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 is a fan interpretation of a potential continuation of the original story.

And obviously spoilers from the original material.

—

Hanekoma: Composer...

Joshua: Yes? What is it?

Hanekoma: I've been noticing a change in your behavior since- The incident...

Joshua: ...

Hanekoma: I realize its a sore spot right now. But just know, if you need to talk... Well, I've been known to give killer talks.

Hanekoma lit a big grin across his face. Joshua couldn't help but join him.

Joshua: No, I'm fine... I've just- been doing a lot of thinking...

Hanekoma: Hrmph, well, alright. Just remember boss-

Hanekoma: You're most certainly not alone. But you know, there can be an almost serene feeling of solitude spilling your guts to a friend. But that isn't you, is it?

Joshua furrowed his brow and frowned. Hanekoma was in a judgmental mood today.

Joshua: Like you know me...

Joshua turned away, placing has hand on his forehead in agitation.

Joshua: Now please, Hanekoma, leave me to my already dwindling thoughts...

Hanekoma, grin now gone. Exits with a bow.

…

Joshua- Day 1

Joshua awoke in a cold sweat. Chest searing with pain.

Gripping his chest Joshua began surveying his surroundings, he appeared to be in an alley.

Out of the corner of his eye. Joshua spotted someone lying at the end of the alley. His vision still blurred, he ran towards the figure.

It was a girl. She was a blonde and wore an orange zip-up sweatshirt, and a black tanktop, she also wore a black beanie. With a unique bell like pendant around her neck.

Joshua: Is this-? No. No- that wouldn't make much sense...

Joshua turned her over to reveal Rhyme, she was older than he remembered, just how long ago was the incident? It seems Joshua had lost track of time. But it still felt lkke yesterday.

Joshua: Well then.

Joshua stood and starred at her for a moment.

Joshua: This just keeps getting more and more interesting...

Joshua shook Rhyme awake. She rolled over, groaning.

Joshua: Hrm, it has been a year, hasn't it?

Rhyme, in a drowsy manner, stood up. She wobbled and leaned against the alley wall to brace herself.

Joshua: Hello there.

Rhyme: H-... Huh?

Joshua: *Ah. Right. She doesn't know me. I revived her. But we've never actually met in person.*

Joshua: Hello, Rhyme.

Rhyme: How-? ...

Rhyme: Have we met?

Joshua: Well. I've met you. You haven't met me.

Rhyme: Pardon-?

Joshua: *cough* Where are we?

Rhyme looked around. Suddenly she was startled.

Rhyme: Good question... Definitely not where I remember being last...

Joshua: Yes. That's obviously why I'm asking.

Rhyme narrowed her eyes.

Rhyme: Well that's my answer.

There was a brief awkward pause. Joshua sighed and walked forward.

Joshua: I think we should explore a bit to get a full bearing as to where we are.

Rhyme: Right...

Joshua and Rhyme slowly exited the alley to find a vast open city. People crowded the streets. There were also skyscrapers in the distance.

Suddenly both Joshua's and Rhyme's phones rang.

Joshua: ... *Is This where I think it is?*

Rhyme yielded a look of absolute terror. She starred at her open phone. "Head to the towering square, 30 minutes, fail and face extinction." Joshua, peeking over Rhymes shoulder, saw the message and immediately opened his phone. Yep, reapers game.

As if on Que. Pain shot through their arms.

Rhyme: Arg!

Joshua: ... (A timer)...

Joahua: Rhyme?

Rhyme: Rrg... Yes?

Joshua: I think we should make a pact.

Rhyme lowered her head. She was silent.

Joshua: Something... Wrong?

Rhyme: How...

Rhyme: How am I here? In this game-? Why can't I-

Joshua was silent as well. He didn't really know what to make of the situation. The game was meant to be that impact-full. To make people respect what they have, change them for the better, so to speak. Rhymes reaction, while understandable, was disappointing, to say the least.

Joshua: *sigh* Listen. If we want to live. We need to form a pact. Otherwise we're walking targets.

Rhyme: Y-yeah... You're right.

And with that a flash of light surrounded the two.

Joshua: "Pact confirmed." Hehe.

Rhyme: Um. I realize it's a little late to ask this but... Who are you?

Joshua: My name: Yoshiya Kiryu. But most people just call me Joshua.

Rhyme: I can see why.

Joshua: Hehe. Well, let's not just wait here. We've almost figured out where we are!

Joshua pointed off in the distance.

Joshua: Those towering figures seem to be the primary point of interest.

Joshua started running down the street. Normally he wasn't one to put in any effort. But this was far too much a fascinating set of circumstances to pass up.

In a matter of minutes, Joshua reached a subway station. He looked about, and pointed at the skyscrapers.

Joshua: There.

Rhyme: *pant* where? *pant*

Joshua: Right over there.

Joshua pointed to the biggest tower in the area. It was a pair, one towering the other, with a smaller central tower connecting the two.

Joshua turned to Rhyme expextantly with a grin on his face.

Joshua: "Towering square." Now, what might that mean?

Rhyme: The tallest area?

Joshua: Close. Tallest area seems right. But square likely means something, slightly different.

Rhyme: Like?

Joshua: Most would head over there first. Due to the strange structure and height. But- towering square could refer to the place with the most people.

Rhyme: I... think, I see.

Then Joshua felt it. He turned around and starred into the distance. Noise.

Joshua: *Damn, they're quick to jump aren't they?!*

Rhyme noticed as well.

Rhyme: Joshua! Ready yourself!

Rhyme braced and pulled cards out of her pocket, she looked at them confused for a moment, but readied herself. Joshua had some too. However. He instead simply looked at the the cards quizzically. Joshua threw the cards aside and pulled out his phone, and braced. With a flash, Joshua was alone.

Joshua glanced around, noise to his sides. Three in total. All of them small, dog-like creatures. All of them anxious.

Joshua lifted his phone. Aimed, and focused.

Nothing happened.

Joshua: Wha-?

One of the dogs ran at Joshua, leapt and snapped at his arm. Joshua gracefully stepped out of the way.

Joshua, using the twirl as an attack of opportunity, flicked his phone through the air, an almost rapier like-antenna extended, slicing the noise. It retracted automatically.

Joshua: I see I'll need to exhort more effort than normal.

But the dog snapped again before he could react, this time catching Joshua by the arm. Noticing a bike that was left on the sidewalk, flicked his free hand, and the bike flew into the noises side, releasing him.

Joshua twirled his phone by the strap, letting his antenna extend. Once the dog was rearing for another snap, he grabs the phone out of the air, and uses its momentum to jab it into the noise.

Upon erasing the noise, Joshua spun around to face the noise, spinning his phone again.

Joshua: And then here were two. Heh...

Joshua felt a large adrenaline rush. He stretched his arm out, began to levitate, and lifted a car into air. He threw it into the two dog-noise, erasing them.

Joshua gripped his bitten arm, and let out a sigh.

Joshua: That was entertaining. I wonder how my partner handled herself...

Joshua was blinded and reappeared by the station, Rhyme next to him, panting.

Rhyme: Whew... I know I'm a bit rusty, but- I don't remember these cards existing...

Joshua: Neither do I...

Rhyme: Oh? You've been through the Reapers Game too?

...

Joshua was silent, pondering his response.

Joshua: You- could say that, yes.

Rhyme starred at Joshua. She seemed sympathetic. Which caught Joshua off guard.

Joshua: Well, shall we?

Rhyme: Oh! The mission! Lets- wait...

Joshua: Huh?

Rhyme observed her hand, Joshua followed. The timer was gone.

Joshua: I guess we were a tad slow. Hrm..

Joshua pondered who might have beaten them to the goal. Then it hit him.

Joshua: Hehehe... I guess Neku beat us to the punch eh?

Rhyme: Neku?! You know him-? He's here?!

Joshua: Why, yes. We're, acquaintances...

Rhyme: But- how is he here?

Joshua: If I'm not mistaken, he came with me.

Rhyme: Wow... I'm not alone then...

Joshua almost took offense to that statement.

Rhyme: So then, Joshua, how did you get here?

Joshua: ...

Joshua: Honestly, I'm not even sure...

Joshua: But what about you Rhyme?

Rhyme: ...

Joshua: Last I checked, you had a bunch of friends to tend too.

Joshua was about to ask again. When more noise appeared. With a winged hooded figure behind them.

?: hehehehehe. A- HAHAHAHA!

?: HOT DAMN! I've NOT felt this GREAT in a LOOONG time!

The hooded figure appeared and sounded female. Her cloak was short. She had boots with tall heels. A strand of blonde hair was hanging out from under the hood that was covering her face.

?: Welp. You'd all best be praying and BEGGING for mercy!

Joshua: I'm not sure about praying, but you seem like you'd be a great beggar.

?: You-! YOU LITTLE SHI-!

She cut herself off, breathed heavily, and waved her hand toward them. The noise advanced towards them.

?: Assholes aren't even worth it...

Joshua: Pitiful. Well I'd hate to rain on you parade. But...

Joshua levitated next to Rhyme, who could do nothing but watch. Joshua waved his arm towards the noise. A small pillar of light appeared and obliterated a single noise.

Joshua: ?

Rhyme: Wha-?

Joshua, smirk now gone, waved his arm again with much more force. Another single, even weaker, pillar appeared. Erasing another noise.

Joshua: What-?

?: HAHAHAHA! You idiot! You think we don't know you? Pfft. Well, let it be known, Mr. High and Mighty. Your powers don't pack anywhere close to the same punch beyond your district.

Joshua lowered himself to the ground slowly. His face deadlock in a glare at the reaper's hidden face.

Joshua: Well then I guess I should get used to this place then...

?: You're not in Shibuya anymore. Welcome to OUR TOWN! Welcome...

The reaper twirled around towards the skyscrapers in the distance and spread her arms wide.

?: To SHINJUKU!

It suddenly struck Joshua. It was so obvious!

Joshua: Yes, yes. A towering set of skyscrapers. Most likely No. 1. Also the much more suburban feel. Definitely Shinjuku.

Joshua, smirking again, flashed his arm towards the reaper. This time not even a small pillar appeared.

Joshua: ...

It was that feeling again. Fear.

?: Pffft AAHAHAHA, FOOL, IDIOT, IGNORANT BRAT!

Joshua tightened his hand into a fist. He was actually loosing it.

?: Later morons!

The reaper flew away. Summoning more noise.

...

The noise circled the two. Rhyme braced herself. Joshua stood in silence.

Joshua: No...

Rhyme: Joshua, ready yourself!

...

Joshua: Enough!

Joshua flew into the air with blinding lights appearing around him, the concrete shattering from underneath his feet. Dozens of enormous pillars of light shone around Joshua. Erasing all the noise surrounding them.

With the sounds of shattering glass in the distance, both Rhyme and Joshua blacked out.

Day 1- Power Lost