Please Pat My Head
After possessing Baek Haon, it wasn't like I never thought about my previous life. Being human, I missed it sometimes and wondered what had become of the world without me.
But... I never once wanted to go back.
Why? Because it was such a mundane life.
Or maybe I should call it a bit lonely.
My father passed away from cancer when I was young, and my mother died in a car accident not long after I started college. I'd finally been able to start repaying her for raising me all alone... but it all went up in smoke.
After that, I turned what I was good at into my job and lived a perfectly ordinary life, scraping by without starving.
The same routine every day.
It was boring.
In my early twenties, I still hung out with people, but by mid-twenties, everyone was too busy paving their own paths.
I was the same.
Turning my talent into a career made things smooth and easy. Honestly, there was no sense of crisis? Or maybe I was just content.
That's probably why I always felt thirsty.
Others might call it a full belly whining or tell me to work harder, but I didn't want that.
I wanted to burn with passion for something, like some people do—whether it was a job or a hobby.
I wanted to cling to one thing until death, find the process grueling and painful, yet feel happy in those moments.
I'd thought about it endlessly after coming here, agonized over it countless times. But in the end, I could only see myself seeking the safe, guaranteed path.
Exercise, studying.
Not bad. With Baek Haon's hardware, winning a championship belt would be a piece of cake. It was a dream from my athlete days and a goal I wanted... but
Why did my heart feel so stuffy?
Time slipped by irresponsibly... until I saw my drum senior.
Unlike me, she was brimming with passion, completely immersed, pounding the drums like a maniac.
Maybe coming here wasn't just some random coincidence.
Not for some music performance eval or the main story.
Maybe it was to meet someone who could help me find what I wanted...
"...Again."
"Huh? You said this was the last one!"
"...No, this is the real last one."
I got hooked. No matter how I thought about it, something felt off and uneasy.
It was like a gym trainer yelling "One more!" at clients. I knew because I'd been that trainer. This senior... she'd yell "real last one" at least five more times.
"Urk..."
Ching ching ching ching—
My wrists felt like they were going to shatter. I'd been hitting just the hi-hat part for an hour already...
Hi-hat? Cymbal? Whatever.
Pounding nothing but this nonstop had tinnitus ringing in my ears, and my mind was on the verge of being summoned to another world.
"...Hm."
Senior watched my skill, then gestured frustratingly for me to come closer.
"...Watch carefully."
Ching ching ching ching—
She demonstrated exactly what I'd been practicing.
"...Got it?"
"What's different...?"
I didn't get it at all.
Did Baek Haon's versatility not include music?
No, no way.
Senior just sucked at teaching!
An hour of nothing but ching ching ching ching—what was she expecting?
Senior fiddled with her sticks, staring blankly at the sky. Then,
"...The rhythm's off. It's like it hasn't sunk into your body."
Rhythm? Lead sound?
Was my body supposed to be a drum right now?
As soon as she finished, she snatched the sticks and glared at me with burning eyes. This was an insult to all the effort I'd built up as Kim Junsu and Baek Haon's innate talent.
"I'll make you regret saying that."
I let the rhythm sink into my body and tried again.
"...Don't use your whole body, just wrists."
Again.
"...You're too excited. Tempo's fast."
Again.
"...Downstroke strength needs to be consistent."
Again.
Again.
Again.
Five my ass—it felt like over a hundred repeats.
Ching ching ching ching—
Over thirty minutes like that...
"...Oh."
Finally, senior nodded and sidled up beside me.
"...That's the basics of drums. Controlling beat, rhythm, intensity."
"Huh? Wasn't that just intro practice?"
"...Basics first, then songs."
"So everything so far... has nothing to do with actual songs...?"
Nod.
Seeing her reaction, emptiness washed over me.
Was the world of music this picky?
Two hours just on basics...
"...Master this, and the rest gets easier. That's it for today. Teach yourself sheet music at home."
Senior patted my head with her expressionless face, then trotted out of the band room.
"Wha... She just says her piece and leaves again? Wait, that pat—was that praise...?"
This four-dimensional girl.
I stroked the hair she'd touched, wearing a dazed expression.
***
"You're working out at this time from now on?"
"Yeah, learning something for the music performance eval."
"Seriously, what were you doing instead of learning early? No preparation at all."
Lee Jihye grumbled, sucking on the candy she'd been chewing.
She hated it as peasant food, but now she lived with one in her mouth...
Hm, young Baek Haon.
In the implanted memories, he'd been a street boss since back then.
Skipping academies daily was routine, and extorting older kids was basic.
"What do you know."
I clicked my tongue lightly and shook my head.
"So, what're you learning?"
"Drums."
"Drums, huh... Pretty tough among percussion instruments."
Lee Jihye nodded deeply after hearing me out.
"Ever tried drums?"
"This body specializes in strings. Never learned, but..."
"But?"
"I jammed with a drummer on a jazz duet once, so I know the basics."
"Oho... I see. We drilled basics nonstop today, made me wonder if it was right."
"Hm?"
"Not much time, but just pounding that forever. Can I trust her...?"
"You don't get it."
Lee Jihye looked at me pitifully, like my words contradicted.
"What good's an athlete who doesn't know that?"
I threw a light low kick, but she dodged naturally and smirked.
"Anyway, we're heading to the gym. You'll see me there too."
Unlike her storming in, I entered the gym leisurely, and the coach...
"Oh! Our Haon finally graces us!"
Unlike usual, he came out welcoming me like royalty.
This guy... only pulls that face when he wants something.
I averted my eyes forebodingly.
"Haon, this is our new guy. Take a look at him for me!"
"Me?"
"Yes! If our gym's rising star Haon teaches him, this old coach couldn't be prouder."
"No, what're you gonna do, Coach?"
"Well..."
Coach's face darkened suddenly.
"The wife's been acting weird lately... Gotta check it out. She's out of the house a lot... hiding her phone..."
He dropped a bombshell.
"...Go."
"Thanks, kid."
How am I supposed to refuse a cheat key like that? Of course, with his family's peace on the line, I had to help somehow...
Just please don't be the development I think.
I sighed deeply and eyed the student he'd left.
"Name."
"Son Changseok..."
"Age."
"18..."
Eh? Older than me?
He was so small, I banmal'd automatically. Gotta fix judging by looks... I legit thought he was middle school.
"Ahem, I'm 17. Speak casually."
"Oh, really...? Nice to meet you."
This bro.
Looked kinda downcast. Like those scrawny kids before old Baek Haon? Seemed terrified from the start.
After quick gym clothes change, I asked the waiting bro,
"Why learn martial arts? College prep? Hobby?"
"Well..."
He hesitated, then
"I wanna get strong."
Spouted anime protagonist lines.
"Hm... Hm..."
How to respond.
Like coach, "Don't train just for that!"? Or "Like old me, go beat kids up?"?
Screw it, I'm just subbing for today.
"Well, training's good. Healthier, better body. Light stretching first?"
Basic routine. Main goal: prevent injury, also build flexibility.
But.
"Gaaahhh!!"
This bro wasn't a wooden doll—he was a rock.
Looking closer: full turtle neck, twisted back... and skinny skin over spots needing muscle.
This guy's in trouble without training.
Stronger? Nah, first goal: survive.
"Hold! Hold!!"
After ripping his body straight amid flailing pleas,
"Now, simple test?"
Grabbed coach's pen and notebook for basics.
"Oh, Haon? Newbie test?"
"Need help?"
Pro hopefuls slunk over from afar.
Those bastards.
Flocking like vultures to a new toy.
"Wanna die?"
I glared murderously at the weakling harassers.
"Haha... Joke, joke."
"Just wanted to help, man."
They sweated bullets and backed off.
Damn athletes acting like thugs. When I first came, they tried "initiation," got wrecked by my fists instead.
Patted bro's anxious shoulder with a kind smile.
"Don't worry. No sparring for beginners unless they want."
"Oh... Good."
Bro sighed in relief. Too green for matches anyway. No basics.
Sat him in the corner, set up test gear: push-up bars, sit-up machine, shuttle run course.
"Two minutes limit, shuttle: back before beep."
"Okay..."
Test start.
Was this bro a hidden talent maniac?
Watched expectantly.
"Pathetic."
Lee Jihye was beside me, watching, who-knows-when.
"True, but watch your words."
Flicked her forehead, but she dodged and scoffed.
"That weak punch won't land on this body anymore?"
"Yeah, yeah."
Shuttle tune died in under five minutes.
"Jeez..."
Bro lay half-dead. I just sighed at the scores.
"Too much to fix..."
Push-ups: 7. Sit-ups: 13. Shuttles: 10.
All below below below below standards.
"Not even basics before real training?"
Lee Jihye peeked at my notes.
"Yeah, no strength or stamina. Months of basics first."
"Hmm~ Basics matter."
She smirked mysteriously.
"Get it now?"
Poked my forehead.
Didn't get it at first, but...
"Ahh, that's it."
Suddenly, me gripping drumsticks overlapped with bro collapsing.
Senior saw me at that level.
No point teaching pounding or subs from there.
So...
"Just drilled basics hard."
Like senior said, drums live on beat.
No notes like other instruments, no flashy sheets. But drums hold their rhythm.
And today, I mastered beat concept, even output strength.
Lee Jihye saw right through it.
I stared blankly at her.
"This much?"
She preened smugly.
"Impressive."
Pat pat.
Max praise I could give.
"Wh-what are you doing! Touching a lady's head casually... Even if future boyfriend, bit fast..."
Spouting nonsense again.
Last time she hugged me to socially bury me, now this?
Didn't get it, just laughed it off.
Girls are like reeds anyway!