Lucas had originally planned to leave the academy the same day he captured his target. However, when Moka woke up, she persuaded him to stay, suggesting that his presence might be good for Tsukune. Her comment left Tsukune red-faced with embarrassment.

After some thought, Lucas relented and agreed to remain for a few more days. During that time, Tsukune began spending more time with Lucas, breaking away from his usual group to bond with the fellow human. The two often hung out, chatting about topics that resonated with their shared experiences.

Moka, however, grew noticeably despondent, a melancholic air surrounding her. Meanwhile, Kurumu and Yukari observed the situation with a strange sense of déjà vu, unable to shake the feeling they’d seen something like this before.

With the extra time, Lucas took the opportunity to fine-tune Tsukune’s exercise regimen and introduced him to the basics of sensing anki. To Lucas’ surprise, Tsukune’s constant exposure to youki at the academy provided a solid foundation for detecting anki—a rare advantage for a beginner.

“This... this isn’t a coincidence,” Lucas mused, seated casually on a chair in Tsukune’s room.

“You mean to tell me my being here isn’t random?” Tsukune asked, intrigued.

“Shush. I didn’t say you could talk. Focus on sensing,” Lucas replied sharply.

“Y-Yes!” Tsukune quickly quieted, returning to his meditation. He concentrated, attempting to sense not the abundant youki around him, but the absence of it—a challenge that demanded mental clarity and patience.

“Remember,” Lucas said, repeating the instruction he had once been taught, “you have to imagine there’s a source nearby. Then, try to lock onto it. Eventually, your mind will naturally gravitate toward the nearest available energy, which in a human’s case will be anki.”

While Lucas didn’t expect Tsukune to master the technique overnight, he found himself optimistic. Tsukune’s ability to already sense youki, something Lucas hadn’t anticipated, hinted at untapped potential. For now, he decided to foster that potential, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that Tsukune’s presence at the academy was far from mere happenstance.

It doesn’t make sense. The academy’s capable of detecting humans the moment they enter its grounds. Why did the academy willingly allow Tsukune to enroll? That couldn’t have been a mistake… unless.

Lucas glanced at Tsukune, who was deep in concentration, working to sense the absence of energy. His thoughts swirled as he tried to piece together the reasoning behind Tsukune’s presence at the academy. The boy was an anomaly, no doubt about it, but Lucas wasn’t the type to become obsessed with unraveling every mystery.

He leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied Tsukune’s focused expression. While he found the boy likable and easy to be around, that didn’t mean he was about to drop everything to figure out the headmaster’s intentions.

Maybe it’s just a fluke. Or maybe Tsukune is unique in some way… Lucas thought, frowning slightly. Whatever the case, I’m hitting a wall here. I’ll ask around later—couldn’t hurt to dig a little deeper.

For now, he let the thought drift away, deciding to focus on the present. Tsukune’s potential might hold some answers, but the truth, Lucas suspected, would require patience and the right questions to the right people.

Lucas ended up staying a few more days, doing his best to refine Tsukune’s routine and give him clear goals to strive toward. However, those days also cemented a harsh reality—whatever hope Lucas had that Tsukune was at the academy because of some latent, untapped potential quickly faded.

Watching Tsukune attempt to train his senses was nothing short of torture for Lucas.

It must have been a fluke!

Initially, Lucas was impressed that Tsukune could sense youki at all. That alone had seemed like a promising talent.

“Hey, Tsukune,” Lucas asked during one of their sessions, trying to sound as gentle as possible. “Have you ever been, uh, exposed to a lot of youki? Like… a lot?”

Tsukune, drenched in sweat after finishing his grueling exercise routine, paused his attempts to sense the absence of youki. He tilted his head, thinking back.

“Oh! I know of one incident!”

Lucas leaned forward. “What happened?”

“Well…” Tsukune’s face scrunched as he sifted through his memories. “Two… no, three… huh… more than three?”

“That many??”

Tsukune kept counting while Lucas stared, his shock growing with each number.

Finally, Tsukune stopped at seven.

Seven times?

Then it clicked.

The vampire. Every time Tsukune unsealed her, his human body was bathed in condensed youki—like he was swimming in a nuclear reactor of the stuff.

Lucas stared at the sheepishly embarrassed Tsukune and let out a long sigh.

“Of course you would know how to sense youki…” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, go back to trying to ‘sense’ anki.”

The frustration was real, but Lucas kept it in check.

Normally, once someone could sense youki, picking up on anki came naturally. But Tsukune’s unnatural method of learning meant he couldn’t even conceptualize what anki might feel like. He was too used to sensing youki.

Lucas leaned back in Tsukune’s ergonomic desk chair, observing the boy. Despite the obvious challenges, there were signs of progress. Tsukune’s breathing was controlled and rhythmic, his body showing steady improvement from their exercises.

While not on Lucas’s level of athleticism, Tsukune’s muscles were becoming more defined. Given a few months—or maybe a year or two—of consistent training, he’d reach a high ranked hunter’s physical standard. All he needed was proper combat instruction.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

But that wasn’t something Lucas could offer. Tsukune would have to figure that out on his own.

Lucas’s gaze shifted to the desk, where papers covered in crude diagrams of the mid-circle barrier spell were scattered. The intricate spell, far beyond beginner-level magic, had clearly consumed a lot of Tsukune’s focus.

Lucas smirked as he opened a slightly ajar drawer, revealing a mountain of scrapped attempts at the same diagram. Hundreds of failed sketches stared back at him, each one a testament to relentless effort.

Completely average drawing skill, Lucas thought, suppressing a chuckle. But he couldn’t deny the sheer determination it represented.

He smiled, closing the drawer quietly. He’s hard-working, that’s for sure.

Eventually, Lucas could no longer delay his departure. After explaining his situation to Moka and the others, he apologized for any trouble he had caused during his stay. The academy issued its own version of the events, expelling Junya for endangering the hidden monster society. Lucas, meanwhile, informed his classmates during class that he was being transferred abroad to the American branch of the monster academy.

His departure was met with mixed emotions. Many girls at the academy lamented his absence, but even Tsukune felt a pang of sadness at seeing him go.

Standing by the cliffside outside the academy grounds, Lucas waited for his ride—the terrifying bus—to arrive. The sea breeze ruffled his jacket as he gazed out at the horizon.

“So, you’re going back?” Tsukune asked softly, his voice tinged with melancholy.

Lucas turned to him, nodding. He also acknowledged Moka, Kurumu, and Yukari, who stood a short distance away, giving the two boys some privacy.

“I still don’t get it,” Kurumu muttered, crossing her arms. “Why do they need alone time? How did Tsukune even get so close to him?”

“Maybe they have something in common?” Yukari speculated, equally puzzled. “But what could Tsukune possibly have in common with someone like Lucas?”

“Perhaps they do,” Moka replied, carefully hiding the truth about Tsukune.

Meanwhile, Tsukune watched Lucas as he continued to gaze at the sea. “Will we meet again?” he asked, his tone uncertain.

Lucas turned to him, offering a small, bittersweet smile. “Yeah. Don’t ask questions like we’re never going to see each other again.”

“But your job is dangerous,” Tsukune pressed. “If the headmaster’s assistant hadn’t shown up when they did, you could’ve… you know, died.”

Lucas chuckled, brushing off the concern with a wave of his hand. “That’s a pretty harsh assessment about your crush,” he teased.

Tsukune flushed, his face turning bright red. “H-Hey! I’m just being realistic! Moka told me she thought you had her family members and… and if it were me—”

“I would’ve killed the one who took them,” Lucas interrupted, finishing Tsukune’s sentence without hesitation.

Tsukune nodded solemnly, confirming Lucas’s words.

The two stood in silence for a moment, the sound of waves crashing below filling the air.

The silence was broken by the low rumble of a bus engine echoing from the tunnel. Both Lucas and Tsukune turned to see the old school bus, driven by its ominous and unnervingly enigmatic driver, emerging from the shadows.

As the bus came to a stop, Lucas grabbed his luggage and stepped forward, Tsukune following close behind. The door hissed open, and the driver glanced at Lucas with a crooked smile.

“Finally done with your task?” the driver asked, his gravelly voice unsettling as ever.

Lucas smirked, though he couldn’t shake the eerie feeling the driver gave him.

This guy... I still don’t know why he creeps me out so much.

“Yeah, I’m done,” Lucas replied.

The driver’s gaze shifted to Tsukune. “No more regrets?”

Both boys paused, caught off guard by the question. After a moment, they exchanged a glance and nodded in unison, each keeping the meaning of their answer to themselves. The driver chuckled knowingly before leaning back into his seat.

Lucas turned to Tsukune, extending his hand. “This is it.”

Tsukune looked down at the offered hand, then clasped it firmly.

The two shook hands, a silent understanding passing between them.

“See you again someday, Tsukune,” Lucas said.

“Yeah. Next time.”

“Next time,” Lucas added with a smirk, “you better not still be a weakling. Got it?”

Tsukune grinned, nodding. “Understood.”

With that, Lucas climbed onto the bus. The doors shut with a pneumatic hiss, and the bus began to move, its engine roaring as it disappeared down the winding road.

Tsukune stood there, waving until the bus was completely out of sight.

Alone again…

Before the thought could fully form, he was tackled from behind.

“Tsukune!!” Kurumu’s cheerful voice rang out as her arms wrapped around him, her ample chest pressing against his back.

Startled, Tsukune turned to see Yukari and Moka approaching, their faces lit with warm, welcoming smiles. Kurumu beamed, clinging to him with unrelenting enthusiasm.

Seeing them all, Tsukune couldn’t help but smile too.

No, not alone. Never alone.

He let out a contented breath, then began walking back toward the academy with the three of them.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Tsukune woke up staring at the ceiling, his mind swirling with mixed emotions. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was only 4 AM — the time his new routine had conditioned him to wake. His schedule now included a refined workout followed by 15 minutes of practicing spell circles, thanks to Lucas’ guidance.

As he started to work out, his body felt invigorated. Lucas’ adjustments to his routine made his workouts not just more effective but also tailored to build functional strength. The results were clear: his physique was steadily becoming athletic, built for capability rather than mere appearance.

After finishing his workout, Tsukune moved to his desk, grabbing a blank sheet of paper. He began meticulously copying the base circle from the barrier spell Lucas had given him.

His brow furrowed when he made an error, prompting him to crumple the paper and toss it aside. Glancing at the clock, he realized he still had a few minutes to spare and resumed his work. This time, his lines were more precise, showing subtle improvement.

Once his routine was complete, Tsukune rushed through his bath and jogged toward the crossroads. A sense of relief washed over him when he spotted Moka and Yukari chatting as they waited.

Moka noticed him first, and their eyes met briefly before Yukari turned, pointing at him with a grin. Tsukune chuckled as he reached the pair, falling naturally into their easy camaraderie. The three made small talk, which inevitably circled back to the most recent events they’d shared.

“I’ve done it!” Yukari exclaimed, beaming with pride.

“Done what?” Moka asked, always happy to entertain Yukari’s enthusiasm.

“I figured out how to use the Junya incident for the newspaper club!” Yukari announced gleefully.

“Oh? How’s that?” Moka and Tsukune asked in unison, unintentionally fueling Yukari’s growing ego.

“Well,” Yukari began, striking a dramatic pose, “when Moka started hanging out with Junya, I did some background digging because I didn’t believe someone like you would fall for anyone so easily.” She pointed at Moka, whose expression turned slightly guilty as memories of Junya’s actions resurfaced.

“She didn’t fall for him,” Tsukune interjected, quick to defend Moka. She gave him a small, grateful smile.

“I know that now!” Yukari giggled. “But here’s the thing: after talking to Lucas and piecing together the rumors, I realized this is Junya’s modus operandi! He preys on lonely girls, flaunting his vampire title to impress them. He makes them feel special—like a legendary and powerful creature is paying attention to them—then ditches them as soon as he’s bored.”

With a triumphant pose, Yukari declared, “The headline will be: ‘Junya Inui, Enemy of Women! Brought Down by Moka Akashiya!’”

Finishing her proclamation, Yukari threw her arms around Moka in an exuberant hug. “You’re so amazing, Moka! I love you!”

Moka chuckled softly, though a bit sheepishly. “I fell for his tricks too, you know.”

“And I… almost did as well,” Tsukune admitted, looking equally embarrassed.

The three of them laughed, chatting in an attempt to put the unpleasant incident behind them.

Their conversation, however, was interrupted by a familiar voice shouting, “Wait! This isn’t over yet!”

The trio turned to see none other than Kurumu storming toward them. Her arrival was nothing short of theatrical: she was decked out in an assortment of weapons. On her back, a heavy metal pack with a tank full of liquid sloshed ominously. A sheathed longsword, radiating an energy that made Moka subtly cringe, hung at her side. In her hands was an ornate, high-tech water gun filled with an unsettlingly clear liquid.

“It took me a while, but Lucas gave me an idea!” Kurumu declared, her confidence radiating. “If I can’t beat you, no matter how much I train… the solution is simple!”

With a flourish, she aimed the water gun at a nearby grave marker adorned with a skull. She pulled the trigger, and a jet of water shot out, dissolving the skull in an instant as the youki infusing it disintegrated.

“I’ll just use all your weaknesses!” she shouted triumphantly.

“H-How is this supposed to win me over?!” Tsukune stammered, utterly baffled.

Kurumu spun around, pointing the water gun directly at Moka. “There’s no ‘winning you over’ if there’s no competition! Moka! Prepare yourself!”

Moka raised her hands in surrender, an amused smile tugging at her lips as she eyed the holy water weapon.

Seeing Moka’s amused smile, Kurumu’s annoyance flared. “Moka! This is all-out war!” she declared, clicking the trigger of the water gun aimed squarely at her rival.

Startled, Moka instinctively dodged the spray of holy water with a shriek. “Eek!”

“Moka, run!” Yukari shouted.

Without hesitation, Moka took off, dashing away with Kurumu in hot pursuit, brandishing her weapon like a determined warrior. Tsukune and Yukari followed close behind, their laughter ringing out as they watched the spectacle unfold.

As the chase continued through the academy grounds, they passed several bystanders who couldn’t help but notice the commotion.

Kuyo, patrolling alongside Keito, caught sight of Tsukune sprinting by. His brow furrowed briefly, but he quickly decided not to let the person who reminded him of Hokuto ruin his morning. With a dismissive shake of his head, he turned his attention elsewhere.

However, another figure wasn’t as quick to dismiss what she saw. A student with long, flowing purple hair stood by the path, her presence almost ethereal. As Tsukune dashed past, her gaze fixed on him, her eyes gleaming with a curious intensity. The air around her felt oddly chilled, a subtle, unspoken energy rippling as her lips curled into the faintest of smiles.