Grave robbing

Inside the Ward 20 branch.

Briefcase in hand, Huiqi stared straight at Misaki Aika. "You're saying Kureo Mado took Kōtarō Amon out to dig up graves?"

"Mm-hmm."

Misaki Aika nodded like a chicken pecking at grain.

"...That old bastard. I'm fighting on the front lines, and he's off digging up graves."

After taking a few deep breaths, Huiqi couldn't help cursing.

"Um...I did try to talk him out of it, but it didn't seem to help."

"Forget him."

With that, Huiqi returned to his office and began sorting through the remaining documents.

Late that night...

Sen Takatsuki slumped over her desk in front of her computer, surrounded by scattered sheets of paper and discarded drafts.

"This is so annoying. Why is my head full of him...? My manuscript is due tomorrow. This is going to kill me."

"And those damned Clowns are as annoying as flies. I wish I could find a chance to crush them."

"What exactly is Kishou Arima planning? Even after the attack on the CCG, they can't increase the number of Ghoul Investigators."

Ding-dong...

As Sen Takatsuki muttered her complaints, a message suddenly popped up on her computer.

The CCG is short-staffed. Special Class Investigator Huiqi appears to be fatigued. An attack on Cochlea in Ward 23 may be worth attempting.

"Oh? What wonderful news...Time to eat, eat, eat again."

Looking at the message on her computer, Sen Takatsuki's lips curled slightly as she put together a promising plan in her head.

Not long afterward.

Huiqi returned to the normal life he hadn't enjoyed in ages. Without grueling overtime or extra paperwork, he finally had a rare chance to relax.

The last unexpected incident had taught Huiqi a lesson. He now carried a dagger Quinque at all times, just in case.

"Let's have some coffee. It's been a while." Huiqi was in a good mood, his expression softer and less stiff than before.

The CCG hadn't assigned any missions or held any new meetings recently, briefly returning Huiqi to the laid-back life he'd enjoyed as a Rank 3 Investigator.

Jingle.

The bell at Anteiku's door rang.

"Welco-"

Touka was about to finish her greeting at the door, but the instant she looked up and saw Huiqi, she clamped her mouth shut.

"If I remember correctly...your name is Touka Kirishima? What's wrong?"

Seeing Touka Kirishima suddenly fall silent, Huiqi looked puzzled.

"N-nothing. I'll get the manager to come down and make your coffee."

Touka hurried upstairs with a clatter of footsteps, leaving Hideyoshi Nagachika alone in the café.

"Are you...Special Class Investigator Huiqi?!" Hideyoshi Nagachika stood up and studied Huiqi closely, his voice full of uncertainty.

"And you are?"

Huiqi looked at the blond-haired boy before him in confusion. He seemed strangely familiar, but Huiqi couldn't recall his name.

"I'm Hideyoshi Nagachika, Ken Kaneki's best friend! Remember the hospital? We met there!" Hideyoshi Nagachika grew more excited as he spoke, gesturing with both hands to reenact the scene.

"Stop waving your arms. I remember you now." Huiqi held out a hand to stop Hideyoshi Nagachika's flailing, indicating that he had remembered him.

"Wow! A Special Class Investigator remembered me! What an honor!"

Their conversation reached the bend in the staircase, where Ken Kaneki, Touka, and the manager all stopped on their way down.

"Should we kill him?"

Touka's eyes flashed with murderous intent as she spoke viciously.

"Kill who?"

"Hideyoshi Nagachika."

"No! He's my friend!"

"But he knows the Executioner! Do you have any idea how dangerous this Box Carrier is? Forget it. I'll explain later." Touka shot Ken Kaneki a resentful glare, then turned to the manager beside her.

"Don't do anything yet. Just serve him normally for the next few days."

The manager stopped the two agitated youths, then walked downstairs with a smile back on his face.

"Well, my old friend. It's been a long time."

"It certainly has. I'm finally not busy today, so I came by for a cup."

Huiqi sat in a chair by the window, then pulled The Egg of the Black Goat from inside his jacket and began reading.

Ken Kaneki saw this too, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly when he noticed the book.

"Hehe, pretty impressive, right? I know a Special Class Investigator! By the way, he's seen you before too."

"Seen...me?"

"At the hospital."

Ken Kaneki scratched his head. He couldn't recall the man at all, though his voice sounded strangely familiar.

Beside them, Touka Kirishima clenched her fists tightly behind her back and watched the two with a hostile gaze. Ken Kaneki had never mentioned such important information.

"Your coffee."

The manager set the coffee in front of Huiqi, his gaze lingering on The Egg of the Black Goat for a few seconds.

"Thank you."

Huiqi picked up his coffee and replied, his eyes never leaving the book.

A while later, the three near Ken Kaneki seemed to have had some sort of disagreement. Touka Kirishima's expression was icy, and her tone was unfriendly.

"I'll head out, then. I won't get in your way." Seeing that things were going south, Hideyoshi Nagachika promptly abandoned Ken Kaneki.

By the time Hideyoshi Nagachika stepped outside, a light rain had begun to fall. He pulled up his hood with one hand and rode away on his bicycle.

What a strange mother and daughter.

Hideyoshi Nagachika watched the two running down the street. Their expressions were complicated, with faint traces of worry and anxiety.

Jingle...

Anteiku's doorbell rang, and the door swung open, revealing a mother and daughter.

"Who are they?"

The mother and daughter came into Ken Kaneki's view. There was a helpless look in their eyes, and the child in the woman's arms clung tightly to her mother.

"Touka."

"Miss Ryouko!"

Touka, who had been wiping a cup, hurried over to greet them, her eyes filled with concern.

"Kaneki, hurry and get some towels!"

"Right, right."

A moment later, Ken Kaneki returned with the towels. Touka took one and dried the little girl's hair.

"Sorry for the trouble...Touka," the woman named Ryouko said helplessly.

"It's no trouble. We have to help each other. That's what Anteiku stands for."

Ken Kaneki watched their exchange from the side, scratching his head. He wanted to ask about it but said nothing.

Bzz, bzz, bzz...

The phone Huiqi had left on the table suddenly rang.

"Kureo Mado?" Huiqi looked at the caller's name on the screen.

"Hello? What's wrong?"

"Ahem. Meeting."

"..."

"Are you there? Special Class Investigator Huiqi, come back for a meeting."

"..."

"I know you're there. Sorry to interrupt your time off, but we have some important matters to announce."

"Understood."

Huiqi ended the call and downed the rest of his coffee.

At the counter, Ken Kaneki saw Huiqi about to leave and instinctively asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"

As Ken Kaneki spoke, Touka Kirishima, Ryouko, and her daughter all turned their eyes toward Huiqi.