A cozy little café.
Yet inside, several SS-rated ghouls quietly gathered.
They were the core figures behind the legend of the 20th Ward's so-called "Safe Zone."
Each had a past—either glorious or soaked in blood.
Now, they'd all chosen to disappear from the front lines.
Under Manager Yoshimura's philosophy, they protected this rare and fragile balance between humans and ghouls—a sanctuary hidden in plain sight.
Touka Kirishima walked up to the bar and sat down on a high stool.
Without saying a word, Kuzen Yoshimura handed her a glass of warm water, like it was second nature.
Koma Enji and Irimi Kaya came over too. Even Yomo Renji shifted his gaze to her.
"So, what did you find out?" Yoshimura asked gently.
But behind the calm tone, his eyes—half hidden by his glasses—were heavy with concern.
Something had definitely changed in the 20th Ward.
CCG activity had picked up—way more than usual. And that alone was enough to upset the fragile peace they'd worked so hard to maintain.
Touka took a sip of water. Her deep-blue eyes swept across the group.
"I've figured it out," she said, voice firm.
"The reason CCG's doves suddenly swarmed into the 20th Ward… is because an SS-class binge eater slipped in from nearby districts."
"The guy's completely unhinged—ignores all the unspoken rules. In just a few days, he's gone on multiple flashy hunts… even took out some CCG trainee investigators."
"An SS-class binge eater?" Koma's smile dropped. His eyes darkened.
The coin he'd been idly spinning between his fingers came to an abrupt stop.
"Which dumbass district spawned this idiot? Doesn't he know Anteiku watches over this ward? Stirring up trouble here is basically asking the doves to drop hellfire on our heads."
Irimi closed her magazine with a snap. Her gaze turned razor-sharp.
"Reckless little freak. Thinks the 20th Ward is his playground?"
"Sounds like someone needs a reminder of why this place was ever called the Safe Zone."
Her words were quiet—but icy enough to cut glass.
Yomo didn't speak. But the hand on his knee clenched tight, knuckles turning white.
Everyone here knew what an SS-rated ghoul was capable of.
Leave him unchecked, and it would trigger an even harsher crackdown from the CCG.
That would mean innocent lives lost—and the peace they'd built, destroyed.
Yoshimura frowned deeply, fingers drumming quietly on the bar.
He stood for coexistence, not senseless bloodshed.
But this outsider had forced their hand, dragging war to their doorstep.
And doing nothing would mean the collapse of everything they stood for.
"Manager," Koma said, finally opening his usually squinting eyes. His voice was cautious, but the heat in his gaze couldn't be hidden.
"Should we take care of it?"
They'd been out of the fight for years. Their strength was rusty—underfed, underused.
Still, if it was just one rule-breaking punk, they could deal with him.
Irimi looked at Yoshimura too, waiting for his decision.
Just as Yoshimura was about to speak—
DING!
[You've joined the Trade Chat Group.]
A cold, robotic voice echoed—directly inside Touka's head.
"Who said that?!" she shouted, practically on reflex.
She jumped up from the stool. Her pupils shrank to pinpoints. Her kagune almost flared up on instinct.
Her glare slashed across the room like a blade, sharp and deadly.
The atmosphere inside the café instantly tensed.
Yomo appeared beside her in a flash, eyes cutting across the room like a predator, body tilted forward in full combat stance.
Koma's usual playful air vanished.
His coin had vanished into his fingers, and his expression turned beast-like—ready to pounce.
Irimi's poise shattered. Her gaze was cold and piercing, and a heavy pressure spread from her like an invisible wave.
Even Yoshimura dropped his peaceful front. His gentle aura gave way to a terrifying presence—
the kind of pressure only an SSS-class ghoul could release.
Dormant—but waiting to erupt.
"Touka?" he said, voice suddenly low and commanding. "What's going on?"
But Touka didn't answer.
She just stared at the space in front of her—empty air, nothing there.
Her expression was frozen in pure shock, confusion, and disbelief.
In her vision, a floating semi-transparent screen shimmered softly.
At the top, it clearly read:
[Trade Chat Group]
Text scrolled underneath it like a digital message feed.
But it seemed… only she could see it?
"You guys… didn't hear or see anything?"
Her voice wavered slightly. She pointed at the empty space in front of her.
Yomo, Koma, and Irimi followed her finger.
Nothing.
Just warm lighting and air.
They exchanged confused looks.
Yoshimura studied her carefully—then looked at the spot she pointed to.
His gaze turned deeper, more serious.
Slowly, he withdrew his pressure.
The warm, calm mask returned to his face.
"Touka," he said softly, "we didn't see or hear anything.
There's nothing in front of you—just air."
Touka opened her mouth, trying to explain.
To say "chat group," "floating screen," something.
But the moment she tried, a mysterious force gripped her throat.
It was like someone reached inside and cut off her voice.
Her vocal cords wouldn't respond.
The details in her mind about the screen began to blur—fuzzy, scattered.
She couldn't even form complete thoughts around it.
She was being silenced.
And that forced, unnatural silence filled her with a cold, creeping dread.
All she could do was keep pointing forward.
Her face turned pale.
Her eyes trembled with fear, panic, and the pressure of something she couldn't explain—couldn't even describe.
Inside Anteiku, a strange silence fell.
Koma and Irimi eased out of their battle stances, though both remained tense.
Touka's behavior didn't make sense—but it clearly wasn't normal.
Yomo stood beside her, still alert, his body rigid and ready.
Whatever was happening—this wasn't over.
~~~
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