At Anteiku Café, the manager Yoshimura Kuzen once known in his youth as a "Cleaner" for the mysterious V Organization quietly oversaw the shop.
Back then, he had carried out countless missions for V, slaughtering innumerable investigators and ghouls alike.
After escaping that shadowy organization, he settled in the 20th Ward and opened Anteiku, a café meant to shelter weak ghouls who lacked the ability to hunt on their own.
Over time, he reformed figures like Koma Enji once known as the Devil Ape and Irimi Kaya, the Black Doberman, bringing them together under the name Anteiku.
Should I go in and sit for a while?
Who knows maybe I'll run into some damnable bastards.
Fushimi Kyo knew the original story well. Whether it was the "Gourmet" Shuu Tsukiyama or the Glutton Rize Kamishiro, both occasionally appeared at this café.
If I run into them…
Almost unconsciously, Kyo licked his lips.
Now that his sword arts had reached Lv3, his strength had increased dramatically. He didn't know his absolute limit yet, but he was confident that even if he faced Yoshimura Kuzen, he had a solid chance of escaping alive.
With no need to worry about his own safety, he could act far more freely.
He quickly finished his ice cream, licked the remaining cream from his fingers, and stepped toward the entrance.
"Welcome!"
Koma Enji's warm voice greeted him the moment he entered.
Kyo glanced at the gentle, chubby man who looked exactly like his anime counterpart and nodded in acknowledgment.
"One coffee. No sugar," he said calmly at the counter.
The moment she heard that familiar voice, Touka who had been crouched behind the counter organizing cups shot upright.
Her large eyes widened in disbelief.
"Fushimi… Kyo? Why are you here?"
Her heart instantly fell into chaos.
He saved a CCG investigator…
Does that mean he has ties to the CCG?
Why would he come here now?
Is Anteiku surrounded outside?!
Her expression shifted rapidly as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
"Touka? You work here?"
Kyo asked casually, pretending not to notice her tension. His tone was distant and neutral.
"You still haven't answered me," Touka said sternly.
"Why did you come here?"
"To drink coffee."
Kyo gestured toward the coffee beans behind the counter.
Seeing the situation, Koma Enji chuckled.
"Since you two know each other, Touka, why don't you serve your friend?"
Touka took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Go find a seat. It'll take a bit before the coffee's ready."
"Sure. And remember no sugar."
Kyo glanced around and chose a seat by the window.
"Touka, stay calm. Don't be so sensitive," Koma Enji reminded her softly.
"…Okay, Koma-san."
Kyo's seat happened to be right next to the table where Ken Kaneki and Hideyoshi Nagachika were sitting.
From the moment Kyo entered, he had subtly noticed the blond boy sneaking glances at him.
"Hide, what are you thinking about?"
Kaneki asked, looking up from a novel written by Takatsuki Sen. It was unusual for Hide to be so quiet.
"Ahaha, nothing. I just think the coffee's a bit bitter could use more sugar," Hide replied with his usual bright smile.
Was I that obvious?
Did even Kaneki notice something off?
Hide casually flicked his gaze toward Kyo.
That guy… he must be the one who killed Jason that night.
Meanwhile, Kyo was thinking as well.
'Hide'… that nickname, the blond hair he must be Nagachika Hideyoshi.
Which means the boy across from him is Kaneki Ken.
Didn't expect to run into these two today.
As a transmigrator, meeting the protagonist of the anime felt strangely amusing.
Kaneki Ken the original main character had his life completely overturned after being attacked by Rize Kamishiro and later turned into a one-eyed ghoul by Dr. Kanou.
But in this world, Rize had been hunted down by him and had even lost half her kakuhou.
Would she still cross paths with Kaneki the same way?
Kyo wasn't sure.
If my existence means Kaneki stays an ordinary human forever…
That might actually be a very happy ending for him.
The thought made Kyo chuckle softly.
As for Hideyoshi Nagachika, Kyo's gaze lingered on the blond boy, thoughtful.
On the surface, Hide looked carefree and clueless but his intelligence was terrifying.
Despite being a normal human, his information-gathering ability rivaled the entire CCG.
In the original story, Hide frequently wandered into Anteiku and other dangerous places, even brushing shoulders with monsters like Jason.
Coincidence?
Absolutely not.
He simply collected information in his own unique way.
He's been watching me closely…
Does he already know something about me?
Just then, Touka walked over with a cup.
"Your coffee. No sugar."
"Thanks."
Their exchange was cold and minimal.
After that night, Kyo's impression of Touka had dropped sharply.
He wasn't about to chase after someone who kept giving him the cold shoulder.
He hadn't come to Anteiku for socializing anyway; he was here to look for prey.
Before long, Hide and Kaneki finished their coffee and stood up to leave.
"Bye, Touka! Thanks for the coffee!"
Hide waved cheerfully from the doorway.
"You're welcome," Touka replied.
Kyo merely glanced at them and continued sipping his coffee.
I have to admit… this coffee is incredible.
No wonder the café gets so much focus in the original story.
For someone who transmigrated here, this place really is a must-visit landmark.
Behind the counter, Touka stared blankly at Kyo as he calmly drank by the window.
Did he really just wander in by coincidence… just to have a cup of coffee?
Soon, Kyo finished his drink and stood up. After paying at the counter, he gave Koma Enji a small smile.
"The coffee was excellent."
Without another word, he turned and walked out of Anteiku, not sparing Touka a single glance.
"That guy, what kind of attitude is that?" Touka snapped angrily.
"Touka, did he offend you somehow?" Koma Enji asked.
"He…"
Touka suddenly froze.
Thinking back carefully, she realized something unsettling.
From beginning to end, Fushimi Kyo had never actually wronged her.
He had even helped her out several times.
He didn't know her ghoul identity at all.
Yet she had repeatedly treated him coldly because of Rize, because of Jason.
Realizing this, Touka felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
"Well… he almost killed Rize, and he did kill Jason," she muttered awkwardly.
"And how does that involve you?"
"He's dangerous, yes. He even consumed Rize's kakuhou."
"But don't we ghouls do the same thing to each other all the time?"
"That's exactly why the manager didn't personally act against him," Koma Enji said seriously.
"At least for now, I can tell he's still your friend."
"So don't let prejudice cloud your judgment. It blinds you."
His words hit Touka hard.
Prejudice…?
Is that why people end up hating me…?
She had already felt it
the unmistakable coldness in Kyo's eyes when he left.
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