The next day, Touka got me a job at Anteiku and I was still dressing like a boy. Every day after school, I'd go to Anteiku to start my shift. It was a pretty cool job because I got be around other ghouls so I can get to know them better.

"Hey, Touka! Hi, Mr. Yoshimura!" I greeted. "Hey, Kaori. You look like you're in good spirits." Touka noticed with smiling. "How was your day?" Mr. Yoshimura asked.

"It was okay. I think a girl developed a crush on me when I was helping her with her math homework." I said. "Did you tell her that you were actually a girl?" Touka asked. "Nope." I answered before looking around the café.

"Where's Rize?" I asked, expecting her to be here. "She'll be here later. In the meantime, you should go ahead and start working." Touka advised. "Right." I got changed in my work attire and got to work.

The day went by pretty fast. During my shift, I spotted Rize sitting with a boy who has short black hair. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. But then it dawned on me that, that boy was probably Rize's snack, so I had no reason to be jealous.

When my shift was over, I waved goodbye to Touka and Mr. Yoshimura, and headed home. I expected to see my father here, but he wasn't. He was either working late or eating flesh somewhere. I decided that I would eat later.

I went to my room and started my homework. The whole time I was doing my homework, I thought about Rize. When I was finished with my homework, I put it back in my bag and stretched. "It's really late. I wonder if Rize's home yet?" I wondered.

I decided to go check on her. I headed downtown to see if Rize was in one of her usual spots, but she wasn't. "Rize?" I called. No answer. I headed to the others places where Rize and I usually hung out, but she wasn't there either.

I even went to Jason's hideout to find out where she went, but he said he hasn't seen her at all. Now I was starting to get worried. I search high and low for Rize, but I couldn't find her anywhere. I panted as my hands were on my knees.

"Rize... Where are you?!" I called. I suddenly heard a crash near the construction site. "What the hell was that?" I muttered. I ran towards the construction site to see what had happened. "Rize? Rize, are you here?" I called once I got to the construction site.

What happened here? Why does it look like there was a fight here? I looked towards a pile of metal pipes that seemed to be scattered everywhere. "Ka... o... ri..."

I looked over at pipes ad gasped when I saw an arm reach out. I recognized the arm immediately. "Rize!" For the first time since I became a ghoul, I used my kagune to get the pipes off her. Once the pipes were off her, I saw that she was in terrible condition.

The pipes had done serious damage to her body and she wasn't healing. There's no way I can get her to the hospital like this. No! I have to try! "Rize, just hang in there! I'm gonna take you to get some help!" I tried to get Rize up, but she only pushed me away.

"Hurry... leave now... Kaori." Rize whispered. "No... I won't leave you! I'm going to save you!" I argued. "Don't be an idiot!" She snapped. I was taken back by her tone. "Rize..." I started. She smiled weakly before gently placing her hand on my cheek.

"Kawaii." Rize whispered before slowly closing her eyes. Her hand slipped off my face as she died. "Rize? Rize!" I tried to shake her awake, but it was pointless. She was dead. How... How did this happen? I heard someone cough, so I looked to my left.

I spotted a boy laying against some cinderblocks as he was severely injured. He looked like he was at the brink of death. He coughed a little, blood running down his chin. I walked over to him and kneeled down in front of him. 

I knew this boy. His name is Kaneki Ken. We passed each other in the halls a lot. But we never really talked to each other. He must have been Rize's snack. "You did this... You killed her." I said with a frown. "Please... help... me..." Kaneki pleaded in his weak state.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I should leave you here to die." I said. My hand went into his pocket and took out his cellphone. I dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"There's been an accident near the construction site. A boy is injured and he's in critical damage. I need an ambulance right away. Please hurry." I said in an emotionless tone. I hung, then put his cellphone back in his pocket.

I went back to Rize's corpse and got down on my knees. Tears escaped my eyes as I stared down at her. "I don't want to be alone again." I whispered. That's when I got an idea.

I slowly lowered my face to Rize's corpse... and ate her. I ate her arms, her legs, everything. All that was left of Rize was some blood and a few of her insides. Now that Rize is apart of me, I won't be alone. Never again.