That "Me"

"Even without me, you still would've become a writer. But not long after that, you would've been defeated by Arima, the Cleaner of the V... and then the two of you would've started over a decade of collaboration."

Byakuya summarized what Eto should have gone through.

At first, Eto didn't seem particularly surprised. It all sounded like something she'd do.

But when she heard the part about herself standing in front of Anteiku, watching Yoshimura laugh with the staff while she crushed her own book in rage... her expression froze.

Thinking back, if not for Byakuya's intervention, she likely would have gone down exactly that path — completely severing ties with her father.

"...And after that? I never reconciled with my father, did I?"

No one understood Eto better than herself. She knew that if she had blown that one chance, she'd never have been able to forgive him — not because she couldn't, but because of everything the Washuu Clan and the V represented. A man who failed to be a father and didn't share her ideals wasn't worth the time.

"Yeah..." Byakuya nodded. "You and Arima began laying the groundwork for the true One-Eyed King — that person turned out to be Kaneki, ten years later. He was unintentionally transformed into an artificial half-ghoul using Rize's kakuhou. You and Arima saw potential in him."

"But you didn't put all your hopes on him. When the CCG launched their assault on the 20th Ward, you took the severely wounded Yoshimura and used him as a kakuhou donor to mass-produce artificial half-ghouls like Kaneki."

"In the end, the old man likely died in a haze — maybe even in peace — knowing he had done at least one thing for his daughter..."

Eto fell silent at that.

After a moment, she forced a twisted smile and said, "Figures. I really am a messed-up person. Even knowing I'd do such deranged things, you still like me?"

"Of course," Byakuya said, without hesitation. "You had your reasons. The old man had his. At the root of it all was the Washuu Clan. But we've already changed the Washuu — and now, you'll never have to become that person."

"I see" Eto chuckled. "You're clearly beyond saving. Teasing you isn't even fun anymore."

"Anyway... the one who eventually became the true One-Eyed King — was it Kaneki?"

"Exactly" Byakuya confirmed. "Kaneki remained the most successful artificial half-ghoul. Others like Takizawa and Amon were impressive, but Kaneki's success couldn't be replicated."

"But besides you and Arima, there was someone else who helped put Kaneki on the throne — Furuta Nimura. Or rather... Kichimura Washuu"

"Ohhh, little Furuta, huh? No wonder you cared so much about him. That explains everything."

Eto suddenly understood why Byakuya had shown such concern for Furuta and Rize. Those two were key players. Kaneki wouldn't have become king without them.

"In the end, Furuta orchestrated the extermination of the Washuu Clan. As for the V — he used you to wipe them all out."

Byakuya continued.

"Wait, he used me?"

Eto raised an eyebrow.

She'd never noticed anything particularly unusual about that sneaky little weasel Furuta.

"Yeah. His acting was impeccable. You thought he was just an average V agent. He deliberately led the V operatives to you — and in your quest for revenge, you slaughtered them all. Only then did he show his true fangs."

"Without you knowing, he had already implanted Rize's kakuhou in himself. On top of that, he'd spent years training his body. He beat you in the end."

Eto's gaze sharpened. "So, what happened to me?"

Byakuya hesitated before replying, "...After Furuta defeated you, you were left on the brink of death. Then, you were decapitated and taken over by the leader of the Clowns — the one they called The Priest. Later, when he was killed, you regained your freedom... and helped the CCG take down Kichimura."

"And after that? Did I die?"

Her voice was calm — oddly amused, even.

Despite the grim ending, there was a strange satisfaction in it. She'd succeeded in destroying the V. She'd won in the end.

Besides, it all felt like someone else's story now. That Eto no longer existed. Byakuya had changed everything.

"I can't say for sure" Byakuya replied. "I'd like to believe you survived."

In the original story, Eto's fate was left ambiguous. It was likely she died — but there were subtle hints she might have lived. A book by Sen Takatsuki left on a café table... that kind of thing.

But none of that mattered now. Eto was right here in front of him, alive and well.

"Well, whether that 'me' died or not, this me is still alive and kicking," she said with a smirk.

"Exactly. That's all I care about — that you're alive, especially you" Byakuya said sincerely.

"You're getting all cheesy again... but I don't hate it."

She tightened her grip on his arm.

"In the end, I guess it wasn't such a bad ending," Eto murmured. "The biggest flaw was just... that version of me spent her entire life trying to change the world, and in doing so, had to do so many twisted, horrible things."

She looked out the window, then added softly, "From the moment my adoptive father died, I was probably alone until the very end..."