I Got a Drum Sensei!

"Is this right..?"

When I came to my senses, I was standing in front of the band room door.

"No matter how I think about it, this feels off, doesn't it?"

Even I thought my actions were way too extreme right now.

Just barging in like this because I was curious was rude enough. And knocking on the door at this hour when everyone had already gone home? Total idiot move.

I should've waited until after the performance and chased her down then.

"Should I just peek inside?"

No one was probably there anyway, so maybe just a quick look at the place?

Nah, that felt like peeking into someone else's house...

I had no idea.

I'd run here like I was possessed, no thoughts in my head, but now that I was actually about to open the door, I chickened out.

What the hell for?

"Sigh, what am I even doing..? Let's just hit the gym."

The moment I slapped both my cheeks to snap out of it.

Screeech—

The tightly shut band room door creaked open slightly.

"..Who's there?"

The band senior I'd seen earlier was looking down at me crouched on the floor.

"Ah, sorry."

I hurriedly stood up to get out of the doorway.

"..Come in."

"W-Wait.."

The senior grabbed my hand and pulled me into the band room.

Her grip was surprisingly strong for her small frame. Must be from pounding those drumsticks every day?

Before I could even explain, my body was plopped down on the band room sofa. Luckily—or unluckily—no one else was around except me and her.

"Want something to drink?"

The senior rummaged through the mini-fridge as she spoke.

"No, I'm fine.."

"Here, my favorite."

A cold cola.

She shoved it into my hand, then dragged a chair from across the room and sat down in front of me.

"...Joining the band club?"

Straight to the point.

I couldn't answer that.

What I wanted wasn't to join the band club—it was to satisfy my curiosity about her.

"I actually came because I had a question for you, Senior."

"...Me?"

"Yes. When I watched your performance earlier, I saw your eyes change in an instant. You clearly looked embarrassed and burdened, but the moment you started playing..."

"Shh."

The senior pressed her finger to my lips. Then.

"Hold this."

She handed me a drumstick.

"I.. I've never touched an instrument before. That's why joining the band club would be tough for me too."

"...Hold it."

She was more stubborn than she looked.

She seemed like a total airhead who'd be super attuned to others' feelings.

But up close, she had this quiet, blunt, icy personality—saying whatever she wanted in a soft whisper.

I had no choice but to take the stick she offered.

I didn't even know how to hold it, let alone play.

But the senior just.

"...Your posture's not bad."

Observed me with a blank expression.

Guess I had no choice.

If I just banged away randomly, maybe I could at least get her talking.

I had to learn it anyway.

Plus, pick up some pro tips while at it.

Thud-thud-thud-thoom!

The drum sound was more majestic than I'd expected. I'd barely tapped it, and it already had this much power.

Not a bad resonance at all.

"How was it?"

I looked at her sheepishly.

"...Hm."

She just nodded silently, no feedback whatsoever.

This is.. kinda suffocating.

No proper introductions, just me fumbling on the drums. And yet she seemed totally at ease with the awkwardness...

"...Where is it."

Acting completely natural.

Had we been sitting there in cringy silence for about five minutes?

The senior came back from some warehouse-like storage area piled high with junk, carrying two books.

"...Take these."

"Huh?"

"..Gotta start with the basics."

The books had cutesy kid-friendly illustrations and were titled [Drum Basics!].

"Senior, I wasn't planning to join the band club.."

"...Every day at this time. Empty spot here, so come by."

She ignored me, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and kept talking.

"...Entrance interview's in a week. I'll teach you till then."

"Why? What if I don't wanna come, or skip the interview?"

"...Do whatever."

With that, she left the band room.

"Talk about a quirky personality."

I stared blankly at the spot she'd vacated when...

Ping!

Hime-sama's message bombardment had begun.

The drum senior looked exactly like a little kid.

Her short stature was the biggest reason, but her personality was like a child throwing a tantrum too.

Her looks were the same.

Silver-blue hair with a faint bluish tint, and eyes a cool, crystalline blue like they'd swallowed the sea.

But those eyes weren't innocently bright like a kid's—they were dead, lifeless, letting in no light.

She gazed at the world with utter boredom, like nothing amused her. Even talking to me didn't change that.

Her lazy, sleepy eyes made people feel distant and stifled, but...

The moment drums came up, those pitch-black eyes began to sparkle brilliantly. Like sunlight reflecting off the ocean at dawn, creating a shimmering path.

What was she? The most mysterious person I'd met so far.

My curiosity had turned into an obsession.

"What're you thinking about?"

Lee Jihye poked my side playfully as I walked in silence.

"Ah, club stuff."

"Club? Oh, you mean those groups where people at your level get together and giggle?"

She smacked my back, wondering why I'd worry about something so trivial.

"This body of mine won't waste time on such boring activities! I'd rather enjoy some alone time.."

"Won't it affect your student record if you skip club activities?"

"Huh?"

Man, it'd been about a week hanging with Lee Jihye, but no matter how I looked at her, she was definitely missing a screw.

She chased perfection but kept overlooking key details—important ones she couldn't afford to miss.

High-maintenance friend, all around.

"That's bad. You don't have one in mind yet?"

"Well, if nothing else, maybe a college prep club?"

"Hm, yeah. What about you?"

Good question.

I still hadn't decided on a club.

The drum senior was basically forcing me to apply to band club, but...

If I flunk the interview, I'm screwed.

So, backups were smart.

"Complicated."

Learning drums was essential for the music performance eval. I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bragged big—if I bombed, it'd be embarrassing.

I'd planned to check out academies, but now? No need.

A pro offering free lessons? Gotta go.

Plus, stuff I still hadn't asked.

"It's a secret for now."

"What? You don't wanna be in the same club as me?"

Lee Jihye lifted her leg like she was about to kick my ass, fuming.

"That's not it."

I just sidestepped lightly.

"And don't lift your leg in a skirt. I can see everything."

Today's color was pink, huh.

Overkill pre-workout stimulant.

Her face turned beet red at my words.

"You pervert!!! Go die!!!"

She smacked my head and bolted like she was fleeing.

"Baek So~ why're you so late?"

"...Just, stuff."

Baek Soyoung sat down at the café where her friend was waiting and opened her laptop.

"Anyway, found a successor? You've been stressing about that."

"...Probably."

"So very you."

Her friend patted her head and chuckled.

Baek Soyoung's chubby cheeks puffed out as she glared, but her friend's hand didn't stop.

"You might scout new talent at the interviews, so don't stress~ Here, try this."

Her friend cut a pre-ordered croffle and fed it to her.

"...Tasty."

Baek Soyoung chewed with a fluffy smile.

After the sweet dessert mukbang, she stared intently at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her laptop screen—twice her face size—planning lessons for Baek Haon.

Band club usually picked members who could play instruments. Others scouted via connections beforehand.

But Baek Soyoung had no underclassmen connections.

Interviews could weed out flops or uncover gems.

But...

At this elite high school, kids into music—let alone bands—were rare.

The club barely survived because the previous president begged the second-years to stay.

Most wanted out for studies, but tears and pleas kept them.

...Not me, though.

Baek Soyoung wanted to save the club.

As a third-year, school rules would bar further activities. But she wanted to watch someone carry her torch from afar.

But the advisor's notice...

It nailed her heart.

"...Gotta find someone somehow."

As she racked her brain.

"I have a question for you, Senior!"

That's when she'd met Baek Haon.

"...Should've pushed harder."

Her mind was a mess.

But.

"Still.. that look in his eyes.. like seeing my past self."

For some reason, she trusted Baek Haon after just one meeting.

Hoped he'd save this club on the brink.

Choosing him was pure gut feeling.

Baek Soyoung finished the one-week crash course plan. By then, the café was closing soon.

"Seriously, no clue."

I snagged Lee Seohwan coming out of the bathroom—my prey for venting—and dragged him to the vending area.

"What's got you so worried?"

He asked, reading my face.

"Think I'd fit in with the band club?"

I tossed out the bait casually.

Lee Seohwan pondered for a bit.

"Not bad? Bands kinda need good looks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for popularity anyway."

"No, not that.. Just wondering if music suits my personality."

"Sigh."

He shook his head with a sigh.

Then kneaded my shoulders hard.

"You hate stuff you're good at anyway. So what're you gonna do?"

He quietly punished my obvious self-contradiction.

"Lee Seohwan, you've grown, huh? Daring to touch this body."

"Who do you think it's thanks to? Anyway, new challenges aren't bad?"

"Yeah?"

"Right? I nearly exploded starting studies, but once I did, it worked. You learn, find joy, find meaning."

"Tch.. ha, coming from you, I don't buy it."

"Then drop dead."

Lee Seohwan flicked candy at my face and headed back to class.

Yeah, a fresh challenge once in a while wouldn't hurt.

Since I'd decided.

"Let's squeeze out my best."

Time flew; classes ended.

I knocked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on the band room door I'd bee-lined to yesterday.

"...Said you wouldn't come, but here you are?"

"Got interested."

She silently opened the door at my words.

Same icy expression and tone as yesterday, but...

I caught the faintest upward twitch at the corner of her stiff mouth.