Vol.3 Ch.4: Yuko's Will, Kanna's Will ②

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The issue of Eli’s living situation had plagued Yuko’s thoughts throughout the entirety of the school day. Although she did her best to focus on her lessons, her thoughts would inevitably drift to the girl closed away in the storage shack. By the time the sun started leaning toward the horizon and the students were getting ready to leave school, she’d started to put together an idea.

It was Wednesday, and Yuko had a shift at the café she’d need to be getting to before long, so she didn’t have much time. Waiting at the school entrance, she quickly approached Tanabe after spotting him exiting the building.

“Murakami! Do you have practice today?” Yuko asked. It was somewhat of an obvious question, but she still felt the need to confirm it anyway.

“Yes, I do… I’ve already confirmed with the café that I can’t come in today due to practice.” Tanabe answered with a troubled expression.

The two walked side-by-side through the school gate as they spoke.

“You’d still have time to come see Eli afterwards though, right?” Yuko asked.

“We could run a bit late, but yes I could probably still stop by for a bit.” confirmed Tanabe.

“Good.” Yuko nodded. “During my break at the café today, I’m going to claim to go eat dinner with a friend, but I’ll take Eli some food for dinner during that time. I also plan to go back after my shift ends tonight because, well, I have a plan.”

“What kind of plan?” Tanabe’s head tilted out of curiosity.

“I think… I want to sneak Eli into the dorms.” Yuko declared. “I still have my old uniform from middle school, so if I bring that to her, she should be able to blend in well enough.”

Luckily, although the eastern district’s middle school and high school were different buildings with distinct students and operating procedures, the actual uniform was mostly identical. Yuko had surmised that Eli could pass for a relatively petite high school student if the need arose, and thus formulated this plan to sneak her into the high school dorms.

“It’s risky, but… Yeah, it’s probably better than having her spend another hot night out in the storage shed.” Tanabe agreed after giving it some thought.

“Glad you’re on board.” Yuko smiled.

The two had arrived at the entrance to the high school dormitory.

“Well then, I’ll see you tonight with Eli.” Yuko spoke quietly so that the nearby passing students wouldn’t overhear.

“Right.” Tanabe nodded affirmatively.

From there the two split up, each going to their respective rooms; Yuko to prepare for her shift at the café, and Tanabe to prepare for an evening of kendo training for the tournament coming up that weekend.

With their daily lives limiting their actions, the two did their best to plan around things as much as they could, all for Eli’s sake. The bizarre situation the pair had found themselves in was keeping them both busier than ever.

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While Yuko and Tanabe prepared their plan for Eli amidst their daily obligations, another group with their own situation had gathered in front of the eastern district’s clinic.

“Y-you all came… Thanks for your concern.” spoke the timid voice of Tsutomu Azuma, accompanied by a pair of health club members who were seeing him outside.

Today was the day he was being discharged; now clear to get back to his usual routine. In front of him were four other students: the members of the Student Council.

“You look well. I am relieved.” Kanna responded first, smiling warmly at the boy.

“I knew you’d get better in no time!” Shizuo Yamamura grinned, giving Tsutomu a gentle pat on the back.

“We’re so happy to have you back~! Do you want any candy to celebrate your recovery?” Megumi Ono smiled, handing him a wrapped lollipop.

“Hmph. At least this mess is behind us.” grumbled Makoto Ishigami, struggling to express his own relief over his fellow student council member’s wellbeing.

“Oh gosh… C’mon you guys…” Tsutomu blushed, feeling overwhelmed by everyone’s kind words. He gladly took Megumi’s gift with a bashful smile.

It was a positive moment for everyone involved. The last student who’d suffered from the ‘mysterious anemia incidents’ had recovered, and there haven’t been any new cases since then. However, this is exactly why Kanna Kawagoe couldn’t remain completely at ease. Especially after her close encounter Sunday night.

Why…? Why have the incidents ceased? Could the vampire be taking greater precautions due to our close encounter on Sunday? It would make sense, but I remain hesitant to write off the situation based on that logic alone…

Despite her earnest smile a moment before, Kanna’s face inevitably clouded over again with worry. Shizuo glanced over, picking up on Kanna’s troubled demeanor despite her attempts to hide it.

“Hey Prez, you good?” he asked in a hushed tone, trying not to alert the others.

“Ah, do not concern yourself with me, Yamamura.” Kanna tried to wave off his concern, but Shizuo could tell that something was troubling her.

“It’s ‘cuz we still don’t know what was happening, right?” he whispered.

“…” Kanna lowered her head in silent affirmation.

For the members of the student council, the events that unfolded Sunday night were the epitome of bizarre. For Shizuo in particular, who’d been the one to find the collapsed Azuma, and the one who most directly witnessed Kanna’s anger boil over as she dashed into the woods, he couldn’t help but feel that Kanna understood something about the situation that she still refrained from sharing with the rest.

When asked later on about what exactly she ran off to go do, Kanna would always tell them “I simply performed a search of the area to make sure no other students in need were nearby.” before quickly changing the subject. But Shizuo knew, he understood… He saw her expression that night and knew she went to go chase after someone.

Despite the fact that Shizuo knew that Kanna was hiding something, he understood that she must’ve been doing so for a reason. It’s been 3 days since the incident, and now their friend has recovered, as have all the other students who were being held in the clinic for their sudden anemia. With Kanna being the only one still visibly troubled, he could sense that this situation still wasn’t truly over.

“Prez, listen… We’re a team. We’re the student council. No matter what happens, we can resolve anything by working together. This eastern district is our turf, right? So whenever you’re ready to ask for my help, I’ll come runnin’, ‘kay?” Shizuo gave a reassuring smile to compliment is encouraging words.

“Yamamura…” Kanna couldn’t help but relax her expression and smile at his attempts to ease her worries. “Thank you. Please know that I appreciate the sentiment.”

With an affirming nod, Shizuo turned his attention back to Azuma and the others.

I truly am lucky to have such reliable, strong-willed allies by my side…

Despite Kanna’s appreciation though, she knew in her heart that she couldn’t let them get any further involved. As the sole outsider from another world called Alviquan, Kanna Kawagoe, true name Canah Crygahl, was the only person here capable of dealing with this threat native to her home world; the threat of a vampire.

She thought through the situation in her mind over and over again while remaining stagnant these past few days. She can think of no other explanation for these incidents, or the identity of the girl she glimpsed that night.

Kanna had already made the plan to do a late-night patrol of the district on her own that night. Now that the students have recovered, she knew she had to confirm the situation once and for all by hunting down the cloaked girl.

But before that, she had one other meeting to attend to. After all, she waited until today for a reason… Because she knew a certain person would arrive in the district today.

After the student council had finished chatting and making plans for the coming days, Kanna dismissed them for the day and began to head off on her own towards a certain area of the district.

I shall force the answers from your own mouth no matter what it takes, Mitsuo Tokushige…!