"Sensei…"
Once Shichen changed into his suit, Himeragi Yukina stared—and froze.
She'd first known him from a photo. It had looked handsome enough, but she'd focused more on his identity and danger, not his looks. Now, with the suit on—tall, straight-backed, features refined and symmetrical, eyes magnetic—she finally realized: he was genuinely, unfairly good-looking.
A thought struck her out of nowhere: she might never see a man more handsome than this.
"What? Spacing out?" Shichen waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"Mm…"
Yukina snapped back, cheeks flushing all the way to her ears in an instant.
"As expected… Sensei is way too dangerous…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's nothing. It's fine if you don't realize—better that way." Yukina tried to keep a straight face.
"…You're speaking in riddles now? Shall we head out?"
"Wait—let me tie my hair." She hurried into her room, came back with a silver cross hair clip, and casually gathered her hair.
"First time I've seen that clip," Shichen said.
"I don't usually wear it… Does it look weird?" she asked, suddenly nervous.
"No. It suits you."
"Really?"
She brightened and introduced it: "When I was at High God Forest, Sayaka—my roommate—gave it to me."
High God Forest had been her boarding girls' school—really a Lion King Agency training facility. Most of what Yukina knew as a Sword Shaman had been learned there. Kirasaka Sayaka was no exception.
"Roommate, huh? Same role as you? Same age?" Shichen asked, feigning ignorance.
"Sayaka isn't a Sword Shaman, but she's also an operative. She's a year older than me—left early to start real missions."
"You two are close."
"Mm…" Yukina nodded, a little shy. "I treat Sayaka like an older sister. She's pretty and cute, kind and easy to like—someone I'm proud to call a roommate."
"Kind?" Shichen's mouth twitched.
"Sensei?" Yukina looked puzzled.
"Nothing. Hearing you talk about her made me curious, that's all."
"Sensei, Sayaka is not a loli. No need to be interested," Yukina muttered.
"…I've told you I'm not a lolicon."
"Sure." She didn't sound convinced.
"You're getting cheekier by the day… Forget it—let's go."
"Okay." Yukina picked up a hard-shell, hand-carry instrument case—not her usual black one, though the contents were the same.
"Still bringing a weapon?" Shichen asked.
"I've got a bad feeling. Better to have it."
"With me here, what danger could you possibly be in? I'll protect you."
"See? That's exactly the kind of thing you say that makes you dangerous," she whispered, flustered.
"What?"
"Nothing… I don't need protection. I can protect myself. I don't want to be a burden if something happens," she said seriously.
"Suit yourself. As long as you're happy."
The case didn't clash with her look. In that party dress she had the air of a classical musician heading to a symphony performance.
"Mm!" She tilted a smile.
The "Snake Charmer" Minamiya Natsuki had mentioned—the one who'd invited Shichen—was Duke of Ardeal, Dimitrie Vatler. His yacht was impossible to miss in the harbor; even at a distance, the luxury radiated.
The party began at ten. Shichen and Yukina left at nine. Even arriving an hour early, a crowd of guests was already boarding.
"So extravagant," Yukina breathed at the sight.
The ship's name "Oceanus Grave" gleamed on the hull; lights glittered along its length, dazzling in the night.
"They say it's his personal property. Nobles of the Warlord's Empire are rich—but I think he's showing off his power," Yukina said coolly.
"That so?" Shichen didn't much care.
"Sensei, don't brush it off. A Night Empire noble sailing in like this is a show of force—military ship or not," she warned.
"You know a lot. Relax—I'm here," he said with an easy smile.
"Even if you're strong, what if there really is a war? What about ordinary people?"
"Itogami is mine. The people here are mine. I won't let anything happen to them. And his motive might be… simple," Shichen said, face darkening.
He could respect anyone's orientation—until it turned toward him.
If the guy tried anything, he wouldn't hesitate to reduce him to ash.
"Simple?" Yukina blinked at him.
"Don't mind it. You might see what I mean soon." He ruffled her hair.
"Honestly, Sensei—you and your riddles."
They boarded.
"These are the kind of people you only see on TV," Yukina murmured, eyes scanning.
"Yeah?" Shichen looked around—didn't recognize a soul.
"Titans of finance and politics…"
"Then we do look out of place."
"Not at all," Yukina said, a little proud. "When the First Primogenitor's envoy visits, the first person to greet is the one who rules this land—the Fifth Primogenitor. Sensei, you're the guest of honor."
"Am I? Doesn't look like they know me."
"That's just you. See how they're sizing us up? They probably already have intel on who you are," she teased.
"I figure they're looking because we look like a young couple out of place."
"Y-young couple?!" Yukina instantly went shy.
"Heh."
"Sensei… you're teasing me again!" she huffed, cheeks pink.
"Don't we look the part?" he shot back.
"Mm… n-no, we don't," she said, biting her lip.
"Really?" He leaned down, smiling into her eyes.
"Too close—don't do that," she said, heart pounding as she pushed his face away—people could hear.
"Embarrassed, huh."
"I am not! Stop fooling around—let's move."
With that little scene, even more people were glancing their way. Maybe he was right—they were being mistaken for a young couple. She couldn't stand lingering there anymore.
"Where to?"
"Let's go straight to the host," she said, steering him out of the main hall.
"You know where he is?" Shichen let her push him along.
"Probably the upper deck. We'll check."
"Sure."
He didn't like the middle-aged stares either. In truth, he already knew where the host was—one vampire recognizes another, and the presence nearby made every nerve go alert. His familiars, though, were unimpressed; they looked down on the power they sensed.
Yukina could feel it too. With a Sword Shaman's sight, locating Dimitrie Vatler wasn't hard.
They headed for the stairs at the corner of the hall. She walked a bit fast, so Shichen took her hand.
"Eh?" Yukina stopped, staring at their joined hands.
"S-Sensei?"
She tensed.
"You're going too fast," he said, smiling. "I can't keep up—and there are a lot of people."
"As if you couldn't keep up…"
"Come on—I'll follow your lead."
"Mm… okay."
She bit her lip and accepted it, pulling him along.
They reached the upper deck. The instant they stepped out, a silver gleam shot toward them.
Whsst—!
It targeted their linked hands, killing intent locked onto Shichen's.
"Sensei, look out!"
"It's fine."
He yanked Yukina into his arms.
"Eh?" She went rigid.
Thud—! A silver streak flashed past and slammed into the bulwark beside them—a fork.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? Hands off Yukina!"
A young woman's voice snapped. A girl strode up gripping a dinner fork, anger written all over her face. The purple qipao hugged her willowy frame; chestnut hair and fair skin set off a striking profile that easily pulled eyes.
"What was that for?" Shichen asked, exasperated.
"Excuse me. My hand slipped," Kirasaka Sayaka said without a shred of apology.
It was Sayaka—and the only one in this place likely to treat Shichen like that, given how he'd "disciplined" her recently.
"How does a 'slip' send a fork like an arrow? You almost hit Yukina," he said, eyes narrowing.
"As if. I have control. I was aiming at you. Who told you to hold her hand? You were about to sully her. Now let go."
"So you admit it. Looks like the last lesson wasn't enough," Shichen said, gaze turning sharp.
"Mm—" Sayaka flinched, legs pressing together, back going ramrod straight as if phantom pain flickered.
"Sensei…" Yukina's voice came from inside his arms.
"What? You okay?" he glanced down.
"I'm fine… but could you… let me go first?" she whispered.
His palm was on her bare back; the heat of it, and his breath at her cheek, were too much. She'd never been quite this close to a man.
"Okay." He released her—his hand skimming lightly across her back.
"Mm…" Yukina shot him a sidelong look, unsure if he'd done that on purpose.
"Yukina~" Sayaka squealed and threw her arms around her.
"Sayaka…" Yukina answered in kind.
"Hehe~" Sayaka's smile bloomed—warm and sunny, nothing like the frosty way she'd faced Shichen a moment ago.
"Yukina, it's been too long—are you doing okay?" Sayaka hugged her tight, cheek to cheek.
"I-I'm fine…" Yukina wheezed a bit, but her eyes shone with joy. Roommates reunited—no surprise there.
"Ugh, while I was gone they made you monitor the Fifth Primogenitor? So cruel. How could the Agency dump that on my Yukina?" Sayaka nuzzled her, equal parts angry and blissed out.
"S-Sayaka…" Yukina was clearly overwhelmed.
"It's okay now. I'm here. If this perv so much as touches you, I'll erase him," Sayaka said, still rubbing cheeks.
"Isn't that a bit much? And I don't think you can beat Sensei…" Yukina ventured.
"I don't care."
"By the way… why do you act like you know Sensei?" Yukina asked.
"Huh? Know him? This perv, this beast, this creep—I wish I never had to see him again!"
At the mention of Shichen, Sayaka's hackles rose; she shot him a glare.
"So you two do know each other?" Yukina frowned at Shichen. From Sayaka's words, something odd had happened.
"Forgot to tell you—she's the one who delivered the invitation," Shichen said simply.
"I see… Then did Sensei do something bad to Sayaka?"
"Of course not," he said, shaking his head.
"Really?" Yukina eyed him, skeptical.
"Trust me—or ask her."
"Sayaka?"
"N-nothing happened," Sayaka said quickly. She was not about to mention what had actually happened.
"Mm…" Yukina's doubt only deepened at her hesitation.
"How long are you two planning to cuddle? People are watching," Shichen said, changing the subject.
"None of your business. What's wrong with me cuddling my Yukina?" Sayaka glared.
"Who gave you the courage to talk to me like that?" Shichen stepped in and flicked a hand chop against the back of her head.
"Ow—what are you doing? Don't touch me, perv!"
"Hmm?" His eyes cooled.
"Mm—" Sayaka jerked and ducked behind Yukina, still glaring but no longer mouthing off.
"Sensei… you and Sayaka definitely have something," Yukina said, certain.
"You're overthinking. She treats me like dirt—how would that make sense?"
"Because something happened, that's why things are so hostile," Yukina said.
"…"
"Yukina, his head is full of ways to defile you. How could I have anything with him?" Sayaka shot back.
"You're both denying it, huh…"
Shichen gave Sayaka a look; she shot one back.
"Forget it. Whoever Sensei's close with has nothing to do with me," Yukina said coolly, even pushing Sayaka aside.
"Yukina?" Sayaka was stung, then rounded on Shichen: "This is all your fault!"
"How is it my fault? You tried to kill me on sight."
"You're a vampire—like that would kill you."
"It'd still hurt, you know."
"Wait—Sensei, what did you just say?" Yukina cut in.
"Didn't you know? When she delivered the invite, she shot arrows at me and turned the floor into beasts," Shichen said.
"That's sorcery… Sayaka, how could you do that to Sensei?" Yukina scolded.
"Eh?"
Sayaka froze, then rushed to explain: "I only wanted to teach him a lesson! It's his fault you got stuck monitoring him. And he's a lolicon—you're in danger. I was afraid he'd prey on you."
"Who are you calling a lolicon!" Shichen snapped.
"Hmph! Everyone knows you are."
"That's a rumor! It's false!"
"Yeah, right."
"Alright, both of you—enough. I knew Sayaka couldn't really hurt Sensei. So what happened after?" Yukina asked.
"After that, I taught her a lesson," Shichen said.
"No wonder she treats you like that… How did you 'teach' Sayaka?" Yukina pressed.
"Just gave her a standard beating," he said blandly.
"I will get you back for it," Sayaka growled.
"…Right." Yukina suspected that "beating" wasn't standard at all.
"Yukina~ my poor Yukina, how did you end up monitoring this perv? It's so dangerous," Sayaka said, hugging her again.
"Why are you here, anyway? Weren't you on external affairs—multi-national magical crime control?" Yukina asked, voice muffled—maybe a little envious.
"Still am~ I'm on assignment here," Sayaka said brightly.
"Assignment?"
"Hehe—same as you. I'm monitoring a vampire too—Duke of Ardeal. Keep Itogami's citizens safe… and right now, I'm here at his request to lead you in."
"Lead us in? Do you look like a guide? With that attitude?" Shichen muttered.
"Shut up! I only acted like that because you were holding hands with Yukina!"
"Mm…" Yukina flushed all over again.