Tsukune sat on the bus rummaging through the menus. The good news was, he could switch the interactive interface from manual and voice-activated over to mental and intent-based.

That was a relief to the young man. No more accidentally accepting things for him. Now he had to want it to happen. Though, it begs the question. Why wasn't that on by default?

He was no longer able to convince himself that this was all some hallucination. The day before, while his mother had been out shopping for his going away party, he had tried to use one of his skills.

He had used Ember in their incinerator with some old newspapers as the kindling. It had taken just under half of his magic bar, but the papers went up instantly. It was kind of terrifying if he was being honest. He had slammed the steel door closed in shock.

His first thoughts were that of being a superhero. Which were quickly discarded when he thought about what would happen to him if anyone found out what he could do. After that, his head was filled with visions of operation tables and sterile cells.

Best keep this a secret for now.

He was dragged out of his musing when the bus came to a stop. "This is it, kid." The bus driver called. It was only now that Tsukune noticed that he was the bus's only passenger. He pulled his duffle over his shoulder and started towards the door. After he stepped off, however, the bus driver called for his attention.

"Best to be careful, boy. Yokai Academy is a scary place. You might be more repaired than we thought you would be. But this place has a way of keeping upstarts in line. Be safe. You hear?"

Tsukune could only nod at the stern expression on the habitually chuckling man.

The door closed, and the bus drove off. Leaving Tsukune to stare at the endless red sea. Odd. He thought. I don't think we traveled far enough to see the coast.

A quick scan of the area revealed that the only indication of the direction he needed to head in was a battered and cracked sign.

The sign pointed to what could at best be described as an old fox trail, or what most people would call a break in the thicket.

But it was by far the thinnest break in the woods, so it was in that direction he went. The trail widened at least. He traveled for some time, perhaps ten minutes. The woods were oppressive, but they held signs of traversal.

Though in one spot, he found graves and unburied remains. The oppressive feeling only got worse further in though. The seemingly dead trees above grew so thick that they snuffed out all but the harshest of sun rays. It left the forest in a blue-tinted gloom that Tsukune wasn't fond of.

Worse, a persistent and muffled shriek noise could be heard from an indeterminate direction. The nature of the woods hiding its true direction.

Eventually, the canopy broke, and he stood within a clearing. The sun shone down here in all its glory. It was a welcome reprieve from the darkness and shadows. Tsukune closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of the sun on his face. Basking in it.

Quest alert!: Love at first bite!

Become Moka's true friend!

REWARD: 50XP

Unlock the Affection system!

Increased affection with Moka(Sealed)

He blinked and read the prompt. In hindsight, that was a mistake. Because as he stood reading and inhaling the fresh autumn scent in peace, a shrill feminine voice called out for him to move.

He had just enough time to turn before he was struck in the back by someone going very fast.

-10HP

He closed his eyes as he was thrown awkwardly and landed on the ground.

They snapped back open however when he saw the small notification behind his eyelids.

In the top corner of his vision, his health bar dropped by an eighth.

Blinking, he braced himself on the earth in preparation to get up and investigate what had hit him. But what his hand landed on was not earth. It was soft and warm. Firm even. But it most certainly wasn't dirt.

The feminine gasp that accompanied his second squeeze was the signal to his brain that his hand was resting on the inner thigh of a girl. He ripped it away like her skin was on fire.

Immediately his Japanese roots took hold and he bowed in a position of prostration. "I'm so sorry! Please forgive my rudeness!"

The girl looked at him confused as if she was in a daze. Then recognition entered her eyes and they widened. "Oh! Oh no! It should be me apologizing to you! I'm the one who got dizzy and hit you with my bike! Please, forgive me!"

Tsukune looked up at her face. And what he saw took his breath away. She was beautiful in a way that would put models to shame. So much so in fact, that she even made the awful green of their uniforms look good.

His blush was overpowering.

He thought his nose might start to bleed.

"Oh no! Your cheek!" She said as she brought out a handkerchief from her pocket. She dabbed it on what he now felt was a wet spot. When it came back red, he instinctively ran a finger over the spot. What he felt was smooth skin.

The girl held the dirtied cloth up to her face and inhaled slightly. Her eyes became hazy and her expression became far off.

"The scent of…blood. I…I can't. But…" She moved with a swiftness he could barely follow. She was now crawling over him, almost straddling him. Inches from his face, he could smell her fruit-scented shampoo. And yet he remained frozen. Like a prey animal under the watch of a predator.

"I lose control when I smell that scent." She said dreamily. Her arms reached around his neck, and what should have been sensual became terrifying when he found that they provided no give. It was like her body was made of iron. "I'm…really sorry. It's because…I'm a vampire." Then she bit him. He felt her needle-like teeth slip through his skin. It didn't hurt so much as it felt uncomfortable. The feeling of the blood being sucked away from where it was meant was a whole new type of body horror Tsukune was not prepared for today.

All the while his HP lazily went down before his eyes.

-1HP

-1HP

-1HP

-1HP

Then she pulled away. And just in time too, as he was about to activate Smolder.

She became much more relaxed after that. Almost cuddling into him. Her iron-strong grip had lessened into what he imagined it felt like to hold a girl post-coitus.

He didn't get to follow that line of thought, however, because the girl seemingly remembered where she was. That being on the ground, in a forest, softly holding onto the body of a stranger she had just assaulted.

It was almost a case study in facial expression as Tsukune watched her face go through the process of shock, mortification, denial, and then back to shock. She looked into his stunned eyes. He looked at hers. It might have been a moment. If not for the fact that she had pinned him and treated herself to a free juice bag.

Still, she was very pretty.

She left off him in a shocking example of speed and grace. And now it was her turn to apologize.

"I'm so sorry! I don't usually do this! In fact, I've never done this! I just got a bit anemic, and when I smelt your blood, well, my instincts kinda just took over! Please! Forgive me!"

By this point, he had moved FAR away from the crazy girl. "Why would you do that? Who gets close to someone and bites their neck? Who drinks blood?!"

Panic was clear in his voice. He had been strong. If this was just an accident, what would happen if she was trying?

"I'm so sorry! Please, my name is Moka Akashiya! I didn't mean it! It's just, I'm a vampire! And you just smelt so good. Please forgive me!" If this was a normal situation, her genuine earnestness would have won him over.

But right now he was focusing on her name.

She's the one from the quest. He thought. It wanted him to become her true friend. And if she was going around biting people, it was no wonder she had those in short supply.

No matter. Doing this quest would make him level two. And he was insanely curious to know what would happen then.

He inhaled. "Fine. I forgive you. I guess what I did in the accident was out of line too."

"On accident?" She questioned before the rest of what he said caught up with her. "Oh! Thank you! As I said, I'm so sorry. I just get so lightheaded sometimes. It's hard to control myself."

"Mmmhmm" Tsukune said as he dusted his clothes off. "Do you want to walk to the school with me?"

Her face lit up in such genuine happiness, he thought it might give him a toothache.

"I would love to do that!" She said as she collected her bike.

They walked down the path some before Tsukune's curiosity got the best of him.

"So, as a vampire, how can you walk in the sun?"

She looked over at him confused. Then he swore he could see a lightbulb form over her head. "Oh, you're thinking of lesser vampires. I'm from a noble house, so I can walk in the sun all I want. Though my skin does get sunburnt easily."

Clearly, this girl's delusions were on a clinical level. Still, he had already started to dig. Might as well see if he can strike gold. "Right, well, what about crosses? Or garlic?"

"Well, I'm wearing a rosary. So clearly that's not true. As for garlic, well, my sense of smell is really strong. And it's really offensive if cooked into anything. The smell I mean. Tasting is mostly smelling after all."

Tsukune chuckles. "I know a chef or two that would go after you with a knife for that opinion."

She chuckled as well. He noticed how ornate her rosary was, and decided to ask about it.

"So if you're not hurt by crosses, and you have a rosary, does that mean you're religious?" It didn't make much sense otherwise. Or maybe her weird delusion had her as a holy vampire or something.

She actually laughed at that. It was a nice melodic sound. He wanted to hear more. "No, silly! This is a seal on my power!"

It was a struggle not to roll his eyes. Of course, it was. How could he have been so foolish?

"Hey, do you…hate vampires?" She asked. Her voice was pretty frail. Vulnerable even.

"No, of course not." He said. If he was going to be her friend and get the quest reward, he shouldn't crush her with the reality that vampires aren't real. "I think vampires are…unique."

He knew it was the right choice when her face lit up with happiness. "That's…that's great! Then if you're ok with me, please, be my friend!"

"Of course!" He agreed immediately. Talk about an easy quest.

But as they kept walking, and Moka kept humming, he didn't hear the soft ping of a quest complete. Maybe it took some time? He didn't know. Eventually, the gothic architecture of the school came into sight, and the woods thinned until it was just grass and dirt. The school itself was surrounded by an iron fence.

"I'm Tsukune Aono by the way. Pleased to meet you." He offered his hand to shake. She took it easily, and he was reminded of her unnatural strength by the firmness of her grip.

"Moka akashiya! Oh, wait! I already, said that didn't I? Well, I said it again. And it's nice to meet you too, Tsukune."

They walked past the gates and into the courtyard of the mansion-looking school.

"All freshmen report to the auditorium!" A voice called over the speaker system.

"I guess that's us," Tsukune said as they approached what looked to be the correct building. Ahead, the crowd was being separated into men and women.

"Looks like we have to split up. See you after orientation?" Moka asked hopefully.

He nodded. "See you then."

But he didn't. Neither of them knew that directly afterward they would be sent to their homerooms.

It was annoying, but he had to remember that this was also a school. It was to be expected. Things started off normal until the teacher sprouted ears and a tail.

Then she, in full seriousness, told everyone that this was a school for monsters. And when he was the only person nervously laughing, it became apparent that he was the only one not in on the joke. Was this a school for people to get treatment for a very special type of delusion?

Oh gods, is that why it was free? Was the gaming system actually in his head? Had his family found out somehow? And that's why he was here? It made a twisted kind of sense now. Actually, a lot of things did.

At the end of the day, it was Occam's razor. What was more likely? That his parents had sent him off to get treatment? Or that monsters were not only real but had schools.

"Fuck me." He muttered as the delinquent beside him said something about raping and eating women. "That confirms it." Because the kid next to him was clearly too dangerous to be kept in normal society. This was all a treatment facility. The faculty must be trained to go along with the delusion to assist with treatment. Those ears and tail were clearly fake.

He didn't belong here. Now that he knew that the Gamer's system wasn't real, he could just ignore it. It would go away eventually. He was sure of it. Geez, and to think he had fed Moka's delusion because his own had told him to. That was on him. He would get better.

But he wasn't so far gone he needed to be here.

He was just about to ask the teacher if he could leave when a familiar face walked through the door. The class was quick to point out her beautiful appearance. Though, not in such flattering words. She explained that she had gotten lost after the ceremony. She had just finished giving her name to the class when she spotted him.

He was entirely unprepared for her to make a beeline straight for him. Bumping multiple desks in her rush. Even then, he could be forgiven for not expecting her to borderline tackle him. To the complaints of several classmates.

Her strength was still freakish as he lost HP from her hug. Though, now he at least knew that didn't mean anything. It had even been refilled in the time between the bike accident and now.

People didn't heal that fast after all.

Classes were mostly the same. The teacher came in, introduced themselves, explained the syllabus for the year, then left.

Before he even knew it, it was over. And he was being dragged out to the courtyards. They stopped at a vending machine, where Moka got herself a can of tomato juice. Because of course, she did. He got a coffee for himself.

He hadn't even had a chance to open it yet when that punk kid appeared.

"You are called, Akashiya Moka, correct?" He asked in the slimiest voice Tsukune had ever heard. "I am your classmate; Saizou Komiya. Salutation."

The area grew quiet. Moka looked like she was about to say high back, but then Komiya picked Tsukune up by the collar. "H-hey! What's the big idea?" Tsukune said as he was suspended at least a foot off the ground.

"By the way, what is a girl like you doing associating with a guy like this?"

If he didn't know it was a delusion, this would be the perfect opportunity for a Smolder or even a Smoke-screen.

Alas, he had decided not to feed into that. Otherwise, he might end up like this jerk. People around them muttered.

Then Saizou threw him and he landed on his butt.

-5HP

"Wouldn't someone like me be far superior to him? Why not dump him and we can go hang out somewhere? Just the two of us, what do you say?" He hovered over and spoke in a way that clearly said he didn't consider it an actual choice.

Yet Moka didn't care as she used her freakish strength to lush the punk back and grab Tsukune's arm. He could barely tell what was happening as he was forcefully dragged away.

Once they were a respectable distance away, Moka dragged him behind a stone wall. She looked out to check if the coast was clear, before ducking back.

"Jeez, that was pretty scary, huh? Are you alright?" She asked concerned.

Tsukune nodded. "Yeah, I'm ok. What was his problem anyway?"

Moka just shrugged. "Who knows? I'm just glad you aren't hurt."

Tsukune smiled. "It's nice to know you care so much."

She blushed. "Of course! After all, we're…we're on blood-sucking terms." The way she said that made him feel dirty.

"Please…never say that again." He said seriously.

And yet, though the message was sent, it was not received. "It's important Tsukune! You…were my first."

Tsukune's eye twitched.

"That's even worse. Don't phrase it like that!"

"It was a feeling…that I'll never forget."

"...you're doing this on purpose." He accused blankly.

She just giggled in reply. "Maybe. But it really was special to me."

After that, they wandered the grounds for a bit. Discovering what amenities the place had to offer. Eventually, they stumbled onto the school dormitories. They consisted of multiple concrete buildings and were separated by gender. When Tsukune commented on the age and wear, Moka was quick to say that they just had character.

He could somewhat see what she meant. They were built for function, not fashion. It reminded him of the style used after world war II. All concrete and painted steel.

"I've been meaning to ask Tsukune, what kind of monster are you?" The way she asked that question was the same as asking what region he lived in. He was saved from having to answer however when she remembered what Miss nekonome sensei had said. "Oh, that's right! We're not supposed to tell! My bad." Tsukune could only guess that this was part of their treatment. To distance the patients from their delusions.

"Moka. You don't…look or act like a vampire. Other than the teeth I mean. Are you…sure you're a vampire?" Maybe he could get her to see reality. And then they could leave together!

But that was dashed when she smiled brightly and gestured to the rosary on her chest.

"Right now, I look pretty human. But, you see, if I take this off, I'll become the real thing. A scary and powerful vampire.

Rosaries have to power to seal our true selves away if they're made correctly."

She got closer to him. "And even when sealed, I still crave blood" Then she was hugging him again, and her mouth was on his neck again. Though not as vice-like as before, her grip around him was still too strong to remove short of shining her off. And doing so while she had bitten into him, didn't seem like a good idea.

-1HP

-1HP

-1HP

-1HP

It was late in the evening now, and Moka and he had separated hours ago to find their dorm. Though, an apartment was probably a better term.

He had only been in his for long enough to unpack his writing supplies and write a letter explaining that he didn't need this treatment facility and that his parents were mistaken.

He was just passing a wall that was integrated into the perimeter fence, when the punk, Saizou, came out from around a corner. His posture screamed menace, and that put Tsukune on edge.

"Where you going, lover boy?" The delinquent sneered. Then Saizou grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall.

-15 HP

"Bet you had tons of fun with Akashiya, didn't you?" The boy questioned. But Tsukune was too preoccupied with focusing on how being slammed into a wall had done more damage than being hit by a speeding bike. Even if he didn't believe those numbers were real, it was still scary.

"I'll make you pay for that. She'll be mine!" Saizou continued, but then noticed Tsukune's discomfort at his loss of HP. "Are you even afraid right now? You seem distracted! What is your true form!"

Now Tsukune had a choice. Did he play along in an attempt to ward the bully off? Using his delusion against him? Or did he default, risk rejecting the collective delusion, and risk a violent reaction from the gathering crowd?

In the end, he decided to play into the delusion. At least then he only had to worry about one person.

"True form?" He gasped. "I'm…an…an Infernal." He was dropped, and it was only because he was becoming so used to everyone at this school moving so quickly that was able to duck the punch that came his way in time. Tsukune heard the wall shatter before he felt the shrapnel of the wall pelt against his back.

His eyes widened when he saw the enlarged hand on Saizou. But when it returned to normal, Tsukune convinced himself that it was a trick of the light. As for the hole behind him, well, he could think of an explanation later.

"An Infernal you say? Don't make me laugh! Infernals are a myth! Like Demons and Shinigami! And even if they aren't, they don't come out of hell! Don't lie to me! You're no hellspawn!"

He began to laugh, and the crowd behind him did as well. That seemed to appease Saizou's ego enough that he pulled back. He started to walk away. Throwing a threat to stay away from Moka over his shoulder.

He was left to sit in the rubble as the gathered crowd laughed and dispersed.

Meanwhile, he felt like a true idiot. He needed to leave. He would just mail his letter in. Surely if he explained to the bus driver what had happened, the man would take him home.

It was as he walked through the gloom that he was ambushed. A soft body clung to his back. "Tsukune! I was just walking through the woods, and I guess you had the same idea!" Her tone was jovial, but she quickly picked up on his dower attitude. "What's wrong Tsukune?"

She got off him and saw his serious expression. "I'm leaving Moka. I don't belong here."

The look of devastation on her face marred her natural beauty. "T-then..where will you go?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe ill find work. Maybe I'll find another school. I don't-"

"A human school?!" She asked in a much fiercer tone. "You can't! I hate those humans! They're so mean! When I went to a human school, they bullied me, and mocked the fact I was a vampire! You can't go there!"

He grits his teeth. Of all the ridiculousness.

"Just stay here! I'll be your friend because you said you didn't mind that I was a vampire! This has been the first time in my life I didn't feel alone. So please, don't leave!"

"Moka, you need to grow up." He said bluntly. She froze, not comprehending.

"W-what?" She whispered.

"You're not a vampire. This isn't a school for monsters. It's a treatment facility. For people our age who need treatment for their specific delusions. Everyone here is human."

She was quiet for a minute. Then, she giggled. Then she laughed. A full-bellied laugh that was beautiful and haunting.

His face remained stony as she wiped away her tears. "Ah, Tsukune, you got me. That was so funny! Everyone here is human!" She giggled again. But he remained unaltered.

"Wait? Are you serious?" She questioned when she saw his unamused face. "Tsukune, do you think you're human?"

He decided to speak then. "I am. And so are you. You're just confused."

She shook her head more seriously. "Tsukune, I can assure you. You are not human. I've had human blood out of blood bags before. I know the difference."

He just shook his head. "Goodbye Moka. I hope you get the help you need." And then he turned around, ignoring her calls for him to come back. Even as they become more and more frantic.

The bus was parked near the tunnel, its driver reading a newspaper at the wheel.

"Well, well, well. And here I was rooting for you. Mikogami is gonna be so disappointed."

"I don't belong here sir," Tsukune said firmly.

The bus driver folded his paper and put it to the side. "No, with an attitude like that, you certainly don't. Have everything you need for the return trip home?" He asked. And Tsukune nodded. He was just placing his foot on the first step when he heard something in the distance. It sounded like…a cry for help? He heard it again and could tell it was Moka.

He didn't even think as he dropped his luggage and sprinted off in the direction of the cries.

The bus driver, for his part, just took a long drag off his cigar. "Maybe there's hope for you, after all, kid. Only time will tell."

Inside the forest, Tsukune came across something he couldn't dismiss as just a delusion. It was twice as tall as he was, easily. Formed of thickly corded muscles, with teeth as long as Tsukune's fingers, it was a true monster. And it had moka wrapped up in its long, tentacle-like tongue. She struggled and shuttered as it writhed beneath her clothing. The scene was reminiscent of cheap hentai. It spoke too, in the deeper, but the recognizable voice of Saizou.

" I'm going to enjoy this little violation, Moka Akashiya" it ground out.

He didn't even question if this was a delusion or not as he sent off an Ember in the direction of Saizou's face. It scorched the soft flesh of the bastard's tongue and he was forced to retract it. Moka fell to the ground and Tsukune was quick to put himself between them.

"Tsukune! You came back!" She said in exhausted reverence. He could only spare her a nod as he was forced to size up his opponent. Above saizou's head was a red bar and some text.

Saizou: The monstral reject

Lvl 7(BOSS)

The red bar had dropped slightly, and Tsukune picked up on context clues quickly enough to realize it must represent Saizou's health.

Tsukune cursed silently under his breath. His most offensive attack had barely done anything.

His health sat at 74/80 having recovered some from earlier. And his magic sat at around half.

His stamina however was entirely full. Seeing this, Tsukune inhales deeply before blowing out about half of his stamina.

His stamina was just above 60 at 63/63. His Smoke-screen usually cost 20SP, but he could make his smoke into an irritant if he doubled the cost.

The monster wasn't ready to have a cloud of what was in essence pepper spray blown into his face, and he stumbled back and began to flail wildly in response. Knocking over and uprooting several trees in the process.

He moved to Moka and picked her up in a fireman carry. "We need to go!" He said urgently as he sprinted.

As they ran, Moka spoke. "I thought you said you were human. How can you do all of that? Are you a ninja?"

He rolled his eyes but kept running. "I thought I was human too. And I was until recently. But, look, I can't explain right now. Can you move?" He asked as he held onto her legs. Then his stamina ran out, and he tripped. They landed in a heap.

-5 HP

His health was sitting at 69/80. About a third of the way down. Meanwhile, his stamina was depleted. At least his MP had risen so he could fire off another Ember. Not that it would do much good.

"Geez, what is that guy's problem?" Tsukune asked as they hid behind a tree. They could hear Saizou thrashing about in the distance. Apparently, he had worked through the irritant effect of his Smoke-screen.

"That's just how some monsters are, I'm afraid. In this world, the strong have the right to devour the weak." Moka said solemnly.

Tsukune chanced a glance out from behind their hiding spot and relaxed somewhat when he saw nothing.

"That's messed up."

"Do you…still think that vampires and monsters aren't real?" She asked hesitantly.

Tsukune sat down beside her and sighed. For the first time in days, he had worked up a sweat. "No, I'm convinced. Which means that the things I can do are real as well. Jeez, what a mess.

Hey, I'm sorry for being a jerk before."

"Oh, um, it's alright. I forgive you. Honestly, I was more shocked than upset. Do you, do you still want to be my friend? After learning that I am a really Real vampire?"

Tsukune chuckled. "Of cou-"

"FOUND YOU MAGGOT!" A voice screamed as something wrapped around his leg. He was dragged through the roots and brought before Saizou, dangling.

Seeing his stamina had recovered enough, Tsukune attempted a regular Smoke-screen. But Saizou was quick to wrap his hand around Tsukune's face and keep him from blowing it out.

"Fool me once, shame on you dumb ass! Fool me twice, and I'll fucking kill you!" He screamed as tsukune gagged on his own breath. Saizou grabbed his leg with his hand and removed his tongue. The panicked scream tsukune heard from behind him allowed the boy to make a pretty accurate guess at its location.

"Get off of me! Kya! Don't go down there! No! Stay out of that place!" She screamed from behind. Tsukune couldn't help, however, because saizou took the opportunity to slam him into a tree.

Smash!

-15HP

Smash!

-15HP

Smash!

-15HP

This was bad! This was so bad! Just a few more hits and he would be dead! Tsukune's health was sitting at 24/80!

Seeing no other option and as an act of desperation, Tsukune activated Smolder. His skin cracked apart and fire exploded outwards in intense flames. It dropped his health down from 24 to 4, but the flash-boiled flesh across Saizou's front was worth it. As a bonus, his tongue let go of Moka.

They both dropped to the ground, and Tsukune felt his heart sag when he saw the -1HP. He had only three HP left, no stamina, and not enough magic. Still, he and Moka fled slowly. This time, she supported him. They didn't make it far though. Moka was still injured from before. She couldn't support both his and her own weight, even with her vampiric strength. They collapsed just outside the clearing.

Meanwhile, Saizou thrashed violently. The damage to his front had been severe. The flesh over his chest, face, and especially his arm, had been charred black. In fact, his arm was nothing but blackened bone. Yet he was still upright. If anything, his anger had only driven him into a rage as he destroyed the local area. It would only be a matter of time before Saizou trampled them in his berserk state. Tsukune had come to a decision.

Moka tried to pull him up, but he instead pulled her down to him.

"Moka, listen." He said desperately. "Even as injured as he is, we're hurt more. We can't flee faster than he can destroy. As it is, we're not going to get out of this as we are. So here's what I want you to do. Drink my blood. Use that energy to escape!" He didn't want to die. But he knew that he would if things remained the same. At least this way, his death would save her. This way, it would serve a purpose.

"No! I can see how to hurt you are! You'll die!" She protested. He gave her his best attempt at a smile.

"Yeah. Probably. But if you don't, we'll both die. I don't want that. At least this way, I can die in the arms of a pretty girl."

She blushed hotly. "You…you think I'm pretty?" Had he the strength, he would have slapped his forehead. Of all the things to focus on, she chose that. She clenched her fists and saw how saizou was beginning to rampage in their general direction. He would soon find them.

"Moka, about what I said before. I really am sorry. Even if you really are a vampire, I like you. So, don't die here. Take my blood, and live!"

She teared up. He meant every word, and he could tell she knew. Moka's face gained resolve at that moment. "A-alright. Tsukune. I…thank you. For being my friend. I'll never forget you. I promise. Because you were my first ever friend." She closed in and he could feel her soft sobs. This time he was prepared for her bite, and so he could enjoy the act to some extent. He closed his eyes in preparation. He felt how soft she was, how her warmth felt so nice in contrast to the cold earth. His hand was sandwiched between them, and he felt the barest hint of her cleavage through her shirt.

-1HP

His fingers hooked on something metal.

-1HP

That's when he remembered. All of her power was sealed by her rosary. Maybe if he just yanked?

It came off with a soft click. He felt pressure around him, but he didn't care to look. His eyes were closed, and he had accepted death.

This wasn't a bad way to die. In the arms of a friend.

Quest complete! Love at first bite!

Become Moka's true friend!

50XP Rewarded

Affection system unlocked: Moka(Sealed) 40/100

Moka(Unsealed) 10/100

Level up!

You are now level 2!

5 Attribute points awarded!

Name: Tsukune Aono

Class(Damned Infernal)

Lvl:2

XP:0/150

HP:160/160

SP:126/126

MP:96/96

STR: 7

DEX: 9

VIT: 10

INT: 8

WIS: 6

CHAR: 15

END: 8

(5) Unspent attribute points.

-1HP

The warm body got off of him.

She rose, and he cracked his eyes open. The wind was throwing around dirt, so he held up his hands to protect his eyes.

Even if he could only see her back, he noticed something was different immediately. That buffeting pressure that tossed the winds about and moved the tree branches. It came from her. Her posture was different entirely. She was no longer timid but stood proudly with a hand on her tilted hip. Silver hair that reflected the moon wisped around in the cyclone of her own power. And Saizou, Saizou was frozen.

It reminded him of the tales of David and Goliath. She barely came up to his upper thigh. But her presence was overpowering. It extended beyond her body and saturated the environment.

Though his torso was blackened, his face was gone to nothing but bone, and one of his arms was a mangled burned wreck, Tsukune saw that he stood in hesitant defiance.

" You, what are you? You're not a normal vampire! Could this be, are you a Noble born?" He spoke through a bare jaw. His entire posture had gone from a predator playing with its meal to a wounded scavenger before an apex.

"What's wrong, rogue one? You want me, right?" Her voice was deep and cultured. Smooth in its application. Was this really the same girl? With every word, she took a step closer. And with every step she took, Saizou retreated that many. " Just try and take me then. By force."

Saizou was caught between wanting to strike and wanting to flee. This new Moka, because they couldn't possibly be the same person, saw his hesitation, and a taunted him for it. " Won't you? You were so eager before. Why, you had lathered yourself all over this virgin body of mine. What's wrong? Are you struggling to perform? Can't get your prick up?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Saizou screamed as he threw his one good arm at her, his sharpened claws clearly intending to skewer.

And it was over in an instant. Even accustomed to the speeds at which monsters casually moved here, he couldn't follow more than a flash of silver as saizou was launched clear above the trees. She landed gracefully, expecting the fight to continue. Tsukune also remained on edge as he rose from the ground. But the expected round two never came.

The silver-haired vampire appeared almost disappointed. Then she shrugged. " A low-class monster like you who has nothing to show for his size doesn't even make a decent opponent in a contrast of strength." With that, she turned around and began walking towards him. And then all of that pressure from before was directed at him. It was suffocating. It felt as if he was twice as heavy, and couldn't breathe. She sauntered past him, flashing a devilish fanged smirk. And yet, despite his fear, he could help but think that she was beautiful.

She knelt gracefully and picked up her rosary. Looking in his direction, it was clear she knew he feared her. Her smirk was all fangs.

Then, like a switch was flipped, it was all gone. The pressure that is.

"What's wrong? Are you scared of me? Of this me?"

She teased. But even as she did so, Tsukune remembered that feeling of breathlessness.

And then she was in his personal space, vivid crimson pools of violence and desire trapping him within them. He felt like it would be all too easy to drown in them. He swallowed audibly.

Then she flicked him in the head. He blinked, not comprehending. It hadn't hurt. He'll, it hadn't even taken any HP. This terrifying girl who just launched a twelve-foot-tall monster so far off into the horizon that he may have arched over the administration building. She had flicked him.

His expression must have been particularly dumbstruck because the new Moka chuckled at him.

" Don't be so worried. This me who has awoken from her long slumber, she is still tired. I've no intention of harming you." Her arm slid around his neck, and it held in it the same iron strength as the other Moka had displayed at their first meeting. It was a casual reminder that she could snap him like a twig, no matter how much she claimed otherwise. She was inches from his face now, her breath tickled his throat. Would she bite him? He…didn't know how he felt about that.

" You're the kind that overthinks, aren't you? A beautiful woman rests in your arms, and you remain locked in your head."

He finally found it within himself to speak. "Who are you?" It came out as a whisper. But her smile was all teeth.

"I am Moka. The true Moka. Don't look so on edge. You are important to my other self. And more importantly, your blood is delicious.

Regardless, I tire. Call upon me again if you find yourself in danger.

Otherwise, you better babysit the more sentimental Moka." Then she placed the rosary on the link of her collar. It clasped, and the reason she had hooked her arm around his neck became obvious. When the monumental power that came from her was snuffed out by the seal, she collapsed. He was quick to catch her then. Her hair faded back into pink and her features softened.

He held her upright until her eyes fluttered open. "Tsukune?" She questioned lazily. Then she snapped back to reality. "Tsukune! You're alive!" She hugged him, and it felt nice. "What happened?" She questioned stepping out of his arms and looking around. Not much had changed. The woods were still wrecked. But Saizou was gone, so that was change enough.

"You don't remember?" He asked her. She shook her head in the negative. "Weird."

They walked back to the dorms after that. Both of them were tired and in need of both a shower and a change of clothes.

They said good night and separated to enter their respective dorms.

A quick shower in the dorm stalls, and a pass-through of his nightly routine, and Tsukune was finally ready to sleep. But before that, he made a point to open his status menu.

He found that he had five attribute points. Besides each of his stats was a plus sign. The indication was obvious. But he didn't know what he would place where.

After some thought, he decided to raise his lowest stats. Those being Strength at two, endurance at three, and wisdom at one.

He put one into both strength and endurance, and three into wisdom. He didn't feel particularly stronger or smarter, but his numbers went up. So that was good. With that done, he let himself drift off.

Tomorrow would be a new day. But somehow, he felt more prepared.

Skills:

(Ember)

30 MP 15/100

(Smoke-screen)

20 SP 10/100

(Smolder)

20 HP 5/100

(Cooking)

(Passive skill) 20/100

Relations:

Moka(Sealed) 40/100

Moka(Unsealed) 10/100

Status:

Name: Tsukune Aono

Class(Damned Infernal)

Lvl:2

XP:0/150

HP:180/180

SP:144/144

MP:144/144

STR: 8

DEX: 9

VIT: 10

INT: 8

WIS: 9

CHAR: 15

END: 9