Chapter 34: Miss Werewolf Can Be Pretty Cool Sometimes

Part One

Midnight.
The end of the day.
And also… the end of the shift.

“Ehe… I can still drink… Wanna hit the convenience store for some ‘Demon Slayer’? Hic… It’s cheap, super cheap…”

“What’re you rambling about?”
Cola, supporting Saeko, rolls her eyes dramatically.

“Is it okay with just you two taking her home?”

“I don’t know if it’s okay, but with an address, we’ll manage…”
Cola sighs.
“Hey, Manager, didn’t you let her drink too much?”

“Did I? She drank on her own~ Hehe… we made at least 50% more on drinks tonight!”

“Hey!”

“If Cola and I each take a side, it should be fine…”

“She’s heavy as hell… Hey, Saeko, get up.”

“Nooo… so comfy lying here…”

“You’re completely plastered.”

“N-nooo way—!”
Inukai Saeko, sprawled over the flowerbed by the entrance, mumbles with her butt in the air.
“Gotta get ‘Demon Slayer’ at the store…”

“You’ll die if you drink more.”

“I can handle it, really… Just a bit of whiskey, nothing to a werewolf… Hic… As long as I don’t eat chocolate… Hic…”

“Get up, or I’m dragging you.”

“Tch… Who’s scared? Think I’m intimidated by some duke-level vampire? Lemme tell you, my great-grandpa’s grandpa’s grandpa… killed an ultimate lifeform! Tossed it—tossed it right out of the galaxy…”

“You talking about Kars or what?!”

“She’s spouting nonsense.”
Nayuki looks concerned.
“Maybe call a cab? Hmm… deduct the fare from Miss Inukai’s pay.”

Cola’s brows twitch. She knows Japan’s taxi fares are insanely expensive, nothing like Qingguo’s single-digit rideshare apps.
“That’s too harsh! A cab ride could eat up her whole night’s wages!”

“Nayuki-nee! Cola and I can get her home, don’t worry!”

“Fine, if she won’t walk, I’ll drag this idiot back.”

“Hey, wanna fight, huh… Damn vampire… Stupid vampire, vampire moron…”

Cola reluctantly hauls Saeko off the flowerbed.
“Let’s go, you don’t wanna sleep here till morning, do you?”

“Hehe… Lemme tell you, Cola… Tonight, someone said I’m pretty…”

“Yeah, yeah, got it.”

“Think they… hehe… like me…?”

“Probably.”

“Ha… haha… hehehe…”

“She’s out of it.”
Liuli hurries to help.
“Good, good!”

“Damn dog girl, so freaking heavy…”

“You’re cursing…”

“I’m just saying your name, okay?”

“Liar… Vampires love lying…”

“Can your legs still move?”

“Mm…”

“Alright, let’s get you home…”

Part Two

Cola uses Google Maps for walking directions. In Japan, it’s decently accurate, guiding through streets and alleys to the destination.
It can’t compete with Japan’s near-monopoly car navigation systems, but it’s good enough.
All the way, Saeko babbles nonsense—from her boyfriend cheating to the Big Bang. Her brain’s wiring is absurdly abstract…

“I-I feel like I heard way too much…”
Liuli glances nervously at Cola.
“Will Teacher Inukai kill us to keep it quiet when she sobers up…?”

“Even if she tries, she can’t beat me.”
Cola sighs tiredly.
“But seriously, she’s so heavy drunk.”

“Drunk people… are like that…”

“Liuli, you sound experienced?”

“Eh? Um… a few times, I helped Mom carry Dad home from the izakaya, so it feels kinda familiar.”

“Hah? Your mom wasn’t mad?”

“Eh? Why would she be? Dad only got drunk at the izakaya for work—he works hard!”

“Can’t understand you Japanese…”
Cola shakes her head.

“Demon Slayer… two more packs… no, three!”

“You’re still drinking?”

“Finish it, and I’ll walk myself… really…”

“C-Cola, should we buy some for Teacher Inukai?”

“Don’t believe a word a drunk says.”

“Mm… but I’m kinda thirsty. Maybe… get some drinks at the convenience store?”

“Lemme check… Map says there’s one around the corner. Fine, let’s grab something. Oolong tea—might sober her up.”

“Oolong tea’s not flammable, I won’t drink it…”
Saeko mumbles incoherently, propped up between them.

“That’s not what oolong tea is!”

“Non-flammable tea’s not oolong…”

“Might as well drag you to a gas station and pour gasoline down your throat—that’s flammable.”

“Hic… Tasty…”

Part Three

Cola and Liuli finally drag Saeko to the convenience store.
The midnight store glows with stark white lights, its empty parking lot looking desolate.

“One thing I love about Japan—”
Cola pushes the door open, muttering softly,
“—24-hour stores. You can buy stuff anytime.”

“Some stores cut hours to 20 or 16 now…”

“Huh? Why? 24 hours isn’t great?”

“P-probably because late-night sales are low, so they just close?”

“Tch… damn capitalists.”

“Eh? That’s not really about capitalists…”

“Well, good thing this one’s 24 hours.”
Cola props Saeko on a parking bollard.
“Get water for Saeko. Liuli, what do you want?”

“Mm… cola. I’ve been craving cola lately…”

“That’s ‘cause you’re a vampire now. Normal vampires would crave blood instead.”

“Cola-drinking vampires are easier, right?”

“Yeah, if you don’t need energy from blood, sipping cola to curb the urge is normal.”

“Like smokers chewing gum to quit?”

“Kinda.”

The midnight store is quiet, with only one clerk stocking shelves. The oden pot by the register steams gently, making time feel sluggish.
Cola lingers by the fridge, scanning the drinks.

“Cola?”

“Mm?”

“Hungry?”

“Huh… not really. Come to think of it, I barely ate today.”

“Me neither, but let’s grab something. Might get hungry at home—going to bed hungry sucks.”

“What’re you getting?”
Cola tilts her head, noticing Liuli standing close, their hair almost touching.
“Ah…”

“Eh, what’s up?”

“N-nothing…”

“Crab sticks? They’re not too heavy, just a bit fishy.”

“Sure, Japanese crab sticks are good—taste like real crab.”

“Though they’re mostly fish meat~”

“Say, what’s ‘Demon Slayer’ anyway?”

“Cheapest sake around. Tastes like… foot-washing water mixed with booze.”

“Hah? You tried it?”

“No, smelled it when Dad drank…”

“People like that nasty stuff?”

“Probably ‘cause it’s cheap.”

“Like old guys in Qingguo chugging erguotou in one go…”
Cola glances at Saeko, swaying on the bollard, looking ready to topple.

“Never seen someone drink this much. She’d be a hit at your dad’s company—top client entertainer.”

“You’re right. She should join a company needing drinking buddies—she’d outdrink all those pushy old guys.”

“So, three crab sticks?”

“Three?”

“Yeah, one for Teacher Inukai?”

“She’s probably full of booze already…”

“Still… better get an extra.”

“Fine, whatever.”

Cola, arms full of drinks, trudges to the register with Liuli.
“I’ll pay.”
She presses Liuli’s wallet back, switching her phone to Alipay.
“Hi, Alipay.”

“OK.”
Assuming Cola might not understand much Japanese, the clerk switches to English.
“Scan your QR code here.”

“Thank you!”
Cola replies in English, nodding.

“Please walk slowly~”

“Hah, Japanese English is still so weird.”
Cola snickers as they step outside.

But then, Liuli gasps.
“Eek!”

Time slows to a crawl. Cola’s gaze shifts forward—a man in bosozoku gear swings a baseball bat viciously at Liuli.
Before she can react, a silver flash cuts through the night.
It’s Inukai Saeko, standing in front of Liuli.
Gone is the goofy drunk.
Her canines glint, eyes bloodshot.
She catches the bat with one hand, flicking it aside, sending the snarling, panting man flying.

“A lowly vampire dares harm someone in my presence?”

In that moment, she’s not the silly werewolf girl but a terrifying predator, ready to rip her foe apart.
The man scrambles up, growling inhumanly, while Saeko glares lazily, like he’s easy prey.
Her aura is so intense that Liuli clutches her throat, struggling to breathe.

Cola frowns, sensing an unnatural taint in the air.
The werewolf before them speaks, her expression grave:
“Hm…? A corrupted scent… You’re not a pure vampire…”