At the same time that Vela returned to Tokyo, welcomed by veteran CCG Special Class Investigators like Marude Itsuki on her way to the Imperial Hotel, chatting about daily matters and discussing how best to deliver a swift, decisive blow against the resurgent and arrogant ghoul organization "Aogiri Tree"—on the other side of Tokyo, in the west…
Tama District, Fussa Town, inside a CCG secure facility near the U.S. Yokota Air Base.
An independent suite, fairly spacious.
A mother and daughter—both with tea-brown hair and brown eyes, almost like mirror images—sat at a desk, studying together.
Sha, sha.
Finally, the young girl stopped writing, lifted her head, and gazed at her mother, who always accompanied her gently. Her innocent lips moved softly. "Mama, I'm done."
"You worked hard, Hinami."
The woman reached out, softly patting the girl's head.
The mother and daughter were none other than Ryouko Fueguchi and her daughter Hinami—detained by Vela's order more than half a year ago.
They served as a typical case of "ghouls under lawful containment."
"You must keep it up, grow up smart and knowledgeable. Don't be like me—always hiding, without any proper education."
Saying this, the mother stood and walked to the living room. Beep—she picked up the remote control from the coffee table and turned on the TV. Tokyo TV, anime broadcast.
"Now it's relaxation time."
Clapping her hands together, resting her palms under her chin, the young woman smiled brightly.
"Mm, I want to watch…"
Hinami leapt into her mother's embrace affectionately, rubbing against her.
An anime about family bonds played, while the two sat on the sofa.
Ordinary, plain, warm…
But such warmth was always brief. Especially for ghouls stripped of freedom, living under custody.
Creak—
The door opened.
"Mrs. Ryouko Fueguchi. Here's today's 'food.'"
Ryouko stood up instantly, instinctively shielding her daughter behind her.
The visitors were two CCG investigators.
Even though she had met them many times, Ryouko still bowed politely. "Mr. Kusaba, Mr. Nakajima, I trouble you again."
"Just following Special Class Marude's orders."
Glancing at the protective Ryouko, the weary-looking middle-aged man—his badge reading Yasunori Nakajima—waved his hand dismissively. He placed the package of newly developed synthetic food, specially supplied by the CCG's R&D department, onto the entryway cabinet before turning to leave.
"Oh, right."
As if suddenly remembering something, Nakajima turned back before leaving. "Special Class Vela Adelheid Russell has returned to Tokyo."
Hearing those words, Ryouko's hand tightened around her daughter's.
So she had been promoted to Special Class.
That meant the experiments requiring her cooperation—the High Rc-Cell Synthesized Food consumption trials, the Kakuhou regeneration experiments, and the Quinque surgery programs—were coming to an end.
The true trial would begin.
"The execution of the One-Eyed King…"
She whispered to herself.
Ryouko would never forget that day—the dreadful White Dove in black armor, wielding a thorned blade, had spoken those words to her.
...
Meanwhile, in Tokyo's 20th Ward.
The district had regained peace and calm.
Most of the afternoon had passed. High school was already out.
On the bustling streets, middle schoolers, high school girls, and noisy teenagers moved about in groups, laughing and chatting, weaving between shops. The air overflowed with youthful vitality.
"Sorry for the wait! Hey, Touka, here's your crepe—blueberry flavor."
At a street stall, a high school girl with short orange hair received two freshly packaged crepes from the vendor. Walking quickly toward the L-shaped billboard where her friend waited, she handed over the blueberry jam-topped crepe with eyes curved like smiling crescents.
"…Yoriko."
The girl with short blue hair cut to her neck, bangs covering her left eye, dressed in Kiyomi High School's summer uniform, sighed at the sight. Her gaze was complicated as she scolded softly: "Another one of those calorie bombs again…"
Her name was Touka Kirishima.
She accepted her friend's treat and took a light bite.
"…With this much cream added, be careful you don't get fat again."
Fat… you've gotten fat…
"Mm—!"
Those words immediately made Yoriko, the girl being teased, let out a small beast-like wail.
The crepe in her hands suddenly lost its flavor.
"Not everyone has a figure like you, Touka, hmph! At school you put on that cold, distant act with everyone—so who exactly are you keeping that figure for? Ohhh~"
Drawing out her tone, her brown eyes beneath her bangs suddenly gleamed with gossip.
"Is it that boy with the eyepatch?"
Glancing left and right, she lowered her voice to ask.
"Tch!"
"Eh, wait for me, Touka…"
When Touka Kirishima clicked her tongue coldly and walked ahead with a look of disdain, Yoriko quickly dropped the question, rushing to catch up. She tugged her friend's hand, pleading coquettishly. "I'm sorry, Touka, uu, I'm sorry…"
"What nonsense. I want to get into a good university, so I'm going home to study."
"Ohhh. That's all? I thought you were mad at me."
"If you keep asking, I will be."
The two girls continued walking side by side down the narrow yet lively path.
Yoriko chattered on about small troubles with her studies, while Touka lowered her gaze to the road, chewing slowly and rhythmically, taking small bites of the crepe. To be exact—she swallowed without chewing.
Unnoticed by others, her grip on the shoulder strap of her sling bag slowly tightened, her hand trembling, veins bulging.
It was unbearable—a wave of nausea, her stomach roiling…
Even following the manager's teaching—swallow, don't chew—eating for this long, while walking, her stomach felt like it was filled with putrid sewage. Each step worsened the rising acid, forcing Touka to strain every nerve, lock her throat, and desperately maintain the appearance of a normal girl eating.
Looking at Yoriko's adorable hamster-like munching, hearing her chatter about "desserts going to a second stomach," Touka really wanted to know—
What does human food actually taste like?
Her thoughts drifted to Nishiki Nishio.
Or rather, to that arrogant man's human girlfriend. A top student in Kamii University's medical department—her name was Kimi Nishino. Even after learning Nishiki was a ghoul, she still stayed by his side.
Drawn into a ghoul incident because of it, she was rescued and later mentioned plans to study abroad in Germany with the GFG, hoping to apprentice under Dr. Akihiro Kanou, a leading figure in modern ghoul biology. Her dream was to research ways to adjust a ghoul's taste perception so that ghouls could savor human food.
Touka etched that deeply into her heart.
It was why she said she wanted to get into a good university, to study. Kamii University—the same one that idiot Kaneki, with all his hesitation and blunders, also attended.
It wasn't just an excuse to dodge Yoriko's invitations to go shopping.
The manager, Uncle Yomo, Kaneki, and everyone at "Anteiku" supported her decision.
Knowledge changes fate. If such treatments were ever developed—or if artificial food for ghoul consumption could be perfected… Thinking of that, Touka once again steeled her resolve: to live on, carrying the will of Ayato and her parents.
"Eh? A Special Class Investigator?! From the USA… Vela Adelheid Russell—oh! Wasn't she the great hero from the massive ghoul assault in the 20th Ward? She's back… Touka, Touka, look, look!"
While Touka struggled to suppress her nausea, clinging to her new resolve to abandon past pain, Yoriko suddenly stopped, pointing at a news screen outside a shop, and exclaimed.
The great hero of the 20th Ward incident? From the USA?
She said it casually, but to Touka, it hit hard.
Touka's heart lurched.
She turned toward the broadcast.
CCG News Report.
"Just moments ago, Special Class Investigator Vela Russell—who left Tokyo seven months ago to return to North America—has now, at the invitation of Special Class Investigators Marude, Shinohara, and Kuroiwa, arrived once again in Tokyo. Let us welcome…"
All the ease, all the comfort, vanished in an instant.
It was her. She was back!?
Touka's stomach flipped violently.
"Urgh—"
She suddenly covered her mouth.
"What's wrong? Touka, are you sick?"
Yoriko panicked, patting her back nervously.
Forcing the nausea back down, Touka shook her head, her face pale.
"I'm fine… I just remembered that day… so many people died…"
She had to hurry back to Anteiku. She had to warn everyone!
...
Almost at the same time, in the shadowed corners of Tokyo—in the suburban wastelands, the underground districts—whispers spread. Some went into hiding, some stirred unseen currents, some simply watched coldly.
...
Ward 1.
Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
At the eye of this storm, Vela, having returned to Tokyo, was calmly dining.
Yes, a simple dinner—relaxing, exchanging opinions with like-minded comrades who had fought alongside her.
Compared to [Cyberpunk]—the endless struggles in Arasaka, the ruthless maneuvering, the merciless games of power; [Resident Evil]—founding Militech, scheming to overshadow America, clawing for control with manic obsession; [Call of Duty]—joining hands with Atlas, stirring world turmoil, fanning the flames to reap selfish gains…
In [Tokyo Ghoul], setting aside ambition and self-interest, as a Special Class Investigator of the CCG, serving directly on the frontlines—upholding justice, punishing evil, protecting the people—Vela was undoubtedly competent.
Here, her mindset was at its healthiest, most spirited.