This time, Rize's expression held no theatrical pretense.
She'd already shown him her true nature. Playing the delicate maiden was pointless now.
Her smile was genuine—just a faint, natural curve of her lips.
She still didn't know who had attacked her, but she suspected the Washuu Clan had found her.
If Byakuya hadn't carried her away, she'd probably never be free again.
She was half-right, actually. If events had followed their original course, she'd have become an experimental subject, losing her freedom until death.
But it wasn't the Washuus—it was Furuta. So she was only half-correct.
Right now, Rize was still weakened. Regeneration consumed significant RC cells.
A ghoul's strength was largely determined by their RC cell count. While not absolute, it was a reliable indicator.
Once depleted, RC cells didn't naturally recover—they had to be replenished through feeding on humans or cannibalism. Rize couldn't solve her weakened state immediately.
Unless Byakuya let her take another bite...
She wanted his escort because she feared another ambush on the way home.
"Sure. Just don't suddenly decide to eat me halfway there."
"Not this time."
Rize smiled.
Byakuya found that reassurance highly questionable.
...
Once again, Byakuya walked Rize home. But this time felt different—neither of them was playing games.
Byakuya stayed alert but detected no surveillance. Furuta apparently wasn't bold enough to push that far.
After all, Rize wasn't easy prey. If Furuta got too careless, she might discover him, ruining his plans entirely.
"Did you know I was a ghoul from the beginning?"
Rize asked suddenly.
Given how calm he'd been during her attack, she suspected he'd known all along.
"Not at first. I really did fall for you at first sight. But gradually, things started feeling... off."
Byakuya deflected smoothly. It was the only option besides revealing his transmigrator status.
Not entirely a lie, either. He'd liked Rize even before transmigrating. "Love at first sight" wasn't technically wrong.
"I see... I underestimated both your perceptiveness and your strength."
Rize accepted his explanation. "So do you still like me? Fair warning—I've never felt anything for you. Not even a little."
"Doesn't matter. My feelings for you won't change based on whether you reciprocate. Otherwise I wouldn't have saved you."
Byakuya's tone was light. "But our little couple act is over. I won't bother you anymore."
Even though her words were basically rejecting his initial confession, he felt nothing.
The confession had been fake from the start. The relationship was fake. Everything was fake. What did her rejection matter?
"Indeed..."
Rize hummed acknowledgment, then added: "We're almost there. My place is just ahead. You can stop here."
"Alright. I'll head back then."
As Byakuya turned to leave—
"Before we part," Rize said, "don't you want a goodbye kiss?"
Her index finger pressed lightly against her lips, eyes seductive.
Byakuya's expression went dead-fish flat. "You're planning to bite off my tongue, aren't you."
"Oh my~ You figured it out~"
She didn't deny it, laughing softly. "Though you're wrong about one thing. I don't just want your tongue—I want your lips too. You can regenerate anyway, right?"
That sweet smile, those terrifying words.
"..."
Byakuya was momentarily speechless.
"I'll pass. Goodbye, Rize-san."
He turned and walked away.
Rize watched his retreating figure for a while before heading inside.
That night, Byakuya kept the blood-soaked sheets. He swapped them for clean ones already in the house.
He couldn't just throw away bloodstained bedding—that would invite all sorts of trouble. Better to wash them later.
...
The next day.
After classes, Byakuya returned to Anteiku out of habit. Reading there had become routine.
He'd expected not to see Rize today, but there she was. Apparently, the café wasn't just her hunting ground.
Probably the coffee. Not "tasty" in the normal sense—but infused with concentrated human flesh particles, making it palatable to ghouls. This café catered specifically to them, after all.
Yoshimura typically only added the concentrate to ghoul customers' drinks. Human customers got regular coffee.
"Rize-san? I didn't think I'd see you here today."
Byakuya greeted her casually, as if last night had never happened.
Behind the counter, Touka's head snapped up at his voice.
That human boy is perfectly fine? Her eyes widened in shock.
He should have been killed by Rize last night. Given how things had looked, she'd assumed he was done for.
What's going on? Did that vicious woman actually show mercy?
No, impossible.
More likely Rize was still toying with him...