Ind. Sel. Yoshiya “Joshua” Kiryu. Transcribed by Riksu.

     “The probability of that happening again is so infinitesimal.”

The absence of all body heat struck Hazuki long before the chill. The longer Yoshiya spoke, the easier their position became to understand — though that clarity brought with it an unfamiliar sense of foreboding. There were any number of rules and regulations that one was forced to follow as a higher being; being above did not mean being free. Those words were not synonymous in the slightest, but before their conversation the exact catch behind that knowledge hadn’t been so apparent.

The two of them were stuck, out on a now shared ledge, bordered by eternity and the wall encroaching upon their heels. Yoshiya may have been a few inches closer, but to what extent did that matter? Was the order of one’s operation important when they shared an equation?

Hazuki wasn’t so sure.

It wasn’t that he regretted his actions. No, those were irreversible and the point of regretting them nearly nonexistent. It was more that for the first time in a long time, the future was an uncertainty, a sea of rapidly diverging ghosts that the both of them could feel growing. Hazuki glanced down at his right hand as if it held some sort of answer.

The worst thing to remember was that they were not falling from the top rung of the ladder, but the bottom. There were any number of ambitious souls out there who could replace them, who technically stood lower, but the planes above did not need replacements. If they vanished, their realms and the lands they lorded over would simply vanish, erased by fall after fall until the world was simplified.

Despite it all, Hazuki offered Yoshiya no answer. Instead, he placated the other boy with his trademark, catlike grin.

“All that’s a bit too heavy, for today,” he said, as the world around them once again sprang into being. The incorporeal grew solid, the once distant sounds of foot traffic and real traffic burgeoned like sparks kicking to life on tinder. “Like I said. I just wanted something to eat. Been a bit peckish, lately.”

Then, shielding his shaking hand inside of his jacket pocket, Hazuki’s smile faded by a single pixel.

“Your turf, your treat, after all. Right, friend?”

The lack of an answer was vexing, true, but Yoshiya would sooner welcome his own exorcism than let any trace of annoyance show on his face. No, he wouldn’t grant that win today. Still, even though the position was far from ideal, would combining efforts not afford a better chance of survival? Was his junior so afraid of punishment that he wouldn’t even entertain the thought of doing anything that couldn’t be seen as boot licking?

Cowards will be cowards, after all. Still, though, he lifts a hand, nodding as he does. “Hee hee, of course. My apologies, friend. I wouldn’t dream of leaving you anything less than satisfied in my home. After all you’ve done for it.” He’ll push off the wall he’d made himself comfortable against and begin to walk, not waiting to see if he was being followed.

If Hazuki wanted to wallow in his fear, so be it. It wasn’t his place to stop him. Was he truly so simpleminded though? So much for the enemy of one’s enemy being anything but one more variable. Even still, though, the unease that permeated the air was not lost on Josh. He took pleasure in that. If he can’t make plans, he’d settle for making discomfort instead.

He moves effortlessly through the crowd, considering every words carefully before he speaks them. Even if he found Hazuki’s position nonsensical, picking battles wasn’t going to help his situation either. This may be his colleague’s first time on this precipice, but Joshua had been living on the edge for years. He knew the solid land on which to tread.

“Well, if you find yourself trapped under the oncoming storm, don’t blame me if you get wet. Not that that’s going to fill a rumbling tummy either.” Eventually, he’ll approach a small cafe on the edge of the scramble crossing. Yoshiya had never cared for sweets, but he could stomach the coffee if he had to continue this little charade. “I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking here. Joy in the simple things, right?”

     At first, he’s a little skeptical. Was this gray hair just trying to string him along here? But that was just a fleeting thought. He hadn’t even said anything to him or aloud about there being two people running by. The only solution was that Sho wasn’t alone in this ability to perceive the unperceivable. This manic string theory was finally starting to unravel itself and Sho was biting at the bit for answers. 

     Subtlety was never a strong suit of his, either. Sho was nearly pouncing on the new information being fed to him by this kid, his brows furrowing slightly as the gears were already turning in his brain, comparing this information with what he had seen himself. “So I was right– it’s some kind of game. Not that it gives me much to factor in…” This was spoken more to himself than to the other boy, those gears still whizzing at hyperspeed. 

     “Wait, you said The Game.” He adds suddenly, a scowl crossing his lips. “It has some significant digits if it’s enough to be referred to like that.” 

     Sho’s brows furrow more now, his eyes scanning the other’s face as if the answers there would just pop out and fit themselves neatly into his equation. Just what kind of game had people running around like they were about to die? He’s seen those weird monsters, too. Watched the Players fight them off with some kind of powers. A power that honestly intrigued him. 

     “The name’s Minamimoto Sho. I’ve been able to see between the binomial code for as long as I can remember.” 

Binomial code, hm? Seems he has a regular conspiracy theorist on his hands. Just as well. Those capable of coming to their own conclusions were better suited to finding truths in their own right. Joshua had to admit, he liked this guy’s style. Bet he knows how to keep things interesting. Casually, he slips a hand into his pocket and nod.

“Yeah, the Reaper’s Game.” His smile turns a bit prideful, as if this small piece of information was a precious gem in its own right. “They’re Players. Bet they’re even partners. I’ve talked to one before.” 

He’ll brush a bit of hair out of his face before he continues. “Apparently you have to be special to see them. I’m Kiryu Yoshiya, by the way. Though, if simplifications suit you, Joshua will suffice.”

After a moment, he’ll look Minamimoto up and down once more. He was noticeably taller than Josh, not that it seemed to bother the boy at all. He found that speaking with strangers was always more interesting than the people he was already aware of. No one was ever really able to truly understand anybody else, but that didn’t mean getting a peek wasn’t tempting. 

This person, for example, seemed like he was infatuated with the idea of learning the hidden truths of Shibuya. The way his focus shifted entirely away from the Players as they went on their way as soon as something promising fell into his lap. The means didn’t matter much, hm? Well, that’s alright. It wasn’t like Joshua was any different in that regard. So long as the end result was success, who cared about the means.

Although Shinjuku is often associated with neon lights and lofty buildings, it also has its fair share of shady areas. The facility served as a gathering place for people of all kinds, from journalists to politicians, and Tsugumi knew about their dissent. Sometimes, she picked up on the woes of cheating housewives.

Although the codes were derived from the old Shinjuku, Shinjuku’s frequency has vastly changed: the city felt like a newly redeveloped city with new streets and corners. Tsugumi had yet to explore every corner of the city, but she wanted to; there was so much she missed out over the past three years.

Her body slid between the bodies of drunk individuals, between groups of friends out on a Saturday night. Occasionally, she would dance in the vicinity of lovers engaged in a private moment, smiling and wishing that, perhaps, this was what she could have had if she were still alive.

A sweet escape like that was, however, impossible. Her eyes were on the prize and if becoming Shinjuku’s Conductor meant that sacrifices were needed, so be it.

After all, her brother made a huge sacrifice.

A stranger emerged from the crowd, with a smirk on his face, and requested that she show him around. His hair was ashen and he wore a confident smirk that seemed familiar, but she could not put a finger on where she’d seen the same kind of smile.

Another lost soul, she thought. Perhaps that new Shinjuku looked far too different, having been out of commission for the past few years, that the returning Souls no longer recognised their hometown.

“Sure, on one condition: would you like to accompany me for a drink?” Tsugumi asked. “I know a good bar just down the road. A perfect fit for newcomers such as yourself.”

“I’d be delighted, Miss.” He’ll nod, moving to match pace as he walks. “This place... It’s looking better by the day. Someone must be hard at work on the renovations.” He’ll use that for lack of a better word. It was true, anyway. Even with the base code, the amount of effort this took must have been enormous. The speed of recovery was no less impressive. It seems the Reapers from Shinjuku could be constructive, when they chose to be.

The evening glow of the city was only matched by the encroaching shade of unlit alleyways, adding a layer of evening mystery foreign to Shibuya. Something about it was... Exciting, in a dangerous sort of way. The very rhythm of this place was different than his own, a well composed tune in a different key. A song of a whole new genre.

Joshua, of course, knew he was very out of place. In a sense, this could be seen as trespassing, but the evening was much to lovely to spare much of a thought to frivolous things like that. “I’m Yoshiya, by the way. Yoshiya Kiryu. But you can call me Joshua, if you like.”

The invitation stood, but it didn’t much matter if she decided to take it or not. Violet eyes scanned the city once more, almost as if the stranger couldn’t get enough of the sight. There was something... hopeful about it. Something about those who cared about this place resurrecting it from memory alone. The Shinjuku they knew was dead and gone... But could they make something better?

He nearly glares at him for the comment, like someone would glare at a friend who said something stupid. It lingers for a moment, but it soon fades. Sigh…Is it really Joshua if he didn’t raise the hairs on the back of his neck in slight annoyance?

“Anniversary…You remembered the date?” Not only that, but he came here, today of all days. Talk about waxing sentimental… He relaxes once more, watching his partner stand and analyze. He didn’t like being under a microscope, but he figured that there wasn’t much to be done in that lighting. He wanted to know what he was thinking, what he was doing today… Finally, he shows himself of all times, and kept away for so long. There’s not an inch of him that believes that Joshua was just kept in the dark about all the happenings of their group… Neku leaned on the wall, turning his head to look back at the boy in front of him.  “Probably, but I’m sure they’d understand, if they knew. You’re finally here in front of me, and you expect me to walk out? I’m sure I’d never see you again if I turned around and walked out.” He puts up one hand and shrugs. “I wanted to talk to you, plain and simple. In truth, I wanted to speak to you for a long time, though…” He pauses, and then takes a wild guess. “You’ve known that this whole time, haven’t you?”

Still leaning against the window, he’ll let Neku finish before he speaks. True, this was a sort of... Test endeavor. If it went as Joshua expected, it would serve as an apt final encounter. The way it was all laid out, though... Impressive.

“Well, it looks like you’ve worked out more than a little yourself.” He’ll nod, agreeing with most of the sentiment. “You never fail to impress, I must say.” He’ll leave the question on the date hanging in the air, instead choosing to address more pressing and less obvious matters.

“Well, here I am. If you want to talk, of course I’ll lend an ear.” A light chuckle escapes him, and his honey-laced words are met with the same, knowing smile as always. Finally, he’ll push himself off the wall, having a seat on one of the display shelves.

     Still out of breath, Sho was scanning the thinning crowd for those two– his only lead on what was going on around him. It was borderline infuriating, being unable to catch up or follow these people places. They were always shouting or fighting against these odd animal looking things, but Sho could never hear exactly what they were saying. He could see it as clear as day, though. Maybe he really was starting to lose it– 

     That thought flew from his mind faster than he could read a z-chart when he was hearing a voice calling out to him. Golden eyes narrow as he whips around to see someone he was unfamiliar with approaching. Not that it was a surprise– he was unfamiliar with most people. His eccentric behaviour and odd way of talking ( not to mention the math jokes ) usually kept people away from him. 

     Though any anger was quickly erased from his expression as he hears that he isn’t the only one who could see what was going on between the binomial code ( as he’s so bitterly and affectionately dubbed it ). 

     “Someone else? You can see them too?” This could be his key into understanding just exactly what was going on around him! This was a partial fraction he wasn’t going to let go unsolved. “That mean you know what those two fractals were doing?”

“Maybe a little.” Joshua had to admit, his interest was more than a little piqued. This ability was an impressive one, denoting an incredibly powerful Soul at the very least. He looks off in the direction the partners ran, debating just how much to share. Eventually, he decided on not much. Just a little, then.

“They’re Players. I can only assume they’re playing the Game.” His eyes flick back to the stranger before him, and he tilts his head. “How long have you been able to see the UG? Has it always been like that?”

Despite it all, though, his mind raced at the possibility. This person had... potential. Binomial..? Fractal..? Potential and strange habits, it seemed. Regardless, though, it looked like this was how Joshua’s afternoon was going to go.

@affordtolose

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     Lately, it was almost starting to feel like he was more crazy than sane. The people around him may argue that he was crazy all the time, but it was only right now that Sho was starting to think maybe something was off. He was able to see things that other’s weren’t– these crazy battles going on in the streets all around them, fire springing from nowhere, people yelling and looking panicked. All of this was going on and no one else could see it. 

     Any time that he’d looked for answers online or brought it up to anyone he knew, it was the same thing. What are you talking about? Did you have some kind of weird day dream? 

     He was starting to feel like this was something only he could see, something that was bestowed upon him in one of the worst ways. What was this? 

     Sho was on his way home from school, bag slung over one shoulder as his hands were planted into his pocket. At least until suddenly someone was coming running at him and there was no time to get out of the way. The person phased right through him, shouting out over their shoulder with words that Sho couldn’t hear. It was happening again! 

     He was suddenly springing up into action, going to chase after the pair that were running on by. He wasn’t going to let a chance like this get away from him– not when he could learn something from it. Even if this wild goose chase sent him running all the way to Cat Street before finally the two people only he could see were lost to him, leaving Sho a bit breathless and more than frustrated. 

     “Son of a binomial!” He hisses out through his teeth, glaring at the direction he thought those two had suddenly disappeared off to.

Cat Street was always a lively place, both in life and death. Joshua was just emerging from a certain cafe, hanging onto a to go cup and sipping at it’s contents. Briefly, he pauses, allowing two frantic players to pass. They seemed eager, or perhaps desperate to do so. Was time running low today..?

He watches them go until they disappear around a corner and are lost to the din of the city. Well, at least the Game was engaging. Only once the dynamic duo was out of sight, did he hear the fast approach of their pursuer.

Someone from the RG..? Joshua didn’t know him by name, but he’d seen him hanging around before. Was he... watching? Well, evidently, he’d lost sight of his quarry. Was this someone who could see the Underground? That was... exceedingly rare, and spoke of a very impressive soul. To Josh’s recollection, there’d only ever been... One.

The rebuilding of Shibuya was going surprisingly well. The structures were easy enough to recover, plucked from a more fortunate echo of bygone times. Yoshiya knew he was out of place. A living soul walking the path of fatal memory, through a ghost town of wasted potential.

That didn’t stop the reapers, though, moving like worker bees to restore the cracks of the destroyed hive. Ever since the incident in Shibuya, he’d heard that they’d begun their work in earnest. Still, curiosity tugged at the interloper, and he began to wonder if this reborn city would truly lead to a better future for those who came to inhabit it.

Well, that would depend on those in charge, wouldn’t it?

Shiba had been acting as Conductor ever since Matsunae’s passing, but heavy was the crown, so they say. He wondered if the position would stick. What... is this place going to do from here on?

The lights of the city began to glow, like fresh cracked glowsticks against the night sky. The red of taillights bled onto the concrete streets, but the traffic was eerily silent. Casinos and night clubs beckoned invitingly with open doors and neon entryways, but the night lay undisturbed. Beautiful though the sight may be, it would remain a tomb until people were once more walking the streets.

The silence was deafining to those who couldn’t hear the thoughts of those who came before. Ranging from happiness to desperation, from laughter to fear. The city almost sounded lively to those attuned enough to listen.

It was then that he say her, white against the dark backdrop of a skyline. Tsugumi Matsunae, younger sibling to the late conductor. Well, this would be interesting. One good turn deserves another, so he made his way forward through the silent din, approaching her casually.

“Well hey there, friend. You look like you know your way around town.” Maybe from her, he could figure out what Shinjuku’s future might hold. Of course, there’d almost certainly be a clue. “I’m not from around here. Mind showing me the way?” After all, no matter how lofty one’s goals might be?