The morning after training with Touka, my body screamed in protest with every movement. Muscles I didn't even know I had ached, and my hands bore the faint bruises from countless attempts at perfecting my form. Despite the pain, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I had taken the first step.
Anteiku was quiet, the usual hum of morning customers not yet filling the space. As I prepared coffee, Yoshimura approached, his gaze calm and curious.
"You've been pushing yourself lately," he observed.
I gave a weak smile. "Just... trying to keep up."
Yoshimura nodded knowingly. "Strength without purpose is hollow. Make sure you know why you're fighting."
His words lingered as I worked, and I couldn't help but glance over at Touka, who was sweeping the floor with a rare hint of a smile on her face. Was that my reason? Or was it just survival instinct kicking in?
Before I could dwell on it, the door swung open, and Kaneki stumbled in, his face pale and eyes wide with something like terror. Touka immediately rushed over.
"What happened?" she demanded.
He hesitated, catching his breath. "There's... something going on near the 20th Ward border. Ghouls are being hunted—systematically."
Touka's expression darkened. "Who's doing it?"
Kaneki shook his head. "It's not the CCG. At least, not officially. Some group is targeting ghouls specifically."
A chill ran down my spine. A ghoul-hunting group, not part of the CCG? Why would anyone go rogue to hunt ghouls?
Before I could speak, a sharp notification appeared.
[Emergency Quest: Investigate the Rogue Hunters. Objective: Survive. Reward: Unique Skill - Predator's Insight.]
My hands clenched instinctively. Touka noticed my tension and raised an eyebrow. "What's with you?"
I forced a smirk. "Just thinking—if someone's stirring up trouble, we can't just sit back and do nothing, right?"
She scoffed, but I caught a glimpse of worry in her eyes. "Don't be stupid. You barely know how to handle yourself."
"That's why you're coming with me," I shot back. "I could use someone to watch my back."
Her cheeks flushed slightly before she crossed her arms. "Tch. Idiot."
Kaneki hesitated. "If it's too dangerous—"
Touka cut him off. "We're not leaving this unchecked. Besides, it's our ward. No one messes with it."
We gathered what little we had in terms of gear—mostly just ensuring we had clean clothes and prepared to move quickly. As we stepped out onto the empty street, Touka glanced back at me.
"Stick close and don't do anything reckless. Got it?"
I nodded, giving her a thumbs-up. "Yes, ma'am."
Despite the tension, a small part of me couldn't help but feel excitement. Maybe it was the thrill of testing my limits—or the strange comfort of having Touka by my side. Either way, as we moved through the winding alleys and deserted streets, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen.
The scent of blood hit me first—a metallic tang that made my senses flare. Touka froze, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, a shape darted from the shadows—a ghoul, badly wounded, collapsed at our feet.
"Help... they're... coming," he rasped, blood pooling beneath him.
Before we could react, a flash of steel cut through the air. I barely managed to shove Touka aside as a gleaming blade buried itself into the ground where we'd just been.
Three figures stepped out of the shadows, dressed in black with eerie masks hiding their faces. One of them laughed—a cold, mocking sound.
"Another bunch of monsters. Let's clean up."
Touka glared at them, her kagune bursting to life. I felt that familiar rush of power, but I forced myself to stay calm, remembering her training. My instincts screamed at me to attack, but I held my ground, waiting for an opening.
[Combat Mode Activated. Danger Level: High.]
One of the hunters lunged, and I dodged just in time, countering with a swift punch to his gut. The impact sent him sprawling, but another came at me from the side. Touka intercepted, her kagune slicing through the air with lethal precision.
Amid the chaos, the wounded ghoul managed to crawl away, but one of the masked figures moved to pursue. I blocked his path, gritting my teeth as his blade scraped against my arm.
[Predator's Insight Activated. Weak Point Detected.]
With newfound clarity, I saw it—the slight hesitation in his stance, the weak grip on his weapon. I moved faster than I thought possible, grabbing his arm and dislocating it with a brutal twist before knocking him out cold.
The remaining hunter hesitated, realizing his comrades were down. Touka gave him a murderous glare, and he bolted without a second thought.
As the adrenaline faded, I collapsed against the wall, breathing hard. Touka shot me a look that was both impressed and annoyed.
"You didn't die. That's something," she muttered.
I grinned despite the pain. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
She glanced at my arm, where blood trickled from a shallow cut. With a sigh, she grabbed a cloth and wrapped it tightly around the wound.
"Next time, don't jump in so recklessly," she grumbled.
I just gave her a tired smile. "Can't help it. Someone's gotta have your back."
Her cheeks flushed again, but she didn't respond, focusing on tying the bandage instead. I leaned back, exhaustion taking over, but the warmth from her touch lingered longer than it should have.
[Quest Completed. Skill Acquired: Predator's Insight. Relationship Status with Touka: Improved.]
Maybe survival wasn't just about power—it was about fighting for something that made you feel alive.