Chapter 18 (Beast Complex)

**The Lion and the Rabbit** (ライオンとウサギ, *Raion to usagi*?) is the eighteenth chapter of *Beast Complex*.

## Synopsis

Even the most basic acts of affection can be dangerous in a carnivore-herbivore relationship. Eado, underestimating interspecies relationships, thought that a lion and a rabbit could just flirt, go on a nice date and simply have a nice time, so he thought he could handle it just fine. He couldn't even kiss her properly, and even though he hadn't even considered eating her, in the spring of last year, he found himself with his fangs in her face.

At the university, Eado finds a pamphlet that reports that his rabbit ex-girlfriend, Ako, entered a university beauty contest, causing Eado, who did not even know that she returned to university, to be surprised to see it. They used to date for a while and the way they broke up was very bad, so Eado wonders how Ako is doing. He has not seen her since they settled the scar situation in court, and Eado wonders if he should text her. He thinks she might spin those texts against him and would try to expose him since that is something she would do. Remembering that Ako is in the tennis club, Eado goes to the campus court to meet her, wondering if he should try to apologize in person since that would be less awkward next time they happen to meet. Ako was proud of her looks and he wouldn't be too surprised if she tries to kick him in the groin or bite him. The Ako he knows is like that, a tough and fierce rabbit.

To his surprise, when he meets Ako again, she is cheerful and radiant and runs towards him to hug him, claiming to be happy that he has come to see her. Ako's companions ask her if he is her boyfriend, but Ako corrects them and says that Eado is her ex-boyfriend and the one who gave her the scars on her face. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, they tell him to stay away from her and scold him for coming. Ako stops them and tells them that she will leave with Eado and they don't have to worry, canceling their plan to go see the fireworks with her. Eado feels that all of this is weird and Ako proposes that they have a proper talk. While leaving the campus, Eado notices Ako's popularity and finally understands what is happening. Ako has always been quick to pick up on a situation and adjust to it. She has always been the scariest female he has ever known. Ako asks Eado why he felt the need to came to see her on a Friday, claiming that it is hard to get a rumor going during the weekend and he should have visited her on a Monday. Eado apologizes for making her miss the fireworks party with her friends, but Ako claims that it is fine since she does not care about fireworks and surely her entire club will know that he came to meet her. Eado asks how many stitches she ended up getting, and wonders how normally wouldn't her first reaction be to just blame him, he just doesn't get it. Since Ako is not interested in fireworks, Eado proposes to go to his place for a drink.

At home, Eado claims that this is probably the first time they have been alone in a room. Ako affirms it and says that him drinking at home with his ex is definitely a sign that he has some other motive. Eado alleges that this is not his intention and he wanted to see her authentic side, so they would have to go to someplace private so she doesn't feel the need to try to show off around other animals. They have always been on outdoor dates because she was always obsessed with showing everyone that they are an interspecies couple and never really sat down to talk about it, so he proposes that now they can talk freely.

He notices that Ako is passed out due to her apparent low tolerance for alcohol, but after a moment of silence, Ako asks him if now he feels sorry for her and if these scars are painful to look at. She immediately runs away and Eado chases after her. Ako tells him that she does not want his pity because her scars will never go away, so she will just take advantage of them. She will use them to get over a million followers on social media and write an autobiography about this trauma. She orders him to stop being so arrogant, since he didn't give her these scars. Ako's words were being drowned out by the sound of the fireworks, but even then Eado is the only one who could hear them. Eado claims he likes her more than ever, and upon reaching Ako, he declares to her that he loves her. He asks her to date properly, not as a trendy couple, but as a real couple. Ako accepts under the condition that he becomes are good plastic surgeon, and until then, he will remain devoted to her, and once he starts his medical practice, he will confess to her again since she will need a good chapter like that in her autobiography. Eado laughs and asks her to just wait for him, while they both give each other a hopeful look. Her cry become an oath.

## Trivia

* It is revealed in a newscast that Mugi's new image turned out to be a success.
* Eado has a poster of the band Yoasobi in his apartment.