Out steps Mikael, who trots to his trunk and throws a large bag of ice over his shoulder.

>He walks around the back and comes up the ladder.

>He climbed the ladder one handed while holding a bag of ice.

>What a chad.

>He walks up, cracks the bag on the ground, then tears it open and pours the ice into this old beat up cooler you guys brought up here.

>He walks up to the edge of the roof next to you and stands triumphantly, like a captain at the helm of his ship.

>You look to Mirabelle.

>"This is Mikael. Chances are you've at least heard about him at some point."

>"Ooooh. Yeah I've heard rumors."

>"All good things I'm sure." he gives her a huge beaming smile, and reaches his hand over you, before turning it into a fist.

>She bumps it in good nature.

>Good. Knowing Mikael, you were half convinced he was gonna do that cliche hand kiss thing, and you would have to yeet him straight off this roof.

>Glad to know he has restraint.

>A few more minutes go by, and a silver Niisan pulls up, and actually parks like its driver has some kind of decency.

>Out jump the familiar elk and lizard.

>They grab backpacks that gently clink as they walk and come up the ladder.

>Over to the cooler they go, and deposit the coveted beverage, as well as some bottles of water.

>They throw more of the ice over them to chill them, and plant themselves to the right of Mirabelle.

>"This one is Verne." You point to the lizard sitting next her. "And that one is Lewis."

>Lewis leans into Verne, using him as an armrest as he goes to shake Mirabelle's hand.

>"We've seen each other around and exchanged some words at the Circle, but it's nice to actually meet you this time."

>Verne offers a fist bump. "So this is the lady who kicked Anon's ass and stole his heart. Gotta say, that's kind of a weird flex."

>"Yeah you're telling me." she says, giving a slight laugh.

>You shrug.

>You don't write the rules of love, you just follow them. Apparently.

>"So. What do you guys do up here?" she asks.

>"We seek the answers to the universe's greatest questions." Mikael says profoundly.

>"We give humble thanks to the world around us for its gracious offerings and bountiful harvests." Lewis follows up.

>"We explore the spiritual and emotional complexities that persist within the notions of birth, life, and death." Verne continues.

>"And we imbibe the nectar of the gods as we seek their holy blessings in fervent supplication.." you bring the saga to its completion.

>"...So basically you drink beer and talk shit." she translates your ramblings.

>"Yep. Mhm. Pretty much. Exactly." you four confess to her analysis.

>"It takes a few minutes for the beer to reach a respectably chilled form, but after a while, Mikael gets up and checks.

>After giving a small grunt of assent, he grabs several Siegbraus and wordlessly passes them out among the group.

>You bend forward and place the tip of the cap against the edge of the roof and bring your free hand down, popping the cap right off.

>You all bring your bottles up and hold them to the sky.

>And you wait.

>...And wait.

>You look to Mirabelle, who's having a bit of trouble getting the cap off in the way you did it.

>As you're about to move to put your bottle down and help her, she finally gets it.

>She looks at you with a small bit of pride.

>Before she notices the pose you're all doing, and quickly moves to mimic it.

>Then you all take a hearty sip of your Siegbraus.

>Mm. Siegbrau.

>If sunlight could be bottled and turned into a drink, this would be it.

>It makes you feel unnaturally warm, like you could brave a snowy mountain in nothing but summer clothes.

>You look over at Mirabelle, who looks like she's enjoying the drink.

>Her face still scrunches after every sip, but she continues to sip.

>You sit in silence as you all go through the first round of your drinks.

>It's your turn to retrieve the next round, so up you go.

>You grab 5 bottles and pass them out.

>Mirabelle still has a bit of her first left, but she still takes the second.

>The caps pop off and you down your second Siegbrau at a decent pace.

>It's Mirabelle's turn to grab the next round, but she's only halfway through her second beer.

>You gently poke her in the cheek. "Hey, Mira. You gotta grab the next round now."

>She looks up from her drink and notices the rest of you are already done with yours and waiting.

>"G-geez, you guys really cut through these, don't you?" She gets up gently and makes her way to the cooler, grabbing 4 bottles and passing them out.

>Before she sits down you ask "Where's your next one?"

>She looks at you. "I'm not done with this one."

>"We're on the third round." Mikael says, cracking open his next beer.

>"You have to grab your next round." Lewis says doing the same.

>You simply nod, already throwing your third back.

>She walks back and grabs a beer before sitting down.

>You hold a hand up to steady her just in case she needs it.

>Luckily she's pretty steady.

>Falls from here would probably be painful.

>You guys slow down a bit, probably to give consideration to Mirabelle, who's just now finished her second beer, and is slowly moving on to her third.

>Some more drinking in silence.

>Until Verne says, "I been thinking."

>"Oh boy, here we go." you say.

>"Verne gets like this when he drinks. Feel free to tune him out." Mikael says over to Mirabelle.

>"Guys look. Listen. For real. I been thinking. Like, about the true nature of the Circle." Verne says, beginning his rant.

>"... Whadda you mean?" Lewis asks.

>"Don't encourage him!" you shout.

>"Look, like. Most of this damn town is pretty heavily anthro, right? And there's a good amount of humans, but not too many, right? So like, what if the Circle, long ago, was some kinda hate thing? Like, a way for anthros to throw some humans into a fight for their lives. Or like a way to humiliate each other before they beat each other within an inch of their lives. For cruel shits and giggles."

>"Violence is a natural part of human and anthro kind." Mikael says. "There's always going to be conflict, between anything living. Humans against humans, anthros against anthros, humans against anthros, it's a vicious cycle."

>"Right. But if it actually had such a violent meaning, is it really something we should continue?" Verne ponders. "Like, what if it keeps going, and somewhere down the line a few new arrivals misinterpret what it was about and it devolves into a ring of violence? Like. I heard, that long ago, the Circle had differnt names. The Rage Cage, the Pain Pit, and the Circle of Slaughter. Before they shortened it to the Circle.

>He pauses and takes a big gulp of his beer.

>"But what if it earns its full name again?"

>You guys sit in silence for a moment.

>That was kinda heavy for Verne this time.

>You aren't sure what to say.

>But Mirabelle is.

>"Why does it matter?"

>You all look at her.

>"Why does what it may have meant in the past matter in the present? There's been tons of things that have had different meanings, good and bad, before time or someone's actions completely changed them. So why does what it used to be matter? What it is now should matter."

>She looks at him.

>"The meaning we give it as a group should be what matters."

>He looks back at her.

>And that dopey smile of his returns in full force.

>"I hear you sister." He raises his bottle and tilts it toward her a bit.

>She freezes, a little unsure of the gesture.

>You gently grab her wrist and bring her bottle towards Verne's until they collide with a soft "clink".

>He brings the bottle up and takes a long drink until it's empty.

>You urge her to do the same, but as she drinks she only gets through about a fourth before she stops.

>That's probably enough for her.

>You grab for her bottle.

>She doesn't resist and lets it out of her grasp.

>You drink it for her, you won't let good Siegbrau go to waste.

>"Besides,' you say suddenly. "In terms of hobbies, I think our game is pretty tame. Somewhere out there people dodge fucking trains for fun."

>Lewis almost chokes on his beer. "What? There's no way."

>"Yeah, why would anyone do that?" Verne sounds deeply concerned.

>"For the adrenaline, I'd guess." you answer.

>"I can see it." Mikael says with a laugh. "You dodge that train and you feel a fuckin' rush. You don't dodge it though, and uh, you won't feel much of anything anymore. Well, maybe excruciating PAIN for about 10 seconds."

>It's Verne's turn to grab the next round but you have him grab Mirabelle a water instead.

>She drinks a bit, but the alcohol is setting in a little strongly for her it seems.

>It's just beer and they aren't particularly strong, but it may have been a bit much to have her throw back so many so quickly.

>She's getting a little wobbly.

>Okay, away from the edge.

>But she wraps her arms around yours and leans into your shoulder.

>...Okay, maybe moving is unnecessary.

>The rest of the night goes by in true silence.

>The stars are out in force now.

>The air is still.

>Such peace and tranquility.

>Alright time to sober up.

>Gonna have to be getting home soon.

>Which means you're gonna have to get Mirabelle sober enough to get home.

>Commence hydration.

>You trade your beer for water, and make sure Mirabelle has some more too.

>You continue to sit and absorb the sense of zen that the night brings you for another hour or so until you feel that the drink has faded.

>You ask Mirabelle how she's feeling and she says she's fine.

>You have her walk in a straight line with her arms outstretched, as if walking on a tightrope.

>She does so without swaying so you gotta say she's sober.

>Not a perfect test, she could just have good balance.

>But whatever, it's time to start getting her home before anyone gets worried.

>You bid farewell to your friends, as they start packing up whatever's left of the drinks.

>You slowly climb down the ladder, Mirabelle going after you so you can once again prep to catch her if she slips.

>This time however, you do look at her butt.

>You get to your scooter, help her on and tell her to hold tight.

>She does so with gusto.

>You take off and the calm but forceful wind that hits your face is extremely sobering.

>You ride for 20 or so minutes, before you stop at a crossroad.

>"Mira, you need me to take you home? Which way is it?"

>"You uh, don't have to go all the way, I'll be fine. But if you could get closer I'd appreciate it."

>She tells you which way to go and which streets to turn on.

>There's another crossroad you reach after about 5 or so minutes.

>"This is good." she tells you, already hopping off.

>"You sure? I really don't mind taking you all the way. In fact I insist."

>"No no, it's really okay I promise. My house is literally right up the way." she assures you, pointing up a small incline.

>"...Oookay, if you say so, I won't pressure you. Just make sure to text me as soon as you get in, kay?"

>"Kaaay." She turns and takes a step, before pivoting perfectly and taking the step back towards you.

>She leans into you and gives you a kiss, before pivoting once again and walking off.

>You wait a bit and watch her go, until she's effectively out of sight in the darkness.

>The gentleman your father instilled in you screams "bad show, old boy" but you have to silence him.

>Nothing bad happens in Towngrove.

>It's a little sterile at times.

>But right now you're glad it is.

>You pull off a bit on your scooter before you stop.

>You look back up to where Mirabelle walked off to.

>Hmm.

>You can't really tell in this darkness but.

>Aren't the Hills up there?

>Whatever. You head home.

>It's the day right after your hangout and you're lounging around.

>It's close to the end of the day and you basically just relaxed at home.

>You are currently talking to Mirabelle over the phone as you lay in bed.

>She didn't bring up anything about any trouble that came with yesterday's bad decisions.

>So all in all, successful siegbrau time.

>However there has been this sense of unease in her voice, as she talks to you.

>Kind of like, there's something she needs to bring up, but doesn't want to, or know how to.

>It's worrying you a bit.

>But you don't want to force it out of her or anything.

>She keeps pausing though, like she's going to bring whatever it is up, and then completely veers off course and says something else.

>Well, if it's important she'll say it.

>If it's not, then she won't.

>But maybe you can bait it out of her.

>"Alright, hun." you say, faking a convincing yawn. "I think I'm gonna head to bed now, I gotta get up early morning to take care of some chores."

>"Oh. Alrighty then, no worries." she says. "Good night."

>"G'night."

>You delay a moment before you reach for the end call button.

>"Actually, Anon wait!" you hear at the last moment.

>Successful bait.

>"What is it?" you ask casually.

>"Besides those chores, are you uh. Up to anything important tomorrow? Like near the afternoon?"

>"Not particularly, I should be done before then. Why, what's up?"

>"Would you, umm. Be willing to come over to my house to meet my parents?" Her voice jumps a few octaves higher as the question reaches its end.

>...Wat.

>"...Wat?" you give voice to your confusion.

>"Yeah, so umm. My mom started asking me about you, or more about the boy I went out with all that time ago, when I told her I had a date. I hadn't really brought it up or anything since then and she hadn't asked. But all of a sudden she brings it up, so I started talking about you. And my dad overheard, and well. They both want to meet you."

>Oh.

>Concern rising.

>Meeting the parents is like a real big thing isn't it?

>You have several questions and concerns.

>But you only give voice to one.

>"Should I. Be concerned?"

>"I don't. Think so?" She doesn't sound too sure.

>"I mean. Did you tell them I'm a human? Were they cool with that?"

>"Oh. Yeah I mentioned it. They didn't seem to have a problem with it at the least. My mom didn't for sure. And my dad, is a dad. I'm sure he's more concerned about who you are, rather than what you are."

>Okay, that's one concern lessened.

>"Alright. What time should I show up?" you ask her.

>"Uhh. Like 2 p.m-ish? My dad has something to do for a bit, but he should be back by then at least, so that should be fine."

>Should I like, dress up?"

>"Nah, probably not. You want to show them who you really are, I think. Getting too fancy just to meet them would be like you're faking it. What you usually wear is fine, just make sure it's y'know, clean."

>"Will do."

>"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then."

>You sure will." you tell her.

>She hangs up.

>You set your phone down.

>You lay back in your bed.

>Panic sets in.

>There's nothing to be worried about.

>Everything will be fine.

>...But what if it's not?!

>Alright chill the fuck out.

>Just stay clam, don't do anything crazy.

>You'll get through it just fine.

>It'll all be just fine.

>"Alright, so where am I heading?" you ask Mirabelle over the phone as you're lacing up your shoes.

>"The address is 1317 Mountain Peak Ave." she tells you.

>"Alright, Mountain Pe- wait. Mountain Peak?"

>You haven't been that way, but you know where that is.

>"That's...Isn't that in?"

>"It's Hills area, yeah." she confirms.

>"Ah." you say.

>She lives in the Hills.

>The Hills?

>Yep, the Hills.

>Which means her family must be doing real well.

>And yet, she's dating a guy like you, attending a school like Towngrove High.

>But she doesn't have that superior Hills attitude.

>Interesting circumstances.

>"Alright, I'll see you soon." you finish up, bringing the call to an end.

>You grab your things and head out to your scooter.

>As you ride, your mind races with things you should prepare to say that won't make you seem like a worthless human being.

>...What if they don't like you?

>"I'm sorry son, you seem like a decent fellow, but you don't really seem like a good fit for our daughter."

>You can practically hear that line burning in your ears.

>Would you be able to do anything if they said that?

>What could you do?

>The panic once again sets in.

>You're so unfocused you almost miss your turn.

>You right yourself and drive up the short incline, and you begin to see the beginnings of a row of houses.

>You drive by them.

>Fuck these houses look nice.

>They're damn near mini mansions.

>You haven't seen a mansion in real life before, but these have got to be the next best thing to an actual mansion.

>You close in on 1317. The street ends in a cul-de sac, and it's the final house on the street, smack dab in the middle.

>It may just be your imagination, but it also looks a bit larger than the rest of the houses on this block.

>You ride up to the gate.

>It's fancy. Tall, metal, automatic.

>You text Mirabelle, letting her know you're here.

>She responds with "OMW" and a few seconds later, she's walking out of the house, taking that long walkway up to the gate.

>She hits a button or something and the gate opens up, allowing you in.

>You barely give it gas, keeping it gently moving but using your legs on either side to keep it upright as you blankly stare at Mirabelle.

>She notices as she walks up with you.

>"What?'

>"Whadda ya mean 'what'?! Ya live in the Hills!" you clearly express your surprise.

>"Oh." She thinks for a moment, and shrugs. "Didn't think it was that big of a deal."

>You look at her like she just told you she was born on the moon with complete fucking sincerity.

>You break your gaze from your royal girlfriend, and look at her castle.

>This is an actual castle, you feel a tinge of shame that you would walk in to your home and refer to it as a castle.

>This driveway could support 4 cars driving in side by side.

>This yard could probably support 2 football fields side by side.

>And this is the front, you don't even want to know what the back looks like.

>You park your scooter close but out of the way of the front door.

>Mirabelle opens the door and lets you in.

>Goddamn.

One of these parents are mobsters or something because this place screams luxurious.

>You suddenly feel very insignificant.

>Like they would feel offended at the state of your impoverished visage and slap you in the face with a couple grand.

>Granted they are definitely nowhere near that wealthy.

>Hills living is the good life, but definitely not that good.

>But standing in the entrance to Mirabelle's home, you have a thought.

>How much did their kitchen cost?

>Because if it cost as much as your whole house you will personally ride around on your scooter with a megaphone and apologize to every Valley dweller for the privilege you thought you had.

>"You gonna stand there all day, or you gonna come in?" Mirabelle asks you, already walking further into her home.

>You silently follow.

>"So, Dad is still running a bit behind. But my mom is here. She's been... Eager to meet you."

>She walks you to the kitchen, and you can already hear some faint humming and the dicing of some sort of produce.

>You can clearly feel the mom energy this lady produces.

>"Mom! Anon is here!" Mirabelle shouts.

>The dicing and humming stop immediately.

>Some water runs, and the rustling of a towel follows.

>She rounds the corner and.

>Oh my god.

>The mom energy this lady exudes reaches critical levels.

>She's barely like half a head taller than Mirabelle, but. She's got shape.

>You didn't think shortstacks actually existed.

>You thought they were a made up existence, like dragons, and goth gf's.

>Is this what Mirabelle will look like when she's older?

>Or is this the kind of figure that comes from the growth of motherhood?

>"Oh, my goodness, it's so nice to finally meet you!" she exclaims. "After what, a few months?" she eyes Mirabelle, who simply shrugs.

>She looks you up and down. "You've got some nice height on you, mhm. Like 'em tall too, do ya sweetie? I getcha." She nods like a wise sage, and Mirabelle rolls her eyes.

>"And quite the looker too." She's inspecting your face a bit, looking all over it, like it's a painting with hidden meanings. "My girl's made a good choice so far I have to say."

>You can feel the warmth creeping on to your cheeks.

>"Uh, nice to meet you ma'am. I'm Anon. Sorry it uh, took so long." you say with a bit of awkwardness.

>"Oh goodness, where are my manners?! Sorry I've just been so excited! I'm Belle, it's so nice to meet you too."

>Belle? Like her daug- okay, sure.

>You bring your hand out to shake it, and before it's even fully extended she's slid her whole body passed it and embraced you in this warm, motherly hug.

>It catches you off guard. But it's so nice you almost forget the situation and melt into it.

>Motherly love is a commodity that you have been sorely lacking for the last few years.

>Well parental love in general.

>It's there of course, just not physically present at the moment.

>You put your hands on her shoulders and gently pat, not knowing whether to completely accept or deny the affection.

>Eventually she lets go.

>"Sorry about that, I can get a little too affectionate." she apologizes.

>"No worries, I didn't really mind." you say.

>"I was just starting up dinner prep. You'll be staying for it, won't you?"

>You look at Mirabelle, who gives a shrug.

>"Sure?" you say. "If things go well, I guess I don't see a problem with it."

>"Oh come now, things will be fine. We aren't going to interrogate you, or run you off. My husband and I really just wanted to meet our daughter's first boyfriend."

>Hmm. Okay, let's hope that's true.

>"Okay then... So uh. Dinner prep already huh?"

>You look at the time. Lunch would've just been several hours ago.

>"I have a lot to make." she explains. "Oh. Speaking of."

>She takes a deep breath, and Mirabelle places her hands over her ears instinctually, shielding herself for what's coming.

>"Family! Come greet our guest!" she bellows in a voice and volume that should not possibly come from such a small creature.

>You stand there, stunned from the explosion that just devastated the space mere feet away from you.

>You think your ears are ringing.

>You recover just in time to hear the thudding of steps behind you.

>You turn, expecting to find a group of 9 rabbits, almost as small as Mirabelle and her mom.

>But

>Oh fuck, half these dudes are skyscrapers!

>Seriously, 4 of them are literally almost a foot taller than you.

>The other 4 are about your height or just slightly shorter than you.

>What is this witchcraft?!

>Their fur is a kind of chocolate brown.

>Except for one who looks like he won the genetic lottery and is a fusion of mostly brown with white sections.

>Like a kid started coloring him in with crayon but skipped a whole section and left it white, then continued on.

>There's a mix of interest and not from the younger guys.

>But the older ones.

>They look like they're ready to beat you up just for existing.

>"Well, Anon. These are my siblings." Mirabelle says, breaking you out of the staring match you didn't notice you were having with her older brothers.

>"From the top we have Richard, Peter, Joseph, and Samuel. My older brothers."

>They all nod, or twitch their eyebrows, with a simple "hey" or "sup".

>"Then we have Kyle, Andy, Joey, and Blake, my younger brothers."

>These ones actually greet you politely, except for Blake, the split colored one, who performs an exquisite gentleman's dab.

>"And then, there's my little sister Annabelle.

>Annabelle huh? Okay, Ms. Mom, we see your game.

>You look around, expecting to see a smaller Mirabelle about the younger brothers' ages, but a tiny ball of white catches your eye from under you.

>You look down, and see this absolutely tiny thing staring up to you, with huge emeralds smack dab and shining in her face.

>She's gotta be just a few years old.

>You look down at her.

>The emeralds that are her eyes peer up at you.

>The younger brothers have lost interest, after saying their greetings and are departing.

>The tiny fluffball raises her arms at you.

>You don't understand the gesture, you look to Mirabelle for confirmation.

>"She wants you to pick her up." she explains. "You don't have to. She'll pout for a bit, but she'll be fine."

>You look back down, and her green eyes beseech you.

>You reach down and pick her up.

>You hold her, bringing one hand underneath her, so that's she's basically sitting on your forearm.

>This. This feels right. Whatever this feeling is, you need this.

>"I have one question." you say aloud, but not to anyone in particular.

>You point to little Annabelle.

>"What is this?" You do look at Mirabelle for this question though. "And where can I get one?"

>"That was two questions." Mirabelle points out.

>"Well you see my human friend." her mom jumps in. "That there is what we commonly refer to as a kit. I believe the proper term for a human is a baby."

>She peeks her head around the corner of the kitchen.

>And the only way to get one, is to make your own." She gives you a taunting grin.

>You recognize that grin, it's the same one Mirabelle gives you all the time.

>"And you can't have mine, soorrry!" she disappears behind the corner again.

>"Mom, don't be weird!" Mirabelle shouts.

>You look at Annabelle, who seems to have grown comfortable in her position.

>You look to Mirabelle, who looks at you. Then turns away with a bit of embarrassment.

>You hold Annabelle for a few more moments before you decide to set her down.

>She doesn't seem to want to go, but doesn't protest greatly.

>She walks over to one of her brothers still standing around, before he picks her up.

>You think that's the end of it and you'll just be waiting for Mirabelle's dad to show up now.

>But then one of her brothers comes up to you.

>Richard, the oldest one, you think.

>"So. Your name was Anon right?"

>"Yep, that's me. Nice to meet you man."

>"Yeah sure. Look, I'm not gonna haze you too much, or get too deep about who you are as a person or any of that. That's Dad's job."

>"Cool, cool." you say.

>He seems like a chill dude, you're glad.

>"I just have one question for you." he bends himself in an arc backward, and you could swear he just grew a few more inches. "What's your favorite food?"

>"Oh, uh. My mom's spaghetti is really good." you answer honestly.

>"Right on." he says looking pleased at the answer. "So, if you enjoy eating her food, and not drinking it through a straw," He stares down at you from his lofty position, and you swear he's got a death gaze that would put most predator species to fucking shame.

>"You won't do anything to make my little sister sad. You feel me?"

>He cracks his knuckles, and even though your gaze is on him, you can feel the other brothers staring daggers into you as well.

>Rabbits are not supposed to be this scary, don't they understand things like the food chain and the pecking order?

>"Yup, mhm, you don't gotta worry about that from me, no sir." you tell him quickly, hoping that'll be the end of it.

>His ears, which stand straight up, unlike Mirabelle's, twitch a bit, before you gives you this small but sinister grin.

>"What's that sound? Is that. Your gut churning in fear I hear?"

>"...No. Maybe it's growling, I dunno. I didn't eat. Looking forward to dinner." you point a shaky finger toward the kitchen.

>"Hmm." he says.

>"Alright alright, stop intimidating the poor boy. That's my job." a voice rings out as it slowly approaches.

>A tall brown rabbit, in a business suit that he looks like he's ready to jump out of, walks up to you.

>The brothers step back, and take their leave, since the final boss has made his entrance.

>He adjusts his glasses and looks at you.

>Fuck he's tall too, just as tall as his sons.

>"So you must be Anon. I've heard a few things about you. Name's William. Glad to finally meet you face to face."

>He brings out his hand and you shake it firmly but not too aggressively, like your dad's taught you to do.

>"Nice to meet you too. Before we get into anything, can I just say really quick, that you made things very unfair for me?" you throw out.

>"Hm?" he looks confused. "What do you mean?"

>"This!" you point to Mirabelle. "She took my title from me, and she told me you're the one who trained her, and all the brothers she has to fight, led to her being good enough to beat me. So I have you to thank for that! So, thank you. If she hadn't beat me, we never would've engaged in the way we did, so it's kind of a good thing that things happened how they did."

>"Oh. You were the previous Champion then? And she took it from you?" he says, looking kind of impressed at the both of you.

>"Yessir that's right."

>He smiles. "So if you were the Champ, you must've been pretty good."

>"Well, if 3 years undefeated means pretty good, then I guess I was."

>Hey bud, your ego is showing.

>His smile grows in intensity.

>"Oh no." you hear Mirabelle say.

>"I think I'd like to see how good you are." he says, with a whole lot of sadistic malice in his voice.

>Wait what.

>"Belle sweetie, do the thing." he calls as he folds his ears down.

>"Boys! Come down here!" erupts from the kitchen, still managing to slightly deafen you even from there.

>What is she made of that allows her to project her voice in such a powerful manner?

>The boys return and he looks over at them.

>"Hmmm, Richard. Did you hear? Anon here's a fighter. Not just that, he was Champ of the Circle for three whole years."

>"Oh. Nah, I didn't know that." Richard looks to you, violence etched into his face.

>"I think the best way to get to know someone is to test them, right? See if they aren't just blowing smoke."

>"Oh I agree." Richard says, never looking away from you.

>"So there we have it. Follow us Anon." William says, and his sons follow him ou to the front door.

>A few of them stand behind you and usher you out toward the front.

>Mirabelle walks beside you.

>"I'm really sorry about this, I should've warned you but I didn't think my dad was going to do anything like this. I'm sure you didn't actually expect to get into a fight today."

>'No it's okay!" you tell her. "In fact, this is what I know, so if I can get through today this way, I'm all for it."

>"Well. You should be okay. It's just like fighting me." she says, giving you a thumbs up.

>"Well don't tell me that. All I've done is lose to you."

>They walk out to the center of the yard and you stand in between the siblings.

>They give a decent amount of space to move around but there aren't a lot of them so their makeshift Circle isn't as tight knit as the real one is.

>"Alright, I don't actually want you guys clobbering each other. Anon's a guest today, we don't want to beat him black and blue." William says.

>"I just want to see some of what you've got. So I'll even set a time limit. Let's say, 10 minutes for you two to go at it."

"It'll be over in 5, Pop." Richard shrugs and gives a cocky grin.

>You stretch a bit to loosen up.

>"Alright, let's skip the smack talk and get into it, if that's fine."

>That's fine with you, you still never learned any good rabbit lines to use.

>"You ready?" William asks, looking to you.

>You nod.

>"He looks to his son. "You ready?" and gets a nod in return.

>"Alright. Let's, fight!"

>Richard closes the distance in a second and throws a quick jab.

>But you've gotten used to dodging speedy opponents, so you dip past it with ease.

>You throw your own punch that barely grazes the bottom of his chin.

>Suddenly you're missing the days where you would fight big slow opponents, like Caesar and Benji.

>Richard closes back in and throws a quick left jab, but you see it coming and dodge it.

>However you don't see the follow up hook he's throwing that catches you in the cheek.

>He resets, and does it again, another left jab, and then a right uppercut.

>1 2, 1 2. He throws those punches in succession with a steady rhythm.

>But you're getting it down.

>He's caught you with a few of them, but you're ready for them now.

>At least until he decides to switch up, but this is a timed match, not a ko match.

>You just have to give it everything you've got to win points.

>You dodge the 1, and on the 2 you bring up and smash him in the face with a punch.

>He also hit you, but you were prepared to take it.

>It knocked him off balance though, so you press the advantage.

>You usually wait until you're sure it can end the game, but you're here for style points, so might as well get them.

>You throw your hands up and around his neck and lock them together.

>Clinch time, baby.

>He tries to pull you off, and he's up there, so you're pretty exposed to.

>If he took time to notice he could just throw his own attacks into your gut, because you can't do anything to defend against them.

>But he was more worried about your hands, thinking the danger was there.

>So you brought your legs up, and threw a few kicks into his legs.

>The quick assault caused him to buckle a bit, and he tries to punch you in the head, but with the position of your arms, he can't follow through too precisely.

>You batter his legs with kicks, until you decide to bring it up.

>A poor rabbit's chest is their weakest point, so of course it is the target for your knees.

>You throw a quick knee into his stomach, and it knocks the wind out of him a bit, but not enough to deter him.

>He struggles a bit, trying to worm out of your grasp, but you are fire, you are death.

>You cling to him and prevent his escape as you continue to throw knee after knee into his chest.

>Finally, he starts blocking low.

>You show him that was a mistake as you release the clinch for a moment, long enough to belt him in his now exposed face twice.

>He blocks up top, and you knee the chest. He blocks the chest and you rattle his brain.

>Eventually, you push him back, and the sudden release staggers him.

>You bring your right foot back and behind you, with your left and right arms brought toward your left side.

>You throw your arms to the right side, and lift your body in a slight jump, so that the force and momentum pivots your body right on the point of your left foot's toes.

>As you spin around your right leg comes out and slams into his chest like a stake piercing the flesh of an undead monstrosity.

>He gets flung to the ground, and struggles a bit for air, gasping and coughing.

>He looks up to you, looking a bit pissed, but kind of impressed.

>The younger brothers look thoroughly impressed and Mirabelle is cheering for you.

>William also looks like he's impressed, so you guess this was a success on your part.

>"Alright, well. That's pretty good, I have to say." William nods as he helps his son up. "Who taught you how to fight?"

>"Well, uh. nobody I guess. It's just stuff I picked up because it interested me, and it worked well for me."

>"Well. No training and this is what you can put out at times huh? Imagine what you could've done if someone had taken the time to train you, refine what you've got going for you."

>You nod. It would've been nice, but it wasn't in the cards for you.

>"Anyway. I gotta say I approve so far." he walks over and pats you on the shoulder before continuing back to the house. "But being a good fighter, while impressive, is not the end all be all, you know. Anyway, let's head back in, I wanna know what's for dinner."

>The congregation begins to take off.

>Things are going well, your face isn't too sore.

>No blood was drawn.

>Maybe things will be alright.

>A heavy hand lands on your shoulder.

>You suddenly feel surrounded. Because you are.

>"Not bad, Anon." Richard tells you.

>Oh no, is he upset?

>"Just know. If I can't take you one on one, there's 3 more of us ready to get involved."

>The rest of the brothers crack their knuckles or their necks as they pass by you.

>Are they really rabbits? Is there like a small strain of wolf DNA in them or something?

>You look to Mirabelle, who says nothing but sighs and pats you gently.

>Dinner's going to take a bit more time.

The younger siblings are getting kind of loud and excited, likely after having watched your fight.

>The adrenaline is starting to run through them.

>Their parents have a bit of difficulty controlling them, so they just move with you and Mirabelle to the living room further back.

>You can still hear the kids shouting and playing though.

>So this is what it sounds like to have siblings.

>William looks ready to grill you with some very in depth questions.

>Luckily you were saved by Belle, who interjects.

>"No need to sit around and wait for dinner to be done. Mirabelle, why don't you give Anon there a little tour of the house? Oh, better yet, you can show him your room!"

>William shoots up, ready to oppose that idea, but Belle gives him a look, and seems to cow his decision.

>"...If you do. Just leave the door unlocked." is all he says.

>Mirabelle looks embarrassed, but still grabs your hand and takes you around.

>She shows you everywhere that seems important.

>The study, a game room, a mini home library, a mini home theater, an in home bar, full of bottles with names you could not pronounce for the life of you.

>Every youth has their own room, and besides the parents' room, there's 2 whole spare rooms for guests.

Mirabelle's room is the last one she brings you to.

Even up here you can hear the wild energy of her siblings.

>She opens the door and lets you in.

>You walk in and.

It's. Pink.

>There's a decent amount of pink in here.

>Like a milky pink.

>The sheets are pink, the dresser is white with pink accents. The carpet is pink, the curtains are pink.

>Why is there so much damn pink?

>There are a few stuffed plushies near the foot of the bed and on the dresser drawer.

>But the evil king one you got for her is not there.

>It's actually near the tip of the bed, next to the pillows.

>You look around like you walked into a new world, more foreign than the foreign world that is Hills living.

>Like getting Iseakai'd after dying in an Isekai.

>You did not expect this from the Queen of Ruin, the girl who dropkicked your chest into pieces and put several dozen people into a painful sleep.

>Mirabelle notices your erratic gaze and walks past you to sit on her bed.

>"What?"

>"...It's so girly." escapes your lips before you have the chance to smother the words.

>A quick sucker punch to the kidney is the punishment for your unheld tongue.

>You lean sideways, doubling over in pain, before you hit the ground and sprawl out like a ragdoll.

>She hovers over you, looking ready to beat you up for your audacity.

>You throw your hands up in mock defense but she grabs hold of your hands, interlocking her fingers with yours before pinning them to either side of you.

>"What're you trying to say, huh?" she interrogates you. "You saying my room doesn't suit me cuz it's girly, huh? Is that what you're saying?"

>Her eyes look angry or offended, but she's smiling, so you think this assault is in good nature.

>Nevertheless, she has kicked your ass twice, and that was during a point of entertainment, you don't want to know how hard she'd shatter your ribcage if she actually meant to.

>"What, no not at all." you attempt to salvage the situation. "I was just momentarily shocked, that uh, your room was as cute as you are. My room is bare and undecorated so it was interesting to see one that reflects its owner so well."

>She looks at you for a minute.

>"Nice save." she says flatly.

>It wasn't, not at all, but at least she doesn't seem ready to beat your face in like she did in your last fight.

>However she hasn't moved from her position on top of you.

>"You know. "She starts. "This is like the third time we've been in this position. It's always me leaning over you."

>Well, that's technically true.

>"I'll say it again. I think you have a thing for small girls being in charge."

>"Look, this is just coincidence." you say to save face. "The first time was in a fight that you were winning. The second time, may have happened because I let it, yes, but this time you punched me, and then immediately set upon me, like you were ready to knock me out."

>"Hm. So change it this time." she says.

>"...Huh?"

>"You push me down this time. It's not like you can't, a little strength would go a long way against me."

>She's right. She's absurdly light, and you're no noodle arm, so.

>You test it.

>Your arms lift easily from their pinned position on the ground.

>You push forward and lift your body, and up she goes with you.

>A lean forward, a readjustment of your legs and boom.

>The turns have tabled indeed.

>Now you're the one leaning over her, while she's on her back, hands in a pinned position on either side of her.

>"Oh no, whatever will I do?" she says in a dramatically exaggerated voice.

>She has that taunting grin on her face.

>The one that sets embers in your chest.

>Wait, those still show up after all this time?

>You know what you want to do.

>But should you at this point in time?

>Like, you're in her house, with her parents moments away.

>Her brothers, who are ready to knock every tooth out of your mouth.

>This may not be it, chief.

>Suddenly, you're knocked out of your reservations by a sudden lunge forward.

>You eased up on the force you held on Mirabelle and she seized the advantage, pushing you backward.

>It wouldn't have worked if you were aware, but you were distracted by your own thoughts, and balance was not at the forefront of your mind.

>So right back to the ground you went.

>How the tables do turn table.

>"And so we're right back where we started." she says.

>'Well yeah, but I was distracted, that was all." you say.

>"Hmm. Well then I'll give you something to focus on."

>She leans forward.

>Well this is happening.

>Alright then, it's different if she's starting it right?

>You take a deep breath.

>The world around is deathly silent.

>...Silent?

>Wait.

>"Hey Mira, hold on, I uh. I can't hear your siblings anymore. And I mean, I know that wouldn't be too serious for me, because basic human hearing, but can you hear them? Because if you can't then what if like... What if your family can hear us? Rabbit hearing is really good I'm told."

>She pauses. Her ears launch up and her vision darts around like an answer is right before her face just out of focus.

>He ears drop back down.

>"You know. Even if they can hear. I don't think I really care too much right now." she smiles, and resumes her incline toward your face.

>But what about me, your brothers might beat me up!"

"Ssshhh." she hushes you. And then dives forward for a kiss.

>Goodness gracious this bunny is a bold one.

>She's also got 2 to 1 on the kiss counter.

>You relax and embrace the affection.

>She pulls back for only a moment.

>She kisses you twice, three times, four.

>And then she pulls back a fair distant to look at you.

>"Besides. Even if my brothers jump you or something, I'd back you up."

>"Whaaat. You'd fight your own family for me? Well I feel special now." you say to her.

>"Of course I would. And you should." she smiles at you. But her smile fades and she stares at you.

>Straight at you.

>Right into your eyes.

>The azure light threatens to swallow you as it has so many times before.

>Before three words leave her mouth and bring you bounding to the surface.

>"I love you."

>...

>surprisedpikachu.png

>Oh.

>Well there goes your heart.

>Those embers have burst into flame and effectively torched everything that once functioned within your chest area.

>The fire may even be spreading to your brain.

>Salvaging anything within this body is impossible.

>You're pretty sure she already knows this, but you may as well spit out those 4 words and affirm it.

>"I love you too."

>She smiles, that big genuine smile that you absolutely love.

>Just to bring the burning point in your chest to a melting point.

>You gaze at each other for what feels like a while.

>She moves in, likely for another kiss.

>But

>"Dinner's ready!" echoes through the house.

>And then a chorus of whoops and hollers follow, from closer than you expected.

>You guess the youngsters just returned to their own rooms after a while.

>You two get up to head to the dining room.

>You look around, a bit of a pit in your stomach.

>But everyone looks normal, so you're guessing they weren't listening in on the debauchery you engaged in with Mirabelle in her room.

>Or they just don't want to cause a scene right before dinner, and you should start delving into religion and praying for your soul.

>Dinner proceeds very well.

>The food is good, conversation is good, you learn about Mirabelle's family.

>All her older brothers are in college, studying various things.

>The younger ones are about middle school age.

>The reason the Dunwick's can afford such a nice house is because her dad is an ace in real estate and her mom is a professional gambler.

>Apparently she's so good at card tables and slot machines, as well as anticipating the winners of whatever popular sport is on television, that a few casinos actually accused her of cheating on separate occasions.

>One super popular place in Vegas even tried to outright ban her.

>Wow.

>What kind of magic does she have?

>William asked you what your plans are, and you gave the simple answer.

>I'm gonna go to college." you told him.

>He wanted to know what you were going to study, and you told him something in the STEM field, since you enjoy science.

>What specifically, you aren't sure.

>Mirabelle is gonna go to college for a few years, but her big plan is to get into law enforcement. She's split between something like a police officer, or a police detective.

>You didn't know this, but then again, you haven't had much conversation with anyone, even your best friends, about plans after high school.

>There's still like a whole half year to really dig deep in that regard. Plenty of time, you thought.

>But it's good to have an idea so that you can begin to prepare for it.

>Dinner comes to an end and a dessert of pumpkin pie is swiftly consumed.

>It's gonna be dark real soon, so the Dunwick's prepare to see you off.

>"It's been a pleasure, Anon. I'm glad my daughter has such an upstanding young man." William says as you collect your scooter.

>He reaches out to shake your hand, and you do.

>"I'm glad you approve of me... To be honest I was a bit afraid, that you wouldn't approve of Mirabelle and me dating." you tell him the truth.

>"Why wouldn't I? You seem like a great guy."

>Well. I don't know if you've seen the city, but uh. Most kids in our school, and like in town generally like to stick with their own. I have anthro friends so I'm kind of the odd man out. But I was a bit concerned that you would want Mirabelle to uh, y'know, stick with people, like her."

>He looks at you for a long time.

>"PFFFFFT, yeah right, son!"

>...wat.

>"Oh man, when I was your age, my best friend was a human. We went to the Circle together, we hit on girls together, we went to parties, we were inseparable. We were closer than kin. People actually called us the Blood Brothers. Until something terrible happened to me and we drifted apart...You, actually remind me of him, now that I get a closer look at you. Eh, but that's probably me getting sentimental, point is! Some people out there may still have an old way of thinking, but me and Belle aren't like that. You're a good kid, so I believe you'll be good to my daughter. All there is to it. What you are, couldn't care less. Who you are is important.

>Damn. Just like Mirabelle said.

>So you worried for nothing!

>"Oh god I feel so much better after hearing that, thank you so much." you tell him.

>Belle comes outside. "Here I packed you some leftovers." she says, handing you tupperware that's been tied in a few plastic bags.

>"Mirabelle told me you're all by yourself at home because your parents are away on business, so I figured I could make things a bit easier on you and give you a few days of food."

>"Thanks so much, I appreciate that."

>"Feel free to come by for Thanksgiving too! Actually, I'll make sure Mirabelle invites you. It might get a little packed with all of our family here but I'll make sure you feel welcome." she comes up and gives you another big motherly hug.

>You allow yourself to feel good about this one.

>"Thanks so much."

>You look to the darkening sky.

"I'd better get going now." you tell Mirabelle's parents.

>"I'll walk with you to the gate." Mirabelle says.

>You make your way to the gate and she hits the button to open it.

>"Looks like they like you." she says.

>"I'm really glad they do. I was going crazy wondering what I'd do if they told me I couldn't see you or something." you confess.

>"Ha, even if they did. I wouldn't let that stop us."

>"Ooh, so rebellious." you laugh.

>She laughs a bit too.

>"I'll see you at school." you say to her.

>"See you then." she says.

>She looks over her shoulder at her parents who are still standing by the door, seeing you off.

>She contemplates something quickly, before shrugging to herself, and giving you a quick kiss.

>You slide out of the gate and let it close behind you.

>You watch as Mirabelle bounds off back to her home, her mom seems to be teasing her about what she just saw.

>...

>She told you she loves you.

>You told her the same.

>And just a few months ago you were refusing to admit you loved her, like a torture victim would refuse to give up his secrets.

>How things have changed in such a time.

>But you won't deny it anymore, you have no reason to.

>You are in love.

>You really are a king who has found his queen.

>You take off down the road, riding in high spirits all the way.

>Things have been going well with Mirabelle's family ever since your meeting a few weeks ago.

>You went back for Thanksgiving and man.

>There was a lot of family.

>Luckily there was a ton of space to hold them all.

>Your house probably couldn't hold a quarter of these people.

>Meeting more of Mirabelle's extended family was an ordeal.

>Some people were pleasantly surprised when they found out you two were dating.

>Others were, less so.

>But it all turned out okay.

>Besides, they aren't the ones whose opinion matter.

>After Thanksgiving, William told you to come by whenever you wanted so he could give you some pointers on your fighting.

>You wouldn't say no to the man who trained the Queen.

>You come over on Sundays because Saturdays are either for dates or hanging with your friends.

>You won't forsake your best friends, no matter what.

>But to be honest, the person who smooches your dumb face is a bit higher on your priority list of people right now.

>William's managed to help you quite a bit.

>Besides your Clinch, most of your strikes were just, whatever punches or kicks you thought would connect.

>The name of the style is streetfighting, which means, there is no fucking style. Just swing and hope you land.

>But he found some training material, and with it, you're actually developing some technique.

>You feel more centered, your kicks feel better.

>You can deflect, parry, and counter attacks with more precision.

>If you were unbeatable before, you'll be fucking invincible soon.

>Mirabelle's brothers stopped trying to intimidate you after that first day, and they turned out to be pretty cool guys.

>You spar with them as their dad teaches you how to get better.

>Peter, the second oldest actually started helping you develop a fancy attack, for huge style points.

>It looks, and feels horribly dangerous, like it would take you out of the fight if you ever missed or messed it up.

>Take you out of the fight and probably cause some kind of damage to your bones.

>But goddamn, you had to admit it's cool as hell.

>Once again, you thought you were done with pulling insane moves for the sake of looking like a badass.

>But once again you lied as naturally as you breathed.

>Every weekend has been some of the best days you've ever had.

>Christmas is coming up, that might also be some fun.

>Your parents didn't come home for last Christmas.

>They might not be home this time either.

>"Entrepreneurs work 365 days a year if they need to." your dad told you.

>Which you can respect, because being your own boss means you have to make yourself go into work, even when you don't want to.

>But at the same time it's kind of tough.

>You know his goal is to get to a point where he doesn't have to travel at all and move you all to the Hills.

>You admire the effort he puts in to his work.

>But it's lonely.

>...

>It hasn't been as lonely anymore though.

>You're broken from your stupor by the sound of the bell ringing.

>School's out, time to go.

>You pack up and grab your things.

>Your queen stands outside the door waiting for you.

>You take her hand and head off.

>You meet your friends on the way out.

>Mirabelle's been getting along with these goobers, which you are glad about.

>You won't have to do something ridiculous, like choose between them or something.

>Now these idiots just need to get their own girlfriends.

>Mikael probably wouldn't have a problem with dating an anthro.

>Would Lewis and Verne be into dating human girls?

>Are there any other humans in this city besides you and Mikael that would be into dating an anthro?

>Those are not questions for today.

>You all walk out of school.

>Today is one of those days where no one has anything pressing to do after school, and Mikael and Lewis didn't drive to school.

>So to the Circle you all go, together.

>You retrieve your scooter and walk down the road.

>There's a strange nagging in the back of your head, that's been going on for quite a while every time you leave school for the Circle.

>Like you're forgetting something, or something happens that hasn't been happening.

>But you, just can't recall what it is at the moment.

>So it's probably not as important as you think.

>You reach the Circle, and get settled in.

>After a while, it's all set up and ready to go.

>Lewis steps in. "Alright. As always, let's make it a good day. So let's get to it. Who's stepping in the Circle?"

>A big familiar lion steps up.

>"Aww yeah! It's time for a true king to sit on the throne!" Caesar points straight at Mirabelle. "Let's go little rabbit."

>Caesar? When did he get his 3 wins?

>You swear you've been pretty good at keeping people back. He must've slipped your radar.

>Pfft. Whatever, you'd have loved to knock his block clean off, but Mirabelle can handle him easily.

>That misplaced confidence of his irks you though.

>Look at him, grinning and laughing like he's already won.

>Mirabelle pats your side.

>"You okay?" she asks. "You're glaring kinda hard."

>You didn't even notice you were until you relax your face.

>"Yeah." you assure her. "Caesar and me just have this kind of old rivalry. Or more like, he has a rivalry with me. So watching him look so smug kinda pisses me off. He's never beat me, what makes him think he can beat you?"

>Mirabelle had stood up to accept the challenge. But she thinks for a moment, and a good idea seems to have come to her because she grins, and sits back down, crossing one leg over the other.

>"Oh, you ain't coming? Is that a forfeit? No courage to fight the next king?" Caesar boasts.

>You look at Mirabelle.

>She looks up at you.

>"I'm going to use my Champion's Right." she says.

>She takes a moment, before saying.

>"Anon, I want you to fight Caesar as my proxy."

>Oh well this is a gamechanger!

>Wait can she do that?

>Everyone else seems to be mentally asking the same thing.

>You look to Lewis, who is basically the rule man.

>He's thinking about the possibility.

>"Hm. The Champ does have the right to do so, I'd say. If they're okay with the proxy holding the fate of their title in his or her hands, I'd say it shouldn't present too much of a problem. As long as it's like, occasionally and not all the time."

>You only need this one time.

>"Don't you dare lose." she tells you.

>You give Mirabelle this wide, thankful grin.

>She smiles back, to ignite the embers in your heart.

>You shift your attention to Caesar, before your grin morphs into one of pure malice.

>You step forward, and stretch your limbs.

>He looks confused, he wasn't expecting to fight you.

>"Alright. What you gotta say?" Lewis throws out before he can even get a handle on the situation.

>"You look a little shook, Caesar." you start. "Maybe you shouldn't fight. Just go find a nice long gazelle trail to lie on, save me the trouble, why dont'cha."

>"Yeah, well look man. If I uh. If I had known, it uh. You were gonna..."

>He's choking, he probably spent the night coming up with rabbit shots, and put all his human ammo to the side.

>"All that ragged fluff on your head must be stealing the nutrients from your brain. Might as well cut it off. It's a symbol of royalty for lions right? But you're barely fit to be a jester in this court."

>"Oooooh," resounds from around the crowd.

>He doesn't say anything, but he looks a bit mad.

>Lewis notes his silence. "Alright. You ready?" he looks to Caesar, who brings his hands up and nods.

>"You ready?" he looks at you.

>You bring your own hands up, raised a bit higher than usual, for more of a kickboxer's stance.

>You grin and nod.

>"Then let's." he says, and does what he's done a thousand times before. "Fight!"

>You trot leisurely up to Caesar.

>And kick him with a good amount of force, right in the hip area.

>It came out quick and precise, and he didn't expect it.

>He actually buckles a bit from the placement, but he rights himself quick enough, and attempts his offensive.

>His "offensive" is the same as it always is.

>Those carefully targeted attacks that never seem to hit you.

>Geez how does this man actually win enough fights to challenge the Champ like this?

>In fact, you seem to be anticipating them even better and getting far enough away to hit him at least twice before he tries again.

>A dodge into a two strike counterattack.

>Are you getting fast?

>Are you gaining the same type of technique Mirabelle has?

>When you throw your own attacks, you focus on kicks.

>Hitting people with well placed kicks is fun to you, and ever since you fought Jerome, you had this kind of interest in kicking better.

>So you honed in on throwing better kicks with William, and they seem to be working out.

>When Caesar manages to close the gap from decent kicking range, you switch to dodging and throwing a counterattack before sliding back and delivering a few more kicks.

>You missed fighting your big lug opponents, but the problem with them is that it takes more to wear them down while a few solid hits from them will wear you down easily.

>Luckily you don't have that problem with Caesar.

>He can't hit you to save his life.

>Is what you thought, until he swings up for a big uppercut which you dodge.

>You move in to counter, but with his hand still in the air he brings the other one into his fist and brings them both down for one of those axe handle smashes.

>It hits you in the shoulder, and while it wasn't a big deal, it surprised you.

>Caesar actually managed to hit you.

>No freebies or anything.

>Caesar looks impressed with himself too, he's staring a bit wide eyed, shocked that it actually connected.

>You boop him violently in the snoot and bring him back down to earth.

>He tries to fake you out a few times after that but.

>Fool me once, shame on you. If you fool me we can't get fooled again.

>You crack him in the jaw once, and he takes a step back.

>You take a step forward, intent on keeping up the pressure from the opening you're making.

>But then. Whether intentional or in desperation he does something you've never seen him do in any one of his fights.

>He kicks you.

>Like right in the shin.

>You stop dead in your tracks.

>You physically look down, like he just stuck a grenade to your leg, and you can do nothing but wait for the detonation.

>It didn't hurt, not at all.

>It was just. Such an insult, that you can't do anything but believe that it was all an illusion.

>It's like someone picking your main in a fighting game to try and style on you.

>You look back up at him, and he's got kind of a shit eating grin.

>Like you're so devastated by the fact that he just kicked you that you're just going to forfeit right now.

>Okay Simba, you fucking asked for this.

>You grab him, like you have so many times.

>Clinch.exe

>But it's different this time.

>Not in execution.

>But you feel like there's lightning in your legs.

>You're about to turn his legs and gut to mush.

>You throw kick after kick into his exposed legs.

>Fast, faster, even faster.

>You alternate legs with tiny little hops to transition faster.

>Left side, right side.

>He's trying to block but his bulk refuses to let him get down far enough to take the brunt from his legs.

>It's easier to get out of a clinch than expected, but no one seems to know the tech.

>Which works for you, as you assault him with kicks.

>Then you add in the infamous knees.

>Your legs are darting around, from his legs to his gut, up and down like a furious flamenco dancer.

>He tries throwing a few punches, but you weave your head out of the spaces he's aiming for and continue to decimate his faltering flesh.

>You pull with everything you have and manage to bend him forward and give him a monstrous knee to the jaw.

>Dazed, reeling. About to break.

>You could leave him be now.

>But once again, you aren't quite done with him.

>Time for the big finish you practiced with Peter.

>You stick your leg out and twist, throwing Caesar behind you.

>He trips over your foot and himself and goes into the dirt.

>He tries to pick himself up, but you step over and plant your foot on him.

>You wait for a moment.

>He hasn't said he's done yet, so.

>It's all fair game.

>You throw your hands to the sky in that tried and true heel pose you love so much.

>The crowd freezes in anticipation, wondering what you're about to do.

>Caesar is trying to push himself up.

>So you bring your other foot up, and jump, using him as a kind of springboard.

>You splay your arms to the side, like you're giving the sky a giant hug.

>And you're rotating backwards in the air, in a backflip.

>Peter told you that this kind of backflip is typically referred to as a Jesus Flip.

>You thought Verne would get a kick out of that name, considering what he always says when you ask him how he is.

>As you come back down in the flip however, you don't bring your legs up like you would to complete the flip.

>In fact it looks like you're about to land on your knees.

>Which would be painful normally.

>But not for you this time.

>You come crashing down, driving your knees into the back of this big ass fucking cat boy.

>The effect is immediate, his back arches backward, he screeches in pain.

>The agony is a grating melody to you.

>You step off him and he starts rolling and reaching for his back.

>Peter taught you this move to deal the finishing blow to larger opponents.

>He said it's perfect for a game ender.

>You thought it looked dangerous, to you and an opponent, but he assured you that at your build you would need to be able to jump into the air with the leg strength of a rabbit to cause any real damage.

>However, it's strictly for larger opponents, anyone your size or under will get hurt, so don't do it.

>He also said that if you miss and hit concrete, it'll hurt like hell, but probably won't break anything.

>Emphasis on probably, so only use it when you know it'll connect.

>Caesar looks out of commission but he's still moving fine and you didn't feel anything give under you as you dropped like a 40k warhammer onto his back.

Lewis comes over, and doesn't even really inspect as he says "Oh yeah, he's done. Anon wins, and Mirabelle's title is safe."

>The crowd goes ballistic, shouting in awe of the wild death drop you just wrecked Caesar with.

>You throw your hands up in victory, turning in circles like you would do after a successful title defense.

>Mirabelle walks right up to you, also looking very impressed and awestruck.

>You bring your hands down right on top of her shoulders and lean in to kiss her.

>The crowd whoops at your display but your monkey brain registers nothing but soft bun lips on yours.

>You pull back.

>"Why is it that when I kiss you, it's during a romantic moment that deserves it, but when you kiss me it's directly after a fight and in front of a huge crowd?" she questions you as she raises an eyebrow.

>"Uhh. Testosterone and adrenaline?" you say, not entirely sure of your own answer. "Sorry, I'll try to pick better times from now on."

>"I wasn't, really complaining or anything." she looks a bit embarrassed, but happy.

>You step out of the center and back toward the edge where Mirabelle's seat is.

>A few people carry Caesar to the nurse's station.

>You swear, because he tries to fight you constantly, he's spent more time over there than anyone else who's ever fought in the Circle.

>"That was the fancy move you've been working on with Peter, right?" she asks.

>"Yep. It looked pretty cool right?" you say full of pride.

>"It looks like you'll shatter your kneecaps if you screw it up."

>"Hey hey, do not doubt the efficiency of the King's Guillotine. It so far has a one hundred percent accuracy rating."

>"... The 'King's Guillotine'"? she says.

>She's got this "really dude?" look on her face.

>"Yeah, your brother said special moves should be named, so I did."

>"It's a little edgy. Are you an edgelord?" she asks, physically cringing away from you.

>"No." you say quickly. "I don't think so at least...Maybe just a tiny bit. Besides, Pete and Blake helped me think of it."

>"You took advice from Blake? Okay, that explains it." she nods to herself.

>The Circle ends a bit earlier because of the quickly encroaching evening of the later seasons.

>You bid farewell to your friends who were thoroughly impressed with your fancy new move.

>"Let's just hope you didn't blow your knees out or something doing it." Mikael says, apparently still holding on to the shoulder thing from months ago.

>You offer Mirabelle a ride home and she accepts.

>She climbs on your scooter and presses into your back, arms wrapped around you.

>Oh, that's nice.

>You take her home, since her place is a bit farther away you'll have to double around, and head back home.

>But it's worth it for a few extra minutes of closeness.

>You pull right up to her home and let her off.

>"Thanks, as always." she tells you.

>"No prob, as always." you say back.

>She steps closer.

>You lean down.

>You know the game and you're gonna play it.

>You kiss each other.

>Maybe it's the chill of the air, but it brings a sense of warmth and fulfillment.

>It lasts longer than normal.

>And honestly, you don't want it to end.

>You'd beseech gods, devils, and cryptic eldritch Old Ones for the ability to pause this moment in time and hold on to it for eons.

>But unfortunately, there is no such blessing to be bestowed, as all things must come to an end.

>You both break from the kiss and it leaves a sort of emptiness and longing within you already.

>Mirabelle smiles at you.

>How many more times will that smile set your chest ablaze?

>How many more times will you drown in the oceans of her eyes?

>Is "infinite" an acceptable answer?

>"I'll see you tomorrow." she tells you after what felt like a sudden eternity.

>"See ya." you manage to regain enough composure to say.

>She walks to the walkway part of her gate and lets herself in.

>You watch her as she goes, not content to take your eyes off her until she forcibly exits your vision.

>She reaches her house and unlocks the door.

>"Hey!" you shout.

>She turns back to you.

>"...I love you." you say loud enough for her to hear.

>She smiles.

>You never get tired of that smile.

>"I love you too." she says right back.

>She heads into her home.

>You take off back toward your own.

>That's just how it goes.

>What's gain without a little loss?

>What's joy without a moment of pain?

>Sunshine is brighter after the rain.

>You feel like Verne with his fucking poetry right now.

>You may have lost your title.

>Something you've retained for years.

>You were defeated, not once but twice.

>You lost your glory.

>But you gained love.

>You may not have been dating for extremely long.

>But she loves you and you know you love her.

>That's what matters right?

>You may no longer directly be the King of the Circle.

>But Lewis was absolutely right.

>You found your Queen.

>Life is good right now.

>Long live the King.

>And the Queen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDKWgJGqPhc

~The End

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

So we have arrived at the end. If you've managed to stomach my story long enough to reach this parting word, I thank you already. If you enjoyed I'd be glad, but if you didn't that's completely understandable.

It was my first attempt at anything like this, so I'm sure there are parts that aren't as good as they could be or don't flow very well. Maybe they're rushed, maybe they're too wordy. But after arriving on this scene and bearing witness to some truly awe inspiring stories, I felt like I wanted to contribute something, anything. So here we are.

The music was probably unnecessary, this is not a story that needs, or even deserves a kind of soundtrack. But I like to have something going on in the background when I read action, so I thought some music that had to do with fighting or had an exciting kind of flow would fit well.

As a new writer I seek your brutal honesty on how you felt about the story, so hold nothing back if you have any critiques.

If people say they enjoyed however, and would like more, I may have some ideas in mind for a continuation or two.

Greentext format is kind of fun though. It's quite the interesting deviation from normal writing.

Anyway. Thank you for stopping by, and I will see you on the horizon, my fellow degenerates.