The first day with the new transfer student felt… strange.
Hayate couldn't explain it.
Every few minutes, he felt a heavy presence behind him.
Not threatening.
Just… intense.
Like someone was studying him.
He slowly glanced over his shoulder.
Raiden sat calmly at his desk, one elbow resting on the table, his chin resting on his hand.
His long silver and crimson hair flowed over his shoulders like liquid silk.
His crystal eyes were half-lidded.
And they were staring directly at Hayate.
Hayate quickly turned back around.
His face turned slightly pink.
"Why does he keep looking at me…?"
Ayame suddenly slid her chair closer with a wicked grin.
"Ohhh."
Hayate jumped.
"W-What?!"
She pointed at him dramatically.
"You looked back at him!"
Hayate panicked.
"I did not!"
Ayame whispered loudly.
"You did!"
Then she leaned closer.
"The tension between you two is getting stronger."
Hayate covered his face.
"There is no tension!"
Across the aisle, Shiro sighed.
"You've been saying that for ten minutes."
Ayame smirked.
"That's because denial is the first stage of BL romance."
Hayate groaned quietly.
Behind them, Raiden listened silently.
Humans were… loud.
Especially the girl.
He glanced toward Ayame.
She suddenly froze.
For a split second, their eyes met.
A chill ran down her spine.
"…Whoa."
She whispered quietly.
"Why did that feel like I just made eye contact with a dragon?"
Shiro frowned.
"A dragon?"
Ayame shook her head.
"Never mind… but that guy is weird."
Raiden looked back at Hayate.
The scent was stronger today.
Sweet.
Pure.
Saint blood.
It had been centuries since he last smelled it.
That power sleeping inside Hayate was the same power that sealed him away.
The only power capable of breaking the seal.
Raiden's lips curved slightly.
"Perfect."
---
After School
The final bell rang.
Students rushed out of the classroom like a flood.
Ayame stretched dramatically.
"Finally! I thought that math class would kill me."
Shiro stood up.
"You say that every day."
Hayate packed his bag quietly.
Ayame turned around suddenly.
"Hey, new guy!"
Raiden looked up slowly.
She placed both hands on her desk and leaned forward.
"Do you walk home with Hayate?"
Hayate froze.
Raiden blinked once.
"…No."
Ayame clapped her hands.
"Great!"
Hayate had a terrible feeling.
Ayame pointed at Raiden.
"You do now."
Hayate nearly dropped his bag.
"W-Wait!"
Ayame smiled proudly.
"It's decided."
Shiro shook his head.
"You're unbelievable."
Ayame grinned.
"I'm cultivating romance."
Raiden watched Hayate's embarrassed face.
Interesting.
This girl was unintentionally helping him.
Raiden stood up calmly.
"Very well."
Hayate stared at him.
"You're actually coming?"
Raiden nodded once.
"I have nothing else to do."
Ayame pumped her fist.
"Yes!"
Shiro sighed.
"I'm going home before this turns into another one of her experiments."
Ayame winked.
"Too late."
---
The Walk Home
The sun was already setting.
The streets were quieter now.
Hayate walked nervously between Raiden and Ayame.
Ayame looked extremely pleased with herself.
"So Raiden," she said casually.
"Yes?"
"Where did you transfer from?"
Raiden answered without hesitation.
"Far away."
Ayame narrowed her eyes.
"That sounds suspicious."
Raiden shrugged slightly.
"I suppose it is."
Hayate laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry about her… she asks a lot of questions."
Raiden looked at him.
"I noticed."
Hayate rubbed the back of his neck.
"She's not a bad person though."
"I know."
Ayame suddenly gasped.
"WAIT."
She pointed between them again.
"You two are already defending each other!"
Hayate groaned.
Raiden remained silent.
But his attention shifted.
He felt something.
A familiar presence.
Several, actually.
Vampires.
Watching them.
From rooftops.
Alleys.
Dark corners.
Raiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Already?"
One of them whispered from the shadows.
"That boy… his blood smells divine."
Another hissed.
"The Saint bloodline survived."
"We must capture him."
Raiden sighed internally.
Annoying.
Without his powers, fighting many vampires would be troublesome.
But he couldn't let them take Hayate.
Not yet.
The street suddenly became quiet.
Too quiet.
Hayate stopped walking.
"Do you guys feel that?"
Ayame frowned.
"Feel what?"
A cold wind blew through the alley.
Then—
A figure dropped from a rooftop.
A pale man with glowing red eyes.
A vampire.
Hayate froze.
The vampire licked his lips slowly.
"What delicious blood…"
Hayate stepped back.
"What… are you…?"
The vampire lunged forward.
Fangs bared.
Hayate stumbled backwards—
But before the vampire could reach him—
A hand grabbed his throat.
Raiden.
His expression was completely emotionless.
The vampire struggled violently.
"H-How…?!"
Raiden squeezed slightly.
CRACK.
The vampire's neck snapped instantly.
His body fell lifeless to the ground.
Hayate stared in shock.
"Y-You just—"
Before he could finish—
Another vampire jumped from the darkness.
Straight toward Hayate.
Its fangs pierced his neck—
But the moment they touched his skin—
Light exploded.
Blinding white light burst from Hayate's body.
The vampire screamed in agony.
Its skin burned instantly.
"What—?!"
Hayate's eyes glowed bright blue.
Strange symbols of light spread across his skin.
Raiden's eyes widened slightly.
The Saint power had awakened.
Hayate collapsed.
Raiden caught him before he hit the ground.
Ayame stood frozen.
"What the hell just happened?!"
Raiden looked down at Hayate's unconscious face.
"…Just as I thought."
The Saint's descendant.
And the key to his freedom.
Raiden gently lifted Hayate into his arms.
Ayame blinked.
"Wait… why are you carrying him like that?"
Raiden answered calmly.
"He fainted."
Ayame stared at him suspiciously.
"…You're weird."
Raiden didn't respond.
He simply walked toward Hayate's house.
Because now he was certain of one thing.
The war that ended three hundred years ago…
Was about to begin again.