“It seems straightforward enough to me,” Joshua says. “I’m evidently your effort to externalise your self-loathing; it’s much easier to concentrate all that anger on a separate entity, isn’t it?”
“It’s definitely easy to get angry with you, if that’s what you mean.”
“That separate entity really should represent your worst qualities for the full cathartic experience, so you rather tripped up by making me so intelligent and charming. Of course, that anger’s actually masking your deep-seated attraction to me, and goodness knows what that symbolises.”
“I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Joshua smirks. “Really, what’s stopping you?” He reaches up and undoes the top button of his shirt. For a second Neku just stares, frozen – where the hell is this going? – before Joshua winks at him and rebuttons it. “Nobody can see me; nobody will know what you’re really up to. Touch me, Neku.”
It’s hard to think of something in response to that, somehow; it’s hard to focus. Neku has to look away. “I’m pretty sure people seeing me making out with – with you would be less humiliating than people seeing me making out with the air,” he mutters. He really hopes he’s not blushing. “Not that any of that is happening, ever.”
“You’re telling me I can’t tempt you even if I make myself visible? What a shame.”
“Of course you—” Neku begins, and then he cuts himself off. Maybe this is his chance to prove he’s not crazy. “Okay,” he says. “If you make yourself visible. Maybe.”
Joshua laughs. “I’d love to,” he says, “but, if I don’t really exist, that’s no small challenge. I suppose you’ll have to carry on repressing your desire. It’s a good thing you’re so practised at it.”
“I know you exist,” Neku snaps, trying to stamp out the sudden flicker of doubt in his chest. Joshua has to exist. There’s no way he just imagined those three weeks, and he’s pretty sure he’s not screwed up enough to create this kid who just hangs around and torments him.
But wouldn’t Joshua have called Neku’s bluff if he could?
The World Ends With You
“It’s definitely easy to get angry with you, if that’s what you mean.”
“That separate entity really should represent your worst qualities for the full cathartic experience, so you rather tripped up by making me so intelligent and charming. Of course, that anger’s actually masking your deep-seated attraction to me, and goodness knows what that symbolises.”
“I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Joshua smirks. “Really, what’s stopping you?” He reaches up and undoes the top button of his shirt. For a second Neku just stares, frozen – where the hell is this going? – before Joshua winks at him and rebuttons it. “Nobody can see me; nobody will know what you’re really up to. Touch me, Neku.”
It’s hard to think of something in response to that, somehow; it’s hard to focus. Neku has to look away. “I’m pretty sure people seeing me making out with – with you would be less humiliating than people seeing me making out with the air,” he mutters. He really hopes he’s not blushing. “Not that any of that is happening, ever.”
“You’re telling me I can’t tempt you even if I make myself visible? What a shame.”
“Of course you—” Neku begins, and then he cuts himself off. Maybe this is his chance to prove he’s not crazy. “Okay,” he says. “If you make yourself visible. Maybe.”
Joshua laughs. “I’d love to,” he says, “but, if I don’t really exist, that’s no small challenge. I suppose you’ll have to carry on repressing your desire. It’s a good thing you’re so practised at it.”
“I know you exist,” Neku snaps, trying to stamp out the sudden flicker of doubt in his chest. Joshua has to exist. There’s no way he just imagined those three weeks, and he’s pretty sure he’s not screwed up enough to create this kid who just hangs around and torments him.
But wouldn’t Joshua have called Neku’s bluff if he could?