TW for sexual slavery and Tsuneyoshi being a lecherous skank.
“Souta, come meet my new cousin!” Ihei Hairu tugs Souta by his hair.
“Ow!” He winces. He’s been across the garden to avoid the screams of the latest birth. He doesn’t like people screaming.
“Come on!” Hairu races across the grass to the central tent, and Souta dutifully follows.
“Look at him!” Hairu holds up a chubby-cheeked infant with a wisp of white and blue hair. “His name is Shio! Isn’t he the best?”
Shio cries, and Hairu gasps. “Oh no!”
She shoves the baby into Souta’s arms, and to his amazement, it quiets down.
“Oooh, you’ll be a natural papa someday,” says Shio’s mother, circles under her magnificent eyes. She’ll have a month to hold and nurse Shio, before another Washuu warms her bed.
Iyo and Rize approach, but their faces are considerably more downcast. They’re nearing the age when their bodies change, and soon they know this will be their future.
“Can I hold him?” Hsaio Ching-Li pouts.
“You’re already holding Yusa.” The one-year-old hangs on her hips, and two-year-old Rikai has her arms around Hsaio’s legs. Furuta tightens his grip on newborn Shio.
“Congratulations.” Arima Kishou strides in and bows towards the exhausted ghoul. “Tsuneyoshi is here.”
And indeed, the demon Washuu himself sweeps into the tent.
Furuta nervously offers his dad the baby. Everyone holds their breath for his approval; but Furuta is too giddy that Daddy’s fingers brushed his to care.
“He’s a beautiful child,” Tsuneyoshi pronounces. Shio’s mother sighs in relief.
As Tsuneyoshi leaves, Furuta watches his eyes linger on Rize, whose chest is beginning to blossom. She wraps her arms around herself.
This isn’t fair. He doesn’t want her treated like this. Rize doesn’t want this.
Souta knows he has to save her.
Mercy and Magic 