After their initial fight, Kuri and Kaneki kinda stayed outta each other's way at Anteiku.
Kaneki felt bad about Kuri's despondency, but he stuck firmly to his beliefs about coexistence. Why was she fighting for Ghoul rights if she didn't want Ghouls and humans to get along?
He sneaked a glance at her. And what did it mean for the two of them? He crushed beans angrily.
If she wasn't interested in him that way then why was she constantly protecting and looking after him?! It didn't make sense! What was he to her any—
"Kaneki. Your gonna murder the beans." Kuri giggled. "If your still mad, then just say something. Don't take it out on our coffee beans."
"I-I…" Kaneki whispered under his breath. It was her fault he was feeling this way!
Kuri took his hands and unwound them from their tight fists. "I'm…sorry, ok?"
Kaneki snatched his hands back. "What do you even see when you look at me anyway…this is a waste of time."
Kuri grabbed his arm. "What the hell did you just say?!"
"If you think Ghouls and Humans can't get along then what the fuck has all this been for?" He snarled at her.
"I just…didn't want them to get hurt…" Kuri whispered, hurt. "I'm trying really hard to make this world safe for that to be possible…but when I saw what Gourmet did to her—I-I thought she'd WANT to forget it! It was horrible, unforgivable, and I-I don't think I'd be strong enough to keep that memory myself! I-I underestimated…I'm sorry."
Kaneki stared at her, and then laughed incredulously. "Not…strong enough?! You see people's deaths, you see horrible things that no one should have to see! It…takes…incredible strength…to see what you see!" He said between laughs.
Kuri pinched his cheeks. "Ish not funEE." She said with pout voice.
They grinned at each other, fight over, as Ryouko and Hinami entered.
Kuri rushed over. "Hey there. Your usual?"
Ryouko nodded, and Hinami wondered over to Kaneki.
"You'll need some sort of defense if you want to stay alive." Kuri said to her. "I think maybe you should have a bodyguard."
"I can't afford to pay any—"
Kuri shook her head. "I'll ask around. There are plenty of able bodied Ghouls that would loooove protecting a lovely young Ghoul like yourself." She grinned and laughed.
Ryouko smiled in spite of herself.
"Aaaand it looks like Hinami's found herself a tutor as well!" Kuri grinned. "You see? We can help you so please…" She touched Ryouko's hand. "Don't be a stranger."
But as she watched the small Ghoul family leave, she felt sorrow in her heart.
