Same warnings and notes apply as last time. Please enjoy! :)
"Is it actually that funny to you?"
"Let's be real here. You can't be serious about going to a bookstore for your first date."
"Why not? She might be thrilled, you know!"
"For your information, that's never going to happen. Period."
"What? Fine then, how about I take her out to Big Grill, just the two of us, and grab some burgers?"
More laughter.
"I'm being completely serious here!"
"No, it's great! But when the actual date happens, it'll be a flop."
"What, you don't think I can handle it? What would you do, Hide-kun?"
"Listen up. When it comes to dates, you have to pick a place that excites the girl, and the only girl I know who would be excited by that is you."
"H-hey! Don't insult me. Besides, what place would you pick then?"
"Huh? Uh... I..."
"You don't even know!"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be wasting my afternoon here having a date with you."
"I suppose that's true."
"Anyhow, who's the lucky girl? The cutie you were talking about?"
"I don't see her today... Odd. She comes here almost as often as you though I don't think I've ever seen you at the same time."
Hide sends him a glance he can't interpret. "That's weird. I wonder why."
Eventually, Kaneki stops bringing his books.
At the same time, they exchange phone numbers, and Kaneki's the first to text, strangely enough, asking to set up a specific meet time at Anteiku. They agree on 11 a.m. working best for both.
It just brings them all that much closer, and the black-haired boy feels as if he's known Hide forever.
It's certainly not a bad feeling.
"You know, there's this book-signing thing going on next week," Hide casually comments one afternoon, caressing his third cup of coffee while Kaneki scribbles down an answer for a rather difficult problem.
The black-haired boy reluctantly looks up. "For who?"
"What's her name, again?" The blonde taps his chin thoughtfully, and then sharp eyes meet Kaneki's. "Takasaki Senju?"
"Takatsuki Sen," Kaneki protests, and then it registers. The excitement is clear on his now glowing face, and Hide can't resist a chuckle. "How come I didn't hear about it, too?"
"The news has been private so far, but the official announcement is coming tomorrow. I got an accidental heads up," the blonde explains. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go? With me. I've already asked my other friends, but none of them like her as much as you," he quickly reassures the college student.
"Wait, you've read Takatsuki-san's works? How come you haven't said anything?"
Hide shrugs. "Not her biggest fan, but I thought it might be cool to share on Facebook."
Kaneki bites his lip to keep a crazy smile off his face. "Who do you think I am? Of course, I want to."
"That's just the answer I wanted to hear," Hide grins.
The signing is - is - well, Kaneki doesn't know how to explain it, so he decides to break it all down that night.
Seeing his favorite author in person: wonderful.
Hanging out with Hide outside of Anteiku: pleasant.
Getting said author's autograph: thrilling.
Having it implied that he and his friend are in a relationship: confusing.
Not having your said friend deny it: eye-opening, for one thing.
Kissing said friend: well, Kaneki doesn't know about that one yet.
As it turns out, Takatsuki-san is a lovely, young woman (which is a bit off what Kaneki imagined her to be, but that's alright) though with dyed hair and unusual clothing. That doesn't seem to bother any of her fans, however, especially not the nineteen-year-old college student.
When Hide steps up next, Kaneki quietly follows, keeping his eyes downcast as he tries to conceal the fact he's practically ogling the fantastic woman sitting before him. His friend, unfortunately, decides that's just the right thing to blurt out first.
"How can I help you boys today?" Takatsuki-san smiles brightly at them.
"It's nice to meet you, Takatsuki-san. I'm not your biggest fan; personally, your books aren't my cup of tea, but my friend here, oh boy, he's the biggest fanboy you've ever seen. I know he doesn't really show it, but he's extremely excited right now and desperate for a signed copy. Think you can give him one?"
Kaneki splutters and nearly drops his backpack when the security guards in each corner start suddenly sending him suspicious looks.
"Hide!" he hisses.
Takatsuki-san blinks then blinks again and, to both of their shocks, starts cooing. "Aw, it's so nice seeing boys your age so open these days! Of course your hun can get one!" She searches for her sparkly purple pen in the mess of papers and books on her table and snatches a copy to sign.
"His name's Kaneki Ken," Hide adds helpfully, and the black-haired boy just wants to strangle him oh so badly right then.
"W-wait—" Kaneki starts to protest.
"Here you go!" Takatsuki-san says, twisting her pen with a flourish at the last stroke. "One signed copy for your reading pleasure!"
Hide bows, a smile growing on his face as he accepts the book. "Thank you so much, Takatsuki-san!"
Before Kaneki can even attempt to open his mouth to speak again, Hide is grabbing his sleeve and pulling him out of the bookstore and away from the stares. Kaneki yanks out of his grip the moment they exit and turns to demand, "What the hell was that?"
The blonde innocently meets his gaze as he offers Kaneki the novel. "That was a book-signing, Kaneki-kun. I assumed you'd know better about it than I."
The dark-haired boy's eye twitches. "You know what I meant. Why did you let her think that?"
"Well, why not?" Hide rubs the back of his head, jostling his headphones. "It's not like she'll remember you after this. Besides, it just would've taken longer to get out of there if we explained our actual relationship, and I know that you were about as close to having a panic attack as you ever were a couple minutes ago, as much as you love her writing."
He has a point, though a stupid one, a quiet side of Kaneki's brain notices, but Kaneki ignores it in favor of saying, "You could've let me pay at least. I'm not a charity case."
Hide's face softens. "No, definitely not. You're my best friend, Kaneki, and I wanted to do this for you."
Best friend? This is the first time they've ever actually acknowledged that fact, and Kaneki finds it to be slightly terrifying. He's never had a best friend before, has barely ever even gotten to the basic, tentative friend level with someone he's known for years and years. But Hide managed all that and more in only three months.
Something shoots down the black-haired boy's spine at the statement, and a knowing look crosses Hide—his best friend's—face. Kaneki doesn't—or rather, can't move while the blonde gets closer and closer with each passing second.
Their lips stop only a millimeter from each other, and when his friend speaks, Kaneki can almost feel the soft brush of pink.
"I have to know if you're really okay with this, Kaneki," Hide murmurs, and his breath smells like fresh strawberries—breakfast, maybe? Before the dark-haired boy lets his thoughts process that too much, he furrows his eyebrows.
How does he answer? What he can he say without hurting his friend?
He doesn't even know what to think in the first place.
Before Kaneki can try to fluster up some sort of response, Hide is already pulling away, nodding his head in acceptance. "It's alright, Kaneki," he says. "I understand."
"But—"
"I have to go. My shift started a couple minutes ago, and my boss will have my ass if I'm any later," Hide laughs, but the sound of it is off. The blonde rubs the back of his head again, something Kaneki has noticed to be a little quirk of his—like people biting their nails, twiddling their thumbs, thumping their heels. He only does it when he's nervous.
"I'll see you around, Kaneki-kun. Text me some time, yeah?"
Hide sends him one last pained smile before tucking his hands in his pockets and walking in the opposite direction. Kaneki watches him go, speechless and unsure of what just occurred.
The next two days are spent examining himself.
When he finally comes to a conclusion, it's near heart-stopping.
Kaneki can't get up from bed for the rest of the evening.
Can we talk? - K
Just say when. - H
Until next time, my lovelies.
- xoxo Jo.