Chapter Text
Even when he’d been pulled from his own head, when the horizons of his world have been expanded, the vibrant life of Shibuya always finds a way to grab Neku’s attention. Maybe it’s because his tie to it is metaphorical as well as quite literal.
The streets, filled with people and gossip, are alive all around him in ways that he wouldn’t have noticed before he entered the Reaper’s Game. People show off how good they are at following the latest trends in clothing, talking and laughing with friends. They walk to and from gruesome jobs or explore around as tourists.
People watching is a good pastime for him. He stands just out of the rush of people, connected to the crowd, but distant enough not to have his senses overwhelmed. If he stands in the right places, it's almost like being in the UG, able to interact with the world in small ways from a distance. (Of course, he can just go to the UG directly, but there’s something slightly unique about each experience, so he does both.)
He doesn’t just stare for hours. He listens, hearing random chats go by. People complain about society. Politicians make speeches. Teens crack jokes with friends. He never used to listen, always tuning out the rest of the world.
But really, he’s waiting. Waiting for what? Well, for—
“Neku!” He turns his head to see Shiki waving as she approaches his spot near the Hachiko statue.
He waves back, smiling a little. These meetups with his friends decorate his life now. Life is bigger. Brighter. Shiki, Beat, Rhyme, and even Eri—who he’s still getting used to—are the lights of his new life, despite how cheesy that seems.
And then there’s Joshua, who’s a… friend, but that’s another messy issue entirely. Neku tries not to focus on that issue unless it’s actually in front of him. Instead he focuses on his schoolwork or anything else as a distraction.
He goes to Kosei High School, the same school Shiki and Eri go to. It’s hard to get into and the academic work is top tier.
At first, Neku had gotten in with his academics and artistic talent and had to keep his grades in order to keep the amount his family paid at a lower cost. But apparently this year some anonymous benefactor pays for his scholarship as long as he meets its odd requirements. He decided that he would just go with it (even if he does have some suspicions about who sponsors him).
Neku doesn’t share a class with Shiki or Eri, so he doesn’t know his classmates too well. Some of them make awkward forced small talk with him sometimes and seem nice, but some still treat him like they did before the Game.
It’s his fault, too. As far as they know, he acted like an asshole and then suddenly changed into some entirely different person. After all that time he spent not listening to people, he finally uncovers his ears to rumors and whispers that he never realized were there.
It kinda sucks.
But there’s still times he’s able to reach out to someone new. One of his classmates, Yusuke Kitagawa, always stays behind in the art room during lunch.
Neku doesn’t really know that much about Yusuke, despite sitting next to him in class. He’s well known, being under Madarame’s mentorship and all, but what he’s truly known for is being pretty weird (even though their class is full of art students).
When he happened to mention his classmate’s time alone to Shiki and Eri, it led to them convincing Neku to ask him to sit with them at lunch. The most surprising part? Yusuke actually agreed.
For a while, hanging out with him was… awkward. At least for Neku, Yusuke probably doesn’t see anything as awkward. At the time, Neku hadn’t had too much experience going out of his way to make friends outside the Reaper’s Game (Shiki was basically a buffer when it came to getting to know Eri).
But as he got to know him, he finds that it’s way more amusing to just go along with whatever. If there’s one thing Yusuke’s got, it’s passion (even if it’s to the point of being stubbornness), and Neku kinda admires that about him. The guy’s pretty weird, but so are most people.
And with a friend in his class, it makes projects much, much easier.
“From now until the end of the school year, you’ll be working with a partner of your choosing that has a style that clashes with your own. This is part of your art history unit, and will be worth forty percent of your grade at the end of the year,” Neku’s art teacher, Hayashi-sensei, announces one day.
The class quickly dissolves into chatter, with many people asking others to be their partners.
“Before you go on making any promises like lonely singles on Valentine’s Day,” he says, getting the attention of the room once again, “You’ll be making a series of pieces that reflect whatever major events you wish to depict that happen over the course of the time you’re given, from personal events to national news. The goal is not to have yours be unique with the event itself, but the way you depict its effect on you. This means that any medium will be accepted within reason.”
An excited murmur sweeps across the class. Students who might be sick of painting are getting their time to shine. Neku’s never been that good with sculpting. He could do it if he tried, but he wasn’t interested in it overall.
His teacher continues like he hadn’t heard the noise. “I know I said that they were to reflect the events, but think of it as less of your standard glass and more of a funhouse mirror. It’s different from different perspectives, but the point still comes across.
“You can make as many pieces as you want, but more does not necessarily mean a better grade. Quality over quantity, everyone!” He locks eyes with some students in particular. “They must follow a theme. A theme that shows in both the event topics and your style as well.”
With a flair, the teacher turns to the chalk board and writes “3/5” at the top corner. He gives a dramatic pause, before adding the words “ART SHOW” next to it. “At the end of the year there will be a class-hosted art show, where you and your partners will explain both of your points of view on your project to the guests and to me. With that in mind, choose your partner!”
An art show? The prospect makes even Neku feel more excited. He looks to Yusuke next to him, who’s deep in thought, and taps his shoulder.
“Do you want to be partners?” he asks when Yusuke looks over. “It’s better to work with someone you know, right? Also I have a few ideas on what we could use as our theme.”
Yusuke takes a moment of consideration before nodding, “I look forward to hearing what ideas you have to offer.”
Neku hasn’t done a project with someone else in a while, but working with Yusuke doesn’t seem like it’ll be too difficult. Maybe.
“Great,” he says, “Are you free to start after school today?”
Yusuke shakes his head, “I’m not free for today. I don’t believe I will be for the rest of the week. I have to finish a piece before the start of Madarame-sensei’s upcoming exhibition this Sunday.”
Something in his wording makes Neku pause, it makes him suddenly focused, intent on paying complete attention to whatever the other boy might say.
“Before then?” he asks slowly, “Why?”
“Ah, well…” Yusuke starts, but falters for a moment. “I help out with the exhibition and work on many projects at one time. If I finish this one it leaves time for the class project.”
Neku nods, saving this bit of info for later. The more he’s known Yusuke these past few weeks, the more he’s been able to tell the difference between his reasons and his excuses. There’s something a bit off about Yusuke’s situation, but Neku doesn’t have nearly enough information to know what it is, let alone try and actually do something about it. The only hints he gets are from everyday conversations and excuses he hears.
“Speaking of the exhibition,” Yusuke continues, “Madarame-sensei has provided me with quite a few tickets in case I wanted to invite anyone. You can take others with you, if you’re interested.”
Interested? Neku’s mood very visibly lifts and brightens at the suggestion. Going to see art exhibitions is a luxury a student like him can’t really afford, this is an opportunity he has to take.
“Sure,” he says, his laid back tone definitely not matching his excited attitude. Yusuke hands him three tickets and Neku sends a quick text to the group chat, knowing someone will respond sooner or later.
“I’ll definitely be there—” is all Neku is able to say before the class continues with Hayashi-sensei’s booming voice and draws both of their attention. He’ll talk with Yusuke later.