Stars and Counting [Kaneki X Reader]

☆1☆

It was a gloomy, rainy mid-afternoon when I was finishing the clean-up of piles of teen fiction paperbacks onto the shelves. I work as an employee in a library not too far from Grandma's apartment and school.

Considering I've only been working for a few weeks here, it wasn't too long for me to make at least two close friends during my curfew.

I reached for the top shelf only to find myself on my tippy-toes.

"Need some help?" a voice came from behind.

I turned around only to find him.

James Tashiyama. Only the tallest, awesome-est, and gayish guy I know. My best friend at work and school, including our intelligent bookworm, Bree Meiko (who works in the non-fiction department).

"Does it look like I need any help?" I asked in a sarcastic tone and he snatches the book from my fingers, carefully placing the book in its proper place.

"I don't get it," I said, placing another book into its correct spot.

"Get what?" he asked.

"How are you finished your side when I haven't even started mine!"

"Umm. Probably because you were lost in those mangas, again," he replied, rolling his eyes.

I turned away in annoyance. "They're good though..." I pouted.

"Oh my God, Y/N. You need to be on top of your game," he said, piling a stack of fiction hardcovers onto a cart with pile of books I was supposed to store away. "Don't you have a like schedule or somethin'?"

"No," I flatly responded. "because I don't need one. I can remember everything, James! Don't worry about me." I reached for my galaxy themed water bottle and took a sip.

"Pft, I'm not worrying," he stated, combing his russet brown bangs back. "Anyways, Y/N, did you remember to text Bree if I could have that copy of the chapter she wrote last Tuesday?"

I spit-take all over James and then exclaimed, "Crap! I forgot!"

James wiped the spit from his face. "Gross, Y/N!! Thanks a lot!" he cried, grabbing a tissue from his pocket.

I couldn't help but laugh.

~***~

We spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the books from our cart in their rightful places.
It wasn't until we were finally finished, and the library was closed for the day.
James and I met up with Bree and we decided we visit our favourite cafe, Anteiku.

We casually walked in, being greeted by Touka Kirishima as always, and sat down at one of the tables near the T.V.

"Another ghoul incident, huh?" Bree said, overlooking the news upon the T.V screen. "Two eaten at the scene."

"Yeah. Somewhere close to the 21st ward," James said, watching the news with her.

Another one, huh? I thought to myself. I wouldn't imagine when it would be my turn where I encounter a ghoul.

I've been protected for Y/A years, and I promised myself for Mom when Dad died I'll always watch my back for them.

Those nasty ghouls.

Bree has been studying ghouls for quite a while ever since she began working in the library, using some of the books as sources. She's always been able to explain James and me about the ghouls, their kagunes and their special skills they each possess. I always thought she was the interesting one.