Kotori: Haa~ I'm glad you're all alright!
After returning from their trip from Tokyo, the Higanbana girls and Kaneki were now in the living room of the Higanbana household.
Where Kotori was relieved to know where her friends and siblings went and were safe.
Aiya: You girls should've notified us when you were all going to Tokyo.
Atsuo: But we're just glad you're all okay, just don't do something like that again.
All 6: S-Sorry we will.
After being scolding the girls. Atsuo made a small smile and asked.
Atsuo: So? Did Kaneki enjoy the trip?
Miku immediately got excited upon hearing her father ask about Kaneki and immediately answered.
Miku: Yeah! Onii-chan moved a lot more too!
Chikao: That's right. When one of the giant whale sharks came to view, Kaneki kept his eyes on it the entire time.
Kotori & Aiya: Really?!
Natsuki: Yeah, he has made quite a lot of movements with his head.
Shino: We'll tell you three everything we did in our trip.
Atsuo: Please, go ahead.
A little while later~
Atsuo, Aiya & Kotori: I see...
Athe Higanbana girls had told Atsuo, Aiya and Kotori everything about their trip with Kaneki as well as movements and actions Kaneki made during the trip as well.
Atsuo: I see...
Aiya & Kotori: It definitely was tough for Kaneki/Kaneki-chan.
Atsuo, Aiya and Kotori were happy that Kaneki was able to go on a trip with his friends and enjoy it even a little.
But they knew he was also sad and when the Higanbana girls mentioned the few times he had shed tears, the three of them couldn't help but feel sad as well.
Atsuo: Thank you girls.
All 6: Eh?
Though he was sad for his son, Atsuo was grateful that despite his condition his friends still stayed by his side and treated him with love.
Atsuo: Thank you all for taking care of Kaneki today, I really appreciate it.
He bowed his head as he thanked them.
Miku: D-Dad?! There's no need for that!
Shino & Sachi: Please raise your head Uncle!
Natsuki: W-Whats happening?
Chikao: I have no idea.
Kotori & Aiya: Dear/Papa?
Atsuo's actions completely confused everyone in the room.
Yuuka: W-Weren't you still mad at us?
The Higanbana girls still thought that Atsuo wa still mad at Shino, Yuuka and Miku for what they did to Kaneki.
Knowing this Atsuo answered honestly.
Atsuo: That was before we learned the truth of why you three abandoned Kaneki, it wasn't your fault.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: ...
Atsuo: And you girls broke the spell that was placed on you, because you all cared so much for Kaneki. How can I still be mad at you? Besides... Kaneki loves each and every one of you.
He looked at Natsuki, Sachi and Chikao as he said this.
Atsuo: So all I'm going to ask from you girls is... Please take good care of my son.
Shino & Yuuka: W-We will!
After hearing Shino's and Yuuka's answers, Atsuo looked at Natsuki, Sachi, Miku & Chikao.
Miku: Obviously I'll take care of him! He has been taking care of me for so long.
Sachi: No need to worry about me, because I love Kaneki sooo much!
Chikao: Same here, I've been learning how to bake for when I get into a relationship with Kaneki.
Natsuki: You have our word, uncle.
They all answered honestly and confidently, and seeing how much they loved Kaneki. Atsuo couldn't help but smile.
Aiya: My, my how lively the air is right now.
Kotori: Nod~ Nod~ Agreed I didn't expect this from you, Papa.
Both Kotori and Aiya were genuinely happy with how things turned out.
Kotori: Okay then! Let's proceed with the plan!
Chikao: Plan?
Kotori: Yeah. Since Kaneki-chan has proven to be more active now, I think it would be a good time to allow Mama to try and communicate with him.
The Higanbana girls: Um...
Although the idea sounded good, the Higanbana girls didn't think it was a good time to do that.
Kotori: But because Kaneki-chan is probably a bit tired on your trip, it's probably a good idea we let him rest for now. Tomorrow would be better.
Kotori caught onto their worry and was worried herself, so she decided to postpone the plan until the next day.
Natsuki: Thank goodness, but are you sure it will work out this time?
Atsuo: She's right Kotori, will this work out?
Kotori: I don't know, but it's worth a shot isn't it?
30 Minutes later~
With Kotori's proposal to try and get Kaneki/Azuna and Tohru to communicate again 30 minutes go, everyone agreed to do it on the next day.
And once their discussion of that was over.
Yuuka: Okay the machine is all still functional, what about Kaneki's bed?
Natsuki & Shino: We've changed the sheets.
The Higanbana girls were preparing the room for their sleepover while Kaneki was being taken cared by Atsuo, Aiya and Kotori.
Miku: Are you sure you can operate that machine Yuuka-Oneechan? It looks very complicated.
Yuuka: Don't worry, Kotori gave me clear instructions and I've already memorized them.
Yuuka was prepping the machine to monitor Kaneki's health, Shino and Natsuki just finished changing Kaneki's bed sheet and pillow cases.
While Miku, Sachi and Chikao cleaned up most of Kaneki's room since it was starting to get dirty.
Chikao: Kaneki really has been keeping his room very clean huh?
Sachi: Yeah and it only started getting dusty in here too.
Since Kaneki had always cleaned his room thoroughly. Sachi, Chikao and Miku had a very easy time cleaning up since.
Miku: Sachi-Oneechan, Chi-chan. I'm going to prepare the bath now.
Chikao: Make sure that Uncle, Auntie and Kotori-san are done cleaning Kaneki first.
Miku: I will~
Miku then left to go prepare their bath.
A few minutes later~
Kotori: Yo-ho! We're back!
A few minutes after Miku had left, Kotori came in with Kaneki in his wheelchair and in new pajamas.
Natsuki: Kaneki looks squeaky clean.
Kotori: Yup! Papa, Aiya-Mama and I made sure to clean him very well. Although I'll admit it was a bit difficult, and I rather save the details.
Yuuka: That's understandable. You can put Kaneki back onto his bed now, I've prepared this machine now.
Kotori: Oh you actually did prepared the CICU.
All 5: What?
Kotori: the Compacted Intensive Care Unit.
Shino: Kotori-san you know we can't understand English that well right?
Kotori: Whatever. Well then I'll handle everything from here, Miku-chan is waiting for you guys at the bathroom.
With Kotori now in charge of preparing the room, the Higanbana girls all went to the bathroom to take a bath.
All 5: Thanks Kotori-san!
A few minutes later~
Steam~
After cleaning themselves, the Higanbana girls all sat in the warm bath that Miku had prepared.
All 6: Haa~
Shino: You did really well preparing this bath Miku.
Sachi: Yeah, it's so warm and relaxing.
Miku: Thanks, we needed this after such a tiring day.
Natsuki: Maybe you should prepare Kaneki's bath when he eventually recovers.
Yuuka: Maybe allow him to use your shampoo again.
Miku: Ugh... No way, Onii-chan uses too much.
Yuuka: Haha~ how cute.
Chikao: So... Are we going to school tomorrow?
Chikao was curious whether her and her friends would go to school the next day, or spend more time with Kaneki.
Natsuki: I'll be going, I have been on leave for two days already.
Yuuka: I'm going as well, I feel like Kaneki would feel guilty again if we don't attend school because of him.
Shino, Sachi, & Miku: I feel the same way.
Chikao let out an exasperated sigh as she wanted to stay with Kaneki, but she knew that Yuuka was right.
Chikao: Sigh~ Well if that's the case I'll be going too, don't want Kaneki to be worried about us.
Natsuki: Yup. But we could get everyone else to visit him again.
Sachi: That's a great idea Natsuki!
Shino: Yeah. The boys will be relieved to hear he's recovering well.
Chikao: Don't forget Keiko and Hayakawa-kun.
Yuuka: Yeah those two are way too worried for Kaneki.
Miku: Well to be fair those two were the only ones who were somewhat close to Onii-chan when we weren't.
Shino & Yuuka: Yeah... True.
Miku: Those two will probably be the most excited too.
Chikao: You guys wanna bet when they have their own kid, they'll name it after Kaneki?
Natsuki: It's a bit too early to think about that y'know?
Chikao: Haha~ I know. We don't even know where they came from but it's obviously not from storks.
Yuuka: Let's go on a different topic shall we? What are we going to do about Kaneki's other half?
Yuuka's mention of the other half of Kaneki's soul made everyone in the room silent.
Yuuka: I'm sorry if I ruined the mood, but—
Natsuki: We understand Yuuka.
Sachi: Yeah that is a huge concern, if the other half of Kaneki's soul is missing and is out there somewhere. We need to find him and reunite him with his body and other half.
Shino, Miku, & Chikao: Mhmm! Nod~
The Higanbana girls were all determined to find the other half of Kaneki's soul.
Yuuka: It's good we're all on the same page.
Yuuka smiled knowing her friends were as determined as her.
But there was a problem.
Yuuka: Although... The real question is, how can we find it? The only information we have is the possible connection between Kaneki and the shaking doors.
Because of how limited their information was, having an idea where the other half had went will prove difficult.
Shino: Not to mention how are we even going to bring the other half of Kaneki's soul back? Or even actually find it.
They had many limitations such as not being able to actually perceive where his soul was.
Miku: couldn't Natsuki find it easily?
Natsuki: I'm not too confident about that Miku, if I could see souls out of their bodies I probably would've seen the two spirits that were alongside Kaneki.
Miku: Oh yeah, Onee-chan did mentioned that.
Chikao: So Natsuki's ability actually does have a limitation... The hunt for the other half of Kaneki's soul will be very difficult.
Shino: Hm... I think those two spirits might actually help us.
All 5: What? How?
Shino explained her proposed plan to her friends regarding the two spirits that could help them in their search.
A few minutes later~
Miku: Alright! It's decided then!
Everyone had agreed to Shino's plan, just in time as they got out of the bath and began changing clothes.
Yuuka: Let's tell Kotori about the plan tomorrow, she's probably the only one who can—
Kotori: What are you guys talking about?
All 5: AHHHHHHH
Kotori suddenly appeared inside of the bathroom while the Higanbana girls were in the middle of changing, startling them and causing them to scream from the top of their lungs.
Miku: Geez Onee-chan! Don't appear out of nowhere like that!
Kotori: Hehe~ Sorry. So what are you girls planning?
Shino: It's regards to finding the other half of Kaneki's soul.
Kotori: Eh? WHAT IS IT?!
Kotori immediately gotten excited, but was immediately turned down.
Natsuki: we'll tell you tomorrow, for now we'll have to rest.
Kotori: Sigh~ Well I understand, hope it's a good plan. I'll be monitoring the doors again.
Kotori then left the bathroom.
Miku: Geez. Seriously Onee-chan shouldn't come in just like that.
Shino: It's alright Miku.
Sachi: C'mon guys let's finish up and lets play some Cinco in Kaneki's room while we wait for bed time.
All 5: Okay.
2 Hours and 27 minutes later~
After their game of Cinco that lasted almost two and a half hours, the Higanbana girls were all ready to go to bed.
But before they do—
Shino: "Hey Hiro-kun... Can you please give me your hand?" "Hehe~ sure I'll let you hold my hand as long as I live" Wow... This is wholesome.
Shino was reading Kaneki's favorite manga "Me and My Childhood friend were the Hero and Demon Queen in our past life" with all of her friends beside her.
Sachi: I really like how these two aren't afraid to show their affection towards each other.
Chikao: Yeah it's really adorable.
Natsuki: I guess that's one of the reasons why Kaneki loves this manga so much.
Yuuka: I hope we can be like this with Kaneki.
Miku: Same here!
They all enjoyed reading reading but it was already getting late.
Shut!
Shino immediately closed the boom and placed it nearby the Hiro-kun and Shizu-chan figures that the Higanbana girls bought for Kaneki.
Kotori: Let's continue reading that another time, for now let's go to sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.
All 5: Nod~
Before they would go sleep in their futons, the Higanbana girls all got closer to Kaneki and talked to him.
Natsuki: Goodnight Kaneki, I hope you have some happy dreams tonight.
Sachi: You don't need to worry about us, just focus on recovering okay?
Chikao: We will find your other half somehow, we promise.
Yuuka: Shino already thought of a plan to find your other half, and don't worry it won't be dangerous at all.
Miku: That's right, tell him Shino-Oneechan.
Shino proudly explained her plan to Kaneki/Azuna.
Shino: Sure! To put it simply we'll let Kotori-san use your Mom's Necro Guitar to contact the two spirits always with you.
The plan was simple, contact the two spirits (Kumiko and Mika) who were always by Kaneki's side using Tohru's Necro Guitar.
The same relic that Kaneki used in his battle against Ryueki where he had summoned the souls of Ryueki's victims.
And because they were most likely present when the attacked happened, they could provide crucial information to help them find the other half of Kaneki's soul.
Shino: And don't worry we'll let Kotori-san use the Necro Guitar so we won't be harmed.
Shino gave Kaneki/Azuna all of details so he wouldn't get too worried about them.
Shino: It will take some effort, but be rest assured we'll definitely find you.
Tear~
At the end of Shino's reassurance, Kaneki's eyes shed tears once more.
Sachi: Natsuki?
Natsuki: Kaneki is both happy and sad. Didn't you hear us Kaneki? You don't need to worry....
Making a worried smile, Natsuki tried to reassure Kaneki again.
Natsuki: Everything will be alright, Kaneki so rest well.
Kaneki: ...
Shut~
The tears that were being shed had stopped as Kaneki's eyes closed.
All 6: !!!
Worried the Higanbana girls looked at the heart rate monitor of the CICU.
All 6: Phew~
Seeing that his heart was still beating, the Higanbana girls all let out a sigh of relief.
Miku: Wow for a second I thought Onii-chan's heart stopped.
Sachi & Yuuka: Same here!
Natsuki: Alright let's go to sleep.
All 5: Yeah.
Click!
After turning off the lights, the Higanbana girls all layed down into their futons that were close by Kaneki's bed.
All 6: Good night everyone, good night Kaneki/Onii-chan.
And after saying their good nights to each other and Kaneki, they all closed their eyes and went to bed.
Meanwhile~
Kotori: Strange...
While everyone was asleep, Kotori was staying up late again monitoring the doors.
But ever since the previous day, the doors have not shaken in their home, in Shimotsuki or any other place in the world.
Kotori's thoughts*
(I have a bad feeling about this.)
Because the doors haven't shaken, Kotori felt uneasy.
(...)
Hours later~
September 24, 2042*
It was already around 3 A.M and Kotori was still monitoring the doors, but not once has the doors shaken throughout most of the night.
Kotori: Tch! This is annoying... Oh well.
Knowing that the doors were probably not going to shake any time soon, Kotori decided to give up for a bit.
Kotori: I better go get some rest, but before that...
Kotori also decided to check up on Kaneki.
She left her room and quietly walked to his room.
Creak~
Kotori: ...
She made sure to not make much sound as she opened and peeked through the door.
(Good Kaneki-chan is still okay, and everyone else is sleeping soundly.)
After determining that Kaneki and the Higanbana girls were all alright and sleeping peacefully, Kotori walked back to her room.
Kotori: Time to get some sleep.
And promptly went to sleep.
A few hours later~
Kotori: Yawn~ It's really cloudy today, I'm getting sleepy again.
After having breakfast, Kotori was now walking to school with the Higanbana girls visibly tired.
Miku: Seriously Onee-chan you shouldn't have stayed up so late.
Natsuki: Yeah, Kaneki will feel guilty of he knows you've been pushing yourself.
Kotori: I know... But it's very strange, the doors haven't shaken once since two days ago.
Shino: Yeah that is odd.
Chikao: Should we be worried?
Kotori: Sigh~ I don't know, but for now I think I'm going to stop focusing on the doors. I'll focus on the plan today.
Yuuka: Good! I hope you're ready Kotori-san.
Kotori: I will. So? What's your plan Shino?
A few minutes later~
Kotori: Wow that's actually a good plan, why didn't I think of that?
After hearing Shino's plan to possibly find the other half of Kaneki's soul, Kotori loved the plan so much it made her less tired.
Kotori: The Spirits definitely have limitations when they were speaking to me, but if I uses Mama's Necro Guitar it would make it easier. Good thinking Shino!
Shino: Hehe~
Kotori: Alright! Let's head to school!
Filled with excitement, Kotori urged her friends to go to Mato High.
All 6: Let's go!
The Higanbana girls were now all excited, as finding the other half of Kaneki's soul will hopefully heal him completely.
And so they all went to school excited.
A While later~
Everyone: Thank goodness!
Once they had arriver at Mato High, the Higanbana girls immediately told their classmates about Kaneki's recovery.
And their classmates were all happy to hear it.
???: Thank goodness Kaneki's recovering well.
Itsuki: So he's conscious now?
Natsuki: Yeah, Kaneki has been reacting to use yesterday on our trip.
Sachi: Although it was just turning his head around and occasionally crying.
???: Crying? Yikes I can't really blame Higanbana-kun for doing that.
???: So how is he now?
Yuuka: Kaneki's awake again, but he isn't really moving much just like yesterday.
???: Is it because of his missing half?
All 7: How do you know about that?
Keiko: I told everyone yesterday.
Chikao: Of course you did.
Sachi: Be rest assured, later after school we'll start our search for the other half of Kaneki's soul.
Shino: Yeah we have a plan for it.
Itsuki & Keiko: Awesome!
???: Is there any way for us to help?
Kotori: Maybe? We'll try to figure it out later.
The Higanbana girls and Kotori were all looking forward to do their search.
Thunder!
Rumble~!
Everyone: WOAH!
But... Their search will never happen.
???: Earthquake?!
Rumble~!
???: Hey what's that?!?!
One of their classmates pointed towards the window and from far away.
ROOOOOOOAAAAAAR!
A Giant disfigured bipedal reptilian creature appeared letting out a loud thundering roar throughout Shimotsuki.
Burst!
ROOOOOOOAAAAAAR!
Suddenly another much smaller quadrupedal creature bursted appeared from a Giant ball of fire.
???: H-Hey... WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS?!
Monster 1: Grrrr....
Smash!
Upon their arrival the two monsters began to destroy everything close to them.
Burst!
And more giant monsters began appearing.
Blast!
ROOOOOOOAAAAAAR!
???: N-No way...
???: Is this real?
Everyone who could see the monsters couldn't believe their eyes, and were all frozen in fear.
Natsuki: A-Aren't those?!
Sachi & Chikao: Those are...
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: No way...
The Higanbana girls instantly recognized what those hideous monsters were and what they meant.
Kotori: No... This shouldn't be happening, is the world really.
All 7: Ending?
Meanwhile~
In Kaneki's Mind*
Azuna: Y ckij... Fhejusj qi cqdo qi Y sqd