"Hey, was it this girl we were supposed to keep away from?" The maroonish haired boy asked as he tugged on Raizo's sleeve.
(What?!)
"Shush! She is right there Natsu! Idiot!"
The young girl warned as she grabbed 'Natsu' by his collar from behind.
(Wait... These were the twins that knocked me over that day!)
"Uhh, what does he mean by that?" I questioned with an awkward smile.
Raizo was the first one to answer.
"He, ah-- He meant nothing by that! Yeah! Nothing at all ahaha... Seriously, i-it's nothing for you to worry about! Right guys?" He was CLEARLY shaken.
I sighed in a low voice.
He looked behind him. None of the others said a word.
The senior guy and the girl, the two twins and Raizo were present before me, glancing back.
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I couldn't hold it in me anymore.
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"You can't just expect me to understand all this. You have been acting really strange lately! What's wrong with talking to me from time to time? Am I that bad?!"
I was practically yelling at him which I didn't mean to.
"W-Well-"
"And don't even think about lying!" I interrupted which made Raizo step back a little.
"...Haaa... This girl is that serious, huh?" The senior guy sighed in disgust.
"Very well, we will explain it all to you, but I am pretty sure after this, you might not take it so well."
The senior girl spoke firmly. She definitely looked like the type to be responsible and strong willed.
"...Your dad's name is Kurashina, right?"
I was surprised to hear my dad's name out of a guy who I don't even know!
"H-How do you know his name?"
The senior guy looked away from me. There was a brief silence until Raizo's mouth opened as he spoke, "You may not believe this, but... We are actually your brothers and sisters."
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.....
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(Whaaaattt??!! T-This can't be!)
The senior girl continued, "If you are THIS surprised, then I don't suppose you know that your dad is also a vampire?"
"I-I do know that, but..... this is all too much..."
"Well, we are also not humans. That was the reason why mom and dad never told you about us. It was all to make sure you live your normal life without any danger... But, things got kind of complicated ever since you joined our school..." Raizo explained as he scratched his red hair.
"So... You are saying that you all are my... are my brothers and sisters? So, I have been living a life which was a lie this entire time...? I... I can't believe this..."
Eventhough they talk as if it's no big deal, I can't just right out accept it like some robot. It's too much in such short time and it was hard for me to swallow the truth. I always thought I was an only child but now--
The senior girl put her warm hand on my shoulder as she spoke softly, "You better believe it, our little sister."
She then hugged me. I was stunned in place, unable to even blink.
"Finally I wouldn't have to avoid you anymore!" The young boy mentioned right after, relieved.
They all looked at me smiling.
"Huh? Why are you crying Asuna?" Raizo asked wide eyed.
"W-What?"
I never noticed I was crying until Raizo pointed it out. These tears felt hot, just like my feelings right now. I wasn't happy or sad. It was an unusual beating of my heart.
"Oh come on! You should be happy that you aren't the only daughter now, right?" The young girl exclaimed.
I still don't know if I was supposed to be happy or disappointed.Disappointed by the fact that my parents kept such an important information to themselves, I mean, wasn't I trust-worthy enough to know all that?
Has my whole life been a big fat lie? Also, should I really accept this kind of family who aren't even humans to begin with?
"I... I don't know what to do. A lot has happened and I just can't take it all in..." I, at last, replied with a shaky voice.
"Come on Asuna, cheer up! You have got us now!" Raizo beamed as he patted my back.
"Mmm, I guess..."
At least now I know why Raizo was avoiding me all this time. It was just to keep all this a secret. He is my brother - no, they all are my brothers and sisters... .....Should I be relieved?
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A few minutes later...
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"So you are saying that your name is Mizore and you have ice powers?"
The purple haired senior girl nodded as she hovered a few icicles.
"And Raizo is a reaper?!"
Raizo smiled in return to my bewildered face.
(Wow, his personality doesn't even suit his, uh... form?)
"And the twins: Natsuno wields wind and Nikki wields... fire?"
The two twins eagerly nodded their heads while smiling. My eyes caught a glimpse of a skull shaped necklace around Nikki's neck.
"Wow! Cute necklace. Do you like accessories?" I questioned, wanting to get to know her.
"Oh, yes I do~ But, this was actually given to me by my sensei. This skull is like a black hole except that it sucks the enemy to the underworld." Nikki explained with a smile.
(Talk about a whole new world...)
"...And finally, Yuichi is a wolf?"
The silver haired senior guy quietly nodded his head as he looked away.
(Hmm, he does seem pretty much like a wolf now... Wonder what's his story?)
...
I still couldn't get my head around all this but for some reason, I was pretty laid back about THIS revelation although I did freak out when dad revealed his form.
No wonder he always hung around at night and wore a black hoodie in the mornings. I did find that pretty strange.
They all have been living in an entirely different dimension than me, and this confession did make me wonder what else lied in the future. It felt pretty frightening from being ignorant.
How many more people have abilities/forms like them? How many other worlds are there...? Do they also get to fight against villains here?
Up until now, I have been living side by side with all sort of who-knows-what ability wielders, and I was too caught up in my normal life to actually turn around and notice...
...
"Now that you know everything, you might just hate us or something." Mizore muttered as soon as I had calmed down.
"N-No I don't... It's just still shocking."
"Well, just forget about all this! You came here to join the club, right?" Raizo spoke up, bringing liveliness in the drowsy atmosphere.
"Oh that's right!" I exclaimed as I got up.
I had completely forgotten my sole reason for coming here in the first place!
"I am the one in charge of this club." A cold voice rang from outside.
I looked around to see a really tall, strict man, looking our way.
"Perfect timing, sir!" Raizo boomed while giving a thumbs up, but the man just spat in disgust.
(Why is he so... scary?)
I tried to remain composed as he walked my way though I was afraid to even think of what he would do or say.
"Do you think you have what it takes to join this club, huh?!" He was literally shouting at me like some big shot.
I shook my head as he kept on blabbering about how I look so weak and that I haven't gotten the potential to join this club. I was already doubting myself and he just made it all the worse.
"Sadashige sensei! Give her a chance!" Mizore declared from behind him.
"Yeah, cut her some slack will ya? She just got here!" Natsuno added.
Sadashige sensei makes an annoyed look as he steps back a little which gives me room for sighing in relief.
"Is she human? Or perhaps..."
"...She's plain human." Yuichi answers Sadashige sensei.
"Fine then... She's not worth it!"
(O-Ouch...)
And with that, Sadashige sensei was about to leave when Raizo spoke up, "We can't know for sure until you give her the test, right?"
(I never knew there was going to be a test!)
I was totally against the whole thing but somehow, that made Sadashige sensei think for a moment.
A LONG moment...
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"Fine. But it won't be my fault if she dies in the process!"
(D-Dies?!)
Now I was shaking slightly. At that moment, Mizore's hand touched my shoulder.
"It will be alright Asuna. It's not that hard." She whispered.
"Yeah, you will do great!" Nikki cheered with Natsuno.
"Thanks... I hope..."
And with that, I was escorted by Sadashige sensei all the way outside. It wasn't long until we reached the back of the building.
Over there, Sadashige sensei pressed a button on a pillar and with a click, the whole scene changed in front of me.
The once looking wall was now replaced by a big, mysterious looking forest. It looked so damp and eerie, clearly showing that one shouldn't step foot in it.
"You know! On second thought..."
"There's no turning back now human. I can't wait to see the outcome now."
He cut me short with his sinister smile and rude remark. I gulped before he could push me inside.
As soon as I entered, it already felt like I was lost. There was nothing but trees and darkness around me. Everywhere I looked, it was the same.
"How am I supposed to find my way out of here?!"
Just then, I heard a rustling noise from behind, followed by two fierce looking golden eyes.
(Eek! Now I am done for!)
Goosebumps formed on my skin and fear washed all over me as our eyes met...
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~To be continued...