Just as Kamishiro Rize and ryoma prepared to rush off and find Tsukiyama Shuu to settle the score, a courier arrived at the Hideout in the 20th Ward.
Kaya Irimi looked down at the envelope in her hand, eyes narrowing slightly. "It's from… Tsukiyama Shuu."
At the mention of that name, Kanzaki Ryoma's expression turned grim. If Tsukiyama was sending a letter, and if Kirishima Touka was involved, it could only mean one thing— his previous suspicion turned out to be true.
"Miss Irimi, let me see it."
Irimi nodded and handed over the envelope without hesitation. "It's addressed to you, Ryoma-kun."
Ryoma opened it swiftly, scanning its contents. His brows drew together.
As he suspected, Touka had been ambushed and captured by Tsukiyama. But she wasn't the only one. Kaneki Ken had also been taken.
Tsukiyama explained himself in the letter. He knew full well how close Kaneki was to Ryoma, and that Touka shared a bond with him as well. Using them as bait was the most efficient way to draw Ryoma out.
It wasn't a random decision. Tsukiyama had considered other targets, but Rize, Furuta Nimura, and Kaya Irimi were far too dangerous and unpredictable to corner. As for Fueguchi Hina and her mother—too weak, too unfamiliar. Kirishima, on the other hand, was a known quantity. And he had already failed to capture Ryoma once. This time, he planned meticulously.
The letter was direct: come alone, or Kaneki and Touka die.
"So, he wants me to walk right into his trap…"
Ryoma exhaled slowly, the air cold around him.
"What's the plan?" Rize asked, eyes sharp. "Want me to tail you?"
He shook his head. "No. I'll go alone. I want to see exactly what Tsukiyama has planned."
He was already well-acquainted with the Tsukiyama Group's layout. The real threat came from their personal guards—S and SS-rated ghouls loyal to the Tsukiyama family. Dangerous, yes. But not beyond him.
Word of Touka's capture spread quickly through the hideout.
"So… brother Ryoma is going to save Touka-oneesan alone?" Fueguchi Hina asked, her voice tight with worry.
Ryoma nodded. "It's the only way to ensure Kaneki and Miss Kirishima's safety."
"Be careful…" Hina whispered.
"I'll do my best," he said with a faint smile.
Irimi crossed her arms. "We'll leave Touka in your hands, Ryoma."
"No, this happened because of me. I'll fix it," Ryoma replied.
Neither Rize nor Yoshimura Kuzen looked concerned. They had seen Ryoma in the battle against Aogiri Tree in the 11th Ward and had fought him himself. They knew what he was capable of.
---
Later that evening, Ryoma arrived at the designated meeting spot—an abandoned underground parking lot in the 19th Ward.
He stepped through the rusted entrance with cautious grace, senses on high alert. The stale air carried the faint metallic scent of blood. He could feel the trap closing in around him.
Deeper in, a familiar figure waited—Tsukiyama Shuu.
But Tsukiyama wasn't alone.
To his right stood a man—or rather, someone dressed like a man—with long purple hair and a mask that only covered the top half of the face. The right bangs obscured half of the mask, creating an unsettling symmetry.
Ryoma instantly recognized her: Karren, alias "Kanae." A ghoul originally from the Rosewald family in Germany. After her clan was annihilated by the German branch of the CCG. She then fled to the main Tsukiyama household. Disguising herself as a man, she had risen through the ranks.
Kanae's power hovered around the S-rated threshold.
On Tsukiyama's left stood a more imposing presence: Matsumae. Dressed in a formal maid uniform and a similar half-mask, she was an SS-rated ghoul—an elite enforcer of the Tsukiyama household.
Kanae on the right. Matsumae on the left.
Tsukiyama hadn't underestimated him entirely, but Ryoma could tell that Tsukiyama hadn't seen his full strength— not since the Ghoul Restaurant incident . If he had known about Ryoma's role in the 11th Ward purge, he would've brought an army.
"Where are Kaneki and Touka?" Ryoma asked, his voice echoing slightly through the concrete cavern.
Tsukiyama gestured. "Kanae, bring our guests to Mr. Kanzaki."
Kanae bowed slightly and obeyed.
Moments later, both Kaneki and Touka were dragged out, wrists bound, cloth gags stuffed in their mouths. Both were dazed but conscious.
Tsukiyama chuckled, folding his arms. "You know the terms. Exchange yourself, and I let them go. Easy, yes?"
Ryoma's gaze didn't waver. "Untie them. I'll come over."
He took a single step forward.
Tsukiyama motioned to Kanae. "Release them."
Kanae did so with silent efficiency, removing their bindings and giving them a light shove toward Ryoma.
"Why the hell did you come alone?" Touka barked the moment the gag came off, her voice thick with panic.
Ryoma didn't answer her directly. "Kaneki, Miss Kirishima… I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Please leave now. They won't follow you again."
"What… what is going on?" Kaneki stammered.
All he remembered was getting invited out by Tsukiyama earlier that morning. Then... darkness. A cloth over his mouth. Silence.
Now he was standing in an empty garage, caught between Ryoma and a masked stranger.
Still shaken, he grabbed Touka's arm and ran.
Ryoma watched them disappear into the shadows.
Tsukiyama stepped forward with a twisted grin. "I told him I'd kill her if you didn't come alone. And here you are."
He exhaled slowly, practically tasting the excitement in the air. "You value her so much. I picked the right hostage. Such a beautiful emotion."
"And maybe," he added with a theatrical sigh, "there's a little romance mixed in there too? Ah, delicious."
He turned to Touka's retreating figure and called out, "Miss Kirishima! Don't go just yet. Watchme feast on Ryoma in front of you… wouldn't that be divine?"
Ryoma's fingers curled into fists.
Enough talk.
Let the real show begin.
***
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