Chapter 43
By the day of the zoo’s anniversary celebration, the park was packed wall to wall with people, far livelier than in past years.
The director knew perfectly well that the credit belonged to Yomi. After the last dancing-ant rehearsal ended, all kinds of videos filmed by visitors had blown up online that very same day.
Of course, there was also the tricentennial anniversary promotional video they had released at the time.
Originally, it had just been a perfectly normal zoo video. With a soothing background track, it showed clips of different animals in the park—some acting cute, some fierce, some lazy and funny… Naturally, the finale was the rehearsal with the dancing ant and the trainer. To avoid spoiling things in advance, they had only included a few seconds of interaction: the round little trainer, Big Eyes the dancing ant, and the tall trainer all stretching their arms together in exercise, the whole scene unbelievably harmonious…
The top comment at the time had been: [What kind of dancing ant is that plump little cutie at the end? How come I’ve never seen it before? Did you introduce a new species again?]
The zoo’s official account replied: [Hello, that is our new trainer. He is just wearing a uniform similar to the dancing ants’, he is not a dancing ant. Please look forward to our anniversary performance!]
The replies burst into laughter and immediately went off to buy tickets.
At that moment, the dancing-ant exhibition area was already buzzing with excitement. Visitors were all patiently waiting for the dancing ant and trainers to appear.
Yomi had already changed into costume and was discussing the details of the performance in the workroom with the trainer.
The audience section for the dancing-ant area had long since filled up, yet this was only part of the crowd. After the promotional video went viral, tickets for the zoo’s anniversary sold out instantly, and getting one became nearly impossible. Many people who could not get tickets could only stay home and wait for visitors to upload videos afterward to satisfy themselves.
Before going on stage, Yomi thought this turnout was completely normal. After all, dancing ants were popular, so of course there would be many visitors. But the experienced trainer knew very well what the usual audience size for a dancing-ant performance was like. Large, yes—but definitely not this outrageous!
And so, novice Yomi looked completely calm, while the trainer was the one tense to the extreme, terrified of making a mistake.
Fortunately, once they went on stage and he heard Yomi’s singing, the trainer’s attention shifted entirely onto Yomi. Together with Big Eyes, he completed the full set of broadcast exercises step by step, and everything went very smoothly.
Yomi was in great form and did the exercises happily, because besides Brule and Karl coming to cheer him on, Jian—who had only just finished filming the second episode of It’s Okay to Be Different yesterday—had also brought the werewolf Mond and Arlo to the zoo.
They had secured spots close to the front in advance and were holding dancing-ant dolls while cheering Yomi on.
Yomi truly felt encouraged. While singing, he even felt that he was performing above his usual standard, his voice especially bright and loud.
Once the exercises were done and Good Days had also been sung, the three of them bowed together to the audience. When they raised their heads again, they were drowned beneath a sky full of flower petals.
Yomi could not help letting out a little gasp.
How beautiful.
Standing outside, the director was so moved he nearly burst into tears.
The entire sky above the exhibition area was filled with drifting pink petals, as if pink snow were falling. He believed that whether it was for himself or for the visitors, this day would become an unforgettable memory. Thinking that, he quietly glanced up toward the high platform above, wondering what kind of reaction the people inside had to the performance.
The area on the platform was fitted with one-way glass. People outside could not see who was inside. Only the director knew that those watching from there were members of the royal family. Since they wanted their itinerary kept secret, he naturally did not dare pry.
The moment the petals began to fall, the monster rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring fixedly at that tiny figure below.
He could not throw petals himself, so he turned and instructed his subordinate to send down the bouquet of irises in his arms.
Over in the exhibition area, after the exercises ended, the people beating drums and gongs all withdrew, and the staff began to play the classical music that Big Eyes liked.
Under the moving melody, Yomi knew that his career as a trainer was about to end. Under the ardent gaze of the audience, he looked at the trainer, then at Big Eyes, solemnly raised his hand, and shook the trainer’s hand—they were performing the ceremonial handover of the trainer’s role.
In the eyes of the dancing ant, this meant that its trainer was passing the profession on to a new trainer.
What surprised Yomi, however, was that the white rings around Big Eyes’s eyes began to grow damp. It actually came over whining and pawing at him. Dancing ants could not speak, but with this gesture, everyone knew exactly what it meant.
Some of the more emotional audience members had already begun to cry. But even more of Big Eyes’s fans understood that the little trainer was not a professional trainer, merely a small-sized Snarian accepted by Big Eyes, and that this handover ceremony was necessary.
So they began cheering up the dancing ant: “Big Eyes, everyone loves you—don’t cry!”
Looking at Big Eyes in front of him, whimpering and tearful, Yomi froze for a few seconds, then bent down and gently stroked its head. He understood the dancing ant’s heart very well. When he had first come to this world, he too had felt closer to Lynn simply because Lynn was not as tall as others.
“Big Eyes, starting now I won’t be your trainer anymore, but I will be your friend,” Yomi said. Then, just like before, he held out his hand to it. “You dance so well. I’ll definitely come see you again in the future.”
The dancing ant blinked its eyes slowly. It seemed to be trying very hard to understand what he meant. A few seconds later, it cautiously stretched out its foreleg and tightly clasped that human hand.
From now on, they were friends.
Big Eyes suddenly leaped upward and threw itself into Yomi’s arms.
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted all around them. Even the cameraman standing nearby had red-rimmed eyes.
He was already over a hundred years old, and like many Snarians of his age, he had worked for nearly a century and was still considered in the prime of life. Yet the monotony of day after day at work had worn him down, and life had become dull and flavorless. Pure happiness seemed to have drifted far away from them.
But at this moment, through the two tiny figures before them, they all seemed to catch sight of their own younger, purer selves.
Feelings without impurity—whether from a person or an animal—were all so earnest… Amid that beautiful melody, a sense of happiness rose naturally from within them. It felt as if they were not standing in a zoo at all, but in a small warmly lit room, happiness so concrete, so easy to reach.
As long as the two of them held each other, everyone smiled.
After the performance ended, Yomi truly needed a while to calm down. But every feast must eventually come to an end. After changing back into his usual clothes, he quietly went to check on Big Eyes once more. Only after confirming that Big Eyes had accepted the new trainer did his heart finally settle completely.
The performance had been a great success. The director wanted to invite him to the staff’s anniversary dinner, but Yomi politely declined, because he had his own dinner gathering too—Lynn, Jian, Mond, and Arlo were all waiting for him.
Brule and Karl did not go, mainly because they did not want to ruin the atmosphere for the young people. What kind of sense was there in parents butting into a party held by the kids? Brule certainly was not going!
Karl also felt that he did not know the others, so it would only be awkward and inconvenient.
Yomi had reserved a large private room in advance. Since everyone was an adult now, he decided they would drink a little this time.
Holding the irises that were possibly from some visitor, he led everyone into the restaurant.
By the time the dishes began arriving, the atmosphere was already very lively. Lynn was the sort who became familiar with people quickly. He recognized the three guests from Group B on the show, and after chatting with them for barely any time at all, he had already started calling them brothers.
The main dishes had just been served, and the server had only just left when someone knocked on the door.
Lynn was closest, so he went to open it. He was instantly startled by the great monster standing there, but quickly recognized him. Taking a step back, he looked toward Yomi at the table, who was struggling with all his might to open a beer bottle, and said softly, “Mimi…”
Yomi looked up. The lips he had been pressing tightly together with effort suddenly parted wide.
Anxius?
Anxius had already walked in. He was carrying a box of cake, which he set down on a side table, then he looked at Yomi with a faint smile.
“Louis.” Yomi smiled too and immediately called him by his screen name. Setting aside the beer bottle he still had not managed to open, he hurried over. “What are you doing here?” As he spoke, he glanced at the cake box again. It seemed to be strawberry.
“I watched your performance too,” Anxius said, lowering his eyes. “It was wonderful.” I liked it.
Yomi blushed a little at the praise. There had been so many people on site that he had assumed Anxius must simply have been hidden by the crowd, which was why he had not seen him.
Anxius continued, “I wanted to have dinner with you. Brule told me you were here.” He looked toward the seats.
Yomi immediately grabbed his claw enthusiastically and invited him to the table. “I didn’t know you were coming. Sit here first.” After arranging a seat for him, he busied himself bringing over a menu. “Do you want to order anything else?”
Anxius shook his head. Glancing at the claw of his that was being held, his lashes trembled slightly. “No. There’s already enough.”
Anxius had come too, after being away for so long. Yomi felt that today really was a case of good things coming in pairs. Happily, he greeted everyone and urged them to eat. He was even thoughtful enough to try pouring wine for Mond, the werewolf beside him, who had been drinking nonstop. But before Yomi could even lift the bottle, Anxius snatched it away.
Frowning, Anxius poured Mond’s drink with a stiff face.
Mond was taken aback too and quickly moved his glass farther away, afraid the little one would come bustling over again. But he was not grateful for Louis pouring him a drink. The werewolf’s instincts told him that this person was hostile toward him as well.
As they ate, Yomi listened to Jian and Arlo talking about what had happened during the second episode. He was completely absorbed in it. But after drinking too many beverages, he listened for a while, then got up to go to the restroom.
At the table, Lynn continued chatting familiarly with Jian and the others about everyday trivial matters.
Mond did not join in with the table’s conversation. He cast Louis a glance, then took the chance while reaching for the bottle to pour more wine and asked in a low voice, “Hey, do you like Yomi?”
Louis seemed not to hear him—or more accurately, he simply did not regard Mond’s existence as worth noticing. Every so often, he merely glanced in the direction Yomi had left.
“…” Mond had his answer.
By the time Yomi came back, the monster’s expression had already returned to normal.
Mond, who had been secretly observing all along, noticed that. To be honest, that actually reassured him. He was certain now that Yomi and Louis were not a couple. At most, Louis was nursing a one-sided crush.
With that realization, Mond was no longer as silent as before. From time to time he chatted a little with the others, but his gaze remained fixed on Yomi. Then, when the mood at the table was just right, Mond—still staring at Yomi—suddenly rose to his feet under the influence of alcohol. His face was red beyond measure, as though he were doing the most difficult thing in the world. While everyone else looked at him in confusion, he finally stammered out, “Yomi, I—I like you!”
This was not Mond drunkenly spouting nonsense. He had chosen to come here for the sake of saying exactly this.
Mond knew that if he did not say it now, perhaps it would be too late.
He liked Yomi. He had liked him from the very first sight. Back then he had only thought Yomi was very cute, but after rewatching the first episode, he had been completely conquered by every smile and glance of his.
Without exaggeration, Yomi was the lover of his dreams.
During the time when Yomi had announced that he was ill, Mond had nearly searched for him all over the world, yet could not find him no matter what. At that time he had sworn that the next time he saw Yomi, no matter what, he would seize the chance.
If it had not been for the chance to remain in the main city, he would never have joined that stupid show again.
The room fell quiet.
Yomi looked at Mond in surprise. He seemed unable to fully process what Mond’s words were supposed to mean.
The others wore different expressions. Lynn looked at Yomi immediately. Jian slurped his soup, his eyes rolling back and forth. Arlo simply shook his head mechanically.
Anxius’s face looked extremely grim, and a dangerous aura spread from him. But just before he could speak, Yomi suddenly stood up and called Mond outside.
Mond followed him.
Anxius instantly rose as well. He meant to go after them, but Lynn hurriedly stopped him. “Louis, Yomi doesn’t want to reject Mond in front of everyone. He’ll handle it himself. Don’t go.” Lynn was a little afraid of Louis at the moment too, so he kept his voice very low.
A few beads of sweat had appeared on the monster’s forehead, and the veins at his temples bulged visibly. He was clearly agitated to the extreme. Yet after hearing those words, he slowly sat back down.
For Anxius, every second stretched into an eternity.
In the corridor—
Yomi lifted his head and looked at Mond. “Do you only like me because I’m close to your size?”
“Of course not!” Mond said almost angrily. “I’m not the kind of person who just wants to find someone to pair up with, Yomi. Don’t say that.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way,” Yomi said, a little startled. “But we haven’t spent that much time together, have we? You don’t even know me.”
Mond stiffened. He struggled desperately to suppress the emotions that might frighten Yomi and gritted out, turning his back to him, “In the first episode, we spent an entire day together in that little cabin. One day was enough. I know exactly what you’re like! Later… later I even rewatched the first episode. I already understand you extremely well.” Helplessly, he turned back and walked closer to him, his wolf tail starting to wag more and more often. “Y-you can try dating me first. If you don’t understand me, then I’ll let you understand me! My people are the kings of the Dire-Beast Desert. I can offer the entire Dire-Beast Desert to you… Yomi, I—I’ll protect you!” Heaven knew how difficult it was for him to say these words.
“…I don’t want a desert,” Yomi said blankly, shaking his head. “Mond, thank you for liking me, but I don’t feel that way about you.”
If he did not have someone he liked, then he could spend his whole life alone too. He was human, not an animal.
Mond’s tail dropped instantly. He looked at Yomi with a shattered expression.
Yomi nodded to him and started back toward the room. After taking a few steps, though, he turned back worriedly to glance at Mond again.
Mond was leaning silently against the wall. His eyes had actually gone red, but the moment he noticed Yomi looking back, he immediately turned his head aside and said, “A rejection is just a rejection… If you don’t like the desert, then I’ll just work harder to stay in the main city. I’m not doing it for you. I just think this place is interesting too… Yomi, I’m not the kind of person who falls apart because of rejection.”
Yomi pressed his lips together. He did not know what to say, so he returned silently to the private room.
Ah… Mond, I hope you find happiness.
When he sat down again, Yomi realized that Anxius had been staring at him the whole time. Those golden eyes seemed to hold a thousand unsaid words, and his body was drawn taut.
Yomi asked softly what was wrong.
Anxius said nothing. He only reached out with a claw and grasped Yomi’s hand, very tightly. When the dejected Mond returned, the monster—who seemed to understand everything—actually looked happy, and even started drinking.
Seeing the atmosphere turn stiff, Lynn called for everyone to raise their glasses together and celebrate the happy occasion.
Yomi was the first to stand. Though his feelings after being confessed to were a little complicated, the joy of the successful performance was still there. He drank two full glasses of beer in a row.
And that got Yomi drunk immediately. Anxius had only gone to cut the cake for a moment, and in that short time the equally drunk slime had already started placing Yomi on top of its bouncy, jelly-like head and playing around with him… Anxius hurried over and immediately scooped Yomi back up. He was afraid Yomi might be flung to the ground and get hurt.
It was very late, and the meal was finished. Other than Mond, everyone had enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Karl had arranged for an aircraft to come early and was busy organizing rides home for the drunk guests. He knew by now that Anxius had silently slipped over to attend Yomi’s gathering, and he was already used to it.
As for Yomi, naturally Anxius would personally take him away.
The night was deep now. The aircraft returned to the manor, and the monster stepped down carrying the little person in his arms. In the night, insects chirped and frogs croaked. Passing beneath the shifting shadows of the trees, Anxius looked down at the face in his arms, and his heart began to pound once more. Before stepping onto the stairs, he could not help lowering his head and secretly kissing the other’s forehead.
It was a feather-light kiss, infinitely precious.
Yomi was still drunk. He seemed to think he had brushed up against something cool, and immediately rolled over, even kicking Anxius’s arm with his foot.
The monster let him kick. In fact, being kicked actually put him in a better mood.
Yomi did not know that when Mond confessed earlier, this crown prince had been so anxious he had nearly entered a berserk state.
But Anxius had controlled himself.
Yomi was afraid of monsters.
At that moment, Anxius understood with absolute clarity that he could not become a true monster. For Yomi’s sake, he could endure anything.
