Akuto grinned. "I'm glad you complimented me, but it won't change what I'm about to do."
"Kaneki, are your measurements done?"
Kaneki was utterly confused. He couldn't shake the feeling that, though Akuto was human, he knew far too much.
Kaneki didn't even know why he'd come here.
No one had explained a thing!
Uta's gaze turned sharp. Akuto's words had made it clear he came with hostile intent, yet Uta didn't rush to retaliate. "We're finished, Kaneki."
Kaneki stood blankly as Kirishima Touka stepped out of the restroom.
Those ugly socks were off, clenched tightly in her hand.
"Since it's over, let's go. It's not safe out there these days." Akuto stepped aside with a smile.
Touka opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing. She could feel the tension in the room, yet it was beyond her control.
Uta might only run a mask shop, but he was an SS-rated Ghoul—far stronger than her.
"Kaneki, let's move." Touka grabbed Kaneki and headed for the door. Just outside, a huge black wolf padded in, head low, growling.
"Let them leave." At Akuto's order, the black wolf moved away from the entrance.
Touka shot the towering beast a shocked glance, then dragged the dazed Kaneki Ken away.
Uta straightened slowly, scanning the room.
At the back door, a white wolf crouched, watching.
Outside the window, a seven-meter bird loomed.
Neither spoke.
Minutes passed in silence before Akuto walked to the bar and sat.
"I came to make a friend."
"But I'm picky—only those who can help me count as friends."
"Do you think you qualify?"
Uta couldn't gauge Akuto's strength.
Yet Kirishima Touka clearly knew him and left without hesitation—proof that, in her eyes, this man rivaled Uta.
Perhaps surpassed him.
With that thought Uta asked grimly. "What do you want? I'm just a mask-shop owner."
Akuto clicked his tongue in regret and studied his fingers. "Pity. I was looking for Uta of the Clowns."
"Guess I'll have to kill you."
Boom!!
The moment "Clowns" left Akuto's lips, Uta's pupils shrank. Before he could react, a size-46 boot filled his vision.
With a thunderous crash, Uta blasted through the wall and slammed into the alley below.
"Penetrating Ox!" Akuto formed a strange hand sign.
A colossal bull, four or five meters tall, filled the alley and charged.
From Uta's back, several root-like Kagune speared toward the beast. The tendrils sank barely a meter before stopping dead.
Only then did Uta realize how wrong he'd been.
Boom!!
At the last instant, Uta wrapped himself in Kagune, yet the impact shattered his tendrils instantly.
He was hurled backward, smashing through wall after wall.
Dust settled.
Among the rubble Uta coughed blood, barely able to move.
Akuto strolled over, set a foot on Uta's chest, and the ribs groaned.
Crack, crack…
"Hngh…"
Uta grunted.
The pressure increased.
"Tell me—can we be good friends?"
"Cough… y-yes… what… do you want?"
Uta knew he was outclassed; cooperation was the only way to survive.
"Hmm… let me think…"
Crack, crack…
Blood poured from Uta's mouth and nose as the weight grew.
"I'm looking for something."
Akuto looked down, eyes savage and bloodthirsty. "A finger wrapped in yellow talisman paper."
"You—and your Clowns—will find it for me. Even a lead will do."
"Disappoint me and you all die."
With that, Akuto grinned, lifted his foot, and crouched with his phone.
"Since we're friends, let's swap numbers."
Uta, bewildered by this mood-swinging man, trembled as they exchanged contact.
Akuto rose, clapped his hands, and walked off.
Just as Uta exhaled, the low voice returned.
"Don't think of running. The Divine Dogs have your scent."
"Run and you die."
Hours later.
"Welcome. What'll it be?"
Akuto entered a spartan bar: counter opposite six tables.
Behind the bar, a red-haired woman studied him with interest.
Every inch of her oozed allure.
"Godfather? Classic cocktail."
She spoke while mixing.
Akuto sat opposite, baring white teeth. "I came to make a friend."
"I know. Uta told me,"
Itori said, sliding the drink over and resting her chin on her hands. "Absolutely perfect man."
"Uta says you're not a Ghoul."
Akuto tasted strong alcohol, faint citrus, and cinnamon.
"Don't lump me with bugs." He downed the glass.
"So, do you have what I need?"
Itori shook her head. "Sadly, no."
"But this is the best place for intel. I'll find it."
Akuto left his contact and walked out.
Only then did Itori turn serious, staring after him.
Uta had said the fight hadn't lasted ten moves.
"An Onmyoji… those actually exist."
From Uta's description, she guessed Akuto was one of the legendary Onmyoji—summoning shikigami from shadows.
Outside the bar, Akuto sat in his car and scratched his head.
"Last time I was too busy trying to kill Eto Yoshimura, never got her number."
"Tch, all I thought about was slicing her up."
Left with no choice, he went hunting random "friends."
Sadly every "friend" he met was trash, useless even as pawns, so he slaughtered them all.
Two days flew by.
A new urban legend spread among Ghouls.
If a human asks you for a finger, promise you'll find it or die.
That was the rumor among the bottom-feeders.
Higher-ranking Ghouls already knew Akuto's identity and goal.
The sealed finger became the hottest topic in Ghoul society.
Even some investigators heard of it.
While exterminating ghouls they found some obsessively hunting for "the finger," preferring death over surrender.
For a while the CCG assumed "finger" was the code name of some ghoul.