Hirako brings his dog into Goat’s headquarters pre-raid. Shio, Rikai, and Yusa must care for it. Bonus if Hajime appears.

“Here we go, Mr. Owl.” Hirako tugs on the leash and can’t resist using his high-pitched baby-voice. “I know you don’t like underground, but there are people who need you here.”

Kaneki, meanwhile, is too busy conversing with Tsukiyama to notice their four-legged arrival. But then Shio streaks by screaming “PUPPER!”, and Rikai and Yusa nearly trample the Centipede and the Gourmet.

“The hell?” Tsukiyama straightens up, running a hand through his hair. “Oh – oh my!”

For now the children are being children, cuddling a fluffy Shiba Inu.

“It’s so cute!” Tsukiyama launches himself at the dog.

“Thank you, Hirako,” sobs Shio. “I love Mr. Owl. He makes me happy.”

“You named your dog Mr. Owl?” Kaneki chokes.

Hirako flushes. “Guilty.”

“It loves me!” Rikai’s face is covered in slobber, and she’s 100% okay with this.

“Look, Shio, it’s Ui!” Yusa pinches the dog’s cheeks like Hairu used to do for Ui.

Kaneki bursts out laughing. It’s the first time in a while they’ve had anything to smile about.

In the distance, Hajime peers out his cell door. Is the king laughing?

Oh. He’s seen Hirako’s puppy before.

He used to have one like it.

He misses it.

For a second, he imagines giving up his mission to be loved by this dog.

Scenario where Kurona and Juuzou have to talk about what happened without trying to kill each other (let me dream okay)

Just minor attempted murders okay?

“Just – please – please let me kill him!” Kurona lunged forward, but Kaneki held her back. She broke into sobs. “He killed our sister! She had Rize’s kagune too!”

Suzuya peeked out from behind Hanbee and Nakarai. Mikage and Tamaki stood behind him, ready to attack anyone else who got ideas.

“Please!”

“He’s my friend! He was raised to kill. I killed, too, when I had my memories wiped, remember?” Kaneki met Tsukiyama’s eyes.

“Damn threw me off a building.” The gourmet’s eyes soured at the memory of Karren. But he’d told her it would all be okay, and okay did not include vengeance on a brainwashed Kaneki.

“She was my best friend – she loved me no matter what,” Kurona sobbed. “R-r-remember when you lost your Shinohara? That’s what you did to me, and you laughed. You made it into a game.”

Suzuya’s eyes widened. His mouth formed a perfect red circle, and for a moment he felt like he was losing Shinohara again. And again, and again, over and over and over – the Owl kept stabbing him –

“No,” he mumbled. “No, no, no!”

“Hey.” Hanbee caught his arms.

“Mr. Shinohara knew what you did. He loved you regardless,” said Nakarai.

“But I don’t love – me …” Suzuya took a step towards Kurona. He was visibly sweating. And then he burst into tears. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“You killed her,” Kurona whimpered.

“Do you … do you want to kill me?” Suzuya held out Jason as tears streamed down his face.

Kurona took a step forward, but she didn’t reach for the quinque. “No. I want her back.”

He looked at the sobbing enemy before her and felt an unexpected stab of pity. He looked like a child. A child she had called “Rei” without knowing what that meant.

“I don’t forgive you, Juuzou. But I think – I think together, we can be on the same team making the world better.” Kurona held out her hand, and Juuzou flung himself into her arms.

Ayato tries to get take Hinami a special gift. He may reluctantly have to recruit Touka and Kaneki for aid.

Oooh what kinda gift? Since it’s unspecified, my mind will create its worst.

They were walking down an expensive street in Tokyo when Ayato saw it.

A ring, decorated with what looks like a yellow topaz butterfly.

He nudged Hinami, and she blushed and smiled. Then they kept walking.

But he remembered the ring a week later for Hinami’s birthday.

Well, he began by stumbling out of bed, cussing himself out for not remembering her birthday.

Yomo looks at him with mild disapproval, but Touka knows she has no ground to stand on when it comes to swearing.

We’re in a rebellion. We’re working for public enemy number one. I don’t have time for this shit!

Yet, the ring still matters to him. Everything about it was delicate and precious, like Hinami.

“Touka, meet me in the kitchen.” He stomps past his sister.

“What’s up?” Touka hurries after him, worried.

“It’s Hina’s birthday.”

“I know.”

“Wanna help me rob a jewelry store?” He grins.

“Ayato!” She shoves him. “Sure, let’s risk our rebellion for jewelry for – oh. Oh.”

Ayato’s face is beet red. “Stop.”

“You like Hinami,” Touka sings.

“Shut up!”

“If you like her, just buy her the ring.”

“It looked expensive.”

Touka frowns. “How expensive?”

“Never mind. Forget it. I don’t – I don’t need to blow through Re’s savings.” He brushes away, but she holds him back.

“I’ll see what I have.” To Ayato’s horror, soon she’s marching upstairs, yelling, “Wake up, king!”

And that is how Kaneki and Touka nearly bankrupted their own rebellion giving Ayato cash for the ring, and why they felt entitled to spy on the kids that evening.

“I – I saw this and thought of you.” Ayato holds up the butterfly, whose yellow diamonds sparkle even in the moonlight. “I’m very glad you were born.”

“Ayato!” Hinami shakes her head. “Is this?”

“The ring we say before. Special ring for a special girl,” he says uneasily.

Hinami throws her arms around him.

Oh my god; why is she crying? Ayato gasps.

“I love it!” She pulls back, smiling. “You know, everyone says I’m sweet, but you’re also a sweetheart, Ayato.”

Around the corner, Touka eyed Kaneki.