Late at night,

In the apartment where the two live together, only the faint light of the living room remained.

Akito was leaning against the sofa watching television, and Toya was quietly pouring water into a cup in the kitchen.

On the surface, it was an ordinary night for roommates. Having grown accustomed to each other's lives, the two could spend time comfortably in the same space without even needing to speak.

But within that ordinary daily life, there was one secret Akito did not know.

Toya was not human.

A ghoul.

A being living in human form while thoroughly hiding his identity.

Human food meant nothing to Toya. Every time he ate with Akito, he pretended to take small bites, but he would secretly throw it away without even being able to swallow properly.

He never said he was hungry either. Avoiding any behavior that might be considered strange as much as possible, he had lived as if he were just an ordinary human.

He had endured day by day like that.

However, today was different.

Akito hurt his hand.

It was a very small wound on the tip of his finger. Not even a few drops of blood flowed.

But to Toya, that scent was excessively vivid.

In an instant, his breath hitched.

The inside of his throat burned dry. His heart began to beat rapidly, and the scent he would have normally passed over without a thought filled his head.

He could even clearly feel Akito's body heat and pulse nearby.

Toya instinctively backed away.

...Akito, the blood on your hand...