They had lights inside their eyes.

One young, conflicted boy returns to the memorial pole. Even though he was no longer a Player, Duane felt he could seek guidance and peace of mind here. It’s almost been a week since the end of the Game…since he asked for more time… 

Duane looks down at the pictures adorning the memorial and bites his lip. “If you could give me some clarity…one more time…I’d really appreciate it,” he murmurs. 

He felt so sure during the Game. Everything about the UG felt so absolutely right to him. The music in his soul, the power he could summon, the feeling of being unlimited by anything or anyone…and he knows he would give anything to fly or turn into a Noise animal on top of that!

….but then the thought of home hit him as he reflected this week. 

Sure, being a Reaper would make him so much more than anyone at home– with all that he could do, he’s in so many leagues ahead of them! All of his theater friends would be so jealous of the cool things he got to pull off! They never in their lives would form the most totally awesome band ever and also summon a giant storm or a phoenix with said band! …though he would never get to tell them. Or see them again. 

Duane shook his head and thinks, he’d be much more of a success than Brendan ever would be! Ciara would be told stories of how Duane was the best older brother, not Brendan…the one who left and abandoned them…

…like Duane was considering now. If he stayed in the UG, he’d be forced to give up his family forever…and would that make him any better than his brother? Knowing his parents, Ciara wouldn’t really grow up with good stories of how much harder Duane tried, how much more he worked– he’d only be painted as the one who ran off to Tokyo and died before he put in any value for the family. 

Duane feels a painful dry lump form in his throat, and as he swallows, salty tears prick at his eyes.

“It’s not fair.”

He starts to sing… and hot tears roll out of his eyes, down his cheeks.

Life’s too short to even care at all oh, I’m losing my mind losing my mind losing control These fishes in the sea they’re staring at me oh, oh A wet world aches for a beat of a drum Oh, oh If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down, come down Life’s too short to even care at all oh, I’m coming up now coming up now out of the blue oh, These zombies in the park they’re looking for my heart Oh , oh A dark world aches for a splash of the sun oh, oh If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now And so I run now to the things they said could restore me Restore life the way it should be I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down Life’s too short to even care at all oh I’m losing my mind losing my mind losing control oh, If I could find a way to see this straight I’d run away To some fortune that I should have found by now So I run now to the things they said could restore me Restore life the way it should be I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down One more spoon of cough syrup now, oh One more spoon of cough syrup now, oh

…

[ Tobio gained 4 HP ]

—

Tobio spends a long, solid while with a hand against the Memorial pole. It always seemed oddly quiet in this area, so it was a great place to get away and just… think. It was the final day, the final hour, and Tobio knew a fight was coming for him.

…

[ Takuto gained 1 DEF ]

—

Takuto snuck out of Takamagahara’s base to stare up at the pole.

“The time’s arrived… hasn’t it?”

Takuto leaned forward and rested his forehead on the pole.

…

[ Masque gained 2 DEF ]

—

The unmasked child remains confined in the safe haven at Towa Records. The Game Master had found them already, it was only a matter of time before the final showdown. A quick look around the room showed the spectrum of doubt and resolve, and while Masque knew where their goals lay, they secretly hoped they might be wrong. Pingo the Sprog nuzzles into their hands as they ponder.

[ Masato gained 8 ATK  - he received the STAR. ]

—

Masato solemnly walks up to the memorial. He stares at it. And stares. And continues to stare until he’s been standing there for almost half an hour, not moving an inch, expression blank.

Arita held her arms tight to her she chest was happier than she’d ever felt in her life and there was still so much danger they had to go through… She breathed out deeply humming to herself. “You always said I should be a singer… Maybe I should try…” She smiled. “I mean I have to win now… Right? Between avenging you and Masque… Sweet, beautiful… Perfect Masque. Who loves me. I need to fight for them. I need us to win."

…

The city swarms with dark figures and the sound of battle -- yet the memorial stays ever peaceful.

Hachi, on her part, was terrified. She was not a fighter. She never wants to be a fighter-- Kami and Charles were kind enough to go and defend Shibuya on her stead, but for herself... well...

Hachi stared down at her hands, where a star-shaped ema rested at her fingertips.

Hachi may sit in the eye of the storm... but that doesn’t mean she cannot help those outside of it.

---

There is a raffle for a star in the memorial! Here’s what a star does:

Allows a prayer to roll for three strong ATK stats only.

By buying this item, ATK stats will be rolled thrice.

In order to enter the drawing for the star, submit a prayer that involves your character’s motivations towards winning the game. Why do they want to win? What are they fighting for? And what will they do when they win?

—

Tohru heard that there was a memorial of some sorts in the Scramble Crossing. He never believed in God, but if there was anything that could save him now, this would be it. He staggered towards the pole with clear eyes in the dead of night, sinking to his knees. His sleeves and his pants were shredded to pieces, revealing just how much black was on his body. He didn’t have much time left.

He was too tired to say a thing, though. He just stood there, admiring all the decorations in memorium of past Shibuyans. Someone must keep good care of this.

He left soon after, thinking up stories that were behind all the belongings there, wondering who they belonged to.

…

…

…

—

Lily’s making a pot of ramen on the stove as she’s talking on the phone to Hazuki. She sets it on speaker phone and puts it on the counter.

…

[ Kagami gained 3 HP ]

—

Kagami returns to the strange memorial pole. She looks around for either Kami-sama or the other caretakers. When she does not immediately see them, she sighs. Perhaps they are fighting off the Taboo Noise, as she is. Though, the memorial has been strangely untouched by them, Kagami has noticed.

…

[ Arita gained 1 ATK ]

—

…

[ Takuto gained 2 HP ]

—

Takuto thought he had the answers.

Takuto was not sure anymore.

—

…

[ Duane gained 2 BRV ]

—

Duane returns to the Memorial, more stable than he was the evening before. He places a hand softly on the pole. “Sorry about that before, almost hitting you.” As if it has feelings, but who’s he to say? He sighs.

…