The sky was a dazzling blue, and a streak of red light drifted slowly across the air.
Amano Hiro held Rize in his arms and flew without any hurry. Rize tilted her head up and rubbed her head against his chin.
"Hiro, let's swing by the mall later. We're almost out of food at home."
Amano Hiro lowered his head and rubbed his chin lightly against her hair. "Alright."
His gaze swept across the city below.
Next, it was simply a matter of waiting for the personnel to gather and the information to spread, and then seeing how the CCG would respond.
...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Most of the Aogiri Tree members scattered outside had already withdrawn quietly and gathered toward Rushima.
At the same time, a bit of "news" was leaked through hidden channels and steadily reached the ears of those who were meant to hear it.
Inside Anteiku, soothing music flowed lazily through the air.
Amano Hiro sat at the counter chatting casually with the manager and the others.
Enji Koma wiped a glass while glancing at him twice before grinning.
"That's rare, Hiro. Why aren't you stuck to Miss Rize today?"
Amano Hiro picked up his coffee and took a sip, smiling faintly.
"This is called letting distance create beauty.
If you stay glued together all the time, it affects the sweetness of the relationship. Relaxing a little from time to time makes it last longer."
Beside them, Kaya Irimi nudged Enji Koma with her elbow.
"Listen to that. Hiro really knows how to manage things."
Enji Koma waved his hand with a laugh.
"I can't learn that. I can't learn that."
The manager listened with a gentle smile while polishing a cup until it shone.
Listening to soothing music in the afternoon while savoring coffee really felt good.
The manager set down the polished cup and casually asked,
"Hiro, recently. Something big is happening, isn't it?"
They were not cut off from information. They could vaguely sense the recent contraction of Aogiri Tree's activities.
Amano Hiro did not go around the topic and nodded.
"Yes. Preparing to clash with the CCG head on."
As soon as the words were spoken, the atmosphere at the counter fell silent for a moment.
The manager's expression turned serious.
"If you need help, just say the word anytime."
Enji Koma and Kaya Irimi also stopped joking and nodded as well.
Amano Hiro waved his hand though, his tone still relaxed.
"No need. Even though it sounds like we're going all out, it's not actually that serious.
It's just laying a stepping stone for the road ahead."
The manager looked at him and nodded with understanding, not asking further.
He understood Hiro. If help was truly needed, he would not remain silent.
The atmosphere in the shop relaxed again. The manager casually refilled Amano Hiro's coffee and the group returned to chatting idly about other things.
Jingle.
The wind chime on the door rang. The wooden door opened and two people entered one after the other.
Amano Hiro turned to look and was a little surprised. It was Kaneki Ken and Touka.
He noticed Touka walking ahead while Kaneki Ken followed half a step behind. The familiarity between them seemed a little different from before.
Amano Hiro's eyebrow lifted slightly as he thought to himself. Something was going on between these two.
"Amano niisan."
Touka spotted Amano Hiro at the counter immediately. Her eyes brightened as she walked over quickly to greet him.
Kaneki Ken, who followed behind her, looked somewhat reserved and quietly greeted him.
"Amano san."
"Mm." Amano Hiro nodded. His gaze moved between the two before he casually asked,
"No classes today?"
"No classes this afternoon," Touka explained. "So we just came out to walk around a bit."
"Oh." Amano Hiro dragged out the sound while touching his chin with his fingers. There was a faint teasing look in his eyes.
Touka felt her face heat up under that gaze and immediately added,
"We're just friends. We came out to buy some things together."
Her response came too quickly and too urgently, which amused Kaya Irimi who had been watching the scene.
"Touka chan, Hiro didn't even ask anything. Doesn't that count as confessing on your own?"
Enji Koma could not hold back his laughter either.
Touka's face turned even redder, both embarrassed and flustered.
She suddenly grabbed Kaneki Ken's arm, who still looked confused and out of the loop.
"W. We're going to the back first."
After saying that, she practically dragged him at a small run toward the back room of the café.
Watching the two leave in a hurry, Amano Hiro smiled and shook his head.
Judging by that reaction, there was definitely progress, even if it was still at the stage of perfect friendship. But that was fine too.
The manager picked up another cup to polish and smiled kindly.
"Young people."
The afternoon sunlight streamed warmly through the glass windows.
The aroma of coffee mixed with the occasional chime of the wind bell made the peaceful daily scene feel even more relaxing.
...
CCG Headquarters, Director's Office.
Washuu Matsuri stared at the report that had just been delivered to him. His gaze was fixed on the final lines and his fingers unconsciously tightened, wrinkling the edge of the paper.
They found it.
He suddenly stood up, holding the report that still smelled faintly of the Information Division's ink, and strode toward the office at the very end of the corridor.
He knocked and entered. Washuu Tsuneyoshi sat behind the wide desk, the shadows making his expression appear even darker.
"Chairman." Washuu Matsuri stepped forward and placed the report flat on the desk before pushing it forward slightly.
"The information has just been confirmed. Aogiri Tree's base has been located."
Washuu Tsuneyoshi did not even fully raise his eyelids. He merely glanced at the key coordinates and attached map on the report and gave a heavy grunt.
"Send out the notice." His voice was dry but decisive. "The entire bureau enters Level One combat readiness. You will serve as the operation's supreme commander."
Only then did he raise his eyes. His gaze was like two cold spikes driven into Washuu Matsuri's face.
"Mobilize every force that can be mobilized and prepare to attack. This is not an ordinary purge operation."
He paused. Every word seemed squeezed out between his teeth.
"This is the final opportunity. Success is the only option. If we fail, the CCG will have no future."
Washuu Matsuri straightened his back and answered in a deep voice.
"Understood."
The news that Aogiri Tree's base had been located spread through CCG headquarters like a gust of wind.
Operation orders were issued rapidly. Each squad and unit received a clear objective. Purge Rushima.
The entire CCG suddenly became like a war machine that had been switched on, operating at an unprecedented speed.
Among the ordinary investigators below, the atmosphere had clearly changed.
In the corridors and break rooms, hushed discussions could be heard everywhere.
"They found it? Seriously."
"The orders are already out. How could it be fake? This time it's the real thing."
"Sigh. Aogiri Tree's main base. Who knows if we'll come back alive after going there."
A tense and oppressive heaviness filled the air.
Everyone understood that this would not be a small skirmish. A brutal battle unlike any before was already close at hand.
...
Meanwhile, inside Marude Itsuki's office.
Urie Kuki sat in the chair across from him. Marude Itsuki leaned forward with both hands pressed against the desk.
His eyes locked tightly onto the young First Class Investigator in front of him. His voice was very low but carried heavy weight.
"First Class Investigator Urie," he said slowly,
"The opportunity we've been waiting for has arrived."