Chapter 11: Hold...

"In a foreign place, the saving grace was the feeling,

That it was her heart that he was stealing…

They made it far too easy to believe,

That true romance can't be achieved these days,"

- "Only Ones Who Know" by Arctic Monkeys

"And this word is saccharine."

Rui giggled loudly with her eyes shut. "Yes, my name is Rui."

Haise tilted his head in confusion before he realized her misunderstanding. "[2] Oh, no, saccharine. Sac-cha-rine. It's a type of sweetness, but it can also be used to describe something excessively sweet, or refers to something containing sugar."

Rui puffed her cheeks; her way of showing her concentration. "Sac-core—"

"No," Haise interrupted, "Sac-cha-rine." He enunciated the syllables clearly as to make the memorisation of the word easier for Rui.

"Sac–." Rui stuttered, almost wanting Haise to ask if she still needed more help. "Sac-charine. Saccharine."

Haise clapped his hands together ecstatically. "You got it!" He praised.

Rui giggled happily, and took pride in her accomplishment, as Haise patted her head. Touka, who was standing off to the side, was listening in to the grammar lesson that her daughter was currently enjoying. An ever present smile, plastered to her face as she made coffee.

It was another day, and yet again, barely enough customers were coming through :re. The only occupants were a couple chatting - about what, Touka could care less - and Haise, who was currently mentoring Rui. Usually, she welcomed the silence in her café as it allowed her and her staff a moment of reprieve. She would sometimes converse with her friends and even play with Rui. On other occasions, she would wander around the shop, paying attention to the many books that she kept forgetting she bought for her shop for the sake of decoration. However, ever since Haise had become a regular customer, she couldn't help but smile at his company. He brought back a familiar feeling every time he stepped through the door... like déjà vu.

And she enjoyed it.

As soon as Touka started pouring the coffee, she saw Haise rise from his chair. Rui didn't seem to notice, as she was practicing her romanji. She couldn't help but notice his pace was much faster than before. Could it be that something major had happened?

Touka didn't think too hard on it, unconsciously keeping her eyes on him as to not break contact.

"Hi," he said, as if he had just met her for the first time. He's breathing very slowly, she noticed, a different tactic compared to the other times.

"Hi." Touka responded, snickering as she placed the cup of coffee in front of him. She still didn't break eye contact. "Here."

Today, perhaps unusually, Haise wasn't wearing his Investigator uniform. He donned blue jeans with black boots that made her question if that was a right choice to match. His grey long-sleeved shirt also seemed inappropriate since it was at least 80 degrees outside. Even the heat was getting to his hair, as strands were sticking out randomly. She didn't hold herself back, and she couldn't help but laugh again.

Haise's smile faltered. "What is it?"

Touka stoppped giggling, however, her smile remained. "Your hair," she said, motioning to her hair to indicate his own plight.

Haise blinked owlishly before bringing a hand over his hair, the loose strands of hair gently brushing the offending appendage. "Oh, shoot." he said embarrassingly. He brought his other hand in hopes of trying to keep his hair in place. Touka laughed as he did so very hastily.

"Sasaki, you don't need to do that," Touka assured, despite him continuing, and failing, his attempts of readjustment. Reaching across the counter, she grabbed his hands and brought them down. Almost low enough to knock his coffee cup over.

Right then and there, Touka stopped smiling. Her eyes were briefly locked onto her and Haise's locked hands. Her fingers glided underneath his wrist and she could feel his pulse. Whatever he displayed before on his face could no longer trick her to show his obvious infatuation with her, as the pulse was pounding through his skin at an unusually fast pace.

Touka looked up and she could see Haise do the same. His cheeks had a sharp, deep hue of red. She used to think about how silly yet cute he was whenever he flustered. However, that was from afar. Right now, she was close.

Very close.

Before anything else could happen, Touka flinched backwards, snatching her hand away from Haise's. Realising that her heart was pounding, she worried whether she had embarrassed herself. She could feel blood rush to her face as her cheeks heated up, but she didn't want to see if she was blushing or not. She didn't know she couldn't. It's not like checking would make things better.

"Kirishima-san?" Haise questioned, setting his hands down but not breaking eye contact with Touka.

Touka blinked as a way to bring herself back down to reality. "I'm sorry, Sasaki," she apologized, taking a step forward in order to show no inelegance. "I didn't get much sleep yesterday, so I may or may not be in control of myself."

Touka wanted to slap herself for giving such a stupid and mindless explanation about her actions. Did that even make sense, she asked herself. For a moment, she thought Haise would say something blunt like "liar", which would've been the first blunt thing he said to her, but he only gave a small smile.

"It's alright," he responded. He grabbed the cup of coffee in front of him. "I understand." His smile suddenly made her smile as well, but she couldn't help but wonder if it was fake or not.

It was only since yesterday since Touka's friends talked to her about her love life, yet it seemed to be like four years. She didn't know how to take Aomi's words. She spoke them like it was okay for somebody to steal them from her. It would be an open door of an opportunity for Touka if she wanted to, but she somehow didn't know how to set herself for it. Basically, even if it hadn't been twenty-four hours, she gave herself repetitive reminders on how she was fine with how she was. There were mixed feelings with what happened in her past, whether she would accept them or not, even if she tried to focus on what was happening at the moment.

It had been going well for quite a while. Touka thought that she could finally have time to herself to think about what to do. But, as if the world wanted to give her more than what she could take, Haise decided to visit her and Rui again. Ever since he made his way into the shop, Touka really may not be fully in control of her actions.

...what was she thinking?

Touka glanced around the shop and saw the only other people there had decided to finally leave. They didn't even offer a goodbye unlike some of the other kinder customers would, nor did Touka give a goodbye of her own, and the two left the coffee shop in silence. Once the bell by the door rang, Haise turned his head to see the door close. It took faster than a second for him to transition his head back to Touka.

"The shop's really slow today, isn't it?" Haise pointed out, his elbows resting on the counter.

Touka nodded in agreement. "We don't usually get a lot of customers on Wednesdays. To be completely honest with you though, I like it when it's like this." Touka's eyes traveled to her left and she could see Rui still writing. "It gives me more time to watch Rui."

Haise chuckled, his fingers playing with his half-empty cup. "My, what a caring mother you are."

Touka looked back at Haise and smirked. She had her hand on her waist and she suddenly felt calm. "It isn't much of a choice. It's all about instinct."

Haise's eyes made a brief gleam. She knew how much he cared about Rui already, so it wasn't hard on seeing him grow soft whenever her daughter was brought up.

"That's true," Haise agreed. "But I think that Rui-chan should be the last thing you should worry about."

"What?" Touka asked, confusion and her slowly rising anger bringing a frown to her face.

Haise looked like he wanted to say something else, but he hesitated, probably pondering over what he had just said. Touka thought, for a second, that he was suddenly waging his way to her like the other men before. It almost have her an acute turbulence, even if that did occur whenever her daughter was brought on as the subject in a negative occurrence, but she withdrew herself. Mostly because Haise looked guilty.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant," Haise assured, his voice a bit louder, and strained, than before. The loudest he had ever spoken. "I mean, don't you have other stuff to take care of, well, besides your shop and Rui-chan? Oh, not that Rui-chan isn't important to you, which she must be. I mean, she is!"

Touka's feelings welled up and made her laugh at Haise's nervous front, making his eyebrow twitch with frustration.

"Calm down, Sasaki," Touka said, still giggling. The way she said Sasaki always made her tongue dance in a very effective result. "You look like you're going to explode."

From the way Haise's cheeks flushed, it seemed as if that was his goal the entire time.

"And I know that I've told you this before," Touka continued, thinking back on their past conversations the past month. "I have school over at [3] Megami University, taking care of my shop, and having to look over what goes on with my employees..."

Touka kept on talking about what went on in her life, yet she didn't have the heart to be fully invested. She only paid mind to the movements Haise made meanwhile he watched her. The way he held onto the coffee cup with his right hand, alternating the location of it as he kept taking sips from it. The way his left hand slowly tapped against the countertop with just a single forefinger. Even the way his hair still had strands rising in the air. She didn't think that she could ever multitask in that way before. She could barely focus on one thing at a time, so this was entirely contrasting from her usual movements.

She did her best in not focusing too much on his face. Not that there was nothing wrong with it, but is like she would get mentally slapped by those simple facets. It wasn't with charm but rather nostalgia. It was almost violating.

How could his face, out of all the faces she had seen beforehand, almost make her feel that way?

Touka breathed out and she realized that she had finished talking. It took her awhile to see that Haise was apparently too focused on her.

She wanted to ask if he was alright, but before she could put it into words, Haise blinked, returning to reality.

"Oh, wow," Haise said, making Touka wonder if it was laced with a flattering tone. "You really do have a lot on your plate."

"Yeah..." Touka agreed, not offering to say anything else.

However, Haise didn't offer to let that continue. "You don't have anything else?"

Hearing that made Touka seem as if he wasn't impressed. He was acting differently than before, she thought, and she expected him to retrace back on what he had said.

"Um, no," Touka muttered, trying to hide her annoyed expression with a confused one.

"Oh, uh, I see," Haise stuttered. Touka suddenly felt embarrassed as he actually wanted to talk to her. He glanced around the shop and stopped once he spotted her distinguishable bookshelf. Touka knew what was coming to her as soon as he did.

Well, almost, since Rui then moved from her working spot to climb to the seat next to Haise.

"Onii-chan," Rui said, surprising Haise before he looked behind him to see the black-haired child. She had her journal in her hands and placed it in front of him, pointing it to a certain group of romanji. "How do you say this word again?"

Haise looked down at the notebook. "That's an easy one. That's Myosotis, but an easier way to say it is a forget-me-not."

"Is that a flower?" Rui asked, almost worried that she might get it wrong.

"It is," Haise smiled and Rui's nose twitched as if she could smell the flower. "[4] It's actually my favorite flower."

Rui beamed with reverence, making Touka chuckle. She knew about that fact all too well.

"Really?" Rui asked, letting Haise nod. Touka didn't move, yet she was thinking about what went on in her daughter's head. Whatever occurred in that brain of a child is bound to be blunt and honest.

"Okay, I think that's enough practice for today, Rui-chan," Haise said, closing the notebook. "I wouldn't want to work you too hard."

"Okay, Onii-chan." Rui obeyed, but she pursed her lips into a pout. The act brought an idea to the forefront of Touka's mind.

"Hey, Rui," Touka leaned towards her. Rui looked up to her, her pout no longer intact. "Do you want to go to the park?"

Rui's blue eyes brightened like the ocean and she gave a large smile that exposed her teeth before nodding vigorously.

"Okay, then," Touka chuckled, grabbing Haise's now empty cup. "Go on and change, okay?"

Rui gave another quick nod before grabbing her notebook and dashing straight out of the room. Touka didn't hesitate on twisting her head back to Haise.

"Do you want to come with?" Touka asked. Haise had his shoulders slumped but quickly straightened himself once he heard Touka's question.

"But is it a good idea to leave the shop?" Haise's eyes looked worried, as if he has ruined his chance. Only Touka would know.

"It's fine." Touka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Again, as I said, we're slow on Wednesdays, and my brother's upstairs, so he can watch the shop for a bit."

Haise looked like he wanted to offer another defense, but Touka was quick when she took off her apron. Surprisingly, he said nothing else. Touka didn't even expect this man to be so flustered with seeing her uniform without her apron.

"Calm yourself, Sasaki." Touka eyed him and Haise maintained his regular gaze. "I'll be right back. I'm going to go change."

Touka didn't even catch Haise's reluctant and fazed nod. She only turned to the door that led to her apartment, clutching her black apron with little care.

Climbing up the stairs, Touka couldn't help but give a small smile as she thought about the awkward Investigator. Even if he was acting odd on this day, she thought that maybe she could help ease him of his worries. She still had her silly promise she made to herself, sewn into her heart and mind, but it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and be with a friend.

She just needed to grab something.

Haise Sasaki was the most idiotic and hopeless romantic in the entire world.

Not even a full twenty-four hours passed since he was offered help from Tomine. It was nothing new to him based on his teachings. Back when he was a Rank 3 Investigator, he was given the same regimens and training sessions by Arima, Akira, and Tomine. Whether they were verbal or physical, he paid very close attention to them and made sure he was not close to forgetting them. Considering that the one to teach him about how to "enchant" someone - Tomine's words, not his - was one of his mentors, he could say that there was nothing new.

Despite having even way too familiar with Tomine's style, Haise still had to act like a student as he was given a brief lesson about how to attract Touka. It later about ten minutes, as he was just old various facts rather than actions.

"Listen carefully, Haise-kun," Tomine began once Haise agreed to hear her out. "Things are usually done with words rather than actions when it comes to getting closer. The key is to think of how to start and continue a conversation."

Tomine held out her index finger, letting Haise become aware that it's a one.

"One: Always pay attention to what they're saying. Be interested in what they do, that should be a given." Tomine flipped her middle, indicating that she had moved on to point two. "Two: Do not be blunt with them. Always keep certain comments to yourself, no matter how much they could range in." Another finger. [5] Sign of three. "Three: don't make things all about you. It'll make you seem egoistic."

Haise bit the inside of his cheek, wondering if he might ever act that way in his life. Tomine made four fingers with a straight face.

"Four: flatter them. Try and come up with sly yet expected comments." Her entire hand was splayed in front of Haise's face. "Five: make sure you do something nice for them..."

Haise had repeated Tomine's words in his heads, unsure whether he had forgotten some of the details. Even if he had, the facts were still the same no matter what order they were placed in. Haise made sure he had them written in stone for when he met with Touka.

That is to say that he really wasn't living up to them.

A hopeless romantic, indeed.

It hasn't been long since they left :re, yet once they walked to the park across the street, Haise couldn't stop thinking about his lousy attempts. Tomine's voice wrestled it's way into his head as he had the perfect opportunity to talk to Touka.

One: always pay attention to what they're saying.

Haise followed that way too seriously. It was nice to hear stuff about Touka, but he didn't know what else to do when she stopped and he was now well known with her life. He knew that he acted greedy when he asked for more like a beggar.

Two: Do not be blunt with them.

Haise was naturally good at ascertaining when someone was being dishonest with him and as a result, he usually made this known. However, he did his best in not saying anything blunt. Even when Touka got...very close to him and she tried to lie about her behavior, he kept his mouth shut.

Three: Don't make things all about you.

He was basically repeating One. All he did was ask for stuff from Touka rather than speak about himself. Well, that's probably for the best since no one wanted to hear the life of a Ghoul Investigator.

Four: Flatter them.

...

Fuck.

That was all Haise could think about that comment after his attempt at it. First, he complimented her for being a caring mother. He thought hints would be fine from that point on, but that point turned out to be anything but sharp. When he said that Rui should be the least of Touka's problems, he was hoping that she would take it as "I'm here now, so I will take your worries far away from you." How could he forget that worrying about your own child is an absolute necessity for a parent?

Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Dear God, he was stupid!

He didn't even hit Five yet, but Haise felt as if he was just going backwards.

Rui meanwhile, was skipping in front of him, blissfully ignorant of the internal turmoil that her tutor was currently undergoing. It worried him, as she was far ahead of him and Touka, who was walking by his side (at a respective distance, of course). However, Touka kept calling her to come back to them, with Rui not minding as she would be back near her mother. He was grateful for seeing that. It was the only thing to calm him down from his stress. Was it stress? Could be overthinking? An exaggeration?

Whatever it was, he kept wishing for it to go away.

Touka then started to walk closer to Haise. "Are you doing okay?"

Haise looked up at Touka, who was flashing him a small smile. God, she was beautiful. "I'm doing okay."

He gave a small smile back, but he didn't even know if it was assuring or not. All he could trust was Touka's nod back to him.

Haise was trying so hard at maintaining his attempts of conversation, but he couldn't say anything. The same went for Touka, as she continued looking at Rui. The small glance he could make towards various parts of the park didn't help as well. This wasn't the first time he visited the park, but he always appreciated how it's views helped soothe him. He could tell that given from his position, his situation was that serious and uncomfortable. He couldn't stop clenching and unclenching his hands as the three continued walking.

"So how's everything with you?" Touka finally broke the silence. Her hands were behind her back, making him wonder if she was nervous too. Her? Nervous? He could almost laugh at that.

"Oh, umm," Haise said trying to think of what to say.

Three: don't make things all about you.

A cold sweat ran down the back of Haise's neck. Tomine's voice resounded so clearly and loudly within his head that it wouldn't have surprised him that he was currently being haunted by the phantasm of his mentor's voice.

"It's fine, nothing new." Haise responded quickly, shutting his mouth as if to prove that that was all he had to say. Touka nodded back without protest, and Haise immediately wanted to change his answer. He wanted to tell her everything about himself. About how he and his squad were improving and getting more well known. That was the only thing he had on his mind, something that would at least break the ice. Sad to say that that one option was blown off the table. It was almost disorienting, but at the same time, he was glad. At least Tomine dragged him a bit from that route.

"What about your job?" Touka asked politely.

...Damn it...

Haise cleared his throat. "My what?"

"I'm not stupid or anything," Touka informed him. "I see you wear that coat almost everyday. Not that that's surprising for a Ghoul Investigator."

She wasn't smiling anymore, but the charisma was seeping out of her, like a broken dam.

Haise put a hand behind his neck. "Oh, well, it's not like anything much happens over there. Plus, I told you this: some of my work is classified, so I can't really tell you what goes on."

"I understand." She bowed her head slightly as another nod. Haise probably thought that she didn't want to hear those details either.

Haise wanted to be surprised by her sudden comprehension, but he could see her true colors. She seemed frustrated by his response. He could just point it out to her if he could.

Two: do not be blunt with them.

I hope you're goddamn right, Tomine.

"Mommy!" Rui shouted, making Haise and Touka looked ahead. Rui's tiny index finger pointed towards Haise's left. "I want to go in the garden."

The two adults turned their head and Haise didn't even realize that they had just arrived near the park garden. It's true that he had been familiar with this park, but that didn't mean that he remembered every exact fraction of it.

Touka didn't give a reply. She only walked towards the entrance. Haise tried in vain to catch up with her and her sudden pace. Rui stopped going on ahead and playfully walked near her mother.

The three walked in silence, but that time was not because of Haise's anxiety, for once. All he could do was look ahead of the rows and rows of flowers in the garden. The colors were almost engulfing, as bright as the fire he sees everyday at the CCG, while others were as calming as :re's ambiance. It's too strong that he wished for it to trap the guilt and awkwardness he's obviously building.

"You were staring at the books again." Touka said abruptly.

Haise jumped, honestly surprised by her propulsive reappearance. "I'm sorry?"

"You were looking at the books again, back at :re," Touka continued. "I bet you were looking for something new to read."

Haise chuckled, but for the first time, it wasn't with anxiety. "Well, I'm always looking for something new."

"Oh, that I knew for awhile. You practically read every book in my shop."

"That's a lie!" Haise said in a much higher pitch, earning a laugh from Touka.

"Is it now?" Touka said in a teasing voice.

"Onii-chan's lying, Mommy," Rui interrupted. "He reads super duper fast, just like a cheetah."

"I don't always read fast, Rui-chan," Haise defended, a small blush creeping in. "I take my time with my reading."

"No no, I'm going to have to side with Rui," Touka stated, pursing her lips primly. Her hand rested on top of Rui's head, gently fiddling with her hair. "You're actually the second man I know who could actually be that interested in reading."

Two: don't be blunt.

Three: don't make things all about you.

"I see," Haise replied, biting his lip undetected. Cursing internally.

The awkward aura he had wasn't going away. Because of his obsession of following Tomine's advice, it's like he kept finding more of that unnecessary emotion. Emotions should be something that should set you free, something that can make a person think whatever they want.

Haise had to remind himself that he was free; what mattered was how he dealt with that freedom.

Touka only stared at him before looking past him, as if he completely vanished. "Oh, look, Rui, do you want to buy some flowers?"

Haise looked behind him to see a small cart with various bouquets. He only looked back in time to see Touka bending down to give Rui small coins for the flowers. He didn't want to seem crazy, but he thought he saw the two exchange quick winks.

"Will she be okay?" Haise asked once Rui ran to the cart. He didn't notice that he and Touka walked a little bit to a new row of flowers. Sunflowers as tall as them.

"She's fine," Touka assured. "She knows she can't go far, and she'll find us."

But doesn't that scare you?

He didn't say this aloud. Only gave a small hum as an "okay".

Touka side-glanced him, and Haise expected it to be irritated. Of course, all because of his lousy moves. However, there was concern.

"Sasaki," Touka said holding tight onto the strap of her purse. "Did something happen to you?"

She's onto me, Haise jokingly laughed. He didn't laugh.

"What makes you think that?" Haise denied.

"Now, don't lie to me," she chuckled, but there's no free will. "I see that you're flustered with virtually every breath."

"Maybe that's how I always act."

"I don't know you that well yet, but I get the impression that that's not true."

Her correction reminded him of Tomine, making his composure almost shatter into nonexistence.

"So what's wrong?" Touka asked again. This time, Haise could tell that she wanted no more jokes.

He sighed in defeat. To be honest, he didn't even know what he was doing anymore. His brain was fried and his body was tired, not giving any more support. He couldn't hear Tomine's voice anymore, so it's a dead end.

Finally, he looked at Touka with exhausted eyes. "It's been a while since I've gotten to know you, Kirishima-san."

They stopped walking, like that sentence was a shock to the body and soul. Not like they even noticed. Only the flowers did.

"I always enjoy our conversations." Haise continued steadfastly. "But I felt as if what I say isn't enough, so I thought that I should try something different."

Haise was smart. He knew that Touka knew what he was saying. But he felt that that explanation was vague.

"Now that's just stupid." Touka blurted.

He knew it.

"You shouldn't try anything new, Sasaki." Touka continued. She didn't mention about why he did that, making him have sweet relief. "I like our conversations too, and I like you the way you are."

He didn't know that.

And then something popped up in his mind. A memory.

"And, finally." Tomine said, raising another finger from her left hand. "Six: be yourself. It doesn't matter if you accomplish One through Five, but Six is the absolute important rule to follow."

Haise stiffened. "It seems so simple."

"So are the other ones before," Tomine chuckled, putting her hands in her pockets. "But Six does the one thing the others cannot. It can set you free."

Haise didn't know what to say. Not from following Tomine's advice. It was because he had the important Six. That what Touka admitted was no longer just a thought.

Because what Touka had said was true.

"I'm not afraid of you." Touka said. "But I am worried about you. Whatever you did before, that wasn't you. So please go back talking like the normal idiot you are."

Haise laughed, his cheeks flushing intensely. Not that he cared. He didn't even care if the whole world was watching. He was shaking, and for a second he realized that that was the greatest thing he could do. A reminder that he was alive.

"So much for going through and through with that," Haise jokingly said.

"But it's alright," Touka assured. "You're still you."

I'm still me...

He didn't know why, but he almost fainted at that.

"Oh, that's right." Touka exclaimed, and reached for her purse. "I forgot to give you—"

Touka moved too quickly for her purse, as her heel suddenly stepped on a small rock. It wasn't effective for her to break anything, but she fell forward.

"Whoa!" Haise exclaimed, grabbing Touka and taking himself down with her.

Haise thought that before he was stiff as a board, but given from the position he and Touka were in, he could've matched a person who was inept enough to look at Medusa with wide eyes. He was on top of Touka, his left hand holding onto her back and his right spread across the grass. It was soft, lessening the compact collision, but he didn't pay attention to that.

He only had his eyes on Touka.

This was way different than from how close he was with her at :re. He noticed everything about her at this distance. Her eyes, the perfect imitation of the wide open sea, were only looking up at him. Her hand clutched onto his left arm while the other was against her chest. Her bob was sprawled across the grass, moving slightly from the small, sudden wind. His knees were close to her legs, but they didn't move, proving that she was just as frozen as he was. Even by her face, which could be in the same shade of red he had. Everything was calm, but he didn't care.

Without thinking, he leaned closer towards Touka. The hair on the back of his neck rose like the hackles of a dog. His heartbeat increased, making the blood flow even faster to his cheeks. He expected Touka to stop him. He thought about her deceased boyfriend, Rui's father, so he wouldn't blame her if she did.

But she didn't. Instead, she slightly closed her eyelids. On instinct, he slowly copied her, all so while his head tilted. Their noses touched and he could feel her warm breath on his lips.

"Mommy!"

Both their eyes flicked open and they were quick in separating. Haise was no longer on top and both he and Touka could stare at each other. They didn't even bother hoisting themselves up once Rui suddenly ran towards the two.

"I got you flowers!" Rui informed.

Haise looked down at the grass, too ashamed to look back at Touka.

"Onii-chan?"

Haise looked up and his nose brushed against a bouquet of flowers. And then it came to him: the flowers were meant for him.

Forget-me-nots.

"Rui-chan." Haise whispered, taking the small bouquet.

"It's your birthday today, isn't it, Onii-chan?" Rui smiled. "April 4th!"

[6]"What?" Haise asked, his cheeks calming down.

"I told her that it was your birthday today," Touka explained. Haise turned to her to see her grabbing her purse. "You didn't think that I forgot, did you?"

Well, I didn't, because I was the one that forgot, Haise thought.

"Here," Touka offered a book from her purse. "I don't know if you actually read all of my books, but I bought you a new one for today."

Haise looked at Touka. She was smiling, the blush from her cheeks completely wiped off, and her lightly tanned skin gleamed in the sun. He trailed towards her hand, her nails carefully displayed on top of her gift. Haise took the book, reading the cover.

[7] Kokoro by Natsume Sosuke

It's a new book. One he never read before. That was what surprised him.

"Rui sort of helped picking it out." Touka giggled.

Haise looked back at Rui, her hands behind her back and twisting her body side to side with a small perkiness.

"Solicitude, right?" Rui said.

Solicitude

Kokorozukai.

She said it perfectly.

And that made Haise smile.

"Happy birthday," both Touka and Rui said in unison.

Haise felt a burning feeling in his heart. It wasn't the same as the one he felt before with Touka a minute ago. No, this one was much calmer, more accepting. He remembered that he did receive gifts for his birthday earlier. He had a lot of work at the CCG, so he usually didn't focus too much on that day. Even if before he was too focused on him trying to flirt with Touka, that was oblivious to him. And here he was, in a garden, surrounded by diverse flowers, not thinking about his mentor's advice, a four-year-old prodigy smiling like the child she was, and a woman whom he liked, giving him gifts when he never even asked.

He really was an idiot.

1. Arctic Monkeys, how you make me feel so at ease with everything. Arctic Monkeys are one of my absolute favorite artists, ever since my sister and her boyfriend introduced me to them two years ago. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is my favorite album by them, having a distinct sound in their tracks.

One of the songs from that album was "Only Ones Who Know". This song is just so beautiful and so calm that I felt that it would be perfect for this chapter. Right now, Haise and Touka are heading closer and closer into a much more intimate relationship than before. There are two sides of the story: Haise wishing to steal her heart yet unaware how while Touka wants nothing to do with romance. I believe this song describes their verge of becoming closer despite these setbacks. They are proving to others that a "true romance" is blossoming and it is the kind that can't be received from others.

2. The Japanese translation for saccharine is "amattarui". Rui mistook this as "AnataC wa Rui", which translates to "You are Rui". She thought that Haise was calling her out.

3.*in a sarcastic manner* Gee, I wonder why Haise's favorite flower is the forget-me-not.

(Silently crying inside while realizing what I've done)

4. Re: pray 101 is now in session *pfff* XD

Megumi University is known as the fictional sister University of Kamii University. It is also one of the top six schools in Tokyo. I thought that Touka going to Kamii seems a little out of way, so I decided to make up another college for her to go to rather than the other.

5.I hope you're paying attention to that comment, Sherlock fans!

6.I got that quick forgetful tone Haise had from "The Great Gatsby". One of the main characters forgot that it was his birthday right after a heated conversation. Just a quick reminder that it is completely normal to forget your birthday.

7.I had to search up a book that must have some relation to the story. Kokoro by Natsume Sosuke is something that I have never read, but now I plan to. I chose it as I heard it has major themes of isolation, guilt, and friendship ;D I figured it matched with the setting of Tokyo Ghoul perfectly

...well...Chapter 125 happened...

SOMEBODY HOLD ME, IM HIGH ON DRUGS AND I CANT BELIEVE ANYTHING ANYMORE!

(I know it's been like what, 3, 4 weeks since the chapter, but I at least want to give my reaction.)

Ever since then, I haven't stopped rereading it and slamming my head against the wall with happiness, because I can't believe that Ishida-sensei would do that. I fucking swear, if anything happens to them, I'm gonna do something!

*sigh* Now that that's outta my system, I apologize again for the wait, everyone. But now that it's summer, I plan on working as much as I can. Though I really hope you'll understand as I am going to start college soon and I have to work hard. So please stick around!

Also, other news, I have a new beta, TheGreenDooredBookshop! This author asked if I needed help and I'm grateful to finally have help fixing up my story. So there'll be no more problems with the mistakes in my chapters! So anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and if you want, comment, favorite, follow, DM me, whatever. And until the next chapter, BYE BYE!

(Hello, this is TGDB. Whilst it is nice that my colleague DarkSummerBrightWinter96 has so much faith in me, I am not infallible, so please forgive any mistakes or/and miss any typos. Please follow or favorite this story.)