Chapter 7: And Just Like That, Totsuka Saika Has His Attention

"So, let me get this straight," he began, the disbelief hung heavily on his voice, "you want me to come to the gathering with you?"

"I do," his teacher's voice came from the phone's speaker, "it's been a while since the last gathering… and there's been a lot of things going on that needs discussing."

"Speak for yourself…" he couldn't help making the snide remark.

"I know your current assignment leaves much to be desired, but believe me—they don't just give a job of this importance like bread at the end of the day." Her voice was stern, almost scolding, as she slipped into a much serious tone.

"Hn…" he grumbled, not caring if that made him seem unprofessional to his superior.

"But… I guess I understand where you're coming from," his teacher's voice said, subdued. "In theory, the quietness and lack of activity made sense—considering what we did less than a year ago—but if we know our enemies well enough, they're not the type to sit back and do nothing."

"But why Yukinoshita Yukino, specifically?" He decided to just rip the band-aid off and stop beating around the bush. "What do blood-suckers want with a rich teenage zaibatsu heiress?"

He heard his teacher let out a dry chuckle, even by his standards. "What don't they want? Look, Hachiman, Yukinoshita Yukino is indeed a beautiful and bright-minded teenager whose family owns a significant share in a construction conglomerate, so it should be obvious to you that there are people out there invested in her well-being."

The answer he received wasn't satisfactory, no, it felt… lacking to him.

"So that's it," he asked, "all of this is really just a trumped-up baby-sitting job, huh?"

It took a moment for him to get his reply, which further his doubt. "You're free to come to whatever conclusion you've come up with, doesn't change the fact that you still have to do your job."

He frowned, a notably deeper one even by his usual standards. He felt like he'd just been served curry with no rice, leaving behind an unsatisfactory sensation. In this case, however, it felt like Hiratsuka-sensei was withholding something from him.

She's not telling him something important about his assignment.

As if sensing he was about to speak, his teacher spoke again, "just so we're clear, Hikigaya, I don't want you to get yourself in trouble; especially the kind where you can't swim out of. I'm already busy enough handling a funeral and–"

"Someone died?" He cut off his teacher, uncaring of how rude the gesture was.

"...Yeah, one of us."

"Who?"

"...he's your senior," his teacher revealed, "a grown man who's been in the job longer than you've ever been."

He rolled his eyes. Of course she'd turn this into a lecture for him. But that didn't discourage him from asking further. "How did he…" he left the implication hanging.

"...something done him in," his teacher's voice came out muted, "judging by the aftermath… it was at least quick."

But not necessarily painless… he added in his mind. No way. Blood-suckers may be akin to beasts; wild-animals with a barely human facade, but their intelligence made it so they know how to make it hurt when they want to.

"Sensei…" he hissed, feeling the blood rushing to his ears, "then why-"

She cut him off, the tone of her voice like the arctic itself. "Don't think that you could've done something different in his shoes, Hikigaya." He gritted his teeth. "This was… different."

Then, by God, tell him what about it was different!

He wanted to scream out in his current state, but he knew better than to let his emotion overcome him. He's a professional; he's a Hunter.

A moment of silence went by, he could hear the humming of his teacher's V8 car engine through his phone.

"Poor guy's going to leave behind three kids and a wife," he's not even sure if his teacher meant to share or if she was just venting, "anyway, I'll send you the details about the meeting as soon as I can."

"What about my assignment during the day of the meet up?" he asked. "I can't exactly shirk my 'duties' now can I?"

"Ah, don't worry," his teacher said, "Yukinoshita won't be around during that day. She'll be with her family over at their estate in Kyoto. She'll have plenty of guards and people looking after her."

"...if she has people looking after her, then why make one single Hunter look after her every other day?"

"...that's one of those questions that I can't tell you, Hikigaya."

"Can't or won't?"

"Can't."

"...tch." He clicked his tongue. Knowing his teacher's tone, he wasn't going to get anything out of her. At least for now.

He ended the call without saying anything, his thumb pressing the screen to hang up. He slid his phone back into his pocket, letting out a sharp breath through his nose. The rooftop was quiet, as he expected it to be, a sanctuary away from the chaos below.

He could feel the faint bite of the wind against his skin, tousling his hair in a way that only added to his growing frustration. Of course, Hiratsuka-sensei wouldn't give him any solid answers. That much was clear.

He leaned back against the fence, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to process what little information he had been given.

None of it made sense. Sure, the blood-suckers wouldn't just lie down and die. That wasn't their style. They were too proud, too calculating.

After the massive sting operation in his first year, it was no surprise they'd gone quiet. The Hunters had hit them hard. No doubt they were still licking their wounds, waiting for the right time to strike back. But this silence—it was unnatural.

And then there was Yukinoshita.

What the hell did the blood-suckers want with a high school girl from a rich family? Hiratsuka-sensei had danced around the question, feeding him vague lines about her importance and influence. But something about it didn't sit right with him.

If her family had such a huge security detail, why was one lone Hunter—him—needed to watch over her every day?

He clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling up again. It felt like he was being kept in the dark, like Hiratsuka-sensei knew more than she was letting on. But pushing her for answers had only led to more dead ends.

That cold tone she used, the one that shut down any further questioning, was still ringing in his ears.

"Tch…" He clicked his tongue, the sound sharp in the quiet of the rooftop. She was hiding something. But why? Was it to protect him? Or was it because there was something bigger going on that he wasn't supposed to know about?

He shut his eyes for a moment, letting the wind cool him off.

Maybe she was right. Maybe the silence was just the calm before the storm. The blood-suckers were probably planning something, recovering from the last hit they took.

That would explain the lack of activity lately. But that didn't make the waiting any easier. He hated the idea of just sitting around, watching over Yukinoshita without knowing why.

As the wind picked up again, he briefly considered calling Hiratsuka-sensei back, forcing the issue. But he knew it wouldn't get him anywhere. She wasn't going to tell him anything more, not today. He needed to accept that, for now.

Besides, Yukinoshita was probably done with her business at the faculty room by now, and he had to follow her home. Babysitting duty, he thought bitterly.

He pushed himself off the fence, shoving his hands into his pockets as he made his way toward the stairwell. As his feet carried him down the stairs, his mind was still stuck on that unsatisfactory conversation.

Hiratsuka-sensei had mentioned something about a funeral, a fellow Hunter who had recently died. It should've been a bigger deal, but she had slipped it into the conversation so casually, like it was just another part of the job. Maybe it was.

A grown man, older than him, more experienced, and yet he was gone. Killed by something, she had said. That alone told him it had been bad. The way she'd hesitated, the subdued tone—she hadn't wanted to tell him. The blood-suckers were dangerous enough when they were playing nice. If they had a reason to make someone suffer, they would. He knew that much.

But still, something about the whole thing felt off. Hiratsuka-sensei had said it was "different." What did that mean? Different how?

He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the rapid footsteps echoing down the hall until he practically collided with someone. The impact knocked him off balance for a split second, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady the other person.

"Watch it—" he began, but the words died in his throat when he saw the face of the person he had caught.

It was a girl, a student from Soubu judging by the uniform. Pale-silver hair framed her face, but it was her expression that caught him off guard. She was crying. Her eyes were swollen and red, tears streaking down her pale cheeks. They stood frozen for a moment, both of them staring at each other in surprise.

Before he could say anything, she pulled away, yanking her arm out of his grasp and bolting down the hall. She didn't look back.

"What the hell…" Hachiman muttered under his breath, still processing what had just happened.

The image of her tear-streaked face lingered in his mind, but he couldn't place who she was. He hadn't seen her before, and she definitely wasn't in his class… right? Should he go after her?

He debated for a moment but quickly dismissed the thought. He didn't have time to deal with some random student's problems. He had his own assignment to worry about—namely, keeping an eye on Yukinoshita.

With a sigh, he turned and continued down the hallway, his mind already shifting back to his mission. Whatever was going on with that girl wasn't his concern. Not now. He had bigger things to worry about.

The usual quiet of the Service Club room was beginning to settle in again. The familiar atmosphere after school, with the three club members doing their usual thing, almost felt like clockwork.

Hachiman sat in his corner, idly scrolling through his phone while occasionally glancing at the ticking clock on the wall.

Yuigahama was playing with her phone as well, though her focus seemed more on keeping herself entertained rather than doing anything productive.

Yukinoshita, as always, was sipping tea with her poised elegance, reading a book she had brought with her.

It was another typical afternoon. That is, until a sudden knock broke the comfortable silence.

Yukinoshita looked up from her book and called out, "Come in."

The door slid open, revealing three boys standing in the hallway. They were all dressed in the school's sportswear and jerseys. Yukinoshita took a quick glance and, with a sharp eye, concluded their affiliation. "You're members of the tennis club, I presume?" she said, her voice cool but polite.

Yuigahama, who had also looked up, blinked in surprise. "Eh? What's the tennis club doing here?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

The three boys stepped in and introduced themselves. "Masato Akira, Harada Haru, and Yamazaki Rei," the first one said, nodding toward his friends. "We've come with a request for the Service Club."

Hachiman, as usual, opted to just listen quietly, preferring to stay in the background while the conversation unfolded.

Yuigahama smiled warmly, always eager to help. "A request? What kind of request?"

Akira, the apparent spokesperson of the group, spoke up. "It's about our club president… our captain. He's been in a slump lately, and we're really worried about him."

Haru and Rei nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of concern and uncertainty.

Yuigahama furrowed her brow in thought. "Huh, Sai-chan?" she asked, referring to the tennis club captain by his nickname. "Did something happen?"

The three boys exchanged glances, unsure how much to reveal. Eventually, Akira spoke again, his tone unsure. "We're not sure what exactly is wrong. He's been off his game, losing matches he'd normally win easily, and just… not himself. He's been low energy and really down lately."

Yuigahama's concern deepened, her hands fidgeting with her phone nervously. "That doesn't sound like Sai-chan at all… He's always been so energetic and positive. Has anything else happened? Did he say anything?"

Rei shook his head. "No, he hasn't really talked about it with us. He's just been quiet. And today… he didn't even come to school."

Yuigahama gasped. "He didn't come to school?!" Her worry was palpable, and she looked to Yukinoshita for guidance.

Yukinoshita, who had been listening quietly until now, finally spoke. "Is it really a serious concern, Yuigahama-san? People have slumps occasionally, especially in sports. It's not uncommon."

But Yuigahama shook her head firmly, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by earnestness. "It's uncharacteristic for Sai-chan to act like this. He's not the type to just disappear or stop showing up."

Yukinoshita glanced at the boys, who nodded in agreement. "We need him to cheer up," Akira said. "We've tried, but nothing's worked. We were hoping you guys could help."

Yukinoshita, seeing Yuigahama's insistence, sighed softly and nodded. "Very well. We'll take on your request." She then glanced at the boys and asked, "Where is your captain? Why didn't he come here to ask for help himself?"

Haru scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "He's… not really in any position to do that. Like I said, he didn't even come to school today."

This only served to worry Yuigahama more. "He's not answering calls either," Rei added. "We've already asked the faculty to try contacting his family, but no luck yet."

Yukinoshita's expression shifted, a small frown tugging at her lips. "It must be quite a serious slump if he's avoiding school altogether…"

Akira nodded. "It's unlike him. And with the upcoming tournament, we really need him to be back in form."

Yuigahama, always the compassionate one, leaned forward, her face full of determination. "We should go see him! If Sai-chan's not coming to school, we have to go to him."

Yukinoshita considered it for a moment before nodding in agreement. "That does seem like the most direct solution." She turned to Yuigahama, "You know where he lives?"

Yuigahama nodded quickly. "Yeah! I've been to his house before."

Yukinoshita sighed softly, realizing there was little alternative now. "Very well. We'll visit his home later today and see what we can do to cheer him up."

The three tennis club members looked relieved. "Thank you so much! We really appreciate it. It's unfortunate we can't come with you—club practice and all."

Yukinoshita nodded curtly. "That's fine. We'll handle it from here."

Once the tennis club members had expressed their thanks and left the room, the usual silence returned for a moment. Hachiman, who had been quietly listening the whole time, finally spoke up, his voice dry and matter-of-fact. "So, we're really going to visit someone's house?"

Yukinoshita and Yuigahama both turned toward him, their gazes reproachful. Yukinoshita's cold glare was enough to make him raise his hands in mock surrender. "I'm not objecting or anything. Just pointing out that it's probably better if the faculty dealt with this. You know, since it's more their responsibility than ours."

Yuigahama puffed up her cheeks, clearly disapproving. "But Hikki, we can't just not do anything!"

Yukinoshita sighed, though she didn't completely dismiss Hachiman's point. "You're not wrong, Hikigaya-kun. However, we've already accepted the request. It would be irresponsible of us to back out now."

Hachiman shrugged, clearly unwilling to argue further. "Alright, alright. Just putting it out there. So, are we leaving now? It's getting kind of late."

Yukinoshita glanced at the clock and nodded. "Yes, we should leave now. If we wait too long, it'll get dark."

Yuigahama clapped her hands together, eager to get moving. "Alright, let's go! We'll cheer up Sai-chan for sure!"

As they started packing up their things, Hachiman let out a small sigh. He couldn't help but wonder what they were about to walk into. Visiting someone's house to cheer them up sounded more like a job for the student council or the counselors—not the Service Club. But, as usual, he was stuck in the middle of it all.

"Just another day in the Service Club," he muttered under his breath as they locked up the room and headed out together.

As they made their way down the hallway, Hachiman kept his usual distance behind the two girls, mentally preparing himself for whatever awaited them at 'Sai-chan's' house.

The night had long since wrapped its cold arms around the city, and the streets were cloaked in shadows as Totsuka Saika walked home.

He'd just finished a late tennis practice, and though his usual routine was to take the train back, tonight felt different. He craved something slower, something quieter, perhaps a change of scenery to clear his head after the long day.

It wasn't like he felt unsafe. Sure, he was aware of how he looked—small, delicate, and often mistaken for a girl—but he wasn't weak.

He was athletic, with enough stamina and confidence to get home on foot. Besides, this was his town, and nothing bad ever happened here. He'd be fine.

But there was a part of him, a small part, that hesitated. Rumors had been floating around lately, vague stories of people going missing, only to be found dead days later.

It had all started online, some message board thread that grew legs, and before he knew it, people at school had started whispering about it too.

Still, Saika had brushed it off. That sort of thing didn't happen in real life. Not to him.

He adjusted his tennis bag on his shoulder and decided to cut through the quiet neighborhood up ahead. It was late, sure, but he'd walked this way before. It was always peaceful. Empty streets, dim lights, the occasional passing car. Perfect for thinking.

But tonight felt different.

As Saika passed the streetlamps, their soft glow flickering, he felt the air around him grow… strange. It was subtle at first, like something just at the edge of his awareness. The wind, which had been gently rustling the trees moments ago, suddenly stopped.

The world seemed to still. The air felt heavy, almost oppressive, like it had lost its usual freshness and become something stale, something wrong. He couldn't explain it, not even to himself, but the unease was creeping up his spine.

He quickened his pace, telling himself that it was nothing, just his imagination playing tricks on him in the dark. But when he turned down a narrow alley that cut through the neighborhood, he heard it.

A strange, unfamiliar noise.

It wasn't loud, more like a faint rustling or shuffling sound, but it was enough to stop him in his tracks. His heartbeat quickened as his eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the source.

He told himself it was probably just a stray cat or something harmless. But there was something… off about the noise, something that made his gut twist in ways he couldn't quite understand.

Against his better judgment, Saika moved forward.

The alley stretched out in front of him, long and dark, the only light coming from the slivers of moonlight breaking through gaps in the surrounding buildings. He could feel the quiet pressing in on him, a thick, suffocating silence that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

And then he saw it.

At first, it was just a dark shape, barely distinguishable in the dim light. Tall, humanoid, but… wrong. It was standing further down the alley, near the corner where Saika would normally turn to head home.

His breath hitched in his throat as he froze, his legs suddenly feeling like they were made of lead. His heart pounded so loudly in his chest that he was sure it could be heard in the stillness.

The figure—no, the thing—was holding something. Someone.

Saika's blood ran cold as the details became clearer in the sparse moonlight. The smaller figure, limp in its grasp, was unmistakably a person. And the thing… it wasn't just holding them. It was feeding.

The thing lowered its head, and in the faint light, Saika saw it. Fangs. Sinking into the neck of the helpless figure. A wet, sickening sound filled the air.

Terror gripped him, freezing him to the spot. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. His body was paralyzed with fear, his mind desperately trying to make sense of what he was seeing. But no matter how much he tried to rationalize it, there was no denying the horrific scene in front of him. It was real.

His knees nearly buckled beneath him, but somehow, some primal instinct buried deep inside him kicked in. Run.

He turned on his heel, every muscle in his body screaming for him to flee. And so he did. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, not daring to look back.

The cold night air whipped past him, but all he could hear was the deafening thud of his own heartbeat. Every shadow felt like it was chasing him, every corner felt like it was hiding something worse than what he'd seen.

He didn't stop running until he reached the more crowded parts of the city, the neon lights of convenience stores and restaurants providing a sliver of safety. But even then, his legs didn't stop moving, carrying him all the way to his front door.

He fumbled with his keys, his hands shaking violently as he unlocked it and stumbled inside.

His parents greeted him, but their words were lost on him. He couldn't focus on anything except getting to his room, locking the door behind him, and collapsing onto his bed.

The image of that creature, its fangs sinking into its victim's neck, replayed over and over in his mind, tormenting him, haunting him.

He didn't sleep that night. How could he?

The next day at school, everything felt wrong. The classrooms, the hallways, the tennis court—it all felt distant, like a bad dream he couldn't wake up from. He couldn't focus, couldn't concentrate.

He skipped practice. The thought of going outside after dark, of walking those same streets again, filled him with a terror he couldn't shake.

Days passed, but the fear didn't. And now, he found himself sitting in his room, missing school for the first time in his life. He had never been the type to skip. Not Saika. But now, it was all he could do to just stay hidden.

A knock on the door broke him out of his thoughts, startling him.

"Saika?" his mother's voice came through, gentle but concerned. "Are you okay? You have friends here to visit you."

His heart clenched. "Who?" he asked, his voice shaky.

"It's Yuigahama-san, along with two other students. Is it okay if they come in?"

Saika almost said no. He wanted to. He wasn't ready to see anyone. But after a moment's hesitation, he found himself saying, "Yeah… it's fine."

Moments later, the door slowly swung open, and Yuigahama stepped in, her usual bright smile dimmed with worry. "Yahallo Sai-chan… how are you?"

Saika forced a weak smile. "Hey, Yui… I'm okay," he lied.

Behind her, Yukinoshita followed, her usual cool demeanor in place, and finally, Hachiman shuffled in, hands in his pockets, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Saika.

"Hello Totsuka Saika-kun." Yukinoshita greeted him. "I'm Yukinoshita Yukino and this is Hikigaya Hachiman. We've been requested by some of your tennis club members to help you." Yukinoshita said calmly, her tone resolute.

Saika, still wrapped in his blanket, glanced up at them. "Help… with what?"

Yuigahama's brow furrowed, her concern evident. "What's bothering you, Saika-kun? You've been acting so… distant lately. What happened?"

Saika's gaze dropped to the floor, his hands trembling slightly.

It took a while, but eventually, he whispered, "I think… I saw a vampire a few days ago."

The room fell silent. Hachiman's eyes widened in shock, the usual cynicism on his face melting away into something more serious.

And just like that, Totsuka had all of his attention.

Chapter End

For plot reasons, Saika's not in the same class as Hachiman and Yui.