After Rize left, Byakuya stayed behind. No rush to leave.
After all, this café was filled with major characters from the original story—Manager Yoshimura, Touka Kirishima, Yomo Renji. Maybe he could trigger more System rewards.
Not that he planned to bother or approach them directly.
There was a bookshelf in the café, so Byakuya decided to grab something to read while finishing his coffee.
Among the selection, he spotted several works by Sen Takatsuki. Given this timeline was slightly before the original story began, she was already a famous author.
Byakuya was genuinely curious about her writing. After all, he knew exactly who the bestselling young author really was—the SSS-rated "One-Eyed Owl," Eto Yoshimura, leader of Aogiri Tree.
That made her work very interesting to him.
He selected her debut novel, Dear Kafka. The original series never detailed its contents, so this was essentially a brand-new reading experience.
As he immersed himself in the book, nearby ghouls continued whispering about him.
...
[Ding! Host has read Dear Kafka. Reward: 1 Fusion Point!]
Halfway through, the System triggered again.
Only 1 point, but the important takeaway was how broad the reward triggers were. Even reading could earn points—clearly because this was Takatsuki's work.
Might as well read everything she's written.
His attention returned to the book. Even halfway through, Takatsuki's distinctive style was unmistakable.
The oppressive atmosphere, the despair, the pessimistic worldview, the distrust of everyone and everything... These elements could only come from someone like Eto Yoshimura, who'd grown up in the brutal hellscape of Ward 24.
Yet the story itself was compelling, and her unique voice was a strength rather than a weakness. Distinctive style always beats generic convention.
Suddenly, Byakuya's stomach growled. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was already evening.
Time for dinner.
He bookmarked his page and approached the counter.
"Excuse me, could I borrow this overnight? I'll return it first thing tomorrow."
The girl at the counter had short blue-purple hair, bangs nearly covering her right eye. Dressed in her work uniform, she had delicate features and an air of quiet reserve.
Touka Kirishima. Byakuya recognized her instantly.
Her expression was cool. "Sorry, we don't have a lending service. But if you really want to borrow it, you can leave a deposit. Return it tomorrow and you'll get it back."
Mainly because this guy could get eaten by Rize any second, she thought. At least a deposit would cover the book.
"Works for me."
Byakuya reached into his pocket—and found money.
Simultaneously, the System fed him background information: his home address, deceased parents, a house, a car, and enrollment at Kamii University.
All fabricated by the System, of course. It had simply... edited this world's reality, as easily as an author revising their manuscript.
Kamii University... That was Tokyo's premier institution—basically an Ivy League equivalent. Not exactly easy to get into.
The System had really gilded his resume. But compared to "fusing with Uchiha Madara," the rest was just window dressing.
He paid the deposit, took Dear Kafka, and left.
As he walked away, Touka watched his retreating figure.
"Oh my, Touka-chan~ Interested in that boy?"
Kaya Irimi, another waitress, teased her.
"As if. It just pisses me off watching Rize mark another human as prey."
"Nothing we can do. That woman's a walking disaster. Apparently every ward she's lived in ended up in chaos. She even got Ward 6's leader captured by the CCG."
Irimi sighed.
"I know. That's why I'm staying out of it."
Touka pushed the thought aside.
Neither understood why Manager Yoshimura tolerated someone like Rize.
From an omniscient perspective, the answer was simple: Rize's true identity was as a "breeder" for the Washuu Clan—the Yoshimura family's greatest enemy and the primary antagonists of this world.
If Yoshimura moved against Rize, the peaceful haven he'd worked so hard to build would be destroyed. So he turned a blind eye to her excesses.
But Touka, Irimi, and the other staff knew nothing of Yoshimura's history with the Washuus. His restraint was incomprehensible to them.
...
Meanwhile, Byakuya was heading home, reading as he walked, using his peripheral vision to avoid pedestrians.
Then he spotted a familiar silhouette.
He looked up—and there stood Eto Yoshimura.
The author of the very book in his hands: Sen Takatsuki.