Inside the Anteiku café.
The air grew heavier—and strangely charged—than ever before.
The golden Holy Grail floating in midair cast a warm, vast light, like a sudden miracle descending into a hopeless world, illuminating the complicated expressions on every face.
Eto Yoshimura, Kuzen Yoshimura, Kishou Arima.
Three people who by rights should be mortal enemies, standing on utterly different sides.
Yet in this moment, because of a shared "opportunity" big enough to overturn the world itself, they set aside old grudges and prejudices—if only for now.
Their eyes were fixed on the Grail.
Minds racing, trying to process this surreal scene,
and to decide how to use these three wishes to carve out a true path of renewal for humans and ghouls alike.
Should they eradicate RC cells entirely?
Reshape everyone's perception?
Or judge the true root of evil?
Each choice was heavy as lead, tied to the fate of countless lives.
…
While the three of them sank into that grave, pivotal deliberation,
Rei Ao lost interest.
He yawned lazily,
his gaze drifting to Touka Kirishima, who looked a bit dazed after taking in too many shocking revelations.
He rose and, quite naturally, walked over to her.
Ignoring the complicated looks from the others, he took her hand.
"It's stifling in here. Let them take their time."
His tone was as casual as deciding where to stroll after dinner.
"Let's go do what people do after closing a deal."
"Eh? W-wait…"
Before Touka could react, Rei Ao tugged her along, half-leading, half-drawing her toward the small room that belonged to her on the café's second floor.
Renji Yomo's eyes flashed.
He moved on instinct to block them, but Kuzen Yoshimura stopped him with a look.
The manager slowly shook his head, gaze deep.
Things were already far beyond their control. Provoking this mysterious man would be unwise.
Besides… the so-called "terms" of that deal…
Under her uncle's worried stare, the manager's complicated look, and Eto's cool gaze, Touka's cheeks flared scarlet.
Half pushed, half willing, she let Rei Ao guide her into her room.
Click.
The door closed with a soft sound,
shutting out every eye—and almost as if sealing them in a different world.
The small, tidy room carried a faint, clean scent that was distinctly hers.
The furnishings were simple:
a bed,
a desk,
a wardrobe,
and a small green plant on the windowsill.
Rei Ao looked around the lived-in little space with interest,
then sat down naturally on the single bed with its fresh sheets.
The soft mattress dipped slightly under his weight.
He patted the spot beside him and, with a teasing smile, addressed Touka, who stood frozen at the door like a startled rabbit.
"Not coming over?"
"Or… do you prefer standing?"
"!!!"
Touka's heart began pounding like a drum.
Heat rushed to her face until it almost burned.
Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her clothes; she didn't dare meet Rei Ao's eyes.
Her voice, barely above a whisper, squeezed out between clenched teeth:
"S-shouldn't we… t-take a shower first…?"
The instant she said it, she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
God—what was she even saying?!
Didn't that make her sound like she was looking forward to what came next?!
Rei Ao's smile deepened, a shade mischievous.
"Oh? You want to shower first…"
He drew out the words on purpose.
Then, taking in her adorable urge to shrink in on herself, he suddenly stood.
"Then let's go together."
"Eh?!!"
Touka snapped her head up, eyes wide with disbelief.
…
Meanwhile,
at the CCG's temporary command center—
the atmosphere was as oppressive as the sea before a storm.
Gone was the earlier excitement that had preceded tonight's operation.
Several Special Class Investigators were gathered, faces dark as thunder.
"Report! We've lost the tracking signals for 'Crow,' 'Demon Ape,' and 'Black Dog'! It's like… they vanished into thin air!"
One investigator forced the words out.
"Vanished?"
"How could three SS-rated ghouls vanish at the same time?!"
a Special Class barked, slamming a fist onto the table.
Another investigator, pale, added, "And when we arrived at the area where Special Class Arima fought the 'Owl,' there were only traces of the battle left. Special Class Arima and the 'Owl'… both were gone!"
The news made everyone's hearts sink.
Kishou Arima—CCG's undefeated Grim Reaper—was missing?
Could it be… that even he had fallen to the legendary SSS-rated ghoul, the Owl?
The terrifying thought spread like a plague through the room, bringing a chill and panic that bit to the bone.
Just then, the squad led by Kureo Mado returned.
Every face was as dark as ink,
especially Mado himself—his snake-cold eyes full of humiliation and stunned disbelief.
"First Class Mado, what happened on your end?"
a Special Class asked with a frown.
Mado's voice was hoarse, forced out between clenched teeth.
"The S-rated ghoul 'Rabbit'… was taken away by a man who suddenly appeared."
"A man?"
"Y-yes…"
Mado recalled that uncanny scene in the alley; his body still twitched at the memory.
"He appeared in a way I can't explain. He… he only said two words: 'Kneel.'"
He swallowed hard and went on:
"And then all of us were crushed to our knees as if by an invisible mountain—completely unable to resist!"
"In the end… we could only watch him take the target away!"
"What?!"
"He made every investigator kneel with one sentence?!"
"How is that possible? Some new kagune ability?!"
The command room erupted.
~~~
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