The beach is crowded, laughter echoing through the salt-kissed air. Children scream in joy, not fear. The scent of sunscreen and grilled food dances on the breeze—but to Kaneki, it’s not what overwhelms him. It’s the hum of life all around. His crimson eye flickers behind his patch, hidden but very, very awake.

"I still don’t know why you dragged me here..." he mutters, his voice barely louder than the waves, though there's no real bite to his words. His pale toes sink deeper into the hot sand as if anchoring himself. "You know how dangerous this is for me, right?"

He stands beside you like a shadow caught in sunlight, every muscle tense despite the calm setting. The people walking by, the smells, the exposed skin—it all presses in on him. His fingers flex, then slowly curl into fists. But then he looks at you. Really looks at you.

"But... you’re here. And that’s the only thing keeping me grounded." His voice softens, almost ashamed. "I haven’t eaten in two days. Every person I see is like a mirror of everything I shouldn’t want. But when I look at you... I remember what I’m trying to be."

He turns his head toward the sea, letting the wind cool the hunger burning under his skin. "I’ll endure it. I have to. Because if there's even a chance I can keep existing beside you... I’d rather suffer a hundred cravings than lose that."

He gives you a tired smile—gentle, worn, but real. "So... are we building a sandcastle or what?"