"Welcome back guys. Did you have a fun honeymoon?"
"H-h-honeymoon?!"
"Iris sweety, what're you so surprised for? We're a happily married family!"
Chifuyu plays along with Shoyo's nonsense.
"Me and a boy... MARRIED? Ah..."
She passes out and deflates like a balloon falling to the floor.
"Haha, Iris is grade-A material to tease. This'll never get old."
"Is she actually unconscious?"
"She'll be fine. As you can see, Iris is a bonafide introvert. Thus, she has no friends."
"That's pretty rude."
"It's the truth. That's why I'd like you to be her first friend."
"You didn't have to tell me, we're gonna be training buddies after all."
"Well, you should rest up too, you have that spar tomorrow that Ariel wanted."
"Oh, yeah. I'm sort of looking forward to it."
"Hmph, don't think she'll go easy on you."
"I wouldn't hope for it."
***
"A-a vampire?!"
"Good morning."
"Wait Shoyo, don't tell me you haven't told her."
"Oops, must've slipped my mind."
"Sigh..."
Both Chifuyu and Ariel sigh in unison over Shoyo's negligence. 'For the top hunter, he sure is irresponsible.' is what just went through Chifuyu's mind. Before Iris passes out again, they quickly explain the situation.
"Top secret information, one of the strongest vampires joined the side of humanity, and a boy my age who's now a half-vampire is her master. I'm not sure I can keep up with all of this..."
"Well, it's the reality. We've got a lot to do in the next year so no slacking off Iris."
"Ok..."
"Feel honored that you've been graced with my presence lowly human. Ahahahaha!"
Ariel wasn't asleep last night when Chifuyu met Iris. So although she didn't come out, she was listening and heard that she's easy to tease.
***
Day 3 of training is over. Before Chifuyu moves forward with his studies, he has a sparring session with Ariel.
"Are you ready, my master?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
The only ones present are the two sparring and Shoyo who's overseeing it. Iris has been inside the whole day getting bodied by some geography.
"Alright then, on the count of 3. 1... 2... 3!"
Ariel charges at Chifuyu who was slow to assume his sword stance and kicks his blade out of his hands. A duet of right swings follow which can only be blocked, the second one sends Chifuyu tumbling across the ground. Luckily he finds himself where his sword was kicked and quickly grabs it.
Not letting Ariel charge at him again, Chifuyu takes the initiative instead. Using the back of his sword, he takes several swings that are easily dodged. As it's only his third day with the blade, his form is nothing less than sloppy. Ariel parries the final slash and gifts her master with a vicious dropkick.
Chifuyu's dazed for a little over 10 minutes. "Are you alive master?"
Slowly opening his eyes, Chifuyu gets up sluggishly. He finds himself in Shoyo's lap who's grinning at him like a creep.
"What the hell dude?"
"You're up after only 10 minutes, that's some pretty good endurance you've got."
"Well, thanks. We didn't even set a time limit and I only lasted like 30 seconds."
"Don't mind."
"Somehow your pity pisses me off."
"Don't worry master, everything about him pisses me off."
"Sad face."
"But hey, that wasn't bad at all. Any normal person wouldn't have lasted a few seconds. I'll be awaiting our next sparring session once you finish your training."
"Hmph. It won't be an easy win next time."
Chifuyu's looking forward to it as well. He knows the mistake he made and that his form has a long way to go. He won't make the same mistakes twice.
Now on his hour break, he heads inside. Curious as to how Iris is doing, Chifuyu walks upstairs and knocks on her door.
"Huh..."
Iris found herself wrapped by a familiar texture. One of her favorite feelings this world had to offer. She was under the comfort of her cover in bed.
"Crap, I just wanted to take a nap. How long have I been asleep?" Iris questions whispering to herself.
"You good in there, Iris? I'm coming in."
"Wuh?!"
Launching herself out of bed at the speed of light, she opens her laptop and opens her textbooks as if she had been diligently studying.
"Good afternoon, how's your studying going?"
"Oh um, it's going well. Did you need something?"
"No, I was just checking up on you."
Chifuyu walks into her room like nothing and makes himself comfortable.
"You sure got unpacked fast."
"Y-yeah."
'Th-this guy just invited himself into my room!'
"Oh, you're wearing glasses. Are they for reading?"
"Yes."
"They kinda suit you!"
"Oh, aha... they sure do. I'm gonna go get something to eat."
"I'm starving myself, what're you getting?"
Chifuyu follows Iris as she walks downstairs to the kitchen. He's intentionally trying to have a conversation with her so she can open up a little but it's not working so far.
After getting a snack, Iris quickly escapes back to her room.
"I'll see you later, Iris!"
"Yeah."
Back in middle and high school, Chifuyu was always able to easily become friends with those he talked to. But Iris's shyness was on another level.
"I'm sure she'll open up eventually."
"Ariel."
"You're a good person, just give her some time."
"Okay."
***
A little over a month has passed.
Chifuyu has been initiating small talk each day to slowly get Iris to open up.
"Hey."
"Hm."
"You're a half-vampire now right, do you not have any vampiric features?"
Iris finally engages in a conversation with Chifuyu!
"Well, I'm glad you asked."
Happy that Iris approached him first, Chifuyu has a smug expression on.
"Ariel told me how to revert my features to be human-like. It's simple, all I have to do is envision it. The blood it takes to do this is basically negligible."
"So that means... vampires really could be living among us."
Horror overcomes Iris.
Chifuyu realizes he probably shouldn't have explained the blood part.
"Hey uh, let's go out to eat!"
"What?"
Out of panic, he randomly suggests they all eat out.
"Me, you, Shoyo, and Ariel!"
"Like, at a restaurant? When was the last time I've been to one?"
"It doesn't have to be fancy or anything."
"Sure."
"For real? Nice, I'll go let them know!"
Iris had been constantly avoiding Chifuyu which she feels bad for as he goes out of his way to be nice to her, so she thought the least she could do was accept this offer.
"Oh boy, what can I wear?"
Later that day...
"Bwahahahaha!"
"Wait, why are you wearing that?"
"Um…"
Shoyo and Chifuyu burst out into laughter.
"Iris, why are you wearing a suit?"
"Hahahaha!"
"It looks nice to me."
"That's not the problem, Ariel. We're just going to a little restaurant, and she's wearing a suit of all things!"
"I told you it wouldn't be anything fancy.. Hahaha!"
"Sorry, I think I'll just stay here after all."
"No, it's fine. It adds to your character."
"You're saying that like I'm fictional."
Does she know?
"Anyway, let's get going."
'I knew this was a bad idea...'
***
"Wooo that hit the spot. This place wasn't too bad. Nice going, Chifuyu."
"I searched good fish places nearby but I didn't expect this joint to be this good."
"I enjoyed it. Thanks for the meal."
"Oh, you're smiling Iris!"
"Oh."
Not even Iris herself noticed she was smiling, this was a good sign. Chifuyu's efforts weren't in vain.
"The donuts were my favorite from this place!"
"Of course. I can't believe they even had donuts here."
Although the donuts were the best to Ariel, she had even more fish than everyone else.
"Human food is quite filling, I could get used to this."
"Is that so."
"Stuffing myself has made me grow tired somewhat. I'll be taking a nap now."
"Wait, Ari-"
Without anybody else in the restaurant noticing, she slips into Chifuyu's shadow.
"She eats off my money then instantly goes to sleep. Ha, what a pig!"
"Haha..."
"I'm going to the restroom. If the waiter comes back, ask for the check."
"Got it."
Although Iris did say she enjoyed the food, she's still sitting in the corner silent. So Chifuyu goes to sit next to her.
"Hey, Iris."
"W-what is it?"
"What's your reason for becoming a Hunter? You've been training under Shoyo for a while now so you must have some special circumstances."
"That's..."
"You don't wanna say?"
"..."
Iris silently shakes her head up and down, indicating she doesn't.
"That's fine. I was kinda dragged into this world by force when I became... y'know. But I don't think it'll be so bad. I'm actually excited for what's to come."
Iris wants to say something back, but she's holding herself back for some reason.
"That's so admirable. I might become a fan of yours."
"Haha, thanks."
"Um, Chifuyu..."
"Hm?"
The voice that responded wasn't Iris. It didn't even belong to a girl. The reply was so natural, Chifuyu didn't even notice.
After realizing this, Chifuyu looks across the table with wide eyes.
There, sat a boy in a high school uniform with a cap on. His eyes were closed, but once they opened, shivers immediately ran down Chifuyu and Iris. Even more happened from his cold lifeless stare.
They'd imagined their own deaths.
Several blades being run through every part of their body, with endless amounts of blood gushing out.
They experienced true fear.
This boy who appears to be around their age somehow sat in front of them without being noticed or making a single noise.
"So you're excited about your future? Is there anything you want to be? The number one hunter? Or king of the hunters?"
"Haha, nothing as grandiose as that."
Chifuyu tries to keep up a front, but his cold sweat is as clear as day.
The two just envisioned their own deaths, and they're still able to sit there without buckling to this person's immense hostility.
But that's all.
The boy's lips twist into a malicious smile.
By the time Shoyo got back, Chifuyu and Iris had gone missing.