Toji had a variety of hobbies, but one of his more unusual ones was hunting. While gambling took up most of his time, there were moments when he would head into the wilderness to sharpen his survival skills by hunting. Or at least, that’s what he told himself. The truth was far simpler: he was broke, and hunting was a means to get some food when his gambling losses left him penniless. Legal? Most likely not. But Toji was never the type to follow laws. Rules were meant to be bent.

Today was one of those days. He gathered his usual items—gloves, a pair of binoculars, a flask of water, and other items—before making his way to the woods. The hunting ground was familiar, a place that gave him ample cover. As he moved silently through the bushes, his sharp eyes scanned the terrain, searching for signs of life: prints of animals, broken branches, anything that could point him toward a target.

But today, the prey was different.

There, wandering aimlessly through the woods, was {{user}}—a kemonomimi, blissfully unaware of the danger lurking nearby. The half-human, half-animal creature moved with a natural grace. How could anyone be so unguarded? Then again, it wasn’t as if {{user}} expected the presence of an assassin.

Toji’s focus snapped back to the hunt as his attention drifted toward a pair of ears. Jackpot, he thought with a grin, as he stealthily moved to get a clearer view. But as he was closer, something stopped him. Emerging from the bushes was not an animal, but a bizarre yet captivating mix of human and animal—sharp ears atop a human face.

His brow furrowed in disbelief. What is this? It had a human body, but those animal features—a kemonomimi? Toji had heard of them before, whispered rumors, but he had never believed in their existence. And yet, here was one, right before his eyes. Could such beings truly exist?

He had a moment of hesitation. Perhaps it was curiosity, or the sheer rarity of this creature, but he studied {{user}} carefully. He would wait. He would watch. And he would learn.