"Rika-chan~ Wake up~"

"Urg. Sorry... We're all out of coffee beans for the moment.."

"RIKA-CHAAAAN~"

I heard someone shout. "Hm? Who're you? Why are you- WHY ARE YOU HERE IN MY ROOM?!" I immendiatelt sat up, covering myself with the blankets.

"Ohayou! Remember me? I'm Mibuchi Reo! Sei-chan's attendant!"

"O-oh. I'm sorry for shouting at you Mibuchi-san. I was just surprised" I apologized.

"Don't be, Rika-chan it was my fault. Anyway, how about calling me 'Reo-nee'?" Mibuchi-san said.

"Reo-nee! How's the new guy doin?" Someone new went inside the room. He was quite short compared to Reo-nee and he was wearing the same formal uniform as him.

"I don't remember telling you that the new one is a guy!" Reo-nee told the shocked little guy.

"Akashi actually hired a girl?!"

"Um." I muttered.

"Oh, hello! I'm Hayama Kotaro! Just call me Kotaro."

I bowed at him and I introduced myself. "Um. Can you guys wait for a bit outside? I'll just change my clothes." I told the two

"If that's the case, wear this. That's the reason why I came here in the first place. It's your uniform. We'll be waiting outside, kay?" Reo-nee said and dragged Kotaro-kun outside.

I stared at the cute uniform. (Piv below)

I went to the bathroom for a shower, wore the uniform and went outside my room to see Reo-nee and Kotaro-kun waiting.

"Wow! You look good!" Kotaro-kun complimented. "What a beautiful girl needs is a beautiful dress" Reo-nee added.

"Hehe. Arigato"

"Now that you're ready, let's get to work." Reo-nee said and led the way upstairs.

"What work do we do exactly?" I asked then the two of them laughed.

"You accepted this work without even knowing what you would do?" Reo-nee asked.

"Err. Yeah? I guess. I didn't have a choice." I replied and the two nodded.

"Well, if I was in your place, I wouldn't take the risk to say no." Kotaro-kun said.

'Is Akashi-kun really that influencial here? If I asked them that, would they suspect me?'

I played with the necklace he gave to me as I asked myself.

*knock knock*

I was brought back to my senses when Reo-nee knocked on the door.

"We're here, Sei-chan" Reo-nee said. "Come in" said the person inside.

"How are you, Rika?" I heard the redhead ask and I found myself looking at his golden eye.

"I-I'm fine, thanks" I stuttered. "We'll wait outside" Reo-nee said and left the two of us alone.

"Nervous?" Akashi-kun asked. "Who are you, really? Who are you to them?" I asked him with all the courage I had.

"You tell me you're not scared of me yet you're trembling right now." He said and let out a sigh.

"It's normal, right? I'm a human, you're a vampire. You can kill me easily." I said, avoiding his stare.

"If only you know why I can't do that." He muttered.

"Huh?"

"Calm down, Rika. I may be a stranger to you, the other person inside me is preventing me to kill you even if I want to. But what I really hate is when you don't listen to me." Akashi-kun said. "Reo, Kotaro, we have to go" he called the people outside.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"You should ask where are we going." He said and stood from his seat.

__________________________

"So, where are we going?" I asked Akashi-kun who sat beside me inside the carriage.

"You'll know when we get there" he said and I just pouted in the corner.

I never really called him by his first name. He told me to get rid of honorifics, but isn't calling his first name would be too much?

"S-seijuro" I muttered on my seat, hoping he wouldn't get angry "Yes?" I literally jumped when he replied. "C-can I call you that?" I asked, playing with my fingers instead of looking at him.

I heard him huff and that forced me to look at him "Isn't that what I've been telling you?" He said with a smirk. "I... I actually don't think you're scary. I instead feel safe when I'm around you." I confessed.

Then he did something unexpected. He lifted his left hand and brought it on top of my head to caress my hair and smiled.

I didn't know how to react at his action. I wanted to turn away but I can't. I could feel my face heating up, and my heart beating fast.

"We're here!" I heard Kotaro-kun outside and opened the door for us. My eyes went wide when I saw the place.

"It's grandma's cafe..." I said. "I took care of it when you were away." I heard the red-head say behind me. "I don't know how to thank you for this." I turned to him with both my hands covering my mouth.

"It's an important place for me too, no need to thank me for it." He said.

"Are the two of you in a relationship or something?" Kotaro-kun asked and couldn't help but blush. In a relationship? Us? That would be impossible... right?

I looked at the red-head as I waited for his reaction.

"She's just a childhood friend. She doesn't remember anything, though."

"Awww. Poor Sei-chan. That must've been painful." Reo-nee teased. "Shut up, Reo. That's an order" Seijuro playfully ordered him and we all just laughed it off then suddenly I remember my grandmother.

"Seijuro..." I called the red-head and he just looked at me seriously as a reply as if he knew I was gonna ask sooner or later.

"What happened to grandma?"