Chapter Text
It was three in the afternoon. Sunlight slanted into the semi-open space, warming the cream-coloured, non-slip resin flooring. Outside the platform, the lush green of the garden and the silhouetted ropes of the aerial climbing net framed the livestream backdrop, a soft breeze carrying in the smell of grass and earth.
Several cameras had been set up at different angles. One of them was locked squarely onto the centre of the platform.
oh oh oh did we just hit the jackpot today??? it’s Sae, THE Sae Itoshi??
his feathers are so stupidly gorgeous what the hell, who authorised this level of pretty
I cannot believe I queued into stream at the exact moment our Seagull appears!! Such a surprise!
Our seagull seagull seagull!! I sold my soul for this notification to pop up I swear
mods don’t ban me but I would let him bite my whole head off fr
The moment the scene went live and viewers realised who the featured beastkin was, the chat exploded, bullet comments flooding the screen.
There, lying on his front, was the seagull beastkin Itoshi Sae. His bird body, a striking mix of grey and white, rested squarely on the centre of the beastkin care mat. Talons hooked loosely over the edge. His broad wings were half-spread and draped over the mat, and the long, powerful tail feathers spilled naturally over the platform’s edge.
His human upper body, meanwhile, was pillowed on folded forearms, propped against a support frame wrapped in soft rubber padding. His expression was flat, as if he couldn’t care less about the cameras around him—there was even a trace of disdain. When he heard the assistant talking to Isagi, his tail feathers and ear-tufts twitched at the same time, and he let out a short cry in Isagi’s direction, like he was urging him to hurry up.
Sae: hurryhurryhurryhurryhurry
bro is spamming the “where’s my bf” button in real time
Dr. Isagi cannot walk three steps without a birdman calling him I’m losing it
why does Sae look at Isagi a bit different today or is that just me, he looks kinda… soft?? 👀 like “my spouse is late” soft
Ethical Board warning so DON’T DISGUSS IT IN PUBLIC!!
“Got it, Sae…”
Dr. Isagi Yoichi pushed his sleeves up. Beside him stood a mobile trolley loaded with tools: combs, soft brushes of different sizes, spray bottles, and several numbered vials of medication. Sae’s gaze followed him closely, and when Isagi was about to step out of frame, one broad wing blocked his path.
Isagi could only turn back helplessly, meeting those teal eyes head-on. Sae’s brows pinched together, the corners of his mouth tugging down; clearly, he was not pleased about Isagi trying to leave. He let out a few short calls, and Isagi had to explain immediately. “Sae, I’m just grabbing some water, okay?”
Only then did Sae retract his wing. He gave his tail a faint swish and said, coolly, “Be quick.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Isagi took the cup the assistant practically shoved into his hands and downed a few gulps before hurrying back to Sae’s side.
He had never said it outright on stream, but the red-haired beastkin had more or less claimed Isagi as his partner ages ago. Today’s livestream was supposed to be Bachira’s—until Sae decided his breeding season was going to arrive ahead of schedule and ruin everyone’s plans.
Lately, the seagull beastkin had been roosting on the highest shelves like some sanctified guardian of jealousy, glaring down at anyone who got within a five-meter radius of Isagi. And any beastkin foolish enough to approach with a small offering—a flower, a thermos of soup, even a nicely wrapped cookie—would watch their gift get yoinked mid-air and hurled into the horizon by a white-winged menace who materialized from absolutely nowhere.
Honestly… big brother, little brother—equally exhausting.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a pair of powerful, taloned hands slid around him, pulling him into a warm cage of silvery-grey wings brushed with smoky red. The feathers skimmed along his neck—soft, cool, maddeningly ticklish—and Isagi exhaled in a startled laugh.
Sae’s expression barely shifted, but his teal eyes had softened by a shade, as if simply having Isagi within arm’s reach satisfied some deep, seasonal instinct he couldn’t name.
“Sae…” Isagi sighed, long-suffering but fond. “If you drape yourself over me like that, how am I supposed to groom your feathers? Lie back properly.”
The red-haired beastkin hesitated—then drew his human torso away with all the sulky reluctance of a giant predatory cat forced off its favorite pillow. A low, throaty chirp rolled out of him, unmistakably a complaint, even if he tried very hard to pretend it wasn’t.
I’m crying, Dr. Isagi just has that “beastkin magnet” aura… meanwhile my beastkin at home won’t even look at me unless I have snacks T_T
rich lady alert detected, imagine being able to keep one beastkin at home… and then you log in and see this man with a whole HAREM
honestly it feels more like Sae owns Isagi tbh, that’s not a doctor, that’s his exclusive personal groomer
I swear every resident beastkin at Blue Ark has a secret “for Dr. Isagi only” buff, I’m so jealous it physically hurts
went to Blue Ark’s open day once and… yeah, if they’re not one of the super friendly types they just stare through you like wall decoration… and then sprint at Mach 3 when they see Dr. Isagi
Freed at last, Isagi shifted closer to the avian half of Sae’s body. His palm skimmed over the smooth gradient of feathers along Sae’s back and wings, testing for texture, irregularities, tension. Everything was mostly in excellent condition—of course it was; Sae preened obsessively when he wasn’t pretending he didn’t care—but brushing over certain sensitive patches made the seagull’s muscles go rigid for a beat.
Isagi didn’t hurry. His voice was warm, steady. “Relax, Sae. It’s just me.”
“…Mm.”
Sae’s teal eyes fixed on him, unblinking. His tail feathers gave a small, impatient tap against the mat before—slowly, grudgingly—his frame loosened. Isagi noticed immediately and rewarded him with a firm, approving pat to his bird form.
“Good. We’ll start with the greater coverts. For seagull types, this area needs consistent grooming or the barbs tangle faster than you’d think.”
The comb glided down with practiced ease, following the natural lay of the feathers—from the top of the shoulder blades, down the smooth line of the spine, all the way to the base of Sae’s tail.
On the first pass, Sae’s tail feathers slapped the mat in a sharp, reactive flick. On the second, the rhythm slowed to a muted tap. By the third, his tail feathers had settled entirely, only giving a sudden, involuntary twitch when the comb drifted over especially sensitive spots.
The tiny reactions were subtle…but to Isagi, they read like a quiet conversation only the two of them shared.
Isagi worked from shoulder to tail with his whole arm, wrist relaxed but steady; each stroke was long and complete. When he reached the junction where wing met back, he swapped the comb for a finer one, and his left hand rested gently at the root of Sae’s wing.
“We need to work through the coverts layer by layer.” Isagi’s fingertips slipped through the top row of feathers, parting them with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly where every barb belonged. “If you leave this section alone, rainwater can seep straight in…”
Right on cue, the assistant zoomed the camera toward the root of Sae’s wing—ostensibly for educational reasons, but everyone knew the real purpose was to soothe one very territorial seagull in the middle of breeding season. Sae had hijacked Bachira’s stream slot purely to interact with Isagi and make his silent, smug “announcement” to the world.
Isagi was painfully aware that even a grown beastkin’s cognitive level plateaued somewhere around “moody teenager.” Special-season beastkin? Absolute disasters in feathery, hormonal packaging.
He’d groomed Sae countless times—often enough that his hands could do it perfectly even while his mind wandered—but this time Sae moved. Subtle, but deliberate. He adjusted the angle of his folded arms, leaning his human torso just slightly toward Isagi. His wings followed the motion, spreading until they cast a half-circle of shadow that wrapped around him.
On its own, the action looked natural… except for the way Sae’s teal eyes lifted and locked onto Isagi’s profile, weighted with a quiet claim.
Of course. Isagi knew exactly what these beastkins were thinking before they ever vocalized a sound. He shifted with the motion, unbothered, and patted the wing that had nearly—nearly—caged him in.
“Alright, Sae…” he murmured, equal parts resigned and fond.
is this… is this the kind of crumb I’m allowed to eat or am I going to hell for this
wrapping Dr. Isagi up in your wings like that is so far over the line I’ve left the planet, I’m actually screaming into my pillow
this is 1000% a “territory / this is MINE” display, Seagull did not come here to educate, he came here to soft-launch his relationship
plot twist: this isn’t a grooming stream it’s a beastkin couple vlog
I am begging chat, please stop saying things that’ll get Dr. Isagi’s license revoked in three seconds flat, the ethical board is probably already watching this stream😰😰
Even though Sae’s human half looked like a man in his twenties, everything he did still carried a strangely childish undertone. The moment Isagi spritzed oil along his wings, Sae’s ear-tufts flicked, and a soft, unmistakably pleased coo slipped out of him.
Isagi picked up a soft cloth and began wiping along each shaft with careful, deliberate strokes.
The movement was far more intimate than combing. The cloth pressed directly against the vanes, allowing him to feel every subtle shift of muscle beneath—tiny contractions, little releases, the faint tremor of a beastkin trying (and failing) to stay composed.
By the time Isagi reached the inner side of the wing root, Sae’s breathing had grown noticeably heavier.
That spot was brutally sensitive: thin skin, dense down, the cluster of glands that required extra attention. Even with Isagi’s feather-light touch, every pass of the cloth made the wing Sae had wrapped around him tighten by degrees. By the time he finished the entire inner section, Isagi found himself enclosed in a near-complete arc of grey-white feathers—an unmistakably possessive display, made visible to everyone watching.
He could only sigh, resigned and fond, smoothing a hand down the arch of Sae’s wing.
The seagull beastkin responded with a few short chirps, then extended his human arms toward him.
“Isagi.”
“What is it?” The doctor let out another long-suffering breath and leaned in slightly—he hadn’t even fully stepped into Sae’s space when the red-haired beastkin gathered him into a loose, eager embrace. Sae’s ear-tufts fluttered, delighted, as if congratulating himself for successfully securing something precious.
？？？Mr. Seagull WHAT are you doing？？？
From this angle it looks like Sae is kissing Dr. Isagi!!! I know he’s a beastkin but the doctor’s lips are NOT “public facilities,” you can’t just casually smooch them!!!
He’s got Isagi caged in his wings and then even sneaks a proud little glance at the camera—are you provoking me?? Isagi, look at him 😭👉 look at your birdman’s behaviour!!
As if Isagi is gonna care about you lol… He only deals with beastkin, he cannot deal with the raging lovesickness of random humans in chat.
Sae is so clingy and kissy with Isagi today!!! I’m dying it’s too cute wuwuwuwuuughhhh 💔💥
Isagi could feel exactly what Sae wanted before the beastkin even acted on it. The seagull nuzzled into him once, twice—and then, apparently deciding to take initiative, ducked his head and gave Isagi’s neck a swift, possessive lick. Warm breath pooled in the hollow of his shoulder, sending a ripple of heat up Isagi’s spine.
Isagi exhaled, half a sigh, half a surrender, and gently set him upright again, steering him back toward the custom-built perch.
“We still have to check your primaries. Sit properly.”
Sae responded with a low string of grumbling calls from deep in his throat—full of complaint and stubborn reluctance—but he did eventually lean back against his specialized support seat. Only then did Isagi retrieve a pair of feather forceps from the trolley, lifting the freshly groomed wing with practiced care. He started at the shoulder joint, checking each primary flight feather one by one.
“Primaries are critical for flying. Each one needs to stay perfectly straight—no splits, no warped vanes. When we’re grooming bird-type beastkin, especially seagulls, we run our fingers along the shaft like this… to feel for any micro-bends.”
As he explained to the livestream, Isagi continued working seamlessly, occasionally giving the assistant a small nod to zoom the camera in so viewers could see the immaculate details of Sae’s wings.
His technique was expert—calm, precise, almost hypnotic. Sae relaxed so deeply he was nearly boneless, eyes drooping, breathing slow. He let out a wide yawn, ear-tufts fluttering, yet his gaze still tracked Isagi’s every movement on pure instinct alone.
“Okay, this side’s done,” Isagi murmured at last.
And Sae, despite looking as though he could fall asleep right there, perked up instantly—simply because the voice belonged to him.
Isagi couldn’t help smiling at how drowsy the red-haired beastkin looked after a thorough grooming session. Normally, Sae radiated an aura that made new staff flinch on sight—cold face, cutting teal eyes, a presence that said keep your distance without a single word. But right now? He looked soft around the edges, eyelids heavy, feathers settling in languid ripples.
Isagi gave the root of his wing a gentle pat, his voice unconsciously warm. “Let’s switch sides.”
Sae lifted his head by degrees, slow and reluctant. His face remained blank as always, but his eyes… they were hazy, unfocused, the kind of daze that came from either extremely good grooming—or emotions he had never admit aloud.
He stared at Isagi for a full three seconds, like his brain needed extra time to process the request coming from the person he wanted to cling to most.
Finally, he shifted. The wing folded back, and he rolled onto his other side with quiet obedience. His tail feathers slapped the mat in a single, decisive motion—like a small signal flag: Ready.
And Isagi’s smile only deepened.
why is this so sweet I feel like I’m third-wheeling a beastkin couple in 4K HD…
Sae is so pathetically dependent on Dr. Isagi, I get it bestie, I too would crumble if he patted my head once
his feathers are so pretty it’s actually insane, can Blue Ark please sell the ones that fall off, I’m ready to go bankrupt on bird merch
imagine a little vial labelled “Sae’s Molt – official” I would buy ten and then cry about my finances later
Isagi leaned in toward Sae’s bird half again—only for Sae’s human torso to lean right back toward him. Without hesitation, the seagull looped his arms around Isagi’s neck, letting out a low, rumbling call that vibrated against Isagi’s collarbone.
“Sae…” Isagi tried nudging him away several times. But Sae, of course, did not budge an inch.
Eventually, Isagi accepted his fate and continued working while effectively being used as a perch. His hands moved with practiced precision, and he explained each step to the viewers like this was perfectly normal beastkin-care procedure and not a jealous seagull clinging to him like an oversized, possessive toddler.
And then, a sudden flurry of wingbeats thundered across the platform. The burst of sound was sharp, unexpected, and close enough that Isagi actually jolted, heart skipping as wind rushed past his cheek.
Isn’t that Karasu?! the crow of my LIFE??
AAAAAA it’s the hot crow!!! Karasu, my problematic fave, I’ve missed you so much
he actually drops by streams a lot and he’s always super cooperative right? like chaos gremlin but also the staff’s secret favourite
…why does he look so smug today. I have such a bad feeling about this, he absolutely brought drama as an enrichment toy
Karasu descended with his wings tucked tight, cutting through the air like a blade. Only at the final second did those pitch-black wings flare wide, catching the airflow and sending a sharp gust across the platform. Isagi’s bang flipped straight up; the soft down at Sae’s neck ruffled indignantly. And, of course, Karasu chose to land less than two meters from Isagi—very much on purpose.
“Dunce.”
The crow beastkin always addressed the black-haired doctor that way. It wasn’t a compliment in any human language, but the drawl—lazy, teasing, unmistakably familiar—meant Isagi never bothered to get offended.
He didn’t even get out a greeting before Sae’s wing snapped into motion.
Grey-white primaries swung open with a crisp whoosh, slamming down between Isagi and Karasu like a physical wall. The seagull lurched half upright, earlier softness evaporating entirely from his eyes as he fixed a razor-sharp glare on the intruder who had dared approach.
“Karasu?” Isagi rested his palm on the wing now stretched possessively across his chest. “What’s wrong?”
Karasu tilted his head—an unabashedly birdlike motion—blue eyes gleaming with mischief. He ignored Sae’s blatantly territorial posture and took one slow, deliberate step closer. The scaled talons of his lower body clicked against the edge of the padded platform with a soft tak.
“Got something fun,” he announced, laughter rumbling low in his throat. The feathers across his human chest puffed with each breath, and his black tail swished behind him like he was batting away invisible dust motes. From that expression alone, Isagi was already bracing himself, mentally calculating just how catastrophic this “fun” was about to be.
Sae’s hostility crackled in the air like static, but the crow beastkin barely acknowledged it. Instead, Karasu gave his wings a showy little shake, scattering a few loose black feathers onto the grooming mat like confetti.
Only then did he deliver his line, dragging it out with exquisite satisfaction.
“Rin’s very angry. Because you’re brushing Sae’s feathers.”
OH OH OH OH MY GOD IS TODAY JUST JACKPOT AFTER JACKPOT, CROW JUST ANNOUNCED BROTHER DRAMA LIVE??
Karasu really dropped a whole lore bomb mid-landing and then stood there like “teehee”
you can literally see ‘help me’ written in Isagi’s eyes I’m crying, sir blink twice if you want us to call your supervisor
hard-mode love triangle unlocked, let’s go; last time Sae got jealous he threw someone’s enrichment toy off the balcony and they went to the office like “doctor he bullied me 😭”
this is not Blue Ark this is a dating show with extra steps
Same as always—those two brothers never could stop clashing over this one thing.
The moment Rin’s name came up, Sae’s gaze sharpened. A low rumble formed in his throat, rolling out in a string of seabird calls that definitely meant something pointed. Karasu understood him just fine and answered in the same language, which somehow only managed to darken Sae’s expression further.
Karasu’s attention slid back to Isagi, that sly glint still dancing in his eyes.“Flying all over the place,” he said casually, “loud, throwing things.”
Isagi’s heart dipped. He knew Rin’s temper too well. When that owl beastkin really lost control, the destruction was very real—and very fast. Worse, Rin’s feelings toward both him and Sae were… complicated didn’t even begin to cover it.
Rin depended on him as a doctor. Isagi’d been the one to drag Rin out of that illegal “behavior correction” facility and bring him safely into Blue Ark. Bonds formed in rescue ran deep.
But whatever Rin felt toward Sae… That was a different storm entirely. Rivalry, longing, resentment—an emotion with too many sharp edges and no clear shape. Some info he collected had once mentioned that Rin and Sae had been inseparable as children. Somewhere along the way, that closeness had twisted, and no one knew exactly when or why.
“Uh…” Isagi could already feel the beginnings of a headache pulsing behind his eyes just from the description. He drew in a slow, steady breath. “Where is he now?”
Karasu didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned in and—completely uninvited—brushed aside the stray lock of hair clinging to Isagi’s cheek.
A warning growl vibrated right next to Isagi’s ear, low and dangerous, but Karasu ignored it with the airy confidence of someone who lived for chaos and had survived it plenty of times.
“Just now?” the crow beastkin finally said, sounding far too delighted. “Rin was at the small plaza. And now… he’s flying this way.”
As he spoke, he rummaged casually within his own plumage and, like a stage magician pulling a dove from thin air, produced a tiny glittering pebble. Before Isagi could react, Karasu deposited it firmly into his arms.
“Present. Bye, Dunce.”
The farewell overlapped with the sudden thunder of wings as Karasu launched himself off the platform, disappearing into open air as dramatically as he’d arrived.
Isagi barely had time to blink before a grey-feathered, taloned hand shot past his shoulder, snatched the pebble out of his grip, and sent it sailing clean off the balcony.
“Sae…” Isagi turned back to him, genuinely startled.
HE REALLY YEETED IT LMAOOOO
That’s just how Sae gets when his temper flares. Anything someone gives to Isagi goes straight in the trash.
The other day he chucked the apple Yukimiya brought for Isagi and Yukimiya literally went to the doctor’s office to complain with tears in his eyes, I was dying—
Sae is like: gifts from other beastkins? blocked. deleted. reported.
“Don’t take it.”
Sae’s voice was low, flat, almost dangerously calm. His brows were drawn tight as he glared at the rapidly shrinking silhouette of Karasu in the sky. Then, without warning, he leaned in again, burying his face in the crook of Isagi’s neck.
From this angle, the stream camera couldn’t catch his expression at all. No viewer could read his lips. Only Isagi felt the warm breath against his skin, heard the whisper meant for him and only him.
“My… mate.”
Isagi’s breath caught. For a beat, he went quiet—caught between exasperation, tenderness, and the sinking realization of what that word would mean during breeding season. At last, he exhaled softly.
“Sae…”
And then, a shriek tore through the air, sharp enough to make the feathers on Sae’s wings snap taut. Isagi didn’t even need to look up. He knew exactly what species produced that sound.
An owl beastkin.
Just as Isagi feared, a massive shadow dropped from above—silent, swift, and fast enough to make his breath hitch. At the very last second, enormous wings snapped open, catching the air with a soundless burst. The downdraft was cold, eerie in its quiet power.
The newcomer hovered three metres above them, wings fully extended, casting both Isagi and Sae into a deep, predatory shadow.
These wings were nothing like Sae’s. It was broader, rounder; it dappled in mottled brown-black and grey-white. The primaries splayed apart like the talons of something that hunted in the dark.
And then Isagi saw the eyes.
Teal—like Sae’s. But Rin’s were sharper, colder, rimmed with long lashes that only made the intensity worse. Rin dropped, almost petulant.
He hit the care mat with a heavy thump, hard enough to make the entire platform jolt. Wings folded in jerky, furious movements, feathers rasping loudly; a few frayed secondaries tore free and drifted down like black snow, landing by Isagi’s feet.
The air tightened—razor thin.
Sae’s arms clamped around Isagi, dragging him closer, shielding him with both wing and torso. Meeting Rin’s stare head-on, the seagull let out a low, continuous warning call from deep in his throat.
Rin echoed it with a sound just as low but far more dangerous. His banded tail snapped upright—one breath away from an attack.
“Let him go.” Itoshi Rin almost never spoke in human language. The words came out blurred, threaded with the eerie cadence of birdsong.
Sae’s reply, in contrast, was ice-edged and perfectly enunciated. “Why should I?”
Isagi could see Rin’s chest rising sharply, the fluffy coverts over his sternum puffed out with agitation. At last, Rin turned his full gaze on the black-haired doctor—and the look in those green eyes made Isagi’s stomach drop.
There was anger and hurt. And beneath both, a carefully leashed, molten streak of obsession that burned straight through his pupils.
“I… want it too.” The owl beastkin spoke at last, voice low.
Isagi barely inhaled before Sae cut him off, grip tightening around his hand with unmistakable claim. “I was here first.”
Rin’s wings exploded open with a violent snap. His wingspan flared to its fullest, every feather puffing up until his entire bird half looked twice its normal size. Low, ominous clucks rolled from his throat—the kind only owls made when pushed beyond reason.
Sae responded with sharp, clipped calls of his own, brows knitting in irritation—whatever he said only enraged Rin further. The owl stomped forward; the care mat groaned under the force.
“I. WANT!”
He bit each word out slowly, deliberately, air hissing through his throat so every syllable scraped with a wild-edged rasp.
“You. Only. Look. At me!”
The command cracked like a talon through glass—half threat, half plea.
DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA, WE’VE GOT A FULL-BLOWN LOVE TRIANGLE ON SET!!
YESSS TURN THE ANGST UP I WANNA SEE FEATHERS FLY
Rin literally puffed up to twice his size just because Isagi and Sae were cuddling, this is so cute I’m gonna die
Cute?? If those talons grab you you’ll find out how “cute” he is, he’s a raptor!!
The massive owl body sank lower, muscles coiling into a predatory crouch. But his target wasn’t Sae. It was the comb. The very one still warm from running through Sae’s feathers.
Rin’s pupils pinned sharply, those intense green eyes locking onto Isagi with unsettling precision. And then, in a motion that utterly contradicted his icy, furious demeanor…He lunged forward and butted his head straight into Isagi’s hand.
Not an attack. It was… the only word Isagi could come up with was nuzzling.
The impact jolted through his palm, a small shock running all the way up his arm. But once Rin had his forehead pressed firmly into Isagi’s hand, he went perfectly still. His eyes squeezed shut, thick lashes trembling, and the sound that rose from his throat was unlike anything he’d made earlier:
A low, wavering, almost pleading gurlurrrr, a sound that vibrated through Isagi’s bones. This was the same Itoshi Rin with a file full of “behavioral issues,” the same owl beastkin who shattered perches and terrified new staff with one bad mood.
Where on earth had he learned this? Isagi still had the comb in his hand, Rin still pressed against him, and—to his own bewilderment—one absurd thought drifted through his mind:
Such hopeless, messy affection… who on earth taught him to nuzzle?
AAAAA ISAGI WATCH OUT, IS THIS A FAKE-OUT BEFORE HE STRIKES
Relax, Dr. Isagi definitely knows what he’s doing.
????????????
I’m not hallucinating right??? THAT is Itoshi Rin and he’s… cuddling???
No, something’s wrong, this can’t be the same Rin we sent in for aggression issues??
This is 100% a “fight for affection” situation, right?? Beastkin really are too cute, I want one so bad…
You need a license to keep beastkin, okay, the paperwork is super strict… ask me about my rejected application and broken heart
“Childish,” Sae said coolly.
Rin snapped his eyes open to glare at him, ear-tufts flickering irritably under Isagi’s fingers—but instead of retreating, he leaned in harder, rubbing his head against Isagi’s hand with pointed, provocative insistence. It was less affection and more provocation by cuddling.
“Enough. Both of you.”
Isagi exhaled slowly and allowed his voice to drop into that low, firm register they’d been trained to use—calm authority meant to keep beastkin from spiraling past their boundaries. It vibrated just enough to make even Sae's feathers stiffen.
He lifted a hand and scratched lightly at the tufted feathers beside Rin’s “ears.” The owl’s rumbling purr immediately deepened, his previously fluffed plumage settling back down. Still, he stubbornly pressed his head into Isagi’s palm; every time Isagi attempted to pull away, Rin followed—bumping, nudging, chasing that touch like a lost imprinting chick.
“Have you calmed down?” Isagi kept his tone steady. “Sae’s grooming isn’t finished. You wait.”
Rin looked ready to argue—mouth tense, pupils narrow—but some of the raw jealousy in his teal eyes dimmed when he caught the seriousness in Isagi’s expression. After a beat, he pursed his lips, averted his gaze, and shuffled back a few grudging steps.
Only then could Isagi finally breathe properly.
He turned to Sae, patting the red-haired beastkin’s rigid shoulder—his face still etched in thunderclouds. “Almost done. I’ll finish grooming you first, I promise.”
Sae had always been the one who behaved better—both in his previous facility and now in Blue Ark—which meant staff constantly focused on Rin, the difficult one, and unintentionally overlooked Sae. It was no wonder the seagull beastkin bristled every time Rin came near Isagi; being pushed aside was one of the things he hated most.
So, with the camera angle conveniently blind to the motion, Isagi shifted closer. Under the cover of his body, his fingertips pressed gently at the base of Sae’s wing—the kind of subtle, grounding squeeze meant as a partner, not as a doctor.
A quiet signal: I’m here. I see you.
The tension in Sae’s shoulders loosened. A faint warmth flickered through his eyes, the storm finally beginning to clear.
Dr. Isagi really is the only one who can handle them, huh. When he gets serious he’s just like my homeroom teacher.
So beastkin are basically giant kids, right? lmao
Not exactly! At Sae and Rin’s age they’re considered fully mature by beastkin standards. Their growth curve isn’t the same as humans’!
…So you’re saying they’re mature adults who’ve actually decided the doctor is their spouse? (unfounded shitposting, please don’t take this seriously)
CHAT I’M BEGGING YOU, STOP SAYING THINGS THAT’LL GET DR. ISAGI’S LICENSE MELTED ON THE SPOT!!
The chat kept scrolling, but Isagi Yoichi had to get back to work. He picked up his tools again and quickly finished off Itoshi Sae’s grooming. The whole time, Sae was cooperative but silent, staring coldly at Rin.
Rin, on the other hand, was crouched off to the side, staring unblinking at every move Isagi made, his tail flicking against the mat in an impatient rhythm.
Finally, it was Rin’s turn.
The black-haired youth folded his arms and turned his face away—but his feet betrayed him, shuffling half a step closer. His entire chest of fluffy owl feathers puffed up in a chaotic explosion, tufts sticking out everywhere, as he practically planted himself in front of Isagi. His expression stayed deadpan, but the movement radiated barely-contained urgency.
Isagi bit back a smile and picked up a broader, softer brush—the kind specifically made for owl fluff. He began by smoothing a path over Rin’s chest with his hand, feeling the texture carefully.
“…Why are there knots?” he murmured.
Rin let out a low, guilty hoo. Isagi didn’t need it explained; the kid had definitely crashed into a tree somewhere mid-tantrum. He simply shook his head and began working through the tangles, teasing each knot free with patient, feather-light strokes.
When the brush passed over the patch of down beneath Rin’s wing root—softer, warmer, and far more sensitive than anywhere else—the owl finally broke. A loud, vibrating rumble burst out of him. Every bit of tension in his human torso dissolved in an instant.
Rin was just beginning to sink into bliss when Sae “casually” stretched out his wing. The wingtip just happened to swipe across the back of Isagi’s calf.
Isagi didn’t even need to look to know exactly what that meant.
Rin, who’d been half-dozing in comfort, snapped his eyes wide open and shot Sae a murderous glare. Sae, meanwhile, arranged his face into a picture of perfect innocence, even shutting his eyes as if settling in for a nap.
Only the tip of his tail gave him away—swaying lazily from side to side, brushing against Isagi’s ankle whenever it passed.
A not-so-subtle reminder: I’m here too.
Dr. Isagi looks so done pls 😭 can you two stop fighting for one second and let him finish the grooming
raising Itoshi Rin must be hell on hard mode, he’s like a jumbo-sized angry parrot/beagle hybrid or something
HELLO??? WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS POSSESSION WAR, LET MY DOCTOR GO
correction: our doctor, he doesn’t belong to you alone AAAAA
Isagi could only free one hand to pat Sae’s head in a token attempt at soothing him, while speeding up his brushing on Rin.
“Sae, Rin—enough,” he said, helpless.
By the time he finally finished grooming both giant birds, he let out a long sigh of relief. Even his smile was edged with “finally survived” level of exhaustion.
The whole time, Sae had been sweeping his tail feathers against Isagi’s calves. Now he pushed himself upright and leaned in close. Rin, who was already standing closer to Isagi, tightened his grip on the doctor’s hand at the same time.
The brothers were clearly seconds from starting a fight again.
“Stop. That’s enough.”
Isagi planted both hands on them and pushed the birds apart.
Their low, threatening calls tapered off a little. Both straightened up but didn’t take their eyes off him. Then the red-haired seagull suddenly leaned in and pressed a quick kiss into the hollow of Isagi’s throat before pulling back, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Rin let out an indignant screech, but for once his feathers didn’t explode like before. As if remembering the previous grooming, he moved in himself, bumping his head against the curve of Isagi’s neck and rubbing once, twice—then, with a powerful beat of his wings, shot into the air and vanished from the platform.
Isagi was left with both birds’ loose down clinging all over his clothes. Utterly defeated, he turned to the camera.
“…Let's end today’s stream here,” he said.
The hospital was finally quiet by late night.
Isagi had just stepped out of the bathroom when a huge shadow at the balcony window—glowing with two faint points of light—almost made his heart stop. He squinted, then exhaled in relief.
It was Itoshi Rin.
“Rin, don’t just stand there without a sound and scare me,” Isagi said, sliding open the balcony door a little wider. “Come on in.”
“...Hoo.”
The owl beastkin gave a soft, disdainful little grunt, like he was offended that Isagi hadn’t noticed him immediately. Isagi didn’t take it personally; he just opened the door all the way, smiling.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Rin answered with a string of low owl sounds from his throat, then finally switched to human speech:
“Want… petting.”
When Isagi had first brought him back from the previous facility, Rin had hated being groomed—or more accurately, he hated anyone standing near him holding any kind of tool. He’d been a handful, with severe behavioural problems and a reputation so bad the file practically crackled when you opened it.
According to the reports, the staff at the old place had managed him by keeping him under heavy control and using punishment to suppress his instincts. When Rin arrived at Blue Ark, Isagi spent his days both searching for Rin’s brother and slowly retraining Rin’s behaviour from the ground up.
Because Rin refused to let anyone near him with a comb, Isagi had resorted to using his hands, patiently working through the feathers one by one, day after day.
Remembering that now, he couldn’t help smiling a little, the edges of his expression softening with nostalgia.
Rin noticed the change instantly—and fluffed up on the spot. His owl hoots turned sharp and loud, and when he switched back to human words, his tone was furious.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
Isagi could only guess from context and body language that Rin was upset about him, but he honestly didn’t know what he’d done wrong this time.
Rin clicked his tongue, but seemed to decide to let the doctor off the hook for now. He hopped over to the beanbag chair, settled his bird half into it, and leaned his human torso against the simple perch Isagi kept in his room for avian beastkin.
The moment he got close, his expression twisted into disgust.
“Smell. Bad.”
“Uh… Bachira was here playing last night,” Isagi said, rubbing the back of his neck with an embarrassed laugh.
At the mention of another beastkin’s name, Rin gave a low, surly hmph. He re-folded his tail feathers more tightly, clearly staking his claim on the spot and making it clear he had zero intention of moving.
Just then, the sound of wings came from outside the window again.
Isagi had to go back to the balcony. This time, he found another shadow merged seamlessly with the darkness outside. Sometimes he really had no idea how they all managed to sneak out of their enclosures.
Karasu Tabito bent at the waist in an exaggerated bow, blue eyes glinting.
“Rin’s here too?” the crow beastkin said with a grin.
Isagi sighed and glanced back at Rin, whose entire body had gone taut, clearly on the verge of launching himself at Karasu.
“Karasu, don’t rile him up,” the doctor warned. “It took forever to calm him down.”
“So interesting, Dunce,” Karasu chuckled, low and delighted.
He laughed a few more times, then dug around in his plumage and shoved something into Isagi’s palm. If Isagi remembered correctly, it looked an awful lot like the little stone Sae had thrown away that afternoon.
During breeding season, Sae would usually perch up high and watch over Isagi until dawn. By now, the red-haired seagull had finally returned to his nest, so Karasu had probably waited until then to deliver the pebble on his behalf.
Beastkin often showed affection in the simplest way: by bringing gifts.
For all that Karasu was a mature wild beastkin with a mischievous streak—always wanting front-row seats to drama, always fanning the flames. But there was no denying that, as a voluntarily registered resident at Blue Ark, he was pretty well-behaved.
“Thanks,” Isagi said with a small smile, reaching up to scritch the black feathers at Karasu’s neck.
Karasu didn’t answer, only flashed his usual crooked grin and took off into the night.
When Isagi stepped back into the room, Rin was staring at him coldly, like he was waiting for something—for Isagi to say something, maybe even to apologise.
“Rin… I’m sorry?” Isagi tried.
The owl let out a rapid series of hoots, then abruptly realised something was off—Isagi didn’t understand him. Unlike his older brother, Rin wasn’t very good with human speech. He refused to let go of Isagi’s shirt, brows knotted tight, thinking very hard before forcing out, in halting human words:
“Apologise… why?”
Isagi assumed that meant “you don’t have to apologise” and relaxed.
He had just turned, one knee on the bed, when Rin tackled him. Thank goodness the mattress was soft, or they both would’ve been bruised. Even so, it startled the doctor enough that his heart jumped into his throat.
“Rin!”
“HOO!”
Rin’s voice shot up too, an outraged cry rattling the quiet room.