«Itsu, you're really incredible! Next time I want to fight you too!» Chantal exclaims.
She's completely overexcited.
Before, she looked at Itsu like a strong rival.
But now, her admiration has grown so much that she nearly worships him like a god.
Hakuto, Rika, Chantal, and Itsu are sitting at the table in a private room at Cordesol Meat, the luxurious South American restaurant chain that just opened in Ashiya.
The table is set for five, but one seat remains empty.
The fifth guest warned he'd be late because of prior commitments.
«Yeah, even though old Tendo's strength is complete nonsense... for a moment I really thought I could beat him. But he just played around the whole time... If I had minded my own business, I could be enjoying this free dinner properly...» Itsu replies.
He's still in pain and visibly bruised, even though more than three hours have passed since the fight ended—and despite the fact that vampires have strong regenerative abilities.
Hakuto watches them with a grim expression.
The power scale he had imagined has been completely overturned this afternoon.
He used to think Chantal was the strongest of the three, while he and Itsu were more or less equal.
But now, it's clear that Itsu is the strongest—even if Chantal hasn't shown her full strength yet.
The thought of seeing Chantal at full power fighting Itsu in his Innatus form really intrigues him.
But at the same time, this sudden shift in the balance of power forces Hakuto to face a painful truth: he's the weakest of the three.
And not just by a little.
~I have to ask my father to train me properly. Harder than ever before. I can't afford to fall behind. If someone like Itsu showed up—or someone even stronger—how could I ever protect Rika and Yuzu?~
The door of the private room swings open.
A girl with thick blond hair walks in.
She's wearing large sunglasses and a skimpy, provocative outfit—yet there's elegance in it.
A classic black evening dress, with a deep neckline and a high slit that shows off her stunning thighs.
Everyone stares at her, confused.
They don't recognize her until she speaks.
She's the fifth and final person at the table: Ana Garroza.
There are things money can't buy—like access to a grand opening reserved for top-tier VIPs.
Thanks to Ana, they got that exclusive spot.
Still, she chose to stay incognito.
VIPs come in two types: the famous ones, and the ones so famous even the first group asks them for photos or autographs.
Ana clearly belongs to the second group.
She had no intention of spending the night posing for selfies or signing things.
But spending it alone or with her staff would've been just as boring.
So she invited Hakuto and the others—some of the few people who don't bother her.
A quiet evening among friends, nothing more.
Or at least, that's what she told them.
The seat Ana chose is right between Hakuto and Rika—and it's no coincidence.
She suspects Rika might be one of the two hybrid sisters Marquis Velshekar is searching for.
Rika and Yuzu's ages match perfectly with the two hybrids who vanished fourteen years ago.
And the fact that Rika is close to Itsu, a vampire, and Chantal, a Monster Reaper, only deepens Ana's suspicions.
As for sitting next to Hakuto...
~This idiot can't be a Monster Reaper, let alone a demon in human form. He's too weak. And still... why am I so drawn to him...? He's hot, sure, but there must be more. Could he be my Soulmate...? I have to find a way to have sex with him! Anyway... I'm Ana Garroza, the amazing one—I don't need my succubus tricks to seduce a guy like this! I'll figure it out later. Maybe after killing Itsu and Chantal and kidnapping the brats... or maybe not?~
«Oops, how clumsy I am...» Ana murmurs with obviously fake regret as a piece of meat 'accidentally' drops into her cleavage.
Hakuto's eyes immediately follow it, watching as it slowly slips down inside her dress.
Without hesitation, Ana grabs the hem of her dress and lifts it, raising it above her massive chest.
As a world-famous actress, she's used to shooting risqué scenes—this doesn't faze her at all.
Underneath, she's wearing only tiny white lace panties, standing out starkly against her bronzed skin.
The meat sits right on her panties—just like Hakuto's gaze, bouncing between her breasts and inner thighs like it has a will of its own.
«If you want... you can eat it right from there... who knows, maybe you'll find something else to taste down there too...» Ana pants.
Her lips are slightly parted, perfectly calculated, and her flushed cheeks stand out against her tanned skin.
Her voice drips with seduction and mischief—enough to tempt even a saint.
Chantal and Rika nearly choke at such an obscene and sudden offer.
Hakuto, meanwhile, is frozen like a statue.
His mouth hangs open—he probably thinks he's saying something—but no sound comes out.
Only a few stifled noises, nothing more.
His brain is completely fried.
But that's not all.
Something stirs inside him—a strange, unexplainable sensation.
A real desire to do exactly what Ana suggested: bury his face between her thighs and pull away both the meat... and more importantly, her panties.
Now, nothing else exists.
Just him and Ana.
It feels like someone else is controlling his body and mind.
But as he leans in, his face just inches from Ana's pussy, the sharp voices of Rika and Chantal snap him out of the trance.
«What the hell are you doing, you filthy pervert?!» the two girls shout in unison.
Hakuto gives a small shake of his head and blinks several times.
«This place is full of busybodies, don't you think so too, Hakuto? How about we go somewhere else? I was thinking... my place.»
Ana winks with a mischievous smile.
Once again, Hakuto feels like he's under someone else's control.
Just as he's about to stand up and follow her, Chantal lunges forward, grabs his wrist, and pulls him back.
«If you're so eager to have fun with a woman, I'm already here! Or did you forget the love promise you made me eight years ago?! If I had known you were this pervy, I never would've given you my heart!»
«What the...?» Hakuto mutters.
That confused look again.
He clearly has no idea why he stood up to follow Ana.
Ana storms out of the room, clearly annoyed—but not before giving Hakuto one last, tempting glance.