The following morning, the tension from last night lingered in the air like a bitter aftertaste. I couldn't help but replay the encounter with Crow over and over in my mind, trying to decipher his cryptic warning. As I wiped down the counter, Touka was uncharacteristically quiet, her expression guarded.
"What's on your mind?" I ventured cautiously.
She glanced at me, hesitating. "That guy... Crow. I don't trust him."
"Neither do I," I agreed, setting down the cloth. "But it's weird, right? He didn't attack us. Almost like he was warning us."
Touka scowled. "Warnings like that aren't given for free. He's after something."
Before I could respond, Kaneki stepped in, carrying a small stack of books from the library. His usual tired expression seemed even more worn out.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked.
He gave a weak nod. "Yeah... just some rumors going around. Apparently, some of the smaller ghoul groups around the 20th Ward are disappearing. No bodies, just... gone."
Touka and I exchanged a look. "Think it's related to those hunters?" I asked.
Kaneki bit his lip. "Maybe. But there's something else. Some ghouls have mentioned seeing a strange man lurking around before their friends vanished."
My heart skipped a beat. "Let me guess—long coat, faded scarf?"
Kaneki blinked in surprise. "You've seen him?"
Touka crossed her arms. "He called himself Crow. Seemed to know something about what's going on, but he didn't attack us. Just gave some cryptic warning."
Kaneki's brow furrowed. "If he's involved with the disappearances, we need to be careful. Whatever his motive is, he's dangerous."
Yoshimura, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up. "Sometimes, predators test the waters before making a move. Be mindful of those who observe without acting."
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. "I'll keep my guard up."
The day dragged on, filled with the usual flow of customers and quiet conversations. But that unease wouldn't leave me. As the evening approached, I found myself alone at the bar, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a soft voice broke through my reverie. "Still brooding?"
I turned to find Touka leaning against the doorway, her usual scowl softened. I chuckled. "Guess so. Just trying to piece it all together."
She hesitated before stepping closer. "You're not... planning to go after him alone, are you?"
My instinct was to reassure her, but I knew better than to lie. "If it comes to that... maybe. But I'm not stupid enough to face him unprepared."
Her eyes narrowed. "You better not be. If you do, I'll kill you myself."
I couldn't help but grin. "Good to know you care."
Her cheeks flushed, and she punched my arm—harder than usual. "Idiot."
Before she could storm off, I caught her hand, surprising both of us. "Touka... I know I'm reckless, but I'm not suicidal. I just... don't want anyone else to get hurt."
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine for something. "Then don't do it alone. You're not some lone hero. We're in this together."
I let go of her hand reluctantly, feeling the warmth linger. "Yeah... together."
As she left to help Kaneki with the dishes, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort, despite the tension. Maybe it was knowing that no matter how dark things got, I wasn't fighting alone.
[Relationship Status with Touka: Strengthened. Skill Enhanced: Predator's Insight - Increased Awareness.]
Despite the looming threats, a small part of me dared to hope that we could get through this—together.