I Ended Up Hugging Senpai
Ughhh... My head just wouldn't turn this morning.
My mind was foggy, and my body ached all over from muscle soreness... Unlike the boisterous classroom scene before lessons started, all I could do was yawn lazily.
"Hey, Baek Haon. Why are you zombie-ing out first thing in the morning?"
Lee Wooju teased me with his fresh-faced energy the moment we got to school.
Is he getting some protagonist buff or something? How does he look so pristine?
"I'm so sleepy I could die. Maybe I should grab some coffee..."
"Eww... Who drinks coffee? Chocolate milk, maybe."
Yeah, that's the normal high schooler response.
That's why Kim Minji's choice back then was so weird, right?
Anyway...
"That's how tired I am... At this rate, first period is reserved for sweet sleep..."
I couldn't fight the drooping eyelids anymore.
"What the heck were you doing last night to sleep so late? Don't tell me you were watching some good stuff?"
Lee Wooju's face wore a sleazy grin.
Ugh, this fool... Talking about that stuff at school is a one-way ticket to getting mobbed by the girls.
Of course, my favorite actor's hot new drama had dropped, but no way was I sharing.
"Lately, every day's been brutal."
I steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Exams aren't even here yet, so you're not studying hard... You don't game... So what's the problem?"
"You have to study every day, you dull mortal."
"Sure, sure~ Whatever you say~ If it's not the daily grind, then what's wearing you out?"
"Drums... I'm dying learning them lately."
"Drums? No way, Haon... For our group...!"
Lee Wooju started his usual clowning again.
"Finally, this lowly, dim-witted mortal grasps my intent."
I matched him with some top-tier acting.
"Ugh... My king... I finally understand..."
Yeah, reactions like this are what I need to shake off the fatigue.
School ends around 5:30.
Drum practice wraps at 7 or 7:30.
Workout done by 9.
Shower, eat, study at home—bed by midnight.
Then miscellaneous stuff pushes it to 1 or 2 a.m...
Does it make sense for a growing boy to crash at 2 a.m.?
My growth plates were screaming for mercy, but...
To calm this body that ignites at the drop of a hat, it's an unavoidable prescription...
Equivalent exchange.
For the pleasure, satisfaction, and accepting the world's temptations so I can stay cool at school... this much tiredness is nothing.
I'll endure!
Club interviews are this Friday.
Partly because club time is scheduled for Fridays, but also to give practice time.
About two days left...
We've covered basics and even advanced stuff smoothly.
Mostly self-taught vibes, but the drum senpai teaches subtly when needed.
How to describe it—like a pinpoint tutor who leaves intuitive parts for me to figure out and only chimes in precisely when required.
A true master can see it all.
I even felt it at the gym, relating while the coach taught Do something.
Sipping caffeine from the canteen corner, lost in thoughts...
"...What are you doing here?"
Drum senpai appeared with a dramatic ta-da!
"Just waking up and pondering stuff."
"...Okay."
She said that, drank her purchase, and zoned out the window with me.
"Don't you have something to say?"
"...Not really."
I've seen her plenty, but her conversation flow is still unpredictable.
Like drifting with the current...
I usually start the talk; she gives short answers.
Except during drum practice, of course.
Anyway...
Being alone in a busy student spot like this...
"Oh? New face~?"
Uninvited guests pop in one by one.
"Senpai, don't use casual speech."
"Oops, didn't realize. My bad."
Kim Minji plopped shamelessly next to me.
"Weren't you just buying a drink and leaving?"
Chae Serin glared at her, then me, uncomfortably.
"Come on, sit for a bit~"
Chae Serin had no choice...
"Excuse me."
She politely greeted senpai and sat beside her.
Hmm, this combo is...
Intensely suffocating?
Thankfully, senpai's expression hadn't changed—still staring blankly out the window.
"More importantly, what were you talking about?"
As Kim Minji leaned in close like usual...
"...Too close."
Senpai blocked her with drumsticks out of nowhere.
"Hm? Is it? We always hang like this~"
Like the fox she is, she slyly wagged her tail, saying something misleading...
"What? What do you mean by that!"
Oddly, it was Chae Serin who exploded, not senpai.
Senpai, figuring she'd missed her cue, turned back to the window.
Kim Minji seemed a bit flustered too.
"Why the sudden freakout...?"
She naturally scooted away from me.
Hmm, too bad.
Missed the soft sensation today.
"Uh... no, too much skinship between guy and girl looks bad to others."
Nod—
Senpai silently nodded in agreement with Chae Serin.
"Hmmm~"
Kim Minji eyed them suspiciously.
"This feels a bit dangerous, doesn't it?"
The two across from her stayed silent.
Weird.
Lee Jihye aside, these two shouldn't care, right?
One's a teacher, one's an enemy—what's dangerous?
Plus, Chae Serin's taken. Steal your friend's crush? NTR?
Oh shit.
Don't say such horrors to a guy who values friendship and loyalty... I won't even click that genre despite tasting all works...
Good thing Lee Jihye didn't come to the canteen. It'd be chaos...
Murphy's Law, bad timing, insult to injury—ominous feelings always hit, huh?
"Huh? What the heck is my future boyfriend doing right now!!"
Fuck...
Just bolt.
Perfect timing—the break-end bell rang.
"I'm a model student! Gotta head out now to not be late for sacred class time!"
I ninja-vanished from this tangled mess.
"Soyoung, who was that guy at the canteen earlier?"
"Right~? He's super handsome, isn't he?"
"If you know him, introduce me?"
Back in class, Baek Soyoung's friends buzzed about Baek Haon.
Even casual acquaintances crowding her felt burdensome, their self-interest repulsive.
As Baek Soyoung's face darkened, the friend who'd gone to the cafe with her caught on.
"Okay, class is starting soon. Back to seats?"
She tried dispersing them, but their frenzy persisted.
"Soyoung, please... I wanna date this time."
"Just getting close would be a dream."
"At least his name?"
Baek Soyoung had suspected it.
Lots of girls after him.
Or maybe he has a girlfriend already.
But...
"...He's mine."
"Huh?"
"What'd you say?"
For some reason, greed surged.
She couldn't stand her student swayed by these plain girls.
"He's mine!"
Her shout silenced the marketplace chatter instantly.
Her nearby friend gaped, seeing this side first.
"Wait, you're together?"
"Tch, bummer."
"I'll cheer you on~"
The crowd dispersed without fuss, just smiling cutely at her.
"Soyoung, for real?"
"...Dunno."
"Hmmm~ Really?"
Baek Soyoung had never liked anyone.
So she couldn't pinpoint this feeling, blushing at her uncharacteristic yell.
Still...
Her heart tickled quite a bit.
Senpai's pinpoint lesson as expected.
Progress on the interview piece was solid for tomorrow-after-next.
Good enough right now...
Baek Haon's head is no joke—learning speed is insane.
"...Good."
Senpai nodded repeatedly, pleased with my playing.
Thankfully, no questions about the canteen incident.
Figured she'd be like that, but I felt self-conscious and embarrassed.
"Think this'll pass?"
"...Who knows."
As expected, vague answer.
"Yeah... One-week crash course, kinda nervous."
"...Don't worry. One more day."
"I'll do my best!"
I flashed a burning-will grin.
"...Uh... yeah.."
Senpai whipped her head away, staring at distant mountains.
Too much?
We seemed closer, so I teased a bit.
Focus. At least master this piece perfectly.
Maximize practice since I'm slower. That's my strategy.
No regrets if I give my all without quitting.
The interview song's obscure and flashy-less, so extra grind needed.
Tossed overconfidence in the trash, gripped sticks again.
With basics solid, it flowed smoothly without snags.
Best beginner out there...?
Deep in practice... Senpai dragged a chair beside me.
"...Need to see up close."
"Something wrong?"
"...Just in case."
Sensei as expected...
Catching even tiny things like this! Overwhelmed, I gripped sticks for a desperate performance. But...
"Can't play if you're sitting there...?"
Reaching for hi-hat, her head got in the way.
"...Then hug closer."
"Pardon? Wait.."
Her chair slid fully to me... Suddenly, senpai was in my arms.
"This... right?"
"...Yeah, gotta see this close."
"Feels off.."
"Shh."
Senpai shushed and started playing.
This position...
Like arm-pillow on bed, spread-eagle... To hit drums right in front, had to embrace her inevitably...
Some test?
Play through undisturbed, no matter the sabotage?
Awkwardly adjusted, started playing; she watched silently.
Oddly, even non-bass parts, I heard thumping thuds.