Promise

"T-Too close..."

Kaneki's face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"What are you even talking about? How else are we supposed to read a manga together if we don't sit close?"

Touka looked confused for a second. Then, as if realizing something, her expression shifted into one of mild disgust. "Wait... you're not thinking something weird, are you?"

Even though both Kaneki and Touka were still young, they had a vague understanding of certain things.

"N-No! Of course not!"

Kaneki quickly denied it.

"Hmm..."

Touka didn't overthink it too much and shrugged. "I don't get you. So are you reading or not? If you are, stop hesitating."

Kaneki had just moved back a little, but Touka immediately leaned in again.

"A-Alright, I'll read..."

Kaneki wasn't good at rejecting people, especially when it came to a cute girl.

His face grew even redder as Touka's shoulder pressed against his, making it easier for them to read together.

Watching this unfold, Byakuya remained silent, finding the situation rather amusing.

"Looks like little Touka is a strong-willed girl"

Eto commented with a playful smile.

"She certainly is."

Hikari also smiled softly.

Even though Touka was still young, Hikari wasn't worried. To her, their interaction seemed pure and innocent.

If anything, she hoped Touka could make more friends — whether human or ghoul.

After chatting with Hikari for a while, Byakuya and Eto prepared to leave.

Before heading out, Eto grabbed a copy of Dear Kafka—naturally, she had to buy a copy of her own book.

"Kaneki, we're heading out. You and Touka can take your time reading manga."

Byakuya called out to Kaneki.

Kaneki quickly looked up. "Oh... okay. See you."

"So... that girl's name is Touka, huh?"

Touka also waved to them briefly before turning back to force Kaneki into more manga reading.

About ten minutes later, they had already made it through most of the volume.

"So? Even if you were clueless before, you have to admit manga is amazing now, right?"

Touka asked confidently.

"Well..."

Kaneki scratched his cheek lightly. "It was... okay, I guess."

His perspective on manga had shifted slightly, but only just a little.

Now that he had read through more of it, he could see why people found it fun. But compared to Dear Kafka, manga still didn't draw him in as much.

"Just 'okay'?"

Touka frowned, clearly dissatisfied.

"Well... I should probably get going now."

Kaneki glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed it was getting late.

Even though his parents were gone, he still followed the rules they had once set—like coming home at a certain time.

"Hmph, fine. But tomorrow, same time, I'm going to show you an even better manga! Just wait!"

With that, Touka turned to leave with her mother.

"Oh yeah, what's your name?"

Before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to Kaneki.

"I'm Ken Kaneki... and you?"

Kaneki asked hesitantly.

"Touka Kirishima"

Touka nodded. "Don't forget about tomorrow."

"O-Okay..."

Kaneki stood there, a bit dazed.

"So... I'll be seeing her again tomorrow?"

For some reason, he found himself oddly looking forward to it.

Even though manga wasn't his thing, he didn't mind reading it with her.

One reason was that the stories weren't too bad.

The other reason...

Well, maybe reading with a girl gave him a different kind of feeling.

...

Eto returned home feeling satisfied, carrying a physical copy of her book.

"Now that Dear Kafka has been published, are you planning to take it to Anteiku?"

Byakuya brought up the topic.

"I am... but I need to mentally prepare myself first."

Eto lay down on the couch and casually used Byakuya's leg as a pillow, flipping through her book while lost in thought about Anteiku.

"There's no rush. Take your time."

Byakuya replied.

"You think... Kuzen will recognize me at first glance?"

Eto suddenly asked.

"Probably not. You haven't seen each other in years, right?"

Byakuya guessed.

In the original timeline, Yoshimura had recognized Eto as his daughter because she had already made a name for herself as Sen Takatsuki, and he had learned that she was the author.

"Yeah... that makes sense. I should think about what to say when I see him."

Eto murmured softly.

"Mm..."

Byakuya didn't say much.

This was something personal between father and daughter, and he couldn't really interfere.

That night.

Just like always, Byakuya found himself sandwiched between Eto and Mayu, like the filling of a sandwich.

Mayu had already fallen asleep, but Eto was still awake.

"You know what? I'll just go tomorrow."

Eto suddenly whispered into Byakuya's ear.

She seemed to have made up her mind.

As for "mental preparation," she realized it wasn't something she actually needed.

"Alright then. As long as you've thought it through."

Byakuya responded.

"I have. And you'll come with me, right? You're free tomorrow?"

Eto asked.

Meeting her father after all these years, in such a complicated situation, she naturally felt a bit nervous.

Having Byakuya there would make it easier.

"Of course. I already told you I'd go with you."

Byakuya reassured her.

Still, he couldn't help but fall into thought...

Not only was Eto nervous, but he was also feeling a bit tense himself.

After all, the last time he encountered Yoshimura, he had cut off both of the old man's kagune arms.

Now, he was going to meet him again — this time, with Yoshimura knowing that he was a CCG investigator.

Yeah...

This was going to require some explaining.