Washuu Chika was immediately frightened by that look from Rize and didn't dare continue doing anything strange.
She remembered her kagune being severed by Rize earlier, so she subconsciously assumed Rize was far stronger than her, making her rather afraid.
Yoshimura smiled without comment at the little squabble between Rize and Washuu Chika over Byakuya.
After a while, he spoke up: "Do you need more 'meat'?"
"It looks like she hasn't had enough. If possible, please bring another package."
Byakuya said to Yoshimura.
"Certainly."
Yoshimura said amiably.
"It looks like your reason has mostly recovered. Can you remember your identity now?"
Byakuya then asked Washuu Chika.
"Washuu... I'm from the Washuu Clan..."
But when Washuu Chika said this much, her expression suddenly changed. She realized she couldn't say more—otherwise the Washuu Clan would definitely silence her!
She immediately shut her mouth, not daring to continue.
"I know you're from the Washuu Clan. Are you afraid of something and don't dare reveal more?"
Byakuya said evenly. "But let me say this upfront: right now, the Washuu Clan has no idea where you are. Even if you say something, you don't need to worry about the Washuu coming after you."
"..."
Washuu Chika just shook her head, still not daring to say anything.
Then she asked fearfully: "If I don't talk, will you kill me..."
"Of course not. If you don't want to say it, then don't. I have no intention of forcing you."
Byakuya said. "However, I won't let you go back either, because..."
Here, his gaze indicated for Washuu Chika to look toward Rize. "Don't you find her familiar?"
"She..."
Washuu Chika looked at Rize, who smiled back at her in what appeared to be a friendly manner.
She thought for quite a while before vaguely recalling that the other's kagune did seem familiar...
Wait!
Not just familiar—it was exactly the same as hers!
This meant...
"Could you also be from the Washuu Clan?"
Washuu Chika immediately asked Rize.
"Yes. To be precise, I'm a 'breeder' who escaped from the Washuu."
Rize said without reservation.
She and Byakuya had no intention of letting this woman return, so it didn't matter if she knew.
Though it was their hint that helped the woman make this connection, even without the hint, she would eventually remember that Rize's kagune was the same as hers. Then one word to other Washuu members, and a bit of guessing, would reveal it was Rize—the one who had escaped.
So regardless, they couldn't let Washuu Chika return to the Washuu Clan, or Rize's whereabouts would be exposed.
"A breeder...?!"
Washuu Chika's eyes widened. Now she remembered who this was.
"Escaped," "breeder"—the only one who fit both conditions was the breeder named "Rize."
"You're Rize?"
Washuu Chika asked in shock.
"That's right. Pleased to meet you."
Rize said in a friendly tone.
"Ah... pleased to meet you too..."
Washuu Chika responded out of politeness.
"I can't believe you're here... Then I..."
Washuu Chika's brain was momentarily overloaded—too much to process. She had just come from Dr. Kanou's underground laboratory.
"In short, because of Rize, we can't let you return to the Washuu Clan for now. You'll stay with us going forward."
Byakuya summarized for Washuu Chika. "If you don't behave, well—Dr. Kanou has now gone to Aogiri Tree. I wouldn't mind sending you back to Aogiri Tree to be his experimental subject again."
"Experimental subject...? This Dr. Kanou you're talking about—is he the doctor who kept me locked up?"
Washuu Chika immediately asked.
That doctor had imprisoned and tortured her for so long. She couldn't forget that figure in the white coat.
"Yes. Though I also think what he did was inhumane, so we rescued you. But if you won't behave, I'll just have to send you back to him."
Byakuya threatened Washuu Chika.
Using Dr. Kanou as leverage was undoubtedly the most effective threat against Washuu Chika.
"No, no! I'll behave! So please don't!..."
Washuu Chika said with a tearful voice.
She was about the same age as Rize—around 18, definitely not over 20—and was just an ordinary member of the Washuu Clan. Her psychological resilience wasn't particularly strong.
Her experience in the underground laboratory had already shattered her mental defenses. The mere mention of being sent back to Dr. Kanou terrified her.
"...Did I scare her too much?..."
Seeing Washuu Chika on the verge of tears, Byakuya said somewhat awkwardly.
"How mean. You made the poor girl cry."
Rize commented without mercy.
"..."
Byakuya's mouth twitched slightly. He could only say to Washuu Chika: "Relax. As long as you don't do anything out of line, we won't do anything to you."
"Mm..."
Washuu Chika then wiped her reddened eyes, feeling rather embarrassed about her current state.
"From now on, you'll help out here at Anteiku. As for housing, you'll stay at my place for now. If you have any problems, you can talk to me directly."
Byakuya introduced things to Washuu Chika. "This is Manager Yoshimura of Anteiku. You can ask him about any work-related questions."
At that moment, Yoshimura had just brought over the third package of carrion. Byakuya handed it to Washuu Chika, meaning for her to open it and eat on her own.
"Thank you..."
Washuu Chika took it and began eating in small bites, looking much more ladylike than before.
Byakuya temporarily placed Washuu Chika at Anteiku. When work ended, he'd simply have Matsumae and Kanae bring her home.
Washuu Chika didn't seem like a troublesome person—timid, obedient, and reasonably well-behaved.
But just then, Yoshimura gestured for Byakuya to step outside.
"Having that young lady join Anteiku now might not be the best timing..."
In private, Yoshimura began.
"Why?"
Byakuya asked, feigning ignorance.
"Because CCG is probably going to come settle accounts with me soon. When that happens..."
Yoshimura had been about to say more—perhaps to ask Byakuya to help Touka and the others evacuate—but then remembered that Byakuya was himself a CCG investigator. Saying such things would only put Byakuya in a difficult position.
So he gave up.
...
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