"Touka, that's enough."
The manager gently set a hand on Touka's shoulder; she was still glaring daggers at Kaneki Ken.
She stood up, unwilling and scowling.
"Go upstairs for now."
With Touka dismissed, the manager brewed a cup of coffee, helped Kaneki to his feet, and slid the cup toward him.
"Give it a try."
"I… I can't…" Kaneki wanted to refuse—he couldn't stomach human food anymore.
"Give it a try."
The manager's face was kind.
Kaneki clenched his teeth and took a gulp. To his shock, he could actually taste the coffee's aroma!
"It's good!"
The manager looked relieved. "Coffee is the one flavor Ghouls can still enjoy."
"That's why we opened Anteiku Coffee Shop, here in Anteiku."
"Any Ghoul who can't survive alone can find refuge with us."
"Though coffee offers taste, it doesn't ease hunger, so…"
He re-wrapped the packet of meat and set it before Kaneki. "Come back whenever you need more."
Kaneki left in a daze, clutching the meat.
Touka came downstairs, watching his retreating figure with open disgust. "Manager, why give that guy anything…?"
"Touka, remember the news about the organ transplant a while ago?"
"Two students pinned under falling rebar."
"The girl's organs were transplanted into the boy."
Touka's pupils shrank.
"So the one who died was…"
"Kamishiro Rize."
The manager's gaze was deep.
"That boy received Rize's organs—he's become a half-Ghoul."
"It's natural he can't accept it yet. Be patient with him."
Touka sniffed, unconvinced. "All he does is cause trouble and show no gratitude."
Inside the Hospital.
In Mado Kureo's room, several CCG colleagues had come to visit.
"Oi, Mado, heard someone beat you into the hospital—look at the state of you!"
Marude Itsuki walked in with a few investigators; his first words made Mado's eye twitch. "Hmm… you look fine to me."
Marude rubbed his chin, satisfied Mado wasn't in mortal danger.
"So you ran into that civilian ace as well."
"You know about him?" Mado was still fixated on the man.
"Well, Mado Akira reported he one-shot a B-Rank Ghoul."
"This time he tore an A-rated Ghoul clean in half."
"What do you make of him?"
Facing Special Class Investigator Marude, Mado didn't bluff. "Strong—stronger than any S-rated Ghoul I've seen."
"Amon and I lasted less than two moves. If he hadn't held back, we'd be dead."
Marude rarely heard such praise from Mado. He took it seriously.
"Kills Ghouls bare-handed… It's a pity he won't join CCG."
"Ueda, when you get back, have Nishio Nishiki's Kagune made into a quinque. Have Second Class Mado Akira deliver it to Akuto."
Everyone froze at the order.
That was a quinque.
Only investigators were allowed quinques.
Yet Mado flashed a sly grin. "Marude, still as cunning as ever."
"Shut it. If you're fine, discharge today. Jason's waiting for you."
"I'm good—can leave right now."
After Marude left, Koutarou Amon frowned.
"Mado-senpai, giving a quinque to an outsider—one whose stance is unclear—isn't that against regulations?"
"I think it's too risky!"
Mado gave a sinister chuckle. "Amon, you're still too green."
"What does a quinque represent?"
Dressing while he spoke, Mado snapped his fingers.
"Exactly—a weapon, an Investigator."
"To Ghouls, whoever holds a quinque is one of us, whether he agrees or not."
"That benefits us."
"If he uses it, he's effectively on our side."
"If he doesn't, it still signals goodwill."
"Shame about that Rinkaku—premium material, I hear." Mado's eyes gleamed whenever Kagune or quinques came up.
Though Amon now grasped the ploy, he couldn't accept it.
Only Investigators should wield quinques. If rules were set yet ignored, what was the point?
"Let's go, Amon. We'll find Jason soon—I feel it."
Two days passed.
Akuto chased several leads nearby, all dead ends. He stepped into Anteiku Coffee Shop; after two days it remained an oasis of calm.
To his surprise, Kaneki Ken had still come to work here.
Akuto remembered the original plot: Nishio attacked Kaneki and his friend, Touka, found out and brought Kaneki back.
But even with Nishio dead by Akuto's hand, Kaneki had still arrived.
Logical enough—right now Anteiku's Ghouls were Kaneki's only support.
"Yo."
"Touka, one iced cola."Akuto sprawled by the window; Touka's face darkened at the order.
"Go home if you don't want coffee!"
"And I'm not your servant!"
"Don't be petty. Go grab me a cola." Akuto kept teasing her.
Everyone in Anteiku laughed as Touka stormed out to buy the soda.
"Akuto-kun, don't tease her too much. She's awkward, but soft-hearted."
Akuto grinned, then gazed out at the drizzling winter sky.
Winter had arrived; outside was freezing.
Pedestrians hurried along.
Akuto felt colder inside.
Still no news of Sukuna's Finger, and none of his "friends" had surfaced.
A chill settled in his chest. "Guess I need more friends."
"Here!" Touka slammed the cola onto his table.
Just then the bell chimed again. A woman and child rushed in—mother and daughter, both chestnut-haired.
The little girl hid behind her mother, peeking fearfully at everyone. "Miss Ryouko!"
Touka hurried over. "Kaneki, bring towels."
Taking the towels from Kaneki, she gently wiped them.
"Hinami, long time no see."
Hinami buried her face in her mother's coat, secretly studying Akuto.
His appearance was striking.
"Kid, keep staring and I'll dig those eyeballs out." Annoyed, Akuto let killing intent seep into his voice.
—
T/N: He's just an asshole at this point.