Chapter 22
: Those Who Devour Despair Will Be Reborn
Seeing Hideyoshi Nagachika's right hand, which was covered in oil stains, extending out, Gen Hyuga's lips twitched involuntarily.
Before Hyuga Gen could even remind him, Nagachika Hideyoshi realized what was happening and awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"Excuse me, Hinata-kun, I almost forgot my hands are dirty right now. I'm so sorry."
Hyuga Gen smiled, and was about to speak when he saw Nagachika Hideyoshi's expression suddenly turn joyful, and he shouted:
"Kaneki! You bastard!"
Without even saying goodbye to Hinata Gen, he pushed his bicycle up and rode off towards a figure not far away.
Completely forgetting that their brakes had failed.
At that moment, Kaneki Ken, who was engrossed in reading a book called "The Egg of the Black Goat" by Takatsuki Sen, turned around happily after hearing Nagachika Hideyoshi's voice.
"Britain!"
This time, since it wasn't downhill, Hideyoshi Nagachika didn't hit Ken Kaneki. Instead, he braked with his foot just before the collision and pulled off an extremely graceful drift.
Seeing the filthy Hideyoshi Nagachika and smelling a strange odor, Ken Kaneki quickly covered his nose and asked with a puzzled expression:
"Ying, what's wrong?"
Hideyoshi Nagachika did not reply, but looked at Ken Kaneki with a resentful gaze.
"Kaneki, why did you leave without waiting for me? Don't you know that even rabbits can die if they're too lonely?"
Kaneki Ken looked apologetic and put his hands together, saying:
"I'm sorry, Young. I left early to buy Takatsuki Sen-sensei's latest novel at the bookstore, otherwise I might not have been able to buy it."
Hideyoshi Nagachika felt even more resentful.
"You idiot, is the novel really more important than me?"
Kaneki Ken quickly explained:
"How could that be, Ying? In my heart, you are as important as books."
"So, in your heart, I'm just like a book?"
Realizing he had said the wrong thing, Kaneki Ken quickly apologized and it took a long time to coax Hideyoshi Nagachika back to his senses.
Arriving late, Gen Hyuga watched the two best buddies bickering and understood; it seemed the plot hadn't unfolded yet.
If that had happened, Kaneki Ken wouldn't be like this.
Although Kaneki Ken suffered a lot in the first season, Hyuga Gen didn't have any intention of changing his fate, so the ending was still relatively satisfactory.
In the end, Kaneki Ken has a wife and children, and their relationship is harmonious, which also promotes the coexistence of humans and ghouls.
There's no need to do anything that disrupts the storyline you're already familiar with.
"You two have such a good relationship."
Upon seeing Hyuga Gen arrive, Kaneki Ken and the other stopped their playful fight. Kaneki Ken scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
Hideyoshi Nagachika, on the other hand, introduced it in a very casual way:
"This guy is my best friend Kaneki Ken, and this is our freshman representative, Hyuga Gen. Kaneki, you should know him too."
After Hideyoshi Nagachika finished his introduction, Gen Hyuga smiled and extended his hand to Ken Kaneki.
"Nice to meet you, Kaneki-kun. Please take care of me."
Seeing Hinata Gen's outstretched hand and hearing the gentle voice in his ear, Kaneki Ken quickly reached out and shook hands with Hinata Gen.
"Nice to meet you, Hinata-kun. I'm the one who needs your help."
At that moment, Hyuga Gen seemed to casually notice the Black Goat's Egg in Kaneki Ken's hand, and after searching through his memories before awakening, he smiled:
"So Kaneki-kun also likes Takatsuki Sen's works?"
Kaneki Ken's eyes visibly lit up after hearing Hyuga Gen's words.
"Does Hinata-kun like watching this too?"
Hyuga Gen laughed:
"I've always loved Takatsuki Sen's works, especially the line, 'Those who devour despair will be reborn,' which I really like."
When Kaneki Ken saw that Hinata Gen was indeed knowledgeable about Takatsuki Sen's works, he was overjoyed to find a kindred spirit and began to talk excitedly as if he had opened a floodgate.
Looking at Kaneki Ken, who was usually silent but was now beaming with excitement, Hyuga Gen secretly gave himself a thumbs up.
This novel tells the story of a ruthless serial killer known as "The Black Goat" and her only son.
The son initially disliked his mother's behavior, but gradually, he also began to develop sadistic impulses.
Hinata Gen was quite surprised that he had actually seen this kind of work before, but this also helped him quickly get closer to the future One-Eyed King.
Seeing Kaneki Ken being so affectionate with Hyuga Gen, whom he had just met, Hideyoshi Nagachika couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
He then patted Kaneki Ken on the shoulder with displeasure and urged him on:
"Let's go, Kaneki. Don't bother Hyuga-kun. We'll be late if we keep dawdling."
"Ah! My dear Marseille Hinata-kun."
Kaneki Ken finally realized what was happening, his face flushed slightly, and he began to avoid looking directly at Hyuga Gen.
He didn't understand why he was being so close to people he had just met; he hadn't been like this before.
"Why are you blushing like a teapot?"
Looking at Kaneki Ken, whose face was slightly flushed and whose eyes were somewhat evasive, Hyuga Gento felt a little uneasy. Although he was handsome, he didn't think he was attractive to both men and women.
It must be an illusion. Yes, it's an illusion. Kaneki is just a shy college student who feels embarrassed about people he just met.
"It's alright, Kaneki-kun. We can talk about Takatsuki Sen-sensei another time. Let's hurry to the classroom now, they're about to take attendance."
Kaneki Ken nodded after hearing this. At that moment, both of them suddenly felt the strange smell around them getting stronger and stronger, and then they both turned their gazes to Hideyoshi Nagachika.
Hideyoshi Nagachika then remembered that he hadn't cleaned up after falling into the garbage dump. With a strange cry, he rode his bicycle toward the public toilet without saying a word.
Only Kaneki Ken and Hinata Gen remained walking side by side on the road, occasionally laughing out loud.
As they were about to part ways in front of the school building, Kaneki Ken suddenly invited Hyuga Gen:
"Hinata-kun, I know a really good coffee shop. Hide and I are going there for coffee after school. Do you want to come along?"
"Sure, I'll be there whenever you call."
Upon hearing that Hyuga Gen had agreed, Kaneki Ken immediately became excited.
"Really, Hinata-kun? Then it's a deal. Hide and I will wait for you at the school gate after school at five o'clock. You have to come!"
After saying that, Kaneki Ken ran towards his classroom.
As Hyuga Gen watched Kaneki Ken's figure gradually disappear, a smile appeared on his lips, but then he immediately froze.
"Oh no, I was so focused on getting closer to Kaneki Ken that I completely forgot about the plot."
"The café that Kaneki Ken mentioned should be in Anteiku, the 20th ward. If it is there, your safety should be guaranteed. After you come out, just head towards the crowds."
"Besides, with Mingming protecting us, low-level ghouls are easy prey, aren't they?"
Thinking of this, Hyuga Gen glanced at the crows circling above his head and regained his composure.