[Team Two] Dopamine Fast Fail

[damagea.livejournal.com]

Here's the very beginning for my dopamine-fast-kyomohoku!fic XD Nothing too serious lmao!

Hokuto, Kochi | ~580 words | G |

The room is comfortably silent as they're waiting for their turns for the photoshoot. Kochi eats his instant noodles while Hokuto sits on the other side of the room with his phone in one hand, writing something down in his notebook on the table.

When Kochi finally takes the last sip of the soup, Hokuto puts the phone away and turns to talk to him.

"I've decided to try dopamine fasting," he says, sounding like he's just announced something important.

Kochi straightens his back and raises his eyebrows as he's not sure if he heard it right.

"Dopamine-what?"

"It's this new method to reset one's brain," Hokuto explains, and he sounds rather excited. "Dopamine is the chemical that rewards our brain when we do something pleasurable, like eating delicious food, scrolling on the phone, gaming, or even talking to friends. It keeps us hooked on constant stimulation."

"We're hooked to fun stuff?" Kochi asks.

"Yeah, in a way," Hokuto nods. "And dopamine fasting means cutting out all that little fun stuff. No sugar, no games, no laughing with friends or anything like that. One should stick to silence and have only dull conversations. Boring meals. Staring at walls. And then, supposedly, even ordinary things start to feel amazing again."

Kochi points at him with his chopsticks.

"You read about this online, didn't you?"

"I did," Hokuto admits, "but not just one random article. I read several books and research papers. I even listened to one neurology podcast!" He sits taller and looks smug. "It's science."

Kochi sighs. "You’re the only person I know who reads about such science for fun."

"In any case," Hokuto continues, ignoring him. "I've decided to try it this week."

"So, you're telling me you're just not going to do anything fun this week?"

"Yes," Hokuto says with satisfaction. "I have two full days off without any drama filming, so it's perfect timing."

Kochi waves his hand to stop Hokuto. "Wait. You remember we have the music video shoot in two days, right?"

Hokuto blinks. "Yeah?"

"And to get to the location, we're traveling first. Then, we spent the night in a hotel. All six of us together. Do you honestly think you'll survive that day without any dopamine?"

The realization crashes into Hokuto like a truck. He groans, dragging his hands down his face.

"Aaaaargh, true. I didn't think about the travel part!"

Kochi smirks. "Exactly. And you like hanging out with us, everyone knows that. You're so going to break your own fast the second Jesse starts talking or Shintaro suggests some game for us to play."

Hokuto looks disappointed for a good while. Until suddenly, his expression changes again, and his eyes light up.

"Unless," he starts slowly, "we don’t travel as one group. Instead, we travel in pairs."

"I don't understand?"

"Think about it!" Hokuto's gesturing, as if he's pitching a great, fresh idea. "We can film it as bonus content for our channel. The members travel in pairs, we get nice footage, and the fans will love it. Everyone wins!"

Kochi stares at him because it makes no sense to him.

"Okay, but what does all this have to do with your weird no-fun brain diet?" he asks.

"Because I'll choose my perfect travel partner very carefully. Someone guaranteed to provide me with absolutely zero dopamine," Hokuto explains.

Then he pauses before he says it.

"Kyomoto."

Kochi almost chokes. "That's the meanest compliment I've ever heard."

"It's a strategy," Hokuto insists. "Kyomoto understands."

"Sure, good luck with that then," Kochi says. He shakes his head and grins.

shinysylver — your turn! 

Comments

[elindar.livejournal.com]

omg yay, dopamine fast! XD

it makes me laugh when i remember the episode of aikuiset and lool this concept is so good with hokuto. like how he tries to explain it with SCIENCE for kochi. and kochi being the other party here is also so fitting, i can imagine him being all ??? and doubtful about the whole thing.

"Someone guaranteed to provide me with absolutely zero dopamine," very weird compliment indeed XD lololol at taiga being the safe bet with no dopamine whatsoever (OR so he think???) can't wait to see where this will be going...! XD