The wooden door closed softly behind him, cutting off the faint scent of tea drifting from the manager's office.
Downstairs, Anteiku had returned to its usual warmth.
Several customers sat quietly throughout the café.
The low murmur of conversation mixed with the rich fragrance of roasted coffee.
Ren descended the stairs slowly.
His gaze settled on the slender figure standing behind the bar.
Touka Kirishima stood with her back to him, carefully wiping a set of already spotless coffee cups.
He stopped at the counter.
"Is something wrong?"
Touka asked without looking up.
Her voice was calm and cool.
Like a pebble falling into still water.
Ren smiled lightly.
"No need to be so formal, Miss Kirishima."
"We'll be coworkers from now on."
"The manager said you'll be showing me around and explaining my responsibilities."
Touka's hand paused slightly.
She raised her head.
A trace of doubt flickered in her violet eyes.
"The manager actually invited you…"
For a few seconds, she said nothing.
Then she placed the last cup upside down on the rack.
The porcelain made a crisp sound.
"Come here."
Ren stepped behind the bar.
The space was narrow.
Standing this close, he noticed a faint, subtle fragrance.
Clean.
Warm.
And distinctly different from human scent.
[…She smells… delicious…]
Carnage whispered hungrily in his mind.
Touka opened a cabinet.
She removed a brand-new barista apron and a folded towel.
"Put these on."
Her voice remained calm.
Ren accepted the apron and tied it neatly around his waist.
Touka glanced at him briefly.
"Not bad."
Her eyes lingered for a moment.
Then she shifted her attention to the customers seated throughout the café.
Originally, she had planned to teach him how to prepare coffee immediately.
But after a moment of consideration—
She changed her mind.
"We'll start coffee training tomorrow."
"For now, you'll handle orders and serving."
She pointed toward a clipboard holding an order pad and pencil.
Then toward the trays stacked neatly nearby.
"Memorize the table numbers."
"Write down every order clearly."
"If something confuses you, ask me."
She paused briefly.
Then added:
"First get used to the workflow."
"I'll teach the rest tomorrow."
Ren nodded and picked up the order pad.
He walked toward the nearest table.
Two girls who looked like students sat there, laughing quietly while looking at their phones.
"Hello."
He spoke with a polite smile.
"What would you like to order?"
One of the girls with a ponytail looked up.
Her eyes brightened immediately.
She nudged her friend.
The two quickly put away their phones.
"Um… two caramel macchiatos please!"
"Both hot."
"Understood."
He wrote smoothly on the order pad.
"Two hot caramel macchiatos."
He returned to the bar and clipped the order slip to the stand.
Touka stepped over.
She glanced at the order.
Then nodded.
Without speaking, she began preparing the drinks.
Her movements were efficient and precise.
Soon—
Two macchiatos were ready.
Milk foam swirled on the surface.
Caramel sauce drizzled across the top.
The aroma was enticing.
Touka placed them neatly on a tray.
Ren picked it up.
He carried the drinks steadily to the table.
"Thank you!"
The two girls smiled happily.
He responded with a polite nod before returning to the counter.
As time passed—
More customers entered the café.
An elderly man reading a newspaper.
Office workers quietly discussing work.
The rhythm of service gradually became smooth.
Orders.
Serving.
Cleaning.
Everything flowed naturally.
The only thing that caught his attention—
The familiar corner seat by the window was empty.
Today, he had not seen Ken Kaneki.
…
The morning passed quickly amid the clinking of cups and the aroma of coffee.
"There aren't many customers today."
Ren casually untied his apron.
Touka didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she raised a hand.
And pointed toward the wall-mounted television.
The news broadcast was playing.
"…A brutal ghoul attack occurred last night in Aoba Alley."
"According to investigators from the Commission of Counter Ghoul, two mutilated corpses were discovered at the scene…"
"…Preliminary analysis suggests the perpetrators were ghouls…"
Ren paused mid-movement.
His gaze fixed on the screen.
[…Look…]
Carnage laughed inside his mind.
[…Our masterpiece… is on television…]
"Should I apologize?"
He asked Touka quietly.
"No need."
She glanced at the television.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Next time…"
"Clean the scene better."
"Otherwise it creates trouble."
He was about to reply—
When the wind chime above the café door rang.
Ding.
The door opened.
A man walked inside.
Short white hair.
A dark coat.
His movements were calm and unhurried.
The atmosphere around him felt restrained and dangerous.
It was Renji Yomo.
The moment Yomo entered the shop—
His eyes swept across the room.
First Touka.
Then Ren.
Finally—
The television.
The news report about Aoba Alley continued playing.
Yomo approached the counter and sat on a stool.
For a moment, he said nothing.
His dark eyes rested on Ren.
Observing.
Measuring.
Then he spoke.
"The Aoba Alley incident…"
His voice was low.
Calm.
"It has caused quite a disturbance."
His gaze shifted briefly to the television.
"The CCG response has been intense."
He paused.
Then revealed the key information.
"They believe…"
"A third ghoul was involved."
With that, Yomo stood up.
Without another word, he walked toward the staircase leading upstairs.
His figure disappeared quietly.
Leaving behind a lingering sense of meaning.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
The CCG's guess was correct.
The so-called third ghoul—
Was him.
But something still puzzled him.
Why would the deaths of two ordinary ghouls trigger such a strong reaction from the CCG?
Before he could speak—
Touka answered calmly.
"Because of the 'Gourmet'."
Her violet eyes remained fixed on the television.
"That ghoul's hunting activities have already caused the CCG major problems."
"At a time like this…"
She paused slightly.
"They absolutely cannot tolerate another powerful, uncontrollable ghoul appearing."
Ren understood.