Author note: Hi guys, It's me again. It has been a month, plus some days since I haven't updated. But hey, I came back with a chapter of 8,000+ words. Ain't that cool? Either way, I hope you like this chapter. Since I decided to spice things a little bit. I think that's the reason why the chapter is so long.

Chapter 24 - Unread messages

He woke up to the sudden blast of a ringtone he has on his phone. Kaneki slightly opens his eyes, his heart suddenly beating fast, as the top part of his body, got up. His eyes started closing, his mouth is slightly open. He moves his head to the side. He lowers his face to faze the night desk, that was beside his bed. His vision slowly keeps getting bigger, while he reaches for his cellphone.

He puts his cellphone in front of him while closing one eye to tap the icon of respond on his device. He shakes his head and lifts his eyebrows. His eyes were now fully open. He quickly puts his cellphone in his right ear. With a raspy voice, he says, "Hello" he pauses.

"KANEKI!" screams the voice in the other end.

Kaneki moves his head to the back, as well as his cellphone from his ear. He touches his right ear, slowly massaging the inner part of the ear, without putting all of his fingers inside. He sighs as he thinks, 'Seriously, Hide didn't have to yell this loud, so early through the phone.'

"Oi, I bet I just wake you up, didn't I?" Hide says, as he giggles.

He rolls his eyes, as he passes a hand through his face, making some of his hair get up. "Good morning to you as well, Hide…"

"Hahaha, I bet you just roll your eyes, right now, didn't you", says Hide.

Kaneki gasps and just when Kaneki gasps through the cellphone. Hide proceeds to giggle.

"Well…. Putting aside that I make you blush from the very morning, I-"

"You didn't make me blush, don't say…." He says, as he suddenly cuts Hide off. Hide giggles and stays quiet, in a point for him to continue talking. "-don't say that…" Ken finishes his sentence, while he lowers his head, still holding his cellphone on his ear.

There was a silence after Kaneki stops talking. Kaneki slowly lifts his head, his eyes looking to the side while searching for the voice of his best friend. Kaneki puts his cellphone closer to his ear. "Hahaha, I bet you thought I was gone. But you thought wrong, it is I, Dio!" Hide exclaims, making Kaneki flinch for the sudden rising voice of his best friend. "You're doing it wrong Hide."

"Hahaha yeah, but I manage to get your attention, didn't I?"

Kaneki lets out a breath from his mouth. "So, why did you call me so…." Kaneki takes his cellphone from his ear and puts it in front of his face. He widens his expressions and shakes his head from side to side. He moves the cellphone back to his ear. "-early in the morning?" He says as he finishes his sentence. Hide gasps from the other side of the call. "You know, I wasn't offending you.." Kaneki says.

"Yeah, yeah I know. It's just I figure out that we haven't call each other, even worst hang out together. If you call me, I'm busy with college, and if I call you, you're busy with work."

Kaneki nods to himself, while he lowers his gaze, acknowledging his best friend's concern. Indeed, he hasn't even seen his best friend for many weeks. He can't even recall, when was the last time he hangs out with Hide. Was it Saiko's birthday? Kaneki tries to think about more events after that, but his head was starting to give him a headache.

"It's okay my dude, don't beat the horse when it can't walk, alright?"

Kaneki hums in agreement, but he still can't manage how can his best friend manage to create these weird and new analogies, while he talks to him. No wonder he studies the major he is in right now. Heck, even if Kaneki knew that he was the one who read more of the two. He knew Hide could beat him, on creating new cool phrases by thin air.

"Anyways, I have to go to university soon, but I kind of forgot to tell you. Well" *chump*

*chomp* "Friday at six pm" *chomp* "Umm…" *chomp*

Kaneki moves his head to the side, while he slowly closes his eyes. He moves his cellphone a little far away from him. He moves his cellphone near his ear, while he shrinks his shoulders a little. "Hide, that sounds like…. Are you eating while you're talking?"

"Yep" *chomp*

Kaneki rolls his eyes and shakes his head. He hears in the other end, a swallowing sound by Hide's end. "So….either way, this Friday at 6 pm, rave party, you in right?"

Kaneki widens his gaze and quickly shakes his head. His body jumps a little when he hears the surprising words coming from his best friend's mouth.

"Hide… I don't-"

But before he could finish his sentence, as always, Hide interrupts him.

"Of course, I can count on you. Hahaha. Anyways, before I forget, Nishiki and Kimi senpai, are wondering why don't you respond to their texts?"

"Ha, what do you mean?"

"It's like you always see them, but you never respond…"

"What? How is that even possible? I don't recall reading any text of neither of them."

"What?" Says Hide.

"Huh, what's going on? Are you trying to play tricks on me, Hide? You know, I don't like those kinds of jokes."

"Can't, sorry bye!" Hide says, and just when Kaneki wanted to reply to him. Hide ended the call. Leaving him in an utterly confused state. Kaneki sits there on his bed, making sense of what Hide just told him. His eyes wandered around the room, while his mouth was slightly open. 'Kimi and Nishiki had been messaging him?', he thinks to himself.

Has he seen them and maybe forgot he had read them? This doesn't make any sense at all. Kaneki puzzles many things around his mind. He tries to think of the many ways this could happen. Just when he couldn't think of any more possibilities, he grabs his cellphone and begins tapping on it. He taps the Line app and searches for Nishiki and Kimi chats. He views Nishiki's chat, and there were no new messages. He proceeds to take a look at Kimi's chat and there weren't any new messages as well. He looks at the date, of the last messages he shares with both of them, and the last message was from two weeks ago.

'Did Hide trick him?' Kaneki thinks to himself and shakes his head. "No, he doesn't do these kinds of jokes. Hide could be a prankster, but he has never made a joke like this, towards me."

Kaneki lifts himself from his bed, still having his cellphone in his hand. He looks to the front of his bedroom, as he was searching for an answer for the new puzzle, he founded himself in. He takes his free hand and puts it in below his chin, he slowly massages it. Now, that he was thinking about this. He was wondering for a while, how come Kimi and Nishiki never reply to him. Of course, they were times he wanted to chat with them. But he thought, they were busy with college, just like Hide. So, he didn't want to interrupt them.

Of course, he could call them, or vice-versa, they could call back. But, let's be honest, who in this day in age, calls someone? Calls are strictly used when you're in an emergency or you want to contact a parent or an old relative.

Now, that he was standing properly and fully awake now. He decided to turn on his computer and search for more explanations for this problem. When his computer was fully on, he opens google and when he was typing the question, he decides to sit down on his chair. He moves his legs upwards and crosses his legs on the chair seat.

Can you receive messages, without you reading them?

He taps to search, he looks at the big list of pages listed on his first search. They were a ton of magazine articles and Tec articles. He decides to ignore those since some of them are not even helpful. They just write articles to get views at the end of the day. After searching and clicking articles, he decides to write his problem in English. But even though, he searches for his answer in English, there's no escaping the magazines and tec companies who just want to fulfill their clicks quota. At the end of the day, whether is Japanese o any other country, big website companies would always dismiss the shorts ones.

Finally, he saw a question that was similar in a Reddit post...

- Help Reddit! My boyfriend has been messaging me, but it seems like the messages don't appear on my phone. I saw the chat through his cellphone and it clearly shows that he sent them. How do I resolve this? -

/ Goldenstar: Well it might be, that you don't have a good wifi signal on you're phone. How long have you had this issue?

ll Grammarlydude (is replying to Goldenstar): It's 'your' not 'you're'. Learn basic grammar, you idiot.

/ wendyissus: oh, is this an affair problem? Perhaps he is cheating on you? Or are you cheating on him? Uwu

/dontboomeimright: He doesn't deserve you if he is tricking you, like that. If he doesn't respect you, he doesn't deserve your love, my queen.

|| itstimetoduel (is replying to dontboomeimright): fuck, how the fuck do you know op it's a girl?

||dontboomeimright (is replying to itstimetoduel): I look into her history and she has posted many pictures of her.

||itstimetoduel (is replying to dontboomeimright): fuuuuuck, dude, you're right. She is quite pretty.

|| endisnear (is replying to itstimetoduel) what the fuck is going on here? Stop this shit.

/dioismymaster: Hmm… that situation is quite tricky, but seeing your last posts. Are you sure you don't have a stalker? Or someone who can easily access your phone. Sometimes, messages can be sent to you, someone reads them first and deletes them after you got the chance to read them. That might be a possibility.

||itsjessica (is replying to dioismymaster): no, that I know. I always keep my phone near me and when it's not near me, is when I'm sleeping.

||dioismymaster (is replying to itsjessica): maybe someone has access to your phone when you're sleeping?

/yesboii: maybe someone hacked your phone?

While he read the last exchange in the thread, he gulps. Was this the answer he was looking for? Did somebody hack his phone? Could it be Saiko is behind this? Perhaps, she is plotting an act of revenge on the video he sent to her. Kaneki slowly shakes his head.

He didn't want to believe what he was thinking. He knew that Saiko learned her lesson, but he wasn't so sure. Well, is never too late to find out. Of course, he needs to handle this, tactfully. He grabs his phone and proceeds to call Saiko. It rings for some time, in that time, he wonders if Saiko would respond to him. But of course, that statement flew into the window, when Saiko responded to him. "Kan kan! Hello! Good morning!"

"Hello Saiko, good morning to you as well. Saiko, I apologize for bothering you this early in the morning, but I wanted to ask you something…"

"Anything for Kan kan!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Saiko. Saiko, do you perhaps know if someone has ill feelings towards me?

"Ill feeling? What? Who are they? Imma throw hands for you, Kan kan!"

"No like... You know… like someone hacking my phone?"

"What? Someone hack your phone?"

"Oh no, it's just I was just asking if in the future someone hacks my phone, who could it be?"

"Well…. That sounds rough, Kan kan. Hacking else phone when you're not around that person is quite difficult. Heck, even for me. That's an advanced hacking method, even for me…"

"Hmm… yeah, I was just wondering if you could do it, but hey if someone hacks me in the future. I know for sure, it won't be you!"

"If someone hacks your phone in the future, you let me know. So, I can study properly…wait… you know what? I'm going to learn from now on! So, I can defend you!"

"Is not necessary, Saiko. Don'-"

"Okay, I'm going! Kan kan, talk to you later, the others have come to pick me up. Bye-bye, kiss kiss, hug hug!"

And just like that, the call was disconnected. He chuckles for a moment, realizing what was happening, in Saiko's end. He put his cellphone back on the table. He brings his left hand to rest under his chin, unconsciously he brings his thumb inside his mouth, teeth slightly biting his finger. While he is in that position, he stares at the wall, that was back from his computer and mutters. "So, who else?"

The next day, he wakes up just like every day. He checks his cellphone and makes sure that in his line app, there are no new messages. He smiles to himself, he thinks to himself. That might be a glitch on the app. He sits down on his bed, a smile still plastered on his face. He put his cellphone on his night table, while he makes his bed. Suddenly his phone rings and he picks up his phone.

"Hello…?"

"Ayo, stop ignoring my texts, my dude. I know, I cut you down, yesterday. But, you don't need to be that selfish…. Do you perhaps, don't rock with me, anymore?"

Kaneki rolls his eyes and sighs. 'Not this again, he thinks to himself.

"Hide…"

"I'm going to cut myself!"

"Hide no! You-"

"-a piece of cheesecake!"

Kaneki never thought of the chance of killing something. He thinks to himself, he is against any violence. But in this exact moment, in this very moment. Kaneki wanted to harm something. Not his friend, just to punch a wall for the lame-ass joke, his friend told him.

After that lame exchange with his best friend. Hide explained to him, that he had sent him, a goodnight text, but it was marked as read. After that exchange, Hide told him he needed to go to his university. Leaving a very disturbed, Kaneki hanging in the line.

Kaneki chuckles to himself. He thought that the issue was resolved, but he was so dead wrong. Kaneki's front was facing his bed, his back facing the other part of his room. Suddenly he feels a cold wind hit his back neck. Kaneki turns around to follow the direction of the cold wind. To his surprise, he sees the window open.

Okay, that's strange. He swears to god he always closes the window when he goes to sleep. Lately, he has seen it open, every time he wakes up. So, he dismissed it in the past, since he thought it was the doing of his mother. But today, that's out of the question. He glances at his door from across his bedroom and sees the doorknob's push-button pushed back. Yesterday, he went straight to sleep, he locked up his door and closed his window in his way.

So, he doesn't know….

Wait….

Why did he lock his bedroom yesterday? Kaneki did a double-take on his door. He walks towards his door and he sees his door locked up. He looks to the side and glances back at the doorknob. "This is so weird, why did I lock the door..? No, did I did it?

Many thoughts were crossing in his mind. He doesn't remember locking the door. But who could lock his door from the inside, aside from him? Or maybe… Kaneki glances back and sees his window, whose curtain was flowing back and forth. Maybe there's a possibility if the person who had come in, from his window had closed his door, just to throw him off?

At that last statement, he began smiling to himself. He began laughing a little, to straight up to laughing at loud. He shakes his head and puts both of his hands on his hair. Was this the White Suits doing? To play a prank on him? Or were these the Pierrots doing? Like an act of revenge, on posting that photo of them and making those mocking comments towards them. Kaneki takes the hands from his hair and leans back his head to look straight ahead. Kaneki shooks his head and clenches his fists.

Why of all times, is he getting sympathy towards that hateful group? Since he did that, he knows that eventually, they will take him on. But he shouldn't feel sympathy towards them. He clicks his tongue, while he opens the door of his closet. Forgetting the scary thoughts he was having. Now they were replaced by anger and resentment thoughts. He took off his pajamas and put on a black button shirt, with some plain white jeans.

Kaneki enters the kitchen where Miza and his mother were. Miza was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs. In front of her, there were a ton of magazines spread on the table. She had a hand over her mouth. While the other was moving the pages of some magazines when she was done glancing them over. His mother was leaning back on the kitchen table while holding a soft pink cup in her hand, while the other rested on her waist. She had her eyes closed.

As soon as he steps into the kitchen. The both of them look at him, in a synchronizing mode. That threw him over. He had never seen people do the same movements apart from those twins that often come to the cafe. He widens his gaze while looking at them, but quickly relaxes his face when he saw his mother raise an eyebrow towards Miza. "Ah… Good morning to everyone…"

Miza furrows her gaze while looking at him, and says. "How come, you're always making a scene when you wake up?" Kaneki stares at her while moving his face to the side and says. "Do I…?" He looks at his mother, who was smiling at him. "Good morning, son. How was your sleep? Do you have a bad dream?"

He, who was walking towards the fridge to grab something to eat, pauses but continues to walk. He opens the fridge and takes an egg and a bottle of milk. "Why do you say that?" Hiroko looks at Miza, with a smile on her face and slightly shakes her head. "No, I was just saying…" He awkwardly smiles at the both of them and quickly makes his breakfast, he offers some to Miza and his mother. They complied and set the table.

While they were eating. Hiroko and Miza talk about the works they had to do in the future. While he stays there and listens with a smile on his face. He looks at his mother's face, which was shining brighter than usual. He took notice of the drastic change in his mother's eye, ever since Miza came to work here, and he wouldn't lie that Miza's presence also shed a light on the house. And he was grateful for that.

He stood there thinking and just enjoying the two of them talking. That an intrusive thought came into his head. "Hmm…." Hiroko turns her head to look at him while taking a sip of her cup. "Anything on your mind?"

"Well… yeah. Do you perhaps open my window in the morning after I wake up or in the night?"

"What would I do that? I know that you hate the cold breeze of the morning. Why do you ask?"

"So, that's how it is…." he says.

"Hm…. I'm not sure if I follow you."

"It's just…" He touches his chin. "I left my window open yesterday and I forgot I had opened."

"You can't do that, idiot. What if you get cold?" Miza says.

"Yeah, you're right…"

After they had their breakfast, he gathered all his things. He waved Miza and his mother a "goodbye". When he exits the front gate of his house, he looks to the right and sees, Shousei and Hooguro. They were walking towards his house. He greets them and waves at them. Shousei bows at him, with the same stern face he has, while Hooguro just grins at him. He takes some steps away from them and stops. He turns his head back and walks towards them.

"Did you forget something, cutie?" says Hooguro, who leans back a little. "I have a question for you two…" Hooguro grins and says. "Well…. It depends on how much are you willing to pay for that-" Shousei puts a hand over Hooguro's mouth and nods in the direction of him.

"Do you guys also stay at night, to guard the house?"

Shousei shakes his head to the side and says. "No."

Hooguro, who pushes Shousei's hand from his mouth. Move his way towards him. "What is this? Do you want me to guard you company at night?"

"No, and stop with those remarks Hooguro. I appreciate your sentiment, but I'm not interested, sorry."

Hooguro widens his eyes, he stops smiling and quickly nods. Shousei sighs and says. "When we finish eating dinner here, we return to our house, where Boss is."

He nods while looking at Shousei. "Ah, I see. Then, thanks for the answer, bye! And by the way Hooguro…."

"Yeah…?"

"I hope you can find the person, who could reciprocate your feelings!"

And just like that, he was gone. Leaving a Hooguro with his mouth wide open and a quietly laughing Shousei.

Inside the house, Hiroko was filling her cup, with more coffee. Miza, who was across the kitchen, spreading the magazines on the table, just like they were before. Looks up, to see what Hiroko was doing. Miza furrows her expressions and lets out a sigh. Miza approaches Hiroko and taps on her shoulder. Hiroko turns around and smiles at her. Miza stares at her and glances at Hiroko's cup. Hiroko follows Miza's expression and smiles again. "Calm down, Miza. This is just my second cup." Hiroko chuckles and walks away from Miza. Miza turns around and squints her eyes while looking at Hiroko. Hiroko was glancing down at the display magazines on the table. "I love how you display the examples we need for Megi's san outfit."Hiroko looks up at Miza.

"Hiroko…."

"Alright…" Hiroko rolls her eyes and extends her cup of coffee to Miza. Miza nods and takes the cup from her hands. "So, how many?" Hiroko gazes on the ground and focuses her gaze on the magazines. "Five…." Miza widens her eyes, as she puts the cup next to the sink, she turns around to see Hiroko fidgeting in her place. Miza looks to the ground, as she was searching for something. She walks over to Hiroko's side and takes Hiroko's hands between her hands. Hiroko's body starts shaking, her mouth was opening and closing. "Don't worry, Hiroko…." says Miza, between breaths.

Hiroko felt Miza's voice so reassuring, like a beautiful wind, in a heated room. She begins to tear up, her mind was collapsing and her mountain, who was always firm and steady, was now having an avalanche of problems going down. Hiroko doesn't like people seeing her vulnerable side. She has passed for so long being vulnerable against her older sister, that she promised ever since that 'day', she won't cry in front of anyone, anymore.

But she doesn't know why being with Miza, makes her act this way. Is this a weird and uneasy feeling she has for her? Since the day she met her, Miza had this caring and yet protective side towards her. Of course, Miza would tell people otherwise, that she was the one who cares for her. But if it was like that, Miza wouldn't be the one holding her hands like this, because she knows, she would have a panic attack if she wasn't with her.

When Miza was away, the one who controlled her panic attacks, was Ryouko and her never-ending box of cigarettes. Of course, when Miza came back, she replaced her nicotine addiction with coffee and Miza's everlasting affection. But even if Miza is there for her, she doesn't want to be a burden, nor to Miza, or even worst to her son.

So when Miza holds her like this, she knows she can cry like a baby, and no one would tell her not to cry. "Just let it all out, Hiroko…"

"It's just…. I worried…" Miza nods while avoiding looking at Hiroko's in the eyes. "You know, how much of a perfectionist I am. All the works I have delivered. I had second doubts if I was delivering quality. I worried about the waist being too low, the buttons not being aligned symmetrically. The skirts not having the quality that matches the folding issue. And now!" Hiroko looks up, with her eyes widening by each second.

"That outfit we are doing for Mirumo san. Someone from a higher-class family in Japan. Someone who can easily contract a tailor from Italy or anywhere in the word, but she chooses me!" Hiroko still with a surprised face, looks at Miza, she brings the hands that were held together, near her chest. She extends her arms up, dragging Miza's hands in the process. "Yes, exactly, she chose you! You should be proud of yourself."

"No, I shouldn't. I took advantage of my own's son harassment and yet I encourage that man, whose son wasn't interested at all, to go all out. I know, I got this job, out of pity. They just use me, as a stepping stone, to get near my son."

Hiroko takes her hands between Miza's hands. She looks at her, tears streaming from both of her eyes. "It has been killing ever since that day, my son went to the hospital. Knowing I was partially at fault at that, it kills me Miza, it kills me. The night that I went to the house and knowing that my son was in the hospital because of me. I felt the sensation of guilt overcoming me and felt just like my older sister. She didn't mind who she hurt as long as he got what she wanted. And what's worst, when Mirumo came with his offer, I didn't say no. I'm such an awful mother, Miza!"

"Listen, Hiroko. I know you feel bad for all that happened to your son. And you should apologize to him. Explain that if he feels uncomfortable if Tsukiyama's come back, then you will reject it. Since, the happiness of your son, is better than anything else, right?"

Hiroko nods still tears falling from her face.

"That's right, you cannot revert all the things you have done in the past. What you need is to reflect on the things you did and promise yourself, you won't be making them again." Miza says as she brushes a hand through Hiroko's front bangs. Her thumb brushes a tear away that was streaming down, Hiroko's cheeks. Hiroko still looking down, felt herself going down, to sit on the floor. Miza follow her and sat down facing her.

"Do you think I did a good job on that suit?"

"Yes, I think-"

"Say it genuinely. I just don't want you to tell me everything I want to hear…"

"Listen, Hiroko, you know I'm not a people pleaser. If there's something I don't like, I will come out and say it. You know that and you also know that suit looks good. The only reason why you are like this. Is that you're mad at your past actions and I get that. But you need to let it go, alright? So, first of all, you need to let those thoughts away and apologize to your son, alright?"

"But-"

"No buts, the suit is beautiful and you need to apologize to Kaneki. That's all."

"But…"

"But what?"

"Didn't you see he lied to me today?"

"What? Now you're making things up."

"No, he told me a lie today, Miza chan. When he was entering the kitchen earlier today, he was scrunching his nose and touching his chin. He only does that, when he is trying to hide something from someone."

"Well, that's to be expected, Hiroko. He is a nineteen-year-old boy, of course, there are things he won't tell you. He has his own problems, which he needs to resolve on his own."

"I know, but Miza!" Hiroko exclaims as he grabs with both of her hands, Miza's face. Miza just stares at her, with a semi-surprised expression. "Why did he never mention the locked door? Wasn't that odd? Every time he goes to sleep, I go to his bedroom to give him a goodnight kiss, and yet, he didn't tell me about that!"

"Well, that's has an explanation. Perhaps, he just wanted to have his door locked up? Surprisingly, he doesn't do that often…"

"Then, why did he bring the subject of someone opening his window?"

Miza stares at her and lowers her gaze, while she puts a hand over her chin. Hiroko nods while looking at her. "See, it doesn't make sense, right? Why should you bring a subject, when it didn't happen. It doesn't make sense at all!"

Miza sighs, while she looks to the ground. She brings her gaze up, looking into Hiroko's eyes. "Listen…." She takes Hiroko's hands away from her face and brings a hand to massage her cheek. "If you panic like this, you will never solve the issues you have right now. Is better, to calm down, set the problems on the table and calmly revise them, one by one. What do you think about it?" Hiroko, who was looking down, looks up at Miza's eyes. Who was tenderly watching at her, as she was waiting for an answer from her beautiful lips.

Hiroko nods in her direction, forming a small smile. Miza nods and whispers a "good…" between her lips. Hiroko widens her expression and blushes a little. "Now, regarding the issue with the open window. I would talk with those guys, alright?

Hiroko nods and says, "Okay…"

Miza smiles and squints her eyes, she slowly stands up with Hiroko. Miza extends one hand to the entrance of the kitchen. "Now and go with that client and design her the best coat she has ever seen!"

Hiroko smiles, her cheeks getting redder every time she hears Miza's voice, her heartbeat was calm and steady but when Miza mentions the word 'client', her heart stops just a little. "What? Is it nine already?" Hiroko turns around where the clock is. "Is eight am, but if you want to get early, you need to leave right now."

Hiroko nods and looks at Miza again, with a smile. "I will win her!" Hiroko forms her right hand into a fist and puts it on her chest. Miza nods and claps her hands together. "Yes, you would! That's the spirit!"

Hiroko exhales and inhales from her mouth. Hiroko nods and smiles to herself. She puts both of her arms in her waist. Hiroko walks away from Miza and gathers all the materials she needs for the meeting. When Hiroko grabs her coat and is approaching the front door, Miza following behind her. She pauses for a moment when she was done putting her shoes on the genkan. Miza lifts one eyebrow when she looks at Hiroko's movements.

Hiroko turns around, to see Miza. Hiroko puts the coat on the genkan floor and hugs Miza immediately. Miza widens his expression and looks to the side, where Hiroko buried her face. "W-wha-" Miza says.

"Miza…. Thank you for everything." Miza smiles and giggles. Hiroko moves her face to look directly at Miza. Miza looks up at Hiroko. Wondering and expecting what Hiroko wanted to do. Hiroko cups Miza's head in her hands and kisses her cheek.

Miza leaves out a breath from her mouth, her cheeks getting redder by each second. Hiroko takes one hand away and just touches one cheek. Hiroko lowers her head, to the same height as Miza's lips. She kisses her. Miza gasps a little but manages to kiss Hiroko back. Their pink lips opening and closing, whenever they met each other.

When they were done kissing. Hiroko steps away from Miza a little and sees Miza, being red, she was looking down. "The day I give Mirumo's suit. That's the day, I will tell Kaneki, about us."

Miza quickly moves his head up, her eyes getting bigger with each second. Her heart beating quickly, her hands started trembling while looking at Hiroko, she slowly nods at her. Hiroko smiles at her and throws a kiss at her. She takes her things and waves goodbye at her. Miza from the door view waves goodbye at her, with a small smile. While Hiroko was nowhere to be seen. Hooguro looks at Miza and grins at her. Miza looks at Hooguro, she points a finger at both Shousei and him and motions her finger, so they can approach her.

They both entered the house and sat down in the living room. "So, anything new to report?" Miza says as she moves her head to the side. Hooguro clicks his tongue, crosses his arms, and looks to the side. "Wow, not even a hello. How crude of you, Three blades!"

Miza gasps and her cheeks get redder. "How dare you call me by that name?"

"That's your street name, Miza. What is it now? Are you ashamed about that name? Are you ashamed that your group is linked to Aogiri? Or is it, that your lover doesn't know about your history? Hmm, which is it?" Hooguro says as he makes a cheeky face towards Miza. While Miza angrily shakes her fists, while lowering her eyebrows together.

Shousei shakes his head and lets out a sigh. "Miza…" Shousei says, as he looks at her. Miza who was beefing with Hooguro, with her expression, rapidly looks at Shousei.

Shousei nods and says. "Regarding the issue with Kaneki. Tatara explains that someone drugged him, though he doesn't know when. It's calculated that either it was in the hospital or at the bar of a friend he has. It might be that new drug, that we are looking for, but still, we are not sure. It also can be the new experimental fruit, that has come from the west. Also, Tatara informs us if you could gather your old members. So, they could track the sighting of that man."

"I told you, we aren't doing that anymore," Miza says.

Shousei gazes down and firmly stares at her, he rubs his hands together and says. "But seeking for the sighting and the whereabouts of the person is your job, Miza. That's what you agree with Aogiri, did you forget about it? Or is it that you're so invested with that woman, that yo-"

Miza stands up and walks her way to be in front of Shousei. Hooguro snickers, while Shousei continues to blankly stare at her. "First of all, how dare you. Through all these years, I have loved her and until now she says, yes. And now, you're telling me, that I need to leave her?"

Hooguro snickers and rolls his eyes. Miza angrily stares at him. Hooguro leans down on the couch while putting both of his arms behind his head. "Stop being such a drama queen, midget. We never told you to break up, do we?"

"Stop calling me a midget, you imbecile!"

"Mid… get!"

Something inside Miza click and she went straight on to attack Hooguro. While both of them were avoiding each other punches, Hoogoro says. "Do you want that boy to get killed? Is that what you want?"

Miza stops mid-way by throwing a punch at Hooguro, who was lowering his height, avoiding the punches from her. Miza turns her face, to see Hooguro, and says. "What killed… what?"

"You know, he has been hanging with that man?"

"Yes, but it's purely…."

"Nope, that boy is super in love with him, and if the rumors are correct, he is also feeling something else than the robotic feelings he had always had", Hooguro says.

"Dammit, stupid Kaneki!"

"Yeah, I said the same thing!" Hooguro says as he sits down crossed leg on the couch. Both Miza and Shousei look at him, with a serious face. Miza clicks her tongue and says. "Shut up, Hooguro!" She turns to face Shousei, while he looks up at her. "Is there any chance we can take the drug out of his system?"

Shousei nods and intertwines his hands together. He says, "Tatara is searching for a method. Anyhow, just in case anything happens." Shousei puts his hand inside his suit, he takes a little white box and extends it to Miza. "-take this medicine and put it in his drink or coffee, just in case." Miza gulps while glancing at the box, she is hesitant to take the box but takes it in her hands. She moves it around while exploring each side of the box. "How do I know this won't kill him? Remember, he is my lover's son." Miza says as she signals the white box she has.

Hooguro looks at Miza and makes a heart with his hands, and says, "Aww so cute, isn't it Shousei?" Shousei with the same serious expression he always has looks at Hooguro and nods at him. He smiles a little and returns to look at Miza, his cheeks getting redder. Miza glances at the both of them, her cheeks getting redder, and looks away. "¡Shut up!"

"Miza…" Shousei says, to capture Miza's attention. Miza turns to face Shousei. Shousei, knowing that Miza has her attention on him, continues to speaks. "It seems…." Shousei looks to the floor. "-that man was also affected by that, and he created that medicine." Miza widens her expression while hearing the words coming from Shousei. Shousei continues. "-Little by little, the drug will get out from his system, just like it's doing it on that man's body."

Miza sighs and looks at the floor, wondering what she needed to think of this situation. She returns to look at them, her expression was stern and demanding. She holds the box in front of Shousei and glances at two men she has in front of her. "If he dies, you all will die as well, and that man will die too."

Shousei while glancing at her, nods at her statement. Knowing the heavy statement, that Miza's words were holding. He knew if the task failed, not only Agoiri will face precautions but as well, as his group, and that's not something they need to deal with.

Hooguro, on the other hand, also knew the heavy words that Miza just said. He knew that giving this medicine to her would open a pandora box, that was close by Tatara's convenient words. But even knowing that, he likes to bring the best out of people when they're in their internal mental crisis. "Who knew you will get like this for a mere woman…." Hooguro smirks while looking at her. Shousei just looks at him and shakes his head, with a disapproval expression on his face.

Miza who is on her way to walk away from the living room turns her head to look at Hooguro. "Yes, for her!" Miza walks away but stops again and looks at them.

"And by the way, Kaneki thinks that someone is entering his window. Do you have any idea, of who is doing this?" Both men look at each other and shake their heads towards Miza.

Many hours pass in his workplace. Kaneki didn't want to think about what happened earlier or just the odd events that were happening in his life. He likes to remind himself that when he steps into his workplace, he wants to leave all his problems, the soon he steps into this cafe.

Right now, even if he was having a panic attack, trying not to think about those problems. He was sweeping his problems, left and right. Left and right.

While he sweeps the floor on the second level of the cafe. He heard some steps coming behind him, there was also a faint of music coming from behind him. Of course, he wants to ignore it, after all. What customers do in the restaurant, is none of his business. But they are dancing, while he is sweeping the floor. He wants to tell them, to get another room or just go to a place where they could dance, without interrupting. But of course, those guts are still inside him. He just wants to tell these people or to speak his mind, but the customers are gods.

He turns around, rolling his eyes, while he looks at them. He stops sweeping the floor, still having the broom in his hand. One of the girls notice that he stop sweeping, and stop dancing, she taps, the other girl on the shoulder, who is still dancing. The girl stops and turns around to see him.

Kaneki flinches and side glances at them. "Oh no, don't worry about me. You girls continue dancing." Nashiro, who stops first, blankly stares at him. "It seems we disturb you, I apologize for that…" Kurona moves her head to the side, and says, "Yes, or is that what you want?"

'¿Eh?', Kaneki thinks to himself. Why is it that every time he sees these twins, they always play these mental pranks on him?

"No, no. It seems you're wrong. I was just done cleaning this section, so I stop because I will sweep the other room."

"That's incorrect. You already swipe all the rooms and this is the last one. Why are you lying?" Nashiro says.

"Yes, lying is a bad trait you can have", Kurona says.

"Oh…. is that right? Perhaps the lack of sleep got me more confused? Sorry, about that."

"Lack of sleep?", Nashiro says.

"Is someone entering your room when you're sleeping?", Kurona says.

Kaneki's eyes widen, both of the twins jump in his sudden change of expression. Nashiro puts one of her hands, in her twin sister's shoulder. Kaneki sees the twin's reaction and coughs a little, looking to the ground. He returns to sees them and smiles at them. He touches his chin and says, "Sorry, and not, nobody is entering my room. Hahaha, it seems that my lack of sleep got the best of me"

"Well, if you think that then you should rest earlier", says Nashiro. Kurona nods at her twin's statement.

"Yeah, you bet I will do that."

Kurona and Nashiro, share a glance between them. They say goodbye to him, and wave goodbye at him. While they left him, in that room. The twins were going to the front door of the cafe. "Sister Kurona, are we going to report this to father?"

"No, we won't. We don't know what he is planning, or with who, but we can't let more people be damage as well."

Nashiro nods and opens the front door. Both of them exited the cafe. Kurona catches that in front of the cafe, there was a young teenage boy, walking back and forth. Kurona and Nashiro walk past him. Nashiro grabbing Kurona's right arm, and says, "Do you think we can stop the drug that's inside us?"

"Well, we can move and talk freely now. So, we are doing some progress." Kurona says as she looks back to the boy who is still walking back and forth. "Kurona, what happen?" comes the voice of Nashiro. Kurona puts a finger in her twin's mouth. They stop for a moment, Kurona reaching for something inside her black backpack.

"Ah, father hello!"

Kurona glances, still looking at the inside of her backpack. "Yes, indeed father I did what you tell me", Takeomi says. Takeomi looks at his wrist clock and glances to the front. "Yes, that's right. Do you also want me to go to Arima's san house, so we could get his answer or…."

Kurona flinches and widens her expression. She moves her head to look at her sister, Nashiro. Nashiro in return is breathing hard while looking at Takeomi. "Oh, okay then. I understand, father. Please give my kindest regards to Marude san."

Takeomi takes his cellphone from his ear and lets out a big breath from his nose. He puts his cellphone in his jacket's pocket. Kurona walks back, where she was coming from. At this point, Takeomi walks straight to the door of the cafe. When he is trying to open, Kurona puts a hand over his shoulder. Takeomi looks back and stares at both of them. He raises an eyebrow and says, "Yes, is there anything I can help you with?"

Kurona stares at him and glances at her sister. Nashiro nods at her, and says, "Hey, be careful when coming there."

"Why is that?"

"When we enter the cafe, the employees are having some stalker problems. So, the tension is quite high. I advise you, not to enter."

"Stalker case? Then…." Takeomi looks back at the front door. "Is more than ever that I need to enter. My father is… I mean. I can help them, I have a friend there."

"Well, is up to you. We warn you…." Kurona takes her hand from Takeomi's shoulder and walks away with her twin sister. Takeomi rapidly walks into the cafe, he greets Irimi who is at the counter. Irimi greets him back. Takeomi looks all around the cafe. "Excuse miss, I still don't know what to read. Do you mind if I take a glance at the books available?"

Irimi moves her shoulders up, down, and says, "I don't know is really up to you, but if you want to order something, you can call for us." Takeomi nods at her and resumes his walking. "But, if you want a better experience, we have another waiter on the second floor, just in case you want to be on the second floor." Takeomi smiles at her and stops his walking, he turns around and walks his way to the stairs.

While he was there, he was battling with himself on how to approach Kaneki. In the meantime, he did some small talk with him.

Kaneki on the other hand was doing his business cleaning some tables and chairs.

Takeomi wanted to state his luck and just be straightforward with Kaneki.

"Kaneki…."

Kaneki, who was bending over, so he could clean the last table in the room. Stands properly and turns his face to look at Takeomi. "Yes...?"

"Do you have any problems with some stalking lately?"

"Eh… why do you say that?"

"Well, even if you don't have one. You know, you can always count on me."

"Well…..yes… thanks." Kaneki smiles at him, he glances down. He takes some glances at Takeomi, who was still seeing him, with a straight face. He was battling with himself if he wanted to involve a teenager in his situation. But on the other hand, having someone whose father belongs to the police force, might come in handy in some situations. And just happen, his having a situation.

"Okay…." Kaneki begins talking, making Takeomi follow him with his gaze. "Let's say that umm…. I think someone might be spying on me?" Takeomi nods and looks nowhere in particular, as he is thinking of a solution for his problem. "I think I might help you with something. Are you aware of what are UV lights?" Kaneki shakes his head.

Takeomi looks at the ground and puts a hand over his chin. "You know these lights are the ones that police officers use, so they can trace DNA or fingerprints that are invincible to the human eye."

"Oh, that sounds great, but are they expensive?"

"Hmmm, what if…. You know what? Kaneki san, go out with me? Please?"

"Yeah, of course, wait what?"

Author's note:

Hi guys, I hope you guys like the new format that I'm writing and solving the mystery on the story. I know, on my end I like it.
So if you enjoy the chapter, please do comment on it. I always appreciate any feedback! If you guys want to follow me on all my socials like Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter at existanceale