At this moment, Tsukiyama's throat was being squeezed so tight he could barely breathe. His hands and legs were pinned to the wall by Rize's kagune—he couldn't even pry her fingers from his neck.
Struggling, he tried to control his koukaku kagune to counterattack independently. But Rize dodged with an almost impossible backward lean.
Then Rize withdrew the two kagune pinning Tsukiyama's legs, driving one into his abdomen while using the other to block his koukaku.
Her kagune churned inside Tsukiyama's stomach, accompanied by his agonized groans.
After tormenting Tsukiyama for a good while, Rize finally relented.
She hadn't intended to go too far. Once she felt she'd vented enough, she let him go.
Tsukiyama lay prone on the ground, motionless.
Rize casually tossed the handkerchief onto Tsukiyama's body before walking away, as if bestowing charity upon him.
Of course she knew this would only inflame Tsukiyama's desire further. But that was exactly the effect she wanted—the agony of wanting something you could never have.
After all, there was nothing Tsukiyama could do to either her or Byakuya. The gap in strength was simply too wide.
Once Rize's footsteps had faded completely, Tsukiyama finally opened his eyes. He'd apparently been playing dead.
He retrieved the handkerchief that had fallen on his back, then rolled over to lie face-up.
"Hahaha... that really hurt just now..."
Tsukiyama laughed even as he coughed up blood.
Despite being this badly wounded, he looked completely unbothered.
After all, it wasn't a fatal injury. He'd regenerate soon enough.
Looking at the handkerchief in his hand, Tsukiyama suddenly felt the beating he'd just endured was absolutely worth it.
He immediately pressed the handkerchief to his face, inhaling its scent with wild abandon. His expression twisted into a crazed, rapturous grimace.
At this moment, Tsukiyama had completely forgotten everything that had just happened.
...
Rize, meanwhile, returned to Anteiku as if nothing had occurred.
Ever since the "steel beam incident," Rize had basically stopped wearing glasses—there was no point anymore.
She'd also changed out of her blood-stained clothes into a checkered dress with a white coat draped over it. She wasn't wearing stockings, leaving her long, pale legs on full display.
Seeing that Rize had changed clothes, Byakuya knew exactly what had happened.
"How's that guy doing?"
Byakuya asked casually.
"Not quite dead."
Rize replied flatly.
"Mm."
Byakuya didn't press further.
A while later, Hinami approached carrying a notebook.
"Um... Onii-chan, when will I get to see Papa?"
It had been so long since she'd seen her father that Hinami missed him terribly.
The notebook she clutched was filled with drawings of her family.
"It should be safe by now. But Fueguchi-san is probably still hiding. I can take you to find him."
Byakuya smiled as he spoke.
Now that Yamori was dead, there was no one else in Aogiri Tree who would target Asaki Fueguchi.
As for Kureo Mado and Koutarou Amon, from what he knew, they'd already shifted their attention to the Aogiri Tree situation in Ward 11. Mado's greatest hatred was reserved for Aogiri's "One-Eyed Owl."
So reuniting the Fueguchi family now posed no real risk.
"Yes! Thank you, Onii-chan!"
Hinami's face lit up with joy.
"Then I'll leave Hinami in your care, Amaha-kun. I'll stay here and help out at the coffee shop."
Ryouko spoke up from nearby.
After everything that had happened, Ryouko had come to trust Byakuya completely. She could leave her daughter in his hands without worry.
If she couldn't trust Byakuya, there was no one else she could trust.
Besides, if they encountered any danger, her presence would only be a burden to Byakuya. She felt there was no need for her to come along.
"Then I'll head home first?"
Rize spoke up.
"Mm, you didn't forget your key, did you?"
Byakuya reminded her.
"Of course not."
Then Rize left for home.
Touka, who was clearing empty cups from a nearby table, overheard this exchange between Byakuya and Rize. Something felt strange, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
But then it hit her.
After all, Touka now knew both Byakuya's and Rize's true identities. She found it hard to imagine a kind-hearted investigator living together with a ghoul of such terrible personality...
...
By now, Byakuya had brought Hinami to Ward 19.
They chatted about many things along the way.
Then Hinami remarked with a tone of wonder: "Onii-chan is a ghoul investigator, but you seem completely different from other investigators."
"I understand what you mean. I just feel that neither Ryouko-san nor Hinami-chan are bad people. The CCG has many rules, but people aren't bound by rules alone."
Byakuya said.
"Mm... that's why I think Onii-chan is a good person."
With that, Hinami reached out and took Byakuya's hand.
Seeing the innocent, pure smile on Hinami's face, Byakuya couldn't harbor even the slightest improper thought.
First, Byakuya brought Hinami to Asaki Fueguchi's clinic, only to find it closed. It looked like it had been shuttered for quite some time.
Asaki had probably been in hiding ever since the Yamori incident.
"By the way, Hinami-chan, do you have contact information for Fueguchi-san? It's hard to find him if we're searching blind."
Byakuya asked.
"I think I have it. Let me look."
Hinami flipped through the sketchbook she'd brought with her.
As she turned the pages, Byakuya caught glimpses of the drawings inside.
They were all cartoon characters. Though quite rough, they weren't bad at all—perfectly appropriate for someone Hinami's age.
"Did you draw all of these, Hinami-chan? They're very good."
Byakuya offered some praise. Hinami was still young and needed encouragement.
"Thank you, Onii-chan."
Hinami smiled happily.
Soon she found the page with the contact information—a string of numbers that should be Asaki's phone number.
Byakuya immediately dialed the number. After a moment, the call connected.
"Hello, is this Fueguchi-san?"
"Yes, yes. That voice... could it be the investigator from before?"
"That's right. Your daughter misses you, so I've brought her to see you."