The Ghoul Restaurant, eh? It's a nice place; I don't really have any problem going there… Anyways, they already tried to eat me there once… and I ended eating them instead"

My head… it really hurts, and I think I'm starting to hear voices. That's new, and I hate it. I can't concentrate at all in the mission like this, and I believe that we will arrive soon.

-Hey, I can see the restaurant from here! – Who is it talking? Damn it, I still don't know anyone from the squad – Wait a minute… What the fuck is that?!

I barely manage to sustain the pain, and I join the rest of the squad that is looking outside the windows of the transport that is driving us to the 7th ward. Everyone seems astonished and silent. Many of them try to hold in their emotions, but still have their mouths open from the astonishment. And now that I can see it too, I understand their reaction.

We already arrived. The surroundings of the ghoul restaurant are in front of us, and it's nothing like we expected. At least, not what I expected.

We didn't even leave the car just yet, and the combat already started between the ghouls and the local investigators. Actually, it's not a combat; it's more like carnage. A big contingent of ghouls, around 20 I believe, are battling the investigators that surrounded the restaurant and are destroying them without mercy. Apparently, none of these investigators have real combat experience, and they are no rivals for the ghouls.

But that's about to change right now.

-The squad will engage in close combat with the enemy, after that we will split in 4 teams: the first one will keep pushing the front line till they reach the main door; teams 2 and 3 will surround the sides of the restaurant to prevent escapes; and team 4 will enter from behind. I will command team 4, so be ready for new instructions. Onwards.

Arima's orders are clear and simple, and he tells them without an ounce of doubt in his voice. Before I can notice, the whole squad has jumped from the vehicle and activated their quinques. So this is the level of squad 0, I can't help it but feel overwhelmed by their power. By the time I jumped from the vehicle and start running to the combat zone, the squad already exterminated all the ghouls that tried to kill the recognition forces of investigators from the front line. The weapons that they used are really varied, because they go from regular appearance swords, maces and scythes, to long range whips. Our arrival was something unexpected for the ghouls, because they seem desperate while they try to regroup their forces inside the restaurant. At least, "desperation" is what it feels like; because I can't see their faces under the masks they wear.

But I know I can't join the combat, at least not directly. Those were Arima's orders, and I won't fail him. That's why I reach the wounded investigators that were left behind and carry them to a safe place. Luckily, the majority only has light wounds that will heal within a month, but there are a lot of them that are crying and screaming from the pain of losing a limb. It's disgusting, and makes me really mad. The ghouls took their arms and legs like it was nothing, just diversion for them.

Still, I won't leave any of them behind. I will rescue every one of them, whatever it takes. S o I start going even deeper into the combat zones that are already peaceful, and star to carry one at a time to the help zone that was set-up after the squad 0 arrived. Many of the heavily wounded asked me to leave them behind and help in the fight, they even insulted me for refusing to listen, but I won't stop. Like that, my duty takes me to the back of the restaurant, were the combat already ended to continue inside. It's quite likely that I will be punished for not staying behind, but I couldn't stand there and do nothing.

Just when I thought I had finished the rescue, I hear a voice around me that comes from the death bodies thrown around.

-Damn it, am I so pathetic that a kid comes to rescue me?

I am surprised because I didn't perceive his presence before. At first, I thought that was my imagination, but after I saw where the voice was coming from, it was even worse than everything I had seen till then. Dropped on the ground, there was a 40 years old guy, throwing blood from his mouth and with legs and arms chopped, plus a big bite on his sides. He is losing a lot of blood, and I'm frozen from seeing him.

-You must be really tired, kid. Don't worry, you did an excellent job – the smile he directs to me makes me recover myself, and to start running towards him.

-I… ¡NO! You will come with me and we will save you – Even though I say this, I know he won't make it.

-C'mon, we both know that I will die here – Despite this horrible thought, he is still laughing – Also, it would be really sad to survive like this, don't you think?

-No matter what, you will survive – C'mon, think. I need to keep him awake – Don't you have a family to live for?

-Ah, damn it. You are right, my wife will kill me when she finds out – Please, please, please, stop joking about this.

-It would be inconvenient if she did, right?

With extreme care, I manage to lift what is left of his body and slowly walk to the place where nurses are taking care of the rest of wounded investigators I have rescued. But he is still losing a ton of blood, and I don't have any way to stop it.

-Kid, I mean it… stop wasting your energy – he is closing his eyes, I'm afraid of the worse – Now that I think about it, I want a favor.

-Don't joke around, I won't leave you. We can talk about favors when we arrive, but right now try to keep your energy, please – I don't know what else to say to calm him, because every word he says comes out with a drop of blood from his mouth.

-No, I need to tell it now. Later there won't be a chance, and you know it. I want…

-¡PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STOP TALKING ALREADY! Do you realize that it makes you bleed even more?

-Ah, that doesn't matter now… I want to ask you to… - His energy is near 0 now, and I feel desperate. I want to close his mouth myself, but my arms won't work for anything that isn't carrying him.

-Please… stop…

-Kid… tell my wife… and daughter… that I thought about them… till the end.

And just like that, with these last words, the man that I carried on my arms died. I fall to my knees, and his body fells to the side. I can't help but cry helplessly, full of hate because I couldn't help him and even more fury because I don't know his name. I…

-Get up, bro. There are still a lot of people to save.

A new voice puts me on alert, and I instinctively protect the body of the man that lies to my side while I try to figure out where that voice is coming from. When I find it, I realize it's a black haired guy, most likely around my age, and looks at me with sadness when he notices my reaction.

-…Who are you? – That's the only thing I can say in a situation like this, because I can't really think about anything.

-My name is Leonard, and I'm a rank 2 investigator. Pleased to meet you! – He flashes a smile and reaches me with his hand, just to take it away and darken his look – I'm sorry that we have to meet in a situation like this. C'mon, I will help you to reach the help post.

-Don't worry… - I need to recover my composure, I must remember that we are in the middle of a combat – I'm glad that you are alive. By the way, my name is Kaneki.

-A pleasure, Kaneki. By the way, those ghouls could never kill me. You will see, I will become the next Arima!

-Arima? But I think that you don't have quite the attitude – I can't help it but smile while I imagine Arima being as expressive as this guy, and that comforts me a bit.

-Are you despising Arima?! – This guy really has a lot of faces, because he seems furious – Well, let me tell you that Arima is…

-Wait, I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to offend him. It's just that… well, you two are really different.

-Eh, do you know Arima in person?! – And after the fury arrives the emotion – How is he? Is he as strong as they say? Is his hair whiter than yours? By the way, you have a high ranking, right? What kind of quinque do you have on that briefcase?

-Hold on, too many questions. First, we must go to the help post. This area is dangerous – Also, I want to make sure that the dead man is identified.

-Well, that's true. Let's go… wait, what's that smell?

-Smell…?

While we were chatting, I was so focused on protecting the body of the dead man that I didn't notice that the air was rarefied, and was affecting my reaction time. I feel numb, and I can see that Leonard too because he is slowly falling to his knees.

-I think that… it's some king of drug, Kaneki. We must hurry up and leave this place or it's going to get even worse.

Leonard is right, the effect seems to be getting worse with time and if a ghoul finds us, it's the end. But…

-Wait… I can't… leave him behind – I won't fail him, I will carry his body to the help post.

-Okay then, let me… help you.

With difficulty, we manage to lift the body of the investigator that died on my arms and we slowly walk towards a safe place. But the drug effects are getting worse, and I'm afraid that we will need to leave him behind if we want to survive.

-Kaneki, I don't think that…

-Wait, I know. Please, go on without me… I will carry him – To be honest, I don't think that I will make it, but I must try.

-You are really stubborn… Well, let's continue.

-Thanks… Leonard…

-Watch out…!

Before we could notice, a dark shadow went really fast between us and took the body of the man we were carrying. I can't react, and watch horrified as the shadow slowly bites his face.

There's no doubt about it, it's a ghoul.

-Ah, what a pitiful taste. It seems that gas has no effect on the flavor of the dead – While he says this, he raises his hand to show his disappointment – Never mind, let's try with the living now, shall we?

-FUCKER, FUCKER, FUCKER! – I know that I shouldn't tease him, but my blood is boiling from the fury – I PROMISED HIM, I PROM…!

-What are you saying, kid? I don't even want to look at you right now; you have too many clothes on you and that makes you sweat, which totally kills your flavor.

-I WILL KILL YOU; I WILL KILL YOU NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!

-Yes, yes! That's exciting! Let your emotions flow, c'mon! Now it's a little bit more interesting… but, how far can you take it? Let's see…

With a long jump he reaches where Leonard and I are standing, and focuses me with his kagune unleashed, a koukaku type. Without time to move, I try to cover my face with my arms on a poor try to defend myself.

C'mon, use me…

Without thinking, I lower my arm to activate my quinque, and the long halberd comes out. I manage to lift it on time and block his attack, but it still pushed me to a light post.

-Oh, you still have enough energy to fight? That's not good. You see, I don't have time to play with you; I must support the useless guys that take me for their god inside the restaurant.

-You… you are the ghoul… that leads them – a few meters away; I notice the voice of Leonard.

-Indeed I am. Do you like my work? – Now, the ghoul tries to show off.

-I should have guessed… the ghoul restaurant… your koukaku kagune… - Does Leonard knows him? I can feel surprise and hate in his voice.

-Oh, I'm glad that there are people that still remember me on this ward. It's been a while, after all, but I am finally back. Rejoice!

-You… damned ghoul… you killed my parents… - While he says this, Leonard starts to stand up.

-I'm sorry to hear that, young one. Oh, what tragedy must have been for you!

-Don't mock their death…

-Mocking? I'm just sharing your pain! You see, I lost someone important too a while ago – I can hear the ghoul laughing, and that makes my blood boil even more.

-Damned ghoul… I will be the one… to kill you… GOURMET!

So the identity of the ghoul is "Gourmet". For some reason, that name sounds familiar for me, but I don't have time to think about it because the Gourmet runs to Leonard and punches him in the stomach, which makes him throw up and faint.

-I'm sorry, young one. You will have to wait a little while more to join your parents. I'm curious about the effects the gas has on the livings after a while, and you are more helpful that your partner.

Without saying anything else, the Gourmet takes Leonard with him and runs to the restaurant, passing through the aperture that Arima's team broke to enter.

-DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAMN IT!

I can't stop screaming in my desperation. I failed to rescue the mutilated man, and I won't be able to recognize him because Gourmet ate his face, and now I have lost the only person that showed real kindness to me since I became a ghoul investigator.

Use me…

And I keep hearing voices.

One of those ghoul masks on the ground… it's an anti-gas mask. It will help.

It's true… there's an anti-gas mask on the ground, it will help me.

Wear it…

…Wear a ghoul mask? But… I must rescue Leonard.

Let me be your strength…

I need to be strong to defeat the Gourmet.

And then…

And then…

EAT HIM! / KILL HIM!