Title: Logical Requiem
Characters: Reincarnated!Sho/Reincarnated!Neku (Father/Son relationship—not pairings!)
Rating: M-Mild Violence
Warnings: Spoilers for end of the game. Takes place 300 years after the official game.
Summary: Sho tries his life anew as a math teacher aged 22, after completing his course in Uni. With the present and past holding a missing link, it is soon evident that his life so far, had been hurdles that even he can't recall. One day, he finds Pi-Face's cap beyond the Shibuya River, only then does his life as an unwilling trouble magnet begins, the first signs being that a familiar student with headphones and a sketchy past enters his first session...
Notes: Co-written with Houkai-Amplifier. (DeviantART)
Known Characters involved in this Chapter: Joshua, Neku Sho.

-Day 6-

Joshua wasn't very ignorant, as he just spotted the two on the bench. Somewhat hesitant, he cautiously made his way over, paying no mind to the passing living that easily knocked him about. He earned more disgraceful stares from strangers due to the lack of courtesy.
Finally made it to the bench, Josh sat down, paying no mind to Neku. "...We need to talk." he said quietly, rather warn out and looking at the ground.

Neku stared him down. "I've got nothing to say to you." he mumbled bitterly. Some nerve... He's probably come to erase us...!

"Fine, don't say anything..." Joshua promptly retorted, giving Neku a weary glare, "I don't expect you to listen..."

Sho watched Joshua carefully, "Something's on your mind? You wouldn't want to find us to subtract our time in the UG for zetta no reason."

Joshua turned back to Sho. "I've made my move against the Composer by simply ignoring His requests and finding you two. I'm in a tender situation right now; don't vex me." he growled again, regarding his tone afterwards.

Neku's glare fixed onto Josh. "How do we know it's not another trap of yours?"

Disregarding Neku's question, Joshua looked over at Sho. "How is your shoulder anyway, Mr. M? Apologies for that clumsy worker, but it wouldn't have happened if you kept a grip on your patience."

Sho huffed a bit. "Not good, not bad, can't zetta complain. Anyway, what do you need?"

"I... I was in the Udagawa backstreets, observing the old CAT Mural..." Joshua paused, irked with Neku still giving him that death glare, "You know, I'm telling you this because I can trust you more than the man in charge."

Neku crossed his arms and sat back, still suspicious of Josh. "Oh yeah? How can we trust you then?" he interrogated.

"I have a question for you then; who would you trust more? A student who's been at the same school with you? Or an ethereal being full of anonymity and lies?" Joshua asked in frustration.
"True I'm somebody not worthy of anyone's trust, but if you have experienced life in my shoes, you'll understand. A worthless killer, and nothing more. Guess what? I'm sick of it, and I'm prepared for my punishment for this rebellious treachery."

Neku snickered again. Ethereal being or not, you're both full of lies...
Regardless, Neku felt he had to hear him out. "Can you prove it?"

Sho smirked with Neku, just to support the teen's question. "Alright, hecto-Maestro; we're willing to listen, we're all ears. But we promise nothing, understood?"

Joshua took a deep breath. He was tired last night, the messy hair and tired eyes showing it all. "I can only keep up such a smug facade for so long, until I break...
"The Composer was behind it all, and I had no choice but to help. He was the one who sent me to 'know you better', He was the one who demanded me to kill, He was the one who ordered me to watch over this Game. He demands, I execute. Simple as that. I fight my own battles more often than not. But when something neither Him nor I can control happens, say like, suicide, then it's a thing that spirals out of control...
"But this wasn't an ordinary suicide; the individual snatched my gun and took his life. Remember the time you saw me run from the police? After Day 2, the Composer wiped the memory clear out of their heads, with a side note; He won't do it again. I'm officially on my own. Come the next day... for my actions, I will never again see the UG, hear the Players and Reapers alike, and anyone I've befriended will forget me..." the silver haired teen looked at the ground, trying to hold back the tears, "And if I try to remind them, they'll just ignore me... absolute isolation. But I'm prepared to take on that... because as you said, Sho; 'Don't hold onto anything that will bring you harm'..."

Neku kept silent for a little, observing Joshua closely to determine his sincerity or not. Half convinced, Neku still kept his suspicion.
"What did you need us to do?" he asked.

With bitter frustration, Joshua briefly rubbed the back of his neck. It had been aching all day since last night.
"Well... you're the only two left in the game... I'm unable to confront the Composer myself, but... I could give you an insight on what will happen tomorrow. So? You're interested?" he asked, digging into his pocket.

"The... only two left?" Neku murmured out of disbelief. Surely there was someone else out there... right? This grim news was enough reason for Neku to finish the game.
Still giving Josh a suspicious look, he decided to give him the benefit of the doubt on this odd occasion. "What do you know?"

Sho had been listening intently until he heard of the unpleasant news. "Whoa wait... you're dead serious?"

Joshua pulled his hand out of his pocket, holding a Lv5 keypin and a skull pin that looked like the Player's, but the skull being black and the pin itself white.
"There used to be keypins that ranged from Lv1 to Lv4, but the one I'm giving will unlock all walls. No questions asked." he explained sternly, putting it down on the bench, "And this 'Black Skull' pin is a sign that I work with the UG from the RG. First chance you get, give it back to the Composer and tell him I quit.
"Tomorrow, you two will not just face one Mission, but I assume that the Missions you'll be assigned to will relate to the alien past. There will be a series of them, one after another. You need to be fit and ready when they come. That's all I can give." Josh sighed and looked away disdainfully, tucking a bit of hair behind his ear.

Neku took a good look at the pin. We do this for him... We get by the walls? We had no problem with getting by the walls before... "Didn't expect it to be easy..."

"Now if you're satisfied, I'll be on my way." Joshua muttered miserably, standing up to leave, but by standing still, he was visibly trembling, "Last night was... just too much..."

Sho picked up the other pin and examined it. This 1 is like the Inverse Matrix to the Player Pin...

Seeing Joshua in such a state almost made Neku feel sorry for him. It could likely be another trick, but he could see the distress Josh was in. "...Thanks." he said quietly.

After standing for a moment, Joshua just managed to catch himself, using the bench as support. The gratitude, however small, was welcoming; it almost made his body shut down all at once from relief. Once he gathered his wits, Joshua looked up at Neku, the smart attitude vaporised, hardly leaving a glint in his eyes. "No... Thank you Neku and you too, Sho. You've inspired me to make this choice... Do give Yammer my thanks as well should you see him... now you have a big day tomorrow. Prepare and rest up early. I wish you nothing but success..."
Carefully steadying himself, the living teen then turned to head for Tipsy Tose Hall.

Sho looked disturbed, as he watched Joshua leave. "Something's missing in him..."

Joshua was definitely out-of-character from what Neku can recall. Act or not, there was a change in Josh's character.

Sho looked down at the pin he picked up. "So... tomorrow is it... will we find all the answers we seek?"

Neku shrugged. "Maybe."
Although unlikely, he had a gut feeling that they would. He was determined to finish this game for more reasons than he started with.

The day's toll eventually caught up with them. Sho yawned and stretched, taking one last look at Spain Hill. "You heard the Radian, the sooner we sleep, the better off we'll be tomorrow..." he mumbled, "Oh... and thanks for... putting up with me..." he added with a smile before closing his eyes.

Neku went a little quiet. Instinct misjudged Joshua, but his motives and reasons have now become clear. Instinct tells him to disbelieve the rumours about the Composer, but a strange memory tells him that Josh's story is valid. Neku huddled on the bench until he was comfortable enough to fall asleep. With no more being said, all that could be done to prepare for tomorrow's onslaught was to get an early night's sleep.

--

... Mr. H... Yammer... I'm out of time...
He'll come for me tomorrow... for treason...
I want to say thanks for support...
I want to say sorry to Sho and Neku...
I hope that whatever happens...
It will all work out... in the end...