The etiquette in Japan sometimes left Minato feeling helpless. A simple handshake would do, yet people insisted on bowing.
"Editor Minato, this is Kaneki Ken, one of the student representatives. He's a huge fan of Takatsuki Sen's books. You can find him at practically every event related to her."
The investor gave Kaneki Ken a firm pat on the back.
The somewhat delicate young man smiled awkwardly.
He had met this investor at several events before. The man was nice enough, but a little too enthusiastic.
"Then let me thank you on Takatsuki Sen's behalf."
"Ah—no, there's no need for that."
Seeing Minato thank him personally, Kaneki Ken immediately became flustered.
"Alright, Kaneki-kun, show Editor Minato around. I still need to handle the staff arrangements."
The investor was extremely efficient. Although everything had only been finalized yesterday, preparations had already begun today.
"Understood."
Kaneki Ken nodded seriously.
Under his guidance, Minato toured the prestigious Kamii University.
"Everyone here really is among the elite."
Minato looked at the students passing by and couldn't help but sigh.
Kamii University held an important position throughout Japan.
Meanwhile, Kaneki Ken appeared extremely nervous sitting beside him.
Minato looked at him with amusement.
His personality was almost exactly the same as in the anime.
"Kaneki-kun, you don't need to be so nervous."
"Ah... right!"
Kaneki was startled and immediately nodded.
Minato shook his head helplessly.
To place a child with this kind of personality into such a tragic story...
Whoever wrote that plot was truly cruel.
At least, that was Minato's impression.
Kaneki Ken felt more like a harmless lamb than anything else.
"Since you like Takatsuki Sen's books so much, let's talk about them. Which one is your favorite?"
The best way to communicate with someone like Kaneki was through their interests.
The moment the topic shifted, Kaneki's eyes lit up.
"My favorite is..."
Once the conversation reached books, the timid young man transformed completely.
He enthusiastically discussed his favorite works, analyzed themes and characters, and shared his own interpretations.
Watching him speak so passionately, Minato couldn't help smiling.
As Takatsuki Sen's editor, seeing such a devoted reader naturally made him happy.
If possible, he wished everyone in the world would become a fan of Takatsuki Sen.
Of course...
Definitely not because it would increase book sales.
Absolutely not.
Kaneki ended up talking for more than an hour.
Fortunately, Minato was her editor.
Anyone else would have lost patience long ago.
Eventually, Kaneki realized he had gotten carried away.
"Sorry... I talked too much."
"Not at all."
Minato chuckled.
"Meeting a reader like you makes me happy. Why would I find it annoying?"
Kaneki smiled shyly.
The conversation had noticeably shortened the distance between them.
At that point, Minato decided to ask the question he actually cared about.
"Kaneki-kun, do you know any good coffee shops nearby?"
"A coffee shop?"
Kaneki looked slightly puzzled.
"I like coffee," Minato explained. "So I figured I'd ask."
"Oh, then there's a place called Anteiku. It's pretty famous around here."
"Do you go there often?"
Kaneki nodded.
"Anything special about it? Good atmosphere? Good coffee?"
Minato narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Or maybe there's a girl you like there?"
The first half of the question was harmless.
The second half instantly turned Kaneki bright red.
Seeing that reaction, Minato sighed internally.
Yep.
No doubt about it.
Kaneki had already met Rize Kamishiro.
"W-Why would you say that?"
Kaneki stammered, completely flustered.
"Just curious."
Minato laughed.
"But from your reaction, it seems there really is someone special there."
He intentionally emphasized the word someone.
Kaneki interpreted it as teasing and became even more embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Minato was mentally correcting himself.
Calling Rize "someone" was generous.
"Anteiku's coffee is really good," Kaneki muttered defensively.
"Kaneki-kun."
Minato's tone suddenly became more serious.
"Recently... you should probably visit that café less often."
"Huh?"
Kaneki blinked in confusion.
Minato didn't elaborate.
Instead, he stood up.
"Anyway, thanks for showing me around. Let's stop here for today."
"Okay!"
Kaneki quickly stood and bowed again.
Watching him, Minato felt somewhat conflicted.
He had already given the warning he could.
Whether Kaneki listened or not was another matter.
After all, they weren't close enough for Minato to interfere any further.
Besides...
There were things he still needed to investigate through the events that were about to unfold.
Perhaps that warning was merely his own hypocrisy.
---
"Oh?"
Minato sat inside his car, staring toward Anteiku.
"So she's here today after all."
Because he had learned that Kaneki would be visiting the café, Minato had secretly followed him.
After all, Kaneki was the trigger that set the entire story in motion.
And there she was.
Rize Kamishiro.
"I should've kept an eye on Kaneki from the beginning... and that friend of his too. What was his name again?"
Minato couldn't remember.
His knowledge of the story only covered the important events.
Inside the café, Kaneki sat in the corner, occasionally sneaking glances toward Rize.
At another table, Rize seemed to notice.
She subtly licked her lips.
The look of someone staring at a delicious meal.
"Will it happen today?"
Minato pondered quietly.
He wasn't someone who blindly trusted the original plot.
The moment he arrived in this world, he knew things had already changed.
For example:
Yoshimura Kuzen.
The mysterious masked man who survived decapitation.
Neither encounter should have happened.
The future was already different.
Likewise, Kaneki and Rize's situation might also change.
The only reason Kaneki had time to come to Anteiku today was because he finished his work early.
A tiny deviation.
But tiny deviations could alter everything.
"Let's wait and see."
Minato leaned back in the driver's seat.
For now, he had no intention of interfering.
Especially since the staff of Anteiku clearly weren't simple people.
Unfortunately...
Reality didn't give him that option.
A girl with short blue hair happened to walk past his car.
Their eyes met.
And both froze.
...
Cold sweat immediately appeared on Minato's forehead.
The situation was as awkward as getting caught by your mother while doing something you absolutely shouldn't have been doing.
Damn it.
Why did she suddenly come outside?!
Minato screamed internally.
Standing outside his car window was none other than Touka Kirishima.
Touka was equally stunned.
She had merely been passing by and casually glanced into the vehicle.
She never expected to find the man from the photograph Takatsuki Sen had shown them earlier.
Afterward, she had even investigated him.
A completely ordinary human.
Not a Ghoul.
Which made this even stranger.
Why was he sitting here, secretly watching Anteiku?
Was it because of the manager's daughter?
For several seconds, neither moved.
Minato stared at Touka.
Touka stared at Minato.
An awkward silence filled the air.
Why does she look like she knows me?
Minato frowned internally.
From her expression, she clearly recognized him.
But that made no sense.
As far as he knew, he had never shown his face to any of Anteiku's Ghouls before.