"May I ask your name…?"
The voice of Fueguchi Asaki trembled slightly.
"Ren Kiryu."
He smiled gently.
"Uncle Fueguchi, just call me Kiryu."
"I work at Anteiku."
Asaki stared at the calm young man standing before him.
Shock.
Fear.
Lingering dread.
All of it slowly transformed into something else.
Gratitude.
He tightened his arms around his trembling daughter.
His voice choked with emotion.
"Thank you… Kiryu-kun…"
"This kindness…"
"…I, Fueguchi Asaki, will never forget."
"You're exaggerating."
Ren waved his hand lightly.
"It's nothing special."
Then he gently rubbed Hinami Fueguchi's head.
"Besides…"
"I like this kid."
His eyes swept briefly across the messy clinic.
Broken furniture.
Blood stains.
Signs of a violent struggle.
Then he looked back at Asaki.
"Mr. Fueguchi."
"From what that guy said earlier…"
"You've been cooperating with the Commission of Counter Ghoul investigators?"
Asaki hesitated.
Then nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"They promised…"
"If I helped them investigate 'Jason'…"
"…they would let me go."
His voice sounded bitter.
After becoming entangled with Yakumo Oomori, his family had been forced apart for safety.
When the investigators discovered his identity as a ghoul—
Despair had nearly consumed him.
But they offered a deal.
Help investigate Jason.
And afterward—
He would be allowed to leave peacefully.
A desperate man had grasped that promise.
Even knowing it might be a lie.
"Were there two investigators?"
Ren asked quietly.
"A black-haired man…"
"And a white-haired one?"
Asaki nodded again.
Ren understood immediately.
If he hadn't arrived today—
Asaki would already be dead.
Other investigators might honor such agreements.
But not Kureo Mado.
The loss of his wife had twisted him.
In Mado's eyes—
Ghouls were nothing but targets.
Disposable tools.
Once Asaki lost his usefulness—
His kagune would become nothing more than a quinque weapon.
"This place isn't safe anymore."
Ren said quietly.
"The investigators might return."
"Take Hinami."
"Let's go back to Anteiku."
Asaki nodded immediately.
He lifted Hinami into his arms.
And followed closely behind.
Inside Ren's mind—
Carnage suddenly spoke.
[Two insects…]
[Watching us…]
[Familiar smell…]
Ren nodded faintly.
Mado and Kotaro Amon.
Since they were investigating Jason—
It wasn't surprising they had been observing the clinic.
He stopped briefly.
Then looked back at Asaki.
"Mr. Fueguchi."
"Put on your mask."
Asaki froze.
Then quickly understood.
He pulled a ghoul mask from his coat.
Putting it on.
Ren also slipped on his own mask.
Then they left the clinic.
Not far away—
Two figures stood on a rooftop.
Watching the street below.
"They've gone."
Amon lowered his binoculars.
Looking toward the older investigator beside him.
"Should we pursue them, Mado-san?"
Mado shook his head slowly.
"No need."
"It's too dangerous."
A thin smile twisted across his face.
"Besides…"
"We already obtained what we wanted."
He pulled a folded newspaper from his bag.
The headline read:
"Brutal Ghoul Incident in Aoba Alley."
"Finally…"
He murmured softly.
"…I found you."
His smile widened slightly.
Then his eyes drifted downward—
Toward the blood trail leading through the alley.
"Jason…"
Meanwhile—
Ren guided the Fueguchi family through the quiet streets of the 20th Ward.
Hinami clung tightly to her father.
Her small hands gripping his coat.
When they finally turned the last corner—
The familiar café door came into view.
At that moment—
Ren could feel the tension behind him disappear.
Asaki let out a long breath.
"Mr. Fueguchi."
He stopped at the entrance.
Turning slightly.
"Please go in."
"Mrs. Fueguchi has been waiting."
Asaki swallowed.
Then slowly removed his mask.
The café door opened.
Ding-a-ling.
The wind chime rang.
"Mom!"
Hinami spotted her immediately.
With a cry—
She jumped from her father's arms.
Running across the café like a tiny cannonball.
"Hinami!"
Ryoko Fueguchi stood abruptly.
Her arms opened instinctively.
The next second—
Hinami crashed into her embrace.
She held her daughter tightly.
Pressing her cheek against Hinami's soft hair.
Her racing heart finally calmed.
"How was it?"
Ryoko asked gently.
Holding Hinami's small face.
"Did you have fun?"
Hinami's red eyes sparkled.
She shook her head.
Then nodded excitedly.
"Mom!"
"Kiryu-nii and I…"
"…brought Daddy back!"
The words fell like a stone into still water.
Ryoko froze.
Brought Daddy back…?
Confusion filled her eyes.
Then—
A sudden realization struck her.
She lifted her head.
Looking past Hinami.
Toward the doorway.
Her gaze landed on Ren.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
Then stepped aside.
Revealing the man behind him.
Ryoko's eyes widened.
The familiar coat.
The tired yet gentle face.
It was the man she had been waiting for every day.
"Asaki…"
Her voice broke.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She stared at him.
Afraid the vision might disappear.
Asaki stepped forward slowly.
Standing before his wife and daughter.
Then he opened his arms.
No words were needed.
The three of them embraced tightly.
"Ryoko…"
His voice trembled.
"…I'm home."
"Yes…"
Ryoko sobbed softly.
"…you're home."
Visit patreon.com/ShiroTL for more chapters.