Vampire and His Pleasant Companions: Volume 3 - Part 1

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As the white text began to scroll over the black background of the end credits, Albert Irving’s gray eyes welled with tears. He clenched his mouth tightly into a straight line. The ominous sound of the double bass seemed to rise from the depths of the earth, prolonging the lingering dread.

The music faded out, and suddenly the room was bright. The once-silent screening room came to life with murmurs as the audience members began to stand and make their way toward the single exit, almost as if drawn by some invisible force.

"That was awesome!" Yuuji Mitani raised both hands high in the air, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"It was classic Japanese horror, right? That creeping, damp kind of fear that slowly closes in on you. And the lead, Haruna Kitasato, she's from a gravure idol background, but she was really good. Especially the scene where she's cornered by Nishijou and hides in the kitchen—man, that was intense."

“I... I didn’t watch it,” Al muttered under his breath.

"Oh, were you asleep?"

“No, scary... didn’t open my eyes.”

He was pretty sure he had kept his eyes closed for more than half of the nearly two-hour-long movie.

“For someone who claims to like horror movies, you sure are a scaredy-cat,” Mitani laughed. To be clear, Al had never once said he liked horror movies. In fact, he constantly complained about how scary they were. Yet, for some reason, Mitani never seemed to remember this and kept inviting him to horror screenings.

Al had become friends with Mitani after co-starring in a drama. Their friendship was partly due to the fact that Mitani was 22 years old—close to Albert's apparent age—and they had worked together to help apprehend a murderer. Even after filming ended, they continued to meet up occasionally.

Mitani was a second-year actor in the industry. He was good-looking, bright, and had a great personality, but his love for horror and splatter films over anything else seemed to have left him with few friends.

"One time, I said, ‘I heard human flesh tastes like pork,’ but then I explained that I hadn’t actually eaten it, it was just something I read in a book. But still, everyone got so freaked out!"

Mitani spoke cheerfully, but if Al had been there, he would have undoubtedly frozen in fear.

“I got a ticket to a preview screening from a distribution company. Wanna go?” Mitani had invited him the night before. Since the screening was at 8 PM and close to the embalming facility where he worked part-time, Al figured he could make it if he left early. And the chance to see a new movie for free was too tempting to pass up. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a horror movie.

Every movie Mitani had taken him to so far had been horror or splatter films. When Mitani invited him, Al had cautiously asked for the title, but "Jutsuushin" in kanji didn’t give him any clues. Thinking it might be fine, he went, only to be met with a full-on horror experience. The terror seeping from the screen, accompanied by a chorus of screams and sobs, made for a two-hour ordeal. It was… a bit heartbreaking.

Mitani jumped up from his seat and glanced at his watch.

"It's ten o'clock. I'm getting a little hungry. How about we go to 'Friday the 13th'? It's open until one."

The cafe, named after the classic horror film, was a horror-themed spot aimed at horror enthusiasts. Mitani had dragged him there multiple times before. The menu featured items with terrifying names like "Evil Dead" and "Zombie Tears," but in reality, they were just sausage platters with ketchup and ginger ale.

“I’m going home. I’ll miss the last train... I’ll get in trouble.”

The last time they watched a movie together, they got so caught up in conversation afterward that Albert missed his train. With no money for a taxi, he called his housemate, Akira Takatsuka, who went out of his way to pick him up. However, the entire ride back was accompanied by a thunderstorm of Akira's anger: "Don’t use me as a taxi! Do you know what time it is? It’s 2 a.m., 2 a.m.!" Akira had work early the next morning, so his anger was justified. Albert deeply regretted it.

"Well then, how about we hang out somewhere for a bit, but I’ll make sure you catch the last train?"

Since he had spent most of the movie with his eyes closed, Albert wasn’t sure he could offer any meaningful commentary. As he hesitated, a familiar voice called out from ahead, “Well, if it isn’t Mitani-kun and Kane-san!”

Even though it was already October, Sakeiri walked toward them from the exit, dressed in a palm tree-patterned aloha shirt and knee-length shorts, as if declaring that summer was far from over.

“Kane-san, I’ve been wanting to see you!”

Sakeiri beamed. He was the producer of the drama BLOOD GIRL Mahiro, which both Mitani and Albert had starred in, and also an old high school friend of Albert’s housemate, Akira.

Al’s real name was Albert Irving, but after a run-in with the police and a subsequent escape under dire circumstances, he started using the alias Kane Roberts. Only Akira and his detective friend Nukariya, who were aware of the situation, knew his real identity. At first, the alias felt strange, but over time it became second nature, almost like a stage name.

"What are you two doing here, getting all cozy? Is this a date or something?"

"Of course not," Mitani laughed loudly at Sakeiri’s playful remark. Albert couldn't shake the feeling that Sakeiri still believed he was gay, which made his chest feel uncomfortably tight.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Sakeiri-san. I didn't know you liked horror movies."

Sakeiri vigorously waved his hand in front of his face. "Actually, I’m terrible with horror."

Mitani looked visibly disappointed as Sakeiri glanced around cautiously, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice.

"…This is still off the record, so keep it quiet, okay? We’ve decided that Haruna Kitasato will be the lead in Mahiro 2."

BLOOD GIRL Mahiro was a drama that had gained attention for reasons other than the storyline, including the murder of its lead actress and the fact that her manager was the culprit. Despite airing in a late-night slot, it achieved exceptionally high ratings, and a sequel had been confirmed early on. With the previous lead actress passing away during filming and being replaced, the casting of the new Mahiro was a hot topic.

"I got an invitation from her agency, and since I had some free time, I came to check it out. I heard this was Haruna's first time acting, but she did great, right? I can see why her agency wants to push her as an actress. I met her recently, too, and she’s really shy and nervous. You’d never guess that from her confident performance."

"…Excuse me, sorry to interrupt your conversation."

A well-dressed woman in a blouse and skirt, wearing an employee ID badge, peeked in from the entrance of the screening room and smiled politely.

"The screening has ended for tonight. We’ll be locking up the room shortly…"

Looking around, Al realized that the three of them were the only ones left in the room.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

The screening was held in the screening room located in the basement of the distribution company. Climbing the stairs to the first floor, they emerged into the company's reception lobby. The lights were dimmed halfway, creating an atmosphere that suggested the end of the workday was near.

As they stepped outside, a gust of wind swept through, causing Al to squint his eyes. Although it could still get hot enough to break a sweat during the day, the nights had become quite cool.

Sakeiri, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around.

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Kane-san. I’ve even dropped by the Center a few times, but Takatsuka wouldn’t let me through.”

The "Center" Sakeiri referred to was the funeral home "Old Memorial Center." Akira worked there as an embalmer, a certified professional responsible for preserving, disinfecting, restoring, and cosmetically preparing bodies. The embalming process involves using the body's blood vessels to apply preservative treatments, which not only halts the progress of decay and keeps the body clean but also restores the appearance of the deceased to something close to their lively self, even if they were damaged in an accident or worn down by illness.

While embalming is common in the West, it isn't widespread in Japan due to the custom of cremating bodies within a few days. The Old Memorial Center is one of the rare funeral homes in Japan with facilities for embalming, and Akira is one of the few Japanese embalmers. Al works there part-time, cleaning the facilities, thanks to Akira's recommendation.

"I really want you to continue playing the enemy vampire, Kane-san."

"Huh? Isn’t Kane already confirmed for the sequel?"

Mitani was surprised, and Sakeiri made a serious face, saying, "That was the plan."

“Is there a scheduling conflict with another job?” Mitani pressed.

Al hesitated before mumbling, “No... but...”

"When my manager told me the second season was confirmed, I was told that all the cast except Mahiro would be returning, so I thought Kane would be, too. I was really looking forward to working with you again. Despite all the challenges during the last shoot, I thought the staff and the atmosphere on set were great."

Al desperately wanted to return for the role, but there was a major obstacle in his way: "Akira Takatsuka."

As he hesitated to respond, Sakeiri gave him a light pat on the shoulder.

"My guess is that Kane-san is willing to appear in the sequel, isn’t he?"

Al nodded honestly.

"…But the real problem is the boss."

"The boss? Who’s that?" Mitani tilted his head in confusion.

"It’s Kane-san’s housemate, Takatsuka. He’s the one blocking Kane-san from taking the role."

"But it’s such a great opportunity, a series and everything…"

"I know, right? I think so too, but that Takatsuka guy is stubbornly saying no."

Mitani crossed his arms and let out a small groan. "Why does Takatsuka-san not want Kane to be in the show?"

Just as Sakeiri was about to answer, a young woman spoke up, "Excuse me!" She appeared to be around twenty, dressed in a light yellow top and a short denim skirt. Her remarkably long lashes framed her moist eyes that were fixed intently on Mitani.

"You're Yuuji Mitani, the actor, right? I’m a huge fan. Could I please have your autograph?"

Mitani smiled and smoothly signed the notebook she handed him with a ballpoint pen, as confidently as a Hollywood star. His profile was cool and handsome.

"I'm so happy. Thank you so much."

The girl, now holding the autograph, seemed so excited that even her ears had turned red.

"I’ve been watching you since your debut in Key to the Blue Sky. You were amazing as Jun Miyagawa. I even bought the DVD and keep rewatching it…"

Her voice was loud, drawing the attention of passersby who glanced over curiously, wondering what was going on.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Mitani has a meeting to get to," Sakeiri quickly cut off the conversation. Mitani gave the girl a polite nod, saying, "Sorry about that, but please keep supporting me."

"Follow me," Sakeiri urged, and Al and Mitani followed him. Once they stepped off the main road, Sakeiri turned around. After checking that no one was following them, he leaned in and whispered.

"…She seemed like the type who would keep talking forever, so I ended it quickly."

"…Thank you, I appreciate it," Mitani said quietly.

"I know a place nearby. Let’s go there. It’s a hidden gem—nice and quiet, with few customers."

"A hidden gem? What’s that?" Al asked.

"It means a place that not many people know about, but it’s really good," Sakeiri replied with a wink.

As they entered a narrower alley off the side street, Sakeiri led them to a building three doors down and up to the third floor. The shop’s name was in katakana, so Al couldn’t read it, but as soon as they entered, Hawaiian music greeted them. The small space was filled with tropical plants, and hibiscus flowers decorated the walls, giving the place a South Pacific vibe.

"This is a Hawaiian bar. I love Hawaii, and I totally hit it off with the owner."

Whether it was really a hidden gem or just out of fashion, the Hawaiian bar was completely empty except for them. In the lonely place, with lively music playing, they took a table by the wall.

As soon as they entered, Sakeiri ordered a Budweiser, took it from the counter, and began drinking it right there. Instantly, he grimaced.

"This is kind of warm."

When Sakeiri complained, the owner just laughed and apologized. Al was now convinced that this bar definitely wasn’t popular.

"Anyway, back to what we were talking about earlier. Takatsuka just doesn’t want Kane-san appearing in the media."

Mitani took a sip of his ginger ale.

"But Kane’s an actor, so appearing in the media comes with the job… And isn’t it the agency’s decision whether he’s on TV or not?"

Sakeiri sighed, the scent of beer on his breath.

"Kane-san isn’t really with an agency—it’s more like he works independently, and he can’t go against Takatsuka. …Well, I kind of understand why Takatsuka wouldn’t want his super hot boyfriend getting famous on TV."

Hearing this, Mitani choked on his ginger ale and started coughing.

"Boyfriend…? You mean Takatsuka-san and Kane are dating?"

Sakeiri let out a loud exclamation and clapped his hands together in front of his face.

"Kane-san, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to let that slip."

“No, me and Akira... not dating,” Al stammered.

He wanted to be in a relationship with Akira, but it was still one-sided. They weren’t mutually in love yet.

"What? But aren't you two a couple?" Sakeiri pressed.

"We're not a couple," Al replied.

"But you live together and do, you know, ‘nyan-nyan’, right?"

As Al mulled over the playful phrase, he cross-referenced it with his mental Japanese dictionary.

“Nyan-nyan... cat?”

Sakeiri and Mitani fell silent, exchanging glances.

"Sakeiri-san, maybe it's best not to go there…" Mitani murmured seriously, and Sakeiri, with a nervous laugh, agreed, "Y-yeah, you're right."

"Kane-san, just forget what I said," Sakeiri added.

“But... I’m curious... Nyan-nyan... not cat?” Al asked, still puzzled.

“Nyan-nyan is, you know, like... sex,” the bartender casually clarified with a smile as he brought over a glass of tomato juice for Al. Al’s cheeks flushed as the realization hit him like a wave of embarrassment.

“Me and Akira don’t do that!” Al exclaimed.

“Really? You live together, and it’s all... platonic?” Sakeiri responded with a surprised expression. Not only was there no sex, but Akira had also refused his love confession and wouldn’t even let him kiss his lips.

"Akira say no... he angry."

Sakeiri let out a long breath, his eyes wide. "Wow, he's such a hard-core sadist. I mean, I always got that vibe from the way he treated you during the shoot…"

"I kind of get it," Mitani, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up. "Takatsuka-san seems strict with himself and others, right? Maybe that’s where the sadistic tendencies come from."

"Yeah, when you put it that way…" Sakeiri nodded thoughtfully, arms crossed. Then, he looked directly at Al.

"Kane-san, why on earth are you so into that guy?"

Before Al could process everything, Akira had already been labeled a sadist. But that wasn’t accurate—he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding.

"Akira is... kind. He angry... but kind."

"…A true sadist has the perfect balance of strictness and kindness," Sakeiri remarked, not really listening.

"Really... Akira is kind," Al insisted earnestly. But the two of them looked at him with eyes full of pity.

"Kane-san, you don’t have to pretend with us. It's okay to be yourself, even if you’re, you know, gay and... a masochist," Sakeiri said.

"Exactly, Kane. Sexual preferences are like being right- or left-handed—no big deal," Mitani added.

They tried to comfort him, misunderstanding the situation entirely, and Al found himself unable to correct them. He could only hang his head in resignation. A heavy silence settled between the three of them.

"So, what were we talking about again?" Mitani finally broke the silence.

"Uh… right, I was asking Kane-san to stay on for the sequel. But that stubborn boss, Takatsuka, just ignores me. He’s got this friend, Nukariya, who’s a detective…"

"Oh, I know Detective Nukariya. We spoke during the murder investigation. He’s a cool guy."

"Yeah, well, he’s as crafty as Takatsuka. Even when I ask him to put in a word, he just says, ‘Talk to him yourself,’ and dodges the responsibility."

The real reason Akira was against Al appearing in the drama again was because of Al's past—his arrest and subsequent escape. If his face became too well-known and the media exposure led the police to find him, he could be arrested. And if his true identity was revealed, it could cause an international uproar.

Al was a vampire, but a defective one. Unlike perfect vampires who could change their form at will between bat and human, Al had no control over his transformations: he turned into a bat during the day and a human at night. Though he was immortal and healed from injuries, it hurt just the same, and unless he drank a lot of blood, his body wouldn’t fully recover. But he didn’t even have the fangs necessary to drink blood, making it a constant struggle to obtain it. Because his body changed between day and night, he couldn't hold a steady job, and with no friends, human or vampire, he ended up living near an old hunter named Gaddis, secretly drinking the blood of the animals Gaddis hunted to stave off his hunger. It was a miserable existence, at least until he stowed away to Japan among frozen beef shipments.

Now, Al works part-time at Akira's workplace, where he assists with embalming procedures. In return, he receives discarded blood as food. He's working diligently at his job, gets his meals, and has made friends. Since coming to Japan, his environment has dramatically changed, and he's living a life much closer to that of a normal human being.

But no matter how good things were, people (even vampires) are never satisfied with the status quo. Once his life stabilized, Al began to remember the dreams he had as a human—to become an actor. By a string of coincidences, he ended up making his acting debut in Japan. To avoid being recognized as a fugitive, his makeup was so heavy that even his original face was unrecognizable.

And then, Al fell in love with Akira. The man who had brought him back to a human-like life, who was sharp-tongued and quick to anger, but kind and surprisingly caring. Al wanted to stay by his side forever. He only realized these feelings after another man, Muroi, appeared, showing interest in Akira. If Akira had fallen for a woman, Al might have given up. But another man? Absolutely not. In that case, he thought, even a vampire like him might have a chance.

"So, Kane-san, could you try convincing Takatsuka for me? Your role as the vampire in 'Mahiro' was really good. The acting was kind of over the top, but it actually matched the classic atmosphere of the original work, so it didn't feel out of place. After your performance, we got several inquiries asking who played the enemy vampire. The viewers are asking for you, Kane-san."

It was gratifying that the show had been well received. It didn't feel bad to be praised for his acting. Although Akira had laughed at him, calling it "terrible," he still wanted to do it. But...

"I can’t... Akira won’t let me." Al shook his head.

"You won’t know until you try. Even that stiff-necked guy might listen if it's a request from his beloved Kane-san."

"That’s... unlikely," Mitani coolly interjected. "Kane’s a masochist. In an S&M relationship, the slave doesn’t get to make requests of the master."

Though Al thought this wasn’t quite accurate, Sakeiri nodded in agreement, "…That’s true."

"Since I know Kane-san wants to do it, I guess I'll have to push harder on my end."

"Good luck. I also think Kane’s vampire was really great, and I'd love to co-star with him in the sequel," Mitani encouraged. Sakeiri sighed, scratched the back of his head, and complained, "I really need to hurry; we don’t have much time."

"You know 'Mahiro' had high ratings, so the sequel’s going to be in a golden time slot, right? The first episode is going to be a 90-minute special, and we’re planning to shoot in the U.S. There’s a part in the original story where Mahiro meets her archenemy, the enemy vampire Keegan, while she’s staying in America, so we’re planning to film that. Normally, we’d have a bit more leeway in the schedule, but with Haruna Kitasato gaining popularity, her schedule is packed, so the shoot might be moved up since she’s also going to America for a photo book shoot."

"America?" Al muttered, and Sakeiri’s eyes widened.

"That’s right, America! Kane-san, you can go back home for free!"

"Sakeiri-san, America’s a big place, so depending on the location, going home might not be feasible. Besides, the schedule’s really tight, isn’t it?" Mitani pointed out.

"Ah, right," Sakeiri shrugged. "I was thinking with a small island mentality. The shoot’s planned for the outskirts of Chicago, though."

When he heard "Chicago," Al couldn’t help but lean forward.

"My home... in Nebraska. Chicago... close. I went there in high school."

"Nice, nice! I can feel the hand of fate at work. Kane-san, you’re destined to be in 'Mahiro 2.' It’s meant to be," Sakeiri exclaimed.

Filming in America, and in Chicago, no less. Depending on the shooting location, he could make it back to Nebraska in a day by car. He hadn’t seen his parents’ faces in nearly nine years.

When he first became a vampire, he rushed to see his parents, but it only left them in a state of confusion. Their son, whom they had buried, had returned as a monster—it was too much for them to handle. To make matters worse, his father tried to shoot him. He didn’t want to go through that again, so next time he would make sure they didn’t see him. He just wanted to secretly confirm from a distance that they were doing well, and that would be enough.

Although he was paid for his role in the drama, it wasn’t much different from his wages at the facility. As an amateur actor and a stand-in, it couldn’t be helped. For a poor, freeloading guy like him, a trip back to America was a far-off dream. But if it was for a location shoot, the travel costs would be covered. And somehow, Al felt that this might be his first and last chance to see his parents’ faces.

"Kane, you should head to the station soon," Mitani said, glancing at his watch. There were only about fifteen minutes left until the last train.

"I’m going!" Al jumped up from his seat. He pulled out his wallet, fumbling as he said, "Juice money...", Sakeiri stopped him with a wave of his hand.

"No, no, it's on me."

Sakeiri was very generous. If this had been Akira, he would have been charged down to the last yen. Thanks to that, Al had quickly become accustomed to Japanese currency.

"I’m really glad I got to talk with you today, Kane-san." Sakeiri, who had also stood up, patted Al on the shoulder.

"By the way, I’ve been curious since the beginning, but Kane-san, you always wear unique T-shirts. The one you have on now, with the kanji 'Shimensoka'¹ on the back, is fantastic. I wish that playful spirit would rub off on Takatsuka."

It felt good to have his fashion sense praised. When he first brought this T-shirt home, Akira had just snorted at it, as usual. But Sakeiri praised it, so clearly, Akira was the one with no sense of style.

"See you later," Al said, leaving the two behind as he dashed out of the bar. He knew his way back to the main street, but he had less than ten minutes left to catch the last train.

Footnotes

1. "Shimensoka" (四面楚歌) 'besieged on all sides' is a Japanese idiom that refers to being surrounded by enemies on all sides or being in a desperate situation with no way out. The phrase originates from a historical Chinese event during the Chu-Han Contention, where the forces of Xiang Yu, the leader of Chu, were surrounded by Han forces. The Han soldiers sang Chu songs to demoralize Xiang Yu's troops, leading to his ultimate defeat.

In modern usage, "Shimensoka" metaphorically describes a situation where someone feels completely trapped or isolated, with no allies or escape routes.

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