Interlude 2: A Different Perspective

Perched atop one of Chiba's towering skyscrapers, an apex predator surveyed the city beneath him with a mix of disdain and hunger.

The wind swept through the steel canyons below, carrying with it the faint murmur of life—the bustle of the streets, the pulse of humanity. From this height, they all seemed so small, insignificant, like ants scurrying to and fro, completely unaware of the predator lurking above.

His eyes, now sharper than they had ever been, could pick out the faintest details—the flicker of headlights, the glow of mobile screens, the slow shuffles of night workers heading home after the grind. It was all so... predictable.

A memory surfaced then, unbidden, from a time long forgotten—a memory of him as one of them. He had been ordinary once, living a life filled with mundane repetition. Work, eat, sleep, repeat. The routine had smothered him, left him numb, until that fateful night when everything changed. When he had first felt alive again.

He had forgotten her name—the woman who had captivated him, the one who had seduced him so effortlessly in that dimly lit bar.

She had been beautiful, yes, but it wasn't her appearance that lingered in his memory. It was the way she had made him feel. For a single night, he had been seen, truly seen, and the loneliness that had gnawed at him for years had dissipated, replaced by a heady mix of desire and lust.

But what he hadn't known then was that she had embraced him in more ways than one.

The next morning, he had woken up alone in a cheap hotel room, his body drenched in sweat and his head pounding with the remnants of the night's liquor. He had felt hungover in a way he'd never experienced before—his mouth dry, his body aching, and, most of all, his eyes.

The sunlight streaming through the flimsy curtains had been unbearable, searing his retinas and driving him into a panic as he stumbled to close the blinds. The pain had been overwhelming, as if his entire being rejected the sun.

It wasn't until the thirst set in that he had understood what he had become.

That thirst... no amount of water could quench it. It was a need that transcended hunger and thirst, a primal craving that had consumed him. It had taken him days to realize what he truly desired—what he truly needed to survive.

Blood. Human blood.

The first time he had tasted it, by accident, it had been electric. His senses had sharpened, his strength multiplied, and for the first time in his miserable existence, he had felt alive.

And now, perched above the city, with the cool night air swirling around him, he could feel that hunger rising again. But it was different this time. The hunger had evolved, just as he had when he killed that Hunter in that children's hospital.

He no longer needed to hunt as often, no longer needed to sink his fangs into the throats of his victims every night. The Ghouls he had sired, their lives forever bound to his own, sustained him. Their existence fed him, allowing him to conserve his strength for more important things.

That was the key, he realized. He had transcended what he once was—no longer a mere vampire, but something greater. A higher being. A predator whose reach extended far beyond his immediate prey.

The Ghouls, those lesser creatures that were bound to him by blood, were now his tools, his army. With each one he sired, his power grew. And soon, he would no longer need to feed himself at all. They would do it for him.

But that wasn't enough. Power demanded more power. His thirst for blood had been replaced by something even more dangerous—an insatiable desire for control, for dominance.

He had seen it so clearly in the hospital, where the humans worked tirelessly to keep his victims alive, oblivious to the truth. They were so foolish, so blind. They still didn't understand what was happening, what was growing beneath the surface of their society.

He had killed a Hunter, at that children's hospital—a man skilled in the art of tracking his kind, someone who had once posed a threat. But in the end, even the strongest hunters were human, and humans were fallible. They bled. They died.

That hunter had been the first, but he wouldn't be the last. There were others, of course—he had sensed them watching, waiting. But he wasn't afraid. If anything, the challenge excited him. He welcomed their pursuit, knowing that they would only fall, one by one.

Tonight, though, was not for hunting hunters. No, tonight had a different purpose. He scanned the city again, his eyes settling on the faint glow of the hospital in the distance. The patients he had left behind, their lives suspended in a torturous limbo, were not random victims.

They were experiments, each one carefully chosen, each one vital to his plan. The blood transfusions they were receiving would never work, of course. Their bodies were already his, claimed by the venom in his bite. But they weren't Ghouls, not yet. He had made sure of that.

They were something else—something new. He had been testing the limits of his abilities, pushing the boundaries of what he could do. Those patients were caught between life and death, not fully turned but not fully human anymore, either.

They were in stasis, and it was only a matter of time before they would awaken, stronger and more dangerous than the average Ghoul. He was building something—an army of creatures who could pass for human, who could blend in with society until the moment they were unleashed.

And tonight, he would add more to his ranks.

Far below, a group of people exited a bar, laughing and stumbling as they made their way down the street. They were easy targets, their minds clouded with alcohol, their senses dulled.

He watched them with a predator's eye, already planning his approach. He could feel the power coursing through him, his muscles taut with anticipation. His wings, newly grown, twitched slightly in the night air, and he smiled to himself.

Tonight, he would sire more. With every new Ghoul, his power grew, his influence spread. Soon, Chiba would be his playground, and from there, the rest of Japan would follow. The humans would never see it coming. They would never know what had hit them.

With a low chuckle, the Sanguophage leapt from the skyscraper, his wings spreading wide as he soared into the night. His laughter echoed across the city, a sound that no human would hear—but one they would all feel soon enough. Tonight, the hunt began anew.

And this time, there would be no stopping him.

The night was still, the kind of quiet that only settled deep into the city when most had retired for bed, leaving only the occasional passerby and the hum of distant cars.

Tanaka Asuka walked alone after a long day of giving lectures to high school students and grading test papers, her pace unbothered and steady. She glanced up at the tall buildings, their windows dark, towering above her like silent sentinels.

Work had been draining, but that was nothing new. Her mundane routine, one she had fallen into long ago, had left her hollow, like a shell moving through the motions of life.

Coupled with that, she had the added responsibility of being the advising teacher to her school's literature club. She didn't mean to complain, on the contrary, she enjoyed being an advisor.

It allowed her to interact with her students in a way other teachers don't, giving the opportunity to engage in interesting extracurricular activities that made her job less… monotonous. As a result, she often leaves work feeling even more motivated. Still tired, but definitely motivated.

Which was why she - more often that she'd like to admit - frequent going to bars or izakaya after a long day to unwind. She may be a teacher, but she's just as much a person as other adults her age were. No better way to spend her evening, if she were to be honest.

But tonight felt different.

The streets were quieter than usual, and an eerie sense of being watched prickled her skin. She shrugged it off, assuming her exhaustion was playing tricks on her mind. She was just a thirty-year-old school teacher, after all, with nothing remarkable about her. No reason to draw attention. No reason to feel hunted.

Asuka pulled her coat tighter around her shoulders, quickening her steps as she neared the alleyway shortcut she took every night. It was always a bit dark, but the shortcut saved her five minutes on her walk home.

And five minutes meant everything when she wanted to collapse into bed as quickly as possible. She turned the corner into the alley, her footsteps echoing in the narrow space.

But tonight, something was waiting.

A figure stepped out from the shadows, tall and monstrous, but still humanoid enough to send her mind reeling with disbelief. It was as if her brain couldn't register what she was seeing.

Leathery pale skin that seemed to absorb the dim light around it, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike, and behind it, an eerie pair of bat-like wings folded against its back. The beast's eyes gleamed, a chilling brightness that cut through the darkness.

Asuka froze in place, terror anchoring her feet to the pavement. The creature didn't move immediately, and for a moment, she allowed herself to believe it wasn't real. It had to be a trick of her tired mind, an illusion brought on by the fog of exhaustion.

But then, it smiled—or at least, it curled its lips in what could pass as a smile. That was when her instincts kicked in.

She tried to scream, but the sound was strangled by the fear constricting her throat. Asuka turned on her heel, her heart pounding, legs trembling beneath her as she bolted in the opposite direction.

But the thing was faster. It moved like a shadow, almost gliding in a blur, appearing in front of her again as though it had simply materialized out of thin air.

"No…" Her voice was barely a whisper, her legs giving way as she collapsed against the cold, rough wall of the alley. Her mind raced, but there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

The creature moved closer, its gaze fixed on her with an unsettling calmness, as if this were routine for it. It towered over her, the bat-like wings shifting slightly as it knelt down, bringing its face inches from hers. Asuka could see the hunger in its glowing eyes, but there was something else. Something even more terrifying. It wasn't just there to kill her.

The thing's voice was a low rumble, a guttural sound that almost sounded like human speech twisted through a monstrous filter. "Do not fear. I offer you...a gift."

Asuka's breath hitched, confusion mixing with terror. A gift? What kind of monster spoke of gifts? She tried to push herself away, but her body was paralyzed with fear, her limbs unresponsive. She could only watch in horror as the creature lowered its face to her neck.

She braced herself for the pain. For the sharp puncture of fangs and the draining of her life. But when the thing's teeth sank into her skin, there was no searing agony. There was no burning sensation or the tearing of flesh.

Instead, it was like being submerged in freezing water, her body going numb as an unnatural calm washed over her. Her vision blurred, the edges of her consciousness flickering in and out.

Asuka felt her pulse slow, the frantic thudding in her chest becoming a dull, steady beat. Her mind grew hazy, the fear dissipating, replaced by a strange serenity.

The creature's bite was gentle, almost soothing in a way that made no sense. It wasn't feeding. It wasn't killing her. It was...bestowing something.

The words echoed in her mind. A gift.

She barely registered the thing lifting its head, the glowing eyes observing her as though studying the effect of its bite. Asuka's eyelids fluttered, the world around her becoming soft, distant. She wanted to move, to run, to scream, but her body refused to obey. It was as if her will had been snuffed out, leaving her to drift in a waking dream.

The creature stood, casting a long shadow over her crumpled form, and with a beat of its powerful wings, it ascended into the night sky. Dust swirled in its wake, but no one saw. No one noticed.

Asuka's body remained where it had fallen, her consciousness slipping further away. The last thing she saw was the darkened sky above, stars barely visible through the haze of city lights. She wasn't dead. Not yet. But she wasn't alive, either.

When the morning came and the alley was bathed in the dull light of dawn, she would be found—another body in a mysterious coma, just like the others.

No marks, no wounds. Just an inexplicable stillness, as if she had simply closed her eyes and slipped away into some unreachable place.

The students of Soubu High gathered in the gymnasium, hundreds of them filling the space, their voices low, confused, and restless.

The teachers stood at the edges of the room, as they usually did during assemblies, but the absence of chairs for the students hinted that this was different.

The lack of preparation, the tension hanging in the air—it was enough to set everyone on edge.

Principal Matsumoto, an aged man in his fifties with graying hair and a solemn expression, stood on the podium at the center. He adjusted the microphone and cleared his throat, his eyes scanning the students before finally speaking.

"Good morning, students," his voice boomed across the gym, momentarily silencing the murmurs. "Teachers, fellow staff members."

He paused, perhaps to collect his thoughts, or perhaps to let the weight of the moment sink in. His expression was calm, but there was something else beneath it—something that made even the most inattentive students straighten up.

"Today, I come before you with news that is both troubling and serious," the principal continued, his voice steady but somber. "One of our esteemed teachers, Tanaka Asuka-sensei, was found unconscious this morning. She is currently in a coma."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. It was as though the air had been sucked out of the room. Hachiman felt the tension rise, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'So, it's finally reached here.'

Principal Matsumoto held up a hand, signaling for calm. "I understand this is unexpected and worrying. An investigation is currently underway by the proper authorities, and action is being taken to ensure the safety of everyone involved."

Yuigahama Yui glanced around nervously, her mind flashing back to their recent visit to Totsuka's house. She recalled his shaken expression, his trembling voice as he described what he saw. The thought of someone else—someone as familiar as Tanaka-sensei—falling into the same condition terrified her. This can't just be a coincidence.

The principal continued, "I want to assure all of you that while Tanaka-sensei is in a coma, her condition is stable." He took a slow breath, allowing the words to settle. "It is important that we maintain transparency. Our school has always valued honesty, especially when something as serious as this affects one of our own."

Not far away, Miura Yumiko was still sitting, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She wasn't looking at anyone in particular, her eyes distant, her brows knitted in thought. The announcement felt like a sledgehammer, but not in the way most of the students seemed to experience it.

Miura had already connected the dots—or at least she thought she had. She had heard whispers from the nurses, brief mentions about the strange influx of coma patients arriving at the hospital. And considering what happened to her father, a capable and experienced doctor, Miura could only feel the pit growing deeper in her stomach. This wasn't normal. This wasn't just a coincidence.

The principal's voice lowered slightly as he continued, "In light of this incident, we will be implementing new safety measures. From now on, all students are required to leave the school in groups. No one is to travel alone to and from school. This is for everyone's personal safety and protection."

At that, a murmur of confusion spread through the crowd.

Yukinoshita Yukino, seated a few rows back, remained perfectly still, her gaze fixed ahead. The principal's announcement had only deepened her suspicions. Something is terribly wrong, but what exactly? Her logical mind tried to process the information, drawing on every rational explanation she could think of. But the pieces weren't fitting together.

Totsuka's encounter, the strange events—there was something lurking beneath the surface that no amount of reason could explain.

And then there was Totsuka Saika, sitting not far from Yukino, but his mind was miles away. His breath was shallow, his hands trembling as they rested in his lap. The world around him seemed distant, as if he were watching everything unfold through a foggy window.

It's happening again, he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. It's happening right here. The image of that night replayed in his mind—the figure, the terrible, twisted figure he had seen with his own eyes. The feeling of helplessness had overwhelmed him then, and now it was rushing back, threatening to swallow him whole.

Totsuka had spent almost a full week trying to convince himself that he could move on, that maybe it had all been a horrible misunderstanding, but hearing the principal's announcement shattered that fragile hope.

His breaths came quicker, and he could feel the tightness in his throat. Why now? Why here? The thought of Tanaka-sensei—someone he had known, someone who had been part of the school's normal, everyday life—falling into a coma like that... it was too much. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold it together.

Principal Matsumoto concluded, "Extracurricular activities will continue as usual, but we must all remain vigilant. Your safety is our top priority, and we will be monitoring the situation closely. Please, do not panic, but do take this seriously."

His eyes scanned the crowd once more before he offered a final, almost mechanical, reassurance. "You may be dismissed. Classes will resume as normal."

And with that, the microphone clicked off, and the assembly was over. The principal stepped back, leaving the students to absorb what they had just heard.

Not long later, the students began filing out of the gymnasium, still abuzz as they converse about the information they had received amongst themselves. The entire gathering had taken up their homeroom session, so they're all immediately heading back to class. Well, most of them at least.

Hachiman stuck around, casting a look at a certain teacher. Said teacher, immediately noticing she's being watched, returned the gesture by meeting his eyes. Wordlessly, they conveyed a message through eye contact alone.

They'll be talking about this, probably soon. As far as he's aware, the school's administration – that means the chairman, the principal, and a select few of the faculty members – were aware of the masquerade, maybe even more than he had initially thought.

Which was why the assembly was such a surprise to him initially, but after a little bit of thinking, it's only a matter of time before some of the teachers began asking question, thus eventually forcing the news out anyway.

It's better this way. The school got to warn the students to be careful and they, most importantly, got to look good doing it by projecting an image of 'transparency' and 'honesty'.

Yeah right.

"Hikki, you're not going back to class?"

Yuigahama's voice shifted him off from his thoughts, directing all his attention to her. He saw her approach, a questioning look on her face.

"Ah, I think I'll have to skip." He told her, the way he said it made her frown due to how nonchalant he was being.

"You're gonna get in trouble if you skip class, Hikki." Yuigahama pointed out, pouting.

He rolled his eyes. She really was a nice girl, maybe too nice for her own good. Still, he couldn't be too mad about it…

"Just tell Hanako-sensei I got the bug and will be resting in the infirmary," the more he spoke, the more pronounced Yuigahama's pout became, "please, I'll owe you one. Just until the third period."

Yuigahama's pout, after hearing that last bit, shifted into a more manageable frown. The doubtful look settled on her face, but it seemed that he's close to convincing her. "What are you gonna do?"

He didn't answer right away, thinking if he should even give her an answer. In the end, he folded. "I need to talk to someone."

Chapter End

If you want to help support me and read future chapters earlier, you can check out my Pat re on or ko-fi if you just want to drop a tip. Every dollar helps a lot, you will be making a difference. Especially at this moment in time. Please.