Tokyo Ghoul: Madara Template Strikes Back!-Chapter 123 - 120: Roma Hoito

"I met him, and I beat him up. But don't worry—he's fine."

Kanzaki Ryoma's voice was matter-of-fact.

"You beat him up?" Kirishima Touka's eyes lit up.

"...Yeah."

Ryoma braced for her anger, but to his surprise, Touka clapped her hands once in approval.

"Good. That arrogant little punk's had it coming for a while."

Relief flashed across her face.

She wasn't the type to hold back. Despite everything, she knew Ayato was strong enough to endure it. As long as there were no fatal injuries, getting roughed up might do him some good.

She had wanted to beat some sense into him herself. Ryoma had done what she couldn't.

"..."

Ryoma offered a half-smile. This girl really was his sister?

"So is he still running with Aogiri Tree?"

Touka folded her arms and asked calmly.

"Most likely. But I doubt he'll be back soon."

Ryoma leaned back. "I made him face things he's been trying to avoid."

Getting bested by a human and barehanded at that—was something Ayato would carry like a scar. For someone with pride as high as his, the shame alone would be unbearable.

In truth, Ryoma hadn't gone as far as Kaneki had in the original story. There were no shattered bones, no full-body trauma. But Ayato's self-esteem took a far deeper hit. For a ghoul who believed in his superiority, losing to a human was an unforgivable humiliation.

Especially one who dragged his buried emotions to the surface.

Ayato wouldn't dare face Touka like that. Not after Ryoma had exposed what he truly felt.

The boy was only fourteen. Still stuck in that narrow-minded, rebellious stage. A couple of years, and he might see things more clearly.

"What is it that he's unwilling to admit?"

Touka's voice had softened.

"He wants to protect you, as his sister. That's all it is. But the idiot can't bring himself to say it."

Ryoma shrugged.

"What? No way. That brat's just trying to show off to Aogiri. He doesn't give a damn about me."

Touka snorted in disbelief.

"You could test it yourself," Ryoma suggested. "Ask him next time. Watch how he reacts. If he freezes up or dodges the question, then you'll know."

"..."

Touka fell silent.

Her mind wandered. Back when they were kids, Ayato had followed her everywhere. They had been inseparable. Then, one day, he just left. No warning, no explanation.

It didn't make sense. Unless he left to protect her. Unless he thought he was doing the right thing.

She hated his methods, but deep down... maybe Ryoma had a point.

Still, even if Ayato meant well, joining Aogiri was a reckless move. She didn't agree with his ideology, not at all. There had to be another way. A way where everyone could live safely, together.

That dream had already been crushed once. The so-called "safe zone" had been leveled by CCG, spearheaded by the Washuu family.

But now, Kanzaki Ryoma had entered this world—and he was the variable that changed everything.

Just then, a cheerful voice rang out from the café entrance.

"Hello! Anyone hiring?"

Ryoma turned at the sound. A girl stood at the door, looking all too young and far too innocent for the world she was walking into.

He recognized her instantly.

The girl, with her gentle demeanor and deceptively cute features, was none other than Roma Hoito.

Better known in the underground as the "Dodgy Mother." Former SSS-rated ghoul. Founder of the Clowns. First King of Jokers.

She looked twenty but in truth, she was over fifty.

Ryoma remembered the details. When Aogiri Tree launched their assault on Cochlea, a total of thirty-seven ghouls escaped from the A-Rank block, five from S-Rank, and three from SS-Rank.

Roma was one of the SS-class ghouls who slipped through. She had once been classified SSS, but when Washuu Tsuneyoshi captured her, she had suppressed her power. So she was locked in with the SSs.

And now here she was, already standing in Anteiku.

She must have regrouped with the remaining Clowns shortly after escaping. Then caught wind of this place. And like a moth to flame, came to see the show.

"Welcome. Can I help you with something?"

Touka approached calmly.

"No no, I'm not here as a customer! I'm applying for a job!"

Roma grinned and waved a hand dismissively.

Touka raised an eyebrow. "You're applying? Do you even know where this is?"

Follow current novels on freewebnσvel.cѳm.

"Of course!" Roma beamed. "This is the safe zone, right? The place where ghouls can live in peace. I heard the folks here were friendly, so I thought maybe I could find shelter."

Only Ryoma knew how full of it she was.

But he didn't call her out. The one person who might see through her charade—the manager—wouldn't be fooled.

Yoshimura had ties to Washuu. He had lived through the chaos. If anyone could judge character on sight, it was him.

If Yoshimura was willing to let Roma in, that meant she posed no threat to the peace here. And if that was the case, Ryoma saw no reason to interfere.

"...Alright, come with me."

Touka turned and led Roma upstairs.

The usual procedure. Show her eyes, prove she was a ghoul, and let the manager decide.

Downstairs, Yoshimura approached Ryoma.

"Mr. Ryoma, would you mind joining me upstairs later?"

The old man's smile was calm, but there was weight behind it.

Ryoma nodded. "Sure."

That conversation was long overdue.

Sometime later, Touka returned with Roma.

"Manager," she said, "she's one of us. Claims she fled from another ward. Do we take her in?"

Yoshimura nodded without hesitation. "No problem."

His tone was mild, but Ryoma caught the subtext. He knew exactly who she was. And didn't care.

Not even the Washuu family had guessed Roma's true identity as the first Clown King. They had captured her simply as a dangerous ghoul and left it at that.

But Yoshimura was never one to overlook things. He let her in because he understood her madness wouldn't threaten what he'd built here.

Then Roma's attention shifted.

"Say... is that handsome boy a worker here too?"

She leaned forward, eyeing Ryoma like a curious child who just found her new toy.

Her voice was cheerful, her smile sweet—but behind her eyes was pure chaos.

And Ryoma knew it was just the beginning of a new kind of trouble.

***

Let's reach 600 power stone today—

Support & Read Advance Chapters On Patreon.com/Zexxxxy