Strike the Blood: The Fourth Progenitor Can't Fall in Love
The Fourth Progenitor Can't Fall in Love
Three months ago, Akatsuki Kojou's life went off the rails. He inherited the power of the world's strongest vampire—the Fourth Progenitor—and now he can't sleep at night, dozes through class, and gets nosebleeds at the slightest provocation. All he wants is a quiet, peaceful life. Too bad the universe has other plans.
When a beautiful transfer student named Himeragi Yukina moves in next door—and then declares herself his watcher, sent to monitor the Fou
Strike the Blood: The Fourth Progenitor Can't Fall in Love - The Neighbor's Combat Knife and the Small Heart on the Fire Escape
A clatter came from the room next door.
Akatsuki Kojou stopped his chopsticks mid-motion and glanced toward the wall. Seven-twenty in the morning. Not a time anyone should still be asleep.
(That girl again...)
Kojou scratched the tip of his nose and rolled the tamagoyaki in the pan with a flick of his wrist. A sweet aroma spread through the room. For a guy living alone, it was a slightly elaborate breakfast.
"...Guess I made too much."
Muttering that, he knocked on the door of the adjacent room.
After a moment, the door cracked open. A black bob of hair peeked out. Himeragi Yukina. A third-year at Saikai Academy's middle school division, and a trainee Sword Shaman of the Lion King Organization—a government-affiliated agency tasked with monitoring and countering demons. She was the girl who had moved in next door three days ago to serve as Kojou's watcher.
"Good morning, senpai."
Yukina said it with her back perfectly straight. She wasn't in her school uniform—just a white blouse and a navy skirt. Her day-off clothes.
"Hey. I made too much breakfast—you want some?"
Kojou lifted the plate in his hand slightly. Tamagoyaki, some cherry tomatoes, and two slices of freshly toasted bread.
Yukina pressed her lips together for a moment.
"...I don't need charity from you while I'm on duty."
"Charity, seriously?"
Kojou's shoulders slumped.
"I'm not in a position to accept meals from my surveillance target."
"'Accept'—you're making it way too dramatic. It's just breakfast."
"But there's no reason for me to eat senpai's home cooking—"
"I already made it. More than I can eat alone. And it'd be a waste to throw it out."
Kojou cut her off before she could finish.
"...Throwing it out would indeed be wrong."
Yukina thought it over for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Then I'll accept. ...Excuse me for intruding."
She stepped awkwardly into Kojou's room.
The room was surprisingly tidy for a high schooler living alone. Breakfast dishes were lined up on the table.
"Do you cook like this every morning, senpai?"
Yukina sat down in the chair, looking nervous.
"Pretty much. I make my little sister's lunch too, so it's no extra effort."
"You make your sister's lunch...? You, senpai?"
Her eyes widened a little.
"Nagisa says she gets sick of eating out all the time."
Kojou set a plate in front of Yukina.
"Here. Eat it before it gets cold."
"Thank you for the meal."
Yukina pressed her hands together, then picked up her chopsticks. She brought a piece of tamagoyaki to her mouth.
She chewed quietly.
"...!"
Yukina froze.
"What's wrong? Not to your taste?"
When Kojou asked, Yukina hurriedly shook her head.
"N-no! It's just—it's delicious."
Her voice had a slight bounce to it.
"Yeah? Good to hear."
Kojou smiled in relief.
After that, Yukina finished her breakfast in silence—but at a steady pace.
"Thank you for the meal. ...You're a good cook, senpai."
"Well, living alone for so long, you pick it up."
Kojou scratched his nose, looking embarrassed.
"...I found myself genuinely impressed."
Yukina said it with a serious expression.
"Huh?"
"To be honestly impressed by my surveillance target—that's a failure as a Sword Shaman."
Realizing what she'd said, Yukina quickly tightened her expression.
"'Failure'—you're so dramatic. We're neighbors. Don't be so stiff."
Kojou said it with a laugh.
Yukina fell silent and looked down.
(Neighbors. ...Right, I'm the watcher. And yet—)
A small ripple spread through her chest. The line between duty and personal feelings was blurring, bit by bit.
"...Senpai, why are you so kind to me?"
Yukina asked without lifting her head.
"Why? Because we're neighbors, obviously."
Kojou answered with a blank look.
"...Neighbors. I see."
Yukina repeated it quietly.
"Yeah. If the person next door is making noise from the morning, you get curious, right?"
"Noise...you could hear it?"
Yukina's face turned red.
"Well, the walls are thin."
Kojou laughed and started eating his own breakfast.
Yukina said nothing more and silently began clearing the dishes.
(Because we're neighbors. That's the only reason.)
She pretended not to notice the small disappointment that had taken root inside her.
The morning walk to school brought a slightly cold wind from the sea.
Itogami Island. Three hundred thirty kilometers south of Tokyo. An artificial island floating in the Pacific where humans and demons lived side by side. Population: about a hundred eighty thousand. Ten percent of those were registered demons.
Kojou was walking through the residential district of the South Academy Zone.
"Good morning, senpai."
A familiar voice came from behind.
"Oh, morning."
Kojou turned and gave Yukina a small wave.
Yukina fell into step beside him. The distance between them had definitely shrunk compared to three days ago.
"You weren't late today."
"Unlike you, senpai, I wake up properly every day."
"I woke up today too, you know. At seven-twenty."
"Seven-twenty is barely-not-late."
Yukina gave Kojou a cold look.
"Shut up. As long as Natsuki-chan doesn't yell at me, it's fine."
"Natsuki-sensei worries about your tardiness. Calling her '-chan' is rude."
"You're really something, Yukina. So serious."
Kojou smiled wryly.
The two of them walked side by side along the school route. Students passing by kept glancing at Yukina. Black bob hair, a serious gaze. A small, slender frame. Her dignified air stood out even among the middle school girls.
"...Senpai, look."
Yukina suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Kojou stopped too.
Ahead of Yukina's gaze was the school gate of Saikai Academy.
Near the gate, Kojou's classmate Aiba Asagi was waving at him with a smile.
Blonde hair, turquoise-blue earrings. Long hair down to her waist. Flashy on the outside, but inside she was a pure-hearted genius programmer.
"Hey, Kojou! Morning!"
Asagi called out in a cheerful voice.
"Oh, Asagi. Morning."
Kojou waved back.
Yukina watched the scene with a blank expression.
(Senpai, with another girl...)
A sharp pain pricked at her chest. She didn't know why. Who her surveillance target talked to shouldn't matter to her.
"...Senpai, who is that?"
Yukina asked.
"Oh, that's Asagi. She's in my class, and she's the student council treasurer too. Crazy smart."
Kojou answered casually.
"I see."
Yukina's reply was short.
Asagi came running up to Kojou.
"Hey Kojou, you free after school today? I wanna go shopping."
"Shopping? Computer parts again?"
"Something like that. I want your opinion too."
Asagi lightly touched Kojou's arm.
In that instant, Yukina had unconsciously closed the distance between herself and Kojou.
"Senpai, we should go. We'll be late."
Yukina gave a light tug on the hem of Kojou's uniform.
"Huh? Oh, right. Asagi, sorry—see you later."
"Oh, okay. ...See you later, then."
Asagi waved, looking a little disappointed.
Yukina started walking, pulling Kojou away from Asagi.
"Hey, Yukina, don't rush so much."
Kojou chased after her.
"It's because you were dawdling, senpai."
Yukina said it without turning around.
(What am I doing?)
Yukina was confused by her own actions. Who her surveillance target talked to shouldn't matter to her. She told herself that, but the ache in her chest wouldn't go away.
(...I don't understand.)
Yukina bit her lip.
After school.
Kojou was walking toward his apartment building, a supermarket bag in hand.
(What should I make for dinner tonight?)
He was thinking about that when he passed by the emergency stairwell at the back of the building.
"...nn."
He heard a faint voice.
Kojou stopped.
He looked up and saw Yukina frozen halfway up the emergency stairs.
She was gripping the handrail with both hands, face pale, unable to move.
"Yukina!? What are you doing?"
Kojou called out.
"S-senpai..."
Yukina's voice was trembling.
"Don't tell me—you're afraid of heights?"
Kojou took one look at her and figured it out immediately.
"Th-that's not it. I was just, um... admiring the view."
Yukina said it stubbornly.
"The view from the emergency stairs? Don't push yourself. Here, take my hand."
Kojou reached out toward her.
"I'm fine. I can get down on my own."
Yukina refused his hand.
"But your legs are shaking."
Kojou looked at her feet.
Yukina's legs were indeed trembling slightly.
"...That's because it's cold."
Yukina's face reddened as she made the excuse.
"Cold? It's warm today. Come on, you're going to fall. Grab on."
Kojou held out his hand again.
Yukina hesitated for a moment.
(Showing weakness to my target...)
As a Sword Shaman, as a watcher, that was humiliating.
But her legs wouldn't move.
"...Please."
Yukina said it in a small voice and took Kojou's hand.
In that instant, her heart gave a small leap.
(W-what? Just now—)
Yukina was flustered.
"There. Take it slow, one step at a time."
Kojou gripped her hand firmly.
"Y-yes..."
Yukina descended the stairs one step at a time, carefully, led by Kojou's hand.
Finally, she reached the ground.
"There, made it. You okay?"
Kojou let go of her hand.
"...Thank you."
Yukina kept her head down and murmured her thanks.
"Don't mention it. You were scared, huh? So you're afraid of heights."
Kojou said it with a laugh.
"I told you, that's not it! I am not afraid of heights!"
Yukina's face went bright red as she argued back.
"Yeah, yeah, sure. But don't push yourself, okay?"
Kojou gave her head a light pat.
"...!"
Yukina felt her heart leap again.
(He helped me. My target. And yet—what is this feeling?)
She couldn't look Kojou in the face.
That night.
Kojou's doorbell rang.
"Hm? Who is it?"
Kojou opened the front door.
There stood Yukina, wearing an apron.
"Senpai, I owe you a debt, so please let me make you dinner."
Yukina said it with a serious expression.
"A debt? Oh, the emergency stairs? You don't have to worry about that."
"No, I do worry about it. I'm the type who can't rest until I've repaid a debt."
Yukina's tone left no room for argument.
"...All right. I'll take you up on it, then."
Kojou invited her inside.
"Pardon the intrusion. ...I'll be using your kitchen."
Yukina stood at Kojou's counter.
"What are you making?"
Kojou peered over her shoulder.
"Stir-fried vegetables and miso soup. ...Where's the knife?"
"The knife's in that drawer over—"
Before Kojou could finish, Yukina pulled a combat knife from a black sheath out of her pocket.
"Whoa!? Wh-what the hell is that!"
Kojou instinctively backed away.
"A knife."
Yukina answered matter-of-factly.
"That's not a knife! That's a full-on military blade!"
Kojou's voice rose.
"I always use this in survival training. It's easy to handle."
Yukina drew the combat knife from its sheath.
The crude blade—easily eight inches long—reflected the fluorescent light.
"Don't use something that scary to cut vegetables!"
Kojou tried to flee the kitchen.
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Yukina said that and began slicing the cabbage on the cutting board with practiced efficiency.
Chop, chop, chop.
A rhythmic sound echoed through the room.
"...O-oh?"
Kojou cautiously peeked back into the kitchen.
Yukina's knife work was surprisingly skilled.
The cabbage was cut into perfectly even strips.
"You can actually cook?"
Kojou said, surprised.
"I learned the basics in survival training. ...I am a girl, after all."
Yukina said it with a hint of pride.
"No, girl or not, that knife is terrifying."
Kojou smiled wryly.
Yukina stir-fried the vegetables, made the miso soup, and efficiently completed dinner.
"It's done. ...Please, help yourself."
Yukina arranged the dishes on the table.
The stir-fry was colorful, and the miso soup gave off a rich dashi aroma.
"Whoa, looks great. Thanks for the food."
Kojou took a bite of the stir-fry.
"...This is good. You're seriously a good cook."
Kojou was honestly impressed.
"...I'm glad."
Y
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.