Chapter 53: Care from a Foreign Land

Knock, knock—

After a brief silence, the door is knocked again, this time more urgently.

“Open the door, open the door, open the door—!” Sae Inukai’s voice echoes outside, like a broken record.

“Ugh…” Cola forces herself off the floor, leaning on walls for support every few steps. The short walk from the bedroom to the door takes nearly two minutes.

Her arms lack strength, so she leans her weight onto the handle to open it. As the door swings, she slides down, sitting on the genkan step.

“C-Cola…! You okay?” Liuli’s panicked voice follows. Her slender hand touches Cola’s forehead. “Not too hot… no fever, right?”

“No… just stomach pain…” Cola mutters, the sharp cramps making her Japanese sound like a beginner’s, each word a struggle.

“She’s fine, no worries!” Sae sniffs loudly. “I smell blood. Yup, that’s—her period!”

“Dog nose… pretty sharp,” Cola manages a weak smile, teasing.

“It’s a wolf, a wolf! Not a dog!”

“Same difference…”

“Such a mean vampire! And I came all the way to check on you!”

“Tch…” Cola smirks.

“I covered your shift today! Couldn’t even drink! You owe me—nothing big, just a few packs of Oni Slayer!”

“…Next time, I’ll treat you to Erguotou.”

“What’s that? Weird name.”

“%% liquor.”

“Is %% liquor even drinkable?”

“What kinda talk is that? It’s way better than your cheap Japanese booze…” Cola rolls her eyes, then feels dizzy from the effort.

“I mean, high-proof stuff’s too much!”

“You’re complaining about high-proof? Weak drinker.”

“What?! Take that back! I’ll show you real drinking next time! High-proof’s just too harsh, not tasty, that’s all!”

As expected, calling a drunk like Sae a lightweight sparks her competitive streak.

“Phew…” Cola exhales, relaxing. “Teasing you a bit actually helps. Feels less painful.”

“So mean! Jerk Cola!”

“Call me what you want.” Sae’s flustered reaction lifts Cola’s mood. “Ugh… help me up, can’t stand…”

“I’ll do it,” Liuli says, grabbing Cola’s arm. “Cola… does this happen every month?”

“First time…”

“Eh? First time?”

“Yup.”

“You’re in high school and just now getting your first period? Kinda late,” Sae puffs out her chest. “Obvious stunted growth.”

“Big chest, no brain,” Cola shoots back.

“Hmph, jealous, huh?”

“Jealous of what?”

“Cola, want me to help you back to your room?” Liuli asks.

“Yeah, let me lie on the tatami. Can’t stand,” Cola says, her tone softening with Liuli.

“Your face changes so fast! I protest—favoritism!” Sae complains.

“Gotta be tough with a masochist like you.”

“W-What masochist?! I’m not into that!”

“Then why’re you wiggling your hips?”

“Huh? It’s just my tail-wagging instinct!”

“…That’s basically admitting it, idiot.”

“Eight times nine is what!”

“…Seventy-two.”

“Haha, calling me an idiot when you got it wrong? It’s seventy-six!”

“…Inukai-sensei…” Liuli whispers timidly, “Eight times nine is seventy-two…”

“Eh?! Wait…” Sae freezes, counting on her fingers. Her face turns red with embarrassment.

“Idiot, idiot,” Cola teases.

“A-A slip-up! No way I’d mess that up! I’m just tired today, haha…”

Sae Inukai and Liuli’s arrival chases away the room’s loneliness, filling the air with lively energy.
With company, even the pain feels lighter.
Cola’s no longer curled up—she can sit against the wall now.

“The manager said you were sick and couldn’t work, so we came after closing. Inukai-sensei wanted to come too, so we showed up together,” Liuli explains.

“You weren’t afraid I’d be asleep?”

“I can smell if you’re awake,” Sae says proudly.

“Dog nose strikes again,” Cola gives a thumbs-up.

“Pfft… Cola, stop picking on Inukai-sensei. She was worried too—she even stopped by a pharmacy to grab fever meds for you,” Liuli says.

“Wasted, though. No fever,” Cola replies.

“You can use them next time!” Sae grumbles. “Also got vitamin C and B. If it’s malnutrition, these help.”

“Sounds like you’re an expert.”

“I’ve gone hungry plenty of times.”

“Don’t sound so proud…” Cola laughs dryly. “But yeah, I’ve been eating… frugally lately.”

“Eh, Cola, you short on cash?” Liuli asks.

“Not broke, just saving. School’s starting soon—expenses go up, but I’ll earn less.”

“Living alone’s tough, huh?” Liuli says.

“Gotta plan ahead,” Cola rubs her stomach, glancing at the two still standing. “Sit down, guys. I don’t have much to offer…”

“No worries!” Liuli waves her hands, then remembers something, placing a paper bag on the table. “Cake shops were closed, so I got some cakes from the convenience store… Not sure if you like the flavors…”

“Anything with cream’s good.”

“Eh—I got ones without cream…”

“What?! Creamless cakes are barely cakes!”

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to!”

“Cola, that’s too much. Liuli’s so worried about you,” Sae chides.

“Cough, I was kidding…” Cola backtracks.

“Not everyone’s like me, taking jokes without getting mad,” Sae says.

“Why’re you proud again…” Cola glances at her, then soothes Liuli. “Sorry, Liuli, didn’t mean it like that. Just… teasing.”

“Mm…” Liuli mumbles.

“Let’s see,” Cola opens the bag, pulling out cakes. “Chocolate banana cake? Looks good. Apple cake, matcha cake… All my type.”

“R-Really?”

“Yup. Never tried them, but they look tasty. Oh, I forgot—I got a bento from the store, haven’t eaten.”

“It’s cold, right? You should eat warm food these days,” Liuli says.

“No microwave…”

“I-I can take it home, heat it, and bring it back?”

“Too much hassle, no?”

“It’s not far…”

“Uh… then, maybe… please?” Cola scratches her nose, sheepish.

“Got it! I’ll heat it now!”

“So quick?”

“It’s late, and you shouldn’t sleep right after eating.”

“No chance of sleeping—I slept all day, and my stomach’s killing me.”

“I’ll grab some tea bags for hot tea.”

“Nice, Liuli, you’re so thoughtful.”

“J-Just… normal stuff…!” Liuli blushes, rushing out. “I’ll be right back!”

“No rush! Bento’s on the kitchen counter!”

“Got it!”

After the rustle of shoes, the door shuts softly.
Liuli’s footsteps fade into the night.

The room’s left with just Cola and Sae.
They stare at each other, then burst out laughing.

“Pfft… what’re you looking at, Sae?”

“Huh? Weren’t you starting a staring contest? You laughed first—you lose!”

“You laughed too!”

“I laughed a second later!”

“Such a competitive streak…” Cola shakes her head.

“Anyway, good to know you’re okay. You don’t know how worried Liuli was at work,” Sae says.

“Spacing out?”

“Yup, stammering all over.”

“Nah, she stammers serving customers anyway. I usually handle guests, and she makes drinks.”

“Really? Well, she was worried. Said you didn’t reply to her messages.”

“Didn’t check my phone,” Cola scratches her head. “I replied once at eight, though.”

Sae tilts her head, squinting, then flops onto the tatami. “Ugh, tired. I’m crashing here tonight…”

“Shower first.”

“No spare clothes.”

“Wear mine—they’ll fit.”

“Must I shower?”

“Duh.”

“Don’t wanna…”

“No shower, no sleeping here.”

“Stingy vampire! Stingy!”

“Stingy? I treated you to food the first time we met.”

“So, a clean freak? Don’t sweat it—dirty’s healthy!”

“What kinda logic is that?”

“Too-clean places weaken immunity. You gotta train it, got it?”

“…You one of those dogs rolling in mud?”

“I’m a wolf! And I roll in sand, tops!”

“Same thing…”

“Ugh… I’m beat. Gotta sleep, or I’ll pass out here,” Sae yawns repeatedly, wobbling up. “Bye, young vampire.”

“You’re not much older… Leaving already? Not waiting for Liuli?”

“Can’t. Need sleep. Unless you treat me to drinks—I could stay a bit.”

“Go sleep!”

“Ehe, later…”

Drowsy Sae, acting drunk, bumps into walls before stumbling out, slamming the door with a thud.

“This girl… only survives ‘cause her werewolf body’s tough as hell…?”