Crumbling (3)
12 hours ago. Art Room A, Yuuma High School, Kanagawa.
"Atchoo!"
Ayane suddenly sneezed, cutting off the smooth flow of their jam session.
Ziiing.
The unpleasant noise from her tapping mistake buzzed in their ears like a mosquito. Ayane wrinkled her nose.
"You okay?"
Misreading her expression, Iris stopped playing and hurried over.
"Didn't hurt yourself, did you?"
Iris first checked Ayane's fingers—the lifeline of any performer. Ayane sniffed and nodded with a casual smile, like it was no big deal.
"Sniff. Yeah. Something just got in Ayane's nose, I think."
"Really?"
The art room was drier than expected, probably from the AC running nonstop. Still, better safe than sorry. Iris pressed the back of her hand to Ayane's forehead, then her own.
"Feels a little warm. You're not coming down with something, are you?"
"Ayane's fine. Really."
"For real? If you're cold, should I crank up the AC?"
Iris watched Ayane sniffle repeatedly, her gaze full of concern.
From morning till evening—they'd been playing nonstop, except for meal breaks. Playing took more stamina than you'd think. And Ayane had poured every ounce of sweat into meeting Iris's demands without a single pause. Her clothes were soaked through, like she'd jumped into a pool or tub fully dressed. Iris was fine in her more revealing outfit, but Ayane's summer layers were basically rags now, bundled up tight.
Iris fiddled with Ayane's drenched black shirt, which looked like it could wring out a puddle.
"Or want to change clothes at least?"
They'd blasted the AC to beat the heat, but wet clothes chilled against the cold air, stealing body heat. Ayane was prime for catching a cold right now.
"I-I didn't bring a change..."
"Me neither, I think. Then let's not push it—take a quick break?"
Iris, who'd been driving the marathon session since dawn, called for rest. Ayane shook her head awkwardly.
"Ayane's f-fine..."
"Even if you are, I'm not."
Iris quashed Ayane's timid protest effortlessly.
"What if you crash like this? I'd have no face left to show Shin Tae-il. Right?"
"B-But..."
Ayane ventured meekly that Tae-il would be happy if her skills improved.
"You think skills jump in a day or two?"
Iris dismissed the notion and forcibly planted Ayane in a chair as she whined for more practice.
"Kiriko. Mind brewing some hot coffee?"
"Right away, miss."
As Kiriko got to work, Iris rummaged in Rena's personal locker and draped a blanket over Ayane's shoulders.
"Sweat's cooled off—not too hot, right?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Ayane fidgeted awkwardly with the blanket.
"Wish I could make you change right now..."
"No spare clothes on hand."
"Figures?"
Iris clicked her tongue regretfully at Kiriko's quick reply.
"Gotta pack a few changes next time."
"Is that really necessary...?"
Shower at school, change—still sweaty on the way home. Waste of effort. Iris stared at her like she didn't get it.
"We can just drive you home in the car, problem solved."
"Huh?"
"We give Rena rides all the time."
Ayane blanked out at the mention of a fancy limo dropping her off.
"R-Really...?"
"What's the big deal?"
Ayane floundered at Iris's excessive kindness. To Iris, it was just casual friend stuff.
Kiriko, quietly brewing coffee, piped up in protest.
"Miss? I do the driving, you know...?"
"What, you hate driving? Should've said—I'd swap you out."
"What?! I'm the one the 'Arisugawa Best Driver' nickname was made for!"
Kiriko clenched her fist, resolute. No way she'd yield that seat.
"Drama queen."
Iris chuckled at Kiriko's swift surrender. Ayane watched their exchange, rubbing her still-hot fingers like they'd been burned.
Iris is really...
Despite Ayane's past hostility, Iris treated her kindly. Sure, some calculation—alienating Tae-il's key bandmate wasn't smart. But Ayane knew she deserved hate; she'd acted nasty on purpose. If roles reversed, Ayane might've plotted her ousting by now.
Iris hadn't. She'd shown kindness repeatedly, even whipping her to keep going. She didn't want Ayane falling behind or breaking.
Iris is serious about music, like Shin-zzang...
Iris had her reasons to succeed, like Tae-il. Unlike Sakuya, maybe Ayane could lower her guard.
Built-up goodwill chipped away her biases.
"Anyway, you're not the one suffering—Kiriko is. Use her good."
"Miss? I'm Arisugawa family staff, right...?"
"Yeah? And I'm 'Arisugawa.'"
"Classic miss! Dropping a scary line out of nowhere!"
"What're you on about."
Iris ignored Kiriko's solo comedy routine and sat across from Ayane. Her gaze drifted to Ayane's lower belly.
"You know this, Ayane, but girls can't let their bodies get too cold. Especially the lower belly!"
Iris tugged the blanket down to cover Ayane's lower half, emphasizing the point. Ayane tilted her head at the focus.
Lower belly. For a girl—not a guy—that screamed...
"Huh?"
Ayane flushed crimson.
Ignoring it, Iris barreled on.
"Even if kids these days are healthy, childbirth ain't easy!"
Articles said it was harder now than before—stats on tougher labors, pregnancies, more C-sections. Iris rattled off embarrassing topics without batting an eye.
Point: Pregnancy matters hugely for women.
So.
"No matter how hot, keep the lower body warm. Got it?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Ayane nodded shyly, face beet red.
"Heh, good girl."
Iris nodded with a matronly smile. The awkward topic hung as...
Kiriko timed her entrance perfectly with the coffee.
"Miss has zero sense of mood."
"Mood? Between girls?"
"Can't you see Ayane's flustered?"
"Pregnancy's no biggie. She'll do it with Shin Tae-il someday anyway."
"Eek!"
"See? That's the moodless part."
Kiriko shook her head, handing over the steaming mug.
"Th-Thank you."
"Looks fancy, but it's instant—no pressure, drink up."
Sunglasses hid her face, but her upturned lips said she was grinning. Ayane smiled back.
Iris cut in.
"Why's Kiriko taking credit?"
"I brewed it."
"Instant coffee's easy."
True, but the tone irked.
"Plus, Riya brought it back from Vietnam last time."
"How's absent Riya stealing shine?"
"If she can't, big sis me will!"
"..."
I got the gift...
Kiriko inwardly griped at Iris's cousin-sis act. Ayane defended her.
"D-Don't be too hard on Kiriko..."
"You don't know how she treats me daily."
Kiriko vented, painting Iris as the bully. Petty pranks that grated.
They're just frenemies...
Not the loyal master-servant drama trope. More like rivals poking weaknesses.
Ayane got it.
"I-I see..."
"Yeah. Anyway, how're your fingers?"
"Fingers?"
Ayane wiggled her mug-holding hand.
"Kinda weak..."
Up close, a faint tremble.
Iris chuckled, leaning her arms and back on the table.
"Just hands now. Wrists next. Tendons too."
Tunnel syndrome and such wrecked performers.
"Harsh coming from me, but rest tomorrow. For real."
"Practice tomorrow...?"
"Canceled. I'll tell Shin Tae-il."
Ayane'd chicken out anyway.
As Iris loosened her stiff fingers, Ayane sipped her coffee slowly. Vietnamese instant, sugar-packed—super sweet. It refueled her spent calories, loosening a smile.
Iris smirked inwardly, thumbs-upping Kiriko silently. Kiriko shrugged like duh.
Calm settled. Iris asked,
"How was practice today?"
"Tough."
Tae-il's lessons felt like cute dates. Iris's? Sparta. No pacing, no gentle tailoring. She saw bass as a 4-string guitar—pure force-feeding, no tips. When Ayane whined, Iris scratched her pride to yank her up.
Still.
"Fun."
Ayane feared the unknown. Unlike her public perfect image, she was slow—hated unpredictable impacts. Always researched risks first. Bass? Rushed in half-prepped.
She'd hidden learning bass to surprise Tae-il, but worried: What if Shin-zzang gets mad? What if I ruin his fave?。
Not anymore. Tae-il loved her effort. Ayane started thrilling at conquering unknowns.
Music, once mere fun, now rippled her heart bit by bit.
"Ayane kinda gets it now."
Why Tae-il and Iris obsessed.
Morning's off-pitch, off-beat mess? Now near-perfect, no stops. Confidence let her add Tae-il's groove and fills.
Amateur baby steps to pros, but Ayane's giant first stride.
"Awesome."
Iris beamed at her感想. Her hand overlaid Ayane's on the mug—icy cold vs. Ayane's lingering heat.
"Iris?"
"Have confidence, dummy Ayane."
"N-Not a dummy!"
"Instruments don't lie. Practice pays off."
Acquisition varies.
"But even talents stagnate without practice."
Industry saying: Half the battle's starting practice. Boring vs. live fun. Early gains hook you—till F-chord wall. Most quit here.
If you enjoy grinding blocks? Check your method.
But weirdos love practice hell exist.
Instrument grind's endless purgatory.
More repertoire, more frustration. Sore fingers, crap skills—yet can't quit. Torment of players.
Ayane seemed untouched—on boring bass even.
"No need to overdo here. You'll improve fast as-is."
"Yeah!"
Ayane, who'd play through breaks, now metronome-looped rhythms, subdividing endlessly. Pro vibes minus BARD covers.
Genius loses to effort. Effort to enjoyment. Enjoy.
Polish to outshine stars. Ayane was peak Yuuma now.
Am I catching Shin Tae-il vibes too?
Annoying kid turned admirable. Iris ruffled her hair roughly.
"You're killing it already."
"Ehehe."
Ayane beamed shyly. First non-Tae-il praise. She'd always been "perfect"—achievements assumed. Except Tae-il.
Now +1. Who saw her gaps, efforts.
As fulfillment bloomed, her pocket phone buzzed.
"Shin Tae-il?"
"Hold on..."
Ayane read the lit screen, nodded.
"Nothing big, talk later."
"And?"
"F-Fighting..."
"Lame!"
Iris poked her shoulder giggling.
"Reply?"
"W-Wait..."
Ayane glared at her phone pensively. Iris pulled hers out.
"Haven't told Sakuya we're split yet?"
"No mention."
"Staying for dinner?"
Iris, suspecting their bond, figured yeah. Timing screamed pre-dinner.
How to play this...
Iris masked her mouth with phone, tapping thigh.
Pretending nonchalance, she read Ayane's unease—like morning's distraction relapse.
"Dinner'd make it late."
"Pr-Probably...?"
"Rena-zzang'll text soon—ask then."
Anticipating intel, Iris smoothed Ayane's bangs.
"Iris?"
"Hold still."
Ayane flinched at first, then accepted. Sweaty fringe lifted—hollow eyes greeted her.
"Yup."
"Yup?"
Seemed fine, but today's grind taxed even Iris. Ayane was wrecked.
"Hmm. Kiriko, if Rena-zzang does dinner in Gunma, arrival?"
"10 PM-ish minimum."
"Taxi too?"
"Rush hour—no diff. Late night."
"Her dad's worry..."
Iris prepped texts.
"Ayane. Wanna come over?"
"Huh? Sudden?"
"Got something to show."
"Something...?"
Ayane tilted head; Iris shushed with finger-smile.
"My makeup or whatever. Sound good?"
"Makeup...?"
They'd chatted brands, but offering hers? Ayane blinked.
"Late anyway. Kill time waiting together? Cool?"
"S-Sure...!"
Sudden, but Ayane-Arisugawa mansion trip set.
Coincidentally, same moment Sakuya and Rena shared their heart-to-heart.