The day was settling into a familiar, albeit difficult pattern. Morning csses were a blur of papers, questions, and the occasional intriguing look at Yumeji Academy's supernatural complexities. I was still processing everything that had happened earlier in lunch. Kiyomi’s tea party invitation, Hiroshi’s teasing, and Tsukiko’s sudden appearance—it was a lot to take in. By the time the bell sounded, signifying the first break of the day, I was eager for a break.

  Tsukiko approached my desk, her face calm yet unreadable.

  "Kazuki," she whispered, her voice low enough for only me to hear. "I need to speak with you."

  I nodded and followed her out of the cssroom to a quiet area of the hall. She turned to face me, her gaze sharp.

  "What did you discuss with Kiyomi and Hiroshi earlier?"" she asked.

  "Not much," I said, startled by her tone. "Kiyomi invited me to a tea party, and Hiroshi was just… being Hiroshi, despite his small stature."

  "Did you mention our agreement to them?" Her eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Well, yeah," I replied nervously. "I told them I am your servant. Is that a problem?"

  Tsukiko sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Kazuki, you need to be careful about what you say. Our arrangement is not something to be shared lightly.”

  “Why not?” I asked, genuinely curious.

  “Because it draws attention,” she replied, her tone firm. “Being associated with the Kurohana family comes with expectations—and risks. There are those who would see our bond as an opportunity or a threat. The fewer people who know the details, the safer you’ll be.”

  Her words sent a chill down my spine. “I didn’t think it was that serious. I’ll be careful next time.”

  “Good,” she replied, her expression softening slightly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to during the break.”

  She turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

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  After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to head to the comfort room to clear my head. As I washed my hands at the sink, I reached into my pocket for my wallet—a habit I’d developed after years of carefully managing what little money I had. But my fingers came up empty.

  “Where…?” I muttered, patting my other pockets. A flicker of panic set in as I realized it was gone.

  My mind raced as I retraced my steps. I had it during the morning break, right? Perhaps I dropped it somewhere in the cssroom or the hallway. I raced out without spending any more time, searching the floor and muttering apologies as I squeezed past students.

  Just as I turned a corner, I collided with someone, sending us both stumbling back, nded on our buttocks.

  “I’m so sorry!” I blurted, bowing instinctively.

  “It’s fine,” a soft, melodic voice replied, brushing off my hurried apology.

  I looked up and froze.

  The female standing in front of me was stunning, with her long silver hair streaming over her shoulders like moonlight. Her delicate purple eyes appeared to glimmer with an otherworldly aspect. She wore the academy uniform with grace, as if it had been designed specifically for her.

  “Are you alright?” she asked, tilting her head slightly as she regarded me with curiosity.

  “Y-yeah,” I stammered, still caught off guard by her presence. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

  She offered a small smile, her expression softening. “You seemed like you were in a hurry. Is something wrong?”

  “I… lost my wallet. I was just trying to retrace my steps.”

  Her eyes flickered with interest. “A lost wallet? That must be stressful. Would you like some help looking for it?”

  “Really? You don’t mind?”

  “Not at all,” she said. “It’s rare to find someone so determined to solve a problem themselves. I admire that.”

  “By the way,” she added, her tone light but curious, “you’re the new student, aren’t you? The one who came with Tsukiko Kurohana this morning.”

  My heart skipped a beat. “How do you know that?”

  “Word travels fast at Yumeji Academy. I’m Lisa Kurayami, by the way. My family runs Sekyu Technology—you’ve probably heard of us.” her smile widened ever so slightly as she makes her introduction.

  Sekyu Technology. Of course, I’d heard of them. They were one of the rgest IT companies in Japan, responsible for everything from cutting-edge software to advanced robotics.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said, bowing slightly. “I’m Kazuki Tanaka.”

  Lisa’s gaze remained steady, her smile never faltering. “It’s a pleasure, Kazuki."

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  As we walked through the halls, scanning the ground for any sign of my wallet, I noticed something strange. A student standing at the end of the hallway seemed to be watching us intently. They had an unsettling air about them, their sharp features accentuated by dark hair and piercing eyes that felt almost predatory.

  “Do you know that guy?” I asked Lisa, nodding subtly in their direction.

  She gnced over, her expression unreadable. “That’s Yukio Asano. He’s… from a prominent vampire family, though he doesn’t interact much with others.”

  Her tone carried a note of caution that sent a chill down my spine. “Should I be worried?”

  “That depends,” Lisa said, her gaze lingering on Yukio for a moment longer before turning back to me. “He’s not the type to approach someone without a reason. If he’s watching you, it’s likely because of your connection to Tsukiko.”

  “Great. Just what I needed.” I frowned, feeling a knot of unease form in my stomach.

  Lisa’s lips curved into a small smile, though her eyes remained serious. “You’re new here, Kazuki. Attention comes with the territory. But don’t let it intimidate you. You seem capable enough to handle it.”

  Her confidence in me was surprising, but I couldn’t deny that her words were reassuring.

  After a few more minutes of searching at every facilities we can think of, Lisa spotted my wallet near the entrance to the library. Relief flooded through me as I picked it up, checking its contents to make sure nothing was missing.

  “Everything intact?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” I replied, slipping it back into my pocket. “Thanks for your help, Lisa. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

  She smiled, her expression warm but thoughtful. “Consider it a favor repaid in advance. Something tells me we’ll cross paths again.”

  Before I could ask what she meant, she turned and walked away, her silver hair catching the light as she disappeared into the crowd.

  I stood there for a moment, my mind racing with questions. Who exactly was Lisa Kurayami? And why did her presence feel so… significant?

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  As I made my way back to css, Tsukiko was waiting for me at the door. Her gaze was calm but piercing, and I knew she could sense that something had happened.

  “Did something dey you?” she asked, her tone as composed as ever.

  “Uh, yeah,” I said, scratching the back of my neck. “I lost my wallet, but someone helped me find it.”

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Who?”

  “A girl named Lisa Kurayami,” I replied, watching her reaction carefully.

  For the first time, a flicker of something—concern, maybe—crossed her face. “Lisa Kurayami… Be careful around her, Kazuki. The Kurayami family is known for their… complexities. Keep your interactions with her brief.”

  I frowned, taken aback by her warning. “Why? Is she dangerous?”

  "Not in the way you might think," Tsukiko said, her voice lowering significantly. "However, her family's retionships and goals are unpredictable. So walk carefully."

  Her words left me with more questions than answers, and as we returned to the cssroom, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just stepped into another yer of Yumeji Academy’s intricate web.

  And this time, I wasn’t sure what role I was pying—or who my allies truly were.