Episode 22

The Chef's Suspense (シェフの気まぐれサスペンス) is the twenty-second episode of the Beastars anime and the tenth episode of Season 2.

Synopsis
While preparing dinner for his roommates, Riz reflects on what happened with Tem and the situation of Legoshi and Pina knowing he is the culprit. Haru and Legoshi have a talk and he vows to not let her be unhappy anymore. After a traumatizing encounter with Riz in the bathroom, Pina gives a stunning performance during rehearsal, leaving the drama club members stunned. Riz and Legoshi get into an intense fight, but circumstances cause them to postpone their fight until New Year's Eve.

Plot
In the dormitory kitchen, Riz prepares dinner for his roommates. For Riz cooking is a hobby and he loves to treat his roommates to his home-cooked meals, and always feels comfortable every time he cooks. Riz serves a delicious dish of curry for his friends and they let him know that it has a stronger flavor than normal because Riz over-seasoned it and promises to be more careful next time. For some reason, since the night that Riz devoured Tem, he has progressively lost his sense of taste. He ate Tem with his consent and he was able to establish a true friendship with an herbivore. Just as the ingredients are entrusted to him, he delicately and peacefully mixed them together. His memories with Tem must become even more beautiful, and he must never forget Tem's flovor. The memory of that night with Tem is what keeps him alive. Riz claims that eating is a celebration of life and he bets Tem was smiling when he was about to enter his mouth, but upon seeing his hands, Riz has a hallucination where he sees his hands covered in blood and remembers Legoshi swearing to make him pay for his crime. Riz feels that Legoshi is going to expose him and ruin everything by desecrating his friendship with Tem, so he will have to silence him and he sets out to get rid of Pina and Legoshi once and for all.

The next morning, Legoshi is desperate for the sheer number of situations he's gotten himself into. He finally found Louis and is supposed to focus on how he should deal with Riz and the night before he had a dirty dream with Haru, and that was not even the first time. The number of different scenarios has increased and it was so vivid, feeling Haru's hand with his, without knowing that he is caressing the hand of the real Haru, who tells him that he is holding her hand. Waking up, Legoshi is surprises to see her in his classroom, and she says that she came to see him to have a conversation and asks if he is free. Legoshi accepts but asks to go to a more private place, so they both go to their usual place to talk. Haru thinks how Legoshi does the best he can to keep the promise he made and is always very nice. He is younger than her and it is rare that sometimes acts like a father. Louis was the opposite, he was like a baby, he was insecure but he acted strong and sometimes he was insensitive and always seemed lonely. Haru hugs Legoshi and tells him that he loves him, this being the first time that Haru says this to him directly. Legoshi is happy and thanks her. Haru tells him that he is strong, kind and reliable, but the more he falls in love with him, she is more worried about Louis, leaving Legoshi confused. Haru tries to correct herself and explains what she really wants to say, declaring that she and Louis are over and she is not in love with him anymore. She is only worried about him because she had not heard from him as he did not respond to her calls, claiming that it is a serious matter when two herbivores are unable to contact each other. Crying she says she can't do anything but worry that he is in danger, and hugs Legoshi. Legoshi wants to hug her back and tells Haru that she is very small. Legoshi thinks that her size defines her existence and since the day he attacked her, he has had to overcome the problems that the difference between their sizes creates. Legoshi takes Haru by the shoulders and declares that he will not let anyone else be unhappy anymore and will do his best to achieve it. Haru replies that he is so weird and Legoshi promises himself that he will embrace Haru after solving everything.

Pina is flirting with a girl and praises her horns. She tells him she waxes them with honey and asks if he is having fun at the drama club and Pina tells her that he got a starring role in the New Year's performance. She asks about her role and Pina says to act the role of a beautiful young man whose soul is taken by the grim reaper and dies in the end. Pina asks her if he died in real life, would she cry for him. She pushes him away and says that she would laugh, angry that Pina called her by the wrong name and steps on his foot, claiming that a guy who can't even remember a girl's name doesn't even deserve a funeral. Later, Pina goes to one of the academy's bathrooms where he regrets making this mistake again and tries to maintain his composure, claiming that he is perfect for the role of someone who dies a beautiful death at the end. Shocked and surprised, he sees that Riz is standing right behind him and claims that he is excited about today's rehearsal. Pina jokingly tells him that he scared him and calls him a murderer as he leaves. Riz stops him and asks Pina not to get involved with Legoshi anymore, claiming that as long as they leave him alone, he will live a peaceful life with Tem's memory in his heart. If they are going to defile his friendship with Tem, then after killing Legoshi, Riz might have no choice to kill him by eating him from head to toe. Pina jokes and claims that his horns will get in the way and doesn't think they will taste very good. Riz then puts one of Pina's in his mouth and sucks it, frightening Pina. When released, Riz leaves Pina lying on the ground and apologizes claiming that he could not control himself since his fingers smelled like honey. When he gets up, Pina sees that he still has his fingers and is relieves so much that he does not even mind lying on the bathroom floor. He realizes that he was more desperate to live than he thought. Later at the drama club, Juno and Pina have a rehearsal where Pina looks at Riz and begins to recite his lines, saying that they can kill him if they wish, but he will never flinch from the likes of them, making a parallel with Riz and her character in the play. Everyone is amazed by his "performance", causing Dom to accidentally drop his cup of coffee and the rehearsal is terminated. Juno asks Pina what happened to him and Pina alleges that nothing has happened. Upon leaving Pina asks Riz if he "saw that", leaving him upset and declares that both of them said everything they could.

At the base of the Shishigumi, Ibuki gives a gun to Free to kill him with in case he loses control and tries to eat Louis. If he and Louis were to ever become just a normal deer and lion, Free should shoot him without hesitation. Free accepts responsibility and alleges that Ibuki seems to have more resolve than him, and Ibuki replies that that's not a bad thing, and as long as he keeps Louis safe, they can live good lives.

In the Cherryton Academy library, Pina told Legoshi what happened during his previous encounter with Riz, but that he shouldn't worry as he fought back in his own way. Legoshi declares that Riz is too dangerous and they must do something before he attacks someone. Pina states that he also thought the same, so he devised a plan where he can act as a decoy inviting Riz to leave the academy and so Legoshi can do his thing. He refuses to follow this plan, but Pina informs him that he has already sent Riz the invitation. Legoshi rushes to the drama club male dressing room to retrieve the letter from Riz's locker, and manages to obtain before he saw it. However, he is attacked from behind by Riz who slams his head against the locker and later throws him, misinterpreting what happened. Riz claims that he never thought that Legoshi would use Pina's name to set him up and asks him if he really thinks he can beat him. Legoshi stands up and tells him not to call him by his name while looking at him like he is prey. Seeing Legoshi, Riz realizes that Legoshi is different from other carnivores and thinks that he is more interested in eating him than talking to him. Before he could do anything, Riz is struck by a sudden headache from the side effects of his strength restrainers. He quickly opens his locker to grab a container of honey, but Legoshi sneaks away and takes it before Riz could. Legoshi claims to be aware of Riz's situation and Riz asks him to return it while suffering from a terrible headache and claims that Legoshi will never be able to know what pain or stress feel like from taking those drugs. Legoshi states that he prefers seeing Riz the way he is now and throws the container of honey out the window. Legoshi tells him to show him the beast that he really is and Riz replies that no one will ever accept him as he really is. The fight begins and Legoshi hits Riz with several consecutive blows that do not do him great damage. Riz gives him a series of claws that Legoshi barely manages to dodge, while Riz thinks that with claws and fangs, the truth is that carnivores are nothing more than terrifying monsters and that is why they must hide themselves. Riz wonders if Legoshi understands how lonely he has been. Legoshi stands up with a scar above his right eyes whose blood is spilling causing his vision to look cloudy, so Riz easily overpowers him against the wall and strangles them. Riz claims that eating someone is like a sacred ritual and drags Legoshi to a place where he claims nobody will find them.

In the academy showers, Riz tells Legoshi that he will be able to bleed as much as he wants in this place. When he takes off his shirt, he reveals that he has several scars, claiming that when you eat someone for the first time, you will feel so much guilt and hunger that you will hurt yourself. Legoshi responds that Riz has a depressing school life and Riz attacks him, claiming that he will take back his adolescence. Legoshi manages to dodge his attack and gets on Riz's back, telling him to enjoy his adolescence but that he will first open his old wounds. He proceeds to scratch Riz's chest, and Riz replies that these are not "old wounds" and warns Legoshi not to touch his precious memories. Riz throws Legoshi and tells him that Tem was the only one who has accepted him, but Legoshi denies that and reminds him that he ate it. Riz claims that he and Tem have a friendship that transcends species, but Legoshi keeps repeating that Riz ate him. Riz declares that predation is the only way to break the wall between species, but Legoshi disagrees and alleges that the only thing that can destroy the wall between species is love. Riz alleges that carnivores are not capable of love and the only thing that their claws and fangs bring them is hate and loneliness. Riz gives a fulminating blow to Legoshi, which he dodges and Riz asks him to let him touch him a little more directly and proceeds to take a bite which Legoshi blocks with his foot. Legoshi comments that Riz ate the soft meat of herbivores and thinks he knows all about them, so then he should try some carnivore meat by having a taste of wolf meat. He vows to break his jaw so he can never bite again. Suddenly, they both hear the voice of a lady who asks if there is someone there. Riz leaves Legoshi and runs to the door to open it and sees that the lady is actually the cleaner. Riz tells her that he is still using the showers and asks her to wait a few minutes, which she accepts and leaves. After this, Riz is relieved and proposes that they wash all the blood from the floor and Legoshi wonders why Riz is like that. If he was just a simple villain, it would be a lot easier to hate him, and if he were the same wolf he was a year ago, he would have just walked away. Legoshi is filled with fury and rushes to Riz, who blocks his attack. Legoshi swears that he will never forgive him and Riz affirms that this is not over. Legoshi proposes that they settle thus on New Year's Eve. Riz accepts and claims that that is plenty of time to prepare to kill him, and as fellow carnivores they will settle this once and for all.

Later, Legoshi goes to Gohin's clinic to whom he told everything that happened and approves of Legoshi's decision. Although he claims that it would be easier to turn Riz in to the police, he laughs knowing that Legoshi will not do it. Legoshi declares that he only follows the policy that he told him about. He recognizes that he also almost ate an herbivore once, so he doesn't think that he wants to punish Riz, he just wants to confront him face-to-face. Riz seriously trashed him and he has no chance of winning, so he wants to get stronger as soon as possible, but no such convenient method exists. Gohin disagrees and reveals that there is a way.

Anime/Manga Differences

 * In the manga, Riz has three roommates, while in the anime, he only has two.
 * In the anime, Legoshi and Haru's conversation takes place at their usual meeting spot on a fire escape, while in the manga, it was on a school staircase.
 * The scene where Legoshi leaves Haru a tissue after comforting her is cut in the anime.
 * In the manga, Pina flirts with a goat girl in one of the academy corridors, while in the anime, she flirts outside the building.
 * In the manga, the goat girl Pina flirts with tramples his foot while she is sitting, while in the anime, she stands up to step on it.
 * In the anime, Pina notices Riz by seeing his reflection in the bathroom mirror while fixing his hair. In the manga, Pina goes to the bathroom to use a urinal but before using it he feels Riz's presence behind him.
 * In the manga, Pina's performance causes Dom to drop a can of paint, while in the anime, he drops a cup of coffee.
 * In the anime, Ibuki gives Free a gun, while in the manga, he gave Free a bullet and tells him to only bring that bullet and no other bullets.
 * Pina sending Riz an invitation and Legoshi running to retrieve it does not occur in the manga. Instead, Legoshi simply waits until everyone leaves so that he and Riz were alone in the changing room.
 * In the manga, Riz was holding his honey in his hand before Legoshi snatched it. In the anime, Legoshi grabs the honey before Riz can take it.
 * In the anime, Legoshi throws Riz's honey through a window and it lands on the ground outside, while in the manga, he throws it at a locker and it lands on the floor.
 * The scene where Riz and Legoshi wash the blood off the shower floor is omitted in the anime.
 * In the anime, the cleaning lady returns a second time to see if Riz was still occupying the showers. In the manga, Legoshi and Riz get out of the showers before she is back.

Episodio 22