After Kotori presented all the evidence she found, she suggested that the Higabana girls and her parents to investigate some old ruined bases of the Clad of Black Wings.
This suggestiom surprised everyone in the living room.
Atsuo: What? Why would we need to investigate them?
Aiya: Yeah? How could they be related?
As her parents asked confused, Kotori began explaining again.
Kotori: There was something else I left out, and I honestly didn't want to show any of you this. But i really need to stop hiding things from you.
She then presented a picture of the mural that was being studied by the council.
Everyone: !!! What is that?!
Needless to say they were all horrified by the sight of the mural.
Kotori: It's a mural, depicting the end of the world it belonged to the Clad of Black Wings.
Atsuo: W-Why do you show us this?
Kotori: Well... See these text? I've asked the researchers in the council to translate it, and the day the incident happened they contacted me saying it's translated to: "When the emperor falls, I will rise again'".
Yuuka: !!!
Sachi: Um... What does that mean?
Shino: Yeah? I'm a bit confu-
Though almost everyone in the room was confused to what it meant.
Natsuki & Yuuka: Kaneki?
Natsuki and Yuuka immediately realized what part of the text was referring to.
Upon hearing them, Kotori nodded.
Kotori: Nod~ That was my exact same thoughts as well. Kaneki-chan is also known as Demon Knight Omega Kaiser, the Emperor of Creation and Destruction.
Chikao: Um...
Kotori: This is just a guess, but this text probably refers to when Kaneki-chan, the Emperor falls either meaning gets defeated or killed someone else would rise up.
Miku: And... Whoever this person that would rise, will end the world?
Kotori: Correct.
Chikao: This is a bit absurd don't you think?
Chikao said with a wry smile, hearing such a terrifying thing involving the end of the world being connected to Kaneki was so much for her to swallow.
Kotori: I understand you find it absurd, Chi-chan. But this is the most likely scenario: Someone, most likely the person who manipulated Shino-chan, Yuuka-chan, and Miku-chan's actions is trying to kill Kaneki-chan to bring about the end of the world.
Natsuki: This... This is hard to believe.
Atsuo: Yeah. But why Kaneki? Why is his death the key to the end of the world?
Kotori: That's the thing, I don't know.
All 8: What?!
Kotori: This mural was only discovered very recently, and we don't have much information about it.
Sachi: So... The reason you want us to investigate these old bases are to find information regarding it?
Kotori: Spot on.
Atsuo: I see... I'm in.
Without any slight hesitation, Atsuo agreed to investigate.
Aiya: If you're going so am I.
As well as Aiya.
Kotori: Good I'll send you tomorrow, you two need some rest first.
Aiya: I-Is that alright?
Kotori: The well being of my family takes priority, besides you two must be exhausted after watching over Kaneki-chan for two days.
Atsuo: Understood.
With her parents now on-board, Kotori faced the Higabana girls.
Kotori: So? Do you girls want to investigate as well? We could probably even find something related to the person involved.
She asked them, however...
They were hesitant.
Natsuki: I'm not too sure about this...
Yuuka: Same here. The end of the world... That's a lot to take in.
Chikao: I'm... I'm afraid...
Seeing how hesitant they were, Kotori didn't pushed them any further.
Kotori: I understand, I won't force you girls.
But even with they were hesitant.
The Higabana girls thoughts*
( "Someone, most likely the person who manipulated Shino-chan, Yuuka-chan, and Miku-chan's actions is trying to kill Kaneki-chan to bring about the end of the world." ...)
As they repeated Kotori's words in their thoughts, the image of Kaneki appeared in their minds.
And their love for him push them forward.
Natsuki: Actually! I'll help as well! I don't want Kaneki to die.
Sachi: Same here! I can't just sit back and not do anything while Kaneki is suffering!
Chikao: I feel the same way, Kaneki is continuing to suffer while we aren't doing anything to help...
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Please let us help!
Seeing how the Higabana girls were ready to help, despite their hesitation earlier made Kotori smile.
Kotori: Good in that case, I'll send the six of you to a ruined base tomorrow.
With Kotori approving their help, their talk was now over.
Kotori: Since it's getting late now, you girls can stay here for tonight.
All 6: Eh?
Aiya: Yeah it's getting late, so it's alright for you girls to stay here.
Shino: I-Is it really okay?
Yuuka: I mean...
Shino, Sachi, Yuuka and Chikao were hesitant considering they did lied to Atsuo and Aiya.
Atsuo: I'll... I'll allow it.
But because Atsuo now knows that they weren't truly responsible for Kaneki's condition, he had calmed down dramatically.
Atsuo: But you girls aren't allowed to sleep in Kaneki's room.
Even so he was still mad at them for lying to him, so he wasn't going allow them to sleep in Kaneki's room.
Miku: You guys can sleep in my room.
Shino, Yuuka & Chikao: Thanks, Miku.
Natsuki: ...
Aiya: Clap! Well with that out of the way, I'll go prepare dinner now.
Aiya then stood up and went to the kitchen to cook dinner for everyone.
Atsuo: I'll help.
Kotori: Let me help to.
Atsuo and Kotori then went to help her as well.
All 6: ...
After the three of them went to the kitchen, nothing much happened.
1 hour and 46 minutes later~
Aiya: Miku.
Miku: Y-Yes Mom?
Aiya: We're going to have our talk now, let's go to Kaneki's room.
After everyone had finished eating dinner, and the dishes were cleaned. Aiya called for Miku so they could talk.
Miku: Sure...
Aiya: Let's go.
Miku then started to follow her mom to Kaneki's room.
Sachi: I hope Aiya-san doesn't go too hard on Miku.
Kotori: Let's wish her the best of luck.
In Kaneki's room*
Aiya: ... This room feels so empty without Kaneki...
As Aiya entered the room, she looked around and felt lonely as the lack of Kaneki's made her sad.
But she still had to talk with her daughter.
Aiya: Now sit on Kaneki's bed.
Miku: O-Okay.
Following her Mom's orders, Miku sat down on Kaneki's bed followed by Aiya.
Aiya: Okay, let's start now. Miku you shouldn't have lied to me, I'm very disappointed in you.
Miku: I know... I'm sorry.
Aiya: A "sorry" isn't going to fix anything, you've hurt Kaneki for months and this whole time you were treating a total stranger like he was your brother at school just because he looked like Hinata, and right in front of Kaneki as well! Hinata would be very disappointed in you.
Miku: ...
Aiya: I understand you tried fixing your relationship with Kaneki when you found out you messed up, that is good. But you could have told me you know? I definitely would have been angry yes. But.
Miku: But?
Miku turned towards her mother's eyes and saw that she had shed small tears in them.
Miku: Mom?
Aiya: In the end of the day, I'm still your mother. I would have help you y'know?
Seeing her mom sad because of her, Miku felt guilty and started talking.
Miku: I... I already moved on from my love for Hinata-Oniichan a long time ago, but when I saw him for some reason that twisted "love" returned and looking back at it now, I don't understand why.
Aiya: Are you trying to make an excuse?
Miku: No Mom. I really have no idea, even Shino-Oneechan and Yuuka-Oneechan have no idea why they fell for him in the first place too.
Aiya stared at Miku and just by looking into her eyes, she could tell she wasn't lying.
Miku: But when I realized what I had done to Onii-chan... I felt disgusted with myself, I was replacing him with someone I don't even know for no reason... And when I tried to fix our relationship I chose the worse possible decisions and hurt so many of you...
Aiya: That's right.
Miku: ...
Aiya: Listen Miku, all I'm going to say is the next time you are in trouble rely on your Mom. Got it?
Miku: Y-Yeah....
Aiya: And also.
Miku: Hmm?
Hug!
Suddenly, out of nowhere Aiya gave Miku a hug and began apologizing.
Aiya: I'm sorry I hadn't realized your relationship with Kaneki was strained, I love both of you and want the best for you. I should have noticed that there was a reason for Kaneki's behavior around you and tried to confront both of you.
Aiya felt responsible for what happened.
Miku: Mom...
Swoosh!
Aiya: Now then!
Aiya removed herself from Miku and before leaving the room, with small tears in her eyes she told Miku.
Aiya: Once Kaneki wakes up, you better apologize properly to him, okay?
Miku: Nod~ I will...
Aiya: Good.
And so their talk had ended, and Aiya left the room.
A while later~
Miku: And that what happened earlier.
After Miku's talk with Aiya, she was now in her room with her friends after they all took a bath together.
Chatting before going to bed.
Natsuki: Yeah she's right, that includes you guys as well.
Sachi, Shino, Yuuka & Chikao: Yeah we know...
Miku: I wonder if we'll be together when we go to investigate some of the ruined bases?
Sachi: Ai-chan probably will send us to the same base together, but that's just my guess.
Chikao: Man... I still can't believe the world would end if Kaneki dies.
Yuuka: C'mon you shouldn't focus more on that.
Chikao: Could you blame me?
Yuuka: Fair enough...
Natsuki: Hey you guys.
All 5: What is it?
Natsuki: Let's do our best to find out who this person is tomorrow.
All 5: O-Okay?
Natsuki: Alright... I'm going to bed now.
Miku: Okay? I think we should do the same.
And so their chat had ended and they all went to bed and prepared themselves for the long day they will have.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Once I find that person who was responsible for manipulating Shino, Yuuka and Miku I'm going to kill them. No matter what)
Little did the rest of the Higabana girls know, Natsuki was ready to kill the person responsible for Kaneki's assassination, and for manipulating Shino, Yuuka and Miku.