PROLOGUE

Hide peeped into room 103 where a pale young man was sitting in a hospital bed reading. His hair was white and his body so frail a gentle push might break him into pieces. His cheeks were hollowed and there was a wheelchair next to the bed in case he needed it. Hide knew everything the staff knew about him, which was actually very little: his name was Kaneki Ken, and his terminal illness would probably end his life in the next few months. He had been coming here twice a week ever since Hide had started working here. He had a pained smile whenever somebody addressed him, like he wished they didn't have to see the horror he was going through, like he was apologizing for being sick. He never complained, never made a mess, and in all those days Hide had seen him, he never looked sad about the fact that he was dying.

Hide hasn't said a word to him yet, hesitant to step inside that room. Glad doctors had not sent him in yet. Sad they hadn't done so. Because in that pained smile Kaneki offered the world, Hide saw all the hurt and sadness that the rest of him wouldn't express. All the suffering and waiting, and most of all the loneliness. It was a smile he had lived himself and knew how painful it was to wear. It spoke to him more than anything the nurses had told him or anything Kaneki ever could. But he couldn't know unless he tried speaking to him, and so far he hadn't had the courage to. He simply peeked into the room on his weekly visits and listened to any gossip about him from the staff. Kaneki was a mystery to almost everybody, but to him he was more like a little bunny trying his best to convince the foxes around him that he was fine, that he was still okay.

"Oi, Nagachika, quit creeping on 103 and go find Nurse Kaede. She needs to take his vitals before he's allowed to go home. Help her with that too." The head doctor walked past Hide and added, "You can't stop here for five minutes every time he's here without talking to him. He's your age, you know?" He pat Hide on the back. "Such a young age to go." He whispered, thinking Hide didn't hear. Hide regained his senses and went to look for Kaede, a short woman with spiky green hair. He found her in the next hallway (really, the doctor could have looked for her himself) and together they walked back to room 103.

"Ah, so you've finally gotten over your little crush?" Hide blushed more out of reflex than any real feelings and quickly shot back "That's your idea, not the truth. Stop teasing me." Kaede ruffled his hair like an aunt with a little child, even though she was only 3 years older than him. They went in and Kaneki lifted his head from his book, offering a smile to Kaede which turned to a curious inquisition as his eyes land upon Hide.

"Hey Kaneki, how are you doing?" She didn't give him time to reply as they both already seemed to know the answer to that question. "I'm just here to take your vitals, and your stalker here is going to help me." Hide felt his face burn a bright red and would have gladly stepped out of the room right then but Kaneki's look changed from curiosity to satisfaction before he could do so.

"Ah, so he's the one." Hide swore his soul had just left his body and would not be coming back. The nurses' teasing was bad enough, but if the mystery patient was in on it then that was just taking it too far. He quickly regained his composure, and replied with a smirk:

"Couldn't keep my little secret, Kaede? I guess I am too interesting to keep quiet about." Kaneki laughed quietly into his hand and Hide felt his smirk grow into a real smile. He stepped forward with an outstretched hand. "I'm Nagachika Hideyoshi, but you can call me Hide. It's nice to finally meet you Kaneki."

"Same to you." Kaneki replied, shaking his hand. Kaede then interrupted and ordered Hide around to take various measures while Hide tried to think of something to say to Kaneki. His mind went blank. He had so many questions he wanted to ask the young man, but right now none of them came to him. They were done faster than he would have wanted and Kaneki was getting ready to leave. Kaede rushed off to her next patient but Hide stayed, still unsure of what to say or do.

"You're pretty quiet for a stalker."

"That's just because I already know everything about you." Hide smirked while Kaneki continued to smile. It was a thing so little and yet so filled with secrets Hide wanted to question it until it spilled every little detail about Kaneki Ken, until it became filled with real glee and not masked pain. But he couldn't, and he wouldn't. He wasn't the type to ask questions to the people he wanted answers from. He got behind the scene, asked around, and analyzed the situation. He didn't even once consider asking Kaneki "why do you look like a sad little bunny all of the time?" Instead, he said:

"Even if I already know everything, doesn't mean I can't spend some time with you. You know, follow you around, and break into your house; regular stuff like that." Kaneki laughed into his hand again.

"I might have to call the police if you try anything like that. How about just meeting me outside of the hospital? Go to a movie or something?" Kaneki's expression told him it was more banter and teasing than anything, but Hide somehow felt like there was some hidden truth behind those words.

"Maybe some time, Kaneki." Hide exited while Kaneki was still busy putting his book in his bag. When Kaneki left his room, Hide was nowhere to be seen and the sun was starting to set outside.