These words moved everyone present.
Breaking into Cochlea? That was practically synonymous with courting death.
Since its construction, that prison had been the very definition of an impregnable fortress. There had never been any precedent of a successful escape.
Touka tightened her grip on the tray in her hands, her knuckles turning slightly pale from the force. She took a deep breath, her voice trembling despite her effort to control it.
"Hiro-san, we are already extremely grateful that you are willing to provide information about my father. But going to Cochlea is really not something you need to..."
Before she could finish, Hiro raised a hand and gently interrupted her.
"It's fine." His tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable strength. "Since I chose to join Anteiku, then I am one of its members. Sharing the burden for my companions is only natural."
His gaze swept across everyone and finally settled on Touka's worried face, as if conveying firm conviction through his eyes.
"Let's wait for now. When the time is right, I will naturally step in and bring him out."
Rize leaned closer and lowered her voice. "You really plan to go to Cochlea to rescue him? That place is too dangerous."
Although she had great confidence in Hiro's strength, the mere mention of that iron-walled prison could not hide the concern in her tone.
Hiro smiled when he heard that and gently patted her hand. "Don't worry. I value my life a lot. I won't do anything I'm not confident about."
He had never been the type to ignore consequences just to show off. Putting on a bit of a front was fine, but truly risking his life was absolutely out of the question.
With his current strength, going alone to break someone out gave him at least a ninety percent chance of success.
But ninety percent? In his eyes, that was no different from suicide.
The safest method was to wait for Aogiri Tree to make their move, slip in during the chaos, and rescue Kirishima Arata and Kamishiro Matasaka together.
At that moment, the café doorbell rang softly.
A young man dressed in a red suit and black leather shoes stepped inside, his light purple hair especially eye-catching.
The moment he entered, he stopped, closed his eyes slightly, spread his arms, and took a deep breath. Then he sighed in satisfaction. "What a wonderful scent."
As he spoke, he lightly brushed a hand across the bridge of his nose and murmured, "As expected, only this place truly relaxes me."
The person who had arrived was the number one pervert of this story. Tsukiyama Shuu.
Touka frowned, her tone cold. "Tsukiyama."
Tsukiyama Shuu smiled in response. "Long time no see, Kirishima-san."
"What are you here for?"
"Still as cold as ever. But that is precisely your charm."
Tsukiyama Shuu did not mind her attitude. He kept his composed smile as his gaze slowly swept across the shop.
Suddenly, his expression stiffened for a moment. He had seen Kamishiro Rize, the woman he had once wished to tear apart with his own hands.
In the past, Tsukiyama Shuu had invited her to join his ghoul restaurant, hoping to share the pleasure of fine dining with her. She had rejected him on the grounds that the food portions were too small, and even mocked his way of eating as petty. That scene still lingered in his mind.
However, the distortion on his face lasted only a split second.
He quickly restored his previous smile and said lightly, "Oh my, isn't this the beautiful Rize-san? What a coincidence."
Kamishiro Rize curved her lips in a delighted smile. "Oh my, isn't this the stingy Tsukiyama-kun?"
That single sentence nearly shattered the expression Tsukiyama Shuu had just regained. In his heart, he was already furiously cursing her.
Hiro watched their verbal exchange with interest and did not interrupt.
He had no particular dislike for Tsukiyama Shuu. In fact, he found him rather amusing.
Tsukiyama Shuu stopped entangling himself with Rize and turned his gaze to Hiro instead, a refined smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I am Tsukiyama Shuu. May I ask how I should address this gentleman?"
Before Hiro could respond, Touka spoke first, her tone guarded. "Tsukiyama, don't bother Hiro-san if you have nothing important."
"Hiro. What a rare surname."
Tsukiyama Shuu keenly noticed the unusual respect in Touka's tone. A trace of interest flashed in his eyes.
He bent slightly in an elegant bow. "If Hiro-san is interested, you are welcome to visit my restaurant sometime. Let us become friends."
Hiro smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor refusing. "If I have time, I can consider it."
He was genuinely somewhat interested in the ghoul restaurant Tsukiyama Shuu ran. Visiting it when free might not be a bad idea.
That answer only seemed to delight Tsukiyama Shuu further. He took a finely crafted card printed with an address from his inner suit pocket and gently placed it on the counter.
"I shall await Hiro-san's visit at any time." He bowed again, his purple hair gleaming elegantly under the lights. "Then I will take my leave for today."
Hiro picked up the exquisitely made card, examined it briefly, and casually slipped it into his pocket.
Kamishiro Rize noticed this and puffed her lips slightly, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction.
Hiro chuckled at her expression and gently pinched her cheek. "What, do you have some grudge against him?"
Although he already knew the reason, he still wanted to hear her say it herself. When a woman was in a small mood, it was best to guide it gently.
"Not really." Rize briefly explained her past with Tsukiyama Shuu, her tone still carrying faint displeasure.
Hiro soothed her gently. "Alright. He wouldn't dare do anything. If he really causes trouble, we can deal with him then."
He turned to Touka. "By the way, Touka, could you give me the address of Uta's mask shop?"
"Hiro-san wants to commission a mask?" Touka asked curiously.
"I plan to have one made for Rize."
"Do you need me to take you there?"
"No need to trouble yourself. Just give us the address."
After noting down the address, Hiro left the café with Rize and headed toward the mask shop.
On the way, Rize could not help asking, "Why do I suddenly need a mask? I don't really like having something covering my face."
Hiro glanced at her and patiently explained, "We'll need it when we go to the 11th Ward. You can't just walk around there openly. What if the CCG memorizes your face?"
His tone was gentle but firm. "Even if we're not afraid of them, it's better to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Rize gave a soft "Mm," accepting the arrangement.
The two walked slowly along the street, occasionally stopping to look at the scenery, occasionally speaking in low voices. After walking for quite a while, they finally found the shop in a secluded corner.
Hiro looked up at the sign. HySy ArtMask Studio. After confirming it was correct, he pushed open the graffiti-covered door.
Inside, the black-and-white checkered floor was visually striking. Half-body mannequins were displayed around the room, each wearing a uniquely designed mask. The air was filled with the mixed scent of paint and leather.
At that moment, a calm voice came from deeper inside the shop.
"Are you two looking to commission a mask, or to purchase one that's already made?"