"How could she be hurt this badly?"
Touka Kirishima frowned in confusion.
That hateful woman wasn't she supposed to be out on a date with Fushimi Kyo tonight?
Logically speaking, she should've been hiding in some dark corner, indulging herself in a feast.
So how did she end up beaten half to death instead?
Did she run into the White Doves?
As the de facto managers of the 20th Ward's ghoul affairs, Anteiku had always been well-informed.
They already knew the CCG had dispatched investigators to patrol the 20th Ward.
If Rize had been caught while hunting, it wasn't impossible for her to have been severely injured.
"Who knows?" Irimi Kaya said grimly.
"She probably ran into the White Doves. Other than those people, who else could injure Miss Rize this badly?"
Just then, the café manager walked over.
"Yoshimura here," he said calmly.
"Touka, Irimi take Rize into the back room. Her condition is very unstable."
Fortunately, there were no unfamiliar human customers in the shop at this hour.
Otherwise, Rize's earlier state would definitely have caused unnecessary trouble.
Inside the room, Rize Kamishiro lay on the bed, her face deathly pale.
Her body trembled nonstop, as if trapped in a terrible nightmare.
"Manager, I've brought it," Irimi said, entering with a tray.
On it sat a transparent glass filled with a crimson, unknown liquid.
"Have her drink it," Yoshimura instructed.
As the liquid went down her throat, Rize's complexion quickly improved.
The tight knot between her brows slowly eased.
Touka leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, watching coldly.
Yet her thoughts were elsewhere.
That guy… how is he now?
Did he really die?
She walked out of the room, took out her phone, hesitated for a moment
Then dialed Fushimi Kyo's number.
Fresh out of the shower and lying on his bed, Kyo raised an eyebrow when he saw Touka calling.
"So… she wants to check if I got eaten by Rize?"
Chuckling softly, he answered the call.
"Hello? Touka calling this late. Something urgent?"
Hearing Kyo's familiar voice, Touka fell silent.
After a few seconds, she spoke coolly.
"How was your date tonight?"
"Did everything go smoothly? Did you run into anyone… strange?"
She couldn't believe it.
Kyo had been targeted by Rize yet he was completely unharmed.
It was unbelievable.
That only reinforced her belief that Rize must've encountered the White Doves tonight.
"Oh, that?" Kyo replied casually.
"The date went great. Miss Rize is really gentle and kind. She's also a huge fan of Takatsuki Sen."
"We had endless topics to talk about our conversation just kept going and going, and we "
Before he could finish
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The call was cut off.
"Tch," Kyo muttered.
"This woman's really impatient. Won't even let me finish a sentence."
Inside Anteiku, Touka clenched her phone tightly.
"Why is it," she thought irritably,
"that even though I've known that idiot for such a short time…"
"…I feel inexplicably angry every time I talk to him?"
"Touka," a voice said from behind her,
"who were you just calling?"
Irimi had appeared without her noticing, smiling knowingly.
"I heard you mention a 'date.'"
"Do you have a boy you like now?"
"Irimi, stop making things up," Touka replied quickly.
"I was just calling a classmate. He went on a date with Rize tonight."
"With Rize?" Irimi's eyes widened.
"And he's still alive?"
She knew Rize's habits all too well.
The woman loved seducing men into "relationships"
And then eating them.
Every man she set her sights on died without exception.
No wonder Irimi reacted so strongly.
Just then
"Cough… cough…"
Weak coughing sounds came from the room.
"Miss Rize is awake," Irimi said seriously.
"She should be able to tell us something important."
She turned and headed inside.
"Tch… serves her right," Touka muttered.
Seeing Rize suffer put her in a surprisingly good mood.
Still, curiosity got the better of her.
She followed Irimi into the room.
"Rize, you're awake," Yoshimura said kindly.
Rize slowly opened her eyes.
When she saw Yoshimura, she let out a long breath.
"So… it's you, Manager."
"Did you encounter the White Doves?" Yoshimura asked.
"The CCG has recently been conducting a sweep of the 20th Ward."
Rize closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Not the White Doves?"
Yoshimura's expression darkened instantly.
"Then… was it that organization?"
He knew Rize's background knew where she had escaped from.
He himself had once been a tool of slaughter for that organization.
If Rize had encountered them, everything would make sense.
"Hey!" Touka snapped impatiently.
"The Manager asked you something. Who injured you so badly?"
Rize's eyes flew open.
She stared straight at Touka.
"How much do you know about him?"
Touka frowned.
"Him? Who are you talking about?"
"Hmph!"
Rize ground her teeth.
"Who else?"
"The one you spend every day with Fushimi Kyo."
"Him?" Touka froze.
"What does your injury have to do with him?"
She was completely baffled.
After all, Kyo was just an ordinary human or so she thought.
"What does it have to do with him?"
Rize's voice trembled with suppressed fury.
"Do you know who did this to me?"
Her eyes burned as she spat out the answer
"It was your good classmate."
"Fushimi Kyo."