Tokyo Ghoul: HELL YEAH! MADARA TEMPLATE!!

"The mission to eliminate the A-class ghoul 'Hyena' has been completed. There won't be any new assignments for now. You should take some time to rest."

Ui Koori said this to Kanzaki Ryoma. "Fighting both the A-class 'Hyena' and the S-class 'Gecko' back-to-back... even a senior investigator would struggle with that."

"Got it."

Ryoma nodded slightly.

As for his own plans, he had no intention of informing Ui Koori.

...

With no immediate missions, Ryoma parted ways with Ui Koori and returned alone to the 20th Ward.

However, he had other things to take care of in the 20th Ward.

During this time, "Gecko" — Yakumo Oomori's mission — was to capture Rize Kamishiro alive. This meant that Yakumo was likely to be active in the area soon. After all, it wasn't exactly a secret that "Owl" was in the 20th Ward; anyone with enough curiosity could figure that out.

While Yakumo wasn't a threat to Rize directly, he posed a significant danger to Ryoko Fueguchi and her daughter, Hinami Fueguchi.

Considering Fueguchi Asaki's involvement, there was a chance Yakumo might target Ryoko and Hinami in retaliation.

Ryoma returned home first. When he saw that Rize wasn't there, he assumed she had gone to the Anteiku coffee shop.

Or maybe she ran into "Gecko" — but Ryoma wasn't too concerned. Yakumo couldn't do much to Rize Kamishiro.

Unless, of course, something unexpected happened...

...

When Ryoma arrived at Anteiku, he spotted Rize inside.

"As expected, you're here," Ryoma said, taking a seat beside her.

"Didn't you go to the 19th Ward for investigation? Back already?" Rize asked with mild surprise.

"Yeah, things went smoothly. If not for some people getting in the way, it would've been even faster," Ryoma replied. "By the way, do you know a guy named 'Gecko'?"

That man's brutal nature, twisted by years of torture under Kazuo Tokage, had earned him the nickname "Gecko."

Rize thought for a moment. "I remember him... just some boring guy who once tried to capture me."

"I ran into him in the 19th Ward. He'll likely show up in the 20th Ward next, so keep an eye out," Ryoma warned.

"Yeah, not that he's worth my concern," Rize said with a grin.

After chatting for a while, Rize and Ryoma left the café together.

Just as they were about to step outside, a mother and daughter walked in.

Both had brown hair and matching brown eyes. Their similar facial features were delicate and beautiful. Ryoma immediately recognized them as Ryoko and Hinami Fueguchi.

As Ryoma and Rize passed by, Hinami instinctively hid behind her mother, avoiding the strangers.

But then... she froze.

Because she could smell something familiar — something very familiar — coming from the man.

That's... Dad's scent!

Hinami was sure she wasn't mistaken. This was definitely her father's scent.

Is this man... a human? Hinami wondered. Has he had contact with Dad?

Hinami, still anxious about her father's fate, grew even more concerned. But despite her curiosity, she didn't dare say anything and only stared quietly at the man.

Once Ryoma and Rize had left, Hinami gently tugged on Ryoko's sleeve and whispered, "Mom... that man just now..."

"I know, I smelled it too," Ryoko replied softly, her tone laced with concern. "But if he's a ghoul investigator... we might be in danger."

Moments earlier, Ryoko and Hinami had been too focused on Ryoma to notice that Rize herself was also a ghoul — otherwise, Ryoko might have realized Ryoma was an investigator.

Which, of course, he was.

"Yeah... I just wonder how Dad's doing..." Hinami murmured sadly, her expression clouded with worry.

Ever since they'd fled to the 20th Ward, they had lost contact with Asaki.

In reality, Asaki had intentionally cut ties to keep Ryoko and Hinami out of the trouble that followed him.

"..."

Ryoko's expression darkened with heavy concern.

"Ms. Ryoko, Miss Hinami, the manager is waiting for you upstairs."

At that moment, Touka Kirishima greeted them with a warm smile.

"Okay... okay, thank you, Touka," Ryoko said with a grateful nod.

Hinami, familiar with Touka, smiled shyly as well.

Ryoko bowed slightly to express her gratitude before heading upstairs with her daughter to meet with Yoshimura.

The "goods" Yoshimura provided — actually human corpses — were a necessary resource.

Because Ryoko and Hinami refused to hunt humans themselves, they relied on Anteiku's help to survive.

Though Ryoko could manifest her kagune, meaning she was at least B-class by CCG standards, she wasn't willing to kill. Neither she nor Hinami had the heart for it.

Now living in the 20th Ward, they depended on the protection and support of Yoshimura and Touka.

...

Meanwhile...

Ryoma and Rize had just walked a short distance from the café when Rize spoke up.

"That little girl seemed to pay close attention to you... and she's a ghoul."

"Didn't I tell you before that I ran into 'Gecko' in the 19th Ward?" Ryoma said coolly. "He was at a clinic at the time."

"And that mother and daughter might have some connection to the doctor from that clinic," Ryoma continued. "The daughter's face resembles the doctor's."

"Yeah, some of the scent on you overlaps with their scent. Sounds like the doctor you met is probably a relative of theirs," Rize nodded thoughtfully.

"Exactly. I'm planning to drive 'Gecko' out of here," Ryoma said emotionlessly.

Sooner or later, 'Gecko' would target the Fueguchi family.

And Ryoma had already made up his mind — Yakumo Oomori's death was inevitable.

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