"Okay, okay, I get it."
Byakuya replied, somewhat exasperated.
"So does that mean Amaha-kun has forgiven me?"
Tsukiyama looked like he was about to burst into grateful tears.
His theatrical expression only made Byakuya feel even more speechless.
Still, he had to admit this routine would probably work wonders on Kaneki. For a transmigrator who knew everything, though? Not so much.
Before Byakuya could respond, Rize spoke up: "Tsukiyama-kun, why don't you take a guess at what this might be?"
Rize produced a handkerchief, its fabric stained with traces of blood.
Byakuya remembered that Rize had used this handkerchief to wipe the residual blood from his wound the last time she'd drunk from him. She was clearly planning to use it to toy with Tsukiyama.
"This is...!"
Tsukiyama's eyes widened instantly. He'd already caught the intoxicating scent drifting through the air—unmistakably Byakuya's fragrance.
But the aroma of flesh and blood was on an entirely different level from mere body scent. The handkerchief had Tsukiyama entranced in an instant.
He instinctively reached for it, only for Rize to pull it back.
"I only asked you to guess. I never said I'd give it to you."
Rize spoke coolly: "So? Can you tell what it is?"
"..."
Tsukiyama's expression slowly became calm and cold.
He'd realized Rize was deliberately toying with him.
He was absolutely devastated—and knowing he was being toyed with didn't make it any better. He was still devastated.
But Tsukiyama forced himself not to show it on his face. After all, Byakuya was right there; he could only curse Rize silently in his heart.
"It's Amaha-kun's blood, isn't it?"
Tsukiyama managed a strained smile.
At the same time, something puzzled him. If Byakuya was a ghoul investigator, why was he walking around with a ghoul like Rize? Had he not discovered her true nature?
Even if Byakuya didn't know Rize's real identity, surely Rize must know Byakuya's?
Nothing about this made sense to Tsukiyama.
What Tsukiyama could never imagine was that Byakuya and Rize not only knew each other's identities but spent time together every day—they were even living together.
"Correct. So, does Tsukiyama-kun want it? If you do, beg me sincerely later and I might consider giving it to you."
Rize toyed with the handkerchief in her hand, looking thoroughly pleased.
"I want it. Of course I want it..."
Tsukiyama answered almost without hesitation.
To obtain what he desired, he was willing to temporarily lower his head to this woman.
"Then follow me. There are too many people here—let's find somewhere else. Consider it giving you some face."
Rize said this as if she were being considerate of Tsukiyama.
Tsukiyama wasn't particularly on guard. More accurately, he was willing to take the risk for that handkerchief.
Besides, he wasn't weak. He didn't need to be too afraid of any tricks Rize might pull.
By now, Byakuya had a pretty good idea what Rize was planning. But he wasn't going to follow and watch the show. Instead, he found a seat and ordered two cups of coffee first.
When Touka came to collect Byakuya's order slip, she gave him a heads-up: "Before you arrived, that Tsukiyama guy was chatting with your friend about you. Obviously trying to get close to him."
"I understand. Thank you, Kirishima-san."
Byakuya nodded slightly.
Though Touka hadn't named names, Byakuya only had one friend at this coffee shop: Kaneki.
This was exactly the kind of thing Tsukiyama would do. If his guesses were right, Tsukiyama was planning to capture Kaneki as a last resort and use him as leverage.
He definitely didn't want Kaneki getting caught up in danger because of him, so he'd need to handle this properly...
Knowing Tsukiyama's personality, he probably wouldn't actually do anything terrible to Kaneki—but better safe than sorry.
"You don't need to thank me. I still haven't repaid what I owe you."
Touka said flatly before turning away.
...
Meanwhile, Rize had led Tsukiyama to a deserted alley.
Tsukiyama was beginning to sense something was off, but he steeled himself and followed anyway.
"Come now, Tsukiyama-kun. Show me your sincerity."
Rize turned around, not yet revealing anything unusual.
At her words, Tsukiyama immediately bent at the waist, bowing deeply to Rize—so deeply his torso was nearly perpendicular to his legs. "Kamishiro-san, is this sincere enough?"
Rize said nothing. She slowly approached and extended the handkerchief toward Tsukiyama.
But the moment Tsukiyama eagerly reached for it, four crimson rinkaku kagune suddenly erupted from Rize's waist. One tentacle pierced straight through Tsukiyama's outstretched hand.
Tsukiyama had been so focused on the handkerchief that his guard was lowered. Combined with Rize's incredible speed, he simply couldn't react in time.
Despite rarely displaying her strength in the original series, Rize was actually far from weak. Four facts made this clear:
First, Rize could toy with "Yamori" effortlessly.
Second, the moment Kaneki awakened and gained control of Rize's kagune, he completely dominated Yamori.
Third, Rize's initial threat rating was S+, and even after becoming an experimental subject, the CCG still upgraded her to SS-rated. (Note: This is from the manga, which differs from the anime.)
And most importantly, all ghouls of the Washuu bloodline were natural-born kakujas. Given that premise, and the fact that Rize possessed the purest Washuu bloodline, if even she couldn't achieve kakuja form, then no other Washuu ghoul would qualify either.
"You...!"
Tsukiyama's reaction after being wounded was fairly quick. He hastily released his koukaku, the kagune erupting from beneath his shoulder blade to form a sword-like shape.
He immediately counterattacked, but Rize dodged effortlessly.
Three of Rize's kagune tips pinned Tsukiyama to the wall behind him. The fourth was already piercing through one of his palms, leaving him momentarily immobilized.
Rize's hand closed around Tsukiyama's throat. Her eerie smile stretched almost like the legendary "Slit-Mouthed Woman," and combined with her fierce kakugan, she was far more terrifying than any urban legend monster.
"Tsukiyama-kun, you think you can touch my man?"