In the corner, Kaneki, who was reading a book alone, heard a noise behind him. He turned around and happened to see the woman he constantly thought about, Rize Kamishiro.
"Miss Rize? Didn't you have something to deal with?"
After coincidentally meeting and getting to know Rize last time, she invited him to go out together.
Afterwards, she used having something to deal with these few days as an excuse, hoping to delay their appointment by a few days.
Although Kaneki was quietly reading a book on the side, in his mind, all he could think about was Miss Rize's matters.
'What kind of matters does Miss Rize have?'
This was the first time he had ever been invited out by a girl, it felt like a dream.
The postponed appointment made him feel somewhat disappointed.
Having nothing to do, he came again on this peaceful afternoon to the café Miss Rize often visited.
"If Miss Rize has things to do, I probably won't be able to see her today." He sighed, becoming even more disappointed, and flipped through Takatsuki Sen's work in his hands.
A man's angry scolding from behind startled him, making him shiver, it gave him a feeling like being bullied at school.
Having lost both parents at a young age, he had often been a target of bullying at school. Those bullies would always suddenly come to harass and tease him while he was reading.
Thinking this, Kaneki looked in the direction of the sound, a man who radiated a bullying aura from head to toe, and also… the Miss Rize he liked.
'Didn't Miss Rize have something to do? Why is she here?'
Seeing Kaneki, Rize was also a little surprised. Kaneki was also her target, she had invited him out earlier, planning to find a chance to eat him.
This kind of easily hooked, seemingly tasty male was her favorite type.
However, after coming into contact with Jotaro, her appetite for Kaneki had already diminished. Compared to Jotaro, Kaneki was just dessert after a meal.
That's why she used having matters to attend to as an excuse to delay the date with Kaneki.
As for her business, of course, it was to pursue Jotaro. But in front of Jotaro, she had encountered a big setback. That man was completely unyielding, even though she used all her charms, he remained unmoved.
Seeing Rize didn't respond, Kaneki looked to the side and weakly asked, "This gentleman is… Miss Rize's… who?"
Kaneki's sudden appearance was something Rize had not anticipated.
If Kaneki said they had an appointment, then her dealings with two men would be exposed. After all, just now she had confessed her feelings to Jotaro.
At this moment, she definitely didn't want Jotaro to misunderstand her.
"Kaneki-kun, we're not very familiar, right? Could you not inquire about my personal matters?" Rize had a smiling face, but her expression looked very cold.
Kaneki was a bit surprised, the difference from the Rize who had warmly chatted with him that day was huge.
"Yes… it's my fault, Miss Rize." He blushed and said.
Right now, Rize decisively chose to abandon the pawn to protect the king.
"Kaneki-kun, could you leave? You're disturbing me."
"But… but…" Kaneki stammered, "that day we had an appoint..."
Rize immediately cut him off and said, "Kaneki-kun, it was just because I saw you also liked Takatsuki Sen's books, so I chatted with you a little more. You mustn't get the wrong idea, or have other thoughts that you shouldn't have."
Honest Kaneki was already speechless. With a gloomy expression, he said, "I… I understand."
He held the book he was reading and walked out of the café in loneliness, like a walking corpse.
Rize didn't even glance at Kaneki and quickly explained to Jotaro, "Kujo-kun, please don't misunderstand. Although that man is pursuing me, I already rejected him a long time ago. He just shamelessly keeps pestering me."
She looked at Jotaro affectionately and said, "But in my heart, I already have you. Besides you, I won't fall in love with any other man."
Jotaro stood up, forcefully pushed her away, glanced at her, and coldly said, "He's not like you said. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd keep pestering someone."
After saying that, he ignored the dark-faced Rize and walked out of the café with strong steps. He couldn't stay here any longer.
Rize stared in the direction Jotaro left, her whole body trembling. It was the first time she had been humiliated by a man like this. And this feeling of desire denied, it made her recall some unpleasant memories.
'I'm even more excited! I'm even more looking forward to seeing the expression of despair when you're afraid!'
Rize licked her lips and let out a strange laugh.
She wanted to see Jotaro's most genuine, most perfect expression. So she had to make Jotaro trust her and fall in love with her. Then be hurt by the one he trusted and loved the most.
Just thinking about such a scene, Rize could hardly suppress herself, every cell in her body trembling. A tingling sensation spread throughout her entire body.
But she also knew, a man like Jotaro could never be taken down in the short term.
"Hey! Is this Kaneki?"
"Miss Rize?"
Hearing the voice he had been dreaming of from the phone, Kaneki couldn't believe it.
"Please don't mind what I said just now," Rize's voice trembled, seemingly choking with sobs. "Because that man was nearby, I had to act that way."
'Could there be a hidden reason?'
Kaneki's heart was already moved by Rize's sobbing tone. He quickly asked, "Miss Rize, what's going on?"
"That man has been constantly bothering me…" Rize casually made up a reason.
"I see, your father owed him a lot of money before. After they died, the debt passed onto you. No wonder you didn't dare to resist him."
Kaneki recalled that tall, strong man with a cold and stern face. He didn't look like a good person at all.
"Miss Rize, let me help you. Although I don't have much savings, I can support you for a while. As for the rest of the money, we can find another solution."
"Kaneki-kun, you're so reliable." Rize said shyly. "Please don't trouble yourself over this matter. As long as you can understand my difficulties, that's enough."
"I understand! Miss Rize! I will definitely help you."
Kaneki made up his mind. From now on, besides his busy schoolwork, he would work part-time to earn money for Rize.
Rize's charming laughter came from the phone, making Kaneki's blood surge and his heart beat wildly.
"Let's talk about this face to face. Let's meet at Anteiku Street the day after tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, Kaneki still felt like it wasn't real.
The day after tomorrow, he would be going on a date with Miss Rize?
Thinking of Rize's tragic situation, Kaneki felt even more motivated. If he could help her through her difficulties, maybe…
He was already deeply immersed in sweet love, unable to extricate himself.
Although she had already hung up the phone, Rize was still murmuring to herself.
"Before I eat Kujo-kun, Kaneki-kun, you'll just be the appetizer."
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