Hakuji buried his master—Koyuki's father—on the mountain behind the dojo, where lilies bloomed in abundance.
Hakuji and Koyuki knelt before the grave, their hearts weighed down with grief.
Not far away, Yosuke leaned silently against a tree, watching as the two paid their respects to the man who had meant the most to them.
Hakuji's expression was now nothing like the fierce look his appearance usually carried; instead, it was filled with tenderness, overflowing with remembrance for Keizō, his master.
"Koyuki, did you know? From the moment I was born with fangs, people called me a 'child of demons.'
Before I met Master Keizō, I stole constantly, just to get medicine for my sick father.
I was caught several times, punished for my thefts. But because I was still young, they always let me go after the punishment.
For Father's sake, and for the sake of becoming stronger, I pushed my body through relentless training. By the time I was fifteen, I was already stronger than most grown men.
I thought… I thought I could finally earn enough money to cure Father. But then, the worst news came."
Hakuji lowered his head, still tormented by the memory of his father's death.
"My father couldn't bear watching me commit crime after crime for his sake. He felt it was his illness that had ruined my life. Wanting me to live as a good man, to start over, he chose to take his own life.
I didn't understand. I did everything I could to save him—even if it meant throwing away my humanity. But in the end, he still chose to die in such a tragic way.
Later, I realized the real killer was this ugly world we live in: where the rich can do as they please, and the poor aren't even allowed the right to survive."
Hakuji's entire body trembled slightly.
Koyuki looked at him in worry.
"Hakuji… are you all right?"
He forced a smile to reassure her.
"I'm fine, Koyuki.
In those days when grief for my father consumed me, and when my hatred for this world nearly swallowed me whole… that's when I met Master Keizō. He saw at a glance my talent for martial arts. He didn't want me to throw my life away. He brought me into the Soryu Dojo.
Master Keizō treated me like his own son. He even entrusted me with caring for you, bedridden as you were. But in my heart, I always felt unworthy—a sinner who didn't deserve such trust.
Yet as I spent day after day with you and Master, the trust you both gave me slowly brought me back… to the person I had once wanted to be: someone who fought only to protect others.
Then one day, Master called me into his room. He asked if I would inherit the dojo. At first, I didn't understand what he meant…"
Hakuji tightened his grip on Koyuki's hand and continued,
"But then Master asked me another question—whether I would take as my wife the girl who had always loved me: you, Koyuki.
It was then I finally realized. The one I had loved all along… had always loved me too.
I accepted Master's request. And I swore that even if it cost my life, I would protect you and Master forever.
But… once again, I broke my promise. I failed to protect the two people I had vowed to protect with my entire being."
Tears spilled uncontrollably from Hakuji's eyes as he wept before Master Keizō's grave, consumed with guilt.
Koyuki drew him into her embrace, tears streaming silently down her cheeks as she tried to comfort him without words.
Then, under Yosuke's astonished gaze, a faint figure appeared beside the two.
Hakuji and Koyuki's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Master?! …Father?!"
Seeing his master again, Hakuji instantly broke down like a child, sobbing loudly.
Keizō's lips curved in a gentle smile. He pulled both Hakuji and Koyuki into a warm embrace.
"Koyuki, live happily together with Hakuji, all right?"
Then he roughly ruffled Hakuji's hair.
"Hakuji, you fool, stop blaming yourself. I entrusted Koyuki to you, didn't I? You must treat my daughter well. I'll be watching from the heavens, so you two had better support each other and walk forward hand in hand."
Satisfied, Master Keizō released them from his embrace. Then he rose to his feet, his gaze shifting toward Yosuke in the distance. He gave him a firm nod.
"So you're entrusting Hakuji and Koyuki to me, is that it? …How selfish of you."
The corner of Yosuke's mouth lifted slightly as he whispered,
"…I'll take care of them."
Gratitude softened Keizō's features. He gave a small bow in Yosuke's direction before vanishing peacefully, leaving no regrets behind.
Nearly a month passed with Hakuji and Koyuki living alongside Yosuke.
Yosuke had only one conclusion about this past month:
The stench of young love is unbearable. Utterly unbearable.
"Hakuji~ I brought you some fresh chicken blood! Even though we've become demons, we mustn't eat human flesh or drink human blood. So, I bought a chicken at the night market, drained its blood, and brought it here for you to nourish yourself with~"
"Thank you, Koyuki. I'll gratefully drink every last drop."
Off to the side, Yosuke rolled his eyes so hard they nearly stuck.
"You two idiots! You're not vampires! What's with the chicken blood?!"
But Hakuji had already downed the entire bowl, even licking it clean with his tongue.
Thinking Yosuke might also want some, Hakuji asked,
"Eh? Yosuke-sama, would you like a little too? Too bad—it's all gone."
Koyuki also misunderstood, thinking Yosuke looked down on animal blood, which was why she hadn't offered him any.
"Yosuke-sama, do you want some as well? I'll go buy another chicken right away!"
Yosuke grabbed her by the back of the collar and plopped her next to Hakuji.
Pressing his temples, which throbbed with a painful pulse, he sat cross-legged before them.
"It looks like I need to give you two a proper lesson."
Hakuji and Koyuki immediately straightened up like obedient students.
"Ahem. Over this past month, have either of you felt a craving for human flesh?"
Both shook their heads.
"Exactly! Then why on earth are you drinking chicken blood?!"
"But aren't demons supposed to live on human flesh and blood? Since we can't, we thought we should substitute with something else."
Yosuke groaned.
"You two are too dedicated, you know that?!"
Embarrassed, Hakuji and Koyuki scratched their heads.
"I guess so~"
Veins bulged on Yosuke's forehead.
"Idiots! That wasn't a compliment! You two became demons through my blood. When have you ever seen me eating that disgusting raw stuff?!"
Hakuji tilted his head, thinking.
"Now that you mention it… I've never seen Yosuke-sama eat raw meat. He eats cooked food, just like humans."
Koyuki patted her chest in relief.
"So it's fine for us too? Thank goodness… I always thought eating raw flesh and blood was revolting, so I've been secretly cooking it before eating. What a relief!"
Hakuji's eyes turned into little dots.
So wait… I'm the only one who's been drinking blood and eating raw meat this whole time?!
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