I need open arms now too after that … knife to the heart that was 143.
Go, Touka had urged him. You can’t live a lie anymore.
And here he is. Standing before the Quinx – Mutsuki is held back from his arms by Urie and Aura – before Suzuya Squad, before Nimura Furuta.
“I…I know I hurt you all.” He looks into everyone’s eyes, except Furuta.
“Yeah, and you hurt my aunt,” snaps Aura.
“It wasn’t him,” Hirako Take says from behind Kaneki.
“Huh?” Aura pales.
“It was me.”
Aura’s face blanches, and Shio, Rikai, and Yusa leap in front of their leader.
“Calm down, tall angry man,” begs Shio. Despite herself, Saiko laughs.
“Why?” Ui spits.
“Because Arima…Arima killed himself,” Kaneki whispers.
“That sounds convenient.” Iwao Kuriowa cocks an eyebrow.
“It’s the truth,” Yusa snaps.
“We all saw it,” says Rikai.
“Urie, Mutsuki, Saiko…I know I hurt you. The world has enough hurt in it; I need to stop the hurting.” Kaneki wipes his eyes. “I’m not on the ghoul’s side anymore. I’m not on the human’s side anymore. I’m on the side of working together.”
Furuta scoffs. “Are you buying this shit?”
“Work together, like in one-eyed ghouls? Not the failures we are.” Hsaio points to herself and Furuta.
“Exactly!” Shio beams at her.
“What?!” yells Higemaru.
“Haise…” Suzuya steps forward. “Just so you know, I’m supposed to kill you now.”
“Please don’t,” Mutsuki says, and Saiko prepares to launch her kagune.
“I don’t want to,” Suzuya finishes. How can he kill the only other person who looked at him with Shinohara’s eyes? “So if there will be more fighting, it won’t come from Suzuya Squad.”
“Or the Quinx,” Urie says.
“You can’t be serious.” Furuta laughs nervously.
“We are. Also, we actually like Haise, Director.” Hsaio plants her hands on her hips. “Let’s confess everything. Right here, right now.”
“No.”
“So there is something to confess?” Hirako challenges.
Furuta knows he’s caught, but Kaneki steps forward. “I’m not going to hurt you, Furuta.”
“Mamman!” Saiko launches herself into his arms, and Urie and Mutsuki follow with Suzuya.
“Oh, what the hell.” Aura joins the rest of the Quinx. So his Squad founder didn’t maim his aunt. He’ll settle a duel with Hirako later. Right now, he sees love pouring from everyone towards Kaneki Ken, and he wants some of this love.