“What did you do when you wanted to see Hide?” Touka hugs her knees to her chest and prays for the hole in her heart to heal.
Kaneki settles besides her. He looks up at the sky. “I was never able to do something concrete. Whenever I felt that way, I was consumed by desire to see him again. I held that desire and that was it.”
He laughs bleakly. “Sorry I’m not much help.”
“No, it’s okay.” Touka slides closer to Kaneki.
Kaneki looks at her with tears in his eyes. “I was a lousy friend.”
It may not be stylish, Kaneki, but live.
“I’d give anything to see him again.” He doesn’t really want to remember what happened in the sewers, if he’s honest. He’s too afraid. Maybe he’s doomed to loneliness.
He takes in a shuddery breath.
“It’s okay to cry.” Touka slides her arm around his shoulder. “I can scream for Yoriko and you can cry for Hide and maybe at the end of the day everything will be all right.”
“I hope so.” Kaneki releases a sob, and Touka presses her mouth into his shoulder to scream.
“Feel better?”
“A little.” He hands her a shaky smile. “Here I thought I was supposed to be comforting you.”
“You did. Just by being here, you did.” Touka leans over him and takes his lips in hers.
Kaneki panics briefly. Does he deserve Touka? And then he remembers.
It may not be stylish, Kaneki, but live.
Mercy and Magic 