"Play with me?"
Hearing those words, looking at the petite figure on the rooftop, Hayashi's eyes flashed with interest.
Eto sat on the edge of the roof, her short legs swinging in the air. She looked deceptively sweet and innocent, like a soft little cake. Even though her entire body was wrapped in bandages, they still couldn't fully hide the swell of her chest. Beneath her violet cloak and hood, the curves were undeniable.
It was hard to imagine just how breathtaking the view would be without all those coverings.
"That's right. Are you interested now?"
Eto tilted her head and nodded with an almost childlike cuteness.
"Fine, I'll accept your invitation. I was just looking for a chance to vent anyway."
Hayashi raised his head slightly, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile.
"Your Aogiri Tree executives are far too weak. They don't even qualify as warm-ups."
As he said this, his gaze flicked to where Ayato stood. Beside Ayato loomed a tall, imposing figure — his signature red half-mask and the same short white hair as Hayashi's own.
Those traits gave him away instantly. He was Tatara, the second-in-command of Aogiri Tree. It was he who had pulled Ayato out when Hayashi dodged earlier.
"Damn Dove! How dare you be so arrogant! I'll kill you!"
Ayato roared, fury burning in his eyes, but Tatara pressed a hand down on his shoulder.
"Ayato. You're injured."
"My wounds are healing! I'll cut him down myself!" Ayato snarled, trying to rise.
"You lost. If I hadn't intervened, you'd already be dead. What would you accomplish going down there now? Only bringing shame to Aogiri Tree."
Tatara's cold gaze swept over him like ice.
Silenced, Ayato clenched his teeth, then looked down at Hayashi.
"You just wait. I'll come for you when I recover. I'll make you pay."
Hayashi only smiled faintly.
"I'll be waiting."
Truly, he thought, the resemblance to Touka was uncanny. They even got angry in the exact same way — though Touka's temper was much cuter, more queenly.
"Alright then. I'm ready. Let's begin."
Hayashi lifted his chin, eyes fixed on the small figure above.
"You're ready already?"
Eto hopped lightly to her feet, then glanced back over her shoulder.
"Tatara, take everyone back to headquarters. I'll stay and play a while."
Tatara nodded, his cold gaze lingering on Hayashi. This boy was troublesome — if not eliminated soon, he could become a serious obstacle to their plans.
But… now wasn't the time.
"Don't forget our mission" Tatara warned flatly. "Know your limits."
With that, he led the Aogiri members away.
"Finally, we can begin."
Eto stretched on tiptoe atop the roof, excitement sparkling in her single visible eye.
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I can hardly hold back anymore."
Hayashi smirked. He too was curious — what would happen when he faced an SSS-rated ghoul?
"It's almost intoxicating, isn't it, boy?" Eto laughed lightly, then leapt down from the rooftop.
As she fell, her violet cloak was stripped away by the wind, and the bandages unravelled from her body.
Crimson kagune erupted from her back, wrapping around her petite frame. The massive, blood-red appendages formed giant arms that gripped the side of the building.
More kagune spilled out endlessly, weaving together, fusing, writhing in the air, accompanied by the suffocating stench of blood.
Boom!
The massive form crashed into the ground, shaking the earth and sending up a storm of dust.
Through the haze emerged an overwhelming pressure, one so suffocating it crushed the lungs of everyone present.
And then they saw it — towering, monstrous, wrapped in kagune. And worse than its size, worse than its power—
— was that single, glowing crimson kakugan.
In that instant, everyone realized the truth.
The leader of Aogiri Tree… was the greatest enemy of the CCG.
The SSS-rated ghoul.
The One-Eyed Owl.
"One-Eyed Owl…"
Akira's hands trembled as she gripped her quinque-sword-whip. The usual calm was gone from her eyes, replaced by unyielding fury.
Her mother had been killed in the Owl Suppression Operation ten years ago.
She would never forgive Owl. Never forgive this monster.
Her body shook with rage. She knew she wasn't strong enough — she probably couldn't last even a moment. But her mother's death demanded vengeance.
No matter what, she couldn't just stand there and watch Owl walk away.
She tightened her grip and prepared to charge—
"Don't."
A hand stopped her. Hayashi's voice was quiet but firm.
"Let me go, Hayashi. This has nothing to do with you" Akira snapped, her calm voice now trembling with anger.
"You're my subordinate. I'm your superior. How could it have nothing to do with me?"
He shook his head, refusing without hesitation. If she charged, Eto would tear her apart in an instant.
"But—"
"No. Leave it to me."
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. The gesture was unexpectedly warm. That warmth, and the sense of security it carried, weakened her resistance.
Akira bit her lip, eyes filled with frustration, but in the end… she trusted him. She had to.
"Please… please come back alive."
Her usually composed face now held a desperate plea, making her look like a lost child.
"Owl is strong. But I'll win. Because…" Hayashi smirked, confidence blazing in his eyes.
"…I'm invincible."
Seeing that fearless grin, Akira lowered her head slightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Ilhei, take them outside. Wait for me. I'll be out soon."
The pink-haired beauty nodded.
"Alright. I'll take care of them."
She, too, watched Hayashi with anticipation. She had fought Owl before. She knew Owl's strength. But could this boy… surpass even Arima?
She wanted to see it with her own eyes.
And then they were gone.
Hayashi felt lighter, freer. With them out of the way, he didn't have to worry about hiding his strength — or holding back to protect them.
Bloodlust surged from him like a storm, thick and suffocating.
"Hayashi, you're truly fascinating" Eto's voice purred.
"You keep surprising me. I bet you'll taste… delicious."
Her lone eye gleamed with hunger as she licked her teeth.
"Now that it's just us, let's fight without restraint."
Hayashi drew the Thousand Demon Daggers, from his hip, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Takatsuki-sensei... I'll take everything from you."