Chapter 19: Tough Calls
Goddamn it! How am I gonna handle this?! Coming downstairs with Touka and Nishiki, we see Kaneki sitting patiently at a booth.
"Look who it is! I heard that I'm needed?" I inquire, going to sit down across from him.
"Indeed. I figured you may be of use at this time," Kaneki answers. "Best of wishes on the relationship by the way."
"Thank you very much. So what's the issue exactly?" I ask, cutting straight to the point.
"We've hit a bit of a brick wall. Chie's busy working on snagging us some vital data but I fear it will only reinforce our ideas on some of the leads that have dried up rather than help us get to a next step of action," he surmises.
"Funny that you mention Chie. I actually needed her to do some digging into whatever files she can get her hands on as my well of information has run dry for some time. I'd say it would probably be best to wait on her findings but I'm sure time is of the essence, right?" I take a guess.
"Very," he sighs and nods.
"Got anything that comes to mind that might bear some fruit?" I ponder. Watching him think for a moment, he suddenly gasps.
"I just remembered something," he digs into his pockets. "It's probably a long shot but I found this!" His hand pulls out a torn piece of paper.
"What?!" I accidentally gasp. Shit! I let that slip! There's no way!
"Oh, have you recognized something like this somewhere?" He inquires curiously, handing it to me. I can't pretend to be stupid now or I'll raise suspicion!
"I-I think so. Where did you find this exactly?" I carefully examine it. The scribblings along the torn edge definitely look like numbers just like the piece I had picked up! What bullshit is going on here?
"Random ghoul that was stalking me a few weeks ago. He didn't attack until I entered an alleyway. If I can remember correctly, he had blonde hair and was wearing a black tank top," he recalls. We saw that guy at the arcade! It might be a double edged sword but if I can build a strong enough case now, I can hopefully get Kaneki to stay his hand.
"Yuka and I have seen that guy! He was with another ghoul at an arcade we went to called Macabre Mania while we were on a date. His friend attacked us later at night at Hikarigaoka Park. He seemed more intent on eating me but now that I think about it, he could've been faking about starving. After Yuka killed him, I found a piece of paper highly similar to this one so I held onto it just in case it was important somehow," I reveal.
"Seriously? How odd," he leans against the back of his seat while grabbing his chin.
"This doesn't sound like a coincidence, Kaneki. It seems very deliberate," I point out.
"It does, which means we might have even less time than we realized. You wouldn't happen to already have the piece you found on you by chance?" He asks.
"Unfortunately, no. I left it at home as I didn't expect you to pop up today," I answer.
"That's understandable as I didn't plan to show up today. How soon do you think we can meet again to compare the papers?" He questions.
"The best I can do is two days from now as I need to check in with an informant to make sure nothing else comes up," I propose.
"That works. We'll figure out where to meet up on the day of then just in case there are eyes on us," he suggests, standing up.
"Good call. Tell Tsukiyama and the others I said hey when you see them," I wave to him.
"Will do," he waves back. As soon as he finishes telling everyone else goodbye and leaves, I rest my head down and sigh deeply. Gonna have to make some more tough calls as much as I don't want to.
"Touka, may I get a strong black coffee?" I ask, my words slightly muffled by the table.
"Certainly," Touka answers.
"Everything okay?" Ritsu sits down beside me.
"Yeah," I groan, lifting my face up.
"If you need help, you know you can ask, right?" Ritsu reminds me.
"I know," I sigh as she hugs me.
"Is it about us choosing to keep our real names hidden?" Ritsu whispers.
"Only a little bit but it's necessary to not cause trouble," I whisper back.
"Then I can tell you're gonna keep whatever it is to yourself for the time being so I'll back off and let you sulk," Ritsu kisses my cheek.
"I'm sorry," I apologize.
"Please don't be," Ritsu reassures me and goes back to the bar.
"Here you go, Sato," Touka places a hot cup of coffee in front of me.
"Thanks," I take a big sip, feeling my tongue recoil and my face cringe as I force myself to swallow it. "That's way more bitter than I imagined it'd be! Blegh!"
"You're the one who asked for it to be strong. What did you expect?" Touka smirks.
"Beats me… Hey, I need to ask you a serious question," I look directly at her.
"Sure. Go ahead," Touka says.
"Do you believe in Kaneki's judgment?" I inquire, unable to hide my urgent tone.
"…He makes questionable decisions but I believe his heart is in the right place so I'm trying my best to trust that… much like with you," Touka replies.
"I see," I take another sip. "Bleh! This decision certainly meets that criteria."
"Then stop drinking it, dumbass!" Touka chuckles.
"That would be wasteful and an insult to you. I ordered it so I'll finish it," I hastily down the rest of it. "There! All done!"
"Only you, I swear. Anyway, allow me to offer some advice if Kaneki said something that worried you," Touka leans closer to my left ear. "Don't get in over your head for our sake." The way she whispers sends pleasant shivers down my neck.
"T-That's difficult advice for me to follow," I say bluntly.
"Precisely why I said it," Touka remarks.
"I'll try my best to remember that," I say.
"Would you like more strong coffee you clearly don't like?" Touka teases.
"Nah, I'm good. One cup was more than enough," I decline while handing her the proper amount of yen.
"Smart choice," Touka takes the cup and the money before heading back to the counter. As if waiting for her turn, Hinami stops talking to Ritsu and immediately beelines to me, taking the spot where Ritsu was sitting.
"Did Yuka send you over here?" I ask.
"She might have made a tiiiny suggestion but I chose to come over here," Hinami answers. "I'm not gonna let you sit and brood so I'll turn that frown upside down!"
"Oh yeah? How are you gonna go about that?" I taunt.
"With a big hug!" Hinami's arms lock around my torso. I hate to admit it but this is actually melting through the cold exterior of my dread. She's like the embodiment of having hope through despair but still that kinda positivity can't help me with the situation at hand.
"Hinami, I appreciate the sentiment but sulking is necessary for some big choices I have to make," I try to resist her infectious wholesomeness.
"Then don't think about that stuff right now!" Hinami exclaims. "I won't let my big brother be unhappy in my presence!" Oh boy. Touka wasn't pulling my leg.
"I-I'm not your big brother. Kaneki is!" I deny her claim.
"You go out of your way to help me just like he does! As far as I see it, you're like a second brother!" Hinami refutes. "Now smile!" She squeezes harder, slowly crushing me.
"Gah! T-Touka or Yuka, please help me out!" I shout.
"Seems like the solution is quite simple so I don't see the need to," Ritsu mischievously shrugs.
"Just smile for her like the big brother you know you are," Touka teases, chuckling.
"I'll remember this, you two!" I declare. "F-Fine! I accept that I'm your second brother, Hinami! I'm even smiling! See?!"
"Yay! That's more like it! Doesn't it feel better to smile instead?" Hinami giggles with a big grin on her face as she lets go of me, forcing what's left of my ice to melt. A smile worth protecting, damn it!
"It does! It really does!" I chuckle with her as my compliant smile becomes sincere. Looking at everyone else, I notice their smiling faces as well. Anteiku is worth fighting for and while I already knew that, it's clear now that I must double down on what might come next. "Thanks, Hinami! I really needed that," I pat her head.
"You're welcome, Sato!" Hinami says. Getting up from my seat, I head over to Ritsu.
"Ready to take off?" Ritsu asks.
"I have to make some important calls first," I answer.
"Well, I'll be right here when you're done," Ritsu tells me.
"So you can keep flirting with Irimi? I gotcha," I bluntly point out as I walk towards the stairs.
"S-Shut up! You should've forgotten about that!" Ritsu stammers, blushing.
"Flirting with me, huh? What's that about, hmm?" Irimi inquires curiously, having placed an elbow on the counter with her chin resting on her hand.
"N-No way! I-I would never! Sato's just kidding!" Ritsu sputters. As entertaining as it'd be to hear the rest of the conversation, it becomes indecipherable as I go upstairs and enter the room me and Touka were in. Whipping my phone out, I call Chie.
"C'mon. Pick up the phone," I mutter.
"Oh, Sato! Haven't heard from you in a minute. I am kinda busy right now though," Chie says while I can hear her fingers tapping away on a keyboard.
"No problem. I just need you to answer a simple question if possible," I say.
"Shoot," she gives the go ahead.
"Does Kaneki and his group intend on leaving the 20th ward again anytime soon?" I ask.
"That depends on what info is revealed from the shred of paper you're going to pass his way," she replies. "Honestly, he'll probably run off no matter what."
"I see," I sigh. "Well, I'll let you get back to it."
"Okey dokey," she hangs up. Then I've got no choice. It has to be this way. I have to ignore your advice this time, Touka. I call Juuzou's number.
"Heeeyyy, Sato~! Such a rare moment to get an unprompted call from you! You've been full of those lately!" Juuzou chuckles. "Finally asking that favor you wanted?"
"I… I am. I need a CCG coat and to borrow your quinque, 13's Jason," I answer. "No questions asked."
"Oh my~! What a joyous time to be alive! I knew you couldn't sit still for long! Very well. I won't ask. Name the time and location," he complies with my request.
"Tomorrow evening and whatever alley that's within walking distance from your place," I suggest.
"Consider it done," he says.
"See you later then," I slowly but surely start to feel anxiety rush through my body.
"See ya~," he ends the call. Oh god. There's no going back anymore. Hopefully, Kaneki will see my way and we won't have to take it any further. Heading back downstairs, I collect Ritsu and we say our goodbyes. Just before we can leave, the sound of footsteps grows rapidly from the entrance. An all too familiar dude barges in. Right on time for when Anteiku actually opens.
"Hey! Is… Kaneki… around?" Hide pants, having clearly sprinted his way here.
"Missed him by about a half hour this time, Hide," I answer.
"Damn it! I'll catch him eventually though! Where the hell have you been, Sato? We used to bump into each other a lot here but now you're just as much of a ghost as him," Hide asks.
"Got busy. It's as simple as that," I reply. Hide notices Ritsu beside me.
"Oh, you got busy alright! Since when did you land a girlfriend and not tell me, man?!" Hide shouts.
"To be fair, this is fairly new information," I clarify. "Yuka, this is Hide. He's one of Anteiku's regulars," I introduce him. Sometimes a pain in my side too regarding Touka but that's neither here nor there currently.
"A pleasure to meet you," Ritsu greets.
"Oh, the pleasure's all mine. This guy right here is lucky to have you because lemme tell you that Sato was quite—," Hide tries to explain.
"Not necessary to disclose, Hide! She's very well aware of my less than stellar moments," I interject through my gritted teeth and annoyed smile. Ritsu giggles. "Anyway, we must be on our way."
"What? You're telling me that you're leaving already?" Hide asks, shocked.
"Still got a busy schedule so yeah," I affirm.
"Damn. I won't hold ya then," Hide sighs. "Gonna help myself to some coffee while I'm here. See you two later."
"Later," Ritsu and I wave as we exit Anteiku.
"So… you feel like telling me what's up now?" Ritsu inquires as we walk away from the coffee shop.
"I'm gonna have to confront Kaneki. I feared this moment would come. If only I could figure out what the CCG is up to, then I could allow him to move freely as he was doing before," I answer.
"Ah, so that's why we've been sparring? You realize how messy this can get if things don't go your way?" Ritsu asks.
"…I know," I deeply sigh.