As it turned out—
You could always trust the manager.
After Ren awkwardly explained the situation with his destroyed apartment over the phone, the calm voice of Yoshimura came through the receiver.
"I see… Ren-kun."
His tone remained gentle.
"Don't worry."
"Leave the repairs to me."
As the manager of Anteiku and one of the central figures within the ghoul community of the 20th Ward, Yoshimura possessed far more connections than he ever openly displayed.
True to his word—
Only a single day later, Yoshimura calmly informed him:
"Your apartment issue has already been handled."
After remembering the disastrous incident with the previous "tenant," Ren went through a long internal struggle.
In the end—
He made a firm decision.
The apartment listing would remain online.
After all—
Lightning rarely strikes the same place twice.
…
The weekend passed quickly.
Monday arrived.
For most people it meant the beginning of a busy workweek.
But for a quiet café like Anteiku—
Mondays were often the slowest day.
Office workers were buried in work.
Students were attending classes.
The café was nearly empty.
Only the low hum of the coffee machine and soft background music filled the air.
"A rare moment of peace…"
Ren leaned against the bar and watched pedestrians moving quickly outside the window.
The thought had barely formed—
Ring!
The phone suddenly rang.
Shattering the quiet.
Inside his mind—
Carnage grumbled lazily.
[…Peace…gone…]
Ren glanced at the screen.
Caller ID: Hideyoshi Nagachika.
He answered immediately.
Before he could speak—
Hide's voice exploded through the phone.
"Ren-nii! Is Ken Kaneki at the café?!"
"No."
He instinctively glanced at Kaneki's usual seat by the window.
Empty.
"I haven't seen him since yesterday."
"Wasn't he on a date with Miss Rize?"
"That's right!"
Hide sounded extremely anxious.
"But I've been texting him since yesterday!"
"No replies!"
"I've been calling nonstop—it's been two days!"
"This isn't like Kaneki at all!"
Ren's hand paused slightly while wiping a glass.
But his voice remained calm.
"Maybe he exhausted himself yesterday."
"Or maybe his phone battery died."
"He could simply be sleeping."
Hide hesitated.
"…That… actually sounds possible."
His voice calmed slightly.
"Okay… I'll try calling again later."
"Thanks, Ren-nii."
"Let me know if you hear anything."
The call ended.
Silence returned.
Ren slowly slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Kaneki Ken…
He probably isn't human anymore.
"Something wrong, Ren-kun?"
A cheerful voice suddenly interrupted.
Enji Koma leaned against the counter with a coffee pot in hand.
His broad grin looked as carefree as always.
"Come on."
"Koma-nii used to be called the Devil Ape."
"If there's trouble, I'll handle it."
"It's nothing."
Ren shook his head calmly.
"A friend is in the hospital."
Koma's expression changed slightly.
"A ghoul?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes."
Koma turned and walked toward the kitchen freezer.
Moments later he returned carrying a tightly wrapped package of thick oil paper.
Even through the wrapping—
Ren could guess its contents.
Human flesh.
"For ghouls," Koma explained calmly,
"as long as the injury isn't fatal…"
"Eating properly helps recovery."
Ren looked at the package for several seconds.
Then accepted it.
"…Thanks."
…
Later that afternoon—
The phone rang again.
Hide's voice was completely different this time.
Not anxious.
Terrified.
"Ren-nii!!"
"Kaneki… Kaneki was attacked by a ghoul!"
"He's in the hospital!"
"Kanou General Hospital!"
…
Kanou General Hospital.
Inside his mind—
Carnage complained loudly.
[This place smells horrible…]
[Disinfectant…]
[Rotting disease…]
[Disgusting…]
Hospital corridors echoed with hurried footsteps and medical equipment.
Ren pushed open the door to Kaneki's ward.
The smell of medicine filled the room.
And there—
On the hospital bed—
Lay Ken Kaneki.
His thin body was wrapped in a loose hospital gown.
He looked even more fragile than usual.
His face was pale.
Almost translucent.
A thick bandage covered his forehead.
Kaneki stared blankly at the ceiling.
As if his soul had been torn away.
Leaving behind only an empty shell.
On the bedside table—
A hospital meal tray sat untouched.
Rice.
Miso soup.
Fish.
Stewed vegetables.
The smell was normal for humans.
But unbearable for someone who had just become a ghoul.
Inside his mind—
Carnage spoke with confusion.
[The scent of the "Binge Eater"…]
[Why… is it clinging to this weak insect…]
[Did he… eat her?]
Ren answered quietly.
"Organ transplant."
"Kaneki received organs from Rize Kamishiro."
Carnage hummed thoughtfully.
[A stitched-together shell…]
Hide stood beside the bed.
His eyes were red.
The moment he saw Ren—
Relief flooded his face.
"Ren-nii!"
"You came!"
"Look at Kaneki…"
Ren raised a hand.
Silencing him.
He walked to the bedside.
Looking down at Kaneki's lifeless expression.
"Kaneki."
His voice was quiet.
But firm.
Kaneki's eyes slowly shifted.
Struggling to focus.
Recognition appeared faintly.
Pain.
Confusion.
His lips moved slightly.
But no sound emerged.
"How do you feel?"
Ren asked calmly.
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