After living together at a CCG children's home years earlier, Kurona, Nashiro, and Suzuya are reunited in combat at Cochlea. Ayato faces an uphill battle against Shinohara, who is equipped with armor created from the remnants of his own father, Arata.
The battle at Cochlea intensifies on several fronts and when Ayato is to be almost killed, he is rescued in the nick of time by Kaneki, who undergoes a bizarre transformation after consuming the bodies of several dead Ghouls to empower himself.