Stitched Together

Chapter 13: A Different Crowd

"Juuzou?" I peek into the room and look for him. He disappeared earlier today and I haven't seen him since. It's a fairly average day, but I've really spent it alone. Amon and Akira went out investigating, and Shinohara had his own meetings.

"Ah Reina, good afternoon," Shinohara smiles and greets me.

"Oh hello, I'm sorry to interrupt, I was just looking for Juuzou," I hold the
papers I was carrying in my arms.

"It's fine we were just wrapping things up anyways, but no I haven't seen him, I always just assume you two are together," he answers. I open my mouth to reply but someone enters the door behind me.

"You've all worked hard, I'm here with documents," someone I haven't seen before comes in and sets a stack of papers on the table between Shinohara and his acquaintance. He's wearing a ball cap over his shaggy orange hair. After he's thanked, he goes and runs off again.

"Thanks anyways Shino, I gotta go turn these back into the archives," I gesture with my own stack of papers and make my exit. After meeting with Kaneki I've been investigating some ghouls in the 20th ward, and I've determined that he is the eyepatch ghoul. I see the same boy from a moment ago down the hall and run up to him. He looks like he's run around the whole building, maybe he's seen Juuzou. I just worry about what he's up to, when he disappears like this he's probably causing trouble somewhere. "Um hey, excuse me," I call out to him and he turns.

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering if you've seen a short boy with white hair and stitches running around anywhere," I ruffle the back of my hair and ask.

"Hm, I can't say that I have, sorry," he replies and we start walking in the same direction.

"Oh, heh, I guess we're going the same way. Um, I don't believe I've ever seen you around here before," I comment. I've become familiar with almost everyone here now. I recognize all the typical faces around. I may be familiar with most everyone, but I only actually talk to roughly five people, hence why I'm alone today; everyone's busy with something.

"Ah, I'm a new part timer, Nagachika Hideyoshi, but you can just call me Hide," he smiles. "I'd shake your hand but, well, documents."

"Yeah, I'm a second class investigator, Reina Usoda. Its a pleasure to meet you Hide," I return his smile. I'm not usually this kind to people I just meet, but there's something so friendly about this guy it's hard not to smile back at him.

"Oh wow, that's awesome, you look like you're my age too. I heard there were some promising young investigators here, you must be one of them," he says as we walk upstairs.

"Um, I don't know about that, but thanks anyways," I laugh shyly. We make it to a hall way and turn different directions.

"Oh, looks like we gotta split up now, gotta get these to the intelligence department," he sighs.

"Yeah, these gotta go back to the archives," I look down at my small stack of papers.

"Hey, it's about lunch time, how bout we meet back up and grab something to eat, since you can't find your friend," he looks at his watch and suggests.

"Yeah, sure," I nod and we go our separate ways. He really does seem like a nice guy, and it beats being alone. I've gotten accustomed to being around people so it's a bit odd just running around by myself. Though, if Juuzou were here he'd probably just be asleep on his desk while I dropped these off anyways. I find the correct place and return the files quickly. While looking for Kaneki, I also found a file on the rabbit, that I think sounds suspiciously like Touka. I'm not sure what I'll do with this information, but I'm glad I know it. After that's all wrapped up, I return to the split in the hallway and look for Hide.