Dusk settled in, and the streetlights lit up one by one, stretching their shadows long.
Amano Hiro stopped his train of thought and turned to Rize beside him. "It's still early. Want to walk around the supermarket?"
A trace of surprise flashed through Rize's eyes, followed by a sly smile. "Is this you inviting me on a date?"
"Mm." Amano Hiro nodded lightly. "You could say that."
"That's unexpected." Rize tilted her head slightly. "I didn't think Hiro-kun would take the initiative to invite me."
"What? Is that so strange?" Amano Hiro raised an eyebrow.
Rize gazed at him, as if trying to see through the layer of gentle disguise. "The feeling Hiro-kun gives people is like the warm sun in winter. It looks warm, but there's a great distance. You're always smiling, yet there's a kind of detached coldness inside."
Her words were like a pebble dropped into a still lake, sending ripples through Amano Hiro's heart.
He suddenly realized when it had started, this indifference toward everything around him.
Was it after returning from the 12th Ward? No, perhaps even earlier. The seed of change had already been planted when he fused with "Carnage." Back then the change had been subtle, hard to detect.
As the fusion deepened over time, the change had become more obvious.
He remembered the system's original warning. "It will affect the host's mind."
At the time, he had not paid it much attention. Now, without him noticing, it had begun to erode his emotions.
A chill ran down his spine. He absolutely could not let himself become a machine of slaughter devoid of feeling.
"How could that be?" Amano Hiro put on a more sincere smile. "I'm a well-known enthusiastic citizen."
He naturally reached out and gently took Rize's hand. The moment their fingers touched, warmth spread from his palm.
Rize lowered her gaze to their joined hands, and a strange flutter passed through her heart.
It was an emotion she had never experienced before. There was warmth in it, but even more than that, a sense of reassurance.
As if a drifting ship had finally found a harbor where it could dock. The feeling was so novel, yet so addictive.
She suddenly felt that this feeling was nice. This sensation she had never had before made her a little afraid, yet she wanted more of it.
A genuine smile bloomed on her face, shedding her usual teasing and disguise, leaving only pure joy. "Okay."
The night was gentle as their figures gradually blended into the bright lights of the supermarket. Their clasped hands swayed lightly behind them, like two puzzle pieces that had finally found their missing halves.
The supermarket in the night was brightly lit, like a warm glass box. The moment Amano Hiro and Rize walked in hand in hand, they became the focus of converging gazes.
After merging with "Carnage," Amano Hiro's figure had grown even taller and more upright. Paired with his sharply defined, handsome face, his presence surpassed that of any on-screen idol.
Beside him, Rize was dazzling. Few could rival her charm with a single glance or smile. Walking side by side, they were a vivid illustration of a perfect match.
Accustomed to the admiring and envious looks around them, the two calmly pushed a shopping cart further inside.
"Hiro-san?"
A lively voice came from the side.
Amano Hiro turned his head and saw a boy with striking blond hair. Nagachika Hideyoshi, Kaneki Ken's best friend. They had run into each other often at the antique coffee shop, so they could barely be considered acquainted.
"What a coincidence." Amano Hiro nodded. "You're shopping too?"
"Yeah, what a coincidence!" Nagachika Hideyoshi laughed and scratched his head. "Ran out of supplies at home. Came to stock up on potatoes."
His gaze naturally fell on Rize, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes. "Hiro-san, are you on a date?"
"Mm." Amano Hiro admitted it openly, then casually steered the topic elsewhere. "Haven't seen Kaneki lately. Is he doing all right?"
"Him... same as usual, but lately he seems kind of low on energy."
As soon as he said it, Nagachika Hideyoshi seemed to connect something in his mind. His eyes subtly moved between Rize and Amano Hiro, and he suddenly understood. So that's why Kaneki had been so down. Rize-san broke up with him and got together with Hiro-san instead.
Amano Hiro keenly caught the subtle shift in Nagachika Hideyoshi's expression and immediately formed a judgment.
When he saw Rize, there was only a bit of gossip-driven curiosity. There was none of the fear or vigilance one would expect when facing a dangerous ghoul.
It seemed Kaneki Ken had not revealed Rize's true identity to his closest friend.
Moreover, there had been no news about Rize on the CCG wanted list recently, which meant Kaneki had not even made an anonymous report.
Even though Amano Hiro had ways to deal with it if she were wanted, Kaneki's silence still puzzled him. What exactly was that gentle boy thinking?
Nagachika Hideyoshi lifted his shopping bag and laughed brightly. "Hiro-san, I'm done shopping, so I won't disturb your date. See you!"
"See you." Amano Hiro nodded slightly.
Watching him leave, Amano Hiro turned to Rize thoughtfully. "Why do you think Kaneki Ken didn't report you?"
Rize gently shook her head, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes as well.
She recalled the naive boy. At the time, she had only thought he was easy to deceive. A few simple tricks, and he had taken the bait. Who knew what he was truly thinking inside?
"When we see him again, we'll know the answer." Amano Hiro pushed the cart forward, ending the topic.
They strolled slowly along the aisles. Amano Hiro skillfully selected ingredients. "This beef is good. Take two packs. Pork belly works too. The napa cabbage is fresh."
Rize did not ask why Amano Hiro was buying so much human food. She simply walked quietly beside him, watching his focused profile as he chose items. An unconscious, gentle smile curved her lips.
As a pure-blooded ghoul, she had never tasted human food. She could only imagine the flavors from their appearance.
Looking at the dazzling variety of goods, she even felt a hint of longing. In a ghoul's world, aside from human flesh, at most they could drink some coffee.
She did not know why Amano Hiro was so familiar with human food, but the mundane warmth of this scene gave her a strange sense of peace.
Amano Hiro turned to look at her, about to ask what she liked, but suddenly paused. He had just remembered that Rize was a pure-blooded ghoul.
"Want to grab some instant coffee?" he asked considerately.
"Sure," Rize's eyes curved with a smile. "I'll listen to you."
The shopping cart gradually filled up. When the last item was placed inside, they looked at each other at the same time and smiled.
In that smile was unspoken understanding and a trace of genuine warmth.
The night deepened, and the streetlights cast warm halos across the road.
They walked out of the supermarket, each carrying a full shopping bag, their other hands still clasped together as they strolled home slowly.
Rize looked at the scattered lights in the residential buildings in the distance and suddenly spoke softly. "This kind of life is actually quite beautiful. If we were human, it would probably be like this. Working separately during the day, meeting in the evening to go home together, shopping at the supermarket, taking walks, tasting all kinds of food."
There was a faint, almost imperceptible longing in her voice.
Amano Hiro gently tightened his grip on her hand, warmth and firmness passing through his fingers. "It will happen."
Rize did not reply. She simply squeezed his hand back, a faint smile rippling across her lips.
They continued walking side by side, letting this tranquility flow quietly between them, as if this road could stretch all the way to the future they longed for.