Morning light filtered softly through the window.
The alarm clock on the bedside table rang precisely at its usual time.
Ren shut it off.
Reluctantly—
He climbed out of bed.
Eight o'clock.
Time for work.
After washing up, he opened the door.
And stopped.
Standing quietly outside was Ken Kaneki.
"Kaneki?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Something wrong?"
Kaneki looked up.
His expression was unusually serious.
"Kiryu-nii…"
"Thank you… for yesterday."
Ren patted his shoulder casually.
"It's nothing."
Then his tone turned playful.
"If you really want to thank me…"
"Recommend some books you've read."
Kaneki blinked.
"The books I read?"
Suddenly his eyes lit up.
"Do you mean novels by Sen Takatsuki?"
Ren smirked faintly.
"Exactly."
"I'd like to see what kind of books could make Rize Kamishiro and Shuu Tsukiyama become close to you so quickly."
Kaneki scratched his head awkwardly.
…
Several days passed.
Nothing happened.
As Ren expected—
The destruction of the Ghoul Restaurant had been completely suppressed.
The influence of the Tsukiyama family ensured that no rumors reached the outside world.
Even the Commission of Counter Ghoul remained unaware.
Ren wasn't worried about revenge.
Among all the ghouls present that night—
Only Tsukiyama knew his identity.
And even if the truth leaked—
No ghoul would willingly expose it.
Because revealing his actions would expose the entire restaurant.
And that would attract the CCG immediately.
…
One evening—
Ren flipped the Closed sign on the door of Anteiku.
At that moment—
The door opened again.
Kaneki stepped inside.
"You're back?"
Ren asked while polishing a glass.
Kaneki nodded.
But looked hesitant.
"Kiryu-nii…"
"What kind of person do you think Nishio Nishiki is?"
Ren paused.
"Nishiki?"
He thought for a moment.
"Arrogant."
"Conceited."
"Looks down on everyone."
Kaneki's lips twitched slightly.
He continued calmly.
"But…"
"Nishiki's past makes it difficult for him to trust others."
"Besides me and Kimi Nishino, he barely has any friends."
He sighed lightly.
"I could list his flaws until tomorrow morning."
"But for me…"
"He's still a good friend."
Then he looked back at Kaneki.
"Why ask?"
Kaneki explained quietly.
"I ran into Nishio-senpai earlier."
"He was surrounded by three ghouls in an alley."
Ren understood instantly.
Nishio's personality had earned him many enemies in the 20th Ward.
Previously—
His strength prevented retaliation.
But after being severely injured during his fight with Kaneki—
His condition had worsened.
Now revenge had arrived.
"That shouldn't have happened."
He frowned slightly.
He clearly remembered giving Nishio enough food to recover.
Carnage's voice echoed in his mind.
[Not enough…]
[Repairing that level of injury… requires far more energy…]
That made sense.
He looked at Kaneki.
"It's late."
"You should go rest."
Kaneki hesitated.
"What about you?"
A dangerous glint appeared in Ren's eyes.
"I have something to handle."
"I'll be back soon."
Kaneki immediately understood.
He asked no more questions.
…
Night deepened.
Ren moved silently through the dark streets of the 20th Ward.
Carnage guided him.
[Straight ahead…]
[Turn right…]
Eventually—
He stopped at the entrance of an old alley.
[We're here…]
The narrow passage smelled of damp concrete.
Perfect.
Three missing ghouls here wouldn't attract attention.
As he walked deeper—
Voices echoed faintly.
"Tsk."
"That bastard escaped."
"That kid ruined everything."
"He's injured anyway."
"We'll get him next time."
Ren stepped forward.
One ghoul suddenly turned.
"Who's there?!"
Crimson kakugan flared in the darkness.
Ren smiled coldly.
"The three of you…"
"Good evening."
…
The fight ended instantly.
The moment Carnage manifested—
The three ghouls froze in terror.
Before their kagune could even emerge—
Crimson tentacles pierced them.
Silence returned.
Ren raised his arm.
Three fragments of symbiote matter detached.
They wrapped around the corpses.
Moments later—
They returned.
He could feel the change immediately.
"You've grown stronger."
He murmured.
Carnage sounded satisfied.
[The feast earlier…]
[Was very beneficial…]
Then Carnage spoke again.
[If I absorb more kagune…]
[I might even gain the ability to fly…]
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Where exactly do you expect me to find that?"
Carnage answered slowly.
[Your colleague…]
Dark red matter flowed over his shoulder.
Carnage's grotesque head formed briefly.
They stared at each other.
Then—
Carnage clicked its tongue.
[Fine…]
[Forget it…]
The symbiote retreated.
…
When Ren returned to Anteiku—
The lights were still on.
"That's strange."
"Kaneki should be asleep by now."
He pushed open the door.
And stopped.
Leaning against the wall—
Arms crossed—
Was Touka Kirishima.
Clearly waiting.
"You're still awake?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"My dear Kirishima-san…"
"Skipping school tomorrow?"
Touka rolled her eyes.
Then slammed a letter onto the counter.
"Read it."
He picked it up.
"To Kaneki."
"Tonight at midnight…"
"I cordially invite you to join me for a delightful dinner."
"The lady you met in the park earlier will also attend."
"Let us spend a wonderful evening together…"
"Just the three of us."
He understood immediately.
The "lady" referred to Kimi Nishino.
Which meant—
Nishio Nishiki would definitely appear too.
The letter had no signature.
Only an elegant floral emblem.
Touka spoke coldly.
"It's Tsukiyama."
He nodded slowly.
What surprised him was something else.
Even after the destruction of the Ghoul Restaurant—
Tsukiyama still dared to target Kaneki.
Kaneki really is irresistible to him…
He looked at Touka.
"Then why are you here?"
"Waiting for you."
She replied bluntly.
He pretended not to notice the phrasing.
"You could just admit it."
"You can't beat Tsukiyama."
"And you need help."
He shrugged playfully.
"There's nothing embarrassing about that."
Touka's expression darkened instantly.
"What?"
He blinked.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Her answer—
Was a punch.
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