Tsukiyama!
Long time no see, Ms. Kirishima.
What the hell do you want?
As cold as ever, I see.
Well, I suppose that's what's charming about you.
You're fucking disgusting.
You, with the eye patch.
You new here?
U-Um...
What's your name?
K-Kaneki.
What a wondrous aroma.
God, you're so creepy. Just leave already. You're interfering with our work.
My, how unladylike.
I'll drop by for some coffee at another time.
Some time when Mr. Yoshimura is around.
O-Okay...
Lovely. Well then, farewell, Kaneki.
We shall meet again.
Wh-Who was that?
Watch out for that guy.
He's one of the 20th Ward's parasites.
This is our finest dish: the eyes of a single woman.
Ah, how exquisite.
Kaneki, huh?
His scent
is so intriguing.
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
My body and soul are so broken
I hold my breath, hoping it's my last
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
Hey!
What?
You're having jam buns again?
So? They're the best things you can eat on-the-go.
They're not good for you! You're still growing!
Eenie, meenie, miney, mo!
Fried chicken!
Here you go.
Huh? I'm fine.
You can't survive on bread alone. Here, have one.
Geez...
Do you like it? I used a new seasoning.
Huh? What?
Ow!
Well, it's pretty good.
I bet you're just saying that.
No, really.
Pass it! Pass it! Pass it! Pass it! Pass it!
Pass it... Pass it...
My compliments to the chef.
I ate it, Yoriko.
Kaneki...
Hey.
Oh, hi, uh...
Tsukiyama Shuu. May I?
Oh, be my guest.
Thank you very much.
Um, what brings you to Kamii University, Tsukiyama?
"I'm here for you, and only you."
What if I said that?
Huh? Uh, well, I'm not sure.
He's the Gourmet, one of the 20th Ward's parasites.
You appear to be quite the bookworm,
or so I've heard, from one of Anteiku's regulars.
Monochrome of Rainbows
Oh, not really. I wouldn't say that.
Books are nice, aren't they?
With just one sentence, you can get lost in all sorts of dreams.
Literature allows the reader's consciousness to deeply mesh with the author's,
or at least that's what I believe.
And so, we freely walk around the world of the story from the yarn spinner's perspective.
It's only when you immerse yourself in the world of a book
that you are able to truly forget just who you are.
You really like books, don't you?
Monochrome of Rainbows
They are a friend that has seen me through some bitter and painful times.
He's a lot like me.
My, what surprise!
You read Takatsuki, too?
Oh, yes.
His style may be delicate, but it also has eloquence.
I'm drawn to the elusive way in which he writes.
I like his style of writing, too.
You don't say. Takatsuki, huh?
You know, Kaneki,
I know of café that's run by an avid book reader.
If you like, you can go with me there sometime.
Rumor has it that Takatsuki Sen sometimes goes there, too.
Huh? Mr. Takatsuki?
Oh, uh, on second thought...
Ms. Kirishima must have said something to you.
No, it's just...
No, it's okay. I've always been easily misunderstood.
I haven't had anyone to talk to since Ms. Kamishiro passed away.
Kamishiro? Kamishiro Rize?
You're a lot like she was.
There aren't that many ghouls who are also into books.
I just wanted a friend who I could chat with about the things I like, in a nice, quiet place.
H-Hey...
I-I'll go, if you don't mind.
All right, this Sunday at three o'clock.
He didn't seem like all that bad a person.
Kaneki, you can go home now.
Oh, okay.
Have a nice evening.
Oh, and Kaneki...
Yomo said he was waiting downstairs for you.
Yomo? Downstairs?
Um, where are we?
He's as tight-lipped as always.
Doves have entered the 20th Ward.
Huh? You mean...
If it comes to it, you will be responsible for protecting yourself.
Let's go!
H-Hold on!
You're pretty good at dodging,
but completely hopeless at everything else.
Yeah...
Come here after you get off work. I'll train you.
All right.
Want to go with me?
Huh?
There's someone who wants to meet you.
So you're the Kaneki I've been hearing about!
Thanks for coming by to see me.
I've heard all about you from Ren and U, here.
I'm Itori, the owner of this joint. Pleasure to meet you.
Th-The pleasure is mine.
Now, now, don't be so stiff! Relax, Kaneki!
U-Um...
Have you all known each other for a long time?
Well, we've always been stuck with one another.
Ren and Uta used to be on bad terms back in the day.
Because of them, the 4th Ward was even crazier than it is now.
We're on good terms now, though, right?
I guess.
Ren really was beyond anyone's control, once upon a time.
Th-That bad?
Yeah. Kind of like Touka, when she gets mad.
Yeah, very similar!
He was that scary?
Enough talk about me.
Itori, didn't you have something you wanted to tell him?
Ah, yes I did!
Here, this is for you.
Oh, no, I'm still underage.
It's not wine, you know!
Wait!
Amazing! I've never seen anything like this before!
A one-eyed ghoul!
Sorry about that.
Don't worry, though. Everyone here is a ghoul.
Here, a token of my apology.
I wonder if the other one-eye is like him, too.
Who knows?
Um, is there someone else besides me with only one eye?
Oh, did that catch your attention?
Yes.
All right. Kaneki, you see, if a human and a ghoul fall in love,
what do you think you'd get if you crossed them?
A human and a ghoul, you say?
They die.
Death from infirmity.
The chances of getting pregnant itself are pretty low, though.
However, in extremely rare cases, one is born...
A half-ghoul, half-human hybrid.
A human-ghoul hybrid...
A half-blooded ghoul is much stronger than a full-blooded one.
And the special thing about him was
he only had one red eye.
That story's no more than an urban legend, though.
A one-eyed ghoul...
U-Um...
Hmm? What is it? Don't be shy.
Rize... Do you know anything about Kamishiro Rize?
Why do you ask?
The reason why my body became like this is all because of her.
And yet, I don't know a thing about her.
I see. Rize, huh?
No one knows the details of her death. She was always quite the troublemaker.
She's been the talk of the town for the last couple of months.
No one knows how she died? It was an accident.
Oh? Do you really think that it was an accident?
Itori...
You see, rumor has it that a person was seen standing on top of the building
around the same time that the "accident" took place.
Huh?
S-So then, this whole thing wasn't just a coincidence?
Somebody killed Rize... or some such.
Itori!
C'mon, I'm just speculating.
It's just a rumor. A rumor!
Why... Why would someone do that?
Kaneki.
Kaneki?
Oh, yes?
Has something happened?
Oh, no.
Um, Tsukiyama...
Hmm? What is it?
What did you used to talk about with Rize?
Oh, Ms. Kamishiro?
We would talk about books,
and of course, we talked about dining.
Tsukiyama, I appreciate your invitation,
but I have absolutely no interest in your members-only gourmet club.
Wh-Why not? Don't you wish to have a taste of something higher?
Well, you'll never be able to please me, no matter what you put on my plate.
Sure, there's nothing that beats a savory flavor when eating,
but ghouls, pretending to be high society, devoted to their palates?
It's comical how human that would be, isn't it, Tsukiyama?
That bitch!
How dare an ignoble sow like her make a mockery of my fine dining!
Um, Tsukiyama?
Ow!
Oh, how could I let that happen? I'm sorry!
It's all right. I just cut myself a little.
T-Tell you what, Kaneki, I know it's not much of an apology,
but Ms. Kamishiro's favorite hangout is near here.
Would you like to go there?
Rize's favorite place?
Yes, I would.
All right. With that settled, let's head there right now.
Is your finger all right?
Oh, yes. The bleeding seems to have stopped.
I'll be sure to wash this later, and—
O-Oh, no, it's okay. Don't worry about it.
I'll wash it myself.
That was a close one.
I can't believe I let myself startle him.
Be cool... Keep it smooth, why don't you?
I just have to be patient a little longer.
Such tender sweetness!
This mellow harmony...
This newly discovered treat...
is, as regards my happiness,
even better than discovering a new star!
Sir Savarin...
You were absolutely right...
Why am I even taking a shower, anyway?
Mr. Kaneki?
Oh, yes?
I have left some clothes here for you.
Please help yourself.
Okay, thanks.
Rize used to come here, too?
I brought you a cup of coffee.
Enjoy.
Uh, excuse me, where is Mr. Tsukiyama?
What is this?!
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting.
Presenting today's main dish!
Today's entrée is an unusual cut of meat.
A ghoul, of all things!
Ghoul?
I'm not quite up for cannibalism.
It is being furnished by Mr. MM!
Oh, Mr. MM!
It's Mr. MM!
Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,
the flesh of a ghoul offers a coarse flavor not worthy of devouring.
I am sure that those of you here of such discerning taste are well aware of this.
Tsu-Tsukiyama!
Wh-Why...?
The thing that caught my attention was his scent.
For while he is a ghoul, the scent of human is also pervasive.
Oh, he's right!
How aromatic!
Magnificent!
Ah, I can't take it!
Aren't you fascinated?
What sort of flavor does a ghoul who smells like a human possess?!
I've been set up. This whole thing was a trap.
An adventure into the unknown for the sense of smell and taste...
Now! Let us enjoy the ultimate epicurean delight!
Now, here is the scrapper who will be serving today's main dish!
Tell me, Madam A...
Oh, what is it, Mr. PG?
Which scrapper have you brought with you today?
Today, it's my all-time favorite, Taro.
Pleazure to meethca.
Zippity-dee-doo-dah, zippity day.
Squash him good!
Hey! Waid up!
W-Waid up!
Taro! Come on, run!
Mama!
His owner, Madam A, also offers her encouragement!
I've got to get out of here! Fast!
There must be something I can do!
You can't geddaway!
Get him!
Crap! I can't get away!
See you, saw you!
It's no use. That had no effect at all.
What's the matter, Kaneki?
Why don't you use your gleam?
We have to hurry thing along, here.
I have to think of some way to slip out of here!
Shood!
What?
Did his legs get fucked up?
Ladies and gentlemen, it appears the drug is starting to take effect.
Don't tell me the coffee was...
A-A-Awright!
I-I g-godcha!
Get him! Wring his neck!
Rip his guts out!
Zis is... fun?
Farewell, Kaneki.
Huh? What's that?
Is he...?
A-A one-eyed ghoul!
One eye?!
One eye? For real?
Taro, snap out of it! Get up!
It hurdz! It hurdz! It hurdz!
One eye... How rare!
Mr. MM?
Are you all right?
What a delicacy!
Get up! Taro!
Mama!
It's hopeless...
That's it! What a good walker!
What a good walker! What a good walker!
Mama is so excited!
That hurdz!
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm terribly sorry for all the commotion.
I had no way of knowing that he was a one-eyed ghoul.
However, I have no intention of ruining the dinner we all came for.
How does this sound to everyone?
It hurdz!
How about we enjoy Madam A's pet boy, the scrapper?
Taro! Taro!
It hurdz...
Taro, you...
good-for-nothing!
Embarrass me, will you?!
I hope you get fed on quickly!
Mama...
Did you enjoy that, Kaneki?
I just meant for this to be a little joke.
I may have been a bit hard on you.
Let's just forget this ever happened.
Such a rare treasure...
There's no way I'll let anyone else have even a taste of him.
Though the city sleeps,
new buildings
rise at all times
The city is always being redeveloped
The ring roads intersect
like raging snakes
Whip up my endorphin
Go, go, go, go
Souls ascend
into the night sky
Marches and religion
are answers
in a madman's riddle
A madman's riddle
Tomorrow holds nothing for me
except a grey that might as well be black
Never changing
A grey that might as well be black
I want you tonight
My saint
Tell me of the end of the world
My saint
Yes! Yes, Tsukiyama!
That's the face I want! Perfect!
Even more! Release yourself even more! That's it!
Fantastic! This is great, Tsukiyama! I can't say enough!
Um... What are you doing?
Hmm?
Oh, apparently, I'll be appearing on an upcoming cover of the manga.
Kaneki, would you care to join me?
Well?
Next time: Scar
Huh? Oh, no thanks. I'll pass.
Layout: Yamada Katsuya