"You saved me?"
Rize wasn't about to believe that easily.
Still, his words had some effect. She calmed slightly, holding back from attacking.
"Yeah. I heard a huge crash from your direction, went back, and found you buried under the beams. So I pulled you out."
Byakuya's tone was matter-of-fact. "Also—the beams weren't my doing. Someone else arranged that."
"And you expect me to believe you?"
Rize remained wary.
Her four kagune stayed trained on him, ready to strike at any moment.
"Think about it. If I wanted to hurt you, why bring you to my own home? I haven't done anything to you."
Byakuya sighed. "Look, if you want to leave right now, I won't stop you. Walk right out. Just be careful once you're past that door."
"..."
Rize fell silent. His logic was sound.
After a moment's consideration, she decided to hear him out.
Her kakugan faded to normal eyes. The four kagune retracted into her kakuhou. A sign she was willing to talk.
The steel beams clearly weren't accidental.
He'd said it was deliberate... wait.
"You said someone did this. Do you know who?"
Byakuya shook his head. "Not specifically. But I saw someone standing on top of the construction site, wearing a clown mask. They pushed the beams."
He couldn't reveal it was Furuta directly. How would he explain knowing that?
Even the Washuu Clan—whose influence covered most of Japan—didn't know Furuta was a member of the Clowns.
"A clown mask..."
Rize had heard of the Clowns organization, but she'd never crossed paths with them. Why would they target her?
More likely candidates would be Washuu hunters.
Or maybe Byakuya had seen wrong.
Either way, she needed to stay vigilant. Whoever attacked her once could try again.
She looked at Byakuya, a complicated emotion flickering in her purple eyes. "Why did you save me? I was about to torture and eat you..."
She still couldn't quite believe it. After everything that had happened, he'd still rescued her.
"Well... you were technically my first girlfriend. And you didn't actually manage to eat me. I've let it go."
That was the best explanation Byakuya could offer without revealing he was a transmigrator.
"First girlfriend? Don't tell me you still think our relationship was real?"
Rize's voice dripped with mockery. "Hah~ How pathetic."
"I know it was fake. But everything that happened these past two days was real. Before meeting you, Rize-san, I'd never even been on a date. You gave me a completely new experience."
Byakuya smiled.
"...Disgusting."
Rize looked at him with undisguised contempt.
"But you really are a strange man. Oh—you're not human, are you?"
Her gaze dropped to his shoulder, now fully healed. "I bit off a huge chunk of your flesh. A normal human couldn't have recovered this fast."
"Maybe my constitution is unusual. But I'm definitely human. You tasted my flesh—if I were a ghoul, it wouldn't have tasted like that."
Byakuya kept his explanation vague.
He couldn't mention Hashirama Cells, but nothing else he said was untrue.
"True... ghoul flesh tastes terrible. Yours was not only unlike a ghoul's—it was more delicious than any human I've ever eaten."
Rize nodded.
"Speaking of which—since you can regenerate like a ghoul, you wouldn't mind letting me have another bite, right?"
She licked her lips hungrily, unable to forget his taste.
After experiencing that flavor, she'd almost lost interest in ordinary humans.
"No."
Byakuya refused flatly.
"Why not?"
"Because it hurts. I'm not your personal buffet."
He'd only allowed that first bite for the 100 Fusion Points. Otherwise, she'd never have gotten the chance.
"...Fine."
Rize didn't push further. She knew she couldn't force him—he wasn't some helpless weakling she could overpower.
But she hadn't given up. If an opportunity arose, she'd definitely claim that delicacy again.
For now, she needed to leave. Her injuries weren't fully healed; she needed rest.
As she passed Byakuya heading for the door, he suddenly spoke: "Wait."
Rize stopped, eyebrow raised. "I thought you said you wouldn't stop me."
The atmosphere tensed.
Byakuya's voice remained casual: "At least wash the bedsheets before you go."
A large bloodstain covered the sheets—courtesy of her extensive wounds.
"..."
Rize stared at him, momentarily speechless. "Just throw them out and buy new ones."
She pulled out her wallet and handed him some bills. More than enough for several new sets.
Byakuya didn't stop her from leaving after that.
Just as she was about to step through the doorway, Rize glanced back. "You're not going to walk me home this time? Or should I be more direct—I'd like you to escort me, Byakuya-kun."