A Reapers chapter from Eevee? Sweet! Now I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of one of these. I will have you know I opened up a notepad and actually started taking certain detail notes this time around, so hopefully the next time something here comes back I won't be as surprised.

Interesting highlights:
-Nagisa caught on to the O-Pin plot but didn't use her resources to either support Neku or face Minamimoto. More of a cautious tactician then, eh?
-Looks like Brayson will show up soon in AFiH. He seems like a big softie, so I have no idea how he's been able to stay friends with Josh all these years, but I'm interested to see how he fits into all that.
-Ah, yes, Hikaru. I... kind of forgot that was a thing. How will they get rid of that without killing Josh, I wonder? I don't feel like I have a solid enough grasp of this "Noise Counterpart" mechanic to properly theorize anything, so I'm mostly just wondering for now.

Gonna finish reading this, just you wait!
-CG

Okay, yes. YES. Good to see payoff. Good to see that a lot of this is earned and well set up. I still don't totally agree with Ayumu's assessment of Yukiko, but it is well portrayed/documented.

Also, love how Yukiko is more concerned with what the jacket won't have on it than whether or not it costs anything. And what's all this tomboy talk? I remember when I was first drafting out Yukiko fan designs you made a note about how she shouldn't look too masculine, but not girly feminine either. Makes me wonder what Yukiko's concept of/position on femininity really is...

Huh, wonder why Yukiko didn't just read Shiki's mind when she was at the door? "I'll help myself to your personal items like keys, but I'll respect your mental boundaries" seems like an odd line to draw, but it might play right for Yukiko's funny ideas of honor.

Looking forward to continuing the countdown,
-CG

Kozy Kitten: the EeveeVerse Exclusive Brand! Bringing you such unique items as "Hothead's Gloves", "Virtuoso's Hoodie", and "Brother's Pendant". :D

Aw man... fluff usually isn't my thing, but I did enjoy this little diversion with Eri and Shiki as Neku finally gets to reconnect with his friends. Now if only we could get some Beat and Rhyme in the picture...

Also: Aha! I was right! Neku and friends weren't even looking! Which, I mean, makes sense given how Yukiko is usually so paranoid and hostile. Who knew the one time they would choose to respect her space, something goes wrong and she actually wants their help?

You know... I kind of suspected that fun fact. Not that there's anything wrong with it, just that it seems to match a lot of growing writers. I mean, I had other guesses for the inspiration, so it's not like it was totally obvious, but still, nice to have theories confirmed~

Heh.
Yukiko: "Let's go to a shop!"
Neku: "I thought you hated shopping?"
Yukiko: "Of course, but what does that have to do with it?"
Obviously, something is going on.

Wait, who is the blond with the turtleneck? Was that Ayumu? Or has there been someone else hanging out in the shop this whole time?
*EeveeVerse Rueban stands patiently at the cash register, waiting to be rung up for his blue turtleneck while the world goes into Noisepocalypse outside and Ayumu has Panic attack*
...Yeah, sounds about right.

So, the bit about Ayumu not getting Yukiko's calls, this is interesting because it brings out a side of Yukiko who doesn't necessarily solve her problems by punching them in the face. Yes, we've seen it before between these two, but it's always fascinating to see her softer side.

Also, the gloves come off! But in basically the opposite of the idiomatic sense! Very intense moment, but I like the twist you got there.

Yukiko: "WHY ARE YOU IGNORING ME!?"
Neku: "Oh, shoot, you mean you actually WANT us around for once?"
I mean, yes, not a laughing matter, but it struck me as ironic. Just because you can mind read doesn't mean everyone can, Yuki!

Pffff... I like how in your opening you're like "7k is too much to ask of anyone"
...Then Mr. Reaper happens. XD

"October 7th, 2007"
*Meanwhile, in a another universe, Pokoni and Kya finish their Game*

Hmm... what could that mysterious beeping be? A monitor of some kind, perhaps? Guess we'll have to find out next chapter. Maybe it's related to why Ayumu isn't answering...

Okay, so, while Yukiko definitely isn't *friends* with Neku yet, it's nice to see she at least gives him a break. Maybe by day 7 she can agree to not reply with her fists to everything he says. She's so fond of knuckle sandwiches, I'm surprised she hasn't lost her hands as an entry fee yet!

Onwards to the weekend!
-CG

Wow, an Ayumu chapter? Well, I won't say I wasn't pleasantly surprised, but it's certainly a change of pace! I feel like this is the point where it really helps to have read AFiH. It's the convergence of the Eevee Literary universe! Cool stuff. And Super exciting for what may come next.

Also, I'm sorry, what? Setsuna knows who Ayumu is? Who is this guy? Jiji?
Whatever the case, I sense a backstory we'll be treated to in a later chapter.

Still looking forward to when Neku's friends can rejoin the fight~
-CG

"Why did Neku leave me alone?"
I know you say Yukiko is smart, but... that is a dumb opening statement. Didn't we just go over how you need to split up to do your separate missions on time? C'mon Yuki!

Also, dog is not the most apt metaphor for Neku because he doesn't have a designated master figure he's being loyal to. I get the feeling Yukiko just wants to justify her insult to herself...

Okay, very interesting stuff with RG/UG crossing. I kinda feel like Neku would just jump into the action without Yukiko instead of pleading for help, but that's just me. Yes, it's a tall order to fill, but Neku also has a very "I'll fight the whole world alone if I have to" determination about him that would go for it anyway.

Also, interesting to see Neku finally snap for once. Been a long time coming, eh?

That aside, I really like what this does for the story, forcing Yukiko to act a little more heroic directly after her malicious declarations. And hey, Setsuna! I just barely remember the first meeting with that guy. Wonder what his deal is...

Ah, okay, so Yukiko literally can't receive love. Well, that's problematic. I don't particularly like it on a mechanical level because it feels like cheating in comparison to how entry fees worked in the original, but it does conveniently narrow the number of available choices for remedying the situation. Sorry, Aaron. Guess this one's up to you!

Oh, man, and then Ayumu shows up! About time the ExPlayers got in on this action. I know Beat's probably been raring to go. Looking forward to the reunions!

Lastly, I do want to note, this is a really exciting game changer moment for the story. I feel like this is a mid-season finale or something. With the RG and UG together and the world quickly deteriorating, the chips are down and it's time to shine.

Looking forward to what's next,
-CG

Huh, I wonder why Aaron didn't get Yukiko to help with that whole move-in thing. Surely she would've done it to help her dear brother, right?

It's nice to see Neku getting in some competent page time. And after this, he's all set to press even deeper into the Kitaoka case! Hopefully her figures something out soon...

"Next up on UF: Yukiko is Sans!"
Sorry, couldn't resist. XD

Anyway, this is an interesting way to kick off the next leg of the story after the more settled conclusion last chapter. Personally, I feel Neku would be a little more emotionally withdrawn and a little more direct. He doesn't need to explain or validate his interests to Yukiko, so if he would explain concert going as a phenomenon I would think it to be a little more scientific (don't forget he's the kid who can quote the square route of 3 up to the 7th decimal), or at least explain it from a general stand point instead of immediately assuming they're talking about why he likes them specifically ("there's a whole dimension of sound quality you don't get out of recorded tracks," etc.).
I also feel he'd kind of just give her a "really?" look, then take a picture with his phone after she refused to look in a reflection, or at least tell her "Well, how about this, then?". Remember that Neku is a very matter of fact young man with no time for people's nonsense, even if they are in a position to hurt him (such as that tag back he performed on Uzuki in week 3 of Original TWEWY). His forthrightness in the face of potential difficulty ("Lying isn't right", week 1) is one of his defining (and in my opinion, most charming) character traits. Frankly, I also feel it's one of the most valuable traits he can offer back to Yukiko. Yes, being non reactive to her vitriol would probably just make her more mad up to a point, but remember that (1) Neku's annoyance threshold withstood Joshua, and (2) Neku's default mode is to shut people out when threatened.
All that said, the above might just be my own interpretation of Neku, so take it with a grain of salt. Yes, UF Neku is generally more easy going and willing to enjoy life/give people the benefit of the doubt, but Yukiko's main functional problem as a character is that she's got... well, we'll call it a few rough patches in her character. And that's not bad writing, that's good. It's good to have characters that don't totally have it together. The problem is that those rough patches then go virtually unchallenged by most people, and that's not satisfying to read. And no, people complaining about Yukiko's behavior doesn't count as challenging it. Having them not bend/react to it does.
Having Neku as a steady rock against her raging storm is an interesting dynamic because it creates friction and draws out character ingenuity as they clash against eachother. Neku as oblivious punching bag against a raging storm becomes substantially less interesting.

Finally, please don't take any of this as indication that you *can't* write an interesting dynamic. The above is simply my diagnosis about what rubs me the wrong way about the situation as it is, and remember: I could be wrong. Take these criticisms, examine them, think about why you didn't write it that way (because I'm sure you had your own strong interpretive reasons), and ultimately maybe just save them for next time. If it's done, it's done. From a literary perspective, the rest of this chapter does an excellent job of setting up intrigue and a giving possible first solution to the new problem. It also just so happened to solidify some of my nagging thoughts on what bugs me about Neku and Yukiko as a pact.
But don't worry, the story isn't over yet. And neither is my interest!

Seeing you again when the power's back,
-CG

Ooh, man! A breathing space without a cliffhanger? I'll take it!
Jokes aside, it's nice to have a chapter that doesn't end in a cliffhanger every now and then because then I have time to tie up and process everything we've gone over up to this point. Like closure to the first step of the journey before taking the next, you know?

On that note of contentment, I hope this is all foreshadowing to Neku getting his own closure eventually. Yeah, I know it's still a good twenty or so chapters until the end of the week, but that doesn't mean he can't hit a turning point with Yuki-
Wait, just occurred to me that she'll prolly eventually find out about Aaron and him not telling her. Yeah, that's probably not gonna go over well... RIP. Or, in the words of Josh: "Have fun, Neku".

Onwards,
-CG

*Noburo used SING! It's SUPER EFFECTIVE!*

Also, it's cool that Neku and Yuki get to do a fusion, but I'm still not feeling the chemistry between them. Is this like a "desperation brings them together" thing? If so, hopefully they figure out something more stable for future encounters.

Side note along the same lines: it detracts from Neku's altruism to have the reason he didn't leave Yukiko be because he's afraid Aaron will erase him for it. Kinda gives the whole thing a more selfish tinge, y'know? We hope Neku's better than that by now.

So, this is the chapter where I realized it is a million times better to read with a background track. Either that, or Noburo just became a hundred times more epic. Maybe a combination of the two? Anyway...

"I could do a measly mind read on you-"
Actually, no, you can't. Or shouldn't be able to, by game logic. Player Pins, remember?

The Apatura Cantus is an interesting idea, and a worthy foe, but it's not something I would think Noburo would know about from what I know of him so far. If Noburo had a specific established connection to Dogenzaka as his Support patrol route or something, that might cement it, but right now it just feels convenient. Also, I would be more pumped if this were a consequence of the UG's general decay because that would mean more Noise boss fights like this might be coming out of the woodwork in the future, but that's just me.

Keeping on keeping on. To another chapter!

Okay, here I am! Finished with another chapter. See? I'll catch up before you know it!

"Neku saw that this was their chance to find out the truth"
*Neku sees a chance to press the witness! "Cornered" starts playing*

Hmmm... Leaning into Noburo's backstory is an interesting move. I'm not sure how it plays into the overall plot just yet, but it's cool to see there's a link between him and other existing characters. Also makes me wonder if there's a way I could use Hibiki for the Hybridverse... We'll see.

Man, I know Yukiko's had it rough, but this is basically one of those "Mistress of all evil!" moments that make me roll my eyes when people say Maleficent was "misunderstood". Nope, she's saying it right here: she just wants to hurt people. Not correct them, not make them understand, not even punish them for something they did. Just hurt them. That's... yeah, wow. Not sure how we come back from that, but I'm interested to see it happen!

Hopefully, Neku can be a good influence over the next few days...

"and the fact someone in her mind was faintly calling out to her"
Caaaalling? She hears the Caaalling?

Wow. How did Noburo survive his game if he never figured out Psychs? That's just... wow. I should be mad, but right now I'm just impressed.

It's interesting to see Yukiko leaving the situation to Neku. Not that she'd admit it, of course, but it seems some part of her realizes she can't fix everything with harsh words and harsh blows.

Man, too bad Neku couldn't use his telekinesis to pull Yukiko off Noburo. Now Yukiko will have to put her money where her mouth's at and take on the Recce Squad!
...Although, honestly speaking, I'm not sure how much of a challenge that will be for her. Her current power level seems pretty high...

Aaron: "We're identical!"
Neku: "...Are you, though?"
Yes. Yes, this exactly.

Some great details surrounding Chika's antics, as always. Sure, she's a pest, but she's entertaining to watch. Hopefully she doesn't get erased soon...