"Hup"
Some people jumped to the top of a building, thus having performed a physical feat impossible for ordinary humans.
The masks on their faces betraying the fact that they are ghouls or almost so, since not all of them are ghouls
Lucian then placed Hinami on the ground, ensuring that she landed safely.
"Don't worry, he's already dead. Your father has been avenged." Lucian stroked Hinami's hair lightly, comforting her from the shock of seeing a quinque made from her father's kagune.
"Thank you, onii-chan." Hinami thanked him softly, hugging Lucian tightly, feeling the sense of security brought by his arms, smelling his scent and hearing his heartbeat.
Taking a deep breath, she gradually calmed down, feeling as if their heartbeats were in sync.
Although ghouls are already hardened by the constant battle to stay alive, they still have feelings and value family or fraternal relationships.
... Of course, there are those who have already abandoned this.
However, with Ryoko and Hinami, they are noticeably less accustomed to the law of the jungle, so they are very kind women even by human standards.
Although that doesn't necessarily say much about them.
But it should be noted how strong the affection is between the Fueguchi family.
So, the fact that Ryoko and Hinami were greatly affected was just what Lucian expected, so he was already prepared to try his best to comfort them.
And anyone who says he's doing this for his own benefit just says that because he's jealous that Lucian can enjoy the company of these two beautiful women.
- This narrator is in no way biased in favor of the protagonist. –
Putting aside some thoughts that should not be said, Lucian turned to Ryoko:
"I understand the feelings that may be involved, but I have to say that burying his ghoul mask was not one of the smartest choices that could have been made."
"I know... Sorry for causing trouble." Ryoko lowered her head and apologized, her voice was low and sad.
She knew that this was a mistake, this simple tribute to her dead husband almost cost her and her daughter's lives.
She knows that now the CCG knows their faces and this puts a big target on their backs, even though Lucian used threats against the investigators, she knew that it was impossible just to stop the chase.
Whenever she or her daughter leaves, they will be feared by all civilians, who would soon denounce them.
And now Lucian had also revealed his face to save them.
"It's my fault, they know your face..." She blamed herself.
"Don't worry about it. Although Amon seems like just a wall of muscles, in fact he is very intelligent, I am sure he managed to understand what I meant and will follow my words. What's more, they don't have Hinami's face." Lucian assured her, both in an attempt to calm her down and quoting the truth.
"... I think it calms me down at least a little bit, but how can you be so sure?" Although relieved by these words, Ryoko was confused by the certainty Lucian possessed.
"I used the one thing he fears, other than the fact that he can deduce that telling about my face will only cause problems, with no benefits. As for Hinami's face, you covered it most of the time and to collaborate with both of them I also released a gaseous substance to hinder their reasoning and memory retrieval processes."
Even in the original work they couldn't get Hinami's face, as Ryoko had managed to hide it and allowed her to flee fast enough.
In this way, the researchers did not get as many features of her and could not get a portrait of the face.
... Although this doesn't make much sense, since there should be a birth certificate and other documents, as well as photos of both together and witness accounts.
'But I'm just going to assume that ghouls have a way of solving this problem.'
In any case, Lucian made sure they didn't remember the faces correctly.
Using the kekkijutsu he obtained from Tamayo, he left the investigators with a clouded mind, hindering the hippocampus' ability to record memories, particularly facial memories.
So along with the threat, which made them prone to "forget," they actually forgot.
Of course, they didn't forget everything, only that the faces were blurred, the investigators probably still remember well the clothes and other things of the three.
Basically remembering everything that doesn't have a great level of detail.
"So there's no great need for you to worry too much." Lucian completed, running his hand over Ryoko's back to comfort her.
"Ryoko, Hinami, I'm sure Asaki Fueguchi would like you to live well."
Then the three of them just sat on the parapet of the building, feeling the night breeze to clear their minds.
Often time is the best medicine, healing all wounds.
Mado's death served as revenge, ending this chapter in the life of the Fueguhi family, now they could finally move on.
'I just wonder where to go...', Ryoko thought, feeling the cold wind blowing through her long hair.
Then she looked to her left, noting Lucian's handsome face and his bright crimson eyes.
After that she blushed, surprised by the thoughts she was having.
'But it's too soon, my husband died only 4 months ago.' She scolded herself.
However, the thought was already planted in his mind and in a short time it would blossom...
Lucian showed himself to be everything she could wish for, someone "kind" and willing to protect her and her daughter.
... Maybe the appearance and charm can help with that.
But just like receiving coal in the snow, the help she received from it left her deeply moved.
A day that was worth more than a hundred days of coexistence, so to speak.
Lucian who was looking into the distance suddenly stood up, saying, "Shall we leave now?"
"What happened?" Ryoko, who was snapped out of her daydreams, questioned confused.
"What I was waiting for has already happened, so now we're going to Anteiku," Lucian replied, standing up and taking Hinami in his arms.
Hinami blushed, just nodded, agreeing with the idea of going to Anteiku.
"Right!" Even without understanding, Ryoko nodded, getting up ready to leave.
After clearing her head, she was ready to try to turn the page, renewing her enthusiasm to move on with life day after day, leaving her melancholy behind.