Chapter 131 (Beastars)

A Forcibly-worn Flower Crown Made of Silver Vine (またたびで無理やり花冠) is Chapter 131 of the manga Beastars written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki, published in the Weekly Shōnen Champion of the Akita Shoten publishing house.

Synopsis
With Louis right in front of him, Free points his gun at him, feeling like Louis has become a composed buck as soon as he takes his eyes off him, and wishes they could have met each other on better terms. Free informs Louis that this situation is his fault for not remembering his promise, which is if he sees Louis in the Black Market again, he would kill him. Free, regretting the whole situation, declares that a member of the Shishigumi always keeps his promises, and seeing how Louis looks so understanding, Free claims that Louis is the best boss he ever had. However, Louis's antlers suddenly fall off, causing Free to miss the shot in surprise. Before such a disconcerting event, the Shishigumi ask what just happened and Louis informs them that he had shed his antlers, confusing the Shishigumi even more. Louis apologizes for catching them off guard and asks to go back to business, claiming it was his fault for carelessly coming near the Black Market, so he asks Free to shoot him. Free after thinking about it remembers that the promise was that if he sees him again, he will eat him alive, but claims that he had never seen that version of him before, so the promise is canceled. After exchanging smiles, Free hugs Louis stating that he misses him, but Miguel remembers that they have a new legit boss and Louis asks who the new boss is. Miguel asks to put that aside and tells them that Free told them how he left the group, so although he regrets the death of Ibuki, he has no resentment. Because Free has the final say in how the members are judged, they have no hard feelings. They invite Louis to the hideout to treat his injuries and catch up.

At the base of the Shishigumi, Louis is stunned to see that the Shishigumi are eating melons instead of meat as they usually used to. They inform him that now they only eat meat two times a month due to a new rule for the Shishigumi, stating that the new boss has a better grip with his five senses than any other species of animal, so if someone tried to steal some meat, he would find out and kill him. This is why Louis noticed them being thinner and asks them what species is the new boss. However, the Shishigumi hear that the boss has returned to the base prematurely, and Free gives Louis his silver vine smelling jacket to get rid of his scent and quickly hide him outside the room behind the sliding door. Louis is surprised to see how the boss has scared the lions out of their wits. At that moment, the boss, who turns out to be Melon, enters the room announcing his return, asking if they behaved well while he was away. The Shishigumi point out that he returned earlier than expected and Melon points out he had problems at the mask party, but he was able to escape as soon as he shot the guy who was keeping him (referring to Legoshi). From the other room, Louis notices how Melon does not look like an herbivore or a carnivore, and questions what he is. Melon serves a feast of medium rare steaks, declaring that although his body does not do well with meat, he will eat it instead of the Shishigumi. Louis concludes that Melon is a carnivore-herbivore hybrid. Melon feeling disgusted when eating meat, while making fun of the Shishigumi, spices the meat with several seasonings to be able to eat it, claiming that the lions' greedy eyes make it more delicious. Melon alleges that he did not cook the meat and does not even know what species of animal it comes from. Agata interrupts him by claiming that in the Black Market, the minimum etiquette is to know the species of the animal of the meat that being eaten. Melon stands in front of him, affirms that he had no idea that there is an etiquette in eating meat, and stabs Agata's hand with a fork. Melon mocks Agata's cringeworthy and shallow morals and, sensing the presence of an outsider, Melon orders Free to bring the intruder in front of him or else Agata will pay with his life.

Characters

 * Shishigumi
 * Louis
 * Melon

Important Events

 * After considering it, Free decides not to fulfill his promise to Louis and decides not to kill him.
 * The Shishigumi takes Louis to the hideout where he discovers that the organization is forced to eat melons every day due to the rules of their new boss, who happens to be Melon.
 * Melon returns to the base of the Shishigumi one day after shooting Legoshi.
 * It is revealed that although Melon can eat meat, it does not taste like anything.
 * Melon discovers that a deer is hiding somewhere in the hideout and asks Free to bring him out, or he will kill Agata whom he has threatened.

Trivia

 * This is the second time Louis has been seen shedding his antlers.
 * Agata reveals that in the Black Market, eating meat while knowing the species of animal it belongs to is the minimum etiquette.