Chapter Text
Rain had never really deterred the hustle and bustle of Shibuya. The booming thunder was lost to the noise coming from thousands of people going about their lives, the flashes of lightning a curiosity barely noticed by the neon lights.
Some things never change, thought Neku Sakuraba as he walked up Cat Street. He was glad for that, glad that beneath all the changes the city he loved still retained its heart.
Nearly a month has gone by since Shibuya narrowly escaped destruction and his return, but Neku still hadn’t readjusted as well as he’d wanted. As far as the RG was concerned he’d never left, no doubt thanks to Joshua’s intervention. That had been the case during his first game, but going along with three years’ worth of fabricated memories was harder to get used to than a month’s worth of the same.
Thankfully he had more than a few activities to keep his mind off it. Since Mr. H hadn’t returned yet Neku decided to dabble in a little street art of his own, following in his footsteps. He stopped mid-step to look at his latest piece, a stylized phoenix that Neku painted on a wall next to Jupiter of the Monkey’s store. If Fret (and the shopkeeper, who was more than happy to let his favorite customer his thing) were to be believed there was already buzz for it on the web.
As flattering as that was, he didn’t come to this part of the city to admire his handiwork. Rather, Neku was here to admire somebody else’s. Waving to the shopkeeper, who noticed him standing outside, Neku went on his way to Mr. H’s café. For the last three years it had been closed but since they’d saved Shibuya a second time it became a hang-out spot for Neku and the Shibuya Reapers.
“Hey, can I come in?” Neku asked as he stepped inside the café.
“Oh, you’re early!” A cheery voice called out. “Come in before you get a cold.”
Neku closed his umbrella (A Mr. Mew style parasol, of course), putting it inside a bin. He went inside and was met with the sight of Shiki Misaki standing over a coffee table, gazing over a sketchbook. The café still looked exactly as it did three years ago. “Just us?”
“For now, Beat said he and Rhyme have a thing to take care of first. It’s a good thing they kept a key under the doormat or we’d both be stuck outside the rain.” She beckoned Neku over, smiling. “I’ve been doing some sketches for Gatto Nero’s fall line while we wait, what do you think?”
The sketches were mostly jackets, ones that somewhat resembled the piece Neku was wearing. Shiki had apparently made it just for him, but a certain fairy princess reaper forgot to mention that when he received it. “Looks good. I like the one with the white fur trim.”
“Really? Eri and I were on the fence about it. Beat likes this one,” She flipped the page over, revealing a similar-looking piece. “But it looks way too much like Boar Fang’s clothes to me.”
“Must be why he likes it.” Neku shrugged. “It is his favorite.”
“Speaking of liking different brands,” Shiki grabbed Neku by his jacket and unbuttoned it. “Take off the shirt.”
“Uh, Shiki…” He stammered.
“Take. It. Off!” Shiki repeated. “That’s Jupes you’re wearing underneath MY design!”
“Oh come on, what’s so bad about Jupiter of the Monkey?”
“It doesn’t match! Shirt off. Now!”
“Fine, you win.” He sighed. There was no fighting her when she had fashion in the brain. “Good thing Beat and the others haven’t arrived yet.”
“Why would that be a prob-oh.” Realizing what she’d been saying, Shiki let Neku go, her face beet red. “Oh.”
“Heh, yeah.” He leaned against the table, arms crossed. “At least you didn’t strip it off me like last time.”
“You have been taking care of your clothes better.” She grabbed the sketchbook and placed it inside her purse. “Even if you’re wearing Jupes with Gatto Nero.”
“You’re not gonna let that one go huh?”
“I’m not letting you-” She paused, and quickly changed her words “I’m never letting it go.”
This time it was Neku’s turn to turn red.
After that the café went silent, with only the sounds of rain and foot traffic outside to accompany the two. It was suffocating. Since he returned Neku and Shiki had done nothing but talk with each other, the latter wishing to get the former up to speed on everything he missed. Unable to bear the silence, Neku turned his phone on and played some music.
Give me all your love~, the song went before Neku immediately turned his phone off again. That song was a little too risque for either of them. He didn’t need to look at Shiki’s face to know she was blushing just as hard as he was.
“S-so. What was it like? In Shinjuku?” Shiki asked, wanting to break the silence as well.
It was a question Neku’d been asked more than he wanted, but it was the first time he heard it from her. Memories that had been in the back of his mind came to him.
“It was rough. For the first few weeks I couldn’t even tell where I was. But the worst part were the sounds. The people who died in Shinjuku… their thoughts still lingered, even after the Inversion.”
He felt soft fingers trace down his hand, resting on top of his own fingers. Shiki was looking into his eyes, concerned. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“It’s fine.” Neku smiled. “I had a friend with me to help, even if she could be a little difficult at times.”
“I still can’t believe she stole Mr. Mew.” Shiki pouted. “I mean she had a good reason for it, but it still hurts, you know?”
“Coco can be difficult, but she’s no Joshua that’s for sure.” Neku laughed. “But it wasn’t just that I had a friend with me. Knowing I had someone to come back to helped me keep going.”
“Who’s that?”
“Who else?”
Another awkward silence. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder, a fact that only became evident now. Their fingers were now entwined with one another, even if they couldn’t make eye contact at the moment. This time around, the silence was broken with laughter.
“God what are we, a bunch of teenagers?” Neku asked as his chuckling died down. “Wait, I guess we are.”
“I mean yeah?” Shiki rested her head on his shoulders. “Nothing wrong with that.”
“So, guess this makes us official now?”
“If you ask me we became official a few weeks ago, at Hachiko.”
“That does sound more romantic than getting together in an abandoned café.”
“We should tell the others.” Shiki suggested.
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure most of them know already.” Neku paused. “Okay, maybe not Beat.”
“Don’t be mean! But I guess we should tell him.”
A third moment of silence. This time around there was no tension or awkwardness, as the two enjoyed each other’s presence. Neku moved an arm over Shiki’s shoulder, pulling her closer to him in an embrace, while she nuzzled her face against his neck. He turned his phone again and played a different song, something more fitting.
A lullaby for you~
Three years they’d been apart, but finally all was right in the world.
Meanwhile two figures were standing by the doorway. They had plans to use the café for their own purposes, but finding it occupied by a pair of lovebirds forced them to retreat.
“How come you never treat me like that?”
“Girl, I buy you ramen. Sometimes. What more could you want?”