Some clarity for why I'm breaking my schedule: since chapter 2 of my story is glitching and won't show up at all (FFN is being very glitchy so idk what's happening) so I'm hoping that by posting another chapter it'll pop up and fix everything... either that or this won't appear at all either. Either way I hope y'all enjoy! (If you can see this), and have a wonderful day / night!


Kaneki knew if he were to watch over his past self and ensure the brightest future possible he would have to start at Anteiku. It was at this coffee shop that his life truly started, after all.

However, Kaneki also knew that if he were to use his real name of "Ken Kaneki" to apply to the job he would have been found out in an instant. After all, in a mere three days his past self would also be working here, and something in his gut told him that having two people with the exact same name and similar facial features working at the same ghoul cafe would trigger some alarm bells. So he decided a codename would be the best idea. And if he was going with a codename then why not the very one he was assigned by the head of the C.C.G., Arima? He was already used to being called by it, so if anything it was perfect!

"Haise, huh?" Touka asked, her gaze still skeptical as she looked Kaneki up and down. "You're trying to work here? We don't exactly need anyone else here…"

Just as Touka denied Kaneki there were footsteps from upstairs. The two of the ghouls glanced in the direction of the stairs that lead to the upper floor, only to see an elderly man descending them. His eyes were perpetually closed, and yet despite that he didn't trip on any of the steps. His gray hair was slicked back, and he had a rather soft, kind expression on his face. He looked from Touka to Kaneki, grinning slightly.

"Did I hear this young man wants a job here?" the older man asked, his gaze curious despite his eyes being closed.

"Yoshimura! This guy-" Touka started in an exasperated tone before being hushed by the elder.

"Please, let me hear it from his mouth," he instructed, turning to face Kaneki. "What did you say your name was?"

"Haise Sasaki, sir!" Kaneki nodded respectfully, and he watched as Yoshimura cracked a smile.

"Haise, if you're interested I'd like to talk to you in the meeting room upstairs. Come now," he said calmly, turning back to the stairwell. Touka gave an agitated look as Kaneki followed Yoshimura up the steps.

As they made their way to the upper floor of Anteiku, Kaneki inhaled a breath of familiarity. He spent so much memorable time in this cafe, and with Touka's outburst at him he had forgotten how much he missed it. The nostalgic smell of coffee grounds made him smirk lightheartedly, and he sighed. He missed the days he spent in this cafe.

If only it could have lasted forever…

However he pushed his reminiscing to the back of his mind as he and Yoshimura reached the meeting room. The older man held the door open for Kaneki as the two of them entered. The room was filled with furniture as Kaneki remembered: a large three person couch stretching across the wall with a large inset in it. There were also three dark wood chairs scattered around a long coffee table in the center of the room, and of course the loveseat positioned at the head of the table where Yoshimura would normally sit.

"Feel free to take a seat anywhere," the older ghoul mentioned, making sure to shut the door before waving his hand at the seats before them. Kaneki promptly sat at the edge of the couch closest to the loveseat, interlocking his fingers and watching Yoshimura as he took his usual seat.

"So, you want to work here? Why?" Yoshimura questioned Kaneki, still grinning softly as he talked. Kaneki, however, had switched to having a rather serious expression.

Should I tell him? Would he even believe me?

But then again I have to tell someone, just to know I'm not going crazy…

"I want to work here because…" Kaneki paused, pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "Well I used to work here."

Yoshimura seemed a little confused by the younger ghoul's confession. He watched Kaneki carefully before speaking again, opening his eyes a bit and revealing the black and red eyes, signature for ghouls.

"Really? I don't believe I remember a Haise Sasaki working here before," the elder pointed out, resting his hand on his chin as he studied Kaneki with a steady gaze. Meanwhile the younger ghoul sighed, biting his lip a little. Kaneki wasn't sure if he should just tell Yoshimura straight up his circumstance or if he should stop before he ruined anything.

If I just tell him not only might he not believe me, but he might not hire me after that. He might as well think that I'm some sort of schizo or something.

Then again Yoshimura is rather understanding, maybe he'll understand…

Kaneki took a deep breath, glancing up at the older ghoul for a moment.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you something, just promise to hear me out on it," Kaneki blurted out, watching Yoshimura intently. He just hoped and prayed that he would understand, otherwise he might as well throw his whole operation in the trash. He felt a small weight lift off of his shoulders when he watched Yoshimura nod in agreement, and he finally built up the courage to say it.

"M'kay, this is going to sound crazy, but I'm from the future," Kaneki stated, watching as Yoshimaru's face went on a rollercoaster of emotions. At first he looked shocked, then skeptical, then curious.

Please believe me, please…

"Is that so?" the elder scratched his chin a little, seeming deep in thought. "How is that possible? And more importantly why are you here at Anteiku, telling me of all people?"

Kaneki breathed a sigh of relief seeing Yoshimura's reaction to the information, and he fell a lot better about sharing this.

"Well I'm not sure how it happened. I was just sleeping and then I appeared in front of Anteiku," Kaneki explained, rubbing the back of his head. His story sounded like a farfetched fairytale, but it really was the truth. "And I figured I could trust you with information like this. To be perfectly honest my name isn't even Haise, it's Ken Kaneki."

"And why would you hide something like that? Were you afraid of being recognized by someone here?"

"Well in about two to three days a teen named Kaneki is going to work here after you take him under your wing. This teen is a past version of me, and I'm trying to keep him and his friends safe in the name of a brighter future. In order to do that I need to go here undercover and watch over him… or me, technically," Kaneki panted. He hadn't expected to talk as much as he did, he just hoped that Yoshimura caught on to his confusing explanation.

"Hmm, fascinating. Is the future not looking too bright?"

"Well no, it's pretty good actually. I just think I could make it even better by fixing small things here and there."

"Do you not think that doing such a thing could be dangerous?"

"I'm willing to take the risk."

The two ghouls stared at each other for a moment in silence. The longer they sat there watching each other the more anxious Kaneki felt.

Will he really believe me?

"Kaneki, do you promise to protect everyone at Anteiku?" Yoshimura suddenly asked, looking at the half-ghoul with a dead serious stare.

"Of course, that's my plan," Kaneki concurred, nodding and looking determinedly back at the older ghoul. Upon Kaneki's response Yoshimura grinned, patting the younger man on the shoulder.

"I'm glad to hear that. I would love to have you join Anteiku."


I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! The chapters are going to slowly get longer and longer from here, so I hope y'all will stick around for that. In the meantime I'll see y'all later! ^^