Kaneki can't remember a time in the last month where he wasn't alone.

While he was surrounded by others, even though they weren't individuals he particularly liked being around, he was still alone.

All the killing, the bloodshed, the voices in his head.

It made him completely and utterly alone.

But, as he stood outside of an establishment he hadn't been to in almost two months, his hand gripping Hide's in nervous excitement, he didn't feel so alone anymore.

Anteiku had never made him feel alone in the time he had worked there.

He looked to Hide and Touka, who stood on either side of him, and prepared himself.

Would they all be angry with him? Would Yoshimura turn him away?

God, he hoped not.

Hide smiled at him and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"It's okay." He said, as if reading his mind.

Then again, Kaneki supposed he probably could.

They had known each other for so long that they could probably have whole conversations just with eye movements and eyebrow raises.

Taking a deep breath, Kaneki took a step onto the concrete stairs, then another, and another, until he was walking up them and to the door.

Hide and Touka followed him, supporting him the whole way.

Once in front of the door, Kaneki took another deep breath before he grabbed the handle of the door and slowly pushed it open, letting the jingle of the bell play in his ears.

Once the door was fully open, multiple heads looked up.

There weren't any customers, which was a relief, but that also meant that every single person inside had their attention on him.

Then, the sound of a mug falling to the ground and shattering broke the silence.

A red haired woman stood in the middle of the floor. She was unfamiliar to Kaneki, but she was clearly a new worker, and she was staring at him in horror.

"God dammit, Roma!" He heard a voice exclaim.

Nishiki.

Kaneki hesitated to walk in, and he wanted to leave, but he felt a harsh push on his back that made him stumble forward.

Touka walked in after him, nonchalantly waving to everyone.

"What's up. We found Kaneki, by the way." She said with a bored expression.

"Yeah, we can see that." Nishiki said in a pissed off voice.

Kaneki stood around nervously, fidgeting with his hoodie sleeve as his eyes flickered to everyone.

His eyes met Yoshimura's behind the counter, who looked at him with his eyes closed as usual, and smiled.

"Welcome back, Kaneki. Would you like some coffee?"

Kaneki felt his eyes fill with tears once more as he gave the old man a trembling smile.

"Yeah, I'd like that."

~~~

Kaneki sat at the counter with Hide by his side, sipping on a mug of coffee that he hadn't tasted in so long.

He missed Yoshimura's coffee.

He saw the red haired woman, Roma, eyeing him nervously out of the corner of his eye, but he chose to ignore her. He didn't know what it was, but something about her gave him a bad feeling.

"So, Kaneki, where have you been all this time?" He heard Nishiki ask.

He looked up, meeting the man's eyes.

"Oh, uh, around." He said nervously.

"Mhm." Nishiki gave him an unconvinced look. "I've seen the news, kid. So, where have you really been?"

Kaneki tensed. He didn't want to answer, he didn't want the people he considered his family to be ashamed of him for what he's done.

As if sensing his unease, Hide placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it, then spoke to Nishiki.

"He doesn't have to answer. I think he just wants to relax for now. Can you lay off him?"

Nishiki met Hide's gaze with a raised eyebrow.

"Jesus, okay. Didn't know you could be harsh, Nagachika." The older man said.

Before Hide could retort, the door to Anteiku practically slammed open.

"Kaneki!"

Kaneki looked over and froze.

"Hinami..." he breathed out.

The young teenager didn't waste a second in rushing towards him. He barley had a chance to get off his stool before she slammed into him, hugging him tightly.

Kaneki bent down at the waist and hugged her back just as tightly.

She clutched the fabric of his hoodie, resting her head in his chest.

"I missed you so much..." she whispered.

He smiled sadly, putting a hand on top of her head and rubbing her hair.

"I missed you, too, Hinami."

A heavier pair of footsteps caught his attention, causing him to look up.

He met the cool grey eyes of Yomo, who met his gaze with a nod.

"Welcome back." He said.

Kaneki returned his nod.

"Thank you."

His hug with Hinami lasted a few more minutes before she pulled away and wiped her eyes.

She then pulled off the tote bag that he just noticed was hung around her shoulder, and reached in it before pulling out a book. A very familiar book.

"I saved your place for you." She said.

She handed him his copy of The Black Goats Egg, which he took from her gingerly.

Kaneki gulped down the lump in this throat.

"I carried it with me everywhere, just in case I found you and could give it back to you." She said softly.

Kaneki looked up from the book to the little girl who he considered his sister.

"Thank you so much, Hinami." He gave her a watery smile.

She returned his smile.

"You're staying, right?" She asked nervously.

Kaneki nods. "I'm staying."

Her face breaks out into a wide smile. "Really?"

Kaneki nods again. "Really."

She hugs him tightly again.

"I'm glad."

He smiled softly down at the girl, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Hide watching the scene with the exact same expression on his face.

Kaneki met Hide's eyes and smiled back.

"Are you gonna work here again?" He heard Hinami ask.

"Uh, I-" He casted a hesitant look towards Mr. Yoshimura. Of course Kaneki wanted to work here again, but that wasn't up to him.

The Manager gave him a heartwarming smile.

"You were welcome back the moment you walked through the door, Kaneki. You can start whenever you like."

Kaneki felt tears prickle at the corner of his eyelids again.

"Thank you, sir."

It took a few moments for Hinami to finally let go, but she didn't wander far from him, opting to sit beside him at the counter as he drank the rest of his coffee.

"Kaneki." Yoshimura started. "I was made aware of your current lack of living situations. If you'd like, you can rent a place upstairs."

"Oh, um, thank you, I'd-" he was interrupted by Hide speaking.

"He can stay with me."

Kaneki's head shot over to look at his friend. "Hide-"

"Hush. You're staying with me. I already have all of your stuff, and you used to stay at my place all the time, anyway. My place isn't far from here, so it wouldn't take you long to get to work."

Kaneki felt his face beat up despite himself and he looked away, finding his coffee a lot more interesting.

"...Fine..." He mumbled. He knew he could never argue with Hide. Him and his stupid puppy brown eyes.

"Sweet!" Hide hooked an arm around Kaneki's shoulders, shaking him and pulling him against his side.

From behind the counter, Touka and Nishiki shared a knowing look, and he sent them both a glare.

Deciding to ignore them, Kaneki leaned against Hide.

He had almost forgotten how good it felt to be around him again, how Hide's endless joy and energy just seeped into his bones.

He had also forgotten how good Hide smelled. Not in a 'I'm a ghoul and I want to eat him' way, but more for the comfort. Hide smelled like that artificial watermelon shampoo that he was obsessed with for some reason, he smelled like coming inside after a rainy day, he smelled like old books and coffee.

He smelled like home.

I know we're only 5 chapters in but I want to make them kiss already.