Day 4

Meg: Tick, tock, Minamoto. You're 9 minutes and 42 seconds late.

Minamimoto: Tick, tock, yourself, Konishi. Why are we even here? I can think of a decillion better ways to spend our time…than by having MEETINGS. Right, Megs?

Kitaniji: You will address him as "Mr. Kitaniji."

Meg: It's fine. Are we all here?

Minamimoto: Hey, Megs- Who's the bulldozer?

Meg: Meet Higashizawa-this session's Game Master. He'll be handling my affairs in my stead.

Higashizawa: You do me a great honor, sir. Watch! I will turn this week's fracas into a fricassee!

Minamimoto: You planning to erase them, or EAT them?

Meg: Yes, crack your jokes. But his skill is proven.

Kitaniji: That's right. Higashizawa excels-in tactics, intel, willpower, decisiveness, performance, his Player erasure rate… He surpasses our expectations on every count. A man of sound judgment like Mr. Kitaniji would not choose him otherwise. And he knows how to cooperate unlike some-

Minamimoto: Cooperation is garbage. Anyway, I'm out. This is subtracting from my arts and crafts time.

He left

Kitaniji: Wait just a- Mr. Kitaniji hasn't spoken yet!

Meg: Let him do what he wants.

Kitaniji: Yes, sir…

Meg: Now, then…Higashizawa. You're doing very well.

Higashizawa: Thank you, sir! Over half the Players have been erased. The plates have been licked… Dessert is imminent.

Meg: Excellent. I look forward to it. I spoke to the Composer about your promotion. We are in agreement.

Higashizawa: Thank you very much, sir.

Meg: I feel you are ready…but, I have one condition.

Higashizawa: What, sir? Name it.

Meg: I expect you, as my proxy in the Game, to leave no Player unerased.

Higashizawa: Fear not, sir. The proof is in the pudding. The pudding…of their doom.

Back to Neku, Dex-Starr and the others

Neku and Dex-Starr are waking up

Cue: Jump Over Yourself

Neku Yawwwn… Where am I now?

Shiki: Hey, you awake?

Dex-Starr: What are you doing?

B'dg: Just people-watching. I mean, look at them all… Shibuya's so diverse. And everybody's got their own story.

Neku's: Shibuya sucks. Who needs a town with this many people? All they do is get in the way and screech at each other. They're the REAL Noise. Wish I had a giant Mute button.

Beat: But yo, you ever try scanning 'em all? It's like havin' the radio on every channel at once.

Rhume: Yeah… Like everybody's values are all trying to come in the loudest. No other town compares.

Shiki: Shibuya's a battlefield.

Dex-Starr's Though: Yeah…It is kinda like that. A clash of creeds.

Streaky: But man… All these people, and they can't even see us.

Krypto: Yeah… Makes you sad, huh?

Dex-Starr's Though: Sad!? I'm thankful. Nobody sees me. Nobody bothers me. And nobody expects anything of me. This is like a dream. Once I survive the seven days, does the dream end? … But I do miss Atrocities and the Red Lantern.

Then their Phone and their Watch are beeping

Beat: Mission time, yo!

B'dg: Nothing the eight of us can't handle!

Krypto: Yeah!

They look at it

Streaky: "Reach Towa Records. No time limit. Fail, and face erasure.-The Reapers"

Shiki: Huh? No time limit? But…that's waaay simple!

Krypto: Towa Records is a ten-minute walk. Why wouldn't they set a time limit?

Beat: So we're just walkin' a couple blocks? Man. I was pumped for a brawl, yo!

Dex-Starr: Guess we don't need to team up.

Rhyme and Krypto look silent

Dex-Starr's Though: But this is too weird. Hundred yen says they've got something else up their sleeves.

Beat: Yo, hold up! I jus' got a great idea!

Meanwhile

Uzuki: Like, what gives, Kariya!? Who made today's mission for ages 3 and up!?

Kariya: Aight, easy, girl. Deep breaths. Stress is bad for your complexion.

Uzuki: Well, excuse me! Easy missions make me furious! Ugh. I need to go destroy some Players-

Kariya: Whoa, let's think about this. Put yourself in the Players' shoes. You've made it to Day 4, the mission's a breeze… What are you going to think?

Uzuki: Hmph… Point taken. Guess the boss thought it through.

Kariya: 'Sides… Days off are like love letters from the higher-ups. We can't go full blast all week. We'd never make it.

Uzuki: Please. Since when does your dial even GO to full blast?

Kariya: Details. Anyway, we've got our own orders straight from the boss.

Uzuki All right… You win. Let's see how this plays out.

Back to Neku and the other

Shiki: So what's your great idea?

Beat: How 'bout you two race us two, and we see who gets to Towa Records first?

Neku & Dex-Starr: Whaaat?

Beat: C'mon, Rhyme, le's book it!

Streaky: You too, K-Dog!

He and Beat ran off

Rhyme: Wha…huh!? Wait, Beat!

Krypto: Streaky! Wait for us!

B'dg: Heh heh… Beat and Streaky's got a lot of energy, huh?

Rhyme: Yeah. He keeps me on the ball. Sometimes he can get a little crazy, though. Beat's the one who asked me to be his partner.

Shiki saw a Pendent on Rhyme's Neck

Shiki: Wow, so you- Omigosh. Rhyme, is that what I think it is?

Rhyme: Huh? What?

Shiki: That pendant! Where did you find one?

Rhyme: Oh, this? Yeah, I heard they sold out quick. How'd you know about it?

Shiki: I saw it in a magazine. I looove following the latest clothes and accessories. Lucky…I wanted one sooo bad.

Rhyme: I'm sorry I can't give you mine. But it was a present from my brother.

B'dg: You've got a brother?

Rhyme: Yeah. Older. He's really nice. Hope he's OK…

Shiki: Oh, I'm sure he's doing great. And you'll see him soon!

Rhyme: Yeah… I hope so. So you're into fashion?

Shiki: Totally! I want to be a designer. I love making clothes. But right now it's just a hobby.

Krypto: I still think it's pretty cool. It must be nice to have a dream- to be head over heels about something. I don't know what it's like. Not really.

Shiki: Why not? You don't have any dreams?

Krypto: No… But when I look at Streaky I think: keep moving forward. Because someday my dream will find me.

Shiki: Yeah.

Rhyme: Beat's really good at skateboarding. He says his dream is to be the world's greatest skater. If he can do it, then so can I. Right, Shik-

Beat: YO, RHYME! Whatchu doin'? Move it! We don't want Phones to win!

Streaky: K-DOG! Can you hurry up! Come on! We can't let the Tiger Cat Win!

Krypto: Coming, Streaky!

Rhyme: Just a minute, Beat! Patience is a virtue! Well, I'd better go. See you at Towa Records!

She and Krypto went off

Shiki: Whoa! Beat and Streaky's just a speck now. Rhyme and Krypto must have a rough time keeping up.

Neku's Though: I'll say.

Shiki: So, um, shouldn't we hurry?

Dex-Starr: I never agreed to race. If he wants to run, good for him.

B'dg: Then we can slow down for a bit?

Neku: Sure, why not? There's no time limit, and those four have got a head start.

Shiki: So…we can take a little side trip?

Neku: Where are you going with this?

Shiki: Mind if we stop at Ten-Four?

Neku: …I guess not.

Shiki: Really? Thanks!

They went to 104, and they hid their Animal Companions in their Bags

Dex-Starr: Ugh… It's a zoo in here. Are they having a sale or what?

Shiki: No, silly. Ten-Four's always like this. Ah! Omigosh! That outfit!

Neku: Is that the line-

Shiki: You don't know how badly me and Eri-… Sorry…Me and my friend used to come here.

Neku's Though: …Friend? The girl on her phone?

Random fan girls: IT'S HIIIIIIM!

Neku & Dex-Starr: Noise!?

Shiki: Hey…Over there!

They saw a Man with all of his fangirls

Girl 1: The prince looks sooo hot! I gotta snap a photo with my phone!

Dex-Starr: Oh. Not Noise…Just noisy. Who is that guy?

Shiki: Eiji Oji. The Prince of Ennui? He's the latest superstar. People love his don't-give-damn attitude. His blog "F everything," gets 100,000 hits a day!

Neku: "F Everything"? What kind of blog is that?

Prince: Hmm? You, young man!

Shiki: Huh?

Their Animal Companions hid in their bag to make sure the Prince don't see them, or else they'll get kick out

Prince: What are you doing in Ten-Four if you can't even coordinate an outfit? Have you no sense of Shibuya's trends?

Neku's Though: (Who the… Sigh.)

Neku: Trends?

Shiki: Yeah, you know. Like what brands are hot?

Prince: Ah, the blessed voice of wisdom. At least one of you knows how to dress.

Shiki: I have to! Shibuya is every girl's war zone.

Neku: Good thing I'm not a girl…

Prince: You should know a trendy outfit can turn a pigsty into the loveliest of gardens. But you, in that outfit? It's like wrapping the rose of youth into a spicy tuna roll.

He left the store, and Des-Dex-S snickers at Neku after what the Prince said to him

Neku's Though: Arrogant snob. I am not…a…a spicy tuna roll!

Shiki: He's right, Neku and Dex-Starr. As long as we're here-

Dex-Starr: Nope. Don't need to wear something.

Neku: Oh, no. Count me out. I don't care about trends. I wear what I want to wear.

Shiki: Ugh, no, you can't do that! They call it a fashion statement for a reason! How you dress sends a clear message.

Neku's Though: Then I wish I had more zippers…so I could tell you to ZIP IT.

Shiki: Look, you've got potential. You could be sooo much cooler. And I KNOW fashion. C'mon, it's so easy to be trendy.

Dex-Starr and Neku look silent

Shiki: Well, I'm not going to force you. But your clothes… They're, um… …Not, like, bad, but… …

Neku & Dex-Starr: WHAT?

Shiki: Ahh! Nothing, nothing! Just forget I brought it up. …

Neku & Dex-Starr's Though: (Suddenly, I feel naked.)

Neku: So what's so great about trends?

Shiki: Oh! Changed your mind?

Neku: 'Course not. I'm just asking.

B'dg: Well, Shibuya's kind of unique. Trends here change really quickly. And they change YOU, and the people around you. So it's better for you if you can stay in control of them.

Neku: Better how?

Dex-Starr: Me and the Boy don't need help being cool.

Shiki: I know what I'm doing, Dex-Starr. I've been studying fashion bit by bit, so I can be a designer one day.

Dex-Starr: No kidding.

Shiki: I've always liked to sew. I started with little things like stuffed animals.

Dex-Starr and Neku knows why Shiki is holding that Stuff animal

Neku: So the one you're always carting around-you made that?

B'dg: Yup. The clothes She got on, too.

Dex-Starr: Seriously!? Wow. They look like what you'd buy in a store.

Shiki: Heh, thanks. But the clothes, I just sewed them. Eri did the design. She's the amazing one.

Neku's Though: (Eri? Oh. The girl from her phone.)

Shiki: I still have a lot to learn. But one day…

Dex-Starr: So that stuffed animal is your creation.

Shiki: I…I made him a long time ago, so he's not very good.

Neku: Why do you still have it? Stuffed animals are for kids.

Shiki: Shut up! This is my psych! How else am I gonna fight off the Noise?

Neku: That…is your psych? You mean…you use that piggy as a weapon?

Shiki: He's not a pig! He's a cat! Mr. Mew the cat!

Neku: "Mr. Mew"?

Dex-Starr's Though How is she? Three?

Shiki: Look, I only know how to use tele…whatever.

Dex-Starr: Telekinesis? OK, but why a stuffed animal? Couldn't you pick something more powerful? Like a knife or a…a lead pipe or something?

B'dg: She tried. But Mr. Mew was the only thing that worked. Besides, She's not really moving him. He just sort of does his own thing.

Neku: Umm… That's not telekinesis.

B'dg: Hmm… I guess not.

Neku's Though: The pig moves on its own? What if it's possessed-waiting to pork-chop us in the back of the head?

Shiki: I know he turned out awful, but…without him, I never would've started sewing for real.

Dex-Starr: So, a fashion designer, huh?

Shiki: Yup! I want to make clothes for a living. Nice clothes make people happy. And that makes me happy, too.

Dex-Starr's Though: Hmph. She's got her whole future planned out. Never woulda thought.

Neku: So that's why you're so picky about clothes.

Shiki: Heh heh, I try. But I still have a ways to go. There's so much to learn.

Neku: Cool.

Neku's Though: I didn't give her enough credit. She's got a dream. That's more than I can.

B'dg: Pay attention to the trends from now on, Neku and Dex-Starr.

They pay attention to him

B'dg: OK, let's head to Towa Records. Beat, Streaky, Krypto and Rhyme are probably waiting.

They went off, and Shiki look frustrating

Shiki: Ahh, enough! Just looking at you makes me cringe!

B'dg: Oh boy, here it comes.

Neku: What did I do!?

Dex-Starr's Though: What's gotten into her?

Shiki: It's coming loose.

Neku: Umm…

Neku's Though: What, your grip on reality?

Shiki: Neku… That button on your shorts.

Dex-Starr and Neku noticed what she means, Neku's button on his short has come loose.

Neku: Oh, yeah. What does it matt-

Shiki: It matters! I can't stand things like that!

Neku: Who care's? It's just a button.

Shiki: Off.

Neku: What?

Shiki: Your shorts. Take them off! I'll fix the button.

Dex-Starr: Whoa! Are you Cuckoo for Bananas!?

B'dg look away, because it's ackward and disturbing

B'dg: (Whisper) I knew it.

Neku: Are you high!? I'm not taking my pants off in front of you-in the middle of the street!

Shiki: Oh, grow up. What, are you going commando? You're invisible! No one's watching.

Neku: YOU'RE watching!

Shiki: Now! Pants! Off!

Neku: Doooooon't!

Dex-Starr and B'dg have to look away from them

B'dg: Don't look back.

Dex-Starr: I know.

Dex-Starr's Though: I don't want to see that boy naked without his Shorts, or else I'll lose my dignity.

Minutes Later

Dex-Starr: Are you done?

Shiki: Yep! There. All done! Whew, I feel much better. Loose buttons drive me nuts.

Dex-Starr: That was…fast… You always carry around a needle and thread?

Shiki: Of course. They come in handy. Plus I enjoy sewing. If you need anything else mended, just say the word!

Neku's Though: Will I have to strip again? … I'd better take care of my clothes…

Minutes Later

Shiki: Oh, hey! There's Beat, Streaky, Krypto and Rhyme.

Beat: The hell you been, yo? This is a race! Ain't you even tryin'?

Dex-Starr: Nope. You're on your own there.

Streaky: Ain't you angry you lost? Don't you wanna WIN?

Neku: Don't YOU? Why did you wait for us?

Streaky: We… We was just…

Rhyme: Hee hee… Beat and Streaky said we should let you catch up.

Beat: Bwaaah! Yo, Rhyme, can it!

B'dg: Aww, Beat and Streaky's a big softy underneath!

Streaky: Shh…Shiki! Not you, too! We…we just wanted to see Phones and Tiger Cat squirm, tha's all. Now le's get this mission over with. We got here first, so we win. Eat that, slowpokes.

Dex-Starr: Uh-huh. Consider it eaten.

Beat: Heh heh! C'mon, Rhyme. Le's bounce!

He went off with Streaky

Rhyme: W-wait, Beat! You're going to trip if you don't slow down!

Shiki: She's so lucky to have her best friend as a partner.

Neku: Guess you should've teamed up with that friend in your pictures.

Neku's Though: Would've saved me a lot of grief.

Shiki: But… Me and B'dg couldn't… We're… … Come on. We should go.

Rhyme and Krypto saw Streaky and Beat waving for them, then they saw the Noise underneath them, they pushed them out of the way and get erased by a Noise Shark, leaving their Pendent and a Dog Collar

Shiki: Wh-wh-what just happened!?

B'dg: Di... Did they just got...

Kariya: Awww! There's goes my erase streak. They were suppose to be number 16 and 17.

Neku: Reapers?

Kariya: Bingo! I'm Koki Kariya. And this is Uzuki Yashiro. There. Now that we're all friends-

Beat: Hey! What did you do with Rhyme?

Streaky: And Krypto!

Uzuki: Um…hello? You just saw. They're gone. Erased. Noise food. Game over.

Kariya: Her soul's and his power just another speck of Shibuya space dust.

Shiki: No…Rhymes gone…for good?

And then Beat and Streaky look so angry

Beat: You… You did this!?

Uzuki: Yeah. But, like, so what? That's our JOB. Boss said set a trap, so we did.

Beat: Your job? Screw your job! Murderers! You… You erased Rhyme! Give her back, yo, or you'll pay!

Streaky: And Krypto! You monsters! You... Got him erased! Give him back now!

Kariya: Ooh, scary. Go on, Skulls and Lightning Cat. Be the star of your little soap opera. But Skulls, Jr and Steel Dog. isn't gone because of us. They're gone because of you. You failed to protect your partner and her Companion. So face reality. We hunt Players down. You KNEW that.

Beat: We-we didn't-

Kariya: Well, Skulls, Jr and Steel Dog. knew. That's why she protected you. Gave her life for you.

Beat: Rhyme is gone…because of me?

Streaky: And so does Krypto...

Uzuki: Awww… Boo hoo. But don't worry. You won't suffer for long, hee hee!

They bring out the Noise

Beat: Noise!? You punks can make Noise?

Kariya: Bingo! All you need is some Soul, power and a pin to bind it to.

Uzuki: We'd looove to take you on ourselves, but attacking Players directly is against the rules. So we make Noise instead.

Kariya: So! Our work here is done… Time to call it a day.

Uzuki: Buh-bye. Nice knowing you.

She left

Kariya: Oh, yeah. One last thing, Skulls and Lightning Cat. You want payback? Then man up, huh?

He left

Beat: HEY! Get back here you son of a… Dontchu run from me! Dontchu run, yo… Don't…

Neku: Hey, we gotta get rid of this Noise.

Shiki: Yeah. Otherwise…

Dex-Starr: Start with the smaller Noise! (Bring out his sword)

Battle Cue: New Born

Neku: There. That just leaves the big one.

Shiki: Right!

Streaky: Don't ever think about itl

B'dg: Huh?

Beats: This one's Ours. This bastard took Rhyme and Krypto from us. Get in my way and I'll knock you right outta here!

Mr. H: (Voice) Don't be stupid!

Neku: Who-who's there?

They saw Mr. Hanakoma

Mr. H: You're down a partner. How you think you're gonna take on the Noise?

Streaky: Like I care! Butt out, Mr! We're gotta avenge Rhyme and K-Dog!

Mr. H: You mean waste her sacrifice! You're powerless. Accept it! Rhyme left you a precious gift. Your life! A Player can only live for seven minutes after their partner is erased. Which leaves you with less than three. Thank about why she saved you.

Beat: Rrgh… My life's over anyway. You jus' said so.

Mr. H: There's a way to keep you alive. But you have to come with me. Now!

Streaky: Why should we live when they can't?

B'dg: Beat, Streaky, go with him. Rhyme and Krypto would want it that way.

Beat: But-

Dex-Starr: We'll handle this.

Shiki: She was our friend, too.

Beat and Streaky felt sad after losing them

Beat & Streaky: Ahhhhhh….

Mr. H: Listen. You may be alone. But there's still a role that only you can play. I'll tell you what that is, but you have to live!

Beat: Grrraaaaaah! …Fine. But you better kill that bastard dead. Avenge Rhyme and Krypto!

Battle Cue: Someday

Shiki: Well…We're alone again. Think Beat and Streaky'll be OK?

Neku: Mr. Hanekoma's with him. They'll be fine.

B'dg: But…they only had three minutes to live.

Dex-Starr: So what were we supposed to do?

Shiki: I don't know… Why couldn't we save Rhyme and Krypto?

Neku: Because we couldn't. That's how it was meant to be.

Then they began to have an Argument

B'dg: How can you just write her off like that!? Don't you care? Aren't you SAD!? We could have done something!

Neku: Yeah? Like what?

Neku's Though: Dammit…I feel like crap. This is just like that time… That time? What time? … I can't remember.

Dex-Starr's Though: Aren't I SAD!? Yeah, right. It's just like that time I lost my owner from that Burglar. Man... Why don't I feel angry after what happen?

Dex-Starr: You see? See why teaming up is a dumb idea?

Shiki: How dare you! You think NOT teaming up would have saved them? How can you two be so COLD? Beat, Streaky, Krypto and Rhyme were our friends! What happened to them… We're all responsible! It was our fault, too…

Neku: Then who needs 'em.

Dex-Starr: And who cares.

Shiki: Huh?

Neku: Who needs friends! They laugh and talk like idiots and pretend to agree with you-so you end up caring about them…exposing yourself…getting HURT… Screw it! We're better off without them! You want people in your way? Dragging you down? I don't! And I never said we were friends. You did!

Dex-Starr: Friends, Allies, Companions, Partners!? Who gives a deal about them! They always being dumb, stupid and Naive to themselves. They always look down, forget about you and Break their Promise. And after, they always die in the end! Vengence is what make them angry, they alway have Hate, Rage and Anger for this! They will have revenge on themselves and ruined their lives after what they did to us. And to forgive them? FORGET IT! They always know hatred and anger in their memories! And being friends. They always slow us down, Getting Kill and make happiness turned into Rage with Vengence!

B'dg: Dex-Starr! We can't take vengence on the Reapers and the Noise. We have to bring Justice on them.

Shiki: He's Right! Dex-Starr, Neku! We are your friend. So is Rhyme-

Neku: Back off! No one's my friend. Least of all you. I just stay with you to survive.

Dex-Starr: And Justice? Not Enough! Vengence is what I need! You're nothing but stupid, dump and Weak Squirrel who doesn't do anything! And even though, I used you to get out of the stupid game!

Shiki: Neku…How c-could you… You didn't feel anything when Rhyme was erased? Not even a little sad? That's inhuman… You're inhuman, Neku. No better than those Reapers!

B'dg: Dex-Starr... Why... Why would you do this... You didn't feel the sadness when Krypto was erased. Not even a single tear? That's cruel... How Cruel you are! You're a Heartless, Cold and aa Stubbor Cat! No wonder why your part of the Red Lanterns. You are no Better then them and the Reapers!

Day End

Erased