My bitter murder child needs some serious love. Doctor’s orders.
Hajime tries to bite Hirako, because he’s part ghoul and loves the irony, but a blow from Rikai knocks him back.
“Ghoul,” snaps Shio, locking cuffs onto him.
He can see Mom being eaten, Dad screaming for them to kill him instead. He’s running for the window again.
“So are you!” Hajime screeches. “So are you! All of you – except Hirako! At least I’m gonna stop you all! Fuck you!”
He screams and screams as they tighten the restraints, cutting off his circulation. Hirako searches his body and yanks the tracker out from his tongue.
Hirako tries to herd Squad 0 away, but Yusa hesitates. “He’s really upset.”
The door bursts open, and SS-Yotsume stands there, her emo boyfriend at her side.
“Hajime Hazuki.” Hinami steps forward.
“Fuck you, ghoul.”
“No, that’s Ayato’s job,” Hinami says sweetly. Ayato chokes, but he made a vow of silence in exchange for accompanying her, and he’ll stick to it if it’s the last thing he does. It might be.
“Huh?” Hajime looks confused.
“Never mind!” Hirako says quickly.
Hinami sits across from Hajime. After a moment, Shio joins her, followed by Yusa and Rikai. With a sigh, Hirako finds himself sitting besides Hajime.
“We like you,” Hinami says. “Well, I do. I know what it’s like to have your parents killed.”
“Do you? Do you know what it’s like to watch them cut off your mom’s head?” shrieks Hajime.
“Yes,” she replies calmly.
“Well, she deserved it.” He scowls.
“She was a pacifist. She only at corpses. We all did.” Hinami pauses. “But I joined Aogiri for revenge anyway.”
————————————————————————-
Hajime isn’t sure why she keeps visiting him, but after a few days, he begins to realize he likes her company. She’s kind, and she’s always accompanied by Squad 0, who cheekily remind him of their adventures in the academy.
But it’s Hirako’s pat on the head one day that precipitates his tears.
“You know you’re a good kid, right? Despite the cursing?”
He’s not a good kid. If he was, Mom and Dad wouldn’t have died, right?
Hinami embraces him, and soon Squad 0 has cocooned him in a hug.
“Do not be afraid, Hajime.” Hinami nods. “At GOAT, you are loved.”
Mercy and Magic 