Moonlight cast pale shadows across the quiet streets of the 20th Ward.
The distant cawing of crows echoed through the night.
Inside Anteiku, the final customer had just left.
Ren exhaled softly.
After an exhausting afternoon shift, his shoulders finally relaxed.
He flipped the sign on the café door.
Closed.
Just as he turned around—
Ding-a-ling.
The wind chime rang.
He looked toward the entrance.
A tall man stepped inside.
Behind him were three figures dressed in bright red, blue, and purple clothing.
Each wore a gas mask.
Their appearance resembled a small gang following a leader.
The four of them walked directly toward the counter.
The tall man spoke first.
"Is the manager here?"
His voice was low.
Impatient.
Ren leaned lazily against the counter.
"Sorry."
"We're closed."
"If you need coffee, come back tomorrow."
The man's eyes hardened.
"I asked you—"
"Is the manager here?!"
Suddenly—
His hand grabbed Ren's collar.
The force was rough.
"Answer me!"
Trouble?
A faint smile appeared on Ren's lips.
He had worked at Anteiku for quite some time.
Yet this was the first ghoul bold enough to cause trouble at the café itself.
Even Rize Kamishiro, known as the Binge Eater, had never dared behave recklessly here.
"You're more daring than Rize."
His voice was calm.
"But impressive confidence."
Behind his back—
Scarlet tendrils slowly emerged.
Carnage stirred.
But just as he was about to attack—
The tall man suddenly changed expression.
"Miss Rize!"
He released his grip immediately.
His voice became urgent.
"You know Miss Rize?!"
"Where is she?!"
The crimson tentacles quietly withdrew.
Ren blinked.
"…And why do you want to know?"
"I must tell her something important!"
The man's fierce demeanor disappeared completely.
Only anxiety remained.
"Please tell me where she is!"
For a moment—
Ren nearly said it.
The Rize you're looking for has already become someone else's organs.
But he stopped himself.
"She stayed here for a while."
He answered calmly.
"But her hunting attracted too much attention from the Commission of Counter Ghoul."
"So she left the 20th Ward recently."
The man's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Relief.
Then Ren smiled mischievously.
"You're her admirer, right?"
He leaned closer.
Lowering his voice.
"Just so you know…"
"She already has a boyfriend."
"…WHAT?!"
The man screamed.
His reaction nearly shook the entire café.
Footsteps sounded from the stairs.
Ken Kaneki appeared.
He looked confused.
"Kiryu-nii…?"
"What's happening?"
Ren pointed at the tall man.
Then at Kaneki.
"There."
"It's him."
Kaneki froze.
Immediately—
A hostile gaze locked onto him.
The tall man glared furiously.
Half an hour later—
Kaneki finished explaining.
His throat dry.
"…Anyway."
"I'm not Rize-san's boyfriend."
The tall man looked embarrassed.
Finally—
His gaze turned back to Ren.
The latter simply shrugged.
"I'm Kazuichi Banjou."
He spoke seriously.
"If you ever see Miss Rize…"
"Tell her to run."
Kaneki frowned.
"…Run?"
Banjou nodded grimly.
"A few months ago…"
"The ghoul organization Aogiri Tree seized control of the 11th Ward."
Seeing Banjou preparing for a long explanation—
Ren yawned.
He quietly walked toward the kitchen.
Time for coffee.
Ding-a-ling.
The wind chime rang again.
Kaneki looked toward the door.
"S-sorry…"
"We're closed."
A rough voice answered.
"That's fine."
"I didn't come here for coffee."
BOOM!!!
The café door exploded inward.
The entire frame tore off its hinges.
Wood shattered across the floor.
A large man stepped through the wreckage.
Behind him—
Another strange figure followed.
"Gecko…"
Banjou's face turned pale.
"…Nick?"
The large man smiled coldly.
Yakumo Oomori.
Also known as Jason.
"As expected."
He looked around the café slowly.
"Following you was worthwhile."
His eyes stopped on Kaneki.
"…What a delicious smell."
"If that woman isn't here…"
He licked his lips.
"…you'll do nicely."
Before Kaneki could react—
Jason moved.
His hand clamped around Kaneki's throat.
Lifting him off the ground.
Kaneki struggled desperately.
Breath fading.
Pain spreading.
At that moment—
Ren returned from the kitchen.
Holding a cup of coffee.
He stopped.
"…Who broke the door?"
Jason turned.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second—
Silence filled the café.
Jason's heart skipped.
Old pain flared beneath his skin.
His wounds from their last encounter seemed to ache again.
Without thinking—
His hand released Kaneki.
Kaneki collapsed to the floor.
Coughing violently.
"So it's Lord Jason."
Ren smiled coldly.
"What did my coworker do to anger you so much?"
Two crimson tentacles appeared.
They wrapped around Kaneki.
Pulling him behind.
"Gecko…"
The man called Nick spoke slowly.
His voice sticky with amusement.
Encouraging.
Provoking.
Jason's humiliation ignited instantly.
"You bastard—!!!"
His eyes glowed crimson.
A monstrous roar escaped him.
His clothes tore apart.
Two massive bikaku kagune burst from his back.
They shot forward like spears.
Carnage spoke coldly.
[Pathetic…]
Suddenly—
Ren's body twisted.
Expanded.
Bone and flesh reshaped.
A towering crimson monster appeared once more.
Carnage.
With a casual swipe—
The massive claw intercepted Jason's kagune.
CRACK.
The sound echoed sharply.
Jason's kagune shattered instantly.
Like fragile glass.
"Aaaaah—!!!"
Jason roared.
Rage consumed him.
His kagune regenerated violently.
Growing thicker.
More monstrous.
At the same time—
A strange red glow spread across his arm and head.
His muscles swelled.
His aura turned even more savage.
The battle had only just begun.
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