Kaneki’s group grows as more lost ghouls rally to his side. Tsukiyama, of all people, becomes one of his most loyal followers. The former gourmet has found a new obsession, and this time it is not about eating. Tsukiyama’s loyalty, however strange, turns out to be completely genuine.
A quiet moment of peace finds Kaneki and his friends sharing a meal together. It is a small echo of Anteiku’s warmth. These moments, he realizes, are what he has been fighting for all along. The shared meal is a small, perfect reminder of what they are fighting for.
The fight between Kaneki and Arima is a masterclass in hopelessness. Every move Kaneki makes is read and countered. Arima is not just stronger, he is perfect. Kaneki is dismantled piece by piece, and there is nothing he can do to stop it. The hopelessness of this fight is conveyed brilliantly through the artwork.
Tsukiyama, ever dramatic, declares his devotion to Kaneki’s cause in the most extravagant way possible. Some things never change. His loyalty, however theatrical, is absolutely real. Tsukiyama being dramatic as ever provides some much needed lightness.
Tragedy strikes when the investigator Kureo Mado guns down Ryoko, Hinami’s mother, without mercy. The news shatters the fragile peace at Anteiku. Hinami is left orphaned, and Touka’s grief curdles into something dangerous. What happens to Ryoko in this chapter is absolutely heartbreaking.
Kaneki finally learns what happened to Hide, and the truth breaks him in a way no battle ever could. His oldest friend paid a price for Kaneki’s choices. The grief is overwhelming, and the guilt is crushing. Learning Hide’s fate is the emotional gut punch of the entire series.
Kaneki wakes up chained in a dark room, at the mercy of Jason, who lives for torture. The beatings begin, methodical and endless. Kaneki clings to his sanity, refusing to give in, but Jason has broken stronger wills than his. Jason is terrifying, and this chapter makes sure you never forget it.