night before the expedition

After finding the location of the Gate, Kaneki closed the hole so no one could find it and after that he and his expedition team left to take a very long break before going down to Akuma Castle.

And now they're currently residing in the hotel Yuuka made reservations at, and they are also eating dinner.

Kaneki: we did it guys! We found the gate and we're one step closer to finding the crown!

Sachi: Man, never would I thought we would act find the gate.

Yuuka: yeah, and we thought you went crazy.

Chikao: but anyways, are you well rested already?

Itsuki: yeah, we don't want you just collapsing out of tiredness.

Kaneki: don't worry, I'm already well rested, after all when we got here the first thing I did was sleep.

Miku: but did you really need to close that hole?

Kaneki: yup, I don't want anything just falling in after all.

Emi: So Kaneki-san tomorrow we'll be going to Akuma Castle, I can't help it but feel afraid.

Ryueki: seriously? What is there to be afraid of? It's just a castle.

Shino: don't talk like that, you didn't watch any adventure movies or animes huh? Any ancient structures are bound to have booby traps.

Ryueki: that's very stupid.

Kaneki: Shino does got a point, any ancient structure will probably have booby traps, so it's better to be careful then sorry.

Ryueki: whatever.

Kaneki: man your overconfidence will be your down fall. Oh yeah! Azusa thanks for letting me use the furnace back then.

Azusa: happy to help and also thanks for introducing me to my step-cousin.

Natsuki: you met his sister?

Azusa: yes, and I have to admit I was honestly surprised.

Keiko: really? What does she look like?

Kaneki looked at Azusa with a face saying "don't tell them".

Azusa: that will remain confidential.

Keiko: Aww, I want to meet her.

Itsuki: same here.

Kaneki looked at them with an annoyed face and asked.

Kaneki: why do you two want to meet her anyways?

Itsuki: simple, we just want to be friends with her.

Kaneki: if you two even try to find my house to meet my sister I will rip you two to shreds.

Natsuki: you're very protective huh?

Sachi: of course he is, he loves his sister after all.

Kaneki: can we stop talking about my sister please?

Shino: alright, but who's taking care of her while you're gone?

Azusa: my mother is.

Everyone: aah.

Kaneki: anyways let's eat.

Everyone: okay.

They all ate their dinner and finished after a while.

Kaneki: I'm going for a walk, Batta come with me!

Batta: coming!

Batta got onto Kaneki's head and Kaneki left the hotel building to walk.

Kaneki: Batta, I'm gonna call dad now so you better behave.

Batta: I will, but what if he gets furious?

Kaneki: then apologize.

Yuuka: that's right Batta-chan.

Kaneki & Batta: !!! What the?!

Both Batta and Kaneki were surprised as Yuuka appeared out of nowhere.

Kaneki: what are you doing here?

Yuuka: well I couldn't leave you two alone at night. And also I want to talk about the crown.

Kaneki: I see, but can you hold that for a moment? And not interfere with me calling my dad?

Yuuka: sure.

Kaneki: alright Batta, prepare yourself.

Batta: I'm so nervous!

Kaneki: alright, here we go.

Kaneki opened up his phone and called his dad.

Ring~ Ring~

Kaneki: alright, I'll go first.

Kaneki's dad then picked up the video call.

"Hey Kaneki! Took you long enough to call!"

Kaneki: hehe~ sorry dad I've been busy.

"Are you taking care of your sister"

Kaneki: yes mom, anyways how is your honeymoon?

"It's great but"

"We found out we'll be stuck here until August 31"

Kaneki: seriously? Man, I'll tell my sister about that.

"Thanks son, by the way how are you?"

Kaneki: I'm good dad, oh yeah guess what? Sachi came back to Shimotsuki like 2 weeks ago.

"Really?! Where is she?"

"Yeah, where's Sachi-chan?"

Kaneki: well, currently she's in a hotel im staying at with some of my classmates.

"Huh? Why?"

Kaneki: well Me, Sachi and a few classmates are finding the Crown of Urizen.

"Ehh?! Seriously?! Where are you?!"

Kaneki: I'm in Hokkaido right now, and tomorrow we'll be heading to Akuma Castle.

Atsuo made a very nervous face through the video.

Kaneki: don't worry dad, I'll be alright.

"Just stay safe okay?"

"Yeah, we're worried since you've been acting strange this passed few months since Sachi left."

Kaneki: I will. Also dad do you remember Batta?

"Yes why?"

Kaneki: well.

Kaneki grabbed Batta and showe her to his dad.

Kaneki: look who I found.

"Huh?! Batta?! Is that really you?!"

Batta: hey Atsuo hehe~ sorry for leaving you and Kaneki 12 years ago, please forgive me.

"Where have you been?!"

Kaneki: alright, I'll hand over my phone to Batta you two can talk.

Batta: Batta!

Kaneki: don't lose my phone got it?

Batta: got it.

Kaneki gave his phone to Batta so she and Atsuo can talk, then he went to Yuuka who was standing nearby.

Yuuka: so how's your dad?

Kaneki: he's doing well, although appa he's stuck in Hawaii until August 31.

Yuuka: wait, then he won't be here to watch the W.S.S.F!

Kaneki: don't worry, it'll be streamed around the world and he'll be able to watch.

Yuuka: that's good. You know, I never thought it would be possible for us to find the Crown but because of all the effort we've done we'll be able to find it.

Kaneki: yeah, I'm honestly really excited.

Yuuka: oh yeah, I forgot to mention your contract actually has one flaw.

Kaneki: really? What is it?

Yuuka: you didn't included yourself for not being allowed to touch the Crown.

Kaneki: oh don't worry, I won't.

Yuuka: how are you sure?

Kaneki: I already made a promise to Miyu-chan a long time ago that I won't touch any relics, so I won't touch the crown too.

Yuuka: are you sure?

Kaneki: yeah, there's no way I'll ever break that promise.

Yuuka's thoughts*

(He still remembers our promise even though it's been so long, he never forget. Hehe~ tomorrow once we find that Crown I'll go back to my old self because that "me" is the real me and not my current self. And maybe I can finally be free from the the "love" I feel towards Itadori-kun after all why do I even love him in the first place? Because of his looks, that is a stupid reason to be honest, there is no good reason but for Kaneki there is a lot)

Batta: Waaah! I'm so sorry!

Kaneki: looks like Batta is crying now, well I'll just calm her down later and give her some hugs.

(And this is one of the reasons why I love him, he would help his friends when they're sad)

Yuuka looked up at the moon and said.

Yuuka: the moon is quite beautiful tonight isn't it?

Kaneki: yeah it is isn't it?

Yuuka's face became red.

(Holy shit! Why did I say that?! That was a confession! I'm lucky he's really dense if not he would've hated me!)

For those who don't know the phrase "the moons is beautiful, isn't it?" Is a poetic way to say I love you in Japanese language.

Kaneki: hey, you know I have a dream I haven't really told anyone even my own friends, you wanna know what my dream is?

Yuuka: really? Sure.

(I'm quite curious, I already know what Sachi's, Shino's, Miku's and Chi-chan's dream is but not Kaneki's I wonder what it is?)

Kaneki: alright my dream is-

A few seconds later*

Batta: here Kaneki.

Kaneki: thanks.

Kaneki grabbed his phone from Batta

Kaneki: man they hung up? They could've said I love you or something. Yuuka-san?

Yuuka was in complete shock. After hearing his dream.

Yuuka: sorry, I'm just shocked that's one really big dream.

Kaneki: I know, but I'll do everything I can to achieve it.

Yuuka: then you have my support.

Kaneki: thanks.

Batta: what are you two talking about?

Kaneki: nothing, anyways let's go back shall we? Once we take a bath we'll go to sleep, we have a big day tomorrow.

Yuuka: yeah! Let's go!

Batta: alright.

The three then went back inside the hotel.

Doki!

Kaneki's Thoughts*

(What was that feeling?)

Meanwhile behind a bush*

Natsuki: I see, so Yuuka is my rival... Nah, she can be my partner too! Since we feel the same way towards Kaneki after all. Well better get in before anyone notices I'm gone.

Natsuki was watching over Kaneki and Yuuka and heard their entire conversation.

Natsuki's thoughts*

(Another my friend feels the same way I feel towards Kaneki, I hope we can get a long more and more to the point we're not just friends)

Natsuki then happily walked back inside the hotel.

Tomorrow they will go to Akuma Castle.