Disclaimer (I should do this more often): I do not own Tokyo Ghoul, or anything else that may belong to other ppl, e.g. songs n shit. I'm just a friendly facfictioner taking out my post-anime depression on writing happy endings. Thank much. (OwO) (Helpful criticism always invited!)


"You can play the piano." They have been sitting there on the floor in each other arms for 10 minutes already, when Hinami brought it up.

"Oh, uhh yeah, sure." Kaneki sheepishly responded. So she did hear.

Hinami looked over at the sleeping body on the bed. "What happened to Onee-chan? She's looks hurt…" Hinami had concern in her voice. Forever the caring one in this place. He smiled at the thought.

"Just some trouble. Nothing that…big." He wanted to tell the truth, but was afraid of how Hinami would respond. Her parents did get ruthlessly killed by doves, and it has caused her to develop a hatred for those people.

"Oh…" She could tell, but chose not to push it any further. "So was Onii-chan playing the piano that day?" That day? The day I gave them a letter?

"Uhh yeah sure." He shrugged. "So what?"

"It was very good…" She timidly responded.

"Eh?" That was the first time in years somebody complimented him for anything. Given this, he was at loss for words. He had always thought himself to be a humble man, this fact further engraved in his mind by minimizing actions that may make himself to be a showoff of some sort. Compliments are overrated anyways… So long story short, he was shocked. VERY shocked. The last compliment he ever received was from his mother, back when she was still alive, that is…

Tears immediately sprung up in his eyes. "O-onii-chan? Did I say something wrong?" Hinami looked worried, apologetic for the most part. "It's fine, Hinami," he wiped his tears. "Just some old memories." "Oh, ok…" He ruffled her hair, instantly cheering her up.

"Well, I have to go." Hinami's eyes went wide open. "NO! Not yet! I have a… request," she asked, red faced. Huh? "I heard you playing a song just now," she asked in a small voice. Kaneki raised an eyebrow. "Can you… maybe… teach me?"

His face held a mixture of surprise and shock. "Hey, I can play the piano, just so you know," Hinami retorted, noticing his look. "Uhh yeah, sure, but…that piece? Are you really sure?"

Wham.

A direct bullseye, right into Hinami's pride.

"Are you…doubting me?" Oh no.

"Uh, hehe, not at all! Uhm see, well…" His mind struggled to come up with something. The last time he unknowingly insulted a girl, he almost died, kind of. An unfortunate accident with Touka, that was all. But hell did that suck.

She stared at Kaneki through narrowed eyes. "Hmpf. Fine, I will let you off this time. But the next time you do it again, I will have you know, I have a kagune too." She huffed. Praise the lord for my everlasting existence and protection. If he had to rank his scariest experiences in life, the rage of a female ghoul has a place in the top numbers. Come to think of it, the last compliment in his memory was actually Touka's one. Your coffee isn't that bad. Improvement. He smiled.

"So are you going to teach me or not?" Hinami was already losing patience.

"Oh yeah sure. Why not." He got on the piano beside Hinami.

"I can do the first part fine, but I just cannot get this rhythm here…" "Wait, one question?" "Hm?" Hinami looked up. "Is this your folder or Touka's one?"

"Mine." She answered.

"So does Touka have one?" Kaneki questioned. "Yeah, I think so. Its right…here. Well, Onee-chan just started, so…"

He flipped a page, and almost flipped off the chair himself.

"Wait…what?!" This is like some Grade 1 song piece! This is Touka's one? He was laughing his ass off.

"Shh! You might attract attention!" Hinami was giggling too. It may be too cruel to mock, but man it was fun. "When you say she just started, you were god damn right. What is this, Hot Cross Buns?" He composed himself. It isn't that bad huh? He smirked. I can't wait to tell her the same thing.

"Onii-chan, focus, you have a job here!" She continued giggling.

"Ok ok, I'm done. Now let's just put this away and laugh later. Now what were you having trouble on?" Let just hope Touka wasn't awake…


Time skip 3 hours

She stirred. Where was she? It was comfortable. It felt familiar.

She opened her eyes a bit. Huh?

She was in her room. On her bed. She blinked once. Twice. The memories came back. She cringed at it.

Am I dead? She touched her stomach and winced. If pain can be felt in heaven, then let heaven be damned. She was alive! And shocked. Wha…?

"Good job! You finally got it!"

"Is Onii-chan mocking me?"

"Eh?! No!"

Conversation. She was definitely alive.

"Hey, you can play this one right?" Sounds of paper flipping.

"Ah, yes. You want to learn it?"

"No, Onii-chan, not now. I want you to play it. It sounds good."

"Me? Right now?"

"Yes! I want to hear it one more time." She turned to her left. Her eyes widened. K-kaneki? H-hinami? What are they doing?

"Alright, fine. For you, ok?"

"Yay!" He took a deep breath…


He took an enormous breath. Don't. Embarrass. Yourself. Infront. Of. Hinami. Why was this so stressful? He did not know. A live audience always does something to performers.

Ok, on three… He blurred out the rest of the world. Muscle memory did its job. He focused on the music. Nothing else. As long as he hears it perfect, it's perfect. And so far, it's perfect. According to Kaneki anyways. He was already immersed.

Something opened.

He didn't care.

An exasperated gasp.

Hinami, maybe? She never did that before. He continued…


This again. She was already tearing up. Why is this so beautiful on the damn piano? No, stop crying. Why are you crying?

The door opened. Her eyes darted to the entrance, only to see Nishiki sharply intake some air, then running out and down the stairs. GREAT. Now everyone is going to be in my room. Wait, how about Kaneki…?

Too late. A mess of steps could be heard outside as the hoard of staff, 5 to be exact, rushed up. Maybe six, If Yomo is here. They one by one flooded in, although only standing at the doorway. Nishiki gave a questioning look at Touka, only to be shot back at with hostility. He just shrugged. Shitty Nishiki.

It has become her catchphrase, per se. Sounded dumb, but was satisfying to say.

Roma was the most excited, go figure, and Yoshimura was smirking. Their attention was all on the man on the piano. Hinami seemed to have noticed them though, and from the looks of it, wanting to tell Kaneki, but decided against it.

Touka sat up on her bed, mouthing the lyrics. Oshiete. Oshiete. Boku no naka ni. Dare ga iru no? And just like that, it ended.

"How was that, Hinam-" He noticed the crowd. "GAH. W-why are you guys h-here?" Mental facepalm. Let's just hope he does not have a mental breakdown…


He finished. Whew. That was fun. "How was that, Hinam-" He was cut short when he saw the crowd. His brain shut down. WHY THE HELL ARE THEY HERE. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!

"I-I'll just take my leave alright? Y-you guys take care ok? Uhm BYE." Resistance. Not now Hinami! He turned. It was not Hinami.

"T-Touka?" She was holding him. She was sniffling.

"Don't go. Please." It was soft, but loud enough for him to hear. At this point, has stopped working. If he took a picture of his face at that very moment, he could do a "'record scratch, freeze frame', Yep. That's me. You would be wondering how I got into this wacky situation." It took him many seconds to comprehend this situation. Why did he always end up in a web of trouble?

Then, out of nowhere, a clap. Another one. Then applause. It was music to his ears. They are applauding me? They are applauding me! Tears threatened to flow out. Nishiki walked up. "Not too bad yourself, white head." White head? Really. It was friendly though, and he welcomed it.

"On behalf of all of us, the Devil Ape and the Anteiku family sure missed ya kid." Koma… It's been a long time since anyone missed me… Relief flooded through him. Family, huh? He could roll with that. This would be a reunion then. He let his tears flow. Touka was still holding on to his hand. He clasped it without thinking. Her head shot up, tear lines and a red face showing. All he did was grin. She smiled right back…

Kaneki had never been happier. The entire Anteiku family was gathered downstairs, despite it being nearly 11 pm. Even Hinami was there. He was flooded with a bunch of questions, most of it being related to what he did just now.

"When did you learn to play it?... How are you so good?... Can you play this one?" It was going to be a long night.

As the clock hit 12, Hinami had to go back to her room. Roma had to leave too, as her house was not exactly nearby. Nishiki was forced back by Kimi, Yoshimura retired back up, and Kaya went to sleep. Koma left soon after too, and in the end, it was just Touka and Kaneki. She did not talk throughout the past hour, but she was clutching his hand somewhat defensively, like she did not want him to leave. He found that cute, but decided not to bring it up.

It was just the two of them, sitting down next to each other. She finally spoke.

"I-I missed you."

Kaneki laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Didn't you say you would do something to me if I ever 'let you see my filthy face'?"

"Huh? Oh, uhh…" She looked guilty. He let her off.

"Kidding, Touka, I missed you too."

"R-really?"

"Yeah. The whole time I wasn't here, I missed you, your voice, your hair, your hostility… ok maybe not the last one." He chuckled. Out of no where, she pulled Kaneki into a hug, crying into his shoulder. He sighed, and hugged her back, comforting her until she stopped crying…

As the moon rose, Kaneki gazed at the sky from the café. Touka had fallen asleep on his shoulder. It was late. His eyelids grew heavy. As he himself dozed off, he never felt more relaxed, with Touka beside him in a peaceful shop and the lingering aroma of coffee wafting in the air. Maybe coming back to Anteiku isn't such a bad idea after all…