Reaper fashion, Uzuki decided, really sucked, more than she thought it would. She had never been of the faux-punk variety, and the company around her as she waited seemed to prefer it. In fact, they probably thought she was like them-okay, while D&B had some awesome lines, she was more of a mix and match kind of girl. She'd have to figure out something later.

Konishi stood in front of the assembled group, next to an impeccably-dressed man, who gave Uzuki an uneasy feeling. A quick whisper from Kariya let her know that he was the infamous Conductor.

"We have," Kitaniji started in an eerily smooth voice, after skipping perfunctory greetings, "126 Players in this round. A relatively small Game, yet due to the Composer's request-" he nodded towards Uzuki, who mentally swore that if he had eyes he'd be boring them directly into her-"-we have a Game. I don't expect this one to run the full seven days, but stranger things have happened. Konishi will be your Game Master this round."

Uzuki tried to pay attention as Konishi went over which Support Reapers were stationed where and what routes were open, but Kariya's yawn and the shifts of irritation among the rest of the Harriers signaled to her that it was information that wasn't geared to her group.

There was more important things to focus on, if Kariya was telling the truth earlier. She'd have to make an Erasure today, or lose her right to existence.

That wasn't exactly a prospect she relished. It wouldn't help her case; it wouldn't bring Ren back to life. Despite being surrounded by what seemed like hundreds of people, she was alone.

"Harriers," Konishi started, snapping both Uzuki and Kariya back to listening. "No survivors this round. No new Reapers, if we can help it. Let's make this a short game, shall we? Dismissed."

The small groups slowly filed out, each scattering to their destination. Kariya simply shrugged and walked out, Uzuki managing to grasp that she was simply to follow wherever he went.

"Ready for your first day, kid?" Kariya finally asked as they drew closer to the scramble, the place where most of the Reapers seemed to be headed.

"I've got to be," Uzuki muttered. "Got to be ready to kill people."

Kariya chuckled. "They're dead, kid. The Noise do the Erasing." He studied the ground, then shook his head and picked an alley to use. "Didn't I tell you that?"

"Isn't Erasing just like killing someone?" Uzuki retorted.

"Now's not the time to have a crisis of conscience, bunny," Kariya warned. "The Players are out to Erase you. Think of them as assassins. The Noise are your highly trained guard dogs."

"Who can also kill me," Uzuki said.

"Nah. They don't bother us. Reapers do have a special connection with the Noise, after all." Kariya stopped his talking to unwrap a wad of bean paste candy and pop it into his mouth, the stick visible from his lips.

"What-" Uzuki started as Kariya held up his hand.

"They're coming."

All around the scramble, tiny flashes of light appeared and disappeared, leaving people in their wake. They stood out among the living, their lost and confused faces growing even more so as a cacophony of phones buzzed with their first message.

"They get a head start," Kariya informed quietly. "As soon as your phone rings, that's the go signal."

"A head start?" Uzuki asked. "Why?"

"Have to make things a little fair, after all. Just a little."

Uzuki kept staring, watching as pairs began to form, slowly but surely. The number of bonds she saw increased, while those not yet paired off searched frantically for someone to hold onto.

Her phone buzzed just as she spotted her target. A girl, who looked to be her age or older. A college student, perhaps. She recognized the frantic look on her face, the pure shock of being surrounded-and yet being ignored. She tried to yell, to alert passerby who just couldn't see her-and her cries, of course, went ignored.

No one else in sight.

"Do it," Kariya hissed.

Uzuki froze-shouldn't she give the girl a fighting chance? Kariya gave her one, after all.

"Kiddo," Kariya warned, "do it now or you'll be Erased. You have a clear shot."

"But she's-" Uzuki stammered, even as she closed her fist, extending it towards the girl.

"She's unlucky. Do it now or lose your own right to exist."

Ten.

Uzuki's hand clenched even tighter.

Nine.

She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the horror on the girl's face.

Eight.

With a deep breath, she unclenched her fist, sending a burst of Noise-the same lizard Noise she had encountered-towards her.

Seven.

The Noise bounded towards their target, enveloping her in a rush of claws and hisses.

Six.

The girl backed into Hachiko as she tried to hit and kick the Noise, her efforts useless.

Five.

"Open your eyes."

Four.

Uzuki obeyed Kariya's command, relieved-and worried-that she could still see her target.

Three.

"MIO!" A yell from a boy about the same age, rushing to her aid.

Two.

He jumped into the fray.

One.

A little too late.

Zero.

Uzuki recalled the Noise, the pair having vanished. She dropped her hand in shock, only staring at the cleared street in amazement-and pure horror. She had killed someone-no, worse than that. She had obliterated someone.

"Starting off our Reaper career with a bang, are we?" Kariya asked, who had spent Uzuki's time fumbling and second-guessing still casually sucking on his candy.

"I—I-" Uzuki couldn't find the words.

"-did the right thing." Kariya finished her sentence for her. "Look. If those two had survived, they'd be in for a worse fate-maybe I don't like to work, but plenty of other Reapers do. And they're not one for playing by the rules."

Uzuki didn't hear him. She was far too busy dry heaving in an alleyway, trying to keep the contents of her stomach down.

Two weeks ago, murder didn't even cross her mind.

Kariya sighed and moved behind her, pulling the hair back from her face so she could retch in peace.

The moment passed, Uzuki finally making her way to her feet.

"You survived your first day," Kariya congratulated. "It's smooth sailing from here, you know."

"It gets easier?" she asked.

"Much. Now c'mon, the players are unconscious. Let's go get some ramen; I'll even buy you a bowl."

The Dead Gods Pad was empty, save for the fish swimming silently under the floor. During the day, it was quite peaceful.

That peace, however, was shattered by the arrival of both Konishi and Kitaniji. Both made a drink, both selected plush chairs and sat silently, waiting for the reports to pour in. Erasures, dozens of them. Not as many as she had hoped for; she'd have to step up the difficulty.

"The girl," Kitaniji said.

Konishi looked up from her tablet. "The girl?"

"The new Reaper. One would have to be blind to miss her."

"Oh." Konishi returned her attention to the tablet. "She Erased two players in one shot."

"An auspicious beginning," Kitaniji murmured, the ice clinking in his whiskey as he absently stirred it. Of course, many Reapers had come and gone through their pad-many with promising beginnings.

None with happy endings.