Quite a boring day. Hardly any customers today. I wonder why. Is something happening? Hmm... not that I remember. I don't recall there being any special event happening, as far as televised news goes. Maybe it's just an off day. I'm not sure, but it feels... weird, and vacant.

Whatever the problem, it's best not to worry about it. This gives me the chance to clean in more spots and make it an even cleaner coffee shop! What's gotten into me? Cleaning for fun..? Well I don't seem to have a problem with it so I suppose it's okay for me to do. On a more trivial note, why am I asking myself whether I should or shouldn't?

First the storage room. Organize everything into even neater categories, look for insects, throw out old stuff, catalog, make things look shiny. Task one (Task 5) complete. Now onto the kitchen. And then the tables. What have I set myself up for?

But like always, I prevailed (with the help of Nishiki Nishio)! Nishiki-senpai left soon after to pursue his woman. I hope they don't get into trouble...

Today's BORING. There is honestly nothing going on. It feels like hell. No books or anything. I'm just stuck on my shift. And Nishiki-senpai only left because he wanted to, and technically could since no one is here right now, leaving only me, Touka and the Manager. No one else cared enough to help me with my endeavor, with the exception of Nishiki-senpai.

I went looking around for the Manager, or Touka, in the evening. The Manager was asleep in the staff room, and Touka was probably upstairs. We've only had about 50 guests today, so a slow business is really sad, especially when everyone is entrusting ME to service them alone. But worry not, as I completed the tasks. Or tried. I'm not certain as to how well I did.

When there's a rough time, specifically when there haven't been customers in three hours, it's about time to close up shop. And so I did. I changed back into my casual clothes. I then guided myself to the staff room and covered the Manager with a blanket I had found laying around. I'm not sure if he's sensitive to noises, smells or touches in his sleep, but I hope I did the right thing and didn't wake him up.

After covering Yoshimura-san, I headed upstairs to see Touka. It might be awkward seeing her after two days of not seeing her, because of that reason, but I had a duty to make sure she was okay. I was given this honor by the Manager himself, in an indirect way because I told him I was going to.

I gulped as I reached the doorway. Thinking didn't help. I only grew more nervous with the seconds passing and the ideas thought about. By the time I had reached the front of her room's door, I had been shaking, slightly. I'm certain that didn't ruin our relationship, however, it's truly possible that we could have an interesting conversation and even insults thrown around. I'm just thinking about it more than I need to is all... okay, deep breath, and grasp the door handle. Slowly turn it as to not disturb anyone, then push lightly. The lights were off. The hallway lights let me see the inside of her apartment-thing, barely. I creeped in and heard a creaking noise, but it wasn't caused from my foot stepping in, I at least know that.

Quiet steps. Take your time Kaneki, there's no need to rush. I knew I was approaching her, slowly but surely. I came up to her bed and found herself lazily covered and all over the bed. Tornado sleeper?

I saw her eye peek open to look at me.

Hehehe, you can't fool me Touka! It's best I not do something like that again. Over a girl's body (sort of) with the face of a monster. It can only be taken one way.

Considering she was awake and watching me, I concluded that there was no real harm to our friendship, but I think it deepened it further, in a way. I had been confessed to for an unknown reason at a random time. I wanted to know why, but that could wait. Right now, I have to be happy. I won't deny that I love this girl more than anything. She has the cutest reactions to some things and protects everyone at Anteiku with more effort than someone should be able to give.

So I'm certain that suddenly laying on top of her stomach to make us look like a human cross wouldn't be bad, right? And that's what I did.

Her reaction was like cesium and water- violent and exceptionally quick. Her violence was from her mood and personality, and she quickly lifted her upper half to question me.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Sleeping on my territory."

Though there was darkness, crimson could be seen. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

I got up. No need to push the joke further. "It's nothing, Touka. I knew you were awake, so mind telling me why you pretended to sleep?"

"N-no reason," said the girl as she tilted her head away from me.

What a funny girl you are, Touka.

"H-hey."

"Hm?"

"If you tell anyone, I'm going to kill you," she threatened with a menacing look on her face. Her eyes, although very scary right now, were still the same eyes that I had come to adore.

I smiled at her, rather coyly, but continued my passive-aggressive assault. "But then you wouldn't have me."

She blushed, slightly, and returned to her normal behavior. "You get my point... asshole."

Asshole? Well aren't I just a bad boy today... well I'd still lose any fight with her.

"Alright, I'll keep this secret," I told her as I stuck out my pinkie finger. Overjoyed with trust, most likely, she did the same, and we promised to keep that a secret for now.

"Thanks... Ken."

Of course, dreams don't make up the world. But that didn't matter, I'm satisfied with less than a dream.

"Hey," I called out to her.

"Hm?" She looked back at me.

I planted a kiss on her cheek. Neither of us was necessarily flushed, instead she smiled. And I smiled.

Life was hard, sure; life wasn't always the greatest. My life might have been a tragedy up until a certain point, and I'm sure I'll continue to experience them, but coinciding with those tragedies is happiness- satisfaction. She was one of those pieces of happiness.

Human, ghoul, whatever, I don't care about trivial things like that. I'll rise up in the world on my own, and secure a future for the both of us. Not as ghouls, but as people trying to live. It would take a long time, probably, but I was a bridge between two worlds, as the Manager said. I have the power to secure such a future, I just need to try, and to have these people behind me.

Touka, thank you, and I love you.