Even a Recorder's Better, You Lunatics!
Awkwardly assembled group of four. We'd somehow managed to form a team, but...
It was definitely the worst possible situation.
Time was running out, and there was no other group willing to take me in...
"Take care of me."
I had no choice but to plop down in the empty seat.
The moment I sat, Chae Serin was still glaring daggers at me.
What the hell did I do that's so wrong?
I felt wronged enough to argue back...!
"What instrument can you play?"
"...Recorder."
"Ha..."
I held my tongue at her question.
Honestly, I might be able to handle other instruments too. Baek Haon's brain wasn't just smart—it was genius-level, or so I'd claim.
Instruments followed basic principles like math formulas, so they didn't seem too tough.
The problem was... neither Baek Haon's memories nor my past life had a shred of experience playing any.
Yeah, anyone can say that in theory...
Just do it, right? Read the sheet music and plink away? Practice a few times and it'll click?
Yeah, sure.
If someone else said that to me, I'd curse them out and tell them to fuck off.
Especially if it was evaluation time and they spouted that nonsense.
'Who knew skipping piano lessons for soccer as a kid would bite me like this...'
What a lamentable life.
For the first time, I was dragging my friends down into the shit.
Even though I'd been forced into it, I felt sorry instead.
Lee Wooju and Kim Minji seemed thrown off by the recorder reveal too, staying silent.
Other groups were already picking songs and assigning parts, but ours...
A bitter silence hung in the air.
Time dragged on... until Kim Minji finally spoke up.
"Alright, let's pick a song first. Even with recorder, there might be some that fit, right?"
She stepped up to salvage the utterly wrecked vibe.
She pulled out her smartphone for research, searching and jotting down promising tracks.
"Y-yeah! Recorder's actually a decent instrument."
Lee Wooju chimed in supportively, trying his best... but
"We can't do classical anyway, right? Other groups are pulling out symphonies for ensemble, and you wanna do nursery rhymes?"
Chae Serin predictably poured cold water on it.
"No, Serin. We're short one person anyway, so Haon had to join. Other groups might have noobs too—why so pessimistic?"
"Did I say something wrong? We should've grabbed Hajeong or Mintae, but you said to wait a bit."
"Sigh. Those two only play piano. Recorder seems better than two pianists."
"No? We could've done a duet or harmony..."
"Enough."
I cut the conversation short, fed up.
I knew it.
Chae Serin wasn't freaking out over the recorder—it was me.
Yeah, I knew not groveling at her feet like in the original meant our relationship was trashed. I'd accept that.
She could curse me or blame me all she wanted.
To her, past Baek Haon was irredeemable trash.
But...
"One month till the performance eval. I'll master one instrument by then."
I couldn't let my presence ruin the event where the original protagonists bond.
I might not help Wooju-kun's romance, but I sure as hell wouldn't shit on it!!
"One month?"
"...You think you can?"
Lee Wooju and Kim Minji looked worried, while Chae Serin eyed me suspiciously.
"So stop fighting and pick the song first. I'll learn whatever's needed."
Whether I could? Hell if I knew.
I'd just trust Baek Haon's brain and my grit.
'If it won't work, make it work. Turns out it does when you try.'
If I turned this crisis into opportunity... maybe it'd shift Chae Serin's image of Baek Haon a bit.
If so, I could become the stepping stone for her and Lee Wooju. Hey, childhood friend perks!
"Alright, let's pick the song."
Finally, our group could start the meeting.
"Serin on piano, Wooju on electric guitar? And I'm bass guitar..."
"Wait, guitar?"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Listen here, folks...
Talking all that classical crap, but everyone except Chae Serin plays guitar?
Not violin, cello, flute—electric and bass guitar?
'Fuck, transcending the original...'
You crazy bastards—even a recorder would've been a hundred times better!
I kept that nasty thought to myself.
The meeting wrapped up quick.
Obviously a band lineup.
Missing drums and vocals, but since it was an instrument performance eval, drums it was.
"Okay, song's set, so... ensemble practice this weekend?"
Kim Minji waved the finalized notes.
"You gonna learn the basics by then?"
"Yeah. Don't worry."
"...I'll believe you."
Chae Serin stopped grilling me after that.
Maybe because it was so unlike old Baek Haon? Her awkward reaction was kinda fun.
"Most groups'll do classical, so this twist could work! We're last too."
Lee Wooju pumped his fist confidently.
"Yeah, let's turn the music room into a concert hall."
Kim Minji raised her hand.
"Whatever, as long as we don't bomb."
Chae Serin joined reluctantly, tsundere as ever.
Ahh, this is romcom magic.
Feeling those complex, fresh emotions firsthand.
"Let's do it."
My hand went up last, and everyone stacked theirs on top.
Then.
"Fighting!"
A spirited shout echoed through the music room.
After music class, back in homeroom, I opened my notebook.
To sort through everything so far.
'Key original events are all on track... but...'
Baek Haon's changes were twisting things bit by bit. True.
But that was in my control.
Post-reform, playing supporter meant dodging the dark route anyway.
One worry, though...
'I don't know the whole story.'
Call it bullshit if you want...
I'd read the novel; this was reality. Unwritten parts? No clue.
Today's music class was like that.
I knew about the performance and ensemble, but not their instruments or song.
This was a romcom, not a band story.
Original showed post-practice dates or afterparty score celebrations—early plot skipped extras.
Seemed natural reading; now every detail mattered in reality.
'TL;DR: Act like I know everything, and I'll fuck up supporter role and everything else.'
Time to play it careful.
If Lee Wooju and Chae Serin's romance stalled, meddling directly...
Could wreck it all.
One month to first main event.
Analyze and conquer variables.
That was my mission... my reason here...
"Bullshit. Drum practice alone'll eat my day."
I slammed the notebook shut and sighed deeply.
Training, studies, drums... variety's fine, but chasing it all? Makes me wanna quit.
Worse, gotta excel at everything.
"Ugh, headache."
I clutched my throbbing head and faceplanted on the desk.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
Lee Wooju was gone; Kim Minji sat beside me with a sweet smile.
"Wanna drink?"
"Hmm~ Apple juice, maybe."
Kim Minji picked a carton and bowed cutely.
It's not expensive—why the fuss?
"Don't chase Wooju off. He was whining last time."
"Really? Thought he was fine since he dips when he sees me."
"That's your idea of fine..?"
Kim Minji brazenly jabbed a straw into her juice.
Her cheeks puffed cutely as she slurped.
"What's up this time?"
I wasn't falling for it easy.
"Hmm~ Foxes are circling you, so I figured I'd mark my territory?"
"Pfft... what?"
Nearly spat my drink.
Does she not know she's the fox?
Talking to her always half-dazes me...
Pulls you in like her words are enchanted.
Fine with other girls...
Ah! Excluding yesterday's body talk.
Kim Minji drained her apple juice; I heard the empty slurp.
Then.
"Pwah."
A cute falsetto with the air release.
Damn, my ears are feasting today.
"Anyway, decided?"
"Huh? On what?"
"Clubs. 6th-7th periods are promo, remember?"
"Eh, see what's out there."
No main plot tie-in. Already dying in after-school hobbies—no interest.
I stared blankly, and
"Join mine then?"
She slid next to me, pressing her torso against my right arm.
Soft, fluffy sensation... I gathered qi to my arm's dantian, focusing... Ahh, if only my right arm was my face...
"Huh?"
Snapped back. Dangerous.
All girls approaching me are hazards!
Poker face on, calm reply.
"Which club?"
"Dance team."
"Oh."
All sensation died at her words.
"Sorry. Not into dance."
"Aww, I'm bad too~ We practice together and get better slow."
Sharp rejection; she pressed harder.
Crafty fox.
Feels great now, but your choice sucks.
"Sorry."
"Total idol face. Guess perfect dancing would just up the competition."
Kim Minji shrugged disappointingly, hands at shoulder height, head shake.
Hate dancing?
Nah.
Not bragging, but past life? Stage a few times for talent shows.
Total noob?
Nope.
Athlete not controlling body rhythm? Ridiculous. Daily grind for peak me meant "no rhythm" was as absurd as "alien."
Then why?
Duh. Chae Serin's in dance team.
Freshman center, sophomore captain—insane talent.
One reason she dominated original popularity.
The dance team title and...
'That scandalously skimpy cover outfit...'
Dudes' dopamine explosions echoing from here already.