Vampires…
Himiko had heard those words countless times throughout her life, but never with such certainty.
Whenever anyone discovered what her quirk was, it was the first thought that came to their minds because she was like the perfect depiction of a vampire.
Except she was not…
All she had was a craving for blood and a quirk that allowed her to transform into whoever's blood she took.
She was not strong, neither was she fast in any way. If she was a vampire, then she would be the most basic one in existence.
'A vampire?'
Himiko took a step back, staring into his crimson eyes, as multiple thoughts raced through her mind.
Now it made sense…
The first time she had met him, their brief conversation at the vending machine was one that had been etched into her mind.
How could she forget?
It was not that there was anything particularly special about that night, it was because of the same thing she was staring at right now.
Fangs that made her wonder if they were related in any manner.
She let out a tired breath.
"You're a vampire…" she muttered under her breath.
If there was anyone in the entire world who could see things from her point of view, any soul who could see things through her lens…
Who could understand what she was going through on a daily basis, then it would be Kyle.
Tears welled up in her eyes, flowing down her cheeks while she repeatedly wiped them off.
"Himiko?" Kyle called out, his voice strained.
'This is not the reaction I was expecting…'
Kyle had expected Himiko to be ecstatic because she had found someone like her.
'Why is she crying—'
But he soon realized that those were not tears born out of grief or anguish…
Himiko lifted her face to meet his gaze, a wide smile on her face as tears rolled down her eyes, cheeks flushed red and her hair adorning the sides of her face.
…They were tears of joy.
Kyle braced himself as Himiko leaped into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"You're a vampire! Hehehe!" she laughed, lifting her hands up in glee.
Before Kyle knew it, he was laughing as well, Himiko's infectious joy enveloping him.
They were like that for a few minutes, and then finally, after her celebration, Kyle placed her on the chair next to him while he sat beside her.
Now, this was the tricky part of the day… the day he had wanted to come for so long.
===
『 Quest!』
[Quest details: Create your very first sire!]
↺ Duration: Two Weeks
✪ Rewards: New skill, 20 stat points.
✘ Failure: Nil
====
"Miko?"
"Mmhm?" she hummed, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Remember my conversation with Solvane?"
Back then he had purposely kept eye contact with her so that she would know that she was not excluded from his plans.
He wanted her to join him, but that was only if she would agree.
"How could I forget?" she grinned. "You were so passionate about 'restructuring' the world, hehe."
She paused and poked his belly. "So what are you going to do, huh? Start your own foundation or what?"
Kyle scratched his head nervously. "Well, initially I was going to destroy both the heroes and the villains…"
Himiko sprang up like a spooked cat. "What??"
Back then, Kyle had been fresh out of an accident that claimed his life. His death was due to a police officer doing too much… the people regarded as the heroes of his old world.
His decision back then had been born out of rage, but after thinking it through, he had come to a new conclusion.
Kyle's mind went back to what had happened during the UA Sports Festival.
Every single person had thrown themselves right in the face of death, just to protect the thousands of people in the stadium.
Their actions that day had replayed themselves in his mind dozens of times, especially Mirio, who had gone head-to-head with Pulse, sacrificing himself to protect Nejire.
He sighed.
'I've spent too much time with those clowns…'
Whether it was his time with the Big Three that reminded him of how genuine some heroes actually were, or if it was his rage finally settling down, Kyle was not sure.
But he was sure of one thing.
The heroes still had to go…
The current system was corrupt down to the very core. The heroes who actually had the good of the people at heart took orders from the Hero Public Safety Commission.
Individuals who acted based on their own notion of right and wrong—a corrupt organization that would not bat an eye to kill a child if they felt it was the 'right' move to make.
The current system had to go.
But maybe the heroes didn't have to disappear completely.
Kyle could most definitely suppress the heroes, but in this world, there was no shortage of evil.
As long as the concept of right and wrong exists, villains would always arise, be it petty thieves or multinational terrorists.
And to counter these villains, there was indeed a need for heroes.
As stupid as it sounded.
So instead of wiping them out…
"I'm going to destroy the current hero system and build a new one out of the remains… Well, and eviscerate all organized crime in the city."
Silence…
Himiko's eyes widened, then a worried look appeared on her face.
Although everything Kyle had said made sense to her, she was worried about his safety.
For a brief moment, she had been plunged into that world, and so she knew just how dangerous villains could be.
'I get that he is a vampire…' she mused.
'But can he really oppose them?'
She breathed out a sigh and stood up. "I understand what you mean, but villains are no longer as they used to be."
"There are two new groups of villains operating in the city: the League of Villains and the Fallen Legion."
Himiko rubbed her arm, her eyes filled with worry.
"There is even a new guy people are calling the Midnight Vigilante. They're already saying he can be on the level of All Might."
Himiko's shoulders fell. "I'm not trying to discourage you or anything, but the thought of losing you—"
Kyle smirked and pointed at himself. "Hmm? I'm the Midnight Vigilante."
Himiko blinked.
"Huh?!" her voice engulfed the entire room.
The man who had taken down Muscular and foiled the League's plans at USJ was—Kyle?!
Himiko was beyond herself in shock. It was impossible to match the image of the vigilante in her mind to the teenage boy sitting in front of her.
"You might even be weirder than me…" she grinned wryly.
Then Himiko slapped her cheeks and pumped her fists in the air.
"Alright then, I'm going to join you!"
Those were the exact words Kyle wanted to hear.
He stood up and walked up to her, his expression serious. "Then… would you like to become a true vampire?"
Kyle briefly explained all the advantages of becoming a vampire to her as well as the drawbacks that came along with it.
But it seemed there was no need to, because before he finished, Himiko replied with an emphatic yes.
She folded her arms across her chest and pouted.
"I already have cravings, which is the worst part of being a vampire… besides…"
'As a vampire, I'll have a very good excuse to drink his blood!' Himiko mused.
She cleared her throat and placed both hands on her waist, her face smug.
"How will I protect you if I can't do even this much?"
Kyle laughed lightly. "Alright then, I will graciously accept your protection, my vampire knight."
"Don't even start." she huffed as she walked up to him.
Himiko moved closer, and Kyle held her shoulders, pulling her closer to himself.
She could feel his breath tickle her neck as he inched closer, and then just before his fangs sunk in, he whispered in her ear.
"Thank you, Miko…"
Himiko's cheeks tingled red.
And then his fangs sunk deep into her neck, a sharp pain searing through the point of contact as blood gushed out of the wound.