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.

I dreamt of a nostalgic memory. One that made me feel almost warm inside.

Shiki and I had beaten Higashizawa, the first GM I faced as a player.

We stood in a bright pure white... Area... To this day I don't understand where. It relayed a feeling of melancholy I couldn't shrug the whole time I was there.

Shiki and I reveled in our victory, all for it to be cut short by the conductor of Shibuya, Megumi Kitaniji. He told us that Shiki had won the reaper's game. As only one of a pact could return to life. The other would fend for their life for however many more weeks they could last. We decided that once I returned, we would meet. As maybe, more than just a stalker and her prey.

Neku: We'll meet at hachiko.

Shiki: I'll be waiting, every day until you finally win.

Neku: And this time, I want to see the real you.

Shiki: That's a promise!

Suddenly Shiki began to ascend, her hand slowly slipping from me as she rose. I think I even recalled a tear or two from Shiki. To her, that could have been the last she would ever see of me.

Then she was gone...

There was more to the story, but just that bare memory is a solemn reminder that I have something worth fighting for.

...

...

Neku: Day 7

I didn't care anymore. I was ready to end it. I wanted to take Rhyme, rid myself of Joshua for good, and maybe, just maybe, see Shiki's face again, and apologize for acting like a jerk. At least part of me liked to think I wouldn't be the only one.

I lay on the sidewalk near the subway. Rikka beside me on her hands and knees, pale faced.

She slammed her fist on the asphalt.

Rikka: D-dammit!

I just starred at the morning sky. Shinjuku was noticeably more relaxing than Shibuya. Tourists were abundant, but not nearly as noisy.

I felt a familiar pain return my face and side.

I flinched, mostly out of surprise. I was getting used to thisnpain, sadly enough.

Neku: Geh-

I sat up, and propped a knee.

Neku: So. Crap day huh?

Rikka: Y-ya th-th-think?!

I couldn't help but chuckle. Rikka's stutter was simultaneously adorable and hilarious.

I gripped my face, trying to hold it together. I felt scars from yesterday. My laughter only increased.

Neku: PFF-!

Rikka: N-neku?! It's n-not funny!

I bursted out laughing. Rikka grinned, but furrowed her brow, clearly concerned.

Rikka: H-hey! It- it's going to be f-f-

Neku: P-please, heh, just- just shut up!

We both suddenly burst out laughing, like two crazy people. I was thankful no one could see us...

After a good minute of straight laughing. Both Rikka and I were laying on the sidewalk. Catching our breath.

Neku: Phew!

Rikka: I never knew I could laugh s-so hard!

Neku: Heheh... Well, sometimes you gotta laugh at how stupid life is.

Rikka: Too t-t-true...

Our phones rang and buzzed. "Reach the station, and face extinction."

Rikka and I starred at each other. Then turned to the station entrance.

Neku: So down there?

Rikka: Yep.

Neku: *Why not just kill me now?*

We both wondered into the subway. It was dimly lit, and empty. Rikka and I looked around.

Rikka: Every s-stop is-

Neku: Abandoned...

I started to wonder on the platform, towards the tracks.

Rikka: N-Neku!

I turned around towards Rikka. Before her stood another hooded reaper. Though this reaper wore a traditional hoodie, rather than a duster.

Rikka: Wh-wh-wha-?

I approached slowly, pulling a card from my pocked, trying to conceal my hand from the reaper.

Neku: What do you want?

The reaper turned his gaze to me.

?: Well. It's the last day isn't it? Reapers can fight players directly today. As can the GM.

Neku: So your here to fight?

The reaper pondered. He shook his head.

?: Nah.

He turned back to Rikka.

?: I didn't know the Tamagawas were still kicking.

Rikka: W-we aren't- Not anymore...

Rikka glared at the figure. He didn't actually seem hostile.

?: Heh. Name's Zethube. But I'm known as the "Serpent."

Zethube turned away from Rikka, patting her on the head.

Zethube: Your sister had spunk. You know?

Rikka stood silent.

Zethube: You would have made a good reaper you know.

Zethube disappeared through the darkened station.

I pondered his words.

Neku: *"Reaper?"*

Rikka: ...

Neku: Rikka. Was you sister-?

Rikka: My mother was a reaper.

Silence emptied into the station. I stood across from the girl I had my trust put into this whole week. Now, it was suddenly put into question.

Rikka starred ahead of her in a blank trance.

Rikka: But she b-became even more than that. Sh-she became the conductor after years of helping with the game.

Rikka: My s-sister, she w-was just a reaper.

Neku: And you?

She shook her head.

Rikka: No. I'm nothing.

More silence.

Rikka: I-I should apologize.

Neku: ... Why?

Neku: I mean, aside from the "not being honest" part.

The teenage girl faced me eyes flaring with anger.

Rikka: I don't r-regret withholding my heritage, Neku. That's my problem, and m-mine alone.

Rikka: I regret not being honest about my sisters death. It's not right. Not f-for her...

Neku: What did I miss?

Rikka: You s-see-

She took a deep breathe, and swallowed.

Rikka: My mother, s-she didn't originally want to be a reaper. B-but, they had apparently used my s-sister and I as leverage, incentive. My mother didn't want to put us in danger. So sh- she accepted.

Rikka: Time passed. My mother was p-promoted. She t-tried to keep it a secret. But me b-being able to see the game. I s-saw her one day, and she saw me.

Neku: Did you have a falling out?

Rikka: No. I was m-mad. But she- she offered me a job.

Neku: To be a reaper?

Rikka: Yes. I refused, of course. But I wasn't exactly the s-same after that...

I recall her family begin regulars at that restaurant.

Neku: So... Being a reaper pays well?

Rikka shook her head.

Rikka: Not b-being a reaper. But c-conductor? Yeah. It has its p-perks.

Rikka: But b-being apart of the reapers g-game, or under the c-composers th-thumb, you can get into t-trouble. If you betray them-

Neku: You're erased.

Rikka: B-but what if you escape them?

Neku: Er- is that possible?

Rikka: Yes. My mother b-betrayed the reapers, and evaded erasure. Then, a bounty was placed on her. Because of this-

Rikka caught her breath.

Rikka: She k-killed herself in front of No. 1.

Neku: ...

Rikka: As for my s-s-sister...

She shuddered.

Rikka: When she called me that day. She actually w-waited for me. I ran up to the roof, and we t-talked.

Neku: And?

Rikka: A-a-apparently, she was a reaper. She also had a b-bounty on her head. S-something about extremely sensitive information. I c-couldn't say a thing to her. I was s-sp-speechless.

Rikka: After th-that, sh-she j-j-jumped...

Tear began to form in Rikka's eyes.

Neku: Rikka... How did you die?

Rikka: I-I... I stood there. My sister just killed herself. When you're a r-reaper, you don't get a s-second chance like we do. And my f-father had left to S-Shibuya w-when I was about two. I was alone. L-left with no other reason to live.

Neku: Oh god- Rikka- did you-?

Rikka: I f-followed my s-s-sister...

Rikka gasped for air once more.

Rikka: I jumped...

Rikka had lied to me. Withheld the fact that her family was a part of the reapers game. Suddenly everything became clear. I knew what I had to do.

I gripped Rikka by the shoulders. A single tear steamed down my face, I pulled her in for a hug.

The two of us embraced for at least a few silent minutes. I grew more emotional. While Rikka continues to sob.

After which we sat on the nearby benches in an attempt to calm ourselves.

Neku: Rikka.

Rikka: Yes?

Neku: Do you hate the reapers?

Rikka: W-what kind of stupid question is that?

Neku: Yes or no?

Rikka's face grew grim. She barred her teeth.

Rikka: I'll k-kill every last one of those bastards if I can.

Neku: Then think. Your in a special position. You can help players in a way no other person can. Talk to them. Understand them. Help them through the reapers game.

Neku: Rikka, you have a reason to live.

Rikka starred off into the railway for a moment. Them something struck Rikka.

Rikka: W-wait! Don't we have a mission?

She was clearly trying to pivot away, but I understood I was probably prying a bit much.

Neku: Right...

Rikka: F-first copperhead.

Neku: Then. The new players.

Rikka paused for a moment, then nodded.

We continued down the tunnel. After a while, we found an old lady quietly knitting on a bench.

We glanced at each other.

Neku: So?

Rikka: I th-think she's harmless.

Neku: Likely story.

To say I was suspicious was an understatement.

Rikka: I'll g-go talk to her.

Neku: Huh? You sure?

Rikka scratched her head, pondering a moment. Then faced me with newfound determination.

Rikka: I'm d-done fearing the reapers. I can face them.

If yesterday was any indication, Rikka can do literally anything if you piss her off enough. She even decked a reaper in the face she was so pissed off. It was nice to know at least one of us had our heads on straight.

Rikka walked towards the old woman, who was seemingly unaware of her presence.

Rikka Kneels down to one knee. I cocked my head.

Rikka: Hey. A-are you ok.

The old woman appeared startled. She looked at Rikka.

Woman: Oh. Why yes- yes I am, thank you.

But the woman gave her an eerie look. With her grip on the needles tightening to an unnerving extent.

Rikka seemed to have realized something, and grit her teeth.

Rikka: You bitch-

Rikka extended two fingers and thrusted her hand upward. A spire of ice erupted from the ground. The old woman was seeming vaporized. Yet, immediately behind Rikka, stood Mitaka, now furious.

Mitaka: So I see you have a grasp on my tricks. Lovely.

Rikka: R-really? That's something most players understand b-by day one!

Mitaka lunged her arm towards Rikka, with claws that were tipped with some purple substance. I had two guesses.

Rikka sidestepped, barely avoiding the attack.

I charged. Pulling out a card, I chop Mitaka on the side of her torso. She recoiled, gasping for air, and grimaced.

Mitaka: Damned kids...

Mitaka began to change, or so I thought.

The blonde reaper materialized beside her. Mitaka glowing with a static like energy.

Rikka turned me.

Rikka: You handle the reaper flunky. She's mine...

Rikka's stutter was gone. In its place was pure determination. Though even I knew it was too good to last.

I charged at the reaper. Throwing the lightning card ahead of me. I held my bullet card in one hand, firing as I charged, and my slash card in the other.

Neku: *Almost there!*

Neku: *Just these two...*

Neku: *Then it's back to good old Shibuya!*

An idea hit me. Before I got too close. I quickly put my slash card away and pulled out a new card. This one was a golden card. It was also a slash card. Just holding it took an excruciating amount of effort. But made me feel- I don't know how to describe it... Maybe, almost, godlike.

To open, I threw three bullets cards in succession, while I threw my other arm, wielding the golden sword card, at the reaper. As I flung my arm through the air, time seemed to slow. My arm pulsated in pain. The card grew in weight. An enigma of energy emitted in front of the card shaping itself into a medieval style blade. I screamed in pain, anger, whatever you would call it, as my arm came down upon the reaper with a slam on the concrete.

Rikka had been doing pretty well against Mitaka. Up until Mitaka swipped her arm. She stumbled backwards grimacing in pain, trying to get a look at her arm. But before she could properly assess anything, Mitaka was in her face yet again.

Mitaka: What? Can't handle a reaper?

Mitaka: Tell me. Would your mother have had an easier time with me?

Rikka flinched. Another pillar of ice erupted from the cold concrete at their feet.

Mitaka tried to step back, but the edge of it smashed into her upper body. Sending her backwards through the air.

Rikka ran to catch up to Mitaka. Once below her, Rikka flicked her arm upward. From beside her a chain came into existence and flew upwards. Rikka aimed her bloody and scarred arm at Mitaka, and up through Mitaka. A loud shriek of static was heard. Temporarily deafening us all. Following which, Mitaka's scream filled our ears.

Mitaka began to slide down the chain that impaled her, as she faded into a pile of static.

I turned to Rikka. The reaper fading behind me, her arm stretched out for Mitaka.

Reaper: My- my dear... Copperhead...

The dedicated reaper faded away. She and Copperhead, were extinct.

...

Or so we thought.

From the static, something emerged. Long and scaley. It hissed at us as it slithered out. It was a giant copperhead snake.

I ran to Rikkas side and noticed her gripping her arm where a strange purple liquid poured from it.

Neku: That- looks rough.

Rikka: Oh- it's nothing, just ex-

She grimaced, sweating beating down her now pale face.

Rikka: -Excruciating pain.

Before us stood Copperhead. With the poisonous venom dripping from her teeth. Her long, slimy tongue licked up the poison like it was candy.

A very loud and distinct hiss was directed towards us.

Neku: Can you last one more fight?

Rikka nodded through the pain.

Neku: Right-

Rikka and I pulled our headphones on, and cranked the volume.

Neku: -then one more time!

Rikka and I split to either side of the snake in an attempt to divide its attention. Copperhead slammed its tail in front of me, trying to squach me like a bug. Meanwhile, it tried to take a bite out of Rikka. Thankfully, she saw it coming, sidesteped, summoned a large psychic sword, and proceeded to swing it across the snakes head. I could hear the deafening hiss of a royally pissed off snake from the other side.

Deciding to do my part, pull out yet another new card. The last one Rikka handed to me. It had an image of a what seemed like a vortex of some sort? Only one way to be sure. I flick the card in front of me, excepting a small tornado to appear. Instead, a pillar of wind blew directly upward, knocking the snakes lowed half into the air. It's attention was now fixated on me.

Getting a grasp on the idea; I step back, and flick the card downwards. Suddenly, a large gust of wind blows me into the air spiraling out of control. I swap out for the blade and whip cards respectively and try and go for a grab on the snakes snout.

Copperhead sees my attack coming, however and begins to move out of the way, but something catches her attention before then. She's distracted long enough for my whip to wrap around her snout and give a good tug towards me. As I'm doing this, Rikka launches herself into the air by means of her ice pillar.

Together, we sync up a massive slash psych, aiming for the neck just below the head.

As we fly towards copperhead, however, a purple gas emits from her nostrils.

Internally, I was panicking. Rikka's presumably already poisoned, I wasn't sure how much more she could take. Of course, this is where the crazy ideas appear. As quick as I can, I grab a bullet card from my pocket and fling it at Rikka. It collides, and she's sent off course out of the way of the poison. Hell bent on still contributing, she summons a chain to help assist on the opposite side of her neck. With a massive spin to build momentum through the purple shroud, I create a massive tear in Copperheads scaley neck. Rikka's chain impails her yet again.

I hit the ground, bellowing in pain from both acidic coating of poison on my skin and the impact.

Everyone was worn down and in pretty rough condition. Rikka and I were poisoned, copperheads snake head was. close to falling off, and we were all on the ground in pain for one reason or another.

Mitakas form shifts. Returning to a humanoid figure. But this was still different. She was pure static, like a blank canvas of a person to be written onto.

Her voice was equally as indistinguishable.

Mitaka: You- you don't know what you've done-

Mitaka: The rule breaking, the brutal violence.

The gm clutched her head in dispair.

Mitaka: You cannot- I will not- let you leave unpunished.

With me being the closest, she hauls ass towards me. Barring, what I think are still copperhead teeth, but her form was almost shapeless.

As she stood in front of me, preparing to bear down on me, I'm helpess to do much of anything. The poson has essentially paralized me and even if that wasn't the case, I was too broken to move effectively.

She grabed my arm and held me up, leaving me to stare into her static maw of nothingness. I can hear the sound of static overtake everything as I'm pulled towards her face.

But suddenly, she stopped in a jolt. I hear the sound of rushing foot steps behind her. As I'm quickly pulled away I can hear the sound of fading electricity.

Everything was blurry, but Rikka stood with another familiar figure standing not too far behind. I heard a shout of encouragement and Rikka proceeded to do something I though was impossible, she mixed psychs.

A chain spun around her with immense velocity, an ice pillar formed and was broken up and the chain became dotted with shards, she pumped a few bullets to make it glow that concerning blue color.

She proceeded to hold out a pin. It was the average joe slash psych pin. But the chain got sucked into it, and the pin changed in appearance. With a swift flick of the arm, the chain extended, launching into Mitaka, who threw me back to the ground. Just like that, Mitaka was desintigrated.

I, meanwhile, fell into unconsciousness.

...

Day 7: Regret

...

...

For a moment. Everything was white, nothing but. Not long after, however, Rikka and I awoke. It was, indeed, a white corridor, of sorts.

A boy sat on what appeared to be nothing. He seemed to be my age. Biting his thumb. He whistled.

?: Ho-o-oly HELL!

Rikka and I stood. Extremely groggy.

?: The two of you know How. To. Party!

The boy coughed and straightened. He adjusted his tie, and flicked come of his charcoal black hair our of his face and pulled his sunglasses up.

?: Yes, anyway. Congratulations on winning the reapers game!

?: But, ah, you understand, only one of you sorry sods can return to life...

I flinched. Rikka began a coughed fit.

Rikka: Wh-wh-wha-?

?: Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself...

?: First your entry fees.

Neku: *WHAT?*

?: "Neku Sacuraba." Let's see... Ah yes!

The boy snaps his fingers.

A row of what I can only describe as pods rolls along and stops at an empty pod.

Next thing I know, Shiki Mizaki. Quite possibly one of the only people I gave a damn about, appeared inside the pod. Unconscious.

Neku: You FU-!

?: Rikka Tamagawa! Congrats! You have been chosen to return to life!

Rikka: Wha-?

I run to the boy and punch him across the face. He flinched. But swatted me away like a fly. I go flying backwards.

Rikka was gripping her head in disbelief.

Rikka: WHAT!?

?: Let's not forget! Neku, this is a special case.

?: You're currently in the beginning of a series!

?: Seeing as you're a veteran. You know the drill. You can either give up. Or play again-

Rikka: I want to become a guardian!

Silence filled the room. I starred at Rikka wide eyed. She had the same face of determination. The boy looked... Disappointed.

Neku: Are- are you sure about that?

Rikka gave me a familiar menace. The very same look she gave the last time I questioned her. But one that said "trust me."

Rikka: Very.

?: Ah. Oh- very well...

He pulled a phone out of his coat, and talked to someone.

?: We have a guardian volunteer. Ye- yes... I know...

He put his phone away. Rikka vanished in a static flash. He turned to me yet again, but this time with a look of disgust.

?: Now you.

Neku: Go to hell...

?: Your partners volunteering doesn't change the facts.

?: You're playing again...

The boy's face was crazed. He was enjoying this far too much.

?: Now: let the games begin.

Before I could even ask about the previously mentioned option, the boy snapped his fingers. Everything went dark.

Week 1: Tall Obstacles