Summer Vacation (4)
Yuuya twirled her pasta onto her fork and popped it into her mouth. The vongole was delicious. But even as she savored the tasty dish, no spark of pleasure or joy lit up her brain. The culprits sat right across from her—her two underclassmen. Especially eye-catching was that bold junior, Katsuragi Ayane, who had the nerve to flirt so brazenly with him.
"Shin-chan, something's on Ayane's cheek."
"Want me to wipe it off?"
"Yeah!"
Ayane let out that cute, lispy sound, playing up her charm. It must happen often, because Tae-il didn't bat an eye. He pulled a wet wipe from his bag and gently cleaned her cheek and lips, even running his finger over them to check.
"Hiiragi."
"Yeah?"
"That's indecent behavior."
"Uh..."
"It isn't?"
"W-Well? Kinda hard to say...?"
"Got it. Touching lips isn't indecent. I'll remember that."
Sakurako shivered involuntarily at the sight of Yuuya's eyes, now cold and sunken like a monster in a movie suddenly gaining intelligence.
"Shin-chan! Wipe the cheese off Ayane's hand too!"
"Coming right up. Hold on a sec, Princess."
"Ehehe."
With practiced ease, Tae-il took Ayane's wrist softly and wiped away the cheese and grease between her fingers until they were spotless.
"Heehee. That tickles, Shin-chan."
"Almost done, so bear with it just a bit longer, Princess."
He cracked a grin himself—probably finding it ridiculous too—as he tugged playfully at her fingers one by one.
Yuuya's gaze didn't just chill; it froze over like tundra. Junior, do you not have hands of your own? She wanted to snap that out loud, but all she managed was a pout.
Dead ahead, the underclassman was salting the air with PDA that could make anyone hurl. From the side, her classmate shot jealous, icy glares.
"Ugh. Makes my stomach turn just watching. Being good at love intuition isn't all upside..."
"Yeah."
Yuuya nodded vigorously at Sakurako's mutter.
"Paper said kids these days move fast..."
Sakurako grumbled like some old fogey, her voice feeble. Coming from a karate family with history, she had this oddly conservative streak.
To cool the flush on her face, Sakurako chugged her oolong tea and crunched the leftover ice between her teeth.
"Screw it. Can't stand the sight."
"Hiiragi doesn't like stuff like that?"
"Dunno? It's annoying to watch. But doing it myself? Who knows."
She shrugged, admitting she couldn't say for sure without trying it.
If only Ayane acted that lovey-dovey. But even seniors like Hayate, and all Sakurako's friends in relationships, were the same. Sickeningly happy. Who knew—maybe if Sakurako found someone she really liked, she'd be pickling everyone in jealousy too.
"So I'll hold judgment. What about you, Mori? You don't look thrilled."
"Dunno. But I'm jealous. Probably."
The tacked-on "probably" rang hollow; her tone and eyes screamed envy for Ayane.
Sakurako smirked, spotting Yuuya's adorable side.
"Really? That's surprising."
"Surprising...?"
Yuuya tilted her head at the unexpected verdict.
"Thought you'd suit the sweet, innocent puppy-love type more."
Sakurako added, "But seeing you now, the clingy type fits too. So cute."
"Ah, sweet and innocent puppy love..."
Yuuya ducked her head, cheeks flushing. She couldn't help imagining it: herself acting childish and spoiled despite being older, with Tae-il smiling and indulging her every whim.
She hurriedly shielded her eyes and mumbled, "N-Never mind... Take back the jealous part..."
"Pfft! Take it back? You're adorable, Mori!"
"Hiiragi, you're mean."
"Mean? I'm an angelic morals committee member."
"Angelic...?"
Yuuya's head filled with question marks—she'd heard rumors of Sakurako being called a "pink devil" by underclassmen.
"If I'm not an angel, who is? Her?"
"Nope."
Yuuya shook her head before Sakurako even pointed at Ayane. Ayane was no angel. That much, Yuuya could declare with confidence.
Sakurako laughed happily.
"Right?"
"Hiiragi, that's a bit unfair..."
"Hmph. Jealous? Should've been the angel yourself."
Yuuya made a sour face at Sakurako's blunt shot.
The best thing about family restaurants? Cheap prices and no pressure to leave, no matter how long you linger. Servers probably prefer customers who occupy tables forever and occasionally order more over quick-turnover types. The owner might cry blood, though.
Tae-il filled four empty cups at the drink bar, one by one. That's when he overheard the staff chatting.
"Hey, you see those girls?"
"Was in the kitchen. What happened?"
"Total hotties."
Tae-il glanced around casually. Past lunchtime, the place had emptied out. No customers who screamed "hottie," let alone any at all.
They're talking about Ayane and the seniors.
Unlike a typical Korean, Tae-il moved with deliberate slowness, tray in hand. The staff were too busy gossiping to notice.
"Hotties? Dude, that sounded peak otaku."
"No, for real. You'd freak if you saw."
"Fine, let's go peek. How hot we talking?"
"Uh... top-tier in the prefecture?"
"You're insane."
"Correction: top-tier here."
"Get lost."
"Seriously!"
Tae-il swallowed a guffaw. Any more and he'd burst out laughing, so he hurried back.
He set the cups down in front of everyone.
"Oolong tea for the senior, as requested."
"Thanks."
"Iced tea for Ayane, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Shin-chan."
"No prob."
Everyone but Yuuya thanked him in unison.
"And melon soda for Yuuya-senpai, same as mine..."
Tae-il sat, eyes locked on Yuuya.
"..."
Even with the melon soda right in front of her, she didn't notice him return. Earbuds in, she stared unblinkingly at the performance video playing on his tablet. Total focus—no flutter of her eyelids.
"Kinda embarrassing..."
Tae-il scratched his cheek with a sheepish grin. Ayane, slurping her iced tea, leaned on his shoulder.
"Why?"
"Hard to say. Feels like someone dug up my dark history..."
The videos were recent ones he'd recorded to teach Ayane, but still mortifying. Even yesterday's performance was full of flubs on review.
"Plus, no one's ever watched my playing that seriously since... well, ever."
He trailed off, lips pressing tight with a complicated expression.
"Shin-chan...?"
Ayane tilted her head as he clammed up.
"Nah. Nothing."
Tae-il quietly watched Yuuya absorb the video.
Including his past life, it wasn't like no one had watched seriously. But it was always out of necessity, not pure interest.
Mostly professors or session members...
Professors to grade him. Session players to decide if he'd fit the band. All experts who could judge properly.
Always had to be judged.
Yuuya was different. Zero music knowledge. Her verdict? Multiple choice: sounds good, sounds bad, my taste, not my taste. No reason for her to judge anyway.
She was watching because she wanted to.
Ah, why am I so nervous...?
Lips dry with tension, Tae-il kept sipping his melon soda. Palms sweaty—he gripped the frosty cup instead of wiping on his clothes. The chill helped a bit.
Sakurako grumbled softly at Yuuya, glued to the video for over ten minutes.
"She's really into it. I skimmed 'cause I didn't get it."
"Senior lacks culture."
"What'd you say?"
"Kyaa! Shin-chan, Senior's gonna hit Ayane!"
"Ahaha..."
Tae-il laughed awkwardly. They bickered constantly, like their mouths itched without it. Mediating was a pain, but it oddly eased his nerves.
By the time the ice melted into tiny floating bits...
Yuuya finally finished.
"Mm."
Rubbing her tired eyes.
"All done with the videos?"
"Yeah."
She swept back her hair, revealing sweat beading on her forehead. Tae-il handed her a wet wipe.
"How was it?"
"Hm."
His eyes reflected in hers—tense, with a hint of hope. Yuuya smiled brightly.
"Sounded good."
"Haha."
Tae-il's mouth went slack, tension melting. He slumped against the backrest.
The best praise from a music novice like Yuuya.
"Phew... Glad."
He sighed in relief.
"Sounds good? Nice one, Shin-chan."
"Yeah."
Relaxed now, he naturally took Ayane's hand. Feeling how sweaty his was, she melted away her faint jealousy like snow in spring.
"Taichi, all these Japanese songs?"
"Yep. Recorded 'em for teaching Ayane, so I stuck to J-pop she'd know."
He'd asked her favorites, sorted bass-friendly ones, copied them. Custom practice tracks for Ayane.
"Practicing songs you know and love keeps motivation up, right? So I put some thought into it."
Ayane puffed her chest proudly, like it was her achievement.
"Got it. Songs sounded good. But the video itself? Kinda boring."
"Teaching tool and all..."
He'd skipped flashy slaps or techniques. For now, master basic fingerstyle—strokes, slaps, taps later when she leveled up.
"Can I see other famous ones? For comparison."
"Of course."
Yuuya was a 200k-sub YouTuber, editing her own vids when Asakura was swamped.
Senior's got sharp eyes, but...
Trend-savvy, her video judgment beat his. He steeled himself. Pros face comparisons—embarrassing, but necessary.
"Senior, bassists are rarer than you think. Japan or overseas...?"
He preferred world-class overseas ones—huge subs, skills, careers. Less humiliating.
But Yuuya chose without hesitation.
"Japan."
"Got it."
Japan's massive market spawned countless stars. YouTube bass cover kings? Tons of Japanese.
"First up..."
Bassists were elite; top YouTubers popped right up. He picked a popular one, Japan and abroad.
Surprise: a woman. Thumbnail screamed "JK playing."
"Why hype the JK...?"
Sadly, JK sells. But underestimate at your peril—the intense, flashy high-schooler performance left everyone slack-jawed.
Ayane tugged Tae-il's sleeve, voice shaky.
"Shin-chan, does Ayane have to play like that?"
"Nah. And live? I couldn't keep up. That's post-recorded too."
"Phew..."
Next: unbeatable flash.
Sakurako shrieked.
"Kyaa! Mori, close your eyes! Taichi, this is harassment!"
"Huh? Eyes hurt a bit, sure, but skills are top-tier, acknowledged by all bassists—"
"Excuses!"
Sudden crossdresser assault aside...
"This one's normal."
"Yeah."
"Ahem! Allow me: global jazz authority, three Fender signatures, not just YouTube—"
"Too wordy. Cut."
Regular uncle playing bass, but Tae-il rambled and got cut...
"Ooh, this one's young unlike the others? Soft face—totally my type."
"Handsome."
"Right? So much to say: slap king recognized abroad, new band, 2 mil subs—"
Too chatty. Cut.
Last: familiar face for Ayane.
"Huh? Shoko-san."
"Oh, you know her? Stunner this time. Confident—no face cam hide."
"..."
"Met her recently. Stopped YouTube ages ago, but indie legend, Harajuku queen, beauty bassist. Generously gave Ayane a custom bass. Master of delicate tapping over power slaps—mmph?"
Yuuya clapped a hand over his mouth. Cut.
Tae-il started with famous bassists, but Yuuya wanted other instruments for comparison.
"Is that tough...?"
"Nah. Easier than bassists, actu—"
He teared up mid-sentence. Pianists and guitarists? Overload. Settled on prime examples.
Even trimmed, varieties dazzled: pure skill, fame, flash, visuals, eye-searing quirks.
Yuuya closed her eyes, nursing a headache. Voice less confident, she whispered:
"YouTube world's vast, Taichi."
"Right?"
"Opened my eyes..."
Mori Yuuya, plunged into sage time.