Byakuya watched as Eto's mouth parted slightly in surprise, her expression laced with disbelief.
"Is this... one of those so-called parallel worlds?" she asked.
"That's one way to put it" Byakuya nodded.
He couldn't help but find it interesting that even this world had a concept of "parallel universes."
Maybe—whether it was the world of Tokyo Ghoul or that of Attack on Titan—they were all just parallel realities.
"If that's actually real, then it sounds pretty exciting" Eto said.
"I wrote this story specifically to help you understand that world" Byakuya explained. "Since it's so different from ours, I wanted to know how you felt about going there. Though of course, we can return anytime we want."
"Didn't I already tell you? No matter where you go, I'll always go with you" Eto answered without hesitation.
Byakuya smiled softly. "Fair."
"But seriously, you've got to have a reason for going to that world, right? What are you planning to do?" she asked curiously.
"Whatever I feel like," he replied with a shrug. "What about you? If you were there, what would you want to do?"
Eto was silent for a moment, then said, "If I had to choose... I'd want to change that world with my own hands."
The fall of Paradis was inevitable. Once Armin, Mikasa, and the rest of the so-called "Heroes Who Saved the World" died, the fragile peace they upheld crumbled. The Eldians, having lost the power of the Titans, couldn't keep up with global advancements. They fell behind, and weakness always invites aggression.
Even if the Titans had remained, technology was catching up quickly, making them less and less relevant. That's just how humanity is—true peace is an illusion, and even temporary peace is hard to maintain.
Still, after reading the entire story Byakuya wrote, Eto realized that the world of Attack on Titan wasn't actually that powerful. Compared to her world, their military force was primitive. Titans had size, sure, but even the Nine Titans with special abilities weren't impressive to someone like her.
With her power, she could do practically anything in that world.
"But that's a long shot" Eto added. "Considering how messy things are with the Eldians, Marleyans, and all the other nations, it's not something you can change overnight. And unless absolutely necessary, I'm not into ruling by force."
She smiled a little. "For now, let's just treat it as an adventure. I mean, parallel worlds? Of course I'm intrigued."
As a writer with a wild imagination, Eto couldn't help but be fascinated by the idea of another reality.
Byakuya agreed. He had no interest in dominating the world of Attack on Titan. As an outsider, he didn't want to interfere too much. He hadn't even gotten that involved in the world of Tokyo Ghoul, despite now being the head of the TSC.
He trusted people like Marude, Mado, and Kanou to handle most things. As long as they stayed on track, he didn't need to micromanage.
Even the Washuu clan still had its uses—that's why he wanted Nimura to become the new head of the Washuu. That guy had both the brains and the power to lead.
That said, Byakuya did have a clear personal goal: completing the task to unlock his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"So, when are we leaving?" Eto asked.
"Whenever. But before that, let's let the folks at the Anteiku know. We probably won't be coming back often once we're over there," Byakuya replied.
"Got it," Eto nodded.
...
Even after the battle, the Anteiku was running like always.
But thanks to its role in the war, the place had become a sensation. Tons of people now knew its true nature, and lately it had turned into a full-on tourist spot.
Every day, crowds of human customers came to visit. With friendly staff like Yoshimura still around, the café's online popularity had skyrocketed.
And of course, rumors that Byakuya —the hero of Battle for Tokyo and current head of the TSC — frequented the café only added to the hype.
Yoshimura was starting to get a little overwhelmed. The shop was too small, and the flood of visitors was becoming hard to manage.
"Manager, maybe it's time to expand" said Koma, half-laughing, half-exhausted.
"I've been thinking the sae" Yoshimura nodded.
The café was never meant to be a money-making venture; it was a haven for ghouls in need. Honestly, Yoshimura still hadn't even touched most of the salary he received from the V back in the day.
Still, with all these human customers, it felt rude not to accommodate them. The staff was sufficient—the problem was just the space.
At that moment, Byakuya and Eto arrived.
They didn't even reach the door before they saw the place was jam-packed, with a crowd spilling outside.
And of course, the moment Byakuya appeared, all eyes turned to him.
People stirred, phones came out, and the crowd surged.
"Look! Isn't that Byakuya?"
"It is! Damn, I hit the jackpot today!"
"I have to get an autograph!"
The excitement grew quickly.
Byakuya sighed. Fame really was a double-edged sword.
There were photos,
selfies,
autograph requests—
And a good number of girls who were very clearly his fans.
"Uhm, Mr. Byakuya... are you seeing anyone right now?"
"What kind of girl do you like? Come on, just a little hint?"
Some of the more forward girls even started asking flirtatious questions.
"Someone's pretty damn popular, huh~" Eto said with a sly smile at his side.
Byakuya looked helpless. It's not like he wanted this.
"You know what? Just ask me instead" Eto said with a sweet yet mischievous grin, turning to face the girls.