Kaneki Hideyoshi cowers before Washuu Yoshitoki. He recognizes him from the portraits.
“Where are you from, son?” Yoshitoki’s voice is gentle, but Hide knows better. This man helped cover up Tsuneyoshi’s crimes.
He’s not trusting him.
And so Hideyoshi hunches over, arms crossed, glaring at the floor.
“You just appeared out of nowhere. And you’re part ghoul. We’d like to help you, but you need to help us first,” says Uncle Marude.
Someday you’ll take me motorcycling, Hide wants to tell him, but can’t just yet.
His best chance is finding his way back to the time portal, but to do that, he needs to get out of this interrogation room, and that’s not looking likely.
Mom is gonna kill him for messing with the portal, and he’s okay with that, so long as he’s back in his own time, when humans and ghouls cooperate.
“I need to…to speak to Sasaki Haise,” he manages.
“How do you know him?” Yoshitoki queries.
“I just do. Please.” Hide touches his chin, his famous I’m scared tell.
Yoshitoki sighs. “Marude, have Kuriowa escort him to the floor.”
“Are you sure?”
“Don’t think we’re getting anywhere otherwise.” Yoshitoki shrugs.
Hide gasps as Kuriowa Iwao, his girlfriend’s grandfather who died before either were born, enters the room. He’s larger than Hide imagined.
Iwao frowns at the lanky kid, who gawks at him as if they’ve met before. But Hide is too scared to say anything as Iwao leads him, handcuffed, to the elevators. Instead, he memorizes every move so he can relay this to his girlfriend.
Once they reach the offices, Iwao knocks on a door. “Sasaki?”
“Hmm?” A purple-haired grump yanks open the door.
Hide gasps. Uncle Urie! Uncle Mutsuki and Aunt Saiko behind them, and – the Uncle Shirazu he never got to meet.
“What is it?” A black-and-white, fluffy-haired investigator glances up.
Hide can no longer contain himself. He steps closer, wishing he wasn’t handcuffed, wishing he could reach out. “Dad.”
“Huh?” Saiko’s mouth falls open.
“Who?” Sasaki looks confused. But…but something about this kid seems familiar after all…
“I’m Hideyoshi, named after Nagachika, and I’m from the future. I know you won’t believe me, but I promise you I am,” Hide begs.
“Huh?”
“Has Takeomi asked Yoriko to marry him yet? Their daughter is my girlfriend,” Hide blurts out, turning to Iwao.
“This is bullshit,” Urie grumbles.
“You like Mutsuki,” Hide shoots back.
Urie turns the color of his hair, Mutsuki gasps, and Shirazu slips an arm around Hide. “I like this kid. He’s like a clairvoyant ghoul.”
“I’m part human, too,” Hide protests. He probably shouldn’t say Mom’s name, lest the CCG search for ghouls named Touka.
“Let’s listen.” Shirazu smiles.
Sasaki hasn’t moved. “Uh.”
“Is it that strange that CCG would build a time portal?” Hide protests.
“No,” Iwao says quietly, to Sasaki’s surprise.
“Fine,” says Sasaki, peering at the kid’s blue, familiar hair, “Let’s listen.”