"Touka-Chan," The navy haired boy called out her name with a soft smile on his face, "Are you feeling better?" He asked her, straightening his white collar and approaching the yawning girl who was slowly walking down the stairs. The navy blue haired girl sighed softly to herself, and quickly fastened her red tie, and walked up to her colleague.

She noticed the bright smile on his face, and it calmed her to see him like this again, even though he had gone through so much in the previous days. So, she normally did what she normally would do. Clicked her tongue in annoyance and brushed passed him.

"Don't slack off because of me." She said with a slight jab, shrugging him off. "I already have enough work as it is." She immediately grabbed a pen and a notepad, and stood behind the counter. She sniffled and scrunched up her nose, sighing after. The navy haired boy joined her quietly, pouring some black coffee into two white mugs.

"I decided not to open up yet; so I cleaned up a little. I-I hope you aren't mad." He whispered pushing a mug towards the sniffling girl. Touka shifted her gaze away from the notepad and to the coffee mug. In the middle was a small blue icon of a simple rabbit. She raised an eyebrow questionably at it.

Is this supposed to be for me?

"No, I'm not mad." She grabbed the handle of the coffee mug and lifted it up to her mouth. Then, she smelled it, and drank it cautiously. Kaneki stared at her with his curious gray eyes as she drank, with an expectant smile on his face. "And stop staring, it's weird." She muttered, coldly.

"I'm glad you like it. That means I'm getting better at making it, huh." Kaneki eagerly said, downing his cup peacefully. Touka was about to comment, but halted and coughed into the crook of her arm.

"Touka-Chan?" Kaneki immediately dropped his cup onto the counter, and placed his hands on her shoulders worriedly.

"I'm fine!" She growled out, shoving the poor boy away weakly. She sniffled, and reached across the counter for a napkin. "Hurry up and open up." She ordered, dabbing at the watery corners of her eyes with the white napkin.

Kaneki heaved a sigh, and shook his head.

Touka furrowed her eyebrows at him, and balled up the napkin. "Well?" She drawled impatiently. Kaneki gave her a firm look and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Go back up and get some rest."

"I'm fine. Open up already."

"Since when was coughing consistently considered being fine?"

"Consistently? I coughed once, big deal shithead." She mumbled, throwing the balled up napkin into the trashcan. She casually walked over to the coffee shelf, and grabbed a bag of espresso coffee beans. She returned to the back of the counter and poured the beans into a small bowl.

"Besides the Manager left me in charge and what I say goes." She said, wagging her index finger dangerously close at him. Kaneki pressed his lips firmly together, and mentally slammed his head against the wall.

Her stubbornness could well be the end of her….

"Fine, alright." He wiped his hands down with a white towel and walked to the door, and flipped the "We're Open!" sign. He turned back towards her, only to see that she had already begun to wash the cups that they had used.

Kaneki stared at the back of the high school girl and back at the sign on the door. He wondered if the Manager would understand if he did it just once. Besides, having Anteiku closed for one day shouldn't hurt the business.

He caressed his temples. Here goes nothing.

Touka closed the faucets, and dried her hands with the white towel that she had grabbed earlier. Man, what was wrong with her today? And yesterday! And the day before! Since when did Touka Kirishima ever stay sick for so long? She brushed her blue hair behind her ear and turned away from the sink. Hopefully, the little shithead would have finished the rest-

Two warm hands clasped down upon her wrists, holding her hands to her sides, and restrained her movement. She found herself staring into a pair of determined gray eyes, and she blinked twice in surprise but glared sharply at him.

"Shithead, let go."

"You really should go back to bed."

"Let go, now."

"I won't. Not until you go get some rest." He said, with a ting of demand in his voice. His face then relaxed and his grip on her wrists loosened a bit, but he didn't let go. "You're skin is paler than usual, you have a tomato for a nose, and a terrible cough." He observed with concern. Kaneki looked straight into Touka's purple eyes

"It's not so bad…having others care about you, you know." He said smoothly. Touka grunted as a speck of a blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

"Alright, fine." She swiftly stomped on his foot, causing him to yelp in pain and fully release her wrists. Kaneki crouched down to caress his foot and was about to call out to her, when he saw her climbing up the stairs. Touka glanced down at him briefly and glared at him venomously. "Touch me again, and I'll kill you." And then she turned down the hall.

Kaneki was satisfied to hear her door slam, and smiled.

Touka slumped against the door, and sat on the floor, with her head between her knees and her fingers tangled within her dark hair. She could still smell the coffee on him from when he held her close and she could still feel the warmth from his hands on her wrists.

The high school girl raised her head, and tried her best to cover the blush with hands.

"Stupid Kaneki, it's just a stupid cold…"