Omg I love this.
“Kanekiiiiiiii…Shironeki, come here. You needs a hugs,” slurs Hide.
“Hide!” Kaneki colors as Hide embraces a pillow like a lover – but his friend only sees himself snuggling a white-haired boy sorely in need of love.
“Love me; I promise I love you,” Hide insists. The real Kaneki backs away.
Meanwhile, in Hide’s mind…
“That’s why I’m doing this,” says Shironeki. “Because I love you.”
“Nah. If you really knew I loved you, you wouldn’t.” Hide waves an arm about. “Hey, Kuroneki, get over here!”
“Hmm? Um, me?” Kuroneki hurries away from the corner he’s been hiding in.
“Your eyepatch is super-cool, bro.”
“I think it’s a ghastly sight,” says Haise.
“Don’t be so punny.” Hide hurls a tissue at Haise. “I challenge you and your pinstripes to a pun war!”
“Is the punishment for losing death?” asks Haise sweetly.
“No – it’s tickling!” Hide laughs hysterically.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, dude?” Reaperneki crosses his arms.
“What the fu…what is wrong with you? You’re a sourpuss.”
“Most like a sourpast, am I right?” Haise giggles.
“I love all your pasts, Kaneki,” Hide says dreamily. “All of them. You’re my best friend. I ain’t giving up on any of you – not even you, 240.”
“WAGH!”
“Hi, kids.” Hide waves at the two Childnekis. “I’m sorry, you know, that I couldn’t stop your aunt or save your mom. I hoped me being your friend was enough, but I don’t think it was. And it hurt, because I loved you then and do now. Whether eyeless or punny or emo or eyepatched.”
“What about me?” demands Reaperneki.
“You, too.” Hide stretches out his arms, and Reaperneki begrudgingly accepts.
Hide starts crying. “You guys do love me too, I know. I’ve always known. I always understood. I wish you did.”
Outside Hide’s mind…
“I wish you did,” Hide mumbles, drooling.
“I do. I promise I do now.” Kaneki wipes his own eyes as he lays Hide down on the couch he and Touka just bought.