2:30 p.m.
When Akuto arrived at the bookstore, a long line already snaked down the street. He wasn't in any hurry, simply took his place at the end and waited.
After more than an hour, he could finally see Takatsuki Sen.
A pint-sized green-haired girl, languid and adorable, was greeting everyone with that gentle smile.
Who could guess she was the CCG's most-wanted Ghoul, the One-Eyed Owl, leader of the Aogiri Tree?
"Thank you so much for your support." Hands clasped, Takatsuki Sen or Eto Yoshimura sent off the previous reader, glanced up—and froze.
The man in front of her was handsome, but not absurdly so, just enough for her to pay attention to, but what made him different in her eyes was his self-confidence and his posture.
Still, business was business; she flashed a cute smile. "Hello. Did you forget to bring your book?"
Only then did Akuto remember this was a signing; he turned, plucked the volume from the dazed girl behind him. "Here."
"Ehh? Is that really okay? That poor girl looks ready to cry."
Eto's gaze flicked between him and the girl.
"You punk, quit causing trouble!"
"Yeah, get lost!"
Several guys in line shouted in outrage.
Akuto glanced back; crimson eyes flashed with killing intent and the men snapped their mouths shut.
He pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and handed it to the girl.
Her tears vanished; beaming, she sprinted off with the money. "All right now?"
Eto blinked, then smiled sweetly. "Well, no problem, I guess."
"What shall I write? Best wishes? Also, what's your name?"
"Akuto." He leaned in, voice low for her ears only, "How about Eto Yoshimura wishing Mr. Akuto's every success sounds good?"
Her heart lurched; her eyes narrowed. Almost no one outside Aogiri's Higher-Ups knew the name Eto Yoshimura.
The air turned to ice.
"Takatsuki-sensei?" A worried staff member stepped closer.
Mind racing, she flashed a bright smile.
"I'm Takatsuki Sen. I think you've mistaken me for someone else." She scrawled a blessing and thrust the book at him.
He didn't take it, hands in pockets, looking down at her. "So, Takatsuki-sensei, free for dinner?"
"Hey, you brat!"
"Stop bothering Takatsuki-sensei!"
"Keep harassing her and we'll call the police!"
Readers and staff surged forward to drive him off.
"Sure." Her answer detonated like a bomb across the room.
"What? Takatsuki-sensei said yes!"
"Damn that guy!"
"Lucky bastard!"
"So you just have to ask…"
Everyone wrote him off as a jammy jerk.
Only Takatsuki knew she was already weighing whether to kill him.
Anyone she couldn't control—and who might derail her plans—was disposable.
'No,' Eto Yoshimura was weighing it.
Akuto left without the book.
Late that night he sat on a rooftop, cigarette glowing.
"Seems Mr. Akuto isn't afraid at all."
A crisp voice sounded behind him.
He turned: a girl wrapped in bandages, wearing a bunny-cloak, stood there. The bandages hugged every curve of her figure. She skipped forward, hands behind her back.
"Should I call you Takatsuki Sen, or Eto Yoshimura?" He stayed seated and exhaled smoke.
Eto studied him, uncertain. "First name's fine. You call me Eto, I'll call you Akuto—deal?"
Silhouettes flickered on surrounding roofs, dozens of crimson kakugan gleaming.
"Sure."
They might have been new best friends.
"So, Akuto-kun, how did you learn my real name?"
He clicked his tongue.
Truthfully, Eto Yoshimura had nailed his type perfectly. He hated admitting it, but this was exactly his weakness.
"Shame you're a Ghoul." (T/N: Nah fuck that, I'd still tap.)
"Then it doesn't matter." He flicked his cigarette away. "How about you swear fealty to me?"
"Be my pet."
"I'll show you a bigger world."
Eto blinked, then giggled behind her hand. "Akuto-kun, you're hilarious."
He shrugged. "Looks like a no—too bad."
Without warning her Kagune shot toward him.
He tilted his head, grabbed the tentacle, and yanked her in.
Eto charged, her Koukaku forming four spear-arms that stabbed at him.
"Dismantle." He pointed two fingers at her.
Invisible slashes tore through the air.
Mid-air, Eto's eyes widened; her Koukaku folded into a shield. The armour shattered, revealing her startled face.
White bandages bloomed red.
"What was that?"
"Tell me, Akuto-kun, and I'll be very grateful." She tilted her head as if she hadn't just struck first.
"Divine Dogs!"
"Nue!" He flashed two hand-signs; black-and-white wolves and a huge owl erupted into existence.
The wolves padded to his sides while the ten-metre owl melted into darkness. "Still want to know?"
"If I explain, my technique gets stronger." He grinned—because the words themselves were the condition.
Revealing his Cursed Technique to the enemy boosted its power.
And the boost had already activated; the explanation counted.
Eto hadn't noticed the trap. "I'm curious—please explain."
"It's a Cursed Technique, innate. Invisible slashes."
"They're random, but you read the air's vibration to dodge."
"I see." Her eyes sparkled.
"How fascinating."
"Ready for something even newer?" A cruel smile spread across his face; the thought of carving this cute girl up excited him.
He slowly raised his hand. "Cleave."