The Message

In a beautiful outdoor setting, Kenzo sat watching the horse racing competition. He didn't want to admit it, but he had bet on number six and was confident that this time he would win.

"Oh, that black horse is going to crush everyone else," Kenzo muttered as he drank his beer.

"Remind me, when was the last time you won a bet?" Touka arrived with food and sat beside Kenzo, wearing comfortable clothes and focusing on eating the chocolates he had brought as a gift.

Kenzo frowned slightly and said, "I wouldn't like to admit that I'm bad at betting; I'd rather say I haven't been lucky so far, and that's why I haven't won."

Touka smiled and said, "If you somehow lose money, this is the only place. I guess this is where all your bad luck goes."

Kenzo understood what Touka meant and said, "The last time, I won a bet against one of my subordinates; the idiot lost around a hundred dollars."

While they enjoyed their time together, Kenzo thought about what he was about to do and wondered how long it would take to achieve everything he had set out to do.

"I've placed your brother in a safe zone. Surely, his desire is for revenge and not to be weak, but he's only harming himself," Kenzo, at some point during the game, looked at Touka and spoke about her brother.

Touka stayed silent. She didn't exactly know what to say to Kenzo about her brother, but she was grateful for his subtle actions.

She knew that Ayato despises their father for not being able to stand up against ghoul investigators, leaving both her and her brother alone to fend for themselves when they were young.

After that, Ayato often tends to ridicule his father's lifestyle whenever he talks to her about their family.

"Thank you for that."

Kenzo looked at her and said, "We won't see each other again after today until everything is over. If you want me to come back alive, you must at least wait for me in a safe place."

As Kenzo knew, he had to face terribly powerful enemies and fight them all to the death. He didn't know if he would come out unscathed from that, nor if he would die in some battle, so he would make sure to keep her and her father safe in a secure place.

If he wanted to fight as if he had nothing in this world to ensure his and his family's future, he needed to at least know that those he loves are safe.

"Prepare a safe house; there's food, and in the meantime, you can take care of the flowers I planted there."

"I'm not going to hide, Kenzo. I don't plan to distract you by getting involved in what you're about to do, but I do want to be close in case you ever need me. I'm strong; I can help you in many ways," Touka got angry, even though she wanted to understand why Kenzo was doing this, it angered her that everyone considered her weak.

Kenzo, seeing that he had lost the horse race, said, "What I'm going to do is not good for others; morally speaking, I'll be a demon to humans, and that's the only thing you need to know."

"You said you're looking for a peaceful world where we have rights, but you also have to consider not being hated by those who should accept us," Touka said with clear eyes.

She wanted to understand Kenzo, but a part of her still rejected the war he wanted to lead, and she didn't know how to stop him. By supporting Kenzo, Touka was leading him into a dark and bloody path, or at least that's how she believed.

If there was a chance to accept living as they have been doing so far, she would stop him. But nothing assures her that in the future, their children won't be persecuted by those she has forgiven.

Human technology is advancing, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they were discovered even if they haven't done anything wrong. That's why she couldn't stop him, in fact, no one could.

Kenzo stood up, walked toward Touka, and said, "My dream after all this is to be very peaceful. The only thing keeping me fighting is our future and that of those who are like us. Let's prove that we are better than humans; let me at least prove it."

"Just make sure to come back," Touka, with a lump in her throat, hugged Kenzo, who showed no emotions.

Yes, once again, this is for them. He would fight and kill anyone seeking their harm, so he must not retreat. The world will know all the terror that ghouls have gone through; they will feel the pain with which they were punished and beg for mercy.