The story begins with Ken Kaneki, a shy college student who loves books and keeps to himself. When the beautiful Rize Kamishiro asks him out, it feels like a dream come true. But the date takes a horrifying turn, and a freak accident leaves Kaneki with organs transplanted from Rize herself. If you are new to Tokyo Ghoul, this opening chapter is the perfect place to begin.
The battle for Anteiku erupts in full force. Quinques flash and kagunes tear through the night. Touka fights like a cornered animal, protecting Hinami and the others with everything she has. Touka fighting to protect her home brings out her very best.
Amon resurfaces, but he is no longer the man he was. His experiences have changed him in ways the CCG cannot see. He walks a line between two worlds now, belonging fully to neither. Amon’s transformation is one of the most interesting threads in the story.
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.
Kaneki hatches a bold plan to strike at Aogiri’s leadership directly. His followers are nervous but willing. If they can cut off the head, the body will fall, or so the theory goes. Kaneki’s plan to strike at Aogiri’s leadership is audacious to say the least.
The peace does not last. The CCG, humiliated and furious, launches a massive crackdown. Investigators sweep the wards with unprecedented aggression. Nowhere is safe, and everyone knows it. The CCG’s crackdown brings a suffocating sense of pressure.
Kaneki’s group crosses paths with Aogiri, and the tension is immediate. Ayato’s hatred burns as bright as ever. Both sides are building toward something, and everyone can feel the collision coming. The tension between Kaneki’s group and Aogiri crackles on every page.