Ch 44 - After Math

The morning after the Crimson Eclipse was unnaturally quiet.

Mishima High stood like a wounded beast—scarred, steaming, but alive. Burnt classrooms, half-melted stairways, lingering traces of cursed fog… it looked less like a school and more like a war memorial.

Yet, amidst the destruction, life carried on. The vending machines had been magically repaired. The cafeteria resumed service—only half the food was haunted. And Nurse Uzuki had resumed work, though no one knew how she'd survived the science block explosion. Again.

Machio Araki stood on the school rooftop, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the horizon. His left hand was bandaged. His soul-core still pulsed faintly—what was once the Harem King Aura now shimmered like a sleeping ember inside him.

The scent of melted asphalt and sakura blossoms filled the air. The city beyond seemed oblivious.

"How poetic," a voice said behind him. "Our school might as well be classified as a Class 4 war zone, and you're brooding like an anime protagonist."

Machio turned. "Morning, Veronica."

The vampire leaned against the railing, her usual flirtatious smirk softened.

"You did good yesterday," she said. "Sadistic Kick Omega? Didn't think you had it in you."

"I didn't either." He smiled faintly. "I didn't want to kill her."

"Then you've already passed half the test."

Machio looked down at his bandaged hand. "Still doesn't feel like I won. I hurt people. Lost control."

"You held back," Veronica said. "That means you care. That's rare."

There was a pause.

"…Who are you really, Veronica?" he asked.

Her expression didn't change—at least not much. But something flickered behind her eyes.

"You'll find out soon enough. Let's just say, I'm more than the hot goth transfer student who makes boob jokes and fights with lipsticks." She gave him a wink. "And I'm part of a group that's very interested in you."

"'Interested' like vampire-blood-contract interested, or 'let's groom him into a supernatural asset' interested?"

"Yes."

Before he could push further, the air shimmered, and a portal opened beside the railing. From it stepped Raka — student council vice-president by day, supernatural enforcer by night, and currently the most mysterious pain in Machio's ass.

He wore his uniform, but the air around him smelled faintly of ozone and metal.

"Araki," Raka said, sharp and curt. "We need to talk."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "What is it, Daddy Discipline?"

Raka ignored her.

"You've crossed the threshold," he said, eyes locked with Machio. "The supernatural world knows your name now. Your face was projected across twelve cursed mirrors last night. You'll be hunted. Courted. Targeted."

"And you're here to do which?"

"Forge an alliance."

Machio blinked.

"…You?"

"Don't get smug," Raka muttered. "I still think you're unstable. But you saved Dema. You resisted the curse of the Crimson Eclipse. And you didn't become the monster everyone feared. That counts for something."

Machio tilted his head. "Wait, you feared I'd become a monster?"

"Shut up."

Veronica snorted.

Raka stepped forward and offered a small, glowing card.

"What's this?"

"A sigil. Temporary pact. Allows communication and shared protection. My group… we're called the Sable Accord. Not students. Not exactly. But we operate in the shadows of Mishima. You're a liability if you stay unaffiliated."

Machio hesitated. Then accepted the card.

"Fine. But only if you tell me why you care."

Raka turned away. "Because I used to be like you. And I didn't have anyone to catch me when I fell."

Machio opened his mouth, but Raka disappeared into mist.

---

Later that day, Machio sat in the school infirmary. Dema lay sleeping, her body slowly recovering from magical backlash. Beside her, Azumi stood, arms crossed, a distant look on her face.

"She cried your name in her sleep," Azumi said, voice quieter than usual. "You did well, Machio."

He looked at her. "Are you… alright?"

Azumi gave a wry smile. "Am I ever?"

Machio chuckled.

There was a pause, then she asked softly, "Do you hate me?"

He frowned. "What?"

"For dragging you into this world. For giving you this bloodline. For disappearing when you were little."

"I don't hate you, Mom," he said. "I just want to know you."

Azumi sighed and sat beside him.

"You're stronger than I was at your age," she said. "I had to kill a vampire priest when I was fifteen. Barely survived. That was the night I awakened my core blood. Your father helped me survive the backlash."

Machio's eyes softened. "You never talk about him."

"I can't. Not yet." She looked away. "But I'll tell you this — your father believed that power without empathy is poison. That's why I kept my distance. To see if you'd grow without succumbing to arrogance."

"And? Am I poisoned?"

Azumi looked at him, then smirked. "You're annoying, reckless, and horny. But you're kind. You make people laugh. You care. You're the best of both of us."

Machio swallowed the lump in his throat.

"You think the world's going to leave me alone now?"

Azumi stood up. "No. But you won't be alone anymore."

She ruffled his hair and left.

From the shadows near the door, Kira leaned against the wall.

"She's lying."

Machio jolted. "Kira?! Were you spying?!"

Kira nodded. "Obviously."

He stepped into the light, pushing back his hoodie. His eyes were tired.

"I knew Azumi back in the day. We trained together. She saved my life once. I thought she was a cold-hearted assassin."

"She kinda is."

"But when she looks at you," Kira continued, "she's terrified. She doesn't know how to protect you. She's afraid she'll mess it up."

Machio frowned. "She already thinks she did."

Kira looked down. "Maybe we all did."

There was a pause. Then Machio stood and walked toward the window.

"I want to protect this place," he said. "Even if it's crazy. Even if the school is a cursed hellmouth. It's home."

Kira smiled. "Then I guess I'll stick around. For now."

---

Later that night, in a candle-lit classroom turned "strategy bunker," Veronica summoned her team.

Seven students appeared — some in cloaks, others dressed like normal kids. All of them were supernatural hybrids, rogue agents, or retired familiars.

Machio sat in the center, looking overwhelmed.

"You said you were more than comic relief," he whispered to her.

Veronica grinned.

"Welcome to the Eclipse Society. We keep the school standing. Usually."

"Wait... does Raka know about you guys?"

"Of course," she said. "We just don't like each other."

A boy with glasses leaned forward. "Are we really trusting the new guy?"

"He saved the school," another girl said. "That counts for something."

Machio stood up. "I don't care about ranks or factions. I just want to make sure no one dies. Not on my watch."

There was a long silence. Then Veronica stepped forward, offered a hand.

"Then welcome, Captain."

"Captain?"

"You thought we were letting you in without a little fan service?"

Machio groaned.

Everyone laughed.

---

The next morning.

The school bell rang.

Machio walked the halls like normal, ignoring the whispers, the students pointing at him like he was a celebrity or ticking time bomb.

Tachibana walked beside him, eyes half-lidded.

"You look taller," she murmured.

"Must be the trauma."

She smirked.

In the distance, Dema walked slowly through the courtyard, nodding at students. Raka watched from a balcony. Azumi sipped wine in the teacher's lounge, and Veronica practiced magic circles on the sports field.

Balance had returned.

But not for long.

In a dark corner of the city, beneath a cursed shrine, a woman with a red fan opened her eyes.

"So… the boy awakened. Just like he said."

Behind her, shadowy figures knelt.

The Crimson Court was watching.

And they were not amused.

---