Hiro's fingertips brushed lightly over his lips. The soft warmth of Rize's kiss still lingered there clearly.
A deep glint passed through his eyes. Suddenly, he reached out and pulled Rize into his arms.
Before she could react, his hand firmly cupped the back of her head, and he lowered his head to precisely capture her still-moist cherry lips.
This kiss was different from her earlier fleeting touch. It carried an undeniable heat and possessiveness, as if he intended to completely entwine their breaths together.
Time flowed slowly within the quiet cabin. Only when their breathing grew unsteady did he finally pull back slightly.
A thin, transparent thread flashed and disappeared.
Hiro lightly licked the corner of his lips, as if savoring the sweetness, and chuckled softly. "This... is what counts as a thank-you gift."
Rize lowered her head slightly. A rare flush colored her cheeks, and her chest rose and fell with her uneven breathing.
For once, she did not respond to his teasing. She simply pressed her still-warm lips together and turned her gaze toward the window. That rare shy expression was more captivating than any words.
Hiro looked at the brilliant nightscape outside the cabin, then at the unusually gentle Rize beside him. For a moment, he felt that this dangerous world could occasionally offer unexpected beauty.
The Ferris wheel slowly came to a stop. Hiro stepped out first but did not continue walking.
He stood below and naturally extended his hand to Rize. In the night, his voice was warm. "Let's go home."
Rize placed her hand in his palm lightly, a faint curve lifting her lips. "Mm. Let's go home."
When they returned to their familiar residence, warm yellow light instantly enveloped them.
Rize seemed to have regained her usual composure, though a rare gentleness lingered in the depths of her eyes.
She walked toward the kitchen, her voice soft. "Hiro, would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Yes. Thank you." Hiro sat down on the sofa and casually pressed the television remote.
The news anchor's even voice flowed through the room, reporting on the city's recent public security situation.
Hiro accepted the coffee Rize handed him and was about to thank her when the image on the screen suddenly changed.
"According to the latest report, the CCG has officially announced that tomorrow it will launch a large-scale purge operation in the 11th Ward..."
Rize stared at the stern face of the CCG official on the screen and murmured softly, "It's starting."
Her voice was light, yet like a pebble dropped into still water.
Hiro set down his coffee cup, the bottom striking the table with a crisp sound.
"Mm," he replied steadily. "It's finally here."
...
As dusk approached, two figures were moving at astonishing speed across the tops of high-rise buildings. It was Hiro and Kamishiro Rize, heading toward the 11th Ward.
They landed atop a skyscraper, the highest point in the surrounding area.
Hiro naturally wrapped an arm around Rize's slender waist, the curve fitting perfectly in his grasp.
Before she could react, the muscles in his legs tightened abruptly, launching them toward the 11th Ward like arrows released from a bow.
At the instant they leapt from the rooftop, with a sharp sound, a pair of crimson wings suddenly spread out behind him.
Unlike ordinary kagune, the surface of these wings shimmered with a metallic sheen. Their edges were sharp as blades, glowing with a dangerous and mesmerizing blood-red hue in the dim light.
A powerful current of air rushed against them. Rize's beautiful purple hair whipped wildly in the wind, strands brushing against his cold profile.
She looked up at him, astonishment filling her eyes. "Hiro, you can actually fly!"
A faint curve lifted Hiro's lips, his voice clear even amid the wind. "Not really flying. You could call it gliding."
This speed was many times faster than when Hiro had hitched a ride to the 12th Ward before.
Buildings receded rapidly beneath them. The wind roared past their ears. The arm holding her was steady as a rock, and each subtle adjustment of his crimson wings precisely caught the airflow.
The strong wind continued to howl. Rize looked up at Hiro's face, so close at hand.
Her gaze once more swept over the crimson wings that pulsed with a strange aesthetic rhythm, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
"Your kagune is truly unique."
She raised her voice to ensure he could hear her clearly over the wind.
"Both its form and ability are completely different from the four known types."
She paused slightly before asking the most crucial question. "Is this the secret to your strength?"
Hiro lowered his eyes and glanced at her. The faint curve at his lips deepened slightly, but he did not answer directly.
He looked forward again toward the distant skyline, his voice calm and carrying a hint that discouraged further probing.
"You'll know in the future."
While Hiro and Rize were on their way, the CCG headquarters was conducting a large-scale pre-battle mobilization.
A clear report came through the communication equipment.
"Reporting the current situation. After occupying the shopping center, it has been confirmed that there are over five hundred ghouls within the area. Over the past week, the opposing side has continued to gather combat forces... The specific time of attack will be adjusted according to conditions on site."
After the briefing ended, Special-Class Investigator Marude Itsuki grabbed the microphone from the podium. His sharp gaze swept over the neatly lined investigators below.
"I hereby announce," his voice echoed throughout the hall through the speakers, "the operation officially begins!"
"Yes!"
A thunderous unified shout erupted instantly, merging into a fearless wave of sound.
Every participant already carried a will in their arms. At this moment, there was no hesitation in their eyes, only the resolve to uphold their beliefs with their lives.
Hundreds of transport vehicles started their engines simultaneously, carrying fully armed investigators and cooperating police officers. They formed a torrent of steel and advanced in grand procession toward the 11th Ward, now reduced to scorched earth.
By this time, Hiro and Rize had arrived in the 11th Ward.
Standing on the rooftop of a high-rise building, the district before them appeared unusually desolate.
The streets were empty. The residents had all been evacuated. Only the giant electronic screens on the exterior of buildings were still functioning, broadcasting the latest news.
A female announcer's clear voice came from the screen.
"This operation is being carried out jointly by the CCG and the police. A force of over one thousand personnel has assembled and is awaiting the order to attack the 11th Ward. The on-site command is being led by Special-Class Investigator Marude Itsuki, who is responsible for tracking ghoul strongholds."
The screen switched to Marude.
"Ninety-nine percent of the residents' safety is protected by our investigators with our lives. The remaining one percent requires the cooperation of all residents. We hope everyone will work together to reclaim peace in the 11th Ward."
The announcer's voice sounded again.
"That concludes Special-Class Investigator Marude's statement. We will continue to bring you further reports..."
The weather was gloomy, with no sunlight in sight. The dimness was almost like night.
At the same time, Aogiri Tree was also carrying out its pre-battle deployment according to plan.
To ensure the plan's success, they had even hired ghoul mercenaries.
As time passed, the main CCG force had already reached the battlefield and formed a standoff with the ghouls.
The entire area was enveloped in the peculiar silence that precedes battle, like the calm before a storm.