Swoosh!
After escaping the monsters, everyone was heading towards the outskirts of Shimotsuki to follow evacuation procedures planned by the Council.
However everyone was completely depressed.
Agent 1: Atsuo-sama, Aiya-sama.
Atsuo & Aiya: ...
Itsuki: Hey...
Keiko: Guys?
Natsuki, Shino, Sachi, Yuuka, Miku, Chikao & Kotori: ...
The three agents, Itsuki and Keiko looked at the nine of them worriedly as they stared blankly and silently at the smoke filled Shimotsuki. Where Kaneki and many others had been killed and devoured.
Yanma: We're sorry... Everyone.
Yanma broke the silence with an apology.
Atsuo: What are you apologizing for?
Kotori: Yeah. You all did your best to buy us time.
Flap!
Ryugon: Yes... Yet we couldn't save you g Kaneki.
Aiya: But! ...
Aiya tried to reassure the Beast Knights, however just like everyone else they were depressed over Kaneki's death.
Ku-kun & Batta: We should've helped with finding Kaneki.
Ku-kun and Batta were the most depressed out of all the Beast Knights.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(But you all did your best protecting everyone...)
Kotori: Listen up everyone... We're currently heading to Akuma Castle, once we arrive you all better get inside one of the Busses that's waiting there.
Everyone: ...
Kotori: Sigh~
Kotori didn't say much after looking at everyone's current state.
Kotori's thoughts*
(Why did this happen? Wasn't this only supposed to happen when Kaneki-chan dies? I don't understand at all.)
A few minutes later~
After a few minutes of flying everyone had reached Akuma Castle and landed near the area where the busses were located.
Poof!
Once everyone had gotten off Yanma, she and the rest of the Beast Knights reverted back to their small sizes.
Kotori: Alright everyone we're here, we have enough busses for everyone in Shimotsuki so don't worry about not fitting inside...
Natsuki: What about you Kotori? Aren't you coming with us?
Kotori: I'll be keeping watch from over there with the agents.
Kotori pointed to Akuma Castle's main tower which already had a few agents stationed there.
Kotori: Well then I'll see you all later.
Atsuo: Kotori!
Kotori: Hm?
Atsuo: You better come back.
Kotori: I will.
With Atsuo reluctantly let Kotori go on watch with the agents and everyone started walking to their bus.
Keiko: Hey... You guys?
Natsuki: Don't... Don't talk to us okay? We're not in the mood.
Keiko: I understand...
Keiko tried to cheer her friends up, but was immediately turned down.
Keiko: Itsuki this is really bad.
Itsuki: You think? We all just witnessed Kaneki getting killed... Let's give them some time.
Keiko: Yeah...
Itsuki and Keiko were both for their friends, and also sad.
Itsuki: I can't believe it... Kaneki is actually dead now.
They whispered to each other so they wouldn't get heard and make everyone feel worse than they already are.
Keiko: Yeah... They'll probably thinking it was their fault too.
Both of them looked behind towards the Higanbana girls all having a depressed looks on their faces.
Itsuki: Seriously... Kaneki if you could use you that power to make us run, why didn't you use it to stun those monsters.
Keiko: Hey...
Itsuki: I know... Sigh~ Seriously the guys will be sad once they hear this news.
Kagemi: Greetings.
Everyone: !!!
Suddenly a short and cute victorian maid appeared in front of everyone and surprising them.
Natsuki: Oh... Hello Kagemi.
Atsuo: Kagemi?
Natsuki: It's Akuma Castle's A.I. when Kanekin and I went here some time ago we named her Kagemi.
Yuuka: An A.i?
Kagemi: Affirmative, what you're currently looking at is my avat— hmm?
Kagemi stopped talking and began inspecting the group.
Kagemi: Where is Kaneki-sama?
She was looking for Kaneki.
Everyone: !!!
Kagemi: ??? Has master already been evacuated?
Kagemi shown worry for Kaneki with him not being present.
Natsuki: Kaneki... He's...
Natsuki tried telling Kagemi what had happened, but she couldn't and tears started to form in her eyes.
Kagemi: ... I understand.
Kagemi stared at the ground after realizing that Kaneki... was dead.
Shake~
Everyone: !!!
With the ground suddenly shaking everyone thought the monsters had arrived.
Kagemi: Apologies.
But when Kagemi apologized, the shaking had stopped.
Kagemi: I... I... I...
Kagemi was having a hard time thinking on what to say.
Natsuki: It's alright... It's just so sudden for you.
Kagemi: That is correct...
(Poor Kagemi...)
Natsuki felt sorry for Kagemi, though she wasn't showing much emotion compared to Kotori.
Natsuki could tell that she was also upset about Kaneki's demise.
Kagemi: We must proceed with evacuation.
After a few moments of silence Kagemi urged them to continue with evacuation procedures.
Kagemi: Once we arrive at the evacuation busses please proceed inside in an orderly fashion, make sure to not rush and push others to not cause any serious injury.
She began leading them towards the busses that were slowly being filled by evacuees.
A few minutes later~
Vroom~
Kagemi: I hope you all arrive at your destination safely.
Zap!
After guiding the group to their bus, Kagemi's avatar turned to a beam of light and returned to her main body.
Atsuo: You girls should go in first.
Itsuki: Nod~
Both Atsuo and Itsuki acted like gentlemen and allowed the Higanbana girls, Aiya and Keiko to enter the buss first.
All 9: ...
They all hesitantly entered before the two of them followed behind.
???: MAMAAAA!
???: Sob~!
Upon entering they were all greeted by the cries of the people who escaped but affected by the attack.
All 10: ...
They all felt sad seeing so many people being affected by what happened.
Atsuo: Okay everyone find yourselves seats...
Following Atsuo's request they all began taking seats that were open.
Atsuo and Aiya sat side by side near the front door, Itsuki and Keiko took two seats on the right side of the bus middle section.
While the Higanbana girls all sat together by the very back of the buss.
Natsuki: There's so many busses, I wonder what our evacuation camp would look like?
Natsuki tried to start a conversation with her friends to distract them from Kaneki's death.
Flashback*
Chomp!
Flashback end*
Natsuki
But there was no way she could get over what she had seen, instantly making quiet down.
Sachi: I can't believe Kaneki's actually dead now.
To her surprise, Sachi spoke after being silent ever since witnessing Kaneki's death.
The look on her face was of shock, she still couldn't believe that Kaneki the boy she loved all this time. Was now gone.
Miku: Sob~ Please let this just be a stupid nightmare.
Tears began to flow again from Miku's eyes as she wished that she was only experiencing a nightmare.
Shino: Kaneki is gone... Mom... Dad...
Shino looked even more worried, after losing Kaneki she thought she would lose her parents as well.
Chikao: We couldn't save him...
Yuuka: Kaneki... I'm sorry.
Yuuka and Chikao felt guilty not being able to save Kaneki.
(This is the worst.)
Feeling hopeless, Natsuki stared through the window towards the other nearby busses.
(There are a lot more people who are suffering...)
Through the windows of other nearby busses, She watched many other crying and grieving for those they had lost in this tragedy.
"Hello is this thing on?"
Suddenly Kotori's voice was heard throughout the bus, she was transmitting a message.
Atsuo: ...
"Attention all passengers we'll be departing shortly after this transmission."
At Akuma Castle's middle tower*
Kotori: First of all I'd like to apologize to all of you, the truth is... We the Council had anticipated for the world to end.
Kotori hesitantly explained the situation to everyone in her transmission.
Kotori: A week ago before my brother, Kaneki-chan better known as the Hero of Hell and Atlantis was hospitalized the Council had discovered a mural that had the prophecy of the end of the world. In this mural it stated the condition for the end of the world was the fall of the emperor, which was referring to my brother. We assumed that it meant by his death and we were very wrong. We apologize for not preparing all of you for this tragedy, and most of all... Not being able to save all of you.
With that she ended her transmission.
Back in the bus*
???: Why bother telling this now? It already happened...
???: Even if we had known would anything even change?
Surprisingly no one blamed the Council for this tragedy, but hearing the transmission only made everyone more hopeless.
???: Even if we had known... Those monsters came out of nowhere, even if we did prepare...
???: Even the most powerful people can die...
Natsuki: ...
With so many people losing hope, Natsuki got sadder seeing the colors of everyone's souls.
Bus driver: Attention everyone! We'll be departing now, please stay calm we'll do our best to bring you all safely to the evacuation camp.
The bus driver tried to reassure everyone, but was only met with silence.
Vroom~
Atsuo: What are we going to tell Kotori? She hadn't noticed yet.
As the bus was preparing to leave, Atsuo worried asked Aiya about something worrying.
Aiya: I don't know, but... We have to tell her.
Atsuo: What? We left her mother as well?
They hadn't brought Tohru with them as well.
Aiya: No one is to blame Dear, but... She'll find out one way or another.
Atsuo: ...
HOOOOONK~!
With a loud honk all of the evacuation busses began departing.
A few minutes later~
Natsuki: Guys... We're leaving.
All 5: ...
Rustle~
Hearing that they were now leaving most of her friends got up on their seats and looked through the back window.
Natsuki: ...
Rustle~
Natsuki then copied them and began staring at the burning Shimotsuki.
They watched as their burning city slowly got farther and farther away, the Higanbana girls all shed tears.
Drip~
All 6: Goodbye... Kaneki/Onii-chan.
And they said their last goodbye to Kaneki.
A few minutes later~
At Akuma Castle*
Agent 1: Kotori-sama, all evacuation busses for Shimotsuki are on route to camp Akae.
Kotori: Good. Any news of new appearances?
With the evacuation of Shimotsuki proceeding smoothly, Kotori asked whether new monster appearances were occuring.
Agent 2: Sadly yes... We've gotten reports that monsters began appearing in Germany as well as the Philippines and Korea.
Agent 3: And their numbers are growing rapidly.
Kotori: Damnit... How are their evacuations going?
Agent 2: We are unsure, we aren't getting any reports yet.
Kotori: Damnit. What about other evacuations here in Japan?
Agent 1: Kyoto is being evacuated as of right now, although these monsters has been seen nearby.
Kotori: Grandpa... Grandma...
All agents: ...
Seeing Kotori getting worried, the agents were hesitant on giving her more reports.
Kotori: Please tell me more.
But Kotori wanted to know the full situation.
A few minutes later~
Kotori: I understand.
With all the reports given to her, Kotori turned to her back.
Kotori: We'll have to escort our busses, Kagemi!
With escorting now in mind, Kotori needed Kagemi's help.
Flash!
Kagemi: You called?
Kotori: Please activate—
Kagemi: Robot mode is already prepared, a pilot is now needed to activate it.
Kotori: I see, thanks. You three! Querxes and Kirin sensei are most likely on their way here, please exist the castle and once transformation is completed stand by the head and watch for them.
All 3: Got it!
Following her orders, the three agents went outside.
Kotori: ...
Kotori began walking to the throne room so she could transform Akuma Castle.
Kotori's thoughts*
(Now... It's my turn to protect everyone)
She steeled herself as the responsibility of protecting everyone was now in her shoulders.
Meanwhile~ Back in Shimotsuki*
Slash!
Stomp!
GROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!