Chapter 35: Solitary Battle

Tasked with digging up secrets about Tsukiyama's Gourmet Club, Kaneki combs the city for the restaurant and loses his way. He stumbles onto a beating in a back corner and finds the victim is Nishiki Nishio. Though he first thinks of phoning the police, he steps in on impulse to defend Nishiki. The attackers explain they only meant to cannibalize Nishiki because his weakness and wounds made him easy prey. When they try to club Kaneki down and mistake him for the one-eyed ghoul who supposedly killed an investigator, they scatter in fear despite the rumor being false.

Kaneki carries Nishiki home, where Kimi Nishino takes over his care. Nishiki reveals that Tsukiyama has been hunting for him and warns Kaneki to steer clear of the Gourmet. It is noted that strange incidents have multiplied around Tokyo since Rize Kamishiro died. Kimi confronts Kaneki about being a ghoul, and he begs her to keep his identity secret; in return she asks him to say nothing about her hiding Nishiki, since discovery by the Commission of Counter Ghoul would be dangerous. She notes that sheltering a ghoul carries harsher penalties than harboring a criminal.

Kimi confesses she is not afraid to be with Nishiki and would rather remain by his side. Kaneki decides she is devoted without reservation, and reflects that peaceful coexistence between humans and ghouls would be a fine thing.

Kaneki intervenes to save Nishiki from a gang, and the false rumor of him killing an investigator scares the attackers off. Kimi Nishino, a human, is shown knowingly sheltering the ghoul Nishiki despite the legal danger.

Kaneki and Kimi agree to protect each other's secrets, and Kaneki takes hope from Kimi's devotion as evidence that humans and ghouls could live together.

The chapter marks a turn in Kaneki's relationship with Nishiki from enemy toward reluctant ally. Kimi's loyalty introduces the recurring theme of human and ghoul coexistence that shapes Kaneki's ideals going forward.