Even though all he did was sit in a fitting chair that he scooted near his desk, Kaneki couldn't be bored watching him work.

Uta had been working diligently on a mask, a leather full-face with red lace that held the sides together. In a way, it looked kind of like the one he had made Kaneki, except there was no mouth piece to it; it made Kaneki wonder how the ghoul the mask was being created for was going to eat, but he shoved the thought aside, deciding it wasn't any of his concern. It was interesting to watch how he made the masks— long, slender fingers cutting materials, poking a needle through thick leather with ease, sewing it all together. Occasionally, Uta would begin humming tunes that Kaneki didn't recognize, yet he still found them pleasant to listen to.

But he didn't come here to watch Uta work.

"So, what's wrong, Uta-san?" He spoke up after nearly an hour of watching the guy nonstop work.

It seemed it took him a minute to realize that Kaneki had spoken, and when he did he set his supplies down and turned to him to give the boy his full attention.

"What do you mean?" He replied with a tilted head, "Nothing's wrong."

Kaneki made a sound of confusion and raised his brows as he gaped at Uta. "Nothing's wrong?" He repeated incredulously, "Then why did you ask me to come over here?"

Earlier in the day, Uta had dropped by his apartment (how he even knew where he lived was lost on Kaneki) and requested that he come back with him to his shop. Of course, Kaneki had assumed it was an emergency, since Uta didn't really seem like the kind of person to just ask somebody to hang out or something, but it seemed that wasn't the case. His second guess was that Uta needed help with making the masks, that alone seemed unlikely considering how skilled he was, and sure enough that wasn't it.

So just why was he here? Not that Kaneki particularly minded, it was all just a bit strange to be with here without some sort of purpose.

"Hm. I did ask you to come here, didn't I?" Uta drawled after a moment of thought, "I wanted you here just because."

"Because what?"

"Just because."

"Uta-san, please." Kaneki's gaze turned flat, lips pressing together into a fine line.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Uta's lips curled into a gentle grin as he spoke, dark eyes piercing Kaneki, "I want you here because you're interesting."

Interesting? That's it?

Kaneki sighed, breaking his gaze with Uta and staring at the floor, "I don't think I quite follow you, Uta-san…"

"You're fun to be around." Uta continued, "I want to spend time with you, Kaneki-kun."

...Uta certainly had a way with words, Kaneki thought. Pale cheeks flushed a lovely pink and the boy found himself unable to raise his head to look the other the eyes. He had no idea why he was reacting that way. It was gross, wasn't it? Uta had extended his hand in friendship and there he was thinking of less platonic ideas.

"Kaneki-kun, we should go out together sometime."

His face grew hotter as he raised his head to once again meet eyes with Uta. "Sorry, but I seem to have bad luck with my dates trying to eat me." He laughed and shrugged awkwardly.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I wouldn't eat somebody as cute as you Kaneki-kun," Uta said, expression completely serious, "I won't bite. Not unless you want me to."

Kaneki's face was hot.

"I - is it okay if I spend the night here?"