After dinner, Eto's stomach and mouth both felt like they were on fire.
Meanwhile, Akira and Mado Kureo were completely fine—after all, this was how they ate every day.
"I'm sorry. We don't have much to offer guests at home."
Sitting in the living room, resting while watching TV, Mado Kureo apologetically addressed Eto.
His expression was also less stiff than before, because hope had taken root in his heart—hope for his wife's resurrection.
Though this also had a downside: if Mado Kasuka couldn't be revived, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
But for Amaha Byakuya, this "if" probably didn't exist...
"Not at all. These snacks are more than enough for me."
Having just finished dinner not long ago, Eto was already devouring the snacks on the table.
"Is that so? Good then."
Mado Kureo nodded slightly.
After sitting for a while, Mado Kureo leaned back on the sofa and sighed with deep emotion: "I never imagined there would come a day when I'd sit on the sofa watching TV with the One-Eyed Owl..."
In the past, he would have grabbed his Quinque and charged at her immediately, even if it meant death.
But things were different now...
He couldn't leave Akira behind, and too much had happened over these two years, changing him greatly.
He was no longer the Quinque-obsessed madman who would stop at nothing to avenge himself against the One-Eyed Owl...
"...Indeed. I suppose you could say Byakuya changed everything. Without him, we would probably still be mortal enemies right now—because my strength alone couldn't shake the entire Washuu Clan."
Eto also reflected.
"Your father... the Non-Killing Owl, showed me mercy back then. After learning about what happened to him, I've thought about many things."
Mado Kureo spoke these words again. "If the opportunity arises, I'd like to have a face-to-face conversation with him."
He could even sense some resonance with the Non-Killing Owl—such as their wives, their daughters...
"You're welcome anytime. You should know where that old man runs his coffee shop, right?"
Eto thought for a moment. "Oh wait, Byakuya probably hasn't told you the exact location of the café yet. After Byakuya finishes what he's doing, I'll have him take you there together."
"Mm..."
Mado Kureo acknowledged.
...
After resting enough, Eto prepared to leave.
As promised during dinner, Akira walked her home.
She actually wanted to talk with Eto about some things.
So halfway there, Akira spoke up: "Byakuya probably told you about that matter hoping it would ease the relationship between you and me, right?"
She thought this way for a simple reason: if Byakuya could really revive her mother, once word got out about such an ability, it would attract all kinds of trouble.
Byakuya could have simply not told them about this in advance.
Conversely, specifically telling them meant he had a purpose, and that purpose wasn't hard to guess...
"Probably. After all, what that guy loves and excels at most is meddling in other people's business."
Even at a moment like this, Eto didn't forget to tease Byakuya.
"The grudge between us... was never realistic to resolve anyway. If Mom can really come back, I don't want to hold onto this hatred anymore."
Akira sighed softly.
The power gap, the relationship with Byakuya, the CCG's situation... too many aspects were constrained. This had formed an unresolvable grudge.
Forcibly letting go of this hatred in her heart would be uncomfortable no matter what.
Just like in the original story's later part, when Akira reconciled with Fueguchi Hinami, her father's killer—it was only because the situation demanded human-ghoul cooperation against the Dragon Orphans. Akira had merely forced herself to accept it. To say she had truly let go would be impossible.
After all, no one is truly a saint.
But if the deceased loved one could return to her side, then the root of the hatred would be resolved, and all problems would naturally be solved.
"I understand. So I'll pray for you too."
Eto smiled.
"Mm..."
Akira acknowledged softly. But she couldn't bring herself to say "thank you" to Eto, so it ended with just that acknowledgment.
"Let's try not to make things difficult for that guy from now on. He treats me pretty ordinarily, but he really cares about Akira-san."
Eto said casually.
Her tone was carefree, as if she didn't care at all. But what she truly thought inside, only she knew.
"I don't think so. During the 'One-Eyed Owl Suppression Operation' back then, didn't Byakuya disguise himself as 'Madara,' the SSS-rated ghoul, and attack our operation personnel? Though he didn't cause any casualties, his actions were definitely for your sake, right?"
Akira recalled that operation, where Byakuya had single-handedly disguised himself as a ghoul and rendered all their participating investigators completely helpless...
"As if."
Eto immediately rolled her eyes, her tone resentful. "That guy beat me up so badly back then. He doesn't know the meaning of showing tenderness to women."
"...Wasn't Special Class Shinohara the worst off?"
Akira couldn't help but retort.
The reason this was a "retort" was because, thanks to rapid medical advances using Dragon cells, Special Class Shinohara's vegetative state was rapidly improving. It was estimated that he would regain consciousness and mobility before long.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be joking about such a serious topic with Eto.
"Ahaha..."
Eto laughed awkwardly.
On this point, she really couldn't argue back.
The reason Byakuya had beaten her so badly back then was precisely because of what she had done to Shinohara Yukinori.
...
By now, they had arrived at Eto's apartment building.
"This is the place. Would Akira-san like to come up for a bit?"
Eto stopped in front of the building and turned to Akira.
"I'll pass. It's already quite late."
Akira checked the time—already 8 PM.
This was the ghoul world, after all. The later it got, the more dangerous it became. No matter how much the CCG and Aogiri Tree cooperated, there were still many ghouls acting independently, attacking humans in various areas.
"Mm. Then be careful on your way home, Little Akira."
Eto made a waving gesture and went to wait for the elevator.
"Little Akira...?"
Hearing this form of address, Akira's expression momentarily froze.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"