Ren's gaze fell toward the center of the alley.
Ken Kaneki had already lost control to hunger.
His expression twisted painfully.
One eye burned crimson with a ghoul's kakugan.
Three grotesque rinkaku kagune tentacles extended from his waist.
Fresh blood still clung to their sharpened tips.
Those were the same kagune that had pierced Nishio Nishiki earlier.
Kaneki's gaze slowly shifted.
Toward the unconscious figure lying beside him.
Hideyoshi Nagachika.
Only hunger remained in Kaneki's eyes.
A desperate craving for flesh.
Touka stepped forward.
Her uncovered eye glowed with its own crimson kakugan.
"This…"
She spoke quietly.
"…is the hunger of ghouls."
"Our fate."
Her voice held bitterness.
And a trace of self-mockery.
Behind her—
Her ukaku kagune partially unfurled.
Because of prolonged malnutrition, her kagune was incomplete.
Even so—
It was more than enough to deal with Kaneki in his current unstable state.
Kaneki suddenly moved.
His body burst forward like a streak of blood-red lightning.
Touka's eyes sharpened.
Her kagune prepared to strike.
But before she could move—
Something else reached Kaneki first.
Several crimson tendrils pierced through the air.
They wrapped around Kaneki's body like living serpents.
Stopping him mid-charge.
Touka immediately turned her head.
In the shadows of the alley—
The symbiote Carnage completely enveloped Ren's body.
A towering crimson silhouette emerged from the darkness.
The tendrils dragged Kaneki helplessly through the air.
Kaneki's three kagune lashed wildly against the symbiote's body.
But each strike produced nothing more than dull impacts.
The creature's body did not move even slightly.
Inside his mind—
Carnage whispered coldly.
[Insects…]
[Futile…]
Ren sighed.
"Behave, Kaneki."
A massive crimson claw swung downward.
CRACK.
The blow struck Kaneki directly at the back of the neck.
"Ugh—!"
The frenzy vanished instantly.
Kaneki's body went limp.
He collapsed unconscious.
Silence returned to the alley.
…
Touka looked toward Ren.
"How did you know we were here?"
Her eyes were full of curiosity.
He pointed toward the unconscious Nishio hanging from the railing.
"I warned him yesterday."
His lips twitched slightly.
"But you know his personality."
Touka nodded.
Yes.
Nishio's arrogance was legendary.
Two crimson tendrils extended again from Ren's back.
They carefully wrapped around Nishio.
Slowly pulling him free from the iron railing.
"What about these three?"
He glanced at Kaneki, Nishio, and Hide.
Then looked toward Touka.
"Take them back to Anteiku."
"Alright."
…
When they arrived back at Anteiku—
The café lights were already dim.
Standing quietly inside was Yoshimura.
He had clearly been waiting.
"Leave him to me."
His gentle gaze fell on Hide.
"I will treat his injuries."
Then he looked at Kaneki and Nishio.
"As for those two…"
"I'll leave them to you."
Once Yoshimura carried Hide away—
Ren placed Kaneki and Nishio side-by-side on the sofa.
He even thoughtfully pulled a light blanket over them.
Then—
A strange idea appeared in his mind.
…
When Touka finished locking the shop door and returned—
She froze.
Kaneki and Nishio were tightly hugging each other on the sofa.
Curled together.
"What… is this?"
Her voice sounded stunned.
Her gaze slowly turned toward Ren—
Who was calmly taking photos with his phone.
"Oh."
He casually put the phone away.
Then stepped forward and separated the two unconscious bodies.
His expression was unusually serious.
"This is mainly to teach Nishio a lesson."
Touka pointed at Kaneki.
"…And him?"
"Can you be a little more serious?"
He shrugged.
"Nishio should have listened to my warning."
"As for Kaneki…"
He smiled slightly.
"He won't remember."
Touka decided not to argue.
She simply sighed.
Inside his mind—
Carnage chuckled.
[Interesting…]
At that moment—
Nishio groaned softly.
His eyelids slowly opened.
"…Where…"
"…am I…?"
"Anteiku."
A familiar voice answered.
Nishio turned his head slowly.
And saw Ren.
"You got beaten up by Kaneki."
He shoved an oil-paper package into Nishio's hands.
Nishio looked at the unconscious Kaneki beside him.
"And him?"
Touka answered coldly.
"After that, Kiryu knocked him out."
"And dragged both of you back here."
"You should appreciate having such a good friend."
Ren spread his hands.
"That's the simple version."
"…Thanks."
Nishio murmured quietly.
His gaze returned to Kaneki.
"…I didn't expect that kid…"
"Let's skip that part."
Ren's expression suddenly became serious.
"Nishiki."
"Do you know what you've done?"
Nishio blinked.
"…What?"
Ren silently handed him his phone.
On the screen—
Was a photo.
Kaneki and Nishio tightly embracing each other on the sofa.
Nishio's pupils shrank instantly.
"WHO DID THIS?!"
His voice cracked in disbelief.
"I just put you on the sofa."
Ren sighed heavily.
"But before I knew it…"
"…you two were already like that."
"Nishiki."
"I never thought you were this kind of person."
"Kimi has always been so good to you…"
"You owe her an explanation."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"I was unconscious!"
"How could I possibly—"
"You did it subconsciously."
Ren interrupted gravely.
"Now that you're awake…"
"I can't imagine what worse things you might do."
"I'M COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO KIMI—!"
Nishio suddenly stopped shouting.
Because he noticed something.
Ren's shoulders were shaking.
His face twisted.
Trying desperately not to laugh.
In that instant—
Nishio understood everything.
"REN KIRYU!!!"
His furious roar shook the café.
He tried to sit up.
But the wound Kaneki had inflicted earlier flared violently.
Pain exploded through his body.
He collapsed back onto the sofa.
Unable to move.
Only able to grit his teeth in agony.
"See?"
Ren crossed his arms casually.
"A wounded person should behave like a wounded person."
"Lie down."
"Rest."
"…Damn it."
It seemed—
His good friend still wasn't convinced.
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL for more chapters.