The Crimson Pact wasn't just symbolic.
When Machio woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was that the scars on his hands—left from yesterday's disastrous vampire council interference—were gone. Not healed, not faded.
Gone.
He blinked at his palms, confused. "Okay, what the hell."
Just then, the soul thread connecting him and Tachibana pulsed faintly at his chest. Almost like a heartbeat.
Or a blush.
"Don't tell me... you're watching me again," Machio whispered, looking around his room like a guilty man. "Tachibana?"
No answer.
But the moment he stood up and tried to grab a shirt, his hands moved way too fast—he accidentally pulled the shirt so hard that the hanger snapped and hit him in the face.
"…Ow. Great. Super strength. With a side of humiliation."
He stumbled into the hallway, shirtless, when the bathroom door slid open—
"AH—MACHIO!?"
There stood Azumi Araki, his drop-dead gorgeous mom, wrapped in only a towel. Her hair was dripping wet, her flushed cheeks dripping with confused rage.
And her gaze locked on his bare chest.
"Are you walking around shirtless now!?" she cried. "Put some clothes on, you perv!"
"I live here!!" he shouted back, already diving behind the couch. "You're the one with the towel ambush!"
Before either of them could finish shouting, Kira leaned over the stairs, munching dry toast. "Wow. Are we doing the accidental nudity gag this early? Classic."
"Shut up!" they both screamed.
But that incident ended in surprising peace—over breakfast, Azumi and Kira exchanged quiet looks. After so much tension, it was clear that something had shifted. Kira was no longer storming off. Azumi even poured him tea. The kind that wasn't poisoned.
"I've been thinking," Azumi finally said. "You weren't wrong, Kira. About protecting Machio. We just… do it in different ways."
Kira blinked, momentarily speechless.
Machio choked on his rice. Am I witnessing parental reconciliation!? In this house!?
Then the doorbell rang.
And everything derailed.
Standing at the door was a tall man with short silver hair, a serious gaze behind rectangular glasses, and a perfectly tailored coat.
"Excuse me," he said in a smooth voice. "I'm looking for Araki Machio."
"That's me," Machio said.
The man gave a slight bow. "I am Rei Kawashira, Hunter-Class Agent of the Shadow Ministry. I'd like to ask you a few questions. May I come in?"
Azumi, ever suspicious, blocked the door with her hip. "Hunter? What business do you have with my son?"
"Merely observation," Rei replied coolly. "Recent spiritual disturbances—and vampire traces—have been detected in this neighborhood."
Kira stiffened behind her.
Tachibana wasn't visible, but Machio could feel her presence somewhere above. Watching from the roof maybe. Which meant… Rei was here to fish for her.
"I haven't seen anything weird," Machio said quickly.
Rei stared into his eyes for a long moment, before nodding. "Very well. If anything happens, call me."
He handed over a business card—black with crimson letters: V.H.A.—Vampire Hunter Authority.
Once Rei was gone, the room fell into silence.
Until Kira muttered, "This just keeps getting messier."
Machio turned to go to his room—and walked straight into a half-naked girl in a bat-themed oversized shirt.
Tachibana.
"M-Morning," she said, yawning, not realizing her shirt had slid down her shoulder... or that the soul thread had shifted again, glowing faintly red.
Machio's brain exploded.
"WHY ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE IN YOUR PAJAMAS!?"
She raised a brow. "You formed a Crimson Pact with me, idiot. Our souls are literally linked. And I was cold."
"That's not an excuse for walking around like that!"
Azumi peeked into the hallway—paused—and blinked in confusion.
Tachibana turned slowly. "Ah. You must be Mrs. Araki."
Azumi's mouth opened. Closed. Then opened again.
"…You're the one bonded to my son?"
Tachibana bowed politely. "Tachibana Shion. It's an honor."
Azumi's eyes swept over the girl—bare legs, vampire aura, smugness, beauty—and narrowed slightly.
But then... she smiled.
"Well. You're prettier than the last spirit who tried to haunt him. At least this one has thighs."
"I heard that," Kira called from the kitchen.
Machio, panicking, stood between them. "Mom, she's a vampire princess, not a girlfriend!"
Tachibana smirked. "Not yet."
Azumi's eyebrows rose. "Is that a challenge?"
"No," Tachibana said sweetly. "But if it were, I'd win."
The air grew heavy. A spark of fire between two strong, scary women.
Then suddenly:
New Quest Unlocked: [Kiss the Mother-in-Law]
Machio gasped. "NO. NOPE. NOT DOING THIS ONE."
But the soul thread shimmered again, forcing Tachibana's hand. Literally.
Before he could stop her, she leaned forward and placed the tiniest kiss on Azumi's cheek.
Azumi blinked.
Then flushed.
Then turned away quickly. "I... I'm making tea."
Kira dropped his toast.
Machio screamed into a pillow.
That evening, as if things weren't chaotic enough, a black envelope was found on their doorstep—stamped with the seal of the Vampire Council.
A duel challenge.
In the backyard, the sky turned violet as dark winds stirred.
Standing opposite Tachibana was Veronica von Eisgrube, the vampire noble who had tried to flirt with Machio last week by tying him to a rose-covered chair and force-feeding him blood cookies.
"Crimson Pact girl," Veronica hissed. "You humiliated me. I demand satisfaction."
Tachibana cracked her neck. "I was hoping you'd come back. I haven't thrown hands in days."
Lightning cracked.
Machio stood between them, waving both hands. "Can't we all just talk this out!?"
Both vampires ignored him.
The fight was on.
---
To be continued