Natsuki: Sigh~
After Natsuki finished talking with Kaneki's body, unlike Shino, Yuuka, Sachi and Chikao.
She remained in the Higanbana residence and joined them for dinner.
But ever since she left Kaneki's room, Natsuki felt very depressed and noticing this after eating dinner. Miku tried to cheer her up.
Miku: Hey... Natsuki do you—
Natsuki: Sorry Miku but... Can you not talk to me right now?
Unfortunately Natsuki didn't want to interact with her at the moment.
Miku: I... I understand...
Miku's thoughts*
(Natsuki...)
Feeling a sense of guilt for Natsuki's bad mood, Miku immediately backed off and left the living room.
Natsuki: Sigh~
Aiya: You seem more down than usual.
After Miku left, Aiya approached Natsuki.
Natsuki: Can you blame me?
Aiya: No I can't. So? Do you want to talk about it?
Surprisingly Aiya wasn't visibly depressed compared to Miku and Atsuo and worn a somewhat cheerful expression and Natsuki immediately pointed this out.
Natsuki: Aren't you sad that Kaneki could possibly not wake up again?
Aiya: Oh why? Because I'm not looking as sad as you?
Natsuki: S-Sorry. That was rude to ask.
Aiya: It's fine.
A few minutes later~
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Awkward...)
A few minutes passed after their last exchange, and an awkward atmosphere covered the living room.
(What should I do? Kaneki's and Miku's mother is trying or strike up a conversation...)
Not knowing what to say, Natsuki stayed silent until Aiya broke silence.
Aiya: Natsuki-chan... Thank you for becoming friends with my son and daughter.
Natsuki: Eh? Um... Your welcome?
Aiya: You know, that boy is way too secretive I was very surprised to learn that he was the Hero of Hell and Atlantis this whole time!
(She's talking about Kaneki?)
Aiya: Seriously! Even though he was always around... He was actually sneaking off doing a lot... Of dangerous things behind our backs...
Aiya's cheerful expression turned to horror and anxious as she continued talking.
Aiya: He experienced so many horrifying, and traumatic things at such a young age... Yet we didn't even noti—
Natsuki: Auntie?
Aiya: Oh... Sorry I almost spiralled there for a moment.
Natsuki: No it's alright.
Aiya: To think Kaneki was keeping a lot of secrets from us huh?
Natsuki: Yeah. That's a really big problem, even though we made a contract with him to make him tell the truth of his past and to never lie to us again. Kaneki made it so he could have a 2-3 week time limit, and even then he was trying to not tell us anything at all.
Aiya: He did?
Natsuki: Yeah! After he came to apologize to all of us after his attempt to erase all of our memories of him and himself we made that contract so he can unload a lot the heavy burdens he has on his shoulders.
Aiya: I see.
Natsuki: But HE ONLY TOLD US ONE STORY AND THAT WAS IT! He didn't told us anything and when the time limit was up the thing he was about to say was ABOUT THOSE THREE! HE COULD'VE TOLD ME ABOUT THEM A WHILE AGO BU—
Natsuki began ranting about Kaneki and his bad habit of keeping secrets, and she didn't expect.
Aiya's thoughts*
(Hehe~ looks like my little plan worked!)
Aiya actually planned this.
A few minutes later~
Natsuki: If he had known what they were trying to apologize to him but he couldn't face them he should've relied on me!
Aiya: I see. So you're a bit angry at Kaneki as well?
After a few minutes, Natsuki had finished her ranting and upon hearing Aiya's question she realized she talked about Kaneki in a very angry tone.
Natsuki: S-Sorry I said something so rude about Kaneki!
Aiya: No, no it's alright. It's normal to be angry at the person you love when they make some mistakes.
Natsuki: Huh?
Aiya: What? Do you think people who love each other don't have fights from time to time?
Surprised after hearing such a thing from Aiya, Natsuki listened carefully.
Aiya: I know it was rude, but I was eavesdropping on your visit with Kaneki. I could immediately tell you were frustrated and a bit angry at him.
Natsuki: ...
Aiya: And it's alright. You wanted him to be more honest with you but he didn't. He kept so many secrets including one involving those girls and right now you want to scold him for hiding so many things from you
Natsuki: ... Yeah... That's right.
Aiya: I knew it. But be rest assured it's alright if you want to scold or even be angry at Kaneki for it.
Natsuki: Really?
Aiya: Of course. You're doing it out of love for Kaneki right? What's important about having a good relationship is proper communication.
Natsuki: Yeah...
Aiya: So once Kaneki wakes up, go tell him everything you told me. Once you're done, make up with him.
Natsuki: Thanks. But how are you confident that he'll wake up? I'm afraid that he wouldn't...
Aiya: Please that kid cares about you girls a lot, he's definitely going to wake up just to see you all again.
Hearing this Natsuki smiled a bit.
Aiya: So once he wakes up, go do what you must.
Natsuki: I understand.
Aiya: Good. You can sleep here in our home for tonight if you want and since Kotori-chan is busy at the moment you can use her room.
Natsuki: Thank you, I'll tell my parents.
Natsuki took out her phone and started to call her parents.
Aiya: I'll prepare the room then, once your done telling your parents go take a bath.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(...)
Natsuki stared as Aiya walked farther away and remembered what she had said.
"What's important about having a good relationship is proper communication."
(She's right.)
Knowing that Aiya was right, she looked at the stairs leading to the second floor.
Natsuki: I'll talk to her later then.
She had decided to talk to Miku after she takes a bath.
Meanwhile~
At the same time, at the Council Headquarters.
Kotori's thoughts*
(What the hell is happening?)
The Council was scrambling to prepare the world for it's possible end, and Kotori was in a private room trying to figure out why they're completely locked off Kaneki's pocket dimensions.
(That can't be possible, Kaneki-chan is still alive and even if he dies his pocket dimensions would still be accessable by us so how come they're locked up now?)
Shake~?!
(What even here?!)
As well the strange door shaking that was happening at random times.
Kotori: I better look this up in the internet, for similar occurrences.
And at different places.
Kotori: "Breaking News! Doors around the city of London shaked for an unknown reason" So it's not only in Japan?
She looked at many articles and videos of doors shaking around the world and grown even more worried.
(Is this a sign of the impending end of teb world?)
Kotori: Tch! This is so much!
Kiryu: Kotori!
Kiryu came into the room to report to Kotori.
Kotori: What is it? I'm looking up these strange things happening since Kaneki-chan was hospitalized, it could be related.
Kiryu: I understand you're worried, but I need to report this to you.
Kotori: Sigh~ What is it?
Kotori stopped what she was doing and payed attention to Kiryu.
Kiryu: First of all the agents we've sent to Shimotsuki has arrived.
Kotori: Really? Good what else?
Kiryu: rations in the prepared camps have reached enough food that could last a couple of months even for at least a million people.
Kotori: What about living spaces?
Kiryu: We're still currently working on that.
Kotori: Good, anything else?
Kiryu: Well... We translated the murals that those girls found and you're not going to like it.
Chill~!
Kotori grew more anxious after hearing this.
Kotori: Show me.
Kiryu: Got it, follow me.
Kotori then followed her to the murals.
Meanwhile~
Ryueki: I can feel it... Hehehehe... This awesome power... It rightfully belongs to the protagonist!