Episode 2: FRIENDS(H|I|P) (Part 1)

(𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑰𝑹𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑬𝑬 - 𝑷𝑶𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑰𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷) ∇∇∇

...

An arche throbbed behind Tsugumi's eyes, She blinked, her vision blurry at first, then sharpening to reveal the familiar face of Hachiko. The bronze statue stood solid and unwavering, She was lying on the cool, hard ground where they had collapsed yesterday.

"...Hm?" She sat up abruptly, her body shimmering with the sudden movement. "That... creature..." She scanned around, her gaze sweeping across the familiar landmarks, the vibrant billboards, the looming department stores, the endless flow of peoples all around. But there was no sign of the girl.

The billboard still pulsed with its unchanging light, but the "YOU HAVE 7 DAYS" message from yesterday was still there, more bright than ever. Tsugumi looked down at her hand, seeing that the invisible timer was absent. "Another day..." Tsugumi closes her eyes, sighing.

She pushed herself to her feet, her body still feeling heavy, The constant thrum of Shibuya, the cacophony of unseen thoughts, pressed in on her. Without Ao's presence, the city felt... emptier, and her own thoughts clear "... I've reached another day... I've gathered the necessary information and now I can think clearly, Mr. Mew..."

Tsugumi started walking slowly through the crowds, her eyes searching. She strained her senses, trying to find something new around the crossing, But all she found was the monotonous flow of civilian thoughts, anxieties about meetings, desires for new clothes, plans for dinner.

She circled the Hachiko statue, which stood at the edge of Scramble Crossing. The invisible barriers from yesterday that had encompassed the entire crossing were now gone, opening up the surrounding districts. She saw the entrances to the towering 104 Building, the bustling Dogenzaka street and a path that led toward A-East from the direction of Dogenzaka.

"Hm..." Tsugumi looks around her surroundings. "There then..."

Tsugumi decided to start with Dogenzaka. It was a well-known entertainment district, As she approached the entrance leading from Scramble Crossing into Dogenzaka, there was a barrier on her way, blocking the path further of it.

Tsugumi stopped before the barrier, her gaze hardening as it solidified in front of her. 

*KA–BOOOOOOOM!!!*

"...!" Tsugumi gaze sharpens as she turns around quickly, hearing an explosion coming from nearby.

Tsugumi moves, sprinting towards the noise and hiding behind a wall.

"HELL YEAH BABY! DID YOU LIKE THAT!?"

"Tee-hee~"

Tsugumi moves her head slowly from behind the wall, seeing two individuals, a girl sitting on top of a roof and a boy below.

"WOOO! I did it! Now, what do you say M'lady? Will you finally reward this humble jester that has been entertaining your royalty?" The boy bows and then grins, looking up at the girl.

"Hmmm, Donno... Hehe, like, you are very persistent aren't ya?" The girl giggles, tapping her chin with a long nail.

"Of course, how wouldn't I do my best to get to know such a beauty like yourself Reaper, heh." The boy grins again, "So tell me, we got a date?"

"....Reaper..." Tsugumi whispers to herself, observing the two.

"Hmmm, not really feeling the vibes ya know." The girl taps a finger on her lower lip.

"Hehe, you are tough to get uh." The boy scratches the back of his head. "But really, gimme a chance come on, come down from the sky like a goddess and bless this humble jester, my gorgeous Reaper." He says opening his arms.

"Hmmmmmm, fight another wave of Noise come on, like entertain me or something, hehe." The girl giggles and rises her hand down, bellow Noises Tags appear with Dixiefrogs jumping out of them.

"Woah, heh, you are really hard to satisfy aren't ya?" The boy grins and steps back, looking around at the frogs. "I'm filled with the power of love, Reaper! And with it I'll beat everything that you throw at me, heh!"

"..." Tsugumi rubs her chin, observing in silence.

"HAAA! BRING IT ON!" The boy shouts, 

sprinting towards the frogs at full speed.

"Hay~ More battle!" The girl giggles again, clapping her hand excitedly.

"YOHA!!!" With a flash of light at his lapel, He takes off, leaving a blur of light behind him as he zooms straight into the cluster of Dixiefrogs.

He turns himself into a human cannonball, dashing at light-speed directly through the first frog. The impact sends the frog spinning through the air before it shatters into static. Without dropping his momentum, he zips upward using a quick succession of mid-air dashes, zig-zagging between three frogs at once and bouncing off them like a pinball.

"STRIKE!" he yells, skidding across the pavement on his knees, spinning around just in time to catch another frog diving at him.

"Heh!" With a grin, he activates his psych again, dashing straight up through the creature's jaw, sending it flying into the sky before slamming back down to the ground with a theatrical superhero landing, complete with a dramatic hair flip toward the rooftop. "EASY!"

"WOOO! How was that performance, M'lady?!" he shouts, throwing a double peace sign over his shoulder without even looking as another Dixiefrog lunges from behind.

He dashes backward through the lunge, dissolving the frog on contact while winking up at the roof. "Did I hit a high score in your heart yet?!"

Up on the roof, the girl rests her chin in her hands, kicking her legs back and forth lazily. "Tee-hee~ 7 out of 10! The hair flick was a bit much, but the speed? Pretty cute!"

"Only cute?! Watch this!"

The boy kicks into overdrive, dashing in a blinding star-pattern across the entire street. Every single contact triggers a sharp burst of static energy, tearing through the remaining Dixiefrogs, He vaults off the hood of an abandoned car, dashes down the side of a building horizontally, and finishes the one Noise with a pinpoint dash straight down the middle of the horde.

The boy lands light on his feet, spinning around with his arms spread wide in a grand bow toward the rooftop, catching his breath with a cocky grin plastered across his face. "And that, my gorgeous Reaper, is how a jester clears the stage!"

Up on the ledge, the girl claps her hands together softly, her long nails clicking against each other. "Yay~ Bravo, bravo! That was super fun! More more!"

Behind the brick wall, Tsugumi's hands were folded near her chest, her gaze resting heavily on the boy, then shifting up to the girl on the roof.

"...Interesting..." Tsugumi thinks silently, her thumb lightly brushing the edge of her own sleeve.

"How's this for an encore?!" he yells, flashing a wide, cocky grin up at the roof.

The Reaper girl giggles, resting her chin on her hands as she claps enthusiastically. "Ooooh! Very flashy! Keep going, Mister Jester!"

Just as he winds up for another dash, the sharp jingle of a phone rings out.

"Ohh?" The Reaper girl blinks and pulls out her phone. "Mochi mochi~ Nao-desu~" she answers, instantly looking away, her attention hijacked as she chats with whoever is on the other end, turning her back to the street.

"Uh? Hey! Don't tune me out now!" the boy calls out, trying to wave with one hand while keeping his footing. "Watch this combo!"

He zips across the asphalt, slamming straight into the final Dixiefrogs.

The last frog dissolves into a burst of static. But amidst where he was eraced, something catches the light, a stark white pin flying high into the air.

"Hm? Is that a pin!?" The boy's eyes widen in surprise as he tracks its arc, "Mine!" But before he can leap for it, a blur erupts from the shadows of the wall.

Tsugumi dashes out with lightning speed, vaulting forward and landing right in front of him. With a slick, practiced motion, she snatches the pin out of the air, spinning around to give him her back.

"GAH!" The boy brakes hard, skidding to a halt. He gasps, his eyes wide as saucers, nearly tripping over his own feet. He stumbles back, pressing a hand flat against his chest with a dramatic sigh.

"Whoa! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!?" he exclaims, catching his breath. "Never, ever surprise me like that again! What even is your deal?!"

Tsugumi stays dead silent, raising the pin to her eye level. It was a clean white pin stamped with the print of a hooded figure clutching a knife.

"Hello? Earth to girl?" The boy crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously, what's ya deal?"

Without a word, Tsugumi presses her thumb hard against the pin, activating its Psych. A sudden surge of dark, crackling energy wraps around her hand, instantly shifting and solidifying into a long, wicked dark energy knife. She stares at it for a second, then relaxes her grip, turning the Psych off as the blade dissolves. "..."

She reaches into her pocket, pulls out a handful of her own pins, and holds them up next to the new one, comparing them side by side.

"...They're all different," she murmurs quietly to herself.

"EH!?" The boy’s jaw drops slightly. He uncrosses his arms and steps closer, his voice rising in panic and disbelief. "Hey! Are you even listening to me?! Give me that pin back! That dropped from my fight, it's mine!"

Tsugumi doesn't move an inch, still giving him her back.

"HEY!" The boy hisses through his teeth. "I said, hand it over!" He reaches out, lunging to grab her arm.

In a fraction of a second, Tsugumi snaps her head around, fixing him with a razor-sharp, lethal glare out of the corner of her eye.

The boy freezes mid-reach, a cold gasp catching in his throat. He stumbles back two steps, throwing his hands up defensively. "Whoa, okay, okay! I don't want any trouble! You just... you took my thing, and that's not cool, alright?"

Tsugumi’s eyes drop from his face down to his hands, where a few other pins gleam in his palm. "..."

Her sharp gaze softens back into a neutral gaze. She lets out a quiet sigh, turning fully to face him.

"...Are you a Player?" she asks evenly.

"Yep, The name's Sota" the boy says, slowly lowering his hands and calming down. "And you must be too, since you don't have wings, ya know?"

"....wings..." Tsugumi whispers to herself.

"Look, you didn't need to get all scary-mad. I just want my pin back." Sota crosses his arms.

Tsugumi holds out the white pin, tilting her head slightly. "Is this it?"

Sota nods eagerly. "Yep, that seems like it."

Tsugumi points a thumb toward the mouth of a nearby alleyway. "We should go in there to talk. I have a few pins... we could share them. Maybe even join forces." She pauses, her voice dropping into a softer, almost vulnerable tone, yet her eyes are still empty. "I'm... needing someone strong to make me feel safe."

As she speaks those words, behind her back her fingers slowly tighten around the white pin in her palm, activating its Psych once more.

Sota blinks, his eyes widening in surprise. Then, a slow, cocky grin spreads across his face, and he lets out a short laugh. "HA! Well, why didn't you say so earlier? Totally! Things are getting rough out here, a team-up sounds like a great idea."

Tsugumi gives a small, single nod. "Follow me."

"Right, for sure!" Sota nods back, stepping forward to walk behind her-

"Uh?"

Suddenly, the Reaper girl on the rooftop's turns her gaze down. With an acrobatic leap, she launches herself down from the ledge, landing squarely between Sota and Tsugumi, thrusting an arm out to physically shield him and block his path.

"GAH!?" Sota gasps, stumbling back and clutching his chest yet again. "Yeesh! Will you people stop doing that?!"

Tsugumi stares at the girl with a completely neutral and unbothered gaze. "..."

The girl hisses, pointing a sharp nail directly at Tsugumi. "Get lost."

Sota raises his eyebrows, glancing between them. "Whoa, hold on. What's the matter? She's just a player-"

"I'm a Reaper," the girl interrupts sharply, keeping her stance rigid and her body planted between them. "I know what means good and what means no good. And she is a no-good."

Sota blinks, looking back at Tsugumi with furrowed brows. "Wait... is that true?"

The girl shoves the boy slightly further back, urging him away from Tsugumi’s orbit.

Without a word of argument, Tsugumi simply turns on her heel, her expression unchanging and walks away as if she has completely lost interest in both of them. "..."

Sota's eyes narrow with confusion and suspicion flashing across his face as he watches her walk away.

Once she walks out, an barrier blocks the path to the alley, locking the boy and the Reaper. 

Tsugumi closes her eyes and continues walking down the street alone, trying another path out of Scramble Crossing.

Her eyes then narrowed on another Reaper standing beside a barrier, standing there with his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets.

Tsugumi approaches, standing on front of him.

The figure remained motionless, looking away at the distance.

"Reaper." she says. "Open the gate." She gestured at the wall blocking her way to Dogenzaka.

A long, drawn-out sigh finally broke the silence. "...Man..."

The figure slowly shifted his weight. His head tilted and the brim of his cap still obscuring his eyes.

"Find your partner," the Reaper answers with a low and flat voice.

Tsugumi stares at him, her eyes on his. "....I don't have a partner."

The Reaper let's out another sigh, heavier this time, "Look, kid," the Reaper droned, "I don't get paid enough to play around. Mission's on your phone. Get your partner."

He then returned to his previous stillness, as if the brief interaction had expended all his energy for the day.

Tsugumi steps back, holding Mr. Mew tighter.

The Reaper remained unmoving, ignoring her presence completely.

She took a deep breath, her grip in Mr. Mew softening, she whispers something inaudible, her thoughts unclear.

She glared at the Reaper for another long moment, and then she turns away.

The Dogenzaka barrier was closed for now since A-East was known to be accessed via Dogenzaka, that meant A-East was currently inaccessible. The only remaining open area was the 104 Building and the rest of Scramble Crossing. 

"Hm..." Tsugumi rubs her chin, her gaze around the crowds.

Tsugumi decided to head into the 104 Building to investigate further, hoping for a clue. As she approached the towering structure, a sharp, stinging sensation erupted in the palm of her right hand. She gasped, pulling her hand up. There it was, shimmering faintly on her skin, a digital timer, a stark red countdown already ticking down. "Tsk..."

Her phone rings, a new message had arrived.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡========================>

"FIND THE PLACE WHERE RESIDES DARKNESS AND LOOK FOR THE HEART WITHIN."

                                            - The Reapers.

================================>

"Darkness... Heart..." Tsugumi sighs. "Darkness... this game seems to be too metaphorical for the word to mean darkness itself... It may be something hidden, something negative, something that lurked beneath the city's bright facade. And the heart... a source. Maybe..."

She tightened her grip on her Player Pin, looking for where to start. "That must be it..."

"...Darkness..." Tsugumi re-focused, repeating the word mentally. She began to wander through the 104 Building once more, but with a new purpose. Searching for something, a kind of emotional signature, something colder and heavier. "...Just like yesterday, low life's seem to be affected by Noise... Darkness must be within their feelings..."

She drifted deeper into the 104 Building, moving past the flashy storefronts of the ground floor. The thoughts here were mostly consumer-driven, but as she ascended the escalators, The higher floors were full of thoughts of stress and exhaustion, from shop employees and tired shoppers. It wasn't the darkness she was looking for, but it was a step away from the superficial. "...Odd..."

She spent precious minutes meticulously combing through each floor, her senses strained, but the source of profound negativity she was looking for, wasn't there. "Urgh.... so many voices... Closed areas... it seem to make the mind reading even worst..."

She exited the 104 Building, finding herself back in the bustling Scramble Crossing. The vibrant energy, the constant flow of superficial thoughts was different from the despair she was searching for. "...The darkness wouldn't reside in such an open, public space... It has to be somewhere hidden, somewhere overlooked..."

"...That place..." Tsugumi stops, turning her gaze towards the blocked path.

"The place where resides darkness it's... A-East..." She whispers, "Gothic culture... That's the answer... of course..."

Tsugumi gripped her Player Pin, her jaw tight. She knew where the darkness was, but she couldn't get to it. "What a headache.... the solution is on a place I cannot reach..."

...

...

The oppressive weight of the ticking timer on her hand, combined with the impenetrable barrier to Dogenzaka and the unreachable A-East, gnawed at Tsugumi. Her logical mind demanded a solution, but exhaustion, both physical and mental began to creep in.

She glanced at the countdown, time was slipping away slowly, Pushing through the bustling crowds of Scramble Crossing and hearing thoughts that weren't giving her any answers.

A familiar impulse tugged at her, the world became too loud, too illogical and too... human for her once more, Tsugumi takes a deep breath, scratching her hair slowly. "So much noise around it... It's unbearable..."

She decided to backtrack to the Statue of Hachiko, then make her way to the Sunshine Stationside, a well-known spot, celebrated for its greasy, comforting burgers.

She gets inside, walking into a small line, mostly of office workers on their lunch breaks and weary shoppers seeking a quick bite.

Tsugumi prased the line, bypassing entirely. Her presence unnoticed by the crowd. She approached the counter, where a woman was taking the orders, The waitress was a familiar face, one Tsugumi had observed many times during her lonely meals here. She moved with efficiency, her smile never quite reaching her eyes, Tsugumi always wondered when she would finally break.

"Welcome to Sunshine! What can I get for you today?" the waitress chirped.

Tsugumi says, tapping Mr. Mew's head with a finger slowly. "Cheeseburger. No pickles. Large fries. Water."

The waitress kept smiling. "Uh... a cheeseburger, no pickles, large fries, and water, is that right?" she said, her voice a little hesitant while she keeps her smile.

Tsugumi sighs. "..."

The waitress blinked, then nods. "Alrighty then! Coming right up!" She turned to the grill, doing her order.

After a few minutes, the waitress returned, carrying a tray with a perfectly cooked cheeseburger, a generous portion of golden fries, and a tall glass of water. She placed it on the counter, her eyes on her, holding a smile on her face.

"Here you go! Enjoy!" she said, then she then moved on to the next customer in line.

Tsugumi reached out, her fingers passing through the tray for a moment before she grabs her food. The burger, fries, and water. She found a quiet table tucked away in a corner, near a window that overlooked the bustling street.

She sat down, placing the tray on the table. With a small, deliberate movement, she took Mr. Mew and landed it softly on the tabletop.

"What," Tsugumi began, her voice a soft, almost imperceptible whisper. "Sometimes you have to spoil yourself Mr. Mew, don't judge me... Anyways..." Tsugumi sighs. "Day two has proven to be predictably aggravating. Sorry for bringing you on this but, I can't get out of it too..."

She picked up the burger, taking a bite. "Well..."

"Atleast we have learn a few important things today," she continued, "Those creatures call themselves Reapers, apparently, we can identify them from the wings they got on their back... Bizarre, I know, but that seems to be the most normal thing in this game..."

She chewed slowly, "And then the mission. 'Find the place where resides darkness and find it's heart.' How delightfully vague. Coupled with a rather inconvenient two-hundred-minute timer. And, of course, the ever-present problem of the annoying girl..."

She sighed, pushing a fry across the table with her finger. "You know what's funny, Mr. Mew, in one single day, I've learn more about this hell than yesterday with her, she is just as useless as I thought yesterday."

"I know that she is still alive, she is just as resistant as a cockroach after an atomic bomb explosion... Despite that, I can't keep using her as a shield, one day it's enough for me, she is useless just like those ants that roam around Scramble Crossing..." Tsugumi closes her eyes. "I'll get rid her, Mr. Mew, Pins may be a more useful resource than I initially thought, if I take hers from her fallen corpse, I'll be able to become more powerful... Simple as that."

Mr. Mew remained still, his eyes seemingly staring into the middle distance. Tsugumi sighs, boping his nose. "Don't stare at me like that, Mr. Mew, no empathy for the low life's, remember?"

"Alright, back into today's mission, I found the darkness," she continued, her voice growing more thoughtful, "Or rather, I felt its presence. It's in A-East, which is funny actually, people calling A-East, the reapers that wrote the message must be older than Sister Marie... But well... I can't into A-East. There's a barrier in Dogenzaka, blocking the only path."

She took another bite of her food, her gaze distant, fixed on the bustling street outside the diner window.

"So the problem now is not where the darkness is, but how to access it," Tsugumi mused, her thoughts taking on a more analytical tone. "The Reapers won't help. That leaves... what? Finding another way? A hidden path? Or perhaps... an answer within the accessible areas that removes the barrier?"

She picked up a fry, twirling it idly between her fingers. "The Reapers seem to operate on these obscure rules, it is intriguing..."

Tsugumi pondered, her gaze drifting back to Mr. Mew. "The gate may open after meeting a certain condition but without clear clues, it could be anything..."

She finished her burger, cleaning her hands and her mouth with a napkin.

"So, Mr. Mew," Tsugumi concluded, "The next step is to understand this darkness more clearly, even from afar. Maybe there is some trick that I'm suppose to do so I can pass the barrier."

As Tsugumi finished her burger, She pushed the tray away, picked up Mr. Mew, and began to head towards the exit.

She was just about to phase through a small group of customers waiting to order when suddenly she collided with someone.

(𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝐂𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐎 - 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐔𝐏 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑻 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑰𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷)∇∇∇

"Oof!" a surprised voice exclaimed, "Hey! Watch it!"

Tsugumi turns her gaze down towards the person.

Ao was already bouncing on the balls of her feet, an enormous grin spreading across her face. "T-chan! You're here! Wow, Sunshine Stationside, huh! This is the best! I love their burgers!" She clapped her hands together, "I always come here with my friends! Well, now... just me. And you!" She gestured vaguely around the bustling diner, a tiny shadow passing over her bright eyes before her smile returned with full force. "It's, like, the perfect place to think, you know? Away from all... well, the Game stuff. Even though we're still in it. What are you doing here? Did you find a clue?"

Tsugumi's silence stretched, staring at her face.

Ao's grin didn't falter, though she tilted her head, sensing the usual Tsugumi detachment. "Alright then? We'll maybe you wanna also ask what I'm doing here right? Eating! Of course! But also, I looked everywhere for you, T-chan! Scramble Crossing, the 104 Building... I even tried to get to Dogenzaka, but there was a huge barrier!" She frowned, a genuine puzzle on her face. "And this Reaper guy just stood there, looking totally bored, like he was doing us a favor by breathing!"

Tsugumi keeps staring at her face.

"Tee-hee~ What's wrong? I'm I looking pretty today?" Ao continued, stepping closer, her excitement contagious. 

"..."

"So, I figured... I needed to clear my head. And burgers! Burgers always help me think. And this place is my go-to! It's super chill, even with all the people. Plus, no weird Noise popping up from arguments here, right?" She glanced around the diner, a hint of genuine apprehension in her eyes as she remembered yesterday's chaos. "So, what'd you find, then? About the mission? I haven't even seen it yet, actually. My phone's been quiet since... well, since we passed out."

Tsugumi hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking to the digital timer, still counting down on her hand. "The mission already started." She presented her hand.

Ao's eyes widened, her cheerful demeanor dimming slightly as she saw the countdown. She quickly pulled out her own phone. "Whoa! A timer?! And it's already started? Mine's here too!" She stared at her screen, Her face went from surprise to a thoughtful frown as she read the cryptic words aloud.

"Find darkness and it's heart?. You have 200 minutes... Oh, wow. That's... a lot more intense than 'make people connect,' huh?" She looked up at Tsugumi, her boundless energy now tinged with a serious edge. "Darkness? And its heart? Where do we even start with that? Man... I don't remember my old partner explaining about this stuff..."

Tsugumi keeps staring at Ao, seeming too quiet now.

Ao rubs her chin and then sighs, turning away towards the counter. "Alright! One thing at the time! Let's pay for the meal first!"

Tsugumi stares at Ao's back, the pulls out the white pin she got earlier from her pocket and presses it, slowly moving towards her. "..."

Ao suddenly turns. A mischievous glint entered her eyes.

Tsugumi stops, her eyes narrowing as she loosens up her grip in the pin.

"Hey, T-chan," Ao began, a curious smirk playing on her lips. "Did you notice anything... weird? Like, even weirder than usual?"

Tsugumi let out an exasperated sigh, stepping back. "Tsk, everything about this is weird. Be specific. This isn't time for games."

Ao giggled, "No, no, something really weird. Like, right now. Around us. Look closer!" She leaned in, her eyes sparkling with suppressed mirth.

Tsugumi narrowed her eyes, scanning the bustling diner. Nothing seemed overtly different. "I don't get it."

Ao's smirk widened. "Oh, come on, T-chan! Don't you feel it? The vibes? The energy? It's... different!" She gestured expansively around the diner with a flourish. "It's, like, super obvious!"

Tsugumi's gaze sharpens, looking more annoyed. "Are you making fun of me?"

"Pfft Hehehehehehehe!" Ao finally burst into full laughter, clutching her chest. "Hehe! You really didn't notice, did you?" she exclaimed, wiping a tear from her eye. "T-chan, people can see us!"

"....!?" Tsugumi froze. Her breath hitched, her eyes snapped to the nearest table, where a couple was mid-conversation. The man paused, his gaze drifting over, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes seemed to register her. Not just her general direction, but her. Tsugumi quickly glanced around. A woman at the counter turned, her eyes seeming to track Ao's movements for a split second. A waiter, walking past their table, seemed to unconsciously skirt around them, as if sensing an obstacle.

A cold wave of realization washed over Tsugumi. "...I... am visible...?" Tsugumi puts the white pin back into her pocket, her eyes narrowing as she hugs Mr. Mew even tighter.

"...W-why?" Tsugumi gasped, her voice barely a whisper.

Ao shrugged, a playful bounce returning to her step despite the gravity of the situation. "I don't know why! It's just... super weird and kinda funny, right?" She leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "And get this! I tried to tell someone about the..." She leaned in further, her mouth opening to whisper "Reaper's Game," but instead of words, a stream of iridescent bubbles floated out of her mouth, popping silently in the air.

"....!" Tsugumi gasps, stepping back again.

Ao giggled, watching the bubbles rise. "See? Like that! Every time I try to say anything about the you know, or the Reapers, or even like, our situation," she said, her mouth forming silent, exaggerated shapes as more bubbles escaped her lips, "it just goes bloop-bloop-bloop!" She mimed the bubble sounds with her tongue and lips, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's so silly! They must have, like, put a gag on us, right? So we can't spill the beans, basically talking with people is useless, isn't that lame? Hehe."

Tsugumi stared, utterly dumbfounded. "....A...ah..."

"You know..." Ao taps her chin. "Maybe my partner said something about this? I don't remember clearly, there must be a lot more he told me about but I guess I just forgot, I'll probably remember once we see more weird stuff, Hehe."

"..." Tsugumi's initial alarm at their sudden visibility and Ao's bizarre bubble-speech was quickly overshadowed by the relentless ticking of the timer, they were running out of time.

"Later," Tsugumi stated flatly, ignoring the situation for now, "Listen, girl." Tsugumi says the word as if it was a slur. "Minutes are getting waisted. The focus now is on the mission."

Ao nodded, her playful demeanor instantly replaced by a serious one. "Right! Darkness! And its heart! We're on it, T-chan!"

Together, they turned to leave the Sunshine Stationside, intending to head back towards Scramble Crossing. 

But as they approached the exit of Statue of Hachiko, another Reaper blocked the path.

"Reaper..." Tsugumi muttered.

"Re-what? Ao asks, turning her gaze at her.

"Reaper, that's their name." Tsugumi crosses her arms.

"Reaper? But I thought their name was Game Masters." Ao rises her eyebrows. "Are you sure that's their names? My old partner said that-"

"Don't question me." Tsugumi glares at Ao and then closes her eyes.

"O-oh okay, T-chan! Reaper then!" Ao nods quickly, not wanting any problems with her.

The Reaper remained a statue of indifference, Tsugumi clenched her fist around her Shockwave pin, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Uh!? Wait, T-chan!" Ao exclaimed, suddenly grabbing Tsugumi's arm. Her touch, though soft, was firm, pulling Tsugumi's arm down. "Don't! What if they want us to do something here? Like, what if meeting up was a checkpoint? And now they've closed the path because we're supposed to get a new clue here?" Ao's eyes darted around the diner, then to the unmoving Reaper. "It's like... another puzzle, right? Why close off the paths if we're not meant to interact with them again?"

Tsugumi absorbed Ao's words, her arm still throbbing from the suppressed psych, as she stared down at her like she was about to strike her too.

"There fight him, you know?" Ao, with a sudden burst of determination, grabbed her arm firmly. "We're stuck with him, T-chan!" she declared, her eyes fixed on the unmoving Reaper at the exit. Without another word, Ao pushed Tsugumi, sending her stumbling forward directly towards the red-hooded figure. "Go on! Ask him! Maybe he'll talk this time!"

Ao's unexpected shove sent Tsugumi stumbling forward, directly towards the Reaper. Tsugumi bristled, glaring at Ao from the corner of her eyes, Ao nods quickly, gesturing her to talk with the Reaper.

"Erase the Noise on this Area."

Tsugumi quickly turns to the Reaper after hearing him say those words.

The Reaper then resumed his statue-like stillness, his gaze distant once again.

"...Noise?" Tsugumi looks around and then back at him. "There is no Noise around."

Ao, however, quickly grabbed Tsugumi's arm, "Easy, T-chan! Don't jump at him!"

Tsugumi takes Ao's hands off, her gaze fixed on the Reaper.

Ao turned to the Reaper, a wide, almost sickeningly sweet smile plastered across her face. "Excuse me, Mr. Reaper, right?" Ao chirped, her voice dripping with artificial deference. "Could you maybe... elaborate a little? We're not seeing any, um, visible Noise here. Perhaps we're missing something obvious?" She batted her eyelashes dramatically.

The Reaper remained unphased, He let out another weary sighs.

"The World isn't just what you can see," he droned, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion.

Ao's eyes widened, her fake smile dissolving into genuine astonishment. "No way," she whispered, her gaze fixed on the Reaper.

"Tsk..." Tsugumi presses her hand on her headphones, shaking her head slowly.

Ao's eyes were still wide, fixed on the Reaper who had just uttered a familiar phrase. "The World isn't just what you can see." She whispers. "If the world isn't just what we can see, what is it? What is the thing we do to see the unseen?"

Ao gaze darted to the Player Pin on her hand, her eyes wide in realization.

"Scanning," Tsugumi stated flatly, Her hand instinctively reached for her own Player Pin.

"Eh!?" Ao's triumphant grin instantly morphed into a pout. She let out a small, frustrated whine. "Aw, T-chan! I was just about to say that! You always get to say the cool stuff first!" She crossed her arms, sulking for a fleeting moment.

Tsugumi focused her will. Extending her senses beyond the visual, she activated her Player Pin, initiating a mental scan of the surrounding landscape.

But then, something shifted. Not within the minds of the humans but overlaying them, shimmering into existence right up in the air on top of Ao and Tsugumi's heads. Geometric patterns began to coalesce, turning into Noise Tags, The tags pulsed with raw, animalistic aggression and untamed ferocity.

And from the tags, Wolf-like creatures came out, They moved with a low growl, their teeth bared against Tsugumi and Ao.

"Wolves," Tsugumi stated, her voice tight, her hand instinctively tightening around her pins. "...Interesting..."

"Whoa!" Ao exclaimed, her earlier pout vanishing instantly, "Guess that Reaper meant we had to find the invisible Noise! Good call, T-chan!"

"...Didn't you said you got it a few minutes ago... Whatever..." Tsugumi whispered taking some steps back to get some space to move properly.

"Hehe~" Ao quickly steps back standing alongside Tsugumi. "Alright, T-chan, get them!"

"GHRAAAAA!!!" The Garage Wolves lunged, their movements surprisingly swift and they jump towards them.

Tsugumi reacted instantly, She swung her arm like a wide blade, slicing through the first wave of attacking Wolves, sending them skidding back with pained snarls.

"MY TURN!" Ao rises her hand, sending blasts that slam into the advancing Wolves. The Garage Wolves howled, their gray fur momentarily ignited by the intense flames, leaving scorch marks that faded as quickly as they appeared.

Tsugumi moved with a precise elegant ferocity, parrying snapping jaws, deflecting lunges, and slicing through the Wolves' flanks and opening the path to the others. "Tsk!"

"Yeah! Heat Up!" Ao moved with a frenetic energy, dodging attacks and punishing the attackers with bursts of flames. "Take this! T-chan, left!"

Tsugumi slaps a wolf away, with a Shockwave slash, turning and staring at the white pin. "...Seems like destiny was keeping you stored for this fight... You better be useful." She whispers.

Despite Tsugumi and Ao's combined might, the Garage Wolves were relentless. Their pack quickly coordinating attacks, flanking Tsugumi and Ao, their blue-tinged claws raking through them, causing sharp jolts of pain. 

"Ah! Bad puppies!" Ao hisses, clutching her arm.

Tsugumi hissed, her fist tight, she dashes towards a wolf with her left hand turning into a dark energy knife blade and she stabs him with a heavy lunge, dissolving him immediately.

"Oh! Wow, T-chan! You got a new pin? Hell yeah! Get ready no puppies! T-chan is mad!" Ao grins, kicking and burning a wolf that was closer.

Another wolf lunges at Tsugumi, she quickly dodges to the left and stabs the wolf, dashing to the other and slamming his pierced body on the other.

One wolf lunged at Ao, it's jaws snapping. Ao reacted with lightning speed, unleashing a point-blank blast of fire that sent the creature reeling, but not before its claws grazed her arm, leaving a shimmering, painful wound that slowly began to heal. "Gah! Hey! You are going to rip my shirt! This is a limited edition shirt that was a colab between Mus Ratus and HIP Shake! Argh!!!!"

Ao hisses and slams her hand on the ground, creating a fire pilar that burns the wolf. "Fuck around, Find out!"

Tsugumi rolls her eyes, slamming a wolf with a wide slash and finishing him with a piercing stab, slamming him down afterwards.

"Alright, T-chan! They're getting faster!" Ao yelled, dodging another snapping jaw. "And they hit really really hard! What do we do now?"

Tsugumi unleashes a powerful shockwave that slammed into a Wolf, sending it crashing into the benches. "Tsk..." Tsugumi jumps back, holding her arm with a little scar from one of the wolf slash.

"Woah! T-chan! You ok? Gah!" Ao hisses as a wolf bites her. "Ugh!!! This stupid noises are so annoying!!!" He shouts, rising her hand and sending walls of fire towards them.

"Mindless beings..." Tsugumi curses under her breath, standing on front of the charging wolfs, as one of them jumps towards her, she dodges to the right and steps him, slamming it's dead corpse, more approach, mindlessly dashing into her.

"Oh! Got it!" Ao watches Tsugumi, adapting quickly to her strategy, she stops, turning around the wolfs that surround her, burning the ones that dash into her. "You are fried! HA!"

Tsugumi found herself pressed back against a wall, three Garage Wolves snapping at her. She lashed out a wide slash, slicing at their heads, but they were relentless, their aggression unwavering. Suddenly, a torrent of flames erupted from behind her, incinerating two of the Wolves, forcing the third to back off.

"Need a hand, T-chan?" Ao quipped, her face grimy but her grin wide.

Tsugumi stabs the third wolf, throwing it's body towards Ao and the dashing forward towards the other.

"Woah!" Ao rolls to the side, standing back up after. Hehe~ A simple thank you it's nice too ya know?" 

Tsugumi hisses but suddenly she stops, staring at her hand. "...This white pin... It has more to it...."

"Hey! Earth to T-chan!?" Ao punches a wolf away, burning him after.

Tsugumi suddenly turns, walking slowly towards the pack, sliding the energy blade slowly across the ground, the wolfs step back slowly, surroundings her from all sides, as one of them lunges, Tsugumi grabs him by the neck with her left hand while her right hand tightens, trembling slowly as the dark energy within it starts to slowly charge, the wolfs lunge at her, she kicks them back, keeping them right where she wanted them to be.

Her eyes wide open as she shuts her right fist tight, the dark energy in her hand boiling, she throws the wolf she was holding up in the air and then kicks him towards the others, opening her hand, dashing and thrusting it forward, sending a powerful lunge that obliterates all the wolves forward. "....!"

"Eh!? What the-?" Ao's eyes wide open in awe. "Woahhhh, T-chan! How did you do that!?"

Tsugumi breaths heavily, hugging Mr. Mew tight with a pained gaze. "...Huff... huff..."

The wolves quickly strike again, overwhelming the girls again, One of the Wolves managed to pin Ao against the wall, it's snapping jaws inches from her face.

"GAH! HEY!!!" Ao gasps, trying to kick the wolf away. "BAD DOG! BAD DOG!" 

The wolves target Tsugumi, slashing and bitting her, Tsugumi kept breathing heavily, holding her chest as she looked seemed more in pain, her head down and her hair covering her face.

Just as the wolf lunged at Ao to finish her off, she unleashed a desperate, point-blank burst of flames, burning her body slowly in the process. "HAAAAAAAAA!!!" The Wolf recoiled with a shriek of pain, it's body flickering violently. "Leave T-chan alone!!!!" Ao shouts, punching the wolf with a flamming strike, sending him slamming into the other surrounding Tsugumi.

Tsugumi lifts her head up, her eyes wide and sharp, she jumps and slashes the air, sending a shockwave slash and finishes off the fallen wolves into static.

Tsugumi lands, her eyes darting around the remaining wolves.

"T-chan! T-chan! I'm here! Are you ok? There are still too many, how they are this many of them left!" Ao hisses, clutching her arm and quickly moving to Tsugumi's side.

They both breath heavily, their bodies flickering with exhaustion. The remaining wolves, sensing their advantage dwindling, began to circle, their growls low and menacing.

"...Time," Tsugumi panted, glancing at the timer on her hand.

Suddenly, Ao grinned, a spark of her usual energy returning. "Hey, T-chan! Remember what that Reaper said? 'The World isn't just what you can see'?"

"...I... I should have been more prepared... If it wasn't for me hesitating, I would have gotten her pins... why..." Tsugumi hisses, her gaze darkening.

"Well," Ao said, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "these guys are all about the invisible Noise, right? The hidden anger and aggression? Maybe... maybe we need to fight them with something they can't see coming either!"

Tsugumi quickly turns her gaze to Ao, rising her hand wide to strike her, Ao closed her eyes, took a deep breath and a different kind of energy began to emanate from her. ".............HA!!!! Change!" Suddenly a wave of pure, bright colors rippled outwards, washing over the chaotic energy of the Garage Wolves.

The effect was instantaneous and utterly bizarre, strong gusts of wind blowed around the wolves, pushing them back and making them seem... bewildered.

"...!?" Tsugumi stared, dumbfounded, whispering to herself. "Where did she..."

Ao opened her eyes, her grin wide and genuine. "Hehe! Now that they are out of their comfort zone, T-chan, finish them off!"

Capitalizing on the Wolves' confusion, Tsugumi turns her gaze to the wolves, unleashing a final, sweeping Shockwave, catching the disoriented creatures off guard, dissolving them easily, their bodies fading in the wind, leaving the Statue of Hachiko silent once more.

"How did you do that?" Tsugumi asked, her eyes narrowed on Ao.

Ao giggled, rubbing her nose. "Oh, that? I just, like, figured it out when we were separated! There were a few Dixiefrogs around, super annoying without you there and by the way-and I couldn't fight them alone. So, I just... tried something different! And it just happened!"

Tsugumi's eyes wide open. "You... couldn't fight them alone?"

Ao nodded, her expression suddenly serious. "Nope! Totally useless solo! I tried to blast them, but nothing happened. It's like... we need each other for the Psychs to really work, you know? It's all about teamwork!" She then tilted her head, a playful tease entering her voice. "Wait, you didn't know that, T-chan? How did you even survive being alone today if you didn't realize that?"

Before Tsugumi could say anything, a low, drawn-out sigh came out from the Reaper. His arm moved with surprising speed, a black object spinning through the air. The small, dark pin slammed squarely into Ao's forehead with a soft thud.

"Ow!" Ao yelped, rubbing her face. "Hey!"

"...!?" Tsugumi gasps a little from that sudden attack and turns her gaze towards the Reaper.

As the pin hit Ao, the barrier blocking their exit was now open.

With the barrier gone, the Reaper spreads his wings open and wide, Tsugumi and Ao both gasped, their eyes wide with shock. With a powerful beat of his wings, the Reaper launched himself skyward, disappearing into the sky in a matter of seconds.

Ao, still rubbing her forehead, looked down at the pin that had fallen into her hand. It was sleek and black, with a simple, stark white hand symbol etched onto its surface. "Whoa... that was rude," she mumbled, then her eyes lit up. "But check it out, T-chan! A new Psych Pin! A hand! Wonder what it does?"

Tsugumi eyes narrow, she rubs her head slowly, feeling an intense headache.

"Hm? T-chan?" Ao turns to Tsugumi, looking slowly worried.

"...I can't..." Tsugumi seethed, her voice a low murmur. She turned sharply and strode purposefully towards the newly opened path leading back to Scramble Crossing.

"Hey, T-chan! Wait up!" Ao called out, hastily pocketing the new pin and scrambling after her partner.

...

"You don't trust me, M'lady?"

"... It's not a matter of trust... It's a matter of finishing the job quickly..."

"That's not the composer orders and you know that, M'lady..."

"The composer-"

"Watch it, M'lady... Being frustrated it's a useless feeling for us, GMs."

"I know but..."

"Leave your faith in me, M'lady. Remember..."

"..."

                                            To be Continued....