The morning CCG briefing was mercifully short. Just a quick update on patrol schedules and a reminder about vigilance. I barely paid attention, too busy thinking about Sunday's kiss at the station.
"Nakamura, you with us?" Shinohara's voice cut through my daydreaming.
"Yes, sir. Patrol schedules. Vigilance."
Mado chuckled from across the room. "Ah, youth. Distracted by something more pleasant than our grim work, perhaps?"
"Just thinking about my art assignment," I lied.
"Of course." His smile was knowing. "Do be careful, young man. Distractions can be... costly in our line of work."
The meeting ended before he could elaborate on his cryptic warning. I changed out of my investigator coat quickly, eager to get to Anteiku. First time seeing Touka since our date, and my stomach was doing embarrassing fluttery things.
The coffee shop's bell had never sounded more welcoming. Touka looked up from the register, and the smile that bloomed across her face made every CCG meeting worth enduring.
"Hey," she said, soft and warm.
"Hey yourself."
"Oh my god, you two are nauseating," Koma called from behind the counter. "It's been two days! The honeymoon phase should not be this strong!"
"Ignore him," Touka said, but she was blushing. "Usual table?"
"Actually..." I glanced around. The shop was quiet, just a few regulars. "Mind if I sit at the counter today? Better view."
"Of the coffee machines?"
"Sure... Something like that."
She ducked her head, but I caught her pleased expression. "Coffee coming up."
I settled at the counter, content to watch her work. There was something graceful about how she moved between machines, confident and efficient.
"So," Irimi appeared beside me with ninja-like stealth, "good date Sunday?"
"How did you—"
"Touka came in Monday practically glowing. Also, Koma had money on you kissing her goodbye."
"You're betting on us?"
"Everyone's betting on you two. It's been very fun." She polished a glass thoughtfully. "She seems happy and that's rare."
Before I could process that, the bell chimed. A young man about my age entered, looking nervous and clutching a book. Black hair, nerdy vibe, the kind of guy who probably lived in libraries.
"Welcome to Anteiku," Touka called out professionally.
"Oh, um, thank you." He approached the counter hesitantly. "I've walked past here so many times, and everyone says the coffee is amazing, so I thought..."
"First time?" I asked, recognizing the overwhelmed look of someone facing Anteiku's menu.
"Yes. I'm not really a coffee expert." He adjusted his hair self-consciously. "I usually just drink instant."
Touka made a disgusted noise. "Instant isn't coffee. It's brown sadness water."
"That's... actually very accurate," the guy laughed. "I'm Kaneki. Kaneki Ken."
"Sota Nakamura. And this coffee snob is Touka."
"I'm not a snob! I just have standards." She turned to Kaneki. "What kind of flavors do you usually like? Sweet? Bitter?"
"Um, in between? Sorry, I'm not very helpful."
"No, that's perfect. I know just the thing." She set to work on what looked like a carefully crafted pour-over. "You go to Kamii University?"
"Yes! Literature department. You?"
"Still in high school, but I'm thinking about applying there." She glanced at me. "Sota's in the art department."
"Oh, that's great! The campus is really nice, and the library is incredible. They have an entire floor just for classical literature."
Touka's eyes lit up. "Really? What kind of classical literature?"
And just like that, they were off discussing authors I'd never heard of. I watched, amused, as Touka geeked out about books with the same intensity I felt about paintings.
"Here," she presented Kaneki with his coffee. "Medium roast, balanced flavor. Good for beginners."
He took a careful sip, eyes widening. "This is... wow. I've been missing out."
"Told you. Instant is not coffee." She looked stupidly pleased by his reaction.
"You two should join us," I offered impulsively. "I mean, if you're not busy, Kaneki. Touka's on break soon."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude—"
"You're not. Besides, you can tell her more about Kamii's literature program."
We ended up at a corner table, Kaneki still nervously clutching his book—something by Takatsuki Sen. Touka's break coincided perfectly, and she brought tea for herself.
"So what made you finally come in?" she asked Kaneki.
"Honestly? I've been walking past for months, but it always looked too nice for someone like me." He gestured vaguely at himself. "But I just finished a really intense study session and decided to treat myself."
"Someone like you?" I frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Oh, just... I'm not very interesting. Books and studying, that's about it."
"Books are interesting," Touka said firmly. "What are you reading?"
They dove back into literary discussion while I sketched, content to listen. Kaneki relaxed gradually, losing the nervous energy as he talked about something he loved.
"—and the way she uses metaphor to explore identity is just—" He stopped, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm rambling."
"No, keep going," Touka urged. "I haven't read that one yet."
The peaceful atmosphere was broken by the TV in the corner suddenly increasing in volume. Someone had switched to the news.
"—third victim this week as the so-called 'Binge Eater' continues her spree across Tokyo. Authorities warn citizens to avoid walking alone at night, particularly in the 13th Ward where—"
"Turn it off," Touka said sharply, standing so fast her chair scraped.
Koma quickly changed the channel to some variety show, but the damage was done. The warm bubble around our table had popped.
"Binge Eater?" Kaneki looked pale. "That's the ghoul who—"
"Yeah." Touka's jaw was tight. "Sorry. I just don't think people need to hear about that stuff while trying to enjoy coffee."
"No, you're right. It's just scary, you know? The idea that someone could be out there, hunting, and we'd never know until..."
"Hey," I reached for Touka's hand under the table. She was trembling slightly. "The CCG is handling it. Ward 20 is one of the safest in Tokyo."
"You sound very sure," Kaneki observed.
"My job involves statistics. Ward 20 hasn't had a ghoul incident in almost a year." I squeezed Touka's hand. "We're safe here."
She squeezed back but didn't look convinced. "I should get back to work."
"Oh, me too!" Kaneki jumped up. "I mean, not work, but studying. This was really nice though. Thank you for the coffee recommendation, Touka-san."
"Just Touka is fine. And come back anytime. It's nice to meet another book nerd."
He beamed at that, gathering his things. "Maybe we could discuss the new Takatsuki release when it comes out?"
"I'd like that."
After he left, I moved back to the counter where Touka was aggressively cleaning already-spotless surfaces.
"You okay?"
"Fine." She attacked a particularly innocent spot. "Just hate when the news plays stuff like that. People are trying to relax."
"It scared you."
She paused, then set down her cloth. "Not for me. For—" She gestured vaguely at the shop. "For people like Kaneki. Sweet, trusting, walking alone at night with his books. The Binge Eater targets people like that."
"The CCG will catch her."
"You sound so sure."
"Because I am. We're trained for this." I caught myself too late, but Touka was already frowning.
"We?"
"The CCG. They. They're trained for this." Smooth, Nakamura. "My job works with their statistics sometimes."
"Right. Statistics." But she let it go, returning to her stress-cleaning. "Kaneki seems nice."
"Yeah. You two bonded over your book obsession pretty quickly."
"Jealous?"
"Of a literature nerd who drinks instant coffee? Never." I leaned across the counter. "Though I notice you've never gotten that excited about my Byzantine essays."
"Because Byzantine art is boring. Victorian gothic literature is fascinating."
"I'm wounded. Betrayed. My girlfriend thinks my passion is boring."
The word slipped out without thought. We both froze.
"Girlfriend?" she said carefully.
"I—if you want—I mean—"
"Sota." She leaned across the counter, meeting me halfway. "Shut up. Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes, boyfriend." She kissed me quickly, mindful of the public setting. "Now stop distracting me. I have work to do."
"Yes, girlfriend."
She threw a sugar packet at me, but she was smiling. The news report felt like a distant bad dream, pushed away by the simple joy of new relationship labels.
The afternoon passed peacefully. I sketched while Touka worked, occasionally stealing glances and small touches when she passed by. Normal couple things in our abnormal world.
As I prepared to leave for evening patrol, she caught my sleeve.
"Be careful out there. With your... statistics."
"Always am."
"I mean it. The Binge Eater, she's..." Touka bit her lip. "Just be careful."
"Hey." I cupped her face gently. "I'll be fine. See you Thursday?"
"You better."
One more kiss, then I headed out into the Tuesday evening. The news report echoed in my mind as I walked to meet Yamamoto. The Binge Eater was escalating, getting bolder.
But Ward 20 was safe. Touka was safe. Kaneki would be safe walking home with his books.
We'd make sure of it.
My phone buzzed. A text from Touka: Made it home. Stop worrying, I can feel it from here.
How did you know?
Because I know my boyfriend.
I grinned stupidly at the word. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. Normal labels for an increasingly not-normal situation.
But I'd take whatever normal we could carve out in this city of monsters and coffee shops and blue-purple-haired girls who kissed me at train stations.
It was enough. For now, it was everything to me.
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A/N: Ngl... its pretty cringe re-reading what I wrote... specially recalling those texts, while it also messes around with me xd... but then I remember writing it and shame piles up. What to do, waiting online. Urgent.