Kaneki's POV:

I bit my tongue and tried to stop myself from vomiting. This can't be happening... it's impossible. I-I can't be a ghoul!! I pulled my fridge door open and started shoving food into my mouth. It burned like fire and tasted like curdled milk. Instantly I had to spit it out. I collapsed to the floor, a blur of spasms and groans.

I managed to get up onto my hands and knees and ran to the bathroom, blowing chunks into the toilet. I coughed and chocked. Whatever hell is like, this must be a thousand times worse.

I looked into my reflection in the bathroom mirror. Sure enough, my left eye was pure red and black. Tears were pouring down my face. I'm dreaming... This is all just a bad dream. I told myself this, but I knew it wasn't true. I knew this was real, I just couldn't accept it.

I stumbled back into my bedroom and fell onto my bed. Next to me, I felt my phone buzz. I lazily looked to the side to see who was calling. The screen read; Hide. I guess I need to answer. I slid the answer button across the screen and clicked speaker phone.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

"Hey, Kaneki," Hide's cheerful voice rang throughout the room, "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today. I think I might ask out Touka-chan."

"Eh? D-does it have to be today?" I asked.

"No, but I chose today, so we're going today," Hide sounded like he had made up his mind, which usually meant there was no changing his mind. So reluctantly, I agreed to meet him.

"Alright. See you later," I forced my voice to sound, well, less distressed, and hung up the phone. A heavy sigh ripped itself out of my throat. I'm starving... I thought.

I layed in bed for about fifteen minutes before I felt the strength return to my legs. When I did, I sat up and brushed my hands through my hair, both of which were wet with sweat. I need to shower, I thought as I stood up and headed towards my bathroom. The room still stunk horribly, my nose cringed from the terrible sensation. But I didn't have time to clean it now, I was meeting Hide in less than an hour. I needed to get ready.

After showering and throwing on a change of clothes, I locked my front door and started walking towards the cafe. When I got there, Hide was seated at our usual spot. He stood up and waved to me.

"Hey," I said carefully as I sat down across from him.

"Shh!" He suddenly silenced me, "Touka's coming over here. Don't say anything nerdy."

"Welcome to Anteiku, what can I get you?" The waitress Touka smiled sweetly.

"I'll have an Americano," Hide grinned flirtatiously, "And I would also like to ask you out on a date. You free this Sunday?"

"I, uh... I have exams."

"Oh, that's a shame," Hide said, "The next week then?"

"I'll... I'll get back to you on that," Touka glanced over at me, "And what would you like?"

"Just.. Just black please," I uttered quietly. The waitress's gaze stayed on me for a second before she said anything thing else.

"Alright," she wrote down our orders in her notepad, "I'll be right back with that."

"So, Kaneki, I don't see that girl here today... what was her name," Hide leaned over the table towards me, "Rize-chan, right?"

I felt my entire body jerk at the mention of that demon's name. I flinched so much, my chair nearly fell over.

"Oh, uh, isn't she? Haha I didn't notice," I sat back up and fixed my chair, "Our date didn't go so well, so I didn't expect to see her today..."

"I told you a date to the book store was a horrible idea," Hide remarked, and I felt myself blush.

"Here are your drinks," Touka returned and placed our cups on the table. I stared down at mine hesitantly. "Drink up. The owner made them himself. It'll taste good." She was looking directly at me when she said that...

I gulped and stared down at the drink. I hastily lifted the cup and took a sip, and it was... delicious! My heart started racing as I took another sip of the wonderful liquid. It tasted so good that I didn't even care it was scalding the inside of my mouth.

"You're drinking that as though you haven't had coffee in years," Hide laughed and took a sip of his drink. I didn't take the time to make a retort, I just kept drinking.

"Oh, I gotta go," Hide downed the rest of his Americano and stood up, "See ya, Kaneki."

"Yeah," I said as he left. He didn't leave any money to pay for our drinks. Guess I'm paying. I took out my wallet and placed the payment for the coffee on the table. I stood from my seat, and swiftly left Anteiku.

It was already dark outside. The clouds were blocking light from the moon, so the only source of light illuminating the area were the nearby streetlights. I started heading home when something stopped me. A wonderful smell wafted towards my nose, and my stomach growled. Thoughts of my mother's home cooking filled my mind and I began following the scent. It led me deep into a cold alley. It was darker here than the street -- I could barely see at all. All I could make out was two silhouettes. One of a man on the ground, and another was hovering above it. The man who was standing was tall and skinny. He had long hair, and I think had tattoos.

I took another deep breath. This was where the smell had come from -- my stomach growled loudly, catching the man's attention.

"Hm?" He looked towards me -- his eyes glowed bright red, "Who do we have here? I don't believe I've seen you around before."