Author's Note:
All of our stories go together, so it helps to follow along. Previous stories so far:
Six Mistakes
Starting Spark
Beautiful Blossom
Reaper Review
Unscripted Feelings
This one directly follows Unscripted Feelings, with an agreement Joshua and Eri made there. You can still read and enjoy regardless, but we suggest following along to understand the full story!
Chapter 1
The life of a Composer is a life spent alone. Based on the rules of the angels, the Composer must judge those that die from afar, only able to talk to two people: their Conductor and their Producer.
Yet despite that one cardinal rule, an egregious rule-breaker sat right next to Shibuya's Composer. Talking.
"I was thinking maybe we could all go bowling sometime," the human girl called Eri said. "We have entrance exams coming up, so Shiki and Beat have been kinda hard to get ahold of, but it'd be nice to relax after all the pressure's gone."
Wait—did he hear right? Cocking an eyebrow, Joshua commented, "Beat's studying? Won't that break his brain?"
Eri laughed and replied, "He could surprise us all."
"That's highly doubtful." His eyes then flickered to the girl, who had her drawing pad open and facing away from him. "Speaking of studying, don't you have some studying to do?"
"I already memorized your questions," she said as she sketched a line. Glancing up at him, she continued, "Though if you want me to practice, I could question you."
"Then I'll be sure to make up some answers for you."
"That could be fun," Eri mused, "but I'm not sure we have enough time. The first one should be here soon, right?"
"Assuming they're not late. Though it would be rather amusing to grill them on why they took their sweet time."
The girl grinned, but she leaned into her picture as it caught her focus. "Mm, it would," she mumbled as she held her pencil in front of her drawing—parallel to it. With a nod, she continued her work, and Joshua took a minute to observe her.
She'd made herself quite comfortable on his couch, even going so far as to take her shoes off. She used her knees to prop it up as she leaned against the arm of the couch, her feet closest to the Composer. She kept her legs pressed into her skirt, keeping it up despite her position.
"Not that it makes any difference to me, but just what is it that's keeping you from studying?" Joshua asked, nodding to the sketchpad.
"I could tell you, but that'd ruin the surprise."
He frowned. Did she really just avoid his question?
"Besides, why bother asking if it doesn't matter to you?" she asked as she threw him a smirk.
Oh yeah. She was avoiding the question—and more than that, she'd stolen his methods.
Joshua folded his arms, considering. He didn't even know why she insisted on hanging around so much. She was a friend of Shiki's, who was a friend of Neku's. They couldn't possibly be more distant in their friendship, yet lately, she'd started coming to hang out with him after school. Just what was her aim? What did she want from him?
Just before Joshua could say more, he sensed it: the first Reaper. "We'll have to cut this short," he told her as he sat up. "I'm going to transfer you to the UG, but you won't be able to see me unless I decide you can. Keep your phone on you in case I need to contact you."
"Right." Eri pulled a notebook up and placed it behind her drawing pad as she, too, sat straight. "I'll make it look like I'm taking notes so it seems totally official."
"Are you going to be drawing while doing this?"
"No way! If I drew where I can't see you, you might take a peek," she pointed out. "I'll finish it up between the interviews."
Touché. She definitely had more sense than her best friend. Now that he knew she was trying to keep it a secret, part of him wished he had cheated. After all, he could see anything in Shibuya whenever he wanted, including peeking at her drawing without moving. But a glance over showed him that she had it covered up now, and he just had to wait.
"Fine. Just don't mess up." With those words, he turned up his frequency and disappeared from her line of sight. He didn't bother moving from his spot on the couch, though, and waited as the first Harrier entered.
Noa Watanabe. According to her file, she'd drowned in a pool at age twenty-four, killed by her own husband. She'd been in the UG for almost two years now, and like the other candidates, she had an above-average record of Players erased. As for looks, she kept short, blonde hair flared out away from her face, and her bright green clothes almost looked like something one might find at a Hip Snake store.
"Hello," Noa said as she entered and sat across from Eri. "Thanks for having me, Miss..."
"Eri," the human girl offered, though she kept a serious look on her face. Joshua watched, wondering if she could really pull this off. He then leaned back, making himself comfortable with his feet on the table. Either way, it was of no consequence to him—none of them but the one chosen as Conductor would see him.
"Well, you probably know my name already. You can just call me Noa."
Eri nodded. "Well then, Noa, I have a few questions for you." She held her pencil up in a professional ruse before starting with, "First off, tell me about yourself and your hobbies."
Noa answered, "Well, I had a lot of pets when I was alive. I've always liked animals, really. Now that I'm a Reaper, I'm trying to learn to really control Noise better instead of just summoning them on Players. I think it'd be pretty fun to keep them as pets."
Well, that was a rather interesting answer, Joshua had to admit. A Reaper willing to experiment with the Noise instead of just use them—that could be useful.
"What about your life? Your file said you were married..."
"Yeah. My husband and I were high school sweethearts. But, he turned out to be one of those crazy, possessive guys." Noa's green eyes lowered, though the edges of her mouth stayed turned up. "When I wanted to get away from him, he killed me. So, I decided to live in the UG instead and get stronger—strong enough so that one day, when he dies, I can erase him myself."
Eri titled her head, adding her own question in next. "So do you still participate in the RG at all, or do you only stay in the UG?"
So, she was even willing to find out more on her own.
"I pretty much stay in the UG unless some of the other Harriers wanna hang out in the RG," the woman answered, staring at Eri again.
With a small smile, Eri continued on track with the next question. "Well, how well did you do as a Player?"
"Oh, I did great," Noa replied, her spirits picking back up. "My Partner and I had a lot of fun with it, really. We made the most of things and had fun playing with the Reapers."
Before Eri could ask the next question, Joshua sent a text to her phone. "Ask her about her Partner," it read. The girl glanced at it before nodding.
"What about your Partner? What were they like?"
"He was pretty young, but pretty cool," Noa said. "He was a teenager trying to get home to his friends and family. But, he died against the GM—right before we won. I got to know him pretty well, so I was kinda sad about it. But, life moves on. I'm sure he's peaceful now, at least, and I'm sure his loved ones remember him well."
Eri's grin faded, and Joshua observed her more now. She tried to pull her amicable demeanor back, but she was a human who had never participated in the Game. She was alive. Surely she could never truly understand its importance.
Shaking her head, the younger girl asked next, "Why do you think you're qualified for the role?"
Noa rested her elbow next to her and turned her chin into her fingers as her inquisitive gaze stayed on Eri. She seemed far too confident. "I'm great at organizing things, for one. I had an office job when I was alive—a secretary for big business people, so I had to keep up with their schedules."
"And just how much do you want the role?"
"Very. I miss that type of role, where I can support someone and organize everything for them."
"Do you understand the importance of it?"
This made Noa sit up straight again, and she resumed a more humble, yet serious stare. "Definitely. The Composer decides everything in the city. I mean, as a Harrier, I haven't been able to see everything he does, but... He designs the Games and the way Shibuya runs. And recently, Shibuya's been brighter somehow, hasn't it? Isn't that due to the Composer?"
Brighter? Joshua watched, uncertain. Yes, something had changed recently, ever since the day Neku refused to shoot him. He felt more open and more vulnerable. Almost like somehow, even he could have a friend he could trust.
"Are you willing to carry out any and all tasks the Composer gives you?" Eri questioned.
"Of course. He's our leader after all."
"...even bend the rules for the Composer, but not against the Composer?"
That changed Noa's expression. Her eyes widened a little in surprise, but she leaned forward in excitement as well. "I think I like the sound of this Composer. Yeah. The Composer made the Game I know and leads the Shibuya I love. That's where my loyalties lie."
"How are you with secrets?" Eri asked, setting her pad face down in her lap as she crossed her arms. "Can the Composer trust you? Betrayal's a very severe thing with huge consequences."
Joshua blinked. She seemed to take it so seriously—why did it matter to her anyway? Or was that just part of the act?
"I'm very good with secrets," Noa replied as she sat back, her hands behind her head. "Like you, for instance. I wasn't going to mention the rule-breaking already going on with this."
Eri's heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"
"Only the Conductor can talk to the Composer, but there is no Conductor now—thus these interviews, right? Yet, you've clearly received instructions from the Composer. It's quite peculiar, really."
Joshua smirked as Eri fidgeted. "Quite perceptive, this one," he texted her, which she noticed immediately.
"Um, what should I do now?" Eri texted back.
"You're the one in charge of this little charade. I simply get to watch you squirm as they catch onto your poor acting skills."
Eri's grin froze at that last text. Her fingers then furiously typed a new one: "Oh, you're treading on thin ice now. Watch it, or I'll get you with a tickle attack later."
A what attack? Joshua grinned despite himself and chose a reply based on Neku's third week—a week he'd reviewed after the fact: "Shibuya ain't cold enough for ice, dear."
Eri flipped her phone shut, but strangely, she kept a wide smile on her face as she did. To Noa, she said, "Sorry about that. Do you have any regrets about your life?"
"Well, marrying my husband is one," Noa answered. "And not sticking up for myself enough then. I really learned my mistake there when I participated in the Game. I let him walk all over me without realizing my own strength. But, I've really grown since then."
"Is he really the only one you left behind? No friends or kids?"
"If I had any kids, I would've gone back and gotten them away from him," the woman pointed out. "As for friends, I just check in on them every now and then to see how their lives are going. Honestly, though, we'd already grown somewhat apart by then since they have kids and I don't."
"What about new relationships?" Eri averted her eyes before backtracking. "I mean, well—a new one for you or some of the other Reapers being together or..."
"...or something about that goofy grin you had earlier?" Noa finished, making the human jump.
"E-eh? O-of course not! That was just—um—well—"
Joshua tilted his head as he looked between the two. What were they even talking about that got Eri so riled up? And more importantly, why couldn't he catch this girl off guard like that?
"I just got unlucky with my guy, really," the Reaper explained. "I thought he was something he wasn't. That sort of thing happens way too often. But, for Players, I can use that against them now that I know. And for Reapers, well..." She chuckled. "I think some like Kariya and Uzuki need to kiss already."
Eri's eyes stayed blank and confused. She had no idea who these "Uzuki" and "Kariya" characters were.
"You haven't heard of them?" Noa mused, surprised. "Really? Kariya's been a Reaper for a long time, though, and Uzuki's pretty well-known for wanting a promotion."
"Ah—right! Yeah—them!"
She still had no idea, and her attempt at covering it up could only be described as "pathetic."
"Eri, tell her to go wait outside," Joshua texted, and Eri complied right away. The Reaper bowed before exiting, and the Composer let his frequency lower back down as soon as the door closed. "I wouldn't rate your performance too high, unfortunately," he commented as he settled back into the human girl's view.
"S-she doesn't know I'm human," Eri attempted.
"She knows you're something, and that something is a very mediocre actor."
Eri's nervous grin twisted into something almost sadistic, and she moved in on Joshua before he knew it. Her fingertips ran over his sides with such a gentle touch that—wait, was he laughing? He couldn't stop, either, as her hands seemed to conjure some sort of strange sorcery over him. All he could do was squirm and struggle to push her away, but she moved her fingers around to different parts of his body to one-up him every time.
"Heheh, seems like Shibuya's Composer's pretty ticklish," the girl joked before finally moving away and releasing him from her spell.
Now free, Joshua brought his legs up to protect his body—and to attempt to hide the smile that refused to leave his face. Just what was she? "Invading said Composer's personal space is a punishable offense," he finally managed, shifting his smile into a smirk as he turned his head sideways towards her. "Hmm, what to do to punish you... You are in the UG right now." He ended that thought with a creepy chuckle before suggesting, "I could give you a personal tour of what your best friend went through when her body changed here."
"If you change my body, I'm putting Lapin Angelique on our list of shops to visit," Eri said, coming off far too cheerful despite his threat. She completely lacked the adorable fluster he found so easy to pull out of Neku. Somehow, though, the way she egged on his responses and kept up with him was—actually, no, it was far more "strange" than anything.
"Now you're making it even more tempting," Joshua remarked, putting a hand under his chin in thought. "If that's the only way we'll stop by Lapin Angelique, then I'll simply have to change your body structure. Hee hee..."
Eri laughed before taking her hat off and placing it on his head instead. "Changing my threat—if you do something to my body, then we won't be going to Lapin Angelique." Her fingers traced the rim of the hat, and he stared, confused. "You're really something else, you know." She then leaned back, pulling her pad up to draw again.
Joshua watched a moment, letting silence ease around them for a moment. Only the sketch of her pencil sounded, and her shifting feet kept him unable to ignore her.
Well, if there was one thing about this girl known as Eri Yumi, it was that she at least kept things interesting.
Chapter 1: Noa Watanabe
Author's Note:
Hope you enjoyed chapter 1! This one will have a few more chapters, so please look forward to it!
