A.N: The fusion characters are individual characters in this AU.


-twelve years later-

Greg calmly scrubs the car to keep himself busy on his car wash, as it was his only job to earn his own finances for the maintenance of his van and bills for the house in the temple. As he grabs his hose and points it to the soap-spots on the car, his mind was occupied with troubled thoughts about his son, Steven, who is already a grown boy.

It was expected for Greg that Steven was a half-ghoul, but the older man's biggest worries were the ghoul things that are being taught to him.

"Even Steven was half-human, the tastes of human food for him were awful like the regular ghoul.", Garnet stated from Greg's memory, "Even it has no nutritional value or cause a little side effects in digesting the human food, but not eating the required food makes him malnourished."

'First, Steven is learning how to activate his kagune-thing.' Greg thoughts while scrubbing, 'I understand he needs it for self-defense or something but him getting involved with all this might affect him when he grew up as a teenager soon…'

'Geez, not to mention about his eating habits! I don't think he'll like eating a human flesh… this ghoul stuff is getting nuts.'

'But…' Greg sighs after washing off the soap, 'The CCG Investigators were my worst nightmare, hunting for ghoul they search including the Crystal Anteiku...' he cringes as he thought deeper, then he eventually stops as he remember that it's not healthy to overthink.

Greg rubs his forehead to ease his headache, 'I hope the three are taking good care of Steven.'


"So… I should eat a human flesh?", a 12-year-old boy, Steven, questions Pearl, "Human food looks so good but too bad I can't eat those…"

"Unfortunately, yes." Pearl noted, "But it's also unnecessary to eat the flesh daily unlike the humans. A single flesh can help a ghoul survive at least a month."

"Well, like I said…" Pearl harshly clears her throat, "not necessary to eat the flesh every single day." she glares to Amethyst as she repeats the last sentence.

"Hey!" The shorter girl turns to Pearl, purple eyes glares back at the skinny ghoul, "It's not like I'm the only who's a binge eater in this state."

"Ugh, Amethyst!" Pearl scolds, "Your binge eating is going to make the humans lead to us!"

Amethyst rolls her eyes, "Pssssh, yeah right. At least those Doves are too slow to catch."

"It doesn't matter if you kill the Doves, you're already well-known in this city and killing the Doves isn't helping!"

"Guuuuys!", Steven jumps in-between them to stop the argument, but the two older ghouls ignored him.

Before they continue arguing, the tallest woman walked in from the front door, causing all eyes to turn to her.

"I heard yelling.", she said sternly as she goes closer to the three.

"You already know what it is, Garnet.", Amethyst spoke up and crosses her arms.

"Oh please," Pearl sighs, "Garnet, it's just about how Steven must've know what to eat since he's...half-human and he doesn't like eating the flesh too."

"I see." Garnet hums then look at Steven, "This is way harder than we thought, I guess him seeing what the human food looks like after hanging around in the Beach City is what everything changed."

Steven's shoulders sag in gloom, "Yeah, that's true…must be appetite change? I don't think I'm comfortable in eating a human flesh."

"Steven, I know eating the flesh is gross for you, but you must eat. It's making you unhealthy and weak.", Garnet added, "And you love walking around in Beach City, also refusing to eat food makes people suspicious and your hunger might trigger your eye."

"Your eye shows that you're a ghoul was our biggest worry, Steven. You might get caught!" Amethyst rests her arm on Steven's shoulder in reassurance, "Also eating human food is really gross that makes you-" she mimics a barfing expression.

Steven frowns after listening to the older ghouls' comments, "If only I could hang more with people in Beach City without feeling hungry…",

Garnet noticed Steven's aura and gives him a comforting pat on his head, "You can also eat human food just to blend yourself with the human society-"

"And not get caught by the Ghoul Investigators.", Pearl adds up the last statement.

"Also." Amethyst chuckles, "It's going to be a messed up situation if you're dating a human."

"I'm too young for that!" Steven's cheeks flushed red, "I think I might eat the human flesh after knowing how to blend myself in, since going out with a bunch of humans might cause bonkers situation!"

"That is true, Steven." Pearl pinch the bridge of her nose then looks at the older ghouls, "Then my suggestion for that is to bring Steven to the Anteiku since this is about...humans."

Amethyst glares Pearl and she quickly correct herself, "I meant the Café."

Garnet nods in approval and Steven gasps, "Are you really gonna bring me there this time, Pearl?"

"Yes Steven, even you're still learning how to activate your kagune, you must also eat proper food." Pearl explains, "Since using your kagune requires energy for you to use it-"

Amethyst yawns loudly to interrupt Pearl, "Yeah yeah whatever, P. Just bring him to the café than story-telling here."

Pearl sighs in irritation, "Fine..."

"Well," Garnet smirks and adjusts her glasses, "It's better than nothing."


Pearl and Steven are walking down on the sidewalk, their hands held together while the buy playfully swings his arm and does not mind a few people who are passing by.

"Where is the Café, Pearl?", Steven asks, "Is it far from the temple?"

"Not really." Pearl points ahead, "Just a few blocks ahead, we're almost there."

"So why are you bringing me there this time?" the boy tilts his head to the side, "Haven't you guys had experiences with humans too?"

"Yes, we do have experience with them." Pearl hums, "Except we aren't that great in showing how we do it. Our friends in the café, however, have more clear experience they can teach about more human-related activities than the three of us."

Pearl gleefully pats Steven's head, "The staff in the café will teach you those sorts of things, you'll definitely love it!" Pearl clears her throat before Steven comments, "And your incoming questions might be answered later in the café."

Steven mouths 'oh' then does a zipping motion across his mouth.

Moments later, the two stops walking between the high plat formed building, covered with polished wood and sparkling clean window panes. They faced to the tall standing sign beside the staircase:

ANTEIKU CÀFE

Pearl looks down to her wristwatch and slightly nods, "I guess they're open this morning?"

The two goes up to the staircase, leading to the wooden door with a hanging "OPEN" sign.

"Yep. Just opened."

"They open the café this early, Pearl?" Steven asks, could not hold himself with pilled up questions he had.

"Of course, people want their early cup of coffee." Pearl's hover her hand over the steel handle by the door, "And they have hot chocolate for youngsters like you."

Steven awes in excitement, awaiting what the café looks like on the inside.

Pearl pushes the door into the café and Steven excitedly peeks in the café. It's interior is what Steven thinks of 'fancy and professional', a neat room with small round tables and two steel folding chairs on each tables. The boy turns his head to the right side, seeing a sliding glass door leads to the wider area by the balcony with more tables.

At the other side of the room, a working station with the wall filled with appliances for brewing and other packaged bags with labels. Steven spotted a tall brown-skinned woman with a tied up blonde hair on a barista attire, wiping a saucer by the sink of working station.

Steven gasps and shouts, "Giant woman!"

"Oh!", the barista got startled then quickly turns around, causing the saucer to slip off from her hand. She catches it in her swift but graceful movements.

"Ah, Opal!", Pearl calls in a surprise. The barista turns her head to Pearl and sets the saucer down on the table.

"Oh my gosh!" Steven went anxious after witnessing what happened, "I'm so sorry for scaring you like that!"

"No no, it's alright", Opal exclaims with her soft voice and smiles while wiping her hands with a cloth, "It's nice to meet you two this morning."

"It was nice to see you again, Opal." Pearl replies, "It's been a long time."

"A month ago isn't really a long time.", Opal chuckles, "And Steven," she turns her head to the boy, "You've grown up so much since the last time I saw you."

Steven laughs shyly, "Not really."

Opal hums happily as she strokes Steven's curly hair, then turns to Pearl, "So, what brings you here?"

"First of all, sorry for interrupting you.", Pearl said, "But we need your help."

Opal raise her head a bit, looking interested.

"Can you, or everyone here in Anteiku, help Steven on how to eat the human food correctly, or basically blending in the society."

"Hmm.", Opal hums, "It appears you three can't teach him those?"

"Honestly, we can't.", Pearl sighs in embarrassment, "You have more experienced than us."

"That's fine for me, but with that," The tall barista giggles, she goes her attention to Steven, "Can Steven be hired in this café? Having an extra hand here is also an exercise in social skills towards humans."

"What?" Steven gasps dramatically then he joyfully jumps, "I can work here even I'm just a boy?"

"Oh, I don't know about this Opal...", the slender woman mutters nervously.

"I swore that I won't let him involve into that Anteiku, Pearl.", Opal added, "The manager and I can take care of everything."

Pearl turns around to think about this, her biggest worries were the CCG Doves and Ghoul clans that might interfere.

'I'm pretty sure everyone here are strong enough to protect Steven against any danger.', she thought then turns around to Opal, "Alright, Steven can be hired here with regular hours while the three of us are going to take care may of other things outside of Anteiku."

"Noted.", Opal bows down in agreement. Pearl kneels down to Steven to give him a hug, "Just have a good time here, okay? Whatever happens, stay close to Opal so she'll protect you."

"Alright Pearl!", Steven said returns the hug, "Can I also use my kagune to help her too?"

Pearl chuckles lightly, "You can do it in practicing to activate it."

Steven sharply nods and Pearl stands, "Hope you two had a great time today."

Opal waves, "I bet we would enjoy each other's company, Pearl."

Pearl smiles and heads out to the door.

As Pearl left the café, Steven turns his head to Opal with pure excitement in his eyes, "Oh man, I have so many questions about this ghoul-stuff."

"Go ahead, I won't bite." Opal smirks.

"Was that a cheesy ghoul pun?" Steven sarcastically groans, then shakes his head, "And is it true that everyone who works in this café are ghouls?"

"What do you think?" Opal returns the sarcasm, then folds the cloth with a single flip, "Of course we're all ghouls here, but the café is a safe environment for both humans and ghouls alike. Besides, you're going to meet the other staff later if they ever show up."

Coincidently, another tall female barista (taller than Opal) with a larger body shows up from the wooden door by the backdoor. She has a long wavy black hair, same dark skin as Garnet's and her eyes were covered by black pointy shades.

The barista stares at the empty tables then sighs, "No customers yet? How sad-", after she says it with disappointment, her eye contact caught Opal then Steven.

"Hey Opal," the barista steps closer to the two then looks down to Steven with an intimidating stance, "Who's that little man with you?"

"Sugilite, this is Steven." Opal jovially said, yet Sugilite still contemplates "You know, Rose's child? Remember?"

"Ohhh, that Steven!", Sugilite grabs Steven happily then effortlessly lifts him up, "Man, since when was the last time I've seen you?"

While Steven is amused by Sugilite's strength in effortlessly lifting him up inspite his heavy size.

The blonde shakes her head a bit, "Probably when he was a toddler. God, you barely show up in our last family reunions."

"Oh shush.", the larger woman grunts.

"You're the Sugilite?", Steven grasps her cheeks, "Amethyst keeps talking about you! You look nothing on how she describes you!"

Sugilite raise her eyebrow, "I guess that explains your confused face as Opal says my name." she laughs then lowers Steven down, "Mind if you explain why you are here with Opal?"

"You know," The blonde barista crossed her arms, "Pearl wants us to teach him the human stuff that they can't teach."

"Hmph, that bird." Sugilite quickly grabs the cloth where Opal was holding, "The manager might be busy at this moment, so how about you and Steven are hanging together?"

"Well, it would be great if you help me too-"

"-Manager wants me to work with her to make the job easier." Sugilite interrupts, walking into the backdoor and slams the door shut.

Steven turn his head to Opal, noticed she has an frustrated expression. "Can't believe Sugilite is just walk out like that." she hums in a low tone, "Don't bother about it, Steven. She's mostly like that."

She sighs, "Besides, time to dress you up to show that you're hired here."

Steven smiles back as he follows Opal to the other door by the other side of the station.


"Umm...how do I look?", Steven asks.

Opal just chuckles as a positive answer, "Looks perfect for you! I'm glad we have a small size of the uniform lying around."

The young boy looks around to the mirror, white polo and bowtie between the collars, and black slacks. The final touch was a white apron until it reaches to his knees, it was his first time wearing something fancy, even it's a barista uniform.

Eventually, Opal leads Steven to the kitchen where cabinets filled with ingredients and other utensils for service and preparation. A massive refrigerator leaves Steven curious but decides not to touch things without permission.

Even Opal just closed the door, a knock echoes in the room and the door suddenly opens. It reveals a tall brown-skinned barista with tied up teal hair and regular sunglasses covers her eyes, peaking in while Opal and Steven were staring.

"Pass the dark brown sugar, Opal.", she spoke in a serious manner.

Opal rush to the cabinet and reaches to the container labeled DARK BROWN SUGAR, then gives it to the barista by the doorway.

"Customers?", Opal asks.

Steven sees that the other barista is WAY taller than Opal, a true giant woman for him.

"Just a single student.", the barista replied, "And thank you." And she closes the door behind. Opal sighs then sags her shoulders from tension while walking down to the counter.

"Who's that?", Steven asks

"That's our manager, Alexandrite, who's the eldest here," Opal opens the refrigerator and pulls out a two wrapped sandwiches, "She may look scary, but trust me, she has a heart of gold especially to kids like you."

Steven's cheeks flushed red, "R-Really? And I don't get why Sugilite and Alexandrite wears sunglasses inside…"

"Maybe after the shift, she'll have a chance to give herself a better impression," Opal hums, "And I don't understand either, Steven."

The blonde pulls out two saucers and sets them down on the countertop then unwraps a triangular object, reveals two sandwiches and sets them on each saucer. Steven, on the other hand, found a small foldable ladder at the side of the room for him to use to reach by the countertop.

After seeing the sandwiches, he brought it up, "Is that a human food?"

"Best-selling sandwich in this café, it was best served as hot but," Opal adjusts one sandwich to Steven, "For the sake of demonstrating, you can try as it is."

Steven does not hesitate to grab the sandwich and takes a bite. As he chews, he gags and toss the sandwich back to dash to the nearest garbage bin and spits.

"I see you haven't eaten human food before.", Opal exclaims while Steven walks back to the counter.

"Ugh! I didn't expect human food taste THAT bad!", Steven sticks his tongue out, "It feels like a dry sponge on my tongue then the taste is like a cardboard box."

"I'm impressed you can describe it accurately, Steven." Opal hums and grabs herself the other sandwich. "This sandwich is only for humans, hence why it's awful for ghouls alike.", she takes the bite and chews, but shows no effect to her.

Steven awes in surprise, 'How did she-'

"Of course, human food tastes very awful and it is unhealthy for ghouls, but eating it is the best way to blend yourself." The blonde barista continues to chew while talking, "You must swallow the food immediately then you pretend to chew, making it more realistic."

"Oh," Opal clears her throat, "Don't forget to barf out the food you swallow." She turns her head to Steven, who is observing carefully.

"Go with your second attempt, Steven."

Steven takes his bitten sandwich another bite slowly and quickly swallows dryly, then pretends to chew, "Am I... doing it right?"

"You're doing great than before," Opal approves, "But don't swallow the food too early. Just adjust the food away from your tongue, and let your saliva dissolve a bit to make the food easier to swallow."

"Oh!" Steven nods enthusiastically, "I think I'm getting it!"

"I'm honestly glad," Opal smiles and ruffles his curly hair, "Try to practice more during your breaks later, I'll also teach you how to brew the coffee for your shift later."

"Okay, Opal!"


It was dawn, Steven's shift at the café was done as he's walking down the staircase by the entrance of the store. He turns around and sees the sign by the door turns to CLOSED.

'Oh man, I've learned a lot of things today thanks to Opal!' Steven happily thought, 'I can't wait to tell everyone when I get home!'

Suddenly, he felt his phone vibrating on his pocket. Steven pulls out his phone and "Connie", name of his best friend, was displayed on the screen while ringing for a call. The boy answers the call and a girl voice exclaims, "Steven! I'm so glad you answer the call immediately!"

"Hey Connie! It's been a while, how are you doin'?"

"I wouldn't say great, but I'm quite piled up with school stuff right now." Connie laughs, "Forget about me, what about you Steven? I want to hear from your side!"

"Oh, come on, I want to hear you more about school but since you asked," Steven added, walking down the sidewalk, "I got hired on the Café in Beach City!"

"Wow! That sounds amazing! Never knew a young boy like you can serve coffee in a café!", Connie hums in thought, "Let me guess, you got hired there because Garnet or others has connections who are working in café?"

Steven gasps dramatically, "How do you guess that?"

"It's obvious that local shops won't hire underage people."

"Well!" Steven's cheeks were red in embarrassment, trying to change the subject in a slightest, "Maybe you can visit there some time to relax there and stuff before going to school."

"Hmm..." Connie contemplates, "If only my parents will allow me to go to Beach City on free time, sure!"

"Sweet!" The boy fist pumps and changes the topic, "How about you Connie? How's school?"

"Ugh...Its bonkers!" Connie frustrates, "The lessons are okay for me, but like I said, homework is stacking up bit by bit like legos!"

"Gosh, never knew school would be that hard.", Steven crosses the street, "I thought it would be easy in the first place."

"Oh, I wish…" Connie sighs, "Not only that, but my parents got stricter than before… they don't want to bring my school friends to my house for group study!"

Steven frowns, "That's harsh, they don't trust them?"

"Yeah, their trust is kind of wobbly since of course," Connie hums in disappointment, "Their tough job as CCG agents."

Steven's eyes widen as he heard it, 'Connie's parents are working as CCG Doves?!'

"Your parents work for the CCG?", he asked without showing his nervous tone.

"Yep! My apologies in forgetting to tell you that in the first place," Connie enthusiastically continues, "I mean, they literally survive on fighting rogue ghouls who are breaking the rules and-", she quickly cuts off, "Oh, sorry Steven! My parents are here now and call me for dinner, let us text later, okay? Bye!"

The call cuts off.

Steven pockets his cellphone while walking down by the beach. He anxiously thoughts; 'When am I going to tell the others?...Maybe I'll keep it shut until the right time to let them know about my best friend's parents.'