The days following Raizen's visit were filled with uneasy tension. Every corner of Anteiku seemed to be bathed in a quiet, palpable uncertainty. Yoshimura, ever the stoic leader, didn't offer much in terms of advice, but his gaze often lingered on us, as though he, too, was wrestling with the same question: What now?
Touka spent more time alone, brooding over Raizen's words. Her usual fierceness seemed subdued, like she was waiting for something—or someone—to tip the scales. Kaneki, too, had grown quieter. Though his resolve was unshaken, I could sense the worry in his eyes, a reflection of the internal battle he fought each day. As for me, the weight of Raizen's offer kept me up at night, gnawing at me with an insistent hunger.
It wasn't long before we received another unexpected visit—this time, from an old acquaintance.
The door to Anteiku swung open, and the figure that stepped inside wasn't unfamiliar. Nishiki Nishio, the man who had once been a rival, now a tentative ally, entered with a grim look on his face.
Touka, who had been cleaning the counter, looked up sharply. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Nishiki, wearing his usual aloof expression, glanced around. "I'm not here for pleasantries," he said, his eyes flicking toward Kaneki and me. "Raizen's not the only one with offers."
I furrowed my brow, my hand instinctively going to the knife at my side. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice steady.
Nishiki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There's a faction rising. One that's not interested in playing the same old games. They've been watching. And they want people like us—those with potential. Power, survival. They've got resources, and they want to bring down the CCG. Permanently."
"Another one?" Touka snapped, her patience thinning. "We've already had enough trouble from factions like the Kurogane. What makes this one different?"
Nishiki's gaze darkened. "They don't just fight for survival. They're playing a bigger game—one that will change the entire balance of power. They've been working in the shadows for a long time, and now they're ready to step into the light."
"Sounds like a dream for anyone who's willing to sell out," I muttered under my breath. The thought of joining another faction, after what had happened with the Kurogane, made me uneasy.
Nishiki smirked, clearly amused by my skepticism. "I know what you're thinking," he said. "But it's not like that. They're not offering a deal you can refuse. They're offering a way to guarantee we survive this mess. They've got the power to do that, and they're offering it to those they consider worthy."
Kaneki's eyes narrowed, his quiet nature still holding steady. "What's the catch?"
"Power always comes with a price," Nishiki replied, his tone solemn. "They want loyalty. Full commitment. No backing out once you're in."
Touka, visibly agitated, slammed her hand on the counter. "Loyalty? After everything we've been through, after everything we've fought for, you want us to just hand over our loyalty to some unknown group?"
Nishiki raised his hands defensively. "I'm not saying you have to accept it. But I'm telling you—this is the kind of thing you need to think about. There's something big brewing, and you can't afford to stay neutral."
I stood up from my seat, my gaze fixed on Nishiki. "And you're with them? After everything you've been through with us?"
Nishiki didn't flinch, though his expression darkened. "I'm not stupid. I know when I've got a better chance at surviving. And this faction… they're the real deal. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't serious."
The room fell silent. The weight of Nishiki's words hung in the air like an oppressive fog. Another faction, with resources, power, and the promise of survival. It sounded too tempting to ignore. But there was something unsettling about it—the way they operated in the shadows, the way they didn't reveal their full hand. I wasn't ready to trust them. Not yet.
Finally, I broke the silence. "If we join this group, what happens to Anteiku? What happens to us?"
Nishiki hesitated before answering. "You'll have protection. Resources. Power to protect Anteiku, to protect each other. But once you're in, there's no turning back. They'll expect results. Loyalty. They'll want to see you prove your worth."
Touka's lips curled in frustration. "We're not selling ourselves out for a promise of power."
I understood her anger—hell, I shared it. But this was different. The way Raizen and Nishiki had described the future—it was a battle we couldn't ignore. Survival wasn't guaranteed by standing still. We had to make a decision.
Kaneki, who had been silent until now, spoke softly. "We can't ignore this. We have to prepare. But joining them… I'm not sure. We need more information. We need to know who they really are."
"That's the smart choice," Nishiki said, his eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. "Do what you have to. But don't wait too long. They'll find you eventually, one way or another."
With that, Nishiki turned and walked out of Anteiku, his departure leaving behind a lingering tension.
The room was thick with the weight of what he'd said. There were factions out there—factions that wanted us, wanted our loyalty. And there was something about all of this, something that felt like the beginning of something far worse than we had ever imagined.
Touka broke the silence first. "I don't like it. I don't like any of it."
I met her gaze. "Neither do I. But we don't have the luxury of ignoring this. Not anymore."
The war for survival had just become even more complicated.