"Kaneki, tonight you will be going with Yomo-san to help gather food for Aniteku." Those words of the manager rang in his head. There was so much to ghoul society that he didn't know about. That was also just under everyone's nose this whole time.

"Earth to Kaneki? You okay, man?" Hide's voice broke through his thoughts, returning him to the present.

Kanaki blinked, shaking his head, "I'm sorry, Hide. Just been spacing out lately. A lot to think about now."

"We were in an accident, so it makes sense."

"Accide-"

Pain shot in his leg, the friendly smile of Touka ever-present.

"It's no problem. I couldn't leave you two there after all."

"Thanks, Touka-chan," Hide grinned, "I may need to repay you with a date?"

" I'll have to decline." Touka went back to her duties.

"She's a tricky one, Kaneki." Hide sipped his coffee, "Got to work hard for those types."

"Yeah," Kaneki said.

"How about I give you something more fun to think about?"

"What's that?"

"You know your favorite author is having a book signing soon," he said, nudging Kaneki playfully. "Another chance for you to get a date with a hottie, eh?"

"Romance might just not be for me," Kaneki rubbed his chin.

Hide shrugged, "Skip the romance part. I'm sure you want to get your book signed - Oh. Got to bounce. See ya later, Kaneki." Putting his payment down for the coffee and waving as he left the coffee shop.

The implication that he would even have the confidence to approach Miss Takatsuki that way was ambitious of Hide. He always pushed him to be bold.

Always saying, "You won't ever get me any cool double dates this way, Kaneki."

On the other hand, Hinami would probably love the idea of meeting her. And Miss Fueguchi could take her as a reward for improving so much in the readings they did.

Kaneki looked at Miss Irimi working the counter, that night still ever-present in his mind. She was older, but maybe he would ask if -

But before he could dwell on it further, Yoshimura's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Kaneki-kun. Can you come upstairs with me for a moment?" he called from the staff's stairs.

Looking between Miss Irimi and Touka, he nervously smiled. "What could he want with me?"

Making his way up the stairs, Kaneki followed the older man into the kitchen. The familiar scent of coffee beans and pastries enveloped him as he entered the spacious room. Yoshimura stood by the counter, his demeanor calm and composed as always.

"Please, have a seat, Kaneki-kun," Yoshimura gestured towards a chair at the small table in the corner of the kitchen.

Kaneki complied, taking a seat opposite Yoshimura, his curiosity piqued. "Is everything alright, Yoshimura-san?" he asked, unable to hide the hint of nervousness in his voice.

Yoshimura smiled, "Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to talk to you about your recent experiences and how you've been adjusting to life here at Anteiku."

Kaneki's brows furrowed slightly, unsure of where the conversation was leading. "I've been doing my best," he replied cautiously. "It's been... different, but everyone here has been very welcoming."

Yoshimura nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I've noticed your efforts, Kaneki-kun. And I wanted to offer you some training and a gift if you're willing to accept it."

Kaneki's eyes widened in surprise. "Training? A gift?" he repeated, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Yoshimura confirmed. "As you know, being a part of Anteiku means more than just serving coffee. The CCG's presence has been reportedly increasing in the 20th Ward. You will need proper training to protect yourself against ghouls and the CCG."

Kaneki's expression hardened with determination. "I understand. I'm ready to learn whatever I need to."

Yoshimura nodded approvingly. "Good. We'll start with basic combat techniques and self-defense. It's essential to know how to defend yourself without relying solely on your kagune. Yomo and I will be supervising your training, and Touka will do so as well. We'll start tomorrow since I want you to assist Yomo with the food tonight like I mentioned this morning."

"I won't let you down, Yoshimura-san." Kaneki paused for a moment. "But what is the food hunt? Do I have to … kill someone?"

Yoshimura shook his head, understanding Kaneki's concern. "No, nothing like that. We hunt for food by targeting already deceased humans. It's essential to maintain our secrecy and avoid unnecessary violence."

Relief washed over Kaneki's features as he absorbed Yoshimura's explanation. "I see. I'm relieved to hear that. I'll do my best to assist Yomo-san tonight."

"Good," Yoshimura said with a nod. "Remember, Kaneki-kun, we are ghouls; we don't have to succumb to our baser instincts. There is always another way."

Kaneki nodded, a newfound determination shining in his eyes. "Understood. I'll keep that in mind."

Yoshimura clasped a hand on Kaneki's shoulder, "With the business out the way. I have to teach you how to eat human food. It's a must if you want to emulate being a regular person once more and to blend in with the crowd."

The last time I tried that I wish I didn't have a stomach. Kaneki shuttered. The food Hide had bought him when he first realized he was a ghoul led him to clean up vomit for days.

"My stomach won't agree, I'm sure of that much."

"Let me show you the trick." Yoshimura picked up a freshly made sandwich, an Antieku signature, and took a bite.

Taking a deep breath he watched closely as the older ghoul demonstrated the technique. His admiration for the cafe's manager grew as he witnessed the seamless execution. It was as if Yoshimura had mastered the art of deception, seamlessly blending into the human world.

No wonder Antieku managed to blend in so well all this time.

"You see Kaneki-kun, the trick is to bite and swallow it whole. Then chew around ten times to keep the realism of the meal. Later, you throw it up. Otherwise, this will only weaken you considerably."

Yoshimura put his sandwich back on its plate, "Now then. You try it."

With determination and apprehension, Kaneki reached for the sandwich, mirroring Yoshimura's actions as best as he could. Closing his eyes, he took a small bite, forcing himself to swallow despite the revulsion clawing at his throat. The taste was foreign and unsettling, but he pressed on, chewing as instructed. After what felt like an eternity, he finally swallowed the last bite, his stomach protesting vehemently against the foreign substance.

"I'm impressed, Kaneki-kun. The entire sandwich in one go? We may have to thank your previous experience as a human for the process."

Kaneki's shoulders sagged with relief as Yoshimura praised his efforts. The words of encouragement washed over him, momentarily easing the discomfort gnawing at his insides. Despite the lingering nausea, he couldn't help but feel great for completing the task.

"Thank you, Yoshimura-san," Kaneki replied, his voice a little hoarse from the ordeal. "I guess being human before did come in handy after all."

Yoshimura chuckled softly, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Indeed it did. But don't underestimate your resilience, Kaneki-kun. You've shown great determination today, so I have something that will help you with your hunger temporarily. There's no substitute for human flesh, I'm afraid. "

"Something to help with my hunger?" he repeated, a glimmer of hope sparking within him. The constant struggle with his ghoul instincts had been a heavy burden to bear, and any relief, no matter how temporary, was more than welcome.

"Yes. These sugar cubes will help. I wouldn't ask what they are made from."

Kaneki's eyebrows lifted in surprise at Yoshimura's unexpected offering. "Sugar cubes?" The simplicity caught him off guard, but he accepted them gratefully, understanding the unspoken implications.

"Thank you, Yoshimura-san," Kaneki said, a mixture of relief and gratitude coloring his tone. "I'll make sure to use them sparingly."

Yoshimura nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Remember, Kaneki-kun, they may provide temporary relief; they're not a permanent solution. You must learn to control your hunger without relying solely on external aids. You'll have to eat soon."

With a final nod of assurance, Yoshimura patted Kaneki on the shoulder before excusing himself from the room.

"There's finally a way to make this hell bearable."

The thought of his life being so different. He was supposed to study for some degree to get a career to better his future. To make his mother and father proud. A goal that one day he would be able to make them proud. Seeing them there, he brought their grandchildren from a girl who loved him.

Perhaps with Yoshimura's guidance and the support of his newfound family at Anteiku, he could carve out a semblance of normalcy in this chaotic existence. And maybe, just maybe, he could still find a way to honor the dreams of his parents and build a future they would be proud of, even in his ghoul existence.

"Are you up here sulking, Kaneki?" The all-too-familiar voice of Miss Irimi caused him to look at the older woman.

Kaneki looked up, startled by Miss Irimi's sudden appearance. "Sulking? No, not exactly," he replied, attempting to mask his inner turmoil with a weak smile.

"Just... reflecting, I suppose."

Kaya studied him for a moment, "Reflecting, huh? Well, don't dwell too much on the past. What matters now is how you move forward. You are helping out Yomo tonight, right?"

Kaneki sighed, grateful for the distraction from his thoughts.

"Yes, Yoshimura-san asked me to assist Yomo with gathering food for Anteiku. It's part of my training."

"That's good. It's important to stay focused on your tasks and keep moving forward, especially in times like these." She pulled out an eye patch, "Mr. Yoshimura meant to give you this as well."

Kaneki accepted the eye patch, examining it with curiosity. "What's this for?"

"It's a precaution," Kaya explained. "Given recent events and the heightened presence of the CCG, it's best to conceal your right eye as much as possible. This eye patch will help you do that."

Kaneki nodded, understanding the reasoning behind the precaution. "Thank you, Miss Irimi. I'll make sure to use it."

"Good," Kaya said with a reassuring smile. "Now, go assist Yomo. And remember, if you ever need help or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."

The ride that evening felt quiet. didn't speak much outside of detailing objectives and general observations. And Kaneki didn't have much to say or even what to say.

"We're here," Yomo said, stopping the car.

Kaneki got out of the car, looking around at their surroundings.

A cliff-side road. A large drop. A thick fog.

Almost as if reading his thoughts, "People often commit suicide here. Drop off bodies of the deceased. Or have car accidents."

Kaneki shivered involuntarily at Yomo's words, the eerie atmosphere of the cliff-side road sending a chill down his spine. The thick fog only added to the sense of foreboding, obscuring the surroundings in a ghostly veil.

"It's... unsettling," Kaneki remarked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yomo remained stoic, grabbing his bag. "It's an eerie place, but it's also where we find ample food for Anteiku. We need to be cautious and efficient."

Kaneki leaned over the rail, trying to see the bottom.

"Don't lean─ over the rail."

Before he could react, Kaneki fell over, the rusted rail giving out, sending him below.

His heart pounded in his chest as he plummeted, the wind rushing past his ears. Panic surged through him as he struggled to orient himself in the darkness, the ground rushing to meet him.

"No. No. No. I can't die. I can't die."

Arms flailing in the air, he tried to grip on anything to stop the death fall.

Then, with a sudden jolt, his fall was complete, his body slamming into something solid with bone-jarring force. Groaning in pain, Kaneki struggled to push himself up, his vision swimming as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"Kaneki?"

As Kaneki's senses gradually returned, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him through the haze of pain and disorientation. Blinking rapidly to clear his vision, he managed to focus on the figure kneeling beside him.

"Miss Fueguchi?" he rasped, his voice hoarse with pain and confusion.

Ryouko's concerned expression softened as she helped him sit up, her gentle touch a welcome relief amidst the chaos. "Are you alright, Kaneki? What happened?"

"Carelessness," Yomo said. "Ghouls won't die from a fall like this, regardless."

"Mr. Yomo. You are collecting tonight?"

"Yes."

Kaneki nodded weakly, still trying to shake off the dizziness from the fall. "I... I think I'll be okay," he murmured, attempting to push himself up with Ryouko's assistance.

Yomo's stern voice cut through the tension, reminding them of the task at hand.

"Let's focus on the mission. Kaneki, can you stand?"

With Ryouko's help, Kaneki managed to rise to his feet, albeit unsteadily. "Yes, I'm ready," he replied, determination flickering in his eyes despite the lingering pain.

Yomo nodded approvingly, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the area. "Good. Let's proceed carefully. Stay close and follow my lead."

As they ventured deeper into the dimly lit surroundings, Kaneki's senses remained on high alert, his earlier fall a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the darkness. Beside him, Ryouko offered silent support, her presence a source of comfort amidst the eerie silence of the night.

The trio eventually stumbled upon a family, a murder-suicide.

"Why?" Kaneki blurted out loud.

His stomach churned at the sight. The bodies of a little girl dressed in the pajamas of a cartoon character he used to watch as a kid, a little boy dressed in pajamas of dinosaurs, their mother in a black dress, and their father, what he assumed to be his work suit. Their throats slit. Eyes open, that seemed to stare into his soul. Innocence was stolen from them.

"I'm supposed to eat them?" His hands shook, "Is this what it comes down to survive?"

Ryouko's hand tightened around his arm, offering silent reassurance as they took in the heartbreaking sight together. It reminded her of Hinamai, and what she would do to protect the girl at any cost.

Yomo put his hands together, offering a small prayer, the lives of children taken too soon. And a family that couldn't make it to the end.

His expression remained stoic, his focus unwavering as he began the grim task of collecting the bodies for Anteiku. With practiced efficiency, he worked methodically, his movements deliberate and precise despite the somber atmosphere surrounding them.

Together, they packed the bodies into the bag. A quietness overtook them all. This is what it meant to be a ghoul that didn't kill, a ghoul that wanted to save the innocent from being prey to the hunger that was not theirs to choose. A self-sacrificing morality that kept them in the darkness to save those who would otherwise be consumed by this primal instinct.