Morning sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a thin strip of light across the dim living room.
When Amano Hiro pushed open the bedroom door and walked out, Rize was curled up on the sofa watching the morning news.
She wore a silk nightgown, her purple hair loosely gathered over one shoulder, a half read book resting on her knees.
"Good morning, Hiro."
She turned her head and smiled, her violet eyes behind her glasses curving gently.
"Morning."
Amano Hiro responded and sat down beside her, his body sinking into the soft cushions.
The morning news was broadcasting the weather, the female anchor's voice crisp and pleasant.
It had to be said, when Kamishiro Rize restrained that pathological obsession and madness of hers and disguised herself as obedient and gentle, she was indeed pleasing to the eye, carrying a deceptively tranquil charm.
Amano Hiro could not help glancing at her several times.
Two days had passed since he personally ended Mado Kureo. The 20th Ward appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it, undercurrents were surging.
The number of CCG Investigators on the streets had clearly increased, and inspections had become more frequent, like a net slowly tightening.
However, all the tension felt more like habitual vigilance. The true center of the storm had already shifted.
The news broadcast suddenly cut to a special report.
The screen showed the familiar streets of the 11th Ward, now in ruins, accompanied by intermittent explosions and human screams.
"At present, the radical ghoul organization known as 'Aogiri Tree' has fully taken control of the 11th Ward. Their methods are extremely brutal. They are forcing local ghouls to submit, and those who resist are eliminated. Last night, the organization attacked the CCG 11th Ward Branch, causing heavy casualties."
Rize let out a soft "ah," pressing the edge of her book lightly against her lower lip, her tone unreadable. "They have certainly made quite a scene."
Amano Hiro did not respond. His gaze remained calm as he watched the ruins and smoke flashing across the screen. The 11th Ward. It seemed the 11th Ward Battle to Retake would be coming soon.
At that moment, the apartment doorbell rang abruptly, breaking the subtle atmosphere in the living room.
The two exchanged a glance. A trace of vigilance flashed through Rize's eyes before she returned to her gentle demeanor.
Amano Hiro stood and walked to the door. Through the peephole, he saw two Investigators in white CCG uniforms standing outside with stern expressions.
A routine inspection, or something else.
His hand rested lightly on the doorknob, his gaze steady as his mind worked quickly.
The storm in the 11th Ward had not reached here, but the undercurrent in the 20th Ward seemed to have begun to stir.
Amano Hiro paused briefly at the handle, calmly assessing the two Investigators outside through the peephole.
They looked young, perhaps recent academy graduates, but the killing intent on their faces was unmistakable.
The one in front even had his hand unconsciously resting on the suitcase at his waist, where their quinque was stored.
He turned back and exchanged a look with Rize. She immediately understood. Like a nimble cat, she silently slipped into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.
Only the silent television screen remained in the living room, along with the faint trace of her fragrance in the air.
Amano Hiro took a slow breath, adjusted his expression to show slight irritation at being disturbed and appropriate confusion, then opened the door.
"May I help you?"
His voice was steady, without any hint of abnormality.
The two Investigators outside clearly had not expected the door to be opened by such a refined and gentle looking young man, and they hesitated for a moment.
The one in front cleared his throat and showed his identification. "CCG Headquarters Investigator Fura Taishi. This is my partner, Hirako Take. We are conducting routine inquiries among residents in this area and hope for your cooperation."
"Of course. Please go ahead."
Amano Hiro shifted slightly aside but did not fully invite them in. The distance expressed cooperation while maintaining a boundary of personal space.
Fura Taishi's gaze quickly swept across the entryway and the visible portion of the living room. "The area has not been peaceful recently. Did you hear or see anything suspicious last night? Unusual sounds, or unfamiliar figures?"
"I went to bed early last night and did not notice anything unusual."
Amano Hiro shook his head, his tone carrying a trace of appropriate helplessness. "Did something happen? The news said security in the 20th Ward has been strengthened."
Hirako Take, who had been silent but whose gaze was sharp as a hawk's, suddenly spoke in a low voice. "Just routine screening. Do you live alone?"
There it was. Amano Hiro's heartbeat did not change in the slightest. He nodded calmly. "At the moment, yes." This was not a lie. At that moment, he was indeed alone in the living room.
Hirako Take's gaze seemed to pass beyond him, scanning the visible area of the living room before giving a slight nod.
Fura Taishi asked a few more inconsequential questions, then handed over a contact card. "If you notice anything unusual, please contact us promptly. Sorry for the disturbance."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Amano Hiro accepted the card and watched them walk toward the next apartment before slowly closing the door.
He returned to the sofa and sat down.
Closing his eyes, he tapped his fingers lightly against his knee.
The appearance of the two Investigators confirmed his guess. The CCG placed abnormal importance on the "disappearance" of Mado Kureo and Amon Koutarou.
That was only natural. In the original trajectory, those two were significant figures.
However, the scene that day had been handled cleanly, leaving no clues. For now, it appeared as if they had simply vanished into thin air.
His thoughts shifted to the 11th Ward. The disturbance caused by Aogiri Tree would soon draw a large scale CCG suppression operation.
The upcoming battle might be a good opportunity.
Once it began, it would be a massive meat grinder. There would be targets everywhere. Perhaps it could allow "Carnage" to evolve further.
The sofa beside him sank slightly as Rize, carrying her faint elegant fragrance, sat gracefully next to him.
"With the 11th Ward in such chaos," she said with a faint smile at her lips, "the 20th Ward has not relaxed at all."
Amano Hiro did not reply immediately. He stood and walked to the window, lifting a corner of the curtain with his fingers. On the street below, the two white figures were walking away, disappearing around the corner.
"Mado and Amon's disappearance has put them on edge. But in the face of a greater crisis, that tension will eventually be forced to shift priorities."
He released the curtain and turned to look at Rize. There was little emotion in his eyes, but there was clear calculation. "The chaos in the 11th Ward is not entirely a bad thing for us."
Rize tilted her head slightly, a knowing smile flashing in her violet eyes. "It sounds like you already have a plan."
"Aogiri Tree has made the situation big enough."
Amano Hiro walked toward his room, his tone even. "In a conflict of this scale, there are always some 'accidents.' Whether for ghouls or Investigators."
He glanced sideways and added one last sentence. "We may need to change environments for a few days."
She gently closed the book on her knees, her fingers tapping slowly against the cover.
"It seems," she murmured softly, "things will not be boring."