Sky of Glass - Tokyo Ghoul [Reader x Hide]

Chapter Two: Glass Butterflies

~from Reader's POV 1st person~
When I woke up, I was a little chilled and slightly sore. Probably just feeling winter taking its toll, I thought as I stretched my arms above my head. I got up and left my bedroom to knock on the door adjacent to mine before opening it slowly. The bed was empty.
With a sigh, I shut the door and went into the kitchen, sending a single glance towards the unopened bag that I'd brought home last night before slumping into a chair and trying to decide what to make for breakfast. However, I didn't have much of an appetite. I rarely did anymore.
I knew that Kaneki wasn't really trying to avoid me, but rather he was tying me in with all the pain he felt with losing everyone else.
Well, Kaneki, I called out soundlessly, I'm not dead yet. So please...just come back every once in a while, okay? You make me worry.
With a sigh, I stood up, grabbed my uniforms and shoved them in a tote bag, and threw on my jacket before running out the door. Otherwise, I'd be late for my job.
I arrived at the bookstore just two minutes before it opened, and I walked through the doors while taking deep breaths. I loved the bookstore; it was how I'd gotten the book for Kaneki, and it had a great atmosphere.

~from Reader's POV 2nd person because I feel like it~
"Hey, (y/n)," your coworker, Sunako, said as she came up to you, smiling.
"Hey, Sunako. Sorry I'm almost late," you apologized bowing forward slightly. Even though she wasn't your boss, she had been here longer than you had, and you respected her a bit.
"You're really cutting it close," she agreed, but she smiled, showing that all was forgiven. "C'mon. We just got in an order and we've got to stock them."
"Sweet," you replied. Inventory days were your favorite because you enjoyed the smell of fresh print upon fresh pages. Something about new books just seemed magical in a different way than the magical feel of old, ancient books.
As the two of you worked side by side, Sunako asked, "So how'd your brother like it?"
"Hm? Like what?" you asked, more focused on looking at the new titles before you looked up to meet Sunako's eyes.
"The book, silly. The Black Goat's Egg. You saved up to buy a signed copy, didn't you?"
"Oh, that," you said, going back to the books in front of you to keep yourself busy. "I didn't have a chance to give it to him quite yet."
Sunako shrugged, also resuming her work. "It's a shame. I'm sure he'll love it. After all, it was a great choice, picked out by the biggest Sen Takatsuki fan I've ever seen."
You laughed, blushing slightly. It was true; although Kaneki enjoyed reading her work, you were the one who discovered her writing and read as much as you could before turning Kaneki onto it. "Well, I just hope he likes it."
"Of course he will. I'm sure you'll be able to give it to him soon."
You smiled down at the books, a small but warm smile. "I hope so."

~time skip brought to you by Uta, who's making a new creepy mask~

After the bookstore, you worked a shift at a cafe (but not the one you meet Kaneki at) before heading home. After opening the door, you found Kaneki sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a mug of something presumably warm and reading through the book you'd bought him. He turned when you entered and smiled.
"Welcome back, (y/n)," he said before wincing. "Sorry I missed our meeting the other day. I completely forgot about it."
"It's okay," you said, closing the door behind you. You wanted to say something more, but what could you say?
"Thanks for the book," he said after a moment, still smiling. "Have you read it yet?"
You nodded and sat down next to him. "It's extremely poetic and beautiful...Possibly my favorite work of hers."
He nodded. "I'm not sure if it's my favorite, but it's certainly delicate, like a glass butterfly."
Kaneki, do you know that sometimes my heart feels like a glass butterfly? I hurt and hurt, but when I try to fly away, I shatter into a thousand pieces. But you didn't say anything. You were just happy he was home. You knew that he was forgetful, and that he was usually extremely sensitive to the feelings of others, but ever since your mother died and you and Kaneki left the shelter (or hell) of your aunt's house, you'd both been a bit distant from each other.
Kaneki looked up as though he sensed something. "Are you all right, (y/n)?"
"I'm fine," you said, but as you walked down the hall, you whispered, "But sometimes it feels like I know Hide better than I know you."

~time skip to the morning brought to you by Renji who is frowning~

You woke up to find Hide and Kaneki laughing quietly in the kitchen.
"Good morning, (y/n)," Hide said. "You're up early."
You pursed your lips. "If someone hadn't been laughing and woken me up, I'd still be sleeping."
"Morning," Kaneki said, looking up and smiling at you. "We were about to grab some coffee. Come along?"
You shrugged. "I should let you two hang out for a bit."
"No, really," Hide said, grinning. "Come with us. It's boring with just this guy."
"Hey," Kaneki said, taking mock offense, but he started laughing instead and ruined the mood.
"All right, I guess I'll come," you conceded, grabbing your jacket. "As long as you don't make me late."
Hide and Kaneki stood up to leave, and you followed them outside. You almost let them walk ahead by themselves, but then Hide slowed down so you could join them, so you just smiled gently and walked beside him as he made sure not to walk too fast. When you got to the coffee shop, Kaneki and Hide sat on one side of the booth while you sat on the other, with Hide laughing and grinning a lot and making eye contact with you as though to make sure you felt included.
Hide's really nice, you thought, blushing lightly and looking down at the table. You noticed that Hide also blushed slightly and looked down, leaving Kaneki to stare at both of you wondering what was going on.
"I'll be right back," you said, standing up and making your way to the bathroom.

~Author's POV~
Kaneki looked at Hide, searching his face as though trying to find an answer. Hide looked back at him curiously. "What?" he asked.
Kaneki frowned slightly. "Are you...are you into my sister?"
Hide blushed and looked down for a second before meeting Kaneki's eyes and grinning. "Yeah, I am."
Kaneki blinked, his eyes wide. "For how long?"
Hide shrugged, his grin fading away. "Probably since you started avoiding her. Maybe earlier."
"Avoiding? I'm not trying to-"
Hide's eyes grew hard as he looked at Kaneki. "You missed your meeting the other day."
"I know," Kaneki said, frowning. "I apologized. It wasn't on purpose; I was just in the middle of working on a project with my group, and I completely forgot."
Hide folded his arms. "Yeah, okay. You forgot. That's fine, once, even twice. But Kaneki? You missed your meeting last week, too."
Kaneki avoided his eyes, clearly starting to feel a bit guilty. "That was also an accident. There's that essay I'm writing-"
"How about a few days before that?" Hide asked, and Kaneki sank into his side of the booth.
"She must hate me," Kaneki said softly, his eyes sad.
Hide sighed, leaning back and unfolding his arms to cross them behind his neck. "No, Kaneki, she doesn't. That's what's kinda sad."