Shinobu Kocho: She's right.
Kirino Kosaka: I already believe you, but yeah—let's see the show.
Kirishima Touka paused.
She was working her part-time job in the café when she suddenly slowed her movements.
Her mind was overwhelmed.
What was this voice in her head?
What was its purpose?
It felt like some kind of internet group chat…
But the things people were saying were weird.
"Start the show"? "Talk about the new members"?
New members?
Does that include me?
Wait—is this guy Shirai actually familiar with me?
Touka scoffed at the thought.
Impossible.
Ghouls were experts at hiding in the shadows.
Just then, Shirai Takeru began speaking in the group:
Shirai Takeru: Kirishima Touka, run! RUN! There's a Demon Slayer in here!
Shirai Takeru: It's a trap! A trap set for ghouls!
Shirai Takeru: I'm serious! Insect Hashira's got no problem slicing through ghouls like cabbage!
Shirai Takeru: Back in the day, Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho took her blade and hacked ghouls from Tokyo all the way to Hokkaido. Didn't even blink for three days straight!
Shirai Takeru: RUN NOW, before it's too late!
Shinobu Kocho: …
Why did she feel a crushing sense of shame rise up inside?
Sure, she was a Hashira.
But… cutting down ghouls left and right? Slicing her way across Japan? Not blinking for three days?
That was too much.
Even she couldn't stand the exaggeration.
Wait.
Hold on.
Shinobu suddenly realized something.
Was Shirai implying that—
Kirishima Touka… is a ghoul? a demon?
Or at least… connected to them?
But the one most shaken wasn't Shinobu—it was Touka.
Her brain didn't fully grasp what Shirai had said.
But her body reacted instinctively.
The coffee in her hand spilled as she leapt onto the counter.
Ready to flee out the window.
It wasn't until she'd already done all this that her mind caught up with the group's messages.
What's a Demon Slayer?
What's an Insect Hashira?
All she knew about were Ghoul Investigators!
Besides, she was in the café.
Everyone here—including the staff—were ghouls.
Even if the CCG found them, it wasn't that big a deal.
"Are you okay?"
A gentle voice broke through her thoughts.
Touka turned.
It was a frail-looking young man with neat, jet-black hair.
"I'm fine. Just a sudden episode," Touka replied emotionlessly.
She hated talking to humans more than anything.
Especially—
Standing behind that young man… was a tall, elegant woman with long purple hair.
She looked intelligent and refined.
But Touka knew better.
Behind that graceful appearance hid something far more dangerous.
She was a fellow ghoul—Kamishiro Rize.
Known as the "Binged Eater".
Infamous in this district for her excessive killings and utter disregard for the rules.
No one dared challenge her… because she was just too strong.
It was obvious—
That black-haired young man...
He was already Kamishiro Rize's prey.
Kirishima Touka had seen him a few times before—his name was Kaneki Ken. And deep inside, she felt a sliver of pity for him.
But it was only pity. Nothing more.
And even that fleeting emotion was quickly cast aside.
She returned swiftly to the kitchen of the café and reopened the chat group interface to observe what was happening.
By now, the group was getting quite lively.
Miko Yotsuya: No no no—what even is a "ghoul"? Why did the conversation suddenly get so terrifying!?
Kirino Kosaka: Just hearing the name is scary enough! Can we not suddenly change the vibe like that?
Shinobu Kocho: Shirai, so… Kirishima Touka is a demon?
Butterfly Shinobu was filled with questions at that moment.
A demon is a demon.
So what's with calling it a "ghoul"?
Robin: You're all probably from different worlds. A "ghoul" might be a different type of creature from the "demons" in your world.
Shinobu had been tight-lipped about her own personal details.
But she had explained demons from her world quite clearly to the chat group.
So Robin and the others already knew what kind of beings demons were in Shinobu's world.
Shirai Takeru: That's right. Kirishima Touka is a ghoul.
Shirai Takeru: There are differences, of course—like, ghouls are a naturally born species, not artificially created. And they're not afraid of sunlight.
Shirai Takeru: But there is one very important similarity.
Shinobu's face turned cold.
She reflexively pulled her sword halfway from its sheath—before putting it back.
"The similarity… you mean they eat humans?" she asked coldly.