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.
—
Joshua: Day 4
Joshua awoke to a kick in the head.
Joshua: Ow...
And whom was to meet him there but Mitaka.
Mitaka: Well.
Joshua: Well.
Joshua was more cocky than usual. He had intimidated the game master enough to force them into the next day. Why? He didn't know. Still, Joshua intended to keep up this momentum, and his pride with it.
Joshua: To what do I owe the pleasure?
Mitaka: You threatened the GM. Needless to say, I was curious as to who would be stupid enough to do that. Then it hit me...
Joshua: Oh. Please: continue..
Mitaka: You had powers.
Joshua: You already knew this.
Mitaka: Yes. But who else knows? With that in mind. No- with your partner in mind...
Joshua glanced at Rhyme, who was asleep behind him on the sidewalk.
Mitaka: I've constructed this mission, especially for you.
Joshua's confidence was maybe a bit too high. He was certain he could face whatever Mitaka threw at him. He scoffed at the GM.
Joshua: And what, pray tell. Will be so "special" about this mission?
Mitaka: You'll learn soon enough. Just know, the counter is supposed to be green.
Joshua's smile faltered upon hearing this.
Joshua: I... What?
Ignoring his question, Mitaka disappeared.
...
Silence filled the streets of the early morning Shinjuku, leaving Joshua to ponder his still lingering questions.
Rhyme awoke with a jerk upright. She looked all around, flustered. She was expecting to find the hostile GM. The second she realized they were alone, she leaned back and let out a sigh.
Rhyme: She got us good, didn't she?
Rhyme approached Joshua, who was still deep in thought.
Rhyme: Yoshiya?
Joshua: Hrm? Oh, Rhyme. I apologize-
Rhyme: (Sure you do.)
Joshua: I was thinking about what our feline of a GM told me.
Rhyme: She talked to you?
Joshua: Yes. Apparently, this mission is going to be different-
Almost as if on que, their phones rang. "Question everything, 180 minutes, fail and face extinction."
Aside from the strange description, there was something else. On their hands, when the familiar sting from the timer struck their hands, they noticed it was green and- counting up? Upon seeing this, Joshua had a double take.
Joshua: Oh? This is- different...
Joshua pondered. This mission was apparently specifically tailored towards him. He connected the dots.
Copperhead wanted Rhyme to know about Joshua's being a composer.
The idea internally frazzled Joshua. He knew that for the benefit of them both, they best get along. Even then, that was difficult. Joshua thought Rhyme's attitude problem was, odd, to say the least. Especially considering that she was nothing like that a year ago. It didn't help that she clearly hated his guts and questioned every little action of his.
These thoughts picked at his brain with a particular question: what happened to Rhyme over the course of the year?
Rhyme: "Question everything," Obviously this must be referring to- hrm...
Rhyme pondered in deep thought.
Joshua: Say, Rhyme?
Rhyme: What?
Joshua: What did Neku say about me?
Rhyme: I don't know what-
Joshua: Rhyme, Rhyme, Rhyme- I'm not an idiot. I know he's said something about me. I didn't need to be there, but I know. I made a rather large impact on him, and- vice versa.
Rhyme was silent, wondering what to say.
Rhyme: He's mentioned you- I think...
Rhyme: It's definitely been a while since we've spoke.
Joshua: That's another thing I wanted to ask. What happened to you since last year.
Rhyme rubbed her arm, pacing. Joshua crossed his arms and merely starred, awaiting a response.
Moments passed.
Rhyme: You know, before I answer my question: I'd like to know something.
Joshua: *sigh* That being?
Rhyme: It's one you've never answered: Who- no- *What* are you?
Joshua: This again-?
Rhyme: The flying, the lasers, the sudden outburst of emotions. You're not normal Yoshiya. Why?
Joshua: Oy vey-
Joshua: We're not getting anywhere fast with this it seems...
Rhyme: Seems so.
...
Rhyme: So what now?
Joshua: Good question. If neither of us want to talk, I can see us failing this mission.
Rhyme: But then, why is the timer counting up?
Joshua: It's likely a race with other players or some crap.
Rhyme: Now that is different.
Joshua: It's tacky is what it is.
It was odd, Joshua hadn't been on the other side of genuine GM antics. They did indeed, suck.
Joshua: Maybe... This has some bearing to the rest of the week?
Rhyme shrugged.
Rhyme: I dunno how though. This seems geared towards someone specific. Or maybe-
Rhyme stops herself, glancing at Joshua.
Rhyme: Maybe she's buying time for something.
Joshua: That- wouldn't be the first time I've seen a GM go rogue. But this? It feels intentional. What with the fancy new timer and all.
?: I mean, good guesses all around!
The duo stopped cold. They turned around to see an interesting character standing before them.
?: My name is Sunako Katou. But please, just Sun will do.
Joshua eyed her up cautiously. She wasn't in the usual reaper attire. But rather, she has a style of her own. Not seeing any immediate threat, he crosses his arms, shrugging.
Joshua: Be mindful that little miss sassy over here doesn't like nicknames apparently.
Joshua gestures to Rhyme who gives him a menacing look.
Sun: Well- Ah- Right. I just wanted to say hello!
Rhyme and Joshua exchange sceptical looks.
Rhyme: "Hello"?
Sun: Yeah! Well- I guess I should explain a little-
Sun: You see, I'm Shinjukus guardian.
Joshua's face lit up.
Joshua: Finally, something familiar and that makes sense!
Sun blinks.
Sun: I'm making my way around to introduce myself to all the remaining players today and give them some advise. When I overheard your conversation about how this game is being ran, it caught my attention.
Joshua raised an eyebrow.
Joshua: So you know what's happening?
Sun: Ah- not quite.
Sun: But I do share your confusion and concern. Being the guardian, the guys upstairs don't normally tell me much of anything.
Joshua: Not even the composer?
Sun: They used to... But then they up and cut me off years ago. I couldn't tell you why.
Joshua: Talk about irresponsible...
Rhyme: But anything about the weird things going on in this game?
Sunako shakes her head.
Sun: Sadly no. I've heard a few things here and there, but I've yet to get anywhere near the full picture.
Joshua: You... Mentioned you had advise to share, yes?
Sun: Oh! Right! Well, something important to note are the small reaper sigils near missions. Take a photo of it, and you get a perk for the day. They get pretty tough to find though.
Sunako reached into her pockets and pulled out a card that looked oddly familiar.
Sun: I believe at least one of you are veterans, yeah?
Rhyme raised her hand. Joshua kept quiet.
Sun: Well, to put it simply, these cards are basically pins, but more difficult to use. A handicap, so to speak.
Joshua sinply rolled his eyes. His goal wasn't to follow the missions. That would get them nowhere fast. He instead, opted to change the subject.
Joshua: Say, Sun. Would you mind keeping in touch with us?
Sun: I'm pretty sure that's the idea of being a guardian.
Joshua: No no no- I mean-
Joshua leans in.
Joshua: (*keep in touch*.)
Sun gjves Joshua a concerned look.
Sun: Like, what? Actually meet up with you guys?
Joshua nods.
Rhyme: But- what for?
Joshua stays pensive for a second. Then turns to Rhyme.
Joshua: To figure out how to escape.
Sun steps back, eyes widened.
Sun: Your crazy. How in the everliving hell do you think you can escape the reapers game?
Rhyme: I would really like to know too.
Frustrated, Joshua puts his finger to his lips.
Joshua: Not here you idiots. Let's just say I have an idea I'd like to run by you Sun.
Sun's eyes narrow. She gives some thought for a second, and nods.
Sun: I'll at least hear what you have to say. Ok?
Joshua: That's all I could ever ask for.
Silence sets in amongst the group.
Sun: Unless there's anything else you needed to tell me I'll be off now.
Rhyme: Oh- Wait!
Sun turns back around.
Rhyme: If you see Neku, a friend of mine. I think- he might need some help.
Sun raises an eyebrow.
Sun: How so?
Rhyme: He sort of- jumped off a building to catch his parter last we saw.
Sun: Hrm. Thats concerning. I'll be sure to keep an eye out.
Rhyme: You should be able to recognize him by his headphones.
Joshua: But- don't mention you saw us. Ok?
Sun starred blankly at Joshua, even more confused than she already was by this unconventional situation.
Sun: Why?
Joshua: Call it a hunch- but I suspect if Neku knows you were talking with us, he might not take kindly to you...
Rhyme: "Us"...? Really?
Joshua: Really really.
Sun blinks and turns back around, waving to the duo.
Sun: I'll see you around then.
Joshua: Don't forget-
Sun: I won't.
Joshua waits until Sun walks down the street out of sight. Where he then turns to Rhyme and leans in.
Joshua: (We should find somewhere private)
Rhyme nods.
The two try and scan the neaby area for anywhere that might look secluded and hopefully as a result, out of the reapers reach.
Joshua noticed an alleyway nearby with an unlabeled building. He gestures towards it and runs in.
It was a musty little room. Probably a maintenance office or something of the like.
Joshua: There's no reaper marking, so should some random living person walk in, we can just ignore them.
Rhyme gets a look at the room. She stops and points.
Rhyme: Yoshiya-
Joshua: I swear Rhyme-
Before them was an empty sleeping bag, but littered around it were pins. Not just any pins. They were player pins. Joshua's eyes widened.
Joshua: A reapers den...
Rhyme: But- why is this here? Don't the reapers have their own places to stay? Do they normally keep the pins of the players they kill?
Joshua's mind was on the fritz. He knew very well what this ment. He'd experienced it once before back in Shibuya.
Joshua: We- we need to leave.
Rhyme: But no one's here. Maybe they-
Joshua: *Now*.
Joshua was pushing Rhyme out. But just as they were leaving, someone caught his attention. It was a smell. A *very* distinguishable smell. It reeked.
He hesitated. That's when Rhyme pushed him into the wall and moved back inside.
Rhyme: Yoshiya, something worthwhile has to be here. Maybe they have some information.
Rhyme picks uo a file next to the sleeping bag and opens it.
Rhyme: Maybe something like-
Rhymes eyes widen. She starred horrified at whatever was in the file.
Joshua: What?
Joshua: What is it?
Rhyme was unresponsive.
Joshua sighed and walked to her side. That smell still itching at him. It was familiar in some way, he felt he had forgotten it on purpose.
Once he got a good look at the folder, he took a deep breath.
It was Neku.
A file on him, at least. It yielded details on his physical condition as well as mental. It also listed a series of specific attributes. Some of which were circled, highlighted, or marked with a question mark.
Joshua looked at the other folders around the bed. Grabbed one and opened it. It was himself. Same song different tone. As if on impulse, Joshua lit the folder on fire. At least some of his powers were working.
Joshua: Crap- crap!
Rhyme: What the hell are you doing!?
Joshua: Right- My bad!
Rhyme ran over and tried to stomp the flame out. Thankfully it had burned up entirely. Frustrated, Rhyme turned to Joshua.
Rhyme: What did it say.
Joshua: I'm sorry, I didn't get a good look before-
Rhyme held up her hand, rubbing her tempels with the other.
Rhyme: Just- shut up.
Joshua flinched a little. Internally, he was impressed with how authoritative Rhyme was able to become, externally, he knew he screwed up.
Rhyme: *What*. *Did*. *It*. *Say*?
Joshua wasn't sure how to sliver out of the conversation.
Then it hit him. That smell.
Joshua: Good god.
Joshua ran deeper into the room. Rhyme chasing after him.
Rhyme: HEY!
Rhyne junped on top of Joshua pulling him to the floor.
Rhyme: Answer the question you son of a-!
Then they both saw it. In the back of the room, amongst the boxes and equipment was the remains of- someone. Almost like someone had literally sucked the life out of them.
Rhyme: That's-
Joshua was trying to get up, but he wasn't particularly in the ideal conditions to shove off someone who likely had much more muscle than him. Which, granted, wasn't saying much of anything.
Joshua: I knew this wasn't just a reapers hideaway but- this is inhuman...
Joshua tapped Rhyme on her side to get off. With great hesitation, she stood up.
After wiping himself off from the gritty and grimy ground, Joshua continued.
Joshua: This is the home of a rogue reaper.
Rhyme: "Rogue Reaper"? You mean, like, they actually rebelled? "Fight the power" and all that?
Joshua: Yes.
Rhyme: Huh. Reapers are essentially fighting for their lives. So I guess I'm more surprised I haven't seen more rebel.
Joshua: Well, the higher ups keep it hush hush to prevent giving anyone else ideas.
There was a pause. Joshua had to change the subject. Quick.
Rhyme: But then how-?
Joshua: Do you see why we have to leave now?
Joshua started for the doorway.
Joshua: If we leave now we can-
Rhyme: How do you know about them?
...
Joshua: That's not important-
As Joshua turned around, he was met with Rhyme holding a card against him. He wasn't sure which one, but it was a weapon none the less.
Joshua: What the hell are you- are you asking for trouble?!
Rhyme let out a small chuckle to herself.
Rhyme: Whatever powers you have, they're obviously not strong enough to do anything. Between those, the flying, extremely cocky attitude, and a lot of inate knowledge and criticisms of the reapers game: tell me.
How
Do
You
Know?
The tension was so thick, you couldn't have broken through with a jackhammer.
There Joshua was, desperately weakened and trying to still play god. It seemed like it had finally caught up to him. But, he decided, he might need to give this whole "trusting your partner" thing a shot after all...
Joshua: I-
Joshua let out a sigh of defeat.
Joshua: I'm the composer for Shibuya.
Rhymes lowered the card as her expression changes multiple times in a frighteningly short span. Confusion, anger, determination. Then, Rhyme fixated on Joshua, as if recalling something.
Rhyme: Then- you- you're the one who killed-
Joshua: Oh. He told you about that didn't he?
Rhyme, face now extremely pale, was frozen.
Joshua: Well, I hope your happy. After all that-
Rhyme: What did the file say? Tell me. I have to know.
Joshua looked down at the floor, contemplating.
Joshua: I honestly don't think you'd understand.
Rhyme: LIKE HELL I WOULDN'T!
Rhyme threw the card at the wall next to her in frustration. Small chunks of the concrete wall flew across the room. Rhyme leaned on the wall.
Rhyme: How conceited are you? I'm human too. Contrary to what you may think, I'm sure.
Joshua: Yes, but this goes above you! Above Neku! Probably above me. But, I'm the only one who's had any experience with this sort of thing before. You know nothing about the reapers game.
Rhyme: More than you know...
Joshua: Oh? Really? Then please, tell me who was it that brought you back to life after you died halfway through your first game?
Rhyme: ...
Joshua: I thought so.
Joshua paced the room, messing with his hair.
Joshua: You, your idiot of a brother, that tramp of a woman. All of you were worthless. Nothing. Ultimately serveing as pawns in a game of chess played by gods. Gods who, mind you nearly wiped Shibuya clean.
Joshua stood arms crossed in front of Rhyme, who was still trying to grasp all of the information being thrown at her. Eventually, she walked over to the sleeping bag and slumped against the wall.
Rhyme: Did you know what my entry fee was?
There it was. Joshua was anticipating this question all week. Now that it was posed, he actually felt awkward about it.
Joshua: ... Yes.
Rhyme: Then tell me. Why would a god take something like that? What purpose does it serve anyone?
Joshua: I don't think you get the point of-
Rhyme slammed her fist on the sleeping bag, paper flying out from underneath.
Rhyme: WHAT DON'T I GET!? THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A BETTER PERSON?! THAT MY FRIENDS ARE ALL THAT REALLY MATTER RIGHT?
Rhyme tore the sleeping bag open, letting loose even more papers. She stops. Breathing heavily, but slowly.
Rhyme: That my life means goddamn nothing...
Rhyme kicked the papers across the floor. One landed near Joshua's foot. It was a strange symbol he hadn't recognized. But his mind being preoccupied, he simply kicked it away.
Joshua scratched his head.
Joshua: That reminds me: how did you- you know...
Rhyme: Die?
...
Rhyme let out another deep breath.
Rhyme: I ran away. I didn't know what to do with myself. I remembered how my parents treated my brother, who was in a similar boat. So I just said... F-it. I'm not putting up with that. So I came here to Shinjuku.
Joshua: Getting warmer...
Rhyme gave Joshua a glaring side eye.
Rhyme: I got mixed up with bad people. Ok?
Joshua: Does it have anything to do with that scar on the side of your head?
Rhyme flinched when mentioning of the scar.
Rhyme: I- well...
Joshua: Did you get shot too?
Rhyme continued to gave Joshua a threatening glare. She sighed, rubbing the scar wuth her beanie still concealing it.
Rhyme: That's not important. What's important, is that they're gone now. Those- bad people.
Joshua: Oh really? How so?
Rhyme: Well, I guess you could say that another group of bad people got pissed at them.
Joshua: Ah. Gang war. So then, you were all executed I'm guessing?
Rhyme flinched again with the word execute. She burried her face into her knees, seemingly trying to compose herself.
Rhyme: You know, I came to Shinjuku to find myself, and I think I did. Just not in the way that I hoped.
There was a moment of silence.
Joshua: God, your all so petty.
Rhyme stood, fists clenched.
Rhyme: What? Because you're so much better?
Joshua: Better? Please, I deal with far more pertinent things than self worth.
Rhyme: How conceited can you be? Just because you're the composer-
Joshua: YOU THINK I WANT THIS JOB?!
Joshua stopped himself. I taking a breath himself. He fiddled with his hair.
Joshua: I didn't ask to play god. Hell, I don't even remember when it started.
...
Joshua: I hope you realize that death is ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Rhyme: How can you say such a thing-
Joshua: Simple, you die, you play this game. You win it, and you come back to life. It's a constant balance of clinging to life for a long as you can. At first, it's so very much worth it...
But what happens when you win? When you keep winning? You get noticed and brought on to be a successor? Next thing you know, you can live forever. But at what cost?
...
Joshua: I have no life. I do what's needed for existence's sake. The existence of the people that stumble, bumble, and destroy not only their own, but others lives. It's pathetic. It's disgusting... God-
Joshua grips his forehead, grimacing.
Joshua: I should have just wiped Shibuya off the face of the planet when I could...
Rhyme takes a second to look around the room once last time.
Rhyme: We should leave.
Joshua: Right...
...
The two exit the building. Rhyme looked around the corner of the building to check for reapers or noise.
Rhyme: All clear.
Joshua: One last thing-
Joshua: Once we return, we shouldn't say a word about what we talked about in there. Got it? All of that stays in that building.
Rhyme: Sure.
Joshua sneered, letting let out a sigh of impatience.
Joshua: Listen, I know we hate each other. That's whatever. But we still need to cooperate to live.
Rhyme: Well that's rich.
Rhyme turned her head back to Joshua. They locked eyes as the tension returned.
Joshua: Well? After you.
Rhyme raised an eyebrow as she performed one last check around the block and walked out. Joshua followed.
They found themselves in front of the station. The warm sun beaming down, people filtering in and out with ease, all in a hurry to reach some job or vacation activity. The duo sat on a nearby bench and reflected. Joshua leaned back while Rhyme leaned forward. It was an awkward feeling.
Joshua: I'm... Sorry.
Rhyme sat idle. Seemingly trying to zone him out. Joshua furrowed his brow and continued.
Joshua: I was a bit... Forward, perhaps. In my trying to peice that place together.
Joshua turned his head to a nearby foreign family walking to their next tourist destination. With the youngest pulling their father along with excitement for their next venture.
Joshua: I know you think life is hard now. But I promise, it gets worse before it gets better.
Rhyme: Uh- thanks?
Joshua: ... You're probably in the worst of it.
Rhyme turned her head to Joshua, who's still watching the family.
Rhyme: I'm- sorry if I lost my cool. I guess. Ever since the reapers game last year- I've essentially lost my identity. Like, who am I? What's my purpose? Am I supposed to have purpose? I don't know if I'll know.
Joshua closed his eye and crossed his legs as the cool breeze ran through the plaza.
Joshua: You know, Rhyme. Just because you're lost in this world doesn't mean you can't make more out of it. Nor does it mean that you can't find yourself. Ultimately, like I said, death should be seen as meaningless in the grand scheme of things. But maybe that just because I'm the composer. I'm programmed to think like that I guess. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to gain from that mindset.
Rhyme: Like what?
Joshua: A friend would always tell me that the world ends with me. That I have to expand my horizons or some crap. Truthfully, I don't think I ever really bought into that.
Rhyme: Why does it have to end?
Joshua: Sorry?
Rhyme: Why does the world have to end with me? Can't it start with me? I dunno. I feel like in this sea of people, I'm the only one that's this lost.
Joshua pondered the sentiment for a moment. This was Hanekoma's thing. He was never the greatest at philosophical discussions. But as he thought about it, something came to mind.
Joshua: Well- then let's say that your existence begin with you. You make out of live what you can. If anyone tries to hinder that, cut ties... I guess.
Rhyme: That- wasn't half bad.
Rhyme: I guess then- I should also be thanking you...
Joshua: Oh? What for?
Rhyme: Bringing me back to life. You didn't have to do that, I don't think.
Joshua: Don't flatter yourself. It was for Neku.
Rhyme raised an eyebrow.
Rhyme: You- like him a fair bit, don't you?
Joshua's gaze to out to the world glazed over. Did he have feelings for Neku? He had assumed that was the case, but there was always something that bothered him about the idea. He couldn't put his finger on it.
Joshua: Maybe... I guess- I dunno, I need to understand what it means to "feel" in that way.
Rhyme glanced at her hand. The timer was gone. She didn't notice when that happened, but at this point, she was too emotionally drained to care. She let out a sigh and curled up on the seat letting the sleep try and take her.
Joshua: Say, Rhyme?
Rhyme: Hrm?
Joshua: Do you think- that Neku might let me tag along with you all at some point? It doesn't have to be anytime soon, just- I dunno, maybe in the future?
Rhyme smirked at him.
Rhyme: Yoshiya, you're the type to assert yourself whether you're wanted or not.
Joshua scratched his head. Was that supposed to be a compliment or insult?
Joshua followed Rhymes example and dozed off as well. The two of them, exhausted on the bench as the sun set in the distance, had fallen fast asleep.
Day 4: Closing Observations