Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Kaneki/Onii-chan... I'm sorry... Zzz~
Sachi: Come on guys Zzz~ Let's sing and dance~ Zzz~
Chikao: Zzz~
Natsuki: Kaneki~
Atsuo & Aiya's room*
Atsuo & Aiya: Zzz~
While everyone in the Higanbana household were sleeping peacefully, Kotori was still awake and hard at work in her room in the middle of the night.
Kotori's room*
Kotori: Hmm... What could be on the other side of the shaking doors?
Tohru: [You said it was a bright light right?]
Alongside her Mother Tohru, Kotori was questioning where the shaking doors could possibly lead to when she was barely able to open her room's shaking door.
Kotori: Yes. Do you have any idea where it could lead?
Tohru: [Nope.]
Kotori: Sigh~ This is such a pain.
Tohru: [I think you should take a break Kotori-chan.]
Kotori: You know I can't do that.
Since Kaneki was still has a risk of danger, Kotori didn't want to take a break in order to find the person responsible and to keep him safe.
Tohru: [It's alright Kotori-chan, you did say you got a huge lead now right after you captured that thing? Besides it would be good for you to spend time with everyone else.]
Kotori: ... Are you sure?
Tohru: [Yup! If you're worried about your father since he's going to be more involved, I suggest you put a camera on him to keep an eye on him.]
Kotori: Well...
Tohru: [Don't worry Kaneki-will always be monitored now, remember?]
Through her mother's persuasion, Kotori reluctantly agreed.
Kotori: Sigh~ Fine I'll take a break.
Tohru: [Good! Go spend some time with everyone else tomorrow, you can leave Kaneki-chan to me.]
Looking at her mother with curious eyes, Kotori asked her what her reason was.
Kotori: Why?
Tohru: [Well I simply want to try and communicate with him again.]
Kotori: Oh really? Sure then, well time to go to sleep then. Maybe we should have an outing tomorrow? Eh whatever I'll think about it tomorrow.
Tohru: [Goodnight Kotori-chan.]
Kotori: Goodnight Mama.
With that Kotori placed her mother on her desk, after that she went to Kaneki's room to check up on the Higanbana girls and Kaneki.
Creak~
Peek~
All 6: Zzz~
Kotori's thoughts*
(Yup they're all asleep, and Kaneki-chan...)
Kaneki: ...
Kotori: Same as always. Alright time to sleep for real this time.
A few minutes later~
Kotori: Sigh~ Well I'll have to take care of those girls tomorrow with Kaneki-chan not around, I do hope Kaneki-chan and Yawn~ Oh I'm really tired now, oh well~
And so without finishing her thought, Kotori closed her eyes and went to sleep.
7 Hours later~
September 21, 2042*
The next day had arrived and since it was a weekend, everyone had enough free time to do anything they want.
Kotori: Hey do you girls do any of you have any plans for today?
So at breakfast Kotori asked the Higanbana girls if they had any plans.
Natsuki: No not really.
Sachi: Nope!
Yuuka: Non of us have any plans.
Kotori: Good. You all can come with me then.
Aiya: Hmm? Why do you need them Kotori-chan?
Kotori: Well Mama told me to take a break from today and spend time with everyone.
Shino: Aren't you supposed to be busy with preparating the world as well as finding—
Kotori: Yes, but Mama told me to take a break and spend time with everyone.
Miku: Oh~ Tohru-Mama right?
Aiya: Of course Miku, Kotori calls me "Aiya-Mama" remember?
Chikao: Are you sure about this though, Kotori-san?
Miku: Yeah. We'd essentially leave Onii-chan alone here unprotected.
Aiya: I can stay here and watch over Kaneki.
Atsuo: Same here, you girls can go without us.
Both Atsuo and Aiya volunteered to stay behind and guard Kaneki.
Kotori: Are you two sure? I can send some agents to watch over—
Although Kotori wanted to spend time with her parents as well, the two of them wanted make sure Kaneki was safe.
Aiya: It's alright.
Atsuo: Yeah us parents need to be with our child after all, so it's alright for us to stay.
Seeing her parents wanting to stay with her brother, Kotori reluctantly agreed to their request.
But not without telling them something important as well.
Kotori: Fine, you two can stay but there's something I need to tell everyone.
All 8: What is it?
Kotori: I'll also be placing Mama in Kaneki-chan's hands, she's going to try and communicate with him again.
Natsuki: Is that a good idea?!
Kotori: We've tried it before, although there was no response but it is most likely safe.
Natsuki: ...
Kotori: Is there any objections to this?
Hearing no answers coming from anyone, it was decided that Atsuo and Aiya would watch over Kaneki's body while Tohru tries to attempt communication with Kaneki's subconscious.
2 Hours later~
After breakfast the Higanbana girls alongside Kotori had went to have an outing as Kotori wanted.
Kotori: Sigh~
But without an actual plan or any interest in doing anything, Kotori and the Higanbana girls were all just hanging out in Shimotsuki park.
Miku: You really didn't think this though Onee-chan.
Kotori: Yeah... This sucks!
Natsuki: Is there anything you wanted to do at all? We could join you.
Kotori: Sigh~ Sadly no. I don't really have any interest in doing anything, it's probably because I'm still stressing over Kaneki-chan's safety and everything else.
Shino & Chikao: ...
Yuuka: Man what can we do to help you relax?
As they were at a loss.
Sachi: Why don't we go fishing?
Sachi made a suggestion.
Kotori: Fishing... Yeah that actually sounds good, we can do that.
It was good enough for Kotori.
Kotori: Although our fishing gear is at our homes—
Yuuka: I can go get them. You may not be able to use Darkness travel, but I can.
Yuuka said proudly as she pulled out her Darkness travel watch that Kaneki gave her.
Kotori: Oh right! It is imbued with one of his abilities, so it's still functional!
Yuuka: Yup! Hold tight everyone I'll be back!
Press!
Yuuka excitedly pressed the watch's button to activate it's ability.
Splash!
Yuuka: IT ACTUALLY WORKED?!
A pool of black goo appeared beneath Yuuka's feet to her shock which surprised her friends.
Yuuka: Haha~ Sorry I was actually not that confident It wouldn't work, well I'll be back in a bit!
Hop!
Splash!
And so Yuuka jumped in and began teleporting to their homes to get everyone's fishing gear.
Natsuki: Heh!
Kotori: Hm? What's so funny?
Natsuki: Nothing. It's just Yuuka was really happy looking at the watch Kaneki gave her, and she's really relieved seeing it still working.
All 6: Yeah.
Miku: Wait wasn't that watch given to Yuuka-Oneechan by Onii-chan after they apologized to each other at Akuma Castle?
Natsuki: Yeah, and I'm pretty sure ever since then she brought it everywhere with her.
Shino: Just like Kaneki with "Sword-san" right?
Sachi: Haha~! I still can't believe that Auntie was with Kaneki this whole time.
Shino: Right? Even though we met her again when we first talked to her in person inside the sword, it was still unbelievable.
As Sachi and Shino talked a bit about Kaneki's mother, Miku naturally got a bit curious.
Miku: Actually... What was Tohru-Mama like when you were younger? And Onee-chan I strictly want to hear it from these two.
Kotori: Was I that obvious?
Miku: You were just about to answer for them, It's all over your face.
Kotori: Hehe~
After Miku shot down Kotori's attempt to answer instead of Shino and Yuuka, both Natsuki and Chikao got curious too.
Chikao: Actually what was she like?
Natsuki: The only thing we know about her as of now is that she is very kind and really scary.
So both Shino and Sachi gave their answers.
Sachi: Well... It's not really that easy to say, since it has been twelve years and we really don't know much about her as well.
Shino: Actually she really loves children.
Sachi: Wait what?
Coompared to Sachi, Shino seemed to remember a bit more clearly which caught her off guard.
Shino: Yeah, Auntie would occasionally visit our daycare and essentially play with Kaneki, You, Me and other kids as well. But that's all I remember aside of her being very kind to us.
Miku: Wow you remember that far?
Shino: Only that much—
Splash!
Their talk had abruptly ended as Yuuka came back with everyone's fishing gear in hand.
Yuuka: I'm back!
Chikao: Welcome back.
Natsuki: So where are we going fish at?
Kotori: We can go to the river that's nearby, well then let's go oh but first everyone take your gear from Yuuka.
Yuuka: Yes please! Holding all of these is really tiring!
After taking their fishing gear from Yuuka, Kotori and the Higanbana girls went to the river to fish.
A few minutes later~
Splash!
Upon arriving at the river all seven of them casted their fishing lines and waited for bites.
Kotori: Oh Yeah! I was meaning to ask, what actually happened during your camping trip two months ago?
Not even a minute has passed since everyone had casted their lines, Kotori immediately started a new conversation which now focuses on the camping trip.
Sachi: Eh? You don't know?
Kotori: The only thing I'm really aware of that happened there was that all of you and your entire class was attacked by War-Para Jelly's and other than that no.
Miku: But I thought you were always watching Onii-chan?
Kotori: Well... You see my surveillance during my time as an A.i was more limited in Shimotsuki forest, and it just so happens that the spot that Kaneki-chan brought you all in was completely under my radar.
Natsuki: Ohh~
Shino: Well nothing much, just the usual things.
Chikao: Oh yeah! I remember I actually rigged the partner raffle back then.
Natsuki: You did what now?
Natsuki was caught completely off guard upon hearing Chikao's sudden confession.
Chikao: Hehe~ Yeah I used a magic bowl that I owned, it allowed me to give certain things in it to anyone who put their hands in it.
Natsuki: Seriously? Then—
Chikao: Yeah... I deliberately partnered up Kaneki and Shino that time, I actually planned it with everyone else.
Natsuki: Haha~ Of course you did.
Natsuki said sarcastically with an annoyed face.
Natsuki: Sigh~ Well i guess it made sense why Shino was sad when Kaneki rejected her that time. She was crying too.
Shino: Please don't remind me!
Shino got a bit embarrassed remembering what had happened during that time.
Natsuki: But you know it was really fun.
Yuuka: Oh definitely! Plus it was really shocking when we saw Kaneki with those spider legs on his back.
Chikao: Yeah! It was so awesome!
Shino: Wait you weren't freak out?
Chikao: How could I not? He is the boy I like plus we didn't know he actually had any abilities at the time, so seeing him able to grow things like spider legs on his bad meant he was actually serious about becoming more and more powerful and I was even more curious to what more powers and abilities he has gotten! Seeing him with so many powers and abilities... I felt so excited!
Natsuki: Wow you're probably the one who likes Kaneki the most compared to all of us. But I ain't gonna lose to you!
With Natsuki's declaration Shino, Sachi, Yuuka and Miku joined in as well.
Sachi: Heh! Don't get too confident Natsuki.
Shino: We were with Kaneki since we were kids, so you have a long way to go.
Miku: Yeah!
The four of them were full of confidence which immediately got destroyed after what Natsuki said next.
Natsuki: Didn't the three of you hurt him so bad that he had to seal away his most of his memories of which which led him to be unable to see your faces?
Everyone: Ah...
Natsuki said jokingly though no one was surprised it still hurt Shino, Yuuka and Miku quite a bit.
Miku: Could you have chosen a better come back?
Natsuki: Sorry that's what immediately came up in my head haha~
Yuuka: Sigh~
Shino: Natsuki...
Kotori: Oh yeah! You girls remember the doors shaking?
Miku: Why would we not remember? Those things are so annoying.
Kotori: Well I was investigating them last night and I actually found something interesting.
All 6: !!!
The Higanbana girls listened in anticipation as Kotori talked about the shaking doors.
Chikao: What did you found?
Kotori: Well. When I held onto the door and opened it, for a split second before the door in my room stopped shaking I saw a glimpse of a bright light on the other side.
All 6: A BRIGHT LIGHT?!
Meanwhile~
At the same time, back at the Higanbana household in Kaneki's room.
Tohru: [Alright I'm ready.]
Tohru was prepared to attempt communication with Kaneki with Atsuo and Aiya monitoring his body in case something happens.
Atsuo: Good luck Tohru.
Aiya: If anything happens will remove you from Kaneki's hands immediately.
Tohru: [Thank you. Let's go this!]
Atsuo & Aiya: Yeah!
And so both Atsuo and Aiya placed Tohru into Kaneki's hands.
Swoosh~!
And Tohru began entering Kaneki's mind.
In Kaneki's mind*
Tohru: Hm...
Upon entering his mind, she found herself it was completely empty and in darkness.
Tohru: Kaneki-chaa~n! Where are you~?!
She called out for her son but there was no response.
Tohru: Sigh~ Nothing huh? Well we agreed I'd try for at least 10 minutes so I'll keep on trying.
With enough time in her hands, Tohru continued to call out for her son.
Tohru: Kaneki-chaa~n! Mama is here! Please respond! Even a small sound!
9 Minutes later~
Tohru: Sigh~ KANEKI-CHAA~N!
After 9 minutes of constantly calling for her son while walking in his mind, Tohru received no response.
Tohru: Well it's almost time to—
Azuna: Cqcq!
Tohru: !!!
But before she was about to give up, behind her the voice of Kaneki specifically Azuna his demon half appeared but.
Tohru: Kaneki-chan?! What happened?!
Half of Azuna's body was burnt black as if he was cut in half and burnt.
Azuna: Vydt cu! Vydt cu!
Tohru: What happened to you?!
Azuna: Vydt cu!
Tohru: What are you saying?! I don't understand you!
Azuna: !iheet uxj tdyxuR
Tohru: Wha—
Thud!
Tohru: Kaneki-chan?!
Swoosh!
Suddenly he had collapsed and as Tohru tried to check up on him.
Swoosh!
Back in Kaneki's room*
Atsuo: Tohru what happened?!
Atsuo pulled Tohru away.
Tohru: [What happened?!]
Shake~!
Atsuo: Kaneki is shaking!
Aiya: I'm already contacting his doctors!
Atsuo: Tohru, what happened in there?
Tohru: [I... I don't know, but Kaneki-chan was telling me something...]
Atsuo: You were able to talk to him?!
Tohru: [His Demon half, but I couldn't understand a single thing.]
Seeing the state of her son was in, Tohru wondered what he could have told her in her mind.
Tohru's thoughts*
(What was Kaneki-chan saying?)
And little did she know.
Glow~
Something was happening with her as well.