Eat it!
Why would you do that to me?!
There's no way that I can eat human flesh!
I'm human! I'm not anything like you monsters!
Well? If I'm a monster, what does that make you?
I'm begging you, please, tell me.
What am I supposed to do?
Everything's been awful since that day!
Awful, huh? I wish you'd tell me something.
What does cake really taste like?
It's so nasty, it makes me want to puke, so I can't tell,
but it's something that humans enjoy eating, isn't it?
What was it like, living a peaceful life?
One where you didn't need to live in fear of CCG and other ghouls?
"Everything's been awful"? Please.
Doesn't that mean that since the moment I was born, everything's been awful?
Well, buddy? Tell me!
Tell me, oh please tell me, the way it works
Who is that inside me?
Here in this desolate, broken-down world,
you laugh, without seeing a thing
The pain causes me to hold my breath and freeze
Breakable
Unbreakable
Shakeable
Unshakeable
When I found you, it shook me
In this twisted world,
I'm gradually growing transparent and vanishing
Don't look for me
Don't look at me
I don't want to hurt you
in someone else's imaginary world
Remember who I am
I'm...
I'm human!
You're not a ghoul, that's for sure.
But you're not human, either.
There's no place for a half-breed like you anywhere now.
I'm... I'm...
If you want to be human so badly,
why don't you see how long you can starve yourself?
I'll tell you right now,
starvation for a ghoul is utter hell.
Touka,
I think that's quite enough.
Sir...
It must be hard on you, huh? Come with me.
But sir, why?
Touka,
it's our policy to help out our fellow ghouls.
Thank you for waiting.
Here you go.
Do you not like coffee?
It's not that, but...
Kaneki, take a good look at this coffee.
What do you think?
It actually looks good.
It's just regular coffee.
It's delicious. This is delicious!
But everything else tastes awful.
Throughout the ages,
coffee has been the only thing that ghouls have been able to enjoy the same way that humans do.
However,
we cannot satisfy our hunger with this alone.
Which is why...
What's that?
When you need more, just come back and ask.
You need not hesitate.
Sir, why did you help him?
Touka, did you hear about that life-saving organ transplant on the news?
A couple of students were crushed by falling steel beams in an accident.
In order to save the dying boy, the doctor transplanted the organs of the already deceased girl into him.
But the girl that died in that accident was...
Rize.
Then, you don't mean...
Yes. He is that young man.
He has had ghoul organs transplanted into him.
That's preposterous.
I've never encountered something like this before,
but I believe his body is becoming like ours.
Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat...
Meat... Meat... Meat...
Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat...
You're neither ghoul nor human.
Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat!
There's no place left for a half-breed like you anywhere now.
Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat... Meat!
Who cares if you're a half-breed?
You're neither human, nor ghoul...
But you're still you.
You should relish being a half-breed.
That mouth-watering flesh is waiting for you.
It's so delicious, it's tantalizing.
Once you have a taste, you won't be able to stop.
It will put any steak to shame.
Now, go on. Devour it.
It's extra-rare.
New Message
Hide
You're gonna die alone
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Hide...
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
in Asian History...
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
Missing you a bunch
You're going to die alone
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
New Message
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
New Message
Hide
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Missing you a bunch
New Message
Hide
You're going to die alone
in Asian History...
You need my notes?
Have you ever been to the sweets shop in front of the station?
That place has the tastiest stuff!
Kaneki, you bastard!
How long are you gonna keep skipping class, bro?!
Try putting yourself in my shoes!
When rabbits get lonely, they can die, you know!
I'm sorry, Hide.
And what's up with the eye patch? You tryin' to be fashionable?
While you were gone, I got so bored that I joined the school festival planning committee...
I'm sorry?
Huh? When was it?
It feels like this happened before, too.
Hey, Kaneki! How long are you gonna keep staying at home?!
Do you know how hard it is for me when you just stay inside like this?
Hey, are you listening to me, Kaneki?
Oh, sorry. What'd you say?
Anyhow, I gotta see a certain sharp-tongued upperclassman and get some things from him.
Care to join me?
Sure.
Kaneki, have you been eating right lately?
Huh?
You're looking pale.
You've gotta eat properly, or else you'll ruin your health.
He's always been like that.
Hide can be oddly sharp-witted.
He's overly aware of the sentiments of others,
so he pretends not to notice anything, out of concern for me.
If I were to stop being human,
would we never be able to walk together again?
I've been wanting to introduce him to you, Kaneki.
His name's Nishio?
Yeah.
I don't know whether to describe him as caustic, or foul-mouthed,
or just as someone I feel uneasy around...
N-No...
We're here.
What's up?
Hide, at least knock!
Nagachika, would it kill you to knock first?
My bad, Nishio.
Nothing pisses me off more than people barging into my territory.
Yeah...
Oh, this is Kaneki, the friend I was mentioning the other day.
Is that so?
I'm Nishio Nishiki. I'm a second-year in the School of Pharmacy.
A pleasure to meet you, Kaneki.
You wanted last year's stuff?
Yeah, I'd like to see the retail data.
Now, where did I put it?
Aw, it might be at home.
Seriously?
Nagachika, why don't you come with me to grab it right now?
You mean, to your house?
Yeah.
Hmm, I guess.
Sorry, Kaneki, but I have to stop by Nishio's place, so head on out without me.
Hide...
Um, is it okay if I go, too?
Huh?
What's with you?
Yeah, that's fine.
Huh?
It's not like I'm planning on letting him in.
Oh, uh, okay then.
Before we go, I just have to smooth this over...
What's with you, all of a sudden?
Nothing.
Nagachika.
Hmm? What is it?
Just how much did you see earlier?
Huh? Oh, just her shoulders.
Why are there suddenly so many ghouls around me?
They were very pretty though!
No, that's not quite right.
They were here even before this all started.
I'm the one who stumbled into this world.
Want one?
Oh, you treating me?
Step right on up! Get 'em while they're nice and hot!
Here.
I feel nauseated.
Here.
Thanks, man.
Kaneki, are you in any clubs?
Nope. I don't do that well around large groups.
Hmm? The exact opposite of Nagachika, huh?
Can a ghoul really eat something like this?
Mmm, these are really good.
Yeah, they're nice and crispy.
Kaneki, aren't you going to eat yours?
Later.
He really does blend into human society perfectly.
He's just like a normal college student.
It's kind of amazing.
I'll bet nobody even suspects that he's a ghoul.
It would be a pain if anyone saw this.
Hide!
Who'd have guessed there'd be another ghoul on campus?
You reek. You have a stench just like a female ghoul!
Hey, you were planning to eat Nagachika, weren't you?
There's nothing better than messing around with some poor sap and betraying them!
Watching them fall into despair is the best!
It stimulates the appetite so much! The look on their faces is truly the best!
Right, Kaneki?!
I'm not like you.
Oh yeah?
Having some brat talk back to me really pisses me off.
That aside...
Your body is awfully weak.
It's like you're made of tofu.
Ugh, I feel disgusting.
Geez, how can humans eat that stuff?
It's like eating horse shit.
Oops, sorry about that, Kaneki!
I've fouled up your meal.
You've known this guy a long time, right?
You're best friends, right?
Just when were you going to eat him?
Come on, tell me, Kaneki.
What were you going to eat first?
Well, what is it?
Hide isn't food. Get your foot off him.
Foot? What foot?
Stop it!
Are you shitting me?
Attacking me with your bag? What are you, a woman?!
Seriously, you just don't get it, do you?
Humans are food. They are to us what cows and pigs are to them.
Are you having fun pretending you're friends with what amounts to livestock?
I'm not pretending...
Yeah, sure. But you know, I think Nagachika is a pretty big risk.
He's not an idiot.
Even you must know that having someone as shrewd as him by your side is dangerous.
And this dumb thing...
You can't even control your own eyes.
C'mon, get up.
Or perhaps I should kill Nagachika first?
The hell was that? Here, try dodging this!
I guess I've toyed with you enough.
Woulda been a lot faster if I released my gleam.
There's no way that I can beat someone like him.
Hide...
Hide...!
Oh? Very good. That's more like it.
Hurry up, before I destroy him.
He's unconscious?
You've always been there for me, haven't you?
Later, Nagachika.
No... No...
Hey, you. You're always reading books by yourself at school, huh?
I-Is that bad?
No, that's not what I meant.
I just moved here, so I don't have any friends.
So would you be my friend?
Okay, sure.
Sweet! By the way, I'm Nagachika Hideyoshi.
Just call me Hide. Nice to meetcha!
Nice to meet you too, Hide.
Even then, when I couldn't get along well with others in class,
Hide was concerned for me and reached out to me.
No...
I don't want Hide
...to die!
I won't let that happen!
You little shit!
Stop it! Stop it, you dumbass!
I'm gonna fucking, fucking, fucking, fucking die!
That was Rize's...
Goddammit...
Hide...
Mmm, he looks tasty.
What a savory aroma. It's making me hungry.
Here, see? Look closer.
Doesn't he look delicious?
Stop it! Hide isn't food!
Are you sure about that? Take a good look.
See? You see it, don't you?
Yeah, I do.
He does look tasty!
Stop! Stop it!
What are you talking about?
You want to eat him so bad you can't stand it, right?
You don't have to resist. It's not like you're doing anything wrong.
Now, hurry up.
Give in to your cravings.
My cravings?
He's entirely yours.
Entirely?
Yes. Go on.
You're right. This is my special treat, isn't it?
I have to eat him! I have to!
Hide is my...
...friend!
Yes! He is my friend,
and that's exactly why I have to eat him!
You're becoming quite a bit like us, aren't you, half-breed?
Your rationality has succumbed to your hunger, hasn't it?
Move it!
You don't even give a damn about your own friend's life now.
But you know what?
After you devour him, you'll regret it.
In a sea of blood and entrails.
Such is a ghoul's hunger, and our destiny.
You really are a pain, but I'll let it slide this one time.
So go down nice and easy!
Touka brought you back here.
Where's Hide?!
Come with me.
Hide!
I've been stricken with this hunger this whole time.
At that moment especially, I was so hungry that I thought I might die.
I didn't even realize what I was doing.
And then, I went after Hide...
But right now, that feeling is completely gone.
That blood that was in my mouth...
Please, tell me the truth.
What did you do while I was asleep?
There is only one way to satiate a ghoul's hunger.
And you know what that is, don't you?
You were so hungry that you would even turn against your own friend.
You have to accept what you are now.
I don't want to hurt my friend.
And that means I can't be around Hide anymore...
But I can't just enter the world of ghouls, either.
Someone like me, who is neither human nor ghoul, is completely alone.
There isn't a place for me anywhere!
That's not true.
You are both ghoul and human.
You are the one and only person who has a place in both worlds.
Stay with us here at Anteiku. I'm sure you'll find a path that you can accept as your own.
I also want you to understand us better.
To see for yourself whether or not we are merely ravenous beasts.
How about it?
Why don't you start by learning how to make a delicious cup of coffee?
Well, um,
do you really think I can do it?
The rain's nice, isn't it?
It dulls their senses.
Isn't this simply the perfect weather for us to work in?
According to the 20th Ward Branch's report,
there was a predatory incident here three months ago.
They believe there was a binge eater here in this building,
and there were eyewitness reports of a Jason sighting at that time as well.
The Binge Eater and Jason, huh?
Interaction between two S-ranked subjects?
Who knows? I doubt they were cordially sharing a meal, though.
Mado?
Mado!
Amon!
You see? I knew it!
If I had one complaint about the rain,
it would be that I can't hear those scumbags' throes of death!
It's like eating horse shit.
Nishio, you know what horse manure tastes like?
Are you an idiot, Kaneki?! Of course not!
It's a simile! A figure of speech!
Oh, really now?
Grin
What?! Nishio has eaten horse shit?!
Cow shit, too?!
And every other kind of feces, it seems.
For real?
K-Kaneki!
'Sup, Nishiki! How's shit?
Next time: Dove
Nishiki, you smell like shit!
You are an utter disgrace as a ghoul.
Illustration: Katsuya Yamada