stillarhino: (19 ☠ they've been telling us)
beat ☠️ daisukenojo bito ([personal profile] stillarhino) wrote in [community profile] dreamcrystals2022-09-09 09:02 pm

open 💀 first recording | passive dream

Sender: Beat
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive Dream Recording
Warnings: Some spoilers for the OG The World Ends With You.

Whenever this time of the year came around, a sense of dread would bubble up deep within him. It would start in his stomach and slowly make its way up to his throat, settling itself there. It was uncomfortable and no matter what he'd do to try to gulp it down, it remained stuck.

This day was no different.

Beat seems to be a few years younger, wearing a slouchy beanie with a skull sewn onto it, his hair pulled back and tucked underneath it. His usual headphones are absent from his head. He’s dressed in a school uniform, but his surroundings do not depict him to be in any such place.

Instead, he wanders Shibuya aimlessly—riding down the streets of Dogenzaka on his skateboard, perusing new albums available in Tower Records, even just hanging out at the convenience store by the Moyai statue. Everywhere but where he was supposed to be.

He reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone, navigating his way to the unread message from someone named “Rhyme”.

Are you coming home soon?

A moment passes before he types up a reply:

ill head home when i feel like it

His message was cold and he knows it deep down. But he sends it anyway, tucking his phone away before he continues loitering about the city.

By nightfall, he finds himself staring up at a modest two-story home, standing just outside its gate. He doesn't know how much time has passed since he's gotten here, but he lets out a sigh, steeling himself for what was to come. The gate’s hinges creak slightly as he pushes it open, a plaque on the gate reading the family name “Bito”.

The lump in his throat still remains.

It isn’t before long that he finds himself standing in front of a Japanese man, dressed in business attire, his tie loose around his neck after a long day at work. To his side sits a rather tall woman with blond hair, an apron draped in front of her dress. He’s filled with dread once again, the pit in his stomach growing larger and deeper as a tightness begins to form in his chest.

Beat reaches out and hands over a card toward them. On it are his grades for the semester. They are well above the passing grade, but nothing spectacular. He knows they’re nothing spectacular. He knows he isn’t anything spectacular. Not in their eyes.

The expression on his face is hard to read as they go over his grades and Beat hasn’t said a single word throughout. His lips remain a straight line and his eyes appear to be downcast. Is it apathy? Is it fear?

He opens his mouth, ready to put himself down, ready to fight them. That’s how it always is after all.

“Good job, son.”

The words catch in his throat before they could leave him. Beat’s eyes widen and his mouth hangs open, staring at them. They look back at him with proud smiles on their faces.

“You did well, Daisukenojo,” said the man.

Beat recoils when he hears the name but doesn’t say anything at first. He continues to stare at them for a moment longer, dumbfounded by the turn of events. “Are you two serious?” he finally asks. His usual manner of speech is missing, but the same inflections and brash tone of his voice remain.

“Of course we’re serious.” This time it’s the woman who speaks, looking back at him incredulously. “You did your best, didn’t you? As long as you do that, we couldn’t be any prouder of you.”

The man stands from his seat and walks to Beat, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s eat out tonight to celebrate, all four of us. How does hot pot sound?”

Beat looks at the man, then the woman. Finally, the surprise on his face disappears and he lets out a laugh. His voice almost cracks when he speaks. “Yeah, hot pot sounds great, dad.”

He hears a quiet ring of a bell nearby. Turning towards the source, he sees a young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes smiling at him, a bell pendant hanging from a leather strap around her neck. He smiles back at her, blinking back the tears that begin to pool at the edge of his eyes.

And then he wakes.
projections: (16)

[personal profile] projections 2022-10-17 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ He makes it to the place just fine but where's Beat? ]

Anyone home? That's weird, I swear I got the right address. Did I take a wrong turn somewhere?

[ and why is it so dark in here anyway? He has so many questions. ]
projections: most of these icons are not shareable (whirlpool of fate)

[personal profile] projections 2022-10-17 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
What the hell are you doing in the dark? I thought I got lost because I couldn't find you.

[ oh my god. ]

So it turns out you were here all along.
projections: (to the beginning)

[personal profile] projections 2022-10-28 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
Have you tried meditating? Trying to ask you that might be pointless since it sounds like you've done everything already but I felt like asking anyway.

[Clearing your head of thoughts might seem simple but it's effective!]
projections: most of these icons are not shareable (ow)

[personal profile] projections 2022-11-01 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Of course it works. Just close your eyes for a minute and take deep breaths. That's all you need to do.

[No, Beat doesn't look like the meditating type. Shirou insists on this method anyway. ]
projections: most of these icons are not shareable (will never tell sakura his problems)

[personal profile] projections 2022-11-02 10:22 am (UTC)(link)
It's easy if you try. It's not working because you aren't doing it properly.

[Shirou shakes his head and then sighs.]

Try again but this time focus more. I might be asking for a lot but it'll help you.
projections: most of these icons are not shareable (will never tell sakura his problems)

[personal profile] projections 2022-11-03 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll take longer if you mess up. Do it correctly the first time and you won't have to worry about spending more time.

[He knows Beat is trying but this is kind of sad.]

You're really not used to meditating, are you? Closing your eyes will help too.
projections: (a new sunrise)

[personal profile] projections 2022-11-04 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I know you're really trying but we might be at a loss with this one. Well, if that doesn't work some warm tea should help calm you down.

[Tea always works when you're in doubt.]

If your mind isn't cooperating then maybe your stomach will.
projections: (19)

[personal profile] projections 2022-11-11 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Just water would be fine. You have that, right?

[He's being respectful of Beat's living space okay. ]

I'm not going to ask for much since I'm still a guest at your place.