Chapter 9. Three Ghouls Share Lemon Tea, Power Is Hungry

After Touka rushed back to Anteiku, sucking down her lemon tea—

Everyone understood immediately. That drink had to be from the young chef.

"Touka, did you meet that young chef?" Kaya Irimi asked.

"I saw him in the courtyard," Touka replied, her face still glowing with happiness. "He said the place opens at 6 p.m. It's a midnight diner. Told me to come back later."

Koma Enji froze slightly. "Normal operating hours... so it's a regular shop…?"

But if it were truly a regular shop, how could it produce food that ghouls could eat?

Who exactly was that chef?

Regardless, everyone's thoughts were now firmly focused on that mysterious shop owner.

How exactly was he able to make such food?

Just then, the back door of the café opened, and Yoshimura stepped out.

He looked at Touka with a warm smile.

"Since you've already met the young chef, once his place opens later this afternoon, go represent Anteiku and pay him a visit. Don't forget to bring a gift. Be polite."

With that, he placed a bag of coffee beans down.

Everyone took a closer look, and Koma Enji gasped. "Manager, isn't that your prized batch of beans?!"

Because ghouls could only consume coffee, good beans were especially valuable.

This particular bag was part of Yoshimura's personal collection—only ground and shared during his quiet moments, never for sale.

Yoshimura shook his head. "No matter how precious they are, they're not more valuable than the sakura mochi that young man gave us the other day. Don't disrespect others by assuming they don't understand the worth of their gift."

Hearing that, everyone nodded seriously.

Touka looked at the beans. "But… what about my afternoon shift...?"

"Consider it a half-day off," Yoshimura said. "This is your assignment for the afternoon."

"I understand," Touka nodded and carefully put the coffee beans away.

At that moment—

Koma Enji paused to ask, "About what happened last night..."

Yoshimura's eyes stayed narrowed. "It has nothing to do with us. Just a normal fight, though a little too unruly."

Irimi added coldly, "How dare they cause trouble near the café."

Anteiku was the heart of the safe zone.

To have such a reckless brawl near it—it was practically a slap to their face.

Even the manager had said they were out of line.

So once things settled down tonight, they and Renji Yomo planned to go "educate" the surrounding ghouls—a proper lesson in respect.

They must've forgotten their last beatdown.

With that settled, the manager turned and left.

Everyone's attention returned to the lemon tea Touka brought back.

Hayashi had given her a pretty large glass—700ml.

Seeing there was still plenty left, everyone suddenly felt tempted.

Irimi and Koma exchanged a glance, silently took out two coffee mugs, and slid them toward Touka.

"Ahem… Touka-chan."

Touka: ...

She couldn't believe it.

The "Black Doberman" and the "Demon Ape"—

Two SS-ranked ghouls begging a colleague for a sip of lemon tea!?

If anyone saw this, they'd probably think morality itself had broken down.

It was ridiculous.

As the saying goes: "If you meet, you split."

Though it pained her, Touka poured around 200ml into each mug.

Her glass didn't have much left after that.

The three of them fell silent, each sipping their tea.

One sip—

Koma and Irimi's expressions softened into bliss.

"So this is lemon tea..."

"This is what sweet-and-sour tastes like..."

"Ahh..."

One sip led to another, and their cups were empty in no time.

They smacked their lips—not nearly enough.

Actually, no amount seemed to be enough.

Their eyes drifted back to Touka's glass—specifically, the lemon slices floating inside.

There were three.

So…

They each took one and bit into it.

"So sour~!"

All three squinted at the same time.

But they still slowly chewed and swallowed the slices.

Irimi even licked her fingers afterward.

In the end—

As Touka packed up her things, both Irimi and Koma pulled out some cash and handed it to her.

"Touka-chan, if there's any way to pack food from that place—no matter what it is—please bring some back."

"Please! And one portion for Manager Yoshimura too!"

Touka: ...

What else could she say?

She'd become the group's meal mule.

The only one who could bring food back!

She accepted the money and nodded.

"If I can, I'll bring it."

Irimi smiled. "We're counting on you, Touka-chan."

Koma: "Ganbatte!"

Meanwhile, on another street—

The CCG was investigating the ghoul's corpse. Based on the surroundings, the wounds seemed consistent with a brawl between the two.

In the Anti-Devil Division, Aki Hayakawa looked over the devil's body, then the ghoul's. Something didn't sit right.

Power stood off to the side, completely spaced out—probably half-asleep.

Makima crouched beside the devil's corpse, deep in thought.

Just then, Aki walked over.

Makima glanced at him.

Aki shared his thoughts. "Although it looks like a mutual fight… there's no sign of a killing blow on either of them."

Meaning: what exactly caused their deaths?

Where's the fatal hit from either side?

There was none.

Makima nodded—confirming his observation.

She looked again at both corpses, recalling that strange sensation from the previous night, and finally asked:

"Time of death?"

"Late last night," Aki checked the report. "Specifically around 1 a.m."

"Ha~~~" Power yawned.

Makima checked the time again—and confirmed it.

The timestamp matched the odd feeling she'd sensed.

It was 99% likely that what she felt… was this.

Makima stood and murmured,

"There was a third party."

"?" Aki blinked.

Where? There was no trace at all!

Makima had no leads either. She just knew.

She scanned the area and checked the time again.

Off to the side, Power clutched her stomach. "I'm hungry..."

Makima suddenly recalled the stare from this afternoon—and the restaurant in the alley.

"Let's go. We'll eat first."

The moment Power heard that, she bolted ahead.

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