Before long, there was one more person at the dining table, eating fried rice together.
Kamishiro Rize seemed to be becoming more ladylike.
Before, when she first ate steak, she was no different from tigers or lions - all tearing and swallowing.
Yes, swallowing - she didn't even have a chewing process.
Basically tearing into small pieces, then swallowing them.
A complete savage.
Later, she became slightly aware and started changing.
But still couldn't break the habit of taking big bites.
Whether eating steak or other meat, she always seemed rushed, somewhat fierce, like protecting her food.
Until now, she was much, much better.
Eating fried rice one bite at a time, not immediately stuffing a second spoonful before finishing what was in her mouth.
Her movements had also become elegant.
She moved unhurriedly, chewed at a steady pace.
She looked much more ladylike overall.
Better than normal people.
"..." Noticing Hayashi's gaze, Kamishiro Rize smiled slightly and brushed her hair behind her ear: "What's wrong? Am I eating too wildly?"
"No, you're much better now." Hayashi sighed: "You're improving so fast."
Kamishiro Rize smiled gently: "Because I have a goal, and someone I care about."
The goal went without saying.
The person she cared about was even more obvious.
It was practically a confession.
Hayashi ate his food, gave her a "just wait" look, and continued eating with his head down.
Kamishiro Rize's eyes were charming, containing autumn waves.
After finishing breakfast.
Hayashi poured Kamishiro Rize a cup of iced fresh milk tea.
"Try this, see how it is."
Kamishiro Rize took a sip, her eyes indeed lighting up.
"A bit sweeter, but not overly sweet. There's a tea flavor, but it doesn't conflict - the combination is really good."
Hayashi asked: "Compared to the coffee I make, which do you prefer?"
This was a difficult question.
Kamishiro Rize frowned and thought.
Finally could only use innocent eyes: "Both are delicious, really both are delicious. I can't choose."
"Alright."
If both were delicious, then forget it.
Ghouls were already used to drinking coffee. If it could match coffee, that meant it was very delicious, maybe even better.
Next.
Tohru cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks from the meal.
Hayashi stretched and sat at the table by the window.
The rain was still falling outside.
This position best matched the mood of rain.
Kamishiro Rize came over, sat across from Hayashi, then took off her high heels and put her feet on the chair on Hayashi's side.
Hearing the movement, Hayashi looked down.
"Your legs are this long?"
To reach from there to here, you'd need legs over a meter long.
Hearing this, Kamishiro Rize moved her feet closer, resting them on Hayashi's legs.
"Don't you already know?"
"True..."
Not just know.
He'd even carried them - he was just focused on touching at the time and didn't carefully look at how long they were.
Anyway, they went past his shoulders.
Hayashi leaned back on the sofa, listening to the rain, waiting for it to stop: "Tell me what you've been up to these days."
Under the table.
Kamishiro Rize's toes teased Hayashi's thigh.
Above the table.
Kamishiro Rize looked calm and composed, propping her chin with one hand, sometimes looking at the rain, sometimes at Hayashi as she spoke.
"I've been investigating the human experimentation matter."
"Initially, I only knew the Washuu family was involved. Their purpose in cultivating me was to create more and stronger half-kakuja to control and achieve their goals."
Hayashi nodded: "Right, that's how it is."
Kamishiro Rize continued: "But I discovered it goes far beyond that."
"The Washuu family are hidden high-ranking members of CCG, so CCG can't escape involvement either."
"Through investigation, I found that CCG's investigator academies, children's welfare institutions, and so on all have ulterior purposes. I even discovered ghoul traces inside, very strong ones. I couldn't go in to investigate."
What Kamishiro Rize said.
Immediately reminded Hayashi of later events.
The Black and White sisters seemed to have come from the investigator academy.
And that children's welfare institution - he remembered it was a hidden boss location.
These matters were all vague.
Even Hayashi couldn't be certain.
"So what do you plan to do? Have you considered my suggestion?" Hayashi asked.
His suggestion was not to fight alone.
Kamishiro Rize could work as a hawk faction, teaming up with Takatsuki Sen to investigate these matters.
With Aogiri Tree and Kamishiro Rize.
This matter would definitely have results.
"I considered it." Kamishiro Rize nodded definitively: "I'll wait for Takatsuki Sen's next big operation. If it suits my taste, we'll cooperate."
SS-rank ghouls also had their operating styles.
Cooperation also depended on compatibility.
So Kamishiro Rize planned to wait for one of Takatsuki Sen's big operations to judge if their styles matched.
If suitable, they'd cooperate.
If not, forget it.
Otherwise, one saying investigate and the other saying too dangerous, no way.
That would lead to internal strife sooner or later.
But Hayashi could see that Kamishiro Rize and Takatsuki Sen had quite compatible personalities.
One said do it and did it, trading heavy injury for life.
One thought it through and acted, giving up identity.
If these two came together, they'd probably become like the Gold and Silver Horned Kings.
"Then you shouldn't have to wait long to see action." Hayashi said.
Kamishiro Rize immediately understood: "Takatsuki Sen is about to act soon?"
"Not soon, immediately." Hayashi tilted his head, indicating the weather outside: "It's moderate rain now, heavy rain tonight. Dark and windy, perfect for sneak attacks."
Hearing heavy rain, Kamishiro Rize knew it was true.
"Then I'm very much looking forward to it."
The weather forecast also showed approximate timing.
But the weather forecast's estimate was wrong.
It estimated afternoon light rain, evening moderate rain, but actually heavy rain, plus earthquake.
And a magnitude 5 earthquake at that.
At this time.
Hayashi's phone buzzed with a message.
Hayashi picked it up to look.
Takatsuki Sen: "Tonight is really a good opportunity. Pay attention to news tonight, there's a big surprise."
Hayashi: "Can it count as a surprise for CCG too?"
Takatsuki Sen: "Any sudden event is a surprise, right?"
Hayashi: "True, but let me give you an extra reminder - there's also a magnitude 5 earthquake tonight, please note."
Takatsuki Sen: "Really? That's also a surprise for me then, this is a big opportunity."
Hayashi: "Then I wish your plan success. Also, remember to manage the people you rescue, don't turn it into social unrest."
Takatsuki Sen: "Understood, will train them into good children."
Couldn't she use better words...
Although CCG knew heavy rain might bring danger, so what? They couldn't call investigators in advance for defense.
The investigators for each district and ghoul prison were fixed.
Couldn't be more or less.
Could only strengthen vigilance.
What Takatsuki Sen wanted to do was just use the heavy rain to make sneak attacks easier.
After chatting with Takatsuki Sen.
Hayashi nodded to the curious Kamishiro Rize.
"Takatsuki Sen is acting tonight. You can go observe the scene, or wait for news like me."
Kamishiro Rize wanted to go see.
But tonight she also wanted to stay by Hayashi's side.
As the saying goes, once you taste the marrow, you know the flavor.
Both men and women have this experience.
So Kamishiro Rize looked at Hayashi, slightly tilted her face, and whispered.
"You haven't come to my new home yet... it's been so long..."
When she said this, Hayashi also realized.
This matter seemed to have been discussed early on, but there had been no opportunity until now.
Seeing Kamishiro Rize's eyes full of autumn waves.
Hayashi smiled slightly.
"If you want to watch, go watch first. After 2 AM, just send me your home location."
Kamishiro Rize immediately turned: "Really?"
"Really."
"Then I'll go watch." Kamishiro Rize nodded, wanting to go immediately.
She took out her phone and even in front of Hayashi.
Set a 2 AM alarm.
Also opened her memo, preparing to write something.
"Do I need to buy any vegetables, prepare any meat? Let's make a meal at my place."
Making a meal at home.
To represent the male master's status - she was expressing meaning to Hayashi.
"No need for vegetables and meat, I'll bring my own. But you have all the kitchen utensils at home, right? Can't do without those." Hayashi said.
"Yes!" Hearing about kitchen utensils, Kamishiro Rize looked at Hayashi somewhat resentfully: "Actually, as soon as I bought the house, I bought kitchen utensils first thing..."
Just hadn't had a chance to use them until now.
Hayashi smiled apologetically: "I was too busy before..."
"It's okay, as long as you can come."
The two sat by the window like this, chatting and drinking milk tea.
The moderate rain outside continued pattering.
But getting lighter and lighter.
Two hours later.
It became light rain.
Another hour later.
"The rain stopped." Hayashi looked at water drops falling from the eaves outside: "Time to plant the tree."
"Plant a tree?!" Kamishiro Rize was stunned.
Plant what tree?
Plant a tree in the yard?
Hayashi couldn't explain well to Kamishiro Rize.
Mainly he didn't know how to explain this thing.
Better to just do it.
"Follow me and you'll know."
Hayashi got up, also calling Tohru and Kanna.
"Tohru, Kanna, come watch tree planting. A tree from another world."
Plant a tree? A tree from another world?
Tohru and Kanna became interested immediately and followed.
Even Pochita got up from the door, bringing the cat along to see.
In the back yard.
The rain had stopped.
Hayashi first said to the three sunflowers.
"You're getting a new friend, a taciturn ancient tree."
The Crimson Mark Tree Monster had no gender, only personality.
And its personality was honest, unresponsive, just sleeping all the time.
As long as no one bothered it, Red Buff could keep sleeping, keep sleeping, until someone disturbed it.
The three sunflowers were quite curious.
"Hayashi-san, do you need me to help dig soil?" Tohru asked then.
"No need, digging soil is too tiring." Hayashi shook his head: "The earthwork this time is quite substantial."
"Big tree!" Kanna immediately said.
"Yes."
Under everyone's gaze.
Hayashi began operating magic.
Such a big Red Buff tree - trying to plant it by hand would definitely be exhausting.
So it was better to use magic for ease.
"Earth and Wood Magic."
Hayashi controlled with one hand, directly lifting entire chunks of soil and grass from the back yard, exposing the deep soil beneath.
With sharp eyes, you could even see earthworms drilling holes in the soil.
"Ooh~" Kanna clapped her hands, expressing amazement.
Tohru was the same.
Only Kamishiro Rize had her eyes wide open, looking at the floating soil one moment, then at Hayashi's profile the next.
"Hayashi-kun... are you Kami-sama?" (God-sama)
"No." Hayashi smiled: "Just an ordinary scholar of all schools."
Knowing everything, having to learn everything - the road ahead was still long.
Under the gaze of three people, plus one dog and one cat.
The floating chunk of soil and grass was also divided by Hayashi into several portions.
Then.
Hayashi's left hand controlled the soil chunks and grass.
His right hand waved again.
The next moment.
A huge maple tree appeared above the back yard.
"!!!" Kamishiro Rize's eyes widened, completely shocked.
What kind of operation was this?
With such amazing abilities, why use them to plant trees?!
"Wow, so pretty!" Seeing the fiery red maple tree, Kanna immediately fell in love with it.
Tohru also happily said: "Hayashi-san, this tree is really beautiful, prettier than most trees I've ever seen."
This maple tree wasn't standing straight and rigid.
But twisted and winding upward.
Forming a lush, fluffy feeling with flourishing branches and leaves.
Looked a bit messy, but upon closer inspection, somewhat elegant.
Below the maple tree.
Was a clustered tree heart.
The tree heart was like a furnace, emanating warm energy fluctuations, with red light pulsing rhythmically.
Protecting the red light core.
Was a tree stump resembling a tree spirit.
Looked like a crab, huddled together in a ball, couldn't make out what it was.
But as long as you violated its homeland.
Enemies would know what the fury of the Crimson Mark Tree Monster meant.
So.
The maple tree grew on top of the Crimson Mark Tree Monster's head.
Or rather, they were originally one entity.
As long as the Crimson Mark Tree Monster stood up from the earth, the maple tree would reach even higher.
At this moment, the Crimson Mark Tree Monster floated in the air.
Hayashi stepped forward, touched it, and said.
"Just grow well. There are nutrients you need in the soil. Keep your buff active normally. I'll call you when needed. Understand?"
The Crimson Mark Tree Monster opened its eyes and nodded.
Its eyeballs looked a bit dull, but full of loyalty, then it fell asleep...
Hayashi looked at the tree's size.
About one meter in diameter, a bit over two stories tall, just higher than the midnight diner's roof.
Looking from the front yard, you could see the maple tree's canopy.
It was like the midnight diner had a cloud of sunset glow above it.
Very beautiful.
"Good, that's it then."
Hayashi lightly pointed with his right hand, and the Crimson Mark Tree Monster slowly descended toward the soil pit.
After touching the soil.
The tree monster actively huddled up, curling in the pit like hibernating and sleeping.
The furnace-like core's fluctuations also slowed down.
But the effect continued.
After settling in the soil pit.
Hayashi lowered his right hand, the canopy trembled, and it stood firm completely.
Then.
He also waved down with his left hand.
The previously floating soil began slowly filling above the tree monster.
Filling in all the surrounding soil pits, returning to the original appearance.
At this point, the tree was planted.
"Done." Hayashi clapped his hands, stepped back two paces to look, and said satisfactorily: "Just need two swings and a cradle to be perfect, could even build a treehouse."
"Oh right, Crimson, later use branches and leaves to shelter the swings and cradle from rain, naturally, let the rain roll to the canopy edges and fall down. Understand?"
Rustle~~~
The maple tree swayed twice, releasing emotions indicating it understood.
"Good then." Hayashi nodded.
When he turned around, he found Kanna, Tohru, and Kamishiro Rize all looking at him incredulously.
Kamishiro Rize was because.
What Hayashi displayed was all like divine miracles - wasn't this moving mountains and filling seas, finding a divine realm on earth?
So the midnight diner was Hayashi's divine realm? Shrine?
What surprised Tohru and Kanna was.
What Hayashi brought out wasn't ordinary plants either.
The previous three were flower sprite-like sunflowers.
What he brought out now.
Was again something with high growth potential, specifically for guarding the house - an honest, simple tree monster.
These things, even Tohru hadn't seen many of.
Yet Hayashi could casually produce them!
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