The massive doors of the Kurohana mansion swung open as I stepped inside with Tsukiko. The entry hall was breathtaking—high ceilings with intricate carvings, polished marble floors that reflected the dim light of a chandelier hanging far above. I hadn’t even noticed the rain had picked up outside; all I could do was stare and admire. This wasn’t just a house; it was practically a pace.

  I barely had time to take in the surroundings before a tall, regal-looking man appeared at the top of the grand staircase. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a finely tailored suit. His gaze was piercing, commanding attention even from afar. As he descended the stairs, I felt my pulse quicken, the air around him practically shimmering with authority.

  “Kazuki Tanaka,” he said in a calm, deep voice, each word weighted with a strange power. “Welcome to the Kurohana estate. Let me introduce myself. I am Akito Kurohana, head of the Kurohana and the current CEO of the Kurohana Company.”

  Kurohana Company? Wait, 'THAT' Kurohana Company? The company that has a net worth of over 250 billion dolrs? Is this for real?

  My mouth went dry as I tried to find the right words. “Thank you… Kurohana-san. It’s… an honor to be here.”

  Akito nodded, and his gaze was as steady as a hawk’s, assessing me with a scrutiny that was unnerving. “I’m aware that this is… an unusual situation. You have questions, I’m sure, and I’ll do my best to address them. But before that, please join us for dinner. It will give us time to talk.”

  I blinked, taken aback. Dinner? I hadn’t expected an invitation, let alone from the head of one of the most influential company in Japan.

  “Uh… yes, of course,” I replied, feeling out of pce in my worn clothes amidst all this luxury.

  “Please, make yourself comfortable,” he said, gesturing down a corridor. “Tsukiko will join us shortly.”

  With that, as a cue, Tsukiko left me with Akito, that's leading me through the mansion. I followed, gncing around at the grand decor and feeling increasingly out of my depth. This was more than just wealth—it was an entirely different world.

  Akito led me to a vast dining room with a long, elegant table covered in polished silverware and gleaming crystal gsses. Each setting was immacute, as if a team of experts had arranged it with perfect precision. I took my seat cautiously, feeling like I was stepping onto a stage.

  “Please, rex,” Akito said, his expression unreadable. “Tonight, you are our guest.”

  I nodded, trying to calm my racing thoughts. As I sat, Tsukiko enters the dining room, now wearing a simple yet elegant dress that seemed to capture the low, warm lighting of the room. Her snow-white hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her pale skin seemed to glow. She moved gracefully, each step measured, as she took her seat across from me.

  “Thank you for joining us, Kazuki,” she said softly, offering a faint smile.

  “Uh, yeah. Thanks for… inviting me.” I replied, still feeling awkward.

  Just then, servers entered the room, each carrying a different dish. Ptters of food were id out before us, more extravagant than anything I’d ever seen in my life. Roasted meats, rich sauces, sads with ingredients I couldn’t even name. The aromas were incredible, each one inviting me to taste fvors I’d only dreamed about.

  As I reached out hesitantly, Akito gestured with a slight nod. “Please, eat. There’s no need to be shy.”

  I picked up my fork, my hands almost trembling as I took my first bite of a dish with some sort of truffle sauce. The fvor was indescribable—rich, earthy, and full of complexities I’d never tasted before. I had to pause, feeling a strange lump in my throat. This was the first time in my life I’d eaten food like this, and it was almost overwhelming.

  “This… this is incredible,” I managed, trying to keep my composure.

  Akito’s lips turned up slightly. “Food, like many things in life, should be savored. It is best enjoyed with company.”

  I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, but I nodded. “Thank you, Kurohana-san. Really. I’ve… never had anything like this.”

  Throughout the meal, I couldn’t help but gnce at Tsukiko from time to time. She ate gracefully, each movement elegant and refined, as if she’d been trained in proper etiquette from birth. I, on the other hand, was doing my best not to make any mistakes, each bite reminding me just how out of pce I was here.

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  Once dinner ended, we moved to a smaller sitting room down the hall. A fire crackled in the firepce, casting a warm, golden glow over the leather chairs and dark wood that filled the room. Akito gestured for me to sit, and I did, still feeling out of pce. Tsukiko took a seat beside her father, her face expressionless but her gaze focused on me.

  Akito turned to me, his expression as serious as ever. “Now, Kazuki, I believe it’s time we discuss why I’ve invited you here.”

  I sat up a bit straighter, my pulse quickening. “Yes… I’d like to know.”

  He paused, looking at me with an intensity that made the room feel smaller, as though the walls themselves were listening. “You did something the other night that very few people would do. Most would have walked by, ignoring the situation. But you chose to act. That kind of selflessness is rare, and it’s something I respect.”

  “Honestly… it didn’t seem like a big deal,” I said, trying to downpy my actions. “but I just couldn’t stand by and do nothing. It just doesn't sit right with me. So what I do is the right thing to do.”

  Akito nodded, a faint hint of approval in his expression. “Precisely. That’s why I believe you may be uniquely suited for the role I’m about to offer you.”

  My stomach did a flip. “The… role?”

  He leaned forward, his gaze steady. “I would like you to become Tsukiko’s tutor.”

  I blinked, unsure I’d heard him correctly. “Huh? I-I'm sorry, a tutor? For Tsukiko?”

  “Yes,” he replied calmly. “Tsukiko has led a sheltered life. There are things about the world outside this family that she has yet to understand. You come from a different world—one that we, in our position, no longer see clearly. I believe you could teach her.”

  I hesitated, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “But… why me? I mean, I’m just a guy working at a fast-food joint. I don’t exactly have experience as a tutor.”

  Akito’s gaze remained steady. “It’s precisely your ordinary life that makes you valuable. You understand what it means to live without the privileges my family enjoys. That perspective is invaluable.”

  Tsukiko shifted slightly, her gaze focused on me. “Father, are you certain this is necessary?”

  Akito gnced at her, his expression softening ever so slightly. “Yes, Tsukiko. It’s time for you to see the world beyond these walls.”

  I felt a strange pressure building in my chest. Here was this family—wealthy beyond anything I’d ever known—asking me, of all people, to teach their daughter. It was insane. But as I looked at Tsukiko, something in her eyes, a glint of curiosity or perhaps even longing, made me hesitate.

  “So… what exactly would I be teaching her?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

  Akito leaned back slightly, his gaze still focused on me. “You would teach her how to navigate life as an ordinary person. How to understand everyday struggles, joys, and hardships. Things she cannot learn within the walls of this mansion.”

  It was a strange request, to say the least. But before I could respond, Akito’s expression grew even more serious.

  “There is… one other thing you should know,” he said, his tone quiet yet intense.

  "W-What is it?”

  Akito’s gaze held mine, steady and unwavering. “Our family is… different. We carry a legacy, one that stretches back for centuries.”

  “A legacy?” I repeated, frowning. “What do you mean?”

  He exchanged a gnce with Tsukiko, who seemed unusually still, her gaze fixed on the floor. Finally, Akito spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper.

  “We are not human, Kazuki. The Kurohana family… are vampires.”