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After having breakfast with his family, Frank moved back to his room for a bit, traveling inside of the 'World's Gate' temple and quickly finishing his homework, which he had completely forgotten about…
"Damn, this feels awfully easier now… It is as if any book can be easily read and memorized…" thought Frank, his thinking speed and many other traits had improved greatly, giving him the ability to finish his homework in no time, and getting all ready for school.
"Ah, I still got those treasure chests and skill scrolls… But I better use them later, after school at least," said Frank, quickly running out of his house.
"Alright, now I am ready," said Frank, hugging his stepfather, and kissing his sister's forehead.
"Give me a hug too, idiot!" said Kamei, as Frank sighed and hugged his little sister.
"Make sure to behave well at school, okay, Kamei-chan?" asked Frank.
"What? I behave very well!" said Kamei arrogantly.
"That's not what your teacher often says, young lady…" said Okita, Frank's stepfather.
"Did you do your homework?" asked Frank's mother.
"I did, I did~," said Frank, receiving his mother's hug and a kiss on his cheeks, as he was finally released from his mellow family.
He quickly made his way towards the train station, where he found Harumi silently staring at the horizon as she waited for the train.
"You're late," she said, moving her gaze towards Frank, as her purple eyes gleamed with a slight crimson light.
"Yep, I actually just did my homework," said Frank.
"…Impossible. You? Doing your homework?" asked Harumi.
"What about that? Did you really believe I would ask for your homework every day? Come on, that's not our gag," said Frank.
"Gag…?" asked Harumi as she didn't understand Frank's words.
"Ah, nothing, I guess you wouldn't understand it anyways…" chuckled Frank, as he suddenly activated the effect of his new mask.
"Hm? Did you got a Stealth accessory?" asked Harumi in a slight surprise.
"Oh? So, it doesn't work with you…" said Frank.
"Of course not, the item seems of low quality, I can easily discern your presence. …But good work getting one, it is still very useful, at least they will always work well with normal people, even if they're of low quality," said Harumi.
"Yeah, that's good enough," said Frank.
As Frank and Harumi waited for the train, Frank began to chat with Harumi some more, without realizing, Harumi was becoming slowly more sociable towards Frank, something that she would usually never do with anyone.
"So are you like a thousand years old or something?" asked Frank.
"What? No, I am sixteen," said Harumi.
"Eh? So you're actually not an old vampire from the past that just looks like a cute young girl?" asked Frank.
"…Cute? Anyways, no, I am not that type of person of my clan. I was born sixteen years ago… Hm, I was adopted by Clementine-sama, my mother, and converted into a Dhampir when I was ten," said Harumi.
"Oh? Such information… Are you sure about sharing that with me?" asked Frank teasingly.
"Everyone in here already knows my origins, information is sold everywhere in the Underworld, Frank. Info about you was flooding the black market for a bit, but because you're part of a strong clan, no normie would dare get close to you," said Harumi.
"S-So there is no privacy at all when you get into the Underworld…" sighed Frank, imagining many people buying information and reading about him.
"Hm, get used to it. Well, there is still a lot of secrets that you might keep… or not, it all depends on you. But make sure to think twice whenever you want to reveal a secret to anyone… Unless it is done within your own clan, where the people there will save such information below the crest of your clan," said Harumi.
"I see… Ah, well, don't you feel bad for being adopted?" asked Frank with a very rash question.
"I don't really care about that… You're quite direct, are you not?" asked Harumi.
"I wanted to see your reaction, I thought that you might have saved up feelings and would actually show an emotion other than your expressionless face… But I guess I failed miserably. Man, you got such a pretty face, it would be nice to see you smiling or getting flustered… but I guess my question wouldn't have resulted in that reaction, sorry about that, I didn't think it through," laughed Frank.
"Hmph, keep your mouth shut," muttered Harumi, as her pale white cheeks suddenly blushed, Frank had already called her cute and pretty, he was getting quite cocky, but Harumi, due to her nature, could not find anything else to say other than to shut him off.
"Okay, okay…" said Frank.
The Train finally came as the two youngsters alongside many other people aborded the train, both of them managed to get a seat together as they browsed their phones in silence until reaching the train station near their school.
Remaining silent up until this point, both of them were suddenly stopped by a girl from their school.
She had a petite body with a cheeky and teasing smile, tanned, chocolate-skinned skin, and dyed blonde hair with pigtails. She had blue eyes and her chest was quite modest. She wore a school's blouse over her shirt, which she had very loose over her skirt. She had all the characteristics of a typical gyaru girl from Japan's urban culture.
"Yo, Harumi, what's up? I've noticed that you come with him every day now, are you into something? Fufu," she said with a teasing smile.
"I am not coming with him, Erika, we just happen to come near each other as we take the train in the same station," said Harumi as she closed her eyes and averted her gaze from the girl.
"Err… Hi?" said Frank, as he was seemingly being ignored by Erika.
"Oh! Hi, there big man!" said Erika as she suddenly moved towards Frank at a speed that he could barely perceive, sniffing his clothes and near his neck.
"Hmmm~ You smell nice! That sweat… Haah… Hey, are you up to something tonight?" asked Erika with a grin.
"Actually, yeah, I am busy with my clan… Sorry… Erika, right?" asked Frank.
"Boohoo, what a bummer! And yeah, I am Erika! I am a werewolf by the by~ I am getting a bit envious that Harumi is grabbing all of your attention, so I might come to see you often, bear with me, okay? Fufu," said Erika teasingly.
"…Excuse me?" asked Frank.
"Yeah, just as you heard!" said Erika.
"…Well, I am still new to this school so I would gladly be your friend, Erika, thanks a lot," said Frank with a smile, as Erika was left a bit dumbfounded.
"…Eh? What's with that pretty smile?! Are you not annoyed by my teasing?" asked Erika.
"Teasing? Are you not being honest then?" asked Frank.
"Err… Not exactly… I just… wanted a different reaction…" said Erika.
Harumi had already left them as she walked towards Classes, and Frank was tailed by Erika as he made his way towards his classroom as well.
"(As if I were to fall for such a thing…) Are you not from another classroom though?" asked Frank as he finally entered his classroom and sat on his seat, where he was greeted by the surprised Matsuo.
"Yo, Frank- Woah! What is this dog doing here? Didn't you read the rules? No pets at school!" said Matsuo, as Harumi who was sitting peacefully in her seat couldn't help but release a slight chuckle.
"Dog?! Who are you calling a dog, monk?! And I am not a pet! Grrrr!" roared Erika.
"Ah well, you smell like a dog to me~" laughed Matsuo with a confident smile.
"Okay, okay, calm down, don't start a fight here… I just got to know Erika today, Matsuo… I know you're from different rival clans and all… but please, let us remain in peaceful terms at school…" said Frank.
Erika and Matsuo's eyes clashed for a bit as both of them suddenly calmed down due to Frank's pleas.
"Fine, but you're sharing lunch with me, those rice balls you got smells nice," said Erika.
"Eh?! You can smell my bento? But it's inside my bag… (Ah, she's really a dog…)" muttered Frank.
"Man, you're becoming this dog's slave now? Alright fine, but just because you asked," asked Matsuo.
"What slave? She's just being friendly!" said Frank.
"Haha, yeah…" laughed Matsuo.
"Hehehe~ Okay then, see ya later stud!" said Erika as she gave Frank a wink and left the classroom.
"Stupid dog," muttered Harumi, as she began to release a bloodthirsty aura towards Frank.
[You have detected an ominous presence!]
"What…?"
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