Don't Ever Let Go [A Touken Fiction]

Chapter 5 : The Masquerade

A/N: Hey people! Here's the next chapter~ and it won't be long, I think.
Please enjoy~~~

"Onii-chan! Onee-chan! Look!" Said Hinami happily, showing Kaneki and Touka a sketch. "Wow Hinami-chan, you're awesome! You'd make a great artist!" Said Kaneki. It was a sketch of the workers at Anteiku, including Hide, Yoriko, and her mother and father.

"Here, Hinami-chan." Said Touka, handing her a frame. "From now on, this sketch will be the treasure of Anteiku." Said Touka, patting Hinami's head. She smiled and framed it, and Kaneki hung it on the wall behind the counter.

"Nice job, Hinami-chan." Said Hide, who was studying with Kaneki a while ago. "Well, Kaneki, let's move on, I still have some questions about physics." Said Hide, pulling out another textbook.

"Okay." Said Kaneki, and the two continued studying. Hinami was drawing at the table behind them, and Touka and Yoriko were studying at the other side of the cafe.

"Hey, Touka-chan, the masquerade's held on Friday. Who're you going with?" Asked Yoriko. "Yoriko-chan, tomorrow's the test, let's focus on it first." Said Touka absently. Yoriko nodded and continued studying.

Today was the first day of the first monthly exam. Everyone was in their seat, holding their textbook tightly, hoping to memorize as much as they could. At ten to eight, Amon walked in with a big pile of paper, and ten minutes later, the bell rang, and they started doing the exam. The exams on the first day were math, English, physics, and biology. Kaneki thought it was not hard. He'd studied them over and over again. Hide thought it wasn't too hard, too, because Kaneki taught him, and that really helped. After the day they all headed back for Anteiku and studied till almost midnight. They were stressful, but they knew they'd be fine after that. And then it was the second day and the last day of the first monthly exam. The subjects were chemistry, geography, and history. It wasn't hard either, and finally, the school was over and they were free to go.

"YEAH!!! WE ARE FREE!!!!" Shouted Hide, and some students shouted along with him. "Yeah, we are. It wasn't hard, was it? Hide." Said Kaneki. "Yeah, it wasn't hard. Thanks a lot, man, you saved my life." Said Hide, wrapping his arm around his neck. "No problem. Let's go, Touka-chan and Yoriko-chan are waiting for us." Said Kaneki, and they left their classroom.

"Hey, Kaneki, who're you going with to the masque?" Asked Hide. "You mean the masquerade on Friday? I don't really wanna go, you know? I don't dance, and I can't dance either." Said Kaneki. "It's fine, you can just eat or listen to the music, and Yoriko-chan and Touka-chan will be there too, I'm sure. It'll be fun!" Said Hide. Kaneki sighed. "Fine, I'll go, but I won't dance." He said.

At the gate, Touka and Yoriko were waiting for the two, and they were chatting. "So Touka-chan, who're you going with?" Asked Yoriko. Touka was listening to her music. "Huh? Sorry. What?" Asked Touka, taking her headset off.

"I asked who're you going with." Said Yoriko. "What?" Asked Touka blankly. "Touka-chan.... were you even paying attention? I asked who're you going with to the masquerade?" Said Yoriko. "Oh, no one. I suppose." Said Touka.

"Why?? Why don't you find a date??" Asked Yoriko. "You know, I don't go to parties, proms, balls, whatever. I don't wanna go." Said Touka. "Oh you will attend the masquerade, Touka-chan. You have to go!" Said Yoriko. "Fine, I'll think about that." Said Touka. "Anyway, let's go shopping tomorrow!" Said Yoriko excitedly. "Yoriko-chan, please..."
"Come on! Come with me!"
"Okay! Fine! I'll go!" Said Touka, and Yoriko jumped happily. "Oh, here they are." Said Yoriko. Kaneki and Hide we're walking toward them. "Hi, Touka-chan, Yoriko-chan! How did the tests go?" Said Hide, grinning. "Not too bad. How about yours?" Said Touka. "Same." Said Kaneki.