Even if Byakuya had been acting that time, at least he'd actually done it.
Thinking of this, Rize felt a surge of joy.
To say she wasn't a little pleased would be a lie.
"How do I explain what happened back then... it's rather complicated."
Rize began recounting the circumstances. "When that guy first met me, he came right up and said it was love at first sight or something. At first, I did see him as prey, so I suggested we try dating. After that came everything you witnessed."
"I actually had no idea he was a ghoul investigator at first. Even now, I'm not sure whether he really fell for me at first sight or had some other motive. But looking back, none of that matters anymore."
The reason was simple—they now truly loved each other, and they had a baby on the way...
"So Rize-san's view of Byakuya shifted from prey to lover..."
Most of Touka's questions were finally answered. So initially, Byakuya had indeed been nothing but prey in Rize's eyes.
"Mm, if I had to pinpoint a turning point, it was probably the steel beam incident at that construction site."
Rize began reminiscing and narrating. "I actually attacked him then, but even after discovering I was a ghoul, he didn't do anything to me. He even came back to save me when I got ambushed and hit by those falling beams. I think that's when I started falling for him—I just wasn't willing to admit those feelings yet..."
Seeing the joy and contentment blooming on Rize's face, Touka felt a twinge of envy.
"How nice..." she couldn't help sighing.
"But that guy's also a jerk. He claims he fell for me at first sight, yet he goes around fooling with other women."
Rize's tone turned plaintive. "Though what he did for you, I do acknowledge. He used his fists to straighten out your brother's personality—otherwise, with Ayato's temperament, he definitely wouldn't have reconciled with you so quickly. He also rescued your father."
"Not just that—he's protected me more than once, protected everyone at Anteiku..."
Touka reminisced, a smile gradually appearing on her face.
"Though I always say he meddles too much, what he does really isn't bad."
Rize sighed with feeling.
...
When Rize and Touka had finished their conversation, she texted Byakuya to come back down.
"Touka should head home soon. You should at least walk her out."
Rize said.
Seeing that both Rize and Touka's expressions suggested nothing had happened, Byakuya was slightly surprised.
But with his keen perception, he noticed subtle details in their expressions and gazes...
Their relationship seems... closer than before?
That was the impression he got.
This brought him closer to his suspicion—were they really teaming up to give him the axe?
Of course, that thought was mostly joking. It just really seemed like it...
"Alright."
Byakuya said nothing more and prepared to walk Touka home.
...
Rather than teleporting Touka directly home through Kamui, Byakuya strolled leisurely through the streets with her.
"Touka, what did Rize talk to you about just now?"
Byakuya asked curiously.
"It's not some huge secret, but I can't tell you—Rize-san and I agreed on that."
Touka shook her head.
"You can't tell me? Alright then..."
Since Touka didn't want to say, Byakuya didn't press. He didn't want to put her in a difficult position.
"Well... I can say a little bit. It was basically about how you're always fooling around outside. That's all I can share."
Touka softened after all.
"..."
Byakuya was momentarily speechless and could only manage an awkward smile.
Though this alone wasn't enough to guess the specifics of their conversation, at least Rize and Touka weren't planning to dump him...
After that, Byakuya seemed intent on walking Touka all the way home.
Touka didn't ask why he wasn't just teleporting them via Kamui—this way, Byakuya could spend more time with her.
"...I also found out about you and Rize-san. She told me."
Touka suddenly brought up this topic.
She couldn't help caring about such things.
"Oh, so you know already. About me and Rize's daughter—"
Byakuya instinctively assumed Rize had told Touka everything, including the pregnancy.
But Rize had specifically omitted that detail.
"Mm, I know."
Touka acknowledged, then suddenly froze. Her eyes went wide. "Wait! You and Rize-san's daughter? You already have a child?!"
"Yes, technically still in the womb."
Byakuya looked confused. "I thought you already knew. You didn't?"
"I didn't know that! Rize-san didn't mention it—she only said she'd done it with you..."
Touka corrected him.
"I see..."
Byakuya hadn't expected Rize to withhold that from Touka.
"So it's true that you two have a child...?"
This particularly concerned Touka.
"It's true. We haven't decided on a name yet, but we know it's a girl."
Byakuya nodded.
"That's really... You've only done it once, right?"
Touka couldn't help her curiosity.
"Yes..."
Byakuya confirmed.
"Just once and you already have a baby? Is it really that easy?"
Touka seemed unfamiliar with this area.
"No—you could say we were just lucky."
Byakuya explained.
"Oh, I wish I could be that lucky..."
Touka sighed.
"..."
Byakuya wanted to say something but held back.
In his view, external factors shouldn't interfere before her exams. But from Touka's reaction, this sort of thing didn't seem like it would negatively affect her, so he said nothing.
"Byakuya, what should we name our future child? Let's think of one now while we have time."
Touka suddenly suggested.
...
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