x: 125
Well, 125 could probably be considered as a sacred number for Touken fans, because… Tokyo Ghoul:Re chapter 125 is basically one chapter entirely dedicated to Kaneki and Touka making love. An entire chapter. No kidding.
It is rare for mangas to have a REAL canon intercourse (usually the authors would skip the scene, but leave enough hints/proof for the readers), but then again, friends, TG is a seinen manga, and there are a lot of seinen that show far more explicit scenes.
Some people say that this chapter is unnecessary, and it could’ve been written in only 3 pages instead of a whole chapter, but no, I think it is more than a fanservice. Other than we get to see how they connect not only physically but also emotionally, it is also fun to see symbolism and parallels in this chapter.
Moth & Chapter title
First, the chapter cover featured an image of a moth, Ageha Modoki to be exact. The Latin name is Epicopeia hainesii, but the Japanese name literally means “butterfly-like moth”. The moth’s physical features mimic a butterfly called the Jakou-ageha (Byasa alcinous).
In one of the Tokyo Ghoul Daily Flip Calendar 2016 pictures, Touka is illustrated with wings of the said moth. So, we can say that this chapter tells Kaneki’s experience that focuses on Touka alone. Afterall, the chapter is basically told from Kaneki’s perspective.We don’t get to see Touka’s thoughts, but there are Kaneki’s inner monologues, thinking about her.
“Is this even real…? With Touka-chan, I…”
“Touka-chan…”
I’m not quite sure why Touka is associated with Ageha modoki. However, if we consider the moth’s mimicry nature, then it is probably related to how Touka has always resented being a ghoul, and expressed her wish to live normally like humans. Butterfly is a symbol of beauty, while moth is often considered ugly—which also represents how Touka feels about herself. Coincidentally, if you look at the chapter cover again, the moth is placed on top of floors (or walls) similar to the building where Touka and Kaneki are, hence the textures; not on a plant or a display case.
The last spread of this chapter shows Kaneki sleeping in fetal form, but the sheets underneath their bodies make him looks like a swallowtail. As both butterfly and moth go through a complete metamorphosis, this could also be a prediction of an upcoming change/transformation in Kaneki’s life.
The moth can also represent sensuality, vulnerability, and (gasp!) death—but I personally don’t think the last part fits into the symbolism here. Some fans have written metas and predicted Touka’s death ever since this chapter, but so far, nothing of that happens; and I hope it stays the same. You can find more info about the moth symbolism in this site.
The chapter title (X) could mean two things. First, the obvious (se)x because the entire chapter only features Kaneki and Touka’s moments together, and nothing else. Second, it might refer to hybrid. Kaneki is half-ghoul while Touka is pure ghoul, and if they were to have a child, it might be a hybrid. It is later revealed that Touka is indeed, pregnant with Kaneki's child.
intimacy
Unlike most chapters, X is filled with dark backgrounds and screen tones. In my humble opinion, it is because the scenes are rather “private”. This chapter goes deeper beyond physical attraction; they’re connecting on emotional level. Ishida-sensei chooses to use of shadow and light in such a way to give off the right atmosphere (heat, arousal, intimacy) instead of the real-time lighting. If you’ve ever seen any adult content… well, most of them are not drawn this way, because the point is to provide visual imagery.
Prior to this chapter, there have only been two kissing scenes (actually, maybe just one, the first one doesn’t count) in the entire Tokyo Ghoul series. Ishida-sensei has never drawn a single kiss explicitly in the series—he’s always had censored the kissing scenes, leaving it to the readers’ imagination. However, in this chapter, there are so much kissing, it’s as if the lack of physical contact between them during these 4 years were thrown into it.
There’s also a scene where Touka kisses Kaneki’s pectoral muscles and compares his present physique to back when she first trains him. Back then, she mocked Kaneki for being so thin and told him to add more muscles—and now, she’s admiring him and kissing him.
Touka seems to be confident in the beginning of the chapter (ever since the virgin talk, to be honest), but she looks embarrassed when she takes off her bra. According to the Japanese script of this chapter found in this page, Kaneki tells her, You’re beautiful
—which she still seems to disagree, and Kaneki says again, Really.
When they’re both fully undressed, Kaneki takes time to look down on her and admire her beauty (I said take time because the whole page consists of this beautiful panel). Even the sheets under Touka’s body look like the shape of wings. This probably means that she looks like an angel in his eyes.
Kaneki places his hand on Touka’s cheek, and she touches his hand. Her eyes aren’t looking at his face—rather, it seems like she’s looking at the hand that’s touching her. I find this panel so adorable, she’s enjoying this simple gesture of affection, and Kaneki’s reducing the distance between them.
vulnerability
During their intense intimacy, Kaneki bursts into tears, and Touka asked softly with a smile, Kaneki... Why are you crying?
This scene mirrors Haise in TG:re chapter 10—he cried the first time he sipped Touka’s coffee in the shop. He had no idea why he shed those tears. Likewise, in chapter 125, Kaneki reacts to Touka’s question with confusion, “I wonder why…”. Afterwards, Touka gets on top of him to fully embrace and kiss him, and this is honestly one of the most beautiful panels I’ve ever seen in this manga (or any other mangas, probably).
I believe one of the reasons he cries is because he realizes that he has been loved. Ever since TG, it is shown that Kaneki felt the lack of love—especially from her mother, who chose to overwork herself for her sister and further became abusive instead of providing her son the love he needed. Touka’s profound affection probably gives him what he thought he wouldn’t have, and ultimately, he’s found a reason to live on, just like Hide had told him in his unconscious mind during his last fight with Arima.
The last panel is cut to what looks like the following morning, with Kaneki still completely bared, innocently sleeping in fetal position on Touka’s lap while she brushes his hair and smiles peacefully. He even looks like he’s sucking his finger like a baby.