One step, two steps. Instinctively stepping back, I was suddenly blocked by something hard on my back. A dim shadow was cast over my ears. ‘What is it?’ I slowly turned my head as my heart sank. The person blocking my way was a well-groomed young man with an unusually strong presence. He stared blankly at the distinctive glasses on his face and spoke first. “Are you Bendy Reppy?” In a businesslike manner and tone, I was about to answer casually, but I froze. “I am Isaac, the secretary of the academy’s director. The director would like to meet you in secret before you enroll.” I couldn’t hear the murmuring man’s voice properly. There was something missing between his slightly open lips. ‘…A carnivorous merfolk.’ He came after all. It was the fangs of the carnivorous merfolk that I had only heard of. I put my hand on my chest and calmly spoke, recalling the advice my parents used to hit into my ears. ‘Bendy, remember this.’ I remembered the advice that was inscribed by my parents. ‘Even if you come across a carnivorous animal, you can survive if you just keep your cool. Don’t panic and…’ I quietly spoke the advice that became my bone and flesh. “First of all.” The advice I heard with my ears sticking. “Should I kneel from my knees?” “…What?” It was about how deer, who are good at understanding the topic, live longer. While Principal Milane, who was swimming in speculation, coughed, someone lightly knocked on the door of the principal’s office. “Principal, it’s Isaac.” It finally came. Nervous, Principal Milane straightened his back and stared at the door. “Come in.” As the door opened, the familiar secretary came in, followed by a handsome brown deer. Furleng. When the dazzling eyes of the rough-looking deer met the eyes of Principal Milane, his eyes sparkled like a flash. ‘As expected, it’s not an ordinary student.’ Even in front of him, the White Tiger merfolk, it was clear that this was not an ordinary deer. But why did he appear in animal form? Overwhelmed for a moment by the momentum between the brown deer on the left and right, Principal Milane reached out his hand. “I am Principal Milane. Nice to meet you, student Bendy.” “Principal, this is Dave, sir.” The secretary, who answered in his place, pointed behind me. “Bendy is here.” Finally, Principal Milane, who was able to get a proper look at Bendy, stiffened his facial expression. “Turn around.” “…Excuse me?” “Turn around in place.” At the sudden request, Bendy hesitated for a moment before turning around. His curly black hair fluttered in the air. “Jump in place.” Boing. “Raise both arms.” Hooray. “Smile.” What does he want? Unable to refuse the inexplicable command, Bendy awkwardly smiled.
✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧ 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓋𝒾𝓉𝓎𝓃𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈 ✧˚·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥·̩̩̥͙✧·̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥˚·̩̩̥͙✧
