Chapter Four
Kaneki simultaneously dreaded and looked forward to his lunch break. On one hand, it would allow him to send the girl home if that was really where she was supposed to be. On the other, it could also bring to light a situation that was too close to home for Kaneki to feel comfortable.
Fortunately, or not, time seemed to pass achingly slowly. The café was having one of those off days where people just… didn't feel like coffee apparently. Despite the bright sun outside and the temperate but slightly chilled breeze, there didn't seem to be a lot of people on the streets.
However, Kaneki's lunch break did indeed arrive a little after one that afternoon. Quickly, Kaneki grabbed the convenience store bento and headed out the front door like normal. However, instead of merely sitting the bento beside the back dumpster, Kaneki merely propped himself up against the wall to wait.
Hopefully, the girl wouldn't be too skittish to confront him. After all, Hide told him all the time that he didn't exactly look very impressive or strong, so that should be something a kid would notice too, right?
Kaneki sighed and kneaded at his temple with his free hand. If he was late going back to work Touka would be ticked. Yet he really couldn't put this off. Even if it meant waiting hours and being late, Kaneki couldn't take the risk of the girl not sticking around for the end of his shift.
Kaneki shuffled uncomfortably and glanced at his watch.
Five minutes went by.
Then ten.
And then, just as he was pulling out his phone to text Touka that he would be really late coming back from break, a mop of black hair peeked around the corner. Kaneki stilled all motions, feeling like one of those bird watchers who had somehow managed to coax a great horned owl within touching distance.
The black hair disappeared. Kaneki tried to make himself as danger-less as possible. Perhaps he could look as innocent as he had when covering for Hide's pranks in grade school?
Blue eyes peered around the corner again. This time, they gave him a long-measured stare down and Kaneki found himself surprised. She didn't seem very afraid, just careful. Hope gathered in his stomach. Perhaps he wouldn't be strangled and boiled for Hinami's lunch just yet.
Kaneki glanced down at the bento in his hands for a moment before looking back up.
Blue peered cautiously from only a few inches away. Somehow, the girl had practically teleported herself down the alley in order to stand directly in front of him. Needless to say, Kaneki startled. Yelping, the half-ghoul jerked away in surprise. He lost his grip on the bento and the homeless girl grabbed it before darting away. Eyes widening, Kaneki hurried after her.
"Hey, wait! I need to!... talk to you." Kaneki's initial call dropped to a mumble as he observed the empty street. No little street urchin in sight. Perhaps… he was a little too unimpressive.