Upon hearing Kasuka's blessing, Byakuya felt a bit awkward.
It wasn't the "wish for many children" that embarrassed him, but rather the complicated history between Kasuka's family and Eto. They were practically mortal enemies.
If not for Byakuya's intervention to prevent a tragedy, Kasuka would have been brutally killed, and Kureo would have spent his life consumed by hatred for the "One-Eyed Owl."
So, hearing her bless his union with Eto naturally brought about an odd feeling.
"Thank you for the kind wishes" Eto said with a smile.
Only then did she notice that the young woman before her seemed familiar.
Had she seen this woman before in the 24th Ward?
The next moment, it clicked — she remembered seeing this woman during her fight with Byakuya in the 24th Ward. This woman had been present, and Byakuya had fought to protect her.
Despite recognizing Kasuka, Eto's expression remained calm and pleasant, showing no sign of the past tension.
"Akira, greet her" Kasuka said.
Having assumed that Eto was Byakuya's wife — due to the Byakuya's kindness toward her family —Kasuka's impression of Eto was naturally very favorable.
"Hello" Akira said obediently.
"Such a good girl~" Eto responded, patting his head.
It was a picture of harmony that belied the near blood feud between Eto and the Mado family.
Watching Eto converse and laugh with the Mados, Byakuya felt a lingering oddness. But wasn't this what he had hoped for?
After a moment of reflection, he said, "Speaking of which, Eto, you must have a reason for coming to find me here?"
This was the first time Eto had sought him out at CCG Headquarters, and in the 1st Ward, no less. He instinctively thought it must be important.
Fortunately, as someone with Yoshimura's bloodline, Eto wasn't detected by the CCG's RC gates. Additionally, the Washuu clan had no knowledge of her true identity.
"No reason, really. Can't I just want to see my dear husband?" Eto teased.
In truth, Byakuya had mentioned Furuta and Rize to her the previous day. Knowing he would bring them to the 1st Ward's CCG Headquarters, she decided to come check on them.
Of course, in such a crowded and watchful place, she couldn't say this outright — it would draw the Washuu's suspicion.
As she spoke, Eto subtly signaled Byakuya with her eyes, briefly glancing toward Furuta and Rize.
While most wouldn't notice the gesture, Byakuya's sharp perception caught her meaning immediately.
"Investigator Byakuya and his wife really are affectionate. Youth is truly wonderful" Kureo remarked.
"Don't make it sound like we're old" Kasuka protested.
Eto then turned her attention to Furuta and Rize. "You two must be Byakuya's disciples, right? He's mentioned you to me."
"Y-Yes" Furuta replied nervously.
Being addressed by Eto caught him off guard, making him a bit shy.
"You're Furuta, right? And this little one, Rize — is she your girlfriend?" Eto asked playfully.
"Wha—? No, no! We're not like that. We're just childhood friends" Furuta stammered, his face flushing.
"So, it's only a matter of time? Keep it up, little brother" Eto teased.
"Uh... okay..." Furuta murmured softly, his embarrassment evident.
Rize, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed. Her personality made her unlikely to feel shy, and she didn't particularly mind others' assumptions. Given her close bond with Furuta, others' opinions didn't bother her.
...
Eto's brief appearance added a touch of humor to the day.
Byakuya continued training Furuta, while leaving Rize to her own devices — she had no interest in training, and he wouldn't force her.
By evening, the training session ended.
Byakuya barely broke a sweat, but Furuta was sprawled on the ground, utterly exhausted.
"Don't push yourself too hard. It's better to train in moderation" Byakuya advised.
"It's... fine. I can handle it..." Furuta replied, panting but determined.
Rize crouched nearby, lightly poking Furuta's face with her finger — seemingly showing concern, but only slightly.
At that moment, Eto approached with a towel.
Even though Byakuya wasn't sweating, she stood on tiptoes to wipe his face. The gesture was unnecessary, but Byakuya didn't disrupt the pleasant atmosphere, choosing instead to quietly enjoy it.
"Damn! I'm so jealous!"
"This makes me want to fall in love too, but then I remember how dangerous our jobs are. What's the point?"
"Calm down. Even if you tried, you wouldn't find someone as amazing as Eto. Only someone like Special Investigator Byakuya could manage that."
The surrounding investigators couldn't help but feel envious, watching the youthful romance unfold.
As ghoul investigators, relationships — let alone marriage — were a luxury. The dangerous nature of their work made it difficult to pursue such bonds.
Meanwhile, Rize observed Eto's actions.
Seemingly inspired, she switched from poking Furuta's face to gently wiping his sweat with her sleeve.
Furuta, who had grown used to her teasing, was startled by this sudden tenderness.
"R-Rize! What are you—?"
"Looks like those two are getting along well. We can't let them outdo us, can we?" Eto said cheerfully, planting a light kiss on Byakuya's cheek.