I Was Brought Back To a Wealthy Vampire Family And Now I Have Become Their Only Daughter's Tutor - 12 - Cafeteria

The soft hum of the morning sun filtering through the classroom windows did little to revive my exhausted body. I sat slumped at my desk, my arms draped over the smooth wooden surface like dead weight. Every muscle in my body throbbed in protest, a reminder of last night’s brutal training session with Lily. My legs felt like they had run a marathon, my arms were like lead, and even breathing too deeply made my ribs ache.

I shifted slightly, biting back a groan as pain shot through my shoulders. The polished wood of Yumeji Academy’s desks, normally cool and smooth, felt unusually uncomfortable today, as if mocking my tiredness. I squinted at the blackboard where the teacher was writing out a complex equation, but the numbers blurred together, meaningless symbols in my foggy mind.

“Focus, Kazuki,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temple. “Just make it to lunch.”

But focus was impossible. Every time I tried to follow the lecture, my mind wandered back to Lily’s relentless voice: “Posture, Kazuki-sama. Balance your weight. No, not like that—again.” My muscles screamed in memory of the endless drills—bows, stances, blocking maneuvers—each repeated until my body gave up.

A yawn escaped before I could stifle it, earning me a sharp glance from the teacher. I quickly straightened up, feigning interest in the lesson.

“Stay awake,” I whispered to myself. “Just a few more hours.”

But even that felt like a cruel joke. My eyelids drooped, and my head bobbed forward. Just as I was about to succumb to exhaustion, the sound of ringing has finally made its way to the Academy.

“We will resume discussions tomorrow. “Class dismissed,” says the attractive teacher as he walks out of our classroom.
“Finally. “I can now sleep peacefully,” I said as I tried to relax at lunch.

Then, a soft but firm voice jolted me back to my sleeping position

“Kazuki.”

I blinked and looked up to see Tsukiko standing beside my desk. As always, she was the picture of grace and elegance, her dark hair perfectly in place, her expression serene. Yet there was a subtle glimmer of concern in her eyes as she observed me.

“You look unwell,” she said, her tone calm but direct. “Is the training taking its toll?”

I forced a tired smile. “You could say that. Lily really knows how to push someone past their limits.”

Her gaze softened slightly. “Come. Have lunch with me.”

I blinked, surprised. “Lunch? With you?”

“Yes,” she said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You need to regain your strength. Let’s go to the cafeteria.”

I hesitated, glancing around at the curious stares from our classmates. “Are you sure? Won’t this… cause a scene?”

She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Let them talk. It is of no consequence to me.”

“Well,” I said, pushing myself up with a groan, “if you insist.”

And with that, we left the classroom together, drawing more curious glances and whispers as we walked down the pristine halls toward the cafeteria. For the first time that day, I felt a glimmer of relief. Maybe lunch wouldn’t be so bad after all.

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The cafeteria doors at Yumeji Academy swung wide, exposing an unexpected spectacle. My initial impression? This wasn’t a cafeteria, but a dining hall fit for royalty. I blinked, astonished by the absolute elegance of the setting. Unlike the chaotic, noisy lunchrooms I was used to, this one projected a sophisticated, almost ethereal quiet.

Polished oak flooring shone in the warm illumination of crystal chandeliers hanging overhead. The huge wood tables were draped in pure white linens, and students sat in perfect posture, their uniforms impeccably neat. Even the chairs looked expensive, with ornate designs that exuded elegance and sophistication.

The aroma of freshly prepared gourmet food wafted through the air, teasing my senses. It was nothing like the stale fries and mystery meat I had grown accustomed to in public school cafeterias. No, this was different. I caught the savory scent of grilled salmon, the rich aroma of freshly baked bread, and the subtle sweetness of decadent desserts.

“Wow,” I muttered under my breath, glancing at Tsukiko. “This is… not what I had in mind.”

She regarded me with a calm expression, though I caught a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Were you expecting something different?”

“Yeah,” I admitted, scratching the back of my head. “I thought there’d be plastic trays, loud chatter, and, I don’t know, maybe some soggy fries. Not… whatever this is.” I gestured to the room, still marveling at its grandeur.

“This is Yumeji Academy,” Tsukiko said, her tone even. “We are expected to maintain high standards, even during meals.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Guess I’m still getting used to all this.”

We joined the line for food, though even the act of queuing here felt different. The students ahead of us moved with grace, selecting their meals with a quiet dignity that made me feel like I was attending a formal banquet instead of grabbing lunch. The cafeteria staff, dressed in crisp uniforms, stood behind the counters, ready to serve dishes that looked like they belonged in a five-star restaurant.

Tsukiko selected a meticulously arranged bento box filled with beautifully crafted sushi, fresh fruit, and a delicate side of miso soup. I stared at it for a moment, appreciating the artistry before opting for something simpler—steaming hot ramen with a side of rice.

As we made our way through the cafeteria, I couldn’t help but notice the way students stole glances at us. Whispers floated through the air, subtle yet noticeable.

“Is that Tsukiko-sama?”
“She’s eating in the cafeteria?”
“And with him?”

I sighed, shifting the tray in my hands. “Looks like we’re causing a bit of a stir.”

“It does not concern me.” Tsukiko said smoothly, her voice steady.

We wandered through the dining hall, searching for an empty seat. It wasn’t long before Tsukiko gestured toward a table near the back, where two familiar faces—Lisa Kuriyama and Hiroshi Aoyama—were already seated.

I glanced at Tsukiko, then back at the table. “Looks like we found our spot.”

With a quiet nod, we made our way over, the eyes of the entire cafeteria following our every step.

Balancing our trays, we approached the table where Lisa Kuriyama and Hiroshi Aoyama sat, speaking lively about their lunches. I could tell they were having a spirited chat, most likely about academy gossip or the latest academic difficulty. Lisa, with her short, carefully combed hair and ever-curious eyes, chuckled at something Hiroshi had said. Hiroshi, always the easygoing sort, grinned in return, his dark hair slightly ruffled.

As we arrived, Lisa was the first to glance up. Her eyes widened with astonishment, and the bright smile on her face faded as she realized who was with me. Hiroshi followed her gaze and nearly dropped his chopsticks, choking in the middle of a bite before coughing quickly.

“Hey Lisa, if you don’t mind, we would like to sit here.”

“Kazuki?” Lisa’s voice wavered in disbelief. Her gaze darted between me and Tsukiko. “You want to sit… here?”

“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Mind if we join you?”

Hiroshi, still wide-eyed, managed to recover enough to speak. “Uh… sure! Of course! But—” His eyes shifted nervously to Tsukiko. “You’re with Tsukiko-sama?”

Tsukiko inclined her head slightly, her expression serene. “Is that a problem?”

Lisa shook her head quickly, her cheeks reddening. “N-No! Not at all! Please, sit!”

I gave a small smile of thanks, sliding into the seat across from them. Tsukiko followed, gracefully setting her tray down beside me. As she settled into her chair, the quiet hum of the cafeteria shifted. The soft whispers around us grew louder, like a rising tide.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Looks like we’ve caused a bit of a stir.”

“It was to be expected,” Tsukiko said calmly, lifting her chopsticks with an elegant precision. “Their curiosity is irrelevant.”

Lisa leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I don’t mean to pry, but… Tsukiko-sama, you’ve never eaten in the cafeteria before. Why today?”

Tsukiko set down her chopsticks and regarded Lisa with a cool but not unkind gaze. “Kazuki required nourishment, and I saw no reason to let him dine alone.”

Hiroshi blinked in disbelief, leaning back in his chair. “You invited him?” He glanced at me, his mouth slightly open in shock. “That’s… unexpected.”

I shrugged, smirking faintly. “Guess my master is full of surprises.”

Lisa giggled, though the curiosity never left her eyes. “I think it’s nice. Different, but nice.”

Hiroshi chuckled nervously. “It’s just… you know, Tsukiko-sama doesn’t usually, uh… mingle.”

“I can see why,” I muttered, noting the stares and whispers still buzzing around us.

Tsukiko sipped her tea, completely unfazed by the attention. “I do not concern myself with the opinions of others.”

Lisa’s expression softened, her smile genuine. “I think it’s brave. Honestly, it’s refreshing to see someone like you do something so… normal.”

I glanced at Tsukiko, expecting her to bristle at the word normal, but she only gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

“Perhaps.”