The ghouls and doves had finally come to some middle ground, so everyone was able to relax. For Ayato this meant he didn't have to fight for his life every day. He got out of bed and picked up the sheet of paper his sister, Touka, had given him the day before. It had the address of the coffee shop she worked at. She suggested he get a job there. I guess I'll check it out Ayato thought. He hopped in the shower just in case he did get a job offer.

Back at Anteiku the gang was working in the shop, serving both humans and ghouls. Life was perfect and nothing was going to change that not the ghouls or humans. The doorbell rang as a customer walked in, it was Hide, Kaneki's best friend.

"Hey guys what's up" he called as he walked through the door.

Hide was greeted with many hellos. He smiled and waved as he took a seat at one of the tables.

Kaneki went over to take his order "What can I get for you sir" he teased. Kaneki smiled a warm smile at Hide. He was in love with his best friend and couldn't do anything about it. His feelings for Hide only grew after he became a ghoul.

"I'll have your finest macchiato" Hide teased right back.

Life was different for everyone now Touka and her brother were on good terms, Kaneki was in love for the first time ever, and not to mention the peace between ghouls and humans. Things were looking up not just for Anteiku but the world. The shop was busy, and people were always coming and going.

Ayato had finished his shower and was drying off. "Shit" he mumbled. His stomach made a loud growling noise. He clamped his hand on his stomach and walked over to his mirror. When he looked up a pair of red eyes stared right back at him. "Fine" he got dressed and went to the approved place for ghouls to eat. Once he was satisfied, he headed towards Anteiku.

"So how is your coffee Hide" Kaneki asked. Ever since Hide became a ghoul something seemed different about him. He was still his same spunky self, but he seemed more mature in a way.

"It's perfect" he said smiling. Hide was still getting used to his ghoul senses. He couldn't control his eye yet so he wore an eye patch like the rest of the half breeds who couldn't yet control it. Why do I feel he is hiding something? He is scratching his chin which means he is. "Well you should probably get back to work I won't keep you."

"Hey, Hide…I wanted to ask you something" Kaneki stuttered "Well two things technically." Kaneki shuffled his hands nervously. "The first thing is do you want to work here?" he couldn't get the words out fast enough.

"Are you kidding I'd love to work here!" he clapped his hand on Kaneki's shoulder.

The door burst open and Ayato walked in. His presence was off setting at first but then the shop went back to its normal rhythm. "What are you nerds looking at" he asks Hide and Kaneki.

Hide bursts into laughter putting a smile on Ayato's face. "We're looking at you idiot" Hide joked.

"Watch your mouth boy or you'll find yourself in between my teeth." he teases him. Ayato ruffles his hair "Have you seen my sister?"

"Last I saw her she was upstairs with Hinami" Kaneki said. Wonder what he needs with Touka he wondered. He shook his head clearing the thought from his head.

"Earth to Kaneki where were ya dude?" he snapped his fingers in front of his face. "What was thing two? You never asked?"

"Oh, um it's nothing don't worry about it." He smiled. The way Ayato looked at him, what was that? He wondered. His thought left as quickly as it came. "Anyway, I'll let the manager know you are interested in working here. Enjoy your coffee."

Ayato walks upstairs in search of Touka and finds her quickly. Her voice is one to pick up easily, it carries down the long hallway. "Touka? Where are you sis?"

"I'm down here. Third door on the left." She says cheerfully. She was sitting in her room with sweet Hinami. Touka had basically adopted Hinami as her sister/daughter after her parents were killed by doves. She loved caring for her and raising her.

"Hey sis" he said entering the room. He saw Hinami and smiled at her. "And who might this adorable young lady be?"

Hinami let out a small giggle

"That's Hinami. She is like a sister to me." Touka sat on the couch behind Hinami. She ran her fingers through her soft brown hair.

"So, I have two sisters now, is that right?" he asked. Wow Touka you've done good with this kid. "I wanted to take you up on your offer. That's why I'm here."

"You're serious" Touka asked surprised. Her face showed how happy she was that her brother wasn't being a total dick anymore.

"Why would I lie?" he asked and immediately regretted it.

"You really need to ask that" she responded with her hands on her hips. And there's his asshole side. "Anyway, I'll speak with the manager and see what I can do" She walked towards him grabbing his hand and walked out the door leaving Hinami behind.

"I thought you were going to speak to the manager?"

"I am, you're just coming with me" Touka smirked. She still planned on talking to the manager herself she just didn't trust Ayato around Hinami yet.

Ayato followed her to the manager's office and waited outside while Touka spoke with him. He could hear the two voices speaking. They were monotone so he couldn't gage what was happening inside.

Kaneki came walking up the stairs and smiled at Ayato. He walked towards the managers door and reached for the doorknob.

"Touka is in there right now" he said.

"Oh, thanks" Kaneki leaned up against the wall opposite to Ayato. "So, what brings you to Anteiku?" Kaneki asked. He remembered their past and didn't understand why he was here.

"I'm here to get a job" he said meeting Kaneki's gaze. "So, who's your friend downstairs?"

"That's Hide. He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember." He explained. Kaneki went off on how Hide showed up when he was just a kid and how his mom had just died. Hide di so much for him and Kaneki could not repay him enough for his kindness. He released he spilled his life story to him "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, I was just curious." Ayato said. I just wanted to know who Hide was not this nerd's life story.

Touka walked out with a smile on her face "Welcome to the team Ayato!"

"Congrats" Kaneki said as he walked into the office.

"You start right now bro." she hands him a uniform "The guys downstairs will train you and give you a schedule." With that Touka went back to her room with Hinami.

Ayato went downstairs and changed into the café uniform. "I was told someone would train me"

"Oh, great another newbie" Nishiki complained "Well come on I'll show you the basics" He showed him how to make the basic types of coffee and then showed him how to properly bus the tables. "Well that's basically it. Just come back tomorrow around ten and we'll work out your schedule." Nishiki threw the towel in the to be washed pile and took off his apron.

"Thanks, Nishiki" with that He left the building and went to his apartment.

Anteiku has a very steady flow over the next few weeks. Hide and Ayato had similar shifts so the two got to know each other very well. There were no incidents that would give the doves reason to come to Anteiku, which meant things were looking up.

Ayato had asked Hide out on a date on their day off, but Hide was unaware that it was a date. He thought Ayato genuinely wanted to hang out as friends. After a long night of fun and games it was time for the two to head home

Ayato was on Hide's doorstep dropping him off "That was fun we should do it again sometime"

"Yeah I definitely had fun. Thanks for inviting me" Hide was still completely unaware of Ayato's plans.

Hide looked as beautiful as ever tonight and he had a hard time taking his eyes off him. Ayato turned and faced Hide looking into his big brown eyes "Hide I love you" he planted his lips on his not waiting for a response.

Hide pulled away. "Ayato…...I think you have the wrong idea" he didn't want to continue but he had too. "We can't be together. Kaneki and I just got engaged."

Ayato had been completely oblivious to their relationship. He felt weak and empty all of a sudden and didn't know how to deal with it and ran off. His emotions took control and he lost connection with his brain. Ayato broke the peace by killing a human.

The next morning doves were surrounding Anteiku. The peace was broken.