(Kai POV – Yokai Academy)
We turn another corner, putting several hallways between us and Saizo before Moka finally slows down.
Then she lets out a long breath.
"Phew…" She presses a hand to her chest, shoulders rising and falling as she catches her breath.
She then turns to look at me, worry already written all over her face.
But I beat her to it.
"Are you okay, Moka?" I ask with a small smile. "That was pretty scary, huh?"
Her eyes widen slightly.
'Stealing people's lines is surprisingly fun.'
"T-That's what I should be asking!" She blurts out, flustered. "When you grabbed him, and everything got super tense… I was really worried you'd fight and…"
She stops herself, lowering her gaze. "…I didn't want you getting hurt because of me." Her voice softens near the end.
"Don't worry. I'm fine." I pat her head reassuringly. "Besides, you're the one who saved me. If you hadn't pulled me away, things really would've gotten messy."
She shakes her head immediately.
"No, thank you for protecting me." She fidgets slightly, fingers twisting together. "Everyone else was too scared to even say anything…"
"Of course. I wouldn't let anyone hurt you." I grin confidently. "If you're ever in trouble again, I'll protect you then too."
Moka blushes softly, her smile widening.
"There's no need…" She murmurs nervously. "I don't want you getting hurt for my sake."
"I want to." I reply simply, and before she can protest, my tone softens slightly. "So just stay safe. That way you'll be protecting me too."
She ponders for a moment, her brow furrowed cutely, before nodding seriously.
"…Okay." The determination on her face makes me laugh internally, and after our banter, the previous tension is gone.
"Well…" I say, extending my hand again. "Now that the excitement's over… want to keep exploring the school?"
Her entire expression brightens instantly.
"Yes!" She grabs my hand without hesitation.
And just like that, the mood shifts completely.
We wander throughout Yokai Academy with no real destination, which somehow makes it more fun.
The campus is enormous.
Stone courtyards stretch between buildings older than anything in the human world. Gargoyle statues perch along rooftops and lining hallways, watching the students like silent guardians.
Somewhere nearby, a fountain shaped like a three-headed serpent spits water into a moss-covered basin.
Moka stops every few minutes, exclaiming in wonder and childlike joy, and… her energy is contagious.
We go with the flow, and I let her lead the way.
Every time she laughs or smiles, the world seems to turn a little bit brighter.
Spending the afternoon wandering aimlessly beside her feels fulfilling, tranquil… joyful.
Hours slip by before I even notice, and eventually the stone paths thin out as we head away from the academy.
The atmosphere changes, as our surroundings become more desolate.
Slowly, we step into what looks like a cemetery.
Tombstones are erected erratically along the path, some decorated with skulls. Withered trees loom overhead, their skeletal branches clawing at the grey sky.
Crows perch silently along the branches, watching, as if waiting for something.
Moka slows, observing the eerie environment.
"…Oh." She says softly, but her voice carries curiosity instead of fear.
But the true centerpiece stands beyond the graveyard.
The dormitory.
The building stands in the middle of the cemetery, overshadowing everything else.
It's surprisingly well maintained, with a blocky design, tall windows with solid iron bars… and a dreadful aura that should instill fear into the hearts of all who gaze upon it.
Lightning flickers faintly in the distant clouds behind it.
For a moment, even I pause.
'Yeah…' I think dryly. 'That's definitely a monster dorm.'
It looks less like student housing and more like haunted prison, housing tortured souls.
'And I'll be living there for the next three years.'
I'm still studying the architecture when I feel something brush against my leg, followed by a faint rustling sound.
"Hiss."
I glance down, spotting a snake slithering up my leg.
After the initial surprise, I simply watch it climb.
The snake coils lazily around my calf, then stares up at me.
I extend my hand towards it.
The snake pauses, flicks its tongue against my fingers… then slithers up my arm and coils comfortably around it.
I chuckle. "Even the snakes here are friendly."
Moka leans closer, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"It's actually kind of cute." She gently pats its head.
The snake flicks its tongue again.
"Hisssss." Apparently pleased.
After a moment it uncoils and slides down my arm, rejoining its friends amongst the gravestones.
"If even the snakes are welcoming us, I guess it can't be a scary place." I murmur.
Moka giggles beside me.
"Of course! It's heaven." She proclaims, staring at the building with longing. "Have you ever seen a building with such personality? This place is a monster's dream."
'I'll probably never understand why.' I muse quietly.
"By the way…" Moka suddenly says curiously. "What type of monster are you?"
"What kind of monster…?" I echo thoughtfully.
'Would human suffice, since humans aren't monsters?'
Meanwhile, Moka's eyes sparkle with curiosity… then realization hits her.
"Oh! Wait—!" She waves her hands quickly. "It's against the rules to reveal your monster type, right? I totally forgot!"
She laughs awkwardly. "Sorry! Just pretend I didn't ask!"
"No, it's fine." I shake my head. "I don't mind telling you."
Moka blinks in surprise and excitement.
"But…" I add slowly. "…It might shock you a little."
Her curiosity immediately wins out over caution.
She nods eagerly.
"Okay!"
Before answering, I ask something else.
"First though… how do you feel about humans?"
Moka freezes, and the cheerful atmosphere fades slightly.
"…Humans?" Her fingers tighten around the edge of her sleeve as she looks down.
"I hate humans!" She says seriously.
"I went to middle school with them." She continues. "They always said monsters didn't exist… that people like us were just stories."
Her hands clench. "I had to pretend to be someone else all the time."
Her voice trembles. "They'd talk about monsters like we were horrible things… not even people."
She swallows. "And I started wondering if… maybe they were right."
My chest tightens as Moka forces out a small laugh. "At some point… I thought maybe it would be better if I really didn't exist."
Her words are light, but the pain they carry is heavy.
She closes her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath.
"But then you told me you love vampires." She says, her usual bright smile returning as she looks up at me warmly… almost shy. "That was the first time I felt like… maybe I wasn't really alone."
"…What if I was human?" I ask softly.
Moka blinks. "What?"
"If I was human…" I repeat carefully. "Would you hate me, too?"
Her eyes widen.
"That's impossible." She shakes her head immediately. "You wouldn't be here if you were a human."
When I don't respond, she observes me more carefully. And I notice the moment she realises I'm not joking.
I watch as her body stiffens, and she takes a small step backward.
Not from hatred… but fear.
I raise my hands slightly in a calming gesture.
"Well…" I take a slow breath. "I really am human."
A heavy silence settles between us.
"And somehow…" I continue gently. "I managed to enroll at Yokai Academy."
Moka gasps, her hands rising to her mouth. But I keep talking before she can start to panic.
"You're my friend, Moka." I smile softly. "And I'd never want to hurt you."
I hesitate slightly. "And even if you hate humans… I hope you won't hate me too."
"Th-this can't be…" She whispers, taking another step back.
Her eyes are trembling now. "If you're human… then…"
Tears begin to spill down her cheeks.
Her eyes are filled with fear… but somehow, I don't think it's directed at me. And when I notice the guilt that follows…
"That means… I'll hurt you." Her voice cracks. "When I drank your blood… I must've hurt you so much…"
Her shoulders shake.
"I don't want to hurt you…" The words come out as a broken whisper. "You're… my friend…"
A strange warmth spreads through my chest.
All that fear I had, even if I knew it was unfounded, even if I knew Moka was too kind to truly hate anyone…
It all melts away.
I step closer, and she instinctively steps back again.
Not out of fear of me… but fear of the pain she could cause me.
"Vampires feed on humans, and hurt them in the process…" I say gently. "That's what you're worried about, right?"
She nods weakly, tears falling freely now. And I close the distance anyway.
Slowly and carefully, I pull her into a gentle hug.
She stiffens for half a second—
Then collapses against me, crying softly into my chest.
"I don't want to hurt you." She sobs. "I won't drink your blood again." Her hands grip my shirt tightly.
"You won't." I gently stroke her back, trying to soothe her. "I'm not a normal human. You saw for yourself how quickly I recovered."
"You already drank my blood once… and I'm fine." Her crying slows slightly. "So you don't need to be scared."
I tighten the hug just a little. "Because I trust you."
And more than that…
I want her to trust herself too.
"You really mean that…?" Moka asks softly.
She tilts her head up to look at me, her emerald eyes still slightly watery from crying.
I nod without hesitation.
"Of course."
Then, scratching the back of my neck, I add with an awkward laugh. "Besides… you were my first."
The words leave my mouth before my brain can stop them. I immediately regret everything.
"No one's ever sucked my blood before…" I clarify quickly. "Except you."
I try to appear calm, but internally, I'm dying.
'I got carried away copying her lines…'
But Moka doesn't laugh.
Instead, her cheeks turn a soft pink.
"You're… my first too." She admits shyly.
She glances away for a moment before continuing.
"I've never drunk directly from someone before you either." Her fingers tighten slightly in my shirt as she speaks. "And… a girl never forgets her first time."
My cheeks flush slightly in embarrassment.
Then to lighten the mood, I grin. "Then I have to ask something important."
She blinks curiously.
"…Was my blood good?"
Her reaction is immediate.
"Absolutely!" Moka answers with startling seriousness. Her eyes shine as she speaks, completely earnest.
"It was amazing." She says without hesitation. "I've never tasted anything like it before."
She pauses, then adds sheepishly. "I don't think I can go back to tomato juice or blood packs anymore…"
She puffs her cheeks slightly. "They're worlds apart."
I rub my chin thoughtfully. "Well… in that case…"
Moka tilts her head.
"In that case?" She repeats.
I straighten a little and raise a hand dramatically.
"Then let's make it official."
She blinks.
"Make… what official?"
Putting on my most solemn expression, I clear my throat.
"Do you, Moka Akashiya, solemnly swear to source all future meals from me, Kai Hino?"
She stares at me, utterly baffled, but I continue anyway.
"Breakfast, lunch, dinner… and any snacks in between." I gesture grandly. "And to forsake tomato juice and blood packs for the remainder of your school life?"
For a few seconds, she just stares at me.
Then—
She bursts into laughter. Melodious, uncontrollable laughter.
"Kai!" She giggles, clutching her stomach. "You can't say things like that!"
Her earlier sadness is gone, replaced by warm, sparkling happiness.
And for me, hearing her laugh like that brings me joy.
"I'm serious though." I say with a grin.
"W-Wait… you really mean that?" Her voice softens. "You'd really let me drink your blood?"
"And that much of it?" She adds worriedly.
"Well…" I say, raising a finger. "I do have conditions."
She immediately straightens, listening carefully. "What are they?"
I pause dramatically, grinning as she waits in anticipation.
"…Kai." She pouts. "Don't keep me in suspense."
I laugh.
"Okay, okay."
Holding up one finger, I say,
"First condition: only my blood."
Her eyes widen.
"So no more blood packs or tomato juice."
Before she can protest, I raise a second finger.
"Second condition: if you're hungry, you have to tell me."
I smile gently.
"That's it."
Moka's mouth opens, then closes… over and over as she struggle to express her emotions in words.
Finally, she manages a single quiet question.
"…Why?"
Like she can't quite believe someone would offer something like that.
I shrug lightly.
"Because you're my friend, and I really like you." I gently tap her forehead with a finger. "And I can't let my friend go hungry."
Then I adopt a cocky expression. "Besides… I take pride in being delicious."
She stares at me for a few seconds.
Then—
A small giggle escapes her. "…You're really strange, Kai."
But her smile is genuine and grateful.
After a moment, she straightens slightly and raises her hand like she's taking an oath.
"Okay."
Her tone becomes playfully serious.
"I, Moka Akashiya, solemnly swear to abide by your conditions."
Then her voice softens again, and she shifts slightly in my arms, cheeks faintly pink.
"…Then…" Her fingers tug lightly at my shirt. "…can I have a small snack before dinner?"
I chuckle.
"Well, when you ask so politely…" Leaning down slightly, I tilt my head to the side. "It would be impossible to refuse you."
"It's my pleasure to oblige."
Moka hesitates for a second.
Then—
She gently leans in.
Chomp.
Her fangs sink into my neck again.
This time though…
There's no desperation.
Her movements are slow and careful, her arms lightly wrapped around my neck as she drinks.
Her cheeks are flushed, but she's smiling faintly.
Savoring the taste.
The sensation sends a faint shiver down my spine despite the sting and the feeling of blood leaving my veins.
'Am I crazy?' I wonder. 'Literally offering myself on a silver platter?'
But as I hold Moka in my arms, feeling her relax against me, and her genuine happiness…
I come to a simple conclusion.
'Even if I'm insane, it's… totally worth it.'
********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or powerstones. It really helps the book out.
So, this is the chapter. Honestly, I often wonder if I'm heading in the wrong direction. It's that mix between developing characters, or developing plot. I mean, it's best when both happen simultaneously, and maybe I'm just wrong when I hyperfocus on romance like this.
Which do you prefer? Or, simpler yet, do you like when I do it like this🤣😭?
Back to the chapter... Well... No need to have Moka drink juice, since he recovers quick, unlike Tsukune.
Another thing... I'm not a fan of making Moka sad every other chapter, but trust me, it's temporary. It's kinda like I'm addressing her traumas bit by bit, and these are the major ones, so they're mostly done for now. We can move on to happier times.
See? I'm not giving characters "character development" this time... Yet👀 (subtle foreshadowing? Surely not? Flags being raised? Would I do that to you all?)👀.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night😁