What We Do Now [Threequel to The Queen of Them]

7

"Mama, I wanna see Papa!"

"Takara, what did I tell you? Haise and I aren't talking."

"I don't care! Take me to Papa now!"

Sighing, I rested my head against my hands. It's been about two days since I've last talked to Haise - one on one. We'd be forced to talk since we work together now. But besides that, we don't - more like I don't. I didn't want to face him after what happened.

"Touka-chan, can you help me out here..?" I mumbled.

"Yeah.." Touka nodded, taking Takara behind the cafe with Yomo. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I looked at the ground. "(Y/n)-chan, who is 'Papa'..?"

"You already know, so why ask that..?" I snapped at her, glaring towards her way. Sighing, I shook my head. "Sorry about that, Touka-chan.. But yeah.. 'Papa' to Takara is Haise."

"(Y/n)-chan, you're playing with fire.. This is dangerous. I thought that you wanted Kaneki to live a safe—"

"—I do.. But, I can't help it.. Haise is and isn't Kaneki at the same time." Rolling my head back, I had sighed again. "I also can't deprive Takara of her father - even though he doesn't know it."

We heard the door open and close, the bells rings to signal us that someone entered :re. I put up a mask to hide my emotions and greeted the customers who entered. Walking towards the customer, I had breathed in the room, only to regret that action. The customer was Haise.

"I'd like a regular black coffee with two sugar cubes." He ordered.

Putting my fake smile up, I nodded as I wrote down his order. "Is that all, sir?" I asked.

"I want you to come back.." Haise told me.

This fucking idiot..! How could you ask me that so publicly?! I thought. "I'm sorry sir, but if that's all you'd like, then I'll be on my way to make your coffee." I bowed, walking towards the counter. As I made the coffee, I felt his eyes on me and me only. It felt like I should be intimidated by him, but I'm not. Anything but that. I gave him the coffee, only to hear a door slam open and see my daughter jump on Haise.

"Papa! You're here!" Takara cheered. "Mama, look! Papa is here!"

Surprise by her, I could only smile softly and pat her head. "I can see that." I need time away from all of this.. It's starting to become too much for me.. Arima-san was right.. I should've stayed away.. "Takara, how would you like to stay with Papa for awhile until I come back from work?"

I saw my child's eye widened in pure bliss, nodding excitedly. "Really Mama?! I can stay with Papa?!"

Nodding, I confirmed her doubt. She screamed in happiness. "But you have to listen to Papa and everyone in his house, okay?"

"I will Mama!"

"(Y/n)-sama.. What are you doing?" Haise mumbled, looking at me shocked of my actions.

"It's nothing that my daughter need to know." I said, looking down. I just need space to wrap my head around everything.. Because I think I compromised his memory altogether with me confessing about the engagement Kaneki did to me before all of this happened.. "Please give your payment to my boss." I told him, walking away towards Touka.

"What are you doing, (Y/n)-chan?" Touka whispered to me. I entered the back room, hearing Touka follow me. "(Y/n)-chan, what fuck do you think you're doing? You cannot leave Takara-chan alone with him."

"I just need a much needed break.. She'll be fine.."

~~~

Haise's POV