Chapter Text
Kamome Monster Nursery.
A strange facility that seems to have just appeared one day in the mountains not far from the village. It has a reputation of raising monsters hence its given name. While it baffles people how this institute manages to operate with such a dangerous goal, as time passed, they’ve learned to accept its existence.
Others still fear for the eventual doom of the monsters in the facility to escape and wreak havoc, therefore people have raised strikes to have the facility shut down and the monsters killed. As a compromise, a countermeasure group was created to handle things in case such an incident were to occur.
Obviously, you can’t satisfy everyone so while some were relieved, others were still enraged.
Because there was no way a monster will ever be tamed nor will they be able to live amongst the humans.
It wasn’t all false as most of the monsters raised in the said facility have grown very powerful and very dangerous. That was the common goal from the start. To raise monsters to their best potential, not exactly to turn them into tamed beasts. So it was no surprise that not a single monster raised in that facility was what you would call ‘good’.
After all, there is no such thing as a good monster.
It took years before the times began to change. A breakthrough in research and a change in leadership later and the monster nursery began to look towards a period of diversity. Where monsters no longer needed to be evil. New data has revealed that other means of nurturing monsters that didn’t require them to turn evil have higher chances for stability and a longer lifespan.
It was then that Minamoto Kou decided to enter Kamome Monster Nursery after finding a poster in town that they needed more researchers.
Kou had been curious of this facility and its monsters since he was a child. He’s heard stories, albeit horrible ones, of monsters rampaging and killing people. And to any normal child, that would keep them from coming anywhere close to the large building in the mountains.
However, to Kou, it only piqued his curiosity about the said species. Perhaps in some way, they didn’t want to be raised or seen as dangerous beasts. Perhaps some of them wished for a life amongst the humans.
And so, he tried his best. Doing his own research, studying, reading as many books as he could get his hands on. He wasn’t the smartest tool in the shed so it was difficult and he didn’t know if he’ll ever get accepted to be a Researcher in the facility.
Until one day, he receives the acceptance letter from Kamome Monster Nursery.
“You must be the new researcher, Minamoto Kou?” a beautiful lady with short green hair greets Kou at the lobby of the castle-like structure.
“Ah, yes, Ma’am!” Kou responds, a little stiff from the nerves and excitement.
The lady giggles at him “No need to be so nervous. I won’t bite you as much as the monsters would so you can rest easy around me.” Kou wasn’t sure if she meant that as a joke to lighten the mood or if she was serious.
Well, they are monsters, so technically they could bite.
“My name is Nanamine Sakura, but you may call me ‘Researcher S’ while we’re inside the facility. I’ll be your supervisor so you can treat me as your boss.” she introduces herself.
Kou bows “I’ll be in your care, Researcher S!” then he pauses and raises his head, a question in his mind “Is there a reason for calling you that instead of your name?”
“It’s a safety protocol. Raising monsters isn’t the most noble thing so you could treat it as a way to mask your privacy.” Sakura explains “Well then, let me walk you around the facility.”
Sakura walks ahead and Kou follows after her as she gives him a brief orientation on what they do in the facility.
“It’s no news to you that Kamome Monster Nursery’s goal is to nurture and raise monsters to their best potential. We’ve only recently started to focus more on making sure they grow to be great monsters while being in their best behavior so some of our researchers are still grasping at straws while learning the process. Obviously, that’s not an easy task to do as taming monsters can be even more difficult than raising children. Monsters are different than humans, after all. I do hope you’re aware of the challenges that entails.” Sakura briefly turns to Kou to make sure he was listening.
“Y-Yes, Ma’am. I’m aware.” Kou responds. Although he admits, it still makes him nervous.
“Good. We can’t have you running away in the middle of monster care.” Again, Kou wasn’t sure if she was joking or if she was serious.
“Don’t worry, I may not be the best at the actual research, but I’ll definitely give it my all at raising monsters!” Kou exclaims very determined. He did join this nursery on his own accord with that goal in mind, so it would be cowardly of him to run away when faced with challenges.
Sakura offers him a small smile “Rest assured, as a new researcher, I won’t have you handling monsters immediately.”
Kou pauses in his tracks, a little surprised “Eh? So, I won’t be raising monsters yet?”
Sakura shakes her head, turning to face the blonde “Raising monsters is a learned skill on its own and requires the proper knowledge in monster care. Having a beginner do so unprepared would be dangerous and could result in a failed research.” she casually explains.
“That makes sense.”
The senior researcher nods for him to follow her and the two continue on their small tour of the institute. Sakura introduces the facilities as they reach them one by one; from the cafeteria, the library, a nap room where researchers can take breaks, the dormitories, a general training room for the monsters, and the laboratories where researchers mainly do their work.
Sakura also made the effort to introduce him to some of the researchers they stumble across on their walk. So far, he’s met Researcher T, the younger twin of another researcher who has built quite the reputation of raising strong monsters and earning a valuable profit for the nursery this year—all his other ‘crimes’ in the nursery aside.
He’s met two female researchers who were notable at raising a fine monster that’s been aiding the countermeasure team for handling dangerous monsters. He’s heard this monster is also seen as a role model for the younger generation of monsters that came after him. Kou hopes to meet that monster someday during his stay in the institute.
He also met the senior researcher who simply supervises on the junior researchers’ work.
Sakura introduced him to some of the monsters that were raised in the nursery and were helping around in the facility as well. Meeting them made Kou anticipate the day he, too, would be able to raise such amazing monsters.
“That will be it for our small tour. Do you have any questions?” Sakura asks as they make their stop in front of one of the laboratory rooms.
“Yes, Ma’am. If I’m not going to be handling monsters yet, then what exactly is my job in the meantime?” Kou decides to bring up the question.
“I was just about to get to that, actually.” Sakura replies “For now, you will be assigned as the assistant for one of our most successful researchers in the nursery. I figured you could easily learn the basics of monster care under his wing.” she adds, turning to face the door where they had stopped.
Kou looks at the nameplate on the wall; Researcher A.
He hums, a little enthusiastically “What kind of a researcher is he?” he asks, unable to hide the fondness in his voice at the idea of working closely with one of the best researchers in Kamome Monster Nursery.
“He’s a model student. He’s very diligent with his work and submits a good handful of reports on his studies almost every week. Most of the monsters he’s raised have exhibit good results. Well, there have been some bad ones but you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. If anything, his work is consistent, and his research has been helpful for the institute.”
“That’s amazing! I can’t wait to learn so much from him.” Kou exclaims, already feeling the excitement running through his system.
“Indeed. He’s also the older twin of Researcher T, but fear not, he’s a lot safer to deal with compared to the other one. He can get a little bit serious from time to time so best not to impede while he’s working.” she adds before knocking on the door to announce their arrival.
No response.
“Is he out?” Kou asks after a minute of silence.
“Researcher A, please excuse us.” Sakura yells before opening the door to Kou’s surprise.
The inside was a large space with what looked to be a small, padded nursery in the middle. Shelves and cabinets that were filled with books and other research materials lined against two walls. The opposite side was a huge window, shining light into the dim room and painting it in an orange hue from the setting sun.
By the left side of the room was the work desk where they find the researcher that was assigned to this laboratory, nose stuck on his book and paper as he’s focused on his work.
Sakura enters the room first and Kou follows after her, a little hesitant seeing the researcher was busy at the moment. She stops by the side of his desk before clearing her throat, loud enough for the boy distracted with his research to hear her.
He finally looks up from his work, golden eyes looking at Sakura as if wondering why she was there before it shifts to Kou “Can I help you?” was the question that comes out of his mouth.
“It seems you’ve forgotten our arrangement for today.” Sakura sighs, as if expecting this predicament.
The researcher blinks at her, shifting his gaze between the two people that arrived in his lab before it finally sinks in what was going on “Ah… was that today?” he asks, a sheepish smile on his face as he scratched one of his cheeks.
“Yes. Now then, let me introduce to you; this is Researcher K. He will be your assistant starting today while he learns the basic of monster care. I trust you can help him with that, Researcher A.” Sakura introduces Kou and the blonde gives a small bow.
“I-I look forward to working with you, sensei!” Kou exclaims, still feeling his nerves shaking from both excitement and nervousness.
“Ah, hello. I’m Researcher A. Nice to meet you.” Researcher A introduces himself, standing from his seat to offer a handshake which Kou takes enthusiastically.
“Well then, since all the introductions are out of the way, I suppose I can leave him in your care now, Researcher A?” Sakura cuts in.
“Eh? Uh, sure.” The younger researcher simply responds.
Sakura bids the two farewell before exiting the room, leaving the pair in a rather awkward silence. The silence was only broken when Researcher A decides to take his seat and go back to his work.
Kou, seeing as the researcher seems to have gone back to his earlier task, shifts a little on his feet, reluctant to disturb him but still manages to find his voice to his ask “U-Uhm…” he receives a hum from the senior researcher “Is there anything I can help you with, sensei?”
Researcher A looks up from his work then to the shelf beside him “We won’t be handling any new monsters until next month, so you can do some reading in the meantime.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best!” Kou responds, not meaning to sound as excited as he was before walking over to the bookshelf.
He carefully goes through the books, hoping to find anything about raising monsters and caring for them. However, to his surprise, most of the books were about childcare. The only monster related books were encyclopedias with more detailed information on the types of monsters, their strengths and weaknesses.
Kou raises a brow, turning to the senior researcher to ask “Are these childcare books?”
“Yes, they are.” Researcher A replies, eyes still stuck on the book he’s reading.
“Childcare books… for human babies?”
“That’s right.”
With how matter-of-fact Researcher A was replying to his questions, it would seem that these books do hold the key to proper monster care in this nursery. Perhaps the way the researchers care and nurture the monsters is no different from how a parent would do so for their human child, Kou could only guess.
Even as he’s a little taken back, he grabs some of the books anyways as well as the encyclopedias to further his knowledge on monsters and caring for them. In any case, this was his first stepping stone towards being a successful researcher in Kamome Monster Nursery so he has to take the opportunity while it’s there. And what better than by reading the books used by one of the most successful researchers in this institute!
“Ah, would you mind if I sit myself in the padded nursery?” Kou decides to ask, a mountain of books already in hand.
“Go ahead.” Researcher A doesn’t turn to look at him as he responds.
Kou makes himself comfortable in the nursery, indulging himself in the books in hand starting with the monster encyclopedias.
As expected, it was a lot more detailed than the ones you can find in the village libraries. Each section explained the different types of monsters and how each monster holds unique skills and capabilities. Not every monster is one and the same despite sharing specific traits such as appearances and what they can and cannot do.
It is common for monsters to evolve from their childlike state and go through huge transformations in the process of their growth. Some monsters grow wings while others change tails. Their horns also differ from monster to monster.
Each monster also develops different skills. On average, majority of monsters can breathe fire. A good few can control lightning and other elements. Shapeshifting isn’t a common skill and there have been much rarer monsters who can do this. There are some who are capable of mimicking human voices as well.
There are also monsters who resemble what people often call vampires in fiction, and while these monsters are capable of drawing blood from a bite, they’re not as harmful nor as sanguivorous as the beasts from the fictional books.
Of course, monsters that show incredible strength are as common as those who breathe fire. Monsters that can crush a human skull with a single snap as long as they’ve been trained properly in that regard.
Another uncommon species of monsters are those with more versatile capabilities both in brains and brawns. It is said that only a few researchers have managed to nurture and raise such monsters but not everyone can easily succeed in doing so.
***
Kou finally finishes and closes the second book he grabbed from the shelf, stretching his neck and his arms out. He checks for the time on his wristwatch; it was already a few minutes past 7:30 PM! He had gotten a little too engrossed reading that he never noticed the time.
He turns to Researcher A’s desk to find him still busy with his work. Deciding that it was time for a break, he gets up and walks over to the senior researcher.
“Researcher A?” he calls. He’s responded by a hum “Uh… it’s already past 7:30PM. I’ll be going to the cafeteria to have some dinner, would you like to join me?”
“You can go on ahead. I still need to finish my work.” was the reply he receives, the researcher once again not bothering to look up from his books.
“O-Okay. Then, I’ll be back later.” Kou excuses himself to leave the other boy to his research.
As he walks towards the cafeteria, his mind goes back to Researcher A, a little curious over him now that he’s got a look at how he is as a researcher.
Frankly, as a senior, he didn’t really meet much of Kou’s expectations seeing as how he seems disinterested in actually teaching Kou anything. It concerns Kou to an extent how he’ll be able to get by and learn if his superior isn’t going to be hands-on with teaching him the basics of being a researcher and nurturing monsters.
While the books are a nice start in getting that knowledge, obviously some experience is always better than just reading words on paper.
Well, it’s only the first day, maybe it’ll be different tomorrow. Kou can only hold onto that thought.
However, seeing him be diligent in his work, barely keeping his eyes off the books and papers on his desk nor allowing himself to get distracted, Kou can’t deny he also admires that. Sakura was right about him being serious and being a model student in the nursery. The way he’s able to focus on his task and is adamant to finishing it is amazing. He can tell Researcher A is very passionate about raising monsters. Now he wonders how he is during the actual monster care.
Considering his reputation, surely he’s just as amazing in that field, too!
“It’d be nice if we could raise some monsters together.” Kou thought out loud, finally reaching the cafeteria.
***
Kou wasn’t exactly expecting the best tasting dinner in the cafeteria, but he also wasn’t expecting whatever he just had. It’s not bad per se and he can’t critic it if the food was meant to be something to help with both the monsters’ and the researchers’ nutrition, but he wished it’d taste a little bit better.
Perhaps he can ask Sakura if he can have a look at the cafeteria’s food someday.
Before leaving the cafeteria, he decides to take a sandwich and a bottle of juice with him, just in case Researcher A hasn’t taken a break yet. Seeing as how he never saw his senior coming to the cafeteria to eat, it’s highly likely that he’s still stuck on his research.
And just as he expected, as soon as he returns to Researcher A’s lab, the lad was still on his desk, writing up his report.
“Have you not taken a break yet, sensei?” Kou asks, approaching the senior researcher.
“I will in a bit. I just need to finish this report.” the dark-haired boy replies and Kou sees him scratching out something he was writing, mumbling to himself that it was wrong.
Kou decides not to pry, walking closer to place the sandwich and juice on the desk “Here, I brought you some snacks.” the blonde mentions before going back to his spot on the nursery,
Kou doesn’t notice Researcher A pausing from his work to stare at the sandwich and bottle of juice on his desk and then moving his attention to the boy, already engrossed on one of the childcare books. Nor does he notice the smile that the senior gives him in thanks before going back to his work.
Another 2 hours passed, and Kou finishes another book in hand. He turns his attention to the researcher who has not moved from his desk, a little concerned about him now.
He stands from his place, picking up the books to put them back on the shelf before walking over to Researcher A “Researcher A?” he calls. He receives another hum in reply “I’ll be retiring for the night now. Thank you having me today.”
“Okay, good work today.” Researcher A simply says, head on his hands as he’s still writing on his report.
Kou opens his mouth to speak, wanting to tell the senior researcher to rest as well, but decides to just stay quiet. Sakura’s warning about interrupting him while he works crosses his mind and he didn’t want to ruin his first day at work.
“Good night, Researcher A. Good luck with your work.” He decides to just say, bowing his head.
As he walks past the desk, his attention turns to where he had left the snacks earlier, and to his surprise, the sandwich was already gone and the bottle was half empty. Kou feels his chest grow a little warm as relief washes over him, a little happy that his senior got to eat what he brought him at least.
Satisfied, he quietly exits the room and heads for the dormitories. That night, his thoughts go back to Researcher A, wondering if he’ll be able to finish his work tonight and hoping he’ll finally get some rest.