A game of one-upsmanship

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I didn't like it. Not at all. Not only did we wait in line for twenty minutes, but the primary process of worship was just a reading of a more detailed description of the religion from the Sixth's own mouth.

My thoughts, however, were preoccupied with something else entirely. That wave of magic I felt. And the conclusion was... not very comforting. I remember when I was in Akame's world, there was another Ghoul who had been sent there to try and kill me. Although, it was more likely just an amusement for that crazy woman who once turned part of me to ashes.

And if this situation is happening now, that's too bad. The emission was quite powerful, and if it's a close mage, it's even worse. They usually surround themselves with an aura, which would make it very painful to attack.

No, my strength was pretty good, and I could kill him easily, but it would almost certainly be incognito, which would be bad for my plans. However, this power... it seemed so... familiar.....

I was interrupted from my thoughts by Yuno's timid voice. She asked where exactly we were going now. After weighing my priorities, I decided to go home.

Tomorrow I should send Yuno to the school to meet Hinata, the dog breeder's daughter. Through her, we can find out his name and where he lives, and killing him won't be a problem.

Perhaps the biggest problem right now is Seven and Twelve. They are the ones I'm most worried about, as they will be hard to find. But, if I know how to meet with the first two, but with the fighter for justice... Hmm.

Right now, the best thing to do would be to arrange or find out about the funeral of this Eighth, and I'm pretty sure there will be one. I wouldn't even be surprised if there's a mourning period for the terrorist attack on the orphanage. And at this funeral, those two lovers will probably show up, because they came from this orphanage, as far as I know.

Twelfth, it's worse. I don't know if it's true or not, but I remember something about him having a shop somewhere on the beach where he sold a bunch of his hero merchandise. There's only two beaches in the city, so you can walk around and look with Minene.

However, then again... the hitman is going to mess up my cards now... should I walk around the city so openly if he knows my face? Hmm... what if...

***

- You look pathetic. - Minene said slowly. - Very.

- Mmm... - Yuno hesitated hesitantly. - really, it was better before.

- Shut up. - I said angrily through clenched teeth, getting into the car.

- Seriously, go ask for the paint to be taken off. - continued Minene, sitting behind the wheel. - Black hair colour... it really doesn't suit you. It's like a hikan.

- Shut up and drive.

Yes, I dyed my hair. I'm not sure if it was worth it, but I can blend in easily now. I don't know how that mage is going to detect me, but it's better for me to be safe.

However... an unpleasant feeling was pressing in on me. I don't like this hair colour at all, I'm too used to white. And it was worth it when I looked out the window, seeing the slight reflection, the degree of horror that happened to my appearance was immeasurable.

***

I yawned, sticking my headphones in my ears. Yuno had just left for school, since I had instructed her as early as yesterday. And now, Minene is going for a walk on the beach with her.

Mass destruction by Lotus Juice was playing in my ears. Somehow without noticing, I started singing along while brewing my coffee.

- Oh, yeah! Para-pa-pam, para-pa-pam, para-pa-pam! Babe, babe, ta-ra, ta-ta, ta-ta, ta-ta-tam!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I breathed in more air... and smelled a rather familiar odour. Immediately, I flew to the door and trying to keep a normal expression on my face, opened it.

The ugly, smiling face immediately pissed me off.

- Hello... father..." I tried with all my might to force joy and friendliness into my voice, but it didn't quite work on my face. I don't know if he noticed or not, but....

- Kaneki! - He exclaimed joyfully, hugging me. To be honest, the irritation bubbling up inside me almost made me spill my guts. - Oh, son, it's been a long time!

- A long time. - I nodded, freeing myself. - Mum's... not here. Yukiteru is at school.

- Oh, really? Why are you here?

- Oh, we had our first class... cancelled, we have to go to the second class. - I softly declined, suddenly realising that I had no idea if there was such a thing as "second period" in Japan.

However, my father accepted my very risky lie, which reassured me slightly.

- Okay, okay. I was going to surprise you..." he sighed sadly, and I thought to myself that it would have been more of a surprise if Yuno, Minene, and I had come back as a group.

- Come in, why are you standing on the doorstep! - I pulled a smile on my face as I made way.

And as soon as the door closed behind us, my rinkaku finally got the signal to release.

***

- You killed your father too..." Minene sighed, surprisingly calmly accepting the body lying on the floor with a hole in its chest. - You did what to him? The hole is big...

- With my unique weapon of Thirteen. - I answered easily. - Quickly go and get some rags to wipe up the blood. There, in the kitchen, in the cupboard under the sink.

Minene went the way I had indicated, and I quickly ran for a large pillow, which I put in the wound, so that less blood spillage. Next, I dragged the carcass to the backyard, used the window, and started digging another hole right next to where Reya Amano was now resting.

However, I was damn lucky. When I was halfway through the burying process, when the body had already been covered but the hole not all the way through, our old lady neighbour, who I had smelled a moment ago, peeked in sharply over the fence.

- Oh, Kanekushka, hello. What are you burying?

By the way, she was the one who'd called the cops after Rhea's murder, which made her not a very good person in my eyes. As I looked down at the unfilled hole, I remembered I had to hurry to get to the beach, and digging another one would take too long.

- The dog died. - Putting on a sad mask, I answered. - Here, I'm burying it.

- Oh, poor thing. - wailed the old woman. - What's it for?

- From some kind of disease, something to do with the kidneys.

- Oh, it's a pity, it's a pity... Come on, come on. - she disappeared behind the fence, and last I heard: when did they get a dog?

***

I strolled along the beach, looking slightly interested in the bathers. It's mid to late spring now, and because of the location, we have very summer-like temperatures here, so a lot of people are already swimming.

Huh... I wonder, when was the last time I had such a carefree swim in the sea like this? That... that was... huh, I don't remember that. I wonder if he's ever been to the sea in his lifetime? He probably did.

- What are you looking at? - Minene asked. - when she saw me looking at her.

- No, nothing. Why don't we split up? It'll be faster that way.

- How about we take a break for a bit? I just brought my swimming costume... I even accidentally found your swim trunks... - judging by the look on her face, everything had been planned in advance. I found plenty of reasons to refuse, but I grudgingly agreed. When had I ever had swim trunks?

We swam for about half an hour, during which, I suddenly realised that when I got back, I should take all my girls/friends/sis to the sea. That's really cool. I probably should have gone here at least once in this year and a half.

Next, Minene somehow scammed me into buying her an ice cream. To be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable with the looks that the people around her were throwing at her, because we didn't look at all like sister/younger brother or even mother/son. And it wasn't the fact that they were looking at me like I was a paedophile that confused me, it was the complete opposite. MINE was being looked at as a paedophile. That's not at all welcome here, and she was acting like... like my girlfriend, even though we both seemed to think our behaviour was nothing short of friendly.

And as a result, it came to the point where a man in a drowning lifeguard uniform came up to us and pointed out this... mishap. Ha ha, but of course, Minene's face at that moment was worth it. That skewed face will keep me warm in the evenings for a long time to come.

- Be optimistic, we're at sea. - I said with a smile as we walked along the beach.

- Shut up.

- So what if you were accused of paedophilia?

- Shut up!

- Really, wasn't he right?

- YOU LOOK 18, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!?!? - hmm... I think that's called a "fart burst" in high school parlance.

***

I guess when we split up, I got a little frustrated after five minutes of silence. There's noise and noise, people are having fun, but I have no one to talk to... I just have to walk along the seafront and look for a certain shop.

And just like that, thinking about life, my phone rang. It was Juno. For a moment I wondered how she got my number, but decided not to think about it further, so as not to experience a moral facepalm.

- Gulman here, scout, do you copy?

There was silence in the receiver for a few seconds, after which Yuno still gave an embarrassed voice.

- Kaneki is that you?

- Yes, it's me. You're back from school already?

- Mm-hmm... there's a bloody stain in the corridor here. Is everything alright?

- Yeah, just some very nasty man came round in the form of my father and I had to talk to him. You can see the result. Like at school, did you do what I asked?

- Yes! I got Tenth's address!

- Well done, I'm proud of you. Minene and I are going round the beach looking for a shop where another friend of ours works. In the meantime, use the computer to find out when Eight's funeral is. You remember I told you about it.

- I remember! Okay, I'll find out and call you right away.

- Bye.

I switched off, putting the phone in my pocket. Her voice was so happy. She's really obsessed with me. Can you call it love?

Suddenly, the phone rang again. This time, it was Minene.

- Didn't you find it?

- No, I'm still looking. What about you?

- There are a couple of superhero product shops here, but it's obviously not that, they're comic book ones.

- Yuno called, said she found out about Hinata's dad.

- Oh well, at least there's some good news! - Minene snorted into the phone. - What about Sixth?

- I haven't forgotten about her, but she won't run away from us, we'll still have time to visit her. And this shop should be found as soon as possible, there's no telling what will happen in the future.

- All right. Call me if you need anything.

- Okay, I'll be in touch.

I put the phone back in my pocket, looking round the row of small houses that had started. Cafes, rides, more cafes and shit where you stick your feet in an aquarium and there's a bunch of fish. Also a kebab shop and...

When I saw the last building, my feet almost danced with happiness. The sign said: "Justice Hero's Gift Shop. And next to it, there was a white helmet ball with scarlet lines, very familiar to me from the anime.

Upon entering, a very peculiar atmosphere came to my eyes. There were mugs/t-shirts/accessories everywhere and on each one, there were different images of this very dude in a suit. Well, or slogan inscriptions.

Behind the counter stood a man, black-haired and with characteristic eyes with white, as if with cracks, pupil, which spoke of blindness.

- "Hello!" he exclaimed cheerfully as soon as I stepped through the door. - You've come to--

- I know where I'm going, Twelfth. - I interrupted him, closing the door to the cabin.

The man shut up immediately, and his face twisted uncomprehendingly.

- I'm Thirteen. And I frankly didn't like how much time I had to spend looking for you.

Rinkaku released himself almost instantly, heading sharply for the blind man... who suddenly dodged, then dodged another tentacle, but when the first one broke free of the wall and literally trapped him, there was nothing he could do.

The body was chopped into several pieces, and I hurriedly chased the kagune back in and out the door, grabbing a large, white mug for last. However...

On my way out, I had a chest bump with a girl, which instantly made me slightly angry. Should I quickly rush out, or go in with her and slaughter her too?

- I'm sorry, I..." the words stuck in my throat when I saw her face. The mug fell out of my hands, miraculously not shattering but cracking.

- Found...," the one person I least expected to be here said in a shaky voice.

My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't notice when she squeezed me in a very strong hug.

- Yui..." whispered Akemi.