Of course Byakuya noticed Kurona. After all, no one just randomly stands next to someone for no reason.
But he didn't know what she wanted.
Could she want praise like Nashiro?
If so, Byakuya found Kurona rather cute too—that expressionless face was adorable in its own way.
While Kurona stood there awkwardly, Byakuya simply said: "Kurona did very well too."
"Um... huh?..."
Kurona had just been stammering, trying to speak, when she heard Byakuya's words. She was momentarily stunned.
"What is it?"
Byakuya asked with a smile.
Kurona's eyes darted away. "Nothing..."
Being suddenly praised by Byakuya had made her happy, of course, though she didn't show it. Her expression remained unchanged.
"About your food situation—tomorrow I'll take you to meet the people at Anteiku."
Byakuya said.
"But Nashiro and I are ghoul investigators now. Will they be willing to help us?"
Kurona had her doubts.
"I'm a ghoul investigator too, and I get along fine with the people at Anteiku. Don't worry about that—and you're both one-eyed ghouls, which makes it even easier to gain their trust."
Byakuya explained.
"That's good then."
Kurona nodded.
Nashiro naturally had no objections either.
...
The next day, Byakuya brought Kurona and Nashiro to Anteiku.
After yesterday's incident, Yoshimura and Yomo wouldn't be leaving the coffee shop so easily.
Koma and Irimi had also returned from their errands. The full Anteiku crew was present.
"Manager, there's something I need to discuss. Could we talk upstairs?"
Byakuya addressed Yoshimura directly.
"Certainly."
Yoshimura smiled.
Byakuya glanced at Kurona and Nashiro, and they followed him upstairs.
On the second floor, they found Touka and Hinami, with Touka apparently teaching Hinami to read.
Seeing Byakuya arrive with two unfamiliar girls alongside the manager, Touka sensed something important was happening.
She immediately asked: "Should I step out?"
Yoshimura looked to Byakuya.
"No need. It's not exactly confidential."
Byakuya said mildly.
Byakuya and Yoshimura then sat facing each other.
Kurona and Nashiro took seats on either side of Byakuya.
Since it was Touka's first time seeing twin sisters, she couldn't help but be curious.
Hinami was also peeking at the twin sisters from behind Touka.
"So, what did you want to discuss?"
Yoshimura asked.
"These two sisters are named Kurona Yasuhisa and Nashiro Yasuhisa. They're ghoul investigators, but they're also ghouls..."
Byakuya went straight to the point.
"...Amaha-kun, did you say they're ghouls?..."
Yoshimura's expression grew more serious.
He could have remained perfectly calm—after all, he knew so much—but he still acted somewhat surprised, playing the part of an ordinary old man.
"How can ghouls become ghoul investigators?"
Touka exclaimed in surprise.
Kurona and Nashiro ignored Touka, sitting expressionlessly and obediently beside Byakuya, letting him handle the conversation.
Hinami, having no real understanding of such matters, simply watched curiously like a baby chick.
"Yes. More precisely, they're one-eyed ghouls—but not natural-born ones."
Byakuya continued.
"Not natural-born ghouls? You mean there are ghouls who were transformed from humans?"
Touka asked in astonishment.
"Yes. Kurona-san, Nashiro-san, please show the manager and Kirishima-san your eyes."
Byakuya spoke calmly.
"Mm."
Kurona and Nashiro responded in emotionless unison, then revealed their kakugan.
Kurona's kakugan was in her left eye; Nashiro's was in her right.
"This is... one-eyed..."
Touka's pupils trembled with shock.
She'd only heard legends of the "One-Eyed"—this was her first time seeing them in person.
"..."
This time, Yoshimura's expression turned genuinely grave.
Based on the information Byakuya-kun had just provided, he could already piece together quite a lot.
Working at the CCG while being artificial one-eyed ghouls.
He immediately thought of experiments the CCG had long abandoned, as well as the Washuu bloodline.
The underground lab that Kanou had forcibly taken over beneath the Yasuhisa household was actually a former CCG experimental facility. The CCG had attempted human-ghoul transformation experiments long ago, but without significant results, they'd eventually abandoned the project.
Kanou had worked as a researcher for the CCG in his early years, so he knew many CCG secrets—even some regarding the Washuu. It was likely this knowledge of the "birdcage" constraining the world that had solidified certain of his convictions.
And so Yoshimura, who had been the previous generation's "Cleaner" for the V organization, naturally knew about those experiments as well.
In other words, in the original timeline, he'd actually known all along what had happened to Kaneki's body—he just hadn't told Kaneki the truth. That was why Tatara had told Kaneki: "You're just that 'Yoshimura' old man's plaything, like a potted plant."
But ultimately, Yoshimura and Eto's Aogiri Tree had different ideologies. Tatara naturally aligned with Aogiri Tree's philosophy and deeply disapproved of Yoshimura.
Yoshimura had wanted Kaneki to live well and maintain his goodness, which was why he hadn't revealed those darkest truths. In a way, this was his form of protection for Kaneki.
But reality proved that the world couldn't work the way Yoshimura hoped. Kaneki still had to endure all that suffering. Fortunately, the manager and everyone at Anteiku had helped Kaneki preserve his inner goodness. By comparison, the later "Pineapple King" Takizawa Seidou was essentially another Kaneki without the manager and Anteiku's companionship.
As for the "Washuu bloodline," this involved the RC Detection Gates' "whitelist." Yoshimura knew that both his own lineage and the Washuu bloodline were exempt from the RC Detection Gates. This meant even ghouls could work at the CCG.
"Next, I'd like to discuss some things with the manager privately. I'm afraid I'll have to ask everyone else to step out."
Byakuya suddenly shifted topics.
...
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