Story: Mind the Gap (French version available : "Intervalles")

Date: 18 March 2022

Beta: None

Fandom: The World End With You

Disclaimer: No, I do not own TWEWY and do not make money with this story

Summary: Choosing to not erase himself and the whole city has consequences that Joshua would have loved to not deal with. But, well, that was his choice and he will stick to it. Especially considering he doesn't quite want to see Shibuya, Sanae, Neku and the others definitely erased anymore. Saving his precious things with half his powers binded and an interdiction of meddling, thanks to the Angels, is going to be tough but he has all faith in himself. Mostly.

Trigger du chapitre: mention of attempted suicide


Enjoy your Reading !


"I knew I'd find you here." Sanae smiled, his footsteps echoing on the concrete. Joshua had sensed him coming from a distance, but having already been caught in the same spot several times this week, he hadn't bothered to move. "So, what new thing did they tried today?"

"Beat taught Neku how to skateboard. And Shiki showed Rhyme how to crochet. She's making a cover." Joshua replied in a bored tone but his eyes fixed on the four teenagers sitting by a skateboard ramp spoke volumes.

"Hoo, Phones' not doing so bad." M.H. remarked as he sat down next to Joshua.

"You're only saying that because you escaped his last thirteen falls." Josh scoffed, and as if his words had jinxed Neku, the boy slipped and fell back to the ground only a few feet away from the two Angels. The boy sat up grumbling, hissing in pain as he tried to get up.

"Waaah, Phones, that's quite a fall! Hold on, let me see your ankle." Beat exclaimed as he trotted towards them before crouching down in front of Neku to look at his foot. "Hu, I was sure it was twisted but it looks fine, it's not even swelling."

"It's a good time to stop there, then! You should rest Neku." Scolded Shiki, Rhyme following her.

"We should go home anyway, it's getting late, the parents will be waiting for us."

"Urgh, yeah you're right sis... Are you going to be okay Phones or do you want a lift?" Beat asked and Neku took a second to get up and test his ankle. He raised his eyebrows when he was able to lean on it without any problem and assured Beat that it should be fine. The four separated there, the Bito's heading for the subway while Shiki and Neku headed away to the Scramble Crossing.

"Josh..." Hanekoma sighed when the children were no longer in sight.

"Yes?" asked Joshua innocently but Hanekoma only gave him a dark look in response. "Oh that's okay, even a Player could have done that."

"Neku and Rhyme yes, but certainly not just any player." Sanae replied and Joshua pouted, "You're really on the edge Joshua, please don't throw yourself in for a sprained ankle."

Joshua didn't answer and Sanae didn't push the subject. He had said what he had to say and the composer would do what he wanted now. As usual. "Are you going tomorrow?" he asked instead.

"Where?" Joshua stood up with a grunt and stretched. A very unnecessary thing in his condition but one that provided some mental comfort.

"Hachiko. Neku projects his invitation so loudly that even the Wall-Reapers can hear him from across town. I had to tag the inside of his phone to make his thoughts unintelligible otherwise everyone would know you were the Composer."

"If only he knew he had an original CAT graphic with him, he'd go crazy." Joshua scoffed before sighing. "I shouldn't."

"No, they've had enough supernatural to last a lifetime." Sanae nodded and Joshua's shoulders sagged at his words. "But you're dying for it, you wouldn't follow them around otherwise... and not in this form."

"I don't follow them around! I'm just checking there are no side effects, this wasn't an ordinary resurrection, you know." Joshua took offense. "And this form is just more practical, that's all. It requires less power to maintain, and with everything I have to use to negotiate with the higher planes and keep Shibuya afloat, I could use some savings on that front."

"Yes, of course." Sanae rolled his eyes. "But speaking of non-ordinary things, the three games have refined Neku's Vibe a bit too much for a living person, so he'll soon find himself in the same situation as you did when you were human."

"You're exaggerating, it's not like he's seeing the Noises."

"Not yet but it's only a matter of time. He's already influencing the UG with his thoughts, whether it's changing the fashionable brands or driving out the Noises."

"So what? What do you want me to do?" Joshua replied with an annoyed look on his face but his tone seemed a little defensive.

"Keep doing what you're doing, I guess: keep an eye on him. It's fine for a while if he stays mainly in Shibuya, but it could get annoying for him and us quickly if he gets noticed elsewhere. You wouldn't want the same thing to happen to him as to you, would you?"

"It wasn't that bad, I turned out all right in the end, didn't I?" Joshua replied nonchalantly, and M.H was very careful not to remind him that he had more or less tried to kill himself with the entire town less than a week earlier.

If Joshua heard his thoughts, he did not comment on them.


Hope you liked it ! Go see the other Big Bang fics, you won't regret it ;)
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