Chapter 30: Bitter Taste

The press reports Kureo Mado's death, and word spreads that the Commission of Counter Ghoul intends to escalate its pursuit of the Rabbit. Kaneki goes to Doctor Akihiro Kanou for an examination, where Kanou tells him his health is fine yet appears not to grasp that the transplanted organs from Rize Kamishiro turned him into a ghoul. Kaneki suspects the doctor knows more than he lets on, and wonders whether his own Rc levels still match a human's despite what he has become. Kanou also lets slip that Rize had relatives.

Back in class, Kaneki and Hideyoshi Nagachika talk over the Rabbit and Daughter investigations using a newspaper report. Kaneki is unsettled by how accurately Hide reads Hinami's circumstances and her killing of Mado, though he keeps his nerves hidden. When he presses his friend on where such insight comes from, Hide produces a novel he has been reading, praising it for covering ghoul psychology, biology, and past investigations, and even floats the idea of looking into the Daughter case himself.

At Anteiku, Kaneki has grown well known for facing down Koutarou Amon, and ghoul patrons heap praise on him. He apologizes to Yoshimura for the trouble he brought to the 20th ward, but Yoshimura brushes it off and thanks him instead. Kaneki also learns that Hinami Fueguchi has moved in with Touka Kirishima.

Mado's death becomes public and triggers a widened CCG operation against the Rabbit. Kanou's checkup deepens Kaneki's suspicion that the doctor understands his transformation and is concealing it, while the mention of Rize's family plants a new thread.

Hide's uncanny grasp of the ghoul investigations rattles Kaneki, hinting his friend may be closer to the truth than he admits. Hinami relocates to Touka's home for safety.

The chapter builds tension around Kanou's true knowledge and Hide's growing curiosity, both of which pay off much later. Kaneki's newfound reputation at Anteiku marks his shift from newcomer to respected figure within the 20th ward's ghoul community.