The next day, Amano Hiro woke up unusually early. The sky outside the window was only just beginning to brighten.
Feeling the soft and warm body in his arms, he experienced an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
The urge to quickly eliminate the pests that disturbed their peaceful life grew even stronger.
At the same time, he sent the intelligence and photos he had taken the previous night to Eto and confirmed the time for the operation that evening.
Humans are very strange creatures.
When a calm and unchanging life goes on for too long, they begin to crave change and hope for some excitement.
But when a thrilling and dangerous life arrives, they start longing for peace again.
He simply held Rize like that until it was nearly noon.
"Mm. Hiro, you woke up so early."
Rize opened her eyes and saw Amano Hiro smiling at her.
Like a cat acting spoiled, she nuzzled into his arms, her voice still carrying the laziness of just waking up.
"Since you're awake, get ready to get up. We'll go talk to the manager about tonight's operation in a bit."
Amano Hiro lightly patted her smooth back before getting up to dress.
By the time they slowly went downstairs, it was already noon. The two strolled leisurely toward the café.
Jingle.
At noon, there were only a few scattered customers in the café. Most people were either at home or eating at restaurants at this hour, so the café was naturally quiet.
"Amano-niisan, Rize."
From Touka's greeting, one could tell she was in quite a good mood.
Amano Hiro shifted his gaze and saw two familiar faces. He was somewhat surprised they would come here.
"Long time no see, Kaneki, Nagachika. I didn't expect to run into you here."
After greeting the staff, Amano Hiro and Rize sat down across from them.
"Amano-san."
The two greeted him quickly.
Rize also recognized Kaneki Ken at a glance, her "former boyfriend," but she behaved as if they had just met, smiling and nodding.
Kaneki's expression, however, was rather complicated. He had naturally recognized Rize as well, even though her hairstyle and hair color were different now.
After greeting them, he did not even dare raise his head and simply drank his coffee silently.
Nagachika Hideyoshi, on the other hand, was as enthusiastic and optimistic as ever. He explained why they were here.
Because Touka was now their schoolmate and had once been a regular at the old café, they had grown quite familiar. They often ran into each other at school and were now considered good friends.
Later, when they went to the old café, they found it closed. After asking Touka, they learned that a new café had opened, but they had not had time to visit until now.
However, judging by Nagachika Hideyoshi's intelligence and keen observational skills in the original story, Amano Hiro suspected he had already noticed some clues, but simply chose not to say anything.
Only Kaneki, that little white rabbit, aside from Rize, knew nothing at all.
"Touka, where's the manager?"
After some light conversation, the operation tonight was still the priority.
"The manager is in the back. I'll take you there."
Touka set down the tray in her hands and led the two toward the back of the café.
Kaneki only lifted his head after the two had left. He watched their departing figures and only snapped back to himself when they were out of sight.
The moment he turned around, he saw Nagachika Hideyoshi looking at him seriously. "Kaneki, you should stop thinking about Rize. She's a woman you'll never have."
"Hide, what are you talking about? I'm not thinking anything!"
Kaneki was flustered. It was not that he had any ideas. He had simply met again the person who had nearly taken his life and later, by a strange twist of fate, had "spared" him. His feelings were just complicated.
Besides, Rize was now Mr. Amano's girlfriend. Even if she were not, he would never dare entertain such thoughts. He was not done living yet.
"You, just focus on how to win over Touka-chan." Nagachika Hideyoshi teased him again mischievously.
"Hide. Stop talking. What if Touka-chan hears you?"
Kaneki was thin skinned and could not handle teasing. He and Touka were only friends for now. As for the future, that could wait.
"Manager, tonight we're going to wipe out the Sunlit Garden."
Inside the reception room at the back of the café, the three sat facing each other. Amano Hiro did not waste words and went straight to the point.
Manager Yoshimura slowly opened his usually narrowed eyes and looked at Amano Hiro seriously.
"Hiro, this is not a joke."
Amano Hiro met his gaze just as seriously. "I'm not joking. I already scouted it yesterday.
Tonight, we'll eliminate them. As long as the Washuu family and V exist, there will never be peace between ghouls and humans. Only by destroying them is there any possibility of peace."
Manager Yoshimura closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath. "If you do not mind this old set of bones, I will do my best to help."
Amano Hiro's tone suddenly lightened. "Manager, you're too modest. At your age, you're still in your prime."
Manager Yoshimura could not help but smile faintly at Amano Hiro's sudden shift in tone.
After confirming the time with the manager, Amano Hiro and Rize did not stay any longer. The two planned to walk around and relax.
Manager Yoshimura looked at the traffic flowing outside the window. "Ukina, our wish is about to come true."
...
Time passed in an instant, and the agreed upon hour arrived.
On the rooftop of a building near Sunlit Garden, the top combat forces of the ghouls had gathered.
There were no weaklings. Amano Hiro, Rize, Eto, Manager Yoshimura, Tatara, Kamishiro Matasaka, and Noro.
This was already the highest level of ghoul combat strength. Destroying Sunlit Garden was not difficult at all.
Amano Hiro glanced at the time. It was almost midnight. "Move out."
With his command, the scene truly resembled eight immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their own abilities.
Boom!
In the quiet of the night, the main gate of the Sunlit Garden was blasted away, sent flying. The massive noise instantly alerted everyone inside.
Kaiko had not yet gone to sleep. He was in his office studying Carnage's weaknesses when he suddenly heard the loud crash.
Immediately afterward, hurried footsteps echoed outside his office.
The person did not even knock and pushed the door open. "Kaiko-sama, ghouls have broken into the Sunlit Garden."
Kaiko was startled and quickly asked, "What about Carnage? Has Carnage come?"
"We did not see Carnage. It is the One Eyed Owl leading the ghouls."
"Hmph. The One Eyed Owl? Truly courting death, daring to attack V. We were just worrying about not being able to find it. Since it's come seeking death itself, that saves us the trouble. One Eyed Owl, you have chosen your own path to death."
Upon hearing that Carnage had not come, Kaiko instantly felt emboldened.
As the Washuu family's foremost hound, V's response was quite efficient.
From the moment they detected the invasion to full assembly took only a few minutes.
At this moment, the intruders had already encountered the members of V.
Battle was about to erupt.