The Vampire and the Grave

(I sure learned a whole lotta stuff from today’s recording. Who knew Grimm’s Fairy Tales were so gross?)

(The staff said there’s a bunch more stories than just the ones we went through in the program. Maybe they got ‘em in the book room?)

(If they do, I wanna read ‘em afore I go to bed… ♪)

…Nn?

Zzz… Zzz… ♪

(I’s wonderin’ who it was, but it’s just Ritsu-kun. Looks like he’s havin’ a nice dream, he’s sleepin’ so peaceful-like on the couch.)

(But hm, even though we got the heat on, he might catch a cold if I let him alone here. Makes me a li’l sad, but I gotta wake him up.)

He~y. You oughtta be sleepin’ in your bed, yanno~?

Mm, mnn…

Whatcha doin’ sleepin’ in a place like this, Ritsu-ku~n?

…Ngah?! Oh no, all’s I did was tap you on the shoulder but you just fell right on the floor.

It made such a big thud, too. Sorry ‘bout that~ I didn’t mean to put so much force into it…

You okay? You’re not hurt or nothin’ are ya?

……

Ritsu-ku~n?

……

(Huh… What’s goin’ on? He ain’t talkin’.)

W–wait, could he be…

Did I hit ‘im so hard he died…?!

Ritsu-kun, hang in there! You’re too young to die~!

……

O–oh no… I can’t even hear a peep outta him.

Wh–what do I do~ If I kill someone, Oshi-san’s gonna get mad for sure! No, I can’t let that happen, I can’t live with that!

I–I–I–I gotta hide it where no one’s gonna find it… My room—no, there’s no place to hide it, so somewhere else…

Got it! The courtyard! I can bury ’im in the courtyard…!

(Ah ge~ez… There ain’t nothing I can use to dig up the dirt.)

(I guess I’ll hafta borrow the ladle an’ spoon from the kitchen to dig it up? But that’d take so much time…)

Good evening, Kagehira-senpai.

Ngah—! Hajime-kun! And Kazehaya-senpai…!

It looks like you’re having some trouble. I’d be happy to help, if you’d like.

Uhh, ummmm~…

(I wanna bury Ritsu-kun out in the courtyard, but I can’t go an’ bring that up to ‘em… huh?)

Hey, y’all’s clothes’re all dirty… What happened?

Oh, sorry about that. We were out doing some planting for Gardenia out in the courtyard until just a few minutes ago.

Doin’ some plantin’...

Yes. They’ll bloom into beautiful flowers come next spring.

Y–yeah, I’m sure they will… Hey, d’ya think that maybe I could getcha to lend me one of Gardenia’s shovels?

You don’t need our permission to borrow anything. All of our gardening tools are in a corner of the shed in the courtyard. Anyone who lives here is able to use them freely.

Ohh, really? That’s good to hear~ Then I’ll go get it right now—

Right now? But it’s getting dark out. What are you planning on doing?

Ngah. I–I um…

Fufu. Wouldn’t it be for your art, Senpai? Since you’re an artist after all.

You probably can’t say anything until it’s finished. Right, Kagehira-senpai?

Sure… Sure as sugar it is. I really wanna keep it a secret.

I see. Forgive me for asking such a tactless question.

I’d love to see it when it’s finished. Then, I’ll leave you to it.

Good luck with your work, Kagehira-senpai ♪

Th–thank ya kindly~…

(Urgh. I done lied to such saint-like people… I’m prolly gon’ be cursed and become a li’l beetle in my next life.)

(Sorry y’all…)

(I got all the tools I need, and I brought Ritsu-kun here with the wheelbarrow I found in the shed. So now all’s I gotta do is dig that hole…)

Ngah~ But I’m super night-blind, so I can’t see nothin’ when it’s so dark out.

But if I turn on a light, someone’s gonna find me. So I just gotta keep diggin’ like this.

The dirt’s so hard, though. I feel like no matter how much I dig, it’s gonna take forever.

You look like you’re having trouble, Mikarin. Want me to help you?

Seriously? I’d really appreciate th—

Waaaaaahh?! Ritsu-kun!!

Fu fu fu, my prank was a huge success~ ♪ This is great, you nearly jumped out of your own skin.

P–prank…? Uhh, ain’t you dead…?

Nope. I wanted to see how you’d react, so I pretended to be dead.

I thought you’d never fall for it, since you can’t kill someone just by tapping their shoulder. You’re so innocent, Mikarin~

I–is that right… Well I’m glad you’re alive.

I seriously thought I killed ya… So I was so surprised just now my heart stopped dead.

Ahaha, well if you die, I’ll do the honors of burying you.

I’ll claim a plot for us and put up a sign that says “Here Lies Mikarin” and one that says “Here Lies Ritsu-kun.” Where do you want it? Maybe under a cherry tree?

Ah geez, you’re so impatient, Ritsu-kun. We’re still alive yanno!

That’s right~ Then let’s fill up this hole and go back to our rooms, okay?

Huh? But you didn’t do nothin’, Ritsu-kun. I’ll do it myself.

You said you’re night-blind, didn’t you? It’ll be faster if we do it together. Come on~

You’re right about that. Thank ya kindly, Ritsu-kun… ♪