Inside Anteiku, the lighting was warm and gentle.
The café had already closed to customers.
Silence filled the room.
Ken Kaneki sat stiffly on a round stool near the counter.
His hands rested awkwardly on his knees.
His back leaned slightly forward.
His entire posture revealed tension.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the manager to speak.
A short distance away—
Touka Kirishima sat silently on a bar stool.
Her purple hair fell over her face, hiding most of her expression.
Her gaze drifted toward the dark street outside the window.
Her eyes looked distant.
Lost in thought.
A quiet but oppressive atmosphere hung around her.
Nearby—
Ren placed his phone down on the table.
The screen light faded across his face.
He turned toward Touka.
Trying to soften his tone.
"Still angry?"
Touka glanced at him briefly.
The visible purple eye beneath her hair showed no emotion.
Then she slowly shook her head and looked back toward the window.
Inside his mind—
Carnage chuckled.
[Saying one thing…]
[Meaning another…]
Ren shrugged helplessly.
Kaneki's careless use of the word "monster" had clearly hurt Touka more than she wanted to admit.
…
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
A calm voice gently broke the silence.
It was Yoshimura.
He walked forward carrying a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
The rich aroma filled the air.
Subtly washing away the lingering smell of blood from earlier.
He placed the cup in front of Kaneki.
"Please."
The dark coffee rippled slightly in the cup.
Kaneki stared at it.
Fear appeared in his eyes.
His hands clenched silently.
He hesitated.
"Do you dislike coffee?"
Yoshimura asked calmly.
"No…"
Kaneki's voice trembled.
"But…"
He was afraid.
Afraid the taste would be the same as everything else he had tried to eat.
Rotten.
Disgusting.
Unbearable.
"Kaneki."
Yoshimura gently interrupted him.
"Look carefully at the coffee."
"What do you see?"
Kaneki lowered his gaze.
The smooth dark surface reflected his pale face.
Confusion.
Pain.
Fear.
"It looks…"
His voice shook slightly.
"…delicious."
Yoshimura smiled softly.
"It is simply ordinary coffee."
Those words carried quiet reassurance.
Kaneki froze.
Then—
Slowly—
He picked up the cup.
And drank it in one gulp.
Yoshimura watched quietly.
His hands folded calmly in front of him.
He already knew the result.
"…Delicious!"
Kaneki's face lit up instantly.
Relief flooded his expression.
"It really tastes good!"
For the first time since his transformation—
He felt hope.
Inside Ren's mind—
Carnage muttered.
[The smell is strange…]
"Yes."
He replied internally.
"There's something extra mixed inside."
He watched Kaneki carefully.
But Yoshimura's expression suddenly became more serious.
"However…"
He looked directly at Kaneki.
"That alone cannot sustain you."
He reached into his apron.
Then placed a small oil-paper package onto the table.
He gently pushed it forward.
Kaneki stared at it.
His heart tightened.
"If you need more…"
Yoshimura said gently.
"Come back."
"You don't need to feel ashamed."
…
Eventually—
Kaneki stood up.
He hesitated for a long time.
Before finally taking the package.
"…Thank you."
Then he quietly left the café.
…
Not long afterward—
Anteiku began closing for the night.
Touka wiped the cups at the counter.
Her voice finally broke the silence.
"Manager…"
"Why did you help him?"
Yoshimura calmly wiped the table.
"Touka."
"Do you remember the organ transplant case reported on the news recently?"
Touka froze.
"That boy…"
Yoshimura continued calmly.
"…was the recipient."
"And the donor…"
"…was Rize Kamishiro."
Touka's pupils shrank instantly.
Her hands stopped moving.
She turned toward Ren.
"You knew?"
He nodded calmly while wiping a glass.
"I visited him in the hospital after the incident."
"He couldn't eat anything."
…
Later—
The lights inside Anteiku gradually dimmed.
As Ren prepared to return upstairs—
He glanced at Touka.
She still sat quietly by the window.
Her chin rested on her hand.
Her gaze was distant.
Lost in thought.
He waved a hand in front of her face.
"What are you thinking about?"
Touka slowly raised her eyes.
Her voice was quiet.
Almost like a sigh.
"What exactly…"
"…is a ghoul?"
For a brief moment—
He saw something deep in her eyes.
Loneliness.
Pain.
He turned toward the window.
Looking out into the dark night.
"A kind of life."
He spoke slowly.
"Ghouls are just another form of life."
"Like humans."
"The only difference…"
"…is how they survive."
Touka whispered softly.
"…Life…"
The café fell silent again.
Touka continued thinking.
Meanwhile—
Ren was arguing with Carnage in his mind.
He wanted to leave.
But walking away abruptly would ruin the atmosphere.
Time passed.
Moonlight slowly spread across the floor.
Finally—
Touka stood up.
"Go get some rest."
"Okay."
…
After she left—
Carnage spoke again.
[Why…]
[Aren't we leaving…]
"My legs are numb."
Ren whispered through clenched teeth.
"Help me up."
Carnage paused.
[…Oh…]
…
Back in his room—
After washing up—
Ren collapsed onto the bed.
Life had become increasingly complicated.
Carnage spoke again.
[You should sleep…]
"Yeah, yeah."
"I'll scroll through my phone first."
As he unlocked the screen—
A message immediately appeared.
From Nishio Nishiki.
Tomorrow. 4 PM.
Activity room.
Ren stared at the message.
Then smiled faintly.
Looks like his good friend—
Was preparing for a confrontation.
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