Early the next morning, Amano Hiro pushed open the door of Anteiku as usual.
Today, Rize did not come with him. She chose to stay home and continue focusing on mastering her control over her RC cells.
Soft music flowed through the café, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans.
When Kirishima Touka saw him arrive, she silently brewed his usual Blue Mountain coffee and skillfully placed the warm porcelain cup in front of him.
Amano Hiro accepted the cup. The rising steam briefly blurred his expression.
He looked up at Touka, who was standing quietly nearby, and spoke in a calm tone. "The timing is almost right. It will not be long before you can reunite with your family."
Kirishima Touka stiffened slightly, and an uncontrollable flicker passed through her eyes.
She pressed her lips together, her voice soft yet sincere. "Thank you. Thank you, Hiro-san."
Amano Hiro gave a small nod. Just as he was about to say more, the wind chime at the door suddenly rang with a crisp jingle, breaking the café's tranquility.
A familiar figure stepped into view.
He was dressed as usual in a carefully tailored, eye-catching wine-red high-end suit, paired with exaggerated and deliberate body language.
Tsukiyama Shuu stood at the entrance. His gaze quickly locked onto Amano Hiro, and an overly enthusiastic smile bloomed across his face.
"Oh my. This truly is..."
He spread his hands elegantly, his tone brimming with theatrical delight. "What a delightful coincidence, Hiro-san. I was just wondering where I might find you."
Amano Hiro raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise showing. "Looking for me? What is it?"
Tsukiyama Shuu stepped forward a few paces and bowed slightly in invitation, lowering his voice. "By fortunate chance yesterday, I acquired several exceedingly rare 'special ingredients.'
May I have the honor of inviting you to my 'restaurant' to savor these delicacies together?"
Amano Hiro agreed to Tsukiyama Shuu's invitation. He wanted to see what kind of top-tier ingredients he could obtain without Kaneki Ken, the artificial ghoul.
Hopefully, he had enough sense not to treat him as an ingredient. Otherwise, he might have to teach him a lesson. It probably would not come to that. After all, Amano Hiro was also a ghoul.
When Tsukiyama Shuu saw Amano Hiro nod, unrestrained joy spread across his face.
"Excellent. Then I shall return to make preparations. At noon, I will send someone to escort you punctually."
He gracefully nodded to everyone before pushing the door open and leaving, his figure disappearing from the café entrance.
Kirishima Touka had overheard their conversation. She originally wanted to remind Amano Hiro to be cautious. After all, Tsukiyama Shuu's peculiar habits were no secret within ghoul circles.
But on second thought, given Amano Hiro's strength, the one who should be worried was Tsukiyama Shuu.
If that gourmet did anything unwise, he would likely suffer the consequences.
"Touka, are you about to take your university entrance exams?" Amano Hiro's voice interrupted her thoughts.
She came back to herself and nodded. "Yes, Hiro-san."
"Have you decided which university to apply to?"
Kirishima Touka gently shook her head. "Not yet."
Amano Hiro lifted his coffee cup and asked casually, "Have you considered Kamii University?"
He remembered that in the original storyline, Touka had ultimately chosen that university because of Kaneki Ken.
Touka sighed softly at the mention, unconsciously twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Kamii University's admission score is too high. I... probably cannot get in."
Amano Hiro smiled. "If I remember correctly, Nishio Nishiki is at Kamii University. Touka could ask him to tutor you."
At once, undisguised disgust appeared on Kirishima Touka's face. "That crap Nishiki? Forget it."
Amano Hiro drained the remaining coffee in his cup and laughed brightly. "I have something to take care of, so I will be going."
He stood and left the café, thinking about Kamishiro Rize's progress with her RC cell research at home.
When he pushed the door open, the house was quiet. No one came to greet him as usual.
"I am back," he called while changing into slippers, faint sounds coming from the kitchen.
Rize was wearing a plain apron, standing intently at the counter.
She held an open book in her left hand and a kitchen knife in her right, gesturing in the air as if practicing something, not even noticing him approach.
"What are you studying so seriously?" Amano Hiro asked.
Only then did Rize come back to herself. She turned and smiled brightly. "Ah, Hiro, you are back."
"You did not even hear me come in." He stepped beside her, his gaze falling on the book in her hand. "That focused?"
"I am studying recipes." Rize continued practicing the motions without looking up.
Amano Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Have you finished mastering your RC cells?"
"Not completely yet, but I have improved a lot." There was confidence in her tone. "I believe it will not be long before I can fully control them."
Looking at the "Binge Eater" standing in the kitchen with a somewhat virtuous air, Amano Hiro could not help but smile. "You really do look like a good wife and mother now."
Rize looked up at him, her lips curving. "What, is that not good?"
"It is good. Of course it is good." He smiled and nodded, then added, "By the way, Tsukiyama Shuu invited me to his restaurant. Do you want to come along?"
Rize immediately wrinkled her nose and waved her hand dismissively. "I will pass. Hiro can go alone."
She thought to herself that instead of wasting time at that pretentious man's place, she might as well research a few new dishes.
Amano Hiro did not insist. Estimating that the time was about right, he picked up his mask and set off for Anteiku.
As soon as he arrived at the entrance, a formally dressed servant of the Tsukiyama family was already waiting.
The moment he saw Amano Hiro, he stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Are you Hiro-san?"
After receiving confirmation, the servant stepped aside to lead the way. "Please follow me."
A luxury sedan with sleek lines was waiting by the roadside.
The servant respectfully opened the door. After Amano Hiro was seated, the car smoothly set off toward the 7th Ward.
There stood the Tsukiyama family's privately funded estate, built at enormous expense. It was also the location of the ghoul restaurant, covering a vast area and decorated with extreme opulence.
The 20th Ward was not far from the 7th Ward. Before long, the car passed through strict security gates and drove up to an extravagantly luxurious complex.
"Hiro-san, we have arrived." As the car came to a stop, two figures dressed in maid outfits immediately stepped forward and gently opened the door.
Amano Hiro stepped out and swept his gaze over the resplendent, gold-adorned buildings before him, inwardly sighing at the Tsukiyama family's immense wealth. Being rich was truly nice.