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Chapter 71: A Subtle Yuki-onna
The hallway stretched before me, a familiar corridor of polished stone and pale morning light. Students drifted past in clusters, their voices a low filling in the conversation and laughter, the usual chaos of the Academy settling into its daily rhythm.
I walked with my hands in my pockets, my mind already turning over the plans for the afternoon. The path to something greater was still in my hands, and I couldn't afford to stop moving forward.
It might be tiresome at times. There were moments when I wanted to quit it all and just run into the human world, to enjoy a life similar to my first one. But I reminded myself that I was on the path to something richer, something that made the struggle worthwhile. One step at a time, and eventually I would be there.
But even as I focused on the path ahead, confident that no one would target me openly, I felt a presence giving me an itch. There was no hostility in this stare, none of that petty 'I want to kill this guy' energy that a bunch of guys would radiate when I hung around closely with Moka or Kurumu. This was something else, it felt like a small prickling at the back of my neck.
I slowed my pace, acting as if nothing had happened. I let the silence stretch while I scanned my surroundings using my Vampire Senses. The familiar scent of fresh mint reached me, along with the bloody scent of my Vampire Familiar.
'I thought I managed to change that tendency by rescuing her sooner.'
'I guess I was wrong to assume that quirk would change. It was what made her a Kuudere, after all.'
I let my watcher wonder if she had been spotted. Let her stew in her own uncertainty. But the moment I activated my Vampire Senses, the footsteps of the students around me faded, their voices growing distant. My focus narrowed to my 'admirer,' a cute stalking Kuudere.
After shifting to a hallway that would be harder to hide in without being seen, I stopped abruptly and turned my head, catching her red-handed. She still managed to squeeze into a blind spot in the wall, but it was too late.
"I can see you, Mizore-chan."
A startled gasp followed by a slight rustle of fabric. Then a whisper, soft and embarrassed. "Ahhhh, I got caught. I thought I hid pretty well from you so I could admire you for a little bit more."
Mizore stepped out from her obvious hiding place, and I could see her clearly. Her cheeks were flushed, her fingers twisting in the hem of her sweater, and her winter-sky eyes were fixed on me with embarrassment and something else, maybe shyness.
She took a hesitant step toward me, her feet barely making a sound on the polished floor. "H-how did you know it was me?"
I didn't want to destroy her confidence by saying she sucked at this 'hide-and-seek' game. She was oblivious to the fact that she was making herself visible when hiding. Besides, this kind of game was something a Vampire would always excel at. And the Vampire Familiar and Retainers I had placed to shadow Mizore were like beacons signaling her location to me.
"You're giving away some of your Yoki without even knowing it. I could feel it before I even sensed your presence." A small smirk played on my lips. "Also, you're not exactly subtle, Mizore-chan. You could find a better spot to stalk me if you wanted, but I would rather have you approach me directly."
I revealed my fangs and did a playful bite gesture, a quick flash of teeth that was more teasing than threatening. Her eyes went wide, and a deep blush spread across her cheeks, staining them a shade of pink that contrasted beautifully with her pale skin.
"I won't bite you," I added, retracting my fangs with a grin. "Unless you ask nicely."
"I was trying to be subtle," she protested, her blush deepening. "I was very subtle."
"A Yuki-onna hiding in the shadows. I can't see that as subtle. You don't seem to believe it either?"
She crossed her arms, her lower lip jutting out in a rare display of defiance. "My hiding spot was perfect. No one else would have found me there. The light doesn't reach that corner, and the pillar blocks the view from the main hallway. I even practiced this morning."
I raised an eyebrow. "Practiced?"
"Chisato-sensei gave me tips. She said a good stalker knows their terrain." She paused, her confidence wavering. "I thought it would work."
'... She got advice from Chisato? This doesn't sound good at all. She's also terrible at stalking me when she wants to see me.'
"Think of it like this, Mizore-chan. Your hiding spot was like trying to hide a bonfire behind a curtain. Can you imagine this working from an outside perspective?"
She opened her mouth to protest, then closed it, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I am... I am not very good at this whole 'secretly watching' thing, am I?"
"You'll get better." I smiled, letting the warmth of it reach my eyes. "Just come here."
She came closer, and I noticed the change immediately.
Her hair was shorter. The long, flowing purple locks that once cascaded past her waist had been cut to just below her shoulders. The ends were even, framing her face in a way that made her look lighter, freer, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The pale strands caught the morning light, soft and luminous, and I found myself staring for a moment longer than I intended.
She must have noticed my gaze because her hand flew up to touch the ends of her hair, a nervous gesture that tugged at something in my chest.
"I cut my hair. Chisato-sensei did it for me this morning. She said it would help me feel... lighter."
She looked up at me, her blue eyes uncertain. "D-Does it look... strange?"
"Not at all." My voice came out softer than I intended, genuine and warm. "I think it looks great on you. It suits you better than the long hair did. You look refreshed, more like yourself this way."
Her eyes widened. A small, hesitant smile spread across her face, and she let out a breath she had been holding for what felt like years.
"Tee-hee." A soft, almost girlish laugh escaped her. "I feel so strange being praised by you, Tsukune-kun. In a good way, I mean. I don't regret cutting my hair."
She stepped closer, closing the distance between us. The air around her was cooler, carrying the faint scent of frost and something floral, like mint. "Now I feel less burdened by my past. And I can embrace the present."
Her voice dropped, barely a whisper. "And also you."
Before I could react, she stepped into me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her head pressing against my chest. Her body was cool, as always, but there was a warmth in the way she held me, a desperate tenderness that caught me off guard. She breathed in deeply, and I felt her shoulders relax against me.
"You are so warm, Tsukune-kun..." Her voice was muffled against my shirt. "And you smell so nice."
I didn't pull away. My arms came up around her, one hand resting on her back, the other cradling the back of her head. Her new hair was soft beneath my fingers, and I found myself brushing a strand away from her ear, a gentle, almost unconscious gesture.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. Students flowed around us, some glancing at the scene, and of course I could hear some of the guys cursing me under their breath.
"Look at that bastard. Another one."
"First Moka-san, then Kurumu-san, and now the ice girl? How many is that now?"
"He must have some kind of charm ability. There's no way a normal guy gets that many girls."
"He's not normal. He's a vampire. They're all like that, bunch of bloodsuckers stealing all the good women."
I ignored the cheap talk and let Mizore have her moment.
I lowered my head slightly, my voice soothing and calm in her ear. "I'm glad you're feeling better."
"I am." Her voice was muffled, but I could hear the smile in it. "I haven't felt this safe in a long time. Maybe ever. I want to thank you, but I don't know how."
"You just did. I like being hugged by a cute girl like you."
She froze, and I could see her ears growing redder as she buried her head deeper into my chest.
She tilted her head up to look at me, her blue eyes bright, the frost on her breath barely visible. "Can I... Can I stay with you? Just for a little while? I don't want to be alone."
"Why would you say that? You're not isolated anymore. You can step out and face the world now that you have us."
"You have the club you can rely on. You can make new friends with the girls, and I'm sure they would embrace you like a sister. You have Shizuka-sensei who will be in your corner." I met her gaze, letting her see the sincerity in my eyes. "And you have me."
A genuine smile spread across her face, and for the first time, there was no frost on her breath. It was a small victory, but it felt monumental, a crack in the ice she had wrapped around herself for so long.
I gently pulled back, my hand still resting on her shoulder. "We should head to class. We're in the same room, remember?"
Her eyes widened. "Oh. Right. Class." She looked down at herself, as if suddenly aware that she was still in her uniform. "I was so focused on finding you that I forgot we were heading to the same place."
"Do you think I'll be okay joining class now? It's been almost two months since the year started."
"Meh, what could hurt? You can sit close to me so you can feel at ease if folks stare at you."
She took a moment to think about it, her fingers twisting together as she weighed the decision. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Okay. I'll try."
"Then let's go together."
She nodded, and we fell into step beside each other. The walk to the classroom was short, but it felt significant. Students parted around us, some casting curious glances, but Mizore kept her eyes forward, her shoulder brushing against mine every few steps.
She reacted like any socially anxious girl would when surrounded by people. Her shoulders hunched slightly, her steps became shorter, and she kept her gaze fixed on the floor. But she didn't stop, neither did she run away under the 'pressure'.
When we reached the door, she paused, her hand hovering over the handle. "I'm a little nervous," she admitted. "I haven't been to class in weeks. Everyone will stare."
"Let them stare." I reached past her and pushed the door open. "You're not the same person you were before."
"You're someone who even fought against a teacher. Some might say you're even a bad girl for breaking the rules. Take that mentality and courage and face them without fearing anyone looking at you strangely."
"Their words can't hurt you like a sword cut."
She looked at me, and I saw the doubt flicker in her eyes, then fade. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped inside, following me.
The classroom was already half-full, the usual chatter of students settling into their seats filling the air as class was about to begin. We made our way to our desks, and I'm not proud to say it, but I pressured the guy ahead of me into giving up his seat.
"Hey, Yamada-kun," I said, my voice low enough that only he could hear. "Switch seats. Take the empty seat by the opposite wall. You can have a better chance to strike up a chat with Fujio-san since she's nearby."
The guy, a lanky student with glasses and a perpetual look of annoyance, opened his mouth to argue. His name was Yamada Kenji, a quiet student who had never caused any trouble but also never stood out. He was the type who faded into the background, content to let others take the spotlight.
"Wha—I was here first, Aono-san. You can't just—"
Then he saw my eyes. They had shifted, just for a moment, to crimson, and I let off a fraction of my Shinso Vampire pressure. It was not a threat, not exactly, but it was enough to make him understand that he should get moving while I was asking him nicely. If he thought I was negotiating with him, he was wrong.
He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he felt the weight of my presence pressing against his senses.
"I thought so too. Looking at the window and the outside can be boring." He gathered his things with trembling hands and moved to the back of the room without another word.
I turned to look at Mizore, and without any sense of shame, I presented her the seat. "You can sit there, Mizore-chan."
She looked at the empty desk, then at me, a small, grateful smile on her face. She sat down, placing her bag on the floor, her hands folded neatly on the desk.
Kurumu was already there behind us, similar to Outer Moka who was seated behind me, her eyes scanning me with the sharpness of a hawk. She had seen everything, of course. Her gaze flicked to Mizore's shorter hair, then back to me, and a slow, knowing smile spread across her face.
'Don't give me that look, you Succubus! You know what I know, okay? Who knows, you might have an insider in Ikelos on your side.'
'I can't help myself when I see a cute girl, especially when it's Mizore. She's a Kuudere for all that is Unholy!'
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice a low, teasing purr. "Look who finally decided to show up. And with a new look, too." She tilted her head, studying Mizore. "The short hair suits you, ice girl. It makes you look less like a ghost."
Mizore blinked, caught off guard. "Th-thank you, Kurumu."
Kurumu leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I can feel her scent on you. Are you sure there's nothing between you? Are you by chance trying to… expand your circle of friends, Tsukune-kun?"
"Kurumu." I met her eyes, letting my voice soften. "You should wait for your moment, and I'll also make you feel good. Besides, aren't you glad to see me in one piece?"
Kurumu's cheeks flushed a faint pink. She tried to hide it, turning her head away with a huff, but I caught the way her tail twitched beneath her skirt. "Fine. But you owe me details later. I want to know everything that happened in the Headmaster's office."
"Details?" I raised an eyebrow. "Who even said there are details to be shared?"
"Don't play dumb with me, Tsukune-kun. You know exactly what I mean." She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.
I sighed, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "Look around, Kurumu. Do you notice how even mentioning my visit to the Headmaster is already too much of a big deal for others?"
She followed my gaze. A few students nearby were casting glances in our direction, their ears perked, their curiosity barely concealed. Kurumu's eyes narrowed, and she lowered her voice.
"So, what do you want to know about? I'll share what I can share in a lite version."
"Did he punish you for taking care of that piece of trash wanting to harm Mizore?"
"Not in the sense that you're thinking, but what I received instead can be considered a punishment when you look at it from outside."
"You're being vague again, Tsukune-kun."
"Well, for obvious reasons. There are others around." I glanced at the nearby students, then back at her. "Fine, since your curiosity is about to eat you alive."
"No, I'm fine. Mikogami-san, while intimidating, can be a reasonable person. He's also a genuine gentleman who experienced both World Wars, so props to him… Hmm, am I babbling again?"
Kurumu nodded, her expression caught between amusement and exasperation. "Uh-huh. You are."
"We talked more about the direction of the Academy, and that's where yours truly got hit with the task of being a janitor and taking out the trash of this place."
Kurumu's eyes widened, and I could see the hamster wheel inside her head clicking. She understood that I wasn't punished, but also tasked with a job that aligned with my future plans anyway.
Then her gaze drifted to my right arm, to the new accessory wrapped around my wrist. "What is that?"
Before I could begin telling her about the Holy Lock, Outer Moka appeared at my other side, her green eyes soft. She had been watching the exchange with amusement, but then her eyes noticed the Holy Lock on my arm, and immediately her hand went to the rosary at her chest as the crimson gem on it flashed with yoki.
"Has the Headmaster placed the Holy Lock on you? How do you feel? Is your thirst feeling easier to handle?"
I considered her question for a moment. "I feel the same… Well, if I said that I would be lying to myself and you, Moka-chan. How should I describe it? It feels both liberating and restraining. I noticed that it's easier to command my Yoki without giving room for this power to run out of control."
Outer nodded, she felt at ease after hearing my explanation, and even Inner told her that the Holy Lock was meant to suppress rampant Yoki. Her hand drifted away from the rosary, and the crimson light faded.
Then her gaze drifted to Mizore. "And you, Mizore-chan. How are you feeling?"
Mizore looked up, surprised to be addressed directly. "I am... I am better. Tsukune-kun helped me a lot."
Outer smiled, warm and genuine. "I'm glad to hear that. Know that you'll always be welcomed in our group. You have friends here now."
Mizore's eyes glistened, and she nodded, unable to speak.
Kurumu, not one to be sidelined, leaned forward and tapped my arm. "You still haven't told me about that thing on your wrist. The Holy Lock. What does it do? Why did he give it to you?"
Before I could answer, the door opened, and the teacher entered. The class fell silent, and we turned our attention to the front of the room.
The lesson to me were irrelevant, I just devided my attention to the teachers and the rest of my focus was spent on ways to strenghten myself, be with with new creatures to summon using Annihilation Maker or new Blood Magic skills I could cook.
Still, in the idle time, I caught Mizore glancing at me a few times, a small, hesitant smile on her face. Each time, I returned the gesture, and she would look away, her cheeks flushing slightly.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Mizore turned to me, her eyes bright with a new light. "Tsukune-kun. Are we going to the Club or do you have other things to do before that?"
"No, it seems Moka has taken on a project she doesn't want to tell me about. We just have to wait for Kurumu, who went to the restroom, and we can go directly to the club. Yukari is probably already there, and I promised you we could work on that article."
Her face lit up. "I would like that."
We waited for a few minutes, and soon Kurumu emerged from the restroom, her tail swishing behind her. She looked around the empty hallway, then at us. "Where's Outer? I thought she was coming with us."
"She had other plans," I said. "She didn't tell me what, but she said she would catch up later."
Kurumu's eyes lit up with barely concealed excitement. "Oh? Other plans? That's interesting." She wasted no time, slipping her arm through mine and pressing herself against my side. Her chest brushed against my arm, soft and warm, and I felt her tail curl around my leg in a possessive gesture.
Mizore's gaze flickered to Kurumu's arm, then to her own empty hands. A faint chill emanated from her, barely noticeable, but I caught it. She was watching Kurumu's closeness with a quiet intensity, her eyes fixed on the spot where Kurumu's arm met mine.
"So you want to come to me like this? You don't have to be so bold, Kurumu-chan." I said, keeping my voice light.
Kurumu's tail curled possessively around my leg. "Can you blame me? I've been patient all day. You spent the whole morning with Mizore-chan, and I didn't complain. Now it's my turn."
Mizore's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her fingers tightening on the strap of her bag. She didn't say anything, but I could feel the cold radiating from her, a subtle reminder of her presence.
I gently pulled my arm free from Kurumu's grip, a small smile on my face. "You don't need to compete for my attention. There's enough of me to go around."
Kurumu huffed, but she didn't argue. She fell into step beside me, her arm brushing against mine, but she didn't try to claim it again.
Mizore walked on my other side, her steps light and careful, her gaze fixed ahead. The frost on her breath had retreated, and her shoulders were less hunched than before. She was still nervous, still uncertain, but she was here. She hadn't run away.
We walked together to the club room, and as we entered, Yukari's voice greeted us from across the room.
"Shirayuki-san! You made it!"
---
The Newspaper Club room was already bustling with activity when we arrived. Yukari was at her desk, her wand glowing faintly as she organized a stack of papers. She looked up as we entered, and her face broke into a wide grin.
"Shirayuki-san! You made it!" She bounced out of her chair and hurried over, her hat wobbling with each step. "I set up a desk for you. It's by the window. I thought you would like the light."
Mizore blinked, caught off guard by the enthusiasm. "Thank you, Yukari-san. That is very thoughtful."
"You're officially a member now! This is your first real session, so we have to make it special." Yukari's eyes sparkled. "I even brought extra ink. And paper. And I cleared out a drawer for you."
Mizore's cheeks flushed. "You didn't have to go through all that trouble."
"Of course I did! That's what friends do." Yukari beamed, then tilted her head. "Oh, and we should talk about your poems. Tsukune-san showed me the ones you shared during your visit, and they are amazing. Now that you're officially part of the club, we can publish them properly."
Mizore's eyes widened. "You would want to publish my poems?"
"Are you kidding? The weather section is popular, but poetry? That's something special." Yukari clasped her hands together. "We can feature one in every issue. Or maybe a whole page dedicated to creative writing. Tsukune-san has his novel, and now you can have a poetry corner!"
I watched the exchange from a few feet away, a smile tugging at my lips. Yukari's enthusiasm was infectious, and Mizore's hesitant smile was slowly growing more confident.
Gin, from his corner, looked up from his computer. "If you need photos to go with the poems, I can take some. The lighting by the window is good for portraits."
Mizore tensed, her gaze flicking to him. She remembered the article and the scandal circling around this person. But she also remembered that he hadn't shown that side that made him famous amongst the girls of the Academy when she first visited the Newspaper Club.
He seemed like a changed person, but was it true? It could be a pretense to lower her guard and take advantage of her.
"That is a good idea, Gin," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Mizore-san, if you want a photo to go with your first feature, Gin can take one. He knows what he is doing."
Gin nodded, his voice careful. "I won't make it weird. I promise. Just a simple portrait. Natural light. Nothing invasive."
Mizore hesitated, then nodded slowly. "...Okay. But I reserve the right to veto any photos I don't like. And I don't want any picture of myself. I want background scenes to go with my poems. Can you do it, Gin-senpai?"
"...That is fair. We can do it as you wish for your first release." Gin returned to his work, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
The door opened, and Shizuka Nekonome stepped inside, her golden eyes warm as she surveyed the room. "Ah, there you are, Tsukune-kun. I wanted to confirm our session tonight. The Gardens at sunset?"
I nodded. "I'll be there."
Shizuka's gaze drifted to Mizore, and her expression softened. "Ahhhh, what a pleasure for today. I can't believe my eyes, not even my ears when I heard you attended classes. Shirayuki-san! Your first official day. How are you feeling?"
Mizore touched the ends of her hair, a small, shy smile on her face. "I'm a little nervous. But... excited too."
"That is the right attitude." Shizuka's tail swished gently. "You are in good hands. This club has a way of taking care of its own."
She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Oh, and Shirayuki-san? Your hair looks lovely. Whoever cut it did a wonderful job."
Mizore's blush deepened. "Thank you, Nekonome-sensei."
Shizuka slipped out, leaving a comfortable silence in her wake.
I pulled up a chair beside Mizore's desk. "So. The article. Where do you want to start?"
She looked at me, her winter-sky eyes bright. "From the beginning, I think. From when I first arrived at the Academy. Before I knew anyone. I want to focus on the emotion and feeling of making your first friends."
"Then that is where we will start."
---
The afternoon passed in a blur of conversation and tea. Yukari peppered Mizore with questions about her poetry, her inspirations, her favorite poets. Gin continued to be tame and offered quiet suggestions about photo angles and lighting.
Mizore spoke more freely than she had in weeks, her voice growing steadier with each passing minute.
"Your poems have this quiet sadness to them," Yukari said, leaning forward with genuine interest. "But also a sense of hope. Like the ice is starting to melt. Is that how you felt when you wrote them?"
Mizore was quiet for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. "I think... I wrote them because I didn't know how else to say what I was feeling. The words came out like frost on a window. Cold, but also beautiful. I didn't know if anyone would understand them."
Yukari's eyes softened. "I understand them. I think a lot of people would. That's why we should publish them. So others can see that they're not alone either."
Mizore looked up, her eyes glistening. "You really think so?"
"I know so." Yukari reached across the table and placed her hand over Mizore's. "That's what art is for. To connect people and share emotions in an artistic way. It's a way to remind us that we're not as isolated as we feel."
Mizore's breath caught. She looked down at their joined hands, then back up at Yukari. A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she was smiling.
"Thank you, Yukari-chan."
"Anytime, Mizore-san."
Kurumu, who had been watching the exchange from her seat, cleared her throat. "Well, this is touching and all, but we still have work to do. Tsukune-kun, are you going to help with the article or just sit there looking pretty?"
I laughed and gave her a 'handsome boy' pose. "I can do both."
And me, the Club President, I just enjoyed seeing all those moments taking place, content watching the ice around Mizore's heart slowly melting. The frost on the windowsill retreated a little more, and the room felt warmer, even as the afternoon sun began to fade.