The Game (Neku x Reader)

Chapter 13

"Sir! Forgive me for not updating you on the situation sooner. I have been. . . unconscious for. . ." I trailed off, unsure of how to answer. How long had it been since that fight? A few days? A week? I never did ask Tadashi how long I was away from my duties.

Joshua sighed and leaned against the armrest of the couch. "It's the same day as when you left. Honestly, that's not very promising for my Conductor if you can't even remember what day it is."

I furrowed my eyebrows, processing what he had just said. It was still the same day? If it was then how did I recover so quickly? Was there more to Tadashi Hanekoma then I realized? I cleared my throat and shoved those thoughts aside as I noticed Joshua staring at me expectantly.

"I would have contacted you sooner but unfortunately the perpetrator escaped with my phone, leaving behind the unconscious bodies of many Reapers, including myself." A frown made its way onto my lips as I recalled how the fallen angel had erased everything that reminded me of Neku on my phone. I clenched my fists at my sides and looked away from Joshua. Speaking of him, where was Neku?

"Oh! I've already heard all about it. Someone else briefed me on the situation just before you got here," Joshua said as he pulled out his phone. The orangeness of it only reminded me of Neku's hair.

"Then what happened to the other Reapers if I may ask? Are they back on their normal routines and schedules?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I mean, none of them are incapable of doing their duties so they're still assigned them to continue with that and then the Harrier Reapers are all assigned on what you could call a reconnaissance mission around Shibuya to keep on a lookout for the very same man who scheduled an attack on my city. Although, I must say, I was curious when he would make a move on my city," Joshua mused and placed a hand on his chin.

"So you were anticipating this attack?"

"Well I don't know if I would use the term anticipating but I was already informed of the attacks on other UG planes throughout Japan and just assumed that soon enough, Shibuya would be next. You can't blame me for thinking that can you?"

I opened my mouth to speak but found no words to say. He wasn't wrong but even I felt a little conflicted with how to respond to his statements.

Joshua, seeming oblivious to my lack of a response continued to speak. "But even so, there wasn't as many casualties as there have been elsewhere so we do have that to be thankful for. Also I do have a few questions for you. I suppose it's a little broad but what are your opinion on the Fallen Angels speaking that you seen to attract quite a few of them?" Joshua let out a small giggle at the last part and his eyes showed amusement and something else I couldn't place.

"Well," I spoke, unsure of how to word my answer, "of the ones I've encountered that I know of their identity, they haven't been very. . . friendly. The most recent one I've encountered just tried to kill me and a handful of other Reapers."

Joshua let out a mixture between a snort and a giggle and I raised an eyebrow. Was there something wrong with what I said?

"Oh? Is that so? Well I suppose it's normal for you to feel that way. And I'm almost shocked that you haven't asked a certain question yet," Joshua said.

"And what question is that?"

"Well I thought the moment you came here you were going to ask where Neku was but you don't seem to be concerned in the slightest, unless I'm mistaken." I held back a scoff. Of course I had wanted to know about Neku. Something could've happened to him the moment I had left and something didn't feel right with him leaving before I got back. Unless it was only a mistake on my part for thinking that he was worried for me, I didn't believe Neku was the type to leave before learning what had happened after I left him with Joshua. The latter wouldn't tell me if something happened between them and the only option I had was to go and find Neku directly. Although Shibuya was only one city, trying to find Neku in it would be like finding a needle in a haystack among the crowded streets. The only thing that could give him away easier would be his hair that makes him stick out like a sore thumb.