A few minutes later
Grassland Area - Back Office
Minori
My name is Minori Hanasato and I attend Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy! It's nice to meet you!
Shiho
I'm Shiho Hinomori.
Minori
Th-Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to help take care of the animals today!!
Shiho
Thank you.
Nakazawa
Thank you both as well.
Welcome to the Grassland Area. My name is Nakazawa. I look after the animals here.
Welcome to the Grassland Area. My name is Nakazawa. I look after the animals here.
Nakazawa
I'll be working with the two of you all day, so please don't be afraid to ask me any questions that you have.
Minori
O-Okay!
Thank you very much!
Thank you very much!
Nakazawa
I'm sure you two have already heard, but you'll be looking after the shoebill and chipmunks today.
Nakazawa
We'll begin by measuring out their food.
Why don't we start with the shoebill?
Why don't we start with the shoebill?
Minori
Oh, the shoebill?!
Shiho
I guess it eats fish?
Nakazawa
Yes, we feed our shoebill rainbow trout and carp, but the ones in the wild survive on a staple of catfish and lungfish.
Shiho
Wait, catfish? But those are so big...
Minori
That's amazing! They can really gobble them up whole...?! It'd take me at least three bites!
Shiho
I'm not sure that's something to brag about.
Nakazawa
Hehe. That's not the only surprising fact about them. Shoebills are also known to eat snakes, frogs...and even baby crocodiles.
Minori
Baby crocodiles?!
Nakazawa
Yes, and because they don't have any teeth, they swallow them whole as you said. In that sense, they're very remarkable creatures.
Shiho
Yeah, my assumptions about them are starting to change.
Minori
Are we gonna be okay...?!
What if it tries to eat me...?!
What if it tries to eat me...?!
Nakazawa
You should be fine since there have never been any reported cases of shoebills eating people. Also, they're very docile animals.
Minori
R-Really...?
Nakazawa
Yes!
I'm sure you'll understand when we go to feed our shoebill, Schubert.
I'm sure you'll understand when we go to feed our shoebill, Schubert.
Nakazawa
Now, let's get his trout ready.
Shoebills don't actually have that big of an appetite compared to some other animals, so...
Shoebills don't actually have that big of an appetite compared to some other animals, so...
Minori
Throw the last one into the bucket, and...
Minori
Okay, that should be it!
We're all set to feed Schubert!
We're all set to feed Schubert!
Shiho
All we did was move the fish into these buckets. I'm not sure that's anything to be proud about...
Nakazawa
The chipmunks' feed is also relatively simple to prepare, so this area isn't too bad in that department by comparison.
Nakazawa
We have a pygmy hippo just over there in a different area, which is apparently quite a handful.
Nakazawa
I'm told it needs to be given two to three fifteen-kilogram meals per day.
Minori
I-It eats that much?!
Nakazawa
And that's supposed to be on the low side. Elephants apparently eat five times that.
Minori
Eep...!
I guess big bodies mean big appetites!
I guess big bodies mean big appetites!
Shiho
I'm kinda glad we were assigned to this area.
Nakazawa
Oh, although some animals are easier to feed than others, they're all hard work to clean up after, so be prepared.
Minori
R-Right!
We've done a lot of that for our school's animal caretaker committee, so we should be able to handle that!
We've done a lot of that for our school's animal caretaker committee, so we should be able to handle that!
Shiho
To be fair, we're not talking about a rabbit cage here.
Nakazawa
Ah, that's wonderful to hear!
Actually, about how we'll be cleaning...
Actually, about how we'll be cleaning...
Nakazawa
I'd like for one of you to clean Schubert's habitat and the other to clean the chipmunks'.
Nakazawa
Please talk it over and decide which you'll be cleaning.
Minori
*Gasp*
Minori
Which do you wanna do, Shiho?!
I'm okay with either—
I'm okay with either—
Shiho
The chipmunks.
Minori
Huh?
Shiho
I'll take the chipmunks!
Minori
O-Okay!
You take the chipmunks! I'll take Schubert!
You take the chipmunks! I'll take Schubert!
Nakazawa
Oh, that was quick...
I thought you were going to decide after having a chance to feed the animals.
I thought you were going to decide after having a chance to feed the animals.
Nakazawa
Anyway, we're all set to go, so let's head over to where Schubert is!
Minori
Wow... We finally get to meet Schubert!
Minori
This is gonna be so much fun!
Shiho
*Nod*
Shoebill Habitat
Minori
Th-This is Schubert...?
Minori
I knew shoebills were big...
But he's really, really big up close!
He's about up to my shoulder!
But he's really, really big up close!
He's about up to my shoulder!
Shiho
Yeah...
Also...
Also...
Schubert
...
Shiho
He's so calm and collected.
It's like he isn't bothered at all by our presence.
It's like he isn't bothered at all by our presence.
Minori
Yeah, meanwhile I jump whenever someone I've never met walks into the green room!
Shiho
Again, not something to brag about...
Nakazawa
Okay, now that you've met Schubert...
Nakazawa
Let's get straight to the fun part of today's program. Feeding the animals!
Minori
W-We finally get to feed Schubert...!
Shiho
How do we actually do that?
Nakazawa
You'll be feeding him by hand!
Put one of the trout in the palm of your hand and offer it to him like a present.
Put one of the trout in the palm of your hand and offer it to him like a present.
Shiho
By hand...
Minori
I-I-I-I-Is that really okay?!
You just said shoebills eat baby crocodiles! What if he tries to chomp off our fingers...?!
You just said shoebills eat baby crocodiles! What if he tries to chomp off our fingers...?!
Nakazawa
Remember, he wouldn't be able to since shoebills don't have any teeth. You'll be fine as long as he doesn't chomp down really hard.
Nakazawa
You'll need to go one at a time. Which of you would like to go first...?
Minori
Uhh, I... I...
Shiho
I'll go first.
Minori
Sh-Shiho?!
Are you sure?!
Are you sure?!
Shiho
Yeah, since he seems pretty docile...
Also, chances like this don't come around often.
Also, chances like this don't come around often.
Nakazawa
Hehe. That's the spirit!
Then, for our brave Ms. Hinomori, here's a trout!
Then, for our brave Ms. Hinomori, here's a trout!
Shiho
Thank you.
Shiho
*Exhale*
Shiho
Here, Schubert.
It's time to eat.
It's time to eat.
Schubert
...
Minori
...!
Schubert
...
Schubert
...
*Nom*
*Nom*
Minori
Whoa...!
Next Chapter: Schubert The Unshakable Shoebill