Story: Mind the Gaps (French version available : "Intervalles")

Date: posted the 10th of February 2023

Beta: None

Fandom: The World End With You

Disclaimer: No, I don't own TWEWY and I'm not making any profit from this story.

Summary: Just after the Long Game, Joshua saved and resurrected the rest of the Hashiko gang but was condemned by the Angels for his actions: He is confined to Shibuya and half of his powers have been sealed. Neku dies again but without his powers, Joshua cannot resurrect him. He takes him to safety anyway, which leads to M.H being banished by the Angels. Joshua is left alone to manage Shibuya, well not quite since he's got Shinjuku's scum on his hands. Months pass, Joshua is struggling to manage the UG without Sanae and Kitaniji and Shiki and the other reach out with an offer of friendship. But Shinjuku's Reaper are a lot of troubles until...

Trigger of this chapitre: None I can think of


This one dosn't flow well and end rather abruptly but I have no idea how to fix it for now so here you are!

Enjoy your reading!


"Joshua?" Rhyme called suddenly and the Composer turned his head towards her. They were both sitting on one of Sanae's beat up sofas. The one in the studio above the café. Across from them, behind the large central table, Beat stood upright on a stool with his arms slightly raised. It was funny to see the boy like that, it was obvious that he was making every effort not to move, his mouth tight, his eyes squinted and his whole body trembling with suppressed energy.

Kneeling at his feet, Shiki, a pile of pins between his lips, was carefully placing them one after the other on the bottom of Beat's trousers. Beside him, on her own stool, Eri was running a tape measure up and down the skater's arms, a steady stream of chirps pouring from her lips.

Joshua had kept his word and 'introduced' the two girls to CAT. With Gatito's patronage and the competition prize, they had been able to launch a proper online shop and were already receiving a good number of orders. Orders which Rhyme and Beat then helped to prepare. Rhyme had even learned how to make some of the simple products, the more complex ones being handled by the competition factory, to give Eri and Shiki more time for the tedious but necessary paperwork.

Joshua may or may not have slipped an assignment into the last Game to give them publicity.

But even with the support of a major company, Shiki Misaki's parents were still not fans of the project. And since Eri had no room at home... and no one was using the café anymore... well, Joshua had suggested they set up their office in the workshop. Eri had been overjoyed, not even doubting the explanation that CAT had finally decided to stay abroad indefinitely. And when he had finally had to decide on a name for their brand, it was Eri who had suggested 'Gatto Nero'. "That kills two birds with one stone!" She explained. "A reference to Gatito and their patronage and also to , our mascot!"

"Mr. Mew?!" Shiki had blushed and had to be convinced that, of course! had to be the brand's mascot, no way around it. After asking Joshua if it would be alright with Gatito, she had finally accepted the name with a shy smile.

With the name chosen, the brand launched and a workshop secured, all that remained was to create their first official collection. Joshua had promised them a dedicated space for Gatto Nero in the Gatito store in Shibuya to prove themselves if they reached a certain number of sales on their website. They had exploded that number even without the Game's mission. One of their sweatshirts, the one in the shape of Mr. Mew, had been particularly popular and even some Reapers had bought them. They were now working diligently on their new products. With the more or less voluntary help of their friends. Oh, everyone was supporting them, especially now that it all looked much more concrete. But that didn't mean that Beat was a good model, despite his best efforts.

But they needed pictures for the ads, and despite the contest prize and Joshua's help they still didn't have the budget for professional models. Anyway, it didn't matter, Eri's friend Mina had jumped at the chance and Beat was determined to help them. Surprisingly, even though they hadn't agreed to Rhyme, the Bito parents had welcomed their son's new little job with happiness and encouragement, which had incredibly motivated the boy. Perhaps they thought modeling was more of a future than being a pro skater? In any case, that's why they were there. Or at least why the four inhabitants of the RG were there. Joshua... really had a lot to do, but he'd needed a break from the new administration.

It had been over two months, now, since the Shinjuku Reapers' coup. All of his Shibuya Officers had been relegated to the rank of Lieutenant. Well, all those still on duty. Aside from the new recruits, there hadn't been that many deaths... but still. Joshua really thought Uzuki wouldn't make it through the night. But he guessed that her fair treatment of the Reapers from both districts in their first few months had been appealing because the Shinjuku Reapers had voted for her survival.

Well, that and Kariya's shenanigans. And Joshua's tiny, barely legal but still, yes Mother, intervention.

It wasn't even really help... Joshua had simply sent a general message to all the Reapers telling them of a new Game with immediate effect: the election of a Conductor with unlimited time and fighting allowed. The Composer would not be involved in the choice, Joshua had added, the Reapers would have to agree on a representative by themselves.

Because Joshua knew that Kubo would only warn the Reapers in Shinjuku. And they would pick up the Shibuya Reapers, unaware of the change in situation, as easily as flowers. But an announcement to everyone indicating that they had to take care of themselves? On the one hand, it made Mother happy that he was admitting he wasn't going to intervene, and on the other, it allowed Kariya and Uzuki to move their asses and limit the damage.

It had worked better than he'd hoped. Oh, sure, his Reapers had been destroyed, but that wasn't surprising when there were practically only Lieutenants and Wall-Reapers left in Shibuya when there were almost only Officers in the ranks of Shinjuku. But at least most of them were still there. Which also meant that even though there were fewer of them than a regular Shibuya roster, there were still far more than for one in Shinjuku. The Game had inevitably turned into a copy of the Shinjuku one by the week after the hit, but the extra number of Reapers had meant they weren't working 24/7. It was still a lot more than a Shibuya Game and almost all of his reapers had to put their RG careers on more or less hiatus but at least they weren't in danger of dying of exhaustion.

So well, not the best result but certainly not the worst.

"Beat pointed out to me yesterday that we haven't seen Uzuki and Kariya at the new Ramen place in weeks and that got me thinking..." continued Rhyme and Joshua blinked, bringing himself back into the moment. "Shiki was sad that Death Märch went on hiatus again and that painter you told us was a Reaper... she cancelled her show too."

"'So what?" Joshua asked, understanding her conclusion but wondering what she was getting at.

"Why do Reapers give up their lives outside the Game? Is there a problem in the UG?"

If only there was only one... Joshua thought bitterly, "Let's just say we're a little understaffed and need all hands on deck."

"But that was already the case eight months ago, and they were just starting to get back into the swing of things. Even you've been out with us a lot less in the last few weeks." she remarked before turning fully to Joshua, "So what's changed?"

The Composer pursed his lips. He really didn't need Rhyme going on a witch hunt in the current climate. Because she was right, this was barely the second time Joshua had come to spend time with them since the administration shake-up. And that was because he was taking every possible precaution to make sure the Shinjuku Reapers didn't notice his fri... human partners.

He had strictly kept his Composer form around his new Conductor and his minions. Fortunately, his dear Mother's latest power boost had helped him do so.

"Don't worry about it." Joshua finally said raising his hand to stop her when Rhyme opened her mouth to retort. "I'm serious, Rhyme, the threat is contained, you don't have to worry. Enjoy your life in the RG and stop worrying about the UG, it's all behind you."

Rhyme gave him an incredulous look, something strange on her usually always pleasant face. "How could it be behind me, no, behind us, when Neku still hasn't come back from it and it's such a big part of your life?"

Joshua blinked.

Hu.


Think about letting a review on your way out and see you the 20th for the continuation!