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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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Case 3: Lying Soul (1)

I gave some quick glances at the newest member of the team and smiled a little as she tried to truly appear professional in checking her equipment but ended up showing quite the rainbow of expressions.

Panic, relief, dread, calm and so on, Hairu was already on the path to become a funny individual to have around during missions.

"A-Ano, Kaizo-senpai, when should Kuroiwa-san arrive?" I hummed quietly as I fixed my coat a little bit before turning back to look at her.

"He is not. We are going to meet with him by the place the dossier gives us." I picked a small paper out of my pocket and handed it to her, the girl blinking just once at the words before turning her attention at the content of the file.

Case 154897
Team:
- Special Class Investigator Kuroiwa Iwao (Leader)
- Investigator Class 1 Ryouga Kaizo (Subordinate/Substitute Leader)
- Investigator Class 2 Ihei Hairu (Subordinate)

Setting: 2nd Ward
Duration: 1 Week.
Description: Takatsuki Sen's manager, Shiono Shunji, reported to the CCG death threats sent by Aogiri Tree to the writer after some comments the woman made during a book signing.

"A duration?"I heard the pinkette muse loudly as she picked the case containing Aus to follow me out of the CCG Building.

"It means that there isn't a clear possibility to be attacked by Ghouls. We are meant to protect this woman for a full week, maybe it will be extended to two if things turn even worse."

Her sleepy face gave a confused look. "Worse?"

"If the letters continue to arrive and this is seriously caused by Aogiri Tree, then she will possibly be put under the CCG's guarding list for few years."

A nod from Hairu later and we were calmly strolling through the 1st Ward toward the appartment of the author.

It was quite surprising that Kuroiwa had said very little about the mission details, especially since that deprived me from the capacity to actually help more Hairu in her first case on the camp but... maybe there was a good reason.

The man always knows what he is doing and... he still didn't show any sign of negligence in this kind of situations.

The 2nd Ward shined a little less brighter than the 1st but it was still one of the most beautiful quarters of the capital.

Until after WW2, this was considered the 'Central Ward' of Tokyo and the place where the Bank of Japan has its main headquarters. The 1st Ward was able to catch up thanks to the new corporations and Zaibatsus bringing new life to the poor quarter and becoming the main section of the city.

But it was quite surprising that I had to explain all of this to Hairu, the Kohai incredibly clueless over the capital as she had 'lived a sheltered life'.

As much as the excuse could forgive the fact she didn't knew the least familiar Wards, this motivation failed when it was referring to the 2nd Ward, one of the most important ones in the city.

The more she showed awe at the lights of Tokyo and the skyscrapers around there, the more I suspected that she was not from the city itself, having grown in a countryside village.

It was a strange thought, one that fell too when he noticed her knowledge over the basic etiquette while eating.

This sure was the strangest girl I had ever met.

We finally arrived to the appartment and were greeted by a nervous-looking man by the entrance.

Formally-dressed in a blue suit, Shiono Shunji was quite the meek individual, someone that sounded scared of everything, even his own shadow.

I struggled to keep myself from looking disappointed while looking at him, someone that was meant to be a tough nut, being the manager of a relatively-known author in the city.

And yet Shiono cared about his coworker and.. that could be the reason why he still had a good job with a good pay.

"A-Ah, the other two investigators. Th-Thank you for arriving so soon." I nodded his direction while Hairu merely smiled as we were led inside the building.

"B-Before leaving you to Takatsuki-san, I think I should explain.. few things about her." He paused in front of the door of the flat, sounding quiet and almost silent with his tone.

"And that is?"

He sighed tiredly but nodded my direction. "She could be sometimes quite.. overbearing with her questions but I can assure you both that she is genuinely trying to restrain herself from going too far with them."

"That sounds.. normal?" Hairu seemed confused by this very detail but, if I knew people like Shiono well enough, I was sure this little quirk was being sugarcoated now for some reason.

"Just.. bear with it for a while. She will get bored and pass on another topic."

That sounded terribly interesting.

The door opened and we were presented with quite the scene.

Kuroiwa was sitting in a single couch, sipping at a cup of warm tea, while chatting amiably with the woman sitting across him, in a bigger sofa, as she continued to write furiously on a small notebook.

She had green-hair combed in a small, unruly bun, a pair of glasses covering her emerald eyes. Her clothes were of questionable fashion for a woman her age but it felt quite fitting for someone that preferred comodity to appearance.

At the sounds of our footsteps entering the house, both turned to stare at us. The Senior Investigator greeted us with a nod while the woman-

A gasp left her mouth as she jumped out of her seat and rushed towards Hairu, her eyes glowing an unholy light. "She is so cute!"

...What the heck, lady?

The pinkette blinked in surprise, eyes wide open, as the woman circled her frame, almost drooling at her while nodding at herself.

"T-Takatsuki-san! Stop harrassing the kind Investigator!"

Her efforts lessened at the words but she continued to stare at the Kohai, the girl confused and quite embarassment by what had just happened.

"But she is a cutie, Shiono! She could be my Venus."

The pinkette tilted her head at the word, failing to grasp why this could relate to the situation, something I recognised quickly. "Takatsuki-san, I suggest you to calm down."

Her eyes turned onto me and she pouted. "You are the grumpiest of the group, aren't you?"

I felt oddly irked by that statement. I was usually the moderately carefree youth but the woman was bringing my serious self.

It wasn't something voluntary as I felt like she was being too cheerful that would be seriously threatened by Aogiri. She sounded much like a buffon, trying to make the public laugh by doing dumb and nonsensical jokes that may or may not succeed in the intended result.

I wasn't even smiling at this point, knowing full well that there were people making false reports that took essential time from the CCG to focus on real cases.

Yet she continued to stare, her smile showing no sign of faltering as I continued to give my greatest bored expression back to her.

It was a strange standoff, one I don't even know why it had started nor why she fiercely wanted to continue it.

Her smile widened. "You are dull."

"And you are annoying."

"Takatsuki-san!/Kaizo!"

We both blinked, turning to stare at our respective manager/leader.

I could see Kuroiwa's stern look within my sight and, from what I could glance out from the writer's cringe, I knew that the two were matching the same expression.

Few moments after and we were sitting on the couch, looking away from each other.

I was alternating my stare between the Quinque's cases and Hairu's own fidgeting self, unwilling to test the waters with Kuroiwa's current mood.

"Kaizo."

I blinked to my name being called and I turned to the Senior Investigator.

"I've decided to put you and Hairu in the second shift, from 18PM to 8AM." He stated with a calm but strict voice. "I hope you will not ruin Hairu-san's first case by behaving like a child."

I snorted, the pinkette staring at me with a confused stare as she had missed the whole issue I was experiencing.

I had done several cases now but never, and I mean 'NEVER', I have had to deal with someone this... frustrating.

The rest of the day inside the flat was spent trying to set particular paths for groceries or other situations that had the woman going outside.

It was an incredibly interesting period of time as I spent most of it being the furthest away from the green-haired terror.

Childish? Sure, but like heck I was going to be in the proximity of a formidable cause of headaches.

But I convinced myself that... I had to put a hold over this dreadful sensation I felt around the woman.

At least for Hairu's sake.

AN

Third case and the Great Feud has begun!

Also Hairu is so clueless...

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