The concept wasn't completely new to Mamori. The tenth week. This wasn't funny anymore. Tenth week… One more week before she might be able to see her family again… If she doesn't get erased before that is. Whoever was in charge for this game sure had some fun making her go through another week. Why her out of all players anyway? Well, but it doesn't matter.
"Arrive at the Statue at Hachiko, 60 minutes. Failure means erasure" is what the mission said.
A simple one for the start. And since she was within the Scramble's Crossing it wasn't too long. 5 minutes. Or less. Yet why giving the Players an hour to- Why was she still asking herself this? Reapers can be odd. Direct encounters proved it to her. Especially considering previous Gamemasters.
The rules of the Reaper's Game were very simple-The Players have seven days to survive. During this time they are given missions once per day one of them has to fulfill within a time limit. If they don't the players face erasure whether they want it or not. No Player was an exception. During this time Reapers might even chase after players so erasure could happen anytime.
Each Player plays for a second chance in life. All of the ones here died in some way. In Mamori's case it was murder. A man walked up to her when she was about to return home late at night from her job and didn't hesitate to kill her right on the spot. And before she knew she found herself in the Reaper's Game.
Throughout the weeks to expand more on her knowledge she encountered a man at a café when heading to a mission. For a surprise this man was able to see her even outside his café.
He introduced himself as the Producer of the Reaper's Game back then-Sanae Hanekoma. For her surprise he was ready to answer each of her questions about the Reaper's Game. Reapers, missions, the importance of a partner… Most she seemed to already know by the Reapers themselves yet one piece of information was new-The Composer, the one leading this game and grading each player.
He decides who of the remaining ones get back to life and who will not, giving them three options-Become a Reaper, replay the game or get erased from existence. On top his powers surpass the Player's abilities in the RG. He is of course limited yet it is said even on the RG he doesn't break a sweat erasing Noises. Yet of course the Composer doesn't reveal himself so not many know who it is, Mr Hanekoma couldn't tell her either. Or maybe he didn't want to. But it didn't matter, it wasn't important for her who it was to understand the Reaper's Game. All she knew was that the Composer existed… Unless he joked but that was unlikely the case.
The only reason Mamori was held back is because of this Composer. For some reason he kept her around. All the time. Was she really that bad at this game? In his eyes at least? If so she needs to try even harder this week. Even if it exhausts her. In the end, it will be worth it!

With this in mind Mamori headed towards the Statue of Hachiko. So far an easy mission. No interference from a Reaper, no Noises. This mission seems to be a piece of cake so far. Maybe in the meantime she could even find a partner among the fellow players. She had enough time to spare. More than enough. In fact-
"On the search for something Miss?" a male voice suddenly asked. She turned to where the voice came from, only spotting a male staring right at her. His gaze was focused on her and no one else. He saw her. He spotted her. Was he a player? … It had to be the case. Yet… He was really sticking out. She couldn't say why or how. It was hard to put a finger on it. Yet there was no other way, he had to be a player. Otherwise he wouldn't look straight at her… With a small grin on his face.
"Or should I ask someone?" he continued yet not walking up to her. The female only stared back, not knowing how to reply. She didn't know how to react such a grin and sudden approach. It was out of the blue. But-
"A partner is it?" he kept continuing after a short break of talking. "Must be my lucky day."
"Lucky day?" Mamori asked, looking slightly confused at the young male now. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, no reason."
No reason? What was up with this kid? "Look, if you want nothing from me then don't talk to me."
"No need to be like this. Besides, I never said that I wanted nothing from you. Otherwise I wouldn't have talked to you."
"Then name it. I'm in a hurry."
"And people say I have a rude mouth."
The conversation had just started but she already had enough. The face he made… A face as if he was teasing her right now. On top he seemed to be amused about her reaction despite her words.
"Look kiddo, I'm normally patient but if you want something then-" but the brown haired couldn't finish. She spotted something behind him, something unpleasant… A Noise in the shape of a frog!
Before even saying a thing she ran up to him and moved him out of the way, right next to her. The Noise jumped right on the spot where the young male was before being dragged aside.
"Woha, that was quick" he commented, sounding at least slightly impressed. "You noticed before I did." "Of course I did. It was right behind you" she replied. "Besides, you don't seem to be someone who uses simple formalities do you?"
"What? You expected something from me? Who of us is the greedy one here?"
She sighed, a slight annoyance in her voice. "You're welcome."
The Noise turned to both of them again, staring right at them. Yet as soon as it seemed to realize something about Mamori it turned its gaze right to the male next to her. It seemed very focused and got into its jumping position again, ready to attack apparently. Yet it seemed to wait for something. Something very specific. This was odd. Both were players so why only focus on one of them?
Yet before Mamori could ask herself further she heard screams of players. Male players in fact. All of the screams belonged to males. No exceptions. Not even the sign of a female screaming in pain. What is the meaning of this!?
She turned to the male. He was also focused on the Noise yet the screams didn't seem to faze him in the slightest. He was thinking, or so it at least seemed. Then he quickly looked at her, then back at the Noise before nodding. "I think I get your pattern" he then said to himself. "So it wasn't a mistake wanting to team up with a female." Pair up with a female? What is he-
Then he turned to her, grabbing her shoulder right away. He stared right at her, into her eyes, grinning slightly. "You will be a great help" he only said before something brightened up. Wait… What is the- A contract!? How does he do that!? And without her agreement! This guy is odd! Very odd!
After the brightness wore off he let go of her shoulder and stepping a bit backwards to face her properly. Not too close yet not too far either.
"Name's Yoshiya Kiryu. But if it's easier to remember Joshua is also fine" he then introduced himself. "And what's your name partner?"
"Hold it! I did not agree on this!" she yelled at him. "How did you even-"
"Does it matter? Just say your name. I want to know what possibility I have to address you with. Besides, you cannot survive or even fight without a partner, right? Be glad you found one."
She looked at him, a bit upset. He didn't even ask! He just made a contract! Out of the blue! This kid! Yet he had made a fair point. Without partner she had no chance of survival. So she has to bear with him during the weak, whether she likes it or not. She is stuck with him for now.
"Mamori Wakai. Mamori is fine" she then replied quickly. "Guess I have to stick around, don't I?"
"You finally understand. I'm impressed" Joshua brought out. "But I guess further introductions have to wait. There is something you need to expose off."
"I have to expose off!? What about you!?"
"And step right into my erasure? Have you not realized yet? These Noises are focused on any of the male players. I could help but if I stepped in they would all gather around me and probably erase me right on the spot."
"Can't you defend yourself or something?"
"I can. But I'm afraid these Noises might be out of my abilities. Besides, if they gathered around me you would have to charge right at me. And there is a chance that you would hit me. And who knows how heavy your attacks are. We don't want that to happen now, do we?"
Maybe not Joshua but Mamori would gladly hit this guy on the head to bring him back to his senses. But there was no point in arguing with him. She will let him sit out this one, otherwise this goes on forever and sixty minutes pass. Although, she will admit… He is speaking like he knew her. To top it off he isn't really surprised about what is going on here nor shocked. As if he saw all of this before. Just who or what is this guy, taking this so calmly? … She should ask these questions later. First the mission.
Mamori checked her hand. Great, she already wasted 20 minutes just by talking to this guy. And she wanted to finish this quickly. Oh well, it cannot be changed can it?
"Alright alright" she sighed while putting out something, a pin which she threw quickly in the air to make it transform into a sword. This sword was her psych. She got it when finding the pin she just threw in her pocket. Only by coincidence she activated it during her first week. Ever since then she uses this to defend herself. Luckily she had at least the basic knowledge on how to wield a sword due to kendo training she received back in the day. Granted, this sword wasn't necessarily suited for a Kendo fighting-style yet she had to work with what she got if she wants to survive this week. Her fighting style wasn't the best or most elegant but enough to keep her on her knees.
"Just don't get into any trouble" she continued while pointing her sword in front of the Noise right in front of her and her partner. "I didn't even think of that" he only replies, stepping a bit aside.
The frog Noise was about to jump on Joshua again yet this time Mamori knew better. She ran up to it from the side and sliced it right away, making it disappear right in front of them. Yet this of course wasn't the end. It'd be funny if it was.
The other Noises in frog shaped which heard that turned right to both of them. They first looked at Joshua yet their gaze went to Mamori instantly when spotting her with her sword in hand and jumped right at her. Yet they made a mistake.
As soon as they were within range she dodged their jumps and sliced them as fast as she could, one by one. Each disappeared, one by one.

The process continued for solid ten minutes until each Noise around them was gone. She sighed in relieved and transformed her sword back into the pin she received and put it back into her pocket. "That's that" she said and turned back to Joshua, staring at him suspiciously. This one only clapped though while grinning slightly.
"Good job. Very good job" he complimented her. "You are better than I thought." "Compared to what I encountered before these were not much trouble" she only replied.
"A veteran player? How long are you playing?"
"This is my tenth week."
"The tenth? Then I have caught someone with quiet the experience here. I hope you will hold up to my expectations."
"Yeah well… You hear, this won't work if I do all the work. We need to work together. If we encounter Noises again you will help me, got it!?"
Joshua stared at her, slightly in disbelief yet sighed. "Someone is being quiet bossy."
"Bossy!? I ask for the bare minimum here! Besides, if you want to survive you have to do your part!"
"Yes, yes. As you say Boss."
"It's Mamori!"
"Yes Boss."
"Would you stop that!?"
"Yes Boss."
"I said stop!"
Urgh, this will become a long week. A very long week.