Chapter 108: Feeding Time
The number one zoo in the nation... Aren't you supposed to be a Pro Hero?
Although national policy allowed Pro Heroes to have side jobs in their areas of expertise, for a Pro Hero to have a life goal of running the nation's number one zoo... that was just as absurd as a demon lord wanting to become the best employee at a fast-food restaurant.
After saying those inexplicable words, the Rabbit Director left, telling Kira to go find the zookeeper after he finished getting settled, and that she would tell him what to do.
Kira didn't have much to organize, but the room was covered in dust. He had a bit of a fixation on cleanliness, so he grabbed a bucket from the corner and began to clean.
Half an hour later, the room was more or less spotless. Kira clapped his hands in satisfaction and left the dorm.
The zoo only had a few dozen animals, but each one was a different species, and their eyes were all far more intelligent than those in a typical zoo.
Kira found Aoi Hana by a pond, where she was hosing down a hippopotamus.
The hippo saw Kira approaching and let out a few low rumbles. Hearing the hippo, Aoi turned and saw Kira walking toward her.
"Kira-kun, you're here," Aoi said, putting down the hose with a sigh. "I heard from the Director. You'll be interning at this zoo for a week, working as a zookeeper, just like me."
Kira nodded. "That's right. Please take care of me, senpai."
Aoi shook her head. "I can't promise that. I just want to say that these aren't ordinary animals. Please don't treat them like they're in a circus."
Kira suddenly asked, "Not ordinary? You mean they have Quirks?"
"Not exactly. Ugh, it's a pain to explain. Since the Director is letting you stay here, it means he wants you to know the secret. Just wait until after the park closes, and you'll see for yourself."
After saying this, Aoi began to explain his new duties. "Normally, the zoo opens at nine, so we have to be up at eight to clean the animals and sweep the park."
At this, she sighed. "Although, it's not like anyone ever comes."
That much was true. Kira felt that this zoo's publicity was practically non-existent. Only a few locals had even heard of it, and it was so far from the city. Almost no one would come all this way just to see a few dozen animals. It wasn't a circus.
She collected her thoughts and continued, "The park is divided into four zones: North, East, South, and West. The predators, like lions and wolves, are in the North Zone. The large, powerful animals, like hippos and elephants, are in the West. The South is a mixed zone for snakes, eagles, and the like. And the East Zone is for rare, novel animals, like the seals."
"Then what's in the middle?" Kira pointed to a tall statue in the center of the zoo. It was clearly a statue of the Pro Hero "Mad Rabbit," the Director. It was a rabbit head, holding a carrot high in the air, as if it were mimicking the Statue of Liberty.
"That's the second-generation statue. The Director spent a whole year carving it," Aoi said with a weary smile. "The house next to the statue is where the Director lives. If you can, it's best to stay away from that area. Any other questions?"
"I probably shouldn't ask this, but... Aoi-san, you only look a few years older than me. At an age when you should be in university, why are you working at a dead-end zoo like this?"
"A dead end... You're right." She looked off into the distance. "This story starts back in the summer of my third year of middle school. When we have time, I'll tell you about it."
Aoi looked at her watch, then suddenly at Kira. "Kira-kun, do you like animals?"
"Animals? Animals without sentience, like pigs, cows, and sheep, just become my food. I'm not sure what I feel for them. It's not 'like'... it's probably 'gratitude'."
"I don't mean the ones raised for food," Aoi said with a wry smile. "Even I eat meat. I'm asking about the animals that you don't have a direct relationship with on the food chain."
Kira thought for a moment. "If I have to say, I like cats."
"Cats? I like them too!" Aoi's eyes lit up. "Kira-kun, it's time to feed the animals. Want to come with me?"
"Seals are creatures that love to sunbathe. When they get tired of swimming, they'll pop up and rest on the shore. That's when we can feed them," Aoi instructed, holding a wriggling fish in her hand. "When you feed them, remember to hold them by the tail and feed them head-first. Otherwise, the gills might get stuck in their throat."
Kira watched as the seal ate the fish he offered, then flopped onto the bank to rest. A strange sense of accomplishment welled up in him. It was a new experience. He had never fed a wild animal in his previous life or this one, let alone a seal.
Next, the two of them carried a hundred-kilogram load of leaves, fruits, and grass to the elephant. He and the giraffe stood side-by-side, eating the food.
After Kira had helped Aoi feed over a dozen pounds of raw beef to the lions, he couldn't help but ask a question. "Aoi-san, this zoo basically has no visitors, right? Judging by the fact that the lions alone eat a hundred kilograms of raw meat a day, there's no way the ticket sales can cover the expenses, is there?"
Aoi gave a bitter laugh. "You're right. You could say our ticket revenue is basically zero. But... they have partners on the outside who earn money."
Partners?
Kira was confused by the term. What kind of partners could be earning money on the outside? Don't tell me some of the original animals were sold to a circus because their food costs were too high?
Time flew by, and soon, it was closing time.
"Not a single person came today."
"Nope."
Kira sat at the zoo's entrance, holding a book, a ceramic mug provided by Aoi resting beside him. He looked just like an old security guard.
Aoi sat on a small stool, leaning diagonally on a broom, sighing.
At 4:44 PM, Kira, who was still reading by the fading light, suddenly felt a shadow pass quickly over his book. The shadow was like a dividing line between dusk and night. The sunlight, which had been bright just a moment ago, suddenly felt dim and gloomy.
Aoi stood up, stretching. She shook her heavy head and said with a smile, "Kira-kun, it's closing time. You'd better prepare yourself for what happens next."
Kira was about to answer her when, suddenly, all the animals in the park began to howl and roar in unison. There were only thirty-odd of them, but they created a sound as powerful as an avalanche.
Click.
The sound of a lock opening came from somewhere. In an instant, dozens of animals burst out of their cages. The eagle, the lion, the gorilla—they had all broken their restraints. As if staging a mass escape, they kicked up a cloud of dust and stampeded...
Kira instinctively pulled Aoi behind him, only to realize... they weren't running toward the main gate. They were running toward that fake Statue of Liberty-Director statue.
"Kira-kun, you were confused before, weren't you?" Aoi stepped out from behind Kira and ran toward the statue. "Now it's time for an explanation."
"An explanation? I'd certainly like to know what's causing this riot."
Kira put his book down in the ticket booth and followed her.
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