Episode 1 Assignment Begins

CRIMSON PROTOCOL

Ancient hall. Stone. Cold.

Walls lined with insignias—

symbols of a bloodline feared for generations.

At the center—

a young figure stands alone.

“The Kurogane bloodline…”

A voice echoes.

“…was never meant to coexist with humans.”

Sōma stands still.

Head slightly lowered.

Calm.

Silent.

A drop of blood falls from his hand.

drip

Another vampire kneels nearby—

injured. trembling.

“You’ve already won… why hold back?”

Sōma looks at him.

Expressionless.

For a moment—

his eyes flicker.

Red.

Then—

he turns away.

“…unnecessary.”

He could finish it.

But he doesn’t.

From the shadows:

“Still restraining yourself?”

A higher-ranking vampire steps forward.

“Even with that bloodline… you remain incomplete.”

Sōma doesn’t answer.

But his hand tightens slightly.

“Your power is sealed for a reason.”

Pause.

“Remember that.”

Control is not a choice.

It is a requirement.

A file is placed in front of him.

“New assignment.”

“Target: Human.”

Slight pause.

“…rare blood classification.”

For the first time—

Sōma reacts.

Just slightly.

“…define rare.”

The answer:

“Enough to break you.”

Sōma takes the file.

“Understood.”

But his grip tightens.

Then I will not break.

The office was silent.

Not the uncomfortable kind—

but the kind built on precision.

Every document was aligned.

Every movement calculated.

At the center of it all sat Hoshino Haruki.

Calm. Composed.

Untouchable.

The door opened.

A figure stepped in—

—and immediately stumbled.

A brief, almost imperceptible misstep.

Caught just in time.

Almost.

“…Kurogane Sōma,” he said, straightening his posture as if nothing had happened.

“Assigned to assist you.”

Haruki didn’t look up at first.

“…You’re late.”

“…A minor delay.”

(He overslept. 💀)

A file was handed to him.

“Sort these.”

Sōma reached for it.

A single paper slipped.

Then another.

He bent to pick them up—

knocked his hand lightly against the desk.

Silence.

Haruki finally looked at him.

“…Are you qualified?”

“…Yes.”

A pause.

“…the errors are non-systemic.”

From the side, Meiko Amari observed quietly.

Her smile remained polite.

But her gaze sharpened—just slightly.

Haruki turned to leave.

Sōma stepped forward at the same time.

They collided.

It wasn’t hard.

But it was close.

Too close.

Sōma reacted instantly—

one hand on Haruki’s shoulder, steadying him.

The other—

hovering near his chest.

For a brief moment—

everything stilled.

“…Are you injured?” Sōma asked quietly.

“…No.”

They didn’t move.

Not immediately.

Then—

Sōma stepped back too quickly.

His shoulder lightly hit the wall behind him.

“…Apologies,” he said.

“…I’ve just slept.”

Haruki stared at him.

“…That explains nothing.”

Meiko’s fingers tightened slightly around her folder.

Her smile didn’t change.

It’s fine, she thought.

Just an accident.

…then why did he react first?

Haruki adjusted his sleeve.

“…You’ll be working closely with me from now on.”

“…Understood.”

As Haruki walked past him—

Sōma moved again.

Instinctively.

Closing the distance without realizing it.

“…Maintain proper distance,” Haruki said.

“…Yes.”

(He didn’t move farther away.)

For a brief second—

Haruki paused.

“…something is off.”

Sōma said nothing.

But his eyes—

flickered.

Just slightly.

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