Vampire Love: A Strange Middle-School Romance

Kou Yamori's middle school days in Japan were quiet and mundane. He had very few friends and was often left alone at school, which left him with a deep and abiding mistrust of people and a fear of love. With growing confusion and discomfort around the complex concept of love, Kou's teenage angst pushed him to seek solace elsewhere. On nights when he could not sleep because of thoughts that prevented him from resting, Kou would walkJapan's lonely and desolate streets. One night, his wanderings brought him to a secluded alley, where he encountered a strange girl named Nazuna Nanakusa. Kou was taken back by her enigmatic and captivating demeanor. He was mesmerized by her long black hair and captivating dark eyes. Her words, although often cryptic and strange, carried with them an eerie sense of understanding. Nazuna sensed his troubles immediately and offered to help him with his insomnia. But her offer was not without conditions; Kou must visit her apartment and share a futon. Agreeing, Kou followed her to her living quarters and Nazuna began to address the complexities of love in a way that Kou had never heard before. Despite his awkwardness, Kou understood what she meant and felt a strange sense of worth surrounding the thought that perhaps he could be valuable by simply existing. Smiling at the thought, Kou's thoughts drifted off and worried out of the room, eventually feeling asleep. Unbeknownst to Kou, however, Nazuna had not slept at all and instead watched him rest, a sinister smile adorning her lips.

Kou began spending more time in Nazuna’s apartment. During their time together, they truly bonded, with her giving him a better understanding of the theme of love. They talked of the paradox of wanting and fending off love, been discussing the power of alienation and idiosyncracy, and just spoke, simply divulging in the pleasure of their conversations. One night, Nazuna enquired Kou why he appears to not fear her within her vampire-like state and then proceeded to take his sight off her as her sharp fangs descended from her upper lip. In that moment, Kou learned that Nazuna is a vampire and panicked. But Nazuna quickly reacted and calmed Kou, providing him with a more familiar and soothing explanation on how vampires are created. Nazuna explained that for a human to be transformed into a vampire, the person must become bitten by those whom he loves and who loves him back; this is how vampirism is transmitted through emotion. Kou realized that he would have to learn how to love and give himself up in order to become one himself. With newfound determination and enthusiasm, Kou determined to learn to embrace and appreciate love as a way of transitioning into eternity. Love and fear mingle within his thoughts, as he ponder whether or not he should skirt away from love or wholeheartedly accept it.

Kou embarks on a journey to gain Nazuna's love. During his journey, Kou begins to understand the immense power of love, appreciating the value that it can bring to one's life. He learns how fascinating and unpredictable it can be - something that locks two people bonds and brings them closer, potentially even being able to cross boundaries of different backgrounds and ages. But Kou is no novice in life. As the journey progresses, he realizes love can also evoke fear, while at the same time joy and sorrow, first steps before and after a change of life. As his feelings become more and more tumultuous and complicated, Kou runs away without resolving anything as reality takes a toll, making him feel as if that change is completely out of his league.

Kou spirals emotionally and questions his courage. Eventually, however, he decides to face his fear, running back towards Nazuna. With a carefully written letter and a bouquet of flowers in his hands, Kou knocks who proceeds to open the door a missing piece. Looking in the vampire’s eyes, Kou makes a plea for love. His heart quickly overflows with emotion, tenderly begging her for a chance to be seen beyond his youthful figure and transition into eternal life. Before it even could finish sentences, Nazuna wailed forward, wrapping him tightly in her arms as she wept. In that fractured moment, Kou experienced love of an intensity that he had never known before. Eventually, Nazuna decides to bite up on. A surge of new life flows through Kou's veins, transforming him into the eternity that he requested. Seeing their strikingly perfect yet strangely imperfect heartfelt connection, Nazuna caresses Kou's cheeks and repeated quietly "We have found the path love gave us". Then, with the last stroke of midnight, they embrace this newfound understanding. The Future hungors in whatever them may wait, Kou and Nazuna step out of the old one, into the dawn of everlasting night.