Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Today was supposed to be the day that they actually had sex. Legoshi wasn’t supposed to freak out. Instead, he found himself sitting in silence with Haru on a bench not far from his apartment.

Legoshi didn’t dare to speak. He left it all to Haru. After all, he was the one that messed things up.

Haru sat fidgeting with her hands, looking out at the cars passing by and the animals crossing the street.

This was it. They were going to break up. It was finally happening. There was no other possibility for something else to occur.

Haru began, “You idolize me too much. I’m on too high of a pedestal!”

Shit. Legoshi had no idea how to answer. He did have Haru on a pedestal. She was the most precious, beautiful creature. He was ready to change the world for her and he did.

“I’ve never met anyone like you, Legoshi. No one has ever loved me the way you do, but you almost love me too much.”

Wasn’t that a good thing? All those other guys never knew what they had. They used her for her body. They didn’t know her like he did. Maybe Louis was the only guy to see her for the special person she was, but even then he did not appreciate her the way Legoshi did.

“I love you more than words can describe, Haru.” Legoshi replied meaningfully, still not looking at her.

Now Haru moved her gaze from the street to him. “I know, but I need you to see me.”

What does that even mean? He saw her for the flawless being that she was. Legoshi mustered up the courage to look at her, “Haru, I see you like no one else ever has.”

Legoshi saw her pained expression, but through the pain she still could not hide her love and affection. That was at least some consolation while Legoshi felt his heart shattering into a million pieces. Deep down he knew this day would come. He could only be her protector. Not her boyfriend, not her husband. He would always protect her.

“I’m not the perfect person you make me out to be, Legoshi –”

Right as he was about to challenge her statement, she continued, as if she predicted his rebuttal.

“I’m also not as fragile as you make me out to be. How can we be together if you’re so scared to be fully intimate with me?”

Legoshi winced. She sounded so much older than she ever did at Cherryton. What hurt the most was she was right.

Her ears were swelling which meant only one thing. She was irritated. “You always go on and on about how you want to have children with me and how you’d protect them. That’s a pipe dream at this point. How could we even have children? Would you artificially inseminate me?” Haru asked.

Legoshi looked down in shame. He had to be the lamest boyfriend ever. Sure, he saved her life multiple times, but he couldn’t really claim her as his. He had no idea how to make this situation better.

“It’s like I’m talking to a wall when I’m with you.”

“You’re right.” Legoshi blurted out. She had to know he was actually hearing her.

Haru sighed.

“I love you so much. I don’t want to hurt you. I can’t let myself risk it. I don’t think I can have sex with you without hurting you.”

“And I’ve told you countless times that I think we can. We’d just have to be really careful. You may trust me, but you don’t trust yourself.”

Her words hit him straight in the chest. Legoshi could never trust himself. He was a large sized carnivore. A wolf with komodo dragon blood who tasted living herbivore meat. There were so many times he thought he hurt Haru doing basic tasks and the one time he thought he killed her when she slept over.

Legoshi’s body always felt like a machine he could not fully operate. Everything was too big, too awkward. It never felt comfortable.

“I know, but I don’t know how to trust myself or this body that I am in.” Legoshi whispered and gestured to himself.

“It’s not just that. It’s like you think your body isn’t worthy to be with mine.” Haru sighed and continued, “Part of it is my fault. I did put my arm in your mouth the first time we tried.”

“It’s not your fault, Haru. You couldn’t control that.” It was a natural instinct, her body knew she was supposed to be prey, supposed to be eaten.

“Maybe, but now it’s in your head. How can we move in together and be a serious couple if you can’t get it out of your head that you’re going to eat me or ruin me if we have sex?”

Legoshi could beg, ask for more time, but she deserved better than that. He already asked her during countless previous attempts at sex for more time and she always gave it to him.

“I had sex a lot in the past because I was emotionally a mess. I can’t say I even enjoyed it. I may have had the reputation as the school slut and everyone thought I lived up to the rabbit stereotype, but that wasn’t me. I did it for validation. I don’t have a super high libido, but I want to have sex with you because I love you and am attracted to you. Not for any other reason.” Haru confessed. She looked down at her jeans and fidgeted with her hands.

God, Legoshi wanted to have sex with her too. He couldn’t even count the amount of times he had to jerk off because he couldn’t go through with having sex.

Haru sighed. “I think we should take a break.”

“A break?” Legoshi whispered. His mind raced. A break, not a break up. That meant there was a chance to get back together. Okay, maybe this wasn’t so bad. Sweat was beginning to pour down from his brow.

Haru but her lip. “I need you to look at me. I’m going to tell you something and I don’t want you to freak out.”

Well, that was never a good way to preface something, Legoshi tried to take deep breaths, but breathing was hard right now.

Haru placed her hand on Legoshi’s shoulder. “Are you okay? Do you need me to get a paper bag? That helps with anxiety attacks.”

“I’m good.” He wheezed.

Haru looked back at him unconvincingly. “Deep breaths in and out.” Haru modeled for Legoshi.

In. Out. In. Out.

Legoshi evened out his breathing.

“Okay, what do you want to tell me?”

“I think you should try to sleep with other people while we’re on a break.”

That may have been the statement Legoshi least expected to hear from Haru. He couldn’t fathom why she would want him to sleep with other people. “What?” He asked with a bewildered look.

“I know it sounds crazy, but you need to get comfortable with sex.”

Legoshi could only repeat the same thing. “What?”

Haru rolled her eyes. “Are you even listening to me, Legoshi?”

Legoshi swallowed. He was trying to get better with articulating himself. “I don’t know what to say. Why would you want that?”

“If you're comfortable with having sex, you may feel less afraid to have sex with me. You will trust yourself more and feel that you can control yourself.” Haru explained.

It sounded a lot like she really thought this through. It wasn’t completely implausible. Something else concerned Legoshi, though. “So does that mean you’re going to be sleeping with other guys? How can I protect you then?”

Haru rolled her eyes and groaned. “This isn’t about me! This is about you and your hang ups about sex. Frankly, it’s not your business what I do during our break and it won’t be my business what you do either.”

Legoshi considered her for a moment. He tried to push out of his mind all the guys Haru slept with before and all the guys she could potentially sleep with now. He didn’t judge her for her past, he just never would trust anyone with her besides for him. The real troubling part of this whole plan was Legoshi’s lack of skills with the opposite sex and just people in general.

“I don’t want to sleep with anyone else, Haru. Just you.”

“Well, clearly that’s not working. You should probably sleep with a bigger herbivore than me to get more comfortable.” Haru explained.

“You thought about who I should sleep with?” Legoshi asked, horrified.

“Yes, a lot actually.” Haru took a deep breath and continued, “Although It may not seem like it, I think this is the only way we are going to be able to work.”

Legoshi had done crazier things. However, he couldn’t imagine being able to go through with this, but if this is what she really thought would work, perhaps he would have to try. “How long would this break even last?”

Haru took his much larger hand in her own tiny hand. “I don’t know, but you need to let go of me and just try. I think we can work through this.” She looked up and smiled sadly. She was genuine.

Legoshi removed his hands from her own. He held her face. “I love you, Haru.”

“I love you too, but this is what’s best for us.”

Legoshi decided he would have to acquiesce. Haru’s wishes were always of the utmost importance to him.

And just like that Legoshi found himself in a total depression. The last time he felt this bad was when his mother passed away.

There wasn’t much to do besides working at the Udon shop and coming home to his rather shitty apartment. He was on his summer break from university. This summer would have been exciting. He initially had plans to move in with Haru.

The job at the Udon shop was probably the only thing that got him out of bed, in the shower, and outside each day. If he didn’t have that, Legoshi would have just laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on all the ways he fucked up his relationship with Haru.

That was exactly what he did each day after coming home from work. There would be no contact with Haru. That was the condition she set. He couldn’t even argue against it after he cancelled his phone service when dropping out of Cherryton. She knew the feeling all too well of wishing you could be in contact with someone and having no way to reach them.

It was another Friday night, two weeks after their break started. Legoshi had decided that it was probably going to be an official break up, though. Once Haru got back in touch with him, if she ever did, he would tell her he couldn’t go through with it. She would then be disappointed in him and tell him that this would be the end of them for good.

Sex was something Legoshi didn’t honestly give much thought to before Haru. To anyone else it would have sounded like an absolute lie, however, it wasn’t. Legoshi was a late bloomer in that regard. That’s why Jack was so elated when he heard Legoshi had a crush for the first time.

Legoshi didn’t start having sex dreams or jerking off regularly until Haru dominated his mind. Even then, he was content with just having the fantasy, if he couldn’t have the real thing. Legoshi did start to experience even more attraction, though, once he started dating Haru.

Legoshi may have had the image of Cosmo at the party saved in his spank bank, which he felt terribly guilty for. He always felt bad for pleasuring himself to the image of any woman. It seemed disrespectful to them and especially if they weren’t Haru.

Being an awkward guy made it difficult to socialize, let alone date. Even Haru couldn’t handle him anymore. There was no way Legoshi was going to be able to somehow have some kind of torrid affair with someone to overcome his intimacy fears.

Legoshi quietly prayed that he wouldn’t run into Miss Seven in the communal bathroom of their building. It would be so awkward. He would have to explain if she asked how Haru was, or he would be a terrible liar about it and she’d see right through him. The only person he told was Jack. Even with him, it was a simple text saying he and Haru were on a break and he’d explain another time. Legoshi had been delaying seeing Jack to avoid telling him.

Legoshi tried to figure out the times Miss Seven usually went out to the bathroom. She didn’t have a set in stone schedule, but he figured out a pattern and went completely out of his way to avoid her.

However, on this Friday night the universe decided to not be on Legoshi’s side and there was a knock on his door.

Legoshi panicked. It wasn’t Haru. It could be Jack, but Jack generally wouldn’t show up unannounced. It wasn’t his grandpa. He spoke with Gosha yesterday and put on his best acting skills to tell him he was okay. Although, he didn’t seem fully convinced.

It could be Miss Seven. Maybe she needed to borrow something. Legoshi’s mental gymnastics left whoever was knocking at the door without a response.

The knocking continued. Shit.

As Legoshi opened his mouth to formulate a response, he was interrupted.

“I know you’re in there, Legoshi, and I know this door is never locked. I’m doing you a courtesy by knocking.” Miss Seven proclaimed.

Okay, so it was Miss Seven. “Uh, come in?” Legoshi offered.

Miss Seven pushed the door open and entered the dimly lit one room apartment. She looked around distastefully and then settled her gaze on Legoshi.

He didn’t judge her for the look she gave his apartment. It had been a mess. Legoshi was a mess too.

“I haven’t seen you in forever. I wanted to check in on you. Not to embarrass you, but you sometimes whimper in your sleep, so something’s clearly up.” Miss Seven made direct eye contact with him with a genuinely concerned look.

Legoshi scratched the back of his head. “Uh, I’m good, just tired. Sometimes I get depressed during the summer?” He replied in a very unconvincing tone.

Miss Seven nodded and walked closer to Legoshi. There wasn’t a place for her to sit. “I haven’t seen your girlfriend around.”

“Uh, who, Haru?” Legoshi mentally scolded himself for that. Of course, she was asking about Haru.

“Yeah, Haru, unless you have another girlfriend that I didn’t meet? But you aren’t the type to have two girlfriends.” Miss Seven let out a nervous laugh.

Legoshi tried to think of a response that would make sense. He should have rehearsed for something like this. He decided on this story, “She’s on vacation with her family.”

Miss Seven nodded and stared at Legoshi.

Legoshi looked back at her. There was no way she believed that.

Miss Seven crossed her arms. “You’re a terrible liar. I would know because I also was like that at your age. The drudgery of adulthood makes you a better liar.”

Legoshi looked down. He’d have to reveal the truth. “Uh… we’re on a break.”

“That sucks.” Miss Seven frowned and continued, “I’m feeling like crap myself. Go get washed up and let’s go out for a drink.”

Legoshi’s eyes widened. He was not expecting that invitation.

Miss Seven laughed. She must have found him endearing. “Don’t tell me you have anything else to do.”

“I guess, I’ll go shower then?” Legoshi smiled nervously back at her.

“Sounds like a plan. Don’t take too long.” Miss Seven said as she walked out of his apartment.

That’s how Legoshi found himself going out for drinks with Miss Seven.

Chapter Text

Miss Seven led the way to the bar that was not too far from their building. They walked in companionable silence. It did feel good to be with someone who wasn’t a coworker or a customer.

Legoshi let her order for them. “We’ll start with beer then move to sake, what do you think?” She asked with a grin.

Legoshi nodded. He was not much of a drinker, but a drink didn’t sound like the worst thing to have right now.

They each took some sips and glanced up at the TV which was blasting some kind of sports game that neither of them cared about. Miss Seven finished her drink rather quickly.

Legoshi figured he should probably say something. Maybe thank her for checking in on him and for keeping him company while he’s been utterly depressed. He started, “Uh….”

“We don’t have to talk about it, you know.” She reassured him.

Legoshi straightened up. “No, I actually just wanted to thank you, Miss Seven.” Legoshi winced at how awkward he sounded.

She held her hand up to him. “I’ve told you this before, but please do not call me Miss Seven. It makes me feel old as hell. Seven is fine. We’re friends.”

Oh, right, she did mention that. He should have remembered. “So sorry I honestly—“

Seven stopped him. “No need to apologize.”

“Okay.”

Seven laughed.

Legoshi looked back at her nervously. What was so funny?

“You get so worked up about the littlest things. Everything is fine.” She smiled and rubbed his arm.

Legoshi was able to tolerate her touch. He had come so far from when she first tried to touch his scars.

“Take a sip of your drink. Let loose.”

Legoshi heeded her advice and took a swig of his beer.

“A break up isn’t the end of the world. I remember I thought I’d die after my first major break up. You just have to get used to doing things without her. Slowly it becomes your new normal. Eventually, you’ll accept it.”

Legoshi appreciated her attempts at consolation, but his situation was just different. Haru wasn’t an ordinary girlfriend. She was his soulmate, the only person he could ever picture himself with. Most importantly, however, it was a break and not a break up. Although, it was looking a lot more like a break up at the rate Legoshi was going.

“It was a break, not a break up.” Legoshi clarified.

Seven rolled her eyes. “Honestly, a lot of girls will say that because they’re not entirely sure if they should break up with their boyfriend or not.”

Legoshi shook his head. “No, the circumstances are different. It’s not like that.”

“Okay, I’m going to need another drink before you get into any of this.” Seven waved down the bartender and ordered herself another beer.

Legoshi nervously took another sip of his own drink. He felt so embarrassed. Could he really divulge the specifics and conditions of his break with Haru? He would sound like a total idiot, but at the same time, she was his friend, and he hoped she wouldn’t judge him too harshly.

When Seven got her drink from the bartender, she gave Legoshi a sympathetic look. “Hey, you don’t need to tell me anything you feel uncomfortable about.”

Legoshi looked down at his drink that was still half full. He realized that he really should have probably drank more of it. In a brief act of courage, Legoshi downed his beer.

“Okay, we’re really getting into it then.” Seven said with a smile.

“We’re on a break because she thinks I should have sex with other people.” Legoshi blurted.

“Oh?” Seven gave him a quizzical look. “Wow. I guess I was not expecting that. So, let me clarify, she wants only you to have sex with other people?”

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t know what she’s going to do, but she doesn’t want us to get back together unless I have sex with other people.” He took a peek at Seven’s expression. It was neutral and seemed as if she was trying to process important information.

Seven took another sip of her drink and after about a minute of thinking she shared, “Huh. I never heard that one before. It’s kind of really progressive of her. I guess in a sense it would ward off cheating since she’s giving you a chance to experience what it’s like to be with other people.”

Legoshi looked at her incredulously. “I would never cheat on her. I’ve never been interested in anyone else besides her.”

“Okay…” Seven tried to piece more information together. “So, why do you think she would ask you to have sex with other people?’

Legoshi grimaced. This was the exact part that he was most embarrassed about. “Uh….”

An awkward pause.

Seven moved her head forward to gesture for Legoshi to continue.

“Because we never had sex.”

Seven was perplexed. “Okay, now I’m even more confused. I’m ordering you another drink. It’s on me.”

Legoshi wouldn’t argue with that. He did need another drink. He wished he could forget this entirely.

Once the second drink arrived, Legoshi took a rather large sip. The alcohol might help him feel less embarrassed about the whole thing.

“So, not to pry, but you guys never had sex at all?” Seven asked in a very calm tone. She did not sound judgmental which made Legoshi feel a tiny bit better.

Legoshi shook his head. “No, I was too afraid of hurting her. I bit her ear once when we were making out and leading into sex.”

Seven looked puzzled. “Is that normal for wolves?”

“Yeah, it’s called a play bite. It can happen when we are happy or excited.” He held his face in his large hands.

“I’m sure she was expecting difficulties like that given you’re a carnivore and she’s a herbivore. Did it ever happen again?”

“No, but I kept freaking out before we had sex. Full on anxiety attacks. I just can’t hurt Haru.”

“Did you ever try drinking before attempting to have sex?” Seven pointed to Legoshi’s drink.

“I would only have one. I was afraid of being...” Legoshi paused due to the nature of the reason. “Impotent.” He finished.

Seven snorted. “You really were overthinking the sex. One beer wouldn’t have made a large carnivore like you impotent.” She reassured him.

Legoshi just looked at her. Unsure of how to respond.

“I had to have 3 drinks before I lost my virginity.” Seven revealed.

Legoshi’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Seven hummed to confirm. “I was a freshman at university, so I was older than most female sheep when I lost my virginity. I was a little younger than you.”

Legoshi was surprised. Not that he had ever thought about Seven’s sexual experiences, but she didn’t seem like someone who would be anxious about sex.

“He was also my first real relationship and was an absolute asshole. I thought my life would never go on after we broke up when we graduated from university. I dated other people and the earth is still spinning.” She took another sip of her beer.

“I really want to get back with Haru and be able to have sex with her.” Legoshi rested his head on the bar counter. He felt completely defeated.

“Why does she think it will help if you have sex with other people?”

“She says that if I have sex with another herbivore that’s larger than her, I will be less nervous to finally have sex with her. She thinks the experience will calm my nerves.”

Seven considered what he said. “That’s not a bad idea. I like how the younger generation is more sex positive and open to making interspecies relationships work.”

Legoshi looked back at her. If Seven thought it wasn’t a bad idea maybe it wasn’t all that crazy. After all, Seven was a full fledged adult.

Seven nudged him with a mischievous smile. “I could be your wing woman?”

Legoshi jumped in protest, nearly knocking over his drink. “I’m not ready!”

Seven giggled. “Relax. Not tonight, but don’t take too long. She’s not going to wait around forever.”

She was right. “Okay, but maybe some other time?”

“You got it.” Seven offered her drink to him. “Cheers?’

Legoshi silently nodded in agreement and clinked his beer bottle with hers.

It became a routine. Going out for drinks after work. It was reminiscent of Legoshi’s time hanging out with the guys in Room 701. University life was isolating. He hung out with Haru and sometimes caught up with Jack. He hadn’t had consistent carefree socializing since his Cherryton days.

Their drinks rotated between sake and beer. They shared stories about weird customer encounters or coworkers who annoyed them. Seven shared some embarrassing stories from her youth and Legoshi even felt comfortable enough to share some of his own.

Their conversations were not only light hearted. Legoshi learned a lot about Seven. How she wound up at their apartment complex, how at work she was seen as basically an emotional support animal for her carnivore co workers, despite her record breaking sales. He learned she also suffered from depression.

Legoshi felt he could really confide in Seven. He could sense her loneliness as well. She decided to work in a carnivore majority field and didn’t follow suit with her parents’ idea for her future. If it were up to them, at her age, she would be working in a different field that was majority herbivore and would be married with at least one kid.

Seven tried to scope out herbivores who she thought would be interested in Legoshi. She decided he would need someone with edge since he was a large guy with scars everywhere. She said he’d need someone who was into some risky behavior.

Legoshi always nervously laughed off her suggestions.

“We should try going to an interspecies bar where people specifically look for someone of a different species to hook up with.”

Legoshi figured it couldn’t have been anything like the exclusive party Yahya sent him on a mission to. There had to be some normal ones. He thought he remembered some classmates mentioning them at Cherryton. The alcohol running through Legoshi’s blood stream made him bold enough to ask, “Have you ever been to one?”

Seven looked down at her drink. “Once, but it didn’t go as planned.” She then looked up at him, “That doesn’t mean for you it would be unsuccessful.”

Legoshi shrugged. “I feel like I’d at least need some emotional connection to someone to have sex with them. The idea of just being with a stranger.” Legoshi shook his head at the thought.

“I mean, that will limit your options.”

Seven thought for a minute and then laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

Seven shook her head. “No, it was just a crazy thought and not a good idea.”

Legoshi couldn’t withhold his curiosity. “What is it?”

Seven took another sip of her drink. “I was thinking if worst comes to worst, we could always just sleep together. Again, not a good idea.”

Legoshi took in her words and studied her carefully. Although it may have sounded crazy it wasn’t a terrible idea. The more time he spent with her, the more he realized that he did find her attractive. It wasn’t the same way he saw Haru, but there was an attraction there. He didn’t know what the state of their friendship would be if they crossed a line like that. However, he would feel more comfortable having sex with Seven than with a random herbivore he met at a bar.

“Uh… I mean I’d rather do it with you than a random person.” Legoshi blurted out.

“Well, gee, thanks, that sounded enthusiastic.” Seven retorted.

Damn it. Legoshi jumped up and his tail went straight. “No, no, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Seven just looked at him.

Legoshi rubbed the back of his head and sweat formed above his brow. “I meant that I don’t want to have sex with a random person. I know you. I think you’re… attractive.” He decided that had to have sounded better than what he initially said.

“Are you sure about that?” Seven asked unconvincingly.

“Yeah. Yes.” Legoshi affirmed. He wasn’t sure how else he could prove it to her.

Seven sighed.

“If you don’t think I’m, uh, attractive that’s fine.”

“Legoshi, you need to get your self esteem up from the floor. Don’t tell anyone you might possibly sleep with that.” Seven scolded him.

“Oh,” was all Legoshi could manage.

“Besides, you are attractive.” Seven smiled at him.

Okay, that had to be good. Legoshi’s confidence began to increase. He could do it one time with Seven then he wouldn’t be afraid anymore. When Haru got back in touch with him he would at least have some experience.

“We shouldn’t do it tonight, though.” Seven declared.

Legoshi wasn’t sure how to respond. He wasn’t thinking about tonight at all. He needed to mentally prepare for this, but he figured it probably would be best for Seven to set the ground rules. He would never want to disrespect her in any way.

“We’ll take a full day to think about it. We don’t want to make any mistakes.” Seven cleared her throat.

“Uh, of course.”

“If we do decide tomorrow to go through with it, then we have to make sure we won’t let it affect our friendship in any way.”

Legoshi nodded in agreement.

Seven studied Legoshi. “Good. I really do cherish our unlikely friendship.”

It was an unspoken thing between them. Seven looked much younger than her 30 years and Legoshi looked older than his 19 years. They were a large carnivore and a small herbivore with an age gap. A wolf and a sheep. No one would ever expect a friendship between them. They got looks from others, but the employees at the bar knew them well.

“I do too.” Legoshi replied.

“Good. So, let’s reflect and reconvene tomorrow?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Legoshi was freaking out all day at work. Was he really going to have sex with Seven? Would their friendship be ruined if they did go through with it? This had to be the way, though. He wanted Haru back more than anything. If his friend was willing to help him, he should take her I up on the offer, right? Plus, she wasn’t as small as Haru, so there was slightly less of a worry of hurting her. He did try to eat Seven, though. Why were all the girls who he almost ate willing to sleep with him? Well, possibly willing to sleep with him. He still had to wait for Seven’s final decision that night.

Legoshi’s boss, Sunaga, the manager at the Udon restaurant was concerned. He looked over the large pot of noodles he was cooking to peer at Legoshi. “You seem off all day today. Well, more so than usual. Are you all right?”

Legoshi’s eyes widened. “Uh, yes, I just had a few things on my mind, sir.”

Sunaga nodded and stirred the noodles in the pot. “Just checking.”

Legoshi excused himself for a moment to use the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and studied his reflection. His large scars above his eyes. His ear that had regenerated itself after being shot, thanks to his komodo dragon blood. Every time he saw himself in the mirror, all he saw was a large monster. Unworthy of Haru’s love or any herbivores for that matter. He looked like a killer.

Legoshi splashed water on his face. He had to do this, though, if he wanted to be with Haru. He pictured Haru’s face on the bench when she told him that they needed a break.

Legoshi looked back up at himself and took a deep breath. “I can do this.” He dried himself off and went to finish his shift.

As soon as Legoshi settled himself into his apartment, there was a knock at the door which meant only one thing. Seven was here to give him her decision.

Legoshi stood up straight. I can do this. He repeated the mantra to himself. He went to open the door and found Seven standing there with a six pack in hand.

“Hi.” She said awkwardly.

“Uh, hi.” Legoshi moved to the side and gestured for her to come in.

“I brought drinks.” The apprehension was evident in her voice. Legoshi decided she must have been here to let him down. It probably wasn’t a good idea, anyway.

“Thanks.” Legoshi sat down awkwardly on his futon mattress that drove Haru crazy. Just as he was about to tell Seven to take a seat he remembered he didn’t have a seat. “Do you want to sit next to me here?”

“Sure.” Seven took a seat on the mattress, a healthy distance from Legoshi.

They sat in awkward silence for a minute before Seven started, “Sheep are used to motonany. We do the same things over and over, stick together and don’t take risks. It’s safe to say that I am not like that. I work the job that I do and ride in the interspecies car of the subway. I’ve never been normal. I guess you can relate?”

Legoshi could relate, but wasn’t sure where she was going with this. “I know how you feel.”

“I’ve always wanted carnivores to see me as more than just being a little gentle lamb. You see me as a person, Legoshi. That being said, I think we can sleep together, but we need ground rules.”

Legoshi nodded and looked at her intently waiting for further instructions.

“We may not be compatible despite the attraction we feel. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out when you have sex. It could happen even if we were both herbivores or vice versa.” She paused and then continued, “But, we can’t let it affect our friendship.”

Legoshi shook his head. “It won’t. I value our friendship, Seven.”

“We will let each other know right away if something is uncomfortable.”

“Of course.”

“And I guess this one is corny as hell, but let’s just have fun? I’ll help you get over your sex anxiety and I’ll finally get laid after a long dry spell.” Seven laughed nervously.

Legoshi wasn’t sure if she should smile or nod.

“It may be your first time, but it’s been quite a while for me. Depression made me lose interest in sex for a while.” Seven turned to face him. “So, are you down?

Legoshi swallowed. “I am. If I am going to do this with anyone besides Haru, I’d prefer you.”

“All right, then.” Seven looked down at his hands ”First things first, you’re gonna have to trim those claws right now, so they’re super short and you don’t accidentally hurt me.”

Legoshi was so self conscious about his claws. He instinctively went to cover them. “I'm sorry!”

“No need to apologize. Just do that first before we do anything?”

Legoshi nodded and went to get his clippers. It was a good idea on Seven’s part. Cutting them right before being intimate avoided the whole issue he was facing before. When he cut them the night before, by the next day when he was going to see Haru, they were already long.

Seven helped herself to a beer from the six pack she brought while Legoshi quietly cut his claws.

When he finished he turned around, to obtain her approval. “All good?”

Seven inspected them. They were very short. “Yeah, you’re good.”

“Anything else?” Legoshi queried.

“We need to use a condom. You should learn how to have protected sex. However, just in case anything happens we also have another form of birth control.” Seven took his large hand and led it to his arm. “Feel that?”

“What is that?” Legoshi looked at her puzzled.

“It’s an implant that was put in my arm. It prevents pregnancy. I got one a while ago when I was with my ex and then even though I was single, I decided to get it again just in case.”

Legoshi took his hand away. “Uh, I do have condoms. I had bought some for when Haru and I were trying to have sex.”

“Okay, you should go get them.”

Legoshi obeyed and went to the drawer to get the condoms out. He pondered if there was anything else Seven might want him to get. He handed the condoms to her.

Seven examined them. She checked their expiration dates and gave a little huff of approval. “Okay, I think we’re all set.”

Legoshi looked at her.

“Now, let’s drink.” Seven took a drink and pushed it in Legoshi’s arms.

After a few drinks Legoshi did feel more relaxed. They kept the conversation light. At one point, Legoshi wasn’t even sure if they would actually have sex.

Eventually Seven changed the topic of conversation, “So, how much did you and Haru do?”

“Um, sexually?”

Seven shot him an exasperated look.

Legoshi realized his mistake. “Well, we made out, did some things above our pants, and one time she insisted on giving me a blowjob.” Legoshi blushed.

“Did you finish?”

Legoshi’s blush deepened to a scarlet red. “I did.”

“What did you do to her?” Seven asked.

“I tried fingering her, but my claws were a bit too much, we didn’t think of your idea of cutting them right before we started.”

“That would have been helpful.” Seven offered.

Legoshi nodded in agreement. “But, yeah, that’s about it.”

“That’s fine.” Seven reassured him. “We can start, but if anything makes you feel uncomfortable, please, let me know right away.”

“Okay.” Legoshi breathed. This was it. He was taking the first step to get Haru back.

Seven inched toward him. She took her small hands and placed them on the sides of Legoshi’s face.

Legoshi surprised himself when he closed the gap and kissed her. Their kiss was slow at first with closed mouths. It was rather chaste. Legoshi wasn’t sure what to do with his hands; he left them at his sides.

Seven continued to hold his face and then opened her mouth to invite Legoshi in. Legoshi was scared to kiss Haru with tongue. He felt his fangs might hurt her, but he knew he must overcome his fear. Their tongues touched and found a rhythm. Legoshi decided he should probably touch her and moved his hands up and down her arms.

Seven pulled away after a bit of making out. She smiled. “That wasn’t so bad, right?”

Legoshied nodded.

“Can I?” Seven gestured to Legoshi’s lap.

“Uh, sure.” Legoshi responded.

Seven climbed onto Legoshi’s lap and resumed kissing him. Her wool was soft and her body felt nice on top of his. Legoshi put his hands on her hips.

Unlike the first time when he tried to touch Haru’s breasts, Legoshi moved his hands slowly and gently to squeeze one of hers.

Seven left out a soft moan.

Legoshi’s tail straightened. “Was that okay?”

“It’s fine.” Seven murmured. She opened her mouth again to kiss him.

Legoshi kissed her back and went to touch her breasts again. They felt really good in his large hands. Legoshi groaned when he started to feel her grind herself against him in his lap while they kissed. He started to feel himself grow hard as she kissed him.

Seven reached between them to slip her hands under Legoshi’s sweats. He remained calm.

She touched his hard cock which made Legoshi shudder. She wrapped her hand around it and gave it a few pumps.

“You like that?” She breathed.

Legoshi gulped. “Yes.”

Seven continued to stroke his cock, when Legoshi interjected, “Do you want me to touch you?” It was only fair for him to return the favor.

“Sure.” Seven extrapolated herself from his lap and took her shirt and pants off. Legoshi looked in awe as she laid herself back on the mattress in only a bra and panties.

Legoshi crouched over her. She was breathing heavily. Her breasts moved up and down with each breath that she took. To an outsider, the situation didn’t look so different from when Legoshi first tried to eat her.

Legoshi learned forward and took in her scent. At school, sheep would always be ridiculed for their smell. It was known as “sheep stink.” Seven, however, smelled nothing like that. She smelled like lavender and vanilla. It was pleasant. She watched him curiously as he took in her scent.

“Take this off.” Legoshi rasped and moved his head to indicate that he meant her bra.

Seven obliged and flung the bra across his small apartment.

Her breasts were not too large and not too small. They were a perfect size. He learned forward and licked. He knew not to suck. He once tried to do that to Haru and he accidentally bit her which resulted in him having a full blown anxiety attack.

Seven didn’t protest at him licking her. He watched her nipples grow harder. She let out small noises of approval.

Legoshi moved his hand downward and experimentally rubbed his hands over her panties where her cunt was.

Seven gasped and Legoshi’s head immediately shot up. He wondered if he hurt her, but her look was one of pure bliss. He continued to rub his hand on the fabric where her sex was. Legoshi’s cock began to ache as he felt how wet she was through her underwear.

“Finger me.” She instructed.

Legoshi inspected his hands, worried that somehow he would still scratch her.

Seven noticed this. “Your claws are extremely short, you won’t hurt me.”

Legoshi trusted her. He slowly moved her underwear to the side so that he could touch her directly. He brushed his long fingers over her lips.

Seven’s breath hitched. She bit her lip and looked at him expectantly.

Legoshi slowly inserted his index finger inside her. She felt incredibly warm and wet. She clenched in approval around him.

“Wait.” As she was about to shimmy her panties off, Legoshi interrupted her.

“Let me.” He said and adeptly took her underwear off much to his own surprise.

Legoshi reentered his finger and moved. Once he found a rhythm he heard her say, “Add another.”

Could she handle two of his fingers? Legoshi carefully inserted his middle finger.

Seven breathed deeply as he inserted his second finger, but she didn’t seem to be in pain. Legoshi realized she was adjusting to being stretched further. Seven let out soft little moans as he continued to move his fingers inside of her, but then she tried to drag him down.

Legoshi quickly removed his fingers. His eyes widened in panic.

Seven laughed softly. She took his fingers and moved them back down. “Kiss me while you do it.” She whispered.

Legoshi leaned in to kiss her and dipped his fingers back inside. She whimpered in his mouth. Legoshi felt proud of himself.

As they continued to kiss, she started to buck her hips on his fingers. She let out little pants in his mouth.

Seven briefly broke the kiss, “Look where I touch myself.”

Legoshi looked down as she touched the small nub above her lips. “This is my clitoris.” She said as she made a small huff of pleasure as she began to rub it.

Legoshi was in a haze of arousal. The whole room smelled like them. The air was warm and wet and the sight of her pleasuring herself in front of him was indescribable.

“Can I try?” He blurted out.

“Of course,” Seven looked down at him as he experimentally moved his fingers in her and rubbed her clit.

Seven began bucking her hips even faster and whimpered. Legoshi picked up the pace and tried a come hither motion which was met with approval.

Legoshi was so hard. He was sure he might possibly come in his pants just from all of this.

As she continued to cry out, Legoshi heard her say, “Need you inside of me now.”

“You want me?’

“Yes, now stop asking stupid questions, and get the condom.”

Legoshi slowly removed his fingers. Seven let out a small sound of protest now that she was empty.

He then moved faster than he ever did in his life to pick up the condom. He shimmied out of his sweats. His cock sprung free.

Seven sat up and went to take his shirt off. “I want to feel all of you against me.”

Once he was shirtless, Seven looked between him and the condom. “I can help you put it on.”

Legoshi didn’t protest. He opened the wrapper carefully.

“Give me it, I’ll put it on you.” She said impatiently.

Legoshi’s mouth went dry as Seven palmed his cock. She shot him a mischievous grin and slowly rolled the entire condom his length.

It was tight and he could see why guys preferred to not wear one, but being safe was paramount.

Seven laid back down on the mattress. “You’re going to have to go slow.” She wrapped her his waist.

Legoshi moved back on top of her and put the head of his cock at her entrance.

Seven braced herself as he slowly entered her. She hissed in pain.

“Are you okay?” Legoshi cried out.

“Yes, it always hurts a little bit and I’ve never been with anyone as big as you.”

Legoshi was surprised at how good that made him feel. He continued to slowly push through. She was so incredibly warm and tight around her. He exhaled in pleasure from how good she felt around him.

Once he was inside of her, she said, “Start moving.”

Legoshi started moving a bit, but didn’t want to move too much to hurt her. His thrusts were slow and not too deep. She seemed to like it though as she let out little pants of pleasure.

“Faster.” She commanded.

Legoshi obliged. Her wish was his command at this moment. He picked up the pace. The feeling of her around him, the tightness, the wetness, made him forget everything else. It was an experience like no other. He lost himself in it which resulted in him thrusting a little too deep.

“Too deep!” She exclaimed.

“Sorry!” Legoshi made sure not to do that again.

As he moved above her drunk off his own pleasure, he saw her move her hand back to her clit. She rubbed while he thrust.

Legoshi didn’t know if he would last much longer. It was all too much. The feeling of her and the sight of her. He surprised himself by leaning in to kiss her.

She kissed him back quickly and let out soft cries. “You feel so fucking good, Legoshi.”

“So do you,” was all Legoshi could grunt out.

His thrusts became erratic. He was losing control. He wished he could last longer. “I don’t think I can last any longer.” He rasped.

“It’s okay she breathed.” She ran her nails down the scars on his back.

Legoshi thrusted in her a few more times before he felt himself come. He wanted to just lay on top of her, but he kept himself upright. He didn’t want to crush her.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. He should have let her come too.

“It’s okay.” She breathed out looking at him wide eyed. They had never seen each other undone like this. “I didn’t expect you to make a girl come during your first time.”

Legoshi slipped out of her gently. He made sure to dispose of the condom. She was sitting up now, but was still fully naked. He looked at her nervously.

“You lasted way longer than when my ex and I lost our virginities to each other at university. Only two minutes.” Seven shook her head and laughed.

Legoshi still didn’t know what to say.

Seven put her hand on his shoulder. “Quit worrying. You were good.”

Legoshi felt slightly relieved, but needed more practice. He had to learn more things. “Do you think we could do it again another time? I feel I have more to learn.” He would completely understand if she felt doing it again would be crossing a line.

Seven moved her hand to his jaw and turned him to face her. “If you performed like that on your first time, I would be more than happy to teach you more. “

And that’s how their friends with benefits arrangement truly started.

Chapter Text

The looks Seven got at work were downright hilarious. Her carnivore coworkers gawked at her on Monday. They could smell that she had spent the entire weekend with a carnivore in close proximity.

While their looks may have been amusing, Seven’s feelings about them were complicated. Partially, Seven was disgusted that they could smell that she had been with Legoshi as that was none of their business. On the other hand, she liked the fact that they could see that she was desirable to a carnivore and not just an emotional support animal.

However, she loathed the fact that she had to get respect and power though a male carnivore. This was the same reason why she got angry with Legoshi when he spoke to her coworkers at the shoe store. They only agreed to not call her the idiotic nicknames anymore because of him. Although he didn’t do anything on purpose it was the idea that she needed a teenage carnivore to help her earn respect.

Regardless, Seven got through her day. She felt a bit more positive than she normally did. For once, she was back to work without spending a weekend alone. She did feel sore, though. Legoshi was a larger animal than her and admittedly above average.

She couldn’t blame Legoshi for her soreness. Seven was the one who initiated each of their sessions and he was a willing participant. Seven could not help but admire his dedication to total consent. It should be a basic thing men did, but sadly it was not. She never had sex with anyone who let her run the show. He never wanted her to feel like he was the one making her have sex. The bar was low, Seven thought.

They hadn’t discussed what their set up would be. During their last encounter, Seven pondered if that would be their last ever round. After all, she didn’t know when his ex-girlfriend would contact him and she didn’t want to ruin their friendship. Things would be awkward if they were having tons of sex and Legoshi suddenly got back with his ex. They would have to pretend that nothing happened. Seven also craved the feeling of being with Legoshi again. The sex and company were good.

Once she got home from work, she needed to sleep uninterrupted. Mondays at work were always the worst and being sore didn’t help matters. Seven skipped dinner and even her nightly routine. Her wool oil was left untouched. She knocked out.

The next morning Seven checked her phone and didn’t see any notification from Legoshi. She debated if she should contact him. What would she say, though? She opened up their message thread and typed out several messages. Thanks for the great sex. Do you want to hang out again like we used to? Let’s get drinks after work. No, none of those were good, she decided.

She decided to go about her day and delay dealing with Legoshi until after work. While on her subway commute, she felt the sinking feeling creeping in again. Mundaneness. Work. Not being taken seriously. Eating. Sleeping. Loneliness. It was better than the alternative of being a housewife or working at a job that didn’t interest her, but her life still wasn’t fulfilling enough.

Her mother’s voice rang in her ears while she worked. Your life will be too lonely. How will you work with so many carnivores? There’s plenty of nice sheep to meet and marry.

Seven was struggling. She wanted more than anything to feel fulfilled in her life, but it seemed like an impossible feat. While she sat at her desk at work. Her phone pinged with a reminder. THERAPY AT 6 PM.

“Shit.” She muttered under her breath. Tuesdays after work was when she had her weekly therapy session. Therapy was supposed to be helpful. Her sessions were actually a requirement by her psychiatrist who prescribed her antidepressants. She felt her therapy sessions left her feeling more depressed. Seven hated rehashing the thoughts she dealt with on a daily basis with a stranger.

Her therapist was a female sheep psychologist, which was quite rare. Sheep did not tend to become therapists. However, her psychiatrist recommended her. He said Seven needed someone who she could relate to. It wasn’t a bad idea, but Seven found her therapist to be so clinical. She tried to quit, but her psychiatrist basically barred her from it since the treatment plan included medication and talk therapy.

Seven always showed up a few minutes late to her session. Her therapist always ended each session on time, like clockwork. By showing up a few minutes late, she got to shorten the session a bit, but still have it counted as a fulltime session for her treatment plan.

The medication she took was more helpful than her therapist. Despite, the depression still being there, she didn’t feel suicidal anymore. There was a malaise, but it was manageable.

When she exited the subway station to get to her therapist’s office, she tried to mentally prepare what she should speak about. She would say she was seeing someone for sex only, but not Legoshi. It was probably not the best idea to say that she was having sex with her friend who was a decade younger than her.

She was so caught up in her head that she bumped right into someone and their books fell to the ground.

A female gray wolf. How ironic. “I’m sorry!” Seven waited to be disparaged for not paying attention.

“Hey, it’s fine, no worries!” The female wolf bent down to pick up her belongings

“Let me help you with that.” Seven replied and assisted her.

Seven studied her. She had beautiful blue eyes and looked very kind. Her calm tone and general kindness towards Seven made her feel so validated. She hated this. Why did a carnivore have to make her feel validated?

“Thank you!” The she-wolf replied and got back up.

“Have a nice day.” Seven said as she slowly walked away towards her therapist’s office.

Once she made her way to the office waiting room, she signed in. The receptionist, a bored looking parrot, informed Seven that her therapist was already waiting for her.

Seven quickly made her way to the therapy room and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Her therapist called out.

“Hi, Dr. Hitsuji.” Seven seated herself in her usual spot in the office.

“Hello, Seven.” Dr. Hitsuji glanced at her phone to check the time and adjusted her glasses.

Her lock screen was always a photo of her family. A husband and two kids. All sheep. The photo changed from time to time, but it was always the same cookie cutter family life photo. It irritated Seven. There was nothing wrong per se with what was in the picture, but it was the fact that she, despite being a therapist who was supposed to understand Seven, also gave in to the societal expectations of female sheep.

“Is there anything you’d like to discuss?” Dr. Hitsuji looked at her with an expressionless face.

Seven thought about it for a moment. She could go into the routine conversation of how she only felt good about herself when a carnivore was kind to her or complimented her, but they had this conversation already countless times.

She decided to shake it up. “I’m sleeping with someone, er, well I slept with someone.”

Dr. Hitsuji nodded with a blank expression. “Are you happy about that?”

Seven considered the question. She was happy about it. “I enjoyed it.”

“That’s good. I know lack of interest in sex was one of the side effects you were experiencing from the medication you’re taking. I’m glad to hear that perhaps the side effect is subsiding.”

Seven nodded unsure of how to continue.

“Will you see this person again?” Dr. Hitsuji inquired.

“Well, I’ll see them again, but I don’t know if we'll sleep with each other again.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He’s… a friend.”

Dr. Hitsuji continued to have a stone cold expression. “Does that complicate things?”

“It might.”

“Is he a new friend?”

Ugh. Seven did not want to say it was Legoshi because she knew Dr. Hitsuji would have a field day with that. “No.”

“Is it the gray wolf Legoshi you mentioned?”

Fuck. “Um, yes.”

Dr. Hitsuji quietly nodded again. There was a long pause, but after Seven did not offer anything else, she said, “You seemed fond of him in our previous sessions and your friendship has had a positive impact on your life.”

Seven was confused. She was not expecting that reaction from her therapist. “Wait, so you don’t think that this is part of my need for validation from carnivores?”

Dr. Hitsuji adjusted her glasses. “At first it seemed that way when you decided to form a friendship with a carnivore who almost devoured you. However, now I see that you have genuinely bonded with this individual and he seems to have your best interest at heart.”

Seven was surprised. “Wow, you got all that from me telling you a little bit about hanging out with him?”

“Your mood when speaking about him has shown that you truly enjoy his company and that he looks out for your wellbeing.”

Dr. Hitsuji was always so formal, but Seven couldn’t argue with what she just said.

“He’s a good guy, just a little weird, though.”

“You have mentioned that he goes out of his way to protect herbivores and that he has tried to protect you even when you didn’t want it. These are positive attributes. Are you referring to something else when you say he is weird?” Her usage of the word weird sounded out of place for Seven. She was not used to her therapist using colloquial terms.

Seven tried to decide how to define Legoshi’s peculiarities. She thought of his scars and his devouring record. She conveniently left those two pieces of information out during all of her previous sessions with Dr. Hitsuji. Seven decided to speak about his general awkwardness.

“He’s very socially awkward. He pauses for long periods of time. It seems that he’s thinking about what he’s going to say. He worries about everything he does or says. He's kind of clumsy. He's very young.”

“Maybe he wants to ensure that he’s not scaring you at all since he is a large carnivore.” Dr. Hitsuji offered in response.

Seven pondered this. It was a likely explanation. “It’s definitely possible. He’s very naive. He thinks he can make the world a better place for herbivores.”

“Well, one person can make a difference in any social cause they commit themselves to. The difference doesn’t have to be large.”

Seven refrained from rolling her eyes. Dr. Hitsuji sounded just as naive as Legoshi.

After Seven did not respond, Dr. Hitsuji inquired, “Do you want to speak to Legoshi about maintaining your friendship?”

She thought she probably should do this since she was the one who suggested that they sleep together in the first place and it had become a weekend long event. Seven sighed. “That would probably be a good idea.”

“Are you afraid he wants something more than friendship?”

Hah. Absolutely not. Seven shook her head. “No, not at all.”

Dr. Hitsuji looked at her curiously.

“Him and his girlfriend are spending some time apart, so he can have some experiences with other people.” She really didn’t want to get into the specifics.

“Oh. Did he approach you to be one of these people?”

Seven really loathed how her therapist got when she was trying to get to the bottom of a crazy situation Seven got herself into. “Not really.”

Dr. Hitsuji did not press her any further, “It would be much better for your relationship with him if you could discuss what happened and decide how the two of you would like to proceed.”

Seven nodded in agreement, but really had no idea how the hell she would go about it. “I’ll do that.”

When she offered nothing else, the therapy session continued without any mentions of Legoshi. Seven discussed her mood fluctuations and how she was handling situations with her coworkers.

When the session ended, Seven still didn’t want to go home because that would mean she would have to deal with the Legoshi situation and she just wasn’t in the mood.

Seven was so used to eating dinner alone in her apartment, but she wanted to do something different. She decided to treat herself and eat in a restaurant. In the past, she would have never done such a thing. She would have felt affected by all the others looking at her, judging her for eating alone. Right now, she really couldn’t give a damn.

Her noodles and drink were delicious. She scrolled through short videos on social media and read some news articles. It felt good to not eat alone in her apartment. Truthfully, she tuned out everyone besides her server. She would not let others get to her.

Before heading back on the subway to her apartment building, she stopped at a pharmacy. She was low on toothpaste. After getting her toothpaste, she walked around the store to kill a bit more time.

As Seven walked around, she found herself in the Personal Intimacy aisle. She considered if she should buy condoms just in case she did sleep with Legoshi again. It would be a nice gesture since he supplied all the condoms previously. She definitely did want to have sex again with him, even though it really wasn’t a good idea.

Seven eyed the condoms. Luckily, no one else was in the aisle.They didn’t seem to have the right size in stock and there was not a chance in hell that she was going to ask a sales associate about it. Then her eyes fell to lubricants. Lube was also good to have. Although, she was fine to have sex with the lubrication that came from the condoms they used over the weekend. Seven argued to herself that she might need more another time if she had sex with someone else. That’s why she needed it. Not because she was considering having sex with him without a condom.

Seven wound up buying the toothpaste and the lube.

As Seven made her way back home, she thought of a million different ways she could approach Legoshi. She took into account that their last interaction consisted of her awkwardly saying bye and thanks for a fun weekend while Legoshi gave her a bewildered look.

When she reached the block of their apartment, she saw a large lizard talking with Legoshi. There really wasn’t anywhere to hide. She hoped Legoshi didn’t see her because she wasn’t ready to talk to him yet.

Curiosity did get the best of her, though. Seven walked a little closer to try to figure out who he was talking to and why. She realized he was speaking with a komodo dragon.

Seven realized she never properly met a komodo dragon before. As it looked like the two were about to say goodbye and she would possibly avoid Legoshi seeing her, he caught her eye.

Shit. Wolves really did have great vision. Legoshi noticeably looked a bit surprised and nervous. His body went straight like a rod. Before he could even say anything, the komodo dragon he was speaking to followed his line of vision and his gaze landed right on Seven.

It didn’t make sense to just stand where she was at this point, so Seven made her way to the front of the building.

“Oh, who is this young lady?” The komodo dragon asked. Seven noticed immediately from his voice and usage of the phrase young lady that he was an older man.

Legoshi rubbed his hand behind his ears. His tail was not moving. “That’s my neighbor, Miss Seven. Remember? I told you about her.”

Seven awkwardly smiled at the komodo dragon.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He didn’t offer his hand which made sense since most komodo dragons generally avoided physical contact with members of other species.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.” Seven replied, trying to sound as normal as possible.

“Aren’t you going to properly introduce me?” The komodo dragon nudged Legoshi.

Legoshi’s eyes went wide as if he forgot something so important. “Oh, right, of course! Miss Seven, this is my grandfather, Gosha”

Seven’s focus on Legoshi’s use of the title miss in front of her name shifted in a nanosecond once he said grandfather. She least expected that. Perhaps, his grandmother had gotten remarried and he was who he knew as a grandfather.

Seven tried to hide the shock on her face, but it was too late. She quickly followed up with, “Oh, that’s nice your grandfather is visiting you.”

“Well, unfortunately, I do have to start heading out now.” He looked at Legoshi and then added, “I hope you have a wonderful evening, Miss Seven.”

Seven nodded and thanked him.

Gosha gave Legoshi a hug goodbye. It seemed like he was holding back a bit, so he wouldn’t embarrass Legoshi infront of her.

“It was good to see you, grandpa.” Legoshi said and awkwardly patted his grandfather’s back as he hugged him.

“I’ll be in touch.” His grandfather waved and made his way down the street.

Legoshi and Seven stood in silence until his grandfather was out of view.

Once he was gone. They both start to speak at the same time.

Seven laughed. “Well, that was awkward.”

Legoshi looked down. “Uh, yeah.”

Seven decided that she would have to seize this moment and speak with him. “Let’s head upstairs together?” She offered.

“Sure.”

They first began ascending the stairs in silence. Seven noticed that Legoshi was deep in thought which was usual for him, but she couldn’t judge him because she was also trying to figure out how to start.

Suddenly, Legoshi blurted out, “I know you’re probably wondering how that was my grandpa.”

“It did cross my mind, but you only have to share if you want to.”

They reached their floor and headed towards their apartments. Once they reached their doors, Seven asked, “Want to come inside for a bit to continue our conversation?”

Legoshi nodded.

Seven used her keys to open her door and they entered. She thought to offer Legoshi a seat in the chair she had in her room, but he would not be able to fit in that chair. “You can take a seat on my bed. I’ll sit in the chair.”

Legoshi went to sit on her bed. It made a noticeable creak as it was not used to supporting an animal as large as Legoshi. Seven went to sit in the chair.

Legoshi looked down at his hands. “My mom was a hybrid. She was half wolf and half komodo dragon. A very rare hybrid mix.”

“That must have been hard.”

“It was.” A deep sadness washed over Legoshi’s face. “She, um, committed suicide.”

Seven sighed. “I’m sorry. When someone close to you commits suicide, it’s very painful.”

Legoshi remained silent still focusing his attention on his lap where his hands were “It was the second suicide of a close family member for my grandpa. My grandmother killed herself when my mom was a baby.”

“Fuck.” Seven breathed out. She then quickly covered her mouth with her hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that.”

Legoshi shrugged. “It’s okay. It is kind of crazy.”

Seven didn’t mean to pry, but she couldn’t help herself, “What about your dad?”

Legoshi looked at her somberly. “I don’t have one. Never did. He was just a one night stand for my mom. She purposefully wanted to have a child who was mostly a wolf. She didn’t raise me either due to her depression. My grandpa did.”

Seven empathized with Legoshi. “I know I can’t make you feel better, but I can relate. My family is fucked up as well.”

Legoshi left out a small laugh. “Really?”

“Yup. My parents had me at a much older age. They actually didn’t think they could have kids. They went for fertility treatments as well. Finally, one day my mom got pregnant with me.” Seven traced her finger along the ridges of her chair.

“They must have been really happy.” Legoshi offered.

“They were, but I’m a disappointment.”

Legoshi looked genuinely upset that she would degrade herself like that. “Don’t say that about yourself.”

“For a sheep, I am. I went into the sportswear world which is dominated by male carnivores. I didn’t show an interest in getting married. I suffer from depression. I broke my mom’s heart when I pursued my career.” Seven accepted this fact a long time ago.

“Has she accepted it now?” Legoshi inquired.

“She’s dead. She passed away from cancer some years ago. Everything was a lot for my dad. He also got sick and he lives in a nursing home. He has dementia and barely remembers or recognizes me.”

Legoshi gave her a look that was so sympathetic that she wished she had not told him. “That does sound rough. I’m sorry for the loss of your mom. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have your dad like that.”

Seven shrugged. “Thanks, but the point is, don’t feel bad. We all have some kind of fucked upness in our family.”

Legoshi didn’t seem convinced, but he replied, “I guess so.”

“Your grandpa seems like a nice guy.” Seven offered.

“He is, but I feel like he could have helped my mom more with her mental health struggles.” Legoshi looked away.

Seven got up from her chair and walked over to Legoshi.

He seemed slightly startled by her movement.

Seven took his hands in her own. “All parents and grandparents that ever existed fuck up in some way. Hell, if I was a parent I’d be far from a perfect mother. I’m not excusing however he handled the situation, but life is hard. Don’t think you’re alone with this.”

Legoshi looked at her and much to her surprise, he leaned in to kiss her.

Seven didn’t reject the kiss. So much for trying to talk to Legoshi. She kissed him back.

The kiss was deep and slow. After lots of practice over the weekend, their kisses were less awkward. They knew how to angle themselves and Legoshi seemed to find a technique so Seven would not get hurt at all.

Seven found herself climbing onto Legoshi’s lap, straddling his hips.

Legoshi didn’t stop her, but as they were kissing, he paused and looked into her eyes. “I don’t want to think about anything right now.”

“Neither do I.” Seven whispered back.

Legoshi took that as confirmation to continue. Before she knew it, he flipped her from his lap to underneath him.

Seven pushed her knee between his legs. He was very hard. “Someone’s in the mood.” She teased.

Legoshi looked away and a blush creeped up on his cheeks, “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

Seven laughed. “You’re a young guy who just started having sex. It’s normal.” She kept her knee there though.

He didn’t tell her to move. “I just wish I could have let go earlier.” Legoshi sighed.

Right. This was all about his ex-girlfriend Haru. Seven didn’t really want to think about that at all. Seven leaned up and grabbed him by the collar.

Legoshi’s eyes widened.

“I thought you didn’t want to think about anything.” Seven challenges.

“You’re right.” Legoshi replied and let Seven pull him towards her.

Seven relished in the fact that Legoshi let her handle him. It felt good. It was power she never knew before.

They continued to make out, but then Legoshi switched them so she was under him. It was a bit awkward at first due to the fact that Legoshi was so big and her bed clearly wasn’t made for someone of his size.

“Is this okay? This bed is really small for you.”

“It’s fine. Honestly, most things are too small for a carnivore my size.”

Seven wrapped her legs around Legoshi to draw him closer. “I know, but luckily you fit just right.” She said with a sly smile.

It took Legoshi an extra few seconds to understand what she meant. “Oh, right.”

Seven playfully rolled her eyes. “Just kiss me.”

Legoshi obliged. Seven really wanted him. She pushed all thoughts about what was going to happen with their friendship to the back of their mind. The warmth of his body was all she needed.

Just as she was about to try to take Legoshi’s cock out of his pants, Legoshi surprised her and moved down to unbutton Seven’s pants.

He meticulously took off her trousers and placed them on the chair that she was sitting on earlier.

Seven watched him carefully place them over the chair. They were what Seven called her “work pants.” Professional looking, but also comfortable.

Legoshi returned to Seven on the bed. “I want to try something.” He breathed as he stared at her bare legs.

“What is it?” Seven asked anxiously.

Legoshi looked to the side, so he wouldn’t have to face her. His cheeks reddened a bit. “I want to eat you out.”

Seven wasn’t going to say no to that. “I won’t object to that.” She shimmied out of her panties.

Legoshi looked at them unsure of where to put them.

Seven bit back a smile at Legoshi’s diligence. “Just throw them on the floor. I really don’t care.”

Legoshi nodded and tossed them to the floor.

As he was about to crouch over her, Seven interjected, “Wait, you’re going to want to start up here and then move down.”

Legoshi raised an eyebrow.

Seven quickly unfastened the buttons on her shirt and threw the shirt on the floor. Her bra followed quickly after.

She was completely naked in front of him. The thought of being fully naked in front of a carnivore would have scared her just a short time ago, but now all she could think about was how excited she was to have him again.

Legoshi drank in the sight of her. “How should I start then?”

“Kiss me then move your way down.”

They both leaned in and started kissing for a while again. Legoshi palmed at her breasts. He let his finger run over nipple.

She let out a moan. It felt so good even though it slightly hurt because he hadn’t clipped his nails. He wasn’t going to be able to finger her, but that honestly didn’t bother Seven for tonight.

Legoshi bent down to lick her nipples which made them only grow harder.

“You like that?” He grunted.

The timbre of his voice made her shiver. “Yeah.” She breathed out.

Legoshi moved downwards, pressing soft kisses to her abdomen. He then stopped as he reached between her legs.

Seven purposefully lifted up her knees and parted her legs to give him full access. “Just be careful with your teeth like you are when we make out.”

“Okay.” Legoshi replied and moved his head closer between her legs. He experimentally licked her entrance from top to bottom which was not surprising to Seven since he was a canine after all.

Seven had to instruct him what to do to actually make her feel pleasure, but he followed each step. He was eager to learn. Due to the length of his tongue, Seven was able to enjoy herself without him even fingering her.

The ache started to build in her though. “I need more," she rasped.

“Like what?” He looked up from between her legs.

“You inside of me.”

Legoshi looked ashamed, “I didn’t think to buy anymore condoms. I didn’t know if or when we would have sex again.”

She wanted him so badly that she was willing to do something crazy.

“It’s okay. Do you trust me?” Seven locked eyes with Legoshi.

Legoshi looked confused trying to make out what she meant by that question, but then he slowly replied, “Uh, yeah, I do.”

Seven guided his hand to her arm. “Remember my implant?”

Legoshi gently brushed his fingers over it and nodded.

“I don’t have condoms either, but I am clean and this is extremely effective.”

“I don’t want to put you at any risk of becoming pregnant.”

“You won’t. I honestly used to have unprotected sex in a previous relationship often and I never got pregnant.”

“You’re sure?” Legoshi looked at her. The look was so serious as if they were about to do something with catastrophic consequences. He simultaneously looked old and young.

“I’m sure, but we’re going to need lube. You’re too big for me without any lube.”

“I don’t have any of that either.” Legoshi started to panic.

“Relax, I have some in my bag.” Seven pointed to her tote bag near the door.

Legoshi went to get it. He rummaged in the bag at first and then found it. He lifted a small plastic bottle up to show Seven. “This, right?”

“Mhm.”

Legoshi passed it to Seven and took off his shirt. Despite them pausing to discuss having unprotected sex, Legoshi was still really hard.

Seven looked down at his lap with a lustful gaze.

Legoshi followed her gaze to his crotch.

“Take it out.” Seven demanded. She was a little startled by how bossy she sounded.

Legoshi stripped off his pants and boxers in one fluid movement. His cock sprang free.

Seven reached out to stroke it which earned her a shudder from Legoshi. She admired its width and length. He grew harder in her palm and she grew wetter from the feeling of him in her hand. It was perfect which she accidentally said out loud.

“What?” Legoshi rasped.

“Nothing.” Seven was too embarrassed to repeat it. He wasn’t meant to hear it.

She reached for the bottle of lubricant. “It’s going to feel cold, but it will help you go inside of me.”

Legoshi nodded.

Seven opened the bottle and spread some along the length of his cock. She stroked him a bit more to help ensure that the lube was all over him. Legoshi shivered, but ultimately adjusted to the temperature.

She kissed him with an open mouth, sliding her tongue into his mouth, and pulled him towards her. “Rub it against my entrance.”

“Okay. Like this?” Legoshi took his hard cock and rubbed it from the top to the bottom of her lips.

Seven hadn’t experienced that in years and not with someone who had an appendage like Legoshi. “Yes.” She breathed out with a soft moan.

Legoshi did it a bit more and got a little cheeky with it, teasing her that he would enter. He seemed to be enjoying himself and was getting more turned on by the second.

“I really need you to just fuck me.”

“Uh, I can do that.” Legoshi said.

He stopped teasing and pressed the entrance of his cock into her folds.

The sudden fullness was overwhelming, but he felt so extremely good. She couldn’t wait to have him moving inside of her. She must have let out a pained sigh.

“Are you okay?” Legoshi asked, voice filled with concern.

Seven didn't want to delay this any longer. “Yes, just go.”

Legoshi entered, but was careful not to hit her cervix. He moved his hips slowly inside of her, but then quickened the pace.

The feeling of him raw inside of her was unmatched to anything she had ever felt before. It was euphoric. She found herself crying out in ecstasy.

“You feel so fucking good.” Legoshi grunted. Seven caught him looking down at his cock sliding in and out of her. He moved with a ferocity that was fascinating.

It felt really good for her too, but she wanted to try something else now that she had him raw inside of her. “I want to ride you.” Seven said.

Legoshi was so caught up in the pleasure, he didn’t catch what she said.

“I want to ride you, let’s switch.”

Legoshi rolled them over without slipping out of her. It was impressive. She laid on top of him, while they were still connected.

She gently propped herself up and pushed herself up and down on him.

Legoshi gripped her hips a little too tight, but Seven couldn’t complain when she was experiencing this level of pleasure.

She continued to move at a pace that she liked. She touched herself, so that she could reach her peak.

Shortly after she came, Legoshi dove into her fast while underneath and came abruptly. His pupils were larger than usual.

Seven rolled off him. She felt content. It scared her, but each time she was with Legoshi she could forget about her depression.

Legoshi and Seven panted in unison. “That was our best round yet.” Seven said and smiled at Legoshi.

“Uh, yeah, I think you’re right.” He had his usual dazed expression on his face, but he was breathless.

Once they composed themselves. Legoshi’s eyes widened in terror as he saw his cum running down her legs.

Seven hadn’t had unprotected sex like this since her college boyfriend almost a decade ago. She knew all she’d have to do is shower it off. Her implant kept her safe.

Legoshi suddenly started apologizing, His hands moved wildly. “I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t think it would be that much —”

Seven cut him off and rubbed his arm. “Legoshi, relax, please. I told you it was fine. This is normal for unprotected sex.”

“You don’t mind?” Legoshi blurted.

“No, is it kind of annoying to clean up? Sure. But if it’s going to feel that good, I’m honestly not going to complain.”

Legoshi seemed somewhat relieved.

“For now I’ll get a towel, so it doesn’t leak while I walk out to the bathroom.”

Legoshi jumped up. “I’ll get it for you!”

Seven rolled her eyes, “I’m not an invalid because we had raw sex, Legoshi.”

Legoshi’s tail straightened. He was always so apprehensive. “I didn’t mean that! I just wanted to help out. Since it’s technically my fault.”

Seven rubbed her hands over face. “God, Legoshi, you really do need to relax. Even after getting laid you’re all wired up. If you insist, though, please just get a towel from my bottom drawer.”

Legoshi obeyed her command and went to her bottom drawer to take out a towel.

While he got up to retrieve the towel, Seven studied his scars that were splayed across his back. He was so young to be marked so egregiously. Carnivores had more violent tendencies, but Seven knew this was not usual for someone who was just a university student. They looked so deep and painful. His scars were one of the first things she noticed about him when he tried to devour her.

When Legoshi went to hand her the towel, Seven was in a daze still contemplating his scars.

“Are you okay?”

Seven snapped out of it. “Yeah, thanks.” She took the towel and cleared off the cum streaming down her legs.

Legoshi sat next to her on the bed as she cleaned herself.

When she finished, Legoshi asked, “Do you want me to leave now, so that you can shower?”

“Not yet. I want to look at you.” Seven asked. Having such a strong orgasm really made her feel out of it.

“Huh?”

“I want to look at the scars on your back.”

Legoshi’s brows furrowed. “Why?”

Seven couldn’t give him an exact answer. “I don’t know. I just want to.”

Legoshi shrugged and sat down with his back facing her. She could tell he was a bit self conscious.

Seven gently took her finger and traced them; they were almost like stripes. She gently pressed into each indent in his fur. They covered most of his back. They had to have been incredibly painful. “Fascinating, almost like stripes.” She whispered. This was much more intimate than anything they had ever done before. He trusted her to touch him like this.

“That was the point of them.” Legoshi murmured.

Seven was caught off guard by his response. “I don’t understand.”

“My classmate from the drama club gave them to me during high school.”

“Why?”

“I attacked him during one of our school’s performances because I caught him drinking rabbit blood as some kind of performance enhancer.”

Oh right. That must have angered him because Haru was a rabbit. Maybe it was even her blood. Seven wondered if he was dating her then. “Was it your girlfriend's?”

“Uh, no, thankfully. I knew it was rabbit’s blood, though, because I knew the scent of hers.”

It was good that it wasn’t his girlfriend’s. “Oh. So, were the stripes a punishment from the classmate you attacked?”

“Uh, yeah, essenially. He said we would be equals now, both having stripes.”

Seven shook her head. She was still tracing his scars. Carnivores had weird customs. “That’s kind of fucked up.”

“I guess, but who was I to tell him not to drink rabbit’s blood?”

Seven figured he must have been referring to his devouring record.

“I’m not better than any other carnivore.” Legoshi said.

Seven’s hand stilled and waited for him to finish his thought.

Legoshi turned around so his back was no longer facing Seven. He hung his head and whispered painfully, “I almost devoured Haru when I first met her. Similar, but different to when I almost ate you.”

Seven put her hand underneath Legoshi’s jaw, so he could look at her. She knew he was better than any other carnivore. She worked all day with carnivores and never met anyone like him. “I can’t imagine how hard it is to have the urge to actually eat another person and have to fight that every day. What I do know is that there’s clearly so much more to you than that. You’re the only carnivore I have ever been able to get close to.”

Legoshi closed his eyes. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

“Of course, it’s the truth. You’re so young and you put so much responsibility on yourself.” Seven removed her hand from his jaw. She touched the scar above his eye and then touched the scar on his arm. “You have suffered a lot to do good things. Melon is in prison because of you. You have to stop being so hard on yourself.”

Legoshi looked away again. “If I stop being hard on myself then I’ll become lazy and I won’t continue to make the world a better place for herbivores.”

Seven laughed softly. “I don’t think there’s any universe in which you would become lazy and stop protecting others.”

Legoshi didn’t answer; he seemed to be reflecting on her words.

Seven got up to look for her robe. “Do you want to shower with me?” It was risky because the bathroom was communal after all, but she could care less right now. She offered her hand to him.

“Sure.” Legoshi answered and took her hand.

Chapter Text

They never really did talk about it and just continued doing what felt good. Instead of just drinks and food after work, like they did in the past, there was also sex. They went back to using condoms, well, most of the time.

Legoshi was getting better at learning how to please Seven and Seven found herself eager to please him.

One night after drinks, in the communal bathroom of their building, Seven went down on Legoshi and gave him what she thought might have been the best blowjob of her life. She had never seen Legoshi, or any other guy she’d been with before, come undone like that.

After swallowing his cum, she looked up to find him gripping the walls of the bathroom, sweat falling from his brow, and his teeth clenched.

She felt powerful. It amazed her that a small Merino sheep like herself could make a large wolf- komodo dragon hybrid come undone. She decided to play coy which was unusual for her. She swiped cum off the side of her mouth and looked up at him through her lashes with a smirk, “I guess you enjoyed that?”

Legoshi gave her a nervous smile. She rendered him completely speechless.

Typically, when Seven faced bullshit at work, she would drink in solitude and stare at her contact list. She’d scroll through the names of old friends, contemplating if she made the right choice to move on from her past life.

Now when she had a bad day at work and Legoshi had the day off, it suddenly wasn’t much of a bad day anymore.

She surprised herself and Legoshi, when she entered his apartment without a word and began taking her clothes off.

Legoshi was startled by her entrance. He was reading a book about different insects. As she continued to strip, he looked at her with a raised brow, utterly confused by her bold entrance.

Seven just paused and looked back at him, “You’re really not in the mood?”

Legoshi’s eyes widened. He started babbling responses like, “Uh, no, of course not. I was just y’know —”

Seven rolled her eyes, “Legoshi, just be quiet and take your clothes off.”

Before she could even count to 10, Legoshi was naked and positioned her under him.

Seven could take all the credit for building his sexual confidence. Legoshi was multifaceted and fascinated Seven. Despite having a menacing appearance to those who did not know him, he was a quiet guy, obsessed with bugs. He had fighting skills and physical strength that a female herbivore like Seven would never possess yet at the same time he struggled to carry out simple conversations due to social anxiety. In the bedroom, he was becoming fierce and losing his self consciousness.

Seven coaxed a leg around Legoshi’s hip to bring him deeper inside of her as he thrusted steadily in and out. It felt so good. “You’re more sure of yourself now,” Seven breathed.

“I know what you like now.” He managed to get out. He hung his head deep in concentration as he fucked her.

“Uh huh.”

When she wanted Legoshi to go fast and help her forget everything, he just knew. He understood her in a way that her past sexual partners never did before.

Legoshi’s thrusts were deep and fast. He gripped her hips as he moved inside of her.

Seven cried out in ecstasy.

“I know you like this.” He growled.

“I really do.” She moaned out in response.

Sometimes even during moments like this, when he was fucking her hard and deep, she wondered if he was picturing his ex-girlfriend. Thankfully, he never accidentally said her name. Seven’s not sure what she would do if that happened. Sadly, because the sex was so good, she would probably let it slide. She didn’t want to know what Dr. Hitsuji would think of that.

“You’re so tight tonight, are you okay?” Legoshi asked. His eyes were clenched shut.

Seven was flexing herself around him the best she could. She knew that there was no competition because he hadn’t been inside anyone else before, but because he might have been thinking about Haru, she decided she needed to give him a really memorable round. His ex would certainly be really tight, so when he fucked her in the future, she hoped he would remember Seven.

“Yes,” she reassured him and bit back a smile of satisfaction without him seeing.

“Fuck. I think I’m going to come soon.”

Seven nodded and slid her hands between their bodies, so she could touch her clit.

Legoshi took her hand and stopped her.

“What?” Seven asked as he held onto her hand.

“Let me do it. I want to make you come,” Legoshi said in a deep voice.

The timbre of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. Seven noticed his voice got even deeper and huskier when they fucked.

Seven just nodded.

Legoshi fucked into her hard and rubbed her clit in maddening circles.

They both quickly reached their peak.

Seven caught her breath. When she looked over at Legoshi laying next to her wide eyed. His fur was pointing in different directions. She burst out laughing.

Legoshi looked back at her and blushed. He didn’t ask her what was wrong.

“You know you’re going to think sex is actually like porn,” Seven said and shook her head.

Legoshi looked back at her with a quizzical expression.

“Because we've been able to come at the same time, the last few times we’ve had sex.” Seven explained like it was a no brainer.

“Uh, would you believe me if I told you I actually didn’t watch much porn?” Legoshi asked without making eye contact with her.

“I think if you told me closer to when I first met you, I’d have said you were full of shit, but now that I know you, I can’t say I’m surprised.”

Legoshi furrowed his brows. He seemed to be trying to formulate a response. This was something he did often. Legoshi needed time to figure out how to talk to people.

Seven rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to think so hard about your response, Legoshi. We can just move on.”

“I just… I feel like there is something really wrong with me.”

Seven started to wonder why their post-sex conversations had to be so deep. Most people made some small talk, ate some food, drank to get some electrolytes, or got ready for the next round. For her and Legoshi, their pillow talk was about trauma.

“Legoshi, I’ve told you this before, we all suffer from some type of mental illness to a certain extent.” She tried to reassure him. She hated how she had to mother him sometimes, especially when she didn’t have a second to process the sex they just had.

“Yeah, but for me, it’s like,” he paused and took a deep breath, still trying to figure out what he wanted to say. “Why am I sexually attracted to female herbivores who I tried…. to eat?” He sounded so defeated.

Seven really didn’t want to think too hard about that because she could ask the same thing. Why was she attracted to a carnivore ten years her junior, with no social skills, and who tried to eat her?

“I remember after I snapped out of trying to eat you, when we were talking, I, uh, thought you were cute.” Legoshi confessed. After a brief pause, he continued, “I felt bad because I had a girlfriend.”

He really was so innocent in many ways. “Legoshi, it’s normal to still find other people attractive when you have a significant other.”

Legoshi looked back at her with a pained expression.

“Don’t you realize there’s something wrong with me then too? Why am I having sex with a wolf who tried to eat me and lived life as a vigilante at one point?” She looked down at the bullet hole scar near his hip.

Legoshi saw where her eyes fell and quickly went to cover the scar. That was the one mark he was most self conscious about. He wouldn’t let her touch it.

“But you’ve also been with other herbivores and dated someone from your own species. You haven’t exclusively been with people who tried to eat you.”

He did have a point. Legoshi was strange; there was no denying it. However, Seven was sure that there were male carnivores who had the same fetish and who were probably out there doing much worse things.

“Okay, you have a fetish, so do millions of other animals in the world. Maybe I have a fetish and so did your ex-girlfriend.”

Legoshi’s brows furrowed, “Haru doesn’t have a fetish.”

It probably wasn’t a good idea to bring her up.

He continued, “I’m the only carnivore she ever dated.”

Interesting, and not what Seven had expected. She found herself more often than not thinking about what Haru and Legoshi’s relationship dynamic was like. Due to her apartment being right next door to Legoshi's, she had seen Haru several times and heard her voice. There were times when they would be super affectionate and spoke to each other in cutesy voices. It pissed Seven off. She had just wanted to relax in silence in her room.

“Okay, so maybe for her it’s not a fetish,” Seven said, only to make Legoshi feel better. She continued, “You’re not out here assaulting women and eating them. There are nuances, Legoshi.”

“I just wish I could have had sex with her the way I am able to have sex with you. Without freaking out.” Legoshi covered his face with his large hands and sighed.

The words stung her. They shouldn’t have and it surprised her. All of this was going on for way longer than it should have. She knew the moment Haru got in touch with Legoshi to take him back, that he would be running back to her. Why did she care that he wanted to have sex with Haru the way he had sex with her? It really didn’t matter. This was a temporary situation.

It probably would have been for the best, regardless of Seven’s feelings, if he didn’t say it at all, but Legoshi didn’t have the best understanding of social cues.

She looked at him and she couldn’t help, but notice that he was really cute. His fur was soft. The bewildered look that he always had grew on her. His small pupils revealed his Komodo dragon heritage, although Seven would have never noticed that before. Now that he told her about his heritage, it was evident to her in his eyes. The way he smiled awkwardly, in a rehearsed way to act socially acceptable, was endearing.

This was bad. Really bad.

Legoshi had no idea that she was looking at him. After being deep in thought about his dilemma with Haru, he removed his hands from his face. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” She needed to focus her attention on something else. “Want to watch a movie in my room?”

“Sure.”

Seven was 30 years old. She knew better. She couldn’t stop replaying his words about wishing he could have sex with Haru, the way he has sex with her.

It was stupid, idiotic even. This was exactly what she signed up for. Her job was to help Legoshi gain the courage to have sex with Haru. Instead, she was becoming selfish. Deep down, she started to feel that their sex should be special for them even though they were not in a relationship nor were they ever going to pursue one.

Seven felt she needed to understand this rabbit girl more. It was a nonsensical feeling. If anyone asked her, she would say she was looking out for her friend, since she never properly got to know Haru. Who would even be asking her about this, though? Dr. Hitsuji, sure as hell, wouldn’t buy that explanation.

Seven knew that Legoshi had an Anigram account, but that he didn’t like to use social media. When she met him, he didn’t even have a phone. Seven took a break from social media at the behest of her therapist. She would get extremely upset from looking at photos of old friends or classmates for a variety of reasons. Sometimes she’d get a bad case of FOMO, or just a general feeling of disconnection with others.

Dr. Hitsuji didn’t think Seven should quit social media forever, but suggested that she should take a break. If she decided to go back, Dr. Hitsuji advised to curate it in a way, so that she did not see people who upset her. She also suggested setting timers and perhaps using it as a tool to legitimately connect with others since forging friendships as an adult was difficult. It was even harder for Seven because of her specific job and coworkers.

Seven reactivated her Anigram account, but not for the reasons that her therapist suggested. She went to the search tab. Legoshi wasn’t the most popular name. She was sure she could find him.

The first few results were not Legoshi, but the fourth one was unmistakably him. The profile picture was a beetle which made sense due to his bug fixation. He only had 8 followers and was following around 15 people. He had one post. It was a selfie from the year before with his ex-girlfriend, Haru.

His arm was holding up the phone to angle the camera towards them and she was smiling while holding up a peace sign. She was just as cute as Seven remembered.

Seven went back to his profile. His followers consisted of what appeared to be school friends and Haru.

Seven tapped onto Haru’s profile. It was surprisingly public. She supposed the younger generation was a bit less concerned with privacy. Perhaps they felt in this digital age there was no point of even trying to feign privacy.

Her profile contained a plethora of plant photos. It seemed that she liked to showcase pants she was growing and caring for. Seven really didn’t know the first thing about plants. She carefully tapped some of her pictures making sure not to like any of them. Haru added the names of the plants she was tending to under each photo. Seven didn’t understand the appeal as she never took any interest in botany.

Seven then tapped on a photo of a beautiful lush garden. There were tulips growing eagerly from the ground. Large trees in the background. A small house that looked like some kind of visitor’s center with vines growing over it. Everything was green except for the pink visitor’s center and the flowers. When she scrolled down to read the caption, it said, “The perfect date 🥰”

Seven sighed. She must have gone there with Legoshi. She could imagine Haru talking his ear off about the plants growing in this specific garden and Legoshi listening with the utmost interest.

She tapped on another post, which had more than one photo. The first picture was of what looked like a winding road with leaves falling from the trees. A large stone building was in the corner. It must have been Haru’s university campus. She swiped to see the next photo and it was clearly Legoshi walking in front of her on the path. She swiped again to see another picture of Legoshi looking back at the person behind the camera. He looked serious, but there was a hint of mirth and affection in his eyes.

On another post of a sunflower, Seven zoomed in to see the bush of Legoshi’s tail in the corner of the shot. She chuckled to herself.

Seven wasn’t even sure what she exactly was looking for. Was she trying to understand Haru better? Was she trying to understand her relationship with Legoshi? Looking at someone’s social media to better understand them was a futile endeavor. Seven knew that social media accounts were specifically designed so that they offered virtually nothing real about an individual.

Seven couldn’t help but admire Haru. In a way she reminded her of herself. Haru was so passionate about her interest in plants that she was pursuing a career related to botany. Seven was just as enthusiastic about sportswear when she was Haru’s age.

She scrolled back up to the top of Haru’s Anigram profile. Seven saw she had a story and impulsively tapped on it. It was a picture of Haru in a bikini with some other rabbit girls posing at the beach. They had almost identical smiles. They were clearly thoroughly enjoying their summer break.

Seven almost immediately snapped out of it and closed the Anigram app. Haru would know she was looking at her profile. Maybe it would get back to Legoshi. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Seven tried to take a deep breath and think of what she could do to fix this situation. She paced, but realized the more she wasted time, the more likely it was for Haru to see that she saw the story. She decided to deactivate her account right away again. If there was no account, Haru would not be able to see her story.

After deactivating, she confirmed through Zoozle that Haru would not be able to see what she did.

Seven slumped against her door frame. She was way too old to be doing something like this. Her stomach churned. Haru had friends and a guy who thought she hung the moon and the stars. She was jealous of a 20 year old girl. It was pathetic.

Seven was 20 once too. She had a friend group and a boyfriend. Adult life became so lonely that her only friend was a 19 year old and she was creeping his 20 year old ex-girlfriend on social media. These were the moments when she wondered if everything she did was worth it. Should she have alienated everyone for the sake of not conforming? Did the younger generation have more of a shot at not being isolated if they decided not to conform?

She rubbed the heel of her hand over her eyes as she felt tears begin to well up.

It was time that she went back to her old hobbies. She needed something to stop her from thinking about her unhappiness. Seven used to enjoy cooking a lot. In fact, during the times when her depression subsided, she cooked a lot. Depression drained the energy from her. She always got out of bed and made it to work because of her passion for sportswear. Even depression could not stop her from doing a good job.

Seven had a beautiful kitchen in her previous apartment. She used to try all different recipes.

With her depression and the crappy kitchen in the new apartment complex, Seven lost her desire to cook. Now it was very rare for her to have the urge to cook a full fresh meal. She was relying on take out food and quick things to throw in the microwave. There were times when she skipped dinner all together.

When she saw the sign that the supermarket, not far from her office, was having a huge sale, she remembered the last time she cooked a really nice spread. She splurged and made some minestrone. It was summer now, so it wasn’t worth it to make minestrone.

A summer veggie pizza sounded good. She would use tomato, zucchini, eggplant, and mozzarella cheese.

Seven wanted to invite Legoshi. She wondered when he last had a home cooked meal. It really wasn’t her job to worry about something like that, but something welled up inside of her. She wanted to share meals with him. It seemed terribly domestic. She pushed the feeling down hoping it would disappear. She convinced herself that it was just a natural need to share a meal with another living being. Also, it wouldn’t be her cooking for him, if she asked him if he would like to help make the pizza.

Seven shot him a text asking if he wanted to make and eat some pizza in the communal kitchen with her.

He answered her back saying that because of the time he got out of work, he wouldn’t be able to help her make the pizza. He added that he felt bad if he just came to eat. Seven told him to come anyway. After all, she couldn’t finish the pizza by herself.

It was just going to be sharing a meal she made with a friend. Not making a meal specifically for a guy she was sleeping with.

The communal kitchen had a large oven. It wasn’t used often. The animals that lived in their building weren’t really known for cooking. Most of the residents were single men with questionable pasts.

Whoever did use it last did not clean it properly. Seven was a bit delayed in starting since she now had to clean the kitchen. Nonetheless, she took pleasure in the familiar feeling of dicing her ingredients, placing them each carefully on the pizza dough, and seeing what the pizza looked like before it was baked.

Seven’s mother was a good cook, but never really made dishes that were out of the ordinary. She cooked because it was something expected of her. It was a duty. Seven loved cooking as an art. She loved seeing what she could create and how it could bring forth pleasure. As for sharing it with Legoshi, what artist didn’t want to share their art?

Legoshi arrived at the communal kitchen while the pie was still in the oven.

“Uh, hi. Thanks for inviting me.” Legoshi said removing his ridiculous delivery boy cap. Seven thought it was so amusing seeing a juvenile cap on such a large animal.

“Sure, I haven’t cooked in a while. Let’s hope it comes out good.”

“If it’s anything like your minestrone, I’m sure it’ll be great.” Legoshi smiled.

He didn’t really know much about cooking or different cuisines. It made sense given he was raised by his grandfather.

They remained in awkward silence for a few beats and started to speak at the same time.

They both laughed. It was like a scene from a cheesy rom com.

“You go first,” Seven said.

Legoshi cleared his throat. “So, there’s a special beetle exhibit at the Natural History Museum. I haven’t gotten a chance to go.” He paused and scratched the back of his head.

Seven tried to follow where he was going with this. Was he asking her to go with him? Seven nodded to signal that he could continue.

“I want to go. The last day of the exhibit happens to be on Armistice Day.”

Oh right, that was this weekend. It was to celebrate the day that the war ended between carnivores and herbivores. The city usually celebrated with fireworks and people gathered to have dinner.

“I don’t celebrate Armistice Day.” Truthfully, she never gave a crap about it. She attended family barbecues as a child and then barbecues with friends, when she had them, but that was about it. Many years had passed since she celebrated it.

Legoshi’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t mean it as a way to celebrate Armistice Day!”

Seven raised her eyebrow.

“It’s just a day we both have off. I actually asked my friend Jack if he wanted to go, but he’s going to be away on vacation with his family. His girlfriend is actually going with them too, so it’s kind of a big deal.”

Seven cut straight to the point. “So, you want me to go with you to this exhibit?”

“Uh, yes?”

“You don’t sound too confident about that,” Seven replied.

“No, I mean I could see my Grandpa and go with him, but honestly I think I’d have much more fun with you.”

He wanted to go to a museum exhibit with her. They never really did anything else besides grab food, drinks, watch movies in their respective apartments, and have sex. Typical for friends with benefits. Although some friends with benefits even refrained from sharing meals together to avoid any kind of quasi-dating situation.

Armistice Day typically was boring for her. She didn’t like bugs, but Dr. Hitsuji did recommend going out of her comfort zone.

Legoshi looked at her expectedly as she mulled it over. Her phone alarm suddenly went off. “Oh, the pizza’s done!” Seven quickly put her mitts on, shut the oven off, opened the door, and kneeled down to the check on the pie.

It was done and it looked delicious.

“Do you need any help with taking it out?” Legoshi asked.

Seven rolled her eyes. Always trying to be a knight in shining armor. Maybe it worked for his girlfriend, but she could handle herself. “I’ve got it,” Seven replied. After all, she had been cooking for a long time.

She carefully took out the pan and set it on top of the stove. “It’s got to cool down first.” Seven explained to Legoshi.

He breathed in the aroma of the pizza. He closed his eyes and focused on the scent. Sense of smell was a canine specialty. He looked really cute as he seemed to analyze the aroma in his head. Seven was annoyed with herself for thinking that.

“Hm, it smells delicious,” Legoshi said, finally opening his eyes.

“Thanks, I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” She gave him a pressed lip smile.

Legoshi put his hands on his lap and started fidgeting with them. “So, uh, do you need some time to think about going to the exhibit? I understand if you don’t want to go.”

Waiting for the pizza to cool was a great distraction for her to avoid giving her answer, but now she’d have to say something. It probably wasn’t a good idea, but fuck it. “I have nothing going on that day, so sure, I’ll go. I don’t really care about beetles or bugs, though.”

Legoshi’s arms automatically shot up in defense. “You don’t have to! I hope you don’t think I’m forcing you.”

Seven shook her head. “Legoshi, it’s fine. I’ll go.”

“They are going to have a really nice fireworks display in the evening after the museum closes for Armistice Day. The city puts it on, but the museum has grounds behind it, where the view is spectacular.” Legoshi added, seemingly wanting to make it seem more worthwhile to her.

Seven really did love fireworks. Her depression stopped her from catching any firework shows recently. A museum exhibit and fireworks with a friend who she happened to be sleeping with wouldn’t be much of a big deal. It was only one day. She wasn’t even the first person he considered for this outing. Obviously, he would have gone with Haru, if they were still together.

“Well, I really like firework shows. I’ve never seen an Armistice Day firework show from the Natural History Museum grounds.” She paused, then confidently added, “I’m in.”

“Cool.” Legoshi gave her a small smile.

Seven didn’t want to think too hard about it. “We should be able to eat the pizza in a few.”

They sat in companionable silence until the pizza was at a moderate temperature.

Seven took her special knife to cut the pizza. She placed a slice on his plate and then one on hers. She waited for Legoshi to take a bite. After all, one of the best satisfactions of cooking was for others to enjoy the taste of your food.

Legoshi didn’t seem to notice that she was waiting for him to eat first. He took a bite. “Mmm!” He exclaimed. “This is absolutely delicious!” Legoshi grinned at her.

A carnivore’s smile was normally anxiety inducing to a herbivore, but it was the best sight for Seven today.

Seven took a bite of her own slice. It was very good. She decided that she should really go back to cooking more often. “I’m glad you like it.”

As they ate, Legoshi asked her a lot of questions about her cooking process. It was heartwarming. It also showed how surprisingly little he knew about cooking for someone who worked at an Udon shop.

“Maybe next time I can help you make the pizza? I can help buy the ingredients.” Legoshi asked her nervously.

“That’s what we were originally supposed to do, so why not?” As Seven got up to collect their plates, Legoshi stopped her.

“I’ll help you clean up,” he offered.

“Okay, sure.” Men were never as good at washing dishes as women in her experience. Seven hated holding onto such a sexist notion, but she had yet to find a man who could change her mind.

Legoshi studied her. “You don’t seem to think I can do it.” He placed the dishes into the sink.

Seven shrugged. “I’ve had to clean up dishes again anytime a guy cleaned them, so my confidence in any man’s dishwashing skills is low.”

“Uh, I used to have to wash the dishes at Cherryton. That was one of my jobs there, so I think I’m not bad at it?” He looked back at her nervously.

“Let’s see your skills.” She challenged him.

For someone who was a vigilante, Legoshi nervously began scrubbing at the dishes, clearly trying to do a great job for Seven. It was a powerful feeling watching a carnivore clean to impress her. It was fucked up, but it did bring a rush of excitement through her.

He washed intently making sure to address every surface. She didn’t know if it was actually the Cherryton training, or his need to seek approval from her.

As he finished washing, Seven took a rag to dry each item. He cleaned them very well. She didn’t have to rewash them. Seven had dragged her materials to the communal kitchen earlier in a box where she kept cutlery and plates since her apartment didn’t exactly have a kitchen. They didn’t talk as they worked. Legoshi treated the task very seriously.

“This should be the last thing.” Legoshi said as he cleaned the last piece of cutlery.

“I’m impressed, Cherryton boy.” She teased.

Legoshi blushed, “They were pretty strict about how well we cleaned back at school.”

“Well, I wish I would have shared a kitchen with more Cherryton alum then.” Seven smiled at him.

Legoshi looked down and scratched the fur on the back of his neck. He was too shy to answer.

Seven brushed her hand over the communal kitchen counter. It was clean; she had wiped it down earlier after she had finished preparing the pizza to be put in the oven.

Today was a different day for her. She was able to push herself out of her depression to cook and share a meal with another individual. She didn’t want to ruin her momentum.

In one swift move, without much thought, Seven hopped up, so she was sitting on the kitchen counter.

Legoshi’s eyes widened. “Did you need some help bringing this stuff back to your apartment?”

Tonight was not going to be ordinary. “We don’t have to rush back.”

Legoshi’s eyes darted, not seeming to know what to say. He was standing in front of her. “I guess not,” he replied meekly.

She quickly took one of his hands. His nails were noticeably shorter. “Did you clip your nails right before coming here?”

Legoshi took his hand out of her grasp quickly. He was embarrassed. “Yeah, I kinda did in the bathroom at work.”

“Wow. You were expecting some action tonight?” She teased.

Seven witnessed Legoshi’s face turn a bright pink that she had never seen before. He blushed and got flustered a lot, but this was a whole other level.

“No! I mean. I didn’t know. I wanted to be prepared. Just in case, you know. I’m sorry.” Legoshi’s tail went stiff and completely straight.

Seven laughed, “Relax, Legoshi.” She then bit her lip, “It’s kinda hot, actually that you thought about that.”

“Really?” He was sweating.

“Mhm.” She extended one of her legs so she could wrap it around his waist to invite him closer. In actuality, she did not have the strength to pull Legoshi towards her with one of her legs, but the goal was to just goad him.

He obeyed and moved closer.

“I want us to do something different tonight.”

“Uh, okay. Like what?” Legoshi looked anxious, but Seven could tell he was already half hard by looking down at his crotch.

“Fuck me here.” She needed to feel something. Her depression had been trying to swallow her whole.

“Right here? Now?” Legoshi’s eyes widened.

Seven nodded, “Yes.”

“What if someone comes in?” Legoshi looked back nervously at the door.

Seven raised a brow. “How many people actually come in here to cook, Legoshi?”

“Not many?” He replied nervously.

“Exactly. And anyway if they hear us, they just won’t come in. You carnivores have a great sense of hearing.” She tugged at one of his ears.

“Okay.”

Seven kicked off her shoes, She was wearing a skirt. It wasn’t a conscious choice just in case this happened. It was summer and wearing skirts was comfortable at work. It was convenient, though, because now he had easy access. “Take my panties off.”

Legoshi made a sound at the back of his throat to clear it.

She spread her legs, so she could access them.

Legoshi gently put his large hands under her skirt to pull her underwear down. “Should I put them–”

He was always too careful. It was annoying to Seven. “I don’t care, just put them down.”

Legoshi nodded and placed them on top of the shoes she kicked off. Seven took his hand and brought it between her legs.

His fingers reverently brushed against her folds. She was drenched. This situation was very exciting to her.

Legoshi entered his finger inside. It hurt a bit due to the sheer length of it, but it felt more good than anything.

“Fuck.” He breathed. She could tell he really did enjoy fingering. Legoshi took the most pleasure in getting his partner off. She wasn’t sure if he himself was consciously aware of it, but he was very giving.

Before she knew it, he sent her flying over the edge.

“Need you to actually fuck me.” Seven moaned.

Legoshi’s head was pressed against hers looking down at her cunt, as he was thrusting his fingers in and out of her. So focused on the task. “What?” He asked, dazed.

Seven grabbed his face so that he was looking at her, “Fuck me.”

“Okay.” Legoshi breathed and took his fingers out of her. He went to take his cock out of his pants. He evidently didn’t want to take his pants off in case someone entered the kitchen.

Seven slipped off the counter and faced her ass towards him.

The head of Legoshi’s cock brushed against her folds. The contact of his cock against her opening brought out a sigh from Seven.

At first Seven suspected he did not enter her right away out of apprehension. She turned around to see him looking down at her. He experimentally brushed the large head of his cock against her clit.

Seven whined, “Please, Legoshi.” She did not know he could be a tease.

Without a verbal response, Legoshi slipped inside of her. They groaned in unison. It felt like he belonged inside of her and it scared Seven that at one point this was going to end. He wasn’t going to be fucking her forever.

To ease her mind, Seven focused on the act itself. She told Legoshi exactly what she wanted and he obeyed. The power invigorated Seven as he fucked at her command. Her body did not feel weak and nimble like a herbivore’s. She was not a sheep, but a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Seven’s next therapy session started rather awkwardly. She really wasn’t in the mood for therapy, even though every aspect of her life indicated that it was exactly what she needed.

Dr. Hitsuji was getting exceptionally good at reading Seven. She waited until Seven was ready to talk.

This resulted in them looking at each other in dead silence for about three minutes straight.

Seven cleared her throat. “Okay.”

Dr. Hitsuji nodded. “How have you been? What’s new?”

Seven decided that she should stick with the positives first, avoiding the truth. “Well, I cooked for the first time in a while.”

Dr. Hitsuji smiled. “That’s great!”

“Yeah, I saw the store had a sale and I mustered up the energy to do it.” Seven responded.

“What did you make?” Dr. Hitsuji seemed genuinely interested.

“A summer veggie pizza. I used all fresh ingredients.” Seven was happy to discuss her cooking.

“Sounds delicious.”

“Legoshi thought it was really good.” Oops. She wasn’t supposed to mention him.

“Oh, you shared some with Legoshi?” Dr. Hitsuji inquired.

She did a hell of a lot more than just share that pizza with Legoshi, but that wasn’t something she was going to mention to Dr. Hitsuji. “Yes, I did.”

Dr. Hitsuji nodded. “That was kind of you. Have you continued spending time with him?”

Seven knew that was code for are you still fucking him. Well, the answer to that was yes. “Yeah.”

“Well, it seems that the time you are spending with him is having a positive effect on you. You are cooking again which I am so glad to hear.”

Seven considered Dr. Hitsuji’s words. She wasn’t wrong. “Hm, I guess you’re right.”

They sat for a bit longer in awkward silence.

“So, any plans for Armistice Day?”

Seven snorted. She really wanted to know how it was possible for Dr. Hitsuji to be keen enough to know that she was spending it with Legoshi.

Dr. Hitsuji eyed Seven. “Is there something funny about that?”

Seven shook her head, “No, it’s just that Legoshi asked me to go to a bug exhibit with him at the museum on that day.”

“Are you going to go?”

Seven shrugged. “I guess, I never do anything on Armistice Day.”

Dr. Hitsuji crossed her legs and adjusted her posture. This meant she was going to ask a hard hitting question. Seven knew the score.

“That sounds like a nice plan. It seems you’re doing a lot with Legoshi these days.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” They were spending everyday together, but it was summer. People were generally more social in summer.

Dr. Hitsuji paused and carefully asked, “Where do you see this going?”

“What do you mean?”

“You are spending a lot of time together. Now you’re going on a proper outing.”

“Proper outing? What does that mean?”

“It means you’re going out to do an activity. It’s an outing beyond drinks, or just being together in each other’s apartments. It’s more of a commitment.”

Seven squinted. Being together in each other’s apartments also meant having sex. What was Dr. Hitsuju getting at? “Okay, yes. Friends go to museums together.”

Dr. Hitsuj noticed her defensive tone. “I was just making an observation.”

“Okay, and there is nothing to observe. We are friends hanging out.”

“He’s not strictly a friend,” Dr. Hitsuji challenged.

Seven shrugged defensively, “What does that even mean?’

“Is it customary for you to have relations with your friends?”

Seven cringed at the word relations. “I don’t understand your point.”

Ever so calmly Dr. Hitsuji replied, “My point is that you are spending a lot of time with him in a way that most people do if they are dating someone.”

“Well, we aren’t dating and I don’t see him in that way.” Seven replied curtly.

“Okay.” Dr. Hitsuji answered.

Seven was livid. Plenty of people have friends with benefits situations and as a grown woman, she knew how to handle herself. Sure, Legoshi was her only friend now, but she would be able to easily bounce back after this ended. After all, she didn’t even know Legoshi for that long. She had been living her life just fine before him.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, or make presumptions about your relationship with Legoshi,” Dr. Hitsuji offered.

“Whatever.”

After a few minutes Dr. Hitsuji was able to pivot the conversation to Seven’s job. Seven was still infuriated that her therapist could not see that they weren’t dating and that Seven did not have romantic feelings for him.

Seven made sure to follow through with the museum visit plans with Legoshi to prove Dr. Hitsuji wrong, Seven made sure that nothing would prohibit the outing from taking place. She had a plan to show her therapist that she didn’t know what she was talking about. It was petty, but Seven didn’t care.

It was different boarding the interspecies car with a carnivore instead of by herself. Seven’s focus was entirely on Legoshi rather than bickering carnivores with large teeth and claws. No one bothered her. She hypothesized that it was because she was already seen as Legoshi’s prey. She would never admit it, but sometimes she looked at him and wondered if his docile demeanor could snap again. Could a freak accident or a loss of judgment on his part result in her becoming his prey again? What Seven tried to ignore was her general indifference to that possibility. If she were to die at the hands of a predator, she would rather it be Legoshi than one of her coworkers, or a random carnivore on this hybrid train.

Legoshi spoke animatedly about beetles, waving his hands around wildly. He couldn’t help but express his excitement about the exhibit they were about to attend.

Seven mostly nodded. It was one of the few times that Legoshi had a lot more to say than her. He generally listened to her with a pensive expression. Although it was rude, Seven was hardly listening to his beetle facts. She studied his hands and how they moved expressively. These were the hands that pinned her down when he tried to devour her, but they were also the hands that kept her in place when he fucked her.

“This is our stop.” Legoshi’s eyes brightened even more so than they did when he spoke about beetles.

Seven snapped out of her thought process.

“Let’s go,” Legoshi gestured for her to follow him to get off the train.

As they exited the train station, it was clear that it was Armistice Day. Children wore themed sunglasses. Parents held balloons for them. Friends and couples walked together with gleeful expressions. Seven was glad that she decided not to spend the day alone.

When they entered the museum, an enthusiastic koala museum docent greeted them, “Welcome to the Natural History Museum.”

“Hi,” Legoshi replied awkwardly.

“Would you like two general admission tickets?” She asked with a smile.

“Yes.” Legoshi eyed a museum map on the counter.

“Okay—” Just as the koala was about to finish her sentence, Legoshi interrupted.

“Does that include admission for the beetle exhibit?” He inquired.

“Yes, it does,” she smiled as she replied.

“Oh, then can we get two tickets, please?” Legoshi looked around nervously. Seven never saw anyone look so nervous when purchasing museum tickets.

Seven suddenly remembered that Legoshi could get in for free. “He’s a university student,” she interjected.

“As long as you have your ID, you can get free admission.”

“Do you have your ID?” Seven asked.

“I should. I always carry it in my wallet.” Legoshi rummaged in his pockets for his wallet. He pulled out a wrinkled brown wallet that he must have owned for about at least 5 years. He opened it and pulled out his university student ID. On it was a photo of Legoshi posing with the most forced goofy smile she had ever seen. He rarely smiled, so it was just plain odd.

Seven had to hold back a laugh as he handed it over to the girl.

The Koala looked at it without a reaction and then handed it back to him. She then turned to Seven, “Do you have a university ID?”

Seven choked. Did this docent really think she was young enough to be a student? “Uh, no, but thanks for the compliment.”

“Oh!” I just—”

Seven cut her off. “Just one student ticket and one general admission ticket.” Seven went to open her digital wallet so she could scan her card on the museum’s card reader.

“No, I got it.” Legoshi said as he went to take out cash out of his wallet.

What the fuck. Firstly, she was surprised Legoshi had cash on him and secondly, Seven was an adult woman with a fulltime job. Legoshi was a student who worked at an Udon shop. She could handle herself and this wasn’t a date.

“No, that’s absurd. Are you serious?” Seven admonished.

“Yes?” Legoshi responded, sweat already forming at his brow.

“No, I won’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because this isn’t a date!” She hissed.

Legoshi’s tail went straight. “Uh, I just wanted to do it because I invited you.”

“No. Now, where is the card reader?” Seven demanded.

The docent had sweat forming at her brow as well. She looked between them nervously unsure of what to do. Clearly, she was traumatized by them spatting in front of her.

“Here?” She offered the card reader meekly to Seven.

Seven glared at Legoshi and then tapped her phone to process the payment. Unbelievable. He didn’t need to pay for her. She was a grown woman. He was a young adult.

After it was processed, the docent stammered, “Enjoy your visit. Here are your tickets.”

Seven took them both and a map.

“Thank you,” Legoshi said with a semi-wave to her.

Seven examined the map to see where the beetle exhibit was.

Legoshi looked at her from the side of his eyes. Too afraid to face her. Seven found it amusing how scared he was of her. A vigilante wolf-komodo dragon hybrid with a fear of her. It was lunacy. “I really didn’t mean to offend you.”

“It’s fine,” Seven replied curtly.

“Is it really?” Legoshi asked.

Seven rolled her eyes. “Please, just let it go.”

“Okay,” Legoshi nodded timidly.

“Now the beetle exhibit is this way it says, so let’s go there.” Seven motioned towards the right.

Legoshi was awfully quiet at the exhibit. He looked pensively at the information presented in the exhibit. He was definitely too scared to talk to Seven.

“You know you can talk to me, right? I know this all excites you.” Seven waved her hands to gesture to the exhibit around them.

Legoshi looked down, “I feel bad.”

Seven stared at him. He wasn’t letting it go like she told him to. She felt guilty. “Okay, please don’t feel bad because now I feel bad.”

Legoshi’s brows furrowed, “Why do you feel bad?”

She sighed, “Because you tried to do something nice, but I overreacted very negatively. Okay?”

“I’m sorry.”

Seven rolled her eyes, “Do not apologize, Legoshi, I need to apologize. I’m sorry that I’m an asshole.”

“You're not an asshole, Seven.” Legoshi smiled slightly at her.

Seven hated how the sight of him and his declaration made her stomach flip. She nudged him. “Now explain all of this beetle stuff to me.”

Legoshi turned enthusiastically to the information and models in front of them.

Seven smiled and was ready to actually listen to whatever he wanted to share.

Seven was surprised by how she actually found some of the information interesting. She did not know that some beetles were bioluminescent. Also, she had no idea they produced sounds. Listening to different species of beetles’ distinct sounds was an experience Seven never thought that she would have.

As they exited the exhibit, Seven remarked, “I still can’t get over how beetles make sound.”

“It is really cool. I loved when my pet beetle used to make some sounds,” Legoshi recalled wistfully.

“Wow, your pet made sounds?”

“Everyone thought I was crazy when I told them, but I knew what I heard.”

“Fuck them.”

Legoshi gave her a startled look.

Seven shrugged, “I’m tired of people having stuff to say about things they don’t know about.”

Legoshi carefully considered her words and nodded in agreement.

“Come on, let’s check out some other stuff here.” Seven motioned for him to follow her.

They wound up at an exhibit about the origins of modern day species. Seven found herself reading and examining everything. Legoshi must have visited this specific exhibit before as he glanced at everything quicker. He did not stop Seven from her reading, though.

In the past, species often only mated with other members of their species to prevent extinction and to further continue their development. The primary goal of species was to prevent extinction. You are the product of thousands of years of history. You have many ancestors.

On top of the blurb was a small mirror with the goal that whoever was reading it would look at themselves and reflect. It seemed silly, but it worked. Seven glanced at herself in the mirror.

She looked at her upturned ears, green eyes, and wool. How many Merino sheep came before her? She also couldn’t help but think about how boring the past must have been. Species only staying amongst themselves. Despite living in an era consumed by loneliness, Seven couldn’t help but be grateful for the time she was living during.

Her eyes moved to Legoshi who was standing and looking at another part of the exhibit. Seven moved over to him.

They stood in companionable silence. Seven scanned the information he was looking at.

Hybrids are a relatively new phenomenon in natural history. Species tended to only reproduce within their own species until social conditions changed. A species priority is no longer survival now with modern conveniences. Scientists are studying the health of different hybrid individuals. In the future, it is possible new species will arise as a result of the increase in hybrid individuals.

The information wasn’t anything particularly new. It was common to see news reports stating that there was an increase in hybrid relationships and children.

Seven peered at Legoshi, “Are you okay?”

Legoshi sighed, “I’m thinking about my mom.”

Seven nodded.

His eyes were downcast. “I just wish she could have been around to see the world changing. It’s happening slowly, but it’s a better place now than it was when she left us.”

Legoshi looked like he carried all of the sadness in the world on his shoulders.

Seven felt her heart breaking for him. She couldn’t imagine herself in his shoes. In a shockingly tender gesture, Seven reached out to hold his hand.

She couldn’t offer him specific words. She didn’t know what to say.

Legoshi allowed her to take his hand. They stood in silence holding hands in the hybrid portion of the exhibit.

Seven and Legoshi enjoyed a meal at the museum’s restaurant and wandered the halls until the museum’s last call for closing. It was a fun place. Seven was pleasantly surprised at how much she enjoyed it.

“Um, we should head out now to the grounds in the back of the museum for the fireworks show,” Legoshi suggested.

This was the part of the day Seven was most looking forward to. “Let’s do it.”

They made their way out of the museum. Seven felt inexplicably happy. She couldn’t recall the last time she had an all day outing like this with someone she was close to.

Legoshi examined the area to try to see where they could get a good spot. The grounds of the museum were essentially a well cared for park in the city. The founders of the museum seemed to want to create a green space for people to stroll through after visiting the museum. They put down a variety of picnic blankets for patrons to sit on for the fireworks show. 

“We should go to the top of that hill right there,” Legoshi pointed to a small hill on the grounds. “The view of the fireworks should be good from that vantage point.” 

“Works for me, but let me get us some drinks first.”

“I’ll save us a spot on the hill. Meet me there?”

“Sounds good.” Seven walked over to a small stand on the grounds that was selling all kinds of drinks. She decided to get them some beers. It wouldn’t be a true Armistice Day celebration without knocking back a few.

Seven carried the beers back to Legoshi and passed him one. He was seated on the blanket with his shoes off. 

“Beer?” Legoshi asked.

“I know we aren’t actually celebrating Armistice Day, but beer and fireworks is a pretty good combo.”

Legoshi considered the beer and nodded in agreement.

Seven opened hers and offered it to Legoshi, “Cheers?’

Legoshi clinked his bottle with hers, “Cheers.”

Seven kicked off her shoes and sat next to Legoshi. 

They looked up at the sky. The late evening was here and the sun was almost completely gone.

After Seven stopped looking at the sky in anticipation, she turned to Legoshi. He was still looking at the sky, but not really. He was clearly thinking of something else.

Seven looked at him expectedly.

Legoshi seemed to snap out of it and cleared his throat, “Thanks a lot for coming today.”

Seven shrugged. “Of course.”

“I know you don’t really care about bugs, so, uh, thanks for sitting through…well, I guess standing through that.”

Seven bit her lip to not laugh at his awkwardness. “I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would, Legoshi.”

“I didn’t really want to spend time with my grandpa, so I am really glad you came.”

Seven wasn’t sure what to make of that. She was below Haru and Jack on the invite list, but above his grandfather. “Thanks? I guess?”

Legoshi’s tail went stiff. “No, no! I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just, seeing him sometimes depresses me. If you didn’t say yes to come with me, I would have been forced to see him. I really much rather spend time with you.”

It was a sentiment Seven could understand. “I had honestly thought about taking a few days off to go see my dad, but truthfully seeing him depresses me as well. Especially since he can’t remember me.” She looked wistfully out at the grounds of the park.

Legoshi hesitated, but then in the most genuine voice Seven ever heard said, “If you ever needed someone to go with you to see him, I’d come.”

No one had ever cared for her enough to say something like that. Seven was taken aback.

“Um, thanks, Legoshi. That… is so kind of you.”

“Of course,” Legoshi replied.

Couples and families started to excitedly remark that the firework show was about to start. Seven noticed that they really did have the best spot.

Seven and Legoshi focused their attention on the firework show when it started. Vibrant colors and interesting shapes filled the sky. Legoshi and Seven enthusiastically remarked on what each firework represented and how well done each one was. The energy was enigmatic and not for a single second did Seven wish she was anywhere else.

Once the show ended, Seven felt elated. She could blame the beers for making her tipsy, but in reality, they didn’t do much. She was high off the energy of the show and experiencing true companionship for the first time in a long while. She grabbed Legoshi’s face and kissed him out in the open.

Legoshi seemed a bit taken aback, but didn’t stop her.

She then laid down on the blanket. “That was fucking awesome.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Legoshi replied shyly.

Seven tilted her head to study him, paying close attention to his gray fur, broad shoulders, the scar above his eye. The moonlight above formed a halo around Legoshi. He looked perfect to her. If he was less awkward, she could easily see him being the cute aloof boy that all the girls had a crush on.

“Come here,” She patted the blanket.

Legoshi obliged and layed next to her. It was amusing how much more space he took up than her in the grass. He put his hands behind his head, and looked up at the stars and the faded smoke from the fireworks.

She looked up at the sky as well, but then moved on her side to look directly at Legoshi. The side of his body touched hers.

Wordlessly, he removed his hands from the back of his head and wrapped an arm around her, so she could cuddle against him. He gently brushed his fingers up and down her arm. It was so comfortable. Seven felt at peace.

Dr. Hitsuji was right and she was fucked. She was falling in love with him.

Chapter Text

The Armistice Day outing was one of the best days Seven had in a long time, but all good things have to come to an end.

Legoshi had gone back to his apartment next door in the wee hours of the morning. Seven woke up rather late. She realized that she hadn’t gotten her period yet that month. Thankfully, Legoshi was not around for this realization. With her implant, she usually got a short, light period. Skipping a month completely never happened to her. Seven generally got her period like clockwork.  

Shit. Shit. Shit. 

She opened up her period tracker app immediately. 5 days late. Not too bad. Not usual, though. 

Late period. Coming to terms with the fact that she was falling in love with Legoshi. All bad.

Her anxiety got the better of her, and she opened up a tab on the web browser of her phone. They did have a lot of unprotected sex recently. She immediately searched up the pregnancy risk for her implant. 

The birth control implant Eweplanon is highly effective. The risk of pregnancy is estimated at less than 1 in 100 female sheep a year. It is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. 

Okay, that was helpful, but what if she was in the less than 1 in 100 statistic? Seven started catastrophizing. She then looked up: What happens if you get pregnant on Eweplanon?

If a woman becomes pregnant while using Eweplanon, the pregnancy should be detected and terminated early. Eweplanon increases the risk for ectopic pregnancy.

Seven ran a hand over her face. She’d need to get a test, but her period was probably just late. She didn’t even want to know what could be going on in her body if she was pregnant. It would be an ectopic pregnancy with a sheep, wolf, komodo dragon child. A total shit show.

Since Armistice Day fell on a Thursday, her company gave the employees the Friday off. She was lucky that Legoshi had work. The Udon shop would be busy the day after Armistice Day.

What Seven desperately needed to do was take a pregnancy test. She hadn’t taken one since she was very young before she had her implant. She felt embarrassed needing to take a pregnancy test at 30 years old to see if her 19 year old friend with benefits accidentally knocked her up.

Since she had woken up late, Legoshi had already left and gone out to work. She was happy because that meant she wouldn’t be running into him in the communal bathroom. He wasn’t the most perceptive, but he’d probably realize she was nervous, and she really didn’t want to discuss this with him.

Seven made her way to the shower and despite it being lackluster, the mist of water on her wool felt really good. Her problems were surmounting. She needed to find a way to end this quasi-relationship with Legoshi. As she washed herself, she felt her chest hurt. It was too much for her. She never expected to fall in love with that wolf.

Seven made her way to the nearest pharmacy. She didn’t get herself one pregnancy test, but three different ones from three different brands. She wanted to make sure that the answer would be correct. There was no time for any errors. She approached this like she would a project at work. When purchasing the tests, she was sure to do self check out. Even though literally no one cared, she didn’t want a store clerk wondering about her life.

Seven returned to her apartment and drank a bunch of water, so she’d have enough pee for the tests. She took the tests out and read each of their directions diligently. Each test was slightly different. One required her to urinate on the stick and the other two were designed to be dipped into the urine sample. Two of them would tell her the news with the words: Pregnant or Not Pregnant . The other one would either have two lines for pregnant or one line for not pregnant. 

The first test: Not Pregnant .

The second test: Not Pregnant.

The third test: One line.

Seven sighed with relief. She wanted to jump up and down like she did as a giddy teenage girl seeing her favorite boy band in concert. She was just late and definitely not pregnant.

That problem was solved. It was possible her period would just come very late.

The next problem was figuring out how she was going to cut the roots of her developing relationship with Legoshi. She could not let it grow any further. 

Legoshi texted Seven saying that his grandfather had asked to spend some time with him after work. She knew he wasn’t so eager to see his grandfather, but he must have felt bad and gave in.

She stared at her phone. It was endearing. He really did not have to let her know about his whereabouts or plans. She wished he hadn’t. He was only continuing to complicate things. A sense of relief washed over Seven, though. Legoshi wouldn’t be back until very late most likely, so he wouldn’t ask her to hang out, and they wouldn’t have to see each other.

Distance is good, she reassured herself. 

Seven snorted. It isn’t really distance, if he’s literally your next door neighbor. 

Seven also considered that maybe Legoshi was lying and that Haru had contacted him, but he didn’t want to say anything, so he made up the excuse of his grandfather. That would make things a lot easier for Seven. She wouldn’t have to “break up” with Legoshi. He would break up with her. She’d have to move still. Moving was something she’d have to do either way.

Seven shook her head. Why did I get myself into this mess? She got up from her bed and paced. She then went on Zoozle to look up the hours of Ox Realty.  

To her advantage, they had some hours in the morning on Saturdays. She would have to call in advance to be sure that they weren’t closed for the holiday weekend. If they weren’t, she’d head there tomorrow in search of a new apartment. 

She opened her notes app and labeled it To-do List. She added visiting the real estate agency as her first task. 

Seven put her phone down and considered what else she had to get done, but her brain wouldn’t let her focus on basic errands. 

What if Legoshi is really meeting up with his grandfather? I can’t just leave him and move without saying anything . Seven decided she would have to assess the situation. Surely, if he didn’t mention anything about ending their arrangement, then he did not meet with Haru or speak with her. If that was the case, Seven was going to have to get them back together. 

Seven tossed and turned in her bed that night. She was worried. She hadn’t expected to move out of her apartment this summer. She had no idea how she could get Legoshi and Haru back together. It was a lot.

There was only one thing she could think of. It was talking to Haru herself, but the thought was ludicrous. Would she direct message her and say, “Hey, I’m sleeping with your ex-boyfriend and he’s fine with sex now. Take him back!” 

It wasn’t a normal situation. She could wait until therapy to ask Dr. Hitsuji for advice. Seven didn’t believe in any higher powers, but nonetheless, she silently prayed and meditated on the idea of Haru calling Legoshi to take him back, so that they wouldn’t have to ever speak. 

The praying and meditation didn’t do much and Seven laid awake. She got up to take medication she was given to help her sleep.

The meds knocked her out which was good, so she didn’t hear Legoshi get back. She woke up early so she could contact Ox Realty to see if they were open that day. 

The realtor who she worked with prior recognized Seven’s voice when she called. The realtor informed her that they were indeed open. 

Moving out of this building was inevitable. She really couldn’t stay here long. It was a morbid thought, but part of her came here to die. She had thought she’d be devoured, teared limb by limb by a carnivore with a criminal record. Instead her heart was being torn apart as she was falling for someone she could not and should not have.  

Seven studied herself in the mirror before she left the house. She picked up her old red lipstick and applied it. Although in reality it meant nothing, red lipstick helped boost Seven’s confidence and made her feel put together. She needed to look professional for the realtor. They needed to get her a new apartment. 

Seven took the train to the realty office and sat in the mixed species car like she always did, but she was wishing for someone to just take her quick and easy. She didn’t go as far as tapping her cheeks, simply because she didn’t have the strength to.

Seven entered Ox Realty with a false smile. 

“Hello, Miss Seven.” The cow realtor greeted her with a smile in return. 

“Hello, Miss Clara,” Seven responded.

“Please take a seat.” Clara gestured to the vacant chair in front of her desk. 

Seven sat in the chair and waited for Clara to finish typing something on her computer. 

Once she finished, she adjusted her glasses and asked, “So, Miss Seven, what can I do for you today? You’re still in the apartment I got for you last time?” 

Seven nodded. “I would like to get a new apartment on the other side of the city, close to the Zebuth Nursing Home for the Aging. I have to move into it as soon as possible.” 

“That area is more expensive than where you are now. Many employees of the hospital like to live there for a short commute.” This made sense since the Zebuth Nursing Home for the Aging was connected to the general hospital.

“The price doesn’t matter.” She lived in a luxury building before because she had money. It didn’t mean anything to her. Her money just sat in the bank. She could use it to at least make an effort to see her father a bit more before he passed. 

“Do you want a studio apartment, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom?” Clara inquired.

“Honestly, whatever you can get for me to move into quickly.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re dying to get out of where you are now. I don’t know how you’ve even stayed as long as you have unscathed.” Clara shook her head in disapproval.

Seven’s mind flashed to Legoshi pulling her under him to devour her. She didn’t want to tell Clara that .

Seven nervous laughed and ran her hands through her wool. “Oh, yeah, I guess I’m lucky.”

Clara seemed to be searching through the listings to see what would be available for Seven. “Are you open to any other neighborhoods?”

“No, it has to be on the other side of the city.” Seven needed to be as far away from Legoshi as possible because she knew he would come looking for her. She needed to make it difficult and she really needed to confront the fact that her father’s time was limited. 

Clara spent a few moments searching on her computer while Seven sat in front of her. She continued to bounce her leg up and down nervously. 

“Hm, well, I see a one bedroom two blocks away from the hospital. A bit pricey. We can schedule a–” 

Seven cut her off, “I’ll take it!’ 

Clara raised a brow. “Without even seeing it?” 

“It’s fine. I just really need that neighborhood.”

Clara gave her a pointed look. 

“Anything has to be better than where I am now,” Seven jested, trying to ease the tense energy. 

“Okay, Miss Seven,” Clara replied, still confused. 

“And I can move into this apartment as soon as possible, right?” 

“Yes, I made sure that any apartments I would let you know about were available ASAP.”

“Great!” Seven exclaimed, a bit too enthusiastically. 

“You’re sure that you do not want to hear about any other apartments? Or at least even look at the pictures of this one?” Clara clarified.

“Nope! This should be great.” Seven smiled realizing she was probably seeming insane to the realtor. 

“The apartment you’re in now, you won’t be getting any money back just because you’re moving out early. The landlord will still hold onto the entire month’s rent,” Clara warned.

“It doesn’t matter to me.” It was true, it didn’t. Seven would move out during the day when Legoshi was working. She didn’t have many belongings in the apartment and the few valuable things that she decided to keep when she first moved out of the luxury building were in a storage unit.

“If you do change your mind, you can always contact me. I can call the landlord to see if you can move in next week?”

“Even in less than a week would be great.” 

“Hm, I don’t think I can get you in that fast, but I’ll still try. Is the email address on file still valid?” Clara asked dryly. 

“Yes, it is. You can email me all the details, but I will definitely be taking this apartment,” Seven affirmed.

“All right, Miss Seven, I will be sending that to you now and will give you a call about when we can move you in.”

“Thank you so much, Miss Clara.” Seven stood up and extended her hand, so that Clara could shake it. 

Clara took Seven’s hand, but there was no doubt that she thought of Seven as an odd girl.

As Seven exited the real estate office, her phone rang. Across the screen it said: Nursing Home . 

Uh oh. It could only mean that there was an update and it wouldn’t be news that her dad was getting better. She hoped that after stressing that she needed to be near the nursing home that he wasn’t already dead. 

“Hello?” Seven answered in an unsure voice. 

“Good morning. Is this Miss Seven speaking?” The voice sounded female. It was one of the receptionists. 

“Yes, this is her,” Seven answered hesitantly.

“We are calling to inform you about your father, Miss Seven.” 

Seven stopped in her tracks in the middle of the sidewalk. An alpaca teenage girl bumped into her because she halted. The alpaca scoffed and walked around Seven.

He was probably dead. She should have gone to see him more, but a tiny voice in the back of her head always told her what was the point if he could barely remember her? 

“Yes?” She asked in a shaky voice. 

“Your father’s health is rapidly declining. We wanted to let you know that next steps may need to be taken soon. We can have the physician monitoring his case contact you.”

Seven sighed in relief. It wasn’t good news, but it was better than hearing he passed. She had time to see him alive then. She didn’t reply, though. 

“Miss Seven, are you there? I know this is difficult news.” 

Seven cleared her throat. “Yes, I am here.” 

“Would you like the physician monitoring his case to contact you?” 

Seven nodded, forgetting for a minute that she was on the phone. “Um, yes, you can do that.” 

“Okay, the doctor will be in touch.” The receptionist hung up. 

The sound of the cars passing by and animals chatting, while they walked, filled her ears, but Seven felt like she was drowning. She knew the day would come, but she avoided it and pretended like it wasn’t happening. 

Seven checked her phone and saw that she had gotten a generic good morning text from Legoshi wishing her a good day. 

She needed to be with him later that night. She had no one else. It would have to be the actual last time. She had to end it with him, but she wouldn’t break his heart and tell him. Instead, she would have to disappear and make sure that he could get Haru back.  

Seven went to pick herself up some food and sat in the park overlooking the water. She contemplated how little control she had over everything in her life. 

She couldn’t stop herself from falling for Legoshi, she couldn’t stop her dad’s health from getting progressively worse, and she couldn’t make her coworkers ever see her as an equal. 

Accepting her inability to control anything had been one of the hardest things.

Seven took a deep breath. While she couldn’t ensure that Haru was going to take Legoshi back, she could try her best to help him get back to her. 

She opened the Anigram app and went to her blocked list. Her finger hovered over Haru’s profile. Seven sighed and pressed unblock.

My apartment tonight after you get out of work. I’ll provide the beer. Seven texted Legoshi.

K. I’ll be there. Legoshi replied.

Seven laughed at his use of “K.” She didn’t want to feel melancholic, but if she was going to sleep with Legoshi one last time it had to be now. She wasn’t going to message Haru until after their last time together. She had to set some kind of boundaries. Seven realized how ridiculous it all sounded, but once she messaged Haru, she felt like she wouldn’t be a good person, if she was still trying to sleep with Legoshi.

Seven double checked that her mini fridge had beer and laid down on her bed. She thought about how once she moved, she would have to find new ways to occupy her time. Spending time with Legoshi was getting her through each day which formerly felt like a painful, meaningless existence. There would no longer be anyone to watch movies with, share drinks with, or have sex with. She would be all by herself again. However, Legoshi showed her something vital. She learned that she could find happiness and that sometimes taking strange risks could bring forth good results. She would have never thought that being friends with benefits with someone could help change her outlook on life. 

Seven was laying on her bed, trying to map out a million different ways she could start a direct message conversation with Haru without being creepy. She tried to hypothesize how she would get Haru to be willing to have an actual conversation with her. 

Legoshi knocked and Seven snapped out of it.

She cleared her throat, “Come in.”

Legoshi leaned on the door frame and slipped off his shoes. He was wearing his delivery boy uniform including the ridiculous hat that his boss required. “Uh, hey, I brought some udon.”

Seven sat up quickly, “Why did you do that?”

Legoshi studied her, unsure. “Uh, because we had leftovers and my boss told us all that we could take it?”

Always confused. Seven held back a giggle. “No, no, it’s fine. You just didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, okay. I wanted to?” Legoshi replied again in a question-like manner. 

“You don’t have to doubt yourself, Legoshi. Have you eaten yet?”

“No, actually. I can go to the communal kitchen to heat up the udon. Do you want to eat yours now?” 

Seven really wasn’t hungry, but she did want to share her last meal with him. “Sure.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll go there now. Wait, do you want to eat there?” Legoshi awkwardly put his shoes back on to head out. 

Seven wasn’t going to miss constantly having to leave her apartment to cook food. She would soon have a kitchen again in her apartment. She also was not in the mood to go eat all the way in the communal kitchen. “You can bring it back here.” 

Their last dinner and their last time sleeping with each other. She really was going to miss him.

When Legoshi returned with the udon, he passed her the chopsticks and food ever so carefully. 

“I uh, had an accident today at work. I wound up tripping and dropping all the food I was supposed to deliver, so I’m trying to be more careful.”

“I can’t imagine having legs as long as yours. I’d be falling all of the time,” Seven responded. 

“Hm, well, I wish I wasn’t this big either, truthfully.”

For a herbivore, a carnivore’s size was always seen as a huge advantage. Something that they were lucky to be born with. They could protect themselves from the violent and 

vicious world that they lived in. Perhaps, it was a blessing and a curse. 

Legoshi sat next to Seven on the floor of her apartment. 

“So, besides for your accident, how was the rest of your day?” Seven asked to change the topic. 

Legoshi detailed how the rest of his deliveries went and how busy the restaurant was. When he asked about Seven’s day, she made sure to exclude information about her trip to the realty office, for obvious reasons, and the update she received about her dad. She just said she ran basic errands.

Once they finished their food, Seven hesitantly told Legoshi, “I’m going to be really busy the next few days.” She needed to find a way to start disappearing.

“Oh?” Is that a good thing?” Legoshi inquired. 

“I guess it is.” 

Legoshi nodded. He didn’t pry. That was one of his best qualities. 

“So, yeah, you may not be seeing me much. I’m just giving you a heads up that I’ll only be home to sleep.” 

Legoshi seemed deep in thought and then cleared his throat. “Is your dad stable?”

Fuck. He was really so perceptive. If she told him, he’d take her to see her dad in the nursing home himself and try to make the situation better. It was who Legoshi was. 

Seven wasn’t a particularly good liar, but if she kept her answers basic, she could probably make them believable. “Nothing’s changed from before.”

Legoshi nodded, “I guess that’s better than most alternatives.” 

“Listen, Legoshi, I appreciate your concern, but my dad is the person I’d least like to talk about right now.” 

Legoshi’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” 

Seven waved him off, “It’s fine.” 

Legoshi still appeared to be quite anxious like he committed a gross faux pax to Seven. 

“You’re literally one of the best people I have ever known, Legoshi. You did nothing wrong.” Seven blurted out. She wanted to add the words “I love you,” but that wouldn’t be appropriate. He wasn’t hers and she wasn’t his.

Legoshi seemed to reflect on her words. He responded, “That means a lot coming from you. I’ve learned a lot from you in every way“

Seven knew exactly what he meant by that. This friendship and relationship wasn’t just about sex. Legoshi learned more about boundaries. Seven’s mind went to their trip to the shoe store after they had first met. He had a habit of thinking that all herbivores wanted to be saved or needed to be advocated for, but she showed him that herbivores could also fight their own battles.

“And I’ve learned from you.“ It was true she certainly did. She learned that it was possible for her to be happy again and feel . For so long, she had felt like an empty void. It was as if there was nothing inside of her. 

Seven closed the distance between him and gave Legoshi a chaste kiss. As she began to slowly pull away, they locked eyes. 

Legoshi’s pupils were always tiny black dots in a pool of white. A stark contrast to Seven’s large green irises. His gray fur always fell in a shaggy way that made him look boyish despite his size. This was a man who almost ate her yet all she could feel was warmth and affection for him.

Seven placed her hand on Legoshi’s chest while they looked at one another. His heart was beating steadily. He wasn’t anxious. “Never stop being who you are, Legoshi.”

And with that, Legoshi demonstrated his newfound confidence, by leaning in to kiss her again. His kiss was passionate.

Seven calmed her mind and directed all of her attention to Legoshi. She kissed him back fiercely. 

They were still sitting besides one another. Legoshi put his large hand on the small of her back to move Seven closer to him. Her hands roamed his chest as they continued to kiss. He was so broad.

His own hand brushed against her breasts which prompted Seven to let out a soft moan. This excited Legoshi as he pulled her onto his lap.

Seven liked this change in Legoshi. He was coming into himself. She liked him being assertive because she didn’t always want to lead. 

As they made out in Legoshi’s lap, she grinded against him. He was getting dangerously hard. She relished the feeling. 

When she thought things were going to progress to the next level as they normally would, Legoshi halted their making out. 

“What’s wrong?” Seven breathed. She was dangerously close to him since she was positioned in his lap. 

“I…I don’t know if I want this to end.” 

Seven’s brain was loopy from the kissing and grinding. “What are you saying?” 

Legoshi looked her dead in the eyes. He didn’t try to look away nervously like he normally did. 

“I, uh, don’t know if I want us to stop doing this.” 

Now he has to bring this up? There was something so intimate about the question, though. They were holding each other in her room. So close to one another. The only way they could be even closer would be if he was inside of her. The moonlight came through the tiny window of Seven’s apartment. After all, moonlight was a wolf’s favorite thing. 

Seven was not sure how to respond. She just looked back at him, but she felt that she knew better. He was young. He lost his virginity to her which was a concept that Seven still found mental. The life and relationship he wanted only Haru could give him. She didn’t want to help create a perfect family to make up for the broken one Legoshi grew up in. Seven didn’t ever want to be a mother. She had fallen in love with Legoshi and wanted him to get everything he desired and deserved in life. 

Legoshi continued due to her lack of answer, “Do you want this to end?” His look was so earnest. It broke Seven’s heart. 

If she said no, she would actually be telling the truth. She didn’t want this to end at all, but if she told him this, Legoshi would start getting different ideas. She also couldn’t say yes.

Seven cupped his large jaw. It was comical. A small sheep handling a wolf. 

“I try to live in the moment. I’m enjoying myself and don’t want us to stop what we’re doing right now.” She gave him a small smile. 

Legoshi considered her words. She was sure his habit of overthinking resulted in his brain fixating on the words right now .

Seven really didn’t want to continue this conversation because she felt her chest starting to constrict. She didn’t want their last time to be sad. “Please just kiss me,” Seven pleaded. 

Legoshi obliged and kissed her languidly. He really made her enjoy kissing. Oftentimes in the past it felt like a chore, but with him it sparked something different in her. 

As they kissed and moved against one another, their clothes slowly started being discarded and to the floor. 

“Please put my blanket on the floor.”

“You want to stay here and not move to your bed?” Legoshi asked, confused. 

“My bed has always been way too small for us.” Seven rubbed his arm reassuringly. 

“Okay.” Legoshi took the blanket down and spread it on the floor. 

Seven motioned Legoshi to lay down on it. She smiled at his large body being spread out on the floor. Now she was ready for them to be in the opposite position than they were on their first encounter. 

Seven picked up his hand and inspected his nails and shook her head. “Too long.” 

“I’m sorry. They just grow back so quickly.” Legoshi looked away embarrassed. 

“It’s okay. We can do something different.” She left out the words for our last time .

Legoshi looked at her inquisitively. 

Seven had herself angled right on top of him. If she moved a little bit more downward she could sink right onto him. She reached between her legs and Legoshi’s eyes widened. 

She moved her fingers inside of herself to start getting herself open, so she would be able to take him in. She started with one finger then two. 

Seven touched her clit the way she normally would if she were alone. 

Legoshi started touching himself. Seven was thrilled by the power she had over him. He moved his hand up and down his length. 

Seven loved seeing him lose control at the sight of her touching herself. She felt cheeky and commanded, “Stop touching yourself and watch.” 

“Yes. Sorry.” Legoshi sputtered and moved his hand away from his cock.

Seven continued to rub her clit and let out soft breathy moans. “Do you like what you see?”

“Yes. You’re beautiful.” Legoshi rasped.

His words almost stopped Seven. He never referred to her as beautiful before. 

She continued her ministrations while Legoshi sat beneath her desperate for some friction. When she came, she whispered, “Now it’s your turn.”

Seven moved herself to Legoshi’s cock and licked the length of it. He jolted. 

She fixed her hands at the base to pump his cock. Seven admired how she knew how to please him so well. He shuddered in pleasure. “We’re going to need a bit more help.” 

“Huh?” Legoshi responded. 

“Lube for when you’re inside me.” Seven had some lube handy nearby since she planned for this. She moved away and returned quickly with the lube. 

Seven squeezed a generous amount into her palm as she put each leg on the side of Legoshi’s body so she was right above him again. “The truth is I don’t think I’d ever want you inside me with a condom again. You feel too good and I’ve never felt anyone or anything like how you feel inside me before.” She moved her hand up and down his length to lather the lube on his cock. 

Legoshi inhaled sharply as the cool liquid touched him. 

“Are you ready?” Seven whispered to Legoshi.

“Yes,” he answered resolutely. 

Seven sunk down on him, slowly. It was always painful at first, due to his size, but she was able to handle him.

They both inhaled deeply once he was firmly inside of her. She was going to ride him for their last time together. 

Seven moved on top of him and watched his face contort with pleasure. “Truthfully, I always found wolves anxiety provoking before I met you. You know, we were always taught that wolves love to eat us.” 

Legoshi clearly wasn’t able to focus on her words. The only response that he could muster was, “Uh huh.”

“But the truth is you fascinate me. Your features that once inspired fear instead are a work of art to me.” Seven’s breath hitched as she felt a rush of pleasure as she rode him, “I love your fur, your fangs, your unbelievably long legs.” Seven ran her hands over the fur on his belly.

“Seven, you’re–” Legoshi seemed to want to compliment her in return.

Seven hushed him. “Don’t tell me, show me. ”

Legoshi hooked his hands under her armpits to hold her, so that he could remain inside of her. He flipped them over. She was on her back and he was on top of her just like they were that very first night. 

They locked eyes and he moved inside of her with a purpose. His eyes bore into hers. Seven didn’t want to forget this moment. She studied his movements as he thrusted. The way his eyes gleamed, how his fur stuck out when he was moving around a lot, the sweat falling from his brow. She would etch this moment in her mind forever, so that she could always go back to it when she was feeling down. 

Seven could feel he was coming close. She wrapped her legs around him to help nestle him deeper within her. “Legoshi,” she breathed.

“Seven,” he responded breathily in return as he came. 

Legoshi carefully dropped himself next to her. He never laid on top of her when they had sex because he’d crush her. Legoshi looked utterly exhausted. 

Seven was so tired that she could have slept right next to him there on the floor, but she knew herself. She somehow would give it away that she was not going to be here anymore. Seven looked at Legoshi as he stared at the ceiling. 

Legoshi then turned to her and said, “You’re really special to me, Seven, no matter what happens.” 

Seven bit her lip and looked away. She felt a few tears begin to well up in her eyes. Ugh, why am I so emotional? She didn’t want him to see her reaction and tried her best to make sure no further tears would form. “You’re a great friend, Legoshi.” 

He gently grabbed her hand which prompted Seven to then look at him. She didn’t let go, though. 

Legoshi rubbed her knuckles in a soothing way. He was communicating something to her. He was trying to add something to his assertion that she was special to him no matter the circumstances. Maybe he was trying to communicate that he was falling in love with her too and if that were true, Seven needed to stop it. 

She fake yawned and pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry, Legoshi, but I’m so tired, I haven’t slept well the past few days. Do you think you can head back to your room, so I can sleep?” 

He snapped out of the daze he was in. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

Seven cleared her throat, “Thanks again for the food.”

“Of course, any time.” Legoshi stood up on his gangly legs, got dressed, and went to put his shoes on to exit her apartment.

He turned around to make eye contact with Seven, “I know you’re going to be busy the next few days, but, um, whenever you’re free you can let me know.” 

Seven mustered a false smile, “Sure.”

Legoshi gave her an awkward wave goodbye and went to his apartment next door. 

Seven got dressed, cleaned up, and then laid on her bed. She didn’t allow herself to process that they had just had goodbye sex that only one party was privy to. Instead, she grabbed her phone and did something crazy. She went to Haru’s profile and clicked the option to DM her. She was going to try to get them back together. 

On Monday morning, Seven sat in her boss’ office. Her boss was a skunk. With the encouragement of Dr. Hitsuji, she was able to persuade him to let most of her job be sales. However, from time to time she still had to be an emotional support animal which was humiliating and probably one of the largest sources of her recent depression. 

Dr. Hitsuji had questioned her loyalty to a company that treated her poorly several times, but it wasn’t about loyalty. She felt if she quit she would let them win. It would only further their backwards thinking that a female sheep could not sell sportswear. 

However, since she wasn’t loyal, she was going to do something that she needed for herself. She was going to ask for a leave of absence due to her dad’s failing health. She had more than enough vacation and sick days in her bank that she could exhaust. She planned to procure the documents necessary for the leave, at the nursing home later that day, after handling business with her new apartment. 

Her boss entered his office, after chatting with one of Seven’s colleagues, and sat down at his desk. He was a large man who towered over Seven despite being a skunk. 

“So, lamb chop, what brings you to my office today?” He gave her a toothy grin. 

Seven winced at his use of the nickname lamb chop . However, she quickly changed her face to not make him see. 

“There is something I have to speak with you about, sir.”

He drummed his fingers on the table. “And what would that be?” His eyes glazed over her in a way that always freaked Seven out. It was a mix of attraction and hunger.

Seven tried not to focus on the way he looked at her. “My father is very ill. He is all alone because my mother is dead, so I am his next of kin.” 

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that.” He said in a tone that sounded somewhat apologetic, but she couldn’t tell how sincere he was.

“I am going to take a leave of absence to be with my father during his last days.” Seven stuck her chin out to exert her confidence in this decision. 

Her boss leaned back in his chair. “Well, lamb chop, we have a lot going on right now in the sales department and I already booked you in for several meetings. We need you there.” 

Seven wanted to roll her eyes. They needed her at the meetings just to pet her, not for her ideas. “Well, the law states that if a full time employee of any company needs to take time off to care for and be with a terminally ill family member, they are allowed. They must also be offered their job back, if they’ve been with the company for at least 2 years. And guess what? I’ve been here for more than 2 years.” 

“Well, well, well, I guess someone has done their research.” He paused and then continued, “It will be difficult without you here, but I suppose we will have to manage. When will you provide me with the documentation?” 

“Tomorrow morning, sir.” Seven replied. 

“Please bring it to me then, so we can process your leave. You can return to your desk now.” Her boss then went to log onto his computer which Seven was positively sure he was just going to bullshit on. 

Seven arose from her chair and turned on her heel to exit the room. She smiled to herself. I’m taking control of my life.

After work that Monday, Seven scoped out her new apartment and confirmed that she would move in on Thursday. Clara was able to do something to ensure that she could move in super quickly. She was a good realtor after all. She also visited her father who was evidently in his last days of life. He was unrecognizable. They were never really close, but she knew it was the right thing to spend his last days with him. 

She obtained the leave of absence papers to bring to work the next morning. Wednesday would be her last day of work. Things were happening fast, but they had to. That was how life was. 

The next day Seven arrived at Dr. Hitsuji’s office, after work, ready to lay down her plan for how she was changing her life.

“So, how have things been? How was your Armistice Day outing?” It was evident that Dr. Hitsuji was avoiding the word date.

Seven was going to be honest. Her time with Legoshi on Armistice Day was the reason why she was going to make changes in her life. 

“It was good. It made me realize some things.” 

“Oh. Like what?” 

“That I have been falling in love with Legoshi and that I need to make big changes in my life.” 

Dr. Hitsuji nodded. “Well, it’s great that you have been able to recognize your feelings and accept them. What kind of changes are you planning?” 

“I’m going to take a leave of absence from work and I’ll be moving out to be closer to the nursing home where my dad is.” 

“Oh.” Dr. Hitsuji adjusted herself in her seat. “Did you get any updates about him?”

“Yes, unfortunately he’s at the end of his life now,” Seven replied. She said it as a matter of factly instead of in a mournful tone. 

“I am sorry to hear that. Have you told Legoshi about this? How will it affect your relationship?” 

“Thank you. I knew it was coming.” Seven sighed and then realized she didn’t answer Dr. Hitsuji’s questions. 

“No, I haven’t mentioned it to Legoshi. It would only make him super worried and try to visit my dad in the nursing home with me.” 

“I think it might be wise to inform him about your father given your relationship.” 

Seven’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean given our relationship?”

“You did say that you realized that you have been falling in love with him. Aren’t you planning to be romantic partners with him?” Dr. Hitsuji asked as if the automatic answer to the question would be yes. 

Seven looked back at her baffled. “No. I am actually going to meet with his ex-girlfriend to convince her to take him back.”

As a professional therapist, Dr. Hitsuji had to hide her reactions. Her job was to be objective and stoic. It was obvious that she was really trying to hold herself back. “Oh.” She considered her words carefully before continuing, “Why are you deciding to do that?”

Seven loathed when Dr. Hitsuji did not expect her actions. She could see right through her false acceptance. 

“Dr. Hitsuji, I am not trying to be disrespectful, but you should know the answer to that!” Seven replied icily.

Dr. Hitsuji was unfazed by Seven’s outburst. “I am never supposed to make assumptions about my patients, so I have to ask you. You do not have to answer.” Her expression did not change.

Seven stood up. “I cannot give Legoshi the life he wants. He wants a perfect family since his mom gave him a shitty childhood and went off and killed herself, traumatizing her son. He needs a girl who can handle being a wife and mother. I do not want to have children! I can’t be the woman he is looking for!” Seven shouted. She didn’t realize how upset she was about everything. Clearly, Legoshi’s mother’s choices bothered her. She felt he deserved better. She didn’t know she felt that strongly about his childhood. 

Seven sat back down and breathed heavily.

Dr. Hitsuji did not answer for a minute. She then asked, “Would you like some water?”

Seven begrudgingly nodded. 

Dr. Hitsuji got up from her chair and went to the water tank at the corner of the room. She took a cup and filled it. She then walked over to Seven in order to offer it to her. 

Seven allowed herself to be served by Dr. Hitsuji. She took the paper cup of water from her therapist and took a sip. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Dr. Hitsuji returned to her chair. “Take however much time you need and when you’re ready we can resume.”

Seven nodded and finished the small cup of water. You need to calm down . Truthfully. Seven felt embarrassed by her outburst. “I’m sorry, Dr. Hitsuji.”

“There is no need to apologize, Seven.” She gave Seven a slight smile. 

Seven just looked back at her humiliated. 

“Are you ready to continue?”

She should finish the session and try to be a normal sheep. “Yes.” 

“Your feelings are valid. I want you to know this. I apologize that my actions or behaviors made you feel uncomfortable, or like I was judging you.” 

Seven studied her. She knew Dr. Hitsuji did not mean any harm. “I accept your apology.”

Dr. Hitsuji gave her a small smile. Seven smiled back. 

“Well, I do have to ask something. Don’t you think you could avoid trouble by just ending things with Legoshi and leave it to him to deal with his ex-girlfriend?” Her voice was very sincere. 

“I don’t think he’d be able to convince her that he’s ready without me. I also don’t want her to worry about anything being still between us. I think by meeting with her I can help them avoid drama, actually.”

Dr. Hitsuji considered her words. “Have you reached out to her?”

“I did and she has agreed to meet me.” 

“You seem very sure of this. That is a good thing. I wish you the best during your meeting with her. I just want to reaffirm that this is a safe space. I do not make assumptions and all of your feelings are valid.” Dr. Hitsuji sounded more genuine than she ever did before.

For the first time, Seven felt really good about a therapy session.

Seven was going to meet Haru at a coffee shop after work. She had been able to just briefly see Legoshi without making herself fully disappear. She had small talk with him in the hallway the night prior to not seem too suspicious. Seven added that she had gotten her period which was true and actually great news for her, but also made it clear to Legoshi that no sexual activity would be occurring.  

Seven knew that perhaps the whole conversation with Haru could have been done via telephone call or direct message, but Seven felt that Haru needed to see how genuine she was. 

Much to her surprise, Haru agreed to meet. This confirmed that Legoshi and Haru belonged with each other. They were both willing to put themselves in odd situations.

Today was actually her last day of work. Tomorrow her leave of absence began and she was going to move into her new place. It was quite ironic. What should have been a celebration of the beginning of her leave of absence from her toxic job was her meeting with her situationship’s ex girlfriend. 

The funny thing is Seven couldn’t remember the last time she got a coffee with another woman. The sad reality was that female friendships were a very important aspect of Seven’s youth, but slowly disappeared as she got older. Seven mourned the fact that they slowly disappeared, and that female friends would not stop judging her for her decisions to lead a less conventional lifestyle for a ewe.

Seven meeting with Haru was not an example of friends grabbing coffee. Nonetheless, no matter how awkward the situation, Seven knew that she was doing the right thing for Legoshi. He was ready to have an adult relationship with Haru including sex. 

University students were still on their summer break, so Haru had the time. She started feeling really nervous on the way to the coffee shop after she exited the subway. 

This is going to be insane. Just keep it short and sweet. Just let her see that you’re genuine.  Seven repeated this to herself as she walked. 

She opened the coffee shop door. She was early, so she’d order and send Haru a message saying that she was here. There was the chance that Haru would freak out, or that maybe she told Legoshi and instead they’d both waltz in through the door. 

Seven ordered her frappuccino and sat down at the nearest empty table that had two available seats. She sent Haru a message stating that she was at the coffee shop waiting for her. 

There was no answer. Seven sipped on her frappuccino hoping that this wouldn’t all implode in her face. 

Five minutes later just as Seven was getting ready to accept that maybe this wasn’t going to happen, a small white rabbit walked through the door. She was much smaller than Seven remembered. 

Haru scanned the coffee shop before her eyes landed on Seven. She didn’t wave, but instead hesitantly walked forward towards Seven.

“Hi,” She greeted Seven with an awkward wave.

Seven gave her an awkward nod in return, “Do you want to get something to drink?”

Haru thought about it for a few seconds before replying, “Yeah, just give me a minute and I’ll be back.”

“Okay.” Seven watched Haru go to order something. 

The moment was here. Haru actually came by herself. Seven was relieved that Haru trusted her enough to come. They were going to be able to talk about Legoshi.

Haru returned to the table with a small matcha latte. She sat down in front of Seven.

Seven suddenly lost all her ability to speak. She had no idea what to say now that Haru was in front of her. Haru was cute. She had soft features and a girl next door vibe. Seven could see how she was someone Legoshi could love and want to protect at all costs. 

Haru looked back at her waiting expectedly, but since Seven didn’t say anything, she started the conversation, “So, you asked to meet me to talk about Legoshi? I’m assuming he’s okay since you said it wasn’t urgent and he wasn’t in danger, which I was glad to hear because with Legoshi you never know what he’s up to.” Haru shrugged.

“Um, yeah. Thanks for meeting with me. Legoshi is fine and not actually throwing himself into danger for once.” Seven took a sip of her frappuccino.

“That’s good. I just wasn’t sure why you messaged me. I haven’t had to deal with girl drama since high school. I really hope this isn’t what this is.” Haru laughed nervously.

Girl drama? She really is so young. “Oh no, no, trust me. This isn’t that. I’m 30 years old. I’m too old for that.” 

“Okay, good.” Haru smiled and then continued, “So, what is it that you wanted to tell me?”

“You should take Legoshi back,” Seven blurted.

“I was going to get in touch with him. Did he tell you about the circumstances of our break up?” 

“He did,” Seven paused, unsure if now was the time to reveal her role in the situation. She took a deep breath and continued, “I helped him get the experience he needed.”

Haru’s eyes widened, taken aback. “Oh?” She wasn’t able to muster any other response.

“Yeah, I know how weird this all is. He told me about it and I tried to help him find someone, but he wasn’t able to because of how awkward he is. So, I offered to help him out. He’s never stopped loving you this whole time and I think he’s ready to have a relationship.” 

Haru did not seem to expect that Seven was the one to have helped Legoshi lose his virginity. Seven gave her a few minutes to process the information. 

Haru then asked, “Does he know that you’re telling me this?”

“No, he doesn’t. He’s waiting for you to take him back. I wanted you to know it was me and that there’s nothing between us. You both belong with each other.” Seven avoided the twinge in her stomach when she said there’s nothing between us . There was, but she was cutting it off. Haru didn’t need to know that piece of information.

“So, you guys didn’t have a summer romance?” Haru asked with a slightly teasing voice. 

Seven shook her head as her mind flashed to them watching the fireworks together on Armistice Day. “No, but as Legoshi’s friend, I am telling you that he’s one of a kind.”

“It’s funny. I always end up talking to another girl who had something going on with Legoshi. He gets himself into weird situations.” Haru chuckled to herself. 

Seven raised an eyebrow, but she really didn’t even want to know what Haru meant by that.

“Don’t you think it’ll be awkward if Legoshi and I get back together and you’re literally his next door neighbor?” Haru challenged. 

“Well, lucky for you, I’m moving out tomorrow and changing my phone number.”

Haru’s eyes widened. “Does Legoshi know this?”

“No, because it’s time we moved on. Haru, trust me on this, Legoshi is ready to be with you and you won’t have to worry about me.”

Haru just looked at her with an unsure expression.

“He’s ready, Haru. There’s not much else for me to say.”

“Okay.”

Seven got up. “I won’t be on Anigram anymore either. Don’t ever worry about my time with Legoshi. I wanted you to hear it from me. I know how women are. A small part of your brain and would always wonder if his version of the story is true.”

“Is that all?” Haru asked.

“Yeah. Good luck.” Seven went to throw out her frappuccino and left the coffee shop. She thought about how in another life perhaps she and Haru could have been friends.

In the wee hours of the next morning, Seven prepared to take a Zuber to her new apartment. It was furnished. The furniture she had in her current apartment didn’t hold any significance to her. She had just packed a bag of her belongings and the rest of her more valuable things were in a storage complex already since it was too dangerous to have them in her current apartment.

She had written Legoshi a note that she would slip under his door. It was cowardly to not say goodbye to him face to face. She knew that. What she also knew was that if she did see him to say goodbye, she might never leave and she couldn’t have that. It was time for a new beginning. 

Seven adjusted the bag on her shoulder and scanned the apartment. She would never come back here again. This would forever be marked as a transitional period of her life. 

She picked up the letter which was already folded and said “To Legoshi.” Seven closed her apartment door for the last time and went in front of Legoshi’s door. Tears pricked her eyes. She missed him already more than anything, but this was for the best. She slipped the note under his door and went downstairs for the Zuber.

Dear Legoshi,

Our time together is something that I will never forget. Thank you for being so kind to me and one of the most genuine friends I’ve ever had in my life. You are a one-of-a-kind individual and I’m lucky to have had the chance to get to know you.

I have moved out to a new apartment. My number isn’t the same. Please don’t look for me. Live your life. You are on the precipice of having the life you’ve always wanted with Haru. Don’t ruin that by trying to find me. 

I wish you the best of luck. 

Sincerely,

Seven