Houji Kousuke watched his opponent leave and did not pursue. Instead, he let out a heavy breath. His taut nerves were finally able to relax a little.
On the other side, Special-Class Investigator Shinohara Yukinori looked at the dense CRC gas that had become impossible to disperse and said in a low voice, "With this, the ghouls of Aogiri Tree should be finished as well."
He was just about to step forward to apprehend the fallen Kirishima Ayato when another sudden change occurred.
Boom.
The originally sealed circular iron gate above their heads was violently torn apart from the middle by two enormous monstrous claws.
Amid the piercing screech of twisting metal, more than a dozen CCG investigators' corpses fell from above like rag dolls. They were clearly reinforcements who had just arrived.
A gigantic and ferocious one-eyed figure descended through the opening. Warm blood still dripped from the corner of its mouth, proving that the tragedy in the upper passage was its doing.
Its single Kakugan instantly locked onto Shinohara Yukinori below. Its massive body crashed down with overwhelming force.
Bang.
The tremendous impact cleared out a vacuum in the dense CRC gas around them, revealing the monster's form clearly.
Shinohara Yukinori's pupils contracted sharply. Under the immense pressure, he forced out the terrifying name through clenched teeth.
"The One-Eyed Owl."
He immediately gripped his quinque and assumed a full combat stance.
However, the One-Eyed Owl's target was not him at all. With a single sweep of its massive claw, it effortlessly grabbed the unconscious Kirishima Ayato.
Then its enormous head turned sharply. Its single eye seemed to pierce through layers of mist, precisely looking toward Amano Hiro's direction.
After only a glance, its kagune trembled and it shot upward, carrying Kirishima Ayato with it. It flew through the torn opening toward the upper level and disappeared.
Almost at the same moment the One-Eyed Owl looked over, Amano Hiro, who was preparing to leave, sensed it as well.
The pungent CRC gas filled the area around him, but this weapon designed to counter ghouls had limited effect on powerful ones, and none at all on him, an anomaly.
"Looks like Eto has finally entered the stage."
Hearing the sound of metal being torn apart above, he understood.
He had been considering whether to bring along that rebellious Kirishima Ayato as well. Now it seemed unnecessary.
With that thought, Amano Hiro used a tentacle to shift Kirishima Arata from his back to the front of his body. Then, with a sudden rustle, a pair of enormous and ferocious wings burst open behind him.
With a powerful flap that stirred a violent gust of wind, he carried Kirishima Arata upward at great speed, following closely behind the One-Eyed Owl as he left the chaotic battlefield.
Amano Hiro's wings beat again as he shot out of Cochlea's oppressive environment like an arrow released from a bow.
Hovering midair, his sharp gaze swept quickly over the chaotic scene below.
On the road outside the prison, several CCG transport vehicles and fully armed squads were assembling, but there was no sign of Yoshimura Eto or the others.
"They ran pretty fast," he muttered inwardly.
Since he did not run into them, he had no intention of wasting effort searching. Later, he could simply send Eto a message and have Kirishima Ayato come to the café himself to see his father.
Having decided, he adjusted direction. His giant wings stirred a gale as his figure turned into a red streak, speeding toward the 20th Ward, toward home.
The fierce high-altitude wind rushed against them, yet Kirishima Arata felt an unfamiliar sense of relief.
He greedily breathed in the cold, free air, as if he had been reborn into another life.
"I thought... I would be drained of every last bit of value in that lightless laboratory and disposed of like garbage."
Lying against Amano Hiro's body, his voice was broken by wind and emotion. "I never expected... to truly see daylight again. Thank you for saving me. I do not yet know the name of my benefactor."
"Amano Hiro," he replied simply and calmly.
"You do not need to dwell on it. It was a convenient matter. Besides, I can be considered a friend of Touka and Ayato."
Hearing his children's names spoken by a stranger again, Kirishima Arata's long-silent heart trembled violently. Endless guilt and longing surged up at once.
With no news for so many years, the two of them must have struggled terribly.
Suppressing the turbulence within, his voice trembled uncontrollably.
"They... have they lived well all these years?"
"Don't worry."
Amano Hiro's voice carried reassurance through the wind.
"Touka is living steadily at Anteiku in the 20th Ward. She is working hard at her studies and is about to be admitted to a very good university. Her future is bright."
He paused briefly.
"As for Ayato... when he comes to see you, you should ask him yourself. Some things are better said by him."
Learning that his daughter was not only safe but striving toward a bright future, and that his son was clearly alive as well, the weight that had burdened Kirishima Arata's heart for years finally eased by more than half.
Countless words filled his chest, but in the end they became only a complicated sigh.
"Good. Good... We will speak when I see them."
He responded softly, suppressing both anticipation and the strange anxiety of returning home, allowing Amano Hiro to carry him toward the place that held both past and hope.
Amano Hiro was extremely fast. Before long, he arrived at the 20th Ward.
With a beat of his wings, he landed steadily in front of the café. The kakuja-like armor receded like a tide into his body, revealing his youthful and handsome face.
Kirishima Arata's limbs had fully regenerated by then. Standing on the ground and looking at the young man who had released his kakuja state, he could not help but feel surprised.
He had not expected that this powerful figure who had stormed Cochlea alone would appear so young, no more than around twenty years old.
To Amano Hiro's surprise, although it was close to four in the morning, warm yellow lights still glowed inside the café.
He pushed open the door and immediately felt several gazes turn toward him at once.
The café was unusually full. Yoshimura, Touka, Yomo Renji, Koma Enji, and Irimi Kaya were all present.
They sat scattered throughout the shop with solemn expressions, clearly having learned from Touka that Amano Hiro had gone to rescue Kirishima Arata that night.
Seeing Amano Hiro enter alone, everyone's hearts rose to their throats.
Koma Enji opened his mouth as if to ask, but swallowed his words. After all, the chance of successfully rescuing someone from Cochlea was extremely slim.
In that silent moment, Amano Hiro suddenly stepped aside from the doorway.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, a weary yet resolute middle-aged man slowly walked in.
Though exhaustion covered his face, the outline of his features closely resembled Touka's.
A sharp intake of breath echoed through the café.
Yoshimura and Yomo Renji abruptly stood, recognizing their former companion at once.
Touka trembled violently, tears bursting from her eyes.
"Dad..."
She choked out softly and rushed into her father's arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.
Kirishima Arata held his daughter tightly. This hardened man who had endured endless torment in the laboratory without shedding a tear now spoke with a trembling voice.
"I am sorry. It is my fault. I made you suffer."
Watching the deeply moving reunion, Amano Hiro gave Yoshimura a slight nod, quietly stepped back, and opened the door to leave.
He knew that this moment belonged to their family.