Rize's gaze made Chika's entire body tremble involuntarily.
But at least she'd asked what she wanted to ask.
"..."
Byakuya was speechless.
That question just now...
Hadn't she eaten three packets of carrion right in front of him? What was the point of asking something so obvious?
"Come with me for a moment..."
Byakuya's tone carried a hint of exasperation as he addressed Chika.
Chika's heart skipped a beat. Byakuya's indifferent tone made her uneasy—though in reality, it was simply his normal exasperated voice.
She followed him to the back kitchen, which was temporarily empty.
"Look..."
Byakuya turned around to face her. "Rize and I knew you were a ghoul from the very beginning, okay? And then you just asked me if I knew you were a ghoul."
"Ah... now that you mention it, that's true."
Only then did Chika nod in belated realization.
She even spent a moment in thought, reflecting on how she had indeed exposed nearly all of her ghoul characteristics earlier.
If that was the case... the Washuu clan's secret she hadn't dared to reveal had been meaningless to conceal from the start.
"Don't tell me..."
Byakuya mused aloud. "You're a... hopeless airhead?"
"..."
Chika felt as though she'd been struck by lightning. Her entire body—expression included—froze.
She'd always known she wasn't the sharpest person, but being directly labeled an "airhead" was a first.
Though she didn't want to be called that, she couldn't find any way to refute it.
"I think I understand now why that Furuta guy was able to capture you."
Byakuya nodded thoughtfully, looking like he'd just solved a mystery.
"Who's Furuta?"
Chika asked suddenly.
"You don't know? He's the one who handed you over to Dr. Kanou for experiments."
Byakuya explained.
Chika shook her head.
Her not knowing Nimura Furuta wasn't actually surprising. Furuta's public identity was merely an unremarkable half-human from the Sunlit Garden. Apart from core members like Tsuneyoshi Washuu and Yoshitoki Washuu, probably few people knew that Furuta was Tsuneyoshi's illegitimate son.
Even Matsuri Washuu, the future "crown prince," might not know. Judging from how Matsuri interacted with Furuta in the original story, Furuta's true identity was deeply hidden.
After all, by Washuu clan "tradition," Furuta as an illegitimate son represented a major stain on Tsuneyoshi's reputation. The head of the household having secretly fathered a child with a human woman was absolutely forbidden by those with rigid views within the clan.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know him. That guy probably won't bother you again anyway."
Byakuya said casually.
Based on his understanding of Furuta, the man wouldn't continue interfering with Kanou's affairs. Kanou's collaboration with Aogiri Tree seemed to be part of Furuta's plan.
Then again, maybe that wasn't entirely certain either.
Because so far, no successful experimental subject like the original story's Ken Kaneki had been created.
And Aogiri Tree didn't have any Washuu kakuhou.
Who knew what Furuta might do next for his "Dragon" plan.
But Byakuya wasn't concerned about this for now. As long as Furuta didn't target anyone close to him, he wouldn't bother with the man.
Otherwise... he'd just have to teach Furuta a lesson ahead of schedule.
"Um..."
Chika spoke up timidly. "Since you already know I'm a ghoul, then doesn't that mean you also know about the Washuu clan..."
"Yes. It's simply that your Washuu clan is a ghoul family. I already know that."
Byakuya stated directly.
"I knew it..."
Chika's fair face turned pale. "This is... this is bad..."
Once this secret leaked out—especially if the Washuu clan found out—they would definitely hunt them down relentlessly. And she herself would be eliminated as a "traitor."
"What are you so afraid of? Just work here with peace of mind. Besides me, no one can do anything to you."
Byakuya's tone remained level.
His calm demeanor made it seem like he didn't consider the Washuu clan a threat at all.
But he'd inadvertently said something that could easily be misinterpreted.
Especially for someone like Chika who'd read perhaps a few too many shoujo manga—she immediately misunderstood the meaning of Byakuya's last sentence.
"O-okay..."
In Chika's eyes, Byakuya had instantly transformed into a domineering CEO who would defy the entire Washuu clan for her sake alone.
Apart from Byakuya actually intending to oppose the Washuu clan, she'd gotten everything else completely wrong.
But Byakuya hadn't noticed Chika's misunderstanding. To him, she was simply an ordinary airheaded girl—nothing more.
[Ding! The host has raised a flag to protect Washuu Chika from Washuu clan retaliation. Reward: 100 Fusion Points!]
[Note: If Washuu Chika dies, this mission will be considered failed, and the corresponding Fusion Points will be reclaimed!]
Even then, Byakuya detected nothing unusual.
He simply reflected that this reward was quite generous—probably because the Washuu clan was formidable, making the mission more difficult and troublesome. By the system's standards, a higher reward was warranted.
"What are they doing in there?"
Meanwhile, outside, Touka was growing curious.
"Nothing much. Probably discussing topics that would be embarrassing if overheard."
Rize covered for Byakuya and Chika without batting an eye.
"I see..."
Touka nodded slightly.
But something felt off.
If it was an embarrassing topic, why was she specifically whispering to Byakuya—a member of the opposite sex—in private?
Did talking to Byakuya about those things not feel embarrassing?
Enji Koma and Kaya Irimi hadn't noticed anything unusual, since they thought about things from a different angle than Touka.
Roma Hoito had basically concluded that this "Kamishiro Chika" must also be from the Washuu clan. Being purely here for entertainment, she had no intention of saying anything.
Before long, Byakuya and Chika emerged from the back kitchen.
At that moment, Touka keenly observed that Chika-san's gaze toward Byakuya had changed completely. Those eyes were all too easy to read.
Three parts trust, three parts admiration, and four parts infatuation!
That look... this isn't good...
Touka immediately grew concerned. What on earth had Byakuya done with Chika-san in the back kitchen?
Why such a dramatic change in her eyes before versus after?
...
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