Chapter Text
‘This sucks...’
Kokichi Ouma sat on the bus as he played on his phone. He was pouting his head off as he fiddled with his checkered black and white scarf in agitation. Going to a new school was never easy, but the prankster still couldn’t contain his disdain for the current situation he was in.
‘Who kicks someone out in the middle of the school year?! I know I covered a whole room in glitter and feathers, but that teacher was an asshole! It’s unfair! They couldn’t take a joke! They’d been trying to get me expelled since the whole pepper in their coffee incident! Why can’t they take a joke! I don’t even want to go to school! Why are my parents forcing me to go to this creepy school in the middle of nowhere! And green blazers? God this place has no style! And no entrance exam? I smell something fishy!’
He knew it was late in the school term to get into any other school so had been very lucky, but this Yokai academy just didn’t sit right with him.
He was about to play loud music out loud to annoy the bus driver when his phone went off. He blinked as he saw it was one of his cousins. He smiled as he answered the phone, “Hello, this is the dashing phantom thief Rei!”
“Ko, cut it out.” He could hear his cousin's eye roll.
“What, come on Takane, let me have my fun.” Kokichi whined.
Takane just sighed, “I just wanted to call you to wish you luck on your first day. Me and Haru are rooting for you. Everyone else wants you to check the group chat too as they did things for you.... hey, it’s pretty quiet, are you on the bus or ditching. Ko I will hop on my moped and force you into that school!”
Kokichi gasped, “Me? Ditch? How could you think so little of me Takane... I.. how... WAAHHHHHH!”
Takane sighed in exasperation, “That didn’t work when you were ten and it doesn’t work now.”
Kokichi giggled, “Awe, you got me! Nishishi! And to answer your question, I’m the only one on this bus, weird right? If I get abducted, tell my parents I told you so!”
Haru took the phone off Takane before she lost it, “Come on Ko.... I’m sure it will be fine, please just check the group chat? We all love you and we’ll see you soon.”
Kokichi nodded to himself as he smiled, “Okay okay.... I love you guys... I know we’re just cousins, but you guys really are like my brothers and sisters to me. That’s why you’re so fun to wind up. Talk to you later!”
He hung up and checked the chat. He had nine cousins in all and all of them had messaged him. He was the only only child out of them all, but they still treated him like he was their brother.
His first set of cousins, Arisa and Tori, had taken a picture of some cupcakes they’d made. They had iced them so they said, ‘good luck on your first day’. His next set of cousins, Shuu, Buroda and Yamato, had sent a small video clip of them wishing him a good first day of school. Shuu and Yamato ended up in a sibling squabble about singing by the end of the video so Buroda signed off. The last set, Yuuhi and Zensho, had decorated a card for him together and sent him pictures as they didn’t talk much. He still smiled at them all and took a quick selfie while doing a peace sign to show them he’d seen their pictures.
Kokichi ‘King horse’ Ouma: Thanks guys! I’ll think of these while I’m away... Yamato, you so need to design better uniforms! Green?! Horrible!
Yamato Ouma: I see what you mean… you can do it boss, show them hell!
Takane Ouma: Do not encourage him…
Yuuhi Ouma: He is right though.
Arisa Ouma: A clown suit would have been better!
Kokichi ‘King horse’ Ouma: Yeah! Clowns are amazing! They know how to dress… or is that a lie?
He then saw a tunnel coming up so he put his phone away. Phone signals were always bad in tunnels after all. He just looked at the bus ceiling and put his legs up on the seat next to him, ready to be yelled at by the bus driver. He stared at the same spot wondering what his new high school would be like, ‘Knowing my luck, I’ll piss off the wrong person and once again will have no friends... not that I need them.... I only need my cousins... they’re the only friends I need...’
He didn’t know why, but something started to feel off again. He looked out the window and they were still in the tunnel. He knew for a fact that this tunnel was not that long, yet why were they still in darkness. He looked to see if he could see any other cars in case they were in a traffic jam, but he could feel the bus moving. He saw no other car lights either. This raised alarm bells.
“Um... where are we? Is it an eclipse or something? Or am I about to star in my own horror movie?” Kokichi asked the driver.
The driver laughed, “Relax kid, give it a second and you’ll see the school... but you might not be wrong about the horror movie thing... depending how well you watch your back.”
Kokichi was about to give some witty retort, when he suddenly saw a flash of white light. He quickly covered his eyes for a second before the blazing light calmed down. When he uncovered them he could see them approaching a new bus stop. In the distance he saw a school building, but he also saw half dead trees. It was really giving off those Halloween town vibes from Nightmare Before Christmas.... almost anyway.
“.... What in the? Where are we?” Kokichi asked, actually thrown off his rhythm for once.
The bus driver just laughed as he stopped the bus, “Yokai Academy, your new school. Make sure you don’t forget your luggage.”
Kokichi quickly picked up his stuff. He could see why it was a school that required dorms, but he still wasn’t happy. This place didn’t sit right with him and he’d find out why. He got off the bus because that bus driver was creeping him out. He looked at the school again and took a picture and sent it to his cousins.
King horse: Ewwww, guys, look how far I have to walk from the bus stop! And look how creepy! Come save me! (picture attachment)
Takane Ouma: Oh, stop being such a liar, it looks fine.
Tori Ouma: Yeah... It looks quite nice actually!
Haru Ouma: I know you’re worried Ko, but it will be okay.
Kokichi was confused as to why they were acting this way. He looked at the photo and it was completely different to the one he sent. He checked his camera roll and it was the same picture. He tried taking another one and it changed into the nicer looking school when he looked at it.
The purple haired boy was very confused now, ‘What the fuck? When I take a picture it changes? What is going on here?’
The prankster just decided to walk for now, hoping to find someone to speak to. If he spoke to a staff member he hoped to find out it was actually some elaborate prank. That would be nice as that meant the people here would get him. Still, he knew the chances of that happening was slim to none. This was a mystery and he’d get to the bottom of it, all he knew was the chances of him staying here one a scale from one to ten was minus one hundred thousand, seven hundred and fifty three. He took the bottle of Panta out of his pocket and drank some before he started to walk.
After walking around for about ten minutes he was ready to turn around and just go home. He’d just tell his parents he was becoming a NEET and was never going to high school again. He was incredibly creeped out, but as a skilled liar he didn’t show it on his face in case he was being watched. He just made sure he gave off a confident body language as he walked, his arms behind his head.
‘What is this? Really... a graveyard on a school site? If this is my parents’ way of some weird intervention so I stop pranking, jokes on them... I’m so pranking them more after this!’ Kokichi thought as he walked.
He got his phone to try and use his GPS to see where the hell he was when he actually heard something. It sounded like someone running. He turned just as a boy in a grey hat smacked into him. They both fell to the floor. Kokichi cursed himself at being distracted as otherwise he would have avoided that. He winced too as the idiot had also knocked him onto some gravel and now his wrist was cut. Great... perfect start to a new school that was already creepy. He was ready to give this person his best demon face.
The boy quickly scrambled up and hid behind his hat, gripping his cross pendent in protection, “I’m so sorry! I’m running late and I-”
Kokichi watched as the boy cut himself off to cover his nose and mouth, “What? You fart or something? Nishishi!”
The boy shook his head, “N-no.... um... could you please... er... sort that cut out?”
Oh Kokichi was in no mood to behave after the day he had. He was teasing this boy to improve his mood, “Hmmm... nope, why the hurry? How’d you even know I cut myself anyway? Unless... that was your intention! You wanted to hurt me!”
Kokichi did an over the top dramatic gasp as the boy shook his head, “Ah... no... it’s just... I’m a vampire... and um... I’m having trouble holding back… I don’t want to hurt you.”
The purple haired boy froze for a second, ‘A vampire.... How dumb does this person think I am... geez this prank would be amazing if it wasn’t so cringy... what is this, some lame teen vampire romance novel, blugh! Well... let’s see how far he’s going to take this, I never back down from a challenge!’
Kokichi just grinned as he played along, “Oh really? You should have said! Vampires are my favourite! If you want you can have my blood! Better than it going to waste right Mr Emo Vampire?”
The student looked up and blushed. Kokichi had to admit he did look adorable when he did, his eyes however were more drawn to the weird choker he had on. It had a metal cross on it at the end of a small chain. He also couldn’t stop staring at the blue bead in the middle, ‘Woah… this boy is such an emo.’
The boy however looked away, “No one had called me.... their favourite before... normally they’re scared of me... are you sure I can.... You know?”
Kokichi held his wrist out, not backing down first. He’d take this as far as he could until this boy cracked, “Drink from me? Sure! Come on!”
The boy walked over and gently took his wrist, staring at the small cut, “A-are you really sure... I have permission?”
“Yeah! Drink away, just hurry... I have places to be!” Kokichi lied. He knew he’d crack now and he’d be victorious.
‘I’ll call his bluff! I’ll show this prank school I’m the real deal!’ Kokichi thought with a mischievous grin.
The bluenette nodded one final time before putting the purple haired boy’s wrist to his mouth.
Kokichi’s blood then went ice cold from what he saw.
He saw a pair of fangs.
It wasn’t a trick of the light.
He saw them delicately touch his skin. His eyes went wider when some wind blew the boys hat off so he could see his eyes. They were glowing golden grey as he drank from him. He could feel his blood actually being sucked out of him. It wasn’t much but he just stared in disbelief at the boy. He got a good look and he could really see he was pretty. Kokichi never really thought of another boy as pretty before but this one was. He definitely had good genes... Or maybe his brain had just gone into shock because oh yeah, a boy (with fangs) was drinking. His. Blood.
This was it, this was how he died.
The boy looked up at Kokichi and could see he was uncomfortable. While the blood was tasty, he knew that he should stop as Kokichi really looked a little scared. The blue haired student quickly licked the cut and to his surprise, Kokichi saw it heal. It was as if he’d never been hurt. No scar no nothing. He also didn’t even feel dizzy or nauseous either.
The boy quickly grabbed his hat from off the floor and hid one of his eyes again, “Um.... I’m Saihara Shuichi... Sorry... I should have controlled myself more. I didn’t mean... to make you uncomfortable...”
Kokichi’s brain was still catching up. He flushed crimson and made silent noises as he tried to wrap his brain around that vampires actually might be real and he just gave his blood to one…. And it hadn’t killed him?
“....Oh yeah! I have to go! I’m going to be late!” Shuichi then took off after one final apologetic bow, “I’ll find you later and make it up to you... Sorry again!”
Kokichi watched as the boy took off. He was still frozen, his bag on the floor beside him, ‘.... okay... it's official.... I was knocked out on that bus and I’m having a crazy dream before I die.... that’s the only explanation as vampires don’t exist. Nope, not at all.’
Kokichi pinched his cheek but it didn’t help. He tried to calm down his anxious mind and just make it to the school before he saw any more hallucinations.
Kokichi finally found his class after putting his stuff in his dorm and did his best to try and stay calm. Nothing else bad had happened after he met ‘Shuichi’ so he just assumed he was just some crazy kid who was really into the vampire fad or something, probably some Edward Cullen wannabe. He didn’t focus on the fact his wrist had healed.
The teacher, Chisa Yukizome smiled, “Alright class! We have a new student joining us today! Ouma Kokichi, would you come in and introduce yourself?”
Kokichi smiled as this was the moment he’d been waiting for, the chance to show them he took no shit and that he would be making everyone’s lives a living hell, “Hello everyone! I’m Ouma Kokichi, and I look forward to getting to know you all.... but that’s a lie! First thing you have to know about me is that I’m a liar... or maybe that’s a lie and lied about before! Nishishi! I’m actually just here to see how well you all entertain me, I am a supreme leader of evil after all and that is not a lie... or is it? Nishishi!”
Chisa blinked a few times, “Well... that was... unique... Ehehe...”
A boy with a goatee and crazy gelled hair rolled his eyes, “Well he’s going to be a blast...”
A girl with a witch’s hat groaned, “Lies are a pain...”
“It’s okay Yumeno-san! I won’t let the degenerate male near you!” The girl with a crazy bow yelled. Kokichi swore he heard her hiss as she said it, but she sat down as Chisa looked at her sternly.
“Now now... not in class.... you know the rules Chabashira-san… Now then, please sit at your desk Ouma-kun as we relay the rules of Yokai academy.”
Kokichi quickly sat down in one of the two empty desks that were currently vacant. As he did, a girl who didn’t know how to button a shirt correctly sighed, “Are you fucking serious, we know the rules! This genius girl doesn’t need to hear them again!”
Chisa sighed, “Iruma-san please... it’s school policy. Now, as you all know, Yokai academy is a school for monsters!”
Kokichi had to keep the laugh in, ‘What? Are they serious? Pfff! That is so silly.’
Kokichi waited for students to laugh at the teacher's joke.... but no one did.
Chisa continued with a kind smile, “This school was made so we can learn to fit into human society better, to do that I want you all to remember to stay in human form on campus, this is the main rule. Don’t reveal your monster nature to another student as well! Remember, if you see a human report it immediately so we can find it and kill it! Harsh I know, but we have to keep this place a secret after all. The magic around this place can only do so much!”
Kokichi remembered when he tried to take a photo before. If this place had magic that would explain why his picture changed, but that was stupid, magic didn’t exist.
One student raised their hand, a girl with body glitter on her dark skin and white hair that also seemed to sparkle, “Atua is asking... Why can’t we just eat the human if we find one. They are delicious after all and make good sacrifices!”
Chisa laughed, “Oh Yonaga-san, we’re more evolved now, let’s not do such old practices. We need to be progressive!”
Kokichi was about to yell if she could hear herself, but stopped and looked at everyone’s faces, ‘..... Why.... Why is no one lying... this is ridiculous. Monsters don’t exist.... That vampire thing was just.... yet.... This can’t be happening... it’s just a dream!’
Kokichi just kept outwardly grinning through with his mask of lies. Chisa turned back to him, “Did you get that Ouma-kun?”
“Nope.... but that’s a lie! Nishishi! Got it, stay in human form no matter what. I pwomise!” He giggled as he did his best to blend in. He flashed his demon face for a second as that would make him seem more like a monster. Internally though he was panicking and wondering how the fuck he could get out of here.
Chisa wasn’t even phased, “Okay… but please stay in human form?”
Kokichi nodded as he stopped, happy that his creepy face actually might save his life here.
Just before the lesson started, the boy with the hat from before ran in, “Sorry I’m late!”
Chisa smiled, “It’s okay Saihara-kun, please sit at your desk and I’ll start.”
Kokichi looked at him and almost blushed at the memory from before. He however pushed it from his mind and went back to thinking of a plan. He had to get out of here.
Shuichi however saw him and smiled softly, “Um... Sorry again.... l-look... could I buy you lunch... to properly apologise?”
Kokichi looked at him and wondered for a second, ‘Okay... I have two options... one, say no and be alone and risk getting killed if they find out, or two, agree to lunch and manipulate this vampire so I have someone to protect me if this goes wrong.... Option two has less chance of death.... and this guy did heal me after he drank from me... I still don’t trust him but maybe I can get some information out of him.’
Kokichi smiled, “Sure, I am new here after all.... Oh, I’m Ouma Kokichi by the way.”
Shuichi smiled a little, “Good, nice to meet you Ouma-kun.”
Kokichi then turned back to class and tried to adjust his scarf so his neck was covered, worried some monsters in here could smell him.
At lunch, Kokichi did his best to get some information out of Shuichi, “So... Saihara-chan.... what was with this morning? I really thought vampires didn’t exist?”
Shuichi's faced burned a little, “Saihara-chan? And really? I guess it’s another lie as you said you knew…. but I’ll explain. First I want to apologise for revealing my monster form to you when it’s against the rules. I normally never break the rules really, I just... your blood smelt really good... I really don’t mean to sound strange but it’s the truth. I do want to thank you for letting me have some, but I’ll try not to ask again in the future as I really shouldn’t feed off other students. Next time I’ll bring more coffee.”
Kokichi raised a brow, “Wait, coffee? If you’re a vampire why do you drink coffee?”
“Oh, the taste is similar to me. Coffee is dark and rich like blood, so in a pinch it quenches my thirst. Normally I just get blood bags when I’m really thirsty.” Shuichi explained before he continued answering Kokichi’s question, “Right, vampires, well some monsters don’t think we exist as we’re so rare. We appear in legends after all and a lot of human folktales... but we do exist... In fact, it’s said we’re the most powerful of all monsters as we can channel our strength and turn it into raw power.... I can’t though as my powers are sealed.”
Well that disappointed Kokichi, ‘Just my luck to find the only vampire that has his powers sealed.’
He actted dumb though, “Hmmm.... I can’t remember exactly, but how is a vampires powers sealed, I don’t pay attention a lot in class.”
Shuichi laughed nervously, “I.... kind of picked up on that when you started throwing rubber bits at Harukawa-san... I’ve never seen her death stare that bad…. but anyway, it’s not common knowledge, but my powers are sealed by this Rosario on my choker.”
He held the cross up a little, “It’s made from a crucifix and a blue rosary bead, if this ever came off then I’ll get my powers back.... and things would probably get dangerous. I don’t want that to happen though.”
Kokichi nodded, “Okay.... I don’t get it... But that’s a lie! Nishishi!”
Shuichi just sweated a little as he laughed, “Well... I hope that answered your questions. I won’t ask you to tell me your monster form, but I just hope that even after our bad start that we can still be friends.”
He covered his eyes with his hat, “It’s true... I’m shy and can’t really look in anyone’s eyes... I haven’t really talked to the other students as I’m scared they’ll find out what I am and try and use me… but I would still like to be friends…..”
Kokichi looked at him with a neutral face, “.... What makes you think I’m not trying to use you?”
Shuichi looked at him with mild shock before he just smiled, “Because... I believe you’re a good person. I know I freaked you out, but you didn’t run away. That’s why… That’s what I’ve deduced anyway.”
Kokichi wanted to laugh, but he just couldn’t break the smile on his face. He was kind of using him as having a vampire on his side would be useful if he was found out, but he still did kind of like him. He wasn’t boring and he was very different from vampires in novels and bad teen films. He wasn’t some tortured soul or an asshole that just ate people. He had even asked permission many times in fact before he did drink from him, and he hadn’t taken much either. He didn’t even feel woozy or dizzy after the event.
Kokichi smiled a real smile, “Of course Saihara-chan! I already consider us friends!”
Shuichi couldn’t help but smile, “Thank you Ouma-kun.”
“That means I can copy your notes and homework right?” Kokichi asked with a mischievous grin.
Shuichi shook his head with a slight frown, “No Ouma-kun... I don’t want you to fail… You should learn by working hard yourself.”
Kokichi pouted, “Boo.... worth a shot though. Okay! Nishishi! You better be ready Saihara-chan! I promise I won’t make high school boring for you.”
Shuichi just let out a nervous laugh.