The One Eyed King

day of awkwardness

Kaneki stood in the doorway of his new apartment, taking in the sight. It was modest but cozy, far better than the cold, harsh places he had become accustomed to. The apartment had a small kitchen, a neat bedroom, and a clean bathroom. For the first time in what felt like forever, he had a space to call his own.

Walking into the bedroom, he noticed a bed with crisp white sheets. On top of the bed was a box, neatly wrapped, and next to it, a letter. He picked up the letter first, seeing the neat handwriting. It was from Nezu.

"Kaneki, welcome to your new home. We'll need a design for your hero costume soon, so please start thinking about it. Also, you'll be joining Class 1-A tomorrow at U.A. High. I wish you the best of luck in this new chapter of your life. If you need anything, do not hesitate to reach out."

Kaneki set the letter down, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him. This was all happening so fast. One moment, he was fighting for survival, and now, he was a student, no, a future hero in training.

Opening the box, he found new clothes inside, simple yet comfortable. It was the first time in ages that he had clothes that weren't torn or bloodstained. He took them out and placed them on the bed, then made his way to the bathroom.

The shower's warm water hit his skin, and Kaneki sighed in relief, his body finally feeling clean for the first time in a long while. He ran his hands through his white hair, closing his eyes as the steam filled the room. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, to feel human again.

After stepping out of the shower, he dried off and put on the new clothes from the box, a simple black shirt and comfortable pants. He looked at himself in the mirror, taking in the sight of his reflection.

Walking into the kitchen, Kaneki opened the fridge and found it stocked with neatly packaged meat. He took one of the packages and stared at it.

"I guess this is the artificial meat Nezu mentioned," he muttered to himself.

Sitting down at the small kitchen table, Kaneki tore open the package and took a bite. His face twisted in disgust. The taste was awful, rancid, like the foul flesh of a ghoul. But it was all he had, and it would have to do. His stomach turned, but he forced himself to swallow.

Kaneki leaned back in his chair. The apartment was quiet, and for the first time in a while, he had space to think. Tomorrow, he would be meeting his new classmates, joining them in training to become a hero.

Kaneki glanced out the window, the evening sky growing darker. He knew this path wouldn't be easy. His powers, his past, everything he had been through, it was going to follow him wherever he went. But maybe, just maybe, this was his chance to find a new purpose.

As the night settled in, Kaneki lay down on his bed, feeling the unfamiliar comfort of the mattress beneath him. Tomorrow was the start of something different. Something that could change everything.

—

Class 1-A was buzzing with excitement. The students chatted amongst themselves as they waited for the start of the day.

"Did you hear? We're getting a new student today!" Mina whispered, leaning over to talk to Kirishima.

"I wonder what their Quirk is," Kaminari chimed in, looking equally curious. "Maybe it's something super flashy!"

Bakugo, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair with a scowl, clearly uninterested in the commotion. "Tch, like it matters. They'll be dead weight compared to me."

Just then, the door slid open, and Aizawa walked in, his face as tired as ever, but this time, he was covered in bandages, making him look even more worn out than usual. "Quiet, everyone," he said in his usual monotone voice, immediately silencing the room.