"Mr. Hanekoma! I invited Neku over! He should be here in a few minutes. I tried sending you a text but you didn't respond," I said, leaning against the counter in WildKat. I wasn't sure where the black haired man was, but he ended up coming out of the kitchen.

"I recieved your text. Why does he want to talk with you guys anyway? It seems he's been wanting to contact Josh all week," Mr. Hanekoma said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the counter. I shrugged, only aware of a small part as to why he wanted to talk. I doubted Shiki or any of his friends could provide him with answers, so he came to him and Mr. Hanekoma seeking answers.

"Something about Taboo Noise attacking Reapers and he's been seeing it all. Apparently Neku tried to come here earlier but you weren't in here," I responded. "Can I have a House Blend please?"

"Taboo Noise huh? I thought some of the Reapers were talking about that. Apparently its been giving them a hard time in the UG. Reapers are getting erased left and right, and none of them can find the sigil." Mr. Hanekoma placed a mug full of the drink onto the table and I thanked him, placing 680 Yen on the counter. Mr. Hanekoma, however, pushed the money back towards me. "Keep it. You don't have to pay. You live here anyway, and you've never paid for anything here before."

"You'll just be stubborn about it won't you. Besides I want to live my life how I want. I've got to enjoy every moment right?" I said, placing the money back into the bag that still contained my clothes. Mr. Hanekoma chuckled and ruffled my hair, not denying that fact. I lifted the mug up to my lips and took a sip of the hot liquid. "You must be real close with Josh huh?" Mr. Hanekoma said. I nodded.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" I was slightly confused as to why he was saying this, because he should better than anyone my relationship with Joshua. After all, he was always around whenever Joshua had come over to visit which wasn't that often. Not as often as he does now anyway.

"And you know that you can always say no right? I know how much you detest going to Lapin Angelique."

"I know, I know but I can't. I just can't bring myself to say no to him. You just wouldn't understand," I said.

"Oh, I understand plenty~" Joshua walked into the room (as he was previously using the restroom), and sat down at a table near us. "(Y/n) just can't get enough of me~"

"I can't get away from you is more accurate," I muttered, taking another sip of the coffee. I heard Joshua scoff and I turned towards him to see him beckoning me towards him. I let out an exaggerated sigh and walked over to him, carrying my House Blend. I sat it down on the table and was about to ask a question when he grabbed my arm and yanked me down towards him. I yelped as I crashed down onto him, gripping the back of the chair he was on. He turned me so that I was sitting on his lap and flustered, I tried to sit up, only for Joshua to wrap his arms around my waist.

"I won't let you leave me again," Joshua complained.

"You're so clingy! Let go of me!"

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"You guys aren't going to get anywhere doing that." Mr. Hanekoma cut off our conversation and we both looked at him. I was ready to elbow Joshua and his face was buried into my back to keep from getting hit in the face. The bell on the door to the cafe chimed, causing all of us to turn our attention towards the door, where Neku walked in, hands on both sides of his headphones. He looked at us and smirked.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Of course you are Neku. But you don't have to be jealous because she's getting all of the attention," Joshua piped in. I turned my head and glared at him, before Neku had a chance to say anything else. "Yoshiya Kiryu you better let me go-"

"Or else what?"

"Not only are you more clingy than usual, but you're being more annoying than usual. What's gotten into you?" I asked. I thought he had changed after some recent events, but it only seems like that was an act.

"OK, enough of.... that," Neku said, motioning to me and Joshua. "I wanted to talk about the Taboo Noise that have been popping up," Neku said. "And some other things if you wouldn't mind."

"Only if you become my new Conductor," Joshua said. Mr. Hanekoma seemed to have not heard this information before. He seemed surprised to see Joshua demanding for a new Conductor even though he hasn't had his current one for that long.

"I've already told you no. I don't want anything else to do with your stupid game."

"It's a stupid game that got you your life back."

"And I didn't ask for you to do that either. What's wrong with your current one that you just can't wait to get rid of. Why are you so keen on me being your new Conductor. You're the one who chose him. You clearly made a mistake."

Joshua went silent, seeming to not want to admit that he made a mistake. "Ok, fine. I made a mistake. Happy now?"

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting such a straightforward response from you," Neku admitted. "Are you feeling alright?" Joshua banged his head on my back, out of Neku's view.

"Of course dear~ I've never been better. Didn't you come here to do something though?" Joshua's answer seemed forced and his grip loosened on me. Taking the chance I leaped off of his lap and onto the chair that was next to his. Joshua pouted at me and pulled my chair closer towards him. The bandage on Joshua's arm had loosened and started to fall off, showing the scar that was underneath from the fight with Nikolai. Joshua noticed instantly and grabbed his arm, hastily trying to put the bandages back on. I flicked his hand away from the bandage and grabbed his injured arm, redoing the bandages that were on it. I avoided touching the raw skin underneath as much as possible.

"What happened to your arm?" Neku asked Joshua, pointing out the cut on it.

"It's none of your concern. Honestly though, I am touched with your concern for me. I thought you would loathe me, but here you are, wanting nothing more, than to get answers out of me," Joshua said. Neku looked at Joshua in concern, furling his eyebrows together, unable to reach any conclusions.

"OK, something's not right here. Are the Taboo Noise getting to your head-"

"The Taboo Noise are not your concern. They are apart of the UG's problem, unless you would like to come back, which I would be more than happy to allow." I could tell Joshua was about to snap and couldn't help but worry alongside Neku. Had something happened in the UG that he was just made aware of? I leaned on Joshua's shoulder and looked down at his hand which was gripping the plastic chair so hard his knuckles were turning white. I placed my hand on his and rubbed my thumb on it to try and calm him down. It seemed to work when the tension in his shoulders disappeared slightly.

"Uh, for your information I can see the UG and I think that makes it my problem. Noise symbols are just floating around left and right and it makes it impossible to concentrate in school." Neku's voice was cold and he sounded like he was ready to hit Joshua if he got one more smart mouthed answer.

"Just one week then. I'll answer all of your questions." This surprised me, Neku, and Mr. Hanekoma who had been listening onto the conversation between Joshua and Neku. Mr. Hanekoma had then walked off somewhere, probably not wanting to be caught in the conversation, as to not give away too much information to Neku, who already had suspicions about Joshua and Mr. Hanekoma's relationship.

"One week as a Conductor? I don't know but are you sure you aren't sick or something?" Joshua rolled his eyes and flipped his hair out of his face.

"I clearly look sick."

"You're a little pale, yeah." Sure enough, Neku was right and Joshua's face was paler than before. I looked at Joshua who was refusing to meet my eyes.

"I told you so! But nooooo, you don't listen to me! I told you that you needed rest earlier but when do you listen to anything I have to say!" Joshua's hand had grabbed mine and I placed my other hand on top of it squeezing it. "Honestly Joshua. That's not healthy. You need to rest."

"I'll rest when I have a good Conductor." My eye twitched as Joshua said that but Neku spoke up, looking down as he did so.

"You said just one week, right?"

"I believe so."

Neku continued to speak "And you said that you'd answer all of my questions?"

"Mm hm."

"... Alright, but just one week." Joshua smiled sincerely and looked at Neku, whose mouth I couldn't see because of his huge turtleneck.

"Thank you. We can sort this out tomorrow. I'll come and get you, so don't worry about a thing. You can leave now if you'd like, or you could stay in my presence though I doubt you'd want to." Joshua looked down at his hand, that I was currently holding. I gave it a little squeeze and smiled at him.

"We can talk tomorrow... But at least answer this," Neku said. Joshua gestured for him to continue. "Why do you always act like a prick to everyone? Because you don't seem to around her or Mr. Hanekoma. You just seem to demand things t=from him, but still." Joshua inhaled sharply through his nose as if remembering something I didn't know about.

".......... You know that people are after my spot, correct?" Neku nodded. "And what would someone do if they were to realize I was close to someone?"

"Go after that person?"

"Exactly. I act like a prick on purpose to distance myself from most people."

"Then is that why you're injured?"

"Neku, I said I would answer your questions later." Neku seemed reluctant but agreed nonetheless.

"Alright, I guess this is bye then... friend." Neku quickly left the cafe, leaving Joshua in shock at the last bit of what he had said.

"..... Friend......? He's joking right? Who'd want to be friends with me?" Joshua let out a bitter laugh and I frowned as I sat on my knees on the chair, despite how much it kind of hurt since it was still plastic and hadn't gotten any softer Wrapping my arms around him, I forgot all about the House Blend which was probably cold by now.

"Joshua, I'm your friend and I always will be. I wouldn't care if the world was against you. I'd still be there by your side, no matter what happens. Besides, even you had to have known that Neku would forgive you at some point," I said. Joshua leaned his head on mine and was silent, processing what I had just said.

"... Did you.... Did you just friend zone me?"