—Shierrrk—
Thousands of distorted voices stop, and my head stops complaining. At the same time, the illusion breaks, making the train we're traveling on no longer look like the inside of a monster's belly.
I've recovered a bit.
Maybe I need to rest one night to fully recover.
While I do a little victory pose internally, we stand up and exit the train.
20th Ward station is full of people. There are so many people moving back and forth that it's hard for me to walk in a straight line.
"Let's go."
I grab Rize's hand.
"M-mm."
Rize nods awkwardly and follows me as we make our way through the crowd. A few minutes later, we manage to exit the station and reach the main street.
The sun is already sliding toward the horizon.
'Looks like it'll be dark soon.'
Unlike the 1st Ward, where people have lost eyes and walls are full of graffiti, when we arrive at the 20th Ward, I feel like I've entered a Safe Zone.
I see cars passing on the street following traffic signals, people walking on the sidewalks without pushing each other, and no trash on the ground.
From time to time, some CCG agent passes by us, but doesn't pay us any attention.
Well, that's normal. We don't look like dangerous ghouls. We just look like two students walking after class.
"All CCG agents are assigned to a ward. The 20th Ward is the safest in Tokyo, so usually the newest agents or those close to retirement are sent there."
"Hm~"
Rize nods while looking around curiously. Her eyes stop on a passing family, where a father carries his daughter on his shoulders while the mother laughs.
"Boring~"
She sighs beside me.
"People here look like a flock of sheep. There's no excitement without danger."
"Not everything has to be a fight, you know?"
"That's what you say because you don't know how to have fun."
She gives me a noble lady's smile. It seems to say "I'm better than you."
I ignore her provocation and keep walking.
"So... you think I'm safe here?"
I shake my head.
"The V organization people probably already discovered you escaped."
Rize frowns.
"So they'll come for us."
"I know they will. You're valuable to them, Rize. They won't let you go so easily."
She's silent for a moment. I can see she's thinking about something. Then, slowly, a smile appears on her lips.
"Then I'll have to get stronger. Will you help me?"
"Yeah, yeah. Don't regret it later."
"Hahaha~"
As we keep walking, I notice a poster on the wall. It's a CCG announcement, searching for a dangerous ghoul. The text says: "Wanted: ghoul known as 'Chimera'. Highly dangerous. Do not approach. Report immediately to CCG."
"Wow, who's this?"
"That's me."
"Huh?"
Rize approaches the poster and examines it carefully.
The photo is blurry, but I know the silhouette belongs to me. It's from when I fought the investigators in the 4th Ward. Seems someone managed to take a photo of me in the middle of the chaos.
"Chimera? What a terrible name!"
"I didn't choose it."
"Fufu~ Either way, they won't recognize you with that awful image quality. Much less with your current face."
"My current face?"
"Exactly."
She points at my face with her index finger.
"Your eyes now don't have that crazy look. Your hair isn't so messy. And your smile isn't so wide."
Huh...
That's how Rize saw me? A lunatic?
Well, I have my psychopathic side, but I don't think it's that frequent. Or is it?
Mm. Better not think about that.
We continue walking in silence for a few blocks. Rize seems to enjoy her liberation from Sunlit Garden, looking at the shops and people. From time to time she points at something and makes a comment.
"Oh, what's that?"
"A stuffed bear shop."
"And that?"
"A bookstore."
"And that over there?"
"...An underwear store."
"Hm~ Interesting."
I don't know what's interesting about a women's underwear store. Maybe she wants to buy some?
Finally, we stop in front of a two-story café. The building has an old-fashioned style, with brick walls and large windows. I see several planters with flowers or small green trees, as well as vines with leaves hanging from the walls, which gives the building a refreshing appearance.
A wooden sign hanging above the door says "Anteiku."
"This is it."
I open the door. A small bell rings as we enter.
Inside there are several dark wooden tables, comfortable chairs, and the aroma of coffee floating in the air. Some customers are seated, reading newspapers, books or conversing in low voices.
Behind the counter is an older man. He has white hair, wrinkles around his eyes, and a kind expression. He's cleaning a cup with a cloth.
When he sees us enter, his closed eyes open slightly.
"Oh..."
His closed eyes direct first toward me, then slide toward Rize. For a moment, though he doesn't show it in his expression, I manage to sense a small aura of turbulence around him. That said, he doesn't say anything about it.
"Welcome to Anteiku."
His voice is warm and calm.
"Grandpa."
"Ah, you left earlier without paying, Arata-kun."
"Uh. Sorry."
Yoshimura leaves the cup and cloth on the counter, and looks at me with a smile.
This man, though he looks like a simple café owner, is actually one of the strongest ghouls I know.
I don't need to ask nor does he need to tell me. The reason I managed to survive the first six years in a world where supernatural beings exist when my blood is so tempting. In the past, when I was very child, I wouldn't have survived if it weren't for him.
I've reached that conclusion in these two years.
I never knew why he did it. Maybe because he felt sorry for me? It could also be because maybe he's simply that kind of man.
Either way, I owe him a lot. So I call him grandpa, even though we have no blood relation.
"Who's your friend?"
Yoshimura turns his head toward Rize and asks curiously.
"She's Rize. She's... mm..."
How do I introduce her? My companion? My ally? The girl who feeds on my blood?
"I'm his girlfriend."
"Huh?"
Rize says that with an innocent smile. What the hell? When did that happen? Hey, tell me, because I didn't find out.
"No—"
"Fufu~ Am I not?"
She tilts her head with a playful expression.
"We just met a few hours ago."
"But you already gave me your blood. Isn't that what couples do?"
"That has nothing to do with it!"
Yoshimura observes us with an amused expression. Seems he's enjoying our discussion.
"Hoho. I'm glad Arata-kun has found a girlfriend. Though isn't it too early?"
"Grandpa, don't listen to her. She's just joking."
"Mm. I understand, I understand."
Doesn't seem like he understands anything.
×××
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