Rei

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When you go, just never forget who you are, Rei-chan. Never forget.

Her grandfather’s words echoed in her head as she awoke from the initial ringing and spinning sensation in her head, eyes widening at the eternal midnight that surrounded her—that suffocated her.

Rei wasted no time remaining idle. She flailed her arms about trying to swim upwards. But what was upwards? Everything seemed like an infinite expanse of darkness with no direction—with no sense. What was even considered swimming at this point? There was no resistance to her motion, as if she wasn’t submerged in water or any liquid. There was no sensation to her movements either—no contact.

All Rei knew was that moments ago, she had slipped and smashed the back of her head against the edge of the step.

Was she dead? Was she gone gone?

Just as she was about to devolve into an existential crisis amidst her confusion, Rei spotted it.

There, out of the corner of her eye, a small ball of light made its presence known to her. It remained stationary for a brief moment, like a bulb that had suddenly flickered on, barely lighting anything around it. But as it slowly began to dart here and there, growing more erratic over time, Rei gasped as it blinded her with several flashes before going completely dim.

She thrusted her hand out trying to reach it, but when the light faded away, she brought her hand back towards her chest and pressed it firmly against her body.

Closing her eyes, she let out a heavy sigh.

Little did she know that she was slowly being pulled upwards by a large tractor beam of iridescent light, lifting her upwards, higher and higher, until it was too late—until she opened her eyes and witnessed the shimmering halation take her into its folds, engulfing her completely.

Sparkling. Dazzling. Bright.

She’s not even a good rapper. Why did they give her that position?

No? I’m fond of rap music, and I like writing lyrics too. What do you mean?

“That’s why you’ll never beat me by a mile—// You’re out of style! // Run back to your grandma and only come back once you’re finally worthwhile // Word!”

As the crowd huddled around the two performers burst into cheers, pumping their fists in the air, patting backs either in consolation or in congratulations, applauding both of the rappers for their lines, the host swooped back in to the center of the ring and lifted his hands in the air.

“Straight fire coming from our two MC’s tonight. Let’s give it to ‘em!” he exclaimed, pointing his mic at the people around him. “That’s what I’m talking about. Now now, I know this week’s cypher is coming to a close, but, like we always do, we’re opening up the floor to any impromptu MC’s who want to spit a few bars and get some lyrical limerence out of them. You feel?”

Clapping his hands thrice, he roared into the microphone. “Which brave soul will be stepping forward as this week’s tribute, ha? Which of you rhythm rebels is gonna step up and flex a little on stage? You don’t need to be fancy with your lyrics and scripted shit—none of that, none of that. All you need is some confidence, some flow, and a whole lot of spunk to show for yourself. Alright?”

Amidst the ruckus and noise, a single hand raised up through the babbling crowd.

There, a pigtailed girl in a yellow windbreaker stood proud with a big smile as she lowered her hand. The other rappers around her made way to allow her to step forward and head underneath the flickering spotlight that beamed down on them against the back alley wall. Tugging on the straps of her backpack, she clasped her hands together and bowed politely at the host before bowing politely once more for the crowd.

“Oh my,” the host muttered faintly. “Oh my—hold up! It seems we have an … interesting challenger tonight. Um, you … little lady, what’s your name, and what’s your deal?”

The whole alley fell silent as every single member of the audience turned their attention to her. Without missing a beat, she leaned into the host’s microphone and tapped it once before speaking, “Hello everyone. I’m Naoi Rei, and it’s a pleasure to be with you here tonight. I’m going to perform a cover of a song—an English song. I hope that’s ok?”

“A cover?” the host repeated, wiping his top lip with his other thumb. “Damn, we have a baby monster right here, don’t we fellas? How about we show her some love and hype her up before her performance. Put those hands to work, fools!”

As the host handed her his microphone and ducked back into the crowd, the audience gave her a soft round of applause. Rei was expecting that much. She’s been going to these little hidden cyphers around the city every now and then, but it wasn’t until tonight that she mustered the courage to actually perform and participate in one of them. Until now, she had been invisible, unknown, unheard of. But tonight—tonight was her chance to start making a name for herself.

Once the applause died down, she took a deep breath and whispered,

“I went to the moped store and said, ‘Fuck it’
Salesman’s like ‘What’s up, what’s your budge t?’

I’m like, ‘Honestly, I don’t know nothing about mopeds’
He said ‘I got the one for you, follow m e—“

The crowd got into a steady beat of nods and claps, feeling the rhythm, feeling the rhyme, with a few of them recognizing the song. Rei gained a bit more confidence and pumped her hand in the air to the beat, raising her voice.

“Ooh~! It’s too real!
Chromed out mirror, I don’t need no windshield!
Banana seat, a canopy on two wheels
Eight hundred, cash? That’s a hell of a deal!
I ’m headed~?”

When she pointed her microphone to the crowd, they all replied jubilantly. “DOWNTOWN!”

Biting her lip, she continued. Rei enunciated each rehearsed word clearly, running through each line with silky smooth diction.

“Now I’m—killing the game, about to catch a body
Passed the Harley, Dukie on the Ducati
Timbaland, Khaled, Scott Storch, Bi rdman—

Godamn, man! Everybody got Bugattis!
But I’mma keep it hella nineteen-eighty-seven
Head into the dealership and //

Drop a stack and cop a Kawasaki—
I’m stunting on everybody, hella
raw pass the Wasabi //
You’re so low—your scrotum’s almost dragging up on the concrete!
My seat is leather, alright? Nah, I’m lying it’s pleather
But girl, we could still ride together, yeah?
You don’t need an Uber, you don’t need a cab—
Fuck a bus pass you got a moped man!”

As Rei finished off the rap with the chorus and the remaining few verses, the hotblooded youngster cleanly capped off her first performance with a small bow, receiving a storm of applause for such a fresh and energetic display of skill.

The host ruffled her hair playfully and pulled her in for an embrace from the side. “Give it up for this little lady, Naoi Rei! Show an MC some respect, motherfuckers!”

As Rei took in the sight of the crowd she managed to riled up with all her hard work and practice, she couldn’t help but beam at them.

So this is what it feels like, huh? Being able to perform in front of others.

God, it feels so good!

Once the cypher came to a close with the host announcing the date and location for the next event, Rei immediately keyed in her experience into the journal app on her phone before pressing the screen to her chest and sighing in bliss. She was startled by a few passing people who greeted her and commended her for her performance, bowing politely as they left. But apart from that, she was feeling great. Rei walked home with an evident skip in her step.

“Yo.”

Just as she rounded the corner at the end of the street, an old man dressed in weathered clothing waved her down and stopped her in her tracks. “Nice performance back there. Real smooth. Didn’t know a girl could curse like that.”

Rei smiled awkwardly at him. He didn’t seem suspicious, but she strutted away a bit faster as she darted past him.

“Do you write?”

Rei came to a stop at the edge of the other side of the pedestrian crossing. Glancing behind her, she beckoned, “Write? Like, write lyrics?”

The man nodded, leaning against the post next to him. It was close to midnight by now. Most of the streets were devoid of any remaining nightlife—typical around Aichi. Although they were separated by a few meters, she could still hear his hoarse voice calling out to her.

“Have you ever written lyrics before—for your songs. For your rap. I’d like to hear it one day.”

Fixing the strap of her backpack as she bought herself some time to think of a response, Rei stood their in silence. The man chuckled faintly and shook his head. “Not much for witty remarks, eh, kiddo? That’s something you’ll need to work on—‘clapping back’, as you kids call it. Helpful in these little cyphers. Helpful in making diss tracks.”

“Who … are you, ojii-san? Are you one of the members of—?”

He swatted a hand at her, still remaining on his side of the road, glancing up at the moths fluttering around the light above him. “I’m just an old man whose ramblings you don’t need to listen to. You can go on ahead and head back home. Stay safe.”

“But,” he continued. “If you want to make the most out of your youth, trying picking it up yourself and writing your own lyrics. Lyrics that come from you.”

“My own lyrics?” Rei repeated. The idea seemed foreign to her, but she would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought of that before.

“Yeah, your own lyrics. You have a knack for performing, but you’re just expressing the sentiments of other rappers. I’d like to see you one day express yourself. Performing with your own lyrics, you know?”

This man … who does he think he even is?

“Tch, what do you even know about rapping?” Rei muttered, shaking her head.

“A thing or two,” he replied with a gentle smile. “What about you? What do you know about rapping?”

Rei parted her lips to speak, but when nothing came out, she felt the blood rush to her face.

Not much for witty remarks, eh, kiddo?