The Missing Carrots
Yes, where is the principal?
Everyone present was taken aback. Why hadn't the important figure that Kyoka Makoto and the others had been mentioning from Jilan and the Snake Woman — the Pro Hero, zookeeper, and circus ringmaster Mad Rabbit— appeared yet?
One of the main reasons the Snake Woman returned to Oumagadoki City was to meet with the headmaster. She initially thought the headmaster was busy preparing for the upcoming program and couldn't make it, but since the chief planner Jilan Jiyu, asked this question, does it mean he didn't know the headmaster's arrangements either?
She suddenly had a bad feeling and asked anxiously, "Didn't you see the headmaster?"
Jilan shook her head decisively and calmly said, "I haven't seen the principal since the rehearsal. I thought he was in the backstage room, so I didn't pay attention, but I didn't see him just now."
Diduo Chengjie joked, "Could it be that someone already knew about the headmaster's abilities and took this opportunity to kidnap him?"
The Snake Woman instantly looked at Diduo, her gaze so intense it seemed capable of petrifying anyone. Diduo froze, then chuckled and said, "I was just joking, don't take it to heart. Wasn't he referring to Jilan's Pro Hero? He must be incredibly skilled, how could he have been captured so silently?"
"Hey everyone, the delivery guy brought us our food! It's dinnertime!" Just then, Ogami walked over pushing a cart, calling out as he went.
Upon seeing the Snake Woman, he approached her warmly. "Sister Snake, it's been a long time! Let's have dinner together!"
When Ogami transforms into human form, he looks like a Werewolf, which is a fairly common Quirk. The delivery man mistook him for a circus worker and asked him to deliver food for tonight and tomorrow morning.
The bottom layer of the cart contained fresh meat still covered in ice, while the top layer held fruits and vegetables. Among them, the bright, gleaming bananas, resembling crescent moons, instantly attracted the gorilla's attention.
"Bananas, bananas..." The gorilla suddenly ran out of the tent, holding a banana and grinning foolishly, "As long as there are bananas to eat, I'll do anything the zookeeper asks me to do."
Jilan suddenly realized that since bananas were so attractive to gorillas, what could possibly attract a rabbit silently?
"Radishes!" Jilan's eyes sharpened as she looked at the cart of food. The headmaster clearly loved carrots, but there wasn't a single white or red radish in this dinner!
Upon hearing the word "radish," both the Snake Woman and Aoi Hana's expressions changed. Aoi Hana ran over and checked the handcart, then looked up at Jilan with a serious expression and nodded. "There isn't a single radish!"
Jilan took a deep breath, walked over and asked Ogami, "Who was the person who delivered your goods just now?"
"It's the guy who drove here with that uncle today," Ogami replied, puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind Jilan's words.
The Snake Woman pressed on, "Why aren't there any carrots in the food? You know, the zoo director insists on carrots at every meal; once he even made the entire zoo eat carrots for a whole week straight!"
Ogami's expression changed as well. "I heard when I was leaning over the ticket booth at the zoo that the food company that Uncle works for has a rule that you must get a receipt, no matter how late it is. In the past, the zookeepers would fill it out, but this time, because I can't write, I said I wasn't the person in charge and would come back to get his signature later. But he said he would let it go this time, that he trusted me, and just drove off..."
At this Ogami, Da Shang's face turned ashen. "I thought he had gained my trust from my honest face, but it turns out he shortchanged us on a batch of ingredients!"
"I think you have a face that looks like you like to wreak havoc; no normal person would believe you at first glance," Jilan retorted calmly. "In other words, he deliberately didn't mention taking inventory so we wouldn't notice, and Ogami isn't the type to check things carefully..."
"So, the headmaster's disappearance was premeditated? Who exactly wanted to harm the headmaster!" the Snake Woman exclaimed excitedly.
"Calm down. Maybe they just accidentally sent us one less batch of radishes. That's possible," Jilan said calmly. "Perhaps the headmaster just found something interesting and wanted to go for a stroll. He'll be back in front of us soon."
Jilan reassured the Snake Woman and made way for Ogami to enter the tent. He said to Ogami, "Go into the room and take them food. I'll go find the headmaster."
Since the animals had breakfast before the truck arrived that morning, they had barely eaten anything. The only things kept in the room were some fruits like bananas and apples, but those had long since been eaten.
Normally they eat only two meals a day. Because they hardly get any exercise and spend all their time in their cages, Cheetah the leopards have developed beer bellies. But now they've been practicing all afternoon, and their stomachs are already rumbling. They weren't very energetic during the conversation earlier. If they don't eat something now, they won't have time to eat before their performance on stage.
Jilan left alone, running towards the park entrance. It was exactly 6:30, and there wasn't much time left before the scene started. If the park director didn't return, the scene couldn't proceed; he was a very important character...
Jilan made a series of calculations in her mind. If she couldn't find the zoo director, then he would have to play the role himself. However, the animals might not be able to cooperate with him, after all, she had only met them for a few days. If that still didn't work, then she would have to change the script on the spot.
Fortunately, Jilan didn't get to see any of the things she imagined. As soon as Jilan reached the main gate, she saw a pair of straight rabbit ears peeking out from under the park's signboard stone. Jilan quickly ran over and saw that it was indeed the park director.
He stood with his hands in his pockets, watching the people coming and going on the street, lost in thought.
"Hey, Jilan, were you looking for me?" The headmaster paused for a moment when he saw Jilan, but quickly smiled and said as if nothing had happened, "Then let's go back together, after all, the performance is about to start!"
Jilan looked into the headmaster's hand; he was holding an unfinished carrot, which, judging by its color, was probably freshly picked that day.
Who gave him the carrot?
"... Let's go back." Jilan didn't ask him any questions. As long as the headmaster was alright, that was already a reassuring result. As for the missing carrot, Jilan didn't mention it at all. He simply said, "Headmaster, Snake Woman and the band have all arrived and are waiting for you."
Upon hearing the name "Snake Woman," the headmaster took a bite of the last carrot, stretched out his arms excitedly, and exclaimed, "Now that the Snake Woman is back, let's hurry back! We haven't seen her in so long!"
Jilan watched the principal skip away, then turned and walked towards the main gate. She saw a tall figure standing at the right intersection, waiting for the traffic light with his back to her, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
Why did the kindergarten director meet with him?