Chapter 54: Changing World Line
Days Later
—--
"Excuse me, can I sit here?"
A shy but refreshing young man spoke timidly, summoning a bit of courage as he addressed the purple-haired woman.
"Tsk. Where did this clueless guy come from?" Kamishiro Rize inwardly scoffed. But then she paused, sniffing lightly. Hmm? He smells delicious. Why not try a little appetizer before the main course?
Kamishiro Rize was a glutton, never satisfied. Even when she couldn't devour a full meal, she didn't mind a sweet snack beforehand. While she'd already sentenced the boy to death in her mind, her face wore a gentle, innocent smile.
"Sure. It's our first meeting, after all," she replied softly.
Kaneki Ken lit up with joy. From his seat, his best friend gave him a thumbs up, quietly cheering him on. Encouraged and filled with nervous excitement, Kaneki hesitated before speaking, afraid she'd reject him—but she didn't. The gentle woman before him had agreed. That was all that mattered.
"Nice to meet you. My name's Kaneki Ken. I've noticed you reading here a few times. That book you're holding—isn't it The Egg of the Black Goat by Takatsuki Sen? I really like that one. Mind if we talk about it together?"
The moment Kamishiro Rize started chatting with him, Kaneki was completely captivated. Inexperienced and hopelessly romantic, Kaneki was no match for the glutton's charm. He was easily drawn into the conversation, unaware that he was being led by the nose.
Before long, the two were the only people left in the café.