After dealing with the S-rated Ice Devourer, Ihei Byakuya also accepted his promotion ceremony.
"Third-Class Investigator, Ihei Byakuya."
"Yes."
"You are hereby appointed as a Second-Class Investigator."
Under the supervision of Bureau Director Washuu Yoshitoki, Ihei Byakuya was promoted from Third-Class Investigator to Second-Class Investigator.
This rate of promotion might seem slow, but compared to others, it was already like riding a rocket.
And the one promoted to Second-Class Investigator alongside Byakuya was Arima Kishou.
This was also the first time Ihei Byakuya officially met Arima Kishou.
"Kishou, long time no see."
Ihei Byakuya greeted Arima Kishou as if greeting an old acquaintance.
"Byakuya."
Arima Kishou responded expressionlessly.
In his youth, Arima Kishou had already begun wearing glasses early on, though his hair was still blue.
In the original timeline, Arima Kishou's head of white hair was due to "old age," and that "old age" referred to half-humans.
It was clearly known that by the age of twenty-four, when he was already an Associate Special-Class Investigator, Arima Kishou's hair had already turned completely white.
Besides that, Ihei Byakuya also encountered some other familiar faces, such as Mado Kureo and others...
...
Ward 20, Anteiku Coffee Shop.
Ever since his first meeting with Yoshimura Kuzen, Ihei Byakuya would visit the Anteiku Coffee Shop from time to time.
Today he also came to drink coffee and had already become the most special customer of Antique, simply because of his investigator identity...
After finishing his coffee, Yoshimura Kuzen invited Byakuya to the second floor.
"Mr. Yoshimura, are you asking about Eto's recent situation?"
Ihei Byakuya could roughly guess.
"Yes..."
Yoshimura Kuzen nodded slightly.
"You might as well go see her in person rather than ask me here."
Ihei Byakuya said.
"That would be somewhat..."
Yoshimura Kuzen smiled helplessly.
But Ihei Byakuya was only half joking.
"Eto has recently been studying at the Academy. With her ability, things are quite easy for her there, and she likely has not encountered anything unpleasant."
Ihei Byakuya said.
"So Eto truly intends to become a ghoul investigator?"
Yoshimura Kuzen's expression grew slightly grave.
"She probably does have that intention, but whether it is sincere is another matter."
Ihei Byakuya said calmly.
"..."
Yoshimura Kuzen could fully imagine Eto's true motive for intending to become a ghoul investigator.
"By the way, when is Eto's birthday?"
Ihei Byakuya asked.
"...The second Thursday of next month."
Yoshimura Kuzen had not expected him to suddenly ask this.
"Alright. Then will you come take a look when the time comes? Eto will definitely be very happy."
Ihei Byakuya invited him.
"No. That would instead harm her."
Yoshimura Kuzen shook his head.
No matter what, he had to do everything possible to prevent Eto from being discovered by the Washuu.
"That depends on your own choice. Eto is destined to keep moving forward. It is still far from the point of no return. When the day truly comes that nothing can be undone, then your wish will never be realized in this lifetime."
Ihei Byakuya said calmly.
The turning point in this father and daughter relationship was precisely the time when Eto, having just become a popular author, took the initiative to come to the Antique Coffee Shop to find Kuzen...
From that day onward, everything became irreversible.
"..."
Yoshimura Kuzen fell silent.
The other party's tone was calm, but his words were sharp, and he seemed to know even more than Kuzen had imagined...
"I can only say that if any accident truly happens, I have the ability and will definitely protect Eto."
With a confident tone, Ihei Byakuya left behind these words, then departed.
...
Each time Ihei Byakuya came to the Antique Coffee Shop, Yoshimura Kuzen would privately ask him about Eto's recent situation.
But Yoshimura Kuzen simply refused to go see Eto in person.
Returning home, Ihei Byakuya saw Yoshimura Eto sitting at the table writing.
Even without any deliberate guidance from Byakuya, Eto had returned to her "old profession," which was writing books.
At first, she simply used a pen to write what she wanted on paper.
Ihei Byakuya did not disturb Eto and went to do his own things.
When it was time for dinner, Byakuya asked, "Eto, do you remember when your birthday is?"
"Of course I do. Why?"
Yoshimura Eto responded casually while writing.
In the diary left behind by her mother, Eto had seen the exact day she was born.
"It's nothing."
Ihei Byakuya did not say anything more.
Because Yoshimura Eto was focused on writing, she did not think much of it.
...
Until the day Yoshimura Kuzen had mentioned arrived...
At this time, Yoshimura Eto was still at the Academy and had not yet returned, while Ihei Byakuya had already finished preparing at home.
Helping Byakuya was Minami Uruka.
In addition, Byakuya had also invited Yoshimura Kuzen.
As for whether Kuzen would come or not, he did not know.
He felt that there was a high probability Yoshimura Kuzen still would not come...
Once everything was almost ready, Ihei Byakuya went to the Academy to pick up Eto.
On the way home, Byakuya deliberately did not tell Eto anything.
Yoshimura Eto also showed no difference from usual.
In fact, Eto remembered and knew that today was her birthday, but she had no intention of telling Byakuya.
In the past more than ten years, she had never celebrated her birthday, so she did not care much about it.
...
At the door of the house, Yoshimura Eto had already smelled Minami Uruka's scent.
Eto immediately frowned slightly. Why was that woman at home at this time?
The other party seemed to be standing behind the door, which made her feel somewhat strange.
And besides Minami Uruka, there also seemed to be the scent of a ghoul.
It was a very unfamiliar scent, yet for some reason it carried a faint sense of closeness...