Chapter 6: Reminiscence and Regret

“...Huh?”

I wake up.

This isn't Arcueid's apartment or a hotel; it seems to be my own room.

Feeling a slight glare, I look outside and see the sun is already rising diagonally, the morning light piercing the room.

However, my head is still foggy. I can't quite clearly remember what happened yesterday.

“Good morning, Shiki-sama.”

“Whoa!”

A sudden intruder from the side. I turn around to see who the voice belongs to and find Hisui. Her expression is the same as always... no, her expression is subtly different. It’s a look that seems to scold me for having been mischievous, and she looks a little sullen besides.

“Hey, Hisui. Did I do something strange, maybe?”

“That is something Shiki-sama should know yourself. In particular, Akiha-dono wants to hear about what happened these past two days; she said to bring you by any means necessary.”

...Haha, hahahaha.

Damn it, I remember now. I skipped school for two whole days and was completely out of contact. Considering Akiha is already strict about curfew, this is a mess.

“...Is Akiha angry, by any chance?”

“Well, how should I know? You should confirm that yourself, Shiki-sama.”

I desperately asked Hisui about Akiha's mood, grasping at straws, but her reply was even more curt than usual.

“P-Please, Hisui! I can't handle an angry Akiha on my own. Help me, Hisui, I'll do anything if I can, I promise!”

Here was a master, in the early morning, appealing to his maid by putting his hands together as if praying. Or rather, it was me.

And the maid being appealed to, Hisui, momentarily had a spark of light in her eyes, suggesting she harbored some expectation at the words, "I'll do anything," but:

“---I refuse.”

Hisui said, poker-faced and utterly decisive.

“Also, Shiki-sama, with all due respect, I believe you should be thoroughly scolded by Akiha-sama, including on my behalf.”

Her cold, accusing stare hit a sore spot. Regardless of the reason, the fact that I made them worry is undeniable. It's time to stop running and cleanly accept Akiha's scolding.

“Ah, yeah, you're right. I understand. I'm going right now, but could you tell Akiha to calm down as much as possible?”

“Understood. I will relay the message to Akiha-sama. Now, if you'll excuse me.”

Hisui bowed and departed. Haa, I guess all I can do is pray that Akiha calms down.

“...?”

I suddenly caught a strange scent, a medicinal smell emanating from my body. I looked down at the bandages wrapped around my arms and finally recalled the events of last night.

“Yumizuka...”

At that time---.

“Hehe, Senpai. I’ll let you go for now.”

Yumizuka walked calmly towards us. She looked down at Senpai, who had been cut in the leg, and me, and smirked. The usual composed yet somewhat airheaded atmosphere around her was gone; all I could sense was malevolence.

The area around the park's plaza was filled with the remains of Nrvnqsr, whom we had just defeated, and the smell of blood emanating from Senpai and me.

Normally, such a sight would make one nauseous, but strangely, I felt nothing. Given the murderous technique I unconsciously performed, perhaps I am an abnormal human being.

But what is even more abnormal is Yumizuka. She had always disliked feminine hobbies and behaviors, but now she was different. The gesture of licking the blood-stained fingers, everything about her made her seem like a femme fatale who ensnares men. Furthermore, her pupils were vertically slit like a cat's, and her eyes shone gold, proving that she had become a vampire.

“Hmm? Going quiet on me, are you?”

Yumizuka grinned and mocked Senpai. Senpai, who was close to my chest, was not the Senpai I knew. She glared at Yumizuka with a mix of murderous intent and hostility.

“Monster.”

“Monster? Haha, how ridiculous! Do you have the right to say that, Elesia?”

“Ngh, why do you know that!?”

Elesia? Is that Senpai's last name? Even so, why is she making such a self-reproaching face?

“You killed your parents, killed your friends, and turned the city into a dead capital. In the end, you, hated by the Death itself, are no different from me. Look, you're already regenerating.”

Yumizuka pointed a finger in derision. Senpai is a monster? What in the world is happening? I don't understand any of this. I just watched the situation, unsure what to say.

“...Shut up, shut up, you vampire!!!!”

In an instant, Senpai exploded. Not that Senpai spontaneously combusted like some kind of pocket monster, but rather, I assumed magical energy was released, as Arcueid had once described.

I was grasping Senpai and involuntarily let go. I reached out, but it was already too late. A third party grabbed me before I could reach her.

“Shiki, we're running.”

Arcueid said, sounding anxious, as she pulled me into a... wait.

“Hold on a second, isn't this...”

“What is it? It's a princess carry, but that doesn't matter right now, does it?”

Arcueid tilted her head in confusion. The princess carry, one of a man's lifelong dreams alongside a piggyback ride and a lap pillow. Since I was given a piggyback ride by Yumizuka after collapsing from anemia, I thought I'd never be carried by a girl again, and my spirit was almost broken.

No, this is not the time for that.

Senpai shot out like a meteor and began a fight to the death with Yumizuka. The echoing sound of metal and the occasional sparks illuminating the park spoke more eloquently than anything else.

“Can't we stop them?”

“....”

Arcueid's face hardened. After a heavy silence, she finally spoke with difficulty.

“...Honestly, the way I am now, it would be difficult. Even if I were fighting Ciel or Sacchin one-on-one.”

“What!?”

Impossible. True, Arcueid is weakened because of me. Yet, when she first fought Nrvnqsr, she showed an overwhelming strength that made me doubt if I was even needed. Did she mean that Yumizuka, whom I've known since middle school, and Ciel-senpai, who is always smiling, possess power beyond hers?

“Gyaah!”

A dull sound of flesh being torn rang out, and Senpai, who had been engaged in a life-or-death struggle at an imperceptible speed, tumbled right in front of my eyes.

Covered in dust from rolling on the ground, Senpai tried to stand up again, but perhaps her internal organs were damaged. She vomited blood and thrashed in pain.

“Senpai's martial arts are certainly wonderful, but now that the vampire's power—[being able to see and dodge bullets]—is fully exerted, she can't win with only her Black Keys.”

In contrast to the struggling Senpai, Yumizuka walked calmly toward her like a queen.

“If you want to fight, I recommend preparing a weapon of the Holy Scripture class. That said, I don’t intend to actively harm senpai beyond self-defense.”

“Shut up...!!”

A flash. A dull, silver-shining blade was thrown, but it was deflected by a side sweep.

“Careful, careful. You really are relentless.”

No, she didn't deflect it; she caught it. The blade thrown by Senpai was held between her fingers.

“I have to return it. There!”

And she threw the sword with the casual feeling of playing baseball with a close friend. Senpai could not even manage to dodge, and immediately afterward, a single blood flower bloomed.

Half of her abdomen was blown away, internal organs spilled out steaming, and the sounds of her enduring pain and the gushing blood and gore vividly served as a BGM.

I feel sick. Part of it is the smell of blood assaulting my senses, but the sight of her, once a symbol of my everyday life, Tohno Shiki's everyday life, falling to evil is unbearable.

“Oh dear, already broken? Fine, then. Please take a nap for a while, Senpai.”

Yumizuka approached Senpai, swung her leg wide, and struck her chin. Senpai, her brain shaken by the blow to her jaw, fell and became motionless.

Yumizuka, you are---.

“Ah, long time no see, Shiki-kun. And also the Princess.”

Yumizuka, now a complete vampire, shifted her interest from the motionless Senpai to us. Her golden eyes were looking at us as prey.

I found myself holding the knife. Even though my body was barely moving after the fight with Nrvnqsr Chaos. The heart-stopping surprise came from how naturally I did it, almost without conscious thought.

Just like the day I killed Arcueid. Do I want to kill again? Do I want to kill Yumizuka?

“Don’t worry about it, Shiki. It's only natural that you feel [like doing so] when you look at her now.”

Arcueid hugged me tightly, as if to soothe my dazed state.

“...I can't believe she became an Apostle in just one day or so. That's a talent on par with The Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors. And is that a reversed personality, Foreigner-san? I felt a sense of incongruity since I first met you, that you were an ordinary person but somehow different, and now I finally understand.”

“Aha, as expected of Arcueid-san! You know everything.”

One was speaking with the excitement of a child, the other with cool dismissal; they confronted each other. I... finally reached the physical limit that surpassed my mental endurance, and I could only stare blankly.

Damn it, I hate this useless body at a time like this. My consciousness is becoming hazy, and I can't think straight.

“So, are you going to kill us? Taking credit for slaying the True Ancestor and assimilating an ability-user like Shiki would be a fine start for a new Twenty-seven Ancestors.”

“Not at all! I, both watashi and boku, basically dislike murder and bullying the weak. Oh, but.”

She paused after but and continued.

“I intend to kill that snake, my parent. Would you like to cooperate?”

It was a proposition. While having someone cooperate in this vampire incident would be appreciated, she had just severely wounded Senpai, and she herself was now a vampire.

The emotions of doubt and suspicion came before gratitude. Moreover, the word "snake" bothered me immensely.

Ah, my ears are going deaf. My vision is darkening, and my brain is slowly shutting down. It feels like falling into the deep sea.

I tell myself in my head not to sleep, but I can't control my body, which has passed its limit.

“Well, yes. Normally you’d refuse. But I always welcome it, so remember that. Shiki, too... Huh? You seem to be losing consciousness. Well then, bye-bye, Shiki-kun.”

That was the last thing I heard before my consciousness---.

“Damn it.”

---I couldn't do anything.

A feeling of regret simply churns in my heart. I am hopelessly frustrated at myself for being unable to do anything for Yumizuka.

“What... can I do?” I ask myself.

“...I don't know.”

But the day has only just begun. I'll think about what I need to do before nightfall.