Byakuya hesitated over the three options.
From a purely rational standpoint, Option 1 was clearly the best choice.
Option 2 would antagonize Nimura Furuta. Option 3 was even more foolish.
Byakuya already had powers from fusing with Uchiha Madara. Becoming an artificial half-ghoul would be redundant at best.
It wouldn't help him much, and the risks were enormous.
In the early parts of the original story, Dr. Kanou conducted over a thousand experiments using Rize as a donor. Only three subjects survived: Ken Kaneki, and the twins Kurona and Nashiro Yasuhisa. They became "artificial one-eyed ghouls"—a success rate of 0.25%.
Byakuya wasn't about to risk death or permanent disability for 50 Fusion Points. The failure rate was astronomical.
As for Option 2—the reason it would anger Furuta was because he had orchestrated the entire "steel beam incident."
According to Furuta's own account in the original story, he'd helped Rize escape the Washuu Clan. But after gaining freedom, she'd completely ignored him, preferring to seduce and devour men instead.
So Furuta took revenge, engineering the incident to turn her into a suffering experimental subject.
On the surface, it seemed like petty jealousy from a possessive personality. But Byakuya suspected that was just an excuse.
Looking deeper, Furuta had long since given up on this world. Even if Rize had behaved differently, his plans would have proceeded regardless.
His goal was simple: destroy the world. Joining the Clowns, making Rize an experimental donor—everything was preparation for "creating Dragon."
He'd even manipulated events in the later story to push Kaneki toward becoming king. Though he appeared to oppose Kaneki until the end, certain details suggested he'd prepared for two possible outcomes from the start:
One: use Dragon to destroy the world, transforming all humans into ghouls through Dragon's toxin.
Two: lose to Kaneki, who would kill Dragon and become the One-Eyed King and savior, establishing a fragile peace between humans and ghouls.
Furuta probably preferred total annihilation—turning all humans into ghouls would certainly "resolve" the human-ghoul conflict. Food problems could be worked out later.
Of course, this was all Byakuya's speculation. No concrete proof.
Regardless, Furuta needed to create Dragon. Both outcomes required it.
The only viable donor was Rize—the purest Washuu bloodline—because only Washuu blood could produce Dragon. Plus, an artificial half-ghoul carrying her genetics was necessary.
History recorded one natural-born half-ghoul: the "Original One-Eyed King," the only one who'd successfully become Dragon. Furuta was replicating that process. Rize was an essential sacrifice.
As for Furuta's personality being genuinely petty? Hard to say.
If he truly had such possessive tendencies toward Rize, Kaneki would have died during the steel beam incident. Eliminating a background-less "rival" would have been effortless for Furuta.
In summary: saving Rize now would interfere with Furuta's Dragon plan and make an enemy of him.
"Still can't just leave her..."
After careful consideration, Byakuya decided to go back.
He acknowledged his double standard. If some random ghoul had tried to eat or torture him, he wouldn't just refuse to help—he'd kill them if he could.
But this was Rize Kamishiro. A tragic, pitiable figure.
Her fate as an experimental subject was horrific. Kept barely alive on nutrient solution, her powerful regeneration preventing death. Countless experiments. Her kakuhou harvested again and again. The physical torment combined with prolonged starvation eventually drove her insane.
In the end, she became Dragon's core, only finding release when Kaneki killed her.
When Byakuya had read about her fate, he'd felt genuinely frustrated.
Now that he'd transmigrated into this world, how could he not change what he'd always found so unsatisfying?
...
Byakuya quickly returned to find Rize.
The scene was brutal—steel beams pinning her unconscious body.
He hauled them off one by one, his Madara-enhanced physique providing strength far beyond normal humans. Ordinary people couldn't have budged these.
Before any bystanders could spot her and call the police, he scooped her up and fled.
Before leaving, he glanced up at the construction site. No sign of Furuta.
He must have left already. Question is: did he see me rescue her?
No need for first aid—Rize's regeneration far exceeded typical ghouls. She'd heal on her own.
With nowhere else to go, Byakuya took her home.
[Ding! Host has completed Option 2. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
He laid her on the bed and waited for her to heal and wake up.
Having hunted frequently, Rize had plenty of RC cells. Her regeneration was remarkably fast.
Soon, her eyes fluttered open.
The instant she saw Byakuya, memories of the falling beams flooded back. Her first instinct was that he'd ambushed her.
She shot to her feet, kakugan blazing, four rinkaku kagune erupting from her waist.
Byakuya remained calm. "Relax. I saved you."