Reincarnated into Madness: Yandere Family's Unwanted Slave-Chapter 22: VOLUME 2 - 5: Fire and Ice

Volume 2 Chapter 5: Fire and Ice.

Akira laughed again, shaking his head. "Relax. I'm not here to bite anyone—though you may want to tone down the hostility. The other nobles here aren't half as forgiving." Akira chuckled softly as the last of Hitoshi's complaints echoed into the air. His crimson eyes lingered on the boy and Aiko a moment longer before he finally spoke again.

"Honestly..." he said with a faint smile, "You two are a rare bunch. It's refreshing, really."

He gave a light bow, not stiff or overly formal, but smooth and respectful in the way only someone raised among aristocrats could manage. "As a small thanks, why don't I escort you both to the orientation venue? Consider it an apology for the trouble."

Hitoshi blinked in suspicion. "Wait—escort?"

He raised both hands defensively. "No offense, but... we're not lost or anything, you know."

A sharp smack landed on the back of his head before the sentence had even finished leaving his mouth.

"Gah! AGAIN?!"

Aiko ignored Hitoshi glare and stepped forward with perfect poise, hands folded neatly in front of her as she bowed her head with the grace of a practiced noble. "We deeply appreciate the offer, Lord Akira. But I believe we can manage on our own from here."

Hitoshi stared at her with wide eyes. 'Wait, she turned him down?'

He had fully expected her to agree since he didn't seem that bad especially since she had just chewed him out for being rude to a high-ranking demon. But instead, she was the one cutting ties?

Akira's smile didn't falter. But something in his gaze flickered—just for a breath.

'Well now...' he thought. 'That wasn't expected.'

He had met dozens of nobles from countless houses. Most were eager to latch onto his status, especially freshmen. The Aoi name carried weight, but even then—he had anticipated at least a bit of flattery. Instead, he'd been turned down with a formality that bordered on dismissal.

' Well this just makes things more interesting...'

"I understand," he said smoothly, voice light. "Then I won't impose. I do hope we cross paths again soon."

He waved curtly then turned away with a final nod and strode off, his slender tail swaying behind him, his footsteps rhythmic and measured.

Only once the demon was a safe distance away did Hitoshi finally speak again, his brows still raised as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Okay, what was that about?" he asked. "You actually said no. To the guy you kept acting as if he was a big deal?"

Aiko didn't stop walking. Her steps were calm, but her eyes were narrowed.

"Dealing with you is already more than enough," she said coolly. "I certainly don't have the patience to entertain anyone else."

Hitoshi blinked, not expecting such a reply. ' Oh... so she didn't do it because of me' he let out a breath of relief yet inside he felt a faint pang of disappointment.

'She didn't want him tagging along because she already has her hands full with me?, Isn't she still treating me like some kid?' He let out a low scoff and picked up his pace.

"Fine. Since I'm such a burden I won't bother you anymore " he muttered, forgetting that he was supposed to be attending to her instead of throwing a tantrum. "Spoiled brat..."

Aiko's eye twitched. She watched his back for a few seconds, stunned by his audacity, before she realized he wasn't slowing down.

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"H-Hey! Don't walk ahead of me!" She called out yet Hitoshi didn't bother replying.

Seeing this, Her lips curled. "You arrogant little rat..."

She stormed after him, ignoring the faint snickers of a few students they passed.

' He's seriously insufferable. What is wrong with him today?!' she thought, heels clicking against the cobblestone.' One minute he's sniveling and crying and the next he's stomping off like he's the master and I'm the slave!'

' I should have let Akira escort me just to spite him!' She thought yet she didn't. And that fact irritated her more than she was willing to admit it right now

As they neared the tall doors of the main auditorium building, their argument faded into silence. Around them, other freshmen filtered through the pathways, unaware that a storm of personality clashes and bruised pride had just passed by their side.

_________________________________________

The interior of the orientation hall was breathtaking in scale and design.

A vast domed ceiling soared overhead, inlaid with thin veins of glowing mana-crystal that traced swirling constellations across the ceiling like moving stars. Massive chandeliers—enchanted to float and rotate slowly—bathed the space in a warm, ever-shifting light. The seating layout resembled a spiraling staircase, descending downward into a wide, polished stage of dark marble at the bottom, where the future of Nightwood would be addressed.

Each seat was backed with curved bronze frames and cushioned in royal blue, arranged in tight arcs that followed the circular walls of the auditorium. Dozens—no, hundreds—of students were already finding their places.

Hitoshi's eyes darted around the overwhelming crowd as he and Aiko stepped through one of the arched doorways near the midsection. After a moment of searching, he spotted two open seats midway down the steps, slightly off-center.

"There," he pointed with a small grin, hurrying toward them. "Finally—"

But before he could reach them, a blur of motion cut past him.

Thud!

Something hard slammed into his side, and before Hitoshi could react, he stumbled with a yelp and landed flat on the floor.

"Ow—!"

Gasps and chuckles echoed around him.

"Did you see that?"

" Hilarious"

"Classic."

"Guess he didn't look before he leaped?"

Hitoshi pushed himself up slowly, brushing off his sleeves. His palms stung. His pride more so.

He looked up sharply to see a tall lizard man teenager—dressed in gold-accented noble robes—lowering himself comfortably into one of the seats he had spotted. A girl beside him, dressed in cream silk with soft white fur at her neck and curled horns peeking from a pink bonnet, let out a giggle before taking the second seat. Her sheep-like ears twitched smugly.

"Hey!" Hitoshi snapped, marching up to them. "Those were my seats! I saw them first! Move!"

The lizard man didn't even look at him at first. He leaned into the seat with a sigh of exaggerated contentment, then finally turned his yellow slitted eyes on Hitoshi with a bored, sneering smirk.

"You barking up at me, human?"

Hitoshi's fists clenched at his sides.

"I said get up."

The lizard man chuckled, displaying a row of sharp gleaming fangs. "Feisty. Haven't seen one of your kind act like this in years." He raised his hand and flexed his claws threateningly. "If you want the seat, runt, then take it. Otherwise, buzz off before I get annoyed."

The sheep-girl laughed again, twirling one of her curls. "Maybe he thinks we'll move if he just stares hard enough?"

A low growl began building in Hitoshi's throat as his fingers curled.

Suddenly, with a quiet chime, a translucent panel shimmered into view just above his right eye like a floating hologram.

[System Notification: Onii-chan! Are you okay?]

[System Notification: That fall looked painful!]

[System Notification: How dare those two hurt Onii-chan!. Do you want to use your stat points now and teach those meanies a lesson?"]

[Your currently at Level 25!]

[You have 200 unallocated stat points and 200 Unallocated skill points!]

Hitoshi's eyes narrowed. He stared at the lizard man and the girl beside him, the tips of his fingers trembling as he hovered over the decision.

But before he could say anything—

A chill swept through the air.

Not a physical breeze, but an intangible presence.

Similar to the cold snap before a snowstorm. Like standing in the shadow of a deadly creature.

Gasps scattered like pebbles skipping across a pond.

The nearby students all flinched as a pressure suddenly weighed down on their shoulders—so subtle, yet unmistakably dangerous.

And then, her voice came. Sounding Calm. Cold and Amused at the same time.

"Do those seats happen to be earned through battle?" Aiko asked, her tone gliding through the air like an icy dagger. "If so... should I fight you for them?"

The lizard man and sheep-beast girl turned at the same time.

And froze.

Aiko stood just behind Hitoshi, arms crossed lightly over her chest, her long raven hair trailing like midnight silk across her shoulders. Her red eyes glowed like rubies in the light of the chandelier, and when her lips parted, they caught a faint glint of two small, elegant fangs.

The realization hit them like a slap to the face.

"She's a... vampire," the sheep girl whispered.

"Shit..." the lizard muttered under his breath. " We wouldn't dare entertain such thoughts!"

" Please forgive us!" The sheep girl added.

Neither of them said another word. Within seconds, they were up and gone, practically tripping over themselves to escape the seats and the girl now gazing down at them as if bored by the interruption.

The crowd around them, which had been on the verge of mocking Hitoshi again, now shifted their murmurs in a different direction.

"Wait—is that a vampire?!"

"I've never seen one before !"

"But aren't their only 3 vampire family's in the kingdom?"

" Which one could she be from?"

" Forget the family, That aura was insane. What level do you think she is?"

Aiko didn't bother to answer the excited students nor even acknowledge their whispers. She clicked her tongue, brushed back her hair, and dropped gracefully into one of the two free seats

She leaned one elbow on the armrest, resting her cheek against her hand with obvious disinterest, her legs crossing with the elegance of someone who had never once been challenged on her right to sit anywhere.

She glanced sideways.

Hitoshi was still frozen in place, staring at her like a ghost had just performed a magic trick and then sat down beside him.

"Well?" Aiko said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You planning to sit, or would you rather stand there all day like a good little guard dog?"

Hitoshi twitched. "I was going to sit..."

"Hmm?" Aiko raised a brow.

"Anyways....I didn't need your help back there." He plopped into the seat beside her with a loud huff, folding his arms tightly.

Aiko's smirk widened. "Oh? Was that a bark just now?"

"Shut up."

"Arf, arf."

"Shut up!" he gritted out, red-faced, cheeks puffed.

From the side of her gaze, she caught the way he gnawed on his lower lip, flustered and biting back childish curses. And when she turned her head, just slightly—she didn't miss the glint of gratitude that quickly passed over his face before he turned it away.

She didn't say anything more.

And for a moment, they both simply sat in silence, pretending not to look at each other.

But anyone watching closely would have seen the tiniest shift in their shoulders—less stiff, less guarded. Almost as if... just for a heartbeat... they weren't enemies, servants, nobles, or heirs.

Just two kids.