"What were you talking about with Uta back there?"
Once they stepped out of the shop, Touka turned her head curiously.
She hadn't heard much of their conversation—she'd been standing too far away—but she had noticed something odd: Uta's eyes had flashed red for a brief second when he leaned in close to Hayashi, whispering something in his ear. For a moment, she thought Uta might actually attack him right there.
But then, just as suddenly, Uta had calmed down, as if nothing happened. That switch alone was enough to make her uneasy—and curious.
"Nothing much. Just some small talk," Hayashi said with a relaxed smile.
He didn't know whether Uta had figured out his real reason for coming, but one thing was certain—the man had already recognized what he was: not an ordinary human. And since Uta was part of the Clowns, that meant the entire organization would soon know too.
To them, Hayashi was either a threat… or a massive obstacle. That was exactly the message he wanted to send.
If they decided to come after him later — well, that would only make things more interesting. He had already grown so strong that hiding his power felt pointless.
What fun was there in pretending to be weak when you were nearly invincible?
"Hayashi, what's with you today? You've been grinning like a weirdo since we left." Touka raised a brow. He'd been smiling nonstop since morning—honestly, harder to suppress than an AK's recoil.
"Nothing. Just thinking about something amusing." He cleared his throat and quickened his pace up the stairs. "Anyway, it's getting late. Let's grab something to eat."
A short train ride later, the two arrived in Shibuya — the beating heart of Tokyo, packed with people and neon lights. The famous scramble crossing looked like a human ocean; thousands flowed past every couple of minutes.
Hayashi let out a low whistle. "So many people… counting them one by one would be torture."
"If we're having lunch, do you have any recommendations?" he asked, turning to the cool, aloof beauty beside him.
"Whatever you want. You're the one paying, remember?" Touka's tone was calm, but there was a faint dimness in her eyes.
It wasn't that she didn't want to recommend something — she did. But for a ghoul, human food tasted like rotten eggs: foul, disgusting, impossible to swallow without gagging.
"In that case, I'll take you somewhere I really like," Hayashi said with an easy grin and led her through the crowd.
Before long, they arrived at a busy yakiniku restaurant. Nearly every table was full, but they managed to find a small corner booth.
"You like barbecue?" Touka asked, glancing around curiously.
"Yeah. I've eaten it often—kind of grew up with it." Hayashi picked up the menu and began ordering.
Soon, the sizzling sound of meat filled the air. Plate after plate was brought to their table.
"You've been here before?" Hayashi asked, handing her a pair of chopsticks.
"Yoriko brought me once," Touka replied softly, using the chopsticks to turn the meat on the grill.
Yoriko Kosaka — her classmate and one of her only human friends. Of course, that "meal" had been for show. She hadn't actually eaten anything.
Now, as the meat sizzled and released its savory aroma, the smell hit her — rich, greasy, nauseating. For a ghoul, that pleasant human scent was torture. Her stomach turned just thinking about swallowing a piece.
Hayashi noticed her faint grimace and chuckled lightly. "Before we eat," he said, "could you give me your hand for a second?"
Touka blinked. "My hand?"
She hesitated but extended her left hand anyway.
Hayashi gently took it—and interlocked their fingers.
The warmth of his touch startled her. For a heartbeat, she froze; then her pale cheeks flushed a bright crimson. She quickly glanced around, making sure no one was watching.
When she finally looked back at him, her voice came out in a flustered whisper:"What… what are you doing? Why are you suddenly holding my hand?"
Hayashi smiled playfully. "You'll find out in a second."