Chapter 3: Going Forward
It's not something usual for Kaneki to sleep with his cell phone.
He normally just responds to some texts that Hide had to send them or just search random book recommendations that the internet could give him. From time to time, he searches for the origins of some funny images that are called "memes" that Hide send him. Sometimes he feels like an old dude compared to the knowledge that he and Hide share.
And immediately after that he just shut it off and charges it.
But some few things have changed. Like, for taking an example of texting.
He texted Hide when he had the time to reply and in the end, Hide didn't care at all. Since he knew how he was.
But now…..
It's just that he has been texting with people until past midnight.
And this has been happening ever since he got Nishiki, Kimi, and Furuta as his new text buddies.
Although to be honest, Nishiki and Kimi text him when they are off lectures or have free time. They cease their texting until midnight. Since they want their brain to be healthier. They always said something in the lines like "Kaneki's brain has to be healthy!" and some stuff like "If you sleep 8 hours, your brain will be energetic and have the capacity to do better jobs".
Sometimes Nishiki senpai spurted some nonsense like "If it's Kaneki, then his brain has to be sexy as hell"
He didn't know what to do with that kind of statement. So, he just let it slip. I meant if he takes all the things that the people have been telling him. He probably will be crazy by now.
But Nishiki and Kimi weren't actually the people who got him up all day. It was actually Furuta who kept him awake until 2 am.
That's what his cellphone stated, that was the hour he replies to his last text.
No, he wonders why Kimi and Nishiki said that Furuta was weird. Though Kaneki could admit that he had this unusual aura when he first meets him. But actually, he is quite a nice and formal guy.
Maybe people just took the wrong idea when it came to describing him and that's actually quite sad. Since many people in his high school years consider him as a weirdo. Because he didn't talk that much. After that, many false rumors started coming to light and what are worst people didn't even feel the need to talk to him. They just judge without seeing the real picture.
He thought, that he could be the same thing with Furuta.
He is just misunderstood.
Even though, he may sound like a creep or a weird guy. He is just misunderstood because people don't give him a chance to open himself up.
He knew that feeling way too much.
The feeling of getting to know people but having the constant fear they will reject you because they have just judged you based on their first impressions of you.
- Ah, I'm sorry that I didn't reply to your last text on time. I fall asleep with my cell phone. It won't happen again.
-Ha, is that so? Lolol, don't worry about it :o)
There he goes again with that clown emoji…. Does he have a thing he liked about clowns?
-I'm dying to ask you though. But I think it will be troublesome…
-Just spit it out :o)
-¿Why do you like clowns that much?
Immediately at that moment, Kaneki sends the last text, he closes his cellphone. Sometimes there was something in his mind telling him to ask Furuta that question and the other half of him not to ask him.
Kaneki walks to the Rijunjoni Café's main entrance, greeting Koma who arrived early to open the café doors.
He wonders why asking that question brought such an uneasy feeling deep down on him.
Well, he will soon find out. But not right now. He has work to do. After all, he had a job now and he has to keep the distance between his private life and his work.
Kaneki put the café's apron. He jumps back, as soon he felt his cell phone vibrate on the pockets of his black jeans.
He almost falls down but some strong arms caught him. He blushed and saw Koma's face smiling at him, staring directly into his eyes.
"Kaneki kun, if you fall that hard on the floor. I will be really sad!"
Koma pouted and kept seeing nothing but his eyes. You may think that will brought Ken a somewhat feeling of awkwardness but actually, he didn't felt that awkward at all.
Koma's eyes are actually really beautiful and you felt at ease when seeing them directly.
He kept staring at him. Meanwhile, Ken kept staring at Koma's eyes.
Damn! Why his partner at work has to have such an amazing gaze that will ease and calm his soul?
Damn you Koma's eyes! I curse you!
They both kept staring at each other. Ken's thoughts disperse through his mind. While he didn't know that Koma was touching his cheeks and he was approximating his face to Ken's face.
That was happening until….
*Buzz* *Buzz*
Kaneki startled himself and his hands move to reach his jean pocket for his cellphone without seeing the one who called him. He immediately takes the call, and he put himself apart from Koma's body.
Koma just stared at him and kept smiling.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Kaneki Kun!"
It was Furuta.
Kaneki gulped.
"Ah sorry, Furuta but now I'm on my working hours and i-"
He didn't finish his sentence when Furuta's playful voice started talking.
"Hahaha…"
Why did he laugh? … Why is he laughing? Did he told a joke, he wasn't aware of? Did he heard a joke or perhaps he thinks this call is a joke? Honestly, this phone call is keeping him on the edge of his seat.
"Don't sweat it"
Kaneki sweatdrop.
Why is he telling him that?! Honestly, sometimes he thought he understand and knew Furuta but now he thinks he actually doesn't know who actually was Furuta….
Why does he laughs and just casually say, "Don't sweat it!" It's like somebody telling him not to worry about them when they are doing something extremely dangerous. You know you have to worry because they could die.
Honestly Furuta this is not a comfortable call…
Or perhaps Ken was just being paranoid as always.
"I will be waiting for the reply….
"-Goodbye Kaneki kun"
He whispered that last bit and Kaneki felt some shivers going down on his spine. He didn't like the tone of Furuta's voice.
He felt chills.
And that is not something good when you hear somebody's voice.
He hangs up and kept staring at his phone. Koma stared at Kaneki. Meanwhile Ken glance at Koma staring at him, while he was putting his cell phone in his pockets. Koma walks towards him with a worried expression. He put his hands on Ken's shoulders.
"Is something wrong… is someone stalking you?"
Ken stared at Koma with disbelief expression.
Why does Koma think, he was getting stalk…
He only received a call from Furuta….
But. Furuta stalking him? No! He was his friend. Only because he acted differently this day doesn't mean he was a stalker! He didn't want to label friends without any proof. If he could describe it. He just acted somehow differently. I mean, it's just has been 4 days that he has known him. Of course only through texts and some phone calls. But he is actually a quite nice guy.
Kaneki stared at Koma and gently move his head to the side.
"No, it's not that. It's just a friend of mine was making a prank and I…. didn't see it coming."
Yeah… let's put it that way.
Because Furuta is still a nice guy in his eyes.
Koma's expression change to a serious expression. Ken smiled and Koma left his side, opening the door to getting out of the "staff room". He stops and turns his head while gazing at Kaneki with an expression that Kaneki couldn't describe.
"Ken kun"
Ken's eyes widen.
Wow, to think someone calls him by his first name. He didn't believe it was possible.
"Kaneki… if someone ever bothers you. You know you have my number. So, never hesitate to ring me. Cause, the devil ape is always with you"
Koma smiled and closed the door.
Ha…. What was that?
As Kaneki was arriving at his home. He opened the gate and found a little girl with short, straight, brown hair, brown eyes, that was wearing hairband decorated with two four-leaf clovers. She was putting some water to the roses his mother had in the garden.
He recognized that girl….
As soon as he opened the gate, the girl stared back at him and smile brightly.
"Oni chan!"
The little girl put the hose down and opened her arms while she was running on the way to Kaneki. Kaneki awkwardly raises his arms to hug her. She hugged back, burying her face in Kaneki's chest.
Kaneki ruffled the little girl's hair.
"Hello, Hinami chan!"
She looked up and she smiles widely once again.
"Welcome back I have missed you so much!"
Kaneki ruffled his hair and awkwardly smile at her.
"Yeah… I have missed you too"
Hinami's eye widens and looks down.
"Eh, are you okay?"
Hinami's face was all red, while she was slowly looking up at him. Her eyes brighten and put her arms around the left arm of him. They were walking to the front door that was slightly open.
They both arrived and took their shoes off. "I'm home!"
"Welcome back!"
His mother's voice rang down the hallway were her little workshop was. As they walk through the hallway, Kaneki put down his things on a nearby couch. He notices that Hinami was still clinging to his left arm. While looking down, and somehow blushing.
As they both enter his mother's workshop. He found Ryouko Fueguchi and his mother on the corner of the room. His mother was on her usual sewing machine meanwhile Fueguchi was on a couch drinking coffee.
"It seems just like the old days, nothing has changed don't you think Hiroko san?"
Hiroko looks up and gazes at her son and Hinami. She quickly smiled at Ryouko.
"Indeed, Ryouko san"
She stared at him. "Your mother has been telling me that you got a job for the sake of helping her"
Kaneki stared and awkwardly laugh at her direction. He quickly sat down with Hinami on a two-person couch.
"Yeah, I want to help my mother to chase her dream".
Ryouko hides her mouth and slightly blushes.
"Aww, that's so sweet. See I told you, Hinami he is the perfect husband candidate".
Ken almost shocked, so does Hinami.
"Y-yeah" Said Hinami while burying her face more in Kaneki's shoulder.
What are they talking about? Women these days… he couldn't even get what they are thinking. So, what to do in this type of scenario?
Kaneki laugh.
It's the best he could do in this type of crazy scenarios.
"What do you think about my daughter Ken kun?"
"Little Hinami?"
Ken stared at the little girl who was staring at him. He smiled.
"She is like a little sister. After all, we almost grew together, isn't that right?"
The Fueguchi family were always good old friends of the Kaneki household. At first, while his mother was starting her workshop. Ryouko always came to Hiroko for some arrangements of some dresses she had. Later she even made his mother create some dresses to Hinami. As for that, some clients began knowing his mother's workshop.
And as for her husband, Asaki Fueguchi he has his own clinic around the town. The first time they met them, was when his mother collapsed and Asaki decided to help her without any money.
After that, the Fueguchi family has been always supporting Kaneki's household.
At that moment, they knew the Fueguchi was an incredible noble household.
"Well, it's time to say goodbye. It was nice meeting you again".
"Likewise, Fueguchi san!" Kaneki's voice came arranging some bags that Ryouko have brought.
When Ryouko put her shoes on, she quickly stops herself and looks to Kaneki. She hid her mouth and Kaneki wonders if she wanted to tell him something.
"Ken… do you think it is possible for you if you can tutor Hinami in some subjects. I know, you are working and have a tight schedule, but can you take some time? It's just that Hinami has been having some problems with some subjects and no matter what tutor we get her, she always keeps her distance from them… so can you do it… of course, if you have the time?"
Ken was so indebted, so he decided to become the personal tutor of Hinami.
"Yeah, of course, is no problem".
"Well then, goodbye!"
"Goodbye Oni chan"
When both of the women were on the gate. They smiled at him and wave goodbye.
Kaneki just stared at their departures figures. And she actually was right. He actually could gain a little extra pocket money from this.
And so….
Kaneki began putting flyers of tutoring on his days off.