On Top of the Food Chain

Emi lay on a futon, her ears wrapped with bandaid tape, and she was completely naked. The room smelled of blood and antiseptic, a stark reminder of what had happened just a few hours ago. The Manager sat in a chair in the corner, sunlight pouring in through the window in front of him, casting long shadows across the room.

“Why did you run away?” Emi asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

The Manager's eyes, hidden behind his white mask, bore into her. “Do you even know who that person was?”

“No, why would I?” Emi replied, a hint of defiance in her tone.

“He was the assistant of the Executioner. When I randomly found you, he had already called him.”

Emi's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "The assistant of the Executioner? I had no idea..." She looked down, guilt and fear mingling in her eyes.

“Fighting him would’ve meant a confrontation with the Executioner.” The Manger added.

The Manager nodded. “And according to my luck, I’m sure that Subaru was probably just a few minutes away from that street.”

Emi sighed, shifting uncomfortably on the futon. “Well, what are we supposed to do now?”

“We are going to Kyoto. Instead of the Exterminator, the Executioner will work.”

“We're sticking to the original plan?” Emi asked, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

“Yes, but it will be even harder,” the Manager replied, his voice firm. “The vendetta between Orochi and the Executioner runs even deeper.”

Emi closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. “Great, I’ll be the one killing the assistant.”

The manager stood up, his dark attire contrasting sharply with the bright sunlight. “Good. We leave tomorrow. Rest while you can.”

***

Kazuki and Rika sat under a sprawling tree on the hill, gazing at the town below. The days had blended together in a monotonous routine since Kazuki had begun practicing to manifest his Aura, but despite his efforts, he still couldn’t.

He had felt a spark of enlightenment after seeing Junpei’s Aura, yet progress remained elusive. His life had become a cycle: college in the morning, work at Junpei’s convenience store, and evenings spent on the hill with Rika, practicing.

Along with training to manifest his Aura, Kazuki was also practicing basic martial arts, and doing strength training, therefore his body was aching all over.

The blood he received from Rika and Junpei was just enough to stave off the excruciating pain of hunger, but it never truly fulfilled him. And the uncertainty about his parents’ fate lingered like a dark cloud over his head. Sitting under the tree, a whirlwind of thoughts churned in his mind, creating a vortex of confusion. He glanced at Rika, who seemed unchanged, as indifferent and cold as ever.

The orange sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on Rika. She looked striking, the play of light accentuating her features. Despite her efforts to be warm and welcoming, her eyes always held a coldness.

The only time Kazuki had seen a different side of her was when he found her crying on the water tower. She had looked even more beautiful in her vulnerability, he thought.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Kazuki said, breaking the silence.

“What?” Rika replied, her voice as indifferent as her gaze.

“Why did you always make a nasty face when you saw me in college before I got entangled in all this mess?” Kazuki asked a hint of curiosity and hurt in his tone.

Rika turned to look at him, her expression unreadable. "It's because you had a weird smell," Rika replied, not bothering to soften her blunt words. She turned to him, her gaze steady.

Kazuki blinked, taken aback by her bluntness. “A weird smell?” he echoed, trying to process her words.

“Yes,” Rika continued, her tone unwavering. “Ghouls have heightened senses, and your scent was... different."

Kazuki sighed, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion. “Different how?”

“Even among Ghouls, my sense of smell is extraordinary. I can pick up scents that most Ghouls can't,” Rika said.

Kazuki nodded, listening intently.

“Humans have this sweet smell. Each human's scent varies based on their conditions, but there's always this sweet, inviting undertone. But your smell... It was different. It was so sweet it felt bitter, almost rotten.”

Kazuki processed her words, then asked, “Do I still have that smell?”

Rika shook her head. “No, now you don’t smell like that. There’s a faint sweetness to your scent, but that’s it. You smell... good.”

They fell silent again as Kazuki resumed his training. He closed his eyes, sat with his back straight, and crossed his legs. Kazuki clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he focused all his energy on the task. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, trickling down as he fought to summon even a spark of his Aura.

After a while, Rika broke the silence. “We’re going to Kyoto for hunting tomorrow. I think you should come.”

Kazuki opened his eyes, surprised. “What?” he asked, looking at Rika.

***

Kazuki sat on a bench in the park, watching the sunset. Children played together, their laughter echoing through the air, while a few people walked by with their partners or friends. Some elderly couples were sitting on benches, probably enjoying the view and reminiscing about their youth.

Despite the serene surroundings, Kazuki was in turmoil. He had tried to accept the world of the Ghouls, but killing a human or a Ghoul felt heinous and unnatural to him. Yet, tomorrow, he was going to witness his first death.

Rika had informed him that there were no bodies left in the morgue and they couldn't find any bodies at the nearby suicide spots either. So, they were going to Kyoto to kill a dangerous criminal who had sexually assaulted many people, both men and women. No matter how bad a person was, killing someone was something Kazuki could never want to do. He believed that the law and the almighty power existed for such reasons.

Lost in his thoughts, Kazuki didn't notice an old lady, who seemed to be in her eighties, sit beside him on the bench.

"What's the matter, young man?" she asked.

"It's nothing," Kazuki replied. "I just have tension over the fact that I'll have to do something I don't want to, but I'll have to."

"This struggle between doing what you love, which might not lead to success, and doing what you dislike, but brings prosperity, is life itself. Sometimes, you should choose the path of prosperity; other times, follow your heart."

Kazuki nodded, trying to grasp her words. "I understand what you're saying, but my situation is about doing what is right and what is wrong. It's such a web of dilemma."

"Well," the old woman said thoughtfully, "Sometimes, not doing the right thing can still be righteous. Have the resolve to do what you must, without worrying about the outcome. If you don't get too excited by victory, you won't feel devastated by defeat either."

Hearing this, Kazuki's eyes widened as he felt his mind clear, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Thank you," he said softly.

The old woman smiled back at him. "You're welcome, young man. Remember, life is about choices, but it's also about living with those choices. Do what you must, and find peace in that."

Kazuki nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He watched the sun dip below the horizon, the sky painted in hues of orange and pink. He still wasn’t sure about what to do, but he had accepted what he had to do.