After agreeing on the date to pick up the masks, the three of them didn't linger and quickly left the shop.
As he left, Mr. Uta's gaze lingered on He Xi Qian Yu's retreating figure for a moment, full of interest.
"...That guy... is looking at you..." Slaughter's voice abruptly sounded in his mind.
He Xi Qian Yu's footsteps paused slightly.
"Why?"
"...Who knows..." Slaughter's voice was playful, "...Maybe he's interested in you..."
"Impossible," He Xi Qian Yu shook his head decisively.
He remembered Yoriko, whom he had met once—it was very possible that Mr. Uta was interested in him.
Out of curiosity, he even detoured back to the previous alley to check, but there was only a gnawed male corpse, a pool of congealed blood, and a mess of broken glass on the ground.
...
"Why did you suddenly want a mask?" Dong Xiang asked suddenly halfway through their walk.
"Ah, this..." Kaneki Ken thought Dong Xiang was still bothered by the time taken, and looked at He Xi Qian Yu for help.
"You've noticed it too, haven't you?" He Xi Qian Yu interjected, "There are more and more White Doves on the streets..."
He tilted his chin towards Kaneki Ken: "For his safety, a mask would be best."
"Indeed," Dong Xiang nodded in agreement.
Not only that, a few days ago, Slaughter had also detected the presence of Mado Kureo and Amon Koutarou on the street.
These two had monitored He Xi Qian Yu for a while, but because Slaughter's disguise was flawless, they ultimately returned empty-handed.
According to He Xi Qian Yu's memory, they should have been investigating Gecko Yamori in the 19th Ward, but perhaps due to the butterfly effect of his transmigration, the two had reappeared in the Twenty Ward.
Although he didn't care about it, this duo was undoubtedly a fatal threat to ordinary Ghouls. The recent increase in Ghoul casualties in the Twenty Ward was largely due to them.
Fortunately, their presence had disappeared in the past few days, possibly having moved to the 19th Ward.
"This fucked-up world is really dangerous," He Xi Qian Yu sighed to himself.
"...Don't... worry..." As if discerning his thoughts, Slaughter's voice was low, "...I'm here..."
...
"Qianyu-nii..." Kaneki Ken hesitated before speaking, "Hinami... what exactly did she go through?"
Dong Xiang turned around at the sound.
"You care a lot about this?" She looked at Kaneki Ken, "What do you plan to do if you find out?"
"Because..." Kaneki Ken's tone was serious, "I also want to help out..."
"That child..." He Xi Qian Yu explained, "For some reason, she had to be separated from her father..."
"A child gets bored easily alone," He patted Kaneki Ken's shoulder, "If you want to help, just spend more time with her."
"I see..." Kaneki Ken lowered his head, lost in thought.
Dong Xiang silently watched their conversation, saying nothing more.
...
It was almost dusk when the three returned to the coffee shop, the setting sun casting long shadows.
Since it was the weekend, only Koma Enji was on duty downstairs.
Kaneki Ken had clearly taken He Xi Qian Yu's words to heart; after a quick tidy-up, he went upstairs to find Hinami.
He Xi Qian Yu watched him go upstairs, then picked up a glass to wipe.
"Brother Qianyu, wiping glasses again, huh?" Koma Enji chuckled and leaned over.
He Xi Qian Yu hummed in response.
He had a special fondness for wiping glasses, even he couldn't explain why.
"Back when your Koma-nii first came to Antique, he also started by wiping glasses..." Koma Enji enthusiastically began recounting the old stories of "Devil Ape."
He Xi Qian Yu shrugged helplessly.
Koma Enji was good in every way, except he loved telling old stories to everyone he met.
The two chatted idly like that.
Until—
"Waaah!" Kaneki Ken's scream once again broke the silence of the coffee shop.
This was his second time today.
The two looked towards the staircase in confusion, only to see Kaneki Ken rushing down, his face pale.
...
"She was eating and you saw her?" Koma Enji smiled knowingly, handing Kaneki Ken a cup of hot coffee, "Girls hate it most when someone sees them like that."
"Take this up, consider it an apology," he said with the hearty smile of someone who had been there before.
"Mm!" Kaneki Ken nodded gratefully, took the coffee, and went back upstairs.
He Xi Qian Yu listened from the side, nodding in deep agreement. He had been at the shop for so long, and he really hadn't seen Dong Xiang eating.
"Speaking of which, where is she?" He looked around, only then realizing he hadn't seen Dong Xiang since they returned.
...
Second floor of the coffee shop
Dong Xiang was pressed against Hinami's door, eavesdropping on Kaneki Ken and Hinami's conversation inside.
Only when Hinami's clear laughter came through, confirming that the two were getting along well, did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Eavesdropping on what?" A voice suddenly sounded behind her. Dong Xiang was startled, finding He Xi Qian Yu standing behind her at some point.
"Do you walk without making a sound?" Dong Xiang was somewhat surprised.
Even if He Xi Qian Yu was much stronger than her, she shouldn't have failed to notice any movement at all.
"You were too focused," He Xi Qian Yu spread his hands, "Are you very concerned about Hinami?"
Dong Xiang's ear tips subtly flushed, then her expression dimmed.
"That child... shouldn't be like this..." Her voice was low, "Hinami's father is a doctor..."
"Their family never preyed on humans, always relying on food provided by Anteiku to live."
"They clearly did nothing wrong, yet they had to be separated..." Dong Xiang's voice suddenly turned cold, filled with barely suppressed anger, "All because of those White Doves..."
"Why do people who have always been law-abiding... have to end up like this..."
The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her voice unconsciously rising, alarming Kaneki Ken and Hinami inside the room.
He Xi Qian Yu looked at Dong Xiang's face, which had slightly leaned in due to her excitement, and hesitated whether to interrupt.
"I also sympathize greatly with Hinami's plight..." He Xi Qian Yu's expression was helpless, "But... shouldn't we... mind our distance?"
The door opened at that moment, and Kaneki Ken and Hinami, who came out, happened to see this slightly ambiguous scene.
Kaneki Ken gasped in surprise.
Hinami looked up with her small face, innocently asking, "What are big brother and big sister doing?"
Dong Xiang instantly flushed crimson, and like a startled rabbit, she quickly fled back to her room.
He Xi Qian Yu crouched down, ruffled Hinami's hair, then looked at Kaneki Ken.
"Qianyu-nii," Kaneki Ken patted his chest, "I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Jin Mu..." His expression was helpless, "Forget what just happened..."
Kaneki Ken immediately nodded vigorously.
...
After the two left, He Xi Qian Yu also returned to his room.
"...What are you thinking?" Slaughter's voice sounded.
"The moon is beautiful tonight..." He Xi Qian Yu's lips curved slightly upward.
A scarlet tentacle quietly extended from behind him, gently pulling open the curtains.
"...But... it's cloudy..." Slaughter's voice was full of confusion, "...Where's the moon...?"
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