Kaneki's Pov
(Name) is staying at Anteiku for now. The manager said that she'd be safer there. Right now, she was vulnerable since she was injured. Worse part was that she had no family or friends in Tokyo, so anyone would barely notice if she went missing.
It was getting dark out. I started to head home, but before I did, I talked to (Name) again, "Are you sure? You don't wanna stay here at least for the night?"
I shook my head, "I'll be fine (Name). I have some errands to run. I could visit tomorrow if you want me to." She had a concerned look on her face.
"That's not what I'm worried about. At night, ghoul come out to hunt and eat. What if you get into a fight? Would you really be safe?" I made an unsure face and shrugged. (Name) signalled for me to come closer to her bed.
Nervous, I walked over and she took my hand into both of hers. I blushed a bit and tried to keep a cool expression. She laughed, "Why is your eyebrow twitching?"
"N-no reason!" I really tried to make it stop by hardening my face muscles.
(Name) just lifted an eyebrow, holding in another laugh, "Um...well anyways, I'm not gonna stop you from going. Be careful...Don't get hurt."
I nodded, "Okay I'll be very careful then. I won't go into any places with less than 30 people. I'll visit you tomorrow around this time." She smiled and let go of my hand. I'm glad that she's still smiling and laughing….
At home, I laid down on my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I realized that tomorrow was Valentine's day...I tried to figure out what to do for it and whether to do something or not, but eventually...I fell asleep.
I woke to the sound of knocking coming from the door. Rubbing my eyes as I opened it, Hide tackled me, "KANEKI! Dude! What's the matter with you!? I haven't heard from you in weeks and I've been dying of loneliness!"
"I'm sorry. After the hospital, I ended up resting here for awhile. Then (Name) visited and we ate the other day."
Hide widened his eyes, "And you didn't invite me?! (Name)'s the only one to keep me company over the past weeks! She's actually a really nice girl. I might ask her out today. Ya know….for Valentine's day?" I froze at what he just said.
"Wait what?" Hide laughed and scratched his head.
"Come on man! She's cute and really caring. She was super worried about you when she found out you were in the hospital. Of course I was too! I'm also sorry about what happened to that chick I set you up with. It sucks that she died…" I unconsciously put my hand to my chin. He lifted an eyebrow, "...You like (Name) too…..Don't you….?"
I looked at him silently, "Kinda…"
"HAHAHAHAH! Wow! We have our eye on the same girl! I think I know how to settle this though. Whoever kisses her first, gets her! BUT, you have to impress her with a unique gift! And you can't interrupt the other person!" I gulped. I already knew that (Name) liked me, but I don't have a clue of what she feels towards Hide. If Hide grew to like (Name) over the huge amount of time I was being hospitalized….Then what about her?
I accepted his challenge and we went to school.
After school, Hide dashed to Anteiku. I sighed and went to the store. I couldn't interrupt him, so I might as well pass the time and come up with something for (Name). In the book aisle, I picked up a few horror novels. I assumed she liked them since Takatsuki Sen is a horror author. I also went to the aisle that was stocked with coffee. As I looked, a man with orange hair and glasses suggested that I get the Blondie brand since it had the best flavor. I thanked him and bought a bag full of it. I walked out of the store and put a letter in one of the books, but then something caught my attention. It smelled really good. Was it something I can actually eat?! Does such a thing really exist? I ran towards the smell, it smelled like mom's cooking! Now...it's just around the-…...corner...I froze in fright as I witnessed a man being eaten.
(Name)'s Pov
Throughout the day, the female ghoul that came to me and Kaneki's aid kept me company. Her name is Touka. She had such a pretty name. The whole time she seemed tense...I don't think she likes me at all…
"So….you're not afraid of ghouls? We're 'imitating' how humans act….'disguising as humans'...Isn't that what you all think?..."
"Why would you even think that? I wouldn't even have one thought like that pass through my mind." Touka looked annoyed and grunted, "Listen Kirishima-san, I just want you to understand that I don't think ghouls any different from humans. Like I told Kanek-"
"I heard you the other day! So you could just shut it…..cause I'm not buying it…."
I gave her a sympathetic look and sighed, "Believe what you will...I won't make you believe anything…"
"Tch…" She glared at me.
Later on, there was a knock on my door. I got up and opened the door with my good arm. It was hard to move my other one because of my injury, "(Name)-chan! You're actually here!" Hide hugged me outta nowhere and hurt my shoulder even more.
"Ack! H-Hide-kun! Watch my arm!" He let go and looked with an alarmed expression.
"Oh? Woah! What happened to your arm? Is that why you're staying here?"
I nodded , "Mhm….I got into an….accident...I'd rather not say….May I ask why you're here? I mean it's kinda sudden…"
His tone got serious, "I came here to talk to you…"
"...About?.." Hide sat on my bed and patted on the seat next to him. So I sat next to him and he kept looking into my eyes.
From his bag, he pulled out a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates, "I've been wanting to tell you...That I really really like you (Name)-chan….I've never met anyone like you…."
My eyes widened with my mouth open, "I-...I don't know what to say…." I averted my eyes from his face, but he cupped my chin.
"...Happy Valentine's Day…" Hide slowly leaned in and I flinched. Panicking, I quickly turned my head to the side. He ended up kissing my cheek.
Hide blinked and pulled away, "Hide-kun…...I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way for you….but I know there's someone better fit to be your girlfriend...You ARE attractive, though you're just not the type of guy I like…"
He looked sad, but then he smiled and laughed, "I knew it! It's alright!" I frowned and gave him back the flowers and chocolate, but he pushed it back to me, "No, keep it! It's a present! I hope your shoulder gets better." I smiled.
"Thank you…" We both heard something from downstairs.
"Did you get attacked by a dog or something?"
"Something like that...but it's nothing. Is (Name) awake?" It was Kaneki. Hide got up.
"I need to go. I'll see ya another time (Name)-chan!" He closed the door on the way out. I heard footsteps going down the stairs.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Kaneki yelped. I rose an eyebrow. Hide muttered a bunch of things that I couldn't hear. Then the door opened again and there he was. Kaneki was standing at the door with a plastic bag, "(Name)-chan! I got you some books!" He had a cheery expression and held up the plastic bag. Kaneki walked over and sat next to me. He got out a few books and it made me really happy.
I gasped, "Oh my! Kaneki, you didn't really have to. But thank you! Now I could focus on reading these while I'm staying here." He smiled. I noticed his ripped clothes, "What happened to you on your way here?"
"Oh, I'll tell you another time..Open that book." He pointed to one of them. Out of all the books, that one was a horror-romance novel. I picked it up and opened it. An envelope fell out.
Opening the envelope, Kaneki avoided my eyes and looked down at his lap. I read the card out loud. He wrote it himself, "Dear (Name), It's Valentine's Day so I got you some books to read when you're bored. I assumed you liked horror since Takatsuki Sen is an author that writes horror. I hope you enjoy them….And well as you already know...I like you….a lot….I just want to ask…" There wasn't anything else. Just a hand drawn picture of me and him. It was really sweet. I looked at him because the letter wasn't finished.
"Will….you please go on a date with me to the amusement park….Next Wednesday on our day off…..?" Kaneki glanced at me with a cute expression.
I nodded, "Yes, I'll go to the amusement park with you." He looked super happy now. Then…..we gazed right into each others eyes. It was like time slowed, and he leaned in. After a few moments, nothing really happened. Kaneki just stood up. I expected something else to happen, but no...it didn't.
"Well that's awesome! I'll stay here the night. It's really late."
"Oh...okay.."
Kaneki's Pov
I couldn't do it! I was about to kiss her, but I felt like it was too early and I got really nervous. It was nerve-wrecking…...And about earlier...I ran into a ghoul..He was feasting on a middle-aged man. That ghoul asked me if I wanted a piece and I was actually tempted to say 'Yes'...but then…..The man that was in the store, the one with the orange hair, he came and beheaded the ghoul. The orange-haired ghoul attacked me because I trespassed into his hunting grounds. He beat me up badly..but I healed quickly. The ghoul's name was 'Nishiki'. I ended up beating him up in the end…...I don't even know how..I remember that he took the plastic bag...The one with (Name)'s books. He kept saying "This is stupid. Who gets someone books on Valentine's Day?" I snapped when he took the envelope. Nishiki was about to rip it in half. I glared and ran at him, something emerged from my back and my eye turned black…..I don't remember a thing after that...It's like my mind went blank….When I came back to my senses, Nishiki was beaten up. He was all bloody. I ran away quickly. And….well….I freaked out…..but that's what happened….
I was lying on the floor next to (Name)'s bed. She said that she didn't want to be in her room by herself. We talked for a bit. It was mostly about Takatsuki's works. Her favorite was "The Black Goat's Egg"...It really reminded me of myself…but I'm not the protagonist of any novel or anything….I'm a college student who likes to read…... If, for argument's sake you were to write a story with me in the lead role…
It would certainly be….A Tragedy…...