Chapter 42: ACT.11 "Conversation"

"…A familiar ceiling."

The moment I woke up, it was a ceiling I knew well. Or rather, it was the room assigned to me by the Tohno family after I became a vampire.

The room was generally dimly lit because the windows were basically kept closed, as direct sunlight would instantly kill me. Also, the only place where there's a scratch on the ceiling—made when I accidentally extended my claws while playing a game of touching the ceiling with a vampire's jumping ability—is right here.

I need to repair it before Hisui or Akiha notices...

Anyway, setting aside the avoidance of reality. There's no problem with my severed arms; they'll heal once they reattach.

If there was a problem, it was the presence of Tohno Shiki sleeping right there, holding my right hand tightly, as if he were a boyfriend worried about his lover being rushed to the hospital.

No, seriously. I appreciate that he's worried. But he should be the one worrying about his own physical condition. Well, I can tell he's feeling better now from the body temperature I feel through his hand... Ugh, seriously, it’s embarrassing!

"Looks like you're awake, Yumizuka-san. My brother has fallen asleep, but you two seem to be getting along as always."

"...Ah, hahahaha."

After all, someone other than Shiki was in the room. Akiha, sitting by Shiki's side, let out a sarcastic remark, accompanied by a jealous gaze. The color of her hair hasn't changed, but I feel like the room temperature has dropped by several degrees!

...And my stomach hurts from the tension.

"Regarding your arms... well, since you're the same kind as that air-headed vampire, it seems there's no problem. I heard you were injured fighting that Alchemist and came to check on you as the mistress of the mansion, but it seems that wasn't necessary."

Akiha said this, looking at me with a judgmental stare and sounding dismissive. Even though it's true, being told that while injured is pretty harsh...

Well, still.

"It seems you're already taken aback by a straight punch of words from Akiha-sama, but don't worry. This is just Akiha-sama's way of expressing her feelings; after all, when she heard that Yumizuka-san's arms were severed..."

"Sh-Shut up, Kohaku!"

"Ouch! No violence! That's power harassment!"

Yep, I knew this would happen. The tension from just a moment ago has flown far away. Goodbye serious timeline, hello gag space.

"Thank you, Akiha-san. For bothering to worry about me."

"T-That's not what I meant at all! Aaaah, Yumizuka-san! Don't look at me with such a heartwarming expression, you too!"

Akiha's face was as red as a boiled octopus. This is what happens just from offering words of thanks with a heartwarming expression.

Ah, I certainly understand how Kohaku-san feels. When someone reacts so honestly, it definitely makes you want to tease them.

"U-Unnn..."

Shiki groaned and his eyes barely opened. It seems he woke up.

"Good morning, Shiki. Thank you for worryi—"

"SATSUKI!!" 

"Whoa!?"

And as soon as he woke up, Shiki hugged me. W-Why is this main character suddenly hugging me?!

It's n-not that I dislike it, and he’s surprisingly well-built despite his sickly body... No! More than the embarrassment, the aura of Akiha-san, who now has a demon on her back, is terrifying...

Ah, Kohaku-san, wait. Don't subtly put distance between us and try to escape!

Snap

I thought I suddenly heard a sound effect like that. The source of the sound... goes without saying.

"Heh heh heh. I was worried all along, you see. When I heard that the Alchemist who was in my brother's room went on a rampage. ...It seems you and Yumizuka-san really do get along, Ni-i-sa-n."

"A-Akiha!?"

And Shiki paled upon realizing the existence of his demon little sister. I could feel his already low body temperature dropping even further. ...No matter how scary Akiha-san is, I wish he wouldn't hug me even tighter. Then, she grabbed the scruff of Shiki's neck—who was frozen like a frog glared at by a snake—and pulled him away from me.

"Yumizuka-san, I'll borrow my brother for a moment."

"Yes, please! You can boil him or roast him, do whatever you like!"

"W-Wait, Satsuki!"

Be quiet! My life is precious too. Besides, this is for Shiki's own good. It's an older brother's duty to respond to Akiha-san's feelings, even if only a little!

"Thank you for your cooperation, Yumizuka-san. Brother, I have no intention of criticizing your visit to Yumizuka-san. It's just that I'm a little bit annoyed, so this time, I will thoroughly and gently knock the meaning of the words self-control and self-care into your head, which just never seems to learn."

"W-Wait. Wait, Akiha! My neck, my neck is tightening!?"

Akiha dragged Shiki away by the nape of his neck. Namu Amida Butsu (I entrust myself to the Buddha Amida), go peacefully, Shiki. I'll pick up your bones if I can.

"Well then, farewell, Yumizuka-san. Even though vampires heal quickly, please rest properly until you're completely recovered."

Akiha said that, then left the room with Shiki's screams as background music. Only Kohaku and I were left, and—

"...Heh heh, when the cat's away, the mice will play. Now Akiha-sama will be preoccupied with Shiki-sama for a while, so I am free for a time, Banzai!"

Kohaku, whose master had left, was there, cheering with a sunflower-like smile. She showed absolutely no sign of guilt about handing Shiki over to his demon sister.

"Here, Yumizuka-san. High five! Yay!"

"Y-Yay..."

I exchanged a high five with Kohaku-san as told, immersed in a mood I didn't quite understand. Partly because my acquaintance with Kohaku-san is still shallow, I haven't gotten used to her doing things like this suddenly.

Well, maybe. It might be because, knowing the past of the Kohaku-san from the [Original Work], I tend to doubt her demeanor...

"Hmm, what should I do? I've mostly finished what I wanted to do, so what should I do... Maybe I'll secretly make Yumizuka-san drink the experimental drug I developed recently."

"Could you please stop declaring a bioterror attack right in front of the person!?"

In addition, she says and does things like this, which are more like the Kohaku who appears in the spin-off works of Tsukihime rather than the main Tsukihime story, which makes me even more confused—or rather, I don't know how to respond...

"Then, why don't we just pass the time with some small talk? Even though Akiha-san told me to rest, I can't help but be bored."

Those words escaped my mouth without much thought.

"Oh, an invitation from Yumizuka-san. That sounds nice. I've been wanting to know more about Yumizuka-san for a while now."

Hmm, about me? I thought she would be interested in Shiki's behavior at school, or Arcueid-san who sneaks into the mansion at night, or perhaps Ciel-senpai who also sneaks in targeting Shiki.

"Because, Yumizuka-san, You knew about me from the beginning, didn't you? I'm very, very curious because it's so rare for such a person to exist in the world."

Kohaku said this, still wearing her sunflower-like smile.

".........Eh?"

I let out a foolish sound, a sound I myself realized was incredibly foolish. I instinctively stared at Kohaku-san, but she continued to smile.

However, was it just my imagination, or was her gaze sharp, as if probing me, and was her mouth mocking my foolishness?

No, more importantly, why did Kohaku-san bring this up! She says, "You knew about me from the beginning," but I shouldn't have shown any indication of that!

"...Rare? Is that even rarer than a vampire?"

"Yes, indeed. I've seen various ma [demons/entities] connected to the Tohno family, but this can be said to be an exceptionally rare and valuable existence."

Saying that, she quickly approached me. Even without being a vampire, it would be possible to physically push Kohaku-san away. However, if I did that, though it's a vague expression, something would become irreversible.

And yet, I don't think a clumsy rebuttal or evasion would work. Unlike myself, who lived in the world of the sun until recently (even though I'm now a resident of the hidden world), the girl in the apron before me has lived and breathed the darkness of the hidden world from head to toe. She would see through me instantly.

"I was surprised. Surprised that such an existence is out there, and that I still had the emotion of 'surprise' left in me."

".................."

Thus, I devoted myself to silently listening to Kohaku-san's monologue. Even though I knew silence could be interpreted as affirmation.

"Moreover, Yumizuka-san is friendly toward me, and despite being a ma, you don't do terrible things, which is nothing but bewildering."

Then she leaned in quickly and whispered into my ear.

"How much do you know, You, or is it You?" (In Japanese, she shifted from the feminine '貴女' (anata/you) to the more gender-neutral/masculine '貴方' (anata/you))

The voice whispered into my ear was not the usual 'Kohaku-san.' It was like something that a "doll was pretending to be human to speak."

My sweat wouldn't stop. My heart was pounding wildly. Due to the tension, one second felt like an hour.

How should I answer? Should I just be honest and say, "I'm a reincarnated protagonist from a web novel"? However, it's normally impossible for anyone to accept such a claim.

How should I answer—

"Just kidding. Heh heh heh, I just wanted to see Yumizuka-san look surprised."

Saying that, Kohaku-san suddenly moved away from me. Her expression had returned to the smiling 'Kohaku-san' she usually was.

"...Yeah, I was really surprised."

Unsure of how serious she was or what her intentions were, I barely managed to voice that honest impression.

"Yes, Operation great success! We succeeded in the surprise attack! Tora! Tora! Tora! (Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!)"

Hearing my reply, Kohaku-san seemed highly satisfied, striking a strange victory pose and cheering in delight.

...What is this sense of futility? What was that serious atmosphere from just a moment ago...?!

"Well then, time passed rather quickly, didn't it? I had fun teasing Yumizuka-san, and it was very productive. I'll bring you a blood pack now, so please rest quietly~"

Saying that, Kohaku-san walked out of the room, her footsteps pattering away.

"...... Just how serious was she, really?"

That question involuntarily slipped out after her footsteps had long faded away. Furthermore, I'm curious why Kohaku-san said such a thing, but for now, I should rest.

After all, my injuries haven't fully healed yet—