The initial morning light, like a thin veil, spread across the windowsill, casting a soft, pale golden hue on He Xi Qian Yu's handsome features. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, still immersed in an unfinished dream.
"Ding-a-ling-ling—"
The jarring phone ring suddenly shattered the morning's tranquility. He Xi Qian Yu frowned, fumbling to grab his phone.
"Hello, may I speak to Tsuruki-xiansheng?" a serious male voice came from the other end of the line.
"Yes, this is he," He Xi Qian Yu's voice was still hoarse from sleep.
"This is the Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau's 20th Ward Branch. Regarding the Ghoul attack that occurred last night in Aoba Alley, we require your cooperation with the investigation," the other party's tone was unyielding. "Please come to the branch for questioning within one hour."
"Alright, I'll be right there," He Xi Qian Yu agreed readily, then hung up the phone.
After hanging up, He Xi Qian Yu rubbed his sleepy eyes and got out of bed.
The sound of water trickled in the washroom, and cold water flowed through his fingers. He Xi Qian Yu stared at himself in the mirror—in the depths of his black pupils, a red shadow seemed to be reflected.
On the dining table, a cup of warm milk sat quietly, next to a bitten piece of toast. He Xi Qian Yu had no appetite, but still chewed mechanically.
Suddenly, his movements paused slightly.
"...Are you...nervous?..."
Crimson viscous liquid seeped from his sleeve, slowly forming a grotesque and twisted face. Slaughter's voice was low and sticky, like a whisper squeezed from the abyss.
He Xi Qian Yu put down the toast and lightly tapped the table with his fingertips: "It's just a routine inquiry, no need to be nervous."
"...But they...will suspect you..."
He gently shook his head: "So what if they suspect? They won't find any evidence."
Slaughter's crimson body wriggled slightly, as if in thought. After a moment, it slowly retracted into his sleeve, leaving only a whispered warning:
"...If...they dare to touch you...I will eat them..."
"Stop it," He Xi Qian Yu reprimanded in a low voice, "Now is not the time to cause trouble."
"...Tsk...Boring..." Slaughter grumbled discontentedly, but said nothing more.
He Xi Qian Yu did not reply, only lightly adjusted his collar and stood up.
Outside the window, police sirens were faintly audible.
...
"Almost late, the roads in Tokyo are really difficult to navigate."
Forty minutes later, He Xi Qian Yu stood before the main entrance of the CCG 20th Ward Branch.
It was a grayish-white square building. At the entrance stood two Search Officers in black uniforms, carrying silver-white Kouink cases. Their gazes were sharp, vigilantly scanning every person entering and exiting.
As soon as He Xi Qian Yu stepped into the lobby, a female Search Officer approached him.
"Tsuruki-xiansheng?" she confirmed.
"Yes," he nodded.
"Please follow me," the female Search Officer led him through the corridor into a closed interrogation room.
"Please sit," the female Search Officer gestured for him to sit, then sat opposite him, opening a file. "I am Second-Class Search Officer Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi, in charge of this inquiry."
He Xi Qian Yu nodded.
"First, please describe in detail what happened last night in Aoba Alley," Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi looked directly into his eyes, her tone calm but with a sense of pressure.
He Xi Qian Yu casually made up an excuse.
"Last night, as I was walking home through Aoba Alley, I was suddenly attacked by two Ghouls," he showed a lingering look of fear. "They…their strength was terrifying. I struggled desperately, and just when I thought I was going to die, for some reason they suddenly started attacking each other, eventually both sustaining heavy injuries…I took the opportunity to escape, and then called the police."
Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly changed the subject: "You stated that you were attacked, but you don't seem to be injured."
He Xi Qian Yu nodded, calmly replying: "They hadn't had a chance to strike before they started fighting among themselves. In the chaos, I was pushed to the ground, but I truly didn't suffer any superficial injuries."
Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi seemed unconvinced, but did not press the matter for now. She took out a document and pushed it in front of He Xi Qian Yu.
"This is the Ghoul corpse detection report found at the scene," she pointed to the data on it. "Both of their kakuhou were removed, and the wounds appeared torn, suspected to have been forcibly ripped out. Do you have any explanation for this?"
He Xi Qian Yu's heart tightened, but he showed no outward sign: "I don't understand what you mean. I was only concerned with escaping at the time; I had no idea what happened."
Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi narrowed her eyes: "Are you really just an ordinary university student?"
"Of course," He Xi Qian Yu met her gaze frankly. A brief silence fell in the room.
Finally, Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi closed the file and stood up: "Thank you for your cooperation. Next, we will arrange an RC cell test. Once confirmed, you may leave."
He Xi Qian Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
His fabricated excuse was full of holes, and the Search Officer clearly harbored suspicion.
But it didn't matter; as long as the RC cell test results came out, all her suspicions would be cleared.
The testing process was unexpectedly smooth.
When Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi led him to the infirmary, he had expected to face more rigorous questioning. But the CCG's testing procedure was quite standard—blood draw, scan, wait for results. The entire process was mechanical and efficient, without any unnecessary difficulties.
"RC cell concentration is within the normal range," the white-coated testing personnel pushed up his glasses and handed the report to Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi. "No Ghoul characteristic reactions."
Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi quickly scanned the report, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, but then quickly relaxing. She nodded in a businesslike manner: "Thank you for your cooperation, Tsuruki-xiansheng. You may leave."
He Xi Qian Yu stood up and nodded politely: "May I ask if I need to cooperate with further investigation?"
"If needed, we will contact you again," Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi filed the report, her tone flat. "I recommend you avoid traveling alone at night recently; the 20th Ward is not very safe."
"Alright, thank you for the reminder."
As he walked out of the CCG branch main entrance, the sun was just right. He Xi Qian Yu squinted slightly, feeling the warm sunlight on his face.
"...So boring..." Slaughter grumbled in his mind, "...I thought I'd get to stretch my legs..."
"There will be a chance," He Xi Qian Yu responded in a low voice, simultaneously hailing a taxi.
Opening the car door and settling into the back seat, he gave the familiar address.
He still intended to go to Anteiku Coffee Shop.
For no other reason than leisure, and because the coffee tasted genuinely good.
The scenery outside the car window rapidly blurred past. He Xi Qian Yu leaned back in his seat, recalling the recent testing process. Although the results were normal, Investigator Hei Yan Qingzi's subtle expression at the end bothered him somewhat.
The RC cell test results seemed to have not completely dispelled her suspicions.
His gaze turned to the window.
The taxi slowly pulled up to the familiar street corner. The Anteiku Coffee Shop sign looked especially warm in the sunlight. As he pushed open the shop door, the crisp sound of wind chimes was accompanied by the rich aroma of coffee.
"Welcome—"
Kirishima Touka, behind the counter, looked up, her amethyst-like eyes meeting his.