The wind was blowing against my face.
The petals danced along with the wind.
This is what I would call a perfect vision...
...I'd probably say something like that.
I looked up at the sky.
— Honestly, the only thing that gives my life meaning is hunting vampires... and smoking a good cigar.
I spoke out loud. Maybe... someone overheard me.
They were staring at me.
I don't like this.
I'm getting out of here.
I took a deep breath... dropped my cigar beside me.
Left the establishment.
This "place" was what we called a base.
We used it to hunt vampires.
We are hunters.
— State your motto, sir! — a young voice called out.
Maybe... a new recruit.
To enter and leave, you had to recite your "motto."
— Hunt evil. Always!
— Authorized, sir! — he saluted me.
It was normal to notice them coming and going — recruits and veterans.
An endless cycle... probably.
I took a deep breath.
So deep that it felt like the air had filled my entire body.
It was so pure...
I could stand here all day.
But I couldn't... I had work to do.
Hunting vampires is my duty.
The streets were long...
...as if each step I took was leading me toward the final destination.
— You're thinking the same thing I am, right, Rin? — he chuckled.
A man with white hair and a goofy expression stared at me.
— What do you mean, Naoya? — I asked with an indifferent look.
— What do I mean... about what?
We had barely started talking... and I was already getting irritated.
— That's what I'm asking you!
— About the street, geez. That's what I meant — Naoya looked at me.
Ah... it was about that.
— Now I want to know. Were you thinking the same thing?
— If your "thing" is the final destination... then maybe, yeah.
But...
...I forgot to ask myself first:
What is my final destination?
It could be death...
...but that's not just mine.
It belongs to everyone.
— Haha, yeah... that was it.
— So... what do you think the final destination is?
That was a question I couldn't answer.
Would I ever be able to?
— You don't know, do you?
— Of course not, you idiot!
Naoya smiled.
— The final destination is what we humans call death.
But... it has an ambiguous meaning. Depends on your perspective.
I took a deep breath.
— What do you mean?
— Depends... on who you are.
If you're a vampire... that doesn't exist. They're immortal.
He stared at me.
I was starting to think about leaving.
— But for robots, who are mortal...
— Logically, their final destination would be shutdown.
— As for monsters... we don't know much.
They share vampire blood.
But they're more... "affectionate," so to speak.
Naoya looked up at the sky.
And smiled.
— So... the final destination could mean morality...
...discovering oneself...
He looked back at me.
— Or accepting oneself.
Our eyes met.
His face held a... chaotic expression.
Maybe tragic.
— Ah... that's right... — he suddenly said.
— I heard they're going after the last vampire.
— Are you going too, Rin-san?
— Yes. They asked me to join.
— I'm going too! — Naoya said cheerfully.
What?
Him... going on the hunt for the last vampire?
Strange.
But I wasn't going to question my boss.
The strongest person I know.
— How did you get into this mission?
I had to ask.
It bothered me.
How could someone so fragile... go on the hunt for the last vampire?
— I'm stronger than you think! — he grinned.
— Hey.
— Yeah?
— Why do we hunt vampires?
I didn't know that answer either.
I hunted them out of disgust.
I was close to my goal of exterminating them all... only one remained.
I believed in that — but didn't know why.
I didn't question the "why," I just followed that conviction.
That's what makes me who I am.
My being.
— Another answer you don't know.
You only ask hard questions.
— You're a strange guy, Rin-san. Hahaha.
He started laughing — already getting on my nerves.
— Look at yourself! — I said in a commanding voice.
I left without another word.
— See you tomorrow, then.
— At the meeting!
Tomorrow was the gathering of all listed soldiers — at the Hunters' Headquarters.
For the "Last Hunt."
I walked home alone.
Definitely without Naoya — another second with him would drive me crazy.
There were rumors about the last vampire — they said it was the strongest and scariest.
The biggest rumor was that it wasn't a man, but a woman.
— Maybe tomorrow... will be the start of my final destination.
End of chapter.