Timeline: August 7, 2016
Na-ze sat next to the classroom window, his eyes drawn towards the outside world. As the teacher continued with the lesson, the classroom door suddenly swung open, revealing a new student. The young woman had an attractive and edgy appearance, with a lollipop stick casually held in her mouth.
The boys in the class couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty, causing their cheeks to flush with color. Meanwhile, the girls couldn't deny her stunning looks and whispered praises among themselves.
"Listen up, everyone," the teacher interrupted, commanding the attention of the class. "Today, we have a new student. I expect all of you to treat her with respect and kindness."
Na-ze remained unfazed by all the whispers around him and the teacher's announcement. His attention was fully absorbed by the view outside the window, and he had no interest in diverting his gaze.
Alright then, before we continue, can you please introduce yourself?" the teacher requested.
"My name is Akane. Nice to meet you all," Akane responded with a nonchalant, punk-like attitude, her lollipop stick still in her mouth.
"Very well, Akane. You can find a vacant seat at the back and make yourself comfortable," the teacher instructed.
Akane proceeded towards the back of the classroom, where the empty seats were located. As she settled down, she couldn't help but notice Na-ze sitting beside her. However, he remained immersed in his own thoughts, gazing out of the window and paying no attention to her arrival, unlike everyone else.
As Akane settled into her chair, she couldn't help but be intrigued by Na-ze's lack of interest in her presence. She silently wondered about it while stealing a brief glance at him.
Just then, one of their classmates, a girl named Kajiwara, approached Akane with a friendly smile. "Hi, my name is Kajiwara," she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake. Akane reciprocated the gesture, shaking Kajiwara's hand and responding with a punk-like tone, "Nice to meet you."
Internally, Kajiwara couldn't help but panic a bit, thinking, "Oh no, she's so pretty. This can't be real." She blushed, feeling slightly flustered but impressed by Akane's attractiveness.
Curiosity took hold of Akane, prompting her to ask, "Hey, do you know what's wrong with that guy over there?" She subtly pointed her finger towards Na-ze. Kajiwara momentarily snapped back to reality, trying to recall her experiences with Na-ze. She replied, "Oh, you mean Na-ze? Well, he's always been like that ever since we became classmates. He's never really spoken to anyone."
Kajiwara noticed Akane's confused expression and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Never mind," Akane said to Kajiwara, realizing it would be better to focus on the lesson. Kajiwara simply smiled and agreed, acknowledging that it was a good idea.
Once the lesson concluded, recess finally arrived. As the teacher left the classroom, Akane's classmates eagerly surrounded her with blushing faces, introducing themselves and expressing their eagerness to get to know her. Akane, although slightly annoyed by the attention, let out a sigh. Throughout her life, she had grown accustomed to being a charismatic individual, attracting the interest of many people.
After the introductions, the classmates invited Akane to join them in the cafeteria. However, she declined with another sigh, stating that she had brought her own packed lunch. "You guys can go ahead and have lunch. I'll join you another time," she explained, resignation lacing her words.
As her classmates disappeared toward the cafeteria, Akane was left alone. Kajiwara, sensing Akane's despondency, remained by her side. "I'll go and eat lunch in the cafeteria too," Kajiwara suggested, hoping to provide some companionship. Akane looked at her and smiled faintly, grateful for the gesture but declining the offer. "No, it's fine. Enjoy your lunch," she responded graciously, a mixture of appreciation and determination in her voice.
As Akane sat alone in the classroom, she opened her lunch box and was immediately greeted by a mouthwatering aroma. Curiosity sparked within her as she glanced to the side, discovering that she was not the only one enjoying their lunch in this quiet setting. It was Na-ze, quietly indulging in his own meal.
Unable to resist the captivating scent wafting from Na-ze's lunch box, Akane found herself momentarily distracted from her own food. After a few seconds of contemplation, she mustered up the courage to break the silence. "Hey, Na-ze, right?" Akane questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Do you mind if I ask what you're eating?"
Na-ze nonchalantly turned to face her, his expression and tone devoid of any emotion. "It's just chicken curry," he replied, leaving Akane momentarily shocked that they were enjoying the same type of food. However, there was an undeniable allure to Na-ze's dish that made it more enticing than Akane's own. Na-ze simply returned his focus to his food, continuing to mind his own business.
Akane found herself consumed by jealousy as she caught a whiff of Na-ze's delectable lunch aroma. Unable to resist the temptation any longer, she mustered up the courage to ask, her face reddening with embarrassment, "Um, do you mind if we try each other's food?"
Na-ze, with an expressionless face, replied, "I don't mind." Akane was taken aback by his nonchalant response, expecting the situation to be awkward. Handing over her container, they exchanged their respective dishes without further ado.
As Akane took a bite of Na-ze's food, a moment of pure delight flashed across her face. A solitary tear escaped her left eye, her surprise reflecting in her widened eyes. The flavor was nothing like she had ever experienced before. It was vastly different from the premium delicacies she had sampled in the past.
"Um, did your mom make this dish for you?" Akane asked Na-ze with curiosity. Na-ze calmly responded, "I made it myself." This revelation caught Akane off guard, and she exclaimed, "Wait, really?" Intrigued, she got up from her seat and joined Na-ze, repeating her amazement, "You really made this by yourself! I can't even express how premium it tastes. It's like nothing I've ever experienced before."
Despite Akane's excitement, Na-ze continued to eat without acknowledging her presence. Akane finally gathered the courage to ask, "Can I ask you something, Na-ze? Why do you always seem so nonchalant?"
"Well, it's just who I am – nothing more, nothing less," Na-ze calmly replied to Akane. Akane couldn't help but smirk and responded, "Is that so?" She looked directly at Na-ze, trying to use her charm.
For a few moments, nothing happened. Na-ze, curious about Akane's reaction, asked her why she was blushing. Akane, caught off guard, stammered, "Huh? What do you mean?" In her thoughts, she realized, "Whoa, he doesn't seem to find me attractive. Wait, why am I blushing? Oh no, I need to cover my face." Akane quickly covered her face with her hands, hoping to hide her embarrassment.
Na-ze remained nonchalant and simply stated, "You know, if you're trying to use your charms on me, just stop."
Akane returned to her seat, her face still flushed from Na-ze's comment. She took a small bite of their shared food, hoping to calm her nerves.
When the recess ended, the students hurried back to their classroom after finishing their lunch in the cafeteria. The classroom filled up quickly as almost all of their classmates came back.
Kajiwara had also finished her meal in the cafeteria and walked back to her seat next to Akane. She noticed Akane's visible blushing and slight glances towards Na-ze and said, "Hey, Akane. You seem a bit flustered. Is everything okay?"
Startled, Akane quickly denied it, saying, "What? No, no, there's nothing wrong at all. What are you talking about?"
Kajiwara couldn't help but notice Akane's glances towards Na-ze and asked, "Is there something on your mind, Akane? You keep looking at Na-ze."
"No, it's nothing," Akane reassured Kajiwara. Kajiwara accepted her response as most of the students returned to the classroom.
Curiosity got the better of Kajiwara as she asked Akane what she had for lunch. Akane replied, "Oh, it was just chicken curry. Nothing special."
Kajiwara responded, "That sounds delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't bring any food with me, so I had to buy something in the cafeteria. Honestly, it wasn't great, but it did the job." She added a smile to lighten the mood.
Finally, when all the students settled back in the classroom, the teacher entered and began the lesson. They immersed themselves in the subject for a few hours until the lesson concluded with the ringing of the bell. It was time for everyone to go home.
Akane and Kajiwara packed up their bags and headed towards the hallway, preparing to go home. Meanwhile, Na-ze was also packing his bag when a group of intimidating boys approached him. They warned him, "Listen up, buddy. If you ever try to be friends with Akane, you're done for."
This sudden confrontation caught the attention of most of the students in the class, causing them to gather around and whispers filled the room. The classmates were shocked, as they had never witnessed someone facing danger with such composure before.
The aggressive boys expected Na-ze to respond, to affirm that he would never talk to or approach Akane. However, Na-ze simply ignored them, showing no care or emotion on his face.
In the hallway, Akane heard the whispers and noticed the crowd that had formed in their classroom. She quickly turned to Kajiwara and asked, "Hey, wait, Kajiwara. What's going on?"
"Is there something going on inside the room?" Kajiwara asked Akane.
Akane immediately sprinted back, eager to see what was happening. As she entered the room, she was shocked to see the boys cornering Na-ze against the wall, wearing intimidating smiles.
"We're not joking around here," one of the boys said, emphasizing their seriousness. "You better never talk to Akane, just like before in recess."
Without hesitation, Akane pushed through the crowd and confronted the boys. "Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing with Na-ze? Who gave you the permission to decide who I can or cannot talk to?"
The boys were momentarily stunned that Akane was still in the class and had stood up to them. One of them remarked, "She's not good for you, Akane. You deserve someone better."
Akane smirked, laughed with a confident demeanor, and clenched the candy stick in her mouth. Firmly, she replied, "You think you're that 'someone better'? How pathetic."
The boy was infuriated by Akane's bold response and launched a punch towards her, exclaiming, "How dare you!" However, with her combat skills honed as the daughter of a professional dojo master, Akane swiftly dodged the punch and used one of the nearby tables to gain momentum. With a swift kick to the boy's face, she knocked him out, leaving some of the other boys in the group scared and immediately fleeing.
As the commotion settled, Akane and Na-ze were left alone in the classroom. Akane, concerned about Na-ze's well-being, approached him and asked, "Na-ze, are you okay?" However, Na-ze simply ignored her and walked past her, leaving the classroom without uttering a word.
The crowd that had gathered to witness the spectacle of Akane's combat skills was astounded, whispering in awe at the display. Akane, maintaining her nonchalant demeanor, addressed Na-ze with a slight hint of concern, "Not even a thank you?"
Na-ze left the classroom and walked through the hallways until he reached the exit of the school facility. Once outside, he summoned his companion Adam, an interstellar dragon who could only be seen by Na-ze himself.
Na-ze turned to Adam and asked, "Is my sister in danger?" Adam reassured him, saying, "No, I have already told you before that you can sense it for yourself if Kimiko is endangered." Kimiko was Na-ze's sister, and he held a deep bond with her.
As Na-ze walked through the school, nearing the gates, he couldn't help but overhear a group of students discussing a series of recent murders. The victims apparently had distinct bite marks on their necks, reminiscent of a vampire attack. One of the students speculated that it might just be a deranged individual trying to create panic by imitating a vampire.
Exiting the school gates, Na-ze calmly reached out to Adam telepathically, seeking confirmation. "Is it true?" he asked silently. Adam's response was clear and concise, "Yes, there is indeed a vampire on the loose in this town."
Na-ze let out a weary sigh, displaying neither emotion nor concern.
Na-ze made his way home, walking for a couple of hours until he reached his apartment. As he opened the door, he was greeted by the joyful meows of his two beloved cats who had been eagerly awaiting his return. Na-ze communicated with the felines, understanding their excitement and expressing his own happiness to see them.
With a warm smile, Na-ze gently petted both cats, showing his affection. Setting his bag on a nearby table, he grabbed a can of cat food and cheerfully exclaimed, "Here you go!" The cats eagerly devoured their meal, content and grateful for Na-ze's care and attention.
Na-ze retreated to his room and settled into bed, gazing up at the ceiling as thoughts about his future swirled in his mind. His cats, tired from the day, snuggled up beside him, their sleepy yawns echoing the tranquility of the moment. Hours passed, with Na-ze remaining in his comfortable cocoon, lost in reflection.
When nightfall arrived, Na-ze ultimately decided to venture out for a leisurely stroll through his town. Donning a hoodie, he stepped outside cautiously, taking in the cool night air. As he meandered through the streets, his eyes were drawn to the ethereal beauty of the night sky, adorned with countless shimmering stars and distant galaxies. Na-ze walked aimlessly, savoring the serene ambiance that enveloped him.
After a while, he found himself near the subway station and felt a craving for a refreshing cola. With a purposeful stride, Na-ze approached the station and ventured into its dimly lit depths. Making his way to the vending machine, he carefully selected a cola and retrieved it from the dispenser.
As Na-ze prepared to leave the subway and find a seat on the nearby bench, the sound of gunshots erupted from the depths of the station. Despite the sudden disturbance, Na-ze remained unfazed, his expression devoid of any visible emotion. Curiosity piqued, he pondered the cause of the commotion.
Driven by his inquisitive nature, Na-ze made the decision to investigate the source of the gunshots. He navigated the underground tunnels, taking careful steps towards the origin of the sound. After a brief journey, Na-ze arrived at the scene and witnessed a gravely injured woman. Her limbs were missing, and she appeared to be in a dire state. Unperturbed, Na-ze approached her calmly, driven by a desire to assess the situation.
Upon closer inspection, Na-ze realized that the woman was not a human but a vampire, his understanding of the supernatural realm prompting this revelation.
Na-ze locked eyes with the weakened woman, her feeble voice barely managing to utter the word "help." Understanding that she needed sustenance to survive, he made a compassionate decision. Without hesitation, Na-ze gingerly cut his wrist, allowing his blood to trickle down the woman's mouth.
As the blood revived her, the woman slowly lost consciousness, her body capable of regenerating due to her vampiric nature. Concerned for her safety, Na-ze realized he couldn't leave her vulnerable in this location. Fearful that others might harm her upon discovering her true identity, he determinedly resolved to find a secure haven for her to awaken.
With the unconscious woman in his arms, Na-ze traversed the town in search of a suitable hiding place, but his efforts proved fruitless. Faced with the pressing need to ensure her safety, Na-ze made the decision to bring her to his apartment, where she could repose undisturbed until she regained full strength.
Upon arriving at his apartment, Na-ze turned the key in the lock and opened the front door. His two cats, sensing his return, immediately rushed towards him, their worried meows filling the air. Na-ze knelt down and gently stroked their fur, reassuring them, "Don't worry, my dear friends. I'll be alright."
With his feline companions comforted, Na-ze proceeded down the hallway, carrying the weakened woman in his arms. He carefully maneuvered through his living space, finally reaching his room. Laying her down on the bed, he arranged her body with great care, ensuring her comfort and safety.
Satisfied that she was settled, Na-ze took a seat on the nearby chair, positioned just within view of the woman. Hours passed, the room filled with an air of anticipation. The vampire's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly woke up, her senses gradually returning. As she rubbed her eyes to clear away the remnants of sleep, her gaze landed on Na-ze, who remained steadfastly focused on her, his eyes full of curiosity.
A mischievous smile played upon the vampire's lips as she yawned and addressed Na-ze, her voice laced with subtle seduction. "So, you're the man who saved me earlier, right?" she asked, her tone filled with playful intrigue. Na-ze, devoid of visible emotions, maintained his composed demeanor as he casually responded, "Yes, that would be me. I couldn't just leave you in that state."
Interested in the woman's story, Na-ze decided to delve deeper into her experience. "What happened to you?" he inquired, hoping to understand the circumstances that had led her to such vulnerability. The vampire, still wearing her seductive smile, matched his curiosity with her own. "Why did you choose to help me?" she countered.
Na-ze paused for a moment, considering her question before suggesting, "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves first. My name is Na-ze. And you?" The vampire's eyes gleamed with intrigue as she responded, "I'm Matilda." Her voice dripped with an alluring charm, Na-ze decided to address her initial question, explaining his motives for aiding her in her time of need.
"The reason I helped you is because it's in my nature to assist others," Na-ze stated earnestly to Matilda. She asked, with genuine curiosity, "Is that so?" Na-ze rose from his seat and walked towards the window, lighting a cigarette. Turning to face her, he calmly posed the question, "So, what happened to you?" His expression remained neutral, emotions veiled beneath a calm facade.
Matilda sighed, contemplating her response. "Well, to begin with, I was rather reckless. I let my guard down around two vampire hunters, and they managed to sever all my limbs. As a result, I am considerably weaker now," she admitted, her voice carrying a seductive undertone. Her eyes held a mix of vulnerability and curiosity as she continued, "Na-ze, why did you choose to help me? Aren't you afraid that I might turn on you and take your life? Considering your immediate reaction to feed me your blood, it seems you have some knowledge about vampires."
The vampire stood up and moved closer to Na-ze, her voice dripping with seduction as she asked, "So, what do you want in return?" Closing the distance between their faces, she attempted to lean in for a kiss, but Na-ze instinctively intercepted her advance, gently pushing her back. Maintaining his composed demeanor, he calmly replied, "I'm not interested in any kind of payment."
Matilda giggled seductively, her eyes glimmering with mischief, as she provocatively removed her dress, teasingly suggesting, "Is this what you want, then?" Na-ze, unmoved by her display, simply replied with a hint of indifference, "Huh. I'm not interested in having sex with you."
The surprise on Matilda's face was evident, her seductive charm momentarily faltering. She quickly regained her composure, a mixture of curiosity and respect present in her gaze as she stared at Na-ze. Realizing that he was not lured by superficial desires, Matilda's interest in him deepened, the encounter taking on a different and unexpected dynamic.
Na-ze moved closer to Matilda's face, his tone devoid of emotion. "Well, if that's all, I guess you can leave now, right?" Matilda couldn't help but blush, feeling an unexpected attraction towards Na-ze. Despite the close proximity, Na-ze showed no interest in pursuing further interaction. He extinguished his cigarette and headed towards his bed, nonchalantly remarking, "I have school tomorrow, so I better get some sleep."
Na-ze laid down and quickly drifted off to sleep, completely disregarding Matilda's presence. Matilda, shocked by his indifference, blushed even more. The realization struck her that Na-ze had allowed a vampire into his house without a care. Her seductive facade dissolved as she considered what had just transpired. She couldn't help but admit to herself, "I kinda like this guy a lot." She contemplated whether she should leave and accept that she had no home following her awakening.