At the Tsukiyama estate, inside a lavish villa.
"Move aside, Kanae!" Tsukiyama Shuu stormed toward the door, his expression twisted with anger.
Kanae and a nearby servant blocked his way, unmoving even after hearing his order, firmly holding their ground before the door.
"Master Tsukiyama, my apologies. This is Lady Mirumo's command. Please endure staying at home for the time being," Kanae said quietly, her expression subdued.
Matsumae's death had deeply pained her as well.
The Tsukiyama family had already mobilized their network to investigate the matter, it had been confirmed: Matsumae was killed by an investigator. And the whole thing had started because of Kaneki.
Kanae's hatred and resentment toward Kaneki had only deepened further.
Upon hearing this, Tsukiyama Shuu roared, "I said move aside!"
"I'm going to find Kaneki and get the truth! Was it him who revealed the auction's location?!"
Tsukiyama's face was contorted with rage. He didn't care if Kaneki had betrayed him, but that Matsumae had died because of it, that he couldn't accept.
"Calm down."
A calm voice interrupted him as Tsukiyama Mirumo pushed open the door and entered. He wore a peculiar pair of orange glasses.
"Father… I won't attack investigators. I just want to get an answer."
Seeing his father appear, Tsukiyama Shuu gradually calmed down.
"And then what?" Tsukiyama Mirumo said, face stern. "You want to kill him to avenge Matsumae-kun?"
His sharp gaze locked onto his son's eyes.
He knew about Kaneki Ken, how his son had nearly died because of him. And now, only a few days later, another tragedy.
Though Tsukiyama Mirumo had always indulged his only son, allowing his continued contact with Kaneki, he had secretly dispatched Matsumae to protect him. He hadn't expected Matsumae to be the one to die.
Tsukiyama Shuu froze on the spot. His expression darkened. Even if he got the truth, there was no way he could actually kill Kaneki. (Not that he could, anyway.)
Mirumo gently patted his son's shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself. Just stay at home and spend some time with your father."
"As for that bottle of blood, stop pursuing it. That's not something the Tsukiyama family can touch."
Shuu's little tricks hadn't escaped his father's notice.
A ghoul investigator who could go toe to toe with the One-Eyed Owl, someone like that, not even the Tsukiyama family dared provoke lightly.
"I understand, Father. I lost control," Shuu murmured, lowering his head.
Underground Laboratory – Yasuhisa Nanao's Villa
"What the hell is this place? These walls are the same as the ones in the 24th Ward."
Kirishima Touka frowned, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
Kaneki Ken led the group at the front. He glanced back at Madam A, uncertain how to deal with her.
Madam A noticed his gaze and quickly forced a smile, internally panicking.
"That guy's definitely thinking about how to deal with me..."
"He saw that, there's no way he'll let me go. I've got to find a way to escape!"
"Don't be afraid, Miss Touka. Kaneki-san and I will protect you," said Banjou Kazuichi, who was dressed in a tight black tank top that emphasized his muscular build.
He gave off the appearance of a seasoned warrior, at least at first glance.
Kirishima Touka rolled her eyes. "Please, who are you gonna protect, weakling?" she thought.
For once, though, she didn't say it out loud. She simply ignored him.
"Aww, poor Banjou-san~"
"Right? And he's got no combat ability either. Honestly, Touka-chan's way stronger!"
A few of his underlings chimed in ruthlessly.
"Shut up, you guys!" Banjou snapped in frustration.
"Touka-chan, be careful. They're here."
Kaneki's voice turned cold as he issued a quiet warning.
The next second, two blurs dashed across the hallway and came to an abrupt stop in front of them.
Yasuhisa Kurona and Yasuhisa Nashiro took position on opposite sides of the corridor, completely sealing off their path.
"Big Brother, we meet again~" the sisters said in perfect unison.
Kirishima Touka blinked. "Big Brother?" she thought, perplexed. These two were enemies, yet the way they called him sounded so… familiar?
"I'll deal with these two. You go after that bastard doctor."
Without wasting words, Kirishima Touka's gaze sharpened. Her radiant single-winged ukaku flared from her back, shimmering with iridescent brilliance.
Kaneki frowned and shook his head. "It's fine. Let's handle them together. It won't take long."
Upon hearing this, Yasuhisa Nashiro's face remained expressionless. She exchanged a glance with Kurona.
"Kurona, they're underestimating us."
"Then let's show them what we can do."
With that, both sisters unleashed their kagune and charged toward the group.
The battle erupted instantly.
Touka's wing flared with force, boosting her speed dramatically. In an instant, she had already closed the distance with Kurona.
A storm of crimson crystals exploded from her ukaku, raining down like a torrential downpour.
Each crystal shard sliced through the air with a piercing howl, bearing down on the Yasuhisa sisters.
"So fast!"
Kurona was genuinely shocked by the sudden attack. Her eyes widened slightly in alarm.
Reacting quickly, she regrouped with Nashiro. Their kagune formed a combined shield in front of them, desperately attempting to block the deadly barrage.
Countless crystalline spikes slammed into their defense, most of them blocked, though a few pierced through, grazing their skin.
But as koukaku-type ghouls, their regenerative abilities were formidable, those minor wounds quickly vanished.