The first encounter

"Man, you've got to be kidding me!" Yukio laughed, nearly doubling over as he tossed a crumpled paper ball at his friend. The ball hit its mark, bouncing off Kai Takumi's head as he sprawled on the bed, grinning at the ceiling.

"I'm telling you, dude, she was all over me," Kai replied, his voice dripping with exaggerated bravado. "I mean, who can resist this charming smile?" He flashed his teeth in a wide grin, causing Yukio to snort.

"Yeah, right," Yukio shot back, chuckling as he grabbed another paper ball. "Pretty sure she was just trying to see if you were still conscious after that lame pickup line you tried at the cafe."

Kai threw a pillow at Yukio in mock offense. "That line was gold! 'Are you a vampire? Because my heart just stopped when I saw you.' Classic!"

Yukio dodged the pillow, laughing harder. "Classic cringe, you mean. I'm pretty sure you've scared off more girls than you've charmed with that one."

Kai just grinned wider. "You know, you're just jealous because I'm brave enough to try it. And speaking of bravery, tomorrow's the big day, man! We're about to step into the halls of Valewood Academy. You ready?"

Yukio rolled his eyes, but a smile played on his lips. Valewood Academy—the most prestigious university in the world, where both humans and vampires studied side by side. It was a place where the brightest minds learned about magic, technology, and the ancient histories that bound their two races together. Getting into Valewood was a dream come true, but it also meant stepping into a world filled with the elite of both societies.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Yukio said, leaning back in his chair. "But seriously, Kai, are we really prepared for this? I mean, it's Valewood. The place where geniuses and royalty hang out. And we're just... well, us."

Kai waved his hand dismissively. "Come on, man, we're not just 'us.' We're the future! The next big thing! Or, you know, at least the next big troublemakers. And speaking of which," he added with a mischievous grin, "you think there'll be any royal hotties in our class? Like, what if we run into one of those vampire princesses? I heard they're not just beautiful but deadly too."

Yukio snorted, shaking his head. "You have the weirdest priorities. We're about to start at the top university in the world, and you're thinking about picking up vampire princesses?"

Kai grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Hey, someone's gotta keep things interesting, right? But seriously, man, I'm just excited. It's not every day you get to rub shoulders with royalty and genius wizards. Plus, think of the stories we'll have to tell!"

Yukio chuckled, though his mind drifted to the next day. It was a huge step, leaving behind the familiar comforts of home and stepping into a world that was both thrilling and intimidating. But he was ready—or at least he thought he was.

The hours ticked by as they continued to joke around, swapping stories of the girls they'd met and the ones they'd never dared to approach. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and the kind of lighthearted teasing that only best friends could share.

"I still can't believe you tried to chat up that one girl at the party last month," Yukio said, shaking his head in disbelief. "You do realize she was way out of your league, right?"

Kai shrugged, grinning. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, man. Besides, she smiled at me! That's gotta count for something."

"Yeah, right before she walked away with that other guy," Yukio shot back, smirking. "You really know how to pick 'em, Kai."

"Hey, at least I try," Kai retorted, tossing another pillow at Yukio. "Unlike some people who spend all their time with their nose in a book. When was the last time you even talked to a girl?"

Yukio laughed, catching the pillow and throwing it back. "Probably the last time you got a date—which, if I remember correctly, was never."

Kai clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch, man. That cuts deep. But don't worry, once we're at Valewood, I'm gonna be swimming in attention. You'll see."

"Right," Yukio said with a grin. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Finally, around 3 AM, Kai yawned loudly, stretching out his arms. "Alright, man, we should probably hit the sack. We've got a big day tomorrow, and I'd rather not show up looking like a zombie."

Yukio nodded, though a grin still played on his lips. "Yeah, wouldn't want to scare off those vampire princesses with your ugly mug."

"Ha! Speak for yourself," Kai retorted, rolling over to face the wall. "Night, bro. Tomorrow's gonna be epic."

"Night, Kai," Yukio replied, turning off the lights and sinking into his bed.

But despite their good intentions, the late-night conversation had them oversleeping. The next morning, Yukio's eyes shot open, the sunlight streaming through the curtains like a cruel reminder of the time.

"Damn it!" Yukio cursed as he scrambled out of bed, his heart racing. He glanced at the clock, his stomach sinking as he saw how late it was.

"Kai! Get up, we're late!" he shouted, throwing a pillow at his still-snoozing friend.

Kai groaned, rubbing his eyes as he slowly sat up. "What time is it?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.

"Late enough that we're gonna miss our first day at Valewood!" Yukio replied, already grabbing his clothes and throwing them on haphazardly.

That seemed to wake Kai up. "Crap!" he exclaimed, stumbling out of bed and grabbing the nearest pair of pants. "This is not how I imagined our first day going."

The two of them scrambled around the room, throwing on clothes and grabbing their bags, all while trying not to trip over each other. Within minutes, they were out the door, racing down the street toward the academy.

Valewood Academy was a sprawling campus, its ancient stone buildings covered in ivy and surrounded by lush gardens. The towering spires and grand arches made it look more like a castle than a university. As they approached the gates, Yukio couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and anxiety. They were finally here, but they were already late.

They sprinted through the gates, Kai leading the way as they weaved through the crowds of students. Most of the students were already heading to their classes, and a few gave them curious looks as they rushed by.

"Which way is it?" Yukio panted, trying to keep up with Kai.

"I think it's this way!" Kai called back, though his voice was uncertain.

They rounded a corner, nearly colliding with a group of students who barely managed to jump out of the way. Apologizing hurriedly, they kept running, the clock ticking down in their heads.

But in their frantic dash, neither of them noticed the figure they were about to collide with until it was too late.

Yukio, sprinting ahead, crashed headlong into someone, sending both of them sprawling to the ground. His breath caught in his throat as he realized who he had just run into—a girl with striking features, pale skin, and long, light pink and red hair that flowed like silk. Her blue eyes, sharp and intense, widened in surprise as they fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Time seemed to slow as Yukio realized his hand had landed in a very awkward place—right on her chest. His face turned bright red as he quickly pulled his hand away, stammering an apology.

"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't see you, I was—" Yukio started, his voice shaky.

The girl stared at him, her expression unreadable as she pushed herself up. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Yukio's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of panic and embarrassment flooding his senses.

But before he could say anything else, Kai caught up and immediately burst out laughing. "Dude, did you seriously just grab her— b**bs" he choked out between laughs, unable to finish the sentence.

Yukio shot Kai a withering glare, his face burning with shame. "Shut up, Kai!" he hissed, trying to salvage the situation.

The girl, now standing, dusted herself off with an air of cold composure. Her piercing gaze shifted from Yukio to Kai, her lips forming a tight, disapproving line.

"Do you have any idea who I am?" she asked, her voice calm but with an edge that sent chills down Yukio's spine.

Yukio opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. He was completely mortified, and the look on the girl's face wasn't helping.

Kai, still struggling to contain his laughter, finally managed to speak. "Uh, sorry about that, princess. My friend here is just really clumsy. But hey, it's not every day you get to meet a royal up close and personal, right?"

Yukio felt like the ground was about to swallow him whole. He couldn't believe Kai was making jokes right now, especially after what just happened.

The girl's eyes narrowed slightly at the word "princess." Yukio's heart sank even further as he realized just who he had run into—literally.

This wasn't just any girl. This was Asiha Valeria, the third daughter of the current vampire queen. A member of the royal vampire family, and someone Yukio definitely didn't want to be on the bad side of.

Asiha didn't say anything for a moment, her gaze lingering on Yukio, making him squirm. Finally, she spoke, her voice cool and controlled.

"I suggest you watch where you're going next time," she said, her tone icy but with an underlying hint of amusement. "Not everyone would be as forgiving as I am."

Yukio quickly nodded, still too flustered to say anything coherent. "Y-Yes, of course. I'm really sorry, Princess Asiha. It won't happen again."

Asiha's lips curled into a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "See that it doesn't," she replied, before turning on her heel and walking away, her long hair swaying behind her like a dark curtain.

Just as Yukio began to let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, another girl stepped forward, her presence commanding attention. She had auburn hair that cascaded down her back in waves, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. She had seen the whole thing and was more than eager to share her thoughts.

"Oh my, Asiha, did you let him get away with that?" she teased, her voice playful. "I think he's rather lucky you didn't rip his arm off right then and there."

Asiha paused and looked back at Yukio, a small, almost imperceptible smirk on her lips. "Perhaps I'm feeling generous today, Alya," she responded dryly. "Besides, accidents do happen, don't they?"

Alya turned her gaze to Yukio and Kai, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, boys, you've certainly made an impression. Just make sure you don't go around grabbing anyone else, or you might not be so lucky next time." She winked at Yukio before turning to follow Asiha.

"Uh, w-wait!" Yukio called after them, his voice cracking slightly. "I really didn't mean to... It was an accident!"

Alya turned her head slightly, her expression one of exaggerated surprise. "Oh, really? An accident, you say? How convenient," she said with mock seriousness. "Well, Yukio, I suggest you keep those 'accidents' to yourself from now on. Otherwise, you might end up in more trouble than you bargained for."

"Yeah," Kai chimed in, still grinning like a fool. "Wouldn't want to lose those hands of yours, buddy!"

Yukio shot him another glare before turning back to the girls. "Look, I—"

Before he could finish, Alya interrupted him with a wave of her hand. "Relax, Yukio. We're just messing with you. But seriously, try not to make a habit of it."

Asiha said nothing, only giving Yukio a final glance before continuing on her way. Alya lingered for a moment longer, her smile lingering as she looked between the two boys.

"You two are something else," she remarked, shaking her head slightly. "First day at Valewood, and you're already causing a scene. I'll be keeping an eye on you two. Try not to disappoint."

With that, she turned and followed Asiha, her laughter trailing behind her.

Kai finally managed to catch his breath, though he was still grinning from ear to ear. "Dude, that was intense. You sure know how to make an entrance!"

Yukio sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, his face still flushed with embarrassment. "Yeah, well, that's definitely not how I wanted to start our first day at Valewood."

"Could've been worse," Kai said, clapping him on the shoulder. "At least you didn't end up as a vampire snack. And hey, you got to meet two vampire royals on your first day! That's gotta be some kind of record."

Yukio rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Let's just get to class before we end up getting into more trouble."

The two of them quickly gathered their things and made their way to their first class, Yukio still feeling the weight of what had just happened. As they walked, he couldn't help but glance back in the direction Asiha and Alya had gone, wondering what the rest of the day—and their time at Valewood—would have in store.

One thing was for sure: his life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.