"Can I borrow one million?"
Tsumi's eyes snapped open and she immediately sat up straight, all traces of sleep vanishing from her eyes.
"What?!"
For a second, Tsumi felt that everything that had happened, her good night's rest and Kyle's help had all been part of a nightmare.
The worst kind of nightmare.
Kyle was back to his old self, the type of person that squandered money on designer clothes and extorted her at every passing moment.
She had a downcast expression on her face as she fell back on the couch. "There is no rest for me in this world…"
Kyle clicked his tongue. "Don't be dramatic."
Tsumi sprang back up. That sassy undertone… it could only be the new Kyle.
"Does this mean I'm not dreaming?"
Kyle stared at her as though she was a crazy person. "What are you even talking about?"
Tsumi cleared her throat, her signature mischievous smile blossoming on her face.
"One million huh…"
She crossed her legs and leaned in, invading his personal space. "What do you need the money for?"
As far as she knew, Kyle's business had been doing quite well. In fact, he was technically richish after the UA deal.
What then could he possibly need so much money?
Kyle averted his gaze, then he muttered, his voice low. "I want… to buy a building…"
"…"
Tsumi blinked and then her eyes narrowed slightly. To say she was surprised was an understatement.
Purchasing a building at this age? Just what had Kyle been up to all this while?
'Or is he lying?'
"Hmmm…." She tilted her head slightly as she observed him.
Then it hit her.
'Does he want to move out?!'
It was not off for boys his age to want to live on their own, in order to experience life completely free to their whims.
'Is he angry because I always pester him when he comes late?'
Tsumi could feel the panic slowly creeping in.
Her gaze sharpened.
'No, never!'
The thought of Kyle moving to a place of his own, leaving her alone here was something she could never accept.
'He'll start inviting girls over and doing all sorts of weird things!'
A faint blush appeared on her face, just below her eyes, but other than that her face was stoic, a stark contrast to what was going on inside her head.
If that was the case, she would do everything in her power to make sure that his plans fell through!
All this while, Kyle had been watching Tsumi with clear apprehension.
'What is she acting so jittery?'
She scooched a little closer to him and Kyle scooched away, but Tsumi followed until there was no space to escape to.
Then she grabbed his shirt at the collar and poked his cheeks. "What do you need a building for? Are you trying to move out??" she asked, her voice layered with ice.
"Huh, move out? Why will I move out and miss out on your cooking? I'm not dumb…"
Tsumi was not convinced.
She pouted, poking his cheeks even deeper.
"I need it to expand the cafe… I want to open another branch, jeez."
"Oh…" Tsumi's cold exterior cracked like an egg, and she smiled brightly.
"Ahhh…" she breathed out in relief. "If that is the case, then no problem!"
"Heh? Just like that?"
Tsumi had already picked up her phone, and a second later there was an audible ring.
Kyle glanced at his phone as Tsumi stood up and began walking away to prepare dinner, whistling a happy song.
He picked up his phone and checked the notification.
~ 1,500,000 yen
Kyle glanced at her.
'This woman…'
"Thank you sis!"
She waved her hand dismissively then Kyle smirked darkly.
Of course, everything he had said had been one big fat lie!
He chuckled darkly, hugging the phone like a baby.
'Well… maybe not all of it was a lie.'
He did plan on expanding the cafe, but that was just a cover. The true nature of the building was Blood Reign, the organisation he was planning to form.
While the cafe stood at the forefront, in secret, it would be the training grounds for his vampire army as well as their base of operations.
Himiko and Solvane were his inaugural members, and now, he needed to find more, and build an army capable of toppling a city!
"Kyle! Come help me grab these cans from the top shelf!"
"I'm coming!"
Kyle stuffed the phone in his pocket and left the living room, joining Tsumi in the kitchen.
•••
The next day, Kyle arrived at the cafe at exactly 6AM. He parked his car in his usual parking spot, admiring it for a few seconds before walking into the cafe.
When he got inside, he saw three girls deep in the heat of a conversation. They were Sakura, Akiko and the new worker.
"You need to always tilt the kettle at a 45° angle or it'll splash out of the cup and upset the customers," Akiko said, demonstrating with the cup.
Sakura nodded in approval. "Slow and steady steps, and don't forget to smile! It's the most important part!"
"Oh, and don't forget the bunny suit…" Akiko chipped in. "Do you think the spare will fit her?"
Sakura glanced at her chest and stroked her chin. "Hmmm…."
"B-bunny suit?" the girl stuttered, her face blushing red.
She was clearly imagining something far removed from reality.
Today was the day the former part timer was starting, and as Kyle had instructed she was already here early.
When they noticed his arrival, they all turned to greet him.
"Good morning!"
"Morning!"
"Morning sir!" the new girl said, her posture straightening.
Kyle smiled. "Good morning, Sakura, Akiko." Then he paused. "By the way, what is your name?" he asked the last girl.
She nearly fumbled over her words, the nerves of her first day still weighing on her.
"Bao Xian…"
"Xian?"i
It was the first time Kyle had seen a Chinese person since coming into this world.
"Alright, you guys can continue what you were doing. But Akiko, can I get a cup of coffee?"
Akiko smiled while nodding. "It will be ready in five minutes!"
She left Xian to Sakura and hurried into the kitchen, coming out a few minutes later with a steaming cup of coffee on a small saucer.
Kyle was seated at the corner of the cafe, scrolling through possible hideouts when Akiko approached him, about to place the coffee on the table.
Crash!
The cup slipped out of her arms, shattering on the floor and spilling coffee all over Kyle.
"Akiko, are you alright?!" Sakura yelled as she rushed to her.
"I-I'm sorry!" Akiko hurriedly said, eyes wide, arms shaking as though she had caught a cold.
Kyle took out his hanky and wiped his shirt. "It's just a little coffee, it's not the end of the world."
His eyes glanced at her shaky arms and Akiko hid them behind her.
'Is she sick?'
From their previous interactions, he was sure that their view of him has changed greatly. If it was the old Kyle, then her reaction would have been justified.
But it was different, this was different.
"Akiko?"
"Please excuse me…" she hurriedly said as she turned around and quickly walked to the bathroom.
The moment she was alone, Akiko shut the door behind her and hurried to the toilet.
She gagged, trying to hold it in before suddenly vomiting, emptying what little food was in her stomach.
Then she stumbled to the sink, splashing water on her face repeatedly to calm herself, her shaking arms finally stopping.
Akiko raised her head, her wet hair clumping to her face as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her fingers tightening on the sink.
On her face was a net of cracks like fractured glass, shimmering with light green energy.
Her eyes were glowing as well, the intensity increasing by the second.
She took a deep breath and began to count down.
"1…2…3…"
•••
Sakura arrived at the bathroom door to check on Akiko. She was often perfectly composed, but humans were bound to make mistakes.
She grabbed the door handle, about to push it open when the door swung open.
Akiko was on the other side, a light smile on her face when she saw her.
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked, feeling concerned.
Akiko nodded. "I'm perfectly fine!"
— — - — – —— — - — – —
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