Neku had the taste of asphalt in his mouth as he awoke. Since he was just a spirit, he didn't need to worry about being stepped on, so he laid on the ground for a while. He thought about the last hectic seven days that had passed...and what had happened to Shiki, the first person he ever started to truly trust. She was supposed to have been revived...the Reapers promised them...but now she was in their clutches, and it was all his fault.
'Damn it...she was supposed to go back and be with Eri...now she's captured...and it was all because I had to value her most...'
Neku couldn't lie to himself about his feelings anymore: he was in love with Shiki. He really did hate her at first, but now...all he wanted was for her to be happy. Yet...his love for her is what is causing everyone grief. Beat betrayed them...Rhyme is gone...everything had been so perfect, when they were all together...if only for a little while...
Letting out a powerful sigh, the orange-haired youth sat up and looked around. Huge groups of people were walking all around the plaza; Neku suddenly felt like he was drowning in an ocean of voices. A feeling of nausea suddenly overcame him, and Neku dashed to get away from all the chattering and the crowds. Eventually, Neku reached a deserted alleyway and he slumped down to his knees.
He opened his mouth and tried to scream out in frustation...but he couldn't. He would probably only have screamed so someone would notice him, but there was no one...no one at all. Neku tried to hold the tears in his eyes as he thought about how weak and pathetic he truly was. 'Even when I tried to act tough and brave in front of Shiki, I was still afraid...afraid I was going to die...'
"Ah...hello, there..."
Neku looked up, and saw a young silver-haired boy smiling down at him, a small orange cellphone in his hands...