Author's notes:

I honestly don't know what to say. Lol XD

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"It's... been a while."

He doesn't have any idea that it was her. She looked very different from behind.

Maybe it was because of the years that passed. Of course, there would be significant changes, but it kind of bugged him that he didn't recognize her.

Well, who wouldn't? Her hair was darker, and longer (it's almost reaching her waist already). She dressed very differently, as opposed to what she used to wear when she was in high school. It seems so... lady-like. Her expression is much calmer, and mature. Her eyes were somehow kind of solemn. She looks at him with startled eyes.

Touka narrows her eyes. "What're you standing there for? You want to sit, right?" She tries hard to suppress her emotions, and thankfully, she calms down. Sasaki sits down on the swing next to her. He eyes her carefully once more, taking her appearance in of himself.

Sasaki purses his lips, unsure of the words he plans to say. She just came back all of a sudden, and it astonished him. It was a very long time since he's last seen her. And now she's here.

"It's been a while," she takes the initiative to speak, and there seems to be an edge to her voice.

"I-indeed," he replies, still surprised by the fact that she's beside him. He glances at her once again, and instantly remembers his late wife. How it happened that he married someone that looks like her—he doesn't know. He was just attracted to his wife. Somehow, it pierces his heart that it seems like he was… longing for her unconsciously.

"How are you doing, To—I mean, Kirishima-san?" he just felt the need to not call her by her name. He feels that she somehow wouldn't like it.

Touka starts to speak. "I'm doing fine, Sasaki," she doesn't look at him. Her eyes are looking anywhere but his eyes.

He somehow feels he wants her to call him by his original name. But that wouldn't be fair to Hide-san, would it?

Sasaki starts to feel comfortable. He smiles. "That's good. I really haven't seen you all these years. Have you gone somewhere?"

"I did," she replies. "I thought that the things that… happened were too much for me. I needed a breather and I thought that staying in this city wouldn't help me calm down." She looks at her lap and clutches her dress.

He chuckles a little. "That's a really long breather, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she smiles, getting more comfortable. She breathes a sigh of relief. "Since I was already at a good place, I decided to continue studying there. I'm working as a teacher now."

"Oh, that's really good," he comments. Touka doesn't reply and looks away instead. He does so, too and they just sit there idly, silently, not talking to each other. Touka decides to break the silence.

"I see you have a family," she says. Though not comfortable with asking him about it, she still dared to.

He scratches his head. "Ah, yes. Actually, I came here because Ken told me about you."

Touka's face flushes. She averts her gaze farther from his view to hide her expression. She doesn't expect to hear him say that.

"Kirishima-san," Sasaki says. "You know… he seems very fond of you."

Touka agrees with him in her head. The kid is just so lively and kind to her. She looks at the kids playing in the garden and smiles. "He's a very kind person. You really raised him well."

Sasaki glances at her, his eyes glinting with happiness. He notices her looking at Ken and smiles. "Well, my wife did a great job at raising him. And of course I helped too, you know. I just don't want him to experience the same childhood as I did."

His mention of that makes Touka look at him. Her eyes fill with sorrow. "I heard about your wife. I'm sorry about her."

He laughs softly, surprising her a little bit. "Ah, it's okay. I'm sad about her. She wasn't very strong and she was so sickly," he says, chuckling. "But I loved her so much. Ken doesn't seem aware of it yet, but I want to make him understand."

Touka's heart tightened. His expression looks so sad. She feels bad bringing up about his wife. "He's a smart boy, so I'm sure he'll know after a while. Seems like you're still missing her, huh?" she forces a smile so as to make him do the same as well.

His eyes seem to tear up a little bit. "Yeah, I still do. It's only been 9 months since she was gone, but it feels like it's been ages."

Touka moves her sit a little bit, making her swing move briefly. "She's in a better place now. I'm sure your wife was very beautiful and kind."

Sasaki looks at her, matter-of-factly, and then smiles. "Yeah…" his voice is soft, but sounds so emotionally. He looks at her more closely, tilting his head a little bit to see more of her face. "You know… you look a lot like her."

For some reason, Touka's cheeks burn. What? her mind is completely blank.

He smiles wider, and rests his elbows on his legs, looking far. "Or probably it's the other way around. She's the one that looks like you."

W-what? Touka's mind is a mess, and she couldn't even open her mouth to speak. She was just feeling comfortable just now—and she curses him for making her feel nervous again. She looks away, feeling her heart beating faster.

Sasaki takes notice of her, and immediately apologizes. "Ah, I'm sorry. I just got carried away," he says, waving his hands.

She turns her head back a little bit. "D-Don't say something like that again…"

He laughs wholeheartedly, amused by her shyness. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable," he says, smiling. "It's really the truth, though… I feel like she's alive again every second I see you."

She feels a spark of electricity through her body, and blushes nervously at his statement. Touka feels more embarrassed after noticing his keen staring and his bright smile. Still, she tries hard not to get obvious despite knowing that it wouldn't work. She knows that he will notice immediately.

"Say, Kirishima-san…" he says, looking away again. "Have you ever thought of tying the knot?"

His question catches her off-guard and she almost feels like falling down her seat. However, his question didn't make her feel awkward—in fact, she finds it funny. She doesn't have a clue why, but she suddenly laughs.

Confusion forms on Sasaki's face. "Kirishima-san?"

Touka holds her stomach as she tries to control her mirth. "Tying the knot? Like hell I have someone to tie the knot with in the first place!" She continues laughing uncontrollably, but suddenly feels confused as she feels the fluxing of her emotions within. Her laughter continues until she feels her eyes sting with tears. She's glad she is laughing. That way, the real reason for her tears remains hidden.

Eventually, her laughter subsides, and finally comes to a halt. She wipes her tears with her fingers. "I'm sorry; I was surprised with your question. I think I laughed way too much."

Despite her happy mood, she feels much heavier deep inside.

"Are you okay, Kirishima-san?" Sasaki finally asks, smiling, but he seems nervous.

"I am."

"I didn't know my question sounded funny to you," he says. "But really, haven't you ever thought of it?"

Touka finally calms down and takes his question all in. She looks into distance and rests her chin on her palm. "To be honest, I haven't thought about it all these years. I guess I was too immersed on my freedom. Most of my life, I haven't been free in doing the things I wanted to do."

"Is that so?" Sasaki says. "It's really a long time, you know. We're adults now, so being married isn't weird."

Touka blushes furiously at his statement, and he immediately realizes that she took it the wrong way.

"I m-mean, being married at our age is common! I don't m-mean it like t-the way you think it is! What I mean by we're is—"

"I get it," Touka breathes deeply, her flushed face remains. "I know what you meant by it. Anyway, I don't know yet. I haven't even been in a relationship before. Maybe I'll just let it come to me."

Sasaki purses his lips. He was about to ask her something again when someone startles both of them.

"Finally found you two!" Hide jumps in between them, making Touka and Sasaki jump in their seats. Hide notices their expressions and upon realizing what they possibly had been talking about, immediately feels bad for ruining their mood. "Ah, I'm sorry. I think I disturbed you."

"Not at all, Hide-san!" Sasaki assures him. He stands up and smoothes his coat. "It's okay. I'll just get Ken and be on my way."

"Oh, you don't want to talk with Touka-chan more?" Hide asks him.

He shakes his head and smiles. "It's okay. I've bothered you enough," Sasaki says, and bows at them. "Thanks for the time."

"Come more often, okay, Kaneki?" he says cheerfully. Touka's shoulders jerk up and he notices it. Did Kaneki just looked uncomfortable just now or is it only me?

"I will," Sasaki says, and leaves, walking towards the kids playing in the distance.

Hide turns to Touka. "Are you okay, Touka-chan?" he asks her, smiling.

She smiles back at him. "Yeah, I am."

Hide forces a smile. He knows that she isn't.