“I – I can’t believe – Kaneki is that – that thing!” Tsukiyama throws himself to the ground. He pounds the dirt and stones and waters the plants with his tears.
Chie snaps a picture.
Kyou is disappointed, devastated even – she would have rather been wrong. She would have rather Kaneki Ken triumphed instead of digging further into tragedy. And pulling Tsukiyama with him.
“Hey, you.” She shakes Tsukiyama’s shoulder lightly.
He sobs harder.
“Look at me, Shuu. Please,” she says. Her voice is gentler than normal.
Tsukiyama gasps slightly. She called him Shuu. And it sounds lovely on her tongue.
“You were right,” he mumbles, lifting his eyes to hers.
“I wish I wasn’t,” she tells him, using her fingers to scrape away his tears. “But right now, Shuu, what we need are strong leaders. We have Touka, but she needs your support. We can’t be strong on our own, remember? Come on. We can cry and scream after we survive this, mmkay?”
Tsukiyama nods. “Help me, Kyou.”
“Always.” Kyou hoists him up.
Click, snaps Chie’s camera.