"Don't kill me!" Ito Makoto shrieked as he saw Toya's cold intent. "I'm still human, I'm not one of them! Kawashima-sensei, please... I don't want to die!"
"My apologies, but you're already dead," Kawashima Toya replied flatly.
He was about to finish the job when a small, metallic object traced a perfect arc through the air, clattering onto the floor.
A grenade? Toya's eyes narrowed. In a single motion, he pulled the dazed Saionji Sekai into his chest, shielding her with his body as he turned his back to the source of the blast.
Bang!
A piercing whine filled the hall, followed by a blinding eruption of white light. Toya immediately realized it wasn't a frag grenade, but a flashbang.
If I weren't worried about Saionji-san's safety, I wouldn't have even bothered to flinch, Toya thought, mildly annoyed.
His physical capabilities had long since surpassed the threat of conventional firearms. Modern weaponry couldn't leave a scratch on him; even a real grenade would have done nothing more than ruin his clothes.
In the confusion, the struggling Ito Makoto managed to tear himself away and scrambled out of the funeral hall.
As the white spots faded from the air, Toya released Sekai and turned his gaze toward the doorway, his expression one of detached amusement.
A mere flashbang couldn't affect his vision. The only reason he had let the boy flee was to find the source of the Shiki outbreak.
To him, the choice was simple: kill one stray now, or let it lead him back to the nest. He knew which was more efficient.
Did they really think they could get away?
Beside him, Sekai's face was burning red, her heart racing.
Kawashima-sensei actually held me... I've never been this close to a man before. He's so warm... so solid.
Toya shattered her daze with a sharp remark. "Saionji-san, we need to move. Ito-kun was rescued by one of his own. That blast is going to bring the neighbors. If we stay, we're seconds away from a very public scandal."
Without waiting for her to respond, he headed for the exit. Realizing he was serious, Sekai pushed her embarrassment aside and hurried after him.
.....
Sakano City Streets
Toya stood on a street corner several blocks away, looking back toward the Ito residence.
"You've got a good pair of legs, Saionji-san. We barely made it out before the crowd arrived."
A small group of residents had already gathered near the house.
While people were usually hesitant to enter a funeral hall at night, the sound of the flashbang had been impossible to ignore. The scene was pure chaos. Nothing had been stolen, and no property was damaged, but the coffin was empty. Ito Makoto's corpse was gone.
Witnesses were already on their phones, likely calling the police to report a grave robbery.
Sekai, doubled over and catching her breath, managed to wheeze out, "Sensei... next time you decide to retreat, give me a heads-up. If I hadn't reacted in time, I would have been caught for sure."
"But you weren't," Toya offered a calm smile. "If the police ask, just make sure you don't leak anything. More importantly, keep your guard up. Ito-kun escaped, and I saw the way he looked at you. He was starving for your blood."
With a casual wave, Toya began walking back toward the teacher's dormitory. He needed to prepare for the hunt—to track down the boy and his companion.
Sekai's face paled. She scurried after him, her fear returning in full force.
"Kawashima-sensei! If he comes for me, what am I supposed to do?"
"If he shows up, hide or make sure he can't find you," Toya said nonchalantly. "As long as he doesn't catch you, you'll be fine. If he does catch you... well, you might want to start planning your own funeral."
Sekai felt a wave of regret. I should have never involved myself in this. Now a monster is stalking me.
After walking for a few minutes, Toya looked at her, puzzled. "Saionji-san, it's late. Why are you still following me instead of going home?"
Sekai looked at the ground, her voice trembling. "Sensei... I'm scared to go home. If Ito-kun follows me there, he might hurt my mother. Can I... can I stay at your place? Just for tonight?"
"Stay at my place?" Toya paused. "That isn't appropriate. On a lot of levels."
"Just go home. Once the sun comes up, the danger passes."
How could he let a student stay in the faculty dormitory? It would be inconvenient for both of them, and the rumors would be a nightmare if they were discovered.
"Please, Kawashima-sensei! I'm begging you! I'll even sleep on the floor!" Sekai pressed her hands together in a desperate plea.
Toya was about to refuse again, but then he noticed the tracking powder still on her palm. He let out a sigh.
"Fine. Just for tonight. You go home tomorrow."
The powder on her hand was a beacon for the Shiki. If he didn't wipe out the nest tonight, a surviving monster would eventually find her.
Sekai's face lit up with relief. "Thank you so much, Sensei!"
Toya looked at her and thought, the hunt for Ito can wait a few more minutes. Finding him was only a matter of time.
Scathach had taught him many things during his time in the Land of Shadows—tracking was just one of the minor skills in his repertoire.
.....
Faculty Dormitory
Once they arrived, Toya handed a thin straw mat to the girl, who was sitting awkwardly on his sofa.
"You can sleep here. Once it's light, head straight to school."
Without another word, Toya turned and headed for his bedroom, leaving a stunned Sekai behind. She looked at the empty living room and then at the thin mat, her mouth hanging open.
"Sensei! You could at least give me a blanket! How am I supposed to sleep like this?"
A moment later, the bedroom door opened slightly.
"Here. Make do with this."
Toya tossed a blanket at her. "It's late. Get some sleep."
"Fine..." Sekai pouted, grumbling as she began to set up her makeshift bed on the floor.
A few minutes later, the lights went out.
Sekai lay in the dark, vast living room, tossing and turning. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt as if something were staring at her from the corner of the room.
I can't sleep... I keep seeing that look in his eyes.
Her fears weren't entirely unfounded. Ito Makoto had doubled back, following the scent of the tracking powder that he found so intoxicating.
He was currently standing just outside the apartment building, staring up at the windows.
Inside his bedroom, Toya's eyes snapped open, his clear blue gaze cold in the moonlight. He let out a silent sneer.
You could have lived another day, yet you chose to come here.
The decaying, frigid aura of a Shiki was unmistakable. Even from hundreds of meters away, there was no way he could have missed it.