~~ can’t help it, this will have SPOILERS ~~

This volume doesn’t seem to have a lot of plot moving, because most of it is the big fight between Legoshi and Riz. The first few pages are Riz preparing for the battle by ditching all his strength-suppressing meds, and Legoshi giving himself pep talks. There’s more pages from Riz’ perspective, where you find out that he has some twisted idea that eating Tem was a way of showing his greatest love for his friend. By taking him into himself. That love turns into an all-consuming passion to possess and consume. In an ironic way, Legoshi comes to the same conclusion- but let me get to that. First, Louis has an epiphany about the nature of carnivores which makes him want to quit the lion gang, only they refuse to let him leave- and someone dies for it. Riz uses Pina to goad Legoshi into greater ferocity, and the wolf himself accepts a bloody sacrifice from a friend, knowing (from his little experiment with the insects) that it will enhance his strength. There’s an odd interlude in the middle of the battle where Legoshi willingly makes himself vulnerable, shocking the bear into calm, and they actually sit there having an honest conversation. Come to an understanding that they are far more alike than they’d realized. No telling who would have won or died from the battle, because police forces show up and apprehend them all.

The gang scenes and fighting and overall bloodiness in this book reminded me of that Nyankees series. I thought I wouldn’t like this volume, but the moral dilemmas and deeper look at issues of carnivory in this animal-populated world grabbed at me. Is it okay to consume flesh, if the other party is willing and consents? is that still a crime? Are the meat-eating animals all just vicious monsters barely keeping themselves contained, or struggling to live sanely in direct opposition to their true natures. I think a lot of the animals in Beastars are trying to answer these questions for themselves, too.

Borrowed from the public library.

~~ yes, there’s probably SPOILERS in here ~~

Opens with more dark details of the black market- animals’ body parts being used for traditional medicine cures. Seeing that, Louis reflects on his place in the underbelly of the city, and finds himself actually relating to one of the lion gang members. In another scene, the panther who injured the anteater visits him in the hospital, full of regrets. Legoshi and the bear have a confrontation in public that starts to get heated, but the sheep Pina interrupts again. Legoshi resolves to have a fight to end things for good with Riz the bear. He’s never been able to bring himself to eat meat, but now he overcomes some of his qualms and eats live insects (which is a big deal, since he always had a fascination with bugs since childhood, one of his endearing traits). He makes quite a ritual out of it. Legoshi and Haru then have a talk- well really she sobs out her worries for Louis (while asserting that she definitely no longer has feelings for him) and Legoshi feels committed all over again to protect her and other herbivores. The he and Riz have a bloody fight, which gets interrupted by a janitor coming in. They plan a day to battle it out for good again- on the New Year’s eve. Then there’s an odd little segment where the Panda treats a completely expressionless Tibetan sand fox. I’m not sure what the point was? Riz threatens Pina, who makes a show of brushing off concerns, but is really frightened. There’s an odd rehersal scene where Pina seems to be contemplating his own death, not just acting. And even more unexpected are scenes where Legoshi disguises himself by cross dressing, so he can talk to Louis in the black market. Tells him he knows who the killer was, asks him to be present at their upcoming battle- Louis wants to refuse. And finds out about Legoshi’s mixed heritage, which is quite a shock.

Borrowed from the public library.

~~ expect SPOILERS ~~

Wow things started moving quickly in this volume! In one of the very first scenes, a panther and smaller anteater scuffle- teasing? an argument? – and the anteater’s ARM GETS COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF. Apparently this happens often enough in this world that doctors have the skill to reattach limbs- the anteater is quickly rushed to a hospital and will be okay. The herbivore students are all wary and on edge again, but when an edict comes from the headmaster that the two types of students will be separated from now on, there’s an uproar of protest. Mostly because the new rule means all the integrated clubs will be disbanded (I don’t know why they couldn’t just have two of each club- one for herbivores, the other for carnivores- instead of canceling them all outright). Drama club (and all the others) continue to meet in secret, and Juno learns she’s going to have a lead role in an upcoming production. Meanwhile, Legoshi narrows down who was the murderer, and has a confrontation with a large bear, a fight it looks like he’s going to loose -and badly- except that Pina the gorgeous male sheep interrupts them. Legoshi owes Pina so much for that, he makes constant overtures and offers his protection. He’s still training with the Panda, strong enough to accost unwilling “patients” in the black market on his own. We learn of a tragedy in Legoshi’s past, and that he’s hiding a family secret. Tracking down some potential patients for Panda in the black market, Legoshi runs into Louis and finally learns what the red deer has been doing. He begs Louis to return to school, but the deer feels he’s in far too deep with the lion gang now. They have a (somewhat) honest conversation- even discussing Haru.

Then there’s a segment from the bear’s perspective, and we lear that the largest carnivores are obliged to take medication that dulls their strength. Flashbacks show how one bear became a close friend to the alpaca, felt calmer in his presence, and decided to quit his meds. Then then murder happened. To my surprise, Juno reinforces this idea that the large carnivores can’t control their desire to attack smaller animals. She meets with Haru- at first still enraged that the small rabbit continues to hold Legoshi’s affections. But when Juno draws closer to Haru on the garden club grounds, she feels that irresistible pull, so drawn by Haru’s smallness, her endearing cuteness (though Haru herself would be outraged to know of it!) that she can’t tell if her desire is to protect, or just grab and possess. She feels very strongly that the separation the school is enforcing will not only be good for the student body, but downright essential.

Borrowed from the public library.