Misunderstood Vampire Bakasane-chan - Chapter 11: What's Rare Value?

On these days, when the sunshine is bright, though it’s not quite hot, Misaki and her female friends decide to go shopping, taking advantage of the weather following a spell of rain. I wanted to join them but had to stay at school due to some errands.

In the classroom, the boys were excited about a soggy adult magazine they found, but I ignored them and headed to the library to read.

“Mmm…” I pondered, struggling with a book full of unfamiliar characters. It’s not that I dislike academic texts, but this novel was challenging.

It was the book Momo-senpai lent me, “Reincarnated as a Noble, I Thought, but Turned Out to Be a Vampire, So I’m a Shut-in.” I assumed it was a light novel due to its explanatory title, like a Sausage Marmetano, representing its content. But Momo-senpai said it was a specialized book. The cover underneath the jacket was just a swimsuit version of the same title. What was going on?

“Can I understand vampires from this book?” I wondered again.

My concern was my fallout with my best friend, Mitsuhiko. Realizing my ignorance about vampires might have contributed to our falling out, I sought to understand more. However, internet surfing only helped a little. Vampires seemed weak to sunlight, water, and crosses, and their descriptions were quite pale.

I thought about Ikus and John, wondering how they fit into this. And how does Bakasane-chan, the strongest and healthiest among us, relate to these frail creatures?

“What’s up, Bakasane-kun?” Momo-senpai asked, noticing my contemplation. I remembered that she was fluent in English and smart. I told her about my interest in vampires, and after some thought, she pulled a book from her bag.

“Then, I shall bestow this book upon you,” she said, handing me a not-too-thick book. I wanted to relate to the protagonist, who had also reincarnated. However, the overly revealing cover of intertwined women was too much. I wondered about the aggressive sexual appeal in this other world, making even the protagonist too scared to venture out.

“I’m lucky to have reincarnated in my original world,” I mumbled but then noticed a shadow. I turned around without panic and saw Ikegaya Ran with her round glasses and a familiar face. She was staring at the light novel on my desk.

“Is this your book, Futaba-san?” she asked. I explained it was borrowed, and we chatted amiably. Ran was a sporty Bokukko, and we had known each other since middle school. We joked about my culinary skills, and she eventually suggested we become closer, inviting me to call her by her first name.

The conversation turned to our shared past in tennis, and I admired her perseverance. Then, our talk shifted to physical attributes, leading to a playful banter about her lack of certain feminine features.

As Ran raged playfully, pondering extreme measures for enhancement, I realized her unique value. Our friendship, both of us using ‘boku’ and ‘ore,’ felt special despite our differences.

Ran eventually calmed down, returning to her usual composed self. I admired her delicate yet sharp beauty. I asked her about the book, and she admitted she had read it but found it overly erotic despite the interesting settings.

I was puzzled, wondering if Momo-senpai’s recommendation was based on her interests. The erotic content seemed unnecessary to me.

Ran noticed my confusion and added that she liked reincarnation stories. I reflected on the bitter-sweetness of my reincarnation experience, leading to a deeper conversation. I inadvertently revealed my reincarnation, which caught Ran’s keen interest. She eagerly asked for more details, showing her rare and genuine curiosity.