Ren lifted the bone-china cup and took a sip of his now slightly cooled cappuccino.
The sweetness of the milk foam had already faded.
What remained was the rich bitterness of roasted coffee lingering across his tongue.
Outwardly, he appeared relaxed, gazing through the café window at the quiet street outside.
But in reality—
His entire attention was focused on the staircase leading to the second floor behind him.
A few moments later—
Soft footsteps descended the stairs.
Light.
Measured.
Touka Kirishima reappeared.
She walked directly to his table.
Her violet eyes were calm, like the surface of a still lake.
"The manager wants to see you."
She paused briefly before adding,
"Second floor."
Her gaze lingered on his face for half a second.
Ren looked up and met those amethyst eyes calmly.
He nodded slightly.
As if he had expected this invitation all along.
"I understand."
His voice remained steady.
Touka said nothing further.
She returned to the counter and resumed wiping a coffee cup.
From the outside, it appeared as though she had simply delivered a routine message.
Yet Ren could clearly feel it—
Her scrutiny had not disappeared.
It lingered quietly.
Like invisible threads wrapped around him.
He placed his cup down on the table.
Click.
The porcelain base struck the wood softly.
Then he stood up.
He adjusted the slightly wrinkled hem of his shirt.
His movements were slow and unhurried.
But beneath that calm surface—
The crimson presence inside him stirred restlessly.
[…I can sense it…]
Carnage whispered.
[…A powerful lifeform…]
The voice trembled with conflicting emotions.
Greed.
Excitement.
And faint caution.
[…His scent… stronger… far more dangerous…]
"Be quiet."
Ren suppressed the symbiote immediately.
He had absolutely no intention of provoking conflict inside Anteiku.
He walked toward the stairs.
The wooden steps creaked softly beneath his feet.
In the unusually quiet café, the sound seemed almost amplified.
He took a deep breath.
Suppressing the restless energy within him.
Then he arrived at a simple wooden door at the end of the second floor hallway.
He raised his hand.
Knock.
Knock.
The gentle knocking broke the silence.
"Come in."
A calm, elderly voice answered from inside.
Ren grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open.
"Manager, you wanted to see me?"
Inside the room sat Yoshimura.
The gentle old man closed the book in his hands.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"No need to be so formal."
He gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.
"Please, sit."
Ren took the seat.
Yoshimura folded his hands on the table.
For a moment, he simply looked at the young man quietly.
Then he spoke.
"Last night… there was a ghoul attack in Aoba Alley."
His gaze rested calmly on Ren.
"Touka happened to see you leaving that area."
"I did it."
There was no hesitation.
No attempt to deny it.
Ren nodded directly.
Yoshimura showed no surprise.
Nor anger.
His gentle smile remained unchanged.
He simply nodded slightly.
As if he had expected that answer.
"The investigators of the Commission of Counter Ghoul are currently investigating the matter."
His voice remained soft.
But there was undeniable gravity behind his words.
"And their methods… are rarely gentle."
Ren looked at him.
"What are you suggesting?"
Yoshimura met his gaze directly.
"For your safety."
"And for the fragile peace that exists within Anteiku."
His tone became calm yet firm.
"On behalf of everyone here…"
"I would like to formally invite you to join Anteiku."
It was more than an invitation.
It was an exchange.
Anteiku needed strength.
And he needed protection from the CCG.
However—
Yoshimura had misunderstood one thing.
Ren did not truly need protection.
Inside his mind—
Carnage exploded with rage.
[…This old man wants to control us…]
[…Eat him…]
[…Turn this place into ruins…]
"Quiet."
Ren suppressed the voice again.
He had already prepared to refuse the offer.
But at that moment—
A faint smile flickered in Yoshimura's eyes.
The old manager calmly lifted his teacup and took a sip.
Then he spoke again.
"One more thing."
"A monthly salary of 500,000 yen."
The room fell silent.
Inside Ren's mind—
Even Carnage seemed to pause.
His eyes slowly lifted toward Yoshimura.
Then—
Without hesitation.
Without even a second of contemplation.
He spoke a single word.
"Deal."
…
[…A few colorful pieces of paper…]
Carnage muttered bitterly inside his mind.
[…And you willingly crawl into a cage…]
[…Betrayal…]
[…Trading our freedom for such worthless things…]
Ren rolled his eyes internally.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Living costs money."
The system had given him an apartment.
But not a single yen.
Without income—
He would literally starve.
Yoshimura calmly placed the teacup back on the table.
"Then welcome to Anteiku."
From that moment forward—
"You are officially part of our team."
"Touka will explain your daily duties later."
"The café work downstairs is not complicated. I believe you will learn quickly."
He continued calmly.
"As for accommodation…"
"There is an empty staff room on the second floor."
"It is small, but fully furnished."
"It would be safer than living outside."
Ren nodded.
That arrangement suited him perfectly.
The café was actually more convenient than his apartment.
And the apartment could always be rented out later.
"Understood, Manager."
"Thank you for the arrangement."
Yoshimura smiled slightly.
"Your salary will be paid on time."
"Consider the first month an advance. Settling in requires expenses."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"However, as a member of Anteiku…"
"You will also assist with routine patrols within the 20th Ward."
He paused.
His gaze briefly drifted toward the stairs.
Then he added naturally:
"You will partner with Touka."
…
When Ren opened the door again—
The faint sound of the coffee machine drifted up from the first floor.
He could also hear Touka quietly wiping cups.
He stepped into the hallway.
Then gently closed the door behind him.
He understood one thing clearly.
From this moment onward—
A new life had begun.