"That works too. You can follow me for now."
Byakuya said casually.
Then, he extended his hand toward Suzuya Juuzou.
Juuzou hesitated for a moment before reaching out to shake Byakuya's hand.
"As for the other victims, take them all to the CCG first. Follow the proper procedures and carry out whatever work needs to be done."
Byakuya instructed the investigators beside him.
These victims, according to protocol, would at the very least need psychological counseling and other follow-up care.
Juuzou was no exception, but in his case, Byakuya would personally take care of him.
"Understood."
The investigator nodded in response.
At this point, there was nothing more for Byakuya to do at the auction site.
Other people would handle the aftermath.
He first took Suzuya to the CCG branch; specifically, the 2nd Ward branch where he was stationed.
As they walked, Byakuya asked the kid a few questions.
"Suzuya, what's your full name?"
"Suzuya Juuzou..."
So it seemed that "Suzuya Rei" was the name Big Madam had given him.
In the original story, "Suzuya Juuzou" was the name he had as a dismantler at the ghoul restaurant, while "Suzuya Rei" was Big Madam's idea of a cute little girl, she even went so far as to mutilate him to fit that image.
Even after being taken in by the CCG, Suzuya had chosen to keep the name "Suzuya Juuzou" as his investigator identity.
"And where is your home? Do you have any contact information for your parents?"
Byakuya continued asking.
"I don't have a home. I don't have parents anymore."
Suzuya's face remained indifferent, as if he were stating something completely ordinary.
"...Alright then. How about I arrange for you to stay at the CCG orphanage? What do you think?"
Byakuya inquired about Suzuya's preference.
Suzuya nodded without any objections.
There really weren't any better options besides the CCG orphanage for him.
Byakuya couldn't exactly let Suzuya stay at his own house; that would be far too troublesome.
For one, Eto's half-ghoul identity couldn't be exposed. And then there was also little Mayu, whose full-ghoul identity had to remain hidden as well.
Bringing Suzuya over for occasional visits was fine, but living together was out of the question.
Although the Anteiku District was another possibility, Suzuya was human, not a ghoul. Gaining the trust of Anteiku would be difficult, making it an impractical choice.
By now, Byakuya had brought Suzuya to the CCG to undergo psychological evaluation.
After that, he had to process the paperwork for the orphanage admission.
As the Branch Chief of the 2nd Ward, handling these procedures was a simple task for him, and things moved swiftly.
By the end of the day, Suzuya would be able to report to the orphanage.
However, since it was still early, he wouldn't be able to go until later that evening, as the formalities weren't entirely completed yet.
Until then, Byakuya decided to let Suzuya rest at his home for a bit.
"I'm back."
Byakuya unlocked the door with his key.
"Welcome home!"
Eto immediately noticed Suzuya standing beside him.
"This child... I honestly can't tell if they're a boy or a girl at first glance."
Eto didn't ask any unnecessary questions; she already knew without needing to be told that this child must have been brought back from the auction.
"He's a boy. His name is Suzuya Juuzou."
Byakuya introduced him.
He also briefly explained Juuzou's current situation; how he was waiting for the CCG orphanage's admission procedures to be completed.
"That works out well. Mayu will have another playmate."
Eto smiled warmly.
Juuzou looked up at this older sister-like figure without saying a word. In his mind, she seemed very kind and gentle as well.
Feeling that he should say something, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Thank you."
After that, Byakuya let Juuzou watch TV with Mayu.
The two kids gradually started talking to each other.
"You're so pretty! You're a boy, but you look even prettier than most girls."
Mayu marveled at Juuzou's delicate features and smooth skin.
She even felt a little envious of his beautiful face.
"People say that to me a lot, but I don't think this face is useful for anything."
Juuzou replied indifferently.
"How could it be useless? Juuzou, you're so pretty, you'll definitely be really popular!"
Mayu said with a bright smile.
"...And what's the point of being popular?"
Juuzou clearly had no interest in such things.
"Want some?"
At that moment, Mayu handed Juuzou a bag of snacks.
She couldn't eat this kind of food herself, but she knew that humans loved snacks. So, she figured it would be a good way to make friends.
Coincidentally, Juuzou really did like snacks, especially sweets.
He immediately started eating with great enjoyment, a very rare look of happiness surfacing on his face.
"Thanks!"
"Does this mean we're friends now?"
Mayu asked eagerly.
"Friends...? Hmm..."
Juuzou nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.
Once it was about time, Byakuya took Juuzou to the CCG orphanage.
Most of the children in this orphanage had lost their families to ghouls.
The CCG not only cared for them but also trained them to become investigators in the future. Naturally, the treatment here was far better than an ordinary orphanage.
From then on, Byakuya visited Juuzou every day to check on him, showing great dedication.
After all, in the original story, Juuzou had been falsely accused and ostracized.
However, as it turned out, Byakuya's concerns were somewhat unnecessary.
While Juuzou still had a preference for keeping to himself, he was in a much healthier mental state compared to the original timeline, where years of abuse at Big Madam's hands had deeply scarred him.
Without that trauma, he wasn't as reclusive or eccentric. He also showed no signs of self-harm; such as his infamous "human embroidery" from the original story.
Juuzou wasn't exactly ostracized, but he didn't make any friends either. The orphanage staff mentioned that he never actively interacted with the other children.
The only time he really played with others was during his occasional visits to Byakuya's home; when he would spend time with Mayu.
This was largely because Mayu was naturally cheerful and proactive in making friends. She treasured the rare opportunity to have a playmate her age.
"Kids these days... they're getting craftier."
Watching Mayu and Juuzou play games together, Eto sighed.
"You say that as if you hadn't ever been a kid yourself."
Byakuya couldn't help but retort.
Eto smirked and countered, "Well, that's only because a certain lolicon keeps sweet-talking me every day. It's made me feel like I've matured quite a bit."