Ken finds his new situation with Hide and Touka-chan baffling. Something strange and unknown. 'Actually I know it's called Manage a troi, but I thought it's something that happens in books and anime…'

Still, he has come to like Touka, really like… and Hide was his best friend… who also constantly flirted with her (more precisely tried to ask her out but…). So a small part of him is feeling glad to avoid guilt over having to choose one over the other, while another secretly learns to appreciate Hide, in new ways… that Kaneki wouldn't have dared to before.

And while he is happy beyond words to have Hide at his side again, he sees the discomfort of his friend. Ken knows that it's his fault. This is why he agrees eventually to let his friend out of his sight. The short trip of his friend outside their shelter seems to only make it worse, something upset his friend, Ken knows. Hide is too deep in thought, smiling just a bit less, but ken notices.

He wants, longs to talk to his friend (also lover, now?) about his his experience as a ghoul, just like they shared everything before the 'date' with Rize, but… so much of it is pain, and he doesn't want to make the friend who gave a limb to get him, to bring him back, to save him from himself… burdened with the life of a ghoul. For all his smiles, jokes and cheer, Hide is uncomfortable enough as it is. He is still nervous sometimes around Touka-chan, even after the three of them slept together.

Ken is happy to receive as much as Hide is ready to give. He will do his best to make up to Hide for everything, for the missing leg and scars, for abandoning his work, his life behind and choosing this terrible world of ghouls, to make their attempt at a relationship work.

When Touka returns, bringing Hideyoshi some of his clothes, and the Book-the one Kaneki gifted him when they graduated high school, he sees the gratitude in the eyes of his friend, despite the later teasing the girl about rummaging in his underwear drawer.

He avows to thank her for it later. He will get the chance the next time the three share a bed. Thoroughly.

That night all three just cuddle together.

Ken Kaneki enjoys the best sleep he had ever since becoming a ghoul.

Touka returns with more information then she wanted. The woman she is introduced to is thorough.

When she learns that Nagachika, no, Hide-they are now close enough for first name usage, went for a stroll, she is angry at both him, and at the usually clingy Kaneki for allowing it. As she verbally tears at them for the recklessness-they are trying to keep low profile from both CCG and Aogiri, after all-the smell of fear that comes from him is suddenly reminding her of that old man-the pervert that accosted her on the street, who saw Kaneki's Kakugan and she killed, when she discovered his new nature.

At that time, she might've killed Hide just as mercilessly and without hesitation, had he stumbled into the wrong place and time.

It scares her. In the darker moments makes her wonder if she isn't as monstrous as the humans think ghouls are. Makes the smell of human blood seem disgusting, rather than water mouthing. Makes her hands feel dirty.

She will tell Hide how they avoid killing, and eat the already-dead-from-other-reasons humans instead of hunting, of Anteiku's attempt at as peaceful existence as possible. Of how some ghouls became more pacified by it, leading to calmer, less violent life for both the ghouls in question, and the humans. She hopes it will ease him at least a little.

Discussing the 'other book' of his she found can wait for later…much, much later.

While Kagune play is apparently a thing among some ghouls, she is not ready for it, and has no intention of talking about it with either of her boys in a long time.

The few times any of them tried to talk about their first night to the others, all ended up blushing and the talk too awkward to continue.

Neither of the three has experience, and she ends up setting the pace.

Hide has a moment of panic, when Touka-chan presents a certain book to him. later, when he sees that the magazine inside is missing, he is uncertain… but seeing as she has yet to kill him, she probably hadn't found it…

When, later she yells at him about his leaving their hideout, Hide is scared-scared that she knows that it was his fault Anteiku was attacked- he is certain of it being a payback for leaking about the Aogiri base where Ken was held and tortured, that Aogiri thought it was Anteiku that exposed that location to the CCG.

He fears Touka will kill him should she ever learn of it-it's obvious to him she cared about that place, and the ghouls there, a great deal. He learned that it was her home for years, from the few times he managed to get her to talk about herself.

He doesn't want to think of how Kaneki will be torn by such a revelation.

The thought about the deposit box-the one that silver haired man, almost certainly a ghoul as well, who no doubt followed him, both on that walk, and before, also causes him unease.

'That was a desperate measure I prepared, I really hoped I won't have to use it.'

But he just got his best friend back at his side, and that's the most important part. He won't lose him again!

When Touka calls them to sleep together in the 'shared room' later that night, he is nervous, and even after she specifically explains that they will only cuddle and sleep, and there will be no sexual activity, this time, despite trusting in her, a small part of him finds the idea of seeping, allowing such vulnerability with two ghouls in the bed is just asking to become breakfast served in bed first thing next morning.

Somehow he ends up in the middle of the bed, and late into the dreams, both ghouls hold on into him.

Kaneki, in particular, holds with an iron grip.

Hides dreams of a lioness and a lamb, that night, playing together…

Yomo Ranji is uncertain. With Yoshimura gone, so did the influence of Anteiku. Much as the idea of rebuilding that part of his life appeals to him, he still has his own role, and with Nishiki more interested in his human girlfriend, the role of leading it falls to Touka.

She is still too inexperienced, too young to fill the shoes of the role, even with him handling most of things.

Her involvement with the Dove survivor… Nagachika… is most troubling. As is what he learned about his time at the Dove Nest.

It's more than the romantic tangle with the human, or the all-three-together thing that bothers him the most, though it does bother him.

While not a fighter, the man became familiar and liked by too many of the Doves, and likely heard more than he should have, was too perceptive, too smart for his own good.

Ranji doesn't know what Nagachika will do, and what plans he has. He is a huge security risk. He probably figured the older man to be yet another ghoul. He hopes they won't all end up regretting letting him live.

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