It's hard to overstate how...gradual, the shift back in time is. The shadow of a building acting as cover for the time of day to change, something flashing by in a shop window becoming a brilliant streak of lightning- it's all stuff he's used to, slipping in and out of delusions like this. It feels oddly comforting and homey, maybe because he's had less dramatic hallucinations lately, but also that it's coming on like he's used to, because he's in a high or a low. Now, of course, is a low, his feet practically dragging as he walks the long way around, trying to avoid one bridge because he doesn't want to get water spit at him again by the local hashihime. He did enough of a good job 'apologizing' for the Daitengu that he landed himself a job, but he's gotta pay back for the uniform, and also his legs feel like lead...coffee shop work isn't nearly as cute and fun as Naoshi made it seem. He's almost offended by that.
But the height differential is where his higher awareness finally kicks in to gear, forcing him to look up more than he normally would have to- and he spots the illusory bridge first. That's...too homey, too familiar, and he almost wanders closer himself, but this isn't his- he turns his head instead when he hears someone else moving a ways down, and realizes it's Minakami. This kind of thing is second nature to him, so even seeing the first few steps of Mina breaking in to a run has his nerves alight, and all the exhaustion is gone in an instant, as he books it to try and intercept his friend before he plunges in to the river.
"Mi-Minakami!" He manages to grab him around the middle, clinging as tight as he can and trying to keep him from plowing forward; he's not going to be strong enough to stop someone with his noodle arms, but he's smart enough to grab for the nearest hand he can and try to pinch the skin as hard as he can. It's snapped him out of delusions before- it might work here- he really hopes it works here or they're both liable to pitch in to the blood-red Sanzu, and he sure as hell can't swim.
fatal frame time; i caused this in to being with my thought-crimes, also im sick of brackets >:T
But the height differential is where his higher awareness finally kicks in to gear, forcing him to look up more than he normally would have to- and he spots the illusory bridge first. That's...too homey, too familiar, and he almost wanders closer himself, but this isn't his- he turns his head instead when he hears someone else moving a ways down, and realizes it's Minakami. This kind of thing is second nature to him, so even seeing the first few steps of Mina breaking in to a run has his nerves alight, and all the exhaustion is gone in an instant, as he books it to try and intercept his friend before he plunges in to the river.
"Mi-Minakami!" He manages to grab him around the middle, clinging as tight as he can and trying to keep him from plowing forward; he's not going to be strong enough to stop someone with his noodle arms, but he's smart enough to grab for the nearest hand he can and try to pinch the skin as hard as he can. It's snapped him out of delusions before- it might work here- he really hopes it works here or they're both liable to pitch in to the blood-red Sanzu, and he sure as hell can't swim.