A Confession Over Dinner?

"I'm starting"

Eto clasped her hands together, a typical Japanese dining etiquette gesture.

Indeed, today Eto was once again at Byakuya's home, mooching off his cooking.

Whether it was because she genuinely enjoyed his food or simply wanted a free meal, no one could say.

At first, Eto had seemed a bit reserved. More accurately, she was aloof toward humans, avoiding interaction with them altogether — very different from the cheerful, outgoing her version of ten years later.

However, after spending so much time with Byakuya, her initial shyness began to fade.

Of course, Eto's true nature was far from shy. As the infamous ghoul who had fought her way out of the 24th Ward through countless acts of kakuja cannibalism, her introverted demeanor was nothing more than a façade. In her human guise, she naturally felt no affinity for other humans.

"So, how's that ghoul girl doing today?"

As usual, Eto couldn't resist gathering information.

"Nothing unusual. She doesn't seem inclined to resist and appears focused on calmly finishing her exams next week" Byakuya replied, casually eating dinner.

"Anything else interesting happen at school besides the ghoul girl?" Eto pressed further.

"There was... something, I guess" Byakuya admitted, recalling the awkward situation between Taishi, Aki, and Minami.

"Do tell" Eto said, her curiosity piqued.

Byakuya briefly recounted the tale, sharing just enough details to satisfy her interest.

"Ah, so if that boy found out the girl he likes is a ghoul, he'd probably have a mental breakdown" Eto remarked, half-amused.

"Probably"

Byakuya responded nonchalantly, having no intention of telling Fura that Minami was a ghoul.

Aside from himself and Arima, no one knew that Minami was the ghoul known as Lantern. Even the CCG lacked concrete evidence beyond an old shoe.

If her identity as Lantern were exposed, the CCG would inevitably take action against her, and who knew what drastic measures they'd resort to?

For now, the fewer people who knew her secret, the better.

As for Eto, Byakuya trusted her not to report anything to the CCG. Eto's hatred for the organization was pure and unyielding—she'd sooner start a massacre than cooperate with them.

(P.S.: The anime's depiction of Eto reporting her father, Kuzen, to the CCG is non-canon. In the manga, the CCG independently discovered the existence of two Owls, and Kuzen's prior involvement with V made his identity as the Non-Killing Owl evident)

Even if she did betray him, it wouldn't be catastrophic. At worst, it would count as partial disobedience to his mission orders — nothing he couldn't handle.

"By the way, is there anyone you like at school?"

Eto's sudden question caught Byakuya off guard.

"No" he replied with a shake of his head.

"Really? There must be plenty of cute girls at your school. Isn't it normal to fall for someone at first sight?"

Eto had never attended a human school herself. Her understanding of such matters came entirely from books.

"There's really no one. Besides, none of them are as lovely as Miss Takatsuki" Byakuya said matter-of-factly.

Eto blinked in mild astonishment.

It wasn't that she felt flustered or shy, but the directness of his comment surprised her.

When a human boy says something like that to a girl, isn't it practically a confession?

Eto wasn't entirely sure about human relationships, but given how kind Byakuya had always been to her, it seemed plausible...

"This idiot investigator—could he actually have feelings for me?" she thought, gripping her spoon a little tighter.

This scenario seemed eerily similar to the one they'd just discussed: a boy unknowingly falling for a ghoul.

Although Eto was technically a half-ghoul, she identified more with her ghoul side.

Still, she didn't see this development as a bad thing.

She needed someone utterly devoted to her—a "cash cow" to fund Aogiri Tree.

And with Byakuya's status as a first-class CCG investigator, his influence and access to secrets would only grow as he climbed the ranks.

"Mr Byakuya... Can I take that as a confession?" Eto asked, feigning a bashful expression typical of a human girl.

She wanted to test the waters and confirm his true intentions.

"Not at all. I just genuinely think you're cuter than the girls at school" Byakuya answered seriously.

"Really... Well, I'm flattered" Eto said, a hint of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

It seemed this man wasn't quite under her spell yet, which meant she couldn't outright ask for a large sum of money.

"By the way, did you sign a contract with me because of my looks?" Eto teased, half in jest and half to retaliate.

"That was part of it, but your work is genuinely excellent. That's the main reason" Byakuya answered candidly.

His forthrightness left Eto momentarily speechless. Her teasing had no effect on him at all.

"..."

Eto hadn't expected him to admit it so calmly, without a trace of embarrassment.

"Even so, that's still problematic, isn't it? If word gets out that you're a lolicon editor, your career would be over" Eto said with feigned indignation, refusing to back down.

"That's fine. Signing with Miss Takatsuki alone is enough for me. Besides, I can still rely on my investigator job to make ends meet" Byakuya replied, unfazed.

"Tch" Eto clicked her tongue internally. This guy was truly unshakable.

With no other choice, she muttered under her breath:

"Stupid lolicon!"