My name is Kaneki Ken, and I went blind at a young age from cataracts. I don't remember what it was like to see things, but I get by just fine.

Except when people don't pay attention to what's in front of them.

With a pack on my back and a hand on the wall as I walked along, something soft suddenly hit me hard.

"Ugh!" I stumbled a bit.

"Ow!" I heard. "O-Oh, sorry, man," the voice continued as I stared ahead. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's alright. I wasn't looking either," I responded.

"Ah, no, it was all my fault," he laughed nervously. I heard ruffling of hair accompanying the sound.

I don't think he realizes I can't see....

"Y-You know, you have really pretty eyes...."

Is that your attempt of conversation?

"Thank you. I'm sure you look great, too. Well, I better get going. My next class starts soon."

"Huh? ... O-Oh... Oh my G*d... You're blind, aren't you? Oh my G*d, I'm so sorry! I'm so insensitive!!"

"Oh, no, it's fine. Not everyone can see if someone's blind or not."

"... Y-You're... really sarcastic, aren't you...?"

"Of course not. Now, if you'd excuse me," I walked around the boy. I successfully got around him and walked away.

"... Huh..."

-------------------------

It was in Asian History, my second class, that I saw the blind boy I'd bumped into that morning. As it just so happens, he had dropped something when I bumped into him: a lunch bag. It was rather plain, a simple black, but it was cool.

But I'm glad I'm getting to see him again. He's so cute, and I feel like this morning, we got off on the wrong foot. Plus, it'd be interesting to see how a blind person feels about being blind. I do want to get into research, and blindness is one of the topics I'm interested in.

"Yo! Guess we have Asian History together, huh?" I waved as I walked up to him. He doesn't seem like the type to be caught up with the latest gossip (actually, does he have any friends?), so that was a plus. Even if he was, he clearly isn't aware that I'm the school's top f*ggot.

"... Yea, I guess so...."

Did he switch just now, or have I just never noticed him? I guess it's the latter. He does seem like the wallflower type.

"You dropped this when I bumped into you this morning," I held out his lunchbox with a grin.

"Ah... you. I was wondering where I left that. Thank you," he held out his hand, and I put the bag in it. He was now wearing black sunglasses like a blind person.

"No problem. So what's your name? I'm Hideyoshi Nagachika!"

"Nice to meet you, Nagachika-san...," he held out his hand for me to shake, and I did. His hand returned to its original spot, "My name is Ken Kaneki."

"Nice to meet you, Kaneki-san!" I nodded. Silence loomed. I was about to conjure up some random conversation topic, but the professor decided that moment to start class. "Well, I'll talk to you afterwards, I guess, Kaneki-san," I scurried into the seat next to him.

"Right."

----------------------------

He was babbling to me all class time. I couldn't focus on the professor's lecture since his voice was so loud and boisterous. I suppose I'll have to get used to this, to drown him out....

But seriously, why is he pestering me now...? Just because he bumped into me? Was he trying to make up for this morning by being my friend?

"Yay! Class is out! Wanna hang out with me, Kaneki-san?"

"Why are you so insistent about talking to me?" I droned, "If it's about this morning, it's fine. I don't understand why you'd want to make up for it because there's nothing to make up for. If there was, giving me my lunchbox back with all its food in tact definitely made us even."

"U-Uh, huh? What are you talking about?-? I'm not making up for anything!"

"Then why?"

"Well... I mean, blindness is something I'm interested in, and you're cute. I thought maybe talking to you would give me a little more sense of direction on the topic of blindness."

"... So... I'm your... cute experiment? Guinea pig?"

"I mean... it sounds bad when you put it like that...."

"Sure does, but isn't that what you're saying?"

He said no more. I almost thought he left. But then he spoke up.

"So... will you be my friend?"

"No," I picked up my stuff and headed out.

"Oh come on!!" his footsteps followed me.

"I don't need friends. I do just fine on my own. I need to focus on my studies, so I don't have time for social activities."

"We can focus on studies together then!"

"No."

"Why not?!-!"

"Because."

"That's not a reason!-!"

"Do I really need a reason not to indulge in social activities?"

"Yes!-!"

"Then how about you're boisterous and loud, and I couldn't focus on the class. If you're going to babble so much that I can't focus every single day, why would I want to be friends with you?"

His footsteps stopped. But then they picked right back up as he caught up to me.

"I'll be quiet!-! I'll be quiet from now on, so please?!-!"

"Already failing."

"Come on, you know you're lonely!-! You need a frie-" he stopped midway once I stopped walking and turned to him.

"I'm not lonely. Now stop pestering me. Just because you have a sick sense of attraction, just because you called me cute and my eyes pretty, does not automatically make you my friend."

"... You... have never been called cute?"

"No, but I've been called ugly."

"U-"

"Well, look who it is!-! The f*ggot and the blind cloud boy!" I heard a familiar voice that made me scowl. Nishiki Nishio was a sophomore here at Kamii, and a real *sshole.

"Back off, Nishio."

"Oh? Did I strike a nerve? Did I interrupt your little love chat?"

"Our what?"

"Nishio-senpai, I was platonically chatting with Kaneki-san here!"

"Right. Everyone knows that's a lie," he scoffed a laugh, "You don't do anything without romance involved, f*ggot."

"I was genuinely chatting with Kaneki-san!"

"You're gay?" I turned back to Nagachika-san.

"Well, I..."

"I should've known. That's why you called me cute! You're just trying to get into my pants! Thought you could f*ck the blind boy, huh?!"

"Ooo, mreow! Looks like the blind boy didn't know! You two gonna have a cat fight?"

"I'm not some sex toy, jerk!"

"Wha--but--I--I didn't--"

"Leave me alone!" I stormed off.

"Wait, Kaneki-san!-!" he called after me, but I didn't stop.

What a jerk. He probably thought that because I'm a blind loner, I'd fall for anyone who gave me a single compliment and tried to be friends with me. Not a chance!

Unlike those two idiots, I fully believe in abstinence. And I'm not focusing on love.

I need to focus on school and occupations.

Hide's P.O.V.

I whipped around to glare at Nishio-senpai.

"You *sshole! Why'd you gotta say that, huh?!-!"

"He has a right to know, doesn't he?" Nishio-senpai glared down at me.

"I was genuinely wanting to be friends with him, and you had to go f*ck it up!-!"

"Right, friends. Friends with benefits, you mean, right?"

"URGH!" I threw up my hands, "All you've got on the mind is sex! You're filthy! Such a dirty mind! I had no ulterior motives, you *ss! But you always assume! Not all homosexuals are just trying to get into everyone's pants!"

"Right, only you, Hideyoshi. Only you," he hissed at me.

"You need to get over it, you *sswipe!"

"You need to stop f*cking with everyone you see!"

"I don't!-!"

"Yeah, right! You sl*tty f*ggot! You'll take anything you can get! Preying on the blind, how sick are you?!"

"You were just insulting him! Now you're saying you care?!-! I don't want to get in his pants, so clearly you're worse than me! You're a jerk, Nishiki!"

At that, I had a punch swinging my way.

-------------------------------

I had a book in my hands the next time I encountered him.

"Um... hey..." I heard. "So... uh... you can read?"

"You can see?" I responded, looking up.

"... Tou..che, I guess.... Um..."

"..."

He sounds rather meager.... Is this the same voice that belongs to Nagachika-san? Why is he back here? I told him to leave me alone, so why isn't he?

Why does he just keep coming back?

"Sorry about... about earlier, what... Nishiki said...."

Nishiki? Earlier, he'd been calling him Nishio-senpai....

"I just wanted to say... that I--I really don't just want to get in your pants.... Like, yeah, you're cute, but like... I don't know.... I... I really do want to be friends. And... And dating is... far along my path. I don't... think I'm ready for dating just yet.... So trust me when I say... I'm not wanting to get in your pants, and I don't want to date you right now...."

"... Nice speech, but how do I know you're telling the truth?"

"..." I heard him sit down next to me. He sighed. "Well... let's just say... that my last relationship really sucked.... And I was the one to blame.... Since that... incident, I haven't even thought about dating someone.... It was really bad, and it revealed my flaws to me.... I'm not ready for dating," he declared.

"... I really don't need a friend."

"Everyone needs someone. Do you have anyone to lean on, Kaneki-san?"

"..."

"You don't, right...? And clearly, Nishiki is mean to you as well...."

"..."

"You need someone to support you. Someone to lean on."

"I can walk just fine on my own; thank you very much," I finally conjured up a response.

"Not figuratively. You're shut off, Kaneki-san. You're clearly lonely, and hurting inside...."

"I am not lonely, nor am I hurting. It's just your silly imagination."

"... Right... It certainly doesn't hurt anyone, especially a loner like you, to be called ugly...."

I twitched at that.

"... I am hideous though.... I-"

"No, I'm Hide-ous."

"... Did you just make a pun."

"Yes. It was good, wasn't it?"

"Terrible." Despite my words, I found myself chuckling slightly.

"Huh?! Huh?!-! Did I get a laugh out of you~?" he purred, "I hear laughter is good for the soul, mind, and body! Soooo I would be really good for you!"

"You're ridiculous."

"You can't deny that is exactly what you want in a friend, hehe!"

"Anyway though, as I was saying, I can't see. So I bet I am hideous. You are the first to call me cute against many who have called me ugly. Apparently, most think my eyes specifically are hideous."

"Seriously? I think they're beautiful."

"Most say they're creepy."

"They're gorgeous!"

"Literally everyone except you thinks they're creepy. So I'm going to take the majority's word."

He scoffed, "Majority schmajority! If most people told you to jump off a bridge, would you?!-!"

"Yes."

"... Dude, are you suicidal."

"... I have depression, if that's what you're asking."

"Oh my G*d, you're suicidal?!-!"

"Quiet down! I never said that. I said I have depression. Those are two very different things."

"Oh my G*d, that is just one more reason that you need me!"

"Oh my G*d, do you ever just sh*t up? I'm fine."

"SUICIDE IS NOT FINE, KANEKI-SAN."

"Oh my G*d, I just told you that I'm not suicidal."

"I will now watch you like a hawk to make sure my new best friend doesn't get himself killed. But seriously, if the majority told you to kill someone, would you?"

"Of course not. That's completely senseless."

"EXACTLY! YET YOU SAY THAT IF EVERYONE TOLD YOU TO KILL YOURSELF, THAT'S DIFFERENT?!-!"

"..."

He makes a good point....

"But that doesn't mean that I am not ugly."

"Oh my G*d. Look, dude, if everyone told you that I was hideous, would you believe them?"

"I mean, you are suckering up to a blind guy, so yes."

"... I am gorgeous; what are you talking about? How about if... Oh! If everyone told you that I was this depressed emo that raped and killed people in his free time, would you believe them?"

"The rape and killing, yes."

"Seriously? Man, you need to doubt what people say, like Jesus.... Okay, someone gives you an object and tells you it's... a banana! But it's hard, and it's rounder than a banana. It also doesn't smell. Everyone tells you it's a banana, except for one person, who tells you not to eat it because it's a dildo."

"What the f*ck."

"Just--what would you do? Who would you believe?"

"I would not even take whatever sh*tty object I received, but that is a sick f*cking scenario."

"Exactly!-! Not everyone is honest!"

"Oh my G*d, you're so ridiculous.... Every situation is different, Nagachika-san."

"Whatever. You're still pretty."

"... I really am surprised that I didn't notice you were gay earlier."

"... Am I that obvious?"

"Totally."

"... And... what sexuality are you?"

"I'm just focusing on school and occupations right now."

"Okay, but what sexuality are you?"

"... I guess I... am bisexual? I don't really know. I've never focused much on love.... I don't think it really changes much to be a guy or a girl. However... girls voices can be rather shrilly. But personalities are what matter."

"Ohh, cool, cool. I'm good with that. Yeah, I guess... that's really the way to go, y'know? But like, sex is also a big component, and like... I don't find girls attractive. I just don't see them that way.... So y'know... I don't think I could... maintain a straight relationship. Not that I... do much better with a guy, but--"

"Pfft!" I found myself laughing.

"Wh-What?" he sounded offended.

"I-I'm sorry, I-I don't know what... haha... came over... me...," I sighed as I regained control of myself, straightening. "I guess... I guess it's just ironic. You don't think you could maintain either type of relationship, yet you insist you only want a gay relationship because you can't maintain a straight what. It makes no sense," I chuckled slightly. I guess that was why I was laughing....

"W-Well, you know what I mean.... I'll eventually be able to maintain a gay relationship, I think, I hope, but I don't think I'll ever be able to maintain a straight one...."

"Yeah, I get you, but it's still ironic. You should have worded it differently."

"Sh*t up.."

We sat in silence for a while.

"But, uh, how do you read?"

"I feel the indentations on the book, see?" I held it open for him to see, "It's called Braille."

"Oh yeah, I've heard of that! I always thought that had to be really confusing...."

"Not really... Just like any other language. And even if it was, it would be worth it.... I love to read."

"Seriously? I fall asleep after only a few words."

I glared at him, and he went dead silent. {He also immediately looked down at his feet.}

I sighed, "That probably just means you haven't found your genre yet...."

"My what?"

"Your type of book," I reworded. "I, personally, like thought-provoking books. I also tend to read more on the side of tragedy and horror. As a result, I never read books from amateurs and instead read books from authors like Takatsuki Sen. Since my type of book, thought-provoking books, would probably hurt your brain-"

"Oh, yah, definitely," he interrupted, and I glared at him again. He sh*t back up. {Again, he immediately looked at his feet.}

I resumed, "-you would probably prefer books from amateurs. Judging from your personality - and I may be wrong since I only just met you today and have no idea about your interests-" I heard him take a deep breath of air as if he was about to speak, but no other sound escaped him. I guess he remembered my glare and thought better.... "- I would think you would enjoy sport books and happy books. Perhaps a romance is more your type. But you said you were looking into research, correct? Perhaps you could read books about your topics of interest. I think you'd hate tragedy and horror though...."

"Huh..."

"How about we go to a bookstore?" I suggested, "We could find your type of book."

"... Like a date?"

"No."

"Okay then, sure."

I stood up, "Do you have any classes soon?"

"Nope, I'm done for the day."

"I am as well, so let's just go now."

"Sure!"

So we went on our way.

... ._. This is totally not where I want to end.... It's not a cliffhanger, and it's just... odd to end at, but like... it works, right? And I've already made Ellie wait long enough to due to my busy schedule this week.... Plus, I - unfortunately - have a bunch of homework to accomplish AGAIN (sighs) and I should eat breakfast.... (not gonna do it)

Whelp, time to read The Yellow Wallpaper that I don't own because I don't find enjoyment in math. (floats away to due English homework) At least I don't have chemistry....