Touka works as a waitress at Anteiku, where she’s known for her sharp tongue and no-nonsense demeanor. At first, she is harsh toward Kaneki, seeing him as weak and naïve. However, her aggression masks fear and frustration—Touka understands the brutality of the ghoul world and knows that hesitation can be fatal. Her early interactions with Kaneki often highlight the ideological clash between someone born into ghoul society and someone who has only just entered it.

As the story unfolds, we learn that Touka once tried to live a human life. She attended high school and tried to blend in, concealing her identity to maintain friendships and experience ordinary joys. However, the need to feed and the constant threat of discovery forced her to abandon that life. This painful choice reveals a central theme of Tokyo Ghoul: the impossibility of normalcy for those society refuses to accept.

Touka’s emotional core is further explored through her relationship with her younger brother, Ayato. Once close, the two became estranged after their parents’ deaths. Ayato joins the violent Aogiri Tree organization, embracing brutality and scorning Anteiku’s pacifist ways. Touka’s desire to reconnect with him and pull him away from destruction becomes a significant motivation in her arc, especially in Season 2.

Throughout both seasons, Touka shows incredible strength in battle, using her agility and kagune to fight off enemies much stronger than herself. However, it’s her emotional resilience that stands out. She forms a bond with Hinami Fueguchi, becoming a surrogate older sister after Hinami’s mother is killed by the CCG. This relationship softens Touka’s hard edges and shows her nurturing side.

Her feelings toward Kaneki also evolve over time. Though initially distrustful, she grows to care for him deeply, both as a comrade and as something more. When Kaneki leaves Anteiku to join Aogiri Tree in Season 2, Touka is left hurt and confused, grappling with the fear of losing someone she has come to love. Her struggle during his absence illustrates her deep emotional growth and vulnerability.

Touka Kirishima is not a typical heroine—she’s angry, fierce, and often unapologetically violent. But these traits are born from trauma, not malice. Her character arc in Seasons 1 and 2 is one of learning to balance that rage with compassion, and to find strength not just in fighting, but in protecting and loving others. In a world that forces people into extremes, Touka remains a symbol of resilience, loyalty, and the hope that peace is still worth fighting for.