'Seven hours ago, a ghoul had broken out from prison. Witnesses that had survived recounted that she had another kagume, also known as a kakuja, with tails that took the form of the scorpions' tails – only in a pair. She had been nicknamed as 'Scorpion'. She had taken many lives at the detention center, majority of the twenty thousand ghouls and five out of six officers dead or eaten. This dangerous ghoul was ranked as an SSS class a while ago. She –'
Touka switched off the café's television. A part of her wished that the ghoul was Aloysia but other did not want her to be. Aloysia, a murderer? She could not bear the thought of it. However, Aloysia had been in there for six years. She could have died. Touka cringed as her grip on the cleaned mug in her hands.
"T-Touka?" Kaneki peeked out from the staff door.
"Yeah?" Touka replied coolly.
"Was that the doing of a ghoul?"
"I take it that you are talking about the detention center. And yes," she muttered, completely not caring about his worries.
"Do ghouls… do that?" he asked timorously.
Touka paused before answering, "Not all. She was probably one of those uncivilized ones." She winced at the word uncivilized. Aloysia was never uncivilized. But then, she might not be her. Touka then felt a pang of irritation. Kaneki kept saying 'Ghoul' as though he was not one. He was one of them or is it because he was originally human? Touka refused to look at him as he passed her and opened the café doors. Touka frowned and glanced at the clock. She could see why he was opening the café. It was seven. She sighed, remembering the time when Aloysia was with her. The café was open twenty-four hours then but the manager, Yoshimura, declared that he was too old.
"I'm going back in," Touka told Kaneki and swiftly left via and staff door, squeezing past Yoshimura. She was down-cast. When was Aloysia ever like that? She would never be a murderer. Why did she think that? She entered the room, closing the door behind her. Her room was simple. A study table and a bed. Curtains framed the window, a large mat lay on the floor and a brown wardrobe beside the door. A small, cream brown coloured paper lay on the desk. It reminded her of Aloysia's hair. She had always admired Aloysia and wished she had Aloysia's hair colour instead of the ugly purple she had. She moved over to the desk and read the short note written neatly in cursive on it.
'I can no longer come home now. Thank you for everything. Hopefully we will never meet. If we do, please don't call my name. Please burn this letter once you have read it. Sorry. Regards, Aloysia.'
What? Touka read through the letter once again. She didn't know if she should smile or cry. Aloysia's the one that caused the tragedy. Aloysia's alive. Aloysia's a cannibal. Aloysia's a murderer. Aloysia's her friend. Tears slid down her cheeks. Touka never cried before in the past four years. She never felt this much pain before.
"Why does everyone have to leave…?" she whimpered, reaching for her lighter. Ashes flew everywhere and a few was caught in her hair. She slumped into her chair and tried to stop the tears. Just then, the door opened.
"Um, Touka? It's your shift…" It was Kaneki.
Touka remained quiet for a bit and hurriedly wiped away her tears. She did not want Kaneki to see her weakness. "I'll be out in a moment." Kaneki nodded and closed the door.
Touka had requested to do the night-shift alone. Not many people come at night so she had some time to clear her head. Cleaning up the café was all part of the night shift. Touka left the television as it was, switched to the news channel, and went to clean the tables with a grey rag. The rag was white. It had turned grey due to the dirt that was unable to wash away.
It reminded her about innocence. It started out white and darken as it was exposed to immorality. Touka fell into a chair, dazedly staring into space. She had been feeling sluggish for the past few days. Maybe it was because of Aloysia. Maybe it was because of worrying about Kaneki. Maybe it was because of loneliness. She began to rethink the mere three years they had shared. They spent almost every second together. Pretending how school might be, cooking random food items that humans would eat but end up throwing it away, drinking coffee to duplicate how adult behave… she had fun. She was really pure then, only thinking about having fun and being with company. After parting with her brother, she was desperate for attention, care and love. Did Aloysia feel the same? Was Aloysia as pure as she was then? Did Aloysia treasure their friendship? Then…
"Why have you not come back? Can't you see that I'll forgive you? Why can't you trust me?" Touka whispered to the depressed silence of the café.