Kotori: and that's four Hehe~ how cute.
After the 4th ball of fire appeared out of Kaneki's chest, joining the other 3. Kotori watched happily as she figured out what these flames meant.
Back in the Stadium*
Static~!
Querxes: I see, I guess in some way Kaneki saw that girl my guess, Miyu-chan, as one of his Heroes when they became best friends.
Keiko: That's a very weird reason.
Yuuka: Well Kaneki was never normal to begin with.
Static~!
Sachi: Everyone quiet down! More memories is being shown, I wonder who it'll be about now?
"Sigh~ This sucks"
The memory in Kaneki's perspective displayed him having an older voice and was alone in a hallway seemingly depressed.
Bump!
"Argh!"
"Oh sorry about that- Huh? Yuri-san?"
"Oh... Hey Kaneki!"
Chikao: Me?! Seriously?!
Sachi: Wow this is unexpected.
Chikao and the Higanbana girls were all surprised too see Chikao being one of Kaneki's "Heroes".
"So you wanna go to our usual spot?"
"Yeah sure"
'After Sachi, S@$#*, Y@$$&, and Miku joined the Jr. Idol competition. Everyday after classes in Middle School was boring, they'd go off using "Avatars" for the competition to make music and gain popularity. I was alwa lonely, but you'd always keep me company'
"So they're preparing a new stream right? They haven't even thought of a name for their group yet"
"Yeah. Even though it's quite lonely at least I can still see them once their done"
'We'd always talk at the rooftop of our middle school, talking about various topics"
"By the way I heard during the War of Hell, the Hero had used his inner demonic powers and slain thousands of Clad of Black Wings and their forces in an instant!"
"That's very well known you know?"
"Hehe~ yeah sorry, I just really like the Hero"
"Whatever..."
'You'd always talk cheerfully about the things you loved. While I in the other hand, could barely talk about anything at all'
"You miss those four already huh? You're always sad whenever they're not around"
"How could I? I'm not really used to not being around them for long periods of time. And we'd usually either do dance practice or do research in order to find relics after school. But because of the competition we couldn't do that"
"You know I find it odd that you didn't joined them Kaneki, you are part Demon of sound right? I bet you'd have a good singing voice"
"The only songs I know are Tokusatsu songs, I am no good at writing my own"
'Even though I didn't believed in myself you were the first to believe in me'
"Do you want to join them?"
"Of course but-"
"Then join them, they're your friends remember? They'd be more than happy for you to join"
'Even with so much damage on your body, you encouraged me to do something I probably wouldn't have done on my own'
"... I'll ask Sachi for her opinion"
"Yatta~"
Chikao: ...
While watching this scene, Chikao's was expressing guilt.
'I didn't understand why you were encouraging me but... When I officially joined my friends group and formed Project Kizuna'
"Hey have you guys seen Chi-chan? She hasn't been to school for 3 days now... I'm getting worried"
'When you went missing, I connected the lines. The reason why you encouraged me to join my friends group'
"Please still be alive! Please still be alive!"
Sachi: No way... Chi-chan you...
Chikao: Yup, since Kaneki was the only one who knew about my situation at the time I knew that he would be sad if I were to go missing. So I had to push him back to you girls.
Shino, Yuuka and Miku: No way.
'Unlike the rest of my friends, I was the only one aware of your family situation. How you were abused by your parents'
The scene shifted to an earlier memory of the two in the rooftop.
"Yuri-san, you should really inform the teachers or the police. They can help you y'know?"
"You know I can't do that, after all. if I did and my parents get arrested then what? I'd be taken away from Shimotsuki and I wouldn't be able to see you and the others again... You guys are my only friends and the last thing I would want is for us to be separated"
"But-"
"Keep this to yourself, I don't want to worry the others any further"
The scene then shifted back to the scene of young Kaneki running to Chikao's home.
"Argh!"
"Chi-chan?! TCH!"
Burst!
Shatter!
What followed showed young Kaneki brutally beating Chikao's parents to a pulp in mere seconds, followed with him checking young Chikao.
"Chi-chan!"
"Haa~ Haa~"
"There there it'll be alright"
"Kaneki... Please don't worry about me... You still have them"
"Chi-chan..."
'I regretted not helping you, even though I had the power to stop your suffering I didn't do anything. I know I couldn't change the past but... I didn't want you to suffer anymore'
"You like the Hero of Hell and Atlantis right? Fine you'll meet him"
'When I realized the influence I had as the Hero, I immediately turned to my other self and helped you the best I could'
"So you're going to take full responsibility of this girl?"
"Correct. I'll provide her for everything she needs financially until she is able to provide for herself. I request that she won't be taken away from this city"
"Sir what are we going to do? This is probably not allowed"
"Just tell your superior's that I requested it, besides this girl wanted to stay in Shimotsuki because it's the only place where she had friends"
"Sigh~ we'll see what we can do, not promises though kid"
"Good"
"Arghh~"
"She's waking up"
'I know I was too late to help you that time, so I had to make things right. For you had helped me when I needed it'
Static~!
Swoosh~
And so the 5th ball of fire came out of Kaneki's chest and began to circle with the rest as well.
Static~!
But after the memory had concluded, the next one showed nothing but static.
And what came after was Kaneki's voice asking one question.
"Where are you guys?"
He had a saddened and lonely tone yo his voice as those words came out.
Natsuki's thoughts*
(Wait is this?)
Flash~
The Static subsided and the memory began to be displayed.