CHAPTER 12 thirst for blood

The crisp night air brushed against Ren's skin as he walked down the quiet street, hands stuffed in his pockets. The compound had been suffocating lately—the endless training, the same routines, the constant reminders of All For One's presence. Tonight, he needed space, somewhere to breathe and think without someone hovering over him.

His feet carried him farther than he'd intended, past closed shops and dimly lit streets, until he reached a small park on the outskirts of the neighborhood. The faint creaking of the swing set caught his attention, and he spotted a girl sitting alone, her periwinkle hair glowing faintly under the streetlights. She was swinging gently, her legs kicking lazily as she hummed a tune to herself.

Ren hesitated, unsure if he should approach. But something about her presence felt... normal, and he hadn't felt normal in a long time. He walked over, keeping his posture relaxed.

"Hey," he said, stopping a few feet from the swing.

The girl looked up, startled at first, but her expression quickly shifted to curiosity. "Oh, hi! Are you lost or something?"

Ren shook his head. "Nope. Just wandering."

She hopped off the swing and dusted off her skirt. "I like wandering too. This is my thinking spot. The stars are better here."

Ren glanced up at the sky, where only a few faint stars peeked through the city glow. "Not bad."

"I'm Nejire," she said, grinning brightly. "What's your name?"

"Ren."

She tilted her head, studying him like she was trying to solve a puzzle. "You're kinda pale. Are you okay?"

Ren laughed softly. "I'm fine. I've always looked like this."

Nejire didn't seem convinced but didn't push it either. "Where are you from? I haven't seen you around before."

"Moved here a couple of years ago," he said, sticking to his usual vague answers. "I'm not out much."

"Well, you should be!" Nejire said, grabbing the chains of the swing and leaning forward slightly. "The city's way more fun than being cooped up somewhere. Don't you think?"

Ren chuckled. "Yeah, I needed a break tonight."

She swayed slightly, her hair flowing as the breeze picked up. "So, what do you do when you're not wandering?"

"Training," Ren said without missing a beat. "It's kind of my whole life."

Nejire raised an eyebrow. "Training for what? You don't sound like an athlete."

Ren smirked faintly. "Quirk training."

"Oooh," she said, eyes lighting up. "What kind of quirk do you have?"

The question hit him harder than expected. He could've given her a basic explanation, but instead, he felt the itch return in his throat. His thirst had been growing steadily throughout their conversation, and the thought hit him: What if drinking blood actually did help?

For now, though, he kept that thought to himself. "It's complicated," he said vaguely. "I've been thinking about experimenting with it, actually. See if blood could help recharge me when I'm drained."

Nejire's nose scrunched slightly, and she laughed nervously. "Wait—you mean, like, drinking blood?"

Ren exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah. It sounds weird, I know, but it's part of how my quirk works. It drains me fast, and I've been trying to figure out how to balance it."

Nejire blinked, then burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh, you're totally a vampire, aren't you?"

Ren grinned, leaning back against the swing set's frame. "Only if it works."

Nejire giggled again, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "Okay, vampire boy. If you're serious, I can help. But only a little bit, and you have to promise not to turn into a bat or something."

Ren laughed, though his throat tightened at how quickly she had agreed. "Deal. You sure you're okay with this?"

"Well, yeah. I'm curious," she admitted. "Plus, it's kinda cool. But seriously—don't bite me, okay?"

"No biting," Ren promised.

Nejire pulled a small safety pin from her pocket, pricking her finger and wincing slightly as a bead of blood formed. "Here," she said, holding out her hand. "Just a little."

Ren's breath hitched as the scent of her blood hit him. It was sharper than he'd expected, warm and intoxicating. He gently took her hand, his fingers brushing against hers as he leaned in.

Ren leaned in slowly, his lips brushing against Nejire's fingertip as the first drop of blood touched his tongue. The metallic tang hit his senses immediately, but it wasn't the taste that overwhelmed him—it was the feeling. His body shivered as warmth spread through his veins, buzzing like electricity that jolted him awake. His muscles, his limbs, even the dull ache in his head—everything felt sharper, clearer.

He closed his eyes, drinking slowly as his grip on her hand tightened involuntarily. He could feel his pulse quickening, his body humming with a sensation that was both satisfying and addictive. The more he drank, the more powerful the warmth became, flooding every inch of him like a wave. His breathing deepened, and it took everything he had to stop himself from taking more than he needed.

Nejire shifted slightly, her cheeks flushing as she watched him. "Ren?" she whispered softly.

Her voice snapped him back to reality. He pulled back quickly, breathing heavily as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. The taste lingered, and his tongue pressed against his sharp canines, as if craving more. But he forced the urge down, swallowing hard.

Nejire's cheeks were still pink, her breath a little shaky. "That... felt weird to watch," she admitted with a nervous laugh. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Ren flexed his fingers, his body practically buzzing from the aftershock of power. The fatigue that had weighed him down earlier was gone—replaced by an overwhelming sense of strength. Even his mind felt sharper, like he could think faster and react more easily.

"Yeah," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm fine. Better, actually."

Nejire leaned forward slightly, still holding her finger. "Did it work?"

Ren nodded, still processing the sensation. "Yeah. I think it worked a little too well."

"You look different," she said, narrowing her eyes as she studied him. "Like, your eyes are glowing a bit. Is that normal?"

Ren blinked, glancing at his reflection in the nearby metal frame of the swing set. His golden eyes did seem brighter, more intense. "I guess it's part of the quirk."

Nejire giggled, twirling a strand of her hair. "Well, you definitely seem like a vampire now."

Ren smirked. "Maybe you should keep a garlic necklace on, just in case."

She laughed, the sound light and infectious. "So, are you gonna go around asking people for their blood now? Or was I the lucky first?"

"First," Ren admitted, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. "But don't worry, I'm not turning this into a habit."

"Well, if you ever need more for another experiment," Nejire said with a playful wink, "you know where to find me."

Ren grinned. "Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes."

Nejire stretched and yawned, her energy finally starting to wind down. "I should probably head home before someone realizes I'm out late."

Ren watched her skip off into the distance before turning and walking back toward the compound. His body still buzzed, and the boost in strength hadn't faded. He rolled his shoulders, marveling at how light he felt, how easy it was to move. If a few drops of blood could do this, then it was worth exploring further.

This could be the key to strengthening Blood Manipulation, it was harder to improve since it wasnt a quirk,  he thought, smirking to himself. But for now, he'd enjoy the fact that he'd discovered something new—and he wasn't done improving and testing its limits yet.