Note: Hello guys, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or whatever holidays you celebrate on the 25th! I hope you had a good day. I also wish you a happy new year and let's hope the next year 2021 will be better than this one. And let's keep our center and positive mind for it!

I deeply apologize for this chapter.

Chapter 21 - Reunion Part 2 - Slow Burn

Kaneki didn't want to alarm anyone, he thought to himself, that was probably a virus or a spam. Nowadays many people don't do anything when this kind of thing tends to happen to them. Usually, the people who are behind all of this, want to steal data or something from you. Of course, that was what Kaneki had heard on the news…. But, questioning all the things that had to happen around him, is it actually spam?

As he looks at the photo again, with hesitation. He wondered, what if Furuta set him up? Kaneki shakes his head. He didn't want to accuse Furuta of doing such a thing. After all, he is his friend… right? Kaneki shakes his head in frustration, one more time. One hand turning into a fist, while he clenches his teeth.

Kaneki put his free hand on the side and exhaled. He sat down once again on the toilet that was closed. He exhales once again, putting a hand over his chest, while he closes his eyes. What if Furuta never sent that text to him? After all, when he called Furuta, he never answered his phone. He had read from some web articles some spam bots have become very intelligent in the way they trick people. It could be a possibility, since the first message, was really strange. It really sounded like a computer had sent it. So, what if the bot responded to his reply with an unknown location?

After all, the store he had visited was kind of hidden. Perhaps, this spam was created to promote the new store? But if that was the case, why did they send a photo of the place destroyed? But if that was the case, why send it in, in the first place? He put his hands in his hair, while he exhales in the process.

Kaneki closed his eyes and let his head fall back. Hands falling to his legs. All of this hard thinking had made him feel really crazy. Still, with eyes closed, he wondered if maybe Furuta had really sent that text. What did he gain from it? Kaneki shakes his head, he doesn't want to think about the possibility of his friend being in a terrorist group.

But now, what was occupying his mind was, if he talks about this picture or not. If he didn't talk, he would probably face the same consequences that happened to Saiko. But on the other hand, if he did talk, he doesn't want this group to get more exposure to what they already have. In some studies that he had read, some people do this type of thing, just to get attention to themselves.

Kaneki took his phone and decided to search on the web. He typed the store name, with the word "destroy". But much to this surprise, there was nothing on the result. Even just typing the store name, it said it was located in the same location he had gone. Surprisingly there weren't many reviews on it.

Kaneki turns off his phone and puts it in his pocket. He adjusted himself, as he brought a finger to his mouth, and with another hand, he slowly massaged under his chin. If there's no news about the store being destroyed, then that means, if the photo is real and not fake. Then, they want him to react, or alarm the people….

If so, then he won't be giving them the reaction they want. Kaneki thought about how even their name itself is ridiculous. Kaneki opened his eyes and let out a frustrated breath from his nose. Pierrots, the first name of those performers, who used exposure and reactions to build their careers. He slowly shook his head and laughed.

If they wanted a reaction or just some exposure….. He won't be the one given them one. Of course, it's a loss for the store, but at least nowhere in the photos, had pierrots written on the destruction of the store or they appear on it. So, that's a win for him! He decided to search for a forum, where he can create a new profile and just post the photo.

In this open forum, there was a theme of always explaining, unjustified crimes, or crimes that news will never publicly announce to the public, such as gangs getting more abusive, or japan getting a tone of homeless people every year. Even when the Saiko thing happened, many people were on the kid's side. They even began a petition to found the members of Pierrot.

Suddenly a knock sounded on the outside of the door. "Um… young man are you okay…?" the voice of a woman sounded behind the door. It was Yua. Kaneki clears his throat. "Yes… it's just that I take my time on the toilet… I'm very sorry…"

That was such a terrible lie if he was on the other end. He wouldn't even believe this kind of lie. Yua gave a reaffirmation noise. "Alright, should I tell Yuki kun, not to serve you food?" Kaneki raised an eyebrow. "Yuki… who is Yuki?" Yua gasp. "I'm sorry, that's how I called my husband…" Kaneki nodded and thought to himself, 'how precious'. Kaneki stood up. "No, tell him I'm going, I'm already done…"

"Alright…"

Kaneki presses an ear on the door, hearing the sounds of Yua's shoes sounding distant by each second. He took his phone out and created a new post on the forum, anonymously.

Someone destroyed the Meet me there Hidden Store

Kaneki attached some photos in the post, underneath the photos he also writes.

I was passing through and saw the store like this… poor fools. I bet they have no life, dragging a store that isn't visible to the public...

Kaneki felt his heart getting heavier with each word he wrote, but it has to be done. If they are going to have publicity, they will get bad publicity. After he made the post, he turns off his phone and put the phone back in his pockets. He cleans fast his hands and quickly dries them with a towel.

As he arrives where everybody was gathered. Shinohara gave him a plate, Kaneki quickly bowed at him, while he sat down next to Arima, who was smiling at him. Houji and Mado look at him. When Kaneki was thanking for the food, Shinohara joke on "the toilet had eaten him", since he really took a while to come again. That's why Yua got worried, because she seriously thought, Kaneki got stuck on the toilet. When Kaneki heard that, he apologized profusely to Yua, making everybody laugh.

As he swallows another bite he took from the steak, Kaneki side glance at Arima, who was quietly eating. Kaneki put a hand on his mouth, he made an *ahem* sound, quickly catching Arima's gaze. Arima put his fork down and move his head to look properly at Kaneki. "So… um…" Kaneki disperse his gaze to look down, and back at Arima. "What do you…. Think about those people who do things just because they want attention?"

Arima put a hand under his chin, while he heard the question. "Well, they are just like a child who wants attention. Most of the people who tend to do things like that, tend to be raised by parents who didn't give them any attention at all."

Kaneki nods in agreement. "But…." Kaneki furrows his gaze and put his hands together. "No…." Kaneki shakes his head. "It really makes you wonder, how can a child behave, by how they were raised…." Arima nods and when he was about to make a point, Kaneki chimes in. "-but at the same time, you being raised awful from your parents, doesn't justify your actions as an adult right? I mean, they are many people who weren't raised properly by their parents. So, in order not to be the same as them, they tried to a better example from their parents. And those type of people, are the ones to admire because they didn't let their trauma carry out, instead of some people who still blame their trauma. I think, to an extent you can blame the trauma that your parents cause you, but sometimes, is on you if you want to bury it or just carry it on your shoulders every single day, right?"

Arima look at Kaneki, with his mouth slightly open. It almost felt like, he took the same words he was going to tell him. Kaneki was observing him, eyes without leaving him, just staring at those beautiful grey orbs. He observed Arima for a while. While Arima couldn't stop thinking about what Kaneki said. Kaneki side glance and look back, one of his eyebrows going up. Arima slightly shook his head, he took his hand from his chin. "I'm sorry, I must have lost myself in my own thoughts…. I'm very sorry."

Kaneki slightly chuckles and moves a hand side to side. "Don't worry, it has happened to me, many times actually…" As they both quietly nod in agreement. They both resume eating their respective plates. As they finish both of their meals, Kaneki offered to take Arima's plate. Arima nods towards him and gave him a quick smile.

Kaneki took the dishes where Yua receive them, with a smile on her face. As he faces where everybody was, he looks that Houji, Mado, and Shinohara quickly sat at the same table where Arima. They started laughing, while Arima sat there, listening to their conversation. Kaneki looks at Arima and smiles to himself.

He couldn't believe how much resemblance he had with Arima. Of course, he didn't have the intimidating aura, that Arima had. But he could relate, to being the quiet one when everybody talks at the same time. He felt as he had that special connection with him and that made him feel special. He thinks that Arima is the type of person who enjoys being alone. Not in a depressive way, he just thinks Arima is the type of person, to pass his days off, in the park, being all alone, and just enjoy life as it is. Just like him. Now that he thinks about it, Hirako also seems like the kind of person who enjoys being alone. Just like Hide, of course. Hide would never admit he likes being alone. Most people tend to think he is the kind of guy who loves being around people, but actually, is the opposite.

He felt like Hirako and Arima had the same kind of relationship. But unlike Hirako or Arima. He actually preferred Arima, over Hirako and it paints him to think about it. Kaneki lowered his gaze to look down at the floor. Now that he has Hirako over his head, Kaneki's heart sunk deeper, thinking of how bad Hirako is feeling right now. He turns his way to go inside the house, while nobody looks.

As he was around the corner of the pathway that leads to the second main living room. Kaneki called Hirako. As he waited for him, to pick the call, he was mentally prepared for Hirako to not respond. But his heart almost drops, when he heard a "hello", from the other end.

"Hello Hirako, how are you…?"

While Kaneki waited for a response, he heard a ruffling silence in the other end. He gritted his teeth. 'Probably Hirako is still angry at him….' that's what Kaneki thought. An eternally minute just passed and Kaneki really thought that Hirako didn't want to talk with him. Just when he was about to say goodbye.

"Yes… I'm still here. I apologize…."

"No Hirako, I should be the one apologizing. When…" Kaneki passes a hand through his face. "-when you were about to leave, I didn't even wave goodbye at you properly. I was such a rude person for not even addressing you properly." Kaneki's whiny voice said. His voice getting lower, every time he spoke. He heard some 'sighs' by the other end. "Kaneki…."

Kaneki flinch when he heard his name while clenching his free hand into a fist. His voice getting higher, while he responded with a "Yes!".

Hirako's voice drops down, as he was lamenting what he was about to say. "It was my fault for involving my love life with my friendship life. I don't even know, what got to me, to do the things I did to you. Tricking on you coming to the house, when you're expecting him. When I knew, he wasn't coming. Or just pretending in general, that I didn't care for you in that sense, it was really insensitive of me."

While Kaneki heard the last statement, of Hirako's apology. His mouth was wide open, he swears his heart stop for a moment while processing all of what Hirako had told him. It was unbelievable, that Hirako had the nerve of apologizing for that. Yes, in fact, he did something wrong, but that doesn't mean he was the one to blame for all the things.

Kaneki gulps and slowly exhale. "Hirako…" Kaneki heard, as Hirako hum in response by calling out his name. "I know what you did was wrong, but I also am in the wrong end, by completely ignoring you. When you took the trouble to pick me from my job and bringing me here."

"You already say that. Why are you repeating an apology you already say?" Hirako grunted at the other end of the call. "I'm sorry…" Kaneki drops his voice, while he looks down. "Stop apologizing…." Hirako frustrated voice could be heard from the other end.

"Yes… i'-" Kaneki cut himself off, and continue his response. "...-well I hope, we continue as friends…." Kaneki held out his breath, as he drops those last words. He heard some chuckles by Hirako's end, while Kaneki raises one eyebrow. "Is funny… I was about to ask you that type of question."

Kaneki began to chuckle, while he heard Hirako do the same. "Is funny, how small the world is…" Hirako's voice return to his normal tone.

"Are you his partner….?"

"Eh… partner, what….?"

Hirako hum in response while he chuckles by the other end of the call. "Of course…. Arima is just mysterious, just like that…-" Hirako stops his sentence, while he chuckles once again. "-whenever you need me… I will be there… just call me…"

And with that Hirako ended the call, leaving no room for Kaneki to say goodbye. Of course, he knew that Hirako wasn't mad. He just knew Hirako had a rough moment and wasn't particularly eager to talk with anybody, especially to him. Kaneki lowered his phone and rested his body on the wall, almost as if he was falling. Kaneki felt tears coming down from his eyes. He really thought that he was about to lose his friendship with Hirako.

Kaneki felt his heart sinking with each second…' Why is life like this?' He asks himself. Loving and then expecting if the other part will return your answer… Even if he wasn't anything with Arima…. He knew deep down, that Arima, had the same feelings as him. But it almost feels like, Arima had many issues that he needed to solve first.

A tear fell down from Kaneki's eye, as he merges his lips together. He fell down on the floor, putting his right leg up, while the left leg resting on the floor. Life is surely a problematic world, that humans need to live in every day. A part of Kaneki's mind, thought to himself, that he was overthinking this. But in another part of his mind, he knew he was always like this. Afraid of losing friends, because of his own actions. That's why he was never good in the love department.

As he shook slightly his head, he moves his body upwards, lowering his gaze up. As he was fully standing up, shaking some of the dust he had on his clothes, he encountered Arima, who entered the hallway he was in. Arima stop midway and fixated his gaze on Kaneki.

Arima fixated his glasses, he put a hand under his chest, as he exhales. His mouth was slightly open, but when he saw him, his mouth turns into a smile. Kaneki widened his gaze and almost fell, but with a hand resting on the wall, he stops himself. "Oh... Arima san...Hello-" Arima cut his sentence midway when he put his hand on his shoulder. He slowly moves his hand, towards touching his neck and slowly moving his way to Kaneki's cheek. While all of this was happening, Kaneki felt all of his blood rushing upward, his heart beating fast, while he shut down his mouth.

Arima caresses Kaneki's cheek, while he smiles at him. He closed his eyes, Kaneki did the same. "Kaneki…." Said Arima in a calming voice. Kaneki still with his eyes closed, nodded, shivers going down through his body.

"Thank you for always being here…." Arima's soothing voice echoed through the hallway. Arima's thumb went near Kaneki's eye and started massaging. Kaneki gritted his teeth, while he opened his eyes. At this point, Arima had already his eyes open, his smile was still there, eyes mid squinting.

Kaneki didn't know how to respond to the phrase that Arima's soothing voice said, he just nodded, while his heart still beats fast. Arima's thumb return to where all the fingers were located. "Kaneki… you're such an outstanding person… Kaneki smile, while he heard those beautiful words coming out of Arima's lips. "I hope you can notice that…." Kaneki's smile was slowly fading away. "You have such a bright future ahead of you…" Kaneki furrow his gaze and started breathing hard.

"I have to say, that sometimes I can lead people on…." Kaneki lowered his gaze. "But that doesn't mean, that I don't think you're special…. You're really special, Kaneki…for me." Kaneki puts his hands into fists, he shivered, while Arima caresses his cheek. "I…"

Kaneki closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He didn't want to hear, he didn't want to. Please, just say it. "I really hope…." Arima exhale and paused for a moment. "You can find someone who loves you back since in my end, I'm not prepared to love back." Arima took his hand and put it on Kaneki's head. He patted him for a while, Kaneki slowly looks at Arima. Eyes that were glowing with joy every time he looked at him, were now dead and dark. His smile was erased, with a line of his mouth, that look like it always there. His eyebrows still in the same place.

Kaneki wanted to scream, but he didn't want to look at Arima's face. He wasn't angry at him, he was just frustrated, so he closed his eyes, not wanting to see Arima's expression any longer. Kaneki nodded and held Arima's hand that was on top of his hair. He holds onto that hand as if he was falling from a cliff and the only person who was helping upon falling unto his death, was this hand. But soon enough, the hand disappear from his hold, steps fading from his hearing range.

He fell. He fell from the cliff. As his eyes were still close, he moves his head backward, as he gulps. He felt his heart exploding with each second. But deep down, he knew he didn't die. Arima wasn't that heartless. Kaneki fell into a trampoline, whose body was bouncing by each second. He wanted his body to stop bouncing, but deep down he knew the only person who could stop this, was only himself.

Kaneki slowly opened his eyes and puts both of his hands on his chest. He exhale and looks forward, where the beautiful angel once was. If he could rewind some time back, he wanted to tell Arima, that he understood his wishes. He knew that many people had many unresolved issues, just like him. It almost felt like Arima never focused on himself and was lying to himself. Like a part of him, felt like Arima didn't want to find happiness.

But… why?

'Arima… tell me… why don't you want to find happiness?' Kaneki thought to himself.

If that person really didn't love me, he wouldn't have that expression he had, would he? If that's the case, he wants to help Arima find his own happiness, not because he wants Arima to reciprocate his feelings, but because he wants Arima to be fully happy.

Kaneki stood there for a while, emerging himself on his own thoughts. He wanted to stop these unuseful thoughts he had, he exhales, while looking up. He took his phone out, to get distracted and check if there was anything new on the post, he posted earlier. As he scrolled down, to find his post, they were a lot of comments already.

Suddenly his heart started rising up. They were tons of comments trashing the pierrots. Of course, he is the only one who knows that it was the pierrots, but they didn't have to know. They where comments like:

- Seriously OP? Such scumbags

- What is wrong with people nowadays…

- Is this a troll? If so, good job *www

- Stupid people, they don't know what to do with their lives...

As Kaneki read all the similar replies, his mind was getting rid of all that happened earlier. He now felt a little bit happy, that at least, of what he was doing right now, was getting attention. He held his phone near his chest and look upward. He smiles to himself and closes his eyes.

He heard some stepping noises, coming in the hallway. The stepping sounds stop, while he opened his eyes. He saw Mado and Houji, Houji was almost in front of him while Mado was a little further away from Houji. "Are you ok? We thought you had disappeared…" Houji furrows his gaze, while he looks at him. Kaneki chuckles.

"Oh no, I just received a call and I just got inside to take it… nothing out of the ordinary…" Houji nodded, while he looks to the side, with his mouth slightly open. "Enough Houji kun, we need to go…" Houji look at Mado, who was staring at him, with the same expression he always had. "Well… will be leaving early, goodbye Kaneki!" And just like that Houji and Mado were gone. Kaneki wanted to ask, where they were going, but it seems they were in a rush.

Kaneki decided to go where everybody was. When he entered the garden, the three of them were seated on a table. Shinohara who was fixated on drinking off his mug, look upward and smile when he saw Kaneki. "Ha, young one, we thought we lost you…"

Kaneki awkwardly smiles and explain the same situation to the couple. Shinohara nod. "Yeah, just like what Arima told us…" Kaneki flinch, while he took a seat, to sit down in front of the three people. "So…." Kaneki voice trail, while he avoided looking at Arima.

"Why did Houji and Mado san leave early?"

Yua put a hand on her mouth like she was telling a secret. "They were some leaked photos on the web, of a store that was destroyed. They went to investigate it." Yua snickered. Kaneki smile and flinch. "Ah…. I hope they catch the perpetrators." Yua nods, smiling. While Shinohara and Arima stare at him.

"Do you guys want some wine… I can open a bottle if you want." Shinohara said as he stood up. Yua wanted to get up, but Shinohara's hand touch her shoulder. "Don't worry, honey, let me take care of it…" Arima stood up and accompany Shinohara inside the house. Leaving a smiling Yua and a relief Kaneki, who thank Kami Sama.

While Shinohara and Arima were in the hallway walking to the kitchen. "That kid flinch when Yua mentioned it…" Arima nodded. "And the way, he talked earlier…. Do you think he did it?" Shinohara said.

Arima shakes his head, as they entered the kitchen. "Earlier he was talking with Hirako. He didn't receive an unusual call…besides, according to some people. He has a mutual friend, of the unusual video who was sent to a bunch of teenagers in a group chat." Arima leans down on the kitchen stool.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Yua decided to bring Kaneki to a house tour.

Shinohara grabs the wine, from a cabinet that was upward from his view. "I'm beginning to think those pictures were sent to him on purpose. Just like what happened to his friend. And perhaps, instead of having a breakdown, he decided to post pictures online and mock the perpetrators. That could explain, why he told me about people doing things, just because of attention." Arima said as he gazes through the kitchen.

Shinohara raising one eyebrow, not fully fazing Arima, while he looks into another cabinet, he grabs a corkscrew. "What if he was tricking on you… you don't know he might even belong to the Pierrots." Arima nodded, as he ruffles his hair. "On the other hand, that also can explain why he took a long time for the bathroom? Maybe he was battling on whether to say anything or post it on the web… and something to add. Hirako texted me earlier, stating the day he was in the park with him, he left early. Since he was meeting someone" Shinohara look at Arima, while he already opened the wine, giving him all his attention.

Arima heard some stepping sounds coming and lowered his voice as he spoke. "I also might add, that Hirako on that day, wasn't alone with him. He was also with the former investigator, now police officer Amon Kotarou, and Investigator Akira Mado. "Shinohara nodded, while he just stood there, processing all the information that Arima had given him.

"And this is the Kitchen!" Came the voice, of a cheerful woman, who entered with a confused Kaneki. Kaneki took a look in the kitchen and it was a spacious, well neutral color, with white cabinets, and some greyish walls. Shinohara smiles at him and offered some wine, but Kaneki refused. Yua wondered why there were all quiet when they entered.

"Is this about the photo incident?" Kaneki said while he looks both at Arima and Shinohara. Shinohara raised one eyebrow, while he glances at Arima. While Arima just glances at Kaneki. Kaneki glances at Arima and then quickly glance at Shinohara. Arima flinches at Kaneki's sudden movement. "It's just…. I saw those photos as well…. They were posted on a forum, I follow and…. Of course, this is just my opinion, but I think the Pierrots did it, just because they want attention… and for them, is kind of serotonin that the news show their disaster, right? Then, instead of leaking the photo to the news, just treat it like a rumor, but at the same time people need to investigate it…?"

Shinohara looks at Arima, with his mouth slightly open. He slightly nods and smiles at Kaneki. "Well… that's an interesting idea. Anyways, let me show you the house, with my wife…" Shinohara gives the bottle of wine to Arima, which Arima takes just staring back at Shinohara. Yua smiles and claps, leaving the kitchen. As Kaneki was following right behind their back, he notices that Arima was following right behind.

As everybody went upstairs, Yua had shown their bedroom and then their children's bedroom. They arrive, at a black door, that had a sign "back out or back in". That's a contradictory sign if he ever had seen one. "This is Juuzou, room," Yua said, as she opened the room. "I apologize if the room is messy, there's a rule in this house that they have to clean their own bedrooms," Yua said, as she bowed. Kaneki flinches but smiles. He had heard that name before. He knows that Mutsuki is the adoptive brother of a kid with the same name, could they be talking of the same kid?

Kaneki look inside, and Yua wasn't even exaggerating when she said, the room is a mess. But oh boy, this room is a mess. The bed's covers were all over the bed, kind of like someone had told him to arrange it and just put it on the bed like they actually clean the bed when they didn't. Around the room, they were so many posters about anime, bands, and games. And for the floor, well… let's just say Kaneki wanted to see it, but it was covered with tons of clothes, shoes, socks, even wrappers of candy. Surprisingly the room didn't smell bad.

Then they went to the next room. The door was dark green, this one didn't have any signs at all. "This is the door of the youngest, Mutsuki". Yua said as she opened the door. Kaneki gasp. Shinohara turns his head back, raising one eyebrow, Kaneki looks at him and just gave him an awkward smile.

So… they really are a family with Shinohara. Wow, the world sure is small.

When the door was fully opened. The room is quite simple, there weren't any posters. Just a window, the bed, the green dresser, in the corner there was a table with a computer, along with a green chair and a green bookshelf, with a lot of books.

Wow, Mutsuki really likes the color green, doesn't he?

Yua close the door and went to the next room. "Kaneki, I bet you're questioning why our sons don't look the same…" Shinohara says as he put an arm around Yua's shoulder. "No... actually, I have met Mutsuki before and he kind of told me about his situation. I don't know much about Suzuya, but I know that you guys are wonderful parents.." Kaneki smiles, while he looks at them. "Both Suzuya and Mutsuki have a wonderful family! Who cares about blood, right?" Kaneki glance at Arima, who was just staring at him. Kaneki flinches upon seeing Arima but returns his gaze at the couple.

Yua smile, but Kaneki could tell she was holding back tears. "Wait… are you the heartthrob that my sons had been talking about?" Shinohara says.

Kaneki flinches, while he smiles. 'The what….?' Kaneki thought to himself. Arima who was behind Kaneki, now was in front of Kaneki facing him, with a questioning look. Now he felt interrogated. They stood there, not saying anything, just an awkward silence.

"OH WOW!" Kaneki exclaimed in a highly raised voice. They all flinch in the sudden sound change. Kaneki pointed a finger into a family photo portrait that was hanging on the right side of the wall. The photo was of a little Suzuya and Mutsuki, who had their hair long, while Shinohara was holding into Mutsuki and Yua holding into Suzuya.

Right beside the photo, there were many photos of both of the boys growing up, alongside Yua and Shinohara. "You guys sure form a beautiful family!" Kaneki said as he laughs. Yua claps her hands together, while she mentions the story behind the photos. Shinohara adds little details here and there, while the uncomfortable subject Shinohara had brought up, was soon forgotten. Of course for them, but for Arima. Who was staring judgingly at him.

While they continue, they stumble upon a photo that was hanging in the back of the hallway. The photo in question was a damaged photo, who was cut off, from the torso and down, but upward, you could see it was….

A younger self of Arima. The same boy he had met when he was a child. His expression still the same, as he had right now, alongside him, there was a younger Shinohara, who was brightly smiling at the camera. In the background, there was a building that resembles the valley of Kantei if he wasn't mistaken. Kaneki looks at the photo looking through all the details, when he turns around to question Shinohara, Arima was on his right side of his shoulder. His hand touches the glass frame.

"You are the only one, who has seen this…. " Arima's whisper unto Kaneki's ear, while he looks at him, Kaneki didn't want to see him, he just stare deeply into the photo. "Weren't we about to drink some wine? Why don't we go?" Shihohara says, Yua nodded and follow her husband behind. Arima soon follows Yua, while Kaneki follows way behind. While they were on the first floor and entered the kitchen. Kaneki excuses to go to the bathroom.

As soon as he was in front of the bathroom door, he opened it, he looks around and saw nobody on the kitchen frame. He closes it and slowly steps his way to the second floor. Kaneki made low and short steps, to not make a sound, he was on the second floor. Where he got into the mysterious photo, he took his phone and took various pictures of the photo.

After awhile Shinohara had given Kaneki a ride to his house. He thanked him for the ride, and for the extra plate of food. As he arrives at his room, he went to research Kantei. Of course, he could research the pierrots, but the photo of Shinohara and Arima was far more interesting. But first, he compares the background of the photo, with the background photos of Kantei, which were available on the web, and some buildings really resemble the ones on the photo of Arima.

He needed to research for more proof.

Eventually upon various hours of research. He found himself in a forum of many weird theories of Japan.

Incest. Bribery. All the things that Japan claimed that didn't have.

Eventually, Kaneki came across a forum that was linked to the deep past of some old rumors regarding the routes of the old prime ministers and the actual prime minister. People claiming that the royal family had children outside the blood lineage. A man who got into politics and was from the royal family, that had many wives.

That intrigued Kaneki the most. He clicks on the post of the man from the royal family, who had several wives. It appears that the man had daughters and sons. Of course, the person who posted this said they had worked on the house assigned to hide the identity of those kids. They couldn't prove with photos, since they weren't allowed to have cellphones in that house, but they can testify to it. Kaneki look when this post was posted and it was 8 years ago

Kaneki widened his gaze. That was a huge long time ago. But he was curious about this theory, he looks into the comments, and people were mocking the person who posted.

- www what is this nonsense? wwwww

- You know polygamy in Japan is banned, right?

- What are you going to say next? That the imperial family is made out of aliens? wwwww

- OP, doesn't know how to get attention and invents stupid gossip, just to downgrade the politicians.

- Just die, OP

And many comments similar to those he read. Some of them were insulting or threatening the one who made the post. It made Kaneki confused. Why are all of these people insulting the person who created this, on a forum of rumors of the royal family? Kaneki sigh and rolled his eyes.

People sure can be dumb sometimes.

Just when he was about to look to another post. He couldn't stop thinking about someone in the political world who, that at the same had connections with the royal family? The only person he thought was the current prime minister, Tsuneyoshi Washuu. Could he be the person, that the OP was referring to?

Kaneki stare at the post and started making many thoughts about the possibility of this post being true. In the end, he clicked on the username of the person who posted it.

User: ɘbi⑁

'What a weird username', Kaneki thought to himself. So, Kaneki message the person. If they could elaborate on the thing they had posted. Kaneki didn't have any faith in the reply, since this was posted a long time ago. But he didn't lose anything, by messaging the user. Kaneki was looking at the screen, for several minutes. In the hope to get an instant message, just like in the movies. Of course, he knew the real world wasn't like that.

Kaneki sighs, he left the computer and went downstairs to talk with his mother. Around 10 pm, he took a bath, and he was all ready to go to sleep. He wondered about the message he had sent on that forum. A part of him knew there wasn't any message, another part was still hopeful. He gritted his teeth and check the forum once again.

Kaneki widens his gaze, there's was a message in his inbox. Could it be the user? He grabs all the strength and tap on the inbox icon.

Searching - Good evening. I just saw your post about you working on the house. I know that the post is quite old. If you don't mind, can you elaborate on what you saw there?

ɘbi⑁: Yes. I don't mind. One thing... I don't remember that much. Since it was a long time ago, but, what I do remember, they were two boys and two girls. One of them was labeled as A, he had short black hair. The other was named S, he also had black hair. The other was R, this child had purple hair and the last one was named, H, this one had pink hair.

I'm sorry, that's the only thing I can tell you. Good luck, farewell.

Kaneki read the last message. He throws his cellphone into the bed, he went into his cabinet that was near his bed, he opened it and took a blank piece of paper. He closes the cabinet and rapidly gazes on top of his cabinet, searching for a pen. He 'tch's', as he stood up, he went near the desk of his computer, a pen that was plastered around the keyboard. He took it and open it.

He put the piece of paper on top of the desk, he grabs the pen, and tried to wrote an A. Kaneki flinch, he pressed the pen on the paper, almost cutting it off. He moves the pen side to side and clenched his teeth. He moves the pen up and quickly shakes it. Once again, he pressed the pen on the paper and made a line.

He smiled, he then proceeded to write from up to down, the letters that the user had told him. 'H, A, R, and S'

H is for Hairu

A is for Arima

R is for Rize

S is for whom? He wondered to himself. If what the OP is saying is true, that the children were labeled as those exact letters who fit the same beginning name of the siblings. Who could "S" be? I mean, all the hair descriptions were right, with all of them. Except for the last person, whose name is S. But their hair was black just like Furuta. Could it be that Furuta… perhaps change his name? If so, then... what was his real name?

Kaneki took the paper with him and let himself fall on his bed. He lifted the piece of paper, gazing at it deeply. He knows that all of them, are siblings. Since Hairu confirmed it. Stil… all this information was making his head hurt. He wanted to sleep, but at the same time, he wanted answers.

Is Arima actually the illegitimate son of the current Prime Minister? If so, that could prove why he has the picture with Shinohara, on the Kantei District. Kaneki passes a hand through his eyes. His eyes were getting heavier by each second, he wanted to sleep, but they were tons of thoughts surrounding his mind. Eventually, he got impatient of trying to fall asleep that he got up. Went to the bathroom, where his mother had a cabinet of sleeping pills for an emergency and took one of them.

As he went again to rest on his bed, he lay down on the bed, with his eyes closed. And just when he was about to sleep. The last thought that came across his mind, is that he swore to himself, he will do something for Arima and his family to meet each other.

Notes

Japanese write "www" when something to them sounds funny. It could be the same way, for us when we use "lol".

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