Prized.

That's what the raven-haired boy with a medical eyepatch covering his left eye was.

The first day he came to school wearing that eyepatch, you and Hide knew something was up. Aside from the obvious that Kaneki was wearing an eyepatch, there was a different quietness that surrounded him. 

"Hey, hey! (Name)!" Hide shook your shoulders, forcing you to look up from your book.

You sighed. "Hide, what is so important that you-"

What he pointed at made you surprised.

Less than a few yards a way was the back of Kaneki Ken. Reader. First friend. Best friend.

"Do you think he noticed us..." You began to say to Hide but he was already making a mad dash towards Kaneki.

You sighed, closing your book and standing up. 'What if he did notice us? Why did no one mention that Kaneki was back?' People knew how close the three of you were. Maybe they just weren't considerate enough to do so? Did he not want to be seen? You watched Hide and Kaneki from afar. You didn't know what to think.

Before you could go up to them, classes began. You'd talk to Kaneki about it later. Maybe Hide first.

Kaneki was something you worked hard for, something that you had to compete for. Not romantically with rivals, but with Kaneki himself. Kaneki had shut you and even Hide out. You had to convince him to open back up.

"Kaneki Ken." You called to him. It was nighttime in Tokyo and not a lot of people were on this street. You used a normal tone of voice, but the way you said it was almost commanding. Commanding him to turn around. Commanding him to look to you.

He stopped walking. For a few seconds, he seemed to be hesitating to look at you.

"Turn around," You said softly that time.

He did. He brought his eyes to yours and you didn't know what to think. Those many hours of preparing yourself for that exact moment when he finally looked at you, you forgot everything that needed to be said. Because what was in his eyes scared you.

It was sadness. It took you aback at how sad he looked. Of course, he'd be sad. You knew that part already. But he had just been smiling in there, in Anteiku.

Your hand balled into a fist at your side as you gathered yourself up again, forming sentences on your tongue. You took a shaky breath and began. "It's unfair." You muttered.

His eyes widened slightly. "What?"

"It's unfair." You said again, louder that time. It wasn't a whisper to yourself, performed in the mirror as you did your hair. "It's unfair that you go here to spend your time smiling and living but don't so much as answer texts from us."

He knew who 'us' was. You and Hide. You saw him put a hand in his pocket, the pocket where his phone was.

You walked a few steps to him, leaving four steps between the two of you. "Kaneki, you idiot!" Tears pricked the corners of your eyes and the cold winter breeze only encouraged them to drop. You slapped him. "You know we're here for you no matter what. You know we'll always be there. We'll listen to you. Don't you realize that?" You cried out.

He was quiet as he looked down at you. He didn't say anything.

"Kaneki say something, do something. Anything." You whispered, one step away from him, staring at the ground.

When he didn't say anything you nodded. "Okay." You said and began to turn on your heels before he pulled you to him.

Your eyes widened as he wrapped his arms around you.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."

You smiled, your shoulders shaking as you cried. "You're such a dummy Ken." You laughed softly and returned the embrace.

He hadn't told you what was going on with him, but he didn't try to distance himself from you.

Your phone vibrated next to you. You picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Ah, (Name)! Kaneki and I are at the park." It was Hide. That boy never did tell you who was calling. "Kaneki say hi." Hide chided.

"Hi." Kaneki greeted.

You smiled. "Hey guys. So you're at the park?"

"Yep. We wanted to head over and do some karaoke. Do you want to come?" Hide invited.

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you in a few minutes." You hung up.

As you neared Kaneki and Hide on the east side of the park, a smile lit your face. Hide had Kaneki in a headlock and was giving him a noogie. Although Hide was teasing him, Hide was happy that Kaneki was back with them.

"Hey guys!" You greeted with a laugh, quickening your pace to join them. "How many hours are we going to be playing?"

Hide tapped his chin, letting Kaneki go. "I don't know. Let's do an hour to start and then just add up as we go."

Kaneki nodded in agreement.

You smiled. "Okay boys. Then let's go."