Meeting

"Here, this is the information on Rise. This is all I have... And you can come pick up the Quinque in half a month." Akihiro Kano came over to Huiqi to check Ken Kaneki's physical readings and handed him a sheet of paper.

"Got it."

Huiqi took the information and read through it, a trace of gravity flickering deep in his eyes from time to time. Judging by what he had, the surname Washuu very likely belonged to a ghoul organization.

Washuu... Washuu... The CCG Chief Councilor... The CCG director?

Suspicion stirred in Huiqi's mind. The surname was far too distinctive. The Binge Eater before him actually had an unseen connection to the CCG.

I'll investigate in secret. That surname is too distinctive. One wrong move, and things won't end well for me. Huiqi crumpled up the information he had finished reading and tossed it into the trash.

"Hehehe... If this experiment succeeds, I can move on to the next test..."

Akihiro Kano studied Ken Kaneki with an appreciative gaze. This experiment had yielded exceptionally comprehensive data, enough to replicate the process and create another artificial ghoul.

"You'd better not create any abominations. If rumors of one-eyed ghouls start spreading, you know I don't like the one-eyed kind." Huiqi's icy voice cut Dr. Kanou off.

"No problem, no problem. I'll keep them confined here with me."

After hearing Akihiro Kano's assurance, Huiqi left the hospital room. Over the next few days, he would still need to come observe Ken Kaneki's condition and subdue him on the spot if he lost control. After all, no one wanted rumors of artificial ghouls spreading.

Just as Huiqi stepped outside, he came face-to-face with the Blond-Haired Boy. The boy was also surprised to see Huiqi, seemingly not having expected him to come out of Ken Kaneki's room.

Neither spoke. They merely exchanged a look before walking past each other.

Over the following days, Huiqi frequently visited the hospital to observe Ken Kaneki's condition. During that time, he often ran into Kaneki's close friend, Hideyoshi Nagachika. After seeing him so often, Nagachika took the initiative to greet Huiqi.

Their brief exchange went no further, and Huiqi unexpectedly received a call from Kureo Mado.

"According to the investigation, that ghoul from last time still had family... A woman and a girl. If you see them in Ward 20, remember to kill them..."

"Handle it yourself. I don't have time to patrol Ward 20."

Huiqi answered bluntly. Kureo Mado had been roaming Ward 13 all this time, busy with who knew what. That had increased Huiqi's workload so much that he had no time to spare to search for other ghouls.

He was already squeezing time out of his schedule just to observe Ken Kaneki, yet Kureo Mado actually wanted him to hunt down ghouls.

"All right."

That was all the person on the other end said, as though he had already known what Huiqi's answer would be.

Click.

Huiqi hung up without hesitation, left the hospital, and returned to the CCG office to start another round of work.

Darkness... Haze... A sense of suffocation surrounded Ken Kaneki as his consciousness sank into a deep state.

Ken Kaneki vaguely remembered going on a date with Rise, their feelings for each other rapidly growing...

"His internal organs are severely damaged. Hurry and perform the transplant."

"We haven't obtained consent from his family yet!"

"Dr. Kanou!"

"I'll take full responsibility. Begin the transplant now..."

"Kill him... Half-human..."

"No, we can't. The data... Important."

While unconscious, Ken Kaneki dimly heard different voices talking. Then waves of warmth welled up from deep within his body, like the heat of a cozy furnace.

The illusions deep within his mind shattered completely the moment Ken Kaneki opened his eyes.

News of Ken Kaneki waking soon reached Huiqi. Three minutes later, he followed a nurse toward the hospital room.

"Mr. Kaneki?" the nurse called tentatively.

But Ken Kaneki had covered himself with his blanket, showing no desire to see anyone. Appetizing food had also been set out on his hospital bed.

He can't eat it. Did the rise in his RC level change the structure of his tongue too?

Seeing this, Huiqi reached a conclusion. Although Akihiro Kano had told him that Ken Kaneki would no longer eat human food, some things still needed to be witnessed firsthand.

"You haven't eaten? Kaneki, your friend came to visit you today too."

"How are you feeling, Ken Kaneki?"

As he spoke, Akihiro Kano walked into the room, excitement stirring deep in his eyes. The test subject had awakened and was showing signs of being unable to eat human food. All of it proved that Akihiro Kano had succeeded!

"Oh, Special Class Huiqi. I didn't expect you to get here so quickly."

Only after walking into the innermost room did Dr. Kanou finally notice Huiqi standing to one side.

"Mm."

"Why can't I... Why can't I eat...?"

Hearing the voices outside his blanket, Ken Kaneki could not help asking.

"Perhaps your body hasn't recovered yet, Kaneki," Dr. Kanou replied matter-of-factly.

Three days later...

Ghouls healed far faster than ordinary humans, and after the kakuhou transplant, that trait had successfully manifested in Ken Kaneki.

After leaving the hospital, Ken Kaneki tried many kinds of food, but he could not eat any of them. Once in his mouth, they were as disgusting as foul-smelling sponges. Even the hamburgers he had once loved now utterly repulsed him.

"Special Class Huiqi, Sen Takatsuki will be holding a book signing in Ward 19 soon."

"Sen Takatsuki?"

Huiqi instinctively filtered out all the useless information, retaining only the name Sen Takatsuki. It had been a while since he had last heard that name.

"Yes. Too bad I can't go because of work." Misaki sighed. CCG employees did not have fixed quitting times, and on-duty staff like her had to stay overnight at the CCG.

"I can bring you back a signed copy."

Huiqi spoke with an unreadable smile on his face.

"Really?! Thank you, Special Class Huiqi!"

"Of course. I'd really like to see Sen Takatsuki too."

Lost in her delight, Misaki failed to notice the change in Huiqi's tone. Had Kureo Mado been there, he would have understood that something bad was about to happen.

Four o'clock that afternoon.

Huiqi packed his things and waited for the train to arrive.

The train was unusually crowded that day, everyone packed shoulder to shoulder and heel to heel. Yet the crush did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm. From the conversations around him, Huiqi learned that they seemed to be Sen Takatsuki's fans.

Ding-dong. Now arriving at Ward 19.

With a rush, the torrent of passengers swept Huiqi out of the train.

How annoying. When is this signing going to end? Sen Takatsuki complained inwardly, but she kept smiling as she responded to her fans and signed their books one by one.

Her assistant noticed her mood and quickly leaned in to whisper, "Only half an hour left. Hang in there."

"Ha, another half hour..."

Sen Takatsuki leaned slightly to one side to look at the long line and could not help sighing. Half an hour would be enough for her to finish signing them all.

Next...

Next...

Next...

Under Sen Takatsuki's tireless efforts, the crowd gradually thinned, while Huiqi stood at the end of the line with two books in his hands.

"This is so slow. I can't wait anymore."

"Same here, buddy. We're about to meet the famous Sen Takatsuki! I'm so excited I could die!"

The man ahead turned around and spoke excitedly, his face beaming with happiness.

"Really? I think she'd be happy if you became her snack." Huiqi looked speechless. If this man knew his favorite author was a ghoul, would he still act like this?

"Really?! Really?! If that's the case, I'd be more than willing!"

"Stay away from me!"

Huiqi's mouth twitched as he spoke in disgust. So the guy in front of him had a peculiar kink.