Chapter Text
Kaneki was happy, uncharacteristically so, Hide noticed. The two were unpacking Kaneki’s admittedly meager belongings into his new apartment. He’d transferred to a new school following his early application to Kamii University, having to finish his final year of high school before they would let him into the school.
His new school wasn’t why he was exited though, the place has a pretty bad reputation from his knowledge, but they’d let him in for free and it was close to his new University, so who was he to refuse. His aunt was all too happy to get rid of him anyway.
Getting out of that place, while a good thing, wasn’t the main reason he was so giddy. That was his hot date that he’d somehow been able to get for tonight. She’s a really pretty girl, her name was Rize, they’d met when he visited the campus and checked out the library, they instantly hit it off about books, specifically their shared favorite author, Takatsuki Sen.
They decided to meet at a cafe, a small place run by the school’s principal that let students eat for cheap. They made small talk over some food that was surprisingly good for the people that were running the shop. That, or the two people he’d seen so far, a cute girl with dyed purple hair and a young man with bleached hair weren’t preparing it. The latter was more likely Kaneki decided after giving it some thought.
The date went surprisingly well, at least Kaneki thinks it did, he doesn’t have much experience in the field, but they did have a really in depth conversation about Takatsuki sen. And she’d even asked him to walk her home, this date was going so well. He really wants to do this again.
As if she was sensing the boy’s thoughts, Rize let out a chuckle. “You really are so innocent,” she coos. “I almost feel bad for what I’m about to do to you.”
With that, her demeanor changed instantly, she no longer fit the image of the kind girl he’d gone on the date with. She slams her knee between his legs, cackling as the boy falls to the ground. Her kind grin from earlier has morphed into a vile sneer.
“Why..” the boy on the ground questions, curling up.
“You’re so pathetic,” she kicks him again “Stop, you’re gonna make me feel bad.” She laughs before reaching down to pick through his pockets.
Kaneki makes an attempt to push her hands away and earns only a vicious stomp to the head in return.
“And to answer your question from earlier Ken” she sings, tauntingly. “I make a lot of money off of retards like you that only think with their dick” she spits out, “If only you’d bothered to use that great mind of yours you might not have ended up in this position.”
Kaneki had started to lose consciousness at this point, he’s severely concussed. His eyes weren’t working too well and he could barely make out the image of his assailant dancing out of the alley, the screech of breaks, and the sickening thud the vehicle produced as it made contact. This experience will certainly haunt him for a long time.
Some time later Kaneki awoke in a hospital bed, he tried to get up, but a nurse nearby ushered him back into bed, saying something about head trauma that he didn’t quite comprehend. Is it bad that my first thought here was Fight Club, He thinks to himself.
The nurse placed a tray of food on the table beside his bed. “Try to eat some food,” the nurse says kindly “Dr Kanou will be in to see you soon.” The food wasn’t very great, not that he’d expected any better.
“Ok,” he says, that lady’s voice annoyed him, he assumes it’s mostly his headache, but he wants out of here as soon as possible.
“Hello Kaneki,” Doctor Kanou says as he slips into the room. Kaneki begins to pick at his food again, “How are you doing, my boy?”
Kaneki tries to hide his displeasure at being called that, “I’m doing fine, sir” cursing to himself at the venom he’d accidentally injected into the honorific. He takes a second to compose himself before starting again. “So, when can I leave?” He rushes out before he can accidentally say anything else rude.
“You can leave now, just check out with the front desk, she’ll give you your prescription.” The doctor responds evenly, seemingly ignoring Kaneki’s earlier slight.
Checking out was no real issue, the doctor had probably notified the woman at the desk, seeing as she wordlessly handed Kaneki his medicine and mindlessly waved the boy away. They’d probably mail him his bill at some point, something he’s not looking forward to.
Thankfully nothing happened on his walk home, Kaneki didn’t know what he’d do if he managed to get mugged again. Actually realistically he did know, he’d break down crying and make the situation even worse somehow because he doesn’t have anything to hand over.
“Speaking of that” he spoke to himself before stopping in the middle of the walkway, a wave of stress washes over him at the thought of everything he’d need to replace. “I’ll need a new I.D., maybe I can ask my aunt for some cash.” He mutters to himself, “At least she didn’t steal my clothes.” He added, trying to convince himself that it could have been worse, and it could, he could live in an active war zone or have been born hundreds of years ago. “Yeah” he says, trying to convince himself, “This could be much worse.”
His return to his apartment might be the happiest he’s ever been coming home. He can lie down with a book and have nobody bother him for at least a few days. He could only use the hospital excuse for a few days though, Hide will catch on and come over and make him go outside if he decides to spend too much time alone. That doesn’t matter right now though, he can just read his book in happiness.
The boy figures that he must have drifted into sleep at some point. He woke up in a pool of sweat and noticed his book on the floor, something uncharacteristic that caused distress.
As he tries to get up and grab his book from the floor, he’s overcome by an intense wave of dizziness. He mentally kicks himself for forgetting to take his medicine before he fell asleep, but “I’ll be fine,” he says to himself while hobbling to the table he’d left them on.
Taking them was really easy,he’d never taken any pills before and found the process was easier than what he feared. He was also surprised such a small pill was everything he needed to recover, but it killed the dizziness and headache real quick so he’s not going to complain.
Now that his head was clear, his thoughts started running at a million miles an hour. It’s dark outside, yet he feels the sudden urge to go for a walk.
He’s gone outside in house clothes, something his aunt would get mad about, if she was aware of it that is. Now that he’s got his own place he’s free from her yelling at him about minor things like this. Not that this was some act of rebellion, he just wanted to do anything before he went crazy.
Somehow through his wanderings he’d ended up at the cafe he and Rize ate at on their date, he’s pretty sure Anteiku was its name. He idly wonders if this place would let him go into debt. He also considered digging through the dumpster, but he decides that he isn’t quite that hungry yet.
As he wandered behind the cafe, a girl walked out of the back door, carrying a bag of what Kaneki assumes to be trash, and as soon as she saw him she immediately burst out into laughter. The girl was intimidating, and if Kaneki was to be honest, intimidating would be underselling it, she scares him.
“Rize got to you, didn’t she?” The girl laughed.
“Yeah.” Kaneki sighs, lowering his head, ashamed.
At that the girl burst into laughter. “You coming to dig through our trash man,” she laughs, “I won’t tell anybody it looks like you need it.” She taunts, “I can’t believe people keep falling for her, damn,” she says more to herself than anyone else.
Kaneki looks dejected at that, “Sorry” he tries to get out, but stops as an old man comes out of the building.
“Is there anything wrong Touka.” The man asks.
“Nothing, just taking out the trash.” The girl, Touka was her name, responds,
“Who’s this then?” The man asks, referring to Kaneki.
“Just another loser that fell for Rize’s games, don’t know why he’s here though.” The girl scoffs.
“I’m sorry,” Kaneki tries to apologize.
“Why the fuck are you saying sorry, I’m laughing at you.” Touka responds, slightly irritated
“Sorry.” He tries to say again, before cutting himself off.
“Touka, let him be.” The old man instructs the girl. “Hello, my name is Yoshimura, I don’t think I got yours.Would you need something to eat by chance.”
Kaneki panics a bit before responding. “Ummm, I’m Kaneki Ken, nice to meet you, yes I am hungry,” he rushes out “I have no money though.” he pauses, “Actually I might have less than zero money with the hospital bills.”
“I may be able to offer you a job if need be, you wouldn’t be the only student that works here either, Touka here could show you the ropes.” The man, Mr Yoshimura, offers.
“Thank you,” The boy responds, “If you don’t mind,” he says “I could definitely use the money after…” he trails off. Touka had to stifle a laugh at that.
“Ok, If you can come here at some point tomorrow, we can talk about this more.” Mr Yoshimura says.
“Thank you.” Kaneki responds honestly. “Thank you so much.” He says walking away, still in disbelief at the miracle of sorts that had just transpired, he wouldn’t be forced to ask his aunt for money, the nice old man had saved him.
After Kaneki left, presumably to go home, the old man, Yoshimura, directed his attention to the girl, Touka. “Why do you insist on doing this.” He says, a sad look on his face.
“What do you mean by that?” Touka asked, defensively.
“You can’t keep pushing people away like that.” Mr Yoshimura said, “He’s innocent, what did he do to you?” He asks, “All you’re doing is hurting others and yourself,” he pauses, “I’m just worried about you Touka.” He concludes, kindly.
“Don’t!” The girl shouts, louder than she meant to. A look of shame comes over her face before she continues “I’m doing just fine, you don’t need to worry about me,” she tells the man, irritated, “He’d just be a problem anyway, why’d you offer him a job?” She asks exasperated, “He’s stupid enough to fall for fucking Rize’s games.” She spits the girl’s name out, her disdain for the girl obvious. She’s yelling again. “Sir” she adds on as an afterthought.
As soon as her outburst ends she pushes past the old man and runs upstairs in the café. “I’m off the clock old man I don’t need to listen to you no more.” She shouts over her shoulder as she enters her room, slamming the door behind her.
What did Mr Yoshimura know about her anyway, he’s just a washed out old man with no dreams he doesn’t know what it’s like in this world. Rize, that bitch, has already gotten to that boy, Kaneki she thinks it was, he’s got a fucking target on his back all he’s gonna bring to this place is pain. He’s better off just fucking off and never coming back again. For his sake and the sake of everybody here.
“Damn.” Touka curses, she wants a drink but Yoshimura’s already on top of her so she can’t risk it right now. She’s tempted to scream again when she realizes that boy from earlier is gonna end up sharing a shift with her because of her boss’ games.
She decides she doesn’t want to deal with this anymore and lies in her bed, trying to forget about everything that’s transpired.
Kaneki too was in bed, in his case not to forget reality, but in his case an attempt to prepare himself for the long day that awaits him tomorrow.