
“Her pulse is increasing.” Banjou hesitates.
“Hold on, please,” Ayato begs, racing forward to grab Hinami’s hands with one hand. Their child is in his other hand. “I can’t lose you.”
“Get him out of here,” Tsukiyama commands.
Touka moves forward to hold her brother’s shoulders. Her voice breaks. “Shuu, let him stay.”
Ayato would have rather his sister kicked him out. Terror kicks him. “No, please.”
He clutches their child. Ryouko. “Hina, I need you.”
“My kagune isn’t healing enough.” Banjou whispers.
Tsukiyama leaves abruptly. When he returns, he’s dragging a white-faced Kaneki, grim Yomo, sobbing Nishiki, and a trembling Miza.
Ayato lets out a sob at the sight of them.
“Your daughter is beautiful,” Yomo says thickly.
“Onee-chan.” Hinami’s eyes suddenly open. She smiles at Kaneki.
“Hey there, Hinami-chan.” Kaneki and Touka approach.
“Ayato?”
“He’s right here, little Hinami.” Tsukiyama shoves him forward.
“Don’t cry, Ayato,” she says, reaching for him. She feels like she’s hanging by a fraying thread.
His hands are so warm, so lifelike. “You’re going to be a great daddy.”
“You need to be a great Mommy, too,” Ayato whines.
“I will. I don’t think…Mom stopped when she went to heaven.” Hinami smiles deliriously.
“Yotsume!” The door bursts open, and Akira Mado barrels in. “Yotsume! Hey!”
She reaches over to embrace Hinami.
“Do you think,” HInami begins, “Your dad and my parents are laughing together?”
“Dad was pretty stubborn, but you never know,” Akira says, forcing a smile.
“I’m gonna tell Hikari hi from you Kirishimas,” Hinami mumbles.
Ayato lets out another sob.
“Can you hold me?”
He places Ryouko in Hina’s arms and crawls next to her. Her breathing slows, then restarts, and slows again.
Akira checks her pulse. “She’s gone.”
Ayato lets out a wail. Nishiki punches the wall, and Tsukiyama throws himself into a teary Yomo’s arms.
Touka and Kaneki clutch each other, and Banjou curls up on the floor. Miza sinks to her knees.
“I’m sorry,” Ayato begs, to Hina, to Ryouko, to his other family.
“You made her happy,” Touka tells him through her tears. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
