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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.

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Interlude 2: Senpai and Kohai

It was... distressing.

She had thought for so long that she was going to be directly integrated in her Oniisan's team, just like her half-siblings.

It was something she had waited for so long, she had bleed and sweated during her intensive training to be ready for... but now? Now father had decided to change the rules right when it was her moment to become part of Arima Squad.

To be fair, Tsuneyoshi's motivations weren't truly unfounded, especially since she felt quite hesitant to say she wanted to do her first actions in the real world under Arima-niisan's glance.

Sure, she would be glad to have the chance to be praised and rewarded by a smile from her oldest brother... but what if she messed up while trying to keep up with the high standards of the team?

Her mind was conflicted through the whole explanation but she agreed to the idea, keeping her protests within herself.

It was a temporary arrangement, she reminded herself, nothing that is going to block her from becoming someone led by her Niisan.

When she first entered the CCG Main HQ in the 1st Ward, Hairu Ihei was surprised by the different world she had just stepped into.

There was the same grey-white theme of colors regarding the aestethics but the sterile smell and silence was replaced by a different scent, one that she could compare to the one coming from her newest formal dress, a gift from her father.

It was masculine, if the pants were to be take in account but she didn't shy away from the comfortable and uniformed clothes.

Her feet took her towards the receptionist, a woman with a bored look in her face which graced her with a snort. "Welcome to the CCG's main headquarters, how may I assist you?"

"I-I am supposed to meet with Kuroiwa Iwao for an assignment." The older woman's eyes lightened and she smiled graciously. "Kuroiwa-san? I suppose it's quite early for him to be here now."

"O-Oh?" Detached that she had arrived there too much early for the meeting, her mind had already resigned to the idea of waiting for the man- "But I think I can get you to Kuroiwa-san's apprentice. He should be already there and training."

An apprentice? The pinkette remembered hearing something about a temporary student under the Senior Investigator, an information that was given by Tsuneyoshi with a praising note, something she had barely heard in her childhood and most of it came from her siblings' experiences.

It was rare to hear about any Investigators and to hear that there is someone so young and not from the Half-Humans being praised by the elder Washuu was a sign of power and concern.

"You see that man?" The woman pointed her finger at a particular man sitting quietly in one of the single couches in the waiting area, reading a magazine while smiling at whatever was in there. "That is Shinohara-san, he is someone that knows where the Training section is and he will be more than happy to lead you there."

Hairu opened her mouth to ask more about this solution but the receptionist hushered her towards his direction, leaving the girl, quite the example of a social inept to deal with someone else than the ones she had planned to met today.

Yet there wasn't much to do. It was either disappoint the kind woman by waiting for Kuroiwa-san or steal a glimpse to the partner she is supposed to work with for some time.

It was the treacherous sense of curiousity that overcame her better judgement, urging her to at least try to act determined in certain things. Determination, lacking any form of hesitation, that was what the work of an investigator consisted mostly.

As she approached, the man seemed to notice her presence as he brought his eyes above the paper and onto her, giving her a calm and natural smile. "Yes?"

The pinkette sighed inwardly but returned the smile with a polite bow. "Ihei Hairu, 2nd Class Investigator." She blinked once. "I was told that you could help me to find the training section of the building, Shinohara-san."

The man closed the magazine and nodded, standing up from the couch and gesturing her to follow him. "Sure but may I ask you why you require to visit the training section?"

A small part of her wished to just keep her from answering that very question, finding it meaningless in the long-term process but... she nodded. "You may and it is because I've been assigned to Kuroiwa-san's team."

Shinohara nodded and hummed pensively at the words. "Iwa's team? Then I suppose you will be Kaizo-kun's kohai."

Her mind cleared in that single moment as the very word, even through she had much read about it, felt as much as alien as... curious. "Kohai?"

"Kaizo-kun has been working with Iwa for almost a full month. He is far from being an experienced investigator but he is also not the same rookie from the Academy."

"Indeed?" Her tone was a surprised one, her interest over her newest partner fueling much of her inner workings right now. "I heard a little from Tsuneyoshi-dono-" "Oh, the director is quite interested by Kaizo-kun." He nodded to himself. "Did you know that he invited the young man to a spar?"

Now that was something she had not heard about. The Elder Washuu was weaker than he was in his prime but he was still a stern and formidable fighter.

"It isn't something many knows about but.. some also said that Arima-san had watched the exchange as it happened few days ago."

Niisan? Why would he be there to see a young investigator?

"B-but why would Arima-san see Kaizo-san?" The man frowned for a moment, then he sighed tiredly at her disbelief.

"Let's just say that... Kuroiwa-san isn't the official Senior Partner of Kaizo-san."

The words felt weird, cryptic, something that willed Hairu to ask for more but... they had already arrived to the training section.

The door opened and the Pinkette merely stared at the single ongoing match.

The two young man had picked a bokken and a wooden sword, the former pressing on the other with an acrobatic style, akin to complex gymnastic moves, the latter had a familiar stance, one that she had studied back in the Garden, but was moving in quite the weirdest manner in that position.

While the white-haired youth continued his aggressive series of multiple attacks, the black-haired one was static, barely twisting his stance to deflect or outright dodge the attacks from his opponet.

Thrust, swing, parry, dodge, roll and then slash.

An almost silent dance between two fighters, both sporting visible grins in their faces as they continued the spar without a clear winner.

"They are still going at it?" Shinohara smiled a little and chuckled. "It's been almost two hours.."

To think that... unbelievable.

Hairu was confused at the brawl, surprised that it felt different from the usual fights she had taken part in the Garden with her siblings but... they were happy.

They were having fun for some reason and the pinkette felt a knot in her chest starting to burdening her breath.

Why were they having fun?

Shinohara gave one last sigh before slamming his open palm on the door of the small arena, interrupting the two fighters. "Time's up. Go and take a shower."

They chuckled and started to move towards them and Hairu blinked as her eyes settled on the black-haired youth.

"Kaizo-kun, one moment." The mentioned investigator paused and approached Shinohara.

"Shinohara-san, I-I am sorry if we wasted too much time-" "Nonsense, Kaizo-kun. It is always good to train once in a while and.. I think you should meet your newest teammate."

He frowned at the bit and then he looked at her.

She blinked just once, feeling as if she was staring at... niisan?

It was an odd sensation, one that brought her quite the most confusing blush but she managed to bow a little. "Ihei Hairu, 2nd Class Investigator, Kaizo-senpai."

He smiled, something that felt natural compared to her Niisan's smiles.

"Ryouga Kaizo, 1st Class Investigator. Nice too meet you, Hairu-kohai."

The pinkette smiled at the greeting, feeling like this arrangement wouldn't be... as terrible as she had thought previously.

AN

Hairu is an angel and she is now a pawn in Tsuneyoshi's chessboard against Arima. An attempt to irk the heir to abide loyally to the Washuu's rule or... a test?

There are so many things this change will bring in the canon and... I wonder what Arima think about this...