AN: I AM SO SORRY I TOOK LIKE AN ETERNITY AND A HALF TO UPLOAD THIS! High school... it does things to you. 'shakes head' Forgive me, readers.
"Phones your not gonna-" He was interrupted by the sound of running water. Mr. H Face palmed, and looked at the scene, half amused, half exasperated.
Neku adjusted the shower head so that it hit the young Composer's face.
You know how when Joshua gasps, it sounds really funny? Like a hiccup or something? Well... Whatever. Anyway...
A drowned gasp, then coughing filled the room, and Neku turned off the water.
Neku was feeling rather proud of himself for his boldness when he realized, even though it was Josh, he just threw the god damned Composer of Shibuya in a cold, hard shower... And kinda sprayed him in the face with ice cold water.
Hm...
Joshua though, wasn't concerned with such things, since he had no idea what the hell was going on. But, once he figures it out, he'll probably get his revenge.
Where the... Am I in Mr. H's bathroom...? What in the world happened... Oh. Yeah, that's right. Well, I can deal with that later. I need to take care of these injur- Wait, is that...?
"Neku?" Joshua kept his composure, although for the record, he wasn't really sure if he was ever going to see orangey locks again. And now, the choice that was ultimately his (He'd probably stop by and visit the idiot if Mr. H asked him to.) was taken away from him. "What are you doing here?"
Orangey locks had been preparing to get Jesus Beam'd by an angry, cold Joshua, and the simple question caught him off guard. "Huh? ...Oh. Mr. H called me. Um... Yeah, he said to meet him here ASAP, something about you." Neku messed with a hair spike, looking annoyed.
Joshua then found an opportunity to put back on his asshole hat, and formed a plan to get Neku out of here, because this (having his proxy see him as a bloody mess of flesh) was rather embarrasing... "Aw, does sweet little Nekkun care about my well being?"
"N- No, you idiot! I just came cause I owe Mr. H from the game. Yeah." Damn it... Don't you feel any pain, or anything? How the hell can you still manage to be such a jerk? Neku, who had lost his usual bad attitude that came with any and all things involving Josh, was also embarrased, and was way worse at hiding it.
Just as planned.
Although Josh found this slightly amusing, he let it go, and continued on with his plan. "Well if you don't mind... Since I'm already here," He made a gesture, waving his arms around the bathtub, "I'd like to wash off." A giggle cut the awkward air (super awkwardly) and it sounded... off. Like, quiet and rough, unlike usual, but whatever. "Nekky-kins, would you like to join me? I'll give you the privilege off washing my back..." Josh winked, and Nekky-kins understandably recoiled.
"Privilege my ASS! I'm outta here!" Neku marched out of the restroom, and ended up sitting at one of the café tables... Cause who knows, he might feel guilty or something if he actually left.
...
"Beat?"
"Yeah?"
"Where are we going exactly?"
"Ta go see Phones and Prissy!"
"But... Where are they?"
At this point in time, finally getting to the scramble, the three friends stopped. J meant Joshua right? Almighty, backstabbing, composer Joshua?
Yes, indeed it did... But where was he?
"Aw, damn it. I don' know!"
"Beat..."
"Shut it, yo!"
By this time, Joshua was sitting on the edge of the tub, and after a little bit, Mr. H joined him.
"Josh..." Mr. H looked concerned, for even though it was impossible for most to do, he could spot very faint traces of pain on Joshua's face.
There was hesitation, but, Josh didn't feel like dodging questions at the moment. He just wanted sleep, really. For like, eternity and all that.
"Yes, Sanae?" Obviously knowing what the upcoming conversation would be about, Josh was pretty annoyed. Can't we do this later? I'm in pain. Everywhere. Offer to carry me to bed or something... Ugh. AFTER I clean off. This is G. R. O. S. S.
"What happened to you...?"
Joshua sighed.
"Honestly? I don't know myself... It was a noise attack, but instead of the usual unstrategic pummeling of everything in sight, it was like it was really thinking about it's attacks," Joshua took a moment to run his hand through his hair, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly.
"Sanae..." Joshua paused, locking his intense, unsettling stare with his Producer's before continuing, "It uses physcological attacks. It attacks with using the enemy's memories against them. I truly don't know what to do."
At this. Mr. H's eyes widened. Psychological... How the hell? There's no way a noise could do
something like that...? Wait, I gotta stay calm. The kid's had enough stress... Taking a deep
breathing breath, regained his usual "I'm so hipster, oh my god, coffee is life" attitude,
and did what Mr. H does best.
Comforting people with bullshit lies he pulls out of his ass.
He put a hand on Joshua's shoulder, and took in the atmosphere before speaking. "Look J, I
know your worried," This earned an eye-roll from Joshua, but Mr. H trudged on. Josh could be
such a typical adolescent asshole. "but we're gonna figure this thing out; together. Don't
sweat it kid."
Josh stayed silent, with his head tilted down just far enough so that his hair covered his
usually sharp, but now tired and clouded eyes. Mr. H sighed, and got up to go to the main part
WildKat, because what if some weirdo decides they want coffee and he's not there? He could
lose money damnit. Cafes are expensive!
...But one last thing.
"And J."
Joshua looked up to meet his friend's eyes.
"Let the kid in, he's worried about 'cha."
Josh giggled, and flashed a weak, but still trademark, smirk, "...Thanks for the advice, mom."
"You think you're so funny, don't you..." Mr. H smiled at him, "Brat."
Another giggle filled the room, and this time Joshua turned on the shower, and got wet of his
own accord, thank you very much. After washing, he rested his head against the cool tile, and
let the water run down his hair and face for who knows how long.
...
On the other side of the bathroom door, Mr. H paused for a moment. I can tell when you're feelin' rough kiddo... Why do you try to hide it from me?
Mr. H then went to go make more perfectly awful coffee, I mean, it was half water anyway... but hey, it made twice as much coffee.
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