AN/disclaimer: the following features an experimental writing style attempting to keep the manga-esque dialogue of the original game but also use descriptive paragraphs of traditional writing. It's also not affiliated in any way with Square-Enix, and this is a fan interpretation of a potential continuation of the original story.

And obviously spoilers from the original material.

A familiar scene wondered through my mind.

Shiki: Neku... Don't kill me...

Neku: ...

Neku: I have too...

I lifted Shiki using Psychokinesis. Attempting to tighten my grip... But I couldn't. I couldn't kill someone...

I was forced to kill her. A Reaper had said she could get me out of the game if I did so, if I failed, i'd be erased. It was a trap I should have seen a mile away...

There was more incentive though. The Reaper told me Shiki was a spy for the them. Knowing nothing of this chick who ran up to me and requested to stick together, I attempted to kill her.

Just as Shiki let out a loud gasp. A voice intervened. It was Mr. Hamekoma. Or i referred to him: Mr H.

He told off the Reaper, calling out her implicit rule breaking. I released Shiki, and that was that.

Hamekoma's words still wonder my head to this day as one of the most important lessons I had learned. "Trust your partner."

...

Neku: Day 1

I arose in an unfamiliar place. My head throbbing in pain.

Neku: Wha- what?

I tried to shake off my pain and get a good look at my surroundings. I was by a subway station. People crowded the streets, pouring in and out of the station. I could see tall buildings ominously towering in the distance.

One thing was for sure: I wasn't in Shibuya anymore. I was scratching my head

Then my phone rang.

Neku: ...

Part of me knew what it was. But to be sure I hesitantly opened my phone...

"Head to the towering square, 30 minutes, fail and face extinction."

Neku: ...how? Why? What- THE HELL!?

A sharp pain thrust through my right hand. It was so sudden I dropped my phone.

Neku: Arg! ... DAMMIT!

My fears appeared to be realized. I was in the Reapers Game. Again. I wasn't sure how or why. But one thing I thought for sure: Joshua and I were in the Ramen Don. He was involved, somehow, and the next time I saw him, he'll wish he were dead.

Neku: *ok... Calm yourself*

Neku: ...

Neku: *partner... I need a partner!*

I scanned the area.

Neku: *"towering square..."*

I took a closer look at the towers in the distance, one stuck out. Literally, as it was the tallest building in the area. To the west, it looked like two towers, one towering the other, with a central piece connecting the two. It seemed like the tallest tower in the area.

Neku: *It's the best lead I've got... Besides, I need to get a move on before the noise get a move on me.*

I ran as fast as I could towards the large tower.

I was almost there when...

*WHAM*

Neku: Arg!

I fell backwards, I hit an invisible wall. Immediately I searched the area for a reaper. He must have been hidden well. Suddenly I was panicked. The only way there and there was frickin' wall in my way!

?: Hey!

I heard a voice call out to my right.

?: You a player?!

Desperately searching for the voice, my hopped up and yelled back.

Neku: Yes! Who-where are you?!

I suddenly see a girl running towards me amongst the crowd, kinda short, she had short dark hair, and a face that was currently fearing for its life. Understandably so, seeing as Noise were chasing her.

?: Pact NOW!

Neki: A-alright!

Realizing I'd yet to properly equip myself; I searched my pockets to find... Cards? Six cards to be exact, each featuring their own symbol. One of a slash, one with dozens of small slashes, three with a projectile of sorts, and one of a bolt of lightning.

Neku: *What the hell do I do with these?!*

Before I could try to think, a blinding light shone around me and the girl.

Before we could get our bearings we were blinded again.

Suddenly I was alone, with the noise.

I grabbed the card with the slash symbol and wielded it. Bracing myself for the battle about to ensue.

The Noise were frogs, three of them, each symbolizing a different element. One was on fire, another iminated cold air, the last one was normal, just a plain frog. He charged.

Leaving little room to think I flicked the card through the air towards he frog, and I felt it. I used a psych.

I slashed the frog that charged me and it went flying backwards. The other two charged.

I pulled the card with smaller slashes and swung it through he air... Nothing.

The fire frog kicked me in the face. Which stung like hell. The other frog stopped close to me and breathed frozen air. I dashed out of the way.

Neku: Damn useless card!

In anger I threw the card at the fire frog. It stopped in front of me in midair. Still spinning from the throw.

The frogs jump again.

Finally, the card suddenly exploded, the vest way to describe it was as if a a dozen long, invisible blades were in a spring loaded trap that just went off, the frogs were met with a flurry of blows, two of which were erased.

The last frog I hit before leapt again by my side. Just as it was about to hit me, it was erased. I guess I've got whats-her-face to thank for that.

The next moment I was back near the skyscraper. With the girl on her knees gasping for air.

I reached for hand.

Neku: You okay?

The girl looked up. She had deep blue eyes, at the time, I wasn't sure why that detail stuck out. Something about them were off-putting.

?: Just... Tired.

Neku: Well, get used to it. Your In the Reapers Game. But you already knew that, right?

She starred at me for a second, with an ominous blank expression. Then she realized something.

She knew about pacts, right? So she must have known about the game prior.

?: AH! The mission!

It hit me too.

Neku: Right! To the tower!

Neku: But wait! ... *The wall.*

The girl didn't listen. She already ran past were the wall was. Slightly confused. I rubbed my head, and noticed my hand. "9:37."

Neku: *Crap!*

I ran off after the girl. While running past were the wall was, I noticed a hooded figure. He starred at me, with a look of mild disinterest. Nodded and began walking away.

Figures...

Once we reached the tower I checked the timer. Gone...

I collapsed onto my knees, gasping for air.

The girl lay'd next to me.

?: S-so, crazy day huh?

Neku: Enough of that, who are you? And how do you know so much about the Reapers Game? Have you been here before?

She starred blankly at the pavement for a moment.

?: My name is R-Rikka.

Neku: Neku...

We were silent for a second. Then I noticed a detail that I'm surprised I didn't see before. Rikka had a small pair of silver headphones around her neck.

Neku: Erm- nice headphones...

Rikka: Oh these? I only wear them while exercising.

Rikka: Why do you-?

She paused, presumably noticing my headphones, those large old things. Also the fact I was wearing mine.

Rikka: Ah-

I pulled my headphones down.

Neku: Yeah, I wear mine fairly often...

Rikka: I-I see...

I could tell she was feeling uncomfortable around me. Honestly, I couldn't blame her.

Neku: ...

Neku: Listen, Rikka, there's an important saying when it comes to the Reapers Game.

Rikka: "Trust your partner..."

Neku: ...

Rikka: ...

That caught me off guard. But before I could say anything we had company. The winged variety.

Neku: Reapers...

Rikka: What?! Go away!

This Reaper was thin. He was in a long multi-colored overcoat. His long silver hair covered most of his face. Revealing a horrid smear of a grin.

?: Herh... Well then! This an interesting development!

Neku: ...

Rikka: ..?

?: Listen to me kids and listen to me well. You stand NO chance against Ol' Copperhead.

Rikka: C-c-copperhead?

?: Yep, she's a badass! And she'd kick your asses in an instant!

Neku: I see, so this Copperhead- was it? The GM?

?: Yep, she doesn't take kindly to veterans. So kid. Watch your back.

The animated Reaper, summoned some noise, extended his wings and flew into the distance.

The two of us braced. I pulled out a card. Meanwhile Rikka pulled out a small scarf out from under her faded purple tanktop. On it were notably familiar pins.

With a blinding flash, we were separated again. This time there were two lizard-esque creatures. Both white with slimy looking hands that faded into gray starting at the arms.

I at my card, the bullet card. Having little ideas, I aimed and focused. Nothing.

The lizards quickly slivered towards me. I between them as they lept for an attack.

Neku: How the hell do I use this thing?!

This was getting old. I knew how to use Psychs. But for some reason I wasn't understanding it.

In frustration I tried throwing the card towards the lizards who were already charging again.

Upon throwing the card, it accelerated and homed in, flying towards the lizard in from of me. The card smacked it square in the face, knocking it backwards. The card returned to me.

I starred at the card for a moment. I forgot the other. lizard. Whose tail grabbed my leg and threw to his side. I landed on the concrete, my breath escaping me for a second. Pulling my three bullet cards, I braced.

I threw the three cards in quick succession. They homed in. Erasing one of the noise.

With its friend left, I grabbed my last card out. A card of a lightning bolt. I tried to focus. But nothing.

The lizard lunged and wrapped his arms around me. I dropped the card. The lizard was beginning to tighten his grip. Pain bursted through my spine and chest. I reached for my pocket and pulled a card. The spring loaded death machine? Alright, I could work with that. I flicked it into the air and it floated with the momentum of the flick spinning it rapidly. Suddenly the card exploded around me. Slicing the lizard noise to pieces. It was erased.

I took a deep sigh of relief. It was over.

With another flash. I appeared back by the tower. Rikka at my side.

Rikka: WOAH! TH-THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT!

Neku: Hey! Calm down! It was just noise. The Reapers can summon them too...

Rikka: I see...

Neku: ...

Neku: *Just ask about the pins...*

Neku: Soo, you can use psychs?

Rikka: Pardon? Oh! My pins... Yeah, when I woke up, these were in my pocket.

Neku: I see...

Neku: *But, why am I using these cards?*

Rikka: You, seem confused.

Neku: hmph.. Say, Rikka?

Rikka: Um, y-yeah?

Neku: You, probably have little reason to trust me, but as I said before-

It hit me like a brick wall that she finished ny statement last time, which was extremely concerning.

Neku: Ok. WHAT THE HELL?

Rikka: W-What?

Neku: This IS your first time here right?

Rikka: Yes, why?

Neku: Then how exactly do you know so much about the Game, let alone that phrase?

She lowered her head. As if it were a sore subject. But I wouldn't have that.

Neku: Rikka! If your hiding something you need to tell me. This is extremely important!

Rikka: ...

Neku: Fine, if you can't tell me that. I have one other question.

Rikka: ... Shoot...

Neku: Have you seen a kid roughly my age, Pearly hair, looks like a damn priss.

Rikka: Uh... N-no, not that I remember. Sorry...

Neku: It's, fine...

Neku: *Maybe Joshua isn't here, maybe... Maybe he's behind all of this... He IS the composer after all. He damn well could be behind this.*

Neku: *But of all the things that could happen, and now of all times... I'm brought back to the Reapers Game...*

Neku: I... still don't understand...

Rikka: What?

Neku: Why- Why am I here?

Day 1: Hells Game