The Game (Neku x Reader)

Chapter 8

I stared at the person as their arm was outstretched, pointing an accusatory finger at me. My fingers brushed against the pins in my pocket once again. Beat looked at me with his mouth agape as Rhyme seemed surprised as well. Mr. Hanekoma looked at me, then back to the two former players, then back to me. I shrunk under all their gazes, wishing to be anywhere, but here.

"Uh...," I began, as I awkwardly held the fragile paper cup in my hands as I tried not to crush it in my grip, "I was hiding? How exactly? Actually, why are you even trying to find me in the first place?"

I kept my guard up and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katsumi's hand reach into his jacket, causing me to quickly turn back towards him and keep my eyes trained on his hand which was digging for something in his jacket.

"Don't lie to us you filthy Reaper!" Katsumi shouted, venom dripping off of his voice. "We know that you're the one who took our Master's item! And on top of that, you're associated with the person that He wants to get rid of since that person took what rightfully belongs to our Master!"

His hand shifted again as I stood up. Katsumi was a few inches taller than I was and Naomi stood behind him, reaching into her pocket. Neku and the others held their breath while Mr. Hanekoma pursed his lips and stopped drying off the mug in his hands.

"Look, I don't know what I have to do with this so if you could be a little more specific, that'd be nice. On the other hand, this is not the place to be discussing things like this...," I said as I stepped out from the table, standing in front of Katsumi as I finally let go of the coffee cup. He let out a growl and as Mr. Hanekoma then stood on guard, a shiver ran down my spine; the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"Hey," Mr. Hanekoma said, "I don't want any fighting in here. It's clear that your intentions are harmful towards some of my customers so I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Katsumi huffed. "You really think I would listen to you. This is business between us and her so butt out."

"There's no need for hostility here and you could at least try to be nice to him," I said. My qualities didn't include being a peacemaker. "Mr. Hanekoma is just doing what he feels like is the probably the more logical option here. Or at least the peaceful option anyway."

"Shut up. Until you give us back what's His, then we're not leaving." Naomi nodded in the background, agreeing with her husband. I doubted that she would last a fight as she checked her perfectly manicured fingers. I'm surprised she survived the Reapers' Game. Katsumi must've pulled all the weight in the fights with the Noise.

My eye twitched. "Could you describe what this guy is looking for?"

The only object that came to mind was the strange clear pin, but until I knew what precisely what they were looking for, I wasn't going to carelessly reveal an item such as that one. Katsumi's glare was fierce as it intensified if that was even possible at this point.

"You know what it is," he spat. "The pin and the object the Composer has. Bring him here right now and no one gets hurt. Then you and Sakuraba have to come with us. Those are our orders and we'll leave at once if you simply comply."

I blinked and barely noticed when my shoulders tensed. Did they expect Joshua to just come waltzing in here on my command? From the knowledge I have, the Composer of Shibuya does as he pleases, when he pleases. And I wouldn't ever let Katsumi take Neku. Neku isn't involved in UG matters anymore or anything having to do with the pins. It wouldn't be right to force Neku back into the one thing he hates most.