Yoshimura indicates we should sit at a table near the counter. Rize and I take a seat while he prepares two cups of coffee.
Seems the employees have some kind of vacation, because Yoshimura is the only one attending to customers today.
"Here."
He puts the cups in front of us. As expected from someone experienced who's been preparing coffee for years, the aroma is rich and deep.
Rize looks at the coffee with distrust.
"Can ghouls drink this?"
"Of course. Coffee is one of the few things we can enjoy."
At Yoshimura's words, she takes a tentative sip, and the next moment, her eyes open with surprise.
"Oh... it's true. Mm, not bad."
"I'm glad you like it."
Yoshimura goes back to cleaning another cup while pronouncing those words, and adds.
"Made for special palates."
Rize stares at him for a second, then drinks again without saying anything. She's smart since she's understood the message.
This is a safe place for ghouls.
Despite her having noticed humans seated at some tables.
Yoshimura sits across from us, on the other side of the table. His expression remains kind, but I can see he's evaluating what's happening.
"So, Arata-kun. What brings you here? I don't think it's just to pay what you owe, is it?"
"Mm. About that..."
I glance at Rize for a moment before returning to Yoshimura.
"Do you have any place where she can stay?"
"A place to stay?"
"Umu. She has nowhere to go."
I don't go into much detail like mentioning Sunlit Garden, V organization, or any of that. I know he already knows, or at least suspects it.
This smiling old man has connections everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he already knows who Rize Washuu is.
Despite all that, he doesn't ask questions, nor does he seem to have any intention of turning her in.
"I understand."
Yoshimura stays silent for a moment, thinking.
"There should be an available property. I'll see if I can get it."
"Really?"
"One of my employees used to use it, but the 'doves' eliminated him in the incident two years ago. It's empty now."
Ah, he's talking about when Yamamoto brought those novice investigators to practice hunting ghouls, while at the same time looking for me.
Also...
Doves. Often, ghouls refer to CCG investigators that way. Well, the official seal they use is certainly of a dove. It might represent the peace and security they want to maintain against the ghoul threat, but I find it a bit funny.
On the other hand, leaving that matter aside, I think it's convenient. The property issue.
Honestly, I was a bit worried. I didn't want to ask my mom, Mrs. Yuriko, for another house. The last time I did was for Touka, and although she didn't complain, I don't want to abuse her generosity.
"Thanks, grandpa."
"You're welcome."
Yoshimura smiles.
"But in exchange, I hope you take good care of her. This girl seems to have been through many things, and will go through many more things if you don't take care of her."
Yoshimura's closed eyes direct toward where Rize is for a moment. Despite having said those words in a calm voice, I quickly catch his emotional frequencies. Is it compassion, or sadness? In fact, it's both.
Seems he's remembering his own daughter when looking at Rize.
Eto. Eto Yoshimura.
Rize, for her part, doesn't seem to notice anything. She's too busy drinking her coffee and looking around the establishment.
"I will."
Rize is that kind of girl. The one who looks for trouble. I'll probably have a bit of a headache in the coming years trying to take care of her.
Or maybe I'll even enjoy being beside her in the chaos she wants to cause?
I'm not right in the head myself.
Because despite being aware that Rize will probably want to fight ghouls, kill them and become the 'boss' of the 20th Ward, I'm not thinking of stopping her.
I'm not trying to fix her.
A girl is cuter when she's crazy.
"Good."
Yoshimura gets up from the table.
"I'll show you the property tomorrow afternoon. For now, you can stay here if you wish. I have an extra room upstairs."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. Any friend of Arata-kun is welcome at Anteiku."
Rize finally pays attention to the conversation.
"Oh~ How kind. Thanks, grandpa~"
She takes my arm between hers and gives him a somewhat crazy smile.
"You're welcome, young lady."
After that, Yoshimura leads us upstairs, where there's a hallway with several doors. He shows us a room at the end.
"You can use this one. By the way, there are no beds, but there are two futons in the closet."
"Thanks."
"I'll take my leave, Arata-kun. Rize-san."
"Good night, grandpa."
"Okay~"
Yoshimura closes the door and I hear his footsteps moving away down the hallway.
The room we're in has white walls, wooden floor along with a window facing the street. There's no furniture apart from a closet.
I take the futons out of the closet and spread them on the floor, one next to the other.
"We'll sleep together?"
Rize asks in a somewhat suspicious tone.
"The futons are separate."
"How boring~"
She drops onto one of the futons and stretches like a cat.
"Mm... it's comfortable."
I sit on the other futon and look out the window. The city lights shine in the darkness.
It's been a long day.
I fought a monster, discovered that monster was the father of a person who's become someone very special to me, rescued a crazy girl from a secret organization, and now I'm sharing a room with that same crazy girl.
...What am I doing with my life?
"Arata."
"Hm?"
"That man... Yoshimura. He knows who I am, right?"
I look at Rize, who's lying on her side, looking at me with narrowed eyes.
"He probably knows you're a Washuu."
"But he didn't say anything."
"That's how he is, since he doesn't ask unnecessary questions."
"Hm~"
Rize stays silent for a moment before closing her eyes and curling up on the futon.
"Good night, Arata."
"Good night, Rize."
Fufu~, she makes that kind of sound while laughing softly.
"You know? It's the first time I wish someone good night and wish me good night back. It doesn't feel bad."
"I see... Then I'll tell you every day."
She opens her purple eyes to look at me, seeing me smile enormously at her.
"U-mm..."
Shortly after, I can hear Rize's breathing becoming slower and deeper as she falls asleep.
I, on the other hand, can't sleep yet.
With a part of my soul consumed, which produces pain deep within. Besides continuing to think about the monster, and its possible origin that seems to be the right path if I want to know my origin.
Likewise, about Kirishima Arata. About the memories I saw when I absorbed his blood.
A happy family, two small children, a husband and a loving wife.
All of it destroyed.
"..."
I close my eyes and try not to think about it, because I need to sleep to recover for tomorrow.
I want to see my master, whom I haven't seen in a while.
×××
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