Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Convenience Store Rabbit
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Having eaten lunch like that, I ended up doing the same for dinner. Well, I didn't actually eat. I just wasted money. What I mean is, I grabbed some campus food but couldn't handle the overwhelming attention and bolted.
'Mom, I'm sorry!'
This isn't what you gave me allowance for! I'm sorry!
The one silver lining was that this being Beastkin University, the kids had bottomless appetites, so there was a big convenience store on campus open 24/7.
And the downside? It was packed with beastkin around the clock.
'Is this a convenience store or a zoo?!'
From the clerk to the customers, all beastkin—I couldn't even muster the courage to go in! I thought I only hated furries, but now I'm starting to hate beastkin too!
"Tactical retreat!"
I cleanly gave up on the campus store and fired up my map app to find one off-campus.
"An hour's walk...?"
In the heart of Seoul, the nearest off-campus convenience store from the university is an hour away...? For real...?
'You think I'm giving up that easily?!?!'
If I don't go somewhere, I'll starve to death for real!!!!
I threw on some clothes and set off on the long trek. It was still early spring, chilly at dawn, so I hustled and made it to the convenience store.
"Haa..."
It looked narrow from the outside, nothing special about the little shop. But not a single suspicious furball in sight? Instant pass. And the few people visible were humans, not beastkin.
'That's right. This is how a convenience store should be!'
An hour away, but I might become a regular!
I entered grinning ear to ear.
"Uh, w-welcome."
"?"
I'd opened the door and stepped in, only to back right out.
What the...? Did I see that wrong??
I rubbed my eyes and went back in.
"Uh, w-welcome...!"
There she was, the clerk fumbling her words just like before—a classic Korean convenience store part-timer.
Yeah, a "part-timer." Your standard Korean conbini clerk.
But that fur tuft sticking straight up from her head toward the ceiling? Not so standard.
'Rabbit ears?'
My eyes locked onto the long, white ears sprouting from her head.
'Some trendy MZ accessory?'
...No sooner had I thought that than twitch! The ears moved! A real rabbit beastkin!
'What the hell!!!!!'
I walked an hour to escape beastkin-infested stores, and the clerk here is a beastkin?!
'No, wait. No. This is actually better.'
The campus one was swarming, but here there's just one. Any way you slice it, way better!
Regaining my composure, I leisurely grabbed some ramen. Snacks too, and hot bars for the walk back.
Time to check out!
I set my stuff on the counter... but something was off with the clerk.
"......"
"......"
"......"
"Um, excuse me. Can you ring me up?"
"Ah...!"
Even after I put everything down, she just spaced out with a dazed look until I spoke up, then scanned the barcodes.
Her eyes were glassy, like she wasn't feeling well.
"W-Would you like a b-bag?"
I nodded instead of answering and swiped my debit card in the reader.
While waiting for it to process, the clerk peeked at me.
Albino rabbit beastkin, huh. I'd heard furry albinos were common, but beastkin mixed with human? Rare.
Since I was staring in fascination, she stared back curiously—pink eyes in white hair, cheeks flushing red as she peeked.
But why are you curious about me? First human you've seen? Huh?
"Um, excuse me..."
The clerk suddenly spoke up.
"A-Are you... a student at Beastkin University?"
"...I'm not a beastkin."
"N-No, not Beastkin University student, but... B-Beastkin U student?"
"Ah. Yeah."
I'd acted like an idiot.
[Please remove your card.]
I grabbed my card from the reader and nodded, and suddenly the clerk perked up.
"I knew it!"
Her rabbit ears twitched excitedly.
"I-I go to Beastkin University too...!"
"Figures."
"S-So you're a freshman, right? The other human upperclassmen all dropped out..."
"?"
What? Hinting at something? Signalling me to drop out quick?
The chubby-cheeked clerk went "Hachaa!" and apologized with a laugh.
"Ah... I came on too strong. S-Sorry."
That was your apology point?
"You smelled like beastkin, so I figured classmate and got excited..."
Smell? What smell?
"Do I smell?"
"Y-Yes! Fur smell!"
Her bright reply shocked me a bit. I'd kept my distance from beastkin all day—or so I thought. Could the smell linger? Am I doomed to reek of fur for three years?
Unable to hide my dismay, the clerk hurriedly added, trembling. Whoa, why are you shaking?
"N-Not that strong...! Just enough for beastkin to catch...!"
"Ah, okay..."
My eyes drifted to her chest.
Not that the large bust didn't suit her small frame and catch my eye, but what I wanted was the name tag.
'Choi Eum-a?'
How's a person's name "Eum-a"? It evoked aphrodisiacs—quite the unique name.
I grabbed my stuff and left the counter. She called out.
"Th-Thanks, come again!"
"Yeah..."
As I munched my sausage leaving the store, that oddly named clerk's words echoed in my head.
"She said other upperclassmen, so she's a freshman too?"
Being the only human among beastkin had me feeling isolated, but knowing a face before orientation eased my mind—a bit.
Then I recalled her flushed, trembling face and changed my tune.
'Do rabbits get rabies?'
Hopefully not in my major.
I walked another hour back to the dorm. Swiping into Narae Dorm, the girls in the first-floor lounge spotted me and murmured "Whoa" instead of "Oh my."
Never seen a human before, seriously!!!
My major is Visual Design.
Not by choice.
If I'd gone elsewhere, I'd have picked a promising field, but since my joke application only left Visual Design—the department with decent rep—I ended up a lifelong graphic design student.
'At least I graduated from vocational school. I know Photoshop and Illustrator!'
Comforting myself with my certifications, I entered the classroom and locked eyes with the beastkin already there.
'Awkward.'
I sat in the back corner by the window without meeting eyes. Gaze out the window. Ironclad no-eye-contact policy.
'Beastkin come in so many varieties.'
Animals and furries look similar, but human-hybrid beastkin each look unique. That's why fur colors fly everywhere!!! Am I in a classroom or a plushie stuffing factory?!?!
'Just graduate! Graduate and get out!'
Quietly attend, grab diploma, leave. Half-closing my eyes with that resolve, the door creaked open. Another classmate, but I ignored it.
I didn't even twitch at the slippers shuffling for a seat.
But... drag!
'Drag?'
Chair scraping the floor—right next to me!
I glanced over slyly. Unfamiliar volume of chest hit my eyes first. Then red round eyes, white hair, long twitching rabbit ears.
'Uh...! The big-chest rabbit...!'
The clerk from last night! Why is she here?!
And why my seat?!
"Wow...! W-We’re in the same department...!"
"Yeah. But why sit next to me?"
"A-A familiar face, so I just... Heehee."
Heehee my ass!
Choi Eum-a, not hiding her delight, whispered with her face red as yesterday.
"S-Since we're classmates, wanna drop formalities? I'm Choi Eum-a."
No agreement, and she goes casual! But getting offended brands me the antisocial one!
"Saw your tag yesterday. Joo Ji-hyeok."
"Joo Ji-hyeok... Ji-hyeok... Joo-ji... Fuhehe."
She mumbled my name oddly, then giggled to herself.
'And your name's how normal?'
Not kids playing name games! I put up with cafeteria teasing, now campus food too!
Anyway.
"Been wondering since yesterday—why's your face always so red?"
Her cheeks burned like she was sick, same as yesterday, so I asked. She averted her eyes awkwardly, hesitated, then whispered.
"W-Well... actually... I-I'm in heat right now..."
"Shouldn't have asked..."
"N-No, it's fine!"
'I'm not fine, girl!'
Suddenly, I recalled the male rabbit Dad bought from the market when I was little.
Full-grown, in heat constantly—humping furniture, rubbing Mom's legs. Annoying and pitiful, so we donated it to a petting zoo.
'She's in that state too.'
Her answer explained the erratic breathing I'd sensed, making me uncomfortable. Sitting next to a pervert who might rub against me anytime... Who gets this...?
Moments later, the packed classroom door (beastkin + one human) opened!
"Hi everyone~"
Twitch twitch!Wag wag!
Dog beastkin TA?! Pointy ears twitching, bushy tail wagging wildly, she stuck out her tongue with a 'Heh~' grin introducing herself.
"I'm TA Gyeon Nari~ Call me TA casually~"
Her tail wagged harder at "nice to meet you"! Eyes sparkling! Other dog beastkin wagged too.
The ones unable to contain excitement whined like needy pups, "Nng nng."
'Not a classroom, a dog cafe.'
If they were pets instead of dog beastkin, they'd be social stars.
'At least Eum-a's rabbit, not dog.'
Or she'd be whining next to me.
"Nng nng."
No, what?
A pitiful whine from right beside me—I turned in shock. Goosebumps.
Not yesterday's disheveled clerk look, but cute freshman campus wear. My neighbor rabbit beastkin, skirt hiked up forgotten, was grinding her crotch on the chair, legs spread.
'M-Masturbating...?'
No, more than that... why... in the world...?
"Ung... nng nng..."
Eyes closed, focused on rocking her hips back and forth—then she slowly opened them.
Our eyes met dead-on.
Staring with eyes as red as her ripe cheeks. I expected panic, but no—expecting shame from a beastkin masturbating in class? Too much.
She smiled up at me...
"Hah...!"
Short gasp—her body shuddered, then stiffened.
Obvious.
'She came.'
Grinding on the chair in class, next to a girl who just climaxed.
I couldn't look away from the bizarre scene. Eum-a caught her breath watching me. Sweat beading on her plump thighs sparkled under the lights like pearls.
Soon, she flashed a refreshed smile casually, even mimicking a whine.
"Nng nng...!"
What the fuck did I just witness!!!!!!