Yoshimura was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting Eto to say those words to him.
So it was true — the girl in front of him was indeed Eto, and she had already recognized him…
"Come again next time" Yoshimura said with a gentle smile.
Eto didn't say anything else. Instead, she closed Dear Kafka and placed it on the table.
It was clear that she didn't intend to take it with her. She was leaving the book behind.
Then, Eto left alongside Byakuya.
Aside from Yoshimura, no one else in the café could understand the deeper meaning behind Eto's words—or the significance of the book she left behind.
Yoshimura walked over to the table where Eto had been sitting and picked up the book.
Seeing the title Dear Kafka and the author's name, Sen Takatsuki, Yoshimura fell into deep thought…
He had no idea that Sen Takatsuki was actually Eto's pen name. However, once he read the contents, he would likely figure it out.
For now, Yoshimura decided not to open the book immediately. He put it away, intending to read it when he had more time.
"I feel like something just happened… but what exactly?"
Hikari's instincts told her that something unusual had occurred.
Yomo, however, didn't understand what his sister was talking about. The only thing on his mind was relief—that the black-clad investigator hadn't recognized them. At least nothing terrible had happened today.
At that moment, Yoshimura felt a slight sense of relief himself.
Before today, he had thought Eto wouldn't want to see him.
However, there was still something else on his mind. Why was Eto with a CCG investigator? And, more importantly, why did they seem so close?
It seemed that if the opportunity arose, he would need to have a proper conversation with that black-clad young man.
But before that… perhaps it would be best to talk to Minami first.
"Minami, can we talk upstairs for a bit?"
Yoshimura turned to her.
"Of course, Manager" she replied immediately.
…
Minami followed Yoshimura up to the break room on the second floor.
"How long have you known Eto?"
Yoshimura asked.
"Not long… Wait, Manager, do you know Eto too?"
Minami replied.
She had no idea about the real relationship between Yoshimura and Eto.
"Hmm…"
Yoshimura made a vague sound, not elaborating further.
Then, he continued,
"The young man who came with her — he's an investigator, isn't he? Do you know him?"
Yoshimura hadn't forgotten that when Minami first came to the 20th Ward, that same black-clad young man had also appeared in the café with another blue-haired youth.
There were no such things as coincidences, at least not this many of them. From that, he could guess that Minami likely knew the young investigator.
"…"
Minami froze for a moment.
She hadn't expected the Manager to already know that Byakuya was an investigator.
So… should she still try to hide it?
Was there even any point in keeping it a secret anymore?
Minami felt conflicted. She didn't want to betray Byakuya, but she also realized that there was little use in denying it now.
However, that brief hesitation had already given her away.
Yoshimura could easily guess what she was thinking. He spoke calmly,
"I've met him before — and fought him too. That's how I know he's an investigator. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you. I have no hostility toward that young man."
He was telling the truth.
To him, his fight with the investigator had simply been a matter of conflicting roles. Losing both arms in that battle was simply the result of his own weakness — there was no grudge to be held.
The only ones he still harbored true hatred for were the Washuu Clan and the V.
But if he couldn't get his revenge back then, he certainly couldn't do it now…
And now, realizing that the black-clad young man knew Eto — and that their relationship was clearly not simple — any lingering hostility completely faded.
"Alright…"
Minami sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding it anymore.
"Yes, I know him. In fact, he's the reason I met Eto. And the reason I came to the 20th Ward to seek help… that was also Byakuya's suggestion. I'm sorry for keeping it a secret before…"
"It's fine. I completely understand your situation."
Yoshimura smiled.
He had just learned something very valuable—the black-clad investigator had actually helped Minami. Not only that, but he knew about the 20th Ward's stance on protecting weaker ghouls.
The 20th Ward's neutral position wasn't exactly a secret among ghouls, but it had never been a major focus for the CCG either. Ordinary investigators wouldn't be that familiar with it.
Yoshimura found the young investigator increasingly mysterious.
A CCG investigator willing to help ghouls was extremely rare.
And more than that — he clearly knew Eto's true identity, yet still stayed by her side.
At the same time, Eto had to be aware of his identity as an investigator.
Yoshimura couldn't quite wrap his head around what had happened between them—or what kind of relationship they really had.
"…By the way, do you know Eto's full name?"
Yoshimura asked, wanting to confirm once and for all whether that girl was really his daughter.
"Hmm… Uchiha Eto?"
Minami replied instinctively, as that was the name Eto had jokingly used before.
But then she hesitated — she remembered that Eto had said it in a teasing manner.
Still… the way Eto and Byakuya acted around each other, even if they weren't officially married yet, they might as well be. It was only a matter of time before her name changed, right?
After thinking it over, Minami decided not to correct herself.
"Uchiha… Eto?"
Yoshimura repeated.
"…Are they siblings?"
"No, not siblings. But that's the name Eto gave me. She said it jokingly, but… well, they're probably getting married soon."
Minami said, feeling confident in her guess.
What she didn't realize was that she was actually older than Eto in terms of real age.
"Marriage…"
Yoshimura found it hard to imagine.
There was no way he had misremembered Eto's actual age, so…
But he didn't bother explaining that to Minami.
At the very least, he now knew for certain that Eto and the young investigator were very close.
For Eto to be that close to a CCG investigator… it was truly unexpected.
There had to be some hidden secret behind all of this.
The chapters 88, 89, 90, and 91 that were out of order have been corrected.