Chapter 11
Takatsuki Sen stood to the side, deliberately avoiding Minato's gaze, looking exactly like a girl who had caught her boyfriend cheating.
However, from the corner of her eye, she was quietly observing the situation inside the coffee shop.
"I found a suspicious Ghoul here."
Minato selectively told Takatsuki Sen some of what he had discovered.
Takatsuki Sen raised an eyebrow.
There wasn't just one Ghoul inside.
However, in order to keep Minato from becoming suspicious, she feigned surprise—and excitement.
"Really?!"
"..."
Minato was speechless when he saw the obvious troublemaking expression on Takatsuki Sen's face.
He suddenly regretted telling her.
His intuition told him that this girl definitely wouldn't let the matter go so easily.
"Fine."
Resigned to his fate, Minato could only explain everything that had happened on the bus.
After hearing his explanation, Takatsuki Sen's expression became noticeably worse.
She lowered her head.
"Sorry..."
"Hm?"
Minato looked at her in confusion.
"Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?"
"If I hadn't always delayed my manuscripts, you wouldn't have run into Kamishiro Rize."
Takatsuki Sen stood with her head lowered, fiddling with her fingers.
She looked exactly like a child who had done something wrong.
"Ah."
Minato immediately understood.
This child actually thought he had encountered Kamishiro Rize because of her procrastination.
He gently patted the beret on her head.
"Don't take it to heart."
"This isn't the first time I've run into Ghouls."
"And it's not like I can't handle them."
When he had first arrived in this world, he frequently encountered Ghouls.
He never felt much pressure fighting those monsters.
However, one thing had always puzzled him.
In recent years, Ghouls had almost disappeared from his life.
Ever since meeting Takatsuki Sen, he rarely encountered them anymore.
Could this child actually be his lucky charm?
"But—"
"No buts."
Minato reached out and lightly pinched her cheek.
"I said don't worry about it, so don't worry about it."
Her large-framed glasses slipped off, revealing a pair of bewildered emerald-green eyes.
"Understand?"
"...Mhm."
Takatsuki Sen nodded obediently.
How domineering.
---
Chapter 13
"Hey, Minato, how much longer are we staying here?"
Takatsuki Sen yawned while lazily stirring the pasta on her plate.
They had already been here for quite a while.
Their observation point had moved from outside the coffee shop to a restaurant across the street.
"Why don't we just go inside and take a look?"
Minato's eyelid twitched.
Go inside?
Although, judging from the anime, the employees there seemed friendly toward humans...
There were simply too many Ghouls inside.
And what if Takatsuki Sen wandered in alone and got targeted?
Wasn't Kaneki Ken proof enough?
Minato didn't want unnecessary trouble.
Staying hidden was safer.
"Uh... I think we'd better not."
He shook his head.
"It'll be troublesome if Kamishiro Rize is inside."
He used Kamishiro Rize as an excuse to discourage Takatsuki Sen.
"Oh?"
Takatsuki Sen glanced at him suspiciously.
"You don't secretly know one of the girls working there, do you?"
Minato rolled his eyes.
"Why are you still thinking about that?"
"Because men are very unreliable when it comes to these things."
Takatsuki Sen casually twirled some pasta around her fork and stuffed it into her mouth.
In reality, she wasn't worried about him knowing some girl.
She simply wanted to know how much Minato knew about Anteiku.
Did he know nothing?
Or did he know everything?
More importantly...
Had he discovered her true identity?
"Want some?"
Takatsuki Sen noticed Minato staring at her and held up her fork.
Minato shook his head.
Something felt strangely familiar, but he couldn't quite remember what.
The two sat there for a while longer.
Kamishiro Rize never appeared.
Eventually, Minato's phone rang.
The investors from the 20th Ward wanted to discuss future promotional activities.
Today's stakeout had been a complete failure.
Other than the staff members, none of the people he knew had appeared.
Kamishiro Rize.
Shuu Tsukiyama.
Nishiki Nishio.
Even Kaneki Ken was nowhere to be seen.
Apparently, today wasn't the day the story began.
Honestly, it was frustrating.
His original plan had been to investigate everything he wanted to know and then anonymously report Anteiku afterward.
Since he wasn't sure how events would develop next, he wanted to let the plot continue naturally.
Perhaps it would reveal answers he was looking for.
As for following Kaneki around?
Absolutely not.
He had heard enough stories about how cool Kaneki became after turning dark.
That alone was enough to convince him to stay away.
People don't become like that for no reason.
Who knew what horrors he would experience?
If Minato accidentally became the reason Kaneki changed...
That would be a disaster.
And besides—
Minato glanced at Takatsuki Sen, who was still eating.
With this girl around, he couldn't afford to take risks.
"An investor wants to meet me."
"Want to come along?"
"No."
Takatsuki Sen immediately looked disgusted.
"I don't want to deal with those people."
"Alright."
"Then I'll take you back to the hotel first."
Minato didn't dare leave her alone.
If something happened to her, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"Okay."
Takatsuki Sen nodded seriously.
"Do you need me to wash myself first?"
"...!"
Then she laughed.
"I meant wash the apples."
Minato rolled his eyes.
This girl really enjoyed teasing him.
After dropping her off at the hotel, he repeatedly reminded her:
"Don't go anywhere."
"Stay in the hotel."
"Got it?"
The hotel had decent security and was located in a busy area.
It was relatively safe.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Takatsuki Sen gave an exaggerated bow.
"I understand."
Watching her dramatic performance, Minato felt exhausted.
Would this child really listen?
After making sure she entered the hotel, he left for the meeting.
---
The moment Minato disappeared from sight, Takatsuki Sen's smile vanished.
After confirming through the window that he had truly left, she immediately walked out of the hotel.
Her destination:
Anteiku.
---
"Welcome!"
Touka Kirishima greeted her from behind the counter.
Takatsuki Sen walked into the café with a smile.
She glanced around.
No humans.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Although everyone maintained polite smiles, the expressions of every employee subtly changed.
The aura she carried made it obvious.
She wasn't here for coffee.
She was here to cause trouble.
Takatsuki Sen removed her disguise and narrowed her eyes at the employees.
"I'm surprised."
"A tiny coffee shop like this actually has so many impressive people."
She casually walked past Touka and arrived at the counter.
"Aren't you going to serve your customer?"
Koma Enji chuckled politely.
"My apologies."
"What would you like to order?"
Takatsuki Sen casually flipped through the menu.
"Let's see..."
"Do you have a corpse platter?"
The entire café froze.
Takatsuki Sen lowered the menu.
Her crimson kakugan became visible.
She smiled.
"Well?"
"Do you have one?"