“So you’re essentially a half-breed, too.” Gohan smiles. 

“Y-yes.” Kaneki starts. “Is that a tail?!”

“It is!” Gohan grins and allows Kaneki to touch it. “I’m half Saiyan. I was expected to be a fighter like them, but I’m not so good at that. I’d rather study.”

“Me too.” Kaneki shakes his head. “I’m a terrible person.”

“Why? For being half-species? That’s part of who you are.” Gohan shrugs. “It’s fine. Don’t give up because you’re different, Kaneki.”

“But – how do I move on when one can understand me?” Kaneki asks.

“I can understand you. And Touka can understand your ghoul side. Hide can understand your human side. The Quinx can understand the ‘both worlds’ part. You’re not alone, despite how you feel.” Gohan smiles. “And, by the way, it’s okay to dislike fighting, so long as you don’t use that dislike in a cowardly fashion.”

Kaneki nods, still patting the tail. He likes the fur. Why couldn’t he have been turned half-Saiyan?

“As surely as the sun will rise again,” says Gohan, “know that hope – for anything – always exists and will always be there.” 

Kaneki isn’t sure he knows that, but maybe, if he can keep talking to this weird person with a tail, he will learn.