When Kaneki finally got out of the shower, he found Shinohara waiting for him in the bedroom, syringe in hand. He'd almost forgotten about the RC suppressants. Trying to ignore the pain in his eye, Kaneki stayed still while the investigator made the injection. If he had to guess, Kaneki would say Shinohara was deliberately poking him in the eye. It was over soon though, and whatever slight feeling he was getting in regards to his kagune was gone.
He walked into the kitchen to make coffee and found Akira glaring at him from the counter. Shinohara sat next to her.
"Can I help you...?" Kaneki asked tentatively.
Akira said nothing.
"Would you like some coffee? I make a good cup."
Again, Akira said nothing, but Hide spoke up from behind his television. "Yeah, make me one. Lots of cream and sugar."
"Alright," Kaneki said, and got to work. Once he was done (he had to get a straw for his own mug), he brought the mugs to Hide, who was now waiting patiently with two game controllers on the coffee table.
"What did you put in?" Kaneki asked, looking at the game console he assumed was just hooked up.
Hide gave him a sly grin and passed a controller. "Oh, you'll see."
Amon sat at his desk for the first morning without having to question Kaneki. He'd been taking notes during and after each meeting and submitting them to his superiors, as per his orders. He included his own personal inferences, and the 20th ward branch director emailed his responses. Thankfully, he was a reasonable man. He trusted Amon's judgement in most matters concerning the eye-patched ghoul.
Today, he decided he'd skim over his notes. He had grown quite the collection, practically holding the young man's entire life's story in his hands. The more he examined them, the more sympathy he felt not only for Kaneki but for all the ghouls he spoke about- the ones who wanted nothing more than to be able to live. He felt pity for them, and guilt about killing so many indiscriminately. Kaneki had shown him that another way was possible, and Amon found himself wanting to find it.
As he read over them, he found something Kaneki had said during their talk about humanity. At the time he thought it was important enough to quote exactly, and now he was glad he did.
My experience is unique, because I've been both human and ghoul. I can say without hesitation that neither side has it easy. If they just worked together, they could make this world a million times better.
See, the people of this world, both humans and ghouls, are like puzzle pieces. Alone we're only jagged fragments, but together we can reveal something really beautiful.
Reading that quote again, Amon could almost hear Kaneki's soft voice. He felt an interesting idea beginning to take root in his mind. He kept reading, to find yet another quote about Kaneki's thoughts on coexistence between both species.
We can't just rush into it; neither of us is ready for that. It has to be slow and steady, like making a good cup of coffee. It'll be bitter at first, but soon you'll find yourself enjoying it more than you ever would've expected.
Amon felt his idea really start to take shape. Coexistence was possible, and it was Kaneki who showed him that. Koutaro Amon, the hardened ghoul investigator, slayer of more than a few ghouls, was changed. He wanted peace. And if his opinion could be swayed by his sworn enemy, a ghoul of all people, then who's couldn't?
"Kaneki! Stop biting me already!" Hide shouted.
"Sorry Hide, but I don't intend on letting you get away so easily," Kaneki said.
The two were playing Mario Kart, and Kaneki continuously got the same power-up that granted him a huge red plant on the back of his car. Unfortunately for Hide, that plant stretched out and bit whoever Kaneki drove near, spinning the victim's car out of control. The screen showed Kaneki's little red ghost avatar cross the finish line first, with Hide's big green dinosaur coming in right behind him.
"I'm three for three, Hide," Kaneki bragged. "Are you sure you're not going easy on me?"
"No! I just can't concentrate with those two glaring at me!"
"I think they're glaring at me more than you."
"Whatever. It's distracting. Akira, Shinohara, could you please hover somewhere where I can't see you? I want to win at least once."
"Tell you what, Hide," Kaneki said, knowing neither investigator would answer. "If you win this next round, I'll make you lunch. I'm tired of hearing your stomach growl. If you lose, you have to make me another cup of coffee."
Hide held out his hand, and Kaneki shook it. "It's a deal."
The pair watched as their avatars lined up at the starting line, then took off on the track. This one was called Rainbow Road, and was particularly tough compared to the others due to the lack of railings. Kaneki couldn't stay on the track with all the sharp turns, and all Hide had to do was drive carefully. Eventually, Hide was a full lap ahead of Kaneki, and he won in a landslide victory.
"For my victory meal, I think I want one of your old hamburger steaks," Hide mused as his character was displayed with a large '#1' over it.
Kaneki sighed in resignation. "Do you have all the stuff?"
"I believe I do. What are you still sitting here for? I'm hungry!"
Akira and Shinohara just watched in bewilderment as Kaneki slowly rose and gathered his ingredients from the kitchen. He couldn't taste the food, and it smelled awful, but he made the meal enough times as a human for it not to be an issue.
Hide snickered at his friend's disgusted face. "Having some trouble there, Neki?"
"I don't suppose you'd like to come help?"
"Hmm, I don't think so. I'm fine right here."
"I figured that." Kaneki looked toward the investigators. "Now I doubt you'll answer, but since I have to make one human meal, would either of you like anything?"
To his surprise, Shinohara actually nodded, as did Akira. Though they looked very reluctant about it. Kaneki supposed they must really be starving, as he began readying two more plates.
Amon arrived at the branch director's office with his notes in hand, ready to discuss his new plan. After the first knock, he heard the director call him inside.
The director was similar to Amon in terms of physique. The man had a muscular build; he was a Special Class Investigator before being promoted to Branch Director. He had a strong jawline, and thin eyebrows over kind eyes. His black hair was greying, and Amon guessed he was in his fifties.
"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked as Amon entered.
"I've been doing some thinking, about Eyepatch."
"I'm intrigued."
"As I'm sure you're aware, I let him leave to stay with Hideyoshi Nagachika while under strict supervision. This was after extensive interrogations, and persistent begging from Nagachika himself."
"Yes, you told me about how they used to be friends."
"Well, I was reading over my notes this morning, and I think the two of them could make a real difference starting in the 20th ward."
"What sort of difference?"
"Coexistence. I wrote these two quotes from Kaneki Ken, and after observing their relationship, I truly think it's possible." Amon passed his notepad to the director, who made no expression as he read it.
"Have you spoken to anyone else about this?"
"The two officers who guarded him yesterday agreed with me. I have a written statement from each of them, in that notepad."
"How do you suppose we go about this?"
"We start by directing some of our research away from anti-ghoul weaponry, and toward more friendly tools."
"Such as?"
"Synthetic human meat, widely distributable RC suppressants for a low cost, among other things."
"Why this sudden change? Was it just this ghoul...?"
"I told you how he came to be in my custody. He risked his life for a human, who in turn pleaded with me for the ghoul to be saved. Since they were granted access to speak with one another, they've been damn near inseparable."
The director seemed to consider Amon's plan. "Suppose I let you head this project. What role would they play here?"
"I'd like them to be the public face of the operation. The kind-hearted ghoul and his human best friend. It's the perfect image of coexistence to strive for. I could have those two officers give a public statement as well."
"It's so risky, Amon."
"I know, sir."
"Ghouls who currently live in secrecy would have to out themselves. The public backlash could be astronomical."
"I'd like the CCG to play the middle man, so to speak. The public already knows about ghouls, and with our help, we can coax them into believing that ghouls want to coexist."
"And if they don't want to coexist?"
"I think the ones that don't are vastly outnumbered by those that do."
"Let me think about it for a bit. I'll get back to you this afternoon. I want you to talk to the lab about the possibility and the cost of synthetic meat and widespread RC suppressants."
"Yes sir!"
Amon left the office feeling more hopeful for the future than he had in a long while.