Coexisting || Uta x Reader

➺ Chapter Eight

Within a week, Anteiku was the reopened and ready for business. There was a small party and you brought along Itori and Renji while Nishiki took Kimi. Everyone sat around the cafe chatting and reminiscing about the good old times that you shared together over the years.

There was a new atmosphere--one easier and less hostile, but Kaneki was missing, and it was evident that everyone sensed it. No one said anything though in fear of ruining the mood.

You were sitting with Kimi, Touka, Kaya, and Itori, sipping on champagne as you discussed the guys who were on the other side of the room at that time. You kept catching Uta's eye and it made you blush each time because he always knew when you were looking at him, but you didn't know he was already gazing at you.

"Nishiki isn't as much of an asshole as he appears, I promise," Kimi said.

"I have a hard time believing that," Touka replied skeptically.

"You should see how Uta and (Y/N) act when they're alone," Itori chimed in.

"How would you know if we're alone?" you remarked.

"I have my ways," Itori joked. "They're even more attached than they are around us. Always touching and kissing at any chance they get. It's simply adorable."

You wanted to punch her and yourself in the face after her words struck around the table. You didn't need everyone knowing what you and Uta were like when you thought you were alone. Maybe Itori was just extremely observant, at least you hoped she was.

"Can we stop talking about it before I start gagging?" Touka groaned.

"I second that," you chirped.

"Okay," Itori reluctantly said. "So, Touka, you like Kaneki?"

"W-what?" Touka stuttered, instantly becoming flustered and defensive. "No way. That punk isn't up to my standards."

"That's not what Nishiki said," Kimi revealed. "He said you two were quite cozy during the fight."

Touka growled and huffed, crossing her arms. Your table laughed at her expression and you were happy the attention wasn't on you anymore.

You heard the guys cheering and roaring loudly, causing you to turn your head briefly. You caught Uta's eye again and gave him a shy smile before looking back to the girls. It was amazing that after all this time, Uta still made you bashful and jittery when in public with one glance.

"(Y/N), you draw, don't you?" Kimi questioned, bringing you out of your trance.

"Oh, yeah."

"Let's see some. I haven't seen them in a while," Itori said, then peered around the table. "They're mostly of Uta. Warning you now."

"Shut up," you hissed weakly because you were both timid and momentarily nauseous for an unknown reason. You merely brushed it away as best and subtly as you could, then reached down to your sketchbook in your bag and presented it on the table.

Touka took it first and the three of them huddled around to flip through it. While there were lots of Uta, there were also ones of sunsets, skylines, and interesting people you spotted while visiting other wards. They awed at the portraits and continued through it before stopping at one.

"What's Uta eating?" Kimi asked, tilting her head. "It looks like--"

"You probably don't want to know," Itori interjected, giggling.

You rolled your eyes and snatched back the book to put away. Everyone hung out for another hour before Yoshimura kicked them out because of an early opening tomorrow. You met up with Uta at the door and walked with Itori and Renji.

"All I'm saying is that there would be peace if the Doves didn't attack us. I'm definitely for taking them out," Itori stated.

"It won't solve much because the humans would be more afraid without the protection," Renji said matter-of-factly.

Itori shrugged. "(Y/N), would you feel threatened? Honestly?"

You raised a brow. "I've never felt threatened. It would be like being afraid of anything else, but unless I'm in immediate danger, I never feel scared. I can't generalize all ghouls or even humans to be good or bad, but I think the Doves are terrible."

Itori sighed. "Always the responsible and sensible one," she muttered jokingly.

"What can I say? I'm in love with a ghoul," you replied, snuggling closer to Uta as you walked. "We coexist just fine. We've never had problems with our differences, therefore I rarely see any."

"You guys are so cute!" Itori exclaimed. "Don't you think, Ren?"

"Sure," Renji responded shortly.

"Come on, what about you two?" Uta commented suggestively.

"Excuse me?" Renji said.

"You two flirt constantly. Go out on a date or something," you elaborated.

Renji and Itori inched away from each other and you and Uta didn't care whether your words were true or not. If they weren't, making the two uncomfortable was a success, and if they were, hopefully something would bloom from it.

"We must be getting back," Uta said. "Goodbye, friends."

"Bye, guys," Itori mumbled.

You and Uta laughed on your way back to the shop until arriving to the apartment. You readied for bed and soon laid next to each other. You were oddly freezing with chills haphazardly crawling up and down your spine, so you curled up more in the blankets.

"Everything is putting itself into place now," Uta said, anchoring your body to his.

His voice sounded confusingly distant to you. You swallowed to relieve some of the unusual tension you felt, but your throat was undeniably dry.

"Yeah," you mumbled, your eyelids fluttering opened and closed.

"Sleepy?" he asked tantalizingly.

You weren't, but you were becoming dizzy. Reality flashed from your vision as it switched from white to black. You gripped Uta's shirt in a fist because you needed to know he was still there. You weren't sure anymore.

"Something's wrong," you managed to mutter.

You moved as the dizziness faded briefly and sat on the edge of the bed. Uta was up instantly and had a hand on your back where you were starting to feel the same pain you had in the gym. You decided to stand, but when you did, you tilted forward, then everything around you turned to darkness.