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

 

(𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝑺𝑶𝑼𝑳 𝑪𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑮 - 𝑺𝑼𝑷𝑬𝑹 𝑩𝑶𝑵 𝑩𝑶𝑵 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑫𝑶𝑵𝑻 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑰𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷)∇∇∇

...

An arche throbbed behind Tsugumi's eyes, a phantom sensation that shouldn't plague a spirit. She blinked, her vision blurry at first, then sharpening to reveal the familiar, impassive face of **Hachiko**. The bronze statue stood solid and unwavering, a silent sentinel in the heart of **Statue of Hachiko***. She was lying on the cool, hard ground where they had collapsed.

Panic, cold and sharp, seized her. She sat up abruptly, her body shimmering with the sudden movement. "Ao?" she called out, her voice a silent whisper in the bustling, oblivious crowd. She scanned around her frantically, her gaze sweeping across the familiar landmarks: the vibrant billboards of 104, the looming department stores, the endless flow of peoples all around. But there was no sign of the loud, overly cheerful girl. No flash of bright clothes, no familiar aura of chaotic energy.

She was alone, again.

The 104 billboard still pulsed with its unchanging light, but the stark "YOU HAVE 7 DAYS" message from yesterday was still there, more bright than ever. Tsugumi instinctively looked down at her hand. The invisible timer was absent, of course. Day 1 was over. Day 2 had begun. But where was Ao?

A kot tightened in Tsugumi's stomach. The game had just drilled into her, in the most irritating way possible, the importance of being "together." To be alone now, at the dawn of a new day in this bizarre reality, felt profoundly wrong. Was this part of the mission? Another annoying twist from the unseen Game Masters? "That girl...."

She pushed herself to her feet, her body still feeling heavy, as if the exhaustion from the previous day's battles had seeped into her very essence. The constant thrum of Shibuya, the cacophony of unseen thoughts, pressed in on her. Without Ao's energetic presence, the city felt... emptier, yet also more overwhelming. "Urgh...I can't believe I care about that...bug...*sighs* I hope she is at least alive..."

Tsugumi walked slowly, deliberately, through the phantom crowds, her eyes searching. She strained her senses, trying to see Ao by looking around, the vibrant, optimistic hum she now reluctantly recognized. But all she found was the monotonous flow of civilian thoughts: anxieties about meetings, desires for new clothes, plans for dinner. Ao's unique "noise" was nowhere to be found in the immediate vicinity of Hachiko.

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.

Tsugumi decided to start with **Dogenzaka**. It was a well-known entertainment district; perhaps Ao had ventured there, or perhaps there would be a clue. As she approached the entrance leading from Scramble Crossing into Dogenzaka, she noticed a shadowy figure in a red hoodie standing near the threshold. The "Game Master" or one of them.

As Tsugumi stepped towards Dogenzaka, an invisible barrier shimmered into existence, blocking the path further of it. It wasn't the kind of barrier she could easily blast through; this one felt different, more ingrained in the very fabric of the Game. It was a clear sign that the path was restricted further more from Dogenzaka.

Tsugumi stopped before the barrier, her gaze hardening as it solidified in front of her. Her eyes then narrowed on the Reaper standing beside it. He was just as still and uncommunicative as the others, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, head tilted infinitesimally, an aura of utter disinterest radiating from him.

"Hey!" Tsugumi called out, her voice cutting through the ambient city hum, though she knew only Players could hear her. "You! Game Master!"

The figure remained motionless, a dark silhouette against the bright Shibuya morning. Not a flicker. Not a twitch. He was utterly unresponsive. Tsugumi's irritation, never far from the surface, began to prickle.

"Are you listening?" she demanded, stepping closer, her voice growing sharper. "I know you can hear me. What's the meaning of this? Where is my "partner"? What is this barrier?" She gestured at the solid, unyielding wall blocking her way to Dogenzaka.

A long, drawn-out sigh finally broke the silence. It was a sound of immense boredom, of utter disinterest, barely audible above the city's hum, but it was enough to make Tsugumi's frustration flare.

The figure slowly, almost languidly, shifted his weight. His head tilted infinitesimally, the brim of his cap still obscuring his eyes, but she felt the weight of his unseen gaze upon her.

"Reaper," a low, flat voice corrected her. It was devoid of emotion, like gravel scraping on concrete. "Not 'Game Master.' We're Reapers."

Tsugumi bristled. "Whatever! Reaper, Game Master, it doesn't matter...Tell me what's going on! Why am I still here? Where is the girl?"

Another sigh, heavier this time, as if the very act of speaking was a profound chore. "Look, kid," the Reaper droned, his voice utterly devoid of inflection. "I don't get paid enough to chat around. Mission's on your phone. Figure it out."

He then returned to his previous, rigid stillness, as if the brief interaction had expended all his energy for the day. He was a wall, an unyielding, unhelpful enigma.

Tsugumi stared, aghast. "That's it? That's all you're going to say?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "You trap us here, force us to fight monsters, give us cryptic missions, and you can't even give a straight answer?!"

The Reaper remained unmoving, a statue of indifferent authority. He was completely ignoring her, as if she had ceased to exist. The surrounding crowd flowed around them, oblivious.

Tsugumi felt a surge of pure, unadulterated rage. This was infuriating. The sheer arrogance, the casual disregard for their lives, the complete lack of explanation. She clenched her fist around her **Shockwave** pin, a dangerous thought sparking in her mind. Should she try to force answers out of him? Unleash a Psych?

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. No. Ao had said they couldn't "brute force" the barriers. And this guy was clearly something else entirely, unaffected by her scan. Attacking him might be pointless, or worse, have unforeseen and dire consequences.

She glared at the unmoving Reaper for another long moment, her frustration battling with the cold logic of self-preservation. It was clear he wouldn't offer any more information. He was a barrier in human form, as unyielding as the invisible wall surrounding the crossing.

Tsugumi turned away, her jaw tight. "Fine, useless" she muttered, though he made no indication he heard her.

The Dogenzaka barrier was closed for now since A-East was known to be accessed *via* Dogenzaka, that meant A-East was currently inaccessible. Her only remaining open area was the **104 Building** and the rest of **Scramble Crossing**. She had already briefly checked Scramble Crossing for Ao, with no luck.

She 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..."

**198:45**

Just under two hundred minutes. The realization hit her with the force of a physical blow. The Reapers weren't just observing; they were actively pushing her, forcing her to move, to act.

A new message, stark and cold, materialized on her phone screen, replacing the vague Day 2 instruction.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡========================>

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

                                            - The Reapers.

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

Darkness. Heart. The words were ominous, heavy with implied threat. And the countdown was relentless. Two hundred minutes to find an abstract concept within the sprawling, neon-drenched chaos of Shibuya. And no Ao.

Tsugumi sighs. "Darkness." It wasn't referring to literal shadows; this game was too metaphorical for that. It meant something hidden, something negative, something that lurked beneath the city's bright facade. And "its heart"... that implied a core, a source. Maybe....

She tightened her grip on her Player Pin, looking for where to start "Tsk... being alone isn't much of a problem...at all..."

Tsugumi re-focused. "Darkness," she repeated mentally. She began to wander through the **104 Building** once more, but with a new purpose. She was searching for something, a different kind of emotional signature. Something colder, heavier. **Despair**. **Malice**. **Suffering** that could be the "Darkness" bad emotions, now as she already knew that people around Shibuya are heavily affected by Noise.

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 emotional currents subtly shifted. The higher floors of 104 were quieter, less frantic. Here, she detected thoughts of **stress**, of **exhaustion**, from shop employees and tired shoppers. A sense of **loneliness**, of **isolation**, even amidst the crowds. It wasn't the pervasive "darkness" she was looking for, but it was a step away from the superficial. She spent precious minutes meticulously combing through each floor, her senses strained, but found no single, concentrated source of profound negativity. "Urgh.... I think that it was a bad idea coming to scan people thoughts on such a close area... so many voices..."

Frustration simmered within her. The timer continued its relentless countdown: **180:20**.

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

She scanned the remaining accessible areas of Scramble Crossing, pushing her Psych further, trying to pierce through the mental cacophony. She focused on the undercurrents, the thoughts that were suppressed or ignored by the majority. A sense of **discontent**, of **unrest**, began to register, faint but persistent, emanating from *beyond* the Dogenzaka barrier. It wasn't a direct thought, but an undeniable *feeling* of something heavy, something old, something deeply unpleasant.

The feeling grew stronger as she concentrated, pulling at her senses like an invisible tide. It seemed to pulse most intensely from the direction of **A-East**, a place she couldn't reach. The "darkness" was there. She could feel its oppressive presence, distant but palpable, radiating from the very district she was currently barred from entering.

The mission was a cruel trick. "FIND THE PLACE WHERE RESIDES DARKNESS," it commanded, and she had found it. She *felt* it. But "FIND ITS HEART" and the ability to actually *reach* it were clearly contingent on overcoming the barrier.

Her timer continued its merciless descent: **165:10**.

Tsugumi gripped her Player Pin, her jaw tight. She knew where the darkness was, but she couldn't get to it. The path was blocked. The Reaper had given her no clues. She was trapped, with a ticking clock, her partner missing, and an unreachable objective taunting her from just beyond a shimmering wall. "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, sensed "darkness" of A-East, gnawed at Tsugumi. Her frustration was a cold knot in her stomach. Exploding at a stoic Reaper had done nothing but confirm his utter uselessness. Her logical mind demanded a solution, but exhaustion, both physical and mental, began to creep in.

She glanced at the countdown: **160:20**. Time was slipping away. Pushing through the bustling crowds of Scramble Crossing felt like navigating a particularly irritating labyrinth. Every thought she gleaned from the oblivious masses was a reminder of her predicament, her isolation. *A new phone... lunch plans... traffic...* None of it mattered. None of it offered a solution.

A familiar impulse tugged at her. When the world became too loud, too illogical, too... *human*, Tsugumi sought refuge in routine, in solitude. And a very specific routine came to mind: a solitary meal at a familiar spot. "Gah...this is it....I can't think- I can't think with all this Noise around me..."

She decided to backtrack to the **Statue of Hachiko**, then make her way to the **Sunshine Stationside**. It was a well-known spot, celebrated for its greasy, comforting burgers. Usually, she liked to go there alone, to simply exist, to process thoughts away from the incessant demands of others. It was just what she needed right now. A brief respite, a moment of detached contemplation.

The walk felt longer than usual, the familiar Shibuya scenery passing in a blur. She moved with a detached efficiency, her focus singular: food, then thought. The constant stream of human thoughts was a dull roar she tried to filter out, but glimpses of their fleeting joys and anxieties still slipped through, grating on her nerves. She pushed them away, focusing on the simple, tangible goal of a burger.

Finally, she reached the **Sunshine Stationside**. The scent of grilled meat and fried potatoes, rich and inviting, cut through the city air. It was a small, unassuming diner, nestled among brighter, more boisterous establishments. True to its reputation, a small line had already formed, mostly of office workers on their lunch breaks and weary shoppers seeking a quick bite.

Tsugumi phased through the wall, bypassing the line entirely. Her presence was, as always, utterly unnoticed by the living. She approached the counter, where a woman with tired eyes and a surprisingly cheerful disposition was taking orders. The waitress was a familiar face, one Tsugumi had observed countless times during her lonely meals here. She moved with a practiced efficiency, her smile never quite reaching her eyes.

"Welcome to Sunshine Stationside! What can I get for you today?" the waitress chirped, her voice a little too bright for the weary lines around her eyes.

Tsugumi simply stared, her body still tired, her voice unheard. "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 shook her head slightly, as if clearing it. "Alrighty then! Coming right up!" She turned to the grill, doing her order.

Tsugumi felt a flicker of grim satisfaction. The woman's confusion was a testament to her own presence, a reminder that she was beyond their grasp. It was a comforting thought, a reaffirmation of her detachment.

She watched the grill sizzle, the scent of the cooking burger filling her senses. The mundane efficiency of the diner was a calming counterpoint to the chaos of her current reality. This was a place where things made sense, where the rules were consistent. Unlike the Reaper's Game.

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, her cheerful facade firmly in place. 

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, yet far enough from the main flow of customers to maintain her solitude.

She sat down, placing the tray on the table. With a small, deliberate movement, she took **Mr. Mew** from her bag. The small, stylized plush cat, a silent, comforting presence, landed softly on the tabletop.

"Well, Mr. Mew," Tsugumi began, her voice a soft, almost imperceptible whisper, as if speaking to the plush toy released a tension she hadn't realized she was holding. "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. The savory flavor of the beef, the crispness of the lettuce, the tang of the sauce - it was a simple, yet profoundly satisfying sensation. For a moment, the urgent ticking of the timer faded.

"That Reaper was utterly useless," she continued, speaking to the plush cat as if it were a sentient confidant. "Completely devoid of any helpful information. They call themselves 'Reapers,' apparently. And they don't get paid enough to be informative. What a pathetic excuse for an existence."

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

She sighed, pushing a fry across the table with her finger. "She's gone. Its not like i care about her that much but I still need her...for some reason. But where she is? And why now? Don't look at me like that, Mr. Mew. You don't have to worry, I still don't like her.

Mr. Mew remained still, his eyes seemingly staring into the middle distance. Tsugumi didn't need a response. She just needed to articulate her thoughts, to impose a semblance of order on the chaos swirling around her.

"I found the 'darkness'," she continued, her voice growing more thoughtful, less frustrated. "Or rather, I felt its presence. It's in A-East. A pervasive, heavy feeling. Despair. Sadness. I could almost... taste it. But I can't get there. There's a barrier in Dogenzaka, blocking the only path."

She took another bite of her burger, her gaze distant, fixed on the bustling street outside the diner window. The oblivious crowds flowed past, their lives unfolding in a dimension separate from hers.

"So the problem is not *where* the darkness is, but *how* to access it," Tsugumi mused, her thoughts taking on a more analytical tone. "The Reaper won't help. Brute force is out. 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 Game Masters... or Reapers as they call theirselfs... they operate on these obscure rules. They want us to 'figure it out.' This 'darkness'... as I can feel where it comes so it must be a feeling...

She remembered the previous day, how their "Noise" had been the couple's argument, and the mission had been cleared by quelling their emotional discord. This "darkness" felt different. More ingrained. More pervasive. It wasn't just a fleeting spat; it was a deep-seated sorrow of Shibuya itself.

"Perhaps the barrier is not just a physical obstacle," Tsugumi pondered, her gaze drifting back to Mr. Mew. "Perhaps it's a reflection of the 'darkness' itself. A symbolic representation of a path that cannot be accessed until a certain condition is met. A condition related to this 'darkness'. Eh...I am just overthinking...it's really not that deep."

She finished her burger, the simple act of eating providing a surprising clarity. Her mind, usually rigid and unyielding, began to make reluctant connections.

"So, Mr. Mew," Tsugumi concluded, her voice returning to its usual stoic cadence, though a hint of resignation lingered. "The next step is to understand this 'darkness' more fully, even from afar. Maybe there is some trick that I am suppose to do so I can pass the barrier."

She pushed the empty tray away, the brief moment of solitary respite over. The timer on her hand still ticked relentlessly. She had to find a way to access A-East, to confront the heart of this ominous darkness. And she had to do it alone, at least for now. The thought of Ao, waiting somewhere, was a persistent, if irritating, echo in her mind. She needed her, whether she liked it or not.

---

As Tsugumi finished her burger, the fleeting comfort of food and solitary thought gave way to the pressing urgency of the timer. She pushed the tray away, picked up **Mr. Mew**, and began to head towards the counter to "pay" for her meal. Her mind was already wrestling with the cryptic mission and the inaccessible barrier.

She was just about to phase through a small group of customers waiting to order when she collided, not with the solid form of a living person, but with the shimmering, familiar aura of a fellow Player.

"Oof!" a surprised voice exclaimed, instantly recognizable. "Hey! Watch it!"

Tsugumi froze. Her head snapped up, her eyes widening in disbelief. Standing just inches from her, rubbing her arm where their bodies had briefly overlapped, was **Ao**. Her vibrant clothes seemed even brighter in the diner's warm light, and her eyes, though momentarily startled, soon lit up with overwhelming relief and a familiar, irrepressible joy. ("The girl!")

For a split second, an unfamiliar surge of something akin to **excitement** pulsed through Tsugumi. The sudden appearance of her missing partner, after the desolate loneliness of Day 2, was a profound jolt. The weight of the mission, the isolation, the sheer *frustration* of it all, momentarily lifted. Her logical mind registered the immediate advantage of having Ao back, but beneath that, a deeper, more primal response of **relief** flickered.

She quickly suppressed it. Her face, habitually stoic, remained a mask of cool indifference. She wouldn't give Ao the satisfaction of seeing her relieved. "You..."

Ao, however, was already bouncing on the balls of her feet, an enormous grin spreading across her face. "T-chan! You're here! I knew it! Sunshine Stationside! This is the best! I love their burgers!" She clapped her hands together, oblivious to Tsugumi's carefully constructed facade. "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, a testament to her warring emotions. She'd been alone for what felt like an eternity, battling invisible barriers and cryptic threats. Now, Ao was here, a whirlwind of vibrant energy. Part of Tsugumi wanted to snap, to berate Ao for disappearing, to demand answers. Another, smaller part, felt a quiet hum of relief.

"I was... nevermind," Tsugumi finally stated, her voice flat, deliberately avoiding any hint of the concern she'd felt. She gestured vaguely at the empty table she'd just left. "What were you doing? Fooling around? You were the one that was so interested on the "partner" thing?"

Ao's grin didn't falter, though she tilted her head, sensing the usual Tsugumi detachment. "Eating! Of course! You always disappear for food when things get stressful, T-chan! I looked everywhere! 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!"

"You and him are both annoying to deal with" Tsugumi looks away annoyed.

Right? Tee-hee~" Ao continued, stepping closer, her excitement contagious. 

"Urgh...." Tsugumi rolls her eyes. Ao was too stupid to even get her insults.

"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 relentlessly counting down on her hand. She decided to cut to the chase. "The mission already started. You are so relentless...Tsk" She presented her hand, showing Ao the glowing red numbers: **158:50**.

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, where the new mission message had just materialized. Her face went from surprise to a thoughtful frown as she read the cryptic words aloud.

"FIND THE PLACE WHERE RESIDES DARKNESS AND FIND ITS HEART?. You have 200 minutes... Oh, wow. That's... a lot more intense than 'make people connect,' huh?" She looked up at Tsugumi, her usual boundless energy now tinged with a serious edge. "Darkness? And its heart? Where do we even start with that? Hummm..."

Ao's sudden seriousness about the mission was short-lived. A mischievous glint entered her eyes as Tsugumi focused on the cryptic "Darkness" mission.

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

Tsugumi, still analyzing the mission parameters, let out an exasperated sigh. "Tsk, everything about this is 'weird.' Be specific. This isn't time for games"

Ao giggled, ignoring the reprimand. "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. The aromas of grilled meat and fries still lingered, the sounds of chatter and clinking cutlery were present. Nothing seemed overtly different. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, her patience wearing thin. "Just say 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 annoyance flared. The timer on her hand was a constant, burning reminder of their dire situation, and Ao was wasting precious seconds with pointless riddles. "Hey! Enough! What is it?! Just tell me what's wrong!" Tsugumi's voice, though a whisper around them, carried a sharp edge of genuine frustration.

Ao finally burst into full laughter, a bright, melodic sound that seemed to cut through the diner's mundane hum. "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*. He blinked, then shook his head, looking back at his partner, but the flicker of recognition was undeniable. 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 their invisible forms, as if sensing an obstacle.

A cold wave of realization washed over Tsugumi. They weren't completely invisible anymore. They were **visible**.

"What... why?" Tsugumi gasped, her voice barely a whisper, the previous annoyance replaced by stark alarm. "Why are we visible? How?"

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.

Ao giggled, watching the bubbles rise. "See? Like that! Every time I try to say anything about the R-G, 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!"

Tsugumi stared, utterly dumbfounded. Visible. And gagged. Reapers, were truly enjoying their torment.

Tsugumi's initial alarm at their sudden visibility and Ao's bizarre bubble-speech was quickly overshadowed by the relentless ticking of the timer. **158:50**. They were running out of time. This new mission, "FIND THE PLACE WHERE RESIDES DARKNESS AND FIND ITS HEART," demanded their immediate attention. The weirdness of their visibility and inability to speak about the Game would have to wait.

"Later," Tsugumi stated flatly, ignoring Ao's continued fascination with the bubbles. "We're wasting minutes. We need to focus on the mission."

Ao, ever adaptable, 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, a familiar, ominous figure in a red hoodie stood perfectly still, blocking their path. Another **Reaper**. The very sight of him, impassive and unyielding, sent a fresh wave of annoyance through Tsugumi.

"Are you serious?" Tsugumi muttered, her body tensing. The Reapers were actively preventing them from moving freely. This was beyond inconvenient; it was a deliberate blockade. Her gaze hardened. "Move," she mentally commanded the Reaper, though she knew it was futile.

The Reaper remained a statue of indifference.

Tsugumi clenched her fist around her **Shockwave** pin, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "This is infuriating," she snarled, her voice a low growl. She raised her hand, ready to unleash a blast, consequences be damned.

"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 attack. Ao's frantic logic, though irritatingly optimistic, held a strange, unsettling truth. The Game was always about figuring out the unspoken rules. If their reunion was indeed a "checkpoint," then a new objective, or a hint on how to proceed, might be tied to their current location, or even to the very Reaper blocking their way. ("Interesting...I don't believe this dummy is the one to tell me that...good work Tsugumi.")

A heavy sigh escaped Tsugumi. Her shoulders slumped slightly, the raw fury giving way to a weary resignation. Ao was probably right. They were trapped. Again.

She scanned around once more. Every single exit was now blocked by a silent, unmoving Reaper. They were completely surrounded, confined to this small, burger-scented prison.

"Okay," Tsugumi conceded, the word feeling like ash in her mouth. "What do I do now...."

Before Tsugumi could formulate a plan, 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 unmoving Reaper. Tsugumi bristled, but before she could snap at Ao, she was already standing before the silent, red-hooded figure. The Reaper remained utterly still, an infuriating wall of indifference. "Gah! Hey! Who are you to boss me around!" Tsugumi shouts at Ao then turns her gaze to the Reaper.

"Alright, fine," Tsugumi muttered, her voice a low growl only Ao could hear. "What do you want? Why are you blocking the path? What's the next step?"

For a long, agonizing moment, the Reaper offered no response. Tsugumi felt her temper fraying, the ticking timer on her hand burning a hole in her palm. Just as she was about to lash out again, the Reaper's low, gravelly voice finally broke the silence.

"Erase the Noise on this Area."

That was it. Four blunt words, delivered with the same flat, emotionless tone as before. The Reaper then resumed his statue-like stillness, his gaze seemingly fixed on some distant, invisible point.

"Noise?" Tsugumi looks around. "There isn't any Noise here or around here, Stop-Fool-Around!" Tsugumi shouts at him right close to his ear.

Ao, however, quickly grabbed Tsugumi's arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "Easy, T-chan! Don't push him!" She turned to the Reaper, a wide, almost sickeningly sweet smile plastered across her face. It was a smile Tsugumi recognized instantly as Ao's "I'm trying to be polite but I'm really annoyed" face. "Excuse me, Mr. Reaper, sir," 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 by Ao's sugary facade. He let out another one of his incredibly drawn-out, utterly world-weary sighs.

"The World isn't just what you can see," he droned, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion, as if reciting a forgotten proverb.

Ao's eyes widened, her fake smile dissolving into genuine astonishment. The air around her seemed to shimmer with a sudden, profound recognition. "No way," she whispered, her gaze fixed on the Reaper.

Tsugumi snorted. "Again..." she interjected, her annoyance momentarily eclipsing her own curiosity about the Reaper's cryptic remark. "What's the deal now?"---

Ao's eyes were still wide, fixed on the Reaper who had just uttered her old partner's familiar phrase. "The World isn't just what you can see." The words resonated deep within her, a nostalgic echo in the surreal chaos of the Reaper's Game. If the world wasn't just what you could see, what was it? What was the thing they always did to perceive the unseen?

A spark of realization ignited in Ao's mind, a familiar mechanic from their battles and investigations. Her gaze darted to the Player Pin on her hand. She opened her mouth, a triumphant grin beginning to form, ready to declare her breakthrough.

"Scanning," Tsugumi stated flatly, her voice cutting through Ao's burgeoning excitement. Her eyes, cool and analytical, were already fixed on the mundane objects and unmoving people around them. Her hand instinctively reached for her own Player Pin.

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, ignoring Ao's momentary sulk, focused her will. Extending her senses beyond the visual, she activated her Player Pin, initiating a mental scan of the diner and the surrounding emotional landscape. The thoughts of the oblivious patrons flooded her mind - hunger, boredom, anticipation for the end of their lunch break. Mundane. Utterly, frustratingly mundane.

But then, something shifted. Not within the minds of the humans, but *overlaying* them, shimmering into existence in the very air around Ao and Tsugumi. Geometric patterns began to coalesce, faint at first, then growing more distinct. **Noise Tags**. Dozens of them, floating like malevolent confetti, swirling with an angry, chaotic energy that was entirely absent from the thoughts of the diner's occupants. These tags pulsed with a raw, animalistic **aggression**, an untamed **ferocity**.

And from these swirling vortexes of negative emotion, they materialized. Hulking forms, sleek and gray, with predatory yellow eyes that locked instantly onto Tsugumi and Ao. **Garage Wolves**. Their tails and front legs crackled with an electric blue energy, a stark contrast to their otherwise shadowy forms. They moved with a low growl, their teeth bared, their presence a palpable shift in the diner's atmosphere, though the oblivious humans continued to munch on their burgers, utterly unaware of the spectral predators that had suddenly appeared amongst them.

"Wolves," Tsugumi stated, her voice tight, her hand instinctively tightening around her **Shockwave** pin. These were different from the lumbering Dixiefrogs. Their posture spoke of speed and cunning.

"Whoa!" Ao exclaimed, her earlier pout vanishing instantly, replaced by a surge of adrenaline. Her **Pyrokinesis** pin flared to life in her hand, a visible spark of orange energy crackling around it. "Guess that Reaper meant we had to find the *invisible* Noise! Good call, T-chan!"

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

"Hehe~ Ao quickly steps back standing along side Tsugumi.

The Garage Wolves lunged, their movements surprisingly swift. Tsugumi reacted instantly, her spectral form a blur of motion. She swung her arm, her **Shockwave** pin leaving trails of concussive force in the air. The invisible blades of energy sliced through the first wave of attacking Wolves, sending them skidding back with pained snarls, their shadowy forms flickering. Unlike physical attacks, Tsugumi's Psych directly disrupted their immaterial essence.

Ao was a whirlwind of fire. Blasts of searing heat erupted from her pin, slamming into the advancing Wolves. The air filled with the acrid scent of ozone and the faint, sizzling sound of disrupted Noise. The Garage Wolves howled, their gray fur momentarily ignited by the intense flames, leaving scorch marks that faded as quickly as they appeared.

The battle was a chaotic dance within the confined space of the diner. Tsugumi moved with a precise, almost elegant ferocity, her **Shockwave** acting like an invisible sword, parrying snapping jaws, deflecting lunges, and slicing through the Wolves' flanks. Her attacks were swift and targeted, aiming to disable and disrupt. "Tsk!"

Ao, on the other hand, was a force of raw power. Her flames were less controlled, more explosive, capable of incinerating multiple Wolves at once. She moved with a frenetic energy, dodging attacks with a nimbleness that belied her usual cheerful clumsiness, her fiery aura a protective shield against the encroaching predators. "Take this!"

Despite their combined might, the Garage Wolves were relentless. Their pack mentality was evident in their coordinated attacks, flanking Tsugumi and Ao, their blue-tinged claws raking through them, causing sharp jolts of pain. Tsugumi hissed, feeling the drain on her energy. These creatures were tougher, more resilient than the Dixiefrogs.

One particularly large Garage Wolf, its eyes burning with an intense blue energy, lunged at Ao, its 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.

"They're fast!" Ao yelled, dodging another snapping jaw. "And they hit hard!"

"Focus!" Tsugumi snapped, unleashing a powerful **Shockwave** that slammed into the large Wolf, sending it crashing into a table, scattering plates and cutlery - still unnoticed by the oblivious diners. "They're relying on speed and aggression. We need to control their movements Gah!" Tsugumi jumps back, holding her arm with a little scar from one of the Garage Wolf slash.

Tsugumi changed her tactics, using her **Shockwave** not just for offense, but for defense and crowd control. She created bursts of concussive force to push the Wolves back, creating momentary pockets of space, allowing Ao to unleash her fiery attacks without fear of friendly fire.

Ao, adapting quickly, began to focus her flames into more concentrated beams, targeting the blue energy points on the Wolves' tails and front legs. When a beam connected, the blue energy would flicker violently, and the Wolf would yelp, its movements momentarily hampered.

The battle raged on, a silent, spectral war unfolding amidst the oblivious lunchtime crowd. Tables were overturned by stray blows from the Wolves, ketchup bottles and salt shakers flying through the air - all seemingly happening on their own, adding to the surreal chaos.

Tsugumi found herself pressed back against a wall, three Garage Wolves snapping at her. She lashed out with her **Shockwave**, 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.

"Stay focused," Tsugumi retorted, though a grudging sense of gratitude flickered within her. Teamwork, as irritating as the concept was, did have its advantages.

They fought back-to-back, a whirlwind of invisible force and searing flame. Tsugumi's precise strikes and tactical awareness complemented Ao's raw power and unpredictable bursts of energy. They were becoming a more cohesive unit, their movements starting to synchronize, a silent understanding passing between them in the heat of the battle.

But the Garage Wolves were numerous, and the confined space of the diner offered them little room to maneuver. They were being slowly overwhelmed. One of the Wolves managed to pin Ao against the counter, its snapping jaws inches from her face.

"Hey! Tsugumi cried out, launching herself forward. But another Wolf intercepted her, its powerful body slamming into hers, sending her reeling back. "Urgh! Dammit!" Jumping back holding her chest with a little slash from one of the Garage Wolves.

Just as the Wolf lunged at Ao, she unleashed a desperate, point-blank burst of pure fiery energy. It wasn't a controlled blast; it was a raw, uncontrolled explosion of her Psych. The Wolf recoiled with a shriek of pain, its shadowy form flickering violently. The force of the blast also threw Ao back, sending her crashing into a table with a grunt.

Tsugumi, recovering quickly, saw her opportunity. The Wolf that had attacked Ao was momentarily stunned. With a focused surge of power, Tsugumi unleashed a concentrated **Shockwave** directly into its core. The Wolf convulsed, its form dissolving into shimmering particles of light that faded into nothingness.

They were both breathing heavily, their bodies flickering with exhaustion. The remaining Garage Wolves, sensing their advantage dwindling, began to circle, their growls low and menacing.

"We can't keep this up," Tsugumi panted, glancing at the timer on her hand: **120:30**. Time was still slipping away.

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

Tsugumi frowned, confused. "Not a good time A- I mean...girl"

"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!"

Before Tsugumi could decipher that cryptic statement, Ao closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and a different kind of energy began to emanate from her. It wasn't the raw heat of her **Pyrokinesis**. It was something... else. A wave of pure, untainted **joy**, a sudden burst of unrestrained, infectious happiness that seemed to ripple outwards, washing over the chaotic energy of the Garage Wolves. "Cheer Up!"

The effect was instantaneous and utterly bizarre. The aggressive snarls of the Wolves faltered. Their predatory yellow eyes blinked in confusion. The blue energy crackling around their limbs flickered and dimmed. They seemed... bewildered.

Tsugumi stared, dumbfounded. What was Ao doing? This wasn't a Psych she had ever seen her use. "?"

Ao opened her eyes, her grin wide and genuine. "They feed on bad vibes, right? So, let's give them the *opposite*!"

Capitalizing on the Wolves' confusion, Tsugumi unleashed a final, sweeping **Shockwave**, catching the disoriented creatures off guard. Deprived of their aggressive energy, the Garage Wolves dissolved easily, their forms fading like smoke in the wind, leaving the Statue of Hachiko silent once more, the oblivious patrons still enjoying their lunch, none the wiser to the spectral battle that had just concluded.

"What *was* that Psych?" Tsugumi demanded, her eyes narrowed on Ao, who was still grinning, basking in the glow of their victory. "And where is its Pin?" The abrupt shift in Ao's fighting style, the strange wave of 'joy,' was utterly perplexing.

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, 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?" The words hung in the air, heavy with a chilling implication.

Ao nodded, her expression suddenly serious. "Nope! Totally useless solo! I tried to blast them, but they just kept coming. 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 snap back, a low, drawn-out sigh emanated 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.

"!?" Tsugumi gasps a little from that sudden attack and tenses.

As the pin hit Ao, the shimmering, invisible barrier blocking their exit from the diner flickered, then dissolved. The path back to Scramble Crossing was now open.

With the barrier gone, the Reaper slowly, almost majestically, unfurled a pair of massive, wings from his back. They were dark as night. 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 perpetual Shibuya twilight 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 ignored the pin, her mind reeling from the Reaper's unexpected display of power, the confirmation of their codependency in battle, and the sheer volume of new, unsettling information. It was all too much. All too illogical.

"This is ridiculous," Tsugumi seethed, her voice a low murmur. She turned sharply, dismissing Ao and the mysterious new pin, and strode purposefully towards the newly opened path leading back to Scramble Crossing. Her goal was clear: escape this confined space and focus on the main mission.

"Hey, T-chan! Wait up!" Ao called out, hastily pocketing the new pin and scrambling after her partner, a mix of excitement and lingering bewilderment on her face.

                                            To be Continued....