For a moment, the reception room fell into a subtle silence. The agreement to cooperate made Eto and Hiro exchange a smile.
There was a tacit understanding in their eyes. Clearly, this outcome was satisfactory to both sides.
Just as the atmosphere eased, Hiro suddenly turned his gaze to Tatara, who had remained silent like a shadow, and asked in clear, standard Chinese without the slightest accent:
"Tatara-san, you wouldn't happen to be from overseas, would you?"
The sentence was like a thunderclap exploding within the enclosed space.
Tatara, who had been expressionless all along, trembled slightly. His usual cold mask shattered in an instant as his pupils contracted sharply.
His sharp gaze pierced straight at Hiro as he blurted out in Mandarin as well:
"How do you know? Are you...?"
"No, our situations are quite different," Hiro met his gaze calmly, as if discussing something ordinary, "but I suppose there are some similarities."
This sudden exchange between the two clearly stunned Yoshimura Eto.
She tilted her head with some faint interest, her gaze moving back and forth between the two. Beneath the bandages, her face was quite surprised.
She had not expected Hiro to be fluent in a foreign language, nor had she expected him to expose Tatara's hidden roots with a single sentence.
Tatara's heart surged with waves.
To meet someone in the same situation in a foreign land was generally seen as one of life's great fortunes, let alone under such strange identities.
An indescribable complexity rose within him, mixed with shock, doubt, and a trace of long-lost familiarity that even he himself had not noticed.
Hiro did not elaborate further. Instead, he changed the topic and casually added:
"Over there... it is almost New Year, right?"
The simple words "New Year" were like an invisible key, instantly unlocking a long-sealed gate in Tatara's heart.
His brother's figure. The vivid faces of the members of Chi She Lan, of those companions. The former passion and vows. And then...
The slaughter that followed. The bone-deep hatred toward Special-Class Investigator Houji Kousuke surged like a tide, nearly stalling his breath.
He remained silent for a moment before replying in a somewhat hoarse voice.
"Yes."
That single response carried too much unspoken weight.
Seeing this, Hiro said no more. Turning back to Eto, he switched to their actual, proper main language.
"Since cooperation has been reached, I will not disturb you further."
He rose cleanly and walked toward the door. Just as his hand touched the handle, he paused as if remembering something.
He looked back at Eto and left a calm yet meaningful sentence.
"The misunderstanding between you and your father. It's better to resolve it sooner rather than later."
After saying that, he did not linger. He pushed the door open and left, his figure disappearing from their sight.
The reception room returned to silence.
Only Eto and Tatara remained, each wearing a different expression. The enormous amount of information from this brief meeting left their thoughts unsettled.
Silence spread through the air as their minds drifted far away.
Hiro stepped out of the reception room and looked around the vast underground plaza, but he did not see Rize or that so-called cheap father-in-law.
He casually beckoned to a nearby Aogiri Tree member on duty.
The ghoul subordinate hurried over respectfully.
"Amano-sama, what are your orders?"
"Have you seen where Rize and Shachi went?"
"Miss Rize and Mr. Shachi are currently at Mr. Shachi's residence," the subordinate stepped aside to lead the way. "Please follow me."
Following the guide along the edge of the plaza, they stopped in front of an unremarkable door.
The subordinate halted and gestured respectfully.
"Amano-sama, it is here."
"Mm. Thanks," Hiro replied casually.
The subordinate waved his hands in flustered denial.
"No, no, you are too polite. This is what I should do." He bowed and withdrew.
Hiro raised his hand and knocked on the door.
With a click, the door opened. Rize poked her head out. Seeing it was him, a trace of relief flashed in her eyes.
"You are done talking?"
"Finished." Hiro naturally reached out and pinched her smooth cheek in an intimate gesture.
Rize stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind them.
The room was simply furnished. Kamishiro Matasaka sat upright on a wooden chair.
He had changed into a neat black training outfit. His muscular frame stretched the fabric tight.
He kept a stern face and fixed his sharp gaze on Hiro, scrutinizing him intensely.
Hiro met his gaze calmly and greeted him.
"This is our first formal meeting, Mr. Kamishiro."
Kamishiro Matasaka did not bother with pleasantries. He went straight to the point, his low voice carrying unquestionable seriousness.
"You and Rize. How far have you gone?"
Hiro raised his brow slightly. He had not expected this seemingly unsmiling uncle to open with such a direct and private question.
He glanced at Rize beside him, whose eyes drifted slightly, looking somewhat unnatural. Then he turned back to meet Kamishiro Matasaka's pressing gaze and answered without hesitation, clear and direct.
"Everything that should have happened and should not have happened has happened."
As his words fell, the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.
Kamishiro Matasaka's gaze scraped across Hiro like a blade. A tangible pressure condensed in his eyes, as if the next second that fist capable of splitting stone would come crashing down.
At that tense moment, Rize suddenly stepped forward. Her brows furrowed slightly as she spoke with obvious displeasure.
"What are you trying to do, old man?"
The words "old man" seemed to carry strange magic. The stern fatherly scrutiny on Kamishiro Matasaka's face melted away in an instant.
In its place appeared a trace of helpless gentleness.
He looked at Rize, his tone softening.
"I just wanted to see what kind of character this kid has."
Rize gave a light snort and naturally hooked her arm around Hiro's, her voice full of defense.
"Hiro's character is perfectly fine. You do not need to worry blindly."
"Alright, alright." Kamishiro Matasaka raised both hands in surrender, though a barely noticeable trace of relief flashed in his eyes.
The Rize before him was indeed very different from the mad and rebellious daughter in his memory.
The former sharpness had been replaced by a restrained temperament. More importantly, there was now someone by her side who seemed capable of protecting her.
From Hiro's calm and composed attitude, he seemed truly unafraid of the Washuu's threats. That allowed a stone in his fatherly heart to finally settle.
Hiro pulled Rize along and sat naturally in the chair opposite Kamishiro Matasaka, casually asking:
"Old man, what are your plans from now on?"
Kamishiro Matasaka pondered for a moment before replying.
"Since Rize has you taking care of her, I am at ease. I plan to return to the 6th Ward to take a look."