Chapter Text
The final battle takes ages. Reapers attack them from all sides, and right away Neku knows that if he had been alone, he would have been overwhelmed almost instantly. But with the two Players beside him, attacking in sync with their blades slashing, he feels motivated to prove himself. He pulls out all the stops, equipping his full deck of Darklit Planets pins in order to string together combinations that keep the Reapers constantly on their toes.
After chasing off the last of the Reapers, the Producer appears. “You’ve done well,” Hanekoma admits. “This is your last challenge. The higher planes have agreed: if you can defeat this, you’re off the hook.” A bright light shines, and an enormous Noise forms. It roars, flapping its wings and spewing fire into the air. “I’ll give you a hint,” the Producer says, looking directly at Riku. “You’ve had it all along.” Then he takes off into the higher planes once more. The dragon Noise advances, buildings shaking with every step.
“What the hell does he mean?” Neku shouts at Riku. The other seems to be in a similar state of confusion. The Noise roars again and lunges forward with its talons. Neku dances back out of the way and retaliates with a barrage of ice pillars.
The three of them engage the Noise, but despite their best efforts they can’t get its health down below a certain point. Finally, something seems to click in Riku’s head, and he drops his weapon to fumble for something in his pocket. The Noise takes the opportunity to aim some fireballs at him.
Neku moves before he has time to think about it. He leaps in front to take the blow, flames scorching his skin. It’ll heal, but it will take time.
“Thanks!” Riku calls, snatching up his weapon and tapping him on the shoulder gratefully before darting toward the Noise. “Sora, on me!” he yells, holding something up in his hand. It’s a pin, one Neku doesn’t recognize.
The two run in sync at the Noise, and the pin lets out a blinding light. He hears them cry out something, and then the Noise is torn into shreds by little shards of light and darkness. He watches in awe as they deal blow after blow, seemingly floating in midair with the speed of their attacks. The Noise shrieks and dissolves into black and white pieces of soul that then disperse in the breeze. Sora and Riku land, their keys disappearing, and make their way over to him with grins on their faces.
“What the hell was that?!” Neku bursts, grinning back despite his inner instincts.
“Mr. H gave it to me after you took off with Sora. He said it’s called a… Harmonizer pin? It lets you perform fusion attacks with people you’re very in sync with.” Neku huffs out a laugh.
“No wonder it worked for you two.” As if on cue, Hanekoma returns, smiling in a way Neku hasn’t seen him smile in a long time.
“The higher-ups said you’re good to go,” he says. “I hope you learned something this week, Phones.” A bright light shines above them, and Neku looks up in confusion to see a large, glowing keyhole in the sky.
“Oh, that’s our sign to leave,” Sora explains. Hanekoma nods, knowingly.
“I’ll give you time to say goodbye to your friends.” The word sends mixed feelings through his chest. He’s always thought friends were only good for holding you back… yet he could never have made it past today without his two new… friends. And that’s what they are, aren’t they? They’re friends.
Riku shakes his hand. “See you.” Sora grins and high fives him. Neku can’t think. He has to say something before they go, something to show his appreciation. But what?
“Listen, you…” His hands are shaking, he realizes. “I… I’m sorry. For everything. I wanted to show you… to teach you the errors of your ways, but it was you who taught me. So thank you. And… I’m sorry.”
Sora punches him lightly in the arm. “Hey, you made up for it! It’s not like this is the worst experience we’ve ever had, you know.” Seriously, who are these guys? “We'll see you again, Neku, I'm sure of it!”
The two summon their keys one more time and point them at the sky. A beam of light shoots out from each key into the keyhole. Sora waves goodbye as they vanish, and the keyhole disappears.
Hanekoma walks over and puts his hand on Neku’s shoulder. “Well then. Let’s work on revising the rules of the Game, shall we?” Neku nods, grasping his old Player pin in his hand. Maybe having partners isn’t such a bad idea after all…