Yuji Is a Vampire :P

The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the quiet hum of the espresso machine and the sweet, earthy scent of fresh lilies. It was past closing time at the dual-concept café and flower shop, but the late-night cleanup always dragged when midterm season hit. They wiped down the heavy wooden counter for what felt like the tenth time, their shoulders aching with a deep, bone-weary fatigue. Balancing a full college course load with a part-time job was starting to take its toll. They sighed, pushing a stray lock of hair from their forehead, desperately wishing they were already buried under their blankets at home.

"Still cleaning?"

The voice came from the doorway leading to the back storage room. Yuji stood there, his usual bright energy noticeably absent. He was leaning heavily against the doorframe; his school bag slung loosely over one shoulder. They looked up, offering a tired smile, but the expression faded when they noticed how pale he looked.

For the past few days, Yuji had been off. In this world, free of curses and sorcery, he was just a regular college student—mostly. He was also a vampire, a secret they had kept together since freshman year. Usually, Yuji was meticulous about managing his hunger, relying on synthetic blood packs or ethical donors. But between back-to-back exams and group projects, he had clearly let his own health slip.

Yuji crossed the distance between them. His movements were uncharacteristically sharp, almost frantic. When he reached the counter, he didn't stop. He stepped into their personal space, his breathing shallow and uneven. "I'm sorry," Yuji muttered, his voice dropping to a low, desperate whisper. His eyes, usually a warm brown, carried a dangerous, glassy edge of pure hunger. "I tried to wait until we got back to the dorms, but I... I can't think straight."

They froze, sensing the raw instinct overtaking their friend. They could feel the cool air radiating off him as he leaned closer, his hands coming up to gently but firmly grasp their shoulders. The contrast between his cold touch and the warm, floral air of the shop was jarring. "Just a little bit," Yuji pleaded, his forehead resting against theirs for a fraction of a second. His grip tightened slightly, driven by an overwhelming urge he had suppressed for days. "Please. I'll be careful." They barely had time to nod before Yuji tilted his head. His lips brushed against the exposed skin of their neck, searching for a pulse point. The moment he found it; the sharp sting of his fangs pierced their skin.

A quiet gasp escaped their lips. The initial bite was a sharp prick, but it was quickly replaced by a strange, numbing warmth as Yuji began to drink. His hands shifted from their shoulders to the small of their back, holding them close to ensure they wouldn't fall if their knees buckled from the sudden rush. Yuji drank with an intense, focused desperation, his throat moving in rhythmic swallows. The sheer exhaustion that had been weighing them down all evening seemed to blur at the edges, replaced by a heavy, floating sensation.

After a few long moments, Yuji tore himself away with a sharp gasp, his chest heaving. He immediately pressed a clean napkin from the counter against the small wound, his eyes wide with a mix of intense relief and sudden guilt. The color was already returning to his face, the dark shadows beneath his eyes fading as the sustenance took effect.

The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the quiet hum of the espresso machine and the sweet, earthy scent of fresh lilies. It was past closing time at the dual-concept café and flower shop, but the late-night cleanup always dragged when midterm season hit. They wiped down the heavy wooden counter for what felt like the tenth time, their shoulders aching with a deep, bone-weary fatigue. Balancing a full college course load with a part-time job was starting to take its toll. They sighed, pushing a stray lock of hair from their forehead, desperately wishing they were already buried under their blankets at home.

"Still cleaning?"

The voice came from the doorway leading to the back storage room. Yuji stood there, his usual bright energy noticeably absent. He was leaning heavily against the doorframe; his school bag slung loosely over one shoulder. They looked up, offering a tired smile, but the expression faded when they noticed how pale he looked.

For the past few days, Yuji had been off. In this world, free of curses and sorcery, he was just a regular college student—mostly. He was also a vampire, a secret they had kept together since freshman year. Usually, Yuji was meticulous about managing his hunger, relying on synthetic blood packs or ethical donors. But between back-to-back exams and group projects, he had clearly let his own health slip.

Yuji crossed the distance between them. His movements were uncharacteristically sharp, almost frantic. When he reached the counter, he didn't stop. He stepped into their personal space, his breathing shallow and uneven. "I'm sorry," Yuji muttered, his voice dropping to a low, desperate whisper. His eyes, usually a warm brown, carried a dangerous, glassy edge of pure hunger. "I tried to wait until we got back to the dorms, but I... I can't think straight."

They froze, sensing the raw instinct overtaking their friend. They could feel the cool air radiating off him as he leaned closer, his hands coming up to gently but firmly grasp their shoulders. The contrast between his cold touch and the warm, floral air of the shop was jarring. "Just a little bit," Yuji pleaded, his forehead resting against theirs for a fraction of a second. His grip tightened slightly, driven by an overwhelming urge he had suppressed for days. "Please. I'll be careful."

MYOS