You, Be My Friend
You, Be My Friend
"You, be my friend."
Biruna Basil, who inherited the thick blood of her mother, a fox beastkin and shaman of the plains.
Thanks to that, she possessed the mystical ability to take two forms: beast form and human form.
Some beastkin, like fox or raccoon beastkin, have that ability.
In the case of Biruna's mother, perhaps because she was also a shaman, she could perfectly disguise herself as a human.
However, although her appearance resembled her mother, her inner self was a spitting image of her warrior father, so Biruna's transformation was immature compared to her mother's.
Even when disguised as a human, her ears and three fox tails could not be hidden.
Still, Biruna lives in her human form on a daily basis.
It's not because she likes the human appearance.
Because that at least draws less of the other students' uncomfortable stares than her full beast form.
In other words, it's better to be looked at like a rare human than like a rare beast.
However, living an unwanted life and even wearing an unwanted appearance caused no small amount of stress.
So for Biruna, who would spend time alone in deserted places whenever she had a chance, a night like this was the perfect healing time.
Yes, 'it was'.
A story of the past.
Because an uninvited guest appeared.
Biruna, who was strolling through the cool spring night forest while gently waving a fan her mother gave her.
Enjoying a moonbath, her happy mood was brief,
"Tsk."
Before her, two unfamiliar humans appeared.
Noel and Rosalyn.
Biruna, who was enjoying her alone time away from humans' annoying stares for once, frowned at the ruined mood.
Biruna tried to leave without a word, but
"Excuse me!"
Noel quickly called out.
She thought about ignoring her, but
"Biruna-ssi! Please be my friend."
"Huh?"
Because she said such an absurd thing, Biruna reflexively stopped walking.
"Why would I be friends with a human I don't even know──."
I am a noble wolf—no, a fox.
I have no intention of making friends, not with humans nor even with fellow beastkin.
Biruna tried to coldly dismiss her with that attitude, but she couldn't.
Because Noel offered an enticing condition that was absolutely impossible to ignore in exchange for becoming friends.
"Then I'll tell you how to graduate early from the academy and return to the plains."
She said she would tell her a secret method to quickly graduate from this stifling academy and return to the plains if she became friends.
At those words, Biruna had no choice but to stop in her tracks.
Early graduation.
She can return home.
At that, her ears perked up reflexively.
This isn't just bait to catch her.
Because Noel knows how Biruna got close to the protagonist Theodore in the original work, she used that as the basis to cast her bait.
Once you understand the problem, you can find the answer.
In the first place, Biruna came to study here because of her disposition.
Although beastkin have a strong tendency to exclude humans, even such beastkin are changing with the times.
However, Biruna was particularly conservative in that regard.
So much so that her father, Great Chieftain Gaiana Basil, who was concerned about Biruna's exclusivity toward other races including humans since she was being considered as the next great chieftain, sent her on a semi-forced study abroad.
In other words, to have her socialize with humans and become more flexible in her thinking.
That is, if she makes friends with various other races including humans, she would clear that condition and have a reason to graduate early and return.
In the original work, Biruna thought of that on her own and first suggested a business friendship to Theodore, who was training in the forest, because he looked easy to take advantage of.
Saying she would help him train if he became friends.
Noel intends to use that exact method to catch the big fish that is Biruna.
"Hmm, that's an interesting thing to say."
She took the bait.
Biruna, who had swiftly approached Noel, looked her up and down with interest in her eyes.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Noel Grace, Biruna-ssi."
"Noel? Ah... the one those humans were making a fuss about?"
Since Biruna had little interest in human culture, she naturally had never encountered Noel's works.
But because the students around her talked so much about it, she had heard about it in passing.
So she immediately reacted upon hearing Noel's name.
She roughly knew what kind of person she was.
"Judging by how you suddenly say something like this, you're certainly an interesting human."
Biruna sniffed lightly, making a 'kkeung kkeung' sound as she checked Noel's scent.
"It's not the smell of lying..."
'You can tell that from smell? As expected of a beastkin...'
Biruna asks Noel, who was inwardly admiring.
"You said you'd tell me how to go home early if I become your friend?"
"That's right. More precisely, becoming friends with me is itself the method."
"Hmm."
Biruna makes a puzzled expression.
"But how do you know I want to go back?"
"Uh... are you seriously asking that?"
Before even considering original work knowledge, given Biruna's usual behavior, wouldn't it be stranger not to know?
She doesn't socialize, acts like she doesn't know what cooperation is, and keeps up a cold wall every day while going around alone.
If that's not because she's unhappy with her environment and wants to go home quickly, what else could it be?
Even if her social skills were destroyed, it wouldn't be that extreme.
It's just that she has no intention.
Since it was obvious to anyone, Noel answered the question with a question.
And upon hearing that question, Biruna unconsciously recalled her own actions and understood.
Even so, it was a bit surprising that someone saw through her inner thoughts like this, but she wasn't suspicious.
Because that wasn't important to Biruna.
As for Rosalyn, she was thinking something like, 'If she can deduce this much, is she claiming she doesn't have the ability to stand on the podium?'
'A friend.'
She had no intention of sincerely wanting to become friends with a human, but
"If I can go back early... that wouldn't be bad either."
She thinks it wouldn't be bad if it's a reason to return home early.
If she could complete her mission early and return to the plains by claiming she had learned enough about the human world and even made a friend as proof──.
"Fine, let's be friends. So? Why do you want to be friends with me? What benefit do you get from being friends with me? What are you after?"
She decided to go ahead and be friends, whatever.
Still, she wanted to figure out what Noel's intentions were for approaching her like this.
Basically, the humans Biruna experienced here treated her like a curious animal but didn't readily approach her.
Even among humans, they create differences and keep their distance based on different countries or statuses.
But to think a human would appear who approaches her, a different race, first and asks to be friends.
Even if she looks like this, Biruna knows a bit about humans.
The problem is that she only knows the bad sides, but still, she does know.
For such Biruna, a human like Noel was beyond her expectations.
Wondering what her purpose was, she asked about her intentions,
"There's nothing I'm after? I just want to get along with Biruna-ssi. A beastkin friend, isn't that cool?"
On the contrary, she retorts as if asking if there always has to be a benefit.
A scent of sincerity.
"Huh?"
The thought that she is a human whose heart is hard to read grows stronger.
"Are you a weirdo? Or is it that special taste thing?"
"No, I'm not."
In her past life and now, Noel didn't particularly dislike furries, but she didn't particularly like them either, so she wondered what kind of strange misunderstanding this was.
"I just think it would be nice if humans, elves, and dwarves all got along."
She's not trying to say something grand about racial harmony or anything.
Since she was born in a fantasy world, interacting with non-human intelligent beings, the symbols of fantasy, is essential.
Seeing Noel speak with shoulders squared as if asking what's the problem, Biruna knew the other person was sincere—no, she was even more confused because the other person was sincere.
A human who came all the way here in the middle of the night just to interact with a different race without any ulterior motives.
Seeing Noel, who was clearly different from the humans she knew until now, Biruna felt a little interested.
'Certainly... if I observe her, it seems I can quickly accomplish the mission of learning about the human world.'
Her decision was made.
"Fine. I'll do it, friend."
The moment she heard Biruna's answer, Noel clenched her fist in delight.
Thus the two decided to be friends, but they were far from being friends who truly opened their hearts to each other.
Although they said let's be friends, for now they were no different from strangers, but they say starting is half the battle.
One day, they would become close friends.
"As a commemoration of becoming friends, please sign here."
Noel goes on the offensive for that purpose.
"What's this? ...A club membership application for the Cross-Cultural Exchange Club?"
"That's right. It's the best place to achieve Biruna-ssi's goal."
The Cross-Cultural Exchange Club.
At Noel's words that there's no more perfect place to learn about humans, elves, and dwarves than here, Biruna blinked.
"What exactly does it do?"
"We just gather and play together── no, study and learn about different cultures of other countries or races. And we also promote the results of that study."
"Hmm...?"
Upon hearing that, Biruna made an annoyed expression.
"Results? What kind of results?"
At the piercing question, Noel blinked.
Honestly, she had never thought about it deeply.
Because it was important to gather different races and create a club, and she was confident that she could roughly handle showing off the club's achievements, she hadn't concretely thought about it.
So Noel said whatever came to mind on the spot.
"Something like correcting misunderstandings about other cultures, um, I was thinking of drawing a four-panel comic."
"Four-panel? Comic? What's that?"
Fortunately, Clara and Evelyn Perry are also in the club.
If she has those two create something like a four-panel comic correcting misconceptions about other races or cultures, that would solve it right away.
And Biruna or Lucia become sources for drawing that comic.
"It's late, so let's talk details tomorrow. Meet me in front of the Knight Department fountain."
At Noel's suggestion to talk over lunch, Biruna, who was in thought for a moment, nods.
She decided to watch and see how it goes since she agreed to hang out anyway.
"Don't be late. I hate waiting."
Leaving those words behind, the three-tailed fox Biruna leaves, wagging her three tails.
Watching her receding back, Noel clenched her fist.
This is perfect.
Thinking that this would become the happiest club activity as a fan of the original work, Noel soaked in joy under the moonlight.
At that moment,
"Lady Noel, but what exactly is a four-panel comic...?"
"Ah."
Rosalyn's voice, as if asking about the task, brought her back to reality.
Honestly, it was just something she blurted out offhand, but now she wondered if she had said something unnecessary.