Prologue

The girl ran through a world dyed red. Nightmarish flames were swallowing the village up, and the intense heat burned her skin as buildings collapsed all around her. A black something fell to the ground next to the path she was on. She looked away without trying to figure out what it was...because she already knew.

Her small village in southern Mexico had one supermarket, one clinic, one church...and pig farms everywhere. All of it had been destroyed a few hours ago.

It had started when her room went dark. Then her phone stopped getting reception and her TV died, so she went to the living room with her parents. She was sighing about the sudden power outage when a pillar of flame rose into the sky from their neighbor’s house.

She and her parents hurried outside, and a man with long, greasy hair emerged from the fire. He wore a red jacket embroidered in gold and no shirt underneath, revealing his dirty torso and muscular abs.

It was hard to say what happened after that. Shadowy monsters appeared behind the man, and the girl’s parents suddenly turned into lumps of dark red flesh. She didn’t even have time to process the fact that her parents were dead.

“Las traes...” said a horrible voice. “Let’s have a fun game of tag.”

For hours, the girl ran all over the blazing inferno that used to be her village. The kind old granny’s house had crumbled to ashes. The old man who never said a word had collapsed. That noisy dog had been turned into some sort of black...thing.

Her foot caught on a piece of loose pavement, and she stumbled. She caught herself before she fell and stopped running—but stopping was the one thing she couldn’t do, no matter what.

“Oh, come on! Already?”

She spun around and saw a man and those black monsters standing right there.

She couldn’t say that she was a good person for sure. She overslept and missed the bus to school a bunch of times, and she hardly ever helped out around the house. But she didn’t think that meant she should die—that she deserved a horrible ending.

“Stop right there,” a voice called out from the heavens.

The girl looked up, past the smoke and flames, and saw a lady with massive wings in the night sky.

Silver.

Her hair, her eyes, her wings, and even the glowing lights around her all shone with silver.

“An...angel...?” she murmured.

The angel flapped her silver wings, and feathers came raining down from above. It was so bright, the girl had to close her eyes. She felt the ground shake violently below her.

“Gaaaaah!”

The girl opened her eyes when she heard the man scream and saw him on the ground. Feathers as sharp as blades had pierced his stomach, arms, and legs, pinning him in place. The monsters were all gone, with only a cloud of black dust where they had been.

“You’re Fuego Brije,” said the angel, her voice cold as she landed between the girl and the man. She held a silver spear in one hand. “I have one question for you. Do you have any allies?”

“I-I’ll tell you...where they’re hiding...so...”

“I suppose I should have warned you. Lies will not work against me.”

“What...?!”

“If you are acting on your own, I have no further use for you. Begone!” The angel spun her spear and swung fiercely at the man, splitting his head in two. “Looks like we didn’t make it in time...” Her voice was filled with frustration as she stared at the corpse and the spreading pool of blood around it.

The girl was terrified at the sight before her, but she also knew that the angel had come to save her village.

Another lady appeared next to the angel. She was wearing the same kind of clothes, so they were probably on the same side.

“Concrete Rigid, take care of this girl. I’ll look for survivors and wipe out the remaining retainers,” said the angel. She was glowing silver again and heading back into battle.

“P-Please, hold on!” the girl shouted. She knew she shouldn’t waste anyone’s time by asking questions right now, but she had to know. “A-Are you...an angel?”

The silver lady furrowed her brows at the question, and she looked a little flustered. “An angel? No. I’m...” Her beautiful eyes looked into the girl’s. “I’m a vampire hunter.”

Chapter 1: V-Line Victory

It was the middle of July, and summer was in full swing in Japan. It felt like the temperature and humidity were in a race to the top, so people were showing more skin outside or staying nice and chilly inside. Restaurants had been planning for this since the beginning of the year—now they had summertime menu specials to help customers cool down.

On the first floor of a shopping mall, a young man and woman who were maybe college students sat on a bench. His arms were crossed, and his shoulders were shaking a little. She was hiding her face behind a handkerchief. They were radiating tension and awkward energy, so everyone else in the mall stayed far away. None of them wanted to get wrapped up in a couple’s fight.

“I thought you said anywhere’s fine!”

“I did. I did, but still...”

“Then what’s wrong with Garde? What are you crying for?”

“It’s not like I wanna cry! I just, well...”

“Yup, that happens,” said a third voice. “I totally feel you.”

The couple froze.

The flashy teenager standing in front of them had wavy platinum-blonde hair, and her bluish-purple color contacts stood out under her glittery eyeshadow. She wore a frilly cropped tube top that showed off her belly button, and her legs looked great in short shorts. Her pierced ears and her peachy lip gloss boosted her beauty, and her dark choker and garter belt really brought her outfit together.

She wagged her finger, and the flowery rhinestones on her nail sparkled. “Miss, try not to cry when you don’t have waterproof makeup on. You’re gonna feel worse if you ruin your look.” Then, after nodding a few times, she turned to the guy and narrowed her eyes. “Mister, it’s tough for her to talk when you’re being so intense. Try being a little more gentle, maybe?”

He looked uncomfortable and squirmed around until he couldn’t stand it anymore. “Wh-Who the heck are you?” he asked.

“Who, me?”

“Yeah. We were talking, and you just showed up and stuck your nose in the middle. Who— Ack!”

She held up a peace sign and stuck it in front of his face. With a bright, energetic grin, she replied, “My name’s Ruka Moriki! I’m a second year at Hie High, a member of the dance club, and a normal gyaru looking for a dream! Nice to meetcha!”

Her bubbly introduction seemed to make him even more confused. “Ruka Moriki...?” he repeated under his breath twice. “Seriously, who the heck are you?!”

Oh, he looped. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Ruka’s smile fell a little, and she started curling the orange tips of her hair around her finger. “I mean, I was just waiting around for my pal. But you looked all worked up and she was crying her face off, so I had to say something.”

“Th-This has nothing to do with you, so butt out,” the man shot back, but he awkwardly looked away.

Ruka didn’t know if he was running out of steam or feeling guilty about looking at her when she was showing so much skin, but she knew this was her chance. “You don’t wanna keep fighting, though, right? Someone else sticking their nose in totally makes it easier for your girl to speak up.”

“I’m telling you...” The guy made a face like he’d swallowed something bitter, but then he loosened up and leaned back.

Ruka figured they were on the same page now, so she turned her attention to his date. Her chin-length hair was sleek and shiny, and her face was silky smooth without any peach fuzz—as far as Ruka could tell past the handkerchief, anyway.

She wanted to look good for today, Ruka concluded. She crouched down in front of the young woman. “Miss, you put in a ton of effort for your date. Wouldn’t letting that go to waste be, like, a real beauwaste?”

The handkerchief shifted lower, and Ruka could see the young woman’s eyes. Oh good, she thought. I think she’ll listen to me now. “By the way, beauwaste is short for beauty waste. It’s like food waste, but for cosmetics and stuff.”

“Pff...” The young woman finally lowered her guard and put her handkerchief down.

She laughed! But aww, her nose is all red... A waste for sure. Ruka kept that to herself and smiled. “So what happened?”

“I said we should get lunch...and he suggested Gardenia.”

Gardenia was a family restaurant that served Italian dishes. Their prices were reasonable, and their food wasn’t bad either. The drink bar made it a great place to hang out too. Ruka liked the place, but lots of people didn’t. Others thought it was okay for a casual meal but not for a special date.

“So you’re not into Garde?” Ruka asked.

The woman shook her head. “It’s a good restaurant... The food’s tasty and not too expensive...”

Ruka didn’t see a problem yet, so she just nodded and listened.

“B-But... But...”

Meanwhile, the guy had an awkward look on his face like he couldn’t understand all the crying.

She has to say it straight, or he’ll never get it. Honestly, I won’t either if she doesn’t...

“But...ten times in a row is too much!”

Ohh, so that’s it... Gardenia was good, but ten times in a row was rough. They did have a big menu with plenty of options, but going on the same date so many times was just too much. Ruka couldn’t understand what this guy was thinking, and she wasn’t sure why he seemed so shocked either.

“B-But you, you said it was fine...didn’t you...?” he asked.

“Yeah, on our first date. I did say that Gardenia was fine, so I didn’t want to complain about it, but when I thought about going back again and again...” She closed her mouth and hung her head.

Okay, we’ve had some twists and turns, but I get what’s going on now. He kept taking her to Garde because of their first date, and she felt stuck between what she said then and how she feels now. Not great, but not impossible to fix.

“Hey, mister,” said Ruka.

He nodded and started to pull himself together. “I...sorta figured it was a problem...”

Only sorta? Ruka thought to herself, but she kept her mouth shut. She gave him credit for noticing, at least, so she decided to let him handle this.

“But I was too scared to choose a different place,” he continued. “Garde was a safe bet, so I kept suggesting it...and I ended up making you cry...”

“No, I should’ve said something,” she replied.

Both of them sounded relieved, and their mood seemed to be way better. Ruka watched the lovebirds hold hands and thought, Phew! They understand each other now. Problem solved!

“Let’s go to a different family restaurant today!”

“Yes, I’d love to!”

The two of them stared into each other’s eyes and moved in for a kiss. It seemed they’d forgotten all about Ruka—and the rest of the world too.

“Aww, so sweet.” Ruka watched over the couple like an artisan satisfied with her craft. Parts of this are still kinda bugging me, but love got them through it. So glad I butted in!

“Ruka, what are you doing?”

That voice, as clear and cold as ice, made Ruka turn around.

The girl’s silver hair and eyes were as beautiful as fresh snow. Her skin shimmered like the surface of a pearl, and her features were like the result of perfect measurements and calculations. She was overflowing with beauty, charm, and purity, and she complemented that with a number of black accessories and piercings that caught the light when she moved. People passing by were drawn to her and overwhelmed by her presence at the same time.

She was Ginka Shijunana, Ruka’s friend and classmate. Today, she wore a boyish outfit—a short-sleeved hoodie and tapered pants. She also had black gloves on like always, but they were longer than her usual pair.

They look like cosplay accessories... Or is this her summer look? Ruka shrugged her shoulders. “Well, there was kind of a scene before you showed up...”

“A scene...?” Ginka tried to peek past her.

The smooth lines and soft angles of Ginka’s chin got Ruka’s attention. She has the prettiest face, I swear... Oh, wait! A beauty like her in front of a guy who just made up with his girlfriend is bad news!

“Whoa, hold on!” Ruka yelled. “We’re all good here, but you might throw it all back out of whack!”

“Back out of whack? What are you talking about?”

“I’ll tell you later! Hey, you two, keep being lovey-dovey, ’kay?!”

With that, Ruka dragged Ginka away from the couple.

At the beginning of June, Ginka Shijunana became Ruka Moriki’s classmate. Her otherworldly beauty caught everyone’s eye, while her cold personality scared everyone away. Ruka thought this new girl was serious trouble at first, but Ginka was just clumsy and not used to going to school. After Ruka figured that out and learned what Ginka was hiding, they became really good friends.

Ruka found out Ginka was a former vampire hunter. She belonged to an organization known as the hunter alliance and used a special power called exoforce to fight vampires and their underling retainers. Hunters had wiped out vampires and retainers from the world six months ago, which was why Ginka started living a normal life.

Ruka was shocked when she first heard that, but she accepted it right away. She figured only a former vampire hunter could look and act like Ginka did. And after Ginka saved Ruka from a retainer, believing everything was pretty much Ruka’s only option.

After that, Ruka got involved in a fight between Ginka and another hunter named David Highgate, who had been plotting to revive the vampires. She made it through, somehow, and went back to her nice and peaceful life.

Final exams happened one month after Ruka and Ginka had first met. Ruka had actually studied hard for once, so her head felt like it was about to explode. She moaned and groaned through every test. Was there a guy named Uniform Linear Acceleration? What wars did he fight in again? And what prefecture’s Calculus the capital of?

Once exams were over, Ruka and her friends sang karaoke all night. Her voice was raspy in class the next day, but that ended up being pretty fun in its own way too. Now it was time to kick back and wait for summer break.

They didn’t have school today, so Ruka decided to go downtown. Hinaru and Meiri were busy, so it was just her and Ginka. That works with our goal today, Ruka thought on the escalator.

Ginka, standing one step above Ruka, turned around. “Ruka, I believe you should refrain from always sticking your nose into trouble.”

Guess Ginka figured out what happened back there. So she’s saying I always do that? She’s not wrong, but I know when I should and shouldn’t get involved... I think. Besides... “I mean, doesn’t it feel good to do something nice?”

“I agree, but you should be more careful regarding your own safety and... Why are you smiling?”

“Well, you’re all worried about me. Being so lovable is kinda tough.”

Ginka slumped her shoulders. “Why do I even bother saying anything...?”

Okay, that reaction actually makes me feel a little guilty, but this is just how I am. Not gonna change that, so let’s move on.

Luckily, Ruka found what she was looking for as soon as they got off the escalator. “We’re gonna go in there!” She waved at Ginka to follow her and headed for the swimsuit shop.

After exams, they had all talked about their plans for summer break. Ginka had mentioned she didn’t have a regular bathing suit, and Ruka wanted a new one anyway, so they’d decided to go shopping together.

But Ginka’s face was grim as they stood in front of the shop. “This will not do.”

“What do you mean?” Ruka asked.

“I don’t want to go inside.”

Okay, what’s going on? She looks great, and her body’s amazing, but she doesn’t wanna go in? That’s, like, blasphemy or something. Maybe she needs a lecture... Nah, that’s not right. Ginka’s been dedicated to fighting vampires till now. She’s fought on mountains, on random islands, and in the middle of nowhere. Of course she’s not used to girly places like this. Yup, doing this together is a good idea.

“It’s a first for Ginka-chan! Let’s go in and level up our girl power!”

“I don’t see what going in there has to do with that...”

“Just trust me!” Ruka pushed Ginka into the store.

There were all kinds of swimsuits on display: tankinis, monokinis, classic bikinis, Brazilian bikinis, and sets with more coverage like high-neck, off-the-shoulder, and bustier tops...

Ginka looked drained and discouraged by the colorful assortment in front of her. “I-It’s all bathing suits.”

“Well, yeah. That’s what they sell here.”

“Th-That one is just string...”

“It’s still a swimsuit!”

Ginka’s overwhelmed, big time... Ruka tried to keep a smile on her face as she glanced around the shop. “Whoa, look at this one! It has chains!” She picked up a bikini set and held it up for Ginka to see. It was definitely on the skimpier side, and parts of the straps were jangling chains.

“Why does that matter?” Ginka asked.

“It matters ’cause it’s cool!” Ruka told her.

“Cool...? This bathing suit is cool...?”

“Yeah, it’s all sparkly and flashy. Could use a bit more gold, though...”

Ginka frowned. “I-I don’t understand at all...”

Wow, she looks so confused. Stuff like this does come down to personal taste, though, so I’ll let her off the hook. Showing her what I like is plenty for now. With that in mind, Ruka started looking at what else the store had to offer.

“Ah, R-Ruka, I’ll go with that.”

“That?”

Instead of answering, Ginka went farther into the store. Ruka hurried after her and found Ginka smiling and holding a gray bodysuit with long sleeves.

“That’s a wet suit.” Ruka’s voice was flat. There was no way she could get excited about a wet suit for surfing and diving.

The rubbery material covered your whole body to help maintain your body temperature. In a way, it was kind of like armor. But swimming’s not just about moving in water! Ruka thought. It’s about feeling free too, so wet suits and rash guards are out of the question. Letting loose in a bikini is the way to go for sure.

“This is fine for going to the beach,” Ginka declared.

Ruka felt deflated. I wanna respect her opinion, but I wanna see her in a bathing suit more! That pale skin sparkling in the summer sun... Lemme burn that into my brain. But a wet suit?! Ugh!

“It’s not just about getting in the water. You gotta show off your V-line!”

“Hmm? What is a V-line?”

“It’s, y’know, this.” Ruka wiggled her hips and pushed her shorts lower. She drew two diagonal lines where her legs joined her body. Summer clothes are super convenient at times like this!

“Ah, the groin?”

“Yup. You look way sexier when you’re showing that off. It’s, like, a signature move, a law of the beach, a woman’s duty... But you could end up flashing everyone if you show too much, so you gotta watch out for that.”

“I am not interested in attracting members of the opposite sex.”

“I mean, neither am I.”

Ginka looked surprised. “Really...?”

Ruka nodded firmly. “Forget looking good for guys. I wanna show off my V-line ’cause I think it’s cool. It’s summer, and the beach, so you gotta cut loose and have fun!”

“Showing skin and having fun are related?”

“Of course!”

“What are you basing that on...?” Ginka sighed, put the wet suit back down, and started looking around the shop again. When she saw the changing area, she said, “It would be difficult to continue hiding this. Ruka, follow me.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Just come.”

The booth they went into was big enough for both of them, with room to spare. As Ruka stared at herself in the mirror on the far wall, Ginka pulled one of her gloves off.

“This is why I don’t want to show my skin,” she said.

Ruka saw what Ginka meant before her glove came all the way off—a flowing pattern of shining silver ran down her forearm to the back of her hand.

“Whoa...” Ruka gasped. That light was from exoforce. She knew it powered all kinds of wild attacks, but it was also beautiful enough to take her breath away. Ginka’s face is already stunning, but she looks, like, thirty percent prettier with that light shining on it.

“A hunter’s arms always emit light, even when we’re not using exoforce, because the source is still inside us. That is our destiny,” Ginka said, tracing a finger down her arm. “Showing others is a violation of the precepts, which is why I cannot remove my gloves. So I have to select a bathing suit that makes my gloves look less unnatural.”

The precepts were rules that vampire hunters had to follow restricting the use of their superhuman powers. They were why Ginka couldn’t tell anyone that she was a vampire hunter and why she had to make sure she wasn’t in any pictures or videos or anything.

Now that I know that, Ruka thought, looking forward to seeing her in a swimsuit doesn’t feel right. “You should’ve said that before we came here...”

“It relates to the precepts, so I hesitated to bring it up,” Ginka explained. “But, in the end, I felt that I should discuss it with you.”

I appreciate her trust, but now I feel even more guilty. I really screwed up again... Or maybe not? Ruka thought about this. “So anything’s okay as long as hiding your arms doesn’t look weird?”

“That’s right,” Ginka replied.

“Hee hee. Don’t underestimate the world of beach fashion, Shijunana-paisen!”

“I wasn’t... Wait, what world are you talking about?”

“Hold on a sec!” Ruka ran out of the booth and asked an employee about a certain article of clothing. She got it, thanked them, and went back to Ginka with a triumphant smile. “Ta-da! A bolero!”

A bolero was a short piece of outerwear worn open in the front. Some were normal jackets you could wear anytime, and others were designed as swimsuit cover-ups. Lots of people wore them at the beach.

“If you wear this, your gloves won’t look weird at all. The one I grabbed might be too warm, but there are lighter ones too. What do you think?”

Ginka’s eyes opened wide. “I never imagined such products existed...”

Ruka thought Ginka’s reaction was a little funny, but she was honestly surprised too. I never thought I’d be able to pinpoint exactly what she needed. That was some niche knowledge I dredged up. So glad I listened to Mei grumble so much about modeling.

Ginka timidly reached out and grabbed the bolero. She slowly and carefully turned it over like she was handling something fragile. “S-Still, this looks so light and loose. I really should go with the wet suit...”

“What about a shrug, then?”

“A shrug...?”

“It’s like a bolero but shorter in front. A fitted one will cover your arms for sure. Actually, a normal cardigan might work too.”

“Th-There certainly...are a lot of options...” Ginka sounded impressed. She didn’t seem like she was gonna keep arguing about picking a swimsuit either.

Ruka gave her a sly look. “So, Gin-neesan, you’re good with a bikini, right?”

Ginka gulped. “B-but...I haven’t tried the bolero or shrug yet, so I can’t say for certain...”

“Bikini...”

“Hmm?”

“Biiiikiiiiiniii...”

“Okay, okay. I admit defeat. Just, please, stop making such strange noises so close to my ear.” Ginka hung her head and took the bolero off its hanger.

Aw yeah, I did it! Ruka cheered inside her head. Fashion passion victory!

“Bye!”

“Right, see you tomorrow at school.”

Ruka and Ginka parted ways in front of the Moriki residence. The two of them could’ve gone their separate ways back at the station, but all the danger they’d been in recently made them stick together until they got to Ruka’s.

After watching Ginka leave, Ruka looked at her Japanese-style house. Because it was old, it really stood out next to all the remodeled Western-style houses in the neighborhood. But it didn’t look ancient or anything, just a generation older.

It’s definitely not stylish, but I love it, Ruka thought with a nod.

With a paper bag in one hand, she reached out with her free hand and opened the front door. She saw a light on down the hall, got excited about her mom being home for once, and called out, “I’m back!”

A familiar face peeked out from the living room. “Ruka-chan, welcome home! I got dinner ready.” Ruka’s mom, Ryoko, sounded sleepy. “Did you have fun?”

“Yup, it was super fun!” Ruka put the bag down and took off her shoes.

“Glad to hear it...” Ryoko yawned. She worked as a nurse at a nearby hospital that was understaffed, so she was always on call and tired when she was home. “Did you buy something?”

“Yeah, a bathing suit. Finals are over, so we’re gonna head to the beach!”

“Oh, is it summer break already? How nice... So much youthful energy...”

Hearing Ryoko say that got Ruka even more excited. Even though the sun had set, she could feel herself getting warmer just thinking about summer break. It was still a few days away, but she couldn’t stop her heart from pounding or herself from fidgeting.

As her thoughts raced faster and faster, she grinned. “I-I’m gonna go put this in my room!”

“’Kay...” Ryoko yawned again as Ruka slipped past her.

I wanna go to the beach! And a festival, an amusement park, and on a trip! I wanna do a barbecue too! Oh, and I wanna go to some shows and concerts—gotta grab tickets for those! Maybe even a club... Money’s gonna be tight with so much to do. I’ll have to work a ton of shifts!

“Oh, fireworks! We gotta do fireworks too!” Ruka flopped on her bed and hugged her paper bag. Her hair fanned out over her leopard-print sheets, and more and more summer plans popped into her head.

Ahh, I can’t stop smiling! I mean, I get to hang out with Mei and Hina during the week! I might even get to have fun with other people from class like Chinami Hayami, or old friends from middle school, or senpai who already graduated!

And Ginka... Hanging out with her might be better than anything else. She’s an absolute beauty with that silver hair and those silver eyes, the greatest vampire hunter ever, the girl I owe my life to, and my precious friend. I’m so excited to spend the summer with her, I’m about to explode!

Ruka tossed and turned and kicked her legs in the air to let some of her feelings out. Only hearing her mom call out, “Come back, Ruka-chan, let’s eat dinner!” made her remember that she was hungry too.

The weekend was over, and it was Monday again. Ruka washed her face, did her makeup, curled her hair with her refurbished thirty-two-millimeter hair iron, then put on her uniform.

Students at Hie High were allowed to choose between wearing long or short sleeves in the summer. Most girls, including Ruka, went with long sleeves. Air conditioning made classrooms pretty cold, and the short-sleeved uniform top just wasn’t as cute.

“Ha ha! It’s way too hot!”

The intense sunlight that hit Ruka as soon as she left her house made her laugh and shout out loud. She felt hot and sticky just standing there, and there were noisy cicadas all around her, but she didn’t care. It was almost summer break, so it was easy to feel great even in this heat.

On her way to school, Ruka saw a slender girl with black hair ahead of her.

“Ooh, Mei! Mornin’!”

The girl turned around, and her purple peekaboo highlights swayed a little. “Morning...”

Meiri had been Ruka’s friend since middle school, and she was an amateur model for fashion magazines. She had her long-sleeved uniform on, just like Ruka, but she wore it unbuttoned at the top to show her collarbones and the silver necklace she wore.

“We don’t usually bump into each other on the way to school, huh?”

“Ah, yeah... I guess...”

“Wow, you’re so not a morning person!” Ruka laughed.

Meiri glared at her. “Hey, you’re the one who’s too high-energy. Did you meet a guy or something?”

“Nah, I’m just excited for summer break! It’s summertime! Bye-bye tests, hello fun! Bwa ha ha!”

“Ugh, you’re way too loud. So lame...”

Ruka held her tongue. She felt kind of bad about going overboard, but she couldn’t hold still or keep her feelings in. Can’t believe everyone else’s just acting the same as always. They should be happier! What, did they all forget about summer break or something?

Ruka then spotted someone else. She was short, and her champagne-pink hair was up in two ponytails. Hinaru was in the school dance club, and she took real dance classes too. She wore a pink vest over her uniform blouse today, and Ruka wondered if she did that to look cute or because she thought her top might be see-through.

“Ooh, it’s Hinaru! Hey, Hinaru!”

Hinaru didn’t react at all, which bothered Ruka a little—she usually always said hi back with lots of cheerful energy. So Ruka walked faster to catch up.

“Hello? Ohina? Hinamon?” Ruka tried getting Hinaru’s attention again, but then she noticed Hinaru wearing earbuds and focusing on her pink phone. That was why she hadn’t reacted at all.

Ruka leaned in closer to see what Hinaru was watching, which made her look up from her phone and pop out an earbud.

“Morning, Ruka-chin.”

“Oh, um, mornin’.” Ruka got flustered and stepped back in a hurry. It’s rude to stare at someone’s phone without asking, even if we’re pals. I got ahead of myself...

But then Meiri caught up to them and just asked, “Hey, Hina, what were you watching?”

“Hmm... I guess it’s not a secret, so I’ll show you two.” Hinaru held up her phone for Ruka and Meiri to see. It was a candid camera type of Otube video with a girl dancing in the middle of town. The crowd in the video was having a lot of fun, and the video itself had a ton of views.

Seems interesting, but why does Hina look so serious? Ruka wondered.

“This girl said she wants to collab with the Hie High dance club,” Hinaru explained. “So I’ve been looking into her since Friday.”

“Wait, a collab with an influencer? That’s amazing!”

Influencers were people who, well, had a lot of influence on social media. Working with someone like that would definitely be a boost for the dance club. That got Ruka all excited, but Hinaru shook her head.

“I thought it was amazing too, but we can’t just say okay right away. She probably belongs to an agency because she’s so popular, and it’s important to look into her other socials...”

“G-Gotcha...”

Hinaru was usually all happy and cheerful, but she was really thoughtful and careful about dance. Guess that just goes to show how serious she is. I feel kinda pathetic compared to her, since I just joined the dance club on a whim.

Dreams... Hina’s got so much passion for dance, and Mei’s working hard as a model, but I’ve got nothing. I really wanna find something like that, though, especially after what happened at the end of last month...

Ruka felt down as she looked at Hinaru’s phone, but an idea suddenly hit her. This might be my path! Honestly, I can’t even imagine anything else!

She grabbed the hem of her skirt and spoke up. “O-Oh, by the way, maybe I should try being an influencer too...”

“Don’t!” her two friends yelled together.

Ruka stopped in her tracks. I figured they’d laugh... What was that reaction? Mei was looking all sleepy, but now her eyes are wide open. Hina’s totally focused on me too.

Meiri and Hinaru shared an awkward look as other students passed by.

“I’ll yield my turn to the minister of dance,” said Meiri.

“Leave it to me.” Hinaru cleared her throat, fiddled with her phone, and held it up to Ruka. “Ruka-chin, what do you see here?”

“Otube thumbnails...?”

“There are already a ton of influencers on this site. But only a few of them are popular... It’s a red ocean.”

“Red ocean?” Ruka asked.

Hinaru pulled up Insto and DipZip on her phone. “A red ocean is where all sorts of people are trying to get into an industry that’s already full. There are so many dancers, models, and artists out there, so you basically have to be a pro just to have a chance. That hurdle’s way too high for a normal high school girl.”

Hinaru sounded so serious that Ruka couldn’t even say anything. The Hie High dance club’s video got a lot of views recently, but they were amateurs. The gap between them and pro-level influencers was like the rift between heaven and earth.

“Well, you could maybe have a tiny, teeny, itty-bitty chance on a new platform. But that’s not really my thing, so I’ll leave it to the minister of modeling.” Hinaru stepped back.

Meiri took her place. She’d put a pair of glasses on at some point, but Ruka knew they were just for show.

“Ruka, you’re cute and good with makeup too. You can dance okay, and you have a good voice. You can even use your head as long as it’s not for studying. So if you get lucky, maybe you can be an influencer.”

“Whoa, so many compliments. Did you decide to cheer me on?”

“But!” Meiri’s voice was low and intense. “You made DipZip and Insto accounts but never update them. You don’t even spend time online. If you don’t keep making content, people will get bored. Managing social media is impossible for someone who just coasts like you.”

“Ahh!” Ruka felt like her hopes just went up in smoke.

“By the way, the world’s probably about a hundred times harsher than me. If you can’t deal with that, getting to ten thousand likes might as well be a dream within a dream. Just being cute won’t carry you.”

“U-Ugh...” Mei’s way too logical. Plus she’s known me since middle school. I can’t say anything back. Ruka slumped her shoulders. “Bleh, now I wanna cry... It’s still so early in the morning... I thought I finally found a dream...” Never thought I’d feel so down right before summer break. Is this divine punishment for getting so excited?

As Ruka trudged along, Meiri and Hinaru patted her on the back.

“Listen, Ruka,” said Meiri. “Remember when you got all bummed out about dreams and stuff? That literally just happened. You can’t rush things like that, y’know? Just keep doing what you’ve been doing for now.”

Ruka pouted. “We’re the same age, so stop treating me like a kid...”

“You are a kid. Well, your body’s not,” said Hinaru.

“Hina, that’s sexual harassment! Hina harassment!”

Ruka thought it was kinda weird for her two friends to be cheering her up when they were the ones who made her depressed in the first place, but she shrugged it off and kept walking to school.

“That’s a big crowd...” said Meiri.

At the school gates, a bunch of students were hanging around. All of them were facing the same direction.

“Oh, it’s Gin-chan!” Hinaru pointed out.

They could just barely see Ginka past all the students. She was wearing a short-sleeved uniform, which was an unusual choice for a girl at Hie High, and nobody else would wear black tights in the summer. She seemed to be staring at something with a blank look on her face.

Ruka started to feel nervous. Ginka’s on guard, just like she was when she first came to school. What’s going on?

“Huh? Who’s that?” Meiri asked.

Ruka finally noticed the small girl standing in front of Ginka. Her red hair was tied up in the back, along with a cross-shaped accessory, and her skin was light brown. She wore black clothes that covered everything but her face and black earrings too.

“To think you would come to Japan... State your business. Be brief.” Ginka’s voice was full of hostility.

Ruka knew that harsh tone meant Ginka was talking to another vampire hunter.

“Lady Silver Dancer, I have already told you why I am here,” said the girl. Her hazel-colored eyes were fixed on Ginka. “Please return to the hunter alliance.”

Chapter 2: Coloring Your Hair Without Bleaching It First Is Bad News

Ginka had not spent the summer in Japan in a long time. Last summer, she had fought vampires in southern Europe. The summer before that had been spent on a retainer hunt in the Middle East.

Now that I think about it, I was absent during most of my first year of high school. How did I even become a second-year student? After what feels like a lifetime of endless fighting, just being here feels like a miracle.

A month had passed since Ginka first enrolled at Hie High. She had gotten used to school life, though not before causing a lot of trouble and awkwardness due to her own ignorance. Her words and actions still bewildered people sometimes, but that was no longer a problem because Ruka always backed her up.

Ruka Moriki was a bright and cheerful girl with a wide range of emotions and expressions. She always picked herself back up when she felt down, and she was the type of person who could never ignore someone in trouble.

I’ve never met anyone like Ruka before. Thanks to her, I also get along with Meiri and Hinaru. She also helped improve my relationship with Chinami Hayami and the teachers at school. Her impulsiveness is a concern, to be sure, but that just means I have to watch over her.

The final exams in mid-July had tested Ginka’s academic abilities for the first time in years, but she felt confident about the results. She wondered if that was because of the correspondence courses her estranged parents had signed her up for, and she considered sending them a message to thank them... Actually, that would just shock them, so it would be best not to.

The only thing Ginka had to do, now that exams were over, was wait for summer vacation to arrive. At karaoke, she mentioned her plans to spend her free time studying and training. Ruka and the others then chided her for being far too serious. They said it was important to make time for fun, since this was going to be their only summer as second-year students. Ginka saw some logic in that and nodded along, but somehow that led to her buying a swimsuit. She still could not understand Ruka’s assertion that showing skin was somehow linked to femininity.

On the Monday after that shopping trip, Ginka was planning to discuss Ruka’s theories on femininity with Meiri and Hinaru. Before she could do that, however, she saw a certain girl standing in front of the school. Her hair was red like fire, and she wore a black outfit that would not be out of place at a funeral—clothes Ginka recognized as those of vampire hunters in training. Even from a distance, she knew exactly who the newcomer was.

Consuela Peripeteia... I never expected to see her in Japan. Enjoying summer vacation may be difficult after all.

◆ ◆ ◆

Ginka and a girl with red hair were facing off in front of the school. With all the tension between them, Ruka couldn’t take a single step. Meiri, Hinaru, and the rest of the students were frozen in place too.

“You would go so far as to use my alias in public? Maybe I should sew your mouth shut,” Ginka said harshly.

The new girl shuffled her feet. “My apologies. But making contact with you is a priority for the alliance, and I was ordered to use your alias to make that clear.”

“I see. For now, remain silent until I say otherwise.”

“Right!” The girl pressed her lips together tightly and stood up straight.

Even Ruka could tell there was a big difference between the two girls. In terms of power and status, Ginka was definitely higher up.

Ginka sighed and looked through her schoolbag. “We should go somewhere else. You’ve learned how to Zig Jog, correct?”

The girl silently nodded. She seemed like she was still following Ginka’s order.

“All right. Follow me.” Ginka pulled a small, clear glass bottle out of her bag and tossed it up in the air. It was filled with shiny silver powder—sacred silver dust. The bottle shattered with a bang and flooded the area with blinding light.

“Ah!” Ruka squeezed her eyes shut and shrank back. She knew you could throw one of those bottles to deal with vampires and retainers. Apparently vampire hunters could use it to make light and noise too.

When the bright glare finally died down, Ruka carefully opened her eyes. Ginka and the girl with red hair had vanished. All the students were confused and looking around in a daze.

“So loud... What was that, a firecracker?”

“Huh? Where’d those girls go...?”

“Was it a magic trick? Does Hie High have a magic club?”

I’m getting a nasty sense of déjà vu, thought Ruka. A visit from a vampire hunter, and then Ginka disappears... Just like last month.

“Go ahead without me. I’m going after them,” she said.

Hinaru held out her hands. “I’ll take your bag.”

“Ooh, thanks! I’ll give you a hug later!” Ruka grabbed her phone and gave her bag to Hinaru.

“No thanks,” said Hinaru, but she took Ruka’s bag anyway.

“’Kay, see you later!” Ruka called out.

“Ruka,” said Meiri, “be careful. People can see your underwear when you run, so watch your butt.”

“Aw, it’s fine. Not like that hurts me!”

“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that...” Meiri sighed.

Ruka ignored that and took off.

I’m sure it looks like they vanished ’cause they used exoforce to move super fast. I’m totally normal, so there’s, like, no chance I can catch up... But I gotta try. There aren’t that many places they can hide around here anyway, so I might as well keep moving and looking. Wait, exoforce...

Ruka pulled up the vampire search app on her phone. It was developed by the hunter alliance and used nearby electronic devices like sonar to find vampires, retainers, and hunters using exoforce. It’d been a big deal in the war between hunters and vampires, from what Ruka had heard, but that wasn’t important right now.

She zoomed out on the map and stared at the small screen. Ginka had put the app on her phone, so Ruka knew how to use it. It didn’t take her long to find two blue dots that marked hunters using exoforce. Those had to be Ginka and that girl.

They were close enough for Ruka to walk over easily, so she followed the map and went into a back alley. She caught a flash of silver out of the corner of her eye and stopped.

“Allow me to warn you once more: Lies don’t work against me.” Ginka pointed a shining silver spear at the other girl’s neck. “State your objective. Don’t tell me your brain’s as full of maggots as David’s was... Surely you’re not a part of his foolish plan?”

“W-With all due respect, Lady Silver Dancer, even you shouldn’t speak about Sir Lucid Eye like that...”

“Never mind that. Answer me quickly.” Ginka’s eyes were as cold as ice, and the tone of her voice was savage.

Crap, Ruka thought. She’s totally in hunter mode. She’s gonna say stuff like ‘I’ll smash your jaw in or cut a finger off if you don’t answer,’ and she’ll actually do it too.

“Hey, hey, what are you doing?!” Ruka yelled and walked up to the two vampire hunters.

Both of them looked shocked. Apparently, they hadn’t expected anyone—especially a normal girl like Ruka—to find them.

“Ruka, don’t come any closer. I have to extract information from her,” said Ginka.

“No way. This looks super sus, like you’re shaking her down.”

“Last time, my hesitation led to greater harm. I cannot back down now.”

Last time? Does she mean Davy-san? She said some pretty brutal stuff back then, but I don’t remember her being this aggressive. She must be really worried about this girl, huh...

“Okay, but can’t you be a little more gentle? More am...ami...”

“Amicable?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

Sure, “greater harm” sounds bad. I don’t want anyone to get hurt or buildings to get wrecked either. But Ginka’s being way too rough. She should be able to handle this better.

After staring at Ruka for a few moments, Ginka reluctantly lowered her spear. She made a hand gesture at the girl, who then started to introduce herself.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ruka Moriki. I am Consuela Peripeteia, a vampire hunter from the hunter alliance. I am pleased to make your acquaintance,” she said with a polite bow.

“Oh, nice to meet you too,” Ruka replied. Ginka calming down was a big relief, but now she was confused. How does she know my name?

The girl glanced at Ginka. “I learned your name from the report provided by Lady Silv— Lady Ginka. Please, feel free to call me Suela.”

“Ah, gotcha. Sounds good, Su-chan!”

“Right... Wait, Su-chan? Do you mean me?”

“Oh, should I go with Suepi instead? Suepu? By the way, your Japanese is super good. Between you and Davy-san, you VHs are way too smart.”

“D-Davy-san...? VH...?”

“Ruka, we’re drifting off topic,” Ginka warned.

Ruka reeled herself back in. She was interested in Suela, but they had to settle this fast and do a good job too. Otherwise, they would all be late for first period.

“Gotcha. Su-chan, what were you saying to Ginka in front of the school? About returning or whatever?” Ruka asked.

Suela hesitated before she replied. “Because Lady Ginka leaked confidential information and came in contact with a dangerous group attempting to revive vampires, the hunter alliance is placing her under surveillance. I have been sent here to monitor her.”

Ginka looked grim. “My actions violated the precepts, but that is permissible in emergency circumstances... And I gave the alliance all the information I had regarding the vampire revival plot.”

“Naturally,” said Suela, “the alliance does not believe it was your intention to break the precepts. Nor do they think you attempted to join such a dangerous group. But because of the influence you hold as the greatest vampire hunter, the alliance wants to definitively eliminate any and all rumors and allegations.”

“And that’s why the alliance ordered you to monitor me?”

“Correct...” Suela looked more awkward and apologetic as she continued. “Lady Ginka, I understand how surveillance may seem like a nuisance to you. Your actions will be restricted, which is stressful and uncomfortable. M-My proposal seeks to resolve that. If you come to alliance headquarters, surveillance would not be necessary. The alliance could then clear your name more quickly—”

Ginka cut her off. “I have no intention of returning to the hunter alliance.”

Suela said nothing, but she seemed depressed.

Sounds like Su-chan’s trying to help Ginka out by getting her to go back to the hunter alliance, but...

“How long will the observation period be?” Ginka asked.

“One month, Lady Ginka.”

“I see. I still cannot understand why you were given this task, but I will submit for now.”

“S-Submit? Why?!” Ruka yelled.

Ginka and Suela looked bewildered, but Ruka ignored that. Sorry for getting so loud, people who live around here, but I’m not backing down. Why does Ginka have to put up with this?!

Ruka was fired up now. “I’m the one who made Ginka break the precepts,” she shouted, “and Davy-san’s the one who attacked us! You can just ignore those dumb rumors, right?! Just forget the surveillance thing!”

Ginka was a victim of that incident from start to finish. She didn’t have to protect Ruka, fight David, or take care of everything else. But she did, and she deserved to live a peaceful life.

And her reward for all that’s becoming a suspect and getting monitored by the alliance? Something’s seriously off with that whole place. Making girls like Ginka and Su-chan fight, letting someone like Davy-san do whatever the heck he wants, having those precepts to hold all the VHs back...

“Ruka,” said Ginka, “this is what it means to be a hunter. Vampires had the ability to change their appearances or manipulate the minds of others, after all. Being suspicious is in our nature.”

“The precepts also contain a clause regarding surveillance,” Suela added. “Though the war has ended, and Lady Ginka has left the alliance, she still possesses exoforce. Thus, it is essential that she continues to follow the precepts.”

“B-But... But...” Ruka couldn’t accept that.

Ginka pulled her phone out of her skirt pocket and raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, it’s from Meiri... Class will begin soon.” She dismissed her spear and picked up her bag. “This conversation is over. We have to go to school.”

“Thank you for your time, Lady Ginka.”

“Ruka, let’s go,” said Ginka, ignoring Suela and leaving the alleyway.

Ruka followed her, though she waved at Suela first.

Ginka and Su-chan work on VH logic. They seem fine with that, but for someone like me...

“I just can’t accept that.”

By the time they made it to class, first period had already started. They gave an excuse to the math teacher and went to their seats. Ruka saw her bag already on her desk and got all emotional about how great Hinaru was, but then Meiri warned her to hurry up and sit down.

Ruka grabbed her textbook and notes, then looked toward the front of the room. The middle-aged math teacher was explaining some formula or another in a hoarse voice.

Ugh, I can’t concentrate on class. Not that I can on a good day, but today’s extra rough. I just can’t accept how they’re treating Ginka. She worked so hard, and I don’t just mean last month. She fought and fought and fought in that war until she finally found some peace and quiet. But instead of rewarding her, they’re putting her under surveillance. What is that alliance thinking?!

According to David Highgate, the hunter alliance was a mess right now. Leaders disappeared, people fought, rebel hunters came out of nowhere... The whole place sounded broken. Ginka had denied it, but Ruka thought maybe he wasn’t off the mark. Their judgment seemed sketchy, and they were so understaffed, they sent a girl who looked like a middle schooler to deal with Ginka.

That girl with red hair... I’m super upset with the hunter alliance, but I’m not really mad at her. Is that weird? I mean, she’s just following orders. I bet she has to—she can’t be very high up in the alliance going by how she acted around Ginka. So yeah, no point getting angry at her. And that face she made when we left...

“She looked lonely...”

It wasn’t obvious at first, but compared to someone with a poker face like Ginka? I can tell Su-chan totally felt hurt back there. That just makes me even more pissed off at the alliance. Seriously, what’s their deal? I should’ve gone with Ginka when she went to the Japan branch office last month.

Ruka couldn’t sit still with all of those thoughts in her head. She fidgeted in her seat until Meiri tapped her on the shoulder.

“Ruka, all that wriggling around is annoying. Cut it out.”

“My bad. My boobs felt heavy, so I couldn’t help it.”

“I dunno what’s going on, but the weird lie... Cut that out too.”

“Sorry.”

Meiri sighed and looked back down at her textbook.

I’m not gonna get anywhere worrying about this on my own. I should talk to Ginka after class.

After first period ended, Meiri asked, “Hey, so who was that girl this morning?”

“Oh, Su-chan? She’s a black clothes sorta girl.”

“That doesn’t tell me anything,” Meiri complained and looked at Ruka.

Ruka felt awkward and guilty about keeping secrets, but she had promised not to say anything about vampire hunters. And Suela did wear all black, so that wasn’t a lie at least.

Ginka walked up to Ruka’s desk. “Ruka, can we have a private discussion?”

Ruka and Ginka both looked at Meiri to see it was okay.

Meiri looked down and waved like she was shooing bugs away. “Get going already.”

“Meiri, thank you,” said Ginka.

“Such a good woman,” added Ruka.

“Shush. Just go.” Meiri sounded grouchy, so Ruka and Ginka left the classroom right away.

They went past all the students going from class to class and headed for someplace quiet. They didn’t have much time left in their break, so the two of them moved quickly.

After they went past the bathroom, Ginka grabbed Ruka’s shoulder. “We can talk here,” she said.

Ruka turned around and got distracted by how pretty Ginka was, but there was an uneasy look on Ginka’s face.

“First,” she said, “I’m sorry, Ruka. It looks like you got caught up in my business once again.”

The intensity of that apology got Ruka to stop looking at Ginka’s glossy lips. She waved both of her hands like she was saying no. “Nah, don’t apologize. I’m the one who ran after you and stuck my nose in.”

“That’s certainly true. I retract my apology.”

“Wait, for real?”

“There’s something I should tell you.” Ginka glanced around cautiously. “As I’m sure you heard, Suela will be observing me for one month.”

“Right.”

“For now, I should refrain from doing certain activities that involve leaving town or meeting in private rooms... In other words, I cannot go on vacation or participate in karaoke.”

“Whaaaaat?!” Ruka was so loud, some girls came out of the bathroom looking confused. Her shock quickly turned into panic. What? Why?! I don’t get it at all!!!

Ginka remained expressionless. She merely held up her index finger to quiet Ruka down. “Such activities may be considered suspicious. My goal is to avoid provoking Suela as much as possible.”

“Y-Yeah, but...”

“It’s only for one month.” Ginka shrugged casually. “Surveillance will end in the middle of August.”

Ruka was devastated. That meant wasting the first half of summer and ruining half the plans she had made. Only getting to have half the fun she was looking forward to was just too hard to accept. She couldn’t help thinking about a certain hunter with red hair, even though she knew it wasn’t the girl’s fault.

“Hey, who is Su-chan anyway?” Ruka asked.

“Hmm? She is a vampire hunter like me,” said Ginka.

“Nah, that’s not what I meant. How should I put it...” Ruka trailed off. Something’s bugging me. Compared to Ginka and Davy-san, Su-chan doesn’t feel...fierce. Or even professional. She doesn’t seem like a VH at all.

After thinking for a moment, Ginka replied, “I only knew Suela when she was a trainee. I do not know what she is like now.”

“Oh... Wait, VH trainees are a thing?”

“Yes. The hunter alliance has a teaching division that trains hunter candidates and nurtures their potential. After passing a test, trainees take an oath to uphold the precepts and graduate to become full-fledged vampire hunters... My experience was different, but I was also considered a trainee when I studied with my master.”

“Whoa...” That’s kinda surprising, Ruka thought. I thought the hunter alliance was totally cold and heartless, but I guess they look after people too. Maybe that changes my opinion of them a little... “By the way, does Su-chan have a nickname? Like how you’re Silver Dancer and Davy-san’s Lu...whatever?”

Ruka saw the tense look on Ginka’s face and remembered that she didn’t seem to like being called Silver Dancer. I don’t get it... It sounds so cute!

“Suela doesn’t have an alias. Those are granted to individuals who distinguish themselves through combat or other achievements. She never participated in battle, so she doesn’t have one.”

“Huh? Wait, Su-chan never fought a vampire?” Ruka asked.

Ginka nodded with a complicated look on her face. “The war of extermination began right after Suela’s graduation. All forces were deployed, but the alliance was not going to send a new and inexperienced hunter to the battlefront. She assisted the communications and supply units.”

That makes me feel better about the alliance. I’m glad they didn’t make a middle school girl fight. I mean, they did make her help, but I can give them a little credit... No, wait, isn’t that still pretty bad?

“To be honest, I was surprised to learn Suela was still with the hunter alliance,” said Ginka. “I assumed she would return to her home country of Mexico and live a peaceful life after the war... I suppose she has her reasons for staying, but still...”

I don’t really get it, but the way Ginka said that... She cares about Su-chan in her own way, I think. “So Ginka, you really don’t wanna go back to the hunter alliance?”

“I don’t.”

Ruka was surprised at how fast and blunt Ginka’s answer was, but she was mostly relieved that the other half of her summer plans were safe.

“After the war, my master told me not to go back to the alliance because they don’t need me.”

“You mean Granny Gin?”

“Granny Gin...? Yes, I suppose.” Ginka nodded.

Ruka wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Does that mean Ginka will leave if Granny Gin tells her to? She wanted to ask Ginka that, but the bell for second period started to ring. On their way back to the classroom, Ruka realized she was glad she didn’t get the chance.

Ruka worked part-time at a café called Bianco two or three times a week. It was close to school, the uniforms looked good, and her coworkers were nice. The pay wasn’t so great, but Ruka really liked working there. She had taken time off during finals, but she was planning on grabbing more shifts to make a little more cash for this summer.

After working at the register and on the floor today, it was time for her break.

“Hey, boss, I’m taking my break!” Ruka announced.

The man behind the counter silently handed her an iced honey latte, and she took a sip of the cool, sweet drink after thanking him.

In the staff room, a pretty girl with glasses and long black hair sat in front of a small table.

“Yo, Tokiwa-san.”

“Ruka-san... Good work out there...” said the girl as she glared at her phone. She placed her hand on her chest and took some deep breaths before looking up at Ruka.

Tokiwa Yagi was a college student and Ruka’s coworker at Bianco. She was in her school’s manga club, so sometimes she brought her tablet to work and drew manga during her breaks.

“What’s up? Having trouble drawing again?” Ruka asked.

That was what Tokiwa usually worried about. She often asked Ruka about school life for a distraction and to get inspiration for her manga.

Maybe talking to Tokiwa-san would help her now, Ruka thought. I’ve got lots to say. The end of finals, swimsuit shopping with Ginka, summer plans, thinking I found a dream except not really, meeting Su-chan...

Tokiwa smiled awkwardly. “No, the manga is done. I sent in the manuscript too.”

“For real? That’s great!” I don’t really know how that works, but it sounds like everything’s going fine. So why does she look so stressed? Ruka wondered.

“Next month,” Tokiwa continued, “that manga will be part of a big event... I have to write something on social media about it, but I’m no good at stuff like that...”

Ruka knew about that event because it was a huge deal. It’d been on the news every year since she was little, and her classmates talked about it too. That wasn’t why Ruka was so surprised.

“Wait, you’re on social media, Tokiwa-san?! What do you use?!” Ruka turned her attention to Tokiwa’s phone.

They’d known each other for a while now, and Ruka had talked about DipZip and Insto before, but Tokiwa never seemed interested. So Ruka always figured her coworker wasn’t into that stuff.

“T-Twister...” Tokiwa stumbled over the word under Ruka’s excitement and intensity.

Twister was a social media platform where you could write short messages. It was great for sharing news and getting updates in real time, so there were a lot of industry accounts. Compared to DipZip and Insto, which were for videos and pictures, Twister seemed to have older users.

Wouldn’t Insto be better for manga? Ruka wondered, but she was more curious about Tokiwa’s socials. “Can I see?” she asked.

“No. No way.”

“Huh?! Why?!”

Tokiwa gritted her teeth. “R-Ruka-san... My Twister has nothing to do with my life... I-I don’t write about personal stuff, so... I don’t want people I know in real life to see it...!”

“Wait, you don’t? So what about, like, when you go to the beach? You don’t post pics or vlogs?”

“Do you really think my manga club goes to the beach...?”

“No way! You don’t go?! But you’re in college!” Ruka’s mouth hung open.

“Your optimism is too bright for me...”

Ruka was shocked, and she could tell Tokiwa was too. Shouldn’t college students be having even more fun than us?! I never thought there would be any who don’t... Actually, doesn’t everyone go to the beach in the summer?!

Tokiwa hesitantly added, “W-Well, we did make plans...but I decided not to go...”

“Huh? Why? That’s such a waste!”

“Because it feels like a hassle. And doesn’t a bunch of manga artists going to the beach just sound like nonsense...?”

That made zero sense to Ruka. How is going out and having fun a hassle? I don’t get that at all! And what’s wrong with a manga club going to the beach?! Wait, I know Tokiwa-san doesn’t like doing things for no reason...

She took another look at her coworker. Tokiwa wasn’t very confident, but she was slim and pretty. Her makeup looked good on her too. Ruka was sure she could be popular if she wanted to, but she never said anything about dating or stuff like that.

That was when Ruka remembered Tokiwa was trying to become a professional manga artist. I think I get it now. To her, doing stuff like going to the beach or dating someone would be a waste. I bet she would rather spend her time making manga instead. That’s discipline... I could never do it.

Ruka’s admiration for Tokiwa was overflowing. Her body shook, and she bowed her head. “You’re so cool, Tokiwa-san!”

“What? How? Because I said it was a hassle?”

“I’m rooting for you!”

“For what...?”

“Do your best!”

“Seriously, what are you talking about?!”

As Tokiwa got even more flustered and confused, Ruka took a satisfied sip of her drink.

The sun was still up when Ruka left work, which felt like a nice little bonus. It wasn’t like she got out of work early or anything, but the warm summer air all around her put her in a great mood.

Ruka stopped by a convenience store and got herself an ice cream bar. She tossed the box into a trash can and took the treat out of its wrapper—vanilla ice cream covered in a glossy chocolate shell. She stuck it into her mouth and headed home.

As the ice cream melted on her tongue, the cold, sweet flavor made her forget how tired she was from work. She felt so refreshed and light on her feet that she did a few steps she had learned in dance club.

“Woo, yeah...! Hmm, maybe I should go to practice sometime!”

Ruka danced on her own when she had time, but she couldn’t tell if she was doing a good job or not by herself. My summer plans are all messed up anyway, plus they might kick me out if I don’t show up soon. Yeah, I’ll definitely go to the next club meeting or practice.

Plus Ginka’s under surveillance for a whole month. That sucks, but that also means we can totally go back to normal after. But if I screw it up somehow, they might decide to watch her longer... So frustrating. Ginka accepted it, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy about it. She even pushed back against Su-chan and her proposal. Ginka looked intense when she did that... My friend’s in trouble, but I can’t do anything to help. It hurts like I’m getting stabbed right in the chest.

“Is this what it means to be young...?” Ruka shrugged at the weird thing she just said, then licked chocolate off her lips. She knew that would mess up her lipstick, but that didn’t bother her when she was just going home.

In an alleyway near her house, Ruka felt her spine tingle and turned around. No one was there, but...

Another stalker? She tried to remember her customers today to see if any of them might’ve been a little too interested in her. I have no clue... Trying to figure that out’s probably a waste of time.

A retainer, maybe...? Nah, no way. All the vampires are gone. My temptation blood shouldn’t matter if no one’s making retainers. Oh, what if it’s someone doing what Davy-san did...? He stole vampire blood and made retainers, so I guess that can happen without a vampire.

“Well, just to be safe, I guess...” Ruka held the ice cream bar in her mouth and pulled up the vampire search app on her phone. If it’s a vampire, I’ll see a red dot. Orange means retainer. Honestly, a normal person would be scarier... As she messed with the app, she caught a glimpse of a girl with red hair hiding behind a utility pole.

Ruka took the stick out of her mouth. “Huh? Su-chan?”

The girl flinched and stepped out into the middle of the alley, but she just stood there without doing or saying anything.

“What are you doing all the way over there? Come closer.” Ruka watched Suela awkwardly walk forward. She looks even more shy now. Maybe she was trying extra hard around Ginka because of her mission... Is this normal for her?

“G-Good evening, L-Lady Moriki.”

“Hold on, you can just call me Ruka.”

“L-Lady Ruka, then...”

“Do you really have to add the lady part?” Ruka chuckled.

Suela’s eyes darted around nervously.

Wait, isn’t she actually super cute?!

When Ruka had first seen Suela, she’d been focused on her black clothes and the fact that she was an envoy from the hunter alliance. But now, she was like a cute, tiny animal with big hazel eyes. Ruka seriously wanted to wrap her up in a big hug.

“My deepest apologies, Lady Ruka. I realize it is not proper to ask, and I must apologize for my impertinence, but I am here to make an earnest request.”

“’Kay. What is it?”

“Would you please help me convince Lady Ginka?”

Ruka was still distracted by how cute Suela was, and it took a while for her brain to catch up. What am I convincing who about? Oh, right. Su-chan asked Ginka to return to the alliance this morning so the surveillance can end sooner. But she gave up when Ginka pushed back. I thought that meant it wasn’t a big deal, but she looks so serious and sincere now... I guess I was wrong. She really wants me to help make Ginka go back to the hunter alliance...

“For real...?”

Chapter 3: A Chatty Debate

Ginka headed home right after classes wrapped up for the day. She entered her apartment, walked down the hall, and opened the door to her living room. It was bare and plain—she hadn’t bought any new furniture since she’d started living on her own. Ruka had given Ginka a stuffed animal (“so you’re not lonely,” she had said), but that was in the bedroom.

After changing out of her school uniform, Ginka’s stomach grumbled. She had a lot on her mind, but food would need to come first. She took a summer vegetable salad and some bread out of the refrigerator before warming up a pouch of tomato soup and pouring it into a bowl.

The color reminded her of Suela’s hair. Back when she was a trainee, she had little potential as a hunter. Her physical capabilities were unremarkable, and her exoforce capacity and control were mediocre. And she seemed to be driven by something other than hate or justice. It’s hard to believe she was chosen to observe me.

At the same time, Ginka was impressed by Suela’s growth. The exoforce around her apartment was expertly deployed for surveillance purposes. She could only detect it when she paid close attention...

“Wait, this level of precision is abnormal.” An experienced hunter could manage this—not a novice who just became a vampire hunter six months ago.

Ginka pulled out her phone and launched the search app. She saw a blue dot indicating someone using exoforce nearby...two of them.

“How could I make such a foolish mistake...?” They deployed multiple hunters for the mission! Of course the alliance wouldn’t entrust my surveillance to a girl like Suela, who doesn’t even have an alias... Where is she now? Using exoforce to search for her will draw too much attention...

Ginka grabbed her coat, decided against jumping off the balcony, and ran out of her apartment.

◆ ◆ ◆

“You and Ginka have matching earrings! Where’d you get them?”

“Um, these were made by the hunter alliance...”

“Ooh, like a private brand!”

“R-Right...”

“What about... Wait, my bad. You can’t eat if I keep going on and on.”

Ruka picked up her bowl of rice and dug in, while Suela clumsily put a pair of chopsticks in her hand.

After getting that mysterious request from Suela after work, Ruka had figured it’d be best to talk more at home. Neither of them had eaten yet, so they’d decided to have dinner together on the way here.

I like eating with other people, so I’m happy about this, but Su-chan doesn’t look too thrilled. She should be hungry... Wait, Ginka said she’s from Mexico. They probably don’t eat rice and use chopsticks very much over there.

“Hey, are you not into rice?” Ruka asked.

“No, that’s not...”

“Is it the chopsticks, then? Hold on a sec. I’ll go grab you something else.”

“Huh? Th-Thank you...”

Ruka handed Suela a spoon with a smile.

The hunter took it with an apologetic look on her face. She picked up some of the stir-fried miso eggplant, brought it to her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “It’s...warm...and tasty...”

“Good, good! Well, I didn’t make it, but still.” I’m glad she likes what my mom made! Ruka ate a piece of eggplant with some rice. The strong miso flavor with just the right amount of oil was perfectly delicious with white rice.

The two girls ate in silence until Suela put her spoon down.

“L-Lady Ruka, could we continue our conversation?”

“Hmm? You mean the thing about convincing Ginka?”

“Y-Yes.” Suela nodded. “So you do remember...” She looked a little surprised.

“Yeah, but Ginka said she doesn’t wanna go.” I don’t get why Su-chan wants Ginka to go back to the alliance or why she wants me to help. Ginka already said she doesn’t wanna go, and I’m gonna respect her feelings. She also said it was ’cause Granny Gin ordered her not to. I think that’s important to her, so I’m pretty sure I can’t change her mind about that.

“B-But it will be a problem if Lady Ginka does not return.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well...” Suela sat up straight and stared nervously at Ruka. “In that case, allow me to provide an explanation regarding vampires and the hunter alliance. It will be long, so I would appreciate it if you would listen while you eat.”

Ruka nodded and popped more rice into her mouth.

“In the nineteenth century, the hunter alliance was established to counter the growing threat of vampires. The rise of technology and its distribution worldwide brought about many changes; advances in lighting extended society’s active hours late into the night, and improved roads and transportation expanded each and every person’s world. That was good for humanity...and a blessing for vampires. People wandering around in dark and desolate places became perfect prey, and nothing stopped vampires from using the same new weapons and feats of engineering humans had access to. As the world grew, so did the number of victims.

“To fight back, hunters from every country came together and formed a strong, unified organization. They shared knowledge for defeating vampires, established precepts to protect morality, cooperated with religious groups and nations to maintain order, and trained combatants. That is the hunter alliance.

“As the alliance grew, hunters gained the strength needed to force vampires who had wormed their way into positions of power—some had even taken control of small countries—into hiding. Over the next hundred years, the alliance researched and developed more ways of finding vampires while the vampires sought to better conceal themselves. This led to a secret war between the two groups.

“The hunter alliance was victorious, for their efforts had made it simple to track vampires down. The vampire search app further improved hunters’ search capabilities. Then, six months ago, the war of extermination began. With the death of the Secluded Demon, Albert von Dittersdorf, vampires were eliminated from this world.

“Though the alliance no longer has any enemies, it faces a number of unprecedented issues. Leaders and skilled hunters leaving, countries and businesses withdrawing support, insubordinate hunters defecting... To help the alliance recover, we need someone with overwhelming charisma to unite its members. Someone like the Silver Dancer, Lady Ginka Shijunana...”

Crap, I didn’t get any of that, thought Ruka. Never expected a whole history lesson in my own house. Finals are over, so why do I have to study still?! She stared at the fluorescent light on the ceiling, then looked at Suela.

Suela’s hazel eyes were sparkling.

She seriously wants me to say something. Awkward... “So,” said Ruka, “you wanna do something about the alliance, but Ginka’s the only one who can help. That’s why you wanna take her back?”

“Yes!” Suela replied.

Ruka stared at her. Ginka said trainees were brought up by the hunter alliance. I dunno what happened in Su-chan’s past, but the alliance is sorta like her parent. Of course a kid would wanna help when their mom or dad is in bad shape.

But the way she wants to do that no matter what makes me think of Davy-san. When he attacked us last month, we found out he was trying to revive vampires so the hunter alliance can get back on its feet. I feel like his rampage and Su-chan’s thinking have some stuff in common. I gotta do something about this...

“Hmm. Would Ginka going back to the alliance really fix everything there?”

“Yes! Lady Ginka’s return would resolve everything!”

The way Suela said that with zero hesitation or doubt made Ruka speechless. All she could do was keep eating rice. Yup, rice is always tasty no matter what.

“Lady Ginka is the hero who eliminated vampires from the world,” Suela explained. “Many hunters respect her; some even idolize her. If she comes back, the hunters who left would follow suit. The higher-ups would start repairing the organization. One could also consider the effect her master and the Shijunana family has on her power and influence... Lady Ginka’s return would revitalize the entire hunter alliance!”

Ruka got Suela’s passion loud and clear, even though she didn’t really understand it. She took a moment to digest all that info along with the rice she’d been eating. I guess Ginka’s gotta be popular in the alliance ’cause they always call her the strongest and greatest hunter. And I get Granny Gin having influence or whatever, since she raised Ginka and all. The Shijunana family’s gotta be a big deal too. Just look at that fancy apartment Ginka lives in! All of that does kinda make sense.

Suela gave Ruka a serious look. “That is why I am asking for your cooperation, Lady Ruka.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Ruka couldn’t keep up. Why’s she talking to me about it? I can’t help with any VH problems!

Frustrated, Suela replied, “I am sure you are not aware of this, Lady Ruka, but civilians who learn about hunters normally have their recent memories erased with a special type of exoforce. But because that method may also affect memories unrelated to vampires or hunters, Lady Ginka persuaded the Japanese branch to let you keep yours.”

Ruka almost dropped her chopsticks when she heard that. Ginka said hunters who leak secrets get their memories erased, but she didn’t say anything about regular people. She didn’t say anything like that about the Japan branch either. Going so far just to protect me? That girl... She totally loves meee!

Thinking about what a great friend Ginka was made Ruka smile. At the same time, Suela sat up straight again with a stiff expression on her face.

“With that in mind, I assume Lady Ginka values your opinions. That is why I asked for your assistance in convincing her. Naturally, I will prepare compensation for you if you are successful. What do you say?” Suela asked.

Maybe the alliance really will get better if Ginka goes back. Even if it doesn’t go so great, it sounds like something’ll definitely change. And I feel like saying no to Su-chan when she’s so desperate is a bad idea. Ginka agreeing to all this will calm her down for sure.

But I still think Ginka’s feelings come first, even after hearing Su-chan out. Ginka said no, and I’m not gonna go against that. Something’s still bugging me about this girl anyway. She seems to care about Ginka as much as she does about the alliance, and not in a normal coworker way either. The way she talks feels like something more...

“Hey, Su-chan, did something happen between you and Ginka—”

A noise outside the living room made Ruka stop.

“Pardon me.” It was an elegant and refined voice, followed by quiet footsteps.

Only one other person besides Ruka and Ryoko had a key to the house. Ruka herself had given it to her last month.

Suela’s expression stiffened. She probably figured out who that was too, because she was trembling like pudding on a plate.

“What are you doing?” Ginka stood just outside the living room. The hem of her hunter coat fluttered even though there was no wind, and her face looked as stony as a statue.

“We’re eating,” said Ruka.

“I can tell that much just by looking. I’m asking what that hunter is doing in your house.”

“She said she hadn’t eaten, so I invited her over for dinner. Have you had dinner yet, Ginka?”

“I haven’t, but that’s not—”

“Have a seat. I’ll get you something.” Ruka stood up and grabbed an extra bowl. Glad I cooked extra!

Ginka awkwardly sat down. “What are you doing here, exactly?” she asked Suela.

Ah, crap, I left Su-chan on her own. Ginka sounds like she’s in hunter mode. That’s dangerous! There’s silver floating all around her. She’s not even trying to hide her anger.

Suela looked shaken, but she eventually forced herself to talk. “I-In order to revive the hunter alliance...I asked Lady Ruka to help me convince you!”

Ruka was shocked. Whoa, this girl’s way too honest!

Ginka’s eyes narrowed. She looked cruel and callous, like she was about to finish a retainer off. “I figured... You fooled me quite thoroughly this morning. Even with my power to see through lies, I cannot detect two separate truths. I never imagined I would be deceived by you.”

“I-I did not intend to do so...”

“Now you’re after the people around me. Avoiding a direct confrontation... You have improved at maneuvering in secret. I suppose I could call that growth.”

Ruka watched Ginka carefully. She really doesn’t hold back when she’s talking with other VHs. I’m getting overwhelmed by this, so Su-chan must feel like she’s getting crushed.

“So you’ve learned dirty tricks from the alliance,” Ginka continued. “Perhaps you should be a swindler, not a hunter—”

“No burns! No insults!” Ruka stuck her rice bowl in front of Ginka’s face. I can’t let her harass a weak little girl. It’s too much. “Su-chan was just eating dinner with me. She might’ve said some weird stuff, but we’re just talking. Y’know, messing around. That’s all. Okay?”

“Hrmm...” Ginka grumbled.

Ruka handed her a bowl and chopsticks, then sat next to her. The tension between the two hunters was still intense—Ginka kept glaring at Suela, who sat there biting her lip.

Maybe they should have a nice heart-to-heart talk. Or would it be more like a debate? A detalk? Ruka spoke up. “’Kay, now that it’s come to this, you two should detalk.”

“Detox...? What?” Suela looked confused.

“Talk or debate, perhaps?” suggested Ginka.

“Yup, that’s it. I’ll be the referee, so let’s detalk together!”

Neither of the hunters looked happy, but they both sighed and nodded.

At the dinner table, tableware clattered as the three girls finished eating. Ruka knew Ginka looked elegant when she ate because they had lunch together at school, but now she wanted to know why. Granny Gin taught Ginka how to fight vampires... Did she teach her how to use chopsticks like this too? Or was that from her life before becoming a hunter?

Suela had switched back to chopsticks. She could use them, but she kept dropping rice as she ate and looked depressed every time she did it. Ruka felt bad watching her, and she wondered if Suela had stopped using the spoon to avoid making Ginka even more angry.

Ruka finished her tea and looked at the two hunters. “’Kay, let’s get started.”

They had looked like wild animals lying in wait until now, but Ruka’s signal made them put their chopsticks down on the table and begin.

“You say that the hunter alliance has grown weak,” said Ginka, “but the Japan branch denies such claims. They provided documentation as proof when I visited recently. Your concerns are superfluous.”

“The Japan branch has not been in contact with headquarters in England. And no part of the alliance would admit weakness, but their capabilities continue to deteriorate. That is a fact, according to current members of the alliance,” replied Suela.

“That is simply a hunch. Data is required to establish fact. As far as the precepts are concerned, embellished and falsified claims are worse than revealing secrets. I cannot imagine management would commit such transgressions. It is also difficult to imagine every one of their subordinates failing to notice the so-called deterioration of the alliance.”

“That was true until the war of extermination. I’m sure you know the administrators at headquarters are gone. The standards for appointing successors have grown lax. If we do not correct these management issues, the alliance itself will fall to ruin.”

“Then let it.”

Suela gulped and said nothing.

“Now that our enemies have been vanquished,” Ginka continued, “there’s no need to maintain or even reform the organization. Let it disappear.”

The hunter alliance was made to take vampires down. Now that vampires were gone, it had no reason to exist. Ruka thought Ginka sounded a little harsh, but she did make sense. Still, there’s no way Su-chan will accept that. The alliance is precious to her, and she’s trying to save it. She’s probably never considered letting it fall apart.

What Suela said next surprised Ruka.

“N-Naturally, I also...believe it must fall... But I would like to see a smooth, gradual transition. Sudden changes can cause greater chaos like further insubordination... Is that acceptable to you, Lady Ginka?”

So Su-chan’s hoping for something like a soft landing? I should keep my mouth shut, but I agree. If it has to end, then it should be a good ending!

Ginka clearly did not agree. The way she glared at Suela was almost sadistic. “In other words, you’re expecting me to bring that chaos and insubordination under control?”

“No...that’s not...”

Su-chan was doing great, but now she seems too upset to talk...

Ginka looked away from Suela and sighed. “The hunter alliance is not as frail as you think. It’s simply been destabilized by this postwar transition. I won’t say I have no influence, but my return would introduce greater chaos rather than stability. I’m sure that’s what my master had in mind when she ordered me not to return.”

Suela stared at the table and muttered, “L-Lady Ginka...you and Lady Päivätär...are hunters who have reaped benefits from alliance support... Isn’t it only right to repay them somehow...?”

Ruka felt a tingling sensation on her cheek. Ginka’s face was frozen like an ice sculpture, and she was surrounded by exoforce.

I’ve never seen her this pissed off before... Super scary, but I get it. I mean, Su-chan’s saying Ginka and Granny Gin owe the alliance something for making them fight deadly battles. I get it, but I sure as hell don’t want them fighting in my living room.

Ruka poked Ginka’s shoulder. “Quick question! Who’s Lady Paiva...?”

Ginka’s rage seemed to die down a little. “Päivätär is my master’s alias.”

“Oh, Granny Gin!”

Su-chan said Granny Gin was super strong too, so she would have a fancy name for sure. What the heck does hers mean, though? Can’t they stick to easy ones like Silver Dancer? Whatever. The point is, jumping in made them chill out a—

“Wh-What is your answer?!” Suela yelled.

Oh, come on! We were almost doing okay! Ginka’s gonna get mad again!

But Ginka looked calm. “Suela, who put all of these ideas in your head?” she asked.

“Huh?!”

“I cannot imagine you came up with all of this on your own. It makes more sense if someone else is using you in their plot...” Ginka sounded like she was getting her own thoughts together. She pressed her finger to her pink lips and let her silver eyes wander. “Who gave you such orders? Headquarters...? No, that’s not it. A branch division...? The other hunters watching me?” She paused and looked right at Suela. “Tell me their names, and I’ll take care of those insubordinate hunters like you want me to.”

Suela went pale.

I can’t see through lies like Ginka, but I can totally tell she hit the nail on the head. Some other hunter told Su-chan everything she’s been pushing, huh?

“I-I... I can’t do that...!” Suela insisted.

Ginka stood. “Then why don’t I make it easier for you to talk?”

Suela trembled in fear. “What?”

An intense silver light filled the room. When it died down, the exoforce around Ginka gathered on her hand and started swirling.

Is she trying to make a weapon or attack? I’m not sure what she’s up to, but my living room’s gonna be a wreck if I let her do it.

“Stop, stop!” Ruka yelled.

Ginka’s exoforce faded.

Y’know, she’s got a bad habit of trying to settle things with force. I wonder if I can get her to fix that... But for now...

“Right! The winner of the detalk is...nobody!” Ruka announced.

Ginka sat back down in her chair. Suela looked like she’d been hyperventilating as she wiped away some cold sweat with the back of her hand. There was a little bit of exoforce floating around her, which Ruka assumed was for defending herself.

“A resolution is obviously impossible,” said Ginka. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating again.

Su-chan wants Ginka to go back to the alliance, but Ginka’s against it. They just can’t agree. The more we try, the more their emotions flare up. I really don’t want them to keep hurting each other, but I don’t see how we can solve this. Right now, anyway.

“I have an idea,” said Ruka.

“Hmm?”

“What is it?”

The hunters turned to face Ruka at the same time. The way they did that made them look so much like sisters who got along, she almost forgot how intense their fight had been.

Maybe they can be friends if their opinions didn’t get in the way. I’d love to see that!

“Put me in charge,” Ruka suggested. “I’ll think of an idea that’ll make both of you happy.”

Ginka and Su-chan aren’t bad people. They’re not doing this to be mean or anything. I’m sure they can understand each other if they get the chance. They’re from the same organization and all, so it’s weird for them to be on opposite sides.

Ginka looked at Ruka like she was some sort of strange creature. Eventually, she sighed and nodded. “Very well.”

Suela timidly nodded too.

Having settled that, Ruka smiled and ate more pickled vegetables.

After exchanging contact info with Suela, Ruka said goodbye to the hunters and started cleaning up. She put the leftover side dishes and rice into the fridge, then brought the empty bowls to the sink for a quick wash before putting them in the dishwasher.

Ruka had been doing her nails since middle school, and that never got in the way of chores. She just made sure she washed her hands thoroughly before and moisturized properly after. Skincare was super important, of course.

She put her phone down on the counter, opened a free music app, and tapped shuffle on an EDM playlist. Then she picked up the sponge, soaped it up, and started washing the dishes while she hummed along with the music.

Now I gotta do something about Ginka and Su-chan’s problem. I need a solution that makes them both happy. Can I handle that? Not like I have a choice... Was I thinking when I said, “Put me in charge?” No. But I’m responsible now. Besides, Ginka’s my friend. If I can’t be with her until I come up with something, then I gotta forget about being tired from finals and make my brain figure this out.

“Oh, huh...” Ruka set a soapy plate in the sink and put her hand on the faucet handle. “I wanna be with Ginka, huh? Hee hee.” She giggled at how motivated she was now—it felt like a fire burning inside her chest.

As Ruka turned the faucet on, she thought about the perfume she’d gotten from Ginka.

Chapter 4: Crispy, Crumbly Handling

I got Ruka mixed up in this. She calmed me down and gave me a chance to talk, but I left it up to her in the end. A foolish decision... I was irritated with Suela, and that clouded my judgment.

Ginka looked toward the front of the classroom and saw platinum-blonde hair swaying back and forth. Ruka seemed like she could not concentrate on the history lesson. Of course, that was more or less normal, so the teacher did not seem concerned. But Ginka was.

Is she trying to think of a solution now? Why did I talk with Suela when Ruka was present? I should have dragged her elsewhere for interrogation. I want Ruka to live in peace, but my mistake is making her life more difficult.

And who is manipulating Suela behind the scenes? Just thinking about it fills me with anger. She became a vampire hunter just before the war. Such a sudden exam is unprecedented... That likely makes her the final vampire hunter. As such, she cannot ignore orders from above.

I can’t confirm the specifics of the alliance’s surveillance orders either. They are not foolish enough to reveal who else is involved, and I can’t risk showing any interest in the details without making them more suspicious. I must simply wait and be observed.

All of this was getting on her nerves. She could handle the monotony of doing the same thing every day. But she couldn’t stand making Ruka suffer, and she was getting tired of Suela’s poor (and extremely obvious) attempt at exoforce surveillance.

It’s nothing like what I sensed at my apartment yesterday. Her control is so terrible, it feels as if she’s licking my skin. I can even see it sometimes. Does that truly not bother the other hunters observing me? They’re all responsible for the mission, so they should work harder to understand and guide her. At any rate, I just want Ruka to be free from this...

Ginka made sure the teacher wasn’t looking and sighed deeply.

I get worked up easily when it comes to Ruka. Suela approached her because she thought doing so would convince me to act, and she may not have been wrong. That...is something I need to reflect on.

◆ ◆ ◆

After thinking all night, Ruka hadn’t come up with anything.

Those two are fighting because they see the alliance differently. Ginka wants to leave it alone, but Su-chan’s insisting on action. Ginka’s fine if the alliance falls apart, but Su-chan wants a soft landing instead. Ginka thinks going back would cause chaos, but Su-chan’s sure it’ll fix everything. Ugh, I have no idea what I should do!

Ruka grabbed the orange tips of her hair. I get the feeling that they’re both sorta right and wrong. But I don’t know enough about the alliance, which is tough, and I can’t talk to anyone about it ’cause this is a VH problem. All I can do is suffer by myself till I find an answer.

At this point, she didn’t even care about how she did on her finals. Worrying about Ginka and Suela overshadowed any relief she might’ve felt from avoiding failing grades.

During lunch, Ruka pulled a sandwich and mixed berry smoothie out of her bag and put them on Meiri’s desk. Just looking at the sandwich was making her drool, and she vaguely wondered if using her brain too much was making her extra hungry.

Meiri took out her chopped salad. “You look exhausted. Feeling bad or something?”

The way she asked almost sounded like she didn’t care, but Ruka knew better than that. “I’ve had something on my mind, so I only got eight hours of sleep.”

“That’s normal!” Meiri chuckled.

Ruka popped the cap off her smoothie and saw Hinaru and Ginka coming toward them.

“The test results are bumming me out...” Hinaru complained.

“You don’t seem confident in how you did. What subjects are you good at again, Hinaru?” asked Ginka.

“N-O-N-E. I’m terrible at everything.”

“Oh? Your English spelling appears to be fine...”

Now that Ginka had been at school for a month, she was having an easier time talking to Meiri and Hinaru. Even though they didn’t know about vampire hunters— Actually, because they didn’t, they were just normal classmates. Ruka started to feel jealous because they didn’t have to worry about what she was dealing with, but she shook that off right away.

I took this problem on, so I can’t run from it! she told herself before taking a bite of her sandwich.

Ginka stared out the window. “Hmm...”

“What’s the matter, Gin-neesan?”

“I just saw a dog.”

“Huh?! A puppy?!” Hinaru ran to the window and stuck her head outside.

Meiri joined her. “Where’s the dog?!”

I’ve never seen a stray dog around here. Is it a lost pet? Ruka got up too, but Ginka grabbed her shoulder.

“The ‘dog’ was Suela...” she said in a deep whisper.

“Agh!” Ruka shook off Ginka’s hand. “Hey, no sudden sexy voices!”

“That wasn’t my intent. My apologies...” Ginka hesitantly stepped back, but she kept her eyes on Ruka. “Have you thought of anything? My patience won’t last forever.”

Ruka felt like Ginka was saying she’d resort to using force soon. She grinned boldly and made a peace sign. “Just wait and see.”

Crap! I can’t think of anything!!!

Who the hell thought futsal right after lunch in the middle of summer was a good idea?! Ruka liked school, but this schedule made zero sense to her.

All that sweat was making Ruka’s gym uniform see-through, and she needed to be extra careful about her makeup too. At least she had something to look forward to—she knew her tinted lip balm, eyebrow pencil, and sunscreen were good in hot weather, but what about that new primer? Was light mascara the right choice? Was using setting spray three times better than two? She would get to find out what worked and what didn’t after gym.

That got Ruka fired up during warm-up exercises, but the match was tough. She chased after the ball with her ponytail swaying behind her and the summer sun sapping her energy. Why do we have to put up with this torture? I almost wish I could pass out, but I have too much stamina for that. Did someone just score? Doesn’t matter. It was probably just Ginka.

During break, Ruka and her classmates went into the shade to catch their breaths. The students who were just watching were already there, including Meiri. She smiled at Ruka, which made Ruka wish she could just sit around too.

Ruka wiped off her sweat with a towel and looked around. “Huh...?”

Something—someone—red was moving near the school gates. Suela was trying to hide behind a pillar, but anyone looking over there could see her hair. I guess she really is a rookie. Even I can see her watching over Ginka... Where is she anyway?

Ginka was talking to Chinami Hayami near one of the goals. She’d been running around this whole time, but there wasn’t a single bead of sweat on her.

Welp, they do call Ginka the ultimate vampire hunter. I’m sure she noticed Su-chan... I’m glad she’s not glaring at her or anything— Wait. Isn’t this a good chance to get more info? Ruka made sure the teacher wasn’t looking, hung up her towel, and jogged over to Suela.

“Su-chan!”

Suela flinched like a startled cat. She was dressed in black again and covered in sweat.

I thought hunters didn’t sweat... Ruka thought. Guess Ginka’s just a superwoman.

“Lady Ruka, what brings you here?”

“I wanted to chat with you, Su-chan. My break’s only for five minutes, though.”

“Chat...?” Suela tilted her head.

Ruka nodded and smiled. I don’t really know Su-chan. Well, I do know she’s a newbie VH, she wants Ginka to go back to the alliance, and she’s adorable like a little critter. But if I wanna solve this problem, I gotta get to know her better.

“I meant to ask you this before Ginka showed up at my house, but did something happen between you two in the past?”

Suela’s face fell. Ruka wasn’t sure if it was denial or hate, but it was definitely something bad.

“Oh, it’s okay if you don’t wanna tell me,” she added. I didn’t think it was a big deal when I asked... I’m not here to dig up bad memories.

Suela put her hand on the pillar next to her. “Th-That’s not it. I just don’t know if you’ll be satisfied with such a silly story...”

Silly? Maybe I should just listen. If she’s gonna tell me, I don’t wanna interrupt.

“Three years ago,” Suela began, “my village was destroyed by a vampire.”

“That’s rough!” Ruka had meant to keep her mouth shut, but she couldn’t help reacting. Her village was destroyed?! What the heck?!

“My village was in the south of Mexico. One day, a vampire called Fuego Brije attacked by manipulating flames... All the buildings turned to ash, and almost everyone died...”

That’s so freakin’ dark! I thought it was gonna be something like Ginka being a harsh trainer or saying something scary that made Su-chan cry. This is way too intense!

“When he was about to kill me,” Suela continued, “she arrived.”

“You mean Ginka?” Ruka asked.

Suela nodded. “Lady Ginka defeated Fuego Brije and protected me and the other surviving villagers. She was so beautiful and graceful... I wanted to become a hunter just like her...”

“Ah, gotcha.”

“It was an arrogant thought, as Lady Ginka is truly special... I could never hope to measure up to her...” Suela said with an awkward laugh.

The gears were turning in Ruka’s head as she started to understand Suela better. So Ginka’s totally why she became a VH. That’s more than respect or admiration. Ginka is Su-chan’s idol for sure. I get why she wants her to go back to the alliance so bad...

“That’s amazing, Su-chan!” Ruka hit the gate with her fist to make her point.

“Huh? Wh-What...?” Suela stammered.

Ruka’s eyes sparkled. “You have to ask?! Your respect for Ginka and how hard you worked to catch up to her and make your dream come true! That’s amazing enough, but you even stood up to her yesterday! You’re soooo amazing!”

Her house got burned down, her family and friends were killed, and she almost died. After all that, she worked hard at the alliance and made her VH dream come true. I don’t have any dreams yet, so I really respect what she did.

Suela looked away. “N-No, I lack talent... It took me too long to become a hunter...”

“Hey, no need to be shy. Honestly, you should brag more about it and— Crap!” Ruka looked behind her and saw her classmates glaring. Damn, here comes the gym teacher too. I got so into our talk, I forgot break time already ended.

She waved at Suela. “A-Anyway, gotta go! Thanks for talking!”

Suela waved back from the other side of the gates.

Ruka decided to stop by dance practice after school. She didn’t wanna get kicked out of the club for never going, and she figured moving her body might help her come up with some good ideas. So she and Hinaru headed to the club building together for the first time in a while.

Why do we have to meet all the way out here like a culture club? Why can’t we practice in the gym like a sports team? Ruka put those questions aside as they went into the clubroom.

“Yo!” she called out.

Three girls were changing inside, but they stopped what they were doing and said hello.

“Ooh, it’s Ruka-chi!”

“Senpai, long time no see!”

“You should’ve told us you were coming!”

These three girls, Hinaru, Ruka, and one other person who almost never showed up were the whole dance club. The club didn’t even exist until last autumn, so there weren’t any third-year members. Their adviser didn’t think they were good enough for the spring or summer competitions, but their captain was hyped about making it to nationals in a few months.

That captain, of course, was Hinaru. “Everybody,” she announced, “our resident slacker Ruka-chin is gonna show us what she’s got today!”

That made everyone laugh.

Hinaru was a dance maniac. She went to dance lessons and three club practices a week. Her arms, legs, and abs were all toned, and Ruka always wondered how her friend packed so much energy into that tiny body. That made her frown a little as she changed into her dance uniform.

Then the whole team left the clubroom to go to their practice area. Most of the club members were talking about finals and stuff, but Hinaru was studying dance moves on a tablet.

She kind of reminds me of Ginka in VH mode. Serious people are so cool... That reminded Ruka of something Hinaru had talked about yesterday. “Hey, what ended up happening with that influencer?” she asked.

Hinaru lowered her voice so only Ruka could hear. “Prolly gonna turn her down.”

“Huh? Why? Is she bad news or something?”

“I would’ve said no already if she was. Have you heard of MCNs?”

Ruka shook her head.

“It stands for multichannel network, a term for companies with business models that support online content creators and streamers by dealing with management, production, sales, copyrights, and monetization.” Hinaru showed Ruka her phone screen. “At least that’s what it says on this page.”

“Whoa, you totally freaked me out! You being smart was so scary, I thought I was gonna cry.” Ruka’s heart was pounding from hearing all those mysterious words come out of Hinaru’s mouth like she’d been possessed by a ghost. “Anyway, what about this MCN thing?”

Hinaru made a face. “That influencer didn’t do anything bad, but the president of the MCN she’s signed with has a lot going on. Like, adultery and gambling scandals.”

“Oh, that kind of stuff, huh...”

“Well, it’s not like she’s perfect. She’s not super careful about what she says on her socials, and she posts the same stuff everywhere. Only her DipZip’s good. She’s more dangerous than a yellow electric mouse about to use thunderbolt on my face!”

Ruka was shocked by how thorough Hinaru had been. “Y-You did that much research...?”

Hinaru grinned, and her champagne-pink hair swayed behind her. “If I didn’t, everybody would be in danger. A captain has to keep her crew safe.”

“Captain Hinaru, I’ll follow you forever...!”

“Then come to practice three times a week.”

“I didn’t mean it, like, literally.”

They reached their practice area, which was a shady spot outside the gym. Hinaru set up her tablet and speakers, then put some music on.

“Being an influencer sounds rough,” said Ruka.

“For sure,” Hinaru agreed. “You gotta work hard to get followers and avoid bad stuff like trolls and crappy MCNs. Plus influencers have no privacy at all, so you really shouldn’t—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I get how hard it is now. It takes a ton of effort and research just to start getting popular, and people are always judging you. Like Mei and Hina said yesterday, I can’t handle a life like that.

The club members lined up in front of the speakers and started stretching. They moved on to warm-up exercises after that, and Hinaru nodded at Ruka. “Hm... Not bad, Ruka-chin.”

“Hee hee. I’ve been practicing by myself on my way home from work and stuff.”

“You being sneaky and getting good on your own throws off my coaching, y’know.”

“Aw, I can’t win!” Ruka said that like a joke, but she was really glad she could keep up. She even did okay enough for Hinaru to not tell her off during rhythm drills. Phew! I think my spot here’s safe.

Once they finished the basics, everyone took a five-minute break. Style training was next—their club didn’t specialize in anything, so they practiced all kinds of dances like hip-hop, breaking, waacking, and house. Hinaru walked up to Ruka, who was drinking from her water bottle.

“You should really come to practice this summer, Ruka-chin. We gotta start getting ready for the competition.”

“Yeah, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.” I was just gonna hang out and work at Bianco, but maybe I should come here more. Being in the competition would be kinda cool, and I can’t see Ginka for the first half of summer anyway...

That seemed to put Hinaru in a great mood. “Mwa ha ha! We’re powering up! I should take another crack at Gin-chan too.”

“Don’t even try. She’s, um, gonna be busy this summer.”

“Really?”

Ruka paused before she answered. “The prece— Uh, she’s got some family rules about pics of her showing up on the internet and stuff.”

“Right, she mentioned that...”

“Yup. So, like I said, don’t even try.”

Because of the alliance’s precepts, hunters couldn’t do anything that would put them in the spotlight. Being in tournaments was out, and so was social media. That was a secret, of course, so Ginka had told everyone it was because of her family.

Hinaru slumped her shoulders, but she shook it off and asked, “Didn’t you go bathing suit shopping kinda recently? What’d you get?”

“A bikini, duh. I mean, it’s summer and all.”

“I knew you would, but what about Gin-chan?”

Ruka smiled. “Ohina, it’s summer. Summer.”

Hinaru looked confused, then completely shocked. “Wait. Gin-chan. Bought a bikini...?”

“Yup. She put up a good fight, but I convinced her.”

“I wanna see!!!” Hinaru made fists with her hands and jumped up and down.

Oh, the dancing maniac Hina’s gone, and the cute one’s back.

“Well, I guess, if you... I...could...” Ruka drifted off. Summer. Swimsuits. Fun. It’s so simple! Moving my body around really did get my brain moving! “That’s perfect... Heh heh heh!”

Hinaru stared at her. “Um, so creepy!”

But Ruka didn’t even hear that. I’m so excited, I feel like I can do dance drills nonstop!

After practice, Ruka told Ginka she was coming over and headed to her apartment. Ginka’s door was open, and she was leaning against a wall. It was a little dark, and Ginka was wearing black sweats, so Ruka could only really see her face.

“Ruka, why did you suddenly—”

“Let’s go to the beach tomorrow!”

Ginka pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Ruka, perhaps you’ve forgotten, but I’m under surveillance, so I cannot—”

“No prob! I invited Su-chan too!”

Ginka held up her hands like she was trying to get a big dog to calm down. “Okay, walk me through this step by step. From the beginning, all right?”

Oops, got ahead of myself again. Ruka took a big breath in and slowly let it out. “First, lemme clear one thing up. You care about Su-chan too, right?”

“Huh?”

“Come on, be honest.” Ruka flapped her hands to hurry Ginka along.

Ginka frowned. “Of course I care about her. Novice or not, I still consider Suela my comrade in arms.”

“Have you ever told her that?”

“Hrmm...” Ginka put a gloved finger on her lip, and her gaze wandered. “No...”

“I knew it!”

Ginka’s a dummy when it comes to people, and she’s bad at expressing herself... No way she told Su-chan something like that. I know Ginka’s a kind person, but no one else will get that if she doesn’t use her words. Maybe it’s a bad habit from all the fighting and training? I’ll really have to see if she can fix that sometime.

“I talked to Su-chan earlier today, and she respects you a ton. Did she tell you that?”

“No...”

“You two are the same, basically. Both of you are so awkward, you can’t talk to each other right. So...” Ruka stuck her phone in front of Ginka’s face. “Let’s go to the beach!”

Blue light from a picture of the ocean reflected in Ginka’s silver eyes, but she brushed Ruka’s phone away. “You mean to have the two of us interact at the beach so we loosen up and find a compromise. Classes end early tomorrow, so we have time after school, and my other observers will likely allow such a trip if Suela is also going. Correct?”

“You got it!”

“Then just tell me that!” Ginka slumped her shoulders.

Ruka was super satisfied. Her excitement had gotten her this far, and Ginka’s brainpower had put it all together.

Ginka crossed her arms. “But will it go well...?”

“Hee hee! Just leave that to Ruka-san!” Ruka grinned and pointed her thumb at herself. Hmm, this pose feels pretty good. Maybe ’cause I just came from practice?

“I did say I would do that, so I will, though I’m concerned. I’m really concerned.”

Ginka said “concerned” twice, and I’m sensing zero trust from how she said that and how she’s looking at me, but she’s totally in! Ruka put her phone back in her bag and pulled out her makeup. “Okay, it’s time to try that bikini on!”

“What...?” Ginka went stiff.

“I gotta make sure you remember how to put it on. We need to talk about skincare and a bunch of other stuff too. So let’s get started!”

“T-Talking about the bathing suit and skincare is acceptable, b-but what else is there...? W-Wait! Stay back!”

Ruka pushed her way into Ginka’s room. Beach prep’s gotta start right now. No time for questions or complaints!

She heard Ginka shriek for the first time a little later and thought it was so cute.

Chapter 5: Gotta Wear a Bikini for Cute Beach Vibes!

Ginka drifted into school like a ghost the next day. Everything Ruka had taught her echoed in her head.

“You should wear waterproof makeup at the beach. Make sure you moisturize before and after! Wear sunscreen and UV spray too. When you wash your hair after going in the water, don’t use clarifying or silicone-free shampoo. You need a gentle product for sure. Oh, pull the strap tight when you put on your bikini top and push each boob toward...”

That experience was every bit as draining as fighting a vampire. Ginka couldn’t say no to Ruka after agreeing to let her handle the issue with Suela, and she would have risked hurting Ruka if she had physically resisted. Still, I never expected her to go so far. I want to forget about yesterday as soon as possible.

Ginka forced herself to focus on class and noticed the English teacher staring at her. She made eye contact to show she was paying attention and he turned away, but she wasn’t sure if that was because he understood her or because he was intimidated.

As she took notes, she caught a glimpse of her bathing suit in her bag. Does Suela have one...?

Ginka turned her attention outside, and she confirmed she was under surveillance once again. Her observer’s exoforce control was splendid this time—she had almost failed to detect them.

I have no idea who that is, but it is certainly not Suela. Perhaps she’s out buying a swimsuit now. That’s somewhat concerning... Does she know of boleros and shrugs? I imagine she’s fine—I’m sure Ruka has given her some advice—but perhaps I should reach out to her later...

Ginka realized their trip to the beach would be her first time having fun with Suela. Doing so was unthinkable during the war. They were trained to fight vampires in darkness, not frolic in the sunlight.

Something else that never would have come to pass if I hadn’t met Ruka...

Ginka stared at the girl whose platinum-blonde hair glinted in the summer sun and smiled.

◆ ◆ ◆

After class, Ruka ate her lunch in a hurry and headed for the station with Meiri and Hinaru. Ginka had other business to take care of, but she said she would meet them there.

“Moriki-saaan... I know school ended early, but aren’t you a little too excited about this?” asked Meiri.

“For sure. You’re like an elementary schooler going on a field trip,” said Hinaru.

“Yeah. We’re high schoolers. Maybe try and chill out?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Ruka was done with all that grumbling. She spun around with one hand on her cap to hold it in place. “Says the girls wearing sunglasses and carrying a giant swim ring!”

Meiri shrugged. “We’re excited.”

Hinaru chimed in. “We would’ve suggested going to the beach if you didn’t, Ruka-chin!”

“Oh, you guys are the best. Love ya!” Ruka meant it. I love how they’re wearing huge sunglasses and how they already blew the swim ring up. We’re not even on the train yet! They got even more excited than me when I invited them... BFFs for sure!

Ruka waved her beach blanket around. “I’m so glad you’re coming. I asked Chinami and some other people too, but they said no.”

“Well, yeah,” said Hinaru. “Chi-tan’s always so busy.”

Ruka sighed. “Tani-chan said no too.”

“Um, you asked our homeroom teacher?!”

They made it to the station and waited in the shade until the rest of their group showed up.

“Our apologies for making you wait,” said Ginka. She was as unreadable as always, while Suela looked stiff and awkward in her black outfit.

Ruka had asked Ginka to bring Suela. She thought the younger hunter would be less nervous if Ginka introduced her to Meiri and Hinaru, but Suela looked too nervous right now for that to matter.

Ginka tapped Suela on her back. “Suela, introduce yourself... Um, if you don’t mind.”

Suela trembled, then bowed deeply. “I-I-I’m C-Consuela Peripeteia. Thank you very much for inviting me on this trip today. Ah, um, please feel free to call me Suela. Oh, and I have no intention of causing you any trouble. None absolutely. At all.”

It was a little much, but Ruka had told Meiri and Hinaru that Suela had serious social anxiety. So they weren’t surprised or put off or anything—instead, the two girls smiled at her with curiosity.

“I met Suela in England,” said Ginka. “She came to Japan because summer vacation starts earlier here. I hope you’ll get along with her.”

That was the cover story Ginka and Ruka had thought of last night. Ruka assumed Ginka had told Suela before they got here, because Suela didn’t seem surprised about it.

“So you came to our school the other day because you wanted to see Gin-neesan?” asked Meiri.

“That’s big love for sure!” said Hinaru.

Meiri and Hinaru were impressed, but Suela seemed too embarrassed to do anything other than try and make herself smaller. Ginka stood off to the side with a weird look on her face.

Ruka decided to ignore all that. She raised her fist up high and yelled, “’Kay, let’s go to the beach!”

Meiri and Hinaru cheered and stuck their fists in the air. Ginka and Suela took a little longer, but they eventually put their arms up too.

Our reactions aren’t on the same page, but no worries, thought Ruka. We’re all gonna have fun together today!

There were five seats open in the train, so Ginka, Ruka, Suela, Hinaru, and Meiri sat down in that order. Ruka was like a buffer between the two hunters, and Hinaru’s caring and helpful personality was perfect for sitting next to Suela. Meiri, on the other hand, was easier to talk to from a distance.

“Hey, Su-chan, what year are you in?” Hinaru asked.

Ruka was happy her friend was as friendly and proactive as she’d expected. She wondered if Hinaru was maybe feeling a little protective too, since Suela was even tinier than her.

“Wh-What year? Y-You mean, this year...?” Suela stammered.

Meiri had been scrolling on her phone, but she spoke up. “Hmm. Maybe schools are different where you’re from. How old are you?”

Since Meiri didn’t smile a lot, and she sounded blunt when she talked, people who didn’t know her thought she was scary and intimidating. That frustrated Ruka, but she also thought that was part of what made Meiri a good fashion model.

Suela was stiff and tense again. “I-I turned thirteen this year...”

“Whoa, so young! Too young!” Hinaru exclaimed.

“So you’re a middle schooler?” Meiri asked. “Is it called that outside Japan?”

“I-I am old enough to attend secondary school... Um...” Suela hesitated.

If she’s having trouble answering, it must be a VH thing. Ruka elbowed Ginka for help.

“It is difficult to explain in Japanese... Allow me,” said Ginka. “Suela is a student at an educational institution run by a healthcare corporation. I was too, when I lived in England.”

Ginka waved her gloved hand, and Meiri and Hinaru both nodded. They knew about her so-called unique skin condition, so that explanation was easy to swallow.

“B-But I’m from Mexico, not England. I think. Yes...” Suela looked even more flustered now.

Uh-oh. Ginka stepped in to help Su-chan out, but I think Su-chan thinks she made Ginka mad.

“Where’s Mexico, again?” Hinaru asked.

“It’s the tortilla and taco country, right?” said Meiri.

Suela stared at the floor with her lips pressed tightly together and her hands clutching her knees. She looked even worse now, like she’d realized she said something she shouldn’t have.

Ruka tapped Ginka’s arm. Help!

“Mexico is south of the United States. The Pacific Ocean is to its west, and the Caribbean Sea is to its east. But didn’t you live inland, Suela?” Ginka asked.

Suela’s hazel eyes shone, and she nodded happily.

Ruka was relieved Suela understood Ginka’s save this time. She’s so cute right now! Maybe she never expected Ginka to remember where she was from. “So is this your first time going to the beach, Su-chan?”

“Yes, it is. I have seen images before, and I trained—I mean, I learned how to swim in a pool, but this will be my first time going into the ocean. I mean, the beach. Both of those.”

“Ooh, a first timer! It’s gonna be crowded, so stick with us, ’kay?”

“O-Okay!”

Ruka’s heart skipped a beat. I remember wishing I had a baby sister when I was little. Wonder if Su-chan’ll call me Ruka-oneechan? Then she glanced at Ginka, who was smiling. I bet she’s glad Mei and Hina are getting along with Su-chan. Yep, Ginka’s super cute too!

A change of scenery outside caught Ruka’s eye: white sand dotted with colorful umbrellas, people playing in the waves or lounging in chairs and enjoying the summer breeze, girls in school uniforms waiting by the locker rooms, faraway islands and yachts on the deep-blue horizon...

After an hour on the train, they had arrived at the beach.

The girls went through the station’s ticket gates and paused to take in the ocean view before hurrying toward the beach locker rooms. No one was allowed to swim after dark, so they needed to change first and appreciate the scenery later.

Ruka held on to her compact mirror and makeup pouch and shoved her schoolbag in a locker. “We’re short on time, so hurry!”

Meiri looked irritated. “Okay, okay. You better change too.”

“Hee hee! I was waiting for you to say that.”

“Huh?”

Ruka grinned, grabbed the hem of her own skirt, and flipped it up.

“Hey, what the heck?!” Meiri tried to push Ruka’s hand down, but she stopped when she saw what Ruka was wearing. “A bathing suit...?”

Ruka whipped off her uniform blouse and skirt, revealing a zebra-striped bikini. “Ta-da! I’ve been wearing it all day!” She did it a little too fast, so she had to hold her boobs still and adjust her top.

“All day...?” Meiri repeated.

“Yup. Changing takes time. Gotta be efficient, y’know?”

“So you wore that during class?”

“Of course. I got even more fired up for the beach since I was all ready to go!”

“Sheesh. You really are like an elementary schooler...” Meiri sighed and took off her uniform.

As Ruka adjusted her shoulder strap chains and bikini bottom, she heard a shrill “wha?!” behind her. She turned around and saw Hinaru in her neon pink bathing suit with white accents. Her high-waisted bottoms were laced down the side and showed off her athletic legs.

The cute, sporty look looks good on her, but how’d she get changed so fast?

“Aw, you beat me to it...” Hinaru grumbled.

Ruka beamed at her. “You too, Ohina?! You’re the best!”

“Mei-chi was kinda harsh, so it was hard to admit I did the same thing...” Hinaru slumped her shoulders, and her pink hair dangled in front of her.

Oh, I didn’t notice she curled her hair this morning, thought Ruka. She’s super into this!

“Enough. Gin-neesan, Su-chan, hurry up,” Meiri complained.

Ruka knew the two hunters were changing somewhere else because they couldn’t let anyone see their arms while they were putting waterproof gloves on. She was still worried about them, though, and she hoped Ginka was teaching Suela everything she needed to know about the beach.

After putting sunscreen on and spritzing her hair with UV spray, Ruka made sure her travel shampoo and hair treatment were in her bag and put her phone and some cash into a beach wallet. “Ready to go,” she said.

Meiri had finished changing too. She wore a green damask halter top and layered bikini bottoms with one set of straps high up on her hips and another set below.

Ruka thought it was sexy and cool at the same time, and she thought back to how Meiri had looked in middle school. “Omei, you’re so sophisticated now...”

Meiri seemed a little shy as she smiled. “Well, I am a model.”

“Aw, I’m gonna cry...” Ruka sniffled.

“Are you my mom or something?”

“Nah, just your pal!”

Seeing Mei all grown up is getting me more excited about the beach! I can’t calm down! Ruka started bouncing up and down. We gotta finish getting ready, but I feel all jittery... I wanna run right into the ocean, right now!

Meiri narrowed her eyes. “Ruka, why don’t you go find us a good spot on the beach?”

It took less than one second for Ruka to go running out of the locker room with her beach blanket in her arms.

Clear skies and gentle waves greeted Ruka outside. The sun was so annoying on my way to school but so nice here. I wonder why... ’Cause it’s the beach? Swimsuit power, maybe?

She felt her heart pounding with excitement as she walked along the crowded beach. It didn’t take her long to see an open spot with a beach umbrella. There weren’t any chairs nearby, but finding a place for everyone right away was super lucky and more than good enough.

Ruka hurried over and spread out her beach blanket, but she didn’t have anything to weigh it down with. She decided to just sit on it for now and wait for everyone to join her.

“Huh? Wasn’t this our spot?” said a man’s voice.

Ruka swept her hair back and looked up.

Three guys stood over her. They looked like college students, and they all had goatees.

Ugh, this is the worst, Ruka thought. She said, “Sorry. I’ll move,” and started to get up.

One of them smacked his friend on the chest. “We were next to this one, dumbass! Over there!”

“Huh...? Oh yeah! I got confused because the sand looks the same!”

“What’re you, an animal?! Who even looks at sand?!”

The three guys laughed.

This doesn’t feel right. They’re acting friendly, but I still feel uncomfortable.

“Sorry for the trouble, li’l lady.”

“You can’t just say that, man. You gotta show her you mean it.”

“So let’s hang out, babe.”

All three of them stared at Ruka.

Ugh, they’re totally hitting on me. I was too excited to notice till now... The beach is all about being free, so it’s not weird for guys to let loose. I kinda expected stuff like this to happen, but so soon?!

Ruka was already sick of these guys, but she tried to hide it as she stood up and laughed a little. “No prob, no trouble. It’s actually a little crowded around here, so I’m just gonna wait for my friends somewhere else.” Dealing with guys like this is a pain... Gotta be careful, like I’m disarming a bomb. I don’t wanna piss them off and set them off.

“Man, she’s sayin’ no. You dumbasses came on too strong.”

“Hey, your friends can come hang out too.”

“Genius! Let’s do that!”

Yikes. Welp, two out of three didn’t even hear me. I should just find a lifeguard. I think the closest one’s kinda far away, but they should be able to do something about this.

“Out of our way,” said a cold voice.

As the three guys leaned and turned to face the newcomer, Ruka could finally see past them. The sight of Ginka standing on the beach made Ruka forget all about the men bothering her. The twist in her black bikini top emphasized the fullness of her chest, and the ribbons attached to her bikini bottom fluttered like petals in a breeze. The vine pattern on the cream-colored bolero draped over her shoulders made her look a little mysterious, somehow.

Ruka squinted. Now that Ginka’s skin wasn’t covered like usual, it seemed to catch and reflect the sun like a mirror. She was shining so bright, it was hard to look at her.

The sudden appearance of a silver-haired beauty had left the three guys totally speechless...until they turned pale and started complaining while holding their stomachs.

“Oof...”

“What the... Ugh...”

“I don’t feel so good...”

Something’s wrong! thought Ruka. I gotta help—

Ginka grabbed Ruka’s shoulder and stopped her.

Oh, there’s silver around Ginka... She’s using exoforce.

“I recommend moving into the shade,” said Ginka.

The men nodded and left.

That solved the problem, but Ruka was too distracted to care.

“Ruka,” said Ginka, “you are practically defenseless by yourself. You should make sure someone remains by your side.”

Ruka couldn’t say anything. She’s way too pretty... I mean, I knew that, but this is too much. It’s like this beach was made just for her to come here today. I can’t take my eyes off her. I can’t even move. This is bad! My feelings are outta control!

She focused on tensing and relaxing different parts of her body until she got her composure back. I already saw her in that bikini yesterday. Heck, I’m the one who picked it out for her. Gotta get my act together.

Ruka thanked Ginka and glanced at where the men had been. “What’d you do to those guys?”

“I sent some exoforce into their bodies from a distance to make them feel ill. I believe it’s a better method than making them pass out.” Ginka kneeled on the blanket and smoothed out the wrinkles. “It seems like men often pester you, Ruka. Perhaps it’s not just because of your good looks... Is it related to your temptation blood?”

Ruka tore her eyes away from Ginka’s back. “Wait, you used exoforce. Is that okay? You’re being observed and everything...”

Suela wanted Ginka to go back to the alliance for personal reasons, but she was also here on a surveillance mission. Ruka assumed whoever was watching Ginka right now wouldn’t be happy about her using exoforce. And I doubt those precepts let hunters use their powers just to make a few stubborn guys go away...

“I already discussed that with Suela. Speaking of which, you’re late.”

“M-My apologies, Lady Ginka, Lady Ruka.”

Suela was out of breath as she ran over to join them. She wore a blue one-piece that looked like a dress with frills around the chest and off-the-shoulder sleeves that hid her arms.

“Totes adorbs, Su-chan!” Ruka blurted. That light blue looks so good with her hair and skin! Too cute! I wanna wrap her up in a big hug!

Suela looked confused. “Totes? Orbs...?”

“Ruka is saying you’re very cute,” Ginka explained.

“Th-Thank you...?”

Su-chan looks embarrassed. That’s super cute too. I really want her to be my little sister! Ruka wanted to keep staring at Suela, but someone poked her leg.

“Ruka...” Ginka had finished smoothing out all the wrinkles, and now she was sitting with her legs stretched out to hold more of the blanket down.

Ruka couldn’t figure out why Ginka looked so unhappy. Is she sulking because I didn’t compliment her?

“Doesn’t looking at Suela’s swimsuit make you think of anything?” Ginka asked.

“Yeah! I think it’s cute!” Ruka replied.

“Not that. I’m talking about the groin region.”

“Huh? The groin...?” Ruka looked at Suela, but the skirt part of her swimsuit was covering that area up.

“Have you forgotten your impassioned speech regarding groins during our shopping trip?”

Hmm. I think I said something about it being the law of the beach and a woman’s duty to show that off. I don’t really remember... All I cared about was making Ginka wear a bikini no matter what— Oh. Am I busted?

Ginka glared at Ruka. “In the locker room, Hinaru said there was no such law of the beach, and high-waisted bottoms with more coverage were perfectly acceptable. While she agreed a wetsuit was extreme, she said that something a little less— Hey! Stop covering your ears! Don’t run away!”

Ruka and Ginka met up with Meiri and Hinaru, who had just finished changing, and took a few group pics in their swimsuits.

After that, Ruka pointed at the ocean and yelled, “’Kay, let’s go!”

“Hold on a moment,” said Ginka.

Ruka wasn’t sure why she had to wait when she was all ready to go. She glanced at Ginka, who was now bending forward to stretch her legs. That move looks pretty spicy when she’s in a bikini...

“That’s some intense stretching, Gin-neesan. What’s the deal?” asked Meiri.

“It’s important to stretch before taking part in water-based activities,” Ginka replied. “You should do the same.”

“Water-based...? We’re not swimming, y’know,” said Hinaru. “It’s not like we’re elementary school boys.”

“W-We’re not swimming?” Ginka asked.

Suela had been stretching too, but she flinched and started muttering something in a foreign language when she heard that.

“I mean, if you go swimming in a bikini,” Ruka explained, “your top’s gonna come off. Ocean water’s bad for your hair too. And it’s more dangerous than a pool... If we play in the water at all, we should stay where it’s shallow.”

Ginka frowned. “Then why did we come here if not to swim?”

“To relax. Like, chill.”

“You, of all people, are suggesting we do nothing...?”

Ruka wanted to say she wasn’t all about having fun all the time, but she kept her mouth shut. The whole point of this trip was to help the two hunters get along, so she had to keep everyone in a good mood. How should I do that and make them understand we can just hang out? I know—lemme teach Su-chan about our culture!

“When you hear the waves,” said Ruka, “feel the ocean breeze, and watch everyone here at the beach, you start to really get summer, y’know? Makes you appreciate being young and alive. Japanese people have been thinking about deep stuff like this since the Heian era, and we call it wabi-sabi.”

“Wabi-sabi... Hrmm...” Suela made a quiet, low noise that sounded like a cat growling.

Su-chan doesn’t seem like she’s buying it. What about Ginka? I mean, she knows what our plan is here. I’m sure she’ll help me convince—

Ginka had a sour look on her face as she crossed her arms. “No, I can’t accept the idea of coming to the beach without swimming. I’m going in the water.”

She’s not buying it either!

Ginka looked at Suela. “Are you coming?” she asked sternly.

Suela’s gloomy gaze was replaced by a bright twinkle in her eyes, and her hands shook as she clasped them together and smiled. “I-I shall accompany you!”

With that, she and Ginka sprinted for the ocean.

The rest of their group was shocked. It would’ve made sense for Ruka or Hinaru to run off, but none of them expected Ginka to do that.

“There they go...” said Hinaru.

“Don’t you think Su-chan’s legs were kinda sparkly?” Meiri asked.

“Y-You’re just imagining things,” Ruka spluttered. Su-chan’s way too excited... She’s leaking exoforce! Should I cover for her somehow?

Ruka’s thoughts were interrupted by pink hair bobbing up and down next to her.

Hinaru was hopping around on the sand. “No fair! I wanna swim too!”

Ruka looked at her. “Ohina, didn’t you just say we’re not elementary school boys?”

“I am one on the inside!” Hinaru started running and jumping toward the water. Thanks to all her dance training, she looked like she could clear a beach umbrella with a single leap.

“Whoa, that was a good one!” said Meiri.

Ruka stared at her. “Um... What are you gonna do, Mei?”

“I’m gonna take it easy. I’ll stay here and keep an eye on our stuff.” Meiri took her phone out of the waterproof pouch, then ran her finger along the ground next to the blanket.

Ruka thought Meiri was sulking about having to stay put, but then she realized her friend was writing something in the sand and getting ready to take a picture of it.

“’Kay, I’m gonna go play too!” Ruka smiled and made a peace sign.

Meiri took a quick pic of Ruka with her phone and watched her head for the water.

Ruka had planned on holding back to avoid damaging her hair, but she ended up not even bothering to put her hair up. It was fun to lie back and let her hair spread out on the water as she watched Ginka and Suela have a swimming race. That made her smile, and so did having a water fight with Hinaru and making a mysterious sand sculpture with Meiri.

When Ruka started practicing her dance moves, all five of them danced together. After that, they played rock-paper-scissors to see who would have to go buy shaved ice for the whole group. Ruka, Meiri, and Ginka won, so Hinaru and Suela were on snack duty.

“Boo... Come on, Su-chan. Follow Hina-nee, ’kay?” said Hinaru.

“R-Right!” Suela ran after her.

Aw, I wanted to be her big sis! Ruka thought as she watched the two of them leave. Hina’s good at taking care of people, so Su-chan will be fine with her. And Su-chan’s a VH, so she can deal with anything serious. They’re both tiny, but they’ve got some serious firepower. I’m still worried, though. Should I go with them?

She glanced at Ginka. Her arms were crossed again, but it looked like she was clutching her shoulders this time.

“Are you worried?” Ruka asked.

Ginka looked away. “Not especially. She should be able to handle a shopping errand.”

“True.” Ruka grinned at Ginka’s totally obvious lie. She’s such a nice girl!

“Gin-neesan,” Meiri called out, “remind me. Why can’t you post pics, again?”

Meiri was always online to stay on top of trends and stuff, so Ruka wasn’t surprised she wanted to know why Ginka didn’t have any accounts.

“My family has a rule about not appearing on the internet,” said Ginka.

“Can’t you do something about that?” Meiri asked.

“Hmm...” Ginka hesitated. “It also has to do with my skin condition. My contract with a certain medical facility restricts information about me, and I must uphold those terms.”

“Won’t that contract expire?”

“Ah... Well...”

Ruka watched her two friends. Ginka’s face totally says, “This would be so much easier if I could just tell the truth!” But she can’t, ’cause of the precepts. Guess I should help her out... Or maybe not?

“Omei, I’ve got something to add!” Ruka announced.

“What?”

“I’ve been wondering that too—if Ginka can just ignore those prec... I mean, rules.” Mei doesn’t know the details, but I agree with her. I’d love to change the percepts somehow. Even if it’s just a little bit.

Ginka sighed. “I would not be allowed to go to school if I do not abide by those rules and that contract. Even objecting to their terms would be risky... I appreciate your sentiments, but please don’t push any further.”

Ruka and Meiri shut their mouths. They had to, if just complaining would make it impossible for Ginka to go to school.

“You’d make a great model, though...” Meiri grumbled.

I dunno about that. Ginka’s waaaaay too beautiful to be an example for other girls as a model. No other girl can ever reach her level!

Ginka placed her finger on her lip. “A model...?”

“Oh, are you interested in modeling?” Meiri asked.

Ginka slowly shook her head. “I do not want to become a fashion model. However—”

“Sauna!!!”

Ginka, Ruka, and Meiri turned toward the voice they heard on the beach.

Hinaru was running over with their shaved ice. “Th-There’s a sauna tent!” she yelled.

“For real?! Where?!” Ruka asked.

“Over there!” Hinaru pointed. “Right, Su-chan?!”

“Y-Yes!” Suela agreed. “It was all smoky and steamy!”

“We gotta go!” Ruka snatched a cup of blue Hawaiian shaved ice from Hinaru, took a bite, and ran where Hinaru had pointed. Just wait, sauna! I’m on my way!

Soon it was evening, which meant it was almost time to go.

That felt way too short, like we’ve only been here five minutes. We gotta come back! A bunch of times!

Ruka sat on the blanket and stared at the orange waves on the horizon. She saw Suela, who was playing at the water’s edge, and waved for her to come over. The way Suela ran up the beach reminded Ruka of a little puppy.

“What is it, Lady Ruka?”

“Let’s chat, Su-chan.”

“You want to talk to me?”

“Yeah, have a seat.” Ruka stretched out on the blanket and patted a spot next to her. “Oof, my hair’s soaked.”

“Mine is too.” Suela sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees.

Meanwhile, Ruka gently squeezed the water out of her hair. Su-chan is so tiny. It’s easier to think of her as an elementary schooler than a monster-fighting superhuman. No, wait, that’s super rude. She’s a trained VH who can use exoforce. Even without combat experience, she’s a real warrior.

“So, Su-chan,” Ruka asked, “how was your day?” That might be a little too straightforward, but I gotta confirm how she feels first.

It took a while for Suela to respond. “It was fun... I think.”

“Phew! Glad to hear it!!!” Ruka knew Suela was embarrassed, so she made sure Suela could tell she was happy and relieved.

The young hunter giggled.

Good, good, thought Ruka. I feel even better after hearing her laugh like that. I think it’s safe to get to business. She nudged the hem on the skirt of Suela’s swimsuit and said, “Yesterday, I asked Ginka about you.”

The smile vanished from Suela’s face.

We had so much fun today, but there’s still a wall between them. Guess it’s my job to do something about that. “Ginka said she wanted you to head home, Su-chan.”

“Home...? To Mexico?”

“Yeah. She said she wants you to live a normal life now that the war’s over. Mexico’s still your home, even though your village is gone, so she’s hoping you can be happy there. I hope so too, honestly.”

Suela’s expression turned grim. “I am a vampire hunter and a member of the hunter alliance. They trained me to fight monsters and gave me the power to defeat them. Our enemies are gone, but I intend to protect this peaceful world and save its people.”

Ruka wondered if Suela was trying to persuade or even protect herself with that answer, but she said nothing.

“As I have already told you,” Suela continued, “Lady Ginka saved my life. I became a hunter because of my desire to be like her. Though I lack the strength necessary to be on her level, I will not abandon my wish and my goal.”

Ruka was worried about how this talk was going, but she tried not to show it. But I can almost feel a wall between me and Su-chan now. I gotta do something before this gets any worse!

“But today... Lady Ginka seemed like a...normal girl.” Suela watched Ginka playing at the water’s edge with Meiri and Hinaru like she was staring at something dazzling. Then she looked away and buried her face in her knees. “I believe the hunter alliance is falling apart, even though Lady Ginka denies it. And I’m sure her return would fix so many things. But, after today, I feel like it’s no longer right to ask her to come back...”

Ruka watched Suela hug her legs and tremble. Following your dreams and following orders... Living as an alliance hunter... Complicated conflicts... She’s carrying so much on her tiny shoulders. A normal girl like me can never understand the weight of it all.

“What in the world should I do? Why did I even come to Japan?” Suela murmured.

Ruka sat up and scooted closer. “Why don’t we try to figure out what to do together?”

“Huh?” Suela looked up. A single tear, tinted orange by the setting sun, rolled down her cheek.

Ruka wiped the teardrop away with a soft swipe of her finger and smiled. “We’re both savebuds, y’know?”

“Savebuds?”

“We’re buddies, and Ginka saved both of us. Savebuds.”

“Does such a term truly exist in Japanese?”

Ruka made a finger pistol with her thumb pointing at herself and her index finger at Suela. “Nah, that word’s just for you and me.”

The sunset made Suela’s face look as red as her hair. “Lady Ruka...”

Suela didn’t say anything else, but Ruka understood as they smiled at each other—the two of them would find a solution together.

“Well, Suela, do you understand what sort of person Ruka is now?” Ginka asked.

Ah!!! Ruka jumped and scooted herself away from Suela. Where did Ginka come from?! And why does she sound so proud of herself? So awkward...

Suela gave Ginka a helpless look. “Lady Ginka...”

“We have much to discuss, but why don’t we save that for another day?” Ginka held out her hand. “Let’s go shower. Your skin and hair will be damaged after swimming in the ocean without proper care... I’m just repeating what Ruka told me, of course.”

“Right...” Suela timidly placed her hand in Ginka’s and stood up.

Ruka nodded to herself as she watched the two girls holding hands and walking away. They’re so sweet... Ginka and Su-chan really do look like sisters who get along!

Ginka turned around. “Ruka, you’re coming too!”

“G-Gotcha!” Ruka stood up and took a long, deep breath. She scooped up her beach blanket and headed for the locker rooms.

Chapter 6: Is Saying “Hiya!” Good Enough When We Meet Again?

The hunter alliance’s training facility was hidden deep below the foundations of a church in northern England. Many candidates who lived and trained there hoped to become full-fledged hunters.

Ten-year-old Ginka stood in the main hall. Many large balloons with monsters drawn on them, each the size of a human adult human, surrounded and loomed over Ginka as if they were attempting to overwhelm her.

Short, electronic beeps at even intervals, followed by a long buzzer noise, sounded in the hall. Then there was a single moment of silence before all the balloons started to move.

Ginka created an exoforce spear with one hand and a silver arrow with her other.

“Hyaaah!” She launched her arrow at the balloons.

A cacophony of noise clamored against her eardrums, but Ginka ignored it because she knew it was simply an obstacle designed to agitate her. She swung her spear, and one of the balloons retaliated by spraying a thick cloud of powder into the air with some sort of mechanism.

Ginka retreated by emitting exoforce from her feet. She kicked one attacker behind her and threw an exoforce knife at the others around her. As she continued to cull the balloons, the room suddenly went dark. She dispatched her exoforce for scouting...and sensed a presence behind her.

She took a handful of sacred silver dust out of her coat and threw it into the air. Light flooded the room, revealing a monster made of black clay.

“A retainer?” Ginka was surprised to see one in a training facility, but that feeling quickly subsided. It was just another retainer to defeat, and she would not let it affect her during this test.

She concentrated exoforce on her palm and fired a spiral of light. The attack pierced the retainer’s torso and sent it flying into the wall before it turned to ash.

Ginka resumed her fight with the balloons, which she completed in a few minutes. Another buzzer marked the end of the session, and the lights flickered back on.

“I see you’ve learned how to handle darkness,” said a masked woman with silver hair and eyes standing with balloon remains all around her.

Though the corners of her eyes were wrinkled, her skin—where it could be seen, at least—was bright and supple. Even Ginka, who was her granddaughter, didn’t know her exact age. She was Ginka’s grandmother and master, the vampire hunter with the alias Päivätär.

The woman peered at the pile of ash by the wall and narrowed her eyes in amusement. “I’ve seen many hunters, but you truly are outstanding. How did that daughter of mine give birth to a child like you...? I suppose the apple does fall far from the tree, once in a while.” She looked down at Ginka. “Don’t get ahead of yourself because this test went well. Defeating balloon dolls or retainers is nothing to brag about. The sole purpose of this test was to satisfy the higher-ups who question how I am training you.”

Ginka felt the air change around her master. How does she produce such a hostile aura without using any exoforce? She suppressed her curiosity and replied, “Of course, master.”

The older hunter relaxed her aura. “Your mentality is also superb. Well, I am training you personally. It would be rather inconvenient if you were deficient in that respect.”

“Your spirit must not waver, even when all the odds are against you.” Ginka learned how to embody this ethos by enduring intense pressure from her master. Some hunters felt this was unnecessary or even cruel, but their opinions meant little against Päivätär’s overwhelming experience and skill.

“You will face real combat in one month,” her master said simply. She did not look at Ginka.

Real combat... Killing vampires in a fight to the death. That was what Ginka had been training for. She had learned how to control her exoforce, utilize various styles of martial arts, work with other hunters, deal with armed opponents, and even handle paperwork.

Ginka’s heart did not waver.

“According to statistics, half of us are guaranteed to die fighting vampires. I am the sole survivor from my generation, and many of my pupils have died. I acknowledge your excellence, but you might not even last five seconds on the battlefield.”

Ginka’s spirit did not budge. Her master had said she could face real combat. That was an unshakable truth.

“However... If you survive, you will save many people and see just as many die. You will be a hero, but you must neither seek nor accept praise. Are you prepared for that?”

“Yes, master.” Ginka was resolved to fight. She had become a hunter because she admired the alliance’s mission to protect the innocent. She didn’t need any praise if she could do that, because a hunter’s greatest reward was knowing they had saved lives.

“And make sure you keep your guard up around other hunters,” her master added.

Ginka frowned. She didn’t understand why she needed to be wary of her allies.

“Use your head,” said her master. She looked amused and sounded cynical.

Ginka was familiar with this type of lesson from her master. Hunters needed to use their heads to overcome all kinds of trials and obstacles. Even if I defeat the vampires, I still need to be careful around hunters. Why would that be? she asked herself. “Because they know me?”

Her master nodded. “If you become a hero, every hunter will know your accomplishments. Many will praise and admire you. Perhaps just as many will be jealous or resent you. That’s what your life will be like. Best to accept that sooner than later.” There was a sad look in her eyes. “Above all else, beware of those who rely and depend on you. They’ll treat you with reverence and think of you as their savior as they cling to you and control you...”

Ginka saw an unfamiliar emotion in her master’s eyes. Those silver eyes, so like her own, faltered as if ocean waves were crashing into them.

“Ginka, never let yourself drown in the words of those you save.”

Don’t trust anyone, not even your allies. That’s what my master is saying. That’s what I’m prepared for. “Yes, master.”

◆ ◆ ◆

After their trip to the beach, Ruka kept trying to bring Ginka and Suela closer together. They hung out downtown, visited the aquarium, and even went to a festival in another prefecture. Ginka and Meiri stopped Ruka when she suggested taking Suela to a club, but they promised to see a live concert together instead.

Before they could do that, though, they had a few short school days to get through. And today, Ruka had a shift at Bianco.

“Thanks for waiting!” She put a cup of coffee on the table for Ginka, a cup of Earl Grey for Suela, and a slice of chocolate ganache cake between them. “Today’s on me, so dig in!”

Ginka took a sip of her drink. She had gone home after school, but she was still in her uniform. Suela wore overalls over a T-shirt instead of her usual black clothes. Ruka thought it was a great look for the younger girl—she’d helped her put the outfit together when they went shopping two days ago.

Suela took a bite of the cake. “It’s, um, sweet.”

Ruka made a confused face. Huh. Not the reaction I was expecting.

Suela quickly bowed her head. “My apologies. My sense of taste is lacking.”

“Nah, no worries,” said Ruka. Everyone’s into different stuff. Not being into chocolate cake is nothing to apologize about.

“Suela,” said Ginka, “phrasing things like that could lead to misunderstandings. Others might assume you believe the food tastes bad. You should clearly explain that you have issues with taste due to a past incident.”

Like when that vampire attacked her village? Everything burned to the ground, and she almost died too. Having issues from that wouldn’t be weird at all. And now that I think about it, we’ve eaten together plenty of times...but I don’t think she’s ever said anything’s tasty or delicious. Now I feel bad for turning this into a big deal.

Ginka sighed. “A dull sense of taste is a wonderful trait for a hunter. When you must eat to survive, you can do so freely without taste getting in the way.” She picked up a bite of cake with her fork. “But now that the war is over, perhaps you can try to regain your sense of taste. There’s no need to rush, however. You can take your time...”

Ginka trailed off and put her fork in her mouth.

Ruka watched her carefully. Ginka’s totally embarrassed! I bet she started eating so she doesn’t have to say anything else— Wait, Su-chan’s staring at me. She cares what I think even though I’m just supposed to be waiting tables right now? So cute!

She nodded and smiled. “Su-chan, I agree with Ginka!”

“Thank you, Lady Ginka... Lady Ruka...”

Su-chan still looks a little down, but I think she and Ginka are definitely getting closer!

Since there were hardly any customers at Bianco, Ruka’s boss let her leave a little early to spend time with her friends. So Ruka was heading home with Ginka and Suela. It was still daytime, with clear skies overhead, but she had plans in mind for tonight.

“Why don’t you two stay over? Ryo—I mean, my mom won’t be around, so let’s have a sleepover!”

Ginka hesitated before she answered. “That is possible, but I will need to go home to get a change of clothes first.”

“Aw, don’t do that,” said Ruka. “Just wear some of my stuff.”

“N-No. I would rather buy clothes from a convenience store.”

“Whaaat? You don’t have to be so polite. Don’t hold back!”

“I am doing neither. I simply don’t feel comfortable wearing someone else’s underwear unless it’s an emergency, and your underwear is...flashy.”

“Is that bad? Doesn’t wearing something flashy get you more fired up?!”

Ginka said nothing, but she furrowed her brows and frowned.

Wearing bright colors and flashy patterns always gets me going! Guess that’s not true for Ginka. I think her underwear’s usually kinda sporty. Wonder what Su-chan thinks...

Suela was looking down at the ground, which made Ruka wonder if she was still thinking about the cake from earlier.

“Su-chan?”

She finally looked up. “Why are you so kind to us, Lady Ruka?”

“Huh?!” Ruka felt like someone just punched her out of nowhere. What’s that all about?!

Suela stared at her intently.

“Um, well...” Ruka thought hard about what to say. Ginka’s asked me that before. I still don’t have any special reasons or anything... When I told her that, she just sorta came to her own conclusion. But I feel like Su-chan’s different. I gotta be careful about what I say, but how do I do that?! My brain’s fried after work!

“Is it because Lady Ginka saved you, as you mentioned before?” Suela asked.

“Hmm, maybe...” I did get closer to Ginka after she saved my life. So I guess you could say that’s how I started being kind to her.

Ruka smiled at Ginka, but Ginka had a stiff look on her face for some reason.

“Anyway, let’s talk more at home—”

Something shifted in the air. It wasn’t from the setting sun’s amber glow, the heavy, sticky feeling on the back of Ruka’s neck from the humid summer breeze, or everything around them going silent. She couldn’t even hear cicadas anymore. It was because three people in black suits stood in the middle of the road.

A white woman with blonde hair, whose one eye stayed closed, was flanked by two other people: a white guy built like a boulder with a big scar on his face and an Asian woman wearing sunglasses with her long hair tied back. They stared at Ruka’s group with appraising looks.

Ruka felt her heart pounding faster. This feels like the first time I ran into Davy-san. I’m sure this is something similar.

The woman in the middle stepped forward. “Long time no see, Lady Ginka!”

Her voice was loud and clear. She stared right at Ginka, as if Ruka and Suela weren’t there at all.

“Bethany Richmond... I see. You are the members of the surveillance team,” Ginka said flatly.

Ruka watched the woman named Bethany carefully. What’s that lady’s deal? She’s shaking all over, but she looks so happy. Is she acting like that just ’cause Ginka said her name?!

Ginka looked like she was on guard. “Why did you reveal yourselves when you’re on a surveillance mission? Did you come to apprehend me?”

“Us? Apprehend you, Lady Ginka?!” Bethany exclaimed. “We would never do anything so discourteous! No, we came to offer our deepest apologies for so rudely continuing to observe you.”

She bowed deeply. The two people behind her followed suit, though they were a lot less enthusiastic.

“If you’re apologizing, does that mean you have achieved your goal?” Ginka asked.

“Yes. You are no longer under any suspicion, Lady Ginka. I am pleased to inform you that our mission is complete ahead of schedule!” Bethany announced.

This Bethany woman is totally sus, Ruka thought, but she must be telling the truth if Ginka’s not reacting. Well, I’m glad this whole surveillance thing is over... Wait. Doesn’t that mean Su-chan has to leave?

Bethany finally turned away from Ginka. “Suela, our mission is complete. You are to rejoin our group.”

Her smile’s so fake. Everything about her changed when she stopped talking to Ginka... We can’t let Su-chan go with these people.

Suela stepped forward, fidgeting with her clothes like she was embarrassed by them. With her shoulders slumped, she walked toward the hunters in dark suits.

Ruka called out to her. “Hey, Su-chan, wait—”

“We will not wait, Miss Ruka Moriki.” The tone of Bethany’s voice was ice-cold. “Suela has been a handful for you, hasn’t she?”

“No, she—”

“Sorry, but we’ll take it from here.”

Ruka knew Bethany wasn’t really apologizing. She was shutting Ruka out. I mean, I really am an outsider when it comes to VH stuff, but my instincts are telling me I gotta do something. Except I don’t have any trump cards to play— No, that’s wrong. I do, and she’s right here! Everyone here will listen to her for sure, and she’ll tell ’em not to take Su-chan.

“G-Ginka,” said Ruka, “you have something to say, right?”

Ginka looked distant. “Suela, return to the hunter alliance and complete your mission.”

Ruka was so shocked, she couldn’t do a thing.

“Yes, Lady Ginka,” said Suela. She joined the three hunters and vanished from sight.

Ruka felt awkward as she headed home with Ginka. Her excitement about getting out of work early and having a sleepover with her friends had turned into something much more painful and lonely. She knew why, of course, but they hadn’t talked about it yet.

“Was it really okay to let her go like that?” Ruka asked.

Ginka said nothing.

Is she just gonna ignore anything I say about Su-chan? Well, you’re about to learn you can’t leave me on read IRL.

Ruka tried again. “I just don’t get it, y’know. We could’ve talked to Su-chan about it more before she had to leave.”

Her persistence got her an answer from Ginka. “Suela came here to Japan to observe me. That mission is complete, so she no longer has a reason for staying.”

Ginka’s really gonna act like she doesn’t care about Su-chan at all?

“Bethany must have been the leader of the surveillance team. Suela is obligated to obey her decision to withdraw. The alliance has limited personnel, after all. Hunters who have completed their missions ought to return.”

Okay, I can’t really argue with that.

“Suela is no longer here, but we can easily contact her by phone or text.”

“But it’s better to meet up and talk—”

“This is between me and Suela. It has nothing to do with you.”

Ruka felt the sting of that response. Ginka’s trying to distance herself. But they gotta be closer now! We’ve done so much together! Or was I just imagining things? No. No way!

“But those people are weird!” Ruka objected. “There’s definitely something up with them!”

“All hunters are like that.”

“That’s even worse! Do you really not care about them taking Su-chan?”

“What do you want from me, hm? Shall I tell the surveillance team to extend their mission? Or force the hunter alliance to let Suela live in Japan? Or are you telling me to go back to the alliance?”

“Th-That’s not what I meant...” Ruka shrank back. Ginka’s never gotten this mad at me before.

Ginka seemed a little embarrassed as she closed her eyes. “I can’t return to the alliance. How they run their organization has nothing to do with me. I must follow my master’s orders.”

This has nothing to do with Granny Gin! I have to know what Ginka thinks—what she wants for herself. “What would you do if she hadn’t given you those orders?” Ruka asked.

“Well...” Ginka looked uneasy as she trailed off.

It’s so obvious, now that I’m looking at Ginka like this. She’s more used to school now, but it’s still not easy for her thanks to those precepts making her hide who she is all the time. Being older than everyone in our year has to be pretty tough too. But she wouldn’t have to deal with any of that at the alliance. They all know she’s a hero—the greatest VH in the world—and everyone there respects her. I’m sure Ginka wants to go back to the alliance. The only thing holding her back is what Granny Gin said.

Ruka felt like she’d figured out the answer to a tough question, but an awkward and heavy silence hung between her and Ginka. The sleepover was the last thing on their minds as they went their separate ways outside Ruka’s house without a single word.

Chapter 7: Flashy Names Aren’t Just for People

The world around Ginka took on a violet hue as she walked back to her apartment that evening.

She knew that overhearing Suela talk about Ruka’s kindness had made her emotions difficult to manage. Her master had once said, “Never let yourself drown in the words of those you save.” That was how she had been able to refuse Suela’s request and why she had told herself not to take the young girl seriously. Although Suela was a fellow hunter, she was also someone Ginka had saved—someone her master had warned her about.

But...I let my guard down.

Ruka had seemed like an exception because she was a civilian and not a hunter, but Ginka had saved her. Ruka had even said she owed Ginka her life, though she never sounded too serious about it. Still...

Can I honestly say I haven’t been letting myself drown in her words? If only Suela hadn’t said anything, I would never have noticed... No, blaming her for that is pathetic. I feel as if my senses are no longer as sharp as they were, but I still believe I would have noticed on my own eventually. The blame lies with me for being so inattentive.

One question remains, however. What would I have done without that order from my master—if she hadn’t told me to keep my distance from the alliance?

Ginka’s thoughts began to race.

I don’t believe the extent of Suela’s claims, but the alliance has degraded. Perhaps I could improve matters there if I returned. I did learn administrative skills during my training, after all. I may not be able to do everything Suela wants, but I believe I can help. And if I were given the authority to work with management, I could play a part in winding down their operations— Wait, what am I thinking?!

Her ringtone interrupted the surge of self-loathing that had just hit her; only then did she realize she was already outside her apartment building.

The number belonged to the Japan branch of the hunter alliance, and she accepted the call. They gave her a brief report on her surveillance and asked her to participate in a teleconference tomorrow.

“Very well... Ten o’clock, then.”

We don’t have classes tomorrow due to the end-of-term ceremony, so I can take the day off without causing any issues. Apologizing to Ruka...will have to wait.

◆ ◆ ◆

The students at Hie High gathered in the gym for the end-of-term ceremony. All the speeches from the student council and teachers were like background noise to Ruka. She barely noticed when their class rep, Chinami Hayami, led them back to their classroom, because Ginka still wasn’t there. Ruka had been texting her all day, but none of her messages were marked read.

Does this have something to do with surveillance being over? Or is it because of our fight yesterday? On that note, what the heck was I supposed to do anyway? I didn’t wanna let Su-chan leave like that, but Ginka was right—she only came here ’cause the alliance told her to. Going back’s best for them since they don’t have enough people, plus Ginka can’t change their missions and orders and all that... She really can’t, since she wants to join them again.

Ruka sighed and sat down at her desk. I should’ve asked Ginka what she thinks about the alliance a long time ago. I mean, I already know she’s a hero who helps people in trouble and cares about other hunters. Of course she’d wanna help the alliance, but...

Ruka sighed, then sighed some more, and sighed again. She just couldn’t help herself. Did I ever see Ginka for who she really is? I was so obsessed about having fun... Maybe I didn’t want to see or understand her. Does Su-chan feel like this? I think there’s a lot I missed about her too...

“You’re looking all depressed again...” Meiri looked annoyed and sounded fed up. She sat down behind Ruka. “Is it about Gin-neesan again?”

“Well, yeah.”

“How’d you make her mad this time?”

“Don’t wanna tell you...” Wait, how does she know it’s my fault?

Before Ruka could complain about that, their homeroom teacher walked in. At the podium, Tani gave everyone advice about how to spend their summer vacation—stuff like having a regular daily routine, letting your family know when you’re going out, ignoring suspicious messages on social media...

“Hey, don’t forget about us.”

A low whisper made Ruka turn around. Meiri was staring out the window, which made Ruka think someone else had said that, but her cheeks were a little pink.

“Wh-What’s that supposed to mean?” Ruka asked.

“I know something’s going on with Gin-neesan, but don’t forget that we’re here too.”

I guess I’ve been with Ginka a lot lately. I can’t tell Mei and Hina about VH stuff, and I got really into helping Ginka and Su-chan get along, so... I wasn’t trying to ignore them or anything, but that’s what happened. I can’t even tell her why! Ruka was so frustrated, she felt her jaw clench.

Meiri rested her hand on her forehead and looked down, which made it hard to see her face. “Can’t Hina and I...”

Her voice was too soft for Ruka to hear the rest. “What was that just now?”

“Nothing.”

“No way! It was totally something!”

“I said, it’s nothing... Ugh...”

Ruka wondered why Meiri looked embarrassed until she finally noticed the whole class staring at them. I fought with Ginka, got scolded by Mei, and got all this attention I don’t need... I keep messing up!

Ruka decided she wanted to work at Bianco today. Focusing on the café seemed like a good way to get away from her problems for a little while, and there just happened to be a shift available, so she worked nonstop on the floor, at the register, and in the kitchen until she heard the bell over the front door ring.

“Welco—” Ruka stopped herself. It wasn’t a customer.

Tokiwa Yagi wore a sheer blouse and a fishtail skirt along with a beige vest that brought her whole outfit together. It was a nice and refreshing look that Ruka often saw older girls wear. That wasn’t really her style, but she knew good fashion sense when she saw it.

But Tokiwa’s sleek, long hair was all messy, and she was looking around like she was confused or something. Her glasses were even upside down—they were just barely balancing on the tip of her nose.

What’s going on? Ruka wondered. She’s not supposed to be here... I would know, since I took her shift. “T-Tokiwa-san, aren’t you off today?”

“Oh, right... That’s right...” Tokiwa tried to push her glasses up. She had a faint smile on her face. “I-I took the day off, didn’t I... I really am hopeless... Aha ha...ha...” She shuffled back toward the door.

I can’t let her leave when she’s like this! Something’s obviously wrong. “H-Hold on,” said Ruka. “Lemme come with you.”

“Huh? No, that’s fine, don’t worry about me...”

“C’mon, don’t say that.”

Ruka put herself between Tokiwa and the front door. After catching the owner’s eye and getting a firm nod from him, she pushed her senpai—who could barely stand on her own now—toward a table and got her to sit down.

Ruka took a seat across from her. “Tokiwa-san, did something happen?”

The older girl hesitated before tears filled her eyes. “P-Promise you’ll still like me...?”

“Of course.”

“Ugh... So direct, like a fastball from BBM’s Baseball-kun. Thank you...” Tokiwa took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes.

Ruka knew Tokiwa was super into BBM. It was the musical version of a game called Ball Boys, where the characters were balls from different sports.

After Tokiwa got her glasses back on the right way around, she put a famous weekly manga magazine on the table. “Please read the first one in this issue. Once you’re done, give me your honest opinion.”

“Um, ’kay...” What’s this about? Does something shocking happen? Like a teacher yelling at a student to focus on their studies instead of drawing or someone saying it’s gross to like manga? Maybe it’s a story about how girls shouldn’t be artists...

Ruka’s guesses all missed the mark. What Tokiwa had asked her to read was a new series that mixed action and gambling with death game elements. The very first chapter was filled with exciting developments, interesting plot threads, beautiful art, and charming characters.

Ruka finished reading and put the magazine back on the table. “It was super interesting. The plot twists, the art... Maybe I’ll buy the first volume when it comes out.”

“I knoooow, right...? Ugh...” Tokiwa sighed like her soul was about to leave her body. She pointed at the magazine cover with a trembling finger. “Th-The creator of that series...is o-only seventeen years old...!”

“Like me?! That’s amazing!”

“Yes... It’s amazing enough to make me wonder what I’ve been doing.” Tokiwa let her head fall against the window a little too hard.

Ruka made a face when she heard the loud thunk that made. “Um, what’s this all about?” she asked.

“Someone younger than me created a super interesting manga, so my sense of inferiority is in overdrive...”

“Oh, so that’s it. Hmm...” Well, that’s a silly reason, Ruka thought. Or...not? Tokiwa-san spends so much time and effort working on manga. I’ve read her drafts, so I know she’s got talent. Yeah, I do get why she’s shocked about a younger genius showing up all of a sudden.

“I know jealousy won’t do me any good,” said Tokiwa. “I know I just have to keep doing my best... B-But i-it really hurts...”

“How about a back rub to help you feel better?” Ruka suggested.

“Yes, please, but only for a little while. Having a pretty gyaru comfort me is great, but I can’t let it become a habit...”

“Gotcha!” Ruka gently stroked Tokiwa’s back and prayed for inspiration to hit her friend soon.

Guess it’s not just the VH world that’s harsh...

After Tokiwa left, Ruka worked so fast and hard that she couldn’t even think. She even forgot about her problems until she changed out of her uniform and started heading home on her own.

Su-chan left, Ginka wouldn’t do anything about it, and I can’t do anything about that. Summer vacation starts tomorrow, so I can do whatever I want without having to study. It’s basically heaven, but I’m not excited at all. I didn’t get to see Ginka today or hear her voice or feel her touch... Ugh. Is this what a Ginka deficiency feels like?

Ruka pulled out her phone and saw that Ginka still hadn’t read any of her texts. She shook off her negative thoughts and started a new message. C’mon, time to cheer up! This thing with Su-chan and my fight with Ginka are separate issues. I can’t do much about the alliance, but I definitely get to have a say about my friendship with Ginka. I wanna patch things up between us as soon as I can.

As Ruka typed on her phone, she noticed someone in front of her and looked up. “Uh, Bethany-san...right? Hey.”

Like yesterday, Bethany stood in the middle of the road with one eye closed. And, once again, she was flanked by two other vampire hunters. She stared at Ruka with her pale blue eye, and her smile looked like it was drawn on a mask. “I am Concrete Rigid, Bethany Richmond.”

Is Concrete Rigid her nickname? That means she’s pretty strong, right? But why’s she telling me?

Bethany pointed to her two companions with a gesture like a magician putting on a show.

The man spoke. “I am Sava Blagojevic, alias Trǎn Ográda... That is...a fence of thorns.”

The other woman followed suit. “And I’m Ei Hino, no alias.”

Never heard of Sava as someone’s name before... Wait. That woman wearing sunglasses is Japanese?

“Hey, Miss Moriki,” said Bethany, “I heard your summer break starts tomorrow.”

“Huh? Uh, yeah.”

“And I heard you don’t see your mom much.”

“Well, yeah, she’s a nurse.”

“In other words, no one will notice if you disappear, right?”

Why does she sound so chill?! That’s crazy scary! All the sirens in my head are going off. I gotta run! Can a normal person like me get away from three VHs? Maybe not, but I should at least try to get somewhere crowded!

Ruka took a step back, but her butt bumped into something—someone—a girl with red hair dressed in black. Phew! So glad to see her. She can tell me what’s going on and help me out.

“S-Su-chan, what’s with these people?” Ruka asked.

Suela looked away. Her expression was gloomy...or maybe even cold.

Like Ginka when she first came to school, Ruka thought. “Su-chan...?” she called out.

Suela’s body glowed silver, and Ruka knew an attack was coming.

An attack?!

Ruka’s body jerked and seized. The strength left her limbs, and her phone slipped out of her hand as she dropped to her knees. As her body fell forward, she couldn’t even open her mouth to scream.

“I’m sorry...” Suela whispered.

Everything went black.

Last night, before bed, Ruka had wondered what her life would be like if she’d never met Ginka. Probably the same as always, she had thought. She would still be friends with Meiri and Hinaru, and she would work at Bianco. She would go to dance practice once in a while or hang out downtown with her classmates and friends.

Nothing would’ve changed if Ginka hadn’t shown up. In a way, that meant nothing had really changed because she did. Without Ginka, Ruka still would’ve had a really fun summer at the beach and festivals and all that.

But that’s...so sad...

When Ruka opened her eyes, all she saw at first was an orange blur. Her head felt all shaky like she hadn’t gotten enough sleep, and her mouth was probably hanging open because she felt a piece of her hair on her tongue.

Wait, where am I...? Ruka steadied herself with one hand and sat up. Whatever she was sitting on felt really nice, and she could make out a huge glass window in the room. There was also a closet and a bed—like the one she was on. She looked down and saw white bedsheets.

Looks like a business hotel. Wait, a hotel?! A chill ran through Ruka as she patted herself down, but her clothes (other than her shoes, which were gone) were still on and everything else felt okay. She sighed with relief.

“Hey, the little lady’s awake,” said a voice with a Kansai accent. The Japanese woman, Ei Hino, had entered the room with Bethany and Sava right behind her.

These people totally kidnapped me... Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!

Ruka felt cold sweat all over her forehead. Being kidnapped was bad enough, but these were vampire hunters with superpowers. She didn’t even want to try and imagine what they were going to do next.

“Sorry for the rough treatment back there. We just really wanted to talk to you,” said Bethany.

Ruka thought she saw a smile on the hunter’s face, but she couldn’t make herself look at her. This is way too scary...! These people remind me of Davy-san trying to make the alliance strong again by reviving vampires. He said he wasn’t the only one involved... Are these VHs in on that plan too?

She tried to ask, but she was still too out of it to get all the words out. “Are you guys...the vampire revival...?”

“Don’t lump us in with a traitor like Lucid Eye,” Bethany replied. “If anything, we’re the opposite of him.”

“Oppo...site...?” Ruka mumbled.

“That’s right. Bringing vampires back is foolish. Our idea for saving the alliance is far more reasonable. If I had to give it a name...” Bethany looked and sounded like she was dreaming. “I suppose I would call it the Silver Dancer Reclamation Plan.”

Ruka stared at her. What’s with the flashy name?!

Chapter 8: Old Stories Hit Hard

“I will be taking my leave. No, I believe I’ve shared my opinion in full. Goodbye.” Ginka ended the call on her tablet just before her irritation boiled over.

The meeting was supposed to begin at ten o’clock, but it had started an hour late—ninety minutes, if you counted the half hour of useless chatter before they had moved on to discussing the surveillance mission. That had been interrupted by a two-hour midday break and a pointless recap of the discussion so far after they had reconvened. Something else had kept interrupting the call too. Then, when they had finally finished their explanation, they’d asked Ginka for her opinion as the observation target. It was evening by the time she’d hung up.

I should’ve gone to the ceremony at school. That would’ve given me the chance to resolve my quarrel with Ruka...

Ginka checked her phone and saw a number of texts from her friend.

Sorry about yesterday. Good to chat at school today?

You taking today off?

Got a cold?

Want me to buy you ice cream?

To Ginka Shijunana-san: Yesterday, I

That last, incomplete message seems strange. Is it some sort of joke? No, Ruka would take our communications seriously when we are having a disagreement.

She opened the vampire search app next, but nothing seemed unusual. There were no red dots for vampires, orange for retainers, or blue for hunters using exoforce. That made her consider the possibility that she was just imagining—

“Of course not, you fool!” she berated herself.

Ginka carefully read the app log and found an exoforce reaction from an hour ago near Ruka’s house. She knew it had to be related to the unusual text message.

“It was a trick...!”

Today’s meeting was far too sloppy and unnatural, no matter how far the alliance has fallen. I fell in their trap, and it took me this long to notice... How can I be so careless?

Ginka pulled her coat out of the closet, wrapped her body in exoforce, and jumped off the balcony.

◆ ◆ ◆

“She caught on already?!” Ei exclaimed.

“Despite all our maneuvering, she saw through it in an instant,” Sava added.

Bethany was the last to react. “Oh, Lady Ginka, you are truly our beacon of hope! How wonderful!”

Ruka watched the three vampire hunters huddle around a tablet. Sounds like they can tell Ginka’s on the move. Does that tablet have the search app, maybe?

“But she’ll need time to find us and get here. That’s why we left the prefecture... My deepest apologies, Lady Ginka!” Bethany moaned, then gave Ruka a meaningful look.

Yeah, I get it, thought Ruka. Her body felt stiff and tense. She’s basically telling me not to expect a rescue.

Suela came back into the room and turned to Bethany. “Lady Concrete Rigid, the anti-detection measures around the hotel have been implemented.”

“Good work. We have no plans to use exoforce, but we should not underestimate Lady Ginka’s extraordinary search capabilities,” Bethany said with a pleased nod.

Suela stared at her in silence.

“S-Su-chan...” said Ruka.

The young hunter looked down and did not answer.

It was hard for Ruka to admit that Suela wasn’t on her side, but she couldn’t deny the fact that Suela had knocked her out and helped kidnap her.

Bethany put her hand on Suela’s shoulder and pushed her toward the door. “Keep your guard up. You should already know this, but do not use exoforce no matter what happens.”

“Understood...” Suela left the room without giving Ruka the chance to catch her eye.

Ruka felt her throat go dry. All this suspense is really getting to me. They said they weren’t gonna use exoforce, so what are they gonna do? And what the heck is their plan about?

“You must be so confused,” said Bethany. “We abducted you, then talked about things you know nothing about... But don’t worry. We won’t hurt you.”

She sounds like she’s being nice, but I don’t buy it. She says they won’t hurt me, but it’s like she wants me to know they can. I believe that much, at least. These three could probably kill me in the blink of an eye.

Bethany smiled. “Our surveillance team watched Lady Ginka for several days. We were following orders from headquarters, but the four of us have another goal.”

The hunter sounded like she was talking to a cute pet or something, which made Ruka shudder.

“You want Ginka to go back to the alliance,” she said.

“Oh my, maybe you’re not stupid after all,” Bethany cooed.

During their debate at my house, Ginka thought Su-chan was only repeating other people’s ideas. I’m sure Bethany’s the one who’s been telling her what to say.

“The hunter alliance needs Lady Ginka; it cannot survive without her. She herself wants to return, but she won’t because of Lady Päivätär. However, I suspect there’s another reason at play.”

Another reason? Was it something Su-chan said during the debate? Wait, why’d she come to my house again? Ugh, I’m still so sluggish...

Bethany lifted her hand and pointed.

Ruka stared at the black-gloved finger in her face. “Me...?”

Bethany smiled and nodded. “We know how dangerous you are. You act on selfish whims and plunge headfirst into trouble—reckless behavior from one who has temptation blood. Though unlikely, you may get involved in another vampire incident. That is why Lady Ginka feels obligated to protect you.”

Sava and Ei nodded as they listened.

“Dealing with you will surely allow Lady Ginka to come back to us!” Bethany proudly announced.

There’s something wrong with this woman! She’s gonna kill me, because she thinks that’ll get Ginka to go back to the alliance. Didn’t she just say they weren’t gonna hurt me?! All three of them look ready for murder!

Ruka was still too dazed to do much, but she pulled herself together and stood up on the bed.

“You can’t escape,” said Sava.

“Don’t even try for the window,” Ei added.

Both of them blocked her off in the blink of an eye.

Ruka looked down at their feet. They didn’t even have to use exoforce to move that fast...

“It would be easy to get rid of you, but we’re supposed to protect civilians. Kidnapping aside, we still have some pride as hunters,” said Bethany. “So maybe we can come to an understanding instead.”

“An understanding...?”

Bethany did not answer, but she got on the bed and stood in front of Ruka.

Ruka looked up at the hunter and gulped. Why do I feel like I’m looking at a wild animal?! I like leopard print, but that doesn’t mean I wanna meet a real one!

“You told Suela that you were savebuds...friends who were saved,” said Bethany.

Ruka let her head drop. She was sad to hear that Suela had told these people their special word. I bet she told them everything we’ve ever talked about...

Bethany placed a finger under Ruka’s chin to make her look up. “I am too... All of us are. Me, Sava, Ei, Suela, even you... All of us were saved by Lady Ginka.”

Oh... I get why she’s so intense. Her feelings about Ginka are so strong, she doesn’t mind coming to a different country just for a surveillance mission or feel guilty for kidnapping me. It’s ’cause Ginka saved her. She saved all of them.

“I will tell you a story to help you understand how great Lady Ginka is. Then you’ll understand us and help us with our plan. Let’s talk, Miss Moriki.”

Understanding each other... I like that. That’s exactly what I want. And I can’t wait to hear old stories about Ginka!

On one of the many islands off the coast of China, with abandoned dwellings covered in moss, Bethany Richmond fell to her knees. Huge piles of black ash—dead retainers—surrounded her. She supposed they had been made out of nearby sea creatures, judging from the fish heads and octopus tentacles she could still see in those piles. Everything smelled awful too.

Her legs felt heavy, and she couldn’t force herself to stand no matter how hard she tried. She was too weak to breathe properly or even sweat, and she had no exoforce left in her.

The hunter alliance had received reports of a vampire hiding in the area, so Bethany was ordered to assemble a team for a recon mission. Unfortunately, those reports didn’t tell the whole story. A vampire had conquered the whole island, filling it with retainers that attacked ships to give their master a regular supply of the crews’ flesh and blood. Bethany and her team had not noticed anything wrong until it was too late, and they were easily overwhelmed by the sheer number of retainers.

As the team leader, Bethany had told the other hunters to retreat while she stayed behind. She had devoted herself to taking down as many retainers as she could until she’d run out of exoforce and supplies. Now, she could only pray that she had bought enough time for her team to escape. With no strength left in her body, she collapsed to the ground.

Her team had been sent here to find the vampire, not to exterminate it. They had accomplished that, so the mission was a success—a huge success, perhaps, if the rest of her team had escaped with their lives. Especially that rookie, the hunter with hair and eyes as silver as exoforce... The granddaughter of the legendary veteran Päivätär.

She’s too new to be on the battlefield, so she must still be alive. If my death paves the way for that girl to achieve greatness, thought Bethany, then it’ll be worth something.

“It looks like your friends abandoned you.”

Bethany recognized those words as English, but she could barely understand any of it.

An Asian figure wearing clothes in the style of ancient China rose from the ashes.

A costume stolen from a ship, maybe, thought Bethany.

This vampire’s name, gender, and appearance were all mysteries. People only knew there was a monster attacking ships to steal cargo and abduct humans. Locals had started calling this unknown threat Fengchao, a tempestuous terror of the sea.

Fengchao glared at Bethany, its thin lips curling into a wicked smile while hatred oozed from every word. “You ransacked my home and killed my beloved children... Unforgivable. Utterly unforgivable...!”

Bethany was shocked to see a horde of retainers appear behind the vampire and start creeping closer. But I killed so many already...

Fengchao grinned. “It’s rare to see a living hunter. Perhaps I’ll keep you as my pet... You won’t need those long arms and legs anymore.” It waved its sleeve to reveal a sharp claw.

It intends to take my limbs. Living as a vampire’s pet is out of the question. This is my only chance to take my own life, but I don’t have poison... An exoforce blade to cut my carotid artery will do. Bethany tried to lift her finger, but she was far too exhausted for that. If I don’t die now, I’ll...

“You’re both getting ahead of yourselves,” said a clear, firm voice.

A storm of silver flashed in front of Bethany’s eyes. She recognized the attack known as Ring Achoo, a technique that required an enormous amount of exoforce and expert control.

“Wh-What... Arrrrrgh!” Fengchao and its retainers could not avoid the attack and went flying in a silver typhoon.

A girl with silver hair, a piercing gaze, and an exoforce spear appeared in front of Bethany. “I see you are still alive, Concrete Rigid.”

That was all Ginka Shijunana said before she turned her attention to the retainers that had dodged the Ring Achoo.

She knew I was in trouble. That means she spoke to the hunters who retreated from battle. But she was safe! I was ready to die to ensure that! Why would she come into the jaws of death?!

“Wh-Why...? Why are you here?!” Bethany shouted.

Ginka did not stop swinging her spear. “Because I calculated the odds of success.”

“Wh-Whose odds?”

“Mine.”

Bethany could not respond. This rookie, who was at least a decade younger than her, had blown that horde of retainers away with a single attack. Her kill count was even higher by now, but she didn’t look tired at all.

Ginka tossed Bethany a small bottle. “Spirit nectar. Drink it.”

The caramel-colored liquid looked like whiskey at a glance, but it was medicine for recovering exoforce. Strangely enough, Bethany could catch the bottle even though she couldn’t move until now. So she removed the cap with trembling fingers, drank the thick concoction, and felt strength return to her body.

“I will keep both of you as pets, then kill you!” Fengchao screamed from a distance.

Bethany was not afraid.

Ginka kicked a retainer, launching herself into the air and landing next to Bethany. “I acknowledge the fact that I have disobeyed orders. But, for now, let us fight together.” She held out her hand.

Bethany took it and stood. She glared at the vampire. “Let’s do this.”

“Right.”

Ginka Shijunana... Without her, I would have died a miserable death as a vampire’s pet. I owe her my life, so I will devote the rest of it to her.

“Wait, so Ginka totally ignored orders and went back?”

“That’s right. Though the alliance wasn’t happy about it,” Bethany said with a smile. She got off the bed and grabbed a bottle of water from the side table.

That story was intense. Bethany marched right into a vampire’s stronghold and fought like crazy to help her team get away, but doing all that meant she was gonna become some vampire’s pet. She almost gave up until Ginka turned everything around.

Bethany sat down on the bed. “The two of us fought all night and somehow survived. To this day, it feels like a miracle.”

She doesn’t wanna hurt me, Ruka decided. She’s not even scary. She’s just trying to get me into her Ginka fan club! “Vampires really are super strong, huh... I don’t know much, since I’ve only heard about them from Ginka.”

“Well, let’s just say running into Fengchao was bad luck. I built my team for a scouting mission, so we lacked proper equipment and members for a confrontation.”

“Gotcha. You were just checking things out... But you fought a ton of retainers. That means you’re strong, right, Bessan?”

“I do have an alias, you know. I don’t want to brag, but not many hunters can solidify exoforce and... Wait, Bessan?”

“Yup. Your name’s Bethany, so Bessan. You don’t like it?”

“Th-That’s not what I...”

Sava placed his hand on Bethany’s shoulder. “Should we really be wasting time right now?”

“You’re right,” said Bethany. “Let’s move on. Why don’t you tell your story about Lady Ginka too, Sava?”

“Me? But you already told yours.”

Bethany stood up. “It’s better for Miss Moriki to have more data. And I’m sure she wants to listen.”

Ruka watched the two of them. Bethany seemed to be the leader, but Sava looked older with that face like a stone statue. He sounded more experienced too.

He hesitated before sitting down. “My Japanese is not great, but here’s our story—about me, my daughter, and Lady Ginka...”

The only older guy Ruka really ever talked to was her boss, so having this one-on-one chat with Sava was making her nervous. He’s just a grumpy middle-aged dude. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy who’s gonna tell a touching story or anything like that...

“Ugh... Sniff... Waaah!”

Ruka was bawling her eyes out. She clutched the bedsheet and tried to stop crying, but the tears just kept flowing. So glad it’s summer. My face would be a hot mess if I didn’t have waterproof makeup on.

Sava looked uncomfortable, but he held out a tissue box for Ruka. “H-Here. Take some.”

“Thanks...” Ruka dabbed her eyes with a tissue, then grabbed a few more to blow her nose.

Sava wasn’t great with words, but something about that awkwardness drew Ruka in and broke her down by the end of the story. Just thinking about it made her start sobbing again.

“Why are you crying so much?” he asked.

“I mean, your daughter... When she wrote her will, and Ginka ripped it up, it was so emotional... I’m really glad you and your daughter made it, Sava-san... Sniff...”

“R-Right...” Sava replied.

He looked embarrassed now. Ruka didn’t have a dad, so she thought his reaction was really sweet. “Wh-What’s your daughter doing now?” she asked.

“She’s still weak, so I brought her with me.”

“S-So she’s doing okay?! Have you gone on any trips together yet?”

“Trips...?” Sava scratched his scarred face. “Neither of us looked into such things in advance... The most sightseeing we’ve done is checking out the area around our hotel...”

But that’s so sad! Ruka thought. They made it through the war, but they still can’t have fun together? I wanna cry all over again...

Sava stood up. “Ei, you tell a story too.”

Ei adjusted her sunglasses and smiled. “What, you need more? Mine’s just about running away from home.”

“But you were captured.”

Ei shrugged. “Yeah, but my story doesn’t hit as hard after the ones you two told.”

Guess she’s not gonna talk. Ruka studied Ei and realized that she was really young. The sunglasses and suit made her look much older, but she was probably just out of high school. Hmm... If she won’t tell me a story, is it okay if I talk to her instead?

“Hey, Ei-yan, are you a college student?” Ruka asked.

Ei flinched like she wasn’t expecting a question, but she calmed down and smiled again. “I’m the right age for that, but I’m not in school. I work at the Japan branch.”

“What do you do there?”

“You sure are into this. I do my job, train, and go back to my dorm. Then I go back to work, train, and... You get the picture.”

“Yup. What about your days off?”

“We don’t get those.” Ei flapped her hand at Ruka like that was an annoying question. “Mission orders can come in any time, y’know?”

Ruka was shocked. Are you serious? A job with zero days off?! The alliance is totally taking advantage of them! “But there aren’t any vampires left. Doesn’t that mean having, like, zero missions?”

“That’s what we believe, but what if that’s just what the vampires want us to think? They’re not idiots. One could be out here, hiding or hibernating... We gotta stay on standby until we know for sure.”

“Gotcha.”

“That’s why we want Lady Ginka to come back. Having her around would put folks at ease.”

Ei was smiling again, but Ruka thought she looked tired this time. She’s probably gonna keep living like that. Always training and working to fight an enemy—one that might not even exist—would wear anyone down. Is it really wrong for her to try and get someone like Ginka to help?

“Do you get it now, Miss Moriki?” Bethany asked.

“Get what...?”

“Lady Ginka may be your friend, but she’s our hero.”

“Hero...” Ruka balled up the tissues in her hands. Bessan, Sava, Su-chan... Their stories make Ginka sound even more amazing. She’s the ultimate vampire hunter and a hero who ended the war. Even though she left the alliance, people are still drawn to her.

“You’ve felt it too, haven’t you? Lady Ginka’s greatness... She’s far more powerful and capable than you can ever imagine.”

I know there’s a huge gap between us. She’s beautiful, athletic, and smart. Compared to me... Ginka’s on a completely different level.

“The hunter alliance is where she belongs—where she can do the most good. Please, Miss Moriki. Work with us.”

Bessan might be right. Ginka can do a lot for the alliance, and she wants to go back. I’m her friend, so I wanna support her. But how do I do that? Do I tell her to go back and ignore Granny Gin?

That can’t be right. She won’t disobey Granny Gin, no matter what, and I don’t wanna say anything that goes against the person who raised her. What can I do for her, then? I wanna help her out, since she’s so important to me... Important... I feel like I’m forgetting something important...

Ruka’s stomach growled.

“Oh, my bad,” she said. No clue what time it is, but it’s definitely dark out. Probably close to dinnertime...

“Well, you don’t need to answer right away. Let’s eat first. I’ll go grab some food for us,” said Ei.

Bethany looked disappointed, but she stepped back to give Ruka some space. Meanwhile, Ruka wondered if she’d at least be getting a free dinner out of this.

“Right,” Bethany told Ei. “Could you call Suela in?”

Before Ei could answer, a girl with red hair walked in.

“Good timing, Suela. We’re getting food,” said Sava.

Suela looked up. Something about her hazel eyes reminded Ruka of a jellyfish struggling through a stormy ocean.

“Lady Ginka saved my life.” Suela’s voice was hoarse, and her words were stilted. “I, too, swore to devote the rest of my life to her. I want to support her with everything I have.”

The other hunters froze. Even Ruka could tell that something was off.

“I want...” Suela paused. “I want to support her heart and her spirit... To protect the people precious to her...”

“Suela, what are you saying?”

“I used exoforce outside.”

Bethany, Sava, and Ei glowed silver as they prepared to take Suela down, but she looked right past them through the big glass window.

Ruka followed her gaze. “An angel...?”

A girl floating in midair flapped a pair of dazzling wings that matched her silver hair and eyes, and a barrage of feathers shot through the night sky.

“Defensive positions!” Bethany shouted.

The feathers shattered the glass window with a violent crash.

“Eek!” Ruka pulled the bedsheet up over her head, closed her eyes, and curled up into a ball. She tried to ignore all the destruction around her, but she could hear Sava and Ei groaning plus all kinds of breaking and cracking sounds too.

The room went quiet, then, and Ruka opened her eyes. The three hunters were lying on the ground, and shards of glass and broken chunks of wood were scattered everywhere—except for the bed Ruka was on.

Ruka watched Suela make her way across the room and caught a glimpse of a silver angel reflected in her hazel eyes.

“Sorry I’m late,” said the angel as she landed next to Ruka’s bed.

Ginka had arrived.

Chapter 9: Budding Dreams

Ginka used the search app log to pinpoint the exoforce reaction from earlier, and she found Ruka’s broken phone on the ground. She could tell what had happened here, but she used her spare key to go into Ruka’s house to make sure. No one was there, and the owner of Bianco had said Ruka had left...

So Ruka disappeared on her way home from work. I should report this to the police in case it’s an ordinary kidnapping—not that I think it is. Judging from how the local precinct handled the last incident, though, they seem willing and able to take action.

After Ginka spoke to the police, she saw Suela’s name near the top of her contact list and felt rage boiling inside her. Suela’s surveillance team abducted Ruka for obvious reasons. They’re trying to make me return to the alliance by getting her on their side, or they’re using her as a hostage. Either way, I put Ruka in danger again.

She shook off her guilt and called the Japan branch of the alliance. They claimed to know nothing of the surveillance team’s movements or their hideout.

I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. Time to deal with them myself.

Concrete Rigid, Bethany Richmond, was a hunter who specialized in manifesting exoforce and making it solid.

Trǎn Ográda, Sava Blagojevic, was a veteran hunter who had been fighting vampires long before the advent of modern information technology.

Ei Hino was from an ordinary family, but her exoforce was unique. Though Ei had not earned an alias yet, Ginka thought she might be more formidable than her teammates.

Consuela Peripeteia had no exceptional abilities, but she and Ginka had bonded recently. Ginka’s heart ached at the thought of confronting the young girl she had once saved. Suela might be the most difficult—

A text message notification interrupted Ginka’s thoughts.

Please open the search app and expand the map.

She wondered why the message was in English but followed its instructions. There was a blue dot on the map in a different prefecture marking the location of a business hotel.

Is this a trap? A diversion? Even so, there must be at least one hunter there. I have to investigate.

The app told her the dot was over seventy kilometers away. Ordinary transportation would take over an hour, so Ginka dashed through the sky with exoforce. She also maintained a defensive barrier to protect herself in case she ran into birds, but she did her best to avoid them.

The business hotel came into view after a half hour or so. As Ginka descended, she saw a girl with red hair standing outside.

“Lady Ginka...!” The young hunter looked and sounded frightened.

Of course she does. She’s a member of the team that kidnapped Ruka... She’s my enemy.

Ginka summoned a spear. She could neither see nor sense anyone else. Perhaps the other hunters were avoiding detection somehow, with Suela here as a diversion.

“Where is Ruka? Just tell me, and don’t bother explaining—she’s with the surveillance team, right?”

Suela nodded and clutched her chest. “L-Lady Ruka is in a room on the third floor with the three of them. Please save her.”

Ginka hesitated because she could tell Suela wasn’t lying. What is she saying? She kidnapped Ruka, so why is she asking me to rescue her? Is it because she’s too weak to defy the rest of her team? Perhaps she did what she could to give me intel, and now she expects me to fight. A cautious—even cowardly—plan, but she’s grown if she acted on her assessment of her strength against her opponents’.

Ginka sighed. “The details can wait. I need you to work with me now.”

After their plan was set, Ginka used exoforce to fly up the side of the hotel and find Ruka’s room. Then she prepared her attack by growing exoforce wings out of her back as Suela distracted the surveillance team.

Ginka launched Peep Asleep, the binding flurry of feathers she had once used to defeat Fuego Brije. One batch protected Ruka before the rest hit the room like a spray of bullets.

Ginka entered the room to check on Ruka and heard Sava’s voice.

“Suela... You betrayed us?”

Still conscious... Perhaps I held back too much for Ruka’s sake.

The three hunters rose to their feet and glared at Suela.

Suela stood between them and Ginka. “I’m sorry! But we did something wrong!” she shouted. The pain she felt was obvious to everyone in the room. “Kidnapping Lady Ruka to bend Lady Ginka’s will... Manipulating the hunter alliance in underhanded maneuvers... Is that justice?! Is this really the revival we want?!”

Sava and Ei looked disgusted as they glared at Suela.

To them, Ginka thought, Suela must lack resolve. I’m sure these two cleared that internal hurdle long ago.

Oddly enough, Bethany remained perfectly calm.

She has to be their leader, and she’s just been exposed, so why does she look so relaxed? Did she expect Suela to bring me here?

Ginka created a silver spear and pointed it at Bethany, Sava, and Ei. “You kidnapped an innocent civilian and tried to brainwash her. What a disgrace. I’ll grant you time to repent later, so accept your fate now.”

It’s three against one, but I won’t lose. I can protect Ruka, and Suela can contribute if need be. There’s nothing to fear.

“Ginka, hold on!” Ruka shouted.

Ginka turned to stare at her and caught a glimpse of Bethany grinning. Ruka looked uncharacteristically tense and serious, and Ginka felt her resolve crumble. I have a bad feeling about this...

◆ ◆ ◆

Ruka guessed Suela had brought Ginka here. They’re all acting like Ginka’s the strongest. I bet she can beat everyone here if she goes combat mode on them... Better speak up before that happens!

“Ginka, hold on!” Ruka jumped off the bed, but seeing Ginka made her forget what she was gonna say. She looks even prettier in the moonlight, even with all this broken glass everywhere...

Her heart ached a little, but she continued. “Bessan, Sava-san, Ei-yan, and Su-chan haven’t done anything to me. They just told me stories about you, Ginka.”

“Ruka, I’ll listen to what you have to say later.”

“I totally get how they feel! You’re on a different level... No, in a different world!” Ginka looks so sad to hear that, but it’s true. In school and in VH society. “After listening to what they had to say, I get it. I’m just an ordinary gyaru. I’m not a good match for you... We’re pals, but I can’t help you at all.”

“Ruka, that’s not—”

“So I tried to come up with something I could do for you, in my own way... And I thought of an answer. I... I...” Ruka smiled gently. Don’t make that face, Ginka. It’s not the end of the world. I’m about to fix everything!

Ruka took a deep breath and yelled, “I’m gonna become an influencer!”

“Huh?!” said everyone except for Ruka in perfect sync. Confusion replaced animosity in the room, because no one understood what was going on.

I’m not gonna explain, though. This is about vibes. You gotta feel it, people!

“Hey, Ei, what’s an influencer?” Sava asked.

“I’m not really sure. I think it’s, like, a performer on the internet? Sorta?” said Ei.

“So why’s she saying she wants to be one?”

“No clue. Seriously, none at all. I don’t get it...”

Ruka noticed the total lack of scary looks on Sava’s and Ei’s faces and grinned. World peace! Nailed it!

“Ruka, explain everything,” Ginka demanded. “Everything. In order, from start to finish.”

Welp, if you insist...

Ruka crossed her arms, held up her finger, and did her best to look smart. “Okay, let’s be real. I don’t measure up to Ginka. It’s almost, like, an inferiority complex or something. She’s always protecting me, and I feel super bad about that.”

Ginka had protected her when she’d thought Suela was a threat, when those guys had hit on her at the beach, and a bunch of other times too. She’d even stopped the alliance from erasing her memory, not to mention her showing up here just now. Ruka just couldn’t deny they were on totally different levels.

“But what if I level up and get stronger? Wouldn’t that be better? Not by fighting, but from a different angle,” Ruka explained.

“That’s why you want to be an influencer?” Ginka asked.

“Yup. Successful influencers are famous. That matters, y’know? Like, if I disappear all of a sudden, people would be like, ‘Huh? Something’s wrong.’”

“Y-You put a lot of thought into this... I’m surprised.”

“And when I was listening to Sava-san and Ei-yan earlier, I made up my mind about something else.” Ruka glanced at the two hunters to make sure they were still calm. “VHs are still on duty, right? You can’t ever chill or relax... So I figured I could spread the word about fun stuff you guys can do.” She uncrossed her arms and grinned. “Honestly, I’ve been interested in becoming an influencer for a while. But Mei and Hina said it was impossible, and seeing what my senpai at work has to deal with is scary, so I thought I’d better not. But now I feel like I have to.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I want to stay by your side, Ginka.”

How did it take me this long to get it? The answer’s so easy—I just wanna be with her. I was the one who told Ginka to have these kinds of conversations in person, but I never did...even though this was my answer all along. Gonna have to do better than that in the future!

Ruka saw Ginka’s cheeks turn pink. Wait, did I just say something really intense...?

“Come on, say something back, Ginka. I’m getting embarrassed!” Ruka complained.

Ginka gave Ruka a stern look before she turned away. “D-Don’t blame me for what you said.”

Ruka fanned her face and neck to cool herself off, then turned to face the other hunters. “Thanks, you guys! I couldn’t make up my mind about the influencer thing, so you helped me out big time!” I don’t think I would’ve been brave enough to make up my mind without their stories, so I’m glad we got the chance to talk.

Even though she’d been thanked, though, Bethany looked grim. “It’s time for our last resort.”

“H-Huh?” Ruka stammered. “But I’m super grateful and everything...”

Bethany covered her body in exoforce. “Everyone, prepare for battle.”

What does she mean, “last resort”? Is it something she doesn’t wanna do but has to? What’s a last resort for someone who’s willing to die to protect others...?

With her one eye fixed on Ruka, Bethany called out, “Sava, Ei, what is it?”

“Bethany, I’m done,” said Sava.

“What are you saying?!”

Sava calmly put his hands in his pockets, leaned back against the closet, and closed his eyes. “Like Suela said, we fight for justice. Killing a girl who cried for my daughter is not justice.”

“Sorry, I’m out too.” Ei raised her hands in surrender and grinned. “Ruka-chan is pretty funny and stupid... I wanna see where she ends up. So yeah.” She relaxed and let her arms drop to her sides.

Bethany was at a loss for words. When she finally spoke again, her voice shook. “Fine... I’ll play the villain all on my own...!”

A silver knife flew at Ruka. By the time she even thought about trying to dodge, too many things had already happened—the dull sound of a blade hitting flesh, the splash of red on white bedsheets, and the smell of iron in the air...

“Suela!” Bethany shouted.

Consuela Peripeteia stood in front of Ruka with a knife through her hand.

◆ ◆ ◆

Bethany was a tenacious hunter who had once fought a vampire on her own to make sure the rest of her team survived. Losing a couple of allies would not diminish her will to fight, and Ruka was the most logical target.

So Ginka sprang into action as soon as Bethany threw her knife. She gathered exoforce in her arm to deflect the attack, but a certain red-haired girl had moved first.

Ginka did not know why Suela had put herself in the knife’s path. Her sense of duty as a vampire hunter? Her guilt from kidnapping Ruka? Either way, she protected an innocent person. An ideal hunter always strives to do exactly what Suela has done.

She smiled at the younger hunter. “Good. Continue to protect Ruka and keep an eye on the other two.”

“R-Right...”

Ginka brandished her spear at the other three hunters.

Ei, who was standing behind Bethany, shrugged her shoulders. “Keep an eye on us? We’re done fighting, y’know.”

“I agree with Lady Ginka. It is better to treat us with caution. We might only be pretending to cooperate... Apologies, Suela. Watch us carefully,” Sava said as he sat down.

Despite his words, Ginka supposed that was his way of surrendering. Ei followed suit and sat down next to him.

“It’s just you and me, Bethany,” Ginka declared.

Bethany’s appearance matched Ginka’s memories of her—she was still tall, and her hair was the same shade of dark blonde as before. But her philosophy had clearly changed since they had last met.

“I suppose there’s no other way... I will defeat you and drag you back to the alliance myself,” Bethany said as she gathered exoforce under her feet for a Zig Jog.

“Do you really think you can?”

“Certainly not in a direct confrontation. But if I find an opening...” Bethany glanced at Ruka.

Before Ginka could tell Ruka to be careful, Ruka held her fist out in front of Ginka’s face.

“Ginka.”

“What is it?”

“Win this thing!”

“Of course.”

Ginka felt her heart soar. I feel like I can’t lose.

Bethany unleashed her exoforce and launched herself at Ruka.

Suela pushed Ruka out of the way. “My apologies!”

“Ack!” Ruka yelped.

Ginka wanted to praise Suela for her fine instincts, but she had to focus on Bethany and her incoming tackle.

With one swift and powerful kick, Ginka sent Bethany flying through the broken window. “Suela, I leave the rest to you!” she yelled, and she jumped out of the room to pursue Bethany.

Bethany had regained control of herself, and she was running in midair. That was a high-level technique, but hunters with aliases could handle it easily. Ginka concentrated exoforce under her feet and followed Bethany, dodging her knife attacks or deflecting them with her spear. To close the distance between them, Ginka let herself free-fall through the sky.

“You have nowhere to run!” Ginka yelled as she caught up.

Both Bethany and Ginka stopped in midair.

“Why won’t you come back to us?!” Bethany’s question was more like a plea that resonated through the summer sky.

Because of my master’s orders. Because my return would bring chaos to the organization. There were plenty of other responses, but Ginka couldn’t say any of them out loud. Every reason sounded insincere because she truly wanted to go back to the alliance. There was what she had felt after hearing Ruka’s dream too, but Bethany would never accept that.

“Enough. Let’s finish this,” said Ginka.

Bethany hung her head in resignation—and unleashed a blast of exoforce from her back. “You’re not the only one who can do this!”

The silver glow behind her condensed into two large wings. The Concrete Rigid alias had been given to Bethany because of her exoforce manifestation and manipulation skills. Her specialty was blending air with exoforce to produce powerful weapons.

“I know,” Ginka replied.

Bethany had invented many of the techniques used in Ginka’s training. In that sense, Bethany was like one of her masters.

That’s what makes this so sad. How did it even come to this? I want this to be over, for both of our sakes.

Ginka created her own silver wings. She pointed her spear at the woman whose intensity and obsession needed to be quelled. “This is the end, Concrete Rigid.”

Bethany’s wings grew, and she glared at Ginka. “In a way, that would be my pleasure, Silver Dancer.”

Their silver wings filled the starry sky with countless feathers—sharp projectiles meant to slice through their targets—that clashed in midair and exploded like a fireworks display.

Some feathers flew right at Ginka, while others seemed to target her wings. Ginka carefully observed their movements and intercepted them with her own feathers while launching her own attacks, but she noticed an unusual amount of exoforce in each of Bethany’s feathers.

Is she trying to overwhelm me? But I have much more exoforce than her, so she cannot win a battle of attrition. Surely she realizes that. I’m sure she must be plotting something... She’s waiting for an opening.

◆ ◆ ◆

Silver fireworks filled the night sky. It was too dark to see what was going on, but Ruka knew it had to be from the fight between Ginka and Bethany.

“There are lots of ways to be an influencer,” she told Suela, who was sitting on the bed next to her. “Some focus on dancing or makeup. Others review food or stream games. There are even ones who analyze the news!”

“I-I see...”

“I know I said I was gonna do it, but I dunno how, exactly... What do you think?”

Suela’s eyes darted around like she didn’t know what to say.

Oh, her hand’s all healed up already, thought Ruka. Exoforce is amazing!

“I don’t know much about internet services in general...”

“That’s okay! Wanna watch something together then?”

“B-But I have duties to fulfill...” Suela glanced at the two hunters sitting on the floor.

“True,” said Sava. “That is the proper response.”

“You all are way too serious,” Ei complained. “We’re not gonna resist or anything.”

Sava and Ei had their hands behind their backs like they’d been tied up. They’d been staring out the window too, so Ruka assumed they were interested in the fight. Well, they’re all VHs. Of course they’re curious.

“Will you really become an influencer, Lady Ruka?” Suela asked uneasily.

Ruka smiled. “Yeah. Dunno if I’ll make it or not... Pretty sure I’ll fail, actually, but I gotta do it for the alliance.”

“For the alliance...?” Suela asked.

“Yup. I don’t really know what’s gonna happen, but it sounds like things are tough. And they’ll be tough for a while. So I can at least try and make some fun videos to cheer everyone up! If I do get super famous, maybe I can even support you guys somehow! Wait, I’m probably getting ahead of myself...” She chuckled and pointed at Suela. “Anyway, keep an eye on me too, Su-chan!”

Suela broke down. Her tears flowed nonstop while she sobbed. “I-I’m sorry...I tricked you...a-and kidnapped you...”

“There, there. Don’t cry,” Ruka hugged Suela and patted her head. “You’ve been through a lot, y’know? And thanks. I really mean it. Your poor hand...”

Suela shook her head, with her face still buried in Ruka’s chest.

Umm... I feel like my buttons are gonna come undone, but I can’t say anything to Su-chan about it now! She’s crying so hard, she’s not even speaking Japanese anymore...

Ruka kept comforting Suela while she tried to catch a glimpse of Ginka and Bethany.

“Suela,” said Sava, “you should be watching us— No, never mind. I do not wish to be uncouth.”

Ruka looked at him. “Uncouth? Where’d you even learn that word, Sava-san?”

◆ ◆ ◆

Three minutes had passed since their winged duel had begun. Exhaustion hit Bethany first, just as Ginka had predicted. Bethany was starting to rely on tricks like changing her position or shifting her feathers’ trajectories to make up for slowing down, and fatigue was written all over her face.

At this rate, she won’t last another minute.

“Surrender while you still can!” Ginka called out. “If we keep going, you will run out of exoforce and fall to your death!”

Bethany did not respond. She did not seem like she was going to back down either.

Ginka formed a new set of wings on her back to end their battle more quickly. Just then, the exoforce vanished from under one of Bethany’s feet—she staggered and fell.

Ginka dismissed her spear and shot exoforce out of her back to propel herself forward and down. She streaked through the night sky like a shooting star and reached out to catch Bethany.

“Did you think I ran out of exoforce?” Bethany seized Ginka’s outstretched hands.

Ginka felt like her hands were breaking. She probably would have shattered my bones if I hadn’t reinforced myself with exoforce...

There was a grim smile on Bethany’s face. “I am grateful your compassion allowed me to succeed with such an underhanded trick. I want you to come back to the alliance, no matter what it takes. I want you to spend time with us and guide us. I... I...”

“Bethany, I didn’t really think you ran out of exoforce.”

“Huh...?” Bethany’s mouth hung open.

“Materializing exoforce is not your only specialty. Manipulating it from a distance is also one of your signature skills. I’m sure there’s a knife behind me.”

Exoforce glowed from the back of Ginka’s neck, followed by a number of blindingly bright explosions. Bethany’s exoforce knife had collided with Ginka’s exoforce, and the remnants fluttered in the air like snowflakes.

Bethany looked dumbfounded. “Then... Why did you approach...?”

Ginka pulled herself free from Bethany and placed one hand on her own chest. “To give myself room to deal with an attack from behind and to stop you from falling... No, from taking your own life.”

Bethany had chosen death before. That was how Ginka knew she would rather cast aside her life than her pride. She’s free to do as she pleases, but I don’t want Ruka to feel responsible for Bethany’s death.

“I won,” said Ginka.

Bethany wore a sad smile. “You really are our beacon of hope...”

Ginka shot exoforce from her palm, and Bethany fell unconscious with a jolt. She threw Bethany’s body over her shoulder and headed back to the hotel.

Ruka and Suela are waiting.

◆ ◆ ◆

Ruka watched the silver fireworks fade into darkness. Even though she knew Ginka would win, she was still relieved to see Ginka carrying Bethany into the hotel and not the other way around.

Ruka got off the bed to let Ginka set Bethany down and gestured for Suela to follow. Bessan’s knocked out, and she looks so pale. I feel bad for her.

“Ginka, I gotta make sure... You didn’t kill her, right?” Ruka asked.

Ginka nodded. “Correct. She’s strong, so she should wake soon.”

Bethany’s eye fluttered open. “Why...?”

“Too soon...” Ginka mumbled.

“Why? Why won’t you come back...? You’re the perfect vampire hunter... You should be with the alliance...” There were tears in Bethany’s pale blue eye.

Ruka could almost feel Bethany’s regret and frustration, but—as someone who wanted to be with Ginka—she couldn’t say anything to her right now. The other hunters in the room had given up on Bethany’s plan, so they had to stay quiet too. The only person in the world who could answer that question was Ginka Shijunana.

Ginka sighed. “Bethany, I am not perfect.” She spoke quietly, but the night breeze seemed to carry her voice through the room. “I failed to notice Ruka’s kidnapping, and I would not have made it here without Suela’s assistance. I also struggle with school life, and I tend to use exoforce as soon as I encounter a problem... In other words, I am still a novice.”

Then Ginka laughed at herself.

Ruka was surprised, but everyone else looked absolutely shocked. Suela’s eyes were wide open, and Sava’s and Ei’s jaws had dropped.

“Over the past few days,” Ginka continued, “I have been thinking about the problems hunters face, how the alliance is organized and structured, and the way all of that conflicts with living a normal life... It is incredibly difficult for hunters to live as civilians. Doing so is unprecedented, and it’s easy to assume every hunter would want to rejoin the alliance.” She paused to look at Ruka.

Hm? Why do I feel like she’s trying to thank me? Ruka wondered.

“I will become that precedent,” said Ginka. “I will show hunters how to live in peace now that our endless war is over.”

Becoming an example for hunters having trouble with everyday life... That’s Ginka’s dream! That’s so perfectly her. Ruka found herself tearing up and did her best not to cry.

Ginka turned to face the other hunters. “That is why I will not return to the alliance.”

The room fell silent. The Silver Dancer Reclamation Plan had failed—everyone knew that now. Suela sobbed, while Sava and Ei sighed.

Bethany turned her head to look at Ruka. “A word, Miss Moriki...?”

Ruka moved closer to the bed.

“L-Let me...” The hunter’s voice faltered. “Let me apologize to you.”

“Right...” I don’t think she hates me, but I bet she thinks I stole Ginka from her...

“I have two things...to say to you...”

“O-Okay. What are they?”

“Take care...of Lady Ginka...”

She sounds so sad and frustrated still... Ginka saved her, so she devoted her life to Ginka in return. Telling me to take care of Ginka—leaving her in my hands—probably took a ton of resolve.

“I will,” Ruka told Bethany.

Bethany’s smile was genuine and full of relief, and Ruka thought she looked beautiful.

“There’s...one more thing...I wish to say...” Bethany said, her voice growing quiet.

Ruka braced herself. She’s gonna be upset or at least complain, right? I’m sure she still has complicated feelings about all this.

“Bessan doesn’t sound cute... Could you stop calling me that...?”

“That’s what you wanted to say?!” Okay, I did not think she worried about stuff like that, but I totally get it. Ruka tapped her chin a few times. “Hmm... What about Becchamu?”

“Becchamu... Is that cute...?”

“Yup, super cute! It’s perfect for you, Becchamu!”

“Very well...” Bethany sounded tired. She closed her eye and drifted off to sleep.

We did it! The battle’s over, and we can all go back to normal! Ruka was thrilled when she realized this, but she noticed Ginka sighing.

“We still need to deal with cleanup...” Ginka muttered.

Ruka looked all around her. Every single piece of furniture except for the bed Bethany was on had been damaged. The room was a total wreck.

“Suela, contact the alliance,” said Ginka. “You may frame this as an urgent matter at your discretion. Sava and Ei, if you truly do not intend to resist, then clean up this room and watch over Bethany. As for me...I’ll take Ruka home first.”

Ruka felt something tickling her leg before she saw Ginka grabbing the hem of her skirt. I feel like this shows she’s really worried about me, which makes me happy— Wait, my skirt’s gonna come off if she doesn’t let go!

“Ginka, Ginka! Maybe grab this instead?” Ruka took Ginka’s hand off her skirt and put it on her wrist instead.

Ginka held on tight.

Aw, she really loves me! Ruka giggled.

Suela brought Ruka her shoes and bag. The huge crack on Ruka’s phone screen made her want to cry, but something else popped into her head. “By the way, where are we?”

“Hmm? Oh...” Ginka named a prefecture famous for its peanuts and amusement parks.

Wow, they took me pretty far. I was planning on coming here later this summer, but since we’re already here... “Why don’t we go to T. D. Resort or T. D. Sea? We can catch the parade!”

Ginka froze. “A-Are you serious?!”

Ruka looked at her, then at everyone else. Why does everyone look so awkward? Oh, maybe I got too fired up... But what’s wrong with that?! It’s summer vacation!

“Let’s save that for later. Summer vacation is just beginning, after all,” said Ginka.

“That better be a pledget...” Ruka grumbled and let Ginka pull her out of the hotel room.

As they waited for the elevator, Ruka smiled. “Ginka.”

“What is it?” Ginka asked.

“Thanks for coming.”

“You’re welcome...”

Ruka grinned as the elevator arrived.

Epilogue

Bethany had kidnapped Ruka to make her see how hunters fight. Getting her onboard with the Silver Dancer Reclamation Plan was just a bonus, because the real goal was to drive a wedge between Ruka and Ginka. By making a civilian like Ruka see how intense Ginka was in battle, Ruka would be too scared to be friends with her. That would then make Ginka go back to the alliance.

Of course, Bethany’s expectations were all wrong. Ruka would never be scared of Ginka no matter what, but she still felt kind of bad for ruining the plan and making everyone confused with her influencer announcement.

Bethany’s team had given up, and she had lost to Ginka in a one-on-one fight. After that, Ginka had decided not to go back to the alliance. That made Ruka feel bad too, because she knew all of that had probably played out like a nightmare for Bethany. But she had a gentle look on her face after she’d heard Ginka’s dream.

Becoming a role model for hunters who wanna live a normal life... Ginka’s dream will definitely help a bunch of other hunters. I really wanna support her on this. She’s my friend, plus I told Becchamu I’d take care of her... Su-chan’s counting on me to help Ginka too. And, of course, I’m gonna give my own dream everything I’ve got!

That night, after her bath, Ruka sent a message to her group chat with Meiri, Hinaru, and Ginka.

Ruka: I’m gonna become an influencer!!!

Meiri: ...

Meiri: Did you forget what we told you already?

Meiri: You’re not cut out for it, give up

Hinaru: (“Give up” sticker)

Ruka: But I made up my mind

Meiri: You can’t handle it

Meiri: It’s dangerous

Hinaru: (“Danger!” sticker)

Hinaru: (“Danger!” sticker)

Hinaru: (“Danger!” sticker)

Ginka Shijunana: I understand your concerns, but please hear her out.

Ginka Shijunana: Ruka has carefully considered this in her own way.

Meiri: ...

Meiri: Guess I can listen to what you wanna say

Hinaru: (“Okay, fine...” sticker)

Ruka: Thanks for worrying about me

Ruka: But this is the first time I feel like I want something

Ruka: Even if I fail

Ruka: This is MY dream

Hinaru: (“Hmm” sticker)

Hinaru: (“Thinking” sticker)

Meiri: Do what you want

Meiri: Just don’t expect us to save you

Meiri: ...

Meiri: But we’ll cheer for you I guess

Hinaru: (“Hooray! Hooray!” sticker)

Ruka smiled and sent a “thanks” sticker to the group.

A few days later, Ruka and Ginka went to the airport. Ruka got all worked up and started running around because she was too excited about her first time in an airport, so Ginka had to grab her arm and drag her along.

I kinda feel like she’s been treating me like a big dog or a little kid ever since I got kidnapped, but it’s fine. She’s just worried, so I’ll put up with it.

In the departure lobby, they found a girl with blazing red hair sitting on a bench. She was wearing a familiar black outfit, and she had a suitcase with her.

“Howdy, Su-chan!”

“We came to see you off, Suela.”

Suela tried to run away as soon as she heard Ruka and Ginka. But she had nowhere to go, and there was someone in a dark suit watching her anyway, so she gave up and sat back down. “I-I am grateful the two of you came, but I am not worth your time...”

“Wow! So gloomy!” said Ruka.

The other members of the surveillance team were helping the Japan branch of the alliance deal with the aftermath of what they had done. Ginka had spoken up for them, so their punishment was reduced to a reprimand and a pay cut.

But the alliance was letting Suela go back to England, because she had done the least for Bethany’s plan. Ruka really wanted to cheer her up before she left Japan, though. She knew Suela still felt awkward and depressed about what had happened, because Suela hadn’t contacted her or Ginka at all since then.

Ruka bumped Ginka’s shoulder to get her to talk.

Ginka nodded. “Suela, there is something I must say.”

“Y-Yes?!”

“You committed a crime and allowed others to make your decisions. Once you return to headquarters, you will need to accept your punishment for breaking the precepts—”

“Ginka, Ginka, Ginka...” Ruka shook her head. “You should say what you actually wanna say. You’re just making her cry with all that, y’know.”

“Ah, my apologies...” Ginka cleared her throat. “A lot happened, but you made the right decision in the end. I acknowledge that much, and Ruka agrees... Suela, you are a fine vampire hunter.”

“L-Lady Ginka...” The look on Suela’s face was as clear and bright as a blue summer sky, while tears flowed from her eyes.

Whoa, she’s crying as hard as she was in the hotel! thought Ruka. Ginka’s super powerful, huh...

Suela patted her face with her handkerchief and looked up. “Lady Ruka, I have a confession.”

“A confession?!” Ruka squawked. “Y-You’re confessing to me, Su-chan?”

“Y-Yes...? Huh? Is that so strange?”

“I mean, I need time to prepare myself, like, mentally. I never expected you to, y’know—”

Ginka cut in. “Ruka, not all confessions are romantic in nature.”

“Oh... That was a huge shock...” Phew! That got my heart going... Definitely not my first time being confessed to, but a middle school girl?!

Suela looked embarrassed, but it didn’t take her long to move past it. “I originally intended to bring Lady Ginka back with us...by force, if necessary. This may sound impertinent of me, but I was jealous of you, Lady Ruka. Now, after all that’s happened, I am jealous of Lady Ginka. Going to school with someone like you sounds wonderful...”

This girl’s so freakin’ cute!!! The pure smile on Suela’s face pushed Ruka over the edge. She threw her arms around Suela and wrapped her up in a big hug.

“L-Lady Ruka?! Ack—”

“It’ll happen for you, Su-chan! I’m super normal, so I know you’ll meet plenty of people like me! Don’t worry!”

“Mmf...”

“Come visit us, okay?! We gotta go to an amusement park! Ooh, I can vlog that... Wait, maybe I can visit you instead—”

“Ruka, you should let go. Suela is suffocating in your chest.” Ginka pulled Ruka off Suela, who wobbled in place with her mouth hanging open.

Soon, it was time for Suela to go. She headed toward the gate with her suitcase and the hunter assigned to watch her. Before she disappeared from sight, she turned around, waved, and shouted, “Let’s meet again, Lady Ginka and Lady Ruka!”

As Ruka waved back, she realized something. Damn, I forgot to tell Su-chan to call me Ruka-oneechan!!!

Outside the airport, the blue sky seemed to go on forever. Ruka was wearing a straw hat, a corset tank top, and a short wrap skirt, but her summery outfit didn’t make her feel any less warm or more relaxed.

Ginka wore a black tee and skinny jeans. With her silver hair and pale skin, she looked like she was in a rock band or something. The heat didn’t seem to bother her at all, and Ruka wondered if it was because of her training or her exoforce.

Ginka looked at her. “Ruka, what are you smiling about?”

“You’re not sweating at all. It’s funny.”

“Hmm? But I’m always like this...”

They arrived at their bus stop, and Ruka stood in the shade and fanned herself with her hat to cool down.

“Ruka, thanks...for what you did...” Ginka muttered.

She’s super embarrassed, but I don’t know what she’s talking about! This heat’s frying my brain, so I should just ask her... “What do you mean?”

“When you said you wanted to be together... I want to stay with you too.”

I was thinking I should’ve told her that sooner, but maybe my timing was actually really good? Ruka grinned and fanned Ginka’s face with her hat. “We’re pals, Ginka. Of course I wanna be together!”

Ginka’s smile reminded Ruka how pretty her friend was.

“And hey,” Ruka added, “no need to thank me. You’re gonna help me with the influencer thing, y’know.”

“Huh?!” Ginka’s eyes went wide.

“Whoa, scary! Don’t go into hunter mode!”

“I’m the one who’s scared. You never told me about this.”

“’Cause I just came up with it!” Ruka said with a laugh.

Ginka pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ruka, as I’ve told you again and again, I cannot appear in photos or videos due to the precepts.”

“Yeah, I know. But you can help out behind the scenes!”

“Behind the scenes?”

“Yup. Influencers have helpers for filming and editing. As a super high school student, you’ll be great at whatever you do for me! Hee hee!”

Ginka covered her face with her hands like she’d just heard the world was ending.

“I’ll pay you!” Ruka suggested. “We’ll split whatever we get down the middle!”

Ginka stared at her. “Y-You intend to monetize?”

Ruka tilted her head.

Ginka sighed. “Monetization refers to earning profits from your videos. To monetize on social media platforms, you need to overcome a number of obstacles in terms of follower and view count... Do you...not understand that...?”

“Wait, you don’t get money just for doing it?!”

“Of course not.”

“For real?! Hold on, why do you know so much? Did you look into it for me?!”

It took Ginka a moment to answer. “At any rate, you’ll need to do more research yourself.”

“Roger that!”

Their silly conversation continued as they waited for their bus. Neither of them would remember what they talked about later, but they both had more fun than ever.

On the bus, Ruka thought about how Ginka had said she wanted to be together too.

I wanna tell her how that makes me feel someday, like Ginka did when she thanked me for what I said...because it made me so, so happy.

Afterword

Hello. This is Wasan Kurata. Thank you so much for reading volume 2 of This Gyaru’s Got a Thing for...Vampire Hunters?!

Once again, I wrote a story about the friendship between a city gyaru named Ruka Moriki and the half-retired vampire hunter Ginka Shijunana. I focused on making everything cheerful, fun, and energetic last time. In this volume, I added power—what is it, and what does it mean to be powerful? That makes this story a little more serious, but don’t worry. I added more gyaru power too! For example, I researched summer gyaru culture for volume 2. I had expected special makeup and fashion, but I didn’t think there were things like summer-specific manicures... Summer gyaru are super powerful!

On the vampire hunter side of things, the story is still an epilogue. Specifically, chaos and confusion in the alliance lead hunters down the wrong path. But since they’re good people at heart, they’re not very good at being villains. I do hope you can forgive them for being foolish and clumsy.

I also have a few additional comments about this volume. There’s a part in the story where Ruka thinks that wet suits and rash guards are out of the question for going to the beach, but that’s just her personal opinion. Those are good options for protecting yourself against reefs or jellyfish, so it really depends on what you need.

Then there’s the part about the dance club not participating in their spring or summer competitions. This story does take place before the second half of July, when high school summer tournaments and competitions usually happen. But they would’ve had to register by May, so it makes sense for them to sit this one out.

Oh, about the word “influencer”... If you’re reading this maybe a few years from now, and influencers aren’t called that anymore, please do substitute a more current term in your head while reading this story. But, to be honest, the fact that someone might be reading this in the near and distant future feels like an honor and a privilege!

I would like to conclude by offering my thanks to the following people: Kewi Hayashi-sama, who made this story even more powerful with their illustrations once again; the editorial department at GA Bunko and my incredibly reliable editor, Jo-sama, who always has abundant knowledge and precise advice for me; and everyone who worked on the production of this book.

To each and every reader, thank you so very much. Let us meet again as the gentle breeze blows.

Wasan Kurata