Misunderstood Vampire Bakasane-chan - Chapter 8: What Is Normal?

“Ah, I want to eat curry!”

“Hmm, you’re quite an interesting character! I’ll treat you to a drink later.”

“Uh, isn’t this too bizarre? The guy mixing concrete for his DIY project across the street looks shocked. Also, Kasane-chan, you don’t usually treat someone to curry like it’s a drink…”

“Oops, actually, I meant I want to play soccer! Please treat me!”

“All right, then.”

“You’re mixing up too many things! Kasane-chan, why are you even reaching for your wallet? How do you plan to treat someone to a sport like soccer?”

Jane, Misaki, and I quickly became friends on our way home from school. Jane was intriguing, not just because of her bouncy, single-stroke hairstyle but also because of her amusing personality. She’d jump from topic to topic, speaking Japanese one moment and then exclaiming in English the next. It was clear she enjoyed surprising us.

Just moments ago, Jane had dramatically revealed her secret identity as the sole female member (the Yellow Ranger) of the Tentacle Squadron. It was odd for someone we’d just met to consider us close friends. But Jane’s whimsical behavior seemed to transcend logic, usually my forte as “Bakasane-chan.”

Misaki, nearly out of breath from trying to keep up with Jane’s antics, asked her a question.

“Hey, Jane, where are you from?”

“Hmm, I’m from many places! I’ve traveled to lots of countries with my dad.”

“Did you have any favorite countries?”

“Well, Japan has been full of surprises! Especially the saying about shooting pigeons with a pea shooter – it’s amazing!”

“What does that mean?”

“Catching everything in one go! Delicious!”

Jane then suddenly imitated a chicken and ran off, leaving us to chase after her. Misaki, slower, shouted that Jane was too quick even for a chicken. But I knew she was imitating a roadrunner, known for its speed. Soon, Jane stopped, and Misaki fell over, landing on her chest. As Jane approached me silently, she suddenly asked,

“Is there… udon?”

“Ah, if you want to come to my house that badly, I guess it’s fine.”

“Yay!”

“Think, don’t feel,” I thought to myself. Jane was pleased with my haphazard response. Misaki, having just stood up, was confused by our exchange.

“Can you understand Jane that well, Kasane-chan?”

“Can’t you, Misaki? I could score a hundred on Jane’s language.

“Kasane-chan, you’re a Jane-native!”

Misaki’s surprise was understandable, but the answer was simple. With children, you just let them be until they calm down. Jane’s behavior seemed to be just her way of seeking attention. Misaki, blushing slightly and fiddling with her fingers, then timidly asked,

“Hey, if you understand a stranger’s feelings, can you guess what I want to say to you, Kasane-chan?”

“Like, you want to marry me?”

I replied offhandedly, not understanding what Misaki was getting at. I’m a genius but not a mind reader. However, Misaki’s response caught me off guard.

“…Can you tell? Does that mean you knew what I was thinking all those times?”

For some reason, Misaki’s face turned red and blue with seriousness at those clumsy words. Everything she overheard seemed to have an unpleasant connotation.

“Wow! You’re cool!”

By the way, Jane was trying to flirt with a utility pole next to her. That’s the same one the Shiba Inu peed on earlier. It could be Jane’s way of marking her territory, not wanting to lose to a Japanese dog.

“Good grief.”

I couldn’t help but scratch my cheek. I was the only sane person here.

“Zzz…”

“She’s asleep now.”

“Finally, she’s asleep…”

After being fed the soba I made especially for her, the energetic Jane finally fell asleep. She lay her head down at the counter. Even after coming to my house, she was still an enigma, starting card games with guests and getting engrossed in seal rescue videos.

Misaki, treating the sleeping child with the caution of handling nitroglycerin, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She gently poked Jane’s soft cheek and murmured,

“She’s an odd girl… but she seemed lonely.”

“Even you could tell, Misaki?”

“Yeah. I realized halfway through that she wants someone to notice her.”

I followed Misaki’s lead and stroked Jane’s hair, softer and curlier than I expected.

Jane seemed to believe that only a comical, crying, laughing clown could be noticed. Whether that was sad or not, I couldn’t tell. But at least Jane, who fell asleep right now, looked happy.

“I wonder what Jane’s dad is like. You seem to know, Kasane.”

“He’s a good person, thinking of bad things!”

“Ahaha. That sounds like a bad person…”

Misaki said that weakly. But I wondered if that was true.

Isn’t there a difference between doing bad things unwillingly and willingly? I couldn’t bring myself to judge them both as evil.

But I thought it was wrong for an adult to leave a little girl alone and lonely until we cared for her.

“Welcome…”

As usual, my mother greeted me without enthusiasm. We turned to look at the new customer.

“Oh, so you are here.”

Then, an older man with a cane, dragging one leg, walked in. John Doe. A seemingly good man, he recognized Jane and slowly approached us, bowing his head.

“I’m sorry. It seems Jane has caused some trouble.”

“Not at all. It was interesting.”

“Interesting, huh… I’m not good with comedy, though.”

“Maybe that’s why she does it? Rebellion!”

“Ha ha… I suppose I should do something about it…”

As if remembering something, John took off his hat and looked down.

From his expression, it seemed he genuinely regretted how much Jane had changed. But, as he approached her, he looked at her tenderly without touching her.

Misaki, observing this symbolic scene, asked,

“How can you do such terrible things?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb. Despite loving her so much… to not show love, it’s cruel…”

Her voice dropped, replacing tears.

It was obvious to anyone that John loved Jane. Yet, he refrained from reaching out to her, wishing her peace. Despite loving her, he never showed it.

Misaki accused him of being cruel to himself as well.

John smiled for the first time.

“You’re a kind child. But doing that would be wrong. After all, she’s my child.”

He implied she deserved to be much happier than I could ever make her, smiling and revealing sharp, frightening fangs.

“Hey.”

“What is it?”

Leaving the dazed Misaki, I went outside to catch up with John, who was dragging his leg and carrying his child on his back.

Without turning around, he responded.

“Why are you targeting Ikus?”

“Because it’s fun.”

“Can’t you stop?”

“No, I can’t.”

John walked on, dragging his shadow straight into the darkness.

His back wasn’t broad, but it carried his small child and a heavy resolve. He wasn’t suited for comedy like Jane; his aura was dark and serious.

But I couldn’t help thinking he deserved happiness despite his pursuit of evil. John spoke to me.

“Emotion and love are just pastimes for those who live long. Struggle is the real pleasure.”

I couldn’t fully grasp the depth of his words. They were filled with loneliness and realism, making it hard to respond lightly.

I didn’t know what to say to this older man, a vampire.

After a moment of hesitation, John smiled again.

“Well, even though I think I’m not skilled enough to throw away everything for fun.”

Whether we live for battle or just to pass the time matters; some humans live just to pass the time. So, it’s quite ordinary.

I realized this older man in front of me loved his child. That’s why he couldn’t hold her.

But that’s the most boring choice, I thought.

“In the worst case, I might entrust this child to you.”

He spoke with determination and sadness under the moonlight. But I replied lightly,

“No way.”

And clenched my fist firmly.

“Because I’ll make you completely satisfied, John!”

I shouted with a laugh, facing John with wide eyes.

“Throw away all your resolutions, and come at me!”

“Even in death, you don’t die… What are you?”

“Jane’s friend!”

And with that, I boldly declared to the vampire under the moonlight.