I don't normally look up character birthdays but I'll make an exception for Kenny with it almost being his birthday irl.
Kenny's birthday threw me off for how to go about after Hide entered the house. Now it feels wrong and right at the same time. He has friends but feels to early. Given that its Hide and Juuzou only, an oddball trio sounds like fun for a gloomy world like theirs.
Since this isnt getting many views, I'll give Ken a gift with it nearing the 20th. I need a christmas spirit pick me up and give him something happy before watching over the area
Changed my mind on the clothes chosen which were ideas from Amazon
The rest of the afternoon went as planned. The trio made it to the mall with Juuzou cackling at the idea of Hide having a thing for Kaneki. Hide kept telling him that brotherly bonded guys should keep tabs on each other when things get rough but Juuzou wasn't buying it one bit. Ken turned his red face away trying to ignore everything said.
"Take us to where the superhero stuff is so we can head back to my house." mumbles Ken.
"Sure thing Kaneki." says Hide ushering the albinos into the huge mall.
There seemed to be a lot of shops to pass before they stopped in front of a superhero merch shop. Didn't help that the mall was always busy regardless of the time of year.
"Here we are!" says Hide.
"What are the odds this has what we need?" wonders Ken peeking in.
"There's so much in here." says Juuzou amazed.
"I dunno what to say for sizes but this definitely has what we need if the prices aren't expensive." says Hide grinning.
"Hey ghoulish human?" wonders Juuzou.
"Call me Kaneki despite my first name being Ken." says Ken.
"Kaneki, when is your birthday?" wonders Juuzou curiously.
"..."
"Kaneki?" wonders Juuzou staring at Ken.
"...its December 20. A few days before Christmas." says Ken getting embarrassed.
"So this is a birthday\christmas present from your secret lover." says Juuzou grinning mischievously.
"We aren't secret lovers! We are brothers at heart! We get through everything together!" say Hide and Ken. One fuming and the other showing extreme embarrassment.
"Mmmmmmmmm...whatever you say." says Juuzou looking at the sign.
"Whe..when is your birthday?" wonders Ken blushing madly.
"I never hear you talk of your birthday." says Hide calming down.
"I'm a summer child. Born in June toward the days normal kids get out for summer." says Juuzou frowning.
"Then you're the same as me. Interesting." says Hide.
"I may be confusing heavenly angel from that of a fallen one. Hehehehe...right, Hide is in fact human but on the off chance he isnt, that'd make Hide a fallen angel. A fallen angel who was cast out of heaven to live amongst the living despite shining brightly like the sun around everyone. Despite all that sunshine sunflower rabbit oddball goofiness, he shines even brighter around my moon cycle human life as if he were chosen to stay by my side for reasons I'd never bother asking. Always seeming to brighten my mood when we were together from childhood to start of college years. When my life turned upside down and I looked more ghoulish than human, Hide became the warm summer with his usual smile never wavering. Though, it was a brief meeting since humans with growing fears due to anxiety logically keep away from everybody when things take a turn for the worse." says Ken, a small smile planted on his face.
"You have a creative way of stating how you think of our friendship. But lets not talk birthdays right now. Birthdays have no significance over how we see eachother." says Hide heading into the store.
"True." says Ken following Hide inside.
"What does that make me?" wonders Juuzou following the duo into the store.
"The sky I guess?" wonders Ken.
"Drifting clouds for day and the stars that surround the moon at night." says Hide pondering.
"So I'd be the perfect friend for both of you?" wonders Juuzou.
"Yup." says Ken.
"Definitely." says Hide.
It felt like hours passed as the boys scoured the racks for the clothes that would best fit the hero they represent. It actually took 3 hours at best, maybe more with Ken and Juuzou waiting near the entrance/exit of the shop for Hide.
During those 3 hours of searching...
Ken was undecided looking at a 3D bat long sleeve compression sports shirt, a elastic tight batman quick drying fitness long sleeved tshirt and whatever a compression workout short sleeved Batman hero shirt was, ending up going with the first option, putting back the other two. Although Ken wasn't much for baseball caps, they were better than creepy masks that hide the face and found himself grabbing a new era Batman justice league armor fitted cap apposed to the childish looking batman logo flat bill snap back baseball cap that had a faded white with a lot of bat logos on it with the yellow and black bat logo slapped onto it. Regular black pants would have to wait.
Juuzou looked all around the store at all the trinkets and clothes choices before Hide helped him find a nice looking cosplay styled land hero Nightwing print zipper hoodie and a debated addition being a Nightwing Symbol new era black scarlet snapback cap instead of the galaxy flat brimmed Nightwing baseball cap Juuzou took notice of.
While Ken and Juuzou waited near the entrance/exit of the shop, Hide had them face the walkway of the mall to watch the passerby as he thought over who to be. Didnt take long for Hide to search 'What hero is a ray of sunshine?' getting Izuku Midoriya in huge bolded letters. Mentally nodding, Hide smiled and went to searching the racks.
Soon, Hide grinned brightly poking the albinos to get their attention. Ken with his clothes choices, although dreading wearing them and Juuzou with the clothes choices Hide handed him turned around to see Hide with a navy shirt that had a logo picture of the hero in training Izuku hugging his younger self and a cosplay Deku tracksuit zipper hoodie/cosplay pants combo and was wearing a black and blue baseball cap with a Hero Academia New Hero Izuku Midoriya logo on it.
"All I need is a new pair of headphones to fit the part. We would need to pay for these to go hunting for the rest." says Hide.
"Not that I'm complaining but will there be enough for the rest of the outfits?" wonders Ken.
"Huuhhhh...good point. Let's pay first." says Hide.
Once the clothes were purchased, they went searching for a regular clothes store to find a simple black shirt and pants to go with the rest of the clothes that were bought. Ken wasnt to sure how he would think once he was infront of a full view mirror with the casual costume on. Juuzou on the other hand, who knew what amusements were going on in his head.
Eventually, the regular clothes that went with the merch and lone headphones were purchased letting the trio rest their legs at the food court. More like, Ken watching Hide and Juuzou eat what they paid for with their bags at their feet. Juuzou was eager to get royal blue Hip Hop slim fit track pants/jogging bottoms with side taping yet wasn't to sure of the plain black tshirt. Hide picked out a blue wireless wired headset that had a microphone he will be ignoring. Ken grabbed at the first pair of black pants he saw and ended up with Flat-Front comfort stretch pants with pockets. As for new shoes, Hide chose Giji Berry/Black/Red Orange hiking boots, Juuzou got Blue/Black indestructible steel toe lightweight work shoes and Ken cringely chose Black Night 2 vent mid hiking boots.
Thankfully, they were in a section of tables where no-one was around.
"I'm curious about something." says Juuzou.
"What's up?" wonders Ken.
"If you eat flesh, do you prefer the skinny humans or fat humans?" wonders Juuzou.
Hide almost hacked up a lung hearing the random question with Ken practically falling off his chair.
"My...my preferable what?" wonders Ken grabbing the table.
"How big do you like your meat?" wonders Juuzou.
"Never thought about it. I have been getting whatever remains fresh from suicides. At least until now. Haven't been able to grab human meat the past month with how weary I am of the CCG." says Ken.
"You afraid of eating live flesh?" wonders Juuzou.
"Its not something I'd enjoy...ever." mumbles Ken.
"You will have to eat eventually." says Juuzou.
"Its not a subject I like talking about." says Ken sinking into his chair.
"You will have to live with the juicy idea of fattening your precious secret lover to get some nibbles out of him." says Juuzou.
"Ooooook...new subject. Don't give him unneeded ideas since I'm the only one who can eat food if you don't count yourself and his foster parents." says Hide glaring at Juuzou.
"The CCG will be up my ass if they see Hide suddenly gain weight." says Ken fidgeting around.
"True that." says Hide nodding.
"Besides friends don't deliberately force stuff on each other like that. I'm not that insane. I mean...maybe my old self would...but I'm trying to forget that part of myself." says Ken staring at the food.
"Hmmmm?" wonders Juuzou smirking.
"Don't say anything unnecessary." says Hide setting a hand on Ken's shoulder.
Ken felt himself choke up as the memories resurfaced.
"Remember our chat Hide?" wonders Ken shadow eyed.
"Yeah. My day wasn't as energetic the following day." says Hide.
"Well, its about to sound even worse. So you two have a better understanding of my life..." says Ken dragging his clenching fists to his lap.
"You just had to start a conversation." says Hide.
"Curiosity kills." says Juuzou sticking his tongue out while smiling.
The boys stared at the trembling Ken awaiting what was about to be said.
"Believe what you want. Its still burned into my memory." mumbles Ken.
Hide and Juuzou nodded.
"What I told Hide is in fact true, in my case anyway. If the Ken you remember is in fact me, then I'd be the living representation of the poor teen." says Ken trying to focus.
"Tell us in bits if need be." says Hide.
Ken took a deep breath and began talking.
"The part of the date with the bitch binge eater is true. Went the same way, assuming...except I was still alive back at the hospital in utter disbelief with how things went at the construction site." says Ken.
"You were still black hair Kaneki?" wonders Hide.
"Yeah...yet something felt off. Way off for my liking. I still looked human around everyone but I chose to wear a medical eye patch so I'd fit in. Seemed like things would be fine and I can go on like usual. That was until a ghoul named Jason according to the CCG had me stuck in a torture chamber to mess with as he pleased. So many numbers...so much bugs crawling in my ears and toes strewn about the floor." says Ken twitching.
"Then what?" wonders Juuzou intrigued.
"...after staying at the 13th ward for 10 straight days, I uhh...I succumbed to the ghoul I tried suppressing and killed Jason before escaping with a ghoul squad called Aogiri. I went stir crazy taking on the CCG alongside the other ghouls until I came back to my senses. But by then, the Hide I knew was a new recruit and was finally taking on the ghouls of the 20th ward. I'm not to sure how true that was though. When we met up again with me as the white haired eye patch centipede, my Hide was losing alot of blood yet kept the bright smile he had from my human days. I took the soon to be unconscious Hide out of the damaged Anteiku coffee shop with the belief that he died as what was left of the CCG stared waiting to take action while unsure of what to do. I felt like I didn't deserve friends so that's pretty much the just of it." says Ken teary eyed.
Hide stared in silence like the night at the house while Juuzou seemed bored by the simplicity in how Ken worded his old life.
"A mad scientist looking surgeon named Doctor Kanou put Rize's organs in me forcing me to face reality as a half ghoul who didn't have a place anywhere." says Ken unamused.
"Jesus...I'd hate to hear the full blown version. Must be really scarring to the mind if you can form only a few sentences like those." says Hide staring in awe despite looking grief stricken.
"I could tell you everything from my version of our childhood but its to gruesome even for me." says Ken.
"Seems like you would've been better off if you were human by day and demon by night. Would confuse the hell outta people and the CCG though." says Juuzou.
"If that were my reality, I'd beable to go to school by day and sneak around for suicides by night." says Ken frowning.
"Capturing a being like that would raise alot of questions and put you on the most wanted for uniqueness. What other being can shift from a shy reserved boy to a gloom and doom ghoul?" wonders Hide amused.
"The hell would I know? I'm stuck this way!" says Ken.
"Dude, you have an actual house again with a family that wont die on you...maybe. And if we pull some strings, you can take part in the CCG and take on ghouls." says HIde.
"You want my life to be an even harsher hell don't you?" wonders Ken.
"No...god no. If you act like yourself then they'll warm up to you. Telling them your past is another story though." says Hide.
"Instantly rushing in after hearing you out is not a good way to be treated as a quinx." says Juuzou tilting his head.
"Hey freak of the human race, quinx eat like any other human. I can't be in the mess hall only downing coffee everyday." says Ken glaring at Juuzou.
"Would be fucked up seeing a quinx eating flesh." says Juuzou.
"You're the one with a fucked up mindset. Fattening Hide would be what my Centipede self would do without a care always showing a psychotic smile. A frozen psychotic grin plastered on my renewed ghoul form." says Ken reverting his eyes.
"Relationships and love isnt my specialty. You two claim to be childhood friends from way back. That is a dead given. Yet your friendship should be two buds screwing around with eachother. In fussy's case that died the moment he had to flee to protect his identity. Hide has photos of human Kaneki from everywhere you two went until what a year ago. I'm not to good with how much time passes. Everything blends together to me atleast. Even so, with the way you two are infront of me gives me the impression you both are hiding your feelings and cant bear having them shown to anyone who comes into contact with you. Its strange seeing good buddies act like lovers without realizing it. Or am I reading to into it? Its hard to say if Akira loves Takizawa or Amon when I spy on the trio. Takizawa glaring daggers when Akira notices Amon is hilarious. The Ken presented to us feels out of place while Hide keeps his secret crush as what...1,000s of pictures he cant part with? What's the perfect word for guys like you? I can't think of one." says Juuzou leaning back in his chair.
"Never think to into our situation!" says Hide.
"Is there even such a word for you two? Sure friends are always there for eachother in a heartbeat but lovers go beyond whatever's in their way to protect the other." says Juuzou.
"Family goes above and beyond for those they care for. And as I keep telling you, we are practically brothers. Not by blood obviously but brothers just the same." says Hide reddening from anger.
"Dunno about you but my Hide felt like he wanted me as a lover but found love through brotherly bonding. If he stayed alive I'd hear everything he has to say about his bottled feelings when I ditched him." says Ken staring at the table.
"Hide, if you guys had a brotherly bond this long then wouldn't you want more than that? If you care about Kaneki alot wouldnt you be mixing up boyfriend with brother? You were simple brothers as kids but now you are practically grownups so wouldnt there be more to this than meets the eye?" wonders Juuzou.
"We should talk about this back at Kaneki's place." says Hide.
Ken kept silent keeping his gaze on the table.
"Becoming a loving family seems so much easier for humans. You get to see a mini you roaming the city happy to be around any kid they see unless the parent says otherwise. Ghoul kids cant be with human kids and vise versa. Half ghouls are shunned by both so you'd always be in the grey area." says Juuzou.
"How many crazy pills do you take Juuzou?" wonders Hide.
"None. I cant blame what comes to mind and the things that escape my mouth." says Juuzou shrugging before falling to the floor.
Juuzou picked up the chair and sat back down as if he never fell.
"You two are a special kind of something I cant really read so its up to you two to spill your hidden desires to each other." says Juuzou.
