BARD (2)

♪~♩~♬~

The bell signaling the end of classes rang out.

Normally, Tae-il would take his time packing up, but today even he quickly stashed his stationery and waited for the homeroom teacher.

A moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠later, the teacher strolled in with his usual slouch, and just like yesterday, homeroom wrapped up in under ten seconds.

Tae-il, who used to inwardly curse about what kind of teacher the guy was, found himself grateful for the brevity this time.

But he didn't act jittery.

Having no presence meant he could reveal it even with trivial things if he wanted—but right now, blending in was key.

By doing nothing and quietly fading into the background, Tae-il faithfully followed that principle, observing the other students' movements without any rash actions.

The screech of chairs and desks scraping against the floor echoed.

One, two, and three.

Counting seconds in his head, Tae-il rose naturally from his seat.

He melted seamlessly into the crowd rushing out of the classroom.

'Hope it's just my imagination overdrive...'

Right after running into Iris yesterday, Tae-il had felt an inexplicable unease lingering around him.

Like someone was constantly watching him.

The nagging sensation had kept him from napping properly or even skipping class.

At this point, something was definitely up.

Trusting his instincts, Tae-il acted swiftly.

'First, get to the rooftop without being spotted!'

Mingling with the crowd as he left the classroom, Tae-il headed straight for the old building.

The main building had academic and free classes lined up along the hallways. Class 7 was precariously at the corner, so he could slip into the old building unnoticed amid the throng.

'Whatever else, I have to avoid running into Iris.'

He couldn't even explain why he was dodging her so hard.

His instincts were screaming, so he obeyed.

Luckily, he reached the rooftop without bumping into Iris—or anyone else, for that matter. Yuuma High's rooftop being open was still a secret shared only by him and Ayane.

Of course, in the original story, it was Ayane's solo lunch spot.

"Feels like I'm up to no good..."

His heart pounded for no real reason.

Just in case, Tae-il locked the door and slumped against the wall like he'd collapsed.

Unlike the bustling campus below, the rooftop was fairly quiet. Faint chatter from students drifted up, but it would fade once they all headed home.

Tae-il closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

As the tension eased, drowsiness flooded in.

A cool mountain breeze happened to blow, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cooling the heat from his nerves.

With his impatience settling, he felt like he could drift off right there.

Surrendering to the languor, his consciousness began to fade—then Tae-il's eyes snapped open.

Smack!

He slapped his own cheek to chase away sleep.

"Ugh. As if someone like me gets to nap. Time to compose."

With a cleared head, he dove back into composing.

He hummed the melodies bubbling in his mind and recreated them in the app.

The afterglow from yesterday still lingered, infusing his work with a thick BURNING vibe, but Tae-il focused without a care.

♪~♩~♬~

Lost in his work, he lost track of time. When he finally snapped out of it, the final dismissal bell had already rung.

Tae-il looked up.

The blue sky was already tinged with sunset, shifting from red to deep purple.

"Guess it's time to head out."

As he brushed off his butt and stood, Ayane's messages pinged in perfectly on cue.

"Okey-dokey..."

Tae-il replied that she'd worked hard, then descended from the rooftop.

He didn't forget to scan his surroundings on the way down.

"Shin-jjang! Over here, over here!"

Ayane, who'd finished early and been waiting, spotted him first and waved wildly.

Tae-il shouldered his bag properly and jogged over.

"No issues today either?"

"Of course not! Ayane's the invincible morals committee member!"

"I've always wondered—why do morals committee folks obsess over 'invincible'?"

"Right? Ayane thinks it's weird too. Hehe."

She added that it stuck from copying her seniors.

"Nothing left behind?"

"Nope! You?"

"What do you take me for?"

"That sounds like you're totally dissing Ayane!"

Tae-il smirked as if it wasn't worth responding and kept walking.

Ayane caught up late, clinging and demanding an apology.

"Apologize to Ayane right now! Apologize! Apologize!"

"Fine, sorry. Happy?"

"No sincerity!"

"I see. So Ayane can't even recognize my true feelings..."

He'd thought it'd land perfectly since they were childhood friends.

Tae-il made a sad face, his eyes drooping pitifully.

But the feigned sorrow looked awkward somehow, and Ayane shot back without thinking.

"Shin-jjang, even if some agency ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scouted you outta nowhere, don't ever try acting?"

His earnest but clumsy performance called out, Tae-il awkwardly rubbed his neck and turned away.

"...I'm not."

A small admission.

"Ehehe."

"That funny, huh."

"Yep! No acting for Shin-jjang from now on!"

"I'm not cut out to be an actor anyway, right?"

"True that!"

Ayane declared it with a beaming smile.

Tae-il deflated.

Lately, his confidence in his looks had plummeted. Ayane lightly patted his slumped shoulders to cheer him up.

"It's fine! Shin-jjang's gonna be an amazing singer instead!"

"Have I ever said I wanna be a singer?"

"You haven't?"

Tae-il's retort left Ayane flustered instead. With the nightly guitar sessions and mysterious humming, she'd assumed he was aiming for singer.

"I'd love to, but honestly, not holding my breath."

"Why? You're working so hard!"

"Some things are possible with effort. Others aren't, no matter how hard you try."

His tone implied becoming a singer was firmly in the impossible camp, and Ayane pouted.

She didn't like that the guy she adored was quietly giving up on something.

"Ayane was prepping to be Shin-jjang's #1 fan, too."

"I'll take the thought."

Was he really over it?

Ayane tilted her head, peering at his face.

Not a flicker of hesitation—just calm serenity. Contrary to her expectations, he truly seemed over the singer dream.

He even smiled reassuringly at her.

Ayane asked.

"Then why do you play guitar every day like that?"

"'Cause I love it."

Before he knew it, Tae-il's feet had stopped. He looked up at the sky.

Summer evenings stayed bright late. A faint moon illuminated them both.

The moon doesn't shine on its own.

It merely reflects the sun's light.

"Actually, becoming a singer isn't that hard. No certifications needed, and these days anyone can release music independently."

But earning the public's recognition—becoming a star that shines on its own—is incredibly tough and treacherous.

Tae-il had given up on that path long ago.

"Besides, I want a band more than going solo."

"Then why not join the Light Music Club?"

"Feel bad about it."

If the boys' club had been serious and skilled, maybe he'd have considered it. But in the original, they had zero presence—backstory painted them as average joes.

Forcing his adult whims on boys enjoying their youthful school band days would be too cruel. Better not to join and muddy their fun.

Tae-il didn't want some casual band to fill a high school page.

Deciding others' futures was burden enough with Ayane.

Anything more was beyond him.

"Muu. Sometimes Ayane doesn't get Shin-jjang's thinking at all."

"Haha. Join the club."

Tae-il let out a dry chuckle and resumed walking.

Under the deepening night sky, the two walked side by side.

A classic youthful scene that tickled the heart—but Tae-il felt utterly nonchalant.

Ayane, who'd been sneaking glances, finally spoke up.

"Oh yeah. That band performance you mentioned this morning..."

"Too busy after all?"

Tae-il preempted, recalling her packed schedule.

His face darkened, and Ayane frantically shook her head.

"No no no! Not at all! Ayane actually really wants to see BARD's stage for once!"

"For real? Not lying?"

"Ayane would never lie to Shin-jjang! If anything, she'd only oppose it."

"Hahaha. True. Gotta reflect on that."

"For real..."

Tae-il visibly brightened, his voice lifting, color returning to his gloomy face.

'Your every thought shows on your face, Shin-jjang...'

Ayane smiled awkwardly, recalling senior Sakurako's advice.

'Never push-pull! Just pull! Pull hard and make him fall for you! Got it!?'

Isn't that advice for a minor, senpai?

Ayane shook her head to dispel the nagging.

Bad move getting love tips from someone who'd only learned from books.

"What time?"

"Saturday lunch start, they said..."

Tae-il pulled out his phone to check the broadcast schedule and frowned.

"What's up?"

"Kinda tight on time. Brunch okay?"

Brunch—eating out from morning!

Basically a date, right?

Ayane pressed her fingertips together and nodded.

"Yeah yeah! Ayane's totally fine! Super fine!"

"Then early morning to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tokyo for brunch, catch the show. Haven't been in a while—anything special you wanna eat?"

Ayane started to say anything, then paused.

'B-but here...'

Sakurako's advice resurfaced at the worst time.

Gossiping about others' romances was the best fun—today's after-school morals committee crew, having wrapped up quick, had all grilled Ayane on her date plans.

Sakurako especially hammered the meal part.

Apparently, Ayane wasn't one of those girls.

She shot down Sakurako's idea flat.

Then Yuuma High's morals committee president—the most reliable, actually dating an older boyfriend—Hayate chimed in.

Sakurako's blatant stare had Ayane clutching her chest.

Ayane ended the recollection.

Seniors were all useless, every last one.

"I-I'll look into it!"

"Don't overthink brunch. We'll be there till evening anyway. If it's tough picking, think dinner instead."

Tae-il eased her burden, mentioning the ever-reliable SaiGee for students.

Normally she'd agree, but this was a rare date.

She wanted somewhere more meaningful.

With that resolve, Ayane bolted to her mom Yuuna the moment she got home.

"Mooommmmmm!"

"Honey?"

"Help me!"

Operation 'Mommy Do It' was a go.