Author's notes:

This is really hard. Really. XD

Okay, I think the first two chapters were really corny and cheesy, but meh, hahaha, I dunno what to do. I mean, that's how I write. :)

I hope the society talk is interesting. Please enjoy and leave a review! :D

"Thanks for having my back a while ago."

Both of them cradle a cup of coffee. To dispel her tension she had from the celebration that happened earlier, Hide had offered to treat Touka to a coffee shop. Thinking that it wasn't a bad idea, she accepted.

"You're welcome," Hide says, sipping his coffee. "I just couldn't stand that man for doubting you. He was judging you without even knowing or feeling what you had been through."

Touka smiles. She is very thankful for him standing up to her, and even asking Yoriko to convince the people. She tightens her hold on her coffee cup.

"Well… thank you for tagging along with me as well. It wouldn't have gone better if you weren't there."

"It's okay, Touka-chan," he smiles at her brightly. "You helped me a lot of times, and I just wanted to replay you."

His head bows, his eyes fixated at the aromatic liquid in his cup. Touka did help her a lot, and it was during the worst of times.

"And speaking of which…" he looks away; his voice soft. He seems shy. "I haven't properly thanked you when you… took care of me when I—when I was on the verge of death. So I meant to say, thanks a lot, Touka-chan."

Touka widens her eyes. She didn't expect that he'll bring that topic up… but she wasn't really uncomfortable discussing it. She just gives him a kind smile.

"It's okay," she says. "You're a friend. You are very kind, and it would be a waste if I let someone as kind as you disappear."

And that made him smile. The fact that she used the word disappear, and not die—he knows she's being considerate of his feelings.

He remembers waking up inside a white, bright room. He was in a hospital at that time, and was terrified upon seeing that different kinds of apparatus were attached to him. His body was so injured he wasn't able to move at that time. Days after he woke up, he realized that a certain someone had brought him there. When he asked for their identities, they refused to tell him. But someone told them what they looked like.

They were two people—a silver haired, tall man and a pretty woman whose one eye was covered with her hair. He immediately knew that it was Touka. He was still weak during that time, and most of the time, he falls asleep unintentionally. It was then that he noticed that there were times that the flowers on the vase on his bedside table seemed to differ. He was told it was being changed by someone who visits him.

When he was released, he went to a place that was difficult to find. He decided to find the others—and luckily, he was able to find the café Touka and her "brother" operates. Yomo tells him of their situation—and he goes along with them. He continued looking for the others—specifically, his best friend. And he does, but he doesn't recognize him, and all he could do was to observe him from faraway. He's okay now, he thought. And so, he dropped by to visit the café from time to time, though it's not often he sees Touka.

"It's really been long, hasn't it…" Hide's voice falters. He isn't looking at her, and she isn't either.

"Yeah. Everything has changed. And fortunately, in a good way."

"I wonder how the others are doing?" Hide asks, though his voice is soft.

"I don't know, but I think they're okay now. And by the way," Touka says. She's been meaning to ask him something, but she didn't get to ask him about it the last time. She was curious. "I wanted to ask you something. I wonder if it's okay to ask?"

He looks up at her. "Sure, go ahead."

She slides her fingers against her coffee cup. "You told me your work was social-related… What is it exactly?"

Hide straightens his back. "I work in a foster care center. I do foster parent arrangements and the like, though we focus on young, orphaned ghouls."

Touka's heart tightened. "Foster care of the orphaned ghouls? I didn't know there was something like that."

"Well, luckily there is," Hide beams. "When it was first brought up, most of us didn't like the idea of taking care and arranging foster care for ghouls. Actually, I was one of the first volunteers—I mean, yes, being orphaned is really unfortunate but it seems like orphaned ghouls have it worse than normal orphans."

Hide suddenly waves his hand at Touka, thinking that she might misunderstand.

"Uh, well, I'm not saying that normal kids being orphans are good! I mean, if a young ghoul loses their parents, they have it worse because most of them aren't able to find foster parents or guardians—and of course, it would be harder for them to find a new home since they are ostracised from the society. I figured that I should help…"

Touka smiles. She definitely remembers being orphaned, and it brings her a good feeling that someone like Hide has the thinking to help ghouls who are like her when she was young.

"You know, I was also orphaned when I was young," she shares with him. "Luckily, someone found us. I am so thankful of him. Oh, and you know him. He was our manager at Anteiku."

"Really? I didn't know he took you in…"

Touka just nodded. She raises her coffee cup to her mouth and drinks when Hide says something really unexpected.

"I wonder how Kaneki is doing."

She was so startled she choked on her coffee, spluttering most of it on the table and some on her clothes.

"Ah, Touka-chan, here!" Hide immediately pulls out a paper towel from the container on their table and hands it to Touka. She continued coughing as he wipes some of the liquid off the table.

"I'm sorry, Touka-chan," he looks at her, smiling. "I didn't know that it'll surprise you."

Touka wipes her mouth. "Why would you say something like that out of the blue?" she says, a little annoyed.

"Uh, well, you mentioned Anteiku so I kinda remembered Kaneki…"

She just stares at him, eyebrows scrunched. She breathes deeply.

"Don't ever say something like that again…"

"I'm sorry…"

Touka went to wipe the remaining liquid on the coffee. She instantly remembers meeting a certain child earlier. Her clutch on the paper towel tightens.

"Hide-san," Touka says, still looking down. "I've been meaning to tell you something, and… well… to be honest…" she's trying to find words to string together. "I met his son earlier."

And that caught his attention immediately. "You did?"

"I was on my way to the homecoming… And his son came to me and returned something. Oh, and it's because I dropped something. He picked it up for me."

Hide stares at her, a glint of worry is discernible in his eyes. "Touka-chan… are you okay?"

Touka questions his inquiry. "What do you mean?"

"Well… I know you like Kaneki."

Immediately, her face flushes crimson red. Yes, it somehow hurt when she saw his son, but she didn't interpret her feelings like that.

Or she's just denying them deep inside.

"W-What?" she purses her lips.

"It's pretty obvious, you know," he tells her. "Even now, you're blushing."

He laughs, and Touka hovers the back of her hand above her nose. She looks down.

"So, are you okay?"

"I a-am! It's not like I'm sad or anything…"

"Well, it clearly doesn't seem like it."

She feels embarrassed. She continues wiping the table. "It's kind of weird you know… Meeting his son out of the blue like that…" she says softly. "I knew he was his son the moment I saw him. He looks just like him."

"Mmm hmm."

"The kid keeps saying weird things to me."

"Eh? Really?" Hide asks, but he sounds unconvinced. "Like what?"

Touka blushes even more. "Things like… things like that I'm beautiful or I look like his mother or something…"

Hide gapes at her. Looks like her mother? he thinks. I wonder if it's true…

He felt a little uncomfortable. Emotions stir inside him.

"Well, maybe you do look like his mother…"

"Stop making it sound worse, please…" Touka pleads.

Hide wraps his fingers together. "Though the former is certainly true…"

"You made it sound worse!"

Hide just laughed when Touka hit him.

Though he felt like it somehow meant what he said.

"I meant it, you know."

"Huh?"

It was already late, and so Hide thought that it would be nice of him to go with Touka to the train station. She told him that she's going to be staying for a few weeks in the city, which he thinks isn't bad.

The clicking of their shoes are audible as they walk alongside each other.

"What I said earlier. You really are beautiful, Touka-chan," Hide says, but he isn't looking at her. He doesn't want his flushed cheeks to show.

Touka keeps silent for a moment before giving a response. "You always compliment me. Thank you…"

When she looks away, Hide gazes at her. She certainly did change. She has long, silky hair now that falls beautifully on her shoulders. Her eyes seem more mature, and she looks more calm and composed. The way she dresses is different as well.

Hide wonders how she had been after all the years that passed. She disappeared without notice right after the rights establishment, and he doesn't know where she was or what she was doing. It was very surprising for him and she suddenly just appeared, going back to the city without his knowledge.

Not that he needed to know. Or she was required to let him know.

But he certainly wanted to. In a way, he cared for her—no, he cares for her. He also feels different seeing her change. She looks more mature and looks more like a woman now. It seems like yesterday, she was just a young lady.

"To be honest, Touka-chan," he starts to speak. "I'm in touch with Kaneki until now. Ever since the rights establishment."

Touka grips the handle of her bag, hard. For what reason is he telling me that?

"I was wondering if you'd like to see him… reconnect with him maybe…"

Her eyes glints with interest. But she felt a tugging at her heart.

She wants to see him, but it seems like she doesn't want to as well. She's so confused. She doesn't know what she wants to do.

"I don't know…" her voice falters. "I might want to, but there's some doubts. I don't know, I'm really confused."

"Is that so…" Hide says. "Well, if you want to see him, just tell me. I'll contact him."

Touka thinks it would be long before he does.

"Oh, and if you have free time tomorrow, maybe you can drop by our foster care centre?" he offers. "It may be a big help if you are there. The children would be thrilled with seeing someone like them there. Most of us workers there aren't their kind."

"I really don't have anything to do during my stay here, so maybe helping at your place might be a good idea. Where is it?"

Hide hands her a card with the address of the place written on it.

"You can drop by in any time you want. Though morning would be preferable."

"Alright, see you," Touka places the card inside of her bag. She stops. "Oh, and you can stop here now. I'll be alright going to the station from here."

"You sure, Touka-chan?" he asks her.

"Yeah, I've bothered you enough," she slides into the turnpike. "Thank you very much."

"Don't worry about it, Touka-chan."

They both said their goodbyes, and Hide looks at Touka as she disappears from his view. Touka waves goodbye at him once again before completely leaving.

He couldn't wait for the next day to come.