Hide kept a towel on his head as he leaned close to a mirror. He hooked a finger in his mouth and pulled his lips back, checking his teeth for blood.
"You can sleep here for the night. Touka will show you to the bathroom and you can clean yourself up."
He didn't feel satisfied. He thought he should have been.
"You look exhausted."
A handful of meat could keep a ghoul going for a week. A body could last a ghoul for two months.
His clothes were borrowed. No one had said from who, but he'd bet they were Yomo's.
It wasn't that he was hungry. He knew what that felt like.
But he still wanted more.
He wanted to feel the sweetness of blood in his mouth as he bit into an arm, like steak sauce drizzled over meat—
He heard his own panting and realized his was on his knees, still holding onto the sink.
A yawning cavern inside him told him to eat and eat and eat. He could taste chunks of fingers like sliced beef, heard whispers of one more bite, it's so good, just one more.
Hide slammed his forehead into the cabinet and fell back, wincing as he rubbed his forehead. "Owww..."
If Rize was a Binge Eater, did that mean...?
It felt like as much of a shock as having cold water thrown in his face. He wiped drool away as he stood and didn't look at the dented wood as he left the bathroom.
A lamp was on in the living room and a lumpy package had been left in the middle of the table. Hide picked it up and sniffed it.
Meaty, faintly, like a leftover burger that had lost its scent to the fridge.
"You'll receive one package for the time being," Yoshimura said behind him. "Anteiku's doors are always open if you feel that you need more, though we'll have to speak of a form of repayment if you ask for too much in a short period of time."
"̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶s̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶e̶s̶s̶.̶"̶ Nagachika said, sitting on the back of the futon. "̶H̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶f̶i̶g̶u̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶.̶"̶
"Got it," Hide said, holding the package up at Yoshimura. "Thanks. You're a real lifesaver."
"It's what we do here at Anteiku. You can sleep there on the futon. Come to me if you need anything," he said, inclining his head as he shut the door softly behind him.
His phone, wallet, and keys were piled neatly on a folded towel on the floor. Hide flicked off the light, tossed the package on the table, and flopped on the futon.
The phone screen blinded him in the dark with a list of missed calls and texts from Kaneki. "You really don't have any other friends?" he asked as he scrolled down the list.
"I have your notes," "please call me," "I left a burger from Big Girl outside. Don't let it get cold."
"Aren't you friends with the festival committee? The occult club?"
"̶M̶y̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶h̶i̶p̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶s̶t̶i̶v̶a̶l̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶i̶t̶t̶e̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶a̶l̶.̶ ̶W̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶g̶e̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶f̶e̶s̶t̶i̶v̶a̶l̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶s̶e̶p̶a̶r̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶s̶.̶ ̶W̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶m̶o̶n̶,̶"̶ Nagachika answered. "̶A̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶c̶c̶u̶l̶t̶ ̶c̶l̶u̶b̶—̶"̶ he raised his hands in a shrug. "̶—̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶e̶g̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶.̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶d̶u̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶k̶i̶d̶d̶y̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶o̶o̶l̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶g̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶o̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶t̶t̶y̶ ̶q̶u̶i̶c̶k̶l̶y̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶v̶e̶l̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶u̶n̶c̶o̶o̶l̶.̶"̶
"I thought it was good," Hide muttered. He lowered the phone when he heard voices outside. Touka and Yoshimura.
"Are you sure about this, sir?"
"He can hear you, Touka."
"I don't care! Mr. Yoshimura, you didn't see him out there! I don't know-I've never seen anyone go after a dead ghoul the way he did—"
"Have you watched the news lately, Touka?"
Silence. "I haven't, sir."
"There was doctor that was involved in a scandal recently. Dr. Kano is his name. There was a terrible construction mishap involving three college students. One was declared deceased on the scene, one was on the brink of death, and the other escaped with only minor injuries. This Dr. Kano transplanted the deceased's organs into the second victim without permission from either family or looking into her prior medical history."
More silence. "He smelled like Rize."
"The assistants that helped the doctor perform the surgery pled guilty to medical negligence and were disbarred, but the doctor himself disappeared. The identities of the victims have been kept out of the media for their privacy, but those close to the situation can surmise the truth, especially upon meeting him."
"That only makes him as dangerous as she was. If he inherited her tendencies—"
"He's one of us now, Touka, and it will be his decision on whether to follow the policies of Anteiku or not. I did not force those rules on Ayato, and I will not force them on him, either.
Touka went quiet again. Until, finally, "Yes, sir."
He couldn't sleep.
He'd close his eyes and see surgeon scrubs covered in blood and kindly old man smiles.
He'd pin Dr. Kano to the floor and still hear a mocking chuckle after he was dead.
Hide scrubbed a hand down his face as he sat up.
He'd see Yoshimura wearing the Owl mask, red eye gleaming as Hide was speared through the chest.
Nagachika was leaning back against the window above him with his arms crossed. He looked asleep.
"I hope you have nightmares," he muttered.
"̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶m̶e̶d̶i̶t̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶d̶u̶d̶e̶.̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶t̶r̶y̶ ̶i̶t̶.̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶s̶i̶c̶k̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶u̶n̶w̶i̶n̶d̶.̶"̶
He got up and didn't grab the meat package as he left the room. He tried to take the stairs quietly, but still felt a presence watching him when he reached the bottom.
Yomo stared at him from an empty table.
Hide stopped but Yomo only stared, saying nothing.
"̶N̶o̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶a̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶,̶"̶ Nagachika dismissed, patting his shoulder as he went past. "̶I̶ ̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶d̶o̶w̶s̶ ̶g̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶t̶t̶y̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶v̶i̶e̶w̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶e̶e̶t̶ ̶d̶u̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶l̶e̶t̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶d̶i̶f̶f̶e̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶g̶u̶a̶r̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶.̶"̶
Hide tore his gaze away.
"̶Y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶g̶ ̶e̶n̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶d̶e̶a̶l̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶ ̶y̶e̶t̶.̶"̶
The bell above the door jingled softly as he left. Hide felt eyes on his back the entire time.
Hide didn't know where he was or where he was going.
tired... wanna sleep...
Don't pass out. One foot in front of the other. The crumpled note with Nagachika's address was in his other pants.
no pink pills around... blood dripping through his fingers like juice...
He'd liked those pants. Dark purple was a nice color and Nagachika had too many shorts. Didn't he get cold?
old man Yoshimura... Sen Takatsuki...
Nagachika sat on the sidewalk ahead of him. "̶W̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶l̶i̶s̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶m̶e̶?̶ ̶I̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶'̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶I̶'̶d̶ ̶s̶a̶i̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶m̶i̶n̶u̶t̶e̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶w̶a̶y̶.̶"̶
Kuzen... V... sleep...
He felt someone bump into him and stopped, turning to blink at some guy with white hair in an oversized jacket and—
—red stitches around his mouth and circling up his right hand.
"So sorry, wasn't watching where I was going," Suzuya said quickly, hair hiding his eyes as he turned to walk away. "Well, see ya. Have a good night."
"Hey—"
"̶D̶u̶d̶e̶.̶"̶
"—want to grab something to eat?"
Suzuya stopped. He tilted his head to stare at him.
Hide yawned.
"You're a weird one, alright. But it wouldn't be right to turn down free food," Suzuya finally said, smiling as he clapped his hands together. "Lead the way, stranger. Here's hoping this isn't some kind of trick. I'd hate to be disappointed."
Hide rubbed his eyes. "Oh, uh, right..."
Suzuya stared at him again. "Aww, changing your mind already?"
Hide shook his head. "I don't know the area. I go to Kamii University."
"Kamii... Kamii..." Suzuya snapped his fingers. "I don't know where that is. So, you want me to grab something to eat? Hmm. Fine, okay." He turned and started walking away. "Come on, we don't have all night, stranger."
Hide followed him. "I don't have deep pockets, so, within reason."
"̶T̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶,̶ ̶h̶u̶h̶?̶"̶
Hide wondered how comfortable the steel shutter over the stall window was as Suzuya leaned against the wall next to him to read an hours of operation sign on the wall.
"This one too? This sucks," Suzuya said, looking at the moon. "But I guess it is pretty late. Nothing good is open."
Hide leaned against the shutters and rested his eyes. "So, what's your name?"
"People call me Suzuya," he said, but didn't sound like he was paying much attention. "Why can't it be morning already?"
Hide felt his head slipping down—
"Hey, hey, did you do this on purpose? I'm not some tour guide, you know."
Suzuya was leaning on the shelf next to him when he peeled open his eyes and said, "Too tired to have a plan like that."
"Huh? How does that make any sense? You're so tired, but you still invited a total stranger out to eat with you? This some weirdo version of trying to get a date?"
Was Hide a little more tired and a lot less smart, he would've shoved Suzuya for asking that. Jokingly, but he had doubts that Suzuya would consider the intent before he ate pavement. Or worse.
"I had a lot on my mind," he eventually answered, stretching his arms above his head until his joints popped. "Just wanted to hang out with someone for a while. Someone uncomplicated."
"Could've been a serial killer," Suzuya said, pulling on a stitch on the back of his hand. "Then your guts would be all over the floor and the rest of you wouldn't have been found for weeks."
"Guess I'd already be dead then."
Suzuya dropped his forehead to the metal. "I'm trying so hard to think of a place. This really, really sucks!"
"What'd you do that'd make it so hard to find me?"
"I'd eat you, of course."
Hide closed his eyes again. "Cannibalism isn't cool."
"Doesn't apply to ghouls."
"Okay, enough joking around—"
"Who says I'm joking?"
"—there aren't any twenty-four-hour restaurants open around here?"
"Twenty-four-whaaaaat?"
"What about a convenience store?"
"Bleh. I don't need you to buy cheap food. I want something good."
"Like human flesh?"
"Doesn't taste half bad." Suzuya leaned back against the shelf and stretched his legs out. "So, if any old stranger bumped into you, you would've offered them free food?"
"Probably not if they seemed like they'd murder me."
Suzuya tilted his head back. "But not me?"
"Not then. But now? Growing more concerned by the minute."
Suzuya kicked off his shoes and looked at the moon again. "I really wanted that free food."
"What if I throw in whatever else is in the store? Soda, candy, whatever. Within reason."
Suzuya went still for a few seconds, then he slipped his sandals back on and pushed off the counter. "Sure, but I don't think within reason for you is the same as it is for me. Oh well."
Hide read the ingredients on the back of a carton of instant ippudo ramen.
Crouched next to him, Suzuya pulled down packet after packet of ramen, humming off-tune as he looked over them and put them down on the ground.
eggs, soy sauce, pork, green peppers...
It sounded like he'd be sick for hours.
Hide waved it at Suzuya. "I don't usually have the instant stuff, but this sounds like it'll be good."
"Bleh."
Hide put it back and watched Suzuya make a tower out of ramen cups as he tried to remember what he'd wanted to say through the haze of exhaustion.
Oh yeah.
"Gonna need my wallet if you want me to pay."
Suzuya dropped a fifth carton on the stack and asked, "How'd you know?"
"You bumped into me in the dead of night when there was plenty of walking space. Either you were going to pickpocket me or stab me, and I feel pretty unstabbed."
Suzuya leaned back on his hands. "I've done it to all sorts of people around this time and I've never gotten caught. But even if they do notice, they always choose not to confront me about it for some reason."
Hide scanned more instant ramen labels. "Not a confrontation. It's just, what was your plan when I got up to the register?"
"I would've finished looking through it by then," Suzuya answered, but held it up. Hide took the wallet and Suzuya wandered over to the candy aisle with a carton of ufo yakisoba ramen.
"̶L̶e̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶u̶b̶l̶e̶-̶c̶h̶e̶c̶k̶.̶"̶
Hide opened the wallet. Nagachika counted cards as Suzuya filled his pockets with candy bars.
"̶I̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶s̶q̶u̶e̶e̶z̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶w̶e̶e̶k̶'̶s̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶l̶s̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶e̶y̶ ̶J̶u̶u̶z̶o̶u̶'̶s̶ ̶g̶o̶n̶n̶a̶ ̶c̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶"̶
"I'll apply for disability for the time I was in the hospital like you wanted," Hide typed on his phone. "And then Anteiku will pay me more in a week than you earned in a month."
"̶Y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶u̶c̶h̶.̶"̶
He went up to the front as Suzuya gathered bags of chips, still humming.
The cashier was a tired, middle-aged looking man who rolled his shoulders when he looked at the mess Suzuya left on the floor.
Hide scooted his carton to the side as Suzuya dumped all the chips on the counter.
"Why is your within reason half the store?" he asked as Suzuya pulled cans of soda from his jacket pockets.
"Hooligans," the cashier said under his breath, tapping away at a register.
Suzuya stopped suddenly in the middle of pulling out a handful of candy bars. Then he dropped them all on the floor and leaned on the counter. "Hooligans?"
Hide tried not to fall asleep watching them.
The cashier looked annoyed, "Little punks like you think they can do whatever they want. You punks have no manners, no respect for anyone else's property, and dress like clowns—"
Suzuya leapt over the counter without touching the chips and landed next to the cashier. He grabbed the cashier's wrist as he tried to recoil and yanked his arm towards him.
Hide rubbed his eyes as Suzuya shoved his palm hard against the underside of his armpit, still keeping the arm extended, and the cashier's shoulder popped out of place.
The cashier choked on a terrified shout and Suzuya let go.
"Suzuya—"
Suzuya tilted his head to stare at Hide, and he decided not to finish that sentence. He grabbed and unwrapped both cartons of instant ramen as the cashier stumbled back, gasping, holding his dislocated shoulder.
A fan tumbled to the floor behind him as he backed into it.
"No, wait, please—"
Suzuya stepped closer to the cashier, expressionless, and Hide dug seven-hundred, then nine-hundred-seventy yen out of Nagachika's wallet for both.
Suzuya hopped on the counter and had the cashier's arm tucked under his arm in an instant. Then he slammed his elbow down on the cashier's shoulder and forced it back into place.
"Fixed the kink in your shoulder," he said with a smile as he released him.
Hide tucked the money safely to the side and skimmed the cooking instructions as the cashier dropped to his knees.
"What's wrong? This clown fixed your shoulder for you. Shouldn't you be saying thank you?"
Hide refused to look up. He only asked, "Is there a microwave back there?"
"Nah," Suzuya said, hopping down. He pointed behind him. "It's over there."
It was next to what looked like a coffee or tea machine and a display case with hot foods. Probably lukewarm if they'd been sitting there all day. Hide went to the sink and filled both containers halfway with water.
Was it enough? He'd see.
"But I gotta say you feel real sweaty. You should take a bath," Suzuya said, shaking out his hands. "I'll be stuck with the smell for hours."
"̶D̶u̶d̶e̶,̶"̶ Nagachika said with feeling.
Hide ignored him and Suzuya. "Tell me how to work this," he muttered, pressing buttons on the microwave.
Nagachika did, still watching Suzuya, and Hide put both cartons inside and watched them spin like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
The cashier got up and ran as the microwave chimed and Hide collected his ramen from the microwave and peeled off the lid, wondering how all the knives Suzuya had on him stayed still when he jumped around like that.
"̶A̶n̶y̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶e̶l̶s̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶l̶i̶z̶e̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶r̶o̶u̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶y̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶.̶"̶
"Should you stop him?" Hide asked as Suzuya stretched around him to grab the other cup.
"What for?"
Hide only blew on his noodles.
Suzuya sat on the floor.
"Did you really fix his shoulder?" Hide asked. He wondered if it was muscle memory or his last life that taught him how to use chopsticks.
The noodles were tasteless and stale, like he'd put a clump of wriggling worms in his mouth.
Despite the urge to gag, he didn't hurry to swallow them.
"Of course! I'm a servant of the people," Suzuya declared, using his chopsticks to salute. "It's my job to help those in need, and I did."
Hide poked at the pork and eggs and finally, finally swallowed. "You robbed me."
"Even someone like me has to eat. But you really are a weirdo," he said, rocking forward. "I usually know how people will react when I do stuff like that."
Hide swallowed a seasoned egg. It tasted like it'd been rolled in dirt, then a used toilet.
Suzuya emptied a packet of red sauce directly into his mouth. It made his stomach churn.
"We're still hanging out," Hide finally said. "I could've run out of here screaming, sure, but what comes after that? I face what I came out here to avoid? Yeah, right—"
"Bleh," Suzuya said, sticking his tongue out. "It's the most expensive one and it still tastes bad."
It surprised him a little that what he'd said wasn't an excuse, but the truth. Even after that, he'd still rather be here instead of dealing with what he'd done, what the future said he would do.
"Yeah. It's awful."
Hide had no memory of falling asleep.
He just woke suddenly with sunlight on his face and his stomach cramping.
And Suzuya.
And Yukinori Shinohara.
And the police.
Shinohara was pinching the bridge of his nose as he spoke, "—do you know how long it'll take me to sort this mess out?"
Suzuya was missing his jacket. His hands were in his pockets and he rocked on his heels, but didn't say anything.
"You're still here?" Hide asked, grabbing the counter as he stood.
Shinohara opened one eye to stare at him but Hide didn't look at him or the officer behind him who stared at them both with open distaste.
"Weeeell, Mr. Shinohara's always lecturing me about not leaving anyone behind and be more friendly to the people around you, Juuzou, so."
Shinohara ducked his head. "This isn't what I meant..."
Or did Suzuya know he'd be in more trouble if he left the scene?
Hide scratched his side and sighed. Now he was tired and he ached. And his stomach, well, it wasn't as bad as it had been after Nagachika's barbeque chips. "Did you sleep, Suzuya?"
"Nope."
"You two seem to be getting along well considering we'll probably be sued over this. Mind introducing me to your friend, Juuzou?"
Suzuya pulled a card from his pocket and held it out. "Hideyoshi Nagachika. Nineteen. Born June tenth."
Hide squinted. "Did you rob me again?"
Shinohara blinked. "Again? Are you... do you even know each other?"
"Not really."
"Aren't you gonna take it? It's his school ID. It has all his information on it."
Shinohara covered his eyes. "Give that back."
Suzuya shrugged and dropped it.
"I don't think I want to know. Just-just get out here, Nagachika, before I change my mind."
The cop looked like he disagreed heavily but took one look at Shinohara's back and glanced away.
Hide didn't salute, but it was a near thing as he picked up his ID. "Yes, sir."
He hadn't stopped wanting to eat.
It was another reason on top of a mountain of reasons why he'd left.
He had a feeling, some sure feeling, that he'd end up like he'd been in that alley with Touka again, gorging on blood and meat and unable to stop.
This sucked.
Almost as much as his stomach was starting to suck.
One foot after the other. He'd pass out on the floor of Nagachika's apartment and deal with it later.
He leaned heavily on the railing as he climbed the steps to Nagachika's apartment, digging around in his pocket, hoping Suzuya didn't steal his keys—
"̶T̶u̶r̶n̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶.̶"̶
Hide paused. Nagachika stood at the top of the stairs, hands behind his head.
"̶G̶l̶a̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶m̶e̶.̶ ̶N̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶t̶u̶r̶n̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶,̶ ̶b̶e̶f̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶—̶"̶
Hide realized that this wasn't Nagachika's building at precisely the same moment that Kaneki Ken appeared at the top of the stairs with a shoulder bag and a book in his hand and froze.
"̶D̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶v̶o̶l̶v̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶.̶"̶
The book hit the ground. Kaneki threw his bag off as he rushed down the steps and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Hide-you—" his voice trembled. "—where have you been?"
"̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶w̶a̶r̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶"̶
Hide couldn't focus. He stared at him, then leaned over the rail to empty his stomach
"Hide!"
He was unconscious before he fully collapsed.