Amidst the shadows and the secrets

Night Nineteen

Chisana hummed to herself in the quiet kitchen as she prepared two cups of tea. As she set the tray down on the table, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching and turned to see Ayato entering the kitchen, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Can I help you, Ayato?" Chisana asked warily, knowing that he was up to something. 

"Just wanted to see what you are up to, Chiwa," Ayato said, leaning against the counter. 

She shook her head, not falling for his flattery. "Well, I was just making tea for me and Reiji. Would you like some as well?" 

Ayato scoffed. "Why would I want your tea when I can have your blood?" Before she could react, he grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned in to bite her neck. 

But just as his fangs were about to pierce her skin, Laito entered the kitchen. "What are you doing, Ayato-kun?" He asked with a disapproving tone.

Ayato released her and straightened up, trying to act nonchalant. "Oh, I was just...playfully teasing Chiwa, that's all." 

"Pretending to be me? I'm otherwise teasing and all." Laito laughed in a playful tone. 

"You don't have to do that, Ayato. Just ask, why change now? Unless you have always been like this without ever showing me this side." She nodded, grateful for Laito's intervention. 

Ayato eyed the vein in her neck. "No one has bitten you yet tonight." 

"Just be careful." She agreed and moved her hair to the side by tilting her head. "And don't do that again. It was so out of character for you." 

Shaking his head, Ayato tilted her head a little more before sinking his fangs in her neck. 

Laito laughed as he saw his brother bite the girl. "Yes, leave the playfulness and perverted stuff to me." 

*** 

With the tea ready, Chisana made her way to Reiji's room and knocked on the door. 

When he opened the door and saw her, he let her inside. "You have timing." 

Setting the tray down on the table, she served him a cup. "I thought you could use a break." 

As Reiji took a sip, a grateful smile spread across his face. "How is your laptop? Did you install the Internet on it?" 

Nodding, she took the other chair and tried her tea before answering. "I have. It makes some of the homework easier. Especially essays. I'm almost done with the history essay. I can't thank you enough." 

He smiled at her. "You deserve it, Chisana. You work hard for it and you help me multiple times with other things. I haven't forgotten that trick you taught me for my laptop." He hadn't forgotten or how he liked spending the lunch breaks at school with her. "I wanted to give it to you." 

"I almost forgot. I had to wait for the water boiler so I checked the pantry." She handed him a list and sat back to finish her tea. 

He read the list and rose a brow. "Is there still so much cranberry juice?" 

"Not by me, I drink two bottles of my juice mix per night," she explained while putting her teacup down. "That's two liters in total." I see. You want to talk to Yui. "Tonight or tomorrow right after breakfast? I have no idea where she might be, and she will be in the kitchen tomorrow afternoon." 

He emptied his cup and signed her to be quiet. "Where is the other girl? If she's with someone, bring her to me." He made sure his brothers could hear him.