My face is gone.
Hajime Hazuki staggers around the tunnels, feeling a floor slimed with blood, feeling his entrails hanging out of him, feeling but not seeing.
His face is a hole, and it horrifies him.
He hears the Oggai screaming as Kaneki Ken bites them.
My beautiful face…he sees Dad and Mom when he looks at his face. And he was too fucking weak to save his last memento of them. Death would serve him right.
I want to see. He can’t even cry now because his eyes are just a hole.
He collapses on the floor and feels laughter bubble up, though he has no mouth to laugh with.
Then arms grab him, and he’s being whisked off God knows where. Took you long enough, CCG.
He hopes the rest of the Oggai recover, too.
Hajime awakens to feel – his eyes again! He tries to sit, to touch his face, but his limbs are restrained. Huh?
He’s scared, but he forces open his eyes.
“He’s awake.” Arima Yusa stares sullenly at him.
“Hah?” Hajime squints. He’s in some makeshift medical center. Other Oggai are tied to beds, tight enough that their circulation is cut off. A few human investigators are chained less tightly.
“You lost, kid.” Hirako crosses his arms.
“So did your kids,” Hajime sneers.
Yusa squeals. He bursts into tears again, and Hirako too sniffles.
“Pathetic,” Hajime taunts.
“No. What’s pathetic is living only for revenge.” Hirako kneels by Hajime’s bedside. “Hajime Hazuki, I forgive you.”
“I don’t want your pity, weakling!”
“Forgiveness isn’t weak. Shio loved you, you know, and he would forgive you. So would Rikai.” Yusa says through sobs.
“You had parents once,” Hirako says quietly. “The reason I fought was for people like them – killed by ghouls when they deserved more from life. I’m not forsaking their son. They loved you and wanted more for you, and so do I.”
“I killed them! I killed Shio and Rikai!” Hajime screams. “Stop lying!”
“I’m not lying.” Hirako stands. “By the way, if you’re wondering: that’s how Kaneki won against CCG. By fighting for something other than revenge.”
Mercy and Magic 