Ch 8 - New Job and Kira's Feeling

The Phantom Kiss Café looked totally normal on the outside.

Brick walls, ivy crawling up the side, cozy little fairy lights strung across the windows.

Inside?

Yeah, inside was where sanity went to die.

"Welcome to Phantom Kiss Café~!" chirped a sweet, energetic voice.

Machio blinked, standing in the doorway with his little application form crushed in sweaty hands.

In front of him stood a gorgeous woman in a frilly white blouse and black skirt that somehow clung to her curves like it was fighting for its life.

Her caramel-brown hair was tied in a neat side ponytail, and her soft smile radiated pure, wholesome kindness.

"I'm Misaki Kurobane, the owner!" she said, bowing politely. "You're here for the part-time position?"

Machio nodded dumbly, his brain short-circuiting at her radiant aura.

Misaki giggled, covering her mouth delicately.

"You're hired! Starting tonight!"

Machio blinked again.

No interview? No background check?

Just pure, unfiltered desperation?

"I-I'll do my best!" he stammered, bowing so hard he almost cracked the floor.

Misaki smiled warmly. "Don't worry, sweetie. I take very good care of my employees."

Something in her voice made Machio shiver, but he chalked it up to nerves.

(No, Machio. It was FORESHADOWING.)

One Hour Later...

Machio stood awkwardly behind the café counter, wearing a frilly black butler uniform.

Complete with tight pants and a choker labeled "Property of Phantom Kiss."

"This isn't so bad..." he muttered, adjusting his stupidly tight collar.

Ding-dong!

The bell chimed.

Machio turned, forcing a polite smile—

—and immediately wished for death.

"Nyoho~! Machiooo~!" squealed a familiar voice.

Tachibana Natsume skipped inside, wearing an identical butler uniform, except hers was deliberately two sizes too small, weaponizing her cleavage.

And trailing behind her…

"MACHIO-KUNNN~!"

Matsumi Aihara—the insane ex-girlfriend from hell—waved a "cow print" purse, wearing a suspiciously "cat maid" version of the uniform.

Machio's soul left his body.

"W-Why are you two here?!" he cried.

"Part-time buddies~!" Tachibana cheered.

"I bribed the manager with pudding," Matsumi whispered ominously.

Machio wanted to cry.

Instead, he smiled like a hostage and handed them aprons.

The Shift From Hell Begins.

First, Machio tried to teach them the register.

Result?

Tachibana immediately rang up a $200 "kabe-don experience" for an old man, then slammed him against the wall with a wink.

Next, Machio tried teaching them table service.

Result?

Matsumi "accidentally" sat in a customer's lap and fed him parfaits.

("It's customer service, Machio-kun~!")

And finally, while Machio carried a giant tray of blood-red cocktails, Tachibana ran past him, skirt flying, panties flashing the entire café.

Result?

New Quest Unlocked:

Borner

Machio trembled violently as the System pinged in his head:

[Quest: Borner Activated!]

Survive the shift without popping an accidental boner!

Reward: +5 Willpower

Penalty: Public humiliation

Machio sweated bullets.

This was actual warfare.

He had to focus.

Just think of something not sexy!

Grandmas! Tax forms! Fish!

He turned—and accidentally face-planted straight into Tachibana's bouncing chest.

Boing.

-Quest Failed-

[Public Humiliation Engaged!]

The tray flipped, blood cocktails flying into the air like fireworks.

Machio slipped on spilled ice, performing an accidental split.

Tachibana tripped too, crashing down on top of him.

Directly on his—

"KYAAAAA~!" Tachibana shrieked, cheeks burning.

Customers applauded. Someone threw a rose.

Misaki simply clapped politely from the counter.

"Wonderful performance, Machio-kun~" she sang.

Machio lay there, his soul evaporating.

Later That Night...

Shift over, café empty, Machio wiped down tables mechanically, dead inside.

Tachibana and Matsumi bickered in the background, throwing leftover napkins at each other.

Misaki approached silently, holding two steaming mugs of tea.

"You worked hard today," she said sweetly.

Machio smiled wearily. "Thank you, Manager-san."

He reached for the tea—

—and Misaki caught his wrist.

Her eyes gleamed unnaturally red for a moment.

Her smile sharpened.

"You know..." she purred, leaning in, "I really love hard-working boys."

Machio's heart stopped.

Something clicked inside Misaki.

The Crimson Pact—Tachibana's vampiric curse—had infected her through exposure to Machio's blood earlier during the chaos.

Now, Misaki wasn't just a nice café owner anymore.

She was a sadistic demoness in disguise.

Misaki shoved him into a chair, straddling his lap gracefully.

"Since you're my precious employee..." she whispered into his ear, breath hot, "I need to properly discipline you."

Machio screamed internally.

External screaming soon followed.

Misaki tied a lace napkin around his neck like a leash, tugging it teasingly.

"This is for spilling drinks on customers," she scolded.

Snap!

Machio's dignity snapped in half.

Matsumi peeked over and clapped excitedly. "Ooh! Manager-chan's into hardcore stuff!"

Tachibana just started taking photos.

Machio wept for his ancestors.

Meanwhile, Across Town…

Azumi Araki trudged home, her pink high heels dragging along the cracked sidewalk.

Her shoulders sagged. Her beautiful face was tired.

Another job lost.

All because the convenience store manager couldn't control himself after she bent over to pick up a bag of rice.

She sniffled softly.

"I'm such a burden to Machio..."

Lost in thought, she didn't notice the figure leaning against the streetlamp.

"Konnbanwa, miss," a silky voice purred.

Azumi blinked.

Standing there, under the moonlight, was the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen.

Slender, silver-haired, crimson-eyed.

His leather jacket hung off one shoulder lazily, revealing sharp collarbones and a wicked smirk.

Kira.

In disguise.

Azumi's heart fluttered before her brain could protest.

"You look sad," Kira said, stepping closer, his scent intoxicating.

Azumi blushed. "I...I lost my job again…"

Kira gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You deserve better," he murmured, eyes half-lidded.

Azumi's knees went weak.

This child (he wasn't really a child) was more dangerous than every mailman combined.

Kira leaned closer, lips brushing her ear.

"May I...taste you?"

Azumi shivered.

"Eh—taste—?"

Before she could react, Kira gently cupped her chin, tilting her head.

He opened his mouth, sharp fangs gleaming.

But…

He hesitated.

Kira's nose caught her scent.

Warm vanilla. Sunshine. Home.

His heart thudded painfully.

What...the hell...was this feeling?

He scowled, releasing her abruptly.

"Tch," he muttered, turning on his heel.

Azumi blinked, confused.

Kira disappeared into the shadows without another word.

Azumi stood there, flustered, confused, and oddly disappointed.

Meanwhile…

Kira stormed into the massive black castle on the hill—Marshal L. Lord's domain.

He slammed his bedroom door, threw off his jacket, and flopped onto the bed, groaning.

"Stupid woman..." he mumbled.

He rolled over, burying his face in the pillow.

Her scent lingered on his hands.

His body burned with a strange, alien heat.

A playboy like him…falling for a human single mom?

"Ridiculous…" he muttered.

Yet...when he closed his eyes…

All he could see was Azumi's soft, smiling face.

Kira groaned louder, kicking his feet.

"I'M SCREWED."

And for the first time in his long, hedonistic life…

Kira didn't want to bite someone.

He wanted to court her.

Romantically.

Disastrously.

Hornily.

TO BE CONTINUED…

(Warning: Contains Lap-Sitting Punishments, Kira Experiencing First Love, and Azumi Being Unknowing of OP MILF)