Shibuya Snapshots

Surprise

This felt kinda rushed to me, but it was a fun prompt and I like how I ended it, especially because I thought of it on the spot.

"Surprise," Hazuki Mikagi says, before turning around and walking away.

-xXx-

Well, well, there was the brat's proxy, clear as day. He wonders why this kid, of all people, was chosen. It was just some kid whose poor friend got dragged in along with him. The kid's Soul seemed strong, sure, but it didn't show a sign of growing. In fact, he'd bet money on the game causing his Soul to wither instead of growing. If the kid survived, that is, and he won't. Shibuya's inevitable destruction says so.

Don't mistake his confusion for a complaint, though. Even if there would be a lack of a challenge, this would just make winning his game against Kiryu all the easier. Not to mention the, ah, effect he put on the kid's pin. There was no way Kiryu didn't notice it, given that the brat had handed the pin back to him when it was dropped, but the lack of interference told him one thing. Kiryu was also looking for some entertainment around here.

And the chosen proxy, and it should be noted that the proxy of this game is different from the one from three years back, was completely unaware. Man, this kid was in for a real shocker.

So, Kubo introduces himself, only mildly surprised that the two managed to get past the first day. Even taking down the target, though he was sure they had some extra help from someone not registered on their team.

Ah, well. A shame for Kiryu. His city doesn't have a lot of protection. At least Shinjuku had put up more of a fight.

Then again, the Reapers of Shinjuku had been put off by his presence when he arrived, sent by Mikagi to cleanse the place, and hadn't been caught so off-guard. But Shibuya, on the other hand, was guarding against the Shinjuku Reapers, completely unaware of the possibility of an Angel in their home that wasn't supposed to be there.

And he wasn't authorized to be there, but what the Higher Plane doesn't know won't kill them.

He observes the first week of the proxy being involved as the kids, plus an ex-Reaper who had apparently helped them, and another Player who joined the day after them, manage to defeat Susukichi. He's mildly surprised, but then again, it was four against one.

Susukichi retaliates at the last second towards Rindo, but then some punk with a mask and hood jumps in the way before scampering off in the wind.

The old proxy, huh? Kubo wasn't going to let him interfere with his game. And since the other Reapers were incompetent at tracking (though he gives them the benefit of the doubt. Sakuraba is a prodigy, after all), he tracks the kid himself on the condition of having free reign with the kid if he doesn't join up.

If he kills the kid, then one of three things would happen. The preferable is that Kiryu is broken by the loss of the boy he clearly cares about. Broken enough to be unable to stop him. The most unlikely option is that Kiryu doesn't care. He's different than he had been before. He cares about a human instead of writing them off like most Angels, with the exception of the Fallen Angel, who is a special case all in of himself.

The worst option, and admittedly very likely, is that Kiryu becomes enraged and ignores the rules of their game, and comes after him himself. And he's heard stories of how violent and relentless Kiryu can be verbally. Who knows how the brat would be physically. Might be worth it, nonetheless.

He doesn't end up locating Sakuraba, so he sends out the mission for the Players to locate him.

And what a surprising plot twist that turns out to be. Whoulda thought that it wasn't the proxy, but one of his partners from three years back the whole time?

Fine, Kiryu, your precious proxy is safe. This time.

A few days later, the leader of the Purehearts tells them that Sakurane had been assisting the Players. It had been a matter of time until someone other than Shiba broke. But no one had been expecting one of the Players to sell her out. Guess the man was tired of playing and was resorting to other measures.

It turns out useless, and to no one's surprise, the Purehearts come in last and the Ruinbringers come in first and request another round, yet again. But at least some progress is happening. Plague Noise have started their attacks and Shiba has been forced to reveal himself about the Ruinbringers. Not that Kubo is all that surprised, it was inevitable, based on the progress of the proxy and his team.

And the third week was when everything kicked up. Their game was finally coming to an end. And Kubo felt giddy for the special moment where he could reveal everything. Right when they'd think the game was over, he'd approach them and watch as his Noise revealed themselves and destroy everything in sight, as every single one of them watched in despair.

But as Kubo thought he might end their game early as he surrounds the Twisters with Plague Noise and possessed Noise, until they erase the Noise and just as he's about to summon more, something unexpectedly and surprisingly powerful strikes him from behind, knocking him unconscious.

When he comes to, Neku Sakuraba has actually returned this time.

He bides his time until the last day. The brats probably thought he was long gone by now. And the thought of their surprise when he shows up all of a sudden drags a cackle out of him.

And it's worth it, seeing the confusion on their faces as he approaches them, the fear as the Noise erupt from the pin, the terror as they start dropping like flies, the shock on Sakuraba's face as he realizes the truth of Dissonance, the horror on Rindo and Sakurane as they realize that they're the only two of the six of them still alive. The desperation as Rindo turns back time, and they're back to the beginning of the day.

Events play out slightly but differently, Shiba and Sakazuki joining the fight against them this time, but the horror is even better this time, as their bigger numbers don't help at all, and Rindo becomes the last one standing this time. But Kubo breaks the pin, blocking any more potential time traveling.

This game's gone on long enough.

Kubo announces the destruction of Shibuya just as a bright white light strikes down where he is, to both his and Rindo's shock.

Shibuya reverts to normal and Rindo is left alone in the Scramble, Kubo nowhere in sight.

"Surprise," Hazuki Mikagi says, before turning around and walking away.

-xXx-

I actually don't remember if Kubo ever refers to Shoka by name or not, so I just stuck to her last name because Kubo probably hates her so last name it is.