The Game (Neku x Reader)

Chapter 5

"Something you need?"

"It took you exactly one minute and 4 seconds to get here. Someone must have been in a hurry," Joshua stated, pocketing his phone as he glanced at me with guarded violet eyes.

"Thank you. I didn't know I had my own personal calculator," I said crossing my arms. Before Joshua could utter a single word as he opened his mouth, I beat him to the punch. "As I said before, was there something you needed?"

Joshua paused, thoughtfully looking upward as he crossed his arms, holding his chin in one hand. "Well, I don't think I would've called you here if I didn't need or want something. I don't just have all the time in the world to do as I wish so I use what little time I have carefully."

"And calling me here was important enough to be put on your schedule. I feel honored." I wouldn't dare tell him that I was glad to be away from Uzuki and Koki. Knowing Joshua, he wouldn't ever let me forget it. This once, I was glad to be a Reaper to hide my thoughts away from everyone, including him. Being the Composer didn't mean he could just snoop into anyone's life.

Joshua laughed as if remembering something in relation to the topic at hand or just how I was acting in general. Even then, the possibilities seemed endless with Joshua who seemed omniscient. Although, I suppose that could be said for all Composer's in general. They were like higher beings, above everyone else, but that didn't mean that they don't have a limit either. There's usually always someone more powerful than you.

Joshua shook his head. "I just can't get over how similar you and Neku are."

"You've mentioned. Does Neku have to do with why you called me here today?" Joshua had a habit of bringing up Neku in every conversation possible, which ticked me off. Neku was already a touchy subject to talk about for me, let alone having someone else bring him up so casually like this and expect me to be able to uphold the conversation.

"Perhaps~ But I had a question to ask. Haven't you been a Reaper for just about three years now?"

My body stiffened as I failed to respond instantly, my mind spinning with the thought I had mere minutes ago. Joshua, however, took my silence as a yes and continued to speak. "I had thought so. I wanted to tell you in person to come and meet me in a couple days, on the day of your death. I will, of course, tell you the place and time to meet me but keep your schedule open."

My eye twitched as my hand balled into a fist at my side. I took in a deep breath, closing my eyes as I tried to keep my growing anger and annoyance in check.

"I'm sorry, was that all you wanted?" A hum from Joshua served as his response as I bit my tongue. Why couldn't he have just texted me in a couple days if this was all he wanted to say? It was clear to me that this conversation served no real purpose, except for just showing how much Joshua can annoy someone in the matter of a few minutes.

I wonder how Neku felt having him as a partner.

He probably would've been annoyed too, but then again, how would I know what he was feeling? I had been absent from his life for three years and he's changed so much from how I knew him back then.

"It would seem so, but now you can go." Joshua waved me off as he turned on his heel, walking further into Dead God's Pad until he vanished from my sight, most likely having gone to the Room of Reckoning. I decided to leave too and walked out of the quiet room, trying to recollect what little Joshua had said previously.

As I made my way out of the Station Underpass, and past the West Exit Bus Terminal, I found myself looking at the statue of Hachiko as the dog looked forward, sitting still, waiting for its owner to return. A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned on the statue, crossing my arms as I closed my eyes, tilting my head back to look up.