"What do you mean why? If you go to the shelter, there will be very nice big brothers and big sisters taking care of you, and many children your age to play with. I think the shelter should be the best place for you."
Ihei Byakuya spoke earnestly as he tried to persuade Yoshimura Eto.
However, no matter what he said, Yoshimura Eto refused.
"No... I don't want to!"
Yoshimura Eto stubbornly grabbed the corner of Byakuya's clothes.
"Be good, listen."
Ihei Byakuya still didn't give up.
But the moment Yoshimura Eto heard this fatherly tone, she instantly became annoyed.
"I don't want to! I only want to stay with Byakuya!"
Yoshimura Eto deliberately shouted loudly, causing a huge scene in the CCG.
All the Investigators nearby turned to look, curious about what was happening.
"Um... Third-Class Investigator Ihei, even though this isn't something we Investigators manage, don't do anything illegal. It could damage the CCG's image among the citizens."
"If I remember right, you just met that little girl, didn't you? Did you do something to her?"
"Ihei-san, I'm a little curious, she looks like she's only about twelve years old...?"
"..."
For a moment, Ihei Byakuya felt all kinds of strange gazes landing on him.
Obviously, he was being seriously misunderstood.
And Byakuya could tell clearly, Yoshimura Eto definitely did this on purpose!
At this moment, Ihei Byakuya's face almost turned green.
With Yoshimura Eto right beside him, he didn't think he could explain anything clearly.
In fact, with her deliberate interference, the misunderstanding would probably become even worse.
So he grabbed Yoshimura Eto and left immediately.
Once they were out of Byakuya's sight, Yoshimura Eto covered her mouth and secretly laughed behind him.
...
Outside the CCG branch entrance.
"Alright, alright, fine. I won't send you to the shelter, okay?"
By now, Ihei Byakuya could only compromise with Yoshimura Eto.
In the end, no matter what he did, he just couldn't shake her off...
"But are you sure you want to live together with me?"
Ihei Byakuya asked.
He didn't bother saying something stupid like "aren't you afraid I'll do something bad to you."
He didn't consider himself a gentleman, but he definitely wasn't that kind of pervert.
Besides, with Yoshimura Eto's strength, if he really dared to do anything, his end would be tragic...
Even if he did nothing, living with Yoshimura Eto meant he would constantly have to worry about his own safety.
"Mm."
Yoshimura Eto nodded.
"Alright then..."
Ihei Byakuya sighed helplessly. "Before that, we need to find a place to live."
He had just transmigrated into this world, and his identity background had only just been registered into the CCG. Naturally, he had no home yet.
Normally, ghoul Investigators rented a place in the district they were assigned to.
Since Ihei Byakuya was assigned to the CCG branch of the 13th Ward, that meant the 13th Ward was his work area, so he needed to rent a place there.
...
Ihei Byakuya took Yoshimura Eto from the 11th Ward to the 13th Ward by subway.
Even though Yoshimura Eto's mind had long matured far beyond her age, this was still her first time leaving the 24th Ward and entering human society.
Not only was there a huge difference between ghoul society and human society, but also between the underground world and the surface world.
The underground labyrinth had nothing, while the surface world had countless new and strange things.
Although Yoshimura Eto always kept her mother's diary with her, the diary's knowledge of human society was limited. Most of it was about the Washuu Clan's secrets...
Moreover, as the only half-ghoul in the world, Yoshimura Eto often wondered whether she was human or ghoul.
From leaving the 11th Ward, to boarding the subway, to arriving in the 13th Ward, there were countless things along the way that caught Yoshimura Eto's attention.
But she forced herself not to look around like a curious child.
It was all to avoid arousing Ihei Byakuya's suspicion...
"..."
But Ihei Byakuya still noticed a little. Sometimes Yoshimura Eto clearly wanted to look at something, yet she deliberately lowered her head and focused on the road.
After all, he came into this world already knowing the answers, so no matter how good Yoshimura Eto's acting was, it could not fool him.
Byakuya knew that Yoshimura Eto originally left the 24th Ward and entered human society around the age of fourteen. But because he had transmigrated into this world, events had shifted, and Yoshimura Eto left the 24th Ward a few years earlier.
This meant that the Yoshimura Eto by his side was stepping into human society for the first time.
No matter how mature her mind was, she was still just a twelve-year-old girl.
Seeing such a lively and colorful world for the first time, along with countless things she had never seen before, it would be hard for anyone to resist looking.
But likely to maintain the illusion, Yoshimura Eto was forcing herself to hide any curiosity.
Seeing this, Ihei Byakuya thought for a moment.
It seemed he had made a decision.
But before that, he needed to rent a place to live.
...
Ihei Byakuya tried to find an apartment as close as possible to the CCG branch so commuting to work would be easier.
Even so, walking would still take at least half an hour, and he could not avoid the daily corporate-slave lifestyle of squeezing into packed subways.
Japan was like this, especially in Tokyo where the population was dense. Whether going to school or going to work, commuting times were absurdly long.
"But... aren't you both still minors?"
The moment they met the landlady and spoke with her, she showed hesitation.
In Japan, minors were generally not allowed to rent apartments on their own.
"I'm a Third-Class Investigator of the CCG. This is my work ID."
Ihei Byakuya immediately showed his identification. "I'm currently working in the 13th Ward, so I need to rent a place."
Fortunately, he had gotten a replacement ID at the CCG branch in the 11th Ward.
"Oh? You're already a ghoul Investigator at such a young age? Well... this is a special situation."
After confirming his identity, the landlady naturally made an exception.
As for Yoshimura Eto standing beside Byakuya, she was automatically assumed to be his little sister.
If the landlady knew that Byakuya had never even met Eto before today, she would probably call the police on the spot...
It was only because of the trustworthy identity of a ghoul Investigator that she did not think too much.
After confirming the rental contract with the landlady, Ihei Byakuya opened the door and entered.
It was a one-bedroom apartment with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. There were only a few simple pieces of furniture, and there were no appliances, or even a bed.
Although Ihei Byakuya knew housing in Tokyo was like this, seeing it in person still made him feel a little strained.
He reached into his pockets. Fortunately, the system had given him a decent amount of money. Otherwise, he would not even be able to buy basic appliances.
As for the rent, the CCG would reimburse part of it.
"Come on, Eto, we need to go to the mall and buy some things."
"Mall?"
Yoshimura Eto instantly felt curious.
She had heard of a "mall," but never set foot in one, so she could not help feeling excited.
Though on the surface, she still forced herself to appear unmoved...