Red And Green (緑 と あか) (2025 Halloween Special Episode)

Amid the dark, filled with mist and murk,

Where ghouls, monsters and beasts lurk,

Tread ye lightly and carefully during this night,

One misstep will certainly result in a fright.

Be especially careful if the night becomes suddenly clear,

And chilling quiet is all that you can hear,

Looming large above, a perfectly circular moon,

A nearby shriek and scream signals your imminent doom.

❀

‘Shit.’

I hissed as my eyes darted down and across, to the source of a hot, sharp sensation emanating from my right shoulder, along with tell-tale crimson splatter.

Welp, looks like I’m gonna need yet another new outfit; that’s gotta be the third one this month, I jokingly mused in my head, attempting to distract myself from the searing pain.

I’d just cleared out a drug distribution operation of something close to twenty enemies, using almost nothing beside the tanto and supply of shuriken that I regularly carry into an operation.

Eliminating the last group of three was always going to be a tall order and I caught a round of 9mm NATO ammo from a G17 in the process, despite using of those three men as a human shield.

While Section 0 does have medics available 24 hours a day, all–year round, the pay penalties that us operatives get for using them are always really steep. The organisation does it partly to discourage unnecessary risks, but also to constantly remind us to always make good use of the countless hours of training that we’ve received.

In reality, this meant that any time I did managed to get myself injured in the field, I’d probably be found not much later on the operating bench of a squalid shithole that wouldn’t be classified as a clinic by any upstanding member of society.

Oh, how I haven’t missed doctor’s visits…

Still, I slipped my tanto back into its sheath, which as ever remained strapped to my left thigh, before quickly scampering away from the warehouse and yard, littered with motionless bodies.

I knew I’d have to tread lightly and remain cautious as I slinked across and along numerous streets and alleyways; while my filly blue and white outfit, large hoop earrings, waterlily hair accent for my side ponytail and purple hair ends would allow me to look like a fairly ordinary youngster in Shibuya or Harajuku, I was all the way down in Yokohama; I’d stick out like the sorest of sore thumbs.

At least, I would, were it a normal night.

The fuck? I could’ve sworn there was absolutely no fog while I sliced my way through that operation.

I emerged from the warehouse to find fairly thick low-level clouds obscuring even the very yard that I skittered across. Well, I suppose it’ll help conceal my presence. While the lack of people on the street means less people to spot me, it also means no crowds to hide in or distractions, to direct attentions elsewhere.

It took less than a few minutes to reach my trusty chariot; a dark grey GR Yaris, with black TE37 wheels. In a world where I had no real close relationships, the plucky hatchback was about as close as I had to a much–loved partner.

I quickly opened up and flung myself into the driver’s seat, still lightly groaning at the burning in the top of my right arm.

Much as I love my parents for making me ambidextrous and much as I love this little I3–powered rocket, the manual shifter is a bit of problem if I can only use really use my left arm.

Now, anybody who’s spent enough time around me will admit, whether they like it or not, that I’m a pretty competent driver, but even in this scenario, I knew that an intense struggle lied ahead.

Before turning the key in the ignition, I had a quick glance at my phone, swiftly navigating to the Unfortunate Flowers LINE group chat. We didn’t spend masses of time getting to know each other while were in the headquarters or training centres, so figured it’d be a good idea to create a group chat. That and pooling together our knowledge of not–so–above–board medical facilities also helped us avoid the heavy pay deduction that came with using S0’s resources.

Sumire’s found another one. Honestly; she really is the textbook image of an unfortunate flower. Such a picture of beauty, yet seemingly on the receiving end of shit more often than any of us.

Though I did care more for her than any other operative, an unmissable stinging sensation from my right–hand side quickly reeled me back to the predicament at hand.

Yanked back from my idling, I turned the key, enjoyed a brief moment of glee as the 315 PS (I may have modified it slightly, heh) G16-GTS turbo powerplant roared from its peaceful slumber and kicked down the leftmost pedal as I threw the lever that I had firmly gripped in my left hand.

❀

Much to my chagrin, the first three options on the group chat’s map had already called it a night, leaving me to travel further north through the misty night than I initially hoped to.

All the while, the fiery sensation raging in my right shoulder showed absolutely no signs of abating.

At this rate, I’m at risk of getting lead poisoning, sure—

Just as my hope began to waver, like a desert oasis, a large illuminated green plus sign caught my eye.

It’s got to be a fucking trap. No way a seemingly ordinary looking clinic is open this close to midnight.

Still, I was out of options and, more importantly, time, so I hastily parked the car outside and dashed in, totally forgetting to knock or anything.

‘Uwah.’ I’d been stopped dead in my tracks.

‘Shit. Did I just say that out loud?’

‘Yes. And you’re still speaking aloud, in case your brain still isn’t working properly.’

Despite the barb, I couldn’t help but remain frozen, with my eyes fixed to the sight.

Despite slumming it with a pot of instant ramen, her beauty left me well and truly awe–struck.

Dark green eyes with a glimmer unlike anything I’d seen in a very long time. Lovely brown hair, tied neatly into two buns, with adorable mint green ribbons flowing from each. She wore slightly dark lipstick, which looked absolutely amazing. At the lobes of her ears, she had adorable pink flower studs. Despite the mean glare that she shot my way, I couldn’t help but remain breathless as the large, round, thin–framed glasses that she wore completed the whole look perfectly.

‘Did nobody ever teach you to knock?’ she barked.

‘Um, sorry,’ I feebly replied. ‘The pain in my shoulder kinda warped my thinking.’

‘Right. Well, my clinic isn’t open at the moment and I’m kind of busy here, so, if you could, please.’

‘Ah, thank you,’ I replied, shuffling toward the recliner seat, despite the directional gesture she made with her head.

‘Um, what are you doing?’ she spat, her glare somehow turning even harsher.

‘Well, I do have something stuck in my shoulder and I was kinda hoping the incredibly beautiful young lady that’s obviously got nothing better to do could remove it.’

‘Goodness. Either you really are a dolt or the lead poisoning must have set in.’

‘Unfortunately for you, this whole mean-spirited act you’ve got going on is actually doing a stellar job at turning me on.’

‘Unfortunately for you, that makes no difference to me.’

Aside from the pain in my shoulder, the fact that she continued to so resolutely rebuke me left me feeling doubly hurt.

‘Whatever your normal rate is, I’ll pay double, up–front and I’ll even behave myself. I promise,’ I pleaded, trying my best to sound sincere despite the excruciating pulsing at the top of my right arm.

‘Fine, but for those jabs that you led with, you’re getting no anaesthetic,’ she replied, her brows finally relaxing a bit, along with her tone softening.

‘Yeah; that’s fair, I guess.’ I flashed her a cheerful smile in response, which, at that point unsurprisingly prompted no reaction from her.

I made the hefty payment and with little delay, ‘Feel free to lie back and I’ll take a look at that shoulder,’ she invited.

She swiftly put aside her food and with a lot of clattering, gathered together tools and a dish before scooting over to beside the recliner.

I think I only lasted a few minutes before passing out. Though I really wanted to savour her delightful and soft lime scent, her stunning office–like outfit and the view of her beautiful face up close, the blood loss simply thwarted me.

❀

By the time that I came to, I found a large, thick padded patch and some gauze helping keep my shoulder together, along with the metal dish then playing host to a fair bit of blood, along with metal fragments and a larger flowered piece.

Fuck; that was a close one. I looked across, to find my host back at the desk, tapping away at her laptop keyboard. Mint green and very neat square profiling; cute.

‘I like your nails; they’re really well done.’

‘Hmm?’ she replied, without glancing away for even a millisecond.

‘I mean, thank you, really. I appreciate you helping me, especially given the circumstances.’

‘Sure, you can leave now.’

‘So mean,’ I replied, with playful irritation lingering in my voice. ‘Can’t I rest here just a little longer?’

‘By all means, suit yourself, but for your own good, you shouldn’t.’

‘Hmm. I don’t know, I see no downside to taking in the exquisite sight of you for a few more moments.’

She replied with an exhausted sigh and her eyes drifted back to the screen of her laptop after looking my way for a mere few seconds. A swing and a miss; way to go, girl.

I glanced up at the clock.

‘I’m guessing it’s a really important project you’re working on if it’s almost midnight and you’re still at it.’

‘So?’

‘Ugh. I guess I think your dedication is admirable.’

‘You really should get going,’ she waywardly replied.

I opened my mouth to reply but just as I did so, I found no words.

A power cut??? That’s unheard of in Tokyo!?

Save for the scarce moonlight which beamed through the frosted glass of the front door, darkness descended on the clinic.

This lasted only briefly however.

‘And now it’s too late.’

The lights had returned and with them a sense of history repeating itself.

I quickly darted from the recliner and to my feet.

For the second time that night, I found myself frozen in place.

Her mesmerising eyes had changed slightly; previously circular pupils had been replaced by vertical slits and the brightness of her irises had increased too. Startlingly, her tights disappeared, revealing legs toned enough to compete with any S0 field operative. Their incredible disappearance also drew my attention to her feet, which in turn brought to my attention that her nail polish had turned to a very dark shade of green, along with her hair ribbons. The glow up didn’t end there either; her flower earrings had been replaced by long drop earrings with thorns, resembling a vine and slightly further up, she had two small rings near the tops of both ears.

‘I warned you, but you just wouldn’t listen and now here we are.’

She spoke with an unsettling coolness; a stark contrast to her stubborn and slightly immature tone from earlier.

‘Um, were your canine teeth always that big?’ I mischievously teased, despite the bead of sweat that started to roll down my back.

The weak attempt I made at lightened the atmosphere quickly proved wholly ineffective, as a distant scream reached my ears amid the silence.

‘All the better to pierce skin with,’ she bluntly remarked.

‘Ah, you’re a vampire? I thought they were supposed to be fictional!’

‘Like it or not, you’re about realise just how far from the truth you are.’

Her expression remained stoic. Evidently, there was no way out, other than doing what I’d been trained for years to do.

Without hesitation, I quickly reached down and retrieved from my skirt a metal flower, which zipped across the clinic in an instant.

What I witnessed next made my heart sink.

Despite a perfect connection with her immaculate forehead, right between two parts of her neat fringe, she easily plucked the shuriken from where it lodged itself, carelessly tossed it away and the wound had vanished in under a second. I’m sorry, dear shuriken.

Shit. I reflexively reached down to my left thigh.

‘Just accept it. This isn’t a battle you can win.’

Me, never one to back down or cower in the face of long odds, refused to be defeated so easily.

I raised my tanto and charged.

Despite selling her a dummy move, she ensnared me and I quickly found myself irredeemably stuck.

Her left hand against my chest and slightly catching my left breast had a grip tight enough for me to worry that any more force would almost certain fracture a bone.

‘So, this is how it ends for Myoushou Hikari, huh?’ I weakly chuckled.

‘It’s fine; you’ll only feel a sharp sting for a second time tonight. Also, it won’t turn you into a vampire yourself; that’s just a tasteless myth.’

Her voice so close to my right ear, forced my heart rate to speed up, like the engine speed of a Rally1 car setting off into a stage.

Along with her words, she also slipped the fingers of her right hand between mine, hanging at the end of arm which at that point had gone absolutely limp and not even so much because of the shoulder issue.

Caught between trembling in her inescapable grip and my heart racing because of how shamelessly turned on by the predicament I was, my mind struggled to find a response.

‘Isn’t there anybody else’s blood you could drink??’ I yelped.

‘Well, I can get away with just consuming the colour red, but blood is the best source of replenishment of my powers.’

My breathing continued to turn more ragged as the hopelessness of my situation became ever–clearer.

‘Wait.’

Wait? Honestly, the sudden objection that I managed to force surprised even myself.

‘Before you have your way with me, can I make one request?’

‘It won’t save you, but go ahead.’

‘Can I be your only?’

‘Only?’

‘The only one whose blood you drink. Surely, staying cooped up in here for countless nights must be lonely. I don’t care how many people’s blood you’ve drunk before tonight, but while I’m alive, I want you to only have mine. I don’t really care how much of it you take, so long as it’s from me only.’

A pause that seemed to last an eternity followed.

‘How bold of you. I suppose I can live with those terms.’

My heart still thumping harder than during the most intense training sessions, I watched her open mouth drift ever so slowly toward the section of my neck that she’d exposed by moving my hair away.

And this is where you begin to realise that this is a battle you can’t win, I internally replied, with a daring grin sneaking onto my face as our fates drew in.

Author's Note

The inspiration for this chapter came from an idea for an illustration for this year's Halloween special effect on Pixiv, so if you'd like a visual for the final scene then (as well as with a lot of work related to my upcoming long story) you can find it there, along with the special effect :3