Kaneki has always wanted a dog, but between his abusive mother, neglectful aunt and everything concerning his Ghoul life, that childhood desire never came true. He gets the surprise of his life when his family presents him with a new Akita puppy (maybe named Hachiko, after the infamous dog). (I blame the puppy videos on YouTube and the movie Hachi, for this one 😝)

“Touka, are you okay?” Kaneki enters their apartment to see her doubled over, pressed against the door to their bedroom.

“She’s fine,” Ayato calls. Hinami clutches his shoulder and giggles.

“All set!” Touka calls.

“Oof,” Kaneki hears Yomo grunt from behind the door. It opens and out spill the Quinx, Tsukiyama, Nishiki and Kimi, Akira and Amon, and…an Akita puppy.

Kaneki’s mouth falls open as the puppy quivers with excitement. It yips and scampers closer to him.

“We’ve named it Hachiko. You don’t get a choice,” Saiko calls. 

Kaneki laughs. He stretched out his hand so the puppy can sniff him. “Better our dog than our kid.”

“Don’t worry. Mutsuki and I made a list of names,” Touka assures him.

Kaneki gulps. 

The puppy tackles him. 

“It’s so lovable!” Kaneki cries. “I – oh my gosh, Touka, I love it!”

“Take care of it well, Kaneki,” says Akira. She grins. “Maris Stella won’t like you anymore.”

“She better like Hachiko. He’s the best,” Touka declares. 

Kaneki looks up at her with tears in his eyes. When he confessed his lifelong dream a week ago, in the middle of the night, he hadn’t expected anything other than a hug.

“Now that we can live freely, I figure we might as well make the most of it,” explains Touka. 

Kaneki smiles. “I love you.”