"I can make everyone know who I am."
She poured through a collection of old newspaper clippings she'd found at the library. According to Joshua, he had never left Shibuya, even when he'd been alive, and according to Neku, the Kiryus were the richest family in the district for a really long time. Such a legacy was bound to be covered in the papers, and she was bound to find something about the Composer's past life.
She found something all right.
A picture. Of Joshua.
Rather...a picture of Joshua's corpse.
HEIR TO INDUSTRIAL EMPIRE FOUND DEAD AT THE DOORWAY OF FAMILY'S FIRM! Read the headline KIRYUS DENY ACCUSATIONS OF STARVING THE BOY AFTER CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED!
Rhyme gasped as she read the article. Aparently, Joshua was the sole heir to Daichi Kiryu's mass industrial fortune. His mother, Sasha, was quoted as saying that 'Joshua was a wonderful boy. A little flighty perhaps, but intelegent beyond his years, especially in the business department.' When asked about his...cause of death, she said 'I knew something was wrong when he refused to eat supper, opting instead to go to his room and sleep. Daichi blamed it on his new medication.'
Medication? For what? She read further, and a sick feeling crept into her gut as she found the answer.
'Joshua had such a big imagination, that we had to curb it somehow.' Daichi was quoted 'he claimed to have the sixth sense, seeing monsters and ghosts running around Shibuya...I just...I never imagined he'd do this to himself.'
Joshua could see the UG when he was alive.
That may have been why he barred others from receiving that same 'gift', even those that won the Game and knew about the other plane.
As she read further, it became pretty clear that Joshua's parents actually cared little about their son beyond the fact that he had been the sole heir to their empire. The only genuine statement she found was from Mister H, and she knew it was partly a front. The barista was a vital part of the Game, which Joshua no doubt had entered upon his death, so he knew the boy wasn't totally gone.
Rhyme closed the book with a sigh. Although the article had been interesting and a bit sad, it hadn't actually been very helpful. She supposed she would have to find out more about the mysterious Composer straight from his own mouth.
If he decided to share with her...
TWEWYTWEWYTWEWY
"You realize your life is about to get ten times more complicated if you actually go through with this crazy idea of yours."
The Composer chuckled
"It was getting a bit dull anyway. Besides, I've actually been thinking of doing this for a long time. Now I have a reason even the Council would approve."
Sanae raised an eyebrow at the glowing being on the ivory throne
"What reason would that be, Joshua?" he said almost mockingly "I doubt the Council cares about impressing one little girl."
"Something was stolen from me, Sanae! I just know it!" the Composer bit out, hitting his armrest with a fist "Something vital...Neku has it...Daisukenojo has it, Shiki has it...from the way she ogles Beat, Eri has it too! Couples in the train station have it...Shibuya herself has it! This...this THING I'm missing...everyone has it...So why don't I?! I used to...something tells me I used to, Sanae...but now..."
He hung his head "Now it's not...it's not there."
"And you think doing this...will help? You think Little Skulls will give it to you?"
Joshua cocked his head "That...remains to be seen. But she intregues me. Maybe it'll come back...the more time I spend with her. And I can't spend more time with her if I'm in the UG most of the time. That's why I'm doing all this."
Hanekoma sighed in reluctance "All right J, I'll smooth things over with the Council. You do what you think is right. You know I'll root for you."
The Composer grinned
"Thanks, Sanae."
