So this is going to play through some of the first-time experiences that ghouls have with the enzyme pills.

Kaneki

"It'll allow you to taste human food for what it is."

That's what Sora said when he gave me the box. I looked at the pill in my hand, thinking about it for a while. I figured I could give it a try.

As I got ready to go out, Hinami noticed me going. "Oh, Onii-chan, where are you going?"

I guess it couldn't hurt to bring her along. "I'm going out to try Sora's enzyme pill. Do you want to come also?"

Hinami looked uncertain. "Trying out… human food?"

I smiled, before patting Hinami on the shoulder. "Hey, it'll be fine. Sora wouldn't give us something that didn't work."

As I said those words though, my mind trailed back to that day where he had us test out his first enzyme pill prototype. Maybe I was giving Sora a bit too much credit.

It seemed to do the trick for Hinami though. "Right! Onii-san would never do that."

I guess she's coming with me then. Although, come to think of it, I'm Onii-chan while Sora's Onii-san. That's interesting. Oh well, thoughts for another time.

We finally found a burger place after a bit of searching. It may not have been Big Girl, but burgers are burgers. My mouth started watering a bit at the prospect of being able to finally taste burgers again. Hinami, on the other hand, looked a bit apprehensive. I don't blame her. She's never actually eaten human food with the pill before. Then again, neither have I, but I trust Sora as long as it doesn't involve me being a test subject. I can still imagine what would've gone wrong had Sora not put the numbing agent in the pills.

I got two glasses of water and ordered two burgers. As we were waiting, I passed Hinami a pill.

"Here, take it with the water. Sora put down instructions for us to follow." I said.

Hinami looked at the pill. "How did Onii-san figure out all of this?"

That's… a really good question. I was going to ask him, but I didn't even remember half of the stuff that he said about the enzymes and tongue structure and all that stuff. If I remember correctly, he did a ton research or something like that.

"I'm not sure. I think he just did a lot of research." I said, popping the pill into my mouth. Hinami followed suit a moment later.

After I took the pill, my tongue felt slightly different from before. Once the burgers came around and I took my first bite, my eyes widened as I tasted the hamburger for what it was, not the pig intestines that it tasted like when I first ate it after I became a ghoul. I almost cried in joy.

I can eat with Hide again without having to fake it.

Hide… I guess he's worried about me right now. I wonder how he's doing. Much as I would want to go back, I can't just yet. I have things I need to do, places I need to go, people I need to see. Hopefully Sora explains to him what happened. At the very least, I'm glad he hasn't treated me any differently despite knowing what happened.

I glanced over at Hinami, seeing how she was doing.

Hinami

So this is how humans taste meat? It's such an interesting flavor.

I took slow bites, careful to savor the flavor. It's so delicious… and so different. I don't know how else to describe it. It's not disgusting like those times when okaa-san had me try to eat human food to practice fake eating. I wonder though, why is it so brown? There's some pink inside that makes sense because meat is pink, but why is the rest of it brown?

"Onii-chan?"

"Yeah Hinami?"

"Why is the hamburger brown?"

"Huh? Oh! That's the result of cooking."

"Cooking?" The word wasn't unfamiliar to me, I just never learned the idea behind it.

Onii-chan explained. "Most raw meats are a risk to human health, because they have a lot of bacteria in them that are harmful to humans. So to reduce risk to human health, the meat is cooked. When it's cooked, it turns to a different color."

"Why is that?" I was really curious now."

"Uhh, I'm actually not sure. I think Sora might know more about this." Onii-chan scratched the back of his head.

I giggled. So there are things that even Onii-chan doesn't know!

The potatoes were… I don't know how to describe the taste.

"Onii-chan, how do you describe the taste of potatoes?" I asked.

"Hmm. I think starchy would be a good word."

"Starchy?"

"Yeah. Containing starch. Starch is mostly what makes up a potato. There's some other stuff, but starch is the primary ingredient."

Huh. The starch tastes really filling. It's like powder, but at the same time it's not. Maybe more like clumps of powder. It sounds weird, but that's really the best way I can describe a starchy flavor. I think?

Tsukiyama A/N: I can't really do Tsukiyama. My brain simply does not have the capacity to embrace Tsukiyama's flowery language.

Hmm. What should I order from this restaurant? It seems an injustice that we are not allowed to try out all the aspects of fine dining at once, seeing as humans make so many different foods for eating. It makes me wonder, do they truly understand what being a gourmet means? Although I suppose we cannot expect a true gourmet among humans, as they each have their own preferences as to the taste of things. Not to mention the fact that they would not find human meat all that appealing like I do.

I still remember the first time I ate something after taking the pill. I must say, I didn't expect flavors to be that intense. Although I guess it was to be expected, seeing as we've never used these taste buds before.

"Kaneki-kun, are you sure we can't order everything?"

"Absolutely. If we want to blend in, we can't eat more than the average person does."

"You are absolutely certain about this?"

"I am." He said.

"If Onii-chan thinks that this is the best way to do things, then we should probably take his word for it." Hinami said.

That's right, he used to be human. Although I guess he's never had luxury foods before. It makes sense.

Ah, our Kobe beef has arrived. Tres Bien! If reputation is to be believed, this is a most delectable dish. While it is pricey for most people, it is also of the highest quality. At least, that is what I have been told. As I have not had it without Sora-kun's pills, I cannot be sure as to the quality of the meat.

One bite cast away all my doubts. This flavor… it's so intense. You can taste the refinement in the flavor, as well as the blend of meat juices in it. If the Kobe steak is this good, then perhaps the other things on the menu are just as tasteful.

"Waiter!"

"Tsukiyama, no!"

"But—"

"Look, restraint is a virtue, alright? You can always order the other things on this menu the next time we come here, alright?"

I sighed. "Fine."

So yeah, poorly executed if you ask me. I'll post the next set of first-time experiences with the enzyme pills at a different time.