Three Vampires...

As Lucas stepped into his modest dorm room, his mind buzzed with the day’s revelations. The persistent attention from his classmates—especially the girls—had been exhausting, but he’d managed to slip away unnoticed during lunch and after classes. Now, he could focus on the real reason he was here.

Locking the door behind him, Lucas reached into his school jacket and pulled out a small, rectangular container resembling a metal cigarette case. Inside were four pieces of blue chalk and two pieces of golden chalk, each stored neatly. Selecting a piece of blue chalk, he moved to the wall and floor of his room, methodically drawing two intricate magical circles.

The designs were flawless, crafted with an ease that came from years of practice. Once completed, Lucas placed his hands on the circles, closing his eyes as he focused. He exhaled deeply, channeling his anki into the symbols. The circles glowed softly, their light washing over the room and dispelling the oppressive youki that had been weighing on him all day.

“Finally. That’s better,” he muttered, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. “Why is there so much youki here anyway?”

With the atmosphere now more comfortable, Lucas walked to his desk and sat down. He pulled a well-worn journal from his bag, flipping it open to a blank page. Picking up a pen, he began jotting down notes about the information he had gathered throughout the day.

At the top of the page, he wrote: Three Vampires.

Beneath it, he listed three names:

* Moka Akashiya

* Tsukune Aono

* Junya Inui

He paused, tapping the pen against the page as his thoughts drifted.

Moka… She’s a vampire. That much is certain. But is she the one I’m searching for?

Circling Moka’s name, Lucas added: Confirmed Vampire.

Next, he turned his attention to Tsukune: Rumored Vampire and Blood Cattle?

Finally, he hesitated over Junya’s name before scribbling: Vampire?

Leaning back in his chair, Lucas stared at the page, his mind racing. The pieces were starting to come together, but there was still so much he didn’t know. One thing was certain—he needed to tread carefully.

Tsk… if this was the human world, I could just hunt all three of them down.

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Returning to the solitude of her dorm, Moka replayed Junya’s parting words in her mind:

"Don’t forget. Vampires have laws for a reason."

A threat.

For someone as calm and forgiving as Moka, the surge of anger that followed was both unexpected and overwhelming.

What… is this?

The anger flared hot and bright, but just as quickly, it vanished, leaving her confused and unsettled.

“What was that?” she murmured, shaking her head to clear the lingering unease. Even though the anger had dissipated, the underlying truth of Junya’s words gnawed at her.

He wouldn’t hurt me… if he really is a vampire, he’d want me around…

Her thoughts shifted as she prepared her bath, seeking solace in the familiar ritual.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

But it’s not me he’ll hurt.

An image of Tsukune flashed in her mind, and Moka frowned deeply.

Tsukune. He’ll hurt Tsukune.

Sliding into the warm, herb-infused water, Moka sighed, trying to think of a solution.

I should tell Tsukune and the others. Maybe together, we can figure something out…

But as she tried to settle on a course of action, her thoughts returned to that strange sensation of loss she’d felt earlier, tied to her rosary.

If I tell them now… I won’t figure out what that feeling was.

“Hey, do you know what that was?” Moka asked aloud, addressing her other self.

Silence.

She groaned in frustration, sinking deeper into the bath. “Why are you so noisy sometimes and completely quiet when I actually need you? You just throw your opinion out there and leave me to deal with it. Ugh.”

Submerging herself fully under the water, she let the heat and the quiet wash over her, trying to settle her swirling thoughts.

I’ll stay close to Junya for a few days, figure out what that sensation was…

Emerging from the bath, Moka made up her mind.

And then, I’ll deal with him—with Tsukune and the others by my side.

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With Junya’s sudden appearance, Moka’s time was increasingly consumed by the new vampire. Tsukune, who usually met Moka in the mornings to walk to school with Yukari, found himself alone at the crossroads.

He lingered for a moment, hoping she might still appear, but a glance at his watch confirmed what he suspected—Moka was already at the academy. With a resigned sigh, Tsukune adjusted his bag and began the lonely walk to school.

Only another vampire…

Yukari’s words echoed in his mind, fueling his unease.

If the law is real… then that means…

As he arrived at the academy gates, his worst fears materialized: Moka and Junya were walking together, engaged in a conversation he couldn’t hear. Junya leaned in slightly, his tone light and Moka responded with a small laugh. Tsukune felt an instinctive urge to call out to her but stopped himself, noting how genuinely happy she seemed.

She looks so happy…

A pang of jealousy struck him, but he quickly suppressed it.

I get it. If I met another human here, I’d probably feel the same.

He watched as the two entered the building, their figures disappearing into the bustling crowd.

And Junya… he seems like the perfect man for someone like Moka…

The thought stopped Tsukune in his tracks. A cold fear gripped him, whispering possibilities he didn’t want to entertain.

What if Moka stops hanging out with me?

The idea terrified him. He had gambled everything by staying at Yokai Academy, risking his life to remain close to Moka. The thought of enduring the next two and a half years without her, hiding his human nature from Kurumu and Yukari alone, filled him with dread.

T-That’s a nightmare…

But he shook the thought away, clenching his fists.

No… Moka wouldn’t do that.

Moka had always shown him compassion, kindness, and patience. He clung to those memories like a lifeline.

I’ll just have to wait.

Despite his resolve, the waiting was agony. In class, Moka sat farther away, and Junya’s presence was a constant barrier. Every time Tsukune worked up the courage to speak to her, Junya appeared, monopolizing her attention.

I’ll catch her at lunchtime when she wants to drink my blood.

But even then, Junya was there, fetching her before Tsukune could say a word. Watching them from afar, Tsukune noticed something that unsettled him further.

Moka seemed emotional when Junya showed up.

The sight sent a chill down his spine. Junya wasn’t just occupying her time; he was eliciting feelings from her.

Alone at lunchtime, Tsukune considered seeking out Kurumu or Yukari for company but hesitated. It felt like a betrayal to turn to them simply because Moka wasn’t there.

It’s just today… just today…

He wandered aimlessly through the academy, eventually settling into one of his usual hiding spots. But as he turned a corner, a subtle change made him pause—a lingering habit from constantly being on edge.

Someone was nearby.

Turning, Tsukune spotted a familiar figure leaning on a wall, alone.

Lucas?

In the two days since Lucas had arrived, Tsukune had only interacted with him briefly, showing him to their shared classroom. Lucas had left little impression, neither threatening nor particularly friendly, but Tsukune didn’t sense any immediate danger.

“Hey,” Tsukune greeted weakly, raising a hand.

Lucas nodded in acknowledgment. “Hey.”

Glancing around, Tsukune realized they were the only two in the secluded area. For a moment, he considered moving to another one of his hiding spots, but time was short, and lunch would be over soon.

Maybe staying here isn’t so bad…

"Mind if I join you?" Tsukune asked hesitantly.

Lucas shook his head. "Not at all."

He gestured to the spot beside him, and Tsukune, grateful for the small kindness, leaned against the wall next to him. Pulling a cafeteria sandwich from his bag, he unwrapped it and took a bite, settling into the quiet companionship.

Noticing Tsukune pulling out a sandwich, Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Is that enough for you?"

"Huh?" Tsukune blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The sandwich," Lucas clarified. "Is it enough?"

Tsukune furrowed his brow.

Why is he so interested in my lunch?

Before Tsukune could respond, Lucas reached into his jacket and pulled out something that answered the question for him.

"Here," Lucas said casually, holding up a small blood bag. "Just in case you're still hungry. I always carry extras. O+ is my preference. What about you?"

Tsukune froze, his mind racing back to Junya and his recent conversations with Moka. His gaze shifted from the blood bag to Lucas, studying the silver cross around his neck, eerily similar to the one Junya and Moka wore.

Another vampire?!!