Multiversal Friendship System

To avoid this, vampires usually 'Handle' Their Victims

In other words—

They eat them.

Physically.

After feeding on their blood, they consume the entire body, replenishing their energy.

This counts as feeding.

Whereas turning someone into a familiar—

That's… a whole other kind of "intimate activity."

What about feeding without killing or eating?

Yeah… that doesn't really exist.

At least, Souta couldn't recall a single case.

So in short—

Letting Kiss-Shot drink his blood?

Extremely dangerous.

Because who knows if she'd decide to…

Finish her meal. "You can't seriously expect her to get 'those kinds of thoughts' about a guy she just met, right?"

Kiss-Shot had strong morals when it came to these things.

Soon, the system responded—

[Whether the host will be eaten depends on Kiss-Shot's attitude toward you.]

Souta: "…"

That… doesn't help at all.

So should he still save her… or not?

He hesitated for about thirty seconds.

But with each passing moment, her time was running out.

"…Tch."

He sighed—

He couldn't just let her die.

Of course—

Souta wasn't some self-sacrificing hero like Araragi Koyomi.

He was just an average guy with a decent heart.

But he wasn't about to throw his life away for someone he'd barely spoken to.

So he came up with a compromise.

He would save her—

But only halfway.

He would give her his blood—

But that's it.

No helping her recover her limbs,

No solving her emotional baggage,

No going out of his way to complete the mission.

He didn't care about the mission rewards.

As soon as she was stable, he'd book it back home.

This way—

Kiss-Shot would survive…

And he wouldn't get eaten.

Perfect plan.

No unnecessary risks.

Satisfied, Souta got to work.

He gently laid her down, then froze the river water using Half-Cold, Half-Hot, crafting a sharp ice shard.

With a deep breath,

He sliced his own wrist open.

Of course—

His immortal body immediately began healing the wound.

Souta: "Tch… this damn regeneration."

So he activated Time Deceleration, slowing his healing down by several times.

Finally, he lowered his bleeding wrist to Kiss-Shot's lips.

Blood dripped down—

But she didn't react.

The blood simply slid off her lips…

And immediately returned to Souta's wrist.

"…Guess I'll have to force it in her mouth."

Time was running out.

After a quick thought—

Souta bit the bullet.

He cut his wrist even deeper, wincing at the pain.

Then, in one swift motion—

He lowered his lips to the wound and sucked up a mouthful of blood.

Before his regeneration could steal it back—

He wrapped an arm around Kiss-Shot,

Pressed his lips to hers—

And force-fed her the blood.

After making sure she swallowed,

Souta pulled back and prepared to cut himself again.

But before he could—

Kiss-Shot's eyelids twitched.

Then—

She opened her golden eyes.

Souta: "You're awake?"

He tossed the ice shard aside, relieved.

Kiss-Shot blinked blearily.

She glanced at him—

And her expression twisted with shock.

"Thou art… human?"

Souta: "It's me, Souta."

Souta pulled out his system phone and waved it.

"I'm the group leader of the Friends Chat—you and I just talked not too long ago."

"…Ah. So it is thou."

Seeing the same type of phone, Kiss-Shot finally remembered who Souta was—

That so-called "ordinary person" from another world.

However, her attention quickly shifted away from Souta.

She licked her lips, brows furrowing slightly—

Her mouth felt… off.

Like it had been invaded by something.

"…What is this feeling?"

Souta noticed her movements—

His heart skipped a beat.

Oh no.

She realized something was weird.

So he braced himself and awkwardly explained—

"Ahem… You passed out earlier, so I gave you a little bit of my blood."

Kiss-Shot blinked.

She was momentarily… stunned.

A human willingly offering their blood?

She had never encountered something like this before.

She felt a bit stronger now.

Lifting her golden gaze, she stared at Souta and asked—

"Why art thou here?"

Souta saw no reason to hide anything.

So he answered honestly—

"The system alerted me that your life was in danger, so I came."

Kiss-Shot narrowed her eyes.

"So thy purpose was… to rescue me?"

Souta nodded.

"Yeah."

Kiss-Shot let out a small hum.

Then, she sighed.

"I see… Thou knowest I am a vampire, yet thou still possess sympathy?

How pitiful."

She shook her head.

"I am aware of my own condition—I am dying."

"And thou claimest to be but an 'ordinary human.'"

"In that case, there is nothing thou can do."

"That's not necessarily true."

Souta pointed at his own neck.

"You just need enough blood to survive, right?"

"Then take mine."

As soon as the words left his lips—

Kiss-Shot's gaze snapped to him.

She stared at him—

For a full ten seconds.

Then, she spoke again.

"…Art thou a fool?"

Her voice carried a complex emotion.

"Thou knowest full well what it means to be fed upon by me, correct?"

"Thy body will be drained of all blood—thou shall perish."

Her eyes flickered strangely.

"Thou wert willing to cross worlds to aid me…

Thou even gave me blood to wake me up…

I will remember this kindness."

Her voice carried a sense of pride—

As if she found such ungrateful repayment to be beneath her.

"But I refuse."

"I shall not allow thee to throw away thy life for my sake."

"Go back."

Her voice was firm.

"Unless thou art prepared to kill others and steal their blood for me, there is nothing more to discuss."

Souta shook his head.

"Sorry, but I can't do that."

"I won't hurt innocent people just to save you."

"And besides—your time is running out."

"You don't have time to find someone else."

He tugged at his collar, exposing his neck.

"Just hurry up and drink my blood already."

"I don't mind, so why do you?"

"..."

Kiss-Shot's eyes widened.

She looked at Souta as if he were…

A complete idiot.

A human—

Willing to sacrifice himself for a complete stranger?

She had lived for centuries…

But this level of stupidity was something she had never encountered before.

This fool…

Is he for real?