Kotori: ... Hey girls.
All 6: Kotori-san/Onee-chan/Ai-chan?
As the Higanbana girls were silently crying by the river, Kotori had appeared behind them.
They quickly wiped their tears and faced her.
Sachi: Hey Ai-chan...
Kotori: Was I interrupting you guys?
Miku: No... But how are you feeling Onee-chan?
Kotori: What else? Horrible. Not only had Kaneki-chan died but I've received reports that nearly a billion people have been killed.
All 6: !!!
The Higanbana girls were all stunned upon hearung how many people had died.
Natsuki: That's so many!
Shino: No way... So many people...
Kotori: Those monsters, which the Council have now called "Devils of the Fallen" have appeared at around 50 countries as of now. And...
Kotori decided to stop telling more bad news after seeing that the girls all had terrified looks on their faces.
Kotori: Anyways, that's not the reason why I came to you girls.
Chikao: Then why?
Kotori: Tonight we'll be holding a memorial service for everyone who hadn't survived, and I want you girls to know.
All 6: Memorial service?
Kotori: Yes. If you girls want to, you could talk about Kaneki-chan there as well.
Shino: ... I don't think we can.
Natsuki: Yeah...
Kotori: It's alright, I'm not forcing any of you. I just want to let you guys know.
Sachi: Thank Ai-chan.
Kotori: No problem, but do any of you have any picture of Kaneki-chan?
Natsuki: Yeah. Here.
Natsuki took out her phone and showed Kotori a picture she has of Kaneki.
Kotori: Just a moment.
Kotori then took her own phone out before tapping it onto Natsuki's phone.
Kotori: Thanks. I'll use this for Kaneki-chan.
Natsuki: No problem...
Kotori: Well... I'll be going now, I'll see you girls later.
Kotori then left the Higanbana girls so she could prepare the memorial service.
Natsuki: ...
With Kotori gone, Natsuki looked at her photo with Kaneki on her phone.
Natsuki: Let's go meet up back with our parents, let's rest up.
Chikao: You're going to the memorial service too right?
Natsuki: Of course Chi-chan, what about the rest of you?
Shino: I'm going to join too.
Yuuka & Sachi: Same here.
Miku: Of course I will.
With all of them on board, they decided to go back to their parents so they could go and rest at their assigned shelters.
A few minutes later~
Shino: Well... This is a surprise.
Natsuki: Yeah.
After they split up and met up with their parents again, the Higanbana girls asked their parents where their assigned shelters were.
And to their surprise, they as well as their entire families were all sharing the same shelter.
Chikao: Well at least we won't be sharing the same room with strangers.
Sachi: Yeah that's a good thing I guess.
The room is somewhat big and has the exact number of futons for the Higanbana girls and their families.
Natsuki: Well,... Let's rest then.
Natsuki then layed down into her futon and closed her eyes to take a nap and her friends did the same thing.
Meanwhile~
Atsuo: Gulp~!
Around the same time, Atsuo was drinking by the same river the Higanbana girls were at prior.
Aiya: Dear c'mon let's go to our shelter and rest...
Aiya was worried about him and accompanied Atsuo as he continued to drink.
Atsuo: And what? I might say something I might regret to those girls later.
Aiya: If you know that then why are you still drinking alcohol?!
With his wife yelling at him, Atsuo began shedding tears again and stared into Aiya's eyes.
Atsuo: What else am I supposed to do? I've lost Kaneki and Tohru...
With the loss of both his wife and son, Atsuo didn't know what to do anymore.
Aiya: What do you think they'd want you to do?
Atsuo: What?
Atsuo was stunned after Aiya answered him with a hard question.
Aiya: What do you think Tohru or Kaneki would want you to do?
Facing such a difficult question, Atsuo couldn't answer.
But.
Flashback*
Kotori: Papa!
Flash!
Miku: N-Nice to meet you...
Flashback end*
The faces of his two daughters came in mind.
Atsuo: ...
Despite being a little drunk, seeing the faces of his two daughters knocked some sense back into Atsuo.
He set his bottle aside and gave his answer.
Atsuo: I have to take care of my family.
Aiya: You mean our family.
Atsuo: Yes... Of course.
Atsuo's thoughts*
(What the hell am I doing? I'm only worrying my family, when I'm supposed to take care and protect them...)
Atsuo set aside his bottle of alcohol and stared at Aiya with a fiery determination in his eyes.
Atsuo: I won't let anything or anyone harm our family, not again.
Aiya: That's good to hear... Just don't fo anything stupid okay?
Atsuo: Of course, who else will take care of our family when I'm gone as well.
Aiya: That's right. C'mon let's go rest up at our shelter.
Atsuo: Yeah.
Following Aiya's lead, Atsuo and Aiya went to their assigned shelter where the Higanbana girls were currently at after cleaning up their mess.
(I'll definitely protect my family, I WILL protect my family. I won't let anyone harm them again.)
Atsuo's eyes glowed with determination, he was no longer going to allow anything hurt his family again.
Hours later~
Hours had passed and nighttime has arrived.
After everyone had rested and had dinner, the memorial service was about to begin.
The Council had already made preparations gathering the photos of the deceased from their loved ones and putting them all in display as well as putting candles nearby.
Kotori: Sigh~ I... I'm not ready for this.
Although Kotori wasn't mentally nor emotionally ready to lead it, as she'll not just going to be in front of her own family and friends.
But also everyone else from Shimotsuki who had lost their friends, family and loved ones. As well as not exactly knowing what to say.
Kotori: ... Haaa~
After taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and moved forwards.
As she was walking to the podium which was behind the displayed photos, she looked at everyone present with a sad expression.
Kotori: Alright.
She finally reached the podium and began the memorial service.
Kotori: Good evening everyone, we're gathered here tonight to mourn the loss of our friends and loved ones after the tragedy that occured on this today.
Everyone: ...
Kotori: But we are also here to remember the lives of those we have lost... If you want to share the stories of your loved ones, how they lived and how they impacted you. Please take the podium.
(I don't know if this is the right move, but I hope this won't make everyone feel worse than they already are.)
Having limited knowledge of how memorial services work, Kotori said what she wanted to say and hoped that what she did was right.
A little while later~
(Thank goodness! It's working out better than I expected!)
Surprisingly the memorial service was going smoothly, the refugees were coming up to the podium and we're sharing stories of their loved ones.
???: Hehe~
Though the atmosphere was still sad it was getting lighter with every story and memory being told and faint laughs were picked up by Kotori.
(I'm glad this memorial service is going well... Although.)
However looking at her own family and friends, they were still sad.
(I hope everyone could feel better.)
She hoped that they would feel better when they talk about Kaneki.
2 hours later~
After many had talked about their loved ones for two hours, the amount of people moving forward were decreasing.
(None of them are moving forward.)
Seeing this Kotori knew the memorial service might end soon because it was getting late and everyone was getting tired.
But her family and friends haven't stepped up once, so she decided to go herself.
(Guess I'll—)
Step!
(Oh nevermind.)
She stopped herself after seeing who stepped forward. Shino, Yuuka and Miku.
(Wait... What are they going to do?)
Kotori had expected her friends and family to participate, but from the looks on Shino's, Yuuka's and Miku's faces made her feel like they're going to do something reckless.
Not wanting to cause a scene, Kotori didn't immediately rushed towards them.
All 3: Haa~
The three took a deep breath and looked towards their friends and family before speaking up.
Shino: Good evening everyone, my name is Tanaka Shino.
Yuuka: I'm Mirai Yuuka.
Miku: And I'm Higanbana Miku.
All 3: And... Before we talk about our/my deceased friend/brother. We have a confession to make.
Everyone: Huh?
(Wait are they?!)
Everyone was stunned after hearing that the three of them had a confession to tell all of them.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: ... This tragedy, we are partly responsible for it.
(What are you three doing?!)
Kotori hadn't expected them to say such a thing, but what made them say this?
4 Hours earlier*
It was before dinner, the Higanbana, Tanaka, Saki, Mirai and Mizutani families were all gathered in their shelter.
Atsuo: Are you kids ready for tonight?
Miku: Yeah...
Shino, Sachi & Yuuka: Yup...
Chikao: Sigh~ I'll try my best
Natsuki: I'm ready.
They were all preparing for the memorial service when Miku came up to Atsuo and said something outrageous.
Miku: Hey Dad.
Atsuo: What is it?
Miku: Well... Tonight I'm thinking of telling everyone that I'm partially responsible for all of this.
Everyone: What?!
Needless when Miku said this, everyone got worried.
Natsuki: Miku you'll be—
Shino & Yuuka: I'll join Miku as well.
To everyone's surprise, Shino and Yuuka were planning the same thing.
Shiro: Shino are you sure about this?
Yuuki: You too Yuuka?
Yuuka: Yup... Besides we really are partly responsible for all of this.
Chikao: But... You were put under a spell.
Sachi: Yeah! It wasn't ineveryone might turn hostile to thw three of you...
Shino: Well... I'm prepared for that.
Yuuka & Miku: Same here.
Seeing that they weren't going to back down, Natsuki looked at them before asking.
Natsuki: Are you three sure about this?
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Of course.
Yuuka: Everyone deserves to know what we had done to Kaneki, which led to all of this.
Shino: Even if everyone turns against us, we're ready for what's to come.
Miku: Yeah so let us tell everyone.
Seeing that they were that determined, everyone in the room had no choice but to allow them to make their confession.
Present*
???: Huh?
???: What are those three talking about?
???: How can those three be responsible?
Upon hearing their confession everyone present were left stunned, they couldn't understand how these three girls were partly responsible for this tragedy.
(What are you three doing???)
And because Kotori wasn't present and wasn't notified, she instantly got worried for what those three girls would say.
Shino: You all must be confused right now, but... It's true we've played a part in all of this.
Yuuka: To answer your question, it's because of what we've done to Higanbana Kaneki.
Everyone: !!!
Kaneki's name was more well known ever since his identity was revealed back at the W.S.S.F.
So hearing his name made everyone a bit tense.
Miku: Haa~ To put simply we had done something to hurt him without us knowing, which led to all of this.
(I have to st—)
Kotori tried to move forward to stop them fearing that it could end badly for the three.
Grip!
But she was stopped by her father.
Kotori: Papa?
Atsuo: Let them, they wanted to do this.
Kotori: ...
With her father stopping her, Kotori just watched as Shino, Yuuka and Miku continued to confess what they had done to Kaneki.
Shino, Yuuka & Miku: Five months ago, when we entered High school, we had hurt Kaneki/Onii-chan by unknowingly abandoning him.
The three told everyone in complete detail of what they had done.
How they abandoned Kaneki, how they temporarily forgotten about him and how they didn't took the right actions to mend their relationship with him.
Miku: Everything we did... It all had hurt him so much.
Upon hearing their confession, everyone had mixed feelings. Some were pitying them, while some were a bit angry for what they did and some were only left confused.
???: If they had liked him so much... Then why did they do that?
???: Abandoning him out of nowhere? Isn't that strange?
???: But... How is this all connected?
They couldn't understand why but they'll soon get their answers.
Shino: ... But despite being hurt by us, when he learned of our efforts... He welcomed us back with open arms.
Yuuka: Even after everything, Kaneki was the same loving friend and brother he always was.
Miku: He cared for his friends and loved ones and others and wasn't afraid to help without a second thought, even when it brought harm to him he always put the well-being of others first before himself.
Shino: He was the kindest person we ever known, and yet... We were used against him.
Everyone widened their eyes as Shino that they were used, which made everyone confused.
???: What? Are they saying the things they done to him weren't their own actions?
???: How is this making any sense at all?
Seeing their confusion, Shino continued explaining.
Shino: It's is true that we took the wrong actions to mend our relationship with Kaneki, but... We've recently discovered that the person who we fell in love despite not knowing anything about had actually put us under a spell which made us forget about Kaneki.
Everyone: Eh?
Miku: And that person was... Itadori Ryueki.
???: Itadori Ryueki? Have I heard that name before?
???: Wasn't he that guy that many girls were crazy for back during the W.S.S.F a few weeks ago?
???: Hey you're right! Was he responsible for all of this?!
The three explained how Ryueki had another personality that was the reason many girls had fallen for him including them.
About the spell that tampered with ones feelings and desires.
Shino: But even though we know all of this now, the fact the three of us took a part in all of this will never change.
Miku: We won't ask for your forgiveness, we know we don't deserve it...
Bow~
After saying what they needed to say the three bowed and went back to their families.
Pat!
Sachi: You guys did well...
After they came back, Sachi patted their backs and took her turn to tell her own story.
Kotori: You three... Why?
Miku: Sorry Onee-chan, but... We felt responsible and everyone deserved to know.
Kotori: ...
Kotori didn't know what to say.
Sachi: Hello everyone, good evening.
Sachi then started talking and was about to tell her own story of Kaneki.
(Seriously why did those three do such a thing? ...)
With Shino, Yuuka and Miku's confession now done. The memorial service continued with Sachi, Chikao and Natsukii eventually talking about their own stories of Kaneki and his influence in their lives.
Meanwhile~
Kaijira: GROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAR!
Stomp!
At the same time, Kaijira was heading towards their evacuation camp.