A peaceful darkness surrounded Moka. Despite the void and the lack of activity, Moka felt content. It was comforting as if she was sleeping in the perfect cold spot of a bed and it was dark enough to facilitate sleeping but not too dark to let the mind wander. And she was never too tired nor too energetic. It was a perfect mix of comfortable lethargy.

But every once in a while, visions of the outside would come in, lighting up this void with varying emotions.

Excitement.

Friendship.

Happiness.

Moka felt happy as she saw the outside world. Unfortunately, not everything was sunshine and happiness.

Desperation.

Isolation.

Loneliness.

Moka didn’t understand how and why these feelings hit so close to home, especially when she hadn’t personally experienced these events.

Despite the comfort provided by the darkness, Moka still looked forward to the visions. It was like finding the right show when you’re doing nothing but browsing an endless list of shows.

But as time progressed, the varying emotions have become a single note. Instead of having healthy opportunities to be happy and sad, instead, the visions were almost always sad or miserable. Rarely did this person have any moments of happiness.

Pitiful.

But Moka couldn’t sympathize. From loose memories and emotions of her childhood, she knew that if one wished for something, one must claim it.

If this person wished to be happy, she simply needed to find a way to be.

Moka continued to watch over this foolish person but as time passed, even the constant misery started to affect her sleep.

It was still comfortable but she no longer looked forward to the visions.

There was no point in waiting for something that also made her miserable.

Unfortunately, Moka had no such luck. While what she did in this void was similar to sleeping, Moka didn’t have any eyes to close which meant that she couldn’t resist a vision.

This misery-stricken life continued to annoy the slumbering Moka.

But then hope.

This latest vision provided Moka with the emotion of hope.

Interesting…

This person on the outside was transferring to a different school. This was the source of her hope.

The following visions were less sad and gloomy but it was always tinged with a forward look.

The future…

Then for a while, Moka didn’t receive any visions.

She didn’t particularly care but even she couldn’t help but look forward to the future.

But then, Moka’s dark world was suddenly bombarded with colors and filled with a sensation that she could only remember as taste.

She tasted a delicious flavor that could only be described as one thing.

Blood.

The power of freshly taken blood was so potent that for a moment, Moka’s sense of comfort was shaken. She wanted to wake up and taste it herself but this ecstasy only lasted so long. Moka felt disappointed but it was quickly replaced by more visions.

And this time, they were happy.

Images of a young man come into view. Moka watched as this man and the owner of the visions enjoyed a relatively relaxed school life.

Tsukune…

The young man’s name comes into Moka’s mind. She speaks it as if it was the most natural thing to do. She didn’t know why but she felt a connection with this young man. Unfortunately, the name doesn’t stay for too long in her mind.

Madness…

Moka chuckles as she continues to watch these new visions.

For the first time in a while, the visions were absent of any sadness.

The person on the outside finally found companionship.

For some reason, Moka felt happy whenever the visions were happy.

It was at this point that Moka finally recognized who was the person behind those visions.

It was none other than herself, another version of her that seemed to fear the loneliness.

Unfortunately, the outer Moka’s string of luck was cut short. Almost immediately after the good times, the vision reveals that Tsukune was human all along, the very cause of this outer Moka’s sadness.

Aware that the Moka outside was her as well, the inside Moka could not just berate her. After all, this outside Moka might have originally come from her.

After a short argument between the outer Moka and Tsukune, the inner Moka wanted nothing more than to comfort herself and possibly scold Tsukune as well.

Pitiful…

Alone once again, the outer Moka lamented the fact that Tsukune left her but she did nothing to keep him around. The inner Moka watched, having completely lost that feeling of comfort she originally had.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Fool. Follow him. If you truly want to become his friend, grasp it.

Inner Moka sighed, waiting for the vision to finish except, it didn’t.

Both Inner and Outer Moka are suddenly startled when someone suddenly sneaks up on Outer Moka. It was a brutish man with a pathetic human disguise. Inner Moka rolled her eyes at the poor display of youki control.

A monster… but what type… other me, you have to escape… I know you’re not capable of fighting.

But the outer Moka was not as assertive as the inner Moka and she was tossed around by Saizou first. Inner Moka couldn’t bear to watch but she had no choice.

Ugh… taken by a pathetic monster like this…

Then the vision stops. Inner Moka was thankful she no longer had to suffer through it but was also anxious. She did not want anything to happen to outer Moka or her body.

With no way to intervene nor any way to help herself, inner Moka closes her eyes, praying that the comfort of her sleep returns.

“Because…”

Words streamed into Inner Moka’s mind.

It’s that man again…

“I want to be your Friend…”

He’s back. Foolish.

“Even if you are a vampire… I like you.”

Inner Moka’s eyes open and for a moment, he could feel a profound connection between Tsukune and her. The void suddenly expands, as if it was sinking into a hole that was suddenly opened.

A vision of the outside world appears but instead of watching it, it seems to get closer and closer until Inner Moka finds herself back in her body once more. The void that surrounded her seemed to radiate outward, showcasing her suppressed power.

Long lost memories and even recent ones suddenly flood Moka’s mind.

School…

Alone…

New opportunity…

Friends…

Tasty blood…

Tsukune…

Inner Moka opens her eyes and all of the excess energy that she released was suddenly called back in by their master. The radiated power seems to reverse itself, re-entering Moka’s body, and empowering every fiber of her being.

With the return of her youki, Moka then remembers even older memories.

A quick dodge to the right…

Duck…

Counter…

Strike the chin…

Muscle memory takes place once more as Moka’s body seems to recall how to move.

Opening her eyes, Moka looks around. Suddenly, outer Moka’s memories flood inner Moka’s mind, reminding her of the damage Tsukune took.

Turning to the battered young man, inner Moka finds him to be in better shape than before. She sees the rosary in his hand, grasping onto it like it's the last lifeboat in a vast ocean.

I see… You are very fortunate.

Finally free from the constraints of the rosary, Moka felt excited, not that she would show it on the outside. Old incomplete memories told her that she had to be prim and proper. She doesn’t recall where it came from but she knew that someone taught her how to control her facial expression and body language.

And at this moment, she had to express just how far above she was compared to her opponent.

Turning to Saizou, Moka was going to dole out a well-deserving punishment.

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

After making sure that Saizou was no longer after them, Tsukune carried the unconscious Moka on his back. He still felt weak but he couldn’t leave her here alone, especially after his declaration.

He starts the tiring walk toward the academy.

Fortunately for the two of them, most of the student body was in class, allowing them some well-needed privacy.

Tsukune knew where the clinic was so his journey wasn’t too difficult.

Entering the familiar room, Tsukune calls for the nurse.

Within seconds, a woman with dead eyes and a body completely covered up with bandages appears. Tsukune was introduced to her earlier.

“Ms. Tsumugi! We need help!”

Mayumi Tsumugi, both a doctor and nurse of the spirit academy, approached them with mechanical movements.

“Please bring her to one of the beds. I’ll give both of you a check.”

Tsukune nods and quickly brings Moka to one of the clinic’s beds.

Once he’s done setting her down, he’s immediately grabbed and pulled by Mayumi. Without being able to resist, he’s suddenly forced to sit down on a chair. Mayumi is in front of his face.

So close!

Tsukune tries to back away but remembering that Mayumi is a monster herself, he forces himself to stay put so he doesn’t trigger her or anything.

Calm down Tsukune… you just survived Saizou… No need to try and provoke another.

Mayumi then goes to work, checking Tsukune’s entire body, unfazed by the fact that he has large wounds.

“Your bones show signs of recent healing. You have bruises and wounds but they’re recovering just as quickly. Hmmmm… your youki is clearly above average but it is showing signs of dwindling. Hmmm… I know this is against school rules but so is fighting with your fellow schoolmates.”

Feeling that he’ll be scolded, Tsukune couldn’t help but panic.

Youki?? What?

“I-I didn’t fi-”

Mayumi cuts him off.

“I don’t care if you students fight as long as you don’t do it outside of the academy. Anyway, as I was saying, it’s against school rules but your youki is quickly dwindling. I need to know what monster you are so I can recommend a treatment.”

Tsukune panics and blurts out an answer.

“A-a vampire!”

Mayumi tilts her head.

“And someone managed to harm you this much?”

She clicks her tongue underneath the copious amount of bandages covering her face.

“Anyway, your body took some damage but because of a large surge of youki, most of your wounds have healed. If you were human, you would’ve died.”

Tsukune nervously laughs.

“Y-yeah! If I was human…”

“... Anyway… Considering that you’re a vampire, you’ll quickly regenerate all your wounds. So for now, I want you to leave so I can check your classmate as well.”

For a moment, Tsukune felt hesitant. After what Saizou did, who’s to say that this person won’t harm Moka?

“Do not worry. I will make sure she knows that you brought her here, you little hero.”

Tsukune blushes at Mayumi’s monotonous praise.

“I-I didn’t do much… In fact, sh-”

“Shhh shhh… Please go. I have to treat another patient.”

Despite his protests, Tsukune is quickly shooed out by Mayumi.

When Tsukune is finally out of the clinic, Mayumi starts to do a quick check-up on Moka.

A nearby bed with closed curtains suddenly opens, revealing a young girl.

“Hey, nurse! Just heard some juicy stuff.”

Mayumi turns to the student.

“I expected fights because some monster species are just built for it but I didn’t expect it on the 2nd day.” The young girl adds.

Mayumi doesn’t reply, continuing to work on Moka.

“Are you ignoring me because I heard that guy’s a vampire?”

Mayumi continues to work on Moka. Annoyed, the girl goes out, with the intention to spread some rumors.

Finally, something interesting in this stupid school.

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

Tsukune was never the best type of student. After being pushed out of the clinic, he decides to go back to his dorm instead.

He remembers the nurse’s comment about how his body was healing.

… That can’t be right…

Tsukune remembers that Moka already fed off on him.

D-does that mean I’m a vampire too??

While Tsukune contemplates the horror of becoming a vampire, he quickly rushes back to his dorm room.

Once inside, Tsukune thinks once more if he should leave or not. Opening the bag he brought with him, he takes out the withdrawal notice and puts it on one of the room’s main tables.

He pulls away from it and gives it a stare.

Tsukune spends the entire day contemplating whether to leave or not.

Eventually, the day ends with Tsukune going to sleep with a stressed mind.

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

The morning sun shone brightly, scalding Tsukune’s skin. The slight pain reminded him that he was possibly a vampire but after an entire night trying to test out if he had supernatural strength, super hearing, great speed, or any other power from the myths he knew, Tsukune was still a normal human.

I’m not a vampire… right? I should ask Moka later.

Tsukune continued to wait near the academy’s main entrance. He wondered if the metal gate hanging off by one hinge was purposeful or did the school not have the budget.

That’s impossible. They have dozens of buildings here. I doubt they don’t have a budget.

While waiting for Moka, Tsukune looks at the withdrawal notice in his hand.

In the end, I couldn’t make a decision.

Tsukune continues to stare at it. Then he started to grip both ends with his hands but he couldn’t rip it apart.

W-why am I hesitating?

Before Tsukune could let it go, he heard a familiar voice shouting at him.

“Tsukuneee!”

Then Moka crashes on Tsukune’s back, giving him a push and causing him to rip the notice apart.

“Ah!”

“Ah!” Moka gleefully copies Tsukune’s surprise.

“Was that your notice?”

Tsukune smiles

“Y-yeah. It was”

Moka pulls away and Tsukune turns toward her.

I’m still not one hundred percent sure about this… And there’s still a lot of anxiety in me… but…

She smiles at him which causes Tsukune to ever so slightly blush.

“Tsukune.”

Moka becomes flustered a bit.

“Thank you for coming back yesterday.”

Tsukune nods, remembering the harrowing horror yesterday.

Moka comes closer.

“Oh… Oh my…”

“Why? Is there a problem?” Tsukune asks, seeing Moka’s cheeks turn red.

“Well… when I’m with you… my heart starts to beat so hard…”

Oh no! She’s thirsty again!

“Nooo, I don’t want to be bitten again!”

Tsukune then runs with all of his might toward the academy.

Moka chases with a smile.

“But I wanna suck your blood!”

Despite being exhausted from running away from Moka, Tsukune’s thoughts continue.

I found something in this academy that's impossible to find anywhere else.

Looking back at the running Moka, Tsukune couldn’t help but smile.