The next morning.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden stripe across the wooden floor.
Ren stood by the window, silently observing the street below for nearly ten minutes.
Inside his mind, Carnage lazily stretched.
[Those idiots in black suits finally left…]
The symbiote sounded almost disappointed.
The oppressive presence of the CCG surveillance team that had lingered overnight was now gone.
At least—for the moment.
He descended the stairs.
Behind the counter, Touka Kirishima was cleaning the coffee machine with precise, efficient movements.
Without even turning around, she spoke.
"Morning."
"New employee training starts at seven."
At that moment, Yoshimura stepped out of the storeroom carrying a bag of coffee beans.
His expression was gentle as always.
"Good morning, Ren."
"Did you sleep well?"
Ren smiled politely and nodded.
His gaze briefly swept across the carefully prepared coffee equipment on the counter.
Anteiku was already ready to open.
…
At exactly ten o'clock—
The doorbell rang.
A familiar figure stepped inside.
Black hair.
Black-rimmed glasses.
Several thick books clutched against his chest.
It was Ken Kaneki.
Kaneki walked quietly to his usual seat near the window.
"What would you like to order?"
Ren asked with a polite smile.
"A latte, please."
Kaneki's voice was soft.
He carefully placed his books on the table.
The one lying on top was the novel The Black Goat's Egg.
The pages were slightly worn.
Several colorful sticky notes peeked from between the chapters.
Clearly, the book had been read many times.
[Tsk…]
Carnage sneered inside Ren's mind.
[A bookworm who appears exactly at ten o'clock every day…]
[He even smells like an old library…]
"Are you a new employee?"
Kaneki suddenly looked up.
His eyes carried faint exhaustion—perhaps from too many late nights reading.
But there was also curiosity.
"I started yesterday."
Ren leaned slightly closer, glancing at the books on the table.
"I didn't expect you to enjoy Takatsuki Sen's novels as well."
Kaneki smiled shyly.
"Yes…"
"Her writing style is… very unique."
As he spoke, he pushed his glasses up slightly with his finger.
When Ren returned with the coffee, Kaneki was scribbling notes in a small notebook.
As he placed the cup down, he noticed the faint scent of ink and laundry detergent.
A completely ordinary smell.
The smell of a normal college student.
"Your latte."
The porcelain cup touched the wooden table with a crisp sound.
"Thank you."
Kaneki hesitated briefly before speaking again.
"Um… are you a student at Kamii University?"
"I feel like I've seen you around the Faculty of Letters."
He seemed worried his question might sound strange.
For a brief moment—
Ren's fingers stiffened.
Inside his mind, Carnage chuckled.
[Ha… recognized you?]
[How interesting…]
"I do study at Kamii University."
He replied calmly.
"But I'm from the Faculty of Pharmacy."
Kaneki's ears immediately turned red.
"Ah—sorry!"
"I tend to speak without thinking…"
He lowered his head awkwardly.
Sunlight streamed through the window and illuminated the open pages of The Black Goat's Egg.
Kaneki took a careful sip of his coffee.
He looked exactly like any other ordinary college student immersed in literature.
Ren's gaze briefly fell on the inside page of the book.
A pink sticky note was attached neatly to the corner.
On it were delicate handwritten words:
"Recommended by Rize Kamishiro ♥"
[Oh…]
Carnage laughed quietly.
[A gift from the Binge Eater…]
[A toy given to her prey…]
[And he treasures it like a priceless relic…]
"People in love tend to be like that."
Ren responded silently.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Carnage whispered teasingly.
[Including you?]
"Of course."
"If I had a girlfriend."
He turned and walked back toward the counter.
Sunlight reflected softly off the back of his white shirt.
"Unfortunately, I'm still single."
His tone was relaxed.
[What a pity…]
Carnage's voice faded with a hint of amusement.
…
At 10:30—
The café bell rang again.
The door burst open.
A blond young man rushed inside, slightly out of breath.
"Kaneki—!"
His loud voice instantly drew attention from several customers.
It was Hideyoshi Nagachika.
Hide ran across the café and slid into the seat across from Kaneki.
His sneakers squeaked loudly against the floor.
[Another noisy sparrow…]
Carnage grumbled.
"We have to respect our customers' personalities."
Ren replied calmly while maintaining a polite smile.
"That's basic etiquette."
[Terrible etiquette…]
[This is torture…]
"Hide, keep your voice down."
Kaneki adjusted his glasses awkwardly.
"You're disturbing the other customers."
…
Eventually Hide left.
The café grew quiet again.
Kaneki sighed in relief and returned to reading The Black Goat's Egg.
Sunlight wrapped around him gently.
The earlier noise seemed insignificant.
He had just turned another page—
When the bell rang again.
A woman stepped inside.
Sunlight reflected faintly off her earrings.
Her white dress accentuated her slender figure.
It was Rize Kamishiro.
She entered gracefully.
The hem of her dress swayed softly as she walked.
Her gaze immediately landed on the corner seat.
A perfect smile appeared on her lips.
Kaneki sensed it.
His fingers paused slightly on the page.
He didn't look up—
But his back straightened unconsciously.
Rize did not approach the counter.
Nor did she sit beside him.
Instead—
She chose a booth diagonally behind him.
From that position she could easily observe his profile while maintaining distance.
"A Blue Mountain coffee, please."
Her voice was soft.
Clear.
Pleasant.
Yet it carried easily across the café.
Even reaching Kaneki's ears.
Kaneki's fingers tightened slightly around the book.
[Tsk…]
Carnage chuckled quietly.
Kaneki felt his throat grow dry.
He lifted his coffee and took a small sip.
Trying to appear calm.
He didn't dare turn around.
He forced himself to continue reading.
But his movements had grown stiff.
Slow.
The pink sticky note on the page—
"Recommended by Rize Kamishiro ♥"
Looked painfully bright in the sunlight.