Tsukune felt his heart drop to his gut as he stared at the words that he’d been dreading ever since he decided to stay in this monster academy.
In a panic, he starts looking around to see if anyone else is staring at him.
But before he could panic, Moka pulled him away from the main crowd and into a more secluded area.
“Tsukune!” She calls out to him sternly.
Tsukune turns to her.
“M-Moka, they know… I-I can't stay here. I have t-”
“Tsukune!” Moka’s loud voice seems to snap Tsukune out of his panic attack. “First, take a breath. Calm down and we can figure this out together.”
Moka grabs Tsukune's shoulders to prevent him from running and causing a scene.
Tsukune reluctantly takes a breath and tries to calm down.
“There… some color is returning to your face. “
Tsukune nods at Moka’s words.
“Moka, what happened… who figured it out?”
Moka looks around to see if anyone else was listening.
“Tsukune, we need to find Rainee.”
Tsukune looks at Moka with a confused expression.
“Why do we need to look for Rainee now?”
Moka fidgets a bit, unsure what to say.
“Ever since Rainee befriended me, I've always had a feeling that it wasn't sincere. I can feel some of her sincerity now but in the beginning, I could feel she had some ulterior motives.”
Tsukune thinks back to the first time he met her.
“I… sorry Moka, I don't see it.”
Moka nods.
“I know it's hard to believe but… Tsukune, please trust me.”
Tsukune looks at Moka’s determined eyes.
“Okay, I trust you Moka. Let's go look for Rainee.”
Moka's face brightens at Tsukune’s words.
“Where should we look first?”
Tsukune asks.
“We should go to her class first and ask around.”
Agreeing with Moka’s idea, the two of them go towards Rainee's class which is a floor above their classroom.
Once they reach Rainee's classroom, Moka and Tsukune look around for their mutual friend.
But they couldn't find Rainee.
“She's not here but we expected that.” Tsukune says.
Moka nods.
“We don't belong in the same building but we can check her dorm out.”
Tsukune nods.
But before they could leave, one of the students of Rainee's class saw them.
“Hey, you two aren't in this class. What are you two doing here?”
Tsukune was still immensely anxious because of earlier, preventing him from answering.
Moka quickly replies.
“Hello, sorry for the inconvenience but we’re looking for a friend.”
The girl looks Moka up and down. After seeing a gorgeous woman, she couldn't help but blush a bit.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
“I-Who are you looking for?”
“We're looking for Rainee.”
Moka’s clear voice, divine looks, and graceful way of carrying herself immediately reminds the girl of what Rainee has shared to her before.
“O-oh, you're Moka then.”
Moka was surprised to hear her name.
“Oh, did Rainee tell you about me?”
The girl nods quickly.
“Yeah! No one here doesn't know you.”
Moka's shocked look surprises the girl.
“She told the entire class?”
The girl shakes her head.
“No, not really but she did share a lot. For example, you're a really cool person Moka but your bodyguard Tsukune isn't that much to talk about…”
Tsukune felt insulted by that comment but he also understood it.
Before Moka could ask another question, the girl turned around and shouted at her class.
“Hey guys!”
The class turns toward the girl, seeing Moka at their front door.
“Moka's here!.”
And just like the start of their classes, Moka was quickly swarmed by a cacophony of students, all wanting to meet and befriend the goddess.
Tsukune, on the other hand, was shoved and pushed around by the larger students of the class.
While Moka was crowded, Tsukune was approached by a shy student.
“Hey, you're Tsukune, right?”
Tsukune cautiously backs away.
She doesn't know I'm human… calm down…
Regaining some calmness, Tsukune nods at the girl.
“Yeah, why?”
The girl nods.
“Ummm… I heard that you’re looking for Rainee, right?”
Tsukune nods.
Finally able to calm herself, Tsukune notices that this girl looked stressed.
“Are you okay?”
The girl quickly nods.
“Yes! I actually am worried about Rainee.”
The girl’s urgent voice startled Tsukune.
“For the past week, Rainee’s been acting weird. She’s been laughing and talking to herself. And I don’t know how but… I think she’s getting taller? I know it sounds weird but Rainee is such a good presence here in the class… Everyone is happier when she’s around but… lately, it feels like she’s never around. It’s like she’s always in her own thoughts. She barely responds to anyone… She talked about you and Moka a lot… maybe… you guys can help her out.”
Tsukune tries to figure out if this girl has any ulterior motive but admittedly, he doesn’t have the same supernatural senses that Moka has. Seeing the girl’s desperate face, Tsukune could only trust in her.
He nods.
“I don’t know what’s the matter with Rainee but… we’ll try to find her. Moka and I have some things we want to find out as well.”
The girl nods at Tsukune’s words. “
“This is the first time I’ve met you… but somehow, I feel reassured. Thank you!”
The girl bows which causes Tsukune to panic. He immediately helps her up.
Before the two could have any more embarrassing interactions, Moka pulls away Tsukune.
Tsukune looks at her and sees a frazzled Moka desperately wanting to escape her adoring crowd.
“Let’s go Tsukune!”
Unfortunately, Moka forgot to hold back and drags Tsukune away.
Eventually, the two manage to go to a secluded area.
“Tsukune!”
“Moka!”
The two of them speak at the same time.
“Oh, you go first,” Moka says.
“No, you go first,” Tsukune immediately replies.
The two of them go in a circle for a bit until Moka finally speaks first.
“According to the class, Rainee’s been acting weird.”
Tsukune nods.
“Yeah, one of her classmates told me that too. Do you think it’s true?”
Moka purses her lips. She nods.
“Yeah. I don’t think they were lying… They were really worried for her… but… it’s clear that she lied to us.”
Tsukune nods.
“Yeah… Her entire class was looking for her.”
“She had so many friends… Why did she do that to us?” Moka asks with a face of disappointment.
“Maybe… maybe she really wanted to be your friend?”
Moka looks at Tsukune with a saddened face.
“Yeah but not like this. Let’s go find her… I promised the class I would find her.”
Tsukune gives Moka a shocked look.
She promised the entire class… while I only promised one person.
Once again, Tsukune felt the massive popularity gap between the two of them. He felt like a common goldfish compared to the majestic orca that is Moka.
“Come on Tsukune, let’s go! We can’t wait!”
But Tsukune tried to not dwell on their difference. After all, Moka chose him as well.
The two of them quickly exit the academy while avoiding the hall monitors.
----------------------------------------
A certain student noticed two empty seats in her class.
She’s not here. And so is her lackey.
Shizuka continued to teach, unaware of Moka and Tsukune’s absence.
Well… I guess I can’t get him today. No matter, I still have many days ahead of me.
Turning toward the window, that certain student sees Moka and Tsukune rush out of the academy grounds and into the forest.
What…
----------------------------------------
“Moka! I just realized, do you know where Rainee’s dorm is?”
In the middle of running, Moka nods.
“Yeah! Her classmates told me.”
Tsukune didn’t have time to contemplate Moka’s words. He focused all of his efforts on keeping up with the superhuman Moka. As of now, Tsukune is immensely thankful that he started exercising.
Eventually, the two of them reach Rainee’s dorm.
“Tsukune, let’s go.”
Moka goes ahead but Tsukune stops.
“Moka this is a girl’s dormitory.”
Moka turns to Tsukune.
“I know but this is an emergency.”
Tsukune nods and follows Moka as they enter the dorms.
Riding the elevator, they reach the 7th floor.
Moka walks with purpose as Tsukune follows her toward Rainee’s room. The magical phenomena of this dorm, like the other dorms, added weight to Tsukune’s body. But as the both of them approached Rainee’s room, Tsukune felt a qualitative difference in the surroundings.
I’m feeling something… different… what is that?
Apparently, so did Moka. She stops in her steps.
“Tsukune… I feel a large amount of youki… near Rainee’s room.”
Tsukune grits his teeth.
“No, Moka… I think the youki is coming from Rainee’s room.”
Moka purses her lips. She didn’t want it to be the case but she knew that Rainee somehow managed to amass a large amount of youki in a span of a week. She prayed that wasn’t the case.
Once they’re both in front of Rainee’s door, even Tsukune’s instincts are screaming at him to leave. After Saizou, Tsukune felt that he was even more sensitive to danger. Right now, he felt that this room was even more terrifying than Saizou.
Moka knocked on the door.
As if it never existed, all the youki that was pouring out from the room disappeared. It was instead replaced by an eerie silence.
Then they hear footsteps approaching the door.
As the door swings open, a distinct voice comes out.
“Moka!”
Rainee’s energetic voice greets both Moka and Tsukune but once the door is open, Rainee’s appearance shocks the two of them.
She stood nearly 4 inches taller than before. Her tan complexion had deepened, taking on an earthy hue. Additionally, her brown hair now bore hints of green, reminding Tsukune of grass.
“Hey Tsukune! As usual, I couldn’t feel your youki… you’re a sneaky vampire, I’ll give you that. Come in you two!”
Moka and Tsukune felt reluctant but Rainee’s smile and seemingly dead eyes told them that leaving was impossible.
They both go in, hesitant.
Once inside, Rainee closes the door.
She turns around with a smile.
“Please… sit… we’re going to have so much fun.”