"The recent incident at Shinsei has left many citizens of Aoshima City unsure about their safety during daytime hours. Local authorities have yet to release a definitive statement regarding the structural anomalies reported by witnesses, leading to widespread speculation across social media. In light of these events, the Aoshima Public Safety Commission has announced an increase in patrols within the commercial districts."
"Residents are advised to remain vigilant and report any unusual disturbances to the non-emergency hotline. While officials maintain that the situation is under control, the lack of transparency regarding the 'distortions' mentioned in eyewitness accounts continues to fuel public anxiety."
The broadcast then cut to a podium where a man in a sharp, dark suit stood with practiced authority. A caption identified him as City Chief Okada Yoshinori. He adjusted the microphone, his expression unreadable behind a mask of bureaucratic calm.
"We understand the concerns of our citizens," Yoshinori stated, his voice booming with a heavy, polished resonance. "However, the APSC is conducting a thorough investigation into these purported anomalies. We ask that the public refrain from spreading unfounded rumors that only serve to incite unnecessary panic. Aoshima remains a city of order, and we will take every measure necessary to ensure that order is preserved. Safety is our absolute priority, and we will not allow isolated structural events to dictate the rhythm of our lives."
The news anchor's voice returned to provide a brief closing as the footage faded, her tone crisp and clinical. It provided a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had fallen over the café.
Kazuhiro rubbed his chin, a low, gravelly grunt escaping his throat. "Yeah, typical. The government hasn't done a damn thing since they dropped the curfew on us. It's all talk and no gain. A man can't even step outside at night without lookin' over his shoulder."
Itsuki remained hunched over, his elbows planted firmly on the table as he and Takumi stayed locked on the broadcast. "Looks like Yoshinori's totally clueless about Shinsei," Itsuki added, but Takumi wasn't so sure. Watching the man on the screen, he got the distinct feeling that Okada knew far more than he was letting on to the cameras.
"Yo, Kazuhiro! Thanks for the coffee!" Itsuki called out, slapping his money down on the table and pushing himself up. Takumi, however, stayed seated, his gaze still fixed on the television.
On the screen, Chief Yoshinori leaned into the microphone, his eyes scanning the room of reporters with cold precision. "Furthermore," he continued, his voice dropping to a firm, commanding register, "the APSC is not operating in a vacuum. We have maintained a long-standing partnership with a specialized academic body—an elite institution dedicated to the study and management of these specific urban phenomena. While the nature of their curriculum remains confidential for security reasons, rest assured that their top-tier assets are already deployed."
"These individuals are trained to handle the 'complexities' that a standard police force cannot. We do not require public intervention; we only ask for your trust in the experts currently working behind the scenes to restore the city's equilibrium."
The broadcast lingered on his stern face for a moment longer before cutting back to the news desk. Itsuki stretched his arms, but Takumi didn't move, his mind racing over the Chief's choice of words. He knew exactly which "institution" Yoshinori was referring to.
"Is he talking about the Institute...?" Takumi whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the café. His mind flashed back to the hallways of the school he now called home. "But... how does he even know they exist? The Institute is supposed to be a ghost—a secret, non-public army built specifically to handle the Ghouls."
The more Takumi picked apart the Chief's words, the more the weight of doubt began to settle in his chest. A flurry of assumptions and dark possibilities clouded his thoughts, making the air in the room feel suddenly thin.
"Is Vanguard lying to us...?" he wondered, the question echoing dangerously in his mind.
"Yo, earth to Takumi!" Itsuki shouted, snapping his fingers sharply to pull his friend back to reality. "Don't go dozin' off on me now. We haven't had the chance to hang out in forever, so let's not waste any more time, eh?"
Without a word, Takumi pushed himself up from the table. He offered Kazuhiro a quiet nod of farewell before pausing, his gaze lingering one last time on the television screen where Okada's face still loomed.
The weight of the broadcast sat heavy in his gut. It was becoming clear that the web went deeper than he had imagined; there was a hidden connection between the government, the Vanguard Institute, and the APSC that didn't add up.
Back at the Kurohama Coastal Dormitory, Lyss and Timotheo were slumped behind the desk again, the Shinsei incident still fresh and heavy on their minds. Outside, the sound of the waves hitting the coast usually felt relaxing, but right now, it just felt like background noise to a mess they couldn't clean up.
"I still can't wrap my head around it," Lyss muttered, her eyes scanning the latest APSC report. "The Institute actually went through with it—they confiscated Takumi's Binder. It's a total garbage move, honestly. The guy basically saved Shinsei from being leveled, and this is the thanks he gets? A punishment?"
Timotheo leaned back until his chair groaned, a look of pure disbelief on his face. "Tell me about it. We both used our Binders back there too, one way or another, and yet we're sitting here totally fine. It doesn't make any sense why they're singling him out."
Lyss sighed, dropping the papers onto the desk. "Word is they officially consider him 'too high-risk' for the public and the Institute. At least until further notice. They're basically keeping it under lock and key until they're convinced he's actually got the thing under control."
Lyss propped her elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her palm as she stared blankly at the wall. "There's gotta be something we can do, right? We can't just sit here while they treat him like a criminal. Isn't there a way to push back on the confiscation?"
Timotheo didn't look up immediately; his attention was glued to his phone, thumbs scrolling through messages. "Genuinely? No clue. The laws they've got in place are absolute iron. The only real move would be to just... stop caring about the rules and do our own thing."
He finally looked over at her, his expression weary. "I mean, it's not like anyone actually likes the way the Institute is run right now. Besides the staff and the teachers who get paid to care, everyone else thinks these regulations are a joke."
It was a dead end. There wasn't a soul in Aoshima who could do a thing until the Vanguard Institute decided to quit playing hardball and give him his permissions back.
"I keep wondering what's actually going through Takumi's head right now," Lyss said, her voice trailing off. "I honestly don't know if I should call him lucky for surviving or just plain cursed for everything that came after."
To be continued...