Can I help?

Chapter 7

A couple weeks later...

Hide's P.O.V.

Kaneki has been a little... distant, you could say. He hasn't really talked to me, other then texting me when I have informed him about Ichika during a break. She has started to eat lunch in my class room. Probably because she doesn't like to stay with the other kids. I was kid once, almost anything can happen at lunch. These kids can talk really loud, and Ichika really doesn't seem to like loud noises. I don't mind her company during lunch, I don't eat alone anymore. Or go to another teachers room to go over things and talk with them.

Ichika even moved her desk next to mine. I can tell at times that the other kids are jealous of her at times. Manly because I let her take any and all work home to let her dad help her out. But they don't get to do that. Her grades are getting a little better because of it. They're not amazing, but still an improvement for her.

Going back to Kaneki, he's gotten more distant and I don't know why. I just try to talk to him when he'll let me. I had to go to the store one weekend. And I thought I saw someone familiar when I was getting my groceries. When I was checking out, I saw them again. They were waiting in another line, but I could only see their back side. They had black hair, jeans, and a blue t-shirt on.

After I checked out and paid for it, I put the groceries in my car before I saw the person again. Then I could see it was Kaneki. He only had one grocery bag and he seemed to be heading to his car. I went over to talk to him, guessing my groceries could wait a little bit.

"Kaneki!" I called him. By the time I was walking to him, he put up the grocery bag and was about to open the driver side of the car. He stopped and turned around to see me. He had his glasses on.

"Hey..." He said a bit nervously when I got to him. He also seemed to be a bit on edge. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to get groceries because I was running low on food at home. What are you doing here?"

"Me and I-Ichika were hanging out at her uncles'. W-we were going to make l-lunch and a little dessert, but they didn't ha-have one or two things. So, I quickly ran to the store." What's with all the stuttering? He's never done that before. He was definitely on edge.

"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it." I said with concern.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." He said nervously as he put his hand on his chin. That got me a little curious.

"You sure?" I said before he nodded. Then realized he had his hand on his chin, and whipped it away quickly. I raised an eye brow at that. "You haven't really talked to me since the date either. Did something happen?"

"N-Nope. I just been a bit busy." I could just tell that was a lie.

"Okay then." I said, choosing not to pressure him. Because I noticed his hand was shaking a little. And he looked like he was about to be on the verge of tears, but was holding them back. I didn't know what to do, or say. I never seen him, or anyone, acting like this. So, I carefully hugged him. He didn't hug back, nor did he push me away. He just stood there with his arms held out, not knowing what to do with them.

I held him a little closer, as if telling him it was okay. He relaxed and hugged back before nuzzling his nose in the crook of my neck. I didn't care that his glasses were poking me. Then he started to let out apologizes.

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you. I was just confused and didn't know what to do." He said as some tears ran down his cheeks. I just rubbed his back.

"You keep saying nothing happened, but with the way you're acting something must of happened." I said before he pulled away just enough to wipe away his tears, but was still in the hug.

"Nothing actually happened." I said with a sad or nervous small smile. "I guess I need to be honest here."

"Yeah because I don't know why you're acting like this." I said before he let out sigh.

"I've been off my meds. If I don't take them I start acting like this."

"What meds? What do you need meds for?"

"My anxiety and depression. I already told you I was abused and neglected in my childhood. That's the reason why I act like this and need those meds."

"I haven't seen you take meds."

"That's because the morning you were at my apartment, I took them after you left. Sometimes I can go a day without them. But I need to take them as much as possible, preferably every day. But I ran out and they need to be refilled."

"Why haven't they been refilled yet?"

"I have to go to a doctor or therapist for a check up about if my mental health is still good when I take the meds. Then they write me a prescription, but it takes time to actually get them. Ayato and Yomo are having me and Ichika stay with them until I can get the meds and be in a better state of mind. Because I'm more comfortable around them."

"Is that there names? The uncles you talk about."

"Yeah, Yomo is the great uncle. He doesn't look that old for one." He said before letting out a little chuckle.

"Are you feeling a bit better now?"

"Yeah, actually."

"Okay, you should get back to your family before they start worrying about you."

"You're right. You can come over if you want."

"I would like to, but I have food in my car. I have to go home and put them up. And I don't want to barge in. Maybe another time."

"Alright, I see again sometime."

"Okay." I said before gently kissing him on the forehead. When I pulled away, he was blushing. Then he put his hands on my cheeks and brought me in for a actual kiss. Our glasses almost hit each other. We pulled away and said our goodbyes. Then I let go of the hug, but held his hand and slowly let it go as I started to walk away. After I got to my car, Kaneki had gotten in his car and started it. I got in my car and went home.

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Words: 1205
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