No beta like always. Be prepared for a lot of mistake. Please do tell me if you found any.

Disclaimer: I don't own Tokyo Ghoul or any of the characters in any way.

ー Summer ー

Birthday

Summary: It's Touka's birthday. Take place before Yukata.

Featured Character: Kirishima Touka, Kosaka Yoriko

It's almost 3 months since he came back. Kaneki Ken looks a lot happier compared to when they save him from 11th ward almost half a year before. Maybe even so compared to when he first turned into a half-ghoul. He smiles, he laugh, he jokes, he mads, and he worries. But it's only in the front. At least that is how Kirishima Touka sees him.

That's why she tried to confront him. He admitted that he still chasing after Kanou and just got his trail after visiting Kanou's General Hospital. She hated it. Because it's not a mere visit. Because he's also planning to kidnap the nurse for information regarding Kanou's whereabout. Or so she heard. It's a good thing for her that he failed to do so. And she felt guilty about it.

Some day after, he ask Yoshimura to have some day off for "personal business" and she have a rough idea where he went.

Today he come to Anteiku for work. Touka confront him again and demand some answer. He doesn't have to, but he decide to tell her. Because he knows, she's worried. And she'll punch him in the face if he doesn't let her to worry him. As hard to admit as it seems, she worries about him. And it won't change whichever he tell her or not. It will be worst if he keeps quiet and he knows it. He's smart just like that.

Maybe this is how Hinami feels. Touka knows. She knows what made her so worried. She knows that she can do nothing about it. She knows that it's partly her fault. Because she said a lot of irresponsible thing to him. She told him to get rid of that solemn face. She told him to stop being gloomy. She told him to stop always looking so pitiful. So he did and she regret it. She's a kid. A kid who knows nothing what her words worth of.

He smiles just like she ask him to. He smiles while telling her that he did massacre the whole ghoul restaurant save for Madame A who manage to get away. And it makes her heart sank. It's not what she hoped. She just want everything to be back like they were in the beginning. He's really kind. He's so kind towards everyone, not only his friends. But now he's only kind towards those who close to him. Pretend to be kind to those who he don't know. And merciless towards those whom he considered his enemy.

In the end she decide to pretend too. Pretend to see nothing. Pretend to know nothing. As long as he's here, smiling with the rest of them, that's enough. That way she too can pretend that everything is alright. He's already so rotten in the inside. Rotten by his own insanity. Maybe she should rot too. Rot by her own ignorance which she choose to embrace.

The day after, she woke up with a pleasant feeling. It's so pleasantly wrong. Maybe she's losing it too. She put her school uniform and go to school like always. She's almost late when she arrived at Kiyomi High. The bell rang when she put her hand in the door handle of her class.

The lesson going on slowly. The teacher yelled at Yoriko once because she keep trying to get Touka's attention instead of listening to the lesson properly. Touka is too detached to notice her. She promise her to talk on the lunch break. And the lesson go on.

When lunch break come, she's still too detached that she didn't notice when Yoriko stands before her.

"Touka-chan!"

"Wha! Yoriko…"

Touka yelped in surprise and glad to see it's only Yoriko. Glad that she didn't release her kagune to deal with whatever it is.

"Geez, you're spacing out too much. I bet you didn't even listen to the whole lesson either. I'm surprised that none of those teacher realized it."

Yoriko pulled a chair and sit in front of Touka.

"Sorry. There's a lot of thing on my mind recently. I guess I'm just tired."

"Maybe you should skip today group study and rest. You look awful."

"No need. I still need to finish my extra assignment anyway. Well, I'm going off early though. The manager told me to come today even though it's not my shift."

Yoriko opened her mouth and close it again. She look determined and leaned towards Touka.

"May I come too?"

Touka taken aback by Yoriko's reply. The fact that Yoshimura especially called her outside her shift means that whatever he need her for is really important. And might be related to ghouls.

"Just a bit while is okay!"

It seems that Yoriko won't budge. At least not without making her disappointed and suspicious.

"Okay, just a bit. The manager might want me to do something important."

"Yes. I'm sure it's really important."

Touka is doubting her ears. Did Yoriko know?

"You know?"

"Yes, I think I know. In fact, I'm surprised that you don't."

"I see."

And then they eat in silence. Yoriko seems really happy. Touka's mind is complete mess during the rest of class.

She knows.

Yoriko knows.

And she has to silence her.

She told Kaneki that she'll kill Hide if he know.

It's unfair for her to keep Yoriko.

It might put all of them in danger.

Why now?

Kaneki and Hinami just found their small fragment of peace.

But Yoriko is not that kind of person.

She is not.

Right?

She looks happy.

Happy of what?

Finally found a reason to get rid of her?

No way.

Yoriko would not do that.

She's sure of it.

But how about her parents?

Her other friends?

What if she unconsciously blurt everything out?

What if she's interrogated?

Yoriko will protect her. She knows it.

But what if she's tortured?

Just like Jason?

Just like Kaneki?

What if…

"TOUKA-CHAN!"

Touka snapped out of her mind and blink at Yoriko who stands in front of her. Did lunch break just over?

"Class was over 5 minutes ago you know? You just keep spacing out again. If not worse. Weren't you say that you have to study hard for university? Come on, we have group study in library after this. You have to go early, right? So it's best for you to come early too!"

"Eh? Um… yeah. Let's go."

The group study ended up… considered well. They don't make that much progress, but progress is a progress. One of the guy ask which university Touka aiming to which she answer Kamii University, Faculty of Science. And they joke how she will fail and she tell them that she'll ask the bastard to leak some question for her. What she don't tell them is that she still has another bastard if the first bastard is not enough to let her pass.

Touka and Yoriko excuse themselves earlier and head towards Anteiku. Yoriko is still not showing any suspicious move.

She will watch and see what Yoriko will do for now.

"Onii-chan! Hurry up! We're late!"

"Don't go running around, Hinami-chan! It's dangerous! And you could ruin both your hair and dress. And what will everyone think if we arrive drenched with sweat?"

"Uh… okay. But we're late…"

Kaneki and Hinami walk across the street of 20th ward. They supposed to reach Anteiku about 30 minutes before the promised time, but the train from 6th ward was delayed because a slight trouble on the other station which is extremely rare to happen. Today of all day. It's almost the promised time, but they just step out from the train. They will surely be late.

Kaneki doesn't have any shift today, but the manager, Yoshimura called him in because today is a special day. So he brought Hinami along. Banjou and the others is making sure that Tsukiyama didn't come along. It's better that he doesn't come today.

Kaneki walks beside Hinami who looks impatient to reach Anteiku. Kaneki sighed and look around the crowd absentmindedly.

"Hinami-chan."

Kaneki softly called Hinami.

"Since we're late anyway, want to go to that store for a bit and get something?"

Kaneki point to one of the stores. Hinami followed his finger to find an accessory store that sell a lot of thing like bracelet, phone strap, keychain, sticker, and other. Hinami finally understand what he meant and nod eagerly.

Then they entered the store.

Touka and Yoriko arrived at Anteiku faster than they imagined. Touka already alerted Yoshimura that Yoriko is tagging along. And he said it's okay. But still she can't loosen her guard.

Touka was about to open the door when she see that the sign is flipped to 'Closed'.

It's weird. The sun is still not set and they're already closing.

Touka shrugged and opened the door.

And a loud popping noise echoed.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Touka sees most of the staff and regulars inside the shop. All shouting a same phrase.

"Eh? What?"

Touka is dumbfounded at the sudden exclamation. Irimi walk closer to them at an amazing pace considered that she actually walks.

"You're Yoriko, right? Considered from Touka's reaction earlier, it seems you're doing a good job at keeping it a secret."

Irimi put a hand at Yoriko's shoulder. Yoriko herself look unusually proud of herself.

"Wait, Yoriko? Since when…?"

"Since when we coordinated with her? We're not."

Irimi laughed softly at Touka.

"Well, Touka-chan said that she's getting called today of all day even though it's not her shift. And it looks pretty urgent. So I just kind of guess it. Actually I'm surprised that Touka-chan didn't already realized it."

Yoriko smiled at her friend who is still gawked.

"Is it that obvious?"

Koma called out from behind Irimi.

"Actually, yes."

Yoriko answered while scratching her cheek.

"Right? I told you so. It's a good thing that she didn't realized."

Irimi raise both of her hand and sighed towards Koma. Looks like it's Koma's idea.

"That shitty rabbit is just too stupid to realize."

Nishiki stepped forward and looking down at Touka.

"What did you just say, shitty Nishiki? I'm just preoccupied, that's all."

"Yes, she keep spacing out for the whole day. I do hope that she could notice me more."

Yoriko sigh mockingly.

"So, who are you thinking about? It's him. It's him, right? You can't lie to this devil ape."

"No." Touka paused. "Well, maybe half… no. One-third of the time."

Touka excuses. She looks aside and find Yoriko gawking in her place.

"Hi…. hi-hi-hi-hi-HIM!?"

Yoriko spins her head around to find this 'him'.

"Well, he's still not here. I heard the train was delayed."

Irimi, who is already back serving the customer, replied.

"Oh, okay. By the way, Touka-chan. Here. Your present."

Yoriko hand Touka her paperbag. Touka accept the bag and stare at it for a moment. She didn't realized that her friend was carrying an extra luggage. Maybe she did spaced out that bad.

"May I open it?"

"Please do!"

Touka opened the package and pulls out a dark blue scarf with a bit white part at both end. Inside the white part are several light blue rabbit pattern.

"I-I'm sorry for giving you scarf even though it's still summer. I remember that you don't like sweets. But I want to make something special for you. So... so..."

Yoriko is looking everywhere but Touka. She's clearly nervous.

"Thank you. I'll cherish it."

Yoriko looks really happy when she said that.

"The moods look good. Should we hand our present too?"

Koma stepped aside and let the manager, Yoshimura come to front and hand Touka the present.

"An album?"

"Yes, we discussed what would we give to you. And everyone agreed on an album. Or rather, memories."

"Memories…"

Touka flipped a few first page of the album. There's Ayato when they're younger. She flip it around again and found one of photo when Kaneki was just a simple customer. Fitting in the background. She flip it again some more and found the one from when Kaneki just joined them. And one again with Nishiki.

"Actually we thought about making some handcraft, but there's only a few of us who could actually do it so it cannot be a present from all of us. So we decided on an album. So you could remember that our memories will always be with you even if we could not."

Touka keep staring at the album. It should be a tear jerker touching scene. She is happy. Very very happy. But why? It seems like if the album is a messenger of a bad omen.

"Well, I agreed on album too since this rabbit is so stupid that she could forget such a simple thing."

Nishiki being the usual mean Nishiki just have to ruin the moment with some mean comment.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAID!? YOU DAMN SHIT!"

Touka put the album on a nearby table and stomped towards Nishiki. Irimi pick up the album and flipped it to some empty page in front of Yoriko.

"There's still a lot of empty space. You should pitch up some too."

"Can I?"

"Of course, the more the merrier."

While Irimi having a good chat with Yoriko, Touka is bickering with Nishiki with Roma in the middle, Yoshimura is back with another customer, and left Koma who rub his chin in a mock charismatic manner while oversee the shop.

"Now we're done with all of those speech. Even though that some person is still not here."

Everyone on the shop stopped whatever they're doing and looking around.

"Well, where the hell is that fucking bastard taking train to?"

Touka huffed. Some people start to sniffle at her reaction.

"He should be arrived shortly."

Yoshimura calmly told her. But it's not the case of the blonde girl.

"Oh, yeah. Touka's boyfriend is coming!"

Every eyes turned to Yoriko.

"Boy…?"

"I should go home now. It's not good to keep bothering her after all."

Yoriko gathered her belonging and walk to the door.

"Wait, Yori…"

"I'll have the pictures all sorted and printed by next week. Everyone should give them some privacy too, okay?"

Yoriko opened the door and stepped outside.

"Yori…"

Touka tried to call her again, but this time her voice drowned by a chorus of "Yes ma'am!"

"Have fun!"

And Yoriko is gone.

"I swear that girl is too damn fast for a non-athlete human."

A roar of laughter erupted from the cafe.

"The almighty lady Kirishima just got pwned by a human girl!"

"That human girl sure is interesting."

Touka got red and yelled back.

"Touch her and I'll make sure you can't touch anything again!"

Touka know how brash some of these guys could be when they set an eye on a human. She can't let them do anything to Yoriko.

"No way! We still want to see that human girl around and kicking lady Kirishima's fine ass anytime. Personally I don't even mind protecting her if it means I can see it again!"

One of the man yelled and followed by another roar of laugher.

Touka was about yell back again when the door bell chimed and one white haired head peeked in.

"Did we miss the party?"

Said Kaneki from the crack of the door. Still not dare to step in.

"Yo, Kaneki! You just missed the main event!"

One of the customer said. By then most of them already calmed down.

"Bastard! Where the hell did you run off to!?"

Kaneki opened the door properly and stepped in.

"Well, you see…"

If Touka is not so mad from being embarrassed, she would notice that Kaneki didn't scratch his cheek or put his hand on his chin like he used to. Instead, he keep both of his hand behind his back.

"Big Sister Touka!"

Hinami peeked from behind Kaneki.

"Hi-Hinami?"

Touka calmed down in an instant. She could not be mad in front of Hinami. In fact she already regretting on saying such bad language in her presence. Well, it's that bastard Kaneki's fault though.

"Fufu... You see…"

Hinami stepped aside and pull the thing Kaneki keep hidden behind him.

"TADAAAA!"

Hinami pulled a white bunny plushie with droopy ears, black small top hat which tied with a ribbon below it's head, and black blouse with some white frills around the cuff. The face is a simple two beady black eyes and a nose, without any mouth. On its left hand is fitted another rabbit keychain with a headband.

Touka blankly accepted the doll.

"An extra present from us~! Actually big brother just want to get a keychain for a good luck charm, but we see this section with a lot of plushie!"

"But it seems we took too much time choosing."

Keychain? For a good luck charm?

"puh…"

Touka sniffle a laugher.

That bastard really worried about her exam that much? That shit Nishiki too. He insult her because she keep staring at the album so grimly. Did he tried to cheer her up? And those damn bastards. Even with all of the insults, they say they won't touch Yoriko. Because they know Yoriko is a precious friend of her? And this shitty album. Really?

"Ahaha…"

"Touka-chan?"

Touka exhaled a pleasant sigh and hug the doll loosely in front of her chest.

"Thank you."

Touka smiled one of her most earnest smile. One which she rarely show.

"All of you. Really."

She hug the doll tighter.

"Thanks."

She smiles. All of them smiles. All of those negative thinking she had feels really stupid now. They keep on partying until a few hours after. There's a lot more laughing, teasing, bickering, and fights. But it's okay. Because all of those thing give color to her blood red world. If only Ayato was here. If only both her parents are here. But still…

I haven't feel this happy for a long time. It feels like nothing could go wrong from this point on.

Right?

A/N Happy Birthday, Touka-chan! I'm sorry it turns out too angsty. Actually there's an insert pic to remedy that a bit, but doesn't allow picture. So it's only on AO3 and tumblr. Once again, Happy Birthday for Touka-chan~!