Shiki quickly yet precisely pierced the needle through the cloth. She had been sewing yet another one of Eri's new designs. Shiki was sure this one would be their newest masterpiece.
"How's it going? Turning out well?" asks Rhyme curiously. Shiki nods without looking away from work. She's become a master of multitasking as of late. "Hopefully you're close to a stopping point. Wouldn't want your work to get interrupted by the conductor."
"It's time already?" Shiki asks, looking away from her work to glance at the clock
"Yeah, you paying any attention Shiki?" Beat asks from the other end of the room.
"Are you gonna pretend I didn't just remind you only a minute ago as well?" Rhyme teases
"Bwaaah! You didn't have to say that out loud. . ." Shiki and Rhyme giggle at Beat's expense, but beat shakes it off and laughs along with them. "What'd you think he's gonna talk about anyways?" Beat asks
"Hmm. . . maybe another change to the game structure?" Rhyme suggests "Like how we switched from having a bunch of partners to a team system."
"Mhm, that was a fun change," says Shiki
"For like, a week. Then those lame-ass Ruinbringers came around and ruined it for everyone."
"You can say that again. . ." the three reapers look over at the conductor as he enters the room. "Everything has been a mess ever since they started using their wish to go another round every week," says Neku.
"'Sup phones? You coming to announce some changes?" Beat asks. Neku however, shakes his head.
"I wish. Joshua hasn't permitted any changes to the game." There is a collective groan from the reapers as Neku announces this.
"Just another week huh? That's fine though. I can work an update to the RSN while I work." Says Rhyme as she grabs her nearby laptop and walks out Beat following suit. Shiki's about to get up and take her work back home, when she's stopped by Neku.
"Hold on Shiki, there's one thing I wanted to talk to you about." She turns to face him, curiosity filling her mind.
"Hmm? What is it?" she asks.
"Joshua has entrusted you with being this week's game master. Thought you'd want to know." Shiki is caught off guard by this.
"Really? Are you sure? I don't think I could do something like that . . ." Shiki argues. Neku laughs a little, before brushing some stray hair out of Shiki's face.
"I know you can do it Shiki. You're stronger than you think." Shiki is silent for a moment, unable to think of a response. But she manages to smile.
"Alright. I'll make sure to give this week's game my own personal touch!" she says gleefully.
"I look forward to seeing it then," says Neku, a large smile growing on his face. The two lean into each other and share a kiss, albeit for a moment, before separating themselves from one another.
"Good luck, and go get some rest," says Neku.
"Thanks. I will," says Shiki, brushing her hair with her hand before leaving the room. The game goes on with Shiki as the game master, while Beat, Neku, and Rhyme continued their regular duties as reapers until the second day came to a close.
"Yo, those Wicked Twister guys sure leavin' an impression," says Beat mockingly.
"Mhm. Zero points on the second day, it's like they want to be erased or something. . . " says Rhyme, typing away on her laptop as usual.
"They still have plenty of time though, they may beat out the deep river society if they try hard enough," Neku suggests. Just as he says this, Shiki enters the room, her phone in one hand, and Mr. Mew in the other.
"They may not need to try," she says, as she sets her phone down on the nearby table. The other three reapers take a look at her phone and are shocked at the sight of Sho Minamimoto in the picture.
"Yo, isn't that guy supposed to be dead?" Beat asks. Neku nods.
"Joshua and I dealt with him when he gained a taboo form. The only explanation is that someone went out of their way to revive pi-face." Neku explains.
"What should we do Neku?" asks Rhyme.
"I'll have to tell Joshua about this and see what he has to say. Besides that, all we can do is watch," says Neku, before the room falls to silence. Beat and Rhyme take this as a sign and they exit the room, taking their things with them, and leaving the two reapers to themselves.
"Did you want to talk about something?" Shiki asks.
"I just-" Neku says before cutting himself off. He thinks for a moment and speaks again. "Sho is dangerous. Can you promise me you'll come back safely by the end of the last day?" Neku asks, his facial expression turning somber. Shiki caresses Neku's right cheek and looks into his eyes, before pulling him in for a short kiss. Before stepping away.
"I promise."
As time passes, the final day of the week comes and goes. Beat and Rhyme wait on the edge of their seats for Neku and Shiki to arrive, to announce who had won this week's game, while Joshua sat patiently, the smug look on his face everpresent.
"Yo, those Wicked Twisters might actually have a shot of winning." Beat says, full of energy.
"Yeah. They actually made a massive comeback over the last few days. They even destroyed the Ruinbringers during the turf war." says Rhyme, with a dumb-looking smile on her face.
"I must admit, I too am looking forward to this. A game hasn't been this close in a long time," says Joshua. The three look over as the doors to the room open, revealing Neku behind it.
"Yo, phones! What's it look like? Did the twisters win?" Beat asks, full of excitement. But Neku says nothing as he takes slow steps into the room. "Phones? You good?" Rhyme looks over to his hand, which is closed into a fist.
". . . What's in your hand?" she asks nervously. Neku opens his palm, to reveal a black and white pin, with an image of a cat-like noise imprinted on it. "No. . ." Rhyme says shakily.
"Shiki. . . is she really?" Beat asks, afraid to even hear the answer.
"He erased her. . . Sho erased . . ." Neku can't even finish what he was saying, as he falls to his knees, clutching the pin. Beat, Rhyme, and Joshua rush over to Neku as he begins to visibly cry.
"Joshua. . . please. . . ." Neku looks up to his friend. "Please. . . bring her back. . ." Joshua's usual smug expression is gone. Joshua is pained at the sight of Neku on his knees, begging for him to bring Shiki back. Joshua slowly nods. He takes the pin from Neku and closes his eyes, before an incredible light fills the room, blinding the three reapers for a moment.
Once the light dims, Shiki can be seen lying on the floor in front of Joshua. She is still, and unconscious, but her slow breathing shows she's fine. Neku clutches her body as tears continue to flow from his eyes.
"Thank you. . . thank you. . ." Joshua nods and gets up to leave the four to themselves. Beat and Rhyme help Shiki to one of the sofas where she can rest comfortably, while the three of them took seats nearby to discuss what they should do for the next week.
"What should we do? We can't play these games normally with Sho around," says Rhyme
"Yeah, he's become a greater threat than we thought." Says Neku. He turns to look at Rhyme directly. "Rhyme, I want you to be this week's game master." Rhyme and Beat are caught off guard by this statement.
"Wait, really? Why now?" She asks.
"We need the games to look normal, to seem ordinary like nothing happened," says Neku. he turns to face Beat next. "Beat, while Rhyme here runs the game, I want you to keep an eye on Sho, and if you see the opportunity, erase him."
"Ohh, I see what you're saying no. Don't worry phones. I got this." Beat says
"I'll do my best as game master as well. We won't let you down Neku," says Rhyme.
"Thanks, both of you." Neku turns to look at Shiki. "We need to be careful, and give this our all. We can't let this happen again." Beat and Rhyme turn their attention to Shiki as Neku does.
"You care about her a lot huh?" Rhyme asks, to which Neku nods.
"Not just her, but you all as well. Without you, my world would crumble. . . If something bad to were to happen to you guys. . . to Shiki. . . I'd. . ." Neku takes a deep breath. "I'd erase the real world for you guys if it meant keeping you safe. . ."
