Tokyo Ghoul: Starting with the Twin Kamui

"Oh, I see. I understand now."

Arima Kishou nodded slightly.

He knew, of course, that Sanbo Lihua was referring to "menstruation," so he didn't say anything more.

"I'm sorry to have worried Arima-kun."

Sanbo Lihua apologized.

She wasn't yet at the point of unbearable hunger, but her body was starting to feel increasingly uncomfortable, so she didn't tell Arima Kishou the truth.

The main reason is that Arima, as an investigator, must know that ghouls cannot maintain their rationality when they are extremely hungry.

If Arima-kun knew about her current situation, he might not let her wait until the end of next week's exams and would take her to the 23rd Ward Ghoul Containment Center "Cochlia".

But she felt she should be able to hold on until the end of next week's exams, and that...

Therefore, she did not tell Arima Kishou the truth.

However, Miha Reika was still very happy to receive Arima-kun's concern.

Unfortunately, Arima Kishou already had some doubts.

He believed there was indeed a possibility that "menstruation" had started, but he also couldn't rule out the possibility of hunger.

Since it was merely a suspicion, Arima Kishou did not directly expose Miha Reika.

............

noon.

Uchiha Byakuya and Arima Kishou were having lunch together on the rooftop.

“Uchiha, Sanba-kun’s condition is not quite normal today.”

Arima Kishou reported on the situation of Miha Reika.

"Sanbo-kun?"

Uchiha Byakuya immediately noticed this detail. "So you've finally figured it out? You've stopped calling her 'Lantern'."

"No, this is what Sanbo requested."

Arima Kishou immediately corrected him.

"Arima, you're too serious."

Uchiha Byakuya couldn't help but make a comment.

However, he quickly returned to the main topic, "When I first came to the classroom this morning, I also noticed that Sanbo's physical condition was obviously not quite right."

“Sanbo said it’s the kind of thing that happens every month, but I think there’s another possibility.”

Arima Takashi said.

"You mean 'hunger', right?"

Uchiha Byakuya guessed Arima Kishou's thoughts; in fact, he thought the same thing.

“That’s right. If that’s the case, we definitely can’t just leave her alone.”

Arima Kishou's tone was slightly somber.

Because if the three-flowered lily cannot control its predatory instincts, the other students in the class will be in danger.

However, Uchiha Byakuya said calmly, "If that's the case, then Sanba-kun probably didn't tell you the truth because she wanted to hold out until after the exam. In that case, we might as well help her."

"How to help?"

Arima Kishou asked.

"Does Arima, second classmate, know about the 20th ward?"

"I know, it's said that there are very few cases of ghouls preying on humans there."

“My idea is to take Miho Reika to the 20th ward and let her receive help from the ghouls there. This way, her hunger problem can be solved. I also think we can give her a probationary period. If she doesn’t commit any crimes during the probationary period, she won’t have to be locked up in the ghoul containment facility.”

Uchiha Byakuya suggested.

"Um......"

Arima Kishou did not refute, because such matters were ultimately decided by the Uchiha superiors.

"Then after school today, we can send Sanbo to District 20. Otherwise, I feel she might not make it to the day of the exam."

Uchiha Byakuya said.

............

After school, Uchiha Byakuya took the initiative to find Sanba Reika.

"Sanbo-kun, could you please come over here with me and Arima-kun for a moment?"

"OK..."

Sanbo Lihua's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they already suspected her?

Later, in a secluded spot, Uchiha Byakuya asked Sanba Reika, "Sanba-kun, you don't look too well today. Is it because of that monthly thing... or because you haven't eaten in a long time?"

He didn't intend to beat around the bush with Sanbo Lihua, so he asked very directly.

Arima Kishou stood quietly to the side.

"Of course it's because of that kind of thing. I've already explained it to Arima-kun."

The smile on Sanbo Reika's face looked somewhat forced.

Uchiha Byakuya's question was so direct and sudden that she almost lost control of her expression.

Even though she managed to control it, she is still very uneasy.

Once suspicion is raised, it's usually not far from being exposed.

“Sanbo, you can tell the truth. You may not know that the changes on your face have already given you away.”

Uchiha Byakuya said calmly, "Besides, we don't intend to harm you. If it's really because you haven't eaten for too long, we can help you."

No matter how slight the change in facial expression, it would not escape his Mangekyou Sharingan.

"......All right."

Sanbo Reika admitted, "I have indeed not eaten for too long, and my body has started to have problems."

It wasn't that she was so easily convinced that Uchiha Byakuya would help her, but rather that she knew she could no longer hide the truth.

Uchiha Byakuya then said, "Then let's go to the 20th district. Arima and I will take you there. That place can solve your food needs. You should know what kind of place it is."

"District 20...?"

Sanbo Lihua was slightly taken aback.

She knew this, of course, because it was the only region that advocated peaceful coexistence with humans.

Chapter 40: The coffee shop in Anding Ward, managed by Yoshimura Kozen.

The "managers" of Ward 20 not only advocate peaceful coexistence with humans, but are also very willing to help weak ghouls.

But in the eyes of ghouls in other areas, Ward 20 is a joke. In their eyes, Ward 20 is just a place where a bunch of old, weak, sick and disabled ghouls huddle together for warmth.

It is precisely because they are weak that they would think of such a ridiculous thing as peaceful coexistence with humans.

Furthermore, in the 20th ward, the frequency of hunting is severely restricted; to be precise, they are not allowed to hunt at all, but can only eat the corpses of dead humans. This is unacceptable to most ghouls.

Many ghouls are no longer just looking to fill their stomachs; they also want to gain power.

Eating stale human corpses can only maintain strength at best, and may even weaken you over time, because the activity of RC cells in stale corpses is reduced.

............

At this time, Uchiha Byakuya and his group had already arrived in the 20th district by taking the subway.

"I've heard some things about the 20th ward, but will the ghouls here really help me?"

Sanbo Lihua has some concerns about this.

In her mind, Ward 20 was a place where a group of weak ghouls gathered together, and she always felt that such a place was not very reliable.

Therefore, she had never thought of seeking help in District 20.

Of course, Miha Reika's impression of Ward 20 was based on word of mouth from other ghouls; she herself had never personally come to Ward 20 to investigate the real situation.

If Miho Reika knew that the "manager" of the 20th ward was actually an SSS-rank ghoul, she definitely wouldn't think it was unreliable.

"It should be, and there's no other way."

Uchiha Byakuya said.

He couldn't be too certain, otherwise it would seem like he knew a lot about the ghouls in the 20th ward, but according to the records of the "V" organization and the CCG, he had never been to the 20th ward.

"That's true..."

Sanbo Lihua thought she had no choice but to give it a try.

"By the way, how much do you know about District 20? For example, where can I seek help?"

Uchiha Byakuya asked the question knowingly.