My Horny Stepmom Turns Me into Her Vampire Slave

Chapter 135: B - It seemed like any other morning...

"A-Aoshi... since when did you start carrying women’s handbags around?!" Takuma exclaims.

"Yeah, why don’t you explain to your friend why you came home last night carrying this gorgeous handbag?" Eliss grumbles.

"I-I’ve already told you everything! Miori gave it to me as compensation because I lost my job because of her! Anyway, I have no intention of keeping it! She should be here any minute now, and I’m giving it right back! Come on, Ayane, back me up here!"

"Yeah, Aoshi’s actually telling the truth this time — I can confirm it. Last night, Miori even saved us from that guy who was harassing you at the water park. Honestly, I never would’ve expected it... it was genuinely kind of her."

"Oh, so that story was actually true? And here I thought Aoshi had just made the whole thing up..." Eliss murmurs as the stern look on her face gradually softens. "Well, given the circumstances, I suppose I’ll have to thank her personally for that heroic deed."

Then she reaches for the handbag.

"...and if you don’t mind, I’ll be the one returning it to her."

"No way am I letting you talk to her alone!" Aoshi shoots back, tightening his grip on the handbag as Eliss tries to yank it away from him.

"And why exactly don’t you want me talking to her? Or maybe you’re the one dying for an excuse to see her again! Am I right? Admit it — you only want to return it yourself because you’re looking for an excuse to talk to her again! You shameless womanizer!"

"E-Eliss, stop it! You’re going to break it!"

Their childish squabble is interrupted by the school bell announcing the start of classes.

"It’s strange that Miori is late... that’s not like her," Ayane murmurs, glancing around.

"Yeah. She seemed perfectly fine last night. Do you think she suddenly got sick overnight? Also, I noticed she didn’t even take her ID and documents out of the wallet before giving me the bag."

"Seriously? Then if someone stops us with that handbag, the whole ’it was a gift’ excuse won’t hold up for a second. Aoshi... what if she’s not here because she went straight to the police to report it stolen?!"

"Ayane, you’re seriously starting to worry me now..."

"You’re the one who said it! With Miori, anything is possible!"

At that moment, the teacher takes his place behind the desk.

But before he can begin the lesson, a member of the administrative staff bursts into the classroom, clutching a rolled-up newspaper in one hand.

He approaches the teacher and whispers something into his ear.

A wave of murmurs spreads through the room as the students notice the teacher’s reaction.

He looks completely shaken by whatever he has just heard.

Even the students in the back rows can tell he’s visibly disturbed, which only fuels the growing buzz throughout the classroom.

"Silence!" the teacher shouts. "A member of the administrative office is here to deliver news of unprecedented gravity. I don’t want to hear a single sound!"

The staff member clears his throat and steps up to the podium microphone.

"It is with immense sorrow that — as reported today by the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun — we must inform you of the tragic death of student Miori Yukinaga, whose body was discovered this morning at the base of a cliff in the hills just outside Nagano.

She was found at dawn by a search team after her brother reported her missing.

The exact cause of death has yet to be determined, but the investigation currently points to suicide.

In light of this tragedy, I would kindly ask you all to observe a minute of silence in memory of our dear Miori Yukinaga."

Not a single sound comes from the students.

Not merely out of respect for the moment of silence, but because the shock of the announcement has rendered them completely speechless.

Including Aoshi and Ayane.

The two stare at each other with wide eyes and mouths hanging open in disbelief.

T-This... this is insane...! Why? Why would Miori ever do something like this?! She was rich, beautiful, intelligent — admired by almost everyone here... Why would someone who seemed to have everything choose to end her own life? I-It doesn’t make any sense! No, it has to be something else — maybe someone pushed her...? Yeah, maybe Kaito and that other guy followed her to get revenge... Knowing cowards like them... it wouldn’t even be surprising...

Aoshi lowers his gaze to the black rhinestone-studded handbag tucked inside a shopping bag.

Of course... now it makes sense... It was hard to believe someone like her had simply forgotten her documents. When you’re having thoughts like that, you don’t think clearly... And there I was, doubting her intentions, convinced it was some kind of trap... when it was actually her way of leaving this world without feeling indebted to me...

I’m such an idiot...

The day drags on beneath a heavy, suffocating silence.

Even the most energetic students have no desire to laugh or joke around.

And when classes finally end, Aoshi drags himself through the school gates, emotionally exhausted.

He still can’t believe what Miori has done.

And he understands even less why it hurts this much.

Pff... who would’ve thought I’d end up with tears in my eyes over the death of the person I hated more than anyone else in my life? I’m really weird, aren’t I...?

"H-Hey... you’re Aoshi, right?"

A young, flat voice pulls Aoshi from his thoughts.

He immediately turns toward the sound.

At first, the voice means nothing to him.

But the moment he sees who called out to him, he freezes.

"Y-Yeah, and you’re Miori’s brother, right? Jiro, if I remember correctly... My condolences for what happened to your sister. I mean that sincerely..." Aoshi murmurs in a calm, sorrowful voice, setting aside their past history in the face of such a tragedy.

"Y-Yeah, that’s me..." Jiro replies. "Miori told me that you two were close friends, so... well... I’d like to talk to you for a moment, if you don’t mind. And I don’t have any hostile intentions toward you, so... if it makes you feel safer, we can stay right here. It won’t take long..."

He speaks with a politeness that almost surprises Aoshi.

He seems like a completely different person from the impulsive, violent delinquent he met that night.

Though, considering what happened, that’s hardly surprising.

Miori and I were close friends? Where the hell did that come from? But this isn’t the time to worry about details.

Aoshi slowly walks over to him.

He places a hand on Jiro’s shoulder and offers him a bitter yet friendly smile.

"I don’t think this is the right place to talk. There are too many people around. Come with me."