Back in the forest, the clearing was already busy.
Kiko stood proudly beside the massive pile of chopped logs she had personally taken down. Each log was thick, cleanly cut, and stacked like a seasoned lumberjack lived inside her muscles.
"You really didn't hold back.." Takumi said.
Kiko cracked her knuckles. "I said I'd get you good wood. Did I lie?"
Before he could respond, she cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed toward the trees:
"Oi! Come out already! I know you're hiding, idiots!"
The foliage rustled.
And then three absolute units stepped out:
Daigo, a wild-boar Beastman, built like a moving wall with tiny tusks and arms thicker than Takumi's thighs.
Yuto, a bull Beastman, towering, broad-shouldered, with massive forearms and a calm but intimidating snort every time he breathed. His horns curved slightly forward, giving him a naturally "I will crush anything in front of me" look.
Shun, a silverback gorilla Beastman, muscles layered on muscles but with surprisingly gentle eyes.
Takumi stared. With Kiko built he wouldn't be surprised if she hanged out with these people but he was.
They were massive!
"…Kiko. You brought a demolition team."
-_-
Kiko smirked. "If you want a hut done today, you need muscle. These three owe me favors, so they're helping."
Daigo grunted. "Where lift?"
Yuto snorted, crossing his massive arms. "Point. I carry."
Shun nodded politely. "We follow your instructions."
Takumi dragged a hand down his face. This was more help than he ever expected but exactly what he needed.
"Okay.." he said, crouching down to sketch in the dirt. "We're building on that sturdy tree over there. I need the longest beams lifted first, then we start building the platform."
Kiko leaned over the drawing. "Got it. Boys! Long wood first!"
Daigo lifted a beam the size of a human body.
Shun carried three logs under one arm without flinching.
Yuto grabbed two beams, one over each shoulder, snorting like it weighed nothing.
Kiko matched them, tossing logs around like bundles of straw.
"Daigo, higher! Yuto, stop trying to ram the tree, it's already straight! Shun..perfect, keep that steady!"
Takumi rushed to the tree, checking stability and adjusting angles.
"Okay, lift it slowly. Stop. Good. Kiko, left..no, your other left. Yes!"
Kiko nudged the beam with one hand, adjusting everything with visible ease.
Shun held the far end steady as Daigo hammered wooden stakes into the trunk.
Yuto wrapped the thick vine ropes tightly, his strength making each knot look effortless.
In minutes, the first framework of the tree hut was already taking shape.
Takumi stepped back, breath catching.
It was actually coming together.
Something safe.
Something he could count on.
Something Mio could sleep in without fear of freezing or rain collapsing the roof on her head.
Kiko wiped sweat from her forehead. "Not bad, right? With us around, this thing won't budge even if a storm tries to tear it down."
Takumi exhaled.
"Yeah… thanks. Really."
Kiko huffed. "Just build it solid so Mio never freezes again."
Takumi nodded "Yes..."
Takumi glanced up from measuring a beam and noticed movement along the muddy path leading to the tree.
A few figures were approaching.
At first, he tensed. He assumed they were coming to stare, to whisper about the "rabbit man raising a child alone." He had seen that before.
But as they drew closer, he realized something different.
These people were holding equipments, we're they coming here to help?
It seemed like the only reason why they'd be here.
The first person to stop in front of him was an elk Beastman. His antlers were wide, and he carried a heavy coil of rope on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
"Takumi.." he said, "where do you need this? We heard Mio was freezing last night."
Takumi froze for a second. "You… came because of Mio?"
The elk nodded. "She's a good child. Everyone likes her."
Behind him were more familiar faces.
Tomoya, the bear Beastman, holding a heap of mud bricks.
Makoto, the raccoon Beastman, carrying a bag of wooden nails he had carved.
Yuma, a small sparrow Beastwoman, hugging a bundle of straw to her chest.
Nami, the striped cat Beastwoman, with a wooden mallet in her hand.
And more people kept coming, most of them men with strong arms and steady steps.
Kiko folded her arms. "See? I told you. People here aren't heartless."
Yama stepped closer. "Mio always greets everyone nicely. We don't want her to sleep in the cold again."
Tomoya nodded. "Just tell us where to put everything."
Takumi didn't know what to say for a moment.
This wasn't something he expected.
He thought they looked down on him for being a rabbit and a single father.
But here they were.
Because of Mio.
"…Alright." he finally said. "I'll show you what goes where."
And everyone got to work.
The men handled the heavy parts, lifting logs, tightening ropes, pressing beams into place.
The women worked on the lighter parts, tying straw bundles, weaving vine ropes, shaping mud for the walls.
Kiko and her three heavy hitters kept everything moving smoothly.
Daigo carried logs like they were nothing.
Yuto tied the thick vines around the beams so tight Takumi was sure they wouldn't move for years.
Shun held the framework steady whenever someone needed to climb up.
The noise grew louder with everyone working together, but it was steady, organized in its own rough way.
They worked until their bodies reminded them it was time to eat.
"Break time!" Kiko called out. "We'll get food."
She dragged Daigo along to hunt.
They returned with enough meat and vegetables to feed everyone, choosing only things the herbivores and omnivores could eat.
While everyone sat to eat, Takumi walked toward the hut to check their progress.
He stopped just a few steps in.
"It's nearly done.."
The entire lower part was done.
The platform was solid.
Three walls were already up.
All that was left was the roof.
He didn't even know how they managed this much so fast.
He touched one of the beams.
It didn't move. Not even a little.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Thank you." he muttered to no one in particular.