Okay, so you've all met this week's Game Master and Kitaniji's replacement. Time to introduce the Players.

Same ownerships as the first chapter. And thanks to some of my friends for coming up with names for the new Players.

Chapter 2

The Miyashita Highway was once again stuck in gridlock, the setting sun glistening over the many windshields as the tired businessmen and women slowly made their way home in the Tokyo traffic.

But this wasn't the traditional gridlock.

If one listened closely, past the blaring of horns as those further back attempt to move the flow with sound alone, the sounds of crying could be heard lying just under the growing shriek of sirens as they themselves delved further into what might as well be a parking lot.

And just beyond the scent of diesel, there was the detectable odor of burning rubber with just a hint of blood...

-/-

Just hours prior to the traffic and the rush home, the highway was almost empty, save for a handful of larger vehicles trying to beat the oncoming gridlock and complete their deliveries. One of these was a large charter bus. It's contents: the complete third year class of Shibuya High School.

The class was alive as they closed in on the hometown, no limits to their ever growing energy, which seemed to proportionately increase as the vehicle encroached the looming center of commerce. Just hours before, they were groggily packing up their stuff as they began their descent from the mountains and their yearly class camping trip. Sure they enjoyed being able to see the stars, the barbecues, and simply relaxing, but they could not wait to return to their urban origins.

But while the entire class relished the final moments together before they returned to their classrooms and the increasing worry about entrance exams, one Aokuu Tansen sat in the rear, watching the clouds creep across the blue sky that his family was named after. He knew far too well what he was to return upon setting foot in Shibuya, so much that his friends had given up on overturning his melancholic attitude.

His eye began to wander, the sky ceased to amuse him. Turning his eyes to the road, he perused for some sort of entertainment along the roads, trying to look into the tinted windows of the other cars that rushed past. Oh how they moved with such purpose.

Tansen's eyes jumped from one car to another, not really taking note of any details. Just searching for something interesting.

Like that incoming truck. How could it move without a driver?

Wait, incoming?

-/-

It was truly a sight to see. In any normal circumstances, any vehicle coming the wrong way into oncoming traffic would make some maneuver to get out of the way. Or have a driver, for that matter.

But it was a given that this was not in any way natural. Tansen had acknowledged this. And so had his killer.

Grasped tightly in his hand was a scrap of paper. But despite his cold grip, the lone piece evidence found its way out, fluttering in the wind as it lifted up and away from the accident. As it turned in the breeze, the words emblazoned upon it were visible as it started to descend beneath the road, out of the eyes of onlooking civilians.

"Welcome to the Reaper's Game."

Before he could give himself away, someone ran away with the wind, howling in the empty crevices of the Miyashita Underpass, the tiny scrap of paper following him into the darkness.