(Wow. You're, like, stronger than I thought.) Neku stood across the tables, staring down Hayai who just gave him a wave and smile. All he could focus on was her almost unconcerned attitude she had towards this game. (What am I talking about? She's completely unconcerned.) It was almost as though this was just something fun to do and had no bigger meaning. (I'd expect that kind of mentality actually. But Yammer and Shooter usually take this stuff pretty seriously, and it shows in how they manage to be pretty tough. Her attitude is so contradictory to them it's a bit off putting."
"Youready?" Hayai asked, snapping Neku out of his thoughts.
"Yeah. Ready anytime."
"Sweet! I'mreadytowinitandtakehomethatbigtrophyorplaqueorwhatevertheyhandtothewinner. Iknowmybrotherwilllikewhateveritis,he'skidnofanacheivementnutifyoucanbelieveit. I'm reallysurprisedyoubeathimhonestly,itseemslikeyoureallyknowyourstuffwiththisgame,andI'mbettingthiswillbealotoffunandarealchallenge!"
"…S-Same." Neku replied, still trying to fully comprehend what she said. It wasn't long before the loudspeakers came on.
"Alright slammers! We're down to our last competitors of the day! In this corner, the black and blue beating machine of the pin world, Neku Sakuraba!" (Where did he even get that description!?) "And in this corner, a relative mystery to the game, but not to the art of conversation at double speed, Hayai Nigen-sei!"
"Thanksforthecompliment,IpridemyselfonmyabilitytogetacrossmypointasquicklyaspossiblesoIapprecciatewhenpeoplerecognizemyskill!"
"If you caught that on the first go, you're a smarter man than me! But that's less important as her Tin Pin skills! As both our competitors have made it this far, this will be a match up of the best of the best! Sparks will fly, pins will clash, and one person will walk away with a gift certificate for 100,000 yen appliable to any store in 104!" (Damnit, should have known the prize would have been something like that…wouldn't have even minded a little plaque.) "Now, it's time for the slamming of the century! SLAM ON!"
Neku started with his signature Shockwave, launching it in as Hayai met him with Her Royal Higness, adding a spin that almost send Shockwave off the ring upon contact. (Damn, that's a fast pin!) Neku immediately went into bomber, intent to smack her pin only to be met by her pulling out Stinger right before he made contact and stunning Neku's Shockwave. With a swift swirl and strike, Shockwave was knocked off and knocked back on with his one Hand. Her Royal Highness seem to bounce around the ring, never staying in one place for more than half a second before launching itself at Shockwave, making Neku maneuver around at the last second to avoid taking a full frontal strike. (Alright, I think I've got her number.) At the next oncoming strike, Neku activated Striker. But right before she would have it, Hayai pulled backwards to Neku's shock. (Damn! Her mouth isn't the only thing that's faster than I can keep up with!) Switching tactics, Neku waited until she moved for another strike, this time retaliating by spinning his pin and maneuvering around her as she blew past the spot he was in. With a quick flick, Neku spun back around and used her momentum to send her flying off the board with her own momentum. (Got her!) Before he could react, Shockwave was suddenly smacked by another pin sending it flying off the board. (What!?) She had loaded her second pin, Sparkle Charge, onto the board while he was taking out her first pin.
"Wow,youtookoutmyfirstpin! You'realmostasquickasIam. GuessI'llhavetogetabitmoreserious!" Neku sent out his next pin, Pyrokinesis, and rushed at Sparkle Charge, only to be smack by another pin, Speed Factor, from out of nowhere.
"What the-!?"
"Oh man! We've got an incredible player here folks. Seems she's learned the skills of our Tin Pin forefathers and can wield more than one pin! This final match is heating up!" (Rgh! Outnumbered now…but not out!) Both pins raced around Pyrokinesis and Neku worked double time to dodge their strikes, only barely dodging one before another came it to strike. Neku had to activate his bomber ability everytime he almost got stricken and anytime he set up to strike back, she either activated Stinger or managed to swipe out of danger before he struck. Luckily for him, she didn't expect his other skill. Neku launched Pyrokinesis forward at Speed Factor and she immediately activated Stinger, only for Neku to pull back at the last second just enough to stop in front of it and activate his Hammer, stunning Speed Factor before it was smacked of the board just as quick. (Yes!) Neku was quick to dodge Sparkle Charge's retaliation, and even the surprise inclusion of Handsfree Healing coming from out of nowhere. The only thing he couldn't expect was Drake getting thrown in and smacking Pyrokinesis off at which point Neku activated Hand. But as he was knocked back onto the board, he was hit with a triple strike too coordinated to avoid.
"Shoot!"
"Three Pins!? We've got a prodigy here folks! Even more impressive is her coordinated movements; most players end up smack into themselves but she hasn't even grazed her own pins!" Neku looked up at Hayai who didn't give him her usual happy go-lucky smile, but something with a hint of smug confidence. (Alright, this is starting to click a lot more.)
Neku took a deep breath before he launched his next pin. (I've tried this once or twice…but it's never quite worked as well as I wanted…but something tells me I can't afford to lose to her. So I guess it's now or never!) With a quick flick of his wrist, Neku spun his next pin onto the board, Force Round, before snapping his other hand forward to launch another pin, Thunderbolt.
"…Interesting." Hayai said with a smile.
"And Neku has pulled out another pin! There's no telling what could happen now!"
"Seems like a rather stirring turn of events. I suppose anything can happen when you play this game for two straight weeks." (Is…Is Joshua in the booth? Focus Neku!) Neku was a bit rough in his movements with both pins, but now Hayai had to separate her forces so she didn't get sidelined, and Neku could handle two against one odds. For as fast as she was, his skills were still sharp enough to make her jump the gun and get hammered before she could do anything. With a quick strike, he had knocked both Drake and Handsfree Healing off the board, and even managed to reduce Sparkle Charge to its last Hand charge. Although all the ability slinging had reduced Thunderbolt and Force Round down to nothing, making them easy fodder for her last pin, Visionary Blend to smack out without too much effort.
Neku was left with his last two pins, Psychokinesis and Cure Drink. As was Hayai with her Sparkle Charge and Visionary Blend. Hayai chuckled.
"Wow…you're better than I thought." (…It's somehow creepier when she talks normal.)
"It's not over yet."
"Right. Then let's head for the end, shall we?" Hayai's pins raced around the board even faster, moving in a star pattern that boxed in Neku's pins. Both her pins hit each other at angles that kept the momentum going until it was a blur of lines that resembled chains around the field. (My pins are toast if they touch those lines…but if I can do it…) Neku sent Cure Drink at one of the lines, quickly followed by its Hammer ability, which he forced to its limit, running the Hammer as it rushed at the line, creating a spinning pin barrier. When both lines connected, Cure Drinks hammer disappeared and Sprakle Charge sat there stunned. Neku quickly followed by activating Psychokinesis's Bomber and smashing into Visionary Blend as it slowed down from losing half its momentum. With Hayai's pins stunned, Neku focused his attention on Sparkle Charge, knocking it off to burn its last Hand before smashing into it with a double strike from both Pins that took it out of the fight. (Down to one.) Hayai wasted no time, spinning her pin around the board as quickly as she could. Without two pins, and focusing all her energy, she was even faster than the first match, almost creating line barrier on her own that Neku on his toes. He utilized Psychokinesis's bomber, striking forward at points he anticipated Visionary Blend would travel and using Cure Drink as bait to catch her. The strategy seemed to work, catching her twice and knocking three of Visionary Blend's hands off before she caught Psychokinesis with her hammer and knocked it off the field.
"We're down to our last pins! It's still anybody's game as we reach the climax!" (Almost there…) Back down to one pin and pushed to the edge, Neku was incredibly focused, running Cure Drink around the board to build up momentum to match Visionary Blend as best as he could but falling short three times, reducing all of Cure Drink's Hands. (It has a higher spin value…I have to be careful.) Unfortunately, with Cure Drink's Hammer burned in one move, all Neku had left was Striker which was only defensive. (…Alright…I'm gonna need to watch closely.) Cure Drink and Visionary Blend slammed against each other from every angle and as they reached to smash against each other again, at the last second, Neku activated striker, just catching Visionary Blend before Hayai could pull back and stunning the pin. Neku smacked Visionary Blend off the board, removing its last Hand as it bounced back on. (This is it.) Hayai smiled again, whipping her pin around and creating a momentum loop that had Neku shaking in his corner as it built. (I can do this…) Round and round she spun, creating a small gust of wind before she shot Visionary Blend at Neku with all her built-up speed. (…NOW!) Within almost a fraction of a second before contact, Neku activated striker, stopping Visionary Blend in its track and stunning it. Before anyone could even gasp, Neku spun around and slammed Hayai's last pin of the board. "GAME OVER! NEKU SAKURABA HAS WON THE TIP PIN TOURNAMENT!" (I…I did it…yeah!)
A flurry of cheers and applause filled the arena as Neku just took a deep and shaky breath after the intense match he just had. (That was…too intense for a children's game to be.)
"WOOOOOOOOH! NEKU!" Neku looked over to see Eri cheering his name as loud as possible as Beat seemed more than eager to join her.
"WAY TO KICK IT PHONES!" The rest of the group gave various cheers with Joshua giving a steady clap. Neku turned to look at Hayai who quietly picked up her pins and placed them in her pocket. When she looked at Neku, the confident aura she exuded during the tail end of the match seemed to have been replaced by her previous disposition.
"Wowyouwerereallytough! IthoughtIhadyouneartheendbutthenyouwereveenfasterthanme! You'rereallycoolifyoucankeepupwithme,weshouldbeBFF's!"
"…Thanks." (It's almost like she tuned down.)
After Neku collected his prize, he and the others left Tipsy Toes Hall. Above them, the sun was starting to descend, leaving the sky a light orange.
"Oh, it's gotten that late?" Eri said in shock. "Sorry guys but I've gotta get home. I'll see you at school!" With a wave, Eri started jogging her way home.
"I should probably get home too." Nina added. "My mom might scold me if I miss curfew. Th-This was a lot of fun though. Bye." With that, she made her way to the bus stop.
"I have to say, that match came out to be rather unnatural." Joshua mused.
"Agreed." Shiki added. "Something about that match just wasn't right."
"Almost like her pins were way more powerful than they should have been." Rhyme added.
"Think she was cheatin?" Beat asked.
"Not the word I'd use." Neku said. "It would only be cheating if she had modified her pins and not her psyche." Beat looked confused at this before giving a look of shock to match Shiki and Rhyme as Joshua just smirked. An aggravated female yell had them all turn to see Yashiro and Kariya still nearby.
"Where did those twerpy twins go!?"
"Guess they shifted away."
"Not funny Kariya."
"Who said I was joking?"
"We're supposed to be keeping tabs on those stupid fallen angels and we can't even see when they're under our noses!"
"So I was right." Neku said intervening on their conversation. "They weren't human."
"Yep." Kariya answered. "Although we couldn't quite piece it together until your match with that girl. She really wanted to beat you for some reason."
"So much she blew her cover?" Shiki asked.
"But the bro didn't even do that and still lost." Beat added.
"I think it's safe to say which one of them is the impulsive one." Joshua said.
"Like it matters!" Yashiro yelled. "In the end they slipped through our fingers. Had I been able to blast her while she was playing-"
"You would have caused a panic." Kariya said in a very manner of fact way.
"Ugh, I know. It's just so annoying." Suddenly, a beeping could be heard. Everyone looked around in confusion before Neku and Joshua pulled out their phones. (What the- The radar is still on our phones?)
"Seems two large spikes of energy just cropped up close by." Joshua said. "One in Cadoi City, and another in the Udagawa Backstreet."
"Great, more goose chases."
"Still gotta check 'em out." Kariya said and Yashiro growled.
"Then let's split up." Neku suggested. "One group takes Cadoi City and the other takes Udagawa."
"Why are you so gung-ho to help us?" Yashiro asked.
"They've been messing with us for a while now and I want to know why."
"Pft, fine. Just don't get in our way."
Joshua took Shiki and Rhyme with him to check out Cadoi City while Neku, Beat, Yashiro and Kariya checked Udagawa Backstreet. Given it's frequency for nastier entities popping up, everyone agreed that Udagawa would probably be the more dangerous location.
Stepping up to the graffiti wall and looking around, they were surprised to find nothing was out of the ordinary. The area seemed a bit emptier than usual but there was no weird energy coming off the place…just a quietness they couldn't quite place.
"Anyone else on edge?" Beat asked.
"It's too quiet." Kariya said in agreement. What followed was the echo of a snap that reverberated down the whole street. Before their eyes, the entire area around them shifted, removing anyone else in the area and leaving them alone. (…Was that-)
"Kariya, did we just-"
"I'm afraid we did Uzuki." Suddenly, a slew of Taboo Noise surrounded them.
"Great, these guys." Beat said crouching into his battle stance and brandishing his skateboard.
"Well, guess we're working overtime today." Kariya commented and Yashiro sighed.
"This better get me promoted." (Let's go!)
Despite it being a while since his last run in with Taboo Noise, Neku still fell into the motion of fighting them. Passing the excess energy between him and Beat as they struck one after the other. Neku striking with a Piercing Pillar followed by Beat smashing into them with his board. Yashiro and Kariya did the same, performing more area attacks. Yashiro making quick shots before Kariya launched explosions in high density spots.
"Keep up lollipop! We still got a lot to take out!" Beat yelled swinging his board through a wave of them before Kariya sent a wave of Shurikens that slice through them.
"Come on kid, we haven't got all day!" Yashiro yelled firing blue flower bullets that sliced through a group of Taboo Noise which Neku followed up with a lighting bolt that ran through and erased them. Although they kept up with the slew of noise being thrown at them, the waves didn't seem to dissipate at all, instead growing larger as they fought on. Even with a unison strike from both parties, they didn't seem to be lessening the divide between them and the noise. "AGH! Will you stupid noise just stay dead!?"
"Or at least stop multiplying!" Neku added with an equal level of annoyance.
"Anything we can do to put the odds back in our favor?" Beat asked. (Not unless we can create an explosion that can catch all of them…hang on…) Neku reached into his pocket and pulled out his Fusion Pin. He thought back to when he fought side by side with Konishi. (Maybe it can work the same way here…but with four? Worth a shot.)
"Keep up the assault."
"That's not working!" Yashiro yelled.
"Just trust me!"
"Alright Phones. Show us your big plan." Kariya said and Yashiro rolled her eyes. All four of them kept up the fight, striking as a team for every Taboo noise they faced. As they did, along with a snes of exhaustion that started to encroach on Neku, he felt a certain level of syncopation start to click in his brain; from the look on the others faces, he could only assume they were feeling it to. When he looked down at his fusion pin, he saw it had changed into a design he didn't recognize, a large-scale absorption of different colors that all met an explosion in the middle.
"NOW!" On cue, everyone reconvened as Neku clenched the pin in his hand and rose to the air with the others. Behind them a large mass of energy had formed, and as a group, all four of them hurled the mass at the ground, creating a giant explosion of psyche energy that absorbed the Taboo Noise entirely, leaving only the four of them left.
Neku collapsed to the ground in utter exhaustion. (That's it. I'm done for the day. No more high-tension events for at least a month, maybe more.) Beat took a long breath before giving his signature goofy grin.
"Man, that was awesome! I didn't know we could do that!"
"Under normal circumstances you shouldn't be able to." Yashiro said. "That was more energy than any pair can create."
"But a foursome…that might be doable." Kariya added. "Not bad thinking Phones."
"Not bad execution on your end." Beat answered. "Now how about getting us out of this place Pinky?"
"What makes you think I can do that?" She asked and Beat shrugged.
"I figured since you's all mean that you know what to do."
"Who are you calling mean you brat!" Neku took a moment to look around them. Other people had returned to the area.
"I think we're already back." He said and the others looked around in confusion.
"Huh, guess our captors dumped us back where they grabbed us." Kariya simplified.
"Ugh, annoying." Yashiro commented. Neku pulled out his phone to check the tracker; the energy signature in both spots had completely disappeared.
"The energy is gone."
"Fantastic…well, now we know someone is manipulating Taboo Noise."
"And they really don't like any of us gettin in their way." Beat added.
"They never do." Kariya added with a sigh. "But we're not going to find anymore clues today. Uzuki?"
"Yeah, I know. I owe you a bowl." They turned to take their leave before Yashiro stopped and tossed a pin at Neku. The design was Uzuki's gun firing one of its pink flower rounds, "…Thanks for the assistance…but don't get in over your head." With those last words, they walked off leaving Beat and Neku there.
"Guess Pinky wanted to say thanks?" Beat said.
"She needs to do it in a better way." Neku commented looking down at his new pin. (But I guess this is better than nothing.) Neku looked back at Udagawa. He was expecting to find one of the twins here, or even a hint as to who they were…but it seemed like they were shiftier and more elusive than the last two he ran into. (Feels like getting any answers is impossible unless we can beat it out of them…but I don't think me and Beat would have stood a chance against them…isn't there a better way to find out what's going on?) In that moment, Neku thought back to the one person he knew who always gave him a straight answer. (Maybe…maybe it's time to actually address the elephant in the room…or in this case, the cat in the café.)