This document is almost 7,000 + words. So, enjoy reading it!

When Kaneki woke up, he immediately went downstairs to look for breakfast. As he walked inside the hallway.

"Good morning Kaneki kun"

Kaneki jumps and covers himself. He wasn't naked, but he was in his pajamas. If he knew somebody was downstairs, he could have put some decent clothes. He didn't know he would encounter the very thing in the morning would be the man, the myth, the legend. Furuta Nimura in his own house. Kaneki stood there, avoiding Furuta's gaze on him.

"H-Hi, Furuta what are you doing here?"

Furuta frowned and pouted. As he put aside the cup, where he was drinking from. "Can a good friend visit his good friend?" Kaneki put a hand over his face, his eyebrows were twitching for a moment. As he thinks of ways of reasoning with his friend, Furuta.

"Ara, Kaneki you woke up, look who is here, no other than Furuta, himself."

"The one and only, Furuta Nimura."

Her mother and Furuta started giggling, when she had come back from the laundry room. Kaneki sighs in a frustrated manner. He could never believe that his own mother doesn't understand personal boundaries. As his mother started walking to the fridge, Kaneki walked over to her, while she was looking at something inside the fridge. Kaneki moved his head beside her head.

"Mother, you could have told me, he was here, i could have changed my clothes."

His mother grabbed the peach yogurt, she was looking for and closed the fridge door.

"Ummm, I think I forgot." His mother opened her yogurt and dropped a spoon inside it. As soon as she did it, she exited the kitchen, but almost as she was going away, she wink at him. Leaving with an annoyed son and an excited Nimura. Kaneki sat down in a chair that was near the exit. Kaneki smiled at him and made small talk with him. At the end of the day, it is not like he doesn't like having Furuta around, it's just sometimes his sudden actions made his life a little nervous.

As they were deep in conversation, Kaneki glanced over the clock and jumped from his seat. Was it this late already? Furuta just smiled at Kaneki's action. "What is it, Kaneki kun?"

"I'm sorry Furuta, but I have to go to the event. So, I need to get changed and arrange some things.."

"Ohh… can i see you change?"

"What?"

"Nothing. Well then, I'm excusing myself. Have a great day today."

And just like that, Furuta was gone. Strange. It seems like Furuta didn't question where he was going, or didn't ask questions, just like the other times. It was really unusual for him. But Kaneki just brushes it off.

Kaneki texted Saiko, if he could bring somebody, and she yes. So Kaneki invited Hide to her party. It's not like he was uncomfortable with Saiko's friends, it's just that Hide was finally free from finals and wanted to spend time with him. So he decided to bring him to Saiko's party.

But now, he is kind of regretting it.

"Why are you wearing a mini tie along with some mini shorts Hide?"

"I wanted to be casual but also wanted to be elegant. Do i slay in this outfit?"

Hide started posing in front of him. Laying on the wall, while putting a hand under his shin. Sitting on a bench, putting his hands together, while looking at the distance. He squatted himself and made a peace sign.

"Slay, what even is that?" Kaneki grabs his phone from his pocket, as he checks for Saiko's address. He looks at his friend who was still posing. "Hide, you realize…" As he once again inspected Hide's outfit. "-this is a birthday we are going, right?" Hide keeps walking forward as he slowly dances, while they move forward. "Hide, it's the birthday of a teenager." Hide didn't acknowledge him, until he stopped midway. He looked back at him, while Kaneki just stared at him in a concerned manner. "That's why Kaneki."

Kaneki rolled his eyes. Is not like Kaneki can argue with Hide about fashion. When he is not the fashion icon either. I mean, it is pretty obvious, the reason why sometimes he tends to wear some fashionable items, is because of his own mother being a seamstress and knowing a lot about fashion trends. But, if it was up to him, he could wear casual black and blue jeans and plain shirts or square-framed sweaters, everyday he could.

"Look at the drip on that guy, so lame!"

A slim young man, with blond hair in a chin-length bob that covered his left eye, was coming along with another taller man. Hide looks at the man scarf. "Cool scarf, man!" Kaneki gasped in realization, of who was coming in their direction. If he remembers, it was Hooguro and Shousei, who were coming in their direction. He wanted to grab Hide and hide themselves. But it's too late now, Hooguro just noticed Hide and Hide did as well.

As Hooguro grinned, just noticing Hide, but still not acknowledging Kaneki's presence. Kaneki smiled to himself and thought to himself, that maybe this could be his way to exit this scene, but just as he was thinking that. He didn't realize that Shousei was next to Hooguro and he was looking directly at him.

Kaneki wanted to cry at this exact moment.

Luckily, both Shousei and Hooguru's meeting with them wasn't that bad. Hooguro just wanted to insult Hide. But Hide was having none of that. Of course, there was an awkward stare between him and Shousei, since he asked if Hide was dating him. First, it came as a surprise to Kaneki. Why is the first thing, that everybody looks at them, that they think that he is in a relationship with Hide? I mean, he doesn't have anything against gay people but can a boy have super caring friendship, like he was with Hide, without being romantized?

When they were gone, Hooguro just threw Kaneki some kisses in his direction, why also insulting Hide and also mentioning Kaneki, like "Honey, you can do better. Just hit me up, anytime" While receiving a hard smack on the back of his head, by Shousei.

Both of them walk through the street and stare at the store in front of them. Kaneki once again glanced at his google maps and it said that he was already in his destined location. He did a side glance to look at his best friend, and back to the sign of the house. In the sign, where should have been the family's name. They were greeted instead with a sign of a bar's name.

- Akimbo Furlity-

"Hey dude, umm…did she give you the right address?"

"Yeah, she sent me the address on google maps, look." Kaneki approached his cellphone so Hide could see what he was seeing. Hide just glance over the phone. "Yeah, you are right. But no matter how you look at it. This is a bar." Kaneki brings his cell phone over to him, in a concerning manner. Kaneki started breathing hard, his eyes wandering all over the place. Dark thoughts began appearing on his mind, once again. 'Oh no, don't tell me… they were joking with him, when they told him he was invited? Oh no, perhaps all of this was an elaborate prank? Oh no, he didn't like this at all.'

"Well, we will never find out, if we don't enter!" Hide smile. He tightened his mini bow and gave him a big happy smile, front teeth showing. Hide began walking towards the door, and as he grabbed the handle of the door. Kaneki put a hand on one of Hide's shoulders, in a desperate manner. "Hide, wait! What if she lied to me?" Hide looked back at his best friend's face, his expression changing into a melancholy face. Hide let out a gentle sigh.

"C'mon man, you need to stop being so negative. Not everybody you know would make a prank on you. Things like this happen, so be more positive, alright?" Kaneki opened his mouth in a hesitant manner, in a way of speaking back to Hide, but then closed his mouth. He removed his hand from Hide's shoulder. Hide smiled at him, as he opened the door, letting Kaneki enter first and then him.

As they both were inside the bar. They realized the bar was empty, there were no signs of people there. The walls in the bar were painted in a soft blue mixed pink paint. The floor had some checkered pattern on it. Along on the bar, there were some booths in the right side wall of the bar. There was a wide, wooden, black table. Behind the table, there were some huge pillars, containing bottles of different types of liquor. All the walls of the bar were decorated with neon drawings of sunsets, palm trees and cars. Above the rooftop, they were neon lights forming a line, emerging themselves to create the beautiful pink and blue lights that were adorning the place.

Hide took out his phone and took a picture of the bar. "Goodness man, this bar gives me so much Vaporwave's vibe. This is so cool!" Hide glance at Kaneki, who was still hovering in his place. "Don't you think isn't aesthetic-pleasing to the eye, Kaneki?" Kaneki grabbing the present with his right hand tightly, while looking at the bar. He nodded. 'Yeah, it kind of does. He doesn't know about this stuff, like Hide knows. Even though this is not a place Kaneki would frequent. He can't deny, this background makes him feel nostalgic, in an era he wasn't even born.'

"Right?"

Came the voice of a woman, coming inside a side door, that was next to the table. The lady that approaches them, has long wavy, peachy orange hair, parted down the center. The three of them stared at each other for quite awhile, that's until Hide decided to talk.

"We came here to party, where's the party, madame?"

'HIDDEEEEE!' Kaneki screams in his head, while surprisingly looking at his best friend. Hide glance at his friend and make an 'ok' sign and approach the woman. He bowed to her. "I'm Hideyoshi Nagachika by the way…" The woman stared at him and bowed at him. "The name is Itori" Hide turns to faze his friend and once again stares at Itori. "Where's the party?" Hide said in the most boldest manner he could say it. Itori began to laugh and pointed a finger to Kaneki. "And you, what's your name cutie?"

While Kaneki was having a hard time adjusting to the situation presented, he didn't quite catch what Itori said. So Hide responded for him. "His name is Kaneki ken, and right now he is probably battling his own demons, right now."

"Ah, interesting…"

Itori inspected Kaneki holding a gift and smiled back at Hide. "Judging by the gift you have, you came for Saiko's birthday, am I right?" Hide blankly stared at her. "Well yes, duh." Kaneki widened his eyes and looked at Hide. Itori covered her mouth and started giggling. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself for teasing you guys a little bit." Hide quickly smiled at her and looked through the bar. "So, where's the birthday girl?"

Itori went behind the table and grabbed a red bottle with one hand and with the other hand grabbed three glasses that were tightly pressed on her chest. 'Man, this woman is talented. Perhaps, she is the barista of this bar…' thought, Kaneki. Itori put the glasses that were shaped like a lava lamp, on the table in front of her. "Saiko is sleeping right now. So, just wait for her." Itori said, as she pointed her finger towards them, to come forward. Kaneki placed the present on the table.

"What do you mean, she is sleeping?" Kaneki asked corcernily. Itori squatted herself, and as she appeared to them again, she had another bottle in her hands. This time, the liquid had this green liquid on it. "Well, yesterday she had like a tournament on Forn-something-"

"Fortnite." Hide interrupted her. Itori made clicking noises with her hands in the direction of Hide. "Yeah, that!" She poured that green liquid in a greyish bottle along with the liquid of the red bottle, that had a yellowish tone to it. "So, she stayed all night playing until 3 am from today."

"Wow, that's dedication!"

"What?"

Itori chuckled in the mixed reactions of the two kids. She grabbed the bottle and closed it, and started shaking it. "Well, to make it short she moved the party at 2:30." Itori wink at them and then pour the liquid in the three glasses. Kaneki fidgeted his hands, resting on the table. "Why didn't she tell me that?" Itori grabs one of the glasses and looks at him. "Well, I was in charge of sending the message to everybody, perhaps I slipped on informing you, sorry!" Itori bowed herself, as she grabbed a sip of her drink.

Kaneki averted his gaze. "Haha, it's okay, I understand." Kaneki, said. Hide observed his friend and smiled at him, while also looking at Itori. Whose features started changing in a mocking demaner. "But, you can wait with me, you know. Now, drink this. This would make you feel better!" Itori, who had already finished her drink, offered the two drinks. Hide stared at the drinks. Itori looked at the dejected face that Kaneki had, and made a sympathetic smile at him. "C'mon boys drink up, is in the house."

"No, thank you. We are 19."

"Aww c'mon, this is going to be a secret between us. Especially for you Kaneki! I feel sorry for not informing you."

Kaneki hesitated for a moment and shrugged his shoulders and grabbed the drink. Itori clapped her hands in pleasure. Kaneki eyed the drink, and lifted an eyebrow towards the direction of Itori. "This doesn't have much alcohol, right?" Hide grabbed Kaneki's hand. "Are you sure you want to drink this?" Hide got close to Kaneki's ear. "Remember, you are a minor and also you can just give in, whatever people want you to do."

"Ah, don't worry mixed drinks have just a little bit of alcohol on it!" Itori said. Apparently Itori heard what Hide said. Kaneki patted Hide's shoulders. "It's okay, if i do get drunk. You can carry me home, right? And quit it, with the whole minor thing. you already drank, went you went to your cousin's *Seijin no Hi*, and drank there. you have more experience in this, than me!"

"So, you are a virgin in alcohol?"

Kaneki smiles brightly and madly blush. Hide just stared at her, in disbelief at her, of the choosing of her own wording. Hide closed his eyes and pouted. "Aww, c'mon, you were also invited to his celebration. It is not my fault that you passed all January studying for the University exams. When at the end, you didn't even enter." Itori let out a big gasp and covered her mouth. "You took some time to help your mother? That's so kind of you!" Kaneki scratches the back of his head. "Haha, is just for a short time, though." Itori smiled at him and clapped at him. While Hide just stared at her, in a distrusting manner.

When more guests started coming in. All of them were followed by Itori. They entered the same door, where Itori had come from earlier. On the door, there was a sign:

Don't Enter - Staff Only -

Inside of the room they just entered. There was a lounge with the same decor of the bar, but this time, the walls were just painted in a soft pink with neon lights adorning the lounge. Itori told them to sit down, while she brought Saiko with her. So they sat down on the couches that were in the room. Kaneki glanced around, Shirazu had come with his younger sister. Higemaru had come along with Ching Kukie came alone, having the same blank expression he had.

While Kaneki started chatting with the others. In the lounge room, appeared Takeomi and Itou. "Ah, hello there!" Itou greeted Shirazu, who was seated next to the entry. Kukie, who was in a deep conversation with Kaneki, just stared at Takeomi and rolled his eyes. He buried himself on the couch, and gritted his teeth. Kukie pinched Shirazu's arms and approached his ear.

"You snake shark! What did I tell you about inviting that stupid monkey?"

"Owie! That hurts Kukie! Stop abusing me in front of my sister!"

"I don't mind really!"

"What?!"

"C'mon man, not even my own family respects me!" Kaneki just fidgeted on his seat and nervously laughed. Takeomi, who was standing there beside Itou, watching the whole scenario, spotted Kaneki. They both spotted each other. Kaneki smiled at him and patted his empty seat. Takeomi let out a big breath, from his nose, he formed a small smile. "Takeomi, hello…" Kukie said in his direction. Takeomi ignored Kukie. Of course Kaneki didn't notice that, while Takeomi hurried his way to sit down next to Kaneki.

Shirazu and Itou started laughing their ass out. While Kukie's face turns all black, leaving his eyes turning to glowing daggers that were piercing in Takeomi's whole existence. 'If Hide was here, he could have laughed at Kukie's expression, as well as he did.' Kaneki thought, as he saw Takeomi approach him. Takeomi bowed at him, Kaneki did as well. "Good to see you today, Kaneki san!" Takeomi sits down in the empty seat that Hide left. "Y-yes, me too!"

Itou appeared before them and smiled directly at Kaneki. "Hello, Kaneki kun!" Itou wink at him, and sit down on the other side of Kaneki. 'Great this is just great. If Hide comes out of the bathroom now, he won't be sitting next to him.' He can't tell them to move because, if he tells them, they will consider him a rude person. So he was stuck between two guys, for now. 'Is that what a popular kid feels?' He wonders.

"So, how are you guys have been feel-"

"HELLO EVERYBODY!" Suzuya appeared shouting in the entrance, along with Mutsuki, who just smiled nervously. "Suzuya, don't shout that loudly…!" Suzuya ignored Mutsuki and stared at the center of the table, where there were some snacks. He sat down, on a couch that had a central view of the table. He clapped his hands together.

"Thanks for the food!" Suzuya starts devouring the snacks, like a vacuum cleaner whipping all the dust from the floor. In the exact moment, Aura along with a stern-looking woman came in. The woman, disgusted, stared at Suzuya's actions. She grabs him by his shoulders, she turns his face,so he can face her. Suzuya, with food receding on his cheeks, smiles brightly at her. "Kiyoko chan, hello!"

"Don't talk so formally to my aunt like that, Suzuya!" Aura gritted his teeth, and clenched his fists, his face was getting redder by the moment. "Freak!" Suzuya said, as he stuck his tongue out, at the direction of Aura. For the return that just made Aura get angrier than he already was. Kiyoko, look at Aura in a sterning look. "Shinsanpei…." She whispered, and everybody in the room just flinched. Even if they weren't Aura, they can feel the angriness aura that Kiyoko was transmitting towards the room.

"Don't eat too much, Suzuya. You don't want Shinohara to get angry at you, don't you?" Kiyoko looks at Mutsuki, who was still quiet. "Mutsuki!"

"Yes, sensei!"

"Remember between you two, Shinohara depends on you taking care of Suzuya."

"Why me? When he is the oldest..." Mutsuki whispered the last part."Don't talk back to my aunt, Mutsuki!" Aura angrily said, as he looked towards his classmate. "Sorry…" Mutsuki said, as he just stared at the floor. Kiyoko let's go of Suzuya and gives him a handkerchief to wipe himself out. She stares at the other couch, where Kaneki was. Takeomi stood up and vow to her. "Hello, sensei, nice to see you." Kiyoko just nodded in their direction. "Itou and Takeomi, good to see you." Kiyoko's eyes landed on Kaneki. Kaneki bows at her. "Hello there, my name is Kaneki ken."

Kiyoko just stared at him, but then looked away and went towards Aura. Kaneki stared at her in confusion, he sat down in the same place. Itou put his arms around Kaneki and got close to his ear. "You're probably wondering, why Mutsuki and Suzuya are related to each other."

'No. More, why Kiyoko is murdering me with her eyes?' Kaneki, thought. "Well, to tell you a secret. Suzuya and Mutsuki are in a foster home and were put in Shinohara's care…" Kaneki looked in disbelief at Itou. In that exact moment, when Kaneki wanted to hear more. His best friend decided to get out of the bathroom. "Why is the atmosphere so tense all of the sudden? Is it because I disappeared into a black hole and merged myself into another dimension?"

Kaneki started laughing and put a hand covering his mouth. "Ah, it seems like my companion on my spaceship, just give my remaining seat to two aliens… whoa. You are lucky one!" Kaneki stared at him, still holding his giggles. "I'm sorry, but i need to do my r-research, and you… you were just standing in my w-way." Hide touched his chest, and got himself fall on his knees. He put a hand on the air. "Why god, why?"

Everybody that wasn't Kaneki and Hide, just stared at their whole charade, except for Suzuya who was getting in the mood. He grabbed Kiyoko's handkerchief and put it around his neck. Aura raised his fists in rage, while Kiyoko put Aura's fists down. "Mister astronaut!, over here… there's a spaceship with an empty sit!" Hide gasp and look at Suzuya. He extended his arm and Suzuya grabbed him. Hide climbed unto the couch and sat down next to him. "Thank you, your bravery won't be excluded but may i say something about your appearance?" Suzuya amusedly smiled, questionly looking at him. "What about my appearance?"

"Perhaps, we belong to the same universe!" Suzuya looks at his clothes and Hide clothes, and then back at Hide. He just realized something. "Clothed Brother!" Suzuya and Hide both hugged.

"What are you guys, twelve?" said, Kukie.

"Who is twelve?" Came the unbothered voice of Saiko, who now decided to show up. "Finally, Saiko!" They all set her eyes on her, and widened their gazes. Saiko came wearing a triangle birthday hat, with her pink fluffy pajamas. Her hair was still the same, and was wearing some fluffy slippers that were shaped like the head of a dog.

"Why are you wearing your pajamas, Saiko?"

"Let her, it's her birthday!"

"Oh, who is this orange man, who's defending me? Are you friends with Kan kan?"

"Yeah, Hide, he is my best friend."

"Oya… then-"

But Saiko was cut off, when Shirazu stood up. "Saiko… go!" He pointed his fingers, to the door where she came from. "What…?" Saiko made an annoyed face towards Shirazu. "It's my birthday! And i can do whatever i want, right Kan kan?" Shirazu face palm and look towards the direction of Kaneki. "She is not harming anyone, right…?"

"Don't you think it is quite random that we are eating mexican food, when the whole room is decorated with neon lights?" Kukie said, as he grabbed a quesadilla to his plate. "Well technically, that curry over there, is from India and, ah… she also put fries… fries aren't from mexico, if i can recall. There are also churros...I think those come from Spain, if I am not mistaken." Takeomi said, as he grabbed some churros and put them in a plate and in another plate. As he left, Kukie darkly glared at him. Shirazu just patted Kukie's shoulders.

Takeomi sat down next to Kaneki. "Here you go, Kaneki, and this is for your friend." Kaneki smiled at him and looked down. "T-thanks, but you shouldn't have." Takeomi quickly shook his head a little bit. "Whatever friend Kaneki has, is mine as well.." Takeomi stared at him, with a glint in his eyes. Kaneki didn't know what to do. It has been clear for Kaneki, that Takeomi was clearly looking for his attention. It almost feels like he is pampering him?

"So, are you guys dating?"

Haru said, as she sat down on the couch next to them. Kaneki almost choked himself, with the churro he was eating. Takeomi started patting on his back. "Do you want some water, Kaneki?" Kaneki's heart began beating really fast, his hands were trembling. Haru giggled, while she took a sip of her drink. "So, are you?" Haru blankly stared at them, while her smile disappeared.

'What is this? What is this threatening aura that came from Haru? Or… maybe she is jealous of me? Maybe she likes Takeomi?' While Kaneki was in deep thought, he didn't notice Haru glaring at Takeomi. But just with Kukie, Takeomi was unbothered by all of this. Because in his eyes, what only mattered was Kaneki, and Kaneki only.

-Music makes you lose control, music makes you lose control….LET'S GO!"

The three of them flinch at the sudden bass drop of the music. Kaneki almost felt his ear bleed, while his gaze averted in the front of the room. Saiko, Hide, Shirazu, Suzuya and Itou started dancing in their own way. Higemaru wanted to join the circle, but it almost feels like he was shaking his side to side, to enter the dance circle.

While Kaneki watches his best friend dancing along with the others. He smiled deeply. He couldn't deny, situations like this didn't happen when he was a teenager. But now, he is happy even when he is around teenagers, he is having the fun of his life. While Kaneki was having a blast, clapping for his best friend. Suddenly Saiko went for Ching Li, Suzuya came for Mutsuki, Higemaru grabbed Shinsanpei to the dance floor. While Shirazu grabbed Haru and Kukie. While Kukie refused to dance. Of course that changed when he saw Itou grabbed Taekomi to dance in the circle. At last, Hide came for Kaneki.

While everybody was in the circle, and the audio started getting louder, making almost Kaneki's ears bleed. Shirazu encouraged Kukie to dance first. While he shook his head, just blankly staring at him. Saiko pouted, still shaking side to side. "Ah, it's Daoko! My favorite singer, Takeomi kun, do you remember the choreography we did for the school the other time?"

Takeomi looked at her, and nodded. "Okay, show your moves, player!" Takeomi got in the middle of the circle, and started moving his hips in the same beat of the song, and then when bass dropped. Takeomi made some finger guns and pointed at Kaneki, like shooting him. Then he started dancing, making some synchronized movements, in the same tempo of the song. If Kaneki didn't know him. He would have thought Takeomi was a professional dancer. As he made his last dance, he pointed his finger towards Kaneki and made a heart,

Kaneki looked down and smiled. While he exited the center of the circle and started clapping for him. Kukie along with the others, that weren't Kaneki, just damn the existence of Takeomi. Then Hide grabbed Kaneki and threw him in the center. Kaneki panicked. While they cheered for him, he had an internal panic attack. They wanted to kill him. So Kaneki only did what he could, the chicken dance. He was looking down in embarrassment, in every single movement he was making. While he finished the dance, he returned to where he was. While everyone cheered for him.

After a while, someone touched his shoulder. Kaneki looked back and it was no other than Kiyoko. She asks him to come with her. Kaneki nodded nervously, he didn't want to make this woman angry. So Kaneki followed her by the corridor that connected the lounge room and the exit door. Kaneki looked at everything beside her eyes. She was staring in his soul. 'God, this woman is intimidating.' "Um.." But before Kaneki could say anything, she immediately cut him off.

"Young man, we need to talk about something really important."

"About what…?"

"Are you my nephew's boyfriend?"

"Ahhh… what? What just what?... why? Who? Ah… what?" Kaneki started panicking in front of Kiyoko. His head started getting heated. Kiyoko grabs Kaneki's cheeks. He looked at her nervously. "Don't worry, i'm not going to do anything. It appears…that my nephew was inventing those things.. And I started to think why he did that…" She smiled at him. Kaneki flinches, still being nervous from the sudden news. "You know…" Kiyoko, still not leaving her hands out of Kaneki's head and moving his head to the side. "- I thought to myself that you are too cute for my nephew.." Kaneki stared in disbelief at her. "Ehh….?"

While Kaneki was still processing what Kiyoko just told her. He was being dragged by Suzuya by the hand. "Heyo, we are going to dance la macarena!" Kaneki stared at him, while he walked with him. "But, I can't dance the macarena."

Kaneki tried, but he couldn't. It was too fast for him and he wasn't that good to coordinate his hand's movements that fast, just like dance instructed. When they finished, his back and all his body hurt. Oh no, is he getting old?

"Well guests, it's time for the piñata!"

"Saiko, you're turning 15. You're not a kid anymore!"

"Suck me off, Kukie…"

"What?!"

"Excuse me, young lady!"

Both Kaneki and Hide laughed at the vocabulary, the teenagers have these days. A tall, lanky man with black hair, styled into an undercut, wearing a black hoodie, a black beanie and some black glasses, entered the lounge. He brought the so-called 'piñata' shaped like the face of a man. "Wait, you weren't joking when you said, the piñata would be the principal!" Higemaru started laughing, while Ching Li just rolled her eyes, at the ridiculous behavior. "You hate him, that much?"

"Yeah, Ching Li! He made me stay after school in every subject that I am failing!" Saiko pouted, as she stomped her feet. 'Ah, so that's the reason why she told him to cancel the tutoring lessons?' Kaneki, thought. Saiko grabbed the piñata that the man was holding. "Thank you, Uta kun!" Uta nodded and smiled at her. "Alright, then let's hang it!" Saiko along with Shirazu put a rope around it and hang it from the ceiling. Saiko grabbed a bat that was near her and started swinging it in the air.

Shirazu started pulling the string down and up, so the piñata could be swinging in the same direction he was doing it. When Saiko started to hit the piñata, some candies were popping out, but not all of them. While everybody had their turn on the piñata, Kaneki was seated on the couch that was far away from the whole commotion. In the corner of the eye, he saw the same man who had brought the piñata at the party.

Uta turned his face to look at Kaneki. Kaneki stared at him, but quickly shook his head and looked in front of him. Uta approaches Kaneki and moves his hand to greet him. "Hello…"

"Hello, there…"

"Aren't you going to hit the piñata…?"

"No, I'm way too old for that…"

"How old are you, Kaneki kun?"

"I'm 19 years old…. A-and how do you even know my name?" Uta smiled at him and slowly scratched his cheek. He pointed a finger at Saiko, who was furiously grabbing some candy from the floor. "She told me herself…." Kaneki slowly nodded, of what Uta just told him. Uta put his glasses down, to observe Kaneki and just when Kaneki moved his eyes to see him. He quickly adjusted his glasses back up.

Kaneki widened his gaze and opened his mouth. 'Did this guy have dark sclera and red eyes? Or am i seeing things?' Uta quickly ruffled Kaneki's hair and approached him more. "You are cutie, you know that?"

"Uta, can you come here…?" And just like that, Uta was gone from his sight. What a strange thing to say to somebody you just met. I mean, if he could compare Uta's compliment towards others, at least the others, did some talk and then complimented him, but Uta just went straight up complimenting him. If he could describe this first encounter with Uta, it would be quite odd. Not strange, just odd.

"Kan kan, is your turn!" Kaneki smiles and shakes his head side to side. "You guys do that, i'm too old for that.."

"Nah man, you don't have grey hair on your butt. I checked!"

Kaneki stomped his feet unto the circle of children. He grabbed the bat out of Saiko's hand, quite aggressively. That made Saiko quite surprised. Shirazu swung the piñata up and down, but Kaneki failed at hitting it. "Kaneki san, if you want, i can assist you." Kaneki glances at Takeomi, who had his hand placed on his own chest. At this very moment, many pairs of eyes were glaring at him. Of course, once again Takeomi didn't seem to take notice, because, in his eyes, Kaneki was the only one who mattered.

"Thank you Takeomi, but I will do it!" As Kaneki clenches his hands all over the bat. He grabbed the confidence he had, and swung the bat to hit on the piñata. And at the moment, the piñata was not too high or not too low from him. 'Now!' He hit on the exact point in between the glasses of the principal and managed to break it, in half. At that moment, all the candies were on the floor. At this point, everybody was on the ground desperately grabbing the candies.

Some of the candies were spread all over the room, some even got to the door that connected to the lounge and the bar. Kaneki didn't want to interrupt the whole mess in front of him, so he decided to grab some that managed to getaway. As he grabbed some and put some on his pockets. He noticed a lollipop that managed to get on the bar, as he stomped inside the bar, he saw Mutsuki sitting in one of the booths of the bar.

It appears that Mutsuki was crying. Kaneki stood there, it appears that Mutsuki didn't notice that he was in the room. Kaneki sweatdropped, he had two options. 1. Leave 2. Talk with him. Kaneki looked inside the lounge and rubbed his hands together. First, if he left and let Mutsuki cry alone, that thought would probably haunt him all day, but at the same time, he didn't want to interrupt someone who was crying.

Curse it, if Mutsuki resents him for this. Then so be it. Kaneki walked his way towards Mutsuki who had his head laying on the table, his arms crossed in front of him. "Are you okay?" Mutsuki flinched, as he recognized the voice. Mutsuki slowly puts his hands to his own side, but still has his head resting on the table.

"Kaneki…i…"

"If you don't want to talk about it, Mutsuki…it's okay…" Mutsuki just stood there silently without giving any response to him. Kaneki took notice of that, and slowly scratched his cheek. "It's okay... Well, whatever troubles your mind. I hope you can find your answer on it." As Kaneki slowly walks away, his hands are grabbed by Mutsuki. Kaneki looks back at Mutsuki, whose head was facing down, his bangs were covering his eyes. "Stay.. please"

Kaneki sitted down on the other side of the booth, facing Mutsuki. Mutsuki was now facing the wall, his arm pressed on the table and hand pressing on his cheek. Tiny tears streaming from his cheek, his eyes were red as long as his cheeks. Kaneki grabs a handkerchief inside from his pocket and gives it to Mutsuki. Mutsuki catches the handkerchief from the corner of his eye. He slowly grabs it and wipes the tears away.

Kaneki didn't say anything, he just let Mutsuki be calm about it. If he wanted to word his problems, he would. Kaneki didn't want to force Mutsuki to talk about his feelings. Just like he opened with Hide. Hide never forces Kaneki to speak. So, he would just follow what Hide did with him.

Some minutes pass, of some awkward silences between the both of them. That's until, Mutsuki started, breathing somehow kind of loud. "Hey, are you okay? Do you need a bag or something?" Mutsuki just shook his hand slowly in front of Kaneki. "No, this just helps me to prevent myself from crying again…" Kaneki slowly understandably nodded at him. "Have you…" Mutsuki whispered Kaneki didn't catch what he said. "What, i'm sorry… what did you say?"

Mutsuki looks at him and slowly closes his eyes. Putting his hands on the table and moving them across the handle. She moved her mouth upward and let a big breath from his mouth. "Sometimes i wonder if i have never existed…"

Kaneki didn't reply, he just listened. "Sometimes i do things to please people, but I never get rewarded. Every single time is always the same...I do something and they end up, rewarding someone who barely did something, and yet when this person makes mistakes…. They don't blame them, they just blame me… why? Is it because I'm the quiet one? Is it because I always offer myself to do things instead of them… is not fair! It really is not!" Mutsuki clenched his teeth, as well as his fists on the table and tears, began forming on the corner of his eyes.

Kaneki just looked at him, with a blank expression. "Is easy to blame people, when you're the problem…." Mutsuki flinched, when Kaneki spoke. He looked at him, tears leaving the eye, mouth open. Kaneki looked nowhere, when he began talking again. "When you have the mindset of people rewarding you, you begin imagining all these certain scenarios in your head and when those things don't happen. Your mind begins losing hope… it is better not to expect anything from anyone." Kaneki slowly looked at him. "Because at the end of the day, they aren't suffering, you are…"

"Somebody once told me that when you meet new people, don't imagine how they will react to you. Just let life surprise you… Just think about how many books are judged by their cover. When it's a cover that catches their eye, they get excited and read it. And when they finished, they got all delusional, when they expected something else from the book. But if you bring a book and read it, without expecting anything, you might get surprised, of how your expectations weren't crushed. Even if you enjoy the book or you didn't enjoy it."

Kaneki paused for a moment and grabbed Mutsuki's hands, which made Mutsuki flinch for the sudden touch. They didn't look at each other, they stared at each other's hands. "Also Mutsuki, don't try to do things, only to please people…. Because at the end of the day. You're just pleasing the people around you, and you aren't pleasing yourself. Be brave, and stand for yourself… i know, it's quite difficult for people like us…" Mutsuki looks at him, in confusion. Kaneki slowly looks at him and slowly smiles at him. "I used to get bullied in primary since I didn't have a father…"

"I also get bullied from being in an adoptive family…"

Kaneki let out a breath from his mouth, still gripping Mutsuki's hands. "But, you know… even if i got bullied, i still don't let those things shape my future. But even though I can say that, it's quite difficult sometimes to handle new people, but the important thing is… that I'm taking little steps to have more courage in me… believe me, Mutsuki when i tell you, it's better when you take care of yourself first…" Kaneki smiled at him and brought both of their hands up. "So, let's try to pamper ourselves, alright?" Mutsuki slowly smiled at him, started fidgeting his knees. He quickly nodded and closed his eyes.

"Kaneki, where are you?" Came the voice of Hide, from inside the lounge. Kaneki looks towards the direction of Hide's voice. He quickly waved goodbye at Mutsuki. Mutsuki looks down and sees the handkerchief that Kaneki left behind. She grabs the handkerchief and quickly smells it. He starts breathing really hard. "Kaneki san, i… you!" Mutsuki looks up and clenches his empty fists. "I want to touch myself…. Kaneki san! Oh man…!"

As Mutsuki was clenching his fists, on the table, still breathing hard. He was tapped by the shoulder, he quickly looked back and Uta was approaching him with a smile on his face. Itori on the other hand, was approaching him, with the same smile that Uta had. She handed him, the same drink, that she handed Hide and Kaneki earlier.

As Kaneki left the part with Hide who was holding a bag full of candies. He felt relieved that he actually decided to come to this party, although sometimes he felt like an old person in the presence of teenagers. Sometimes these changes of scenario makes him happy. Although, there was this whole thing bothering.

Those people, Uta and Itori. How come Uta knew his name? If he was telling the truth, about Saiko telling him his name. Then that wouldn't be a problem. But the problem is that Saiko only refers to him as "Kan kan". And another thing that bothered him was Itori, how could she know that he was helping his mother? Doesn't it make it odd? Or perhaps, it's all the cake that he ate today, was getting on his head? And he was having unnecessary thoughts again?

Well… Kaneki didn't want to damage his brain of thought and just left that caution on the back of his mind.

Author notes:

So when researching the legal age of drinking in Japan, i found out that all people who reach the 20 age gap. They make a special celebration called "Seijin no Hi" or Coming of Age day, where the person in question celebrates on the second Monday of January, and drink for the first time. (To my understanding).

Please review and leave some feedback! I will deeply appreciate!