I concur. Rize needs better.
“I can’t believe,” Ayato huffs, “I dragged not one but two assholes out of there, and I’m not the king.”
“No one’s the king anymore,” Touka says sharply.
“You’re my king?” Hinami suggests, causing Ayato to blush uncontrollably.
A thing, pale-haired figure appears in the doorway to the hospital waiting room.
“Rize!” Touka leaps to her feet.
Rize tries to smile, but it comes out shaky. She’s hungry, but why say anything? They’ll just put her in prison again.
“I’m glad you’re better.” Hinami smiles at her, and Ayato nods.
She nods. Her eyes are haunted.
“Are you Rize Kamishiro?” The gurgle voice of Nagachika Hideyoshi breaks into the room.
Rize turns and nods.
“We met once a long time ago. Back when you dated Ken!” Hide laughs, but Rize blanches.
“We’ve met someone with less tact than me,” Ayato whispers.
“Oh.” Hide winces. “Guess I shouldn’t have said that. Uh, uh, well, I’m with CCG – and we want to ask you questions, if you’re able? The doctors said it would be okay.”
Rize’s eyes widen. This is it. Where they put her in prison again.
“You’re not in trouble,” Hide assures. “Not at all. You remember Hsaio? She and her friend Saiko – she’s one of the human-ghoul hybrid investigators – have been pretty adamant about advocating for your well-being.”
Hsaio…Hsaio was always one of the nice half-humans. She didn’t hold Rize’s ghoul nature against her. Rize hesitantly nods.
———————————————————————————–
One Year Later
“Don’t you love sugar? It’s the best.” Suzuya watches Rize delicately lick the ice cream cone he offered her.
“It’s…tolerable,” she says, surprised. Maybe Kimi’s formula will work, after all.
“It will be the best. When the science is done.” Suzuya nods eagerly. As the head investigator assigned on her case, he and Rize have bonded over a love of food, gory movies, and father figures.
“Oh hey, Hide.” Suzuya waves behind Rize.
She turns around and smiles slightly to see Hide unmasked. He’s trying not to hide himself anymore, like he promised her.
How am I the one who’s supposed to come out of hiding when you can’t even bear to show your own face? she’d screamed at him last weekend.
And he’d cried. And told her she was right.
“I got another signed copy from Sen Takatsuki,” Hide says with a conspiratorial tone.
Rize squeaks and grabs the book from his hand.
“Marude’s going crazy trying to, er, interfere with efforts to locate her.” Hide snickers.
“They won’t,” Rize says automatically.
“Nah.” Suzuya shakes his head.
“Wanna go home?” Hide asks, brushings fingertips against hers. His touch is so light it could be a breeze.
Home. Where people love her. And she likes them. Where she isn’t imprisoned, but set free.
Rize smirks at him. “I’d like that.”