FOOLS BLOOD

 My life at school had changed quite a bit. I wasn't invisible anymore. Even when I tried to duck into the background, people always seemed to notice me, stopping me in the hallway to talk or throwing me a casual hello.

 It was weird, but it was a good change. It was how I always envisioned what my high school experience should have been like.

 "Kemmotsu, I need to ask you a favor," said Mister Yamada who placed documents into a box. "These are the end-of-term exams and some other files I need sorted out. Think you can deliver them to the teachers' lounge?"

 It was time for class change, and I already packed my things to head to PE. "Sure, that's not a problem at all!" I relished in the fact that people were depending on me more.

 "Just be careful! This box is heavy so—" He stopped midsentence when I effortlessly picked up the box one-handed as if it was made of paper. "Well, never mind then. It seems like you're stronger than you appear. But still, be careful walking down the stairs."

 I nodded to him and made my way for the staircase.

 Maybe I made that seem a little too easy. It's still hard to control my new strength.

 The changes in my body weren't just for show. Just like that fight I had with Kaito, it was apparent how much stronger I had become.

 I still couldn't fully control my physical capabilities. Just last week I accidentally broke a sink in the boy's bathroom from turning the faucet too hard. But I ran away before I could be blamed for it.

 As I turned the corner and proceeded down the stairs, another student walked up them.

 He appeared to be an upper classman, at least two years older than me. He looked like a delinquent, a social outcast. I mean, he stood out with his sky-blue colored hair and rugged looks. His uniform was half-heartedly worn—shirt half-tucked, top buttons undone and his ears were lined with piercings.

 As he passed me, nothing felt particularly dangerous, but something about him made me feel uneasy. He met my gaze, and I could have sworn a smirk tugged at his lips.

 A fraction of a second later, my foot caught on something. The ground shifted beneath me. My body lurched forward, the stairwell tilting at a dizzying angle.

 Wait, did he just—

 Before I knew it, I was falling.

 A rush of air whipped past my face as I tumbled forward, the world tilting into chaos. Instinct took over before my mind could catch up.

 My hands shot out, fingers grazing the railing, but I was moving too fast to grip it properly. Instead, I twisted midair, planting my palm against the edge of a lower step. My body arched, muscles coiling with unnatural precision.

 With a sharp breath, I pushed off, flipping into a controlled back-handspring. My feet barely touched the steps before I kicked off again, spinning through the air with a fluid grace.

 The moment stretched, my surroundings blurry, until I finally landed at the base of the staircase in a low crouch, both feet planted firmly on the ground.

 The sound of fluttering paper filled the silence—exams and documents from the box I'd been carrying scattered across the floor.

 "Whoa," a voice said, half laughing, half impressed. "Sorry about that, sometimes I can be a little careless." The blue-haired stranger paced himself down the steps and started helping me pick up the papers. "That was totally my fault. I should have been more mindful of my surroundings."

 Even though he apologized, I couldn't detect an ounce of sincerity. It was more like he was just messing with me.

 "That was a cool save! You into gymnastics or something? Or just naturally quick on your feet?" He looked up at me with his hazel-colored eyes, that smirk still planted on his face.

 "Did you do that on purpose?" I snarled, glaring at him.

 "Would you believe me if I said no?" he asked, handing me a crumpled-up exam sheet.

 I snatched it from his grasp, narrowing my eyes. "Not for a second."

 He gave an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head as he picked up another piece of paper. "Man, tough crowd. I know I look like a jerk but I'm a nice guy." He shot me a wink, his smirk unwavering.

 Perhaps it was just my prejudice that initially made me suspicious of him, but the more he talked, the more I felt inclined to believe him.

 He had an easy-going demeanor, and if he really was anything like Kaito, he wouldn't have taken his time to help me clean up. He seemed at ease with himself—it didn't match the vibe of the bullies I've come to know. Maybe he wasn't playing me after all.

 "Thanks," I muttered, not quite meeting his gaze as I took the last sheet of paper.

 "No problem! And again, I'm sorry about what happened. I'm glad you didn't get hurt." He stood up and started walking back up the stairs, but then he paused, propping his arms against his hips as he turned to face me.

 "Oh, and by the way, your name's Rui Kemmotsu, right?"

 "You know who I am?" I retorted, raising my brow.

 "Well duh, of course I do. Who wouldn't? You're the talk of the town right now! Nice job giving that Kaito guy exactly what he deserved!"

 I chuckled. He wasn't quite what I'd expected. More carefree, less rehearsed, and definitely not like the others who just wanted to suck up to me. "I think people tend to over-exaggerate that story. I really didn't do much but thank you."

 He smiled at me, his hazel eyes warm and inviting. "My name's Sora Fujimori," he said, cheerfully. But then, his gaze shifted, and it felt like he was measuring me.

 I couldn't tell if it was curiosity or something more calculating, but I shrugged it off.

 "I hope we get to talk again real soon."

 He said it with a smile, but there was something about the way he said it—an edge, as if the words had a hidden meaning.

 Maybe it was just me being paranoid, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than what he let on.

 "Yeah, likewise," I said, flashing him a smile back.

 He nodded before heading back up the stairs. It struck me as odd—how we'd never spoken before, or how I'd never heard of him. He was a striking figure, one that was hard to forget.

***

 I sat beneath the shade of an old oak tree, my back pressed against the rough bark as I watched the other students run across the field. Their laughter and shouts echoed through the open air, but I wasn't paying much attention.

 The heat was unbearable, even in the shade, the sun beat down on me. It felt like I was melting, like an ice-cream cone left out on a park bench. It made me uncomfortable in a way I couldn't quite explain.

 I sighed, tilting my head back against the trunk. "I can't wait to go back inside. The sun is literally killing me," I said, closing my eyes for just a second.

 "Yo."

 When I reopened my eyes, Sora loomed over me with his lazy looking grin.

 Before I could tell him to go away, he plopped down beside me, stretched out his legs and leaned back like he had nowhere better to be.

 I frowned. "What are you doing here?"

 "Skipping," he said easily. "I never liked school. It's not my scene."

 I raised an eyebrow. "And sitting in the dirt is?"

 He shrugged. "Better than sweating my ass off over there." He nodded toward the student's running drills under the sun before glancing at me. "What about you? Why aren't you out there, showing off your athletic prowess," he said, nudging me in the side.

 I scoffed. "I don't do well in the heat."

 "Yeah, I get that," Sora sighed. "The sun's a real pain in the ass. Too hot, too bright. Not my thing either."

 I blinked. Something about the way he said it felt weirdly relatable. Like he was trying to compare that he and I weren't so different despite our appearances.

 It threw me off. I wasn't used to small talk, let alone with someone sitting so casually beside me. It wasn't awkward at all. In fact, I think I might have been enjoying myself?

 We sat there in silence just observing as our classmates worked hard, the distant sound of sneakers slamming against pavement filled the space between us.

 The PE teacher blew her whistle, barking something about teamwork, and then there was a scream of pain followed by an orchestra of gasps and whispers.

 My head snapped toward the sound.

 A girl sat on the grass in the soccer field. She clutched her knee, and her face was contorted in pain as her teammates surrounded her. Blood dripped from the fresh scrape on her shin. It wasn't much— just a small injury— but my stomach twisted.

 The scent hit me instantly. It was warm. Thick. And Sweet.

 My breath hitched and my fingers dug into the dirt. I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the way my mouth suddenly felt dry, yet I couldn't stop salivating. And my throat was burning. I had to look away. If I kept staring, if I kept breathing it in—

 I wiped the drool away with the back of my hand.

 A chuckle beside me brought me back to reality as I managed to hold back my growing hunger pains.

 Could that be what I think it was? Was I craving that girl's blood? 

 "You smell something sweet?"

 My head turned to Sora who smiled at me, his eyes hinting with mischief. My heart pounded, his words were so specific, almost like they were directed to what I just experienced.

 Before my thoughts spiraled any further, Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box of chocolates. He popped one in his mouth, then held the box out to me, grinning like an idiot.

 "I mean, I was talking about these," he said while chewing away. "Want one?"

 I exhaled, quietly, carefully— before forcing a chuckle. "Sure."

 I took a piece and ate it, the rich taste of the chocolate replacing the lingering scent of the blood in the air.

 Sora sat there, completely at ease, watching the game like nothing had happened.

 I didn't know what it was about him, but I liked his company. This was only our second meeting, but I had a good grasp on the type of person he was. He was relaxed and cool, doing whatever he wanted and didn't care about what anyone else had to say.

 I wished I was more like him. Maybe that's why, I was comforted by his company. His presence filled the loneliness which had always been my only friend.

***

 By the time I had gotten home, the exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on my body, but my mind refused to settle. Sora lingered in my thoughts. Our casual conversations, the way it felt so natural to talk to him, how I wasn't afraid of him. How he stuck to my side, like he belonged there. I wasn't used to that. People who just… stuck around.

 I entered my room, kicked off my shoes then carelessly tossed my backpack to the ground. I jumped on my bed, sighing deeply into my pillow. "What's that guy's problem? He meets me a couple of times and suddenly acts like we're best friends."

 Kana lounged on the couch; one leg crossed over the other. His head rested on the arm tucked behind his head, as if he hadn't moved for hours. His silver hair was unkempt, and his half—lidded eyes flicked toward me the minute I settled in. Then, he smirked.

 "Finally found a friend, have you?"

 I turned in bed, looking at him with a pointed and annoyed gaze.

 "Can you mind your own business? It's creepy how you keep poking around in my head!"

 "I can't help it! Especially when I keep hearing you think Sora this and Sora that over and over." He let out a tired chuckle. "He must have left a good impression on you."

 I scowled and threw my pillow at him. "Shut up."

 Kana sprawled out lazily, a bit more disheveled than his normal, perfect appearance. "Relax, I don't care what you do in your free time."

 He exhaled, and I finally noticed it—the tension in his shoulders. The slight twitch of his fingers. His pupils were sharp like a cat and glowed that blood-red color I've seen countless times.

 And with his lips parted slightly, his fangs poked out, longer and deadly looking.

 I swallowed hard and sat up anxiously. "Are you feeling alight?"

 "Define alright," Kana replied and sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. "I haven't fed on any blood in almost two weeks. I'm at my limit."

 I hesitated but I still wanted to ask him—I had to ask him. The question had been pressing against my throat since this afternoon, ever since the scent of blood made my mouth water.

 "What… does it feel like?" My voice quivered, barely above a whisper. "Drinking someone's blood, I mean."

 Kana's smirk returned, sharper this time. He stood up and as I sat beneath his gaze, it was like I was being stalked by a starving tiger.

 "It's—" he inhaled deeply, his voice turning almost indulgent,"—one of the best pleasures in the world." He flashed his fangs, eyes gleaming. "It's a rush like no other. When their heartbeat pounds against your lips, when their warmth pours down your throat… it's intoxicating."

 I clenched my fists. If someone overheard and didn't know the context, they'd think he was some kind of pervert.

 Kana laughed under his breath. "Don't look so disturbed. You'll understand soon enough when you take that step."

 Before I could respond, he was already moving. In one fluid motion, he crossed the room, slid open the window, and stepped onto the sill. The night air rustled his hair as he turned back slightly.

"And if I were you, I wouldn't wait to indulge yourself. A hungry vampire is worse than any rabid dog you'd find on the street."

 He smirked one last time before turning his attention outside. "Don't wait up." Then he vanished, disappearing into the darkness of night.

 Alone with my thoughts, I sat in silence, only hearing the ticking of the clock on my bedroom wall.

 Would I end up like him? Would there come a day when I looked forward to hurting someone, just to satisfy my needs?

 I shook the thought away and forced myself to focus on work. I stared at the clock, it was already 7:30pm. I had promised my grandmother that I would help with the night shift.

Apparently, there was an abundance of tourists in town and our inn has been busier than ever.

***

 The check-in desk was quiet aside from the occasional rustle of paper and the distant sound of cicadas outside. I stood behind the counter, adjusting the sleeves of my forest green yukata.

 The front door slid open, and three guests stepped inside—a man and two women, their expressions alight with the excitement of travel.

 "Welcome to Kemmotsu Hot Springs!" I said, greeting with them with a smile and a bow.

 The woman in the middle, the one with sleek black hair and a confident air, stepped forward. "We're visiting from Shibuya," she explained. "Some locals told us about this place, and we just didn't want to pass up an opportunity to bathe in some real hot springs!"

 I nodded and retrieved the guest book. "I'm glad to hear that! The baths here are some of the best in the region." I slid the book toward them, along with a pen. "Please sign your names here. Will you be staying one night or two?"

 "Just one," the man said, scrawling his name onto the page.

 "I don't mean to pry, but what brings you all the way out here? Shibuya is a good distance away." I took the book back and guided them down the hall toward their room.

 "We just wanted to get away from the big city and enjoy the quiet of the countryside," said the second girl who appeared to be the youngest of the group.

 "Well, you chose a good spot to travel to! It's not a big town, but it's rich in history. Maybe after your stay, you could take the time to visit some of our local shrines or view the mountains."

 After a short walk, we stopped in front of their room. "Dinner service starts at 9:30, and feel free to join us for free breakfast in the dining hall! I hope you all enjoy your stay!" I bowed to them on more time.

 They smiled and waved before entering their room.

 I sighed, fatigue catching up to me. But I had a job to do.

***

 It was time for the dinner service, and I was making my rounds. The warm scent of miso, rice and grilled fish filled the halls as I carried a tray toward Room Three.

 I knocked on the door, but no answer came. That's when I smelled it—that sickly sweet scent that made my head feel like it was underwater. My grip tightened on the tray as unease warped my mind. I hesitated, then slid the door open.

 Dread settled deep in my stomach. The tray slipped from my hands, crashing to the ground.

 The youngest woman lay sprawled on the tatami mat, her throat torn open. The other two—her supposed friends—were crouched over her, their faces smeared with blood, fangs buried deep in her flesh.

 My breath hitched in my throat as I felt myself becoming victim to the intoxicating scent. I should have been sickened. Horrified. But instead, I was mesmerized.

 Heat prickled beneath my skin, my throat burned, and my fangs ached as they pushed through my gums. I turned around, my hand flying to my mouth to hide my aching canines.

 What the hell is this? Vampires? Here? Why?

 A quiet giggle rang out from behind me.

 The woman with the long black hair lifted her head, licking a slow, deliberate stipe across her bloodied fingers. Her lips curled into a smile, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Oh dear, we lost track of the time."

 "But honestly, we were planning on killing whoever walked through that door." The man leaned back, wiping his blood-stained mouth on his sleeve. "Didn't expect to run into another vampire all the way out here. You got lucky kid, if you were human, you'd be dead by now."

 Footsteps stirred in the hallway when other guests stepped out of their rooms. I frantically closed the door behind me, shielding them from the bloody massacre.

 "How could you do this?" I said, my heart pounding in my ears.

 The woman tilted her head then stood up, rising to her feet. Her movements were eerily smooth. Before I could react, she was behind me, her arms slipping around my shoulders in a gentle embrace. 

 I stiffened. Her body was cold against mine, and the scent of fresh blood clung to her clothes. My instincts screamed at me to shove her away, but at the same time… I felt safe.

 Safe in the arms of a monster.

 "You must be new to all this. Freshly turned from the looks of it, poor thing. You don't even look old enough to drive yet."

 She spun me around, still holding me close. My gaze flicked past her to the body sprawled on the floor. My breath came faster, ragged. The scent was overwhelming. My throat burned like fire. I wanted—no, needed—to taste it.

 The woman let go of me, an idea seemingly popped into her mind as she joyfully ran over to the body and sat down, patting the ground beside her.

 "Why not join in?" she cooed, eyes glinting with amusement. "There's plenty to go around. You must be starving." She tilted her head, her smile almost reaching her ears. "And trust me… once you get a taste, you won't be afraid anymore. All you need to do is give in."

 My legs trembled. The hunger gnawed at me, screaming to give in.

 I clenched my teeth, turned away, and bit down on my own knuckle. Pain seared as my fangs punctured flesh, my own blood spilling into my mouth. The coppery taste grounded me, pulling me back from the edge. 

 What the hell was I supposed to do? Aside from Kana, I'd have never met another vampire before. And while these two seemed nice enough, I couldn't ignore the atrocity they committed.

 Kana, where the hell are you when I need you? I can't face this on my own!