Chapter 3: The Beginning of Destiny

It was past ten o'clock.

My memory is hazy, so I can't be sure, but Shiki and the Professor might be battling it out.

A protagonist who has reincarnated or been possessed would immediately intervene in an event like this.

And if the original character is of the opposite sex, the standard, classic move is to raise romance and harem flags, making it a major turning point that energizes the story—but... I refuse.

As I said before, I'm just a high school girl.

I have no special abilities like an original protagonist; I've truly just been possessed.

If I were to intervene, far from helping, I would just be a burden. I would become a former-type vampire, expand the damage as per the original story, get finished off by Shiki, and simply vanish from this world.

I might reincarnate into another world again if I'm lucky, but since that outcome is predicated on causing trouble for others, I honestly refuse.

And so, for that reason, I’m quietly lying around at home, reading manga.

As expected, the works of Kobayashi Harunobu are great. I can't get enough of this dramatic art style, especially "Black Knight Story." Well, it’s probably because of this hobby that I can talk to boys like Shiki but can’t get along well with girls.

Speaking of tanks, I haven’t watched all of "Girls und Panzer," which I saw in my previous life. Or rather, I reincarnated before seeing it all, so will it take at least 12 years until I see it again in this world in the 2000s?

Damn it, what a horrible thing. I can’t possibly wait 12 years.

Before that, just as Nisio Isin doesn't seem to exist in this world, if the gentleman Humikane isn't here, there's a possibility the work itself will never be created...

“Satsuki, there’s no milk, go buy some!”

It was while I was silently agonizing over such thoughts that my mother downstairs raised an ominous, huge death flag.

Kuh, to have a death flag raised by a family member of all people.

“It's already past ten, Mom.”

“Things are dangerous lately, but it’ll be fast if you go to the convenience store by bike, right?”

I tried to argue, but she instantly rebutted me with sound logic. Hmm, it’s hard to object because I sometimes go shopping at this time of night even normally. Still, because of the death flag, I really don't want to go out... But a convenience store should be fine, right?

Besides, I’ll be on a bicycle. As long as I don’t go somewhere strange, it should be okay... right?

“Yes, yes, I'm going now!”

If I've decided, it's best to go quickly. I’ll finish it fast, hurry home, sleep, and welcome tomorrow's everyday life.

Oh, a T-shirt and jersey are too much for going outside, even if they're fine indoors. Now, let’s see about clothes for going out... Shoot, I just washed them. All I have left is the complete set of my uniform for tomorrow.

...Well, the uniform will have to do. I’ll be back soon anyway, so I'll just throw on a random jacket over the school shirt. For the bottom, I'll wear the school skirt and black stockings since it's cold.

I won't bother with a hair tie; I’ll just leave it straight. It's a genuine defensive magic item I bought from an unexpected person in an unexpected place, but whatever.

My bra... It's a hassle, but it's cold, so I guess I’ll put it on. It’s not like I'm worried about my shape, or the thickness of Ciel-senpai’s chest armor, or because I met the True Ancestor Princess who has a chest big enough for great defense.

I’m absolutely not worried. Not at all.

“Oh, you’re going to buy milk, Sis? Then grab me a 105-yen pudding while you’re at it.”

When I went downstairs, my sister was tidying up an empty glass that had probably contained milk. Her hair was wet and her face slightly flushed from her bath, making her look charming. Speaking of which, so that's why the milk has been disappearing so fast lately—it's her fault.

Now, for those of you who questioned the word "sister," let me explain. As you know, the original setting doesn't go into much detail about Yumizuka Satsuki’s family structure, as she missed out on becoming a heroine due to budget and time constraints.

It’s only through the Tsukihime manga and anime versions that we barely know her parents’ names, which, as a bonus, are different in each version as they weren't officially set by the creator.

Well, before all that, in both versions of Tsukihime, there was no secret boss route involving her vampirization, so she had no decent screen time. It’s a tragedy—or perhaps a comedy—that she could only be active as a joke character in the spin-off Melty Blood.

Damn it. If a Sacchin route existed originally, they should have released a revised edition of Tsukihime sooner than Mahoutsukai no Yoru. I'm used to the slow work, but I wish they would finally get a move on. Also, they should stop living off the Fate/stay night series... No, that doesn’t concern me anymore.

Let’s get back to the topic. Since the family setting is vague, I have no choice but to rely on my imagination.

It seems the family structure of the Yumizuka family here is based on the anime version. The father is named Masaharu, the mother is called Yuu, and there is actually one more family member who could only be spoken of as a guess.

“Alright, alright, I’ll buy it.”

“Have a good trip!”

In this world, she exists as my little sister. I was quite confused at first by the fact that Yumizuka Satsuki had a sister, but I’ve since accepted it as the way things are.

She’s naturally innocent, to put it nicely, or an airhead, to put it badly. She was rescued from the gym storage room by Tohno-senpai in the past, and because of that, she currently has a crush on 'Tohno-senpai.' She's planning to feed him fruit sandwiches when he visits the house—it was nostalgic when I laughed because what she was doing was exactly what the original Yumizuka Satsuki would do. And her hard work drinking milk like this... well, she's an earnest maiden.

“Oh, right.”

“What is it, Sis?”

She tilts her head in confusion, and her ponytail bounces accordingly.

I shouldn't talk, but her slightly defenseless look like this is a moe point. Now, my little sister, can you handle reality?

“Small breasts are a status symbol; they’re rare, so don’t worry. From your sister’s experience, drinking a lot of milk honestly won’t make you grow, and Shiki won’t care even if you don’t force it...”

“Shut up, shut up! Just go already! A stupid older sister who knows her sister's feelings but monopolizes Senpai should just have her blood sucked out by a vampire!”

“Yes, yes, I’m going.”

To describe my relationship with Shiki, which is just a friendship, as 'monopolizing'—she's certainly full of youthful passion.

“Honestly, honestly! Giving Senpai a lap pillow when he felt ill, going to the pool—this sister only thinks about obstructing her sister!”

Ignoring my sister’s barrage of strange misunderstandings, I head to the entrance with the bicycle key in hand.

“Well, time to get back quickly.”

The shopping was over in just 10 minutes after leaving the house. The convenience store was surprisingly peaceful, contrary to the alarming news. The Professor didn't suddenly barge in, nor did a murderer come to slaughter anyone.

A truly, truly peaceful time was flowing.

All that's left is to pedal back at full speed. At this point, I feel silly for having been so anxious about a death flag.

If I think about it carefully, there's always a possibility that Yumizuka Satsuki wouldn't become a vampire even in the original Tsukihime.

And now, I want to shout out that certain death-flag line:

I am not afraid of anything anymore.

Meow~

“Hmm?”

As I was thinking that, I heard a cat meow. I turned my gaze sideways and saw a black cat with glowing eyes in a narrow alleyway.

Could it be another original character, and this time it's Kohaku? The encounter rate is truly high... No, its figure faintly reflected in the streetlight is indeed a black cat, but I thought it was Kohaku, but it doesn't have a ribbon, so it must be different.

Still, for a cat to come so close to me, it must be quite friendly. Was it perhaps lured by the scent of the fried chicken I bought for a late-night snack?

Alright, very well. I shall use the chicken as bait and sentence you to the fluffy-petting penalty.

“I can share a little bit, here.”

I beckoned it over with the chicken in hand, but it didn't come close at all—

“What?!”

—I thought, but that cat snatched the entire piece of chicken and ran off! And then it dashed into the alleyway, which was more like the gap between two houses.

“Damn it, wait up!”

I entered the alleyway with my shopping bag still in hand. I ran through the narrow gap between the houses. Animals are swifter than humans, so I shouldn’t be able to catch up even if I chase it.

However, the streetlight was brighter than expected, letting me see clearly about 10 meters ahead. Furthermore, because there was only one escape route, I could track the cat.

Wait... something is wrong. Why am I able to follow the cat? Whether it's a pigeon, a dog, or anything else, a human shouldn't be able to catch up by chasing it straight on.

—DOKUN

My heart leaped.

—DOKUN

I had a bad feeling.

—DOKUN

Yet, I couldn't stop walking, as if I were being dragged.

—DOKUN

‘Being dragged’—meaning the cat is a familiar, a decoy. I've been lured out—?!

—DOKUN

Stop it.

—DOKUN

I don’t want this.

—DOKUN

I don’t want to die.

A strong light from the front illuminated the alleyway.

“Where is this?”

I emerged from the alleyway into a small park in a residential area. It was tiny, about four square meters, and I wouldn't have known it was a park without the equipment right in front of me.

I looked around, but the cat was nowhere to be seen. No, it was right in front of me.

“You made me go to a lot of trouble...”

The poor fried chicken seemed to have been completely devoured by the cat, now reduced to seventeen scattered pieces of residue.

I looked around again, but no one was there except the cat and me. I felt like a fool for being so tense moments ago.

Haa, what did I even come here for? My late-night snack was eaten by a cat, so I guess I should just go home.

“I don’t know if you’re a stray or what, but that was my treat. Be grateful.”

I took my eyes off the cat and turned back to the way I came, intending to leave for good this time.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

In the corner of my eye,

“It seems my familiar gave you some trouble.”

A man with long black hair,

“As thanks, I shall take your blood.”

A man in a thinly sinister, half-naked shirt smirked.

“Huh?”

My mind went blank right after I heard the voice I recognized as that of a game character from my previous life.

Squish, a sound came from my neck. I had no idea what happened, but the pain in my neck forced me to acknowledge reality.

“A... AAAAAAAH!!!”

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!! Why, why is he... why is he here...!!?

“V-Va... Vampire.”

Why? Why did this happen? I clawed at the face of the one biting my neck, but it had no effect at all. Ah, damn it, it’s like I’m fixed in a vice grip.

Moreover, m-my consciousness is fading. I struggled, but it was in vain, and my strength gradually drained away.

My blood is draining.

My soul is draining.

My consciousness is draining.

Something else is entering instead.

My body temperature is dropping.

The sensation of a file scraping my body.

—It hurts

—IT HURTS

—It... h... urts

A thudding sound was heard.

“Ah...”

Ah, no, that’s different. I just collapsed. But it doesn't hurt, even though I must have fallen forward.

The groceries should be fine. It seems the contents are scattered, but none of it is perishable. But even that feels distant.

I can’t put any strength into my body. I can’t even smell the ground anymore. I can only perceive colors in black and white.

This must be the feeling of death. I’m going to die here.

But... I really don't want to die...

In my fading consciousness, I wished for only that—and closed my eyes as if going to sleep.