My Horny Stepmom Turns Me into Her Vampire Slave

Chapter 142: B - Ayane’s feelings

"Here’s your table, Masters. The usual?"

Aoshi and Ayane nod at the same time.

"Perfect! I’ll be right back!" the maid says with a bright smile, leaving the two of them alone in the small private room reserved for the café’s regulars.

"You weren’t even this down when Miori left..." Ayane murmurs.

"I-I’m not that down. O-Okay, maybe a little, but I guess that’s normal, right?" Aoshi replies, absentmindedly fiddling with his spoon. "I got over breaking up with Miori, and I’ll get over Eliss leaving too. It’s just a matter of time. Besides, I don’t have feelings for her. I never did. I’m sure that in a month, I won’t even remember she ever existed."

"Are you saying that to convince me, or yourself?"

"I don’t need to convince anyone. I know how I feel, and if you’re convinced I’m madly in love with Eliss, I don’t know what to tell you. Go ahead and keep believing that."

Ayane lets out a long, defeated sigh. Then she looks Aoshi straight in the eyes without saying a word.

"W-What is it, Ayane? You’re making me kinda uncomfortable..."

"You know, Aoshi... there’s something I want to show you."

"Huh? What is it?"

"It’s... a surprise, I guess. A-Anyway, close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you to, okay? D-Don’t even think about peeking — I swear I’ll punch you if I catch you."

"O-Okay, okay, calm down..." Aoshi grumbles, squeezing his eyes shut so tightly that not even the faintest sliver of light could get through.

"So... what—"

Before Aoshi can finish the question, Ayane presses her lips against his.

Minutes. Hours. Days.

Aoshi can’t tell how much time passes as their lips stay together and their tongues shyly brush against each other.

In reality, it’s only a few seconds.

But to him, it feels like an eternity.

His whole body freezes, completely stunned by the sudden, unexpected kiss.

But inside, everything is in chaos.

The soft touch of Ayane’s warm lips against his... the increasingly desperate movements of her tongue... her hands gently cupping his cheeks...

It’s too much.

Aoshi can’t even bring himself to open his eyes.

W-Why...? Why is Ayane kissing me...?This... doesn’t make any sense...

Ayane isn’t the kind of girl who’d do something like this with someone she doesn’t have feelings for.

But... to her... I’m just a close friend..I don’t understand...

Unless...

And then, a spark flashes through Aoshi’s mind.

Ayane... is in love with me... why did she wait so long?

But that’s not what matters anymore. The real question is... how do I really feel about her?

Ayane is beautiful, sweet, and kind... I’m sure that if I spent the rest of my life with her, it’d be a happy one, built on trust, loyalty, and supporting each other — three of the foundations of a lasting relationship.

But none of that answers my question.

And the fact that I’m even asking myself whether I love her is probably the answer already. Loving someone should feel natural — almost instinctive. It should come from the heart, not from overthinking it.

No... Ayane isn’t the girl I’m in love with.

Aoshi gently places his hands over Ayane’s and slowly guides them away from his face.

Then he leans back, finally breaking the kiss that felt like it would never end.

The moment their eyes meet, a crushing weight settles on his chest.

Ayane’s eyes are filled with heartbreak. They’re so swollen and red that she can barely keep them open, blurred by a thick curtain of tears.

"I-I’m sorry, Ayane... I’m so sorry..." Aoshi sobs, lowering his head and wiping away his tears with the sleeve of his hoodie.

"N-No... I’m the one who should apologize..." Ayane whispers, her voice barely audible. "I knew it... I knew you didn’t feel that way about me, but... I couldn’t keep living with the regret of never trying. For years, I was too scared of ruining our friendship to tell you how I felt. And even now — after spending weeks thinking about what I wanted to say — I was still too afraid to put it into words, so I let my actions speak for me instead... I’m pretty pathetic, aren’t I? I’ve been in love with you for two years... two whole years... and it took the fear of losing you to Miori first, and then Eliss, to finally make me confess. Otherwise... who knows how much longer I would’ve waited. Even so... I think it’s already too late. Someone else has already stolen your heart, haven’t they, Aoshi?"

"No, I don’t have feelings for Eliss. Stop with this—"

That’s what Aoshi is about to say. But he stops himself.

She found the courage to open up to me. I owe her the same honesty. If I say I don’t have feelings for Eliss, I’d be lying to her... and to myself.

"Yeah... it’s true. I’m in love with Eliss..." Aoshi finally admits, letting out a long, relieved sigh, as if a crushing weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders.

"See? That wasn’t so hard..." Ayane murmurs, her tear-soaked lips curling into a faint, fragile smile.

"Y-You’re not angry...?"

"W-Why would I be?" Ayane replies with a bitter smile. "In the end, you were honest with me, and I was honest with you — that’s what matters in a friendship, right? Besides, I can’t be mad just because you don’t feel the same way. If I was ever upset with you, it was only because you kept lying, even though it was obvious you were crazy about her."

"That’s not entirely true..." Aoshi murmurs. "I’m not talking about the times I told you I didn’t love her. I’m talking about why I kept denying it... Every time you asked me how I felt about her, my answer wasn’t really for you. It was for myself. I knew from the very beginning that she’d leave forever, so I did everything I could to keep myself from getting attached. But it’s obvious I failed... even though I kept trying to convince myself otherwise until the very end..."

Aoshi flinches when he feels Ayane’s fingers slip between his, gently squeezing his hand.

"Well... I guess you love her even more than you realized..." Ayane says sadly. "It’s true that I told you I love you, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still my closest friend. And I hope, at least a little, you still feel the same about me. I don’t want what we have to fall apart."

Then Ayane slides a hand behind Aoshi’s neck, gently pulling him closer until his forehead rests against her shoulder.

"But we’re alone now, Aoshi. You don’t have to keep bottling everything up anymore. Please... just let it out."

"T-Thank you, Ayane... thank you..." Aoshi sobs, wrapping her in the tightest hug he’s ever given her before finally breaking down in tears.

"It’s going to be okay, Aoshi — I’m here with you. I won’t let you go through this alone. I promise."