Isa was tending to Nico's daily check up until a guest arrived, wanting to speak with him alone. Isa came back twenty minutes later. The blue-haired boy sat on the chair, looking at Nico with a hard glare before rising to leave. He swept past Isa with rudeness, leaving silently. Isa looked back at Nico with a confused look.
"Was everything alright?" She asked.
He gave her a smile.
"Of course. He's just usually a little grump. The thought of coming to see me greatly enticed me." The way he said that was a bit strange, if not a little freaky.
"Oh. I see," was all she could reply.
She turned on the corner, walked straight. She passed by the stores lined in perfect rows along the sides, walking almost automatically, turning on the right streets and stopping on the red lights. The air was sharp and cold, dry, and she could see her breath in the air. Isa suddenly heard a distant sound of knocking. She turned around and saw a familiar face in the glass of a small shop. A hand waved and a face smiled.
Takatsuki Sen.
She gestured Isa to come in, so Isa did.
"What a surprise to bump into you, Isa~" Takatsuki said once she entered through the door. A big, welcoming smile was expressed on her face.
"Yes. What are you doing here?" Isa asked. Takatsuki plumped onto a chair and made a cute gesture.
"The coffee here is good too."
Isa and Takatsuki had a long conversation about the things on their minds. Isa began to feel more comfortable around her by the minute, and felt she could be a trustworthy person. They talked about random things, from their likes to dislikes, to their hobbies, and work experiences.
"A couple days ago…" Isa started but then stopped, wondering if she should tell her what happened. Maybe it'll benefit her book, she thought. Isa felt a close bond to her, even though they just met not too long ago.
Takatsuki stayed silent, patiently waiting for Isa to continue. Isa looked around in case people were listening, she felt the talk about ghouls would be odd in public.
"I encountered a ghoul."
Takatsuki sat straight, her face didn't change. "I'm not making stuff up," Isa said.
"I know. I'm just quite surprised," she replied, her face still blank.
"Quite?"
"That you're alive. What happened?"
Isa explained to her everything that she remembered-to the details of the ghoul's appearance to what they said to her. "Did you see its kagune?" Takatsuki asked.
"Pardon?"
"Ghouls have a predatory weapon they use to defend and attack called kagune. They're like organs that takes in many forms and types."
"Predatory weapons, huh…" Isa laughed awkwardly. "Takatsuki Sen sure knows a lot about ghouls."
"So what happened afterwards?"
"A ghoul investigator saved me. I never noticed him but I guess he was there the whole time. He was standing right behind me when I was trying to escape-after the woman ghoul said something about not being me or something. There were two ghouls. One was a male and the other female. She had...red eyes and a black sclera. When she came up to me she looked surprised or something. She said something about 'not being me' or something. I didn't really know what it meant but she was talking to the male ghoul. The ghoul investigator killed one of them, and I think the woman ran away… The ghoul investigator was kind enough to come back to take me home as well."
"Ooo," Takatsuki teased. "Did you learn anything about him?"
"Only his name. Arima."
Arima-special class investigator, Takatsuki thought. She smiled inwardly. The door opened, and someone walked in, she recognized her. She smiled.
"Is something the matter?" Isa asked Takatsuki.
"Isa?"