"Please welco your new classmates. They’re survivors of the tragedy that struck New York — I’m sure you’ve all heard about it — so I expect you to treat them with the utmost respect and kindness," announces the math teacher, Ms. Misaki Yuunami.
Curious eyes fix on Chris, Mia, and Zaira at the front of the classroom, facing their new third-year classmates.
All unfamiliar faces — except for two. Leon Thzraneel and Ren Toya, seated side by side in the back row, deep in conversation, barely sparing the newcors a glance.
Truth be told, in a class this heavily male, it’s only the two girls who really draw attention. Hungry stares. Whispered comnts — so appreciative, so crude, and none of it escapes the sharpened hearing of the two vampires.
"Did you see that redhead? She’s fucking hot."
"Yeah, I’ve never seen tits that big in my life. Total slut face, too."
"The other one’s not bad either. Looks all sweet and innocent — but you can tell she’s into so dirty shit."
That’s the kind of stuff most of the guys in the class are whispering.
Ms. Yuunami doesn’t catch any of it and goes on with the introductions: Mia and Chris Jones and Zaira Narkhalis.
The mont he hears that na, Ren’s attention snaps into place.
Narkhalis...? The sa house as my mother. That ans she’s... a royal succubus. Of course. That pink streak — how did I miss it? She might know sothing about that bastard, Raelor Valraen.
Finally, Ms. Yuunami gestures for them to take their seats — three empty desks side by side in the second-to-last row, right in front of Leon and Ren.
◇◇◇
Driiiin!
The bell rings, signaling the end of the morning classes.
As an international school, Tsugumi High has a cafeteria it shares with the middle school in the sa complex.
Mia, Chris, and Zaira sit at one of the more secluded tables, taking up three of the eight seats.
"Wow, this Japanese food is amazing! I could eat sushi all day!" Zaira beams, her cheeks so stuffed they look ready to burst.
"Yeah, way better than the crap they served at Ordrienne High," Chris agrees, shoveling food into his mouth like he hasn’t eaten in ages.
Watching them eat like complete pigs — and talk with rice and fish still in their mouths — Mia is this close to getting up and moving to another table.
The only reason she stays is because anywhere else would be even worse. Just like during the break.
She and Zaira had been sward by waves of pushy guys, bombarding them with questions and asking them out. And while Zaira seed to be loving every second of it, basking in all that attention, Mia had felt nothing but discomfort — and she has no intention of going through that again.
So she stays put, forced to put up with the table manners of the two in front of her.
They’re discussing their first impressions of the new school when Leon walks over with his lunch tray and drops into a seat at their table without asking.
"What if those seats were taken?" Mia mutters, shooting him a look.
"I’m the VIP of this school. I don’t need permission," Leon replies with a broad, playful grin.
Mia exhales, then goes back to her food.
"So, what do you think of Tsugumi? Not bad, right?"
"Almost perfect," Mia says.
"Only almost?"
"It would be perfect if you weren’t here."
Leon, seated next to Chris, nudges him lightly with his elbow.
"Is it just , or does your sister hate ?"
"Oh, it’s not just you. But don’t worry about it — I don’t think there’s anyone she doesn’t hate."
Mia glances at them when she hears the whispering, then goes back to her food. The look is enough to make them fall silent.
"So, how’s your rap career been since you got to Earth?" Chris asks Leon.
"Man, it’s been rough, bro. Human taste just isn’t on the sa level as vampires’. They can’t appreciate what I do. But right when I was about to quit, I got in touch with so people in the show business scene. They promised a big break in Arica in exchange for... well, so top-secret favors. Oh — speaking of Arica... that New York situation. That was bad, huh? I’m sorry. Must’ve been rough, suddenly having nowhere to go."
"Yeah... things worked out, all things considered. We’re living in a much nicer place now, and our mom found a better job — better pay, lots of benefits. This school included. I guess it’s true what they say — when one door closes, another opens."
"Your mom... she’s a vampire too, right? What’s her na? If she’s from Mildelar, I might know her."
"Yeah, she is. Her na’s—"
Chris starts to answer, then stops. He can feel Mia’s gaze on him.
Right... Mia said Isabelle can’t find out about him — and probably the other way around too. Good thing I rembered. Otherwise she would’ve turned to ashes...
"Uh... yeah, she’s a vampire. But she used to be just a regular human from New York. Mia turned her — sa as . So there’s no way you’d know her."
That was close...
"Excuse — are these two seats taken?" Ren Toya asks.
With him is a younger girl with long black hair, wearing a different uniform — Yuzu, his younger sister. The high school uniform is blue, while she’s in the black one used by middle school students.
"Of course. There’s room for anyone — especially if they ask nicely," Mia replies — a clear jab at Leon
"Thank you, um... Mia Jones, right? Sorry — I’m not very good with nas," Ren replies, taking a seat next to Zaira.
"That’s right. And you are...?"
"I’m sorry — I should have introduced myself sooner. My na is Ren Toya, and this is my sister Yuzu. She attends middle school."
"N-Nice to et you. M-My big bro told you just moved here from New York. I-I hope you’ll find all the happiness in the world here," Yuzu stamrs, giving a slight bow before sitting down next to Ren.
Her manner is shy and a little awkward, sothing that for a mont even catches her brother off guard. He’s used to seeing her lively and cheerful when they’re alone, and forgets for a mont how shy she can be around people she doesn’t know.
The seating arrangent is as follows: on one side of the table sit Mia, Chris, and Leon. On the other side sit Zaira, Ren, and Yuzu, with the two seats at the ends still empty.
Ren then shifts his gaze to his left.
"And you are... Zaira Narkhalis, right?"
She nods with a smile, still eating sushi.
"It might seem a bit sudden, but... would you like to take a walk with after classes?"
Zaira gives him a sly smile.
"Figures. You were the only one who hadn’t asked out yet. During the break, you kept to yourself while the other guys were busy flirting with . I was starting to wonder how you managed to resist my charm. Be honest — you were just waiting for the crowd to thin out before making your move, weren’t you?" she says, then bursts out laughing.
Yuzu makes a brief annoyed face, trying to hide it as best she can. Ren, on the other hand, doesn’t react, remaining serious and unyielding as usual.
"Forgive if I gave you that impression — it wasn’t my intention. It’s just that there are so important things I’d like to ask you. Things I’d feel more comfortable saying if it were just the two of us. But of course, I can’t force you to be alone with a stranger, so if you’re worried I might do sothing inappropriate and choose to refuse, I’d understand."
Ren’s tone remains serious and polite, giving no sign of ill intent.
Mia pauses when she hears it.
"Aaah... if only all guys were this polite and understanding..." she mutters, shooting Chris a pointed look that says learn from him.
Zaira, on the other hand, winks at Ren, the mischievous smile on her face growing wider.
"Oh, don’t worry — soone like you can do whatever inappropriate things he wants to ."
Silence falls over the table. Chris and Mia almost choke on their food, while Yuzu sits rigid, on the verge of exploding.
"Oh, co on — can’t we joke anymore?" Zaira complains, then slips an arm around Chris’s neck.
"My body belongs exclusively to my hung stud, and I’m a super faithful woman!" she exclaims loudly, drawing envious looks from the boys at the surrounding tables.
Zaira then turns back to Ren.
"So, a walk, just the two of us."
"Zaira, Ms. Yuunami asked us to stay after classes for a guided tour of the school," Mia cuts in.
"Who cares about the tour — it’s a high school, not a museum! You go. Just say I wasn’t feeling well and had to go ho."
"B-Big bro... I don’t feel okay leaving you alone with that flirt. C-Can I co too?" Yuzu whispers.
"No, little sister. It’s sothing really important, believe . You’ll wait for here at school until I’m back, and then we’ll go ho together, alright?"
"Ugh... fine..."
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