Continuously, The World Messes with Him

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"Don't let his appearance waiver you, Hikigaya-kun! He is way older than your grandparents despite his appearance," Meme-san shouted from behind.

"I guess it is a farewell now, Hikigaya-kun," the child-looking Vampire said with a bow.

I stretched my arm as soon as he kicked the ground. It turned into a root-like appendage that quickly wrapped itself around the deceiving Vampire. I slammed him into the ground, causing him to groan painfully. Meme-san was already beside me at this point but made no move. While I was staring at the Vampire, he was staring at me.

"What are you trying to convey, shrimp?" I asked in wonder.

To my surprise, he cackled madly. "Ku-Ku-Ku…. The smell is my specialty, you know. I can manipulate smells and smell anything that can't even be smelled. Hikigaya-kun, I can smell your worry. The thing that you are very scared about which you bury deeply in your thoughts. I am telling you the solution." He smirked as he faced me. "Stop pretending to care and embrace your nature! Vampires don't belong to the human world."

If his story was true, he was hurting. He had spent some portion of his life with humans and witnessed their demise. Realizing the fragility of humans had made something in him snap. It was painful and frustrating. He must have struggled when reality dawned on him. Seeing them grow old and perish while remaining the same must have been torture. That must be enough to traumatize him.

Vampires don't belong to the human world. There was nothing wrong with that statement. However, it could not be taken literally. The world, in this case, refers to society. The world doesn't belong solely to humans. Claiming that to be the case would require you to tell everyone to which world Vampires and other creatures belong. We shared the same world but lived in a different society. Even if we couldn't ever live in the same society, there was nothing wrong with coexisting.

The conclusion that the shrimp had reached was mechanically logical. However, in another scenario, you would have to forego your brain to avoid brain cancer with that kind of logic. The shrimp was afraid of having a meaningful relationship with humans. What he had experienced scarred him so much that he hated humans for making him feel that way.

Killing humans was an absurd coping mechanism, but I didn't want to judge. Immortality was only fun for the first five decades. The world moved on, but you would feel stagnant. Everything changed whereas you remained the same. You watched as civilizations were destroyed and rebuilt. Everything around you grew, causing you to feel left out. Your attachment to everything the world had would eventually break you or force you to detach.

The shrimp was broken by his immortality. He couldn't handle the burden of being a Vampire despite being born as one.

"Pain makes both heroes and villains," I said sagely, attracting the attention of the vampire. "What makes the two different is the way they react to it. Heroes protect others so they don't feel pain whereas villains inflict pain upon others to let them know what they feel. You could have become a hero but chose otherwise. There is one simple solution to your problem, shrimp."

The said shrimp was scowling but didn't say anything. He seemed eager to know what I was about to say.

"Move on. You can kill humans in cold blood but can't move on? Ridiculous. Even if you don't want to associate yourself with humans, you could have remained indifferent. But you can't help it, can you? Some interesting humans will pop up, attracting your attention. You can't remain indifferent. If I were you, I would have formed a relationship with them and enjoyed it while it lasted. When the time is due, I will move on."

"You won't understand."

The shrimp was trying to squirm out of my hold. He looked indignant at the fact that I had dared to lecture him. I didn't have such an intention. I had merely used him as a way for me to convince myself that I was ready to carry the burden of being a Vampire who had a human family. I was showing myself what I would become if I succumbed to despair. I was unlike him. I had Kiss-Shot on my side, so I was not lonely.

"The day I understand you will be the day I end my life. I am not trying to be a hero, but I don't want to reflect my pain on others," I replied, concluding our conversation. "I will leave you to their care. It was nice to know you, scentless vampire."

As soon as I let go of the vampire, Meme-san threw a dagger at him. He staggered backward but didn't seem fatally injured. He remained fine outwardly, but most of his power was sealed. He could no longer use his Art. My focus turned to Saki who stepped forward. She reached into her cleavage and pulled out her Vampire-killing tanto. She shot forward at the Vampire, forcing him to fight her with raw strength.

The scuffle lasted only as long as one would need to brew tea. The Vampire soon found himself lying in a pool of blood and staring at Saki with a grin on his face. His grey hair was matted with blood, partly covering his face. Saki hesitated as she pointed her tanto at his chest. Her hands trembled until she got her resolve. The blade fell and pierced his chest.

As his life faded, I could smell his scent for the first time. It was not repulsive like the one I smelled from Aseru. It was very faint, tame, and calming. If I described it in that shrimp's words, I would say I smelled relief.

…

We went back to the hotel at a relaxed pace. Saki was still recovering from her first kill, so I had to carry her back to the hotel. Her stomach would churn if she walked on her own. Meme-san had been looking at me ever since I had that talk with the shrimp. He looked like he wanted to comfort me, which bemused me greatly. He should have given that look to Saki.

As soon as we reached the hotel, I called Shinobu to have her stand by in her room before carrying Saki there. Some students were looking my way as I walked through the hall, but their gaze didn't linger. Maybe, my face didn't look welcoming at this moment. Reaching Saki's room, I knocked on the door. Shinobu opened the door and then wordlessly took Saki inside.

"You might need to calm her down with your blood. She looked quite guilty after killing that childlike Vampire," I said to Shinobu as she walked back to me after tucking Saki in bed.

She cupped my cheek and caressed it tenderly. "Our roommates aren't back yet. Should I comfort you too? Whatever that filth said must have gotten to you. You look more detached than usual."

I pondered silently before asking, "From now on and for eternity, are you going to be with me?"

"I am. You shouldn't even have asked that question."

I smiled, only then realizing how tense my face had been. I caressed Shinobu's hand before kissing it softly. If nothing went wrong, Shinobu would always be with me. All I had to do was ensure no one could take her away from me. With a new determination budding inside me, I bid her farewell.

I couldn't bring myself to sleep, so I went outside. I just wanted to enjoy the night's cold wind, so I leaned on the wall and took a deep breath. A familiar scent assaulted my nose, causing me to look to the left. As if a deer caught in the headlights, Yukino looked at me. She was dressed casually like she was going to the mall. My curious gaze prompted her to sigh and walk to me.

"Good evening, Hachiman-kun," she greeted. "Your call lasted quite a while. I wonder how much Komachi-san chastised you."

"Good evening. Where are you going, Yukino?" I asked, ignoring the jab.

"I want to buy some Pan-san merch in the gift shop. I feel like I would miss it if I don't buy it now."

"We will be given free time to explore the city tomorrow. Besides, it's not that the merch will be sold out anyway."

"You are underestimating Pan-san's popularity, Hachiman-kun," Yukino rebuked, seemingly offended.

"Geez. Calm down, Yukino. I am not insulting Pan-san," I placated with a wry smile.

Another person got out of the hotel, attracting our attention. Just like Yukino, the said person looked at us as if a deer caught in the headlights. She sported a professional smile and walked toward us. I was familiar with that smile, so I knew she would offer us something.

"Good evening, Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino greeted.

"Yo, Shizuka-sensei. Sneaking out?" I remarked teasingly.

"Good evening, you two. I just feel like having some ramen. You two will join me, won't you?" Shizuka-chan spoke with a strained smile. "Let's have some ramen together and mutually forget that we see each other tonight."

"I'll go get my car. I also need some time to think."

My remark seemed to catch Yukino and Shizuka-chan off guard. They eyed me carefully but said nothing. After getting my car, I told them to get in. I asked Shizuka-chan if she already had a place in mind and, unsurprisingly, she did. Following the route that the GPS provided, I drove the car to the legendary Tenkaippin.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Bowzr

Venerable Immortal JayJonnaJamison