Talk:Ken Kaneki/@comment-220.245.245.249-20141201072952/@comment-10733658-20141201121418

Honestly, I think people are letting their perception as the readers cloud seeing things. Sure, we the audience knew his relationship with Touka and co longer, watched it develop in the original series and therefore obviously see it as the "real" one. However, what we need to remember is that the original series takes place over the course of about NINE MONTHS. Six of those he spent off with his own group, actively avoiding Anteiku.

Yes, Touka is presented as a potential love interest. And obviously they all formed strong bonds.

But we cannot discount the fact these he's been working as an Investigator for two years, which means he has formed some very strong bonds. There's still a lot of information we're lacking in terms of what higher ups like Arima and Akira are truly thinking, but I think from what we know about Akira from the previous series, it is unlikely she's merely pretending to care about him. She isn't that kind of person, though of course the biggest question is whether she knows he was Centipede.

Arima is....a tough nut to crack. He's a mystery, but it is noteworthy that his entire mannerism and behavior with Haise is completely different. But I think it will be a long time before we really learn what Arima thinks.

But the Quinx have no ulterior motives. Other than Urie as the rebellious child, it is clear that they adore him. And he is clearly willing to protect them with his life. I don't think those are bonds he would just callously throw away.

Sorry, we're not going to see him suddenly remember his past and go, "Whoop, I guess you all suck, Bye, dudes. Back to Anteiku I go!"

He's going to have a very difficult path ahead of him, when that time comes. Because he has /two/ groups that he formed strong bonds with. He's got two groups of people that he cares about enough to die for them, and include people that care about him as well. It's going to be ugly, and painful, and tragic when he's faced with opposing groups that include people he cares about.

I also don't think Haise, the person, is going to vanish. At his core, he's still Kaneki. He still has the same base personality, the same mannerisms, the same passions and faults. The only difference is that all the trauma from his transformation, torture, and evil actions are deeply buried right now. He's basically back to being the boy that worked at Anteiku, only a bit happier and more confident.

The life he's built? That part will disappear, once his memories return. I have the feeling that CCG doesn't want him to remember, because then he won't be as easy to control. The question will be how Akira, the Quinx, and Arima will respond when that time comes.