"Enough talking."
Ayato Kirishima's voice cut through the silent café.
His breathing was heavy.
Fast.
Like a bellows struggling to contain a raging fire.
"Tell me."
"What do I need to do to see him?"
The room fell silent.
Even the air seemed tense.
Ren met his burning gaze calmly.
Then slowly straightened up.
"It's simple."
He paused deliberately.
His eyes fixed on Ayato.
"Before Aogiri Tree attacks Cochlea, notify me."
Ayato froze.
"…That's it?"
The determination on his face turned into pure confusion.
The request was far simpler than he expected.
He had prepared for something far worse.
Ren smiled faintly.
"What did you think I'd ask for?"
He looked him up and down.
"That you challenge the CCG's White Reaper alone?"
"Or maybe blow up CCG headquarters?"
Ayato's face flushed red instantly.
Humiliation burned through him.
His kagune eyes glowed fiercely.
A faint buzzing sound came from the ukaku wings behind him.
For a moment—
It seemed he might attack again.
But his remaining rationality stopped him.
He turned abruptly.
As if abandoning the argument entirely.
"Banjou."
His voice was strained.
"Let's go."
Kazuichi Banjou immediately gathered his companions.
The group hurried out of the café.
Outside the Café
They didn't stop running until they were several streets away.
Only then did they lean against a wall.
Breathing heavily.
Hearts pounding.
As if they had escaped death.
Ayato stood ahead of them.
His back turned.
The night wind rustled his dark-blue hair.
But his expression remained dark.
Humiliation lingered in his chest.
After a moment—
He turned around.
His crimson kakugan glowed faintly in the darkness.
"Banjou."
His voice was cold.
"Why were you all so scared of him?"
From Ayato's perspective—
Aside from ridiculous strength—
That man seemed normal.
Banjou's panic had been excessive.
Banjou trembled.
Cold sweat ran down his face.
It took him several seconds to answer.
"Ayato-san…"
"You… you didn't see…"
His voice cracked.
"Jason…"
"…Jason…"
"What about him?!"
Ayato snapped impatiently.
"He's gone!"
One of Banjou's men suddenly shouted.
His voice shaking.
"That guy… he…"
"He…"
Ayato's heart sank.
"What do you mean gone?!"
Jason was an S-rank ghoul.
And a half-kakuja.
Such a monster couldn't disappear easily.
Banjou forced the words out.
"…He ate him."
Silence.
Ayato's pupils shrank instantly.
"…He what?"
"He ate him."
The words echoed in the night air.
Jason.
A core member of Aogiri Tree.
An S-rank ghoul.
And half-ghoul.
If someone could devour him effortlessly—
Then Banjou's fear had not been exaggerated.
It had been restrained.
Ayato stood frozen.
The wind whipped his jacket.
But he felt no cold.
Only a creeping dread.
A realization struck him.
Inside the café—
He had actually attacked that monster.
His hand subconsciously touched the base of his kagune.
The memory of those scarlet tentacles—
Locking him in place—
Still lingered like phantom pain.
"…If that's true…"
A flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.
"Then maybe…"
"…he really can."
Inside Anteiku
The silence remained heavy.
Cold night air blew through the broken window.
Rustling the debris across the floor.
Touka Kirishima stood still.
Watching the direction Ayato had left.
Her expression was complicated.
Worry.
Helplessness.
A faint trace of sadness.
Ren spoke casually.
"One sibling is worried but refuses to admit it."
"The other clearly cares but pretends not to."
He tapped his glass lightly.
"You two are surprisingly similar."
Touka stiffened.
Her eyes flashed with embarrassment.
"What do you know?!"
She glared at him angrily.
"I may not understand your communication style."
He replied calmly.
"But emotions are obvious."
He glanced toward the door.
"The way you watched him leave."
"And the way he glanced back at you."
His finger tapped the glass rim.
ting.
"They both scream the same thing."
"Concern."
Touka's lips moved.
She wanted to argue.
But no words came.
Because he was right.
She was worried.
About Ayato.
About what might happen to him.
About the truth he had just learned.
And Ayato—
Even while insulting her—
Still cared.
A bitter feeling rose in her chest.
She turned her head away quickly.
Hiding her expression.
"…This has nothing to do with you."
Her voice was quiet.
Tired.
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