When is a researcher most irritable?
Naturally, it's when research isn't progressing well, but someone is constantly pestering for a result.
"So, is this your excuse for being lazy and not working?"
"No, how can you call it lazy? I'm resolving matters that need resolving... Forget that, do you still have the same idea as before?"
"To have a human body again, or to live on as a vampire with a human heart?"
Gripping Araragi Koyomi shoulder tightly and listening to his bones crack under the pressure, Sū ěr gave a kind smile.
"Ow ow ow ow! Let go!!"
Araragi Koyomi surrendered at light speed. Though his vampire body healed the injuries instantly, the pain didn't diminish at all.
"...According to Rikuo, the world is only going to get more restless, right?" Araragi sighed deeply. "In that case, returning to being a human with zero supernatural power would leave me completely helpless if I ran into an evil yōkai."
"So your conclusion is to stay as you are?" Sū ěr arched an eyebrow. "To protect your lover? Your family?"
"...Yes," he nodded in admission. Strangely, Araragi thought his heart would be heavy and he would suffer while saying this, but he found himself unexpectedly calm.
It was as if his heart had accepted it long ago.
"Then are you prepared to feed on humans? Like Kiss-Shot, using humans who have committed unforgivable sins as food to maintain your life?" Although it sounded like a serious interrogation, Sū ěr actually felt no distaste for such a choice.
Why waste sympathy on things that no longer treat themselves as human? Keeping them around just drives up the price of rice; giving those resources to people truly in need is the right path.
Remove the bad, cut away the rotting flesh, and the body can recover. Sū ěr had always understood this logic.
So he had nothing to preach to Araragi about.
As for the "eat once and you'll eat forever" or "standards will slide" arguments... pure overthinking. Just draw a line: only eat those sentenced to death by law.
Since human society has already discarded them, why not put the waste to use?
He shared this logic with Araragi and received a look of awe from the youth.
"You're right," the newborn vampire nodded, then gave an embarrassed, sheepish laugh. "But actually, I don't have to eat humans. Rikuo said if I need blood, I can just drink his yōkai blood. Since yōkai aren't humans, and they don't die easily from blood loss, there's no need to be so conflicted."
"Huh? That little brat?" Sū ěr didn't expect that answer. He glanced at Araragi with a strange expression, focusing particularly on his... backside. "Did you drink the blood-oath sake with him? You two seem to be quite close now."
"No no no, nothing like that," Araragi firmly denied drinking marriage-cup sake with a man, though he didn't deny being close to Nura Rikuo. "...Well, actually, not turning back into a human does have something to do with Rikuo."
Sū ěr squinted.
"I... I envy the way yōkai interact with each other. And Rikuo really is like me; I've seen him during the day. Even if his speech and personality seem like a different person, I know he's still him," Araragi recalled. "Compared to a yōkai, he's definitely more like a human."
"And Rikuo was the one who advised me to keep my power to protect those important to me. I think he's right; when facing danger, it's best to have the power to protect yourself. No need to discard it for some sentimental reason," Araragi was very calm. "And I want to help him. He wants to become the new Lord of Pandemonium."
He's been won over.
Sū ěr thought silently, though it wasn't surprising. Even he had to admit those two Nurarihyons had unique charismatic appeal.
"Since you've made a decision, stick to it," Sū ěr patted Araragi back. "Do what you think is right... By the way, was your win that day easy?"
Sū ěr felt a bit awkward. He was the one who recommended Araragi to the Nura house for training, but after being dragged away by Kagome because of the time portal, he had basically forgotten about it. He only learned Araragi had won much later.
"Aside from being a bit caught off guard at the start, it got smoother as I fought," Araragi smiled proudly yet bashfully. "Thanks to your recommendation and the Nura training, I successfully got Kiss-Shot's limbs back. Those vampire hunters and Mr. Oshino were surprisingly honorable."
They wouldn't have dared to be otherwise.
"That's good... don't do anything out of line, just live well." Without exposing the truth, Sū ěr gaze fell on the shadow behind Araragi. If his senses were correct, Kiss-Shot was likely hiding there, though she didn't seem interested in showing herself.
"Then that's that. Since you've chosen to live as a vampire, remember not to forget your original heart. Think more when things happen... I'll be going now." Sū ěr stood up.
"Ah, I will. Thank you very much for your help," Araragi bowed sincerely and was helped up by Sū ěr.
Without another word, in Araragi eyes, the man who was so young he didn't look like an old demon at all waved a hand in farewell and vanished into thin air.
"Finally gone..." Kiss-Shot's figure slowly rose from Araragi shadow. This vampire had retrieved her full body, yet she strangely maintained her child-like appearance.
It was hard not to suspect Araragi unique tastes.
"You go, or I go?" Kiss-Shot poked Araragi leg and let out an evil laugh.
"...I'll go. After all, I've run out of pocket money to buy donuts this month."
As the two spoke, in the distance, in an alley where no one passed, shadow-like appendages were thrashing, revealing two crimson points.
Araragi Koyomi approached.