Episode 3: sHe HuNtS (Part 1)

 

(𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝑻𝑶 𝑺𝑯𝑬 - 𝑴𝑶𝑶𝑵𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑳𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑰𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷)∇∇∇

...

Tsugumi's eyes fluttered open, but there was nothing to greet them. No warm Shibuya sun filtering through a window, no distant hum of traffic, no faint scent of the ramen stand from below. Just absolute, suffocating **darkness**. It was a void, deeper and more profound than any shadow in A-East. 

A chill, sharper than any phantom pain from a Noise attack, pricked at her skin. Her senses, usually so keen in the Invisible World, found no anchor. No familiar textures, no ambient sounds, no hint of Ao's bright, chaotic energy.

*Again.*

A bitter, humorless laugh almost escaped her lips. *How funny*. Just when she'd found a reluctant, irritating, yet undeniably effective partner, just when the crushing weight of the Game had seemed to lighten, she was plunged back into solitary oblivion. The Reaper's Game, it seemed, had a sense of humor. A dark one.

Tsugumi pushed through the oppressive **darkness**, her senses straining for any hint of her surroundings. The void felt endless, formless, offering no clues as to her location or the start of Day 3's twist. She took a step, then another, the silence absolute, the emptiness chilling.

Suddenly, her foot connected with something solid, yet yielding. A muffled **gasp** echoed in the black. Tsugumi recoiled instantly, leaping back, her unseen form tensing for a fight.

"Who's there?!" she demanded, her voice cutting through the thick silence.

"Ow! T-chan?!" a familiar, exasperated voice whimpered.

Tsugumi froze. Her shoulders slumped slightly in a mixture of relief and disbelief. Of course. Of all the possible scenarios, of all the unknown horrors the Reaper's Game could throw at her, it had to be this.

"Hey," Tsugumi stated flatly, a faint exhale escaping her. "You're here." For once, they started together. It was, she had to admit, already a good start to what was sure to be another infuriating day.

Ao rubbed her unseen foot, her voice carrying a playful whine. "You could say 'sorry,' you know! You totally stepped on me!" She paused, then her tone shifted to curiosity. "So, like, where are we, T-chan? This is super dark. Are we, like, inside a giant black hole?"

Tsugumi sighs then looks around, "How am I suppose to know... Starting with the dumb questions already." 

Ao sighed dramatically, then giggled. "Well, good thing *someone* found a way out already!"

Tsugumi's head snapped in Ao's direction. "You found a way out? And you didn't *go*? Why?"

"Yeah!" Ao confirmed, her voice bright with accomplishment. "I just... I heard breathing. And it sounded like you, so I waited! I had to be sure we were together!"

Tsugumi's eye twitched. "You followed an unidentified breathing pattern into an unknown void? Are you deliberately trying to get erased?"

"Hey! It was *your* breathing!" Ao protested, giggling again. "And we're besties! I had to make sure we stuck together, right?" Without another word, Ao grabbed Tsugumi's arm, her grip surprisingly firm, and with a decisive pull, pushed them both forward.

The oppressive darkness vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the familiar, thrumming energy of **A-East**. They were standing at the side of the towering **concert stage**, the faint, reverberating bass still echoing through the district, though the immense crowd from last night had dispersed. The towering structures and muted lighting of the gothic side of Shibuya once again surrounded them, a strangely comforting sight after the terrifying void.

Ao gasped looking back as they come out if the Concert Stage, her eyes wide. "We must've fainted at the concert last night!" she exclaimed, a giggle escaping her. "It was a hell of a concert, by the way!"

Tsugumi scanned their surroundings. **Lapin Angelique** was closed, its ornate facade silent and dark. Princess K, she surmised, was likely taking a much-needed break after the emotional ordeal of the previous day. Tsugumi walked a few paces, confirming her suspicion—barriers were once again in place, blocking most paths. Only the way to **Dogenzaka** seemed open.

"Dogenzaka and then Scramble Crossing, let's go." Tsugumi stated, her voice clipped and decisive. Without further ado, they set off.

...

The early morning chill bit at the air atop the 104 Building, but the warmth radiating from the steaming bowls of ramen in Kariya and Uzuki’s hands provided a comforting counterpoint. The city below was still stirring, the typically vibrant streets a muted gray under the predawn light. It was 7:00 AM, and the Reapers were having breakfast.

Kariya slurped loudly, a long, satisfying slurp that pulled noodles and broth into his mouth. He chewed contentedly, his yellow-tinted sunglasses reflecting the city. "Ah, nothing beats ramen at seven in the morning after a long night of… *observation*." He emphasized the last word, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Uzuki, meticulously separating her noodles with chopsticks, shot him a withering look. "You call watching two teenagers wander around and occasionally battle their own repressed emotions 'observation'? I call it tedious. And your slurping is utterly disgusting, Kariya." Her perfect pink nails, gleaming even in the dim light, tapped against her bowl.

Kariya pulled his lollipop from his mouth, eyeing it thoughtfully. "It's all part of the job, Uzuki. And besides, they actually did pretty well yesterday. Figured out the whole 'invisible Noise' thing. And then the 'heart of darkness' mission? Very elegant solution, if I do say so myself. The whole Lapin Angelique debacle was a masterclass in human folly."

"Human folly that you orchestrated, if I recall correctly," Uzuki retorted, taking a delicate bite of her ramen. "You deliberately fueled that rich woman's predatory ambition and Princess K's artistic despair. All for the sake of 'entertainment.'"

"Entertainment and valuable data!" Kariya corrected, wagging his lollipop stick. "You saw the **Mosh Grizzlies**. Top-tier Noise. Required them to not only figure out how to target their power source, but also how to combat it with… *positive vibes*. Whose two woman already had those negative feelings on their hearts, I just gave them their saviors." He chuckled, a low, raspy sound. "Honestly, I didn't see that 'Joy Psych' coming. That was a delightful surprise. Completely unregistered."

Uzuki sighed, though a tiny, almost imperceptible curve touched her lips. "It was... unorthodox. And the fact that it actually *worked* is unsettling. What if they decide to solve every problem with cheerful optimism?"

"Then we'll have to introduce some truly *negative* Noise, won't we?" Kariya mused, swirling his noodles with his chopsticks. "Something that even relentless cheerfulness can't overcome. A true test of resilience. Perhaps a swarm of **taboo**, fueled by utter apathy."

"Don't even joke about that," Uzuki grumbled, taking another bite. "The paperwork on those is a nightmare. But speaking of 'unsettling,' what about Day 3? You just plopped them into a the stage? Seriously, Kariya? That's just lazy."

Kariya took a long slurp of broth, then leaned back against the railing, enjoying the cool morning air. "Lazy? Uzuki, that was sheer genius. It tests fundamental Player instincts. Can they cooperate in absolute sensory deprivation? Do they panic? Do they immediately try to solve the 'why' or the 'how'? And, most importantly, do they trust each other?" He grinned. "And what did we get? The 'optimist' stayed and waited for the 'stick in the mud.' A solid trust indicator. And a delightful, slightly awkward, moment of reconnection. It was a good start to the day, all things considered."

"It was a basic test of companion awareness," Uzuki countered, though a faint smile touched her lips at the thought of the two girls' brief, fumbling reunion in the dark. "Nothing groundbreaking. They didn't even argue about it much."

"Ah, but that's the beauty of it!" Kariya said, taking a bite of chashu pork. "Subtlety, Uzuki. Not everything needs to be a grand, dramatic confrontation. Sometimes, the most telling moments are the quiet ones. The unspoken bonds forming. It's all part of the narrative arc."

"The narrative arc of two teenagers trying not to get erased," Uzuki deadpanned. "Thrilling."

"It is, for them!" Kariya insisted. "And it is for us, if you look past the sheer inefficiency of it all. Think about it. What did they learn from that void? They learned that they don't *always* faint after a mission. They learned that they're still together. And they learned to appreciate the simple act of *seeing* the world, even A-East, after being in absolute darkness." He gestured expansively at the waking city below. "It’s all about perspective shifts. It’s all about growth."

Uzuki eyed him skeptically. "And the whole 'invisible when outside, visible when inside' thing? Was that another one of your 'perspective shifts'?"

"That was a delightful little twist," Kariya chuckled, his eyes twinkling behind his sunglasses. "Keeps them on their toes. Reminds them that the rules are fluid. That their reality is mutable. And it allows for some charming social faux pas, as we saw with the Lapin Angelique incident. Watching the 'optimist' almost get a velvet dress stained with her ethereal hand was priceless."

"It was a minor inconvenience that could have been avoided," Uzuki muttered, slurping her own noodles with a faint air of resignation. "And that Princess K. You know, she's actually quite resilient. I would have expected her to crumble entirely after that woman's relentless assault."

"Ah, but you see," Kariya leaned forward, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone, "that's the core of it, isn't it? The Game doesn't just break people. It reveals them. Princess K's 'Gothic' aesthetic, her 'melancholy,' is actually a wellspring of fierce passion and unwavering conviction. The perceived 'darkness' of A-East harbors a deep, unyielding strength. It's about finding the light in the shadows, or rather, the strength *within* the shadows." He pulled his lollipop from his mouth, tapping it against his temple. "A profound lesson, wouldn't you say?"

Uzuki finished her ramen, placing the empty bowl carefully beside her. "You give entirely too much credit to the philosophical implications of causing teenagers distress, Kariya."

"It's not distress, Uzuki. It's *challenge*," Kariya corrected. "And challenge forges character. Builds resilience. And it forces them to confront their own preconceived notions about themselves and the world. Like the 'stick in the mud' with her secret appreciation for gothic aesthetics and 777. Did you see her subtle blush when the 'optimist' teased her about it? Adorable."

Uzuki actually snorted. "You find a Player's involuntary physiological response 'adorable'? You spend too much time observing humans, Kariya. It's making you... sentimental."

"Never sentimental," Kariya scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Just... appreciative of the nuances. The little quirks that make each Game unique. Otherwise, it would just be endless Noise fighting, wouldn't it? And that *would* be boring."

"It would be efficient," Uzuki countered. "And we would have less paperwork. And we wouldn't have to listen to the constant whining of the Players about how 'confusing' everything is."

"But then where would be the fun in being Reapers?" Kariya asked, his grin widening. "It's not just about erasing souls, Uzuki. It's about shaping them. Guiding them, however subtly, towards... enlightenment. Or entertaining failure. Either way, it's a win for us." He pulled another lollipop from his pocket, unwrapping it with a flourish. "Now, what's next for our dynamic duo? They're heading back to Scramble Crossing. Any thoughts on how to spice up their morning commute?"

Uzuki picked up her tablet, her fingers flying across the screen. "Well, since they've proven capable of handling invisible Noise and even the 'darkness' of emotional conflict... perhaps a more direct test of their understanding. Something that forces them to apply their newfound knowledge." She paused, a glint in her sharp eyes. "And perhaps something that directly challenges the 'stick in the mud's' preference for logic and the 'optimist's' reliance on simple solutions."

Kariya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell. Don't tell me you're finally warming up to this 'narrative arc' idea."

Uzuki smirked, a rare, genuine smile that was far more unsettling than Princess K's fixed grin. "Let's just say, sometimes, the greatest challenge isn't finding the answer. It's understanding the question." She tapped a few more commands into her tablet. "I think a little puzzle involving a specific type of Noise, appearing at a specific time, with a very specific, and highly illogical, trigger. Something that requires them to understand not just *what* they're fighting, but *why* it's appearing."

Kariya's eyes gleamed with delight. "Ooh! A philosophical Noise! I like it, Uzuki! Very much in keeping with the 'enlightenment' theme. And it will certainly generate some entertaining frustration. Excellent. Day 3 is looking promising indeed." He popped the new lollipop into his mouth, a contented sigh escaping him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I hear the sweet symphony of two Players realizing their morning commute is about to get significantly more... *existential*."

The air in Dogenzaka, usually a blend of quiet solemnity and distant urban hum, now crackled with a familiar, unwelcome tension. As Tsugumi and Ao stepped fully into the district, a sharp, searing pain simultaneously flared in their dominant hands. It was the unmistakable, agonizing signal of the **timer** activating, its invisible digits already beginning to tick down the precious minutes of their next trial.

Tsugumi gritted her teeth, clenching her hand instinctively against the phantom burn. Beside her, Ao let out a small, sharp gasp, her own hand flying up to clutch at her wrist.

Then, with a sudden, intrusive jolt, their phones, seemingly appearing out of nowhere in their hands, buzzed with a new message. The screen, normally displaying mundane Shibuya apps, now showed stark white text against a black background.

𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡========================>

"– A THING THAT YOU "POORS" USE TO GO TO THE WORK WHERE ME AND MY BUDDIES HANG OUT AROUND.

–OH AND ALSO IF YOU FIND A PESKY VILLAIN OF THE SKY GET MY PIN BACK OR FACE ERASURE."

                                         - The Reapers.

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

The words echoed in their minds, bizarre and disjointed. Ao's initial discomfort quickly gave way to a bewildered giggle. She blinked, shaking her head as if to clear the strange phrasing on the screen.

"What... what was *that* even all about?" Ao mused, her brow furrowed in a mixture of confusion and amusement. "It's like, a riddle? That's new! And 'poors'? Seriously?"

Tsugumi's lips thinned into a tight line. She rolled her eyes, a familiar wave of exasperation washing over her. "They call this 'variety'?" she muttered, the question a rhetorical jab at the unseen Reapers. The sheer illogicality of the phrasing, the condescending tone – it was infuriating. Yet, underneath her irritation, her analytical mind was already beginning to dissect the cryptic message, searching for the first thread of meaning in the seemingly nonsensical words. The timer, relentless and unforgiving, had begun its countdown.

"A thing that 'poors' use to go to work," Ao recited, tapping her chin with her phone, the riddle still glowing on its screen. "And me and my 'buddies' get together... hmm. What do you think, T-chan? Is it like, a really fancy car?"

Tsugumi scoffed, already striding down the street, her eyes scanning the familiar Dogenzaka landscape with renewed intensity. "A 'thing that 'poors' use'? Do you think a luxurious vehicle would be described with such condescending language? And 'buddies get together' suggests a collective, not a single item. Focus, Ao. This is clearly a riddle."

Ao, however, skipped alongside her, a cheerful hum bubbling up. "But it's a *mean* riddle! Who calls people 'poors'? Is it that grumpy Reaper from yesterday? He was totally giving off 'rich and snooty' vibes for someone that says that he doesn't get pay enough."

"The Reapers are irrelevant to the immediate solution," Tsugumi stated, though a flicker of annoyance at the riddle's tone crossed her features too. "Focus on the literal meaning. 'Go to work.' What do people use to travel, especially those without private vehicles?"

"A bus!" Ao exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "Or a train! Or a bicycle! Or... walking?" She giggled. "Are we supposed to find a really big bus that's, like, best friends with other buses?"

Tsugumi paused, considering. "A bus is plausible. 'My buddies get together' could refer to a bus depot, or a route where multiple buses congregate. But 'pesky villain of the sky'? That doesn't fit with a bus."

"Unless the bus is, like, a superhero bus that fights sky villains!" Ao suggested, her eyes wide with imaginative possibility. "Or maybe it's a bus that flies! Like a magic bus!"

Tsugumi pinched the bridge of her nose. "Girl, come back to Earth. A bus does not 'fly' unless it's in a fictional narrative. And a 'pesky villain of the sky' would imply something airborne, or at least capable of significant vertical movement."

"Okay, okay, no magic bus," Ao conceded with a shrug. "So, if it's not a bus, what else do 'poors' use to go to work that has 'buddies' and fights 'sky villains'? Maybe it's like, a really sad, overworked pigeon? And its buddies are other pigeons? And the sky villain is, like, a really mean hawk?"

Tsugumi stopped dead, staring at Ao with an expression of utter disbelief. "A pigeon? Girl, this is the Reaper's Game. We are dealing with Noise, with abstract concepts, not urban wildlife drama."

Ao pouted. "But it fits! Pigeons totally go to work, like, finding crumbs! And they have buddies! And hawks are *definitely* sky villains! And they steal stuff, like pins!" She held up her own Player Pin for emphasis.

"The riddle explicitly states 'get *my* pin back'," Tsugumi countered, her voice tight with exasperation. "It implies a singular entity. Not a generic pigeon. And a pigeon would not describe itself as a 'thing that 'poors' use' in such a self-aware, almost boastful, manner. This is clearly an inanimate object, or a concept personified."

"Okay, okay, no pigeons," Ao sighed dramatically. "My pigeon-superhero idea was pretty cool though." She looked around. "So, if it's not a bus, or a pigeon, what else? What else do people use to go to work that's not, like, fancy?"

Tsugumi resumed walking, her mind racing. "A train, as you suggested. 'Buddies get together' could refer to train cars, or multiple train lines converging. And 'villain of the sky' could refer to something that interferes with train travel, perhaps a malfunction, or even a literal bird strike, but 'pesky' and 'get my pin back' makes it personal."

"Ooh, a train!" Ao brightened. "Like, a bullet train? Those are super cool! But then, who's the sky villain? Is it, like, a super-fast ninja bird that steals train parts?"

"That's absurd," Tsugumi stated. "The phrasing 'villain of the sky' suggests a sentient antagonist, not a random act of nature or a creature of instinct. And 'get my pin back' implies a theft, a specific target."

"So, a train that got its pin stolen by a flying bad guy," Ao mused, already concocting a new scenario. "Like, a train-themed superhero whose arch-nemesis is a, like, a really evil jet ski that flies?"

Tsugumi actually closed her eyes for a moment. "Girl. 'Pesky villain of the sky' implies a relatively minor, though annoying, antagonist. Not an 'evil jet ski.' And trains don't have pins that can be 'stolen' in the manner implied."

"But *we* have pins!" Ao pointed to her Player Pin. "Maybe the riddle's talking about *our* pins! And the 'villain of the sky' is, like, a Reaper who stole our pins? But then, why would it be 'poors' using it? This is confusing!" She waved her phone around. "This riddle is a jerk!"

"The riddle is designed to be deciphered, not to be a 'jerk'," Tsugumi corrected, though she couldn't deny the frustration herself. "The 'my pin' likely refers to a component vital to the 'thing' itself, not a Player Pin. And the 'poors' phrasing suggests a fundamental, widely accessible mode of transportation or service."

They walked in silence for a few moments, the rhythmic thrum of the city doing little to clear the confusion. Tsugumi's mind was a flurry of possibilities, each one immediately disqualified by another part of the riddle. It was like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, only the peg kept changing shape.

"Okay, new idea!" Ao suddenly announced. "What if it's a taxi? People use taxis to go to work! And the taxi drivers are all buddies! And the sky villain is, like, a really mean drone that gives them bad directions and steals their meter thingy!"

"A drone that steals a meter thingy?" Tsugumi deadpanned. "Girl, that is even more illogical than the flying jet ski. And taxis are not typically described as what 'poors' use, unless they are shared taxis, but the phrasing 'my buddies get together' still doesn't quite fit the concept of individual taxis."

"But it's *Shibuya*!" Ao insisted. "Maybe 'poors' means, like, people who don't have super fancy cars? And taxis are, like, the next best thing? And the drone is super annoying, that makes it 'pesky'!"

Tsugumi sighed, rubbing her temples. "The riddle has a very specific cadence, a certain... personification. It feels almost childishly taunting, yet it's undeniably precise in its components. We need to consider something fundamental to urban life, something that moves collectively, and has a distinct 'part' that can be taken."

"So, not a taxi," Ao conceded, then her eyes lit up. "What about, like, a delivery scooter? People use those to go to work! And all the delivery guys are buddies! And the sky villain is, like, a grumpy old man on a balcony who throws water balloons at them and steals their helmets!"

Tsugumi stopped and stared at Ao. "Girl. A delivery scooter is not a 'thing that poors use' in such a generalized context. And 'pesky villain of the sky' is not a grumpy old man with water balloons. The 'sky' part is crucial. It implies aerial presence."

"But it's *pesky*!" Ao insisted. "Grumpy old men are totally pesky! And they're up in the sky because they're on balconies!"

"The riddle refers to *the villain* as being 'of the sky'," Tsugumi corrected, her voice strained. "Not merely located at a high elevation. This suggests a direct connection to the sky itself. An inherent quality."

"Okay, okay, no grumpy old men," Ao pouted. "So, 'of the sky'... what else? A plane?"

"Planes are not typically what 'poors' use for daily commute within a city," Tsugumi pointed out immediately. "And while they 'get together' at airports, the context is wrong for Shibuya. And the 'villain of the sky' is not a single entity that steals a 'pin' from a plane in such a personal way."

"What about a helicopter?" Ao suggested. "Those are super cool! And they fly in the sky! And maybe a bad guy in another helicopter steals its, like, propeller thingy?"

"Again, not a common commute for the general populace," Tsugumi dismissed. "And the 'pin' part of the riddle is too specific. It sounds like a mechanical component, but also something symbolic that could be 'taken'."

They continued to walk through Dogenzaka, the puzzle weighing on Tsugumi's analytical mind, while Ao's imagination continued to churn out increasingly outlandish scenarios.

"What if it's, like, a street sweeper?" Ao suddenly chirped. "People who work for the city use those! And all the street sweepers are buddies! And the sky villain is, like, a really strong wind that blows their little broom thingy away!"

Tsugumi sighed. "Hey, does a street sweeper 'go to work' in the same sense as a person? And 'little broom thingy' is not a 'pin'. And the wind is a natural phenomenon, not a 'pesky villain'."

"But it's *pesky* when it blows your stuff away!" Ao insisted, stamping her foot. "And it's from the sky!"

"The riddle uses personification," Tsugumi reiterated patiently. "It's speaking as if the 'thing' itself has agency, and its 'buddies' have agency, and the 'villain' has agency. The wind is not a 'villain'."

"So, no street sweepers," Ao muttered, deflated. "This is harder than fighting giant bears! At least with the bears, you just, like, hit them until they disappear!"

"This is a mental challenge, Girl," Tsugumi said, a hint of weariness in her voice. "It requires logical deduction, not brute force. And we are clearly missing a key piece of information, or an interpretation." She looked around, hoping a visual cue from the environment would spark a breakthrough. But Dogenzaka offered no immediate answers beyond its familiar gothic charm.

"Okay, think about it," Ao mused, slowing her pace. "What else do 'poors' use to get to work? And they have 'buddies'? And a 'villain of the sky'?" Her eyes brightened. "What about... a kite?"

Tsugumi stopped and stared. "A kite? Girl, a kite is not something people 'use to go to work'. And while it's 'of the sky', and it has 'buddies' in other kites, it doesn't have a 'pin' that a 'villain' would steal."

"But it flies!" Ao insisted. "And it can be really flimsy! And maybe a bad guy in the sky cuts its string and makes it lose its, like, little tail thingy? That's kinda like a pin, right?"

"No, Ao," Tsugumi said, shaking her head. "That is not 'like a pin.' And the context is entirely wrong. We are looking for something integral to urban infrastructure, or a common service, not a recreational toy."

"So, no kites," Ao sighed, running a hand through her pink hair. "This is exhausting. My brain feels like it's trying to chew on cement."

Tsugumi, despite her own growing frustration, felt a strange solidarity with Ao's struggle. The riddle was genuinely perplexing. "The 'villain of the sky' is the most peculiar part," Tsugumi admitted aloud. "It completely shifts the focus from ground-based transportation."

"Unless... it's a metaphor!" Ao exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "What if the 'sky' isn't, like, the actual sky? What if it's like, a metaphor for something really important or really high up? Like, the government?"

Tsugumi considered this. "Ofcurse, isn't that clear?. But- then 'villain of the sky' would still need to refer to an entity or concept associated with that 'high up' metaphor, and still be 'pesky' and 'steal a pin'."

"So, like, the government is the 'sky'," Ao mused. "And the villain is, like, a really mean bureaucrat who steals a, like, a 'pin' from a bus schedule? Because bus schedules are what 'poors' use to go to work! And all the bus schedules are buddies!"

Tsugumi rubbed her temples. "Girl, that is stretching the metaphor to the point of absurdity. A bus schedule is a document, not a sentient 'thing' that goes to work. And a bureaucrat is not a 'villain of the sky'."

"But they're super pesky sometimes!" Ao insisted. "And they're like, way up high in the government, so they're 'of the sky'!"

"No," Tsugumi said, her voice firm. "The riddle implies a more direct, almost physical interaction with the 'thing' and its 'pin'. We need to think about tangible objects, or common services that have a physical presence."

The timer on their hands, though silent, felt like a growing pressure. They were walking aimlessly, their deductions leading them nowhere. The joy of the 777 concert, the relief of completing Day 2, felt like a distant memory. This riddle was designed to be a true test, a mental labyrinth that offered no easy escape.

"Okay, T-chan," Ao said, slowing her pace, a rare note of genuine frustration entering her voice. "We're not getting anywhere. What do *you* think it is? No smarty-pants explanations, just... your best guess, even if it sounds crazy."

Tsugumi paused, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead. She hated admitting she didn't know, hated the ambiguity. But the truth was, she was stumped. The conflicting elements of the riddle formed an impenetrable wall.

"I... don't know," Tsugumi finally admitted, her voice unusually quiet. "Every logical deduction leads to a contradiction. The 'thing that 'poors' use to go to work' suggests one type of object. The 'buddies get together' suggests another. And the 'pesky villain of the sky' with a 'pin' completely throws off the entire premise."

Ao sighed, a shared sound of profound bewilderment. "So, we're stuck. Already. On Day 3's first mission." She looked up at the sky, as if expecting the 'pesky villain' itself to materialize and offer a hint. But the sky remained empty, a silent, indifferent expanse.

Tsugumi let out a frustrated sigh, her gaze sweeping over the urban landscape of Dogenzaka as if searching for a hidden clue. Then, her eyes narrowed. "No," she stated, a sudden spark of realization igniting in her analytical mind. "The first part. It's clearly a **bus**."

Ao blinked, looking at her expectantly. "A bus? But we already thought of that! And the sky villain..."

"Focus," Tsugumi interrupted, cutting her off. "The phrasing. 'A thing that 'poors' use to go to the work.' That fits a bus. And 'me and my buddies get together.' That refers to a **bus station**. A terminal where multiple buses congregate." Her gaze sharpened. "Specifically, the **West Exit Bus Terminal**, right after the Statue of Hachiko. It's a major commuter hub, heavily utilized."

Ao's eyes widened, then she gasped, her jaw dropping slightly. "Oh, my gosh! T-chan, you're a genius! That totally makes sense!" Her face lit up, a brilliant grin spreading across it. She bounced on the balls of her feet, an explosion of pure admiration. "I am so lucky to have such a super smart friend like you!"

Tsugumi's cheeks colored faintly at the unexpected compliment, a rare sight that quickly vanished behind a feigned scowl. "Focus, idiot!" she snapped, though the edge in her voice was softened by a hint of something akin to awkward pleasure. "We still have the second part of the riddle."

Tsugumi and Ao continued their trek through Dogenzaka, the low hum of the city a constant backdrop to their internal struggle with the Reaper's riddle. They had figured out the first piece – the bus and the terminal by Hachiko – but the second half of the message, "OH AND ALSO IF YOU FIND A PESKY VILLAIN OF THE SKY GET MY PIN BACK OR FACE ERASURE," remained a stubborn, perplexing enigma.

"Okay, so we're looking for a bus stop, right?" Ao mused, swinging her arms as they walked. "But like, why is there a 'pesky villain of the sky'? Do buses have enemies in the sky? Like, do they get into fights with blimps?"

Tsugumi sighed, rubbing her forehead. The riddle was a deliberate obfuscation, designed to mislead as much as to inform. "A blimp is not a 'pesky villain,' Ao. It's an aerial vehicle. And buses do not engage in aerial combat."

"But it's *of the sky*!" Ao insisted, bouncing ahead. "And 'pesky' means annoying, right? Maybe it's, like, a really annoying bird that keeps pooping on the buses? And it stole a bus's, like, window wiper? That's kinda like a pin, because it's a small part that detaches!"

Tsugumi stopped, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Hey, the riddle implies a sentient antagonist. A bird is not a 'villain.' And a window wiper is not a 'pin' in the context of something vital to the bus's identity, especially one that could lead to 'erasure' if not recovered."

"But if the bus can't see, it might crash and get erased!" Ao argued, though her voice lacked conviction. "It's all about perspective, T-chan! Maybe the bus thinks the bird is super annoying!"

"The Reapers do not phrase their missions from the subjective perspective of an inanimate public transport vehicle," Tsugumi stated flatly, resuming her walk. "We need to think of something that is literally 'of the sky,' that can be a 'villain,' and that can 'steal a pin' from something related to the bus or its operation."

They reached the imposing silhouette of the **104 Building**, its familiar angles cutting against the morning sky. Ao's head tilted back, her eyes wide as she gazed up at it.

"Hey! It's 104," Ao breathed, momentarily distracted from the riddle. "It's so tall!" She’d seen it in passing, but never truly looked at it. It loomed, a monolithic presence. "It's a giant box of dreams, do you think it's maybe a super-secret Reaper hideout? Hehe~"

Tsugumi didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the building. Her mind, however, was still gnawing at the riddle. "It's just 104...stop acting like a newborn."

Ao, however, had already spun off on another tangent. "Okay, but what if the 'pesky villain of the sky' is, like, a cloud? A really mean cloud that steals the bus's, like, little air freshener? Because air fresheners are like pins, right? They clip on!"

Tsugumi sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Girl, a cloud is a meteorological phenomenon. It is not a 'villain.' And an air freshener is not a 'pin' in the context of critical components. The riddle implies a theft that is significant enough to warrant 'erasure'."

"But it would be super annoying if a cloud stole your air freshener!" Ao insisted. "Like, you're trying to have a nice smelly bus, and then *poof*, your cherry blossom scent is gone! That's pesky!"

"The stakes are erasure, idiot," Tsugumi reminded her, her voice sharp. "Not minor olfactory inconvenience. We need to consider something concrete. A physical entity, not a metaphorical one, that is 'of the sky' and could be a 'villain'."

"So, not a cloud," Ao conceded, kicking at an invisible pebble. "Okay, what if it's, like, a really tiny, super-fast airplane? And it snuck in and, like, stole the bus driver's favorite lucky charm? Because lucky charms are like pins! And they fly in the sky!"

"A tiny airplane that steals lucky charms?" Tsugumi muttered, shaking her head. "Girl, that is absurd. 'Pesky villain' implies a consistent antagonist, not a random act of petty larceny. And a lucky charm, while personal, is not a 'pin' crucial to the 'thing's' operation or identity."

"But it's *pesky*! And airplanes are *of the sky*!" Ao defended, her brow furrowed in concentration. "And if the bus driver loses his lucky charm, maybe the bus gets into an accident and gets erased! It's all connected, T-chan!"

Tsugumi let out another long sigh. Her analytical approach was hitting a wall, and Ao's imaginative leaps were simply adding layers of outlandish impossibility. They were getting no closer to a solution. The clock was ticking, a silent but relentless pressure on their hands.

"The key is the combination," Tsugumi finally said, speaking more to herself than to Ao. "The 'bus' element is clear. So the 'villain of the sky' must directly interact with it, or something related to it, in a way that involves a 'pin'."

"So, like, a really tall lamppost?" Ao suddenly suggested, pointing at a lamppost nearby. "It's, like, reaching up to the sky! And maybe it's a villain because it has a broken light that makes the bus driver not see something? And it stole a, like, a little bolt from the bus? Bolts are pins!"

Tsugumi stared at the lamppost, then back at Ao. "A lamppost is stationary. It is not 'of the sky' in the sense of being airborne or having inherent aerial qualities. And a 'broken light' is not a 'villain' stealing a 'pin'."

"But it's in the sky!" Ao insisted, gesturing vaguely upwards. "And it's pesky if it makes you crash! And bolts are little metal pins!"

"The riddle describes a sentient 'villain'," Tsugumi corrected, her voice strained. "Not a malfunctioning piece of street furniture. And while a bolt is a type of pin, the phrasing 'get *my* pin back' implies a personal possession of the 'thing' itself, not a generic component."

They continued to circle the problem, their ideas looping back on themselves. Tsugumi's logical deductions were proving insufficient for the riddle's abstract nature, and Ao's wild leaps of imagination, while entertaining, were not yielding practical solutions. The 104 Building loomed silently beside them, offering no obvious hints.

"This is making my head hurt," Ao whined, rubbing her temples. "Why can't they just say 'Go find the bus terminal and fight the sky Noise that stole its... hubcap'?"

"Because that would be too straightforward," Tsugumi muttered, her eyes scanning the rooftops of the buildings surrounding them. "And this is the Reaper's Game. It delights in complexity and deliberate obscurity."

"So, what do we do?" Ao asked, looking genuinely lost for a moment. "We're at 104. No sky villains. No angry clouds. No flying jet skis. Just... buildings. And buses that aren't talking about their feelings."

Tsugumi sighed, crossing her arms. The answer was eluding them, hidden in plain sight, or perhaps in a nuance they hadn't yet grasped. The clock on their phones, though invisible, felt louder than ever. They were stuck.

As Tsugumi and Ao approached the passage past the 104 Building, a figure materialized in their path. It was a **Reaper**.

The moment his eyes, landed on them, he spoke, his voice dry and devoid of emotion. "You girls might want to go back to Dogenzaka. A Noise stole my pin. Go get it back."

Tsugumi's eyes narrowed. Her hands clenched, ready to unleash a Psych and jump at him, to demand answers, to fight back against the manipulation. But before she could move, Ao, sensing her intent, quickly pushed her back, away from the Reaper.

Ao let out a frustrated sigh, a sound of resignation. "We have to go back, T-chan," she muttered, already turning.

Tsugumi, though seething internally, absorbed the information. The Reaper's words, curt and direct, offered a crucial clue. A **Noise** had stolen his pin. It was their chance to observe the **type of Noise** they would soon be fighting against – the "pesky villain of the sky," the **stealer Noise**. The pieces of the riddle were beginning to fall into place, not through their own deductions, but through the Reapers' calculated intervention.

As Tsugumi and Ao stepped back into Dogenzaka, retracing their steps from the 104 Building, the air grew thick with a familiar, unsettling hum. It wasn't the usual urban drone; it was the distinct, low thrum of multiple Noise signatures.

Suddenly, from the shadows of a narrow alleyway, a cluster of **Dixiefrogs** hopped into view. Their bulbous, toad-like bodies glowed with malevolent energy, and their mouths opened in silent snarls. Before Tsugumi could react, another group of **Garage Wolves** emerged from behind a parked delivery truck, their lean, spectral forms radiating predatory menace. They moved with a disturbing fluidity, their glowing eyes fixed on the two Players.

Dogenzaka, usually a quiet passage, was now swarming. There were at least half a dozen Dixiefrogs and as many Garage Wolves, encircling them.

"Whoa!" Ao gasped, her cheerful demeanor instantly replaced by a wide-eyed alertness. "Looks like a welcoming party!" She pulled out her phone, ready to activate her Pins.

Tsugumi's gaze swept over the encroaching Noise. Her mind raced, trying to connect this sudden ambush with the riddle. "Dixiefrogs... Garage Wolves... these aren't 'sky villains'," she murmured, more to herself than to Ao. "And where is the pin? Which one of them has it?"

The Noise remained silent, their movements a slow, deliberate tightening of the circle. They were clearly a distraction, a barrier, but the riddle offered no immediate clue as to which specific Noise, if any, held the stolen pin. This wasn't a direct confrontation with the "villain of the sky." This was a gauntlet. The answer, and the elusive "pin," was clearly not going to be handed to them easily.

"So, we just fight all of them?" Ao asked, a grin slowly returning to her face, a mix of apprehension and exhilaration. "Until one of them drops the pin?"

Tsugumi shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the battlefield. "Unlikely. The riddle implied a specific 'villain.' These are generic Noise. They're trying to wear us down. The question is, where is the *actual* villain? And what is the damn pin?" The ambiguity was infuriating. They were surrounded, and the key to solving the riddle was still nowhere in sight.

                                           To Be Continued....