Akira stood dazed at the entrance for a while—Eto had already gotten into the elevator.
Only then did she come back to her senses and turn to leave.
The nickname "Little Akira"—though it felt a bit strange, she didn't dislike it...
Walking on her way home, the pedestrians around her became fewer and fewer.
Tokyo's nightlife was rather bland. Most people didn't dare go out late at night, fearing ghoul attacks.
As she walked, Akira found herself alone on this road.
The streetlamp beside her flickered on and off, making the atmosphere even more eerie.
She maintained her expressionless face while actually becoming alert to her surroundings.
At the first sign of any disturbance, she could react immediately.
Before long, Akira's peripheral vision suddenly caught a black figure flash past in an alley to her side.
Though it might have been her imagination, her inner vigilance had already risen to maximum.
Akira's footsteps didn't falter at all. She continued forward as if she hadn't noticed anything.
Fortunately, she always carried a Quinque briefcase—it was in the handbag she was carrying. If a ghoul really attacked, she would have a weapon to respond with.
After Akira had walked some distance, the figure from the alley darted out, right in her blind spot, apparently intending to ambush her from behind.
But Akira was prepared. The moment she heard the faint movement behind her, she pressed a hidden button on her handbag. The Quinque case instantly popped out, simultaneously transforming from case to combat form in one smooth motion.
Just as Akira turned to engage, she saw a ghoul with exposed kakugan lunging at her.
But the next moment, that ghoul's body was suddenly pierced by several multicolored kagune. Blood spurted forth, and it instantly lost its combat capability.
Akira's expression showed surprise, because those kagune had come from behind her—meaning another ghoul had appeared at her back?!
Until the moment before she turned, she hadn't seen another ghoul at all...
A cold sweat broke out on Akira's face. She quickly turned around to guard against a sneak attack.
To her surprise, what she saw when she turned around was Eto...
Eto was wearing loungewear, and those colorful kagune were extending from her back.
"Eto-san...?"
Akira's tone carried a hint of shock.
Since she had never seen Eto's kagune—only Eto's kakuja form, which was completely different—she hadn't recognized Eto from the kagune alone.
"Akira-san, we meet again so soon."
Eto smiled and waved.
As for that ghoul, it had been killed instantly by Eto. It didn't even get to leave last words.
"Thank you..."
Having received Eto's help, Akira naturally expressed her gratitude when appropriate.
"It's nothing. I was being a bit of a busybody, really. Akira-san could have handled it on your own."
Eto said politely.
"No, there was still some risk involved..."
Akira was also being modest.
Though Akira's raw strength couldn't match Eto's, she was at least an Associate Special Class Investigator now. Ordinary ghouls couldn't do much to her.
"Well then, stay safe. Bye-bye~"
Eto waved, and her figure vanished.
After that, Akira didn't encounter any more ghouls.
...
Mado Residence.
Returning home, Akira could see her father still sitting in the living room.
"Were you attacked by a ghoul?"
At that moment, noticing Akira's slightly disheveled clothes, Mado Kureo immediately realized what had happened.
"Mm. But Eto-san saved me, so I wasn't hurt or anything."
Akira nodded.
"Eto-san... So Akira really does consider her a friend?"
Mado Kureo suddenly asked this question.
This time, he had deliberately restrained his attitude toward Eto—not just for Byakuya's sake or the CCG's bigger picture, but partly because of his daughter's relationship with Eto...
"..."
Akira was silent for a moment. "Actually, the moment I learned she was the One-Eyed Owl, I stopped seeing her as a friend. She became an enemy I wanted revenge against. But now, all of that seems to no longer be an issue..."
"Akira, I don't want you to spend half your life living in hatred like I did. But if your mom can come back, then indeed none of this will matter anymore."
Mado Kureo said with emotion. "Whatever happens with whether resurrection is truly possible, just treat Miss Yoshimura however feels natural to you. Don't worry about my feelings."
That was what he said, but Mado Kasuka wasn't just Mado Kureo's wife—she was also Akira's mother...
"Mm..."
But Akira still acknowledged with that simple response.
Because at this moment, she didn't know what else to say.
...
Meanwhile, Byakuya had long since returned home with Shukaku and Matatabi.
With another Tailed Beast added to the household, especially one with a cat-like appearance, it was naturally popular with Rize and the others.
But compared to Shukaku, Matatabi was more aloof.
Shukaku put on a show of disdain but didn't really do anything. Matatabi, on the other hand, simply lay on Byakuya's shoulder and ignored everyone.
However, there's always something that can break through. The most fearless one, Mayu, directly grabbed Matatabi's two tails and lifted it up.
Being suddenly touched by an unfamiliar human, especially grabbed by the tails and hoisted up, Matatabi instinctively wanted to hiss.
But it immediately remembered its current situation and obediently refrained from hissing at Mayu.
After all, Byakuya was right there. It couldn't show hostility toward people close to him...
Now Matatabi could only let Mayu hold it up by its tails, wearing an expression of utter defeat.
Seeing Matatabi in this embarrassing state, Shukaku could barely contain its laughter.
It was relieved that these "little troublemakers" had stopped pestering it and were now focused on Matatabi.
Let Matatabi bear the burden of these "little troublemakers'" antics from now on!
Shukaku secretly gloated.
"Hmm... seems like a female?"
At that moment, Mayu seemed to have identified Matatabi's gender through a certain area.
Of course, the Two-Tails Matatabi's voice was inherently a gentle female voice. It just hadn't bothered to interact with Mayu and the others since arriving.
Being held upside down by someone while they stared at that particular area—fortunately, Tailed Beasts didn't possess the human sense of shame. Matatabi didn't really feel anything about it, just an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
...
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