At that moment, Byakuya returned to the break room with carrion, only to see that Arata had already awakened.
"Kirishima-san, how are you feeling? Is there anything you need help with?"
Byakuya asked.
But Arata still hadn't fully recovered his senses. After a moment, he asked Byakuya, "...Are you Touka's friend?"
As he asked, Arata tried to force himself to sit up, but Touka pressed him back down. "Dad, just rest properly for now. Don't push yourself."
"Alright..."
Arata managed a weak smile.
Byakuya handed the carrion to Touka, letting her feed it to Arata.
After eating some, Arata quickly felt much better.
But it would still take time for the RC suppressant's effects to completely wear off.
A little later, Arata began asking Byakuya and Touka about the situation.
"After Kirishima-san was captured, you were probably imprisoned in the CCG Laboratory Building's basement the entire time, with your kakuhou being used for kakuja Quinque research."
Byakuya described the general situation. "This is Manager Yoshimura's coffee shop. Touka and I just rescued you from the Laboratory Building."
"Manager Yoshimura... who is he?"
It seemed Arata didn't know Yoshimura.
"He's a very kind person who treats us well. If it weren't for the Manager, my uncle and I might have... years ago..."
Touka spoke up.
Arata nodded slightly, then suddenly realized Touka had just mentioned her uncle.
"Your uncle...! How is Renji doing?"
Arata asked urgently.
"Uncle is doing well. He works here at the coffee shop with us. He just went out today with the Manager."
Touka said.
"That's good..."
Before Arata could fully relax, he suddenly thought of Ayato. "What about Ayato?"
"That brat is seriously rebellious. He stopped living with me long ago and ran off to mess around with some organization called Aogiri Tree."
At the mention of Ayato, Touka looked exasperated.
Though Arata didn't know what Aogiri Tree was, judging from Touka's reaction, it probably wasn't anything too serious.
Rebellious or not, as long as everyone was safe...
"So..."
Arata then looked at Byakuya. "Is this young man Touka's friend? Or boyfriend?"
He had noticed Touka's attitude toward this young man, and how this young man also called Touka by her first name.
The sudden question momentarily stunned Touka.
"He's... he's..."
Coming back to her senses, Touka hesitated, a faint blush appearing on her face. "He's my boyfriend! Honestly, Dad, who asks something like that right off the bat?"
Though she hadn't officially confirmed their relationship with Byakuya, she definitely didn't want to call Byakuya just a "friend."
"Haha..."
Arata scratched his head. "So he's your boyfriend."
He wasn't surprised by this answer.
Then he said to Byakuya, "Thank you for taking care of my daughter all this time."
"Not at all. Touka has always worked very hard. She's no trouble at all."
Byakuya said with a smile.
Hearing Byakuya speak of her this way, Touka was deeply moved, looking at him with slightly startled eyes.
"I see..."
Arata nodded.
Having been imprisoned by the CCG for so many years, he had no idea what kind of life Touka had lived during that time. And Ayato too—they must have had it hard...
Arata couldn't help but embrace Touka, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry for making you suffer..."
He had left behind Touka and Ayato when they were both so young. Though it had been beyond his control, Arata still felt immense guilt.
"It's okay, Dad. Ayato and I have both grown up. We can take care of ourselves now. Let the past stay in the past."
Touka held no blame for her father—she had matured long ago.
"Dad, how is your body feeling now? Once you've recovered enough, come downstairs to meet my companions. They're all good people."
Touka deliberately changed the subject.
"Mm, I should be able to walk now."
Arata assessed his condition.
Fighting would still be difficult, but just walking around normally was no problem.
After all, Arata was still a kakuja. Even if his regenerative abilities couldn't match the Non-Killing Owl's, they weren't far off—at least much better than a half-kakuja.
Arata tried to stand.
Having not moved his body in so many years, even walking felt unnatural. He needed time to adjust.
Seeing her father struggling to walk, Touka went to support him.
At the same time, noticing that her father was a full head taller than her, Touka couldn't help but remark, "I'm still not as tall as Dad..."
Arata's height was 174 cm, while Touka was currently under 160 cm. But Touka was still at a growing age—she would eventually reach at least 160-something centimeters.
"Touka can still grow taller."
Arata said reassuringly.
"Hopefully..."
Touka didn't dwell on it, supporting Arata as they went downstairs together.
...
"Hm? When did you two get back? And who is this...?"
Seeing Byakuya, Touka, and the middle-aged man Touka was supporting, Irimi immediately expressed surprise.
"We just got back. And this is my father."
Touka said.
"...Touka's father?"
Irimi was shocked.
Koma beside her had the same reaction.
They had always been told that Touka's father had been killed by investigators long ago, so seeing Arata before them was like witnessing someone returned from the dead.
"I'm Arata Kirishima, Touka's father."
Arata introduced himself.
The staff here all seemed to have a good relationship with Touka.
Through scent, Arata could also tell that both Irimi and Koma were ghouls—meaning this coffee shop was probably a place where ghouls helped each other...
He had also noticed the human scent on Byakuya. That Touka had become so close with a human boy was both surprising and heartening...
...
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