Bet (3): Soft Rock
Soft rock. Led by the Beatles and others, it was one of the genres that rode the wave of popularity and capped off the end of the 20th century. In Asia, it evolved slightly into something called rock ballad, a subgenre of power rock. In Japan, X JAPAN is the prime example. In Korea, most bands that sang songs the public knew leaned into this style. The rock ballad lineage continued into the 21st century. Even in Japanese karaoke rooms, songs by Buzz and others frequently charted alongside idol tracks—probably sung by Koreans living in Japan or visiting.
Anyway. What comes to mind when you think of ballads? The eternal season of heartbreak: autumn. Stages filled with dry ice. And love songs. BARD's "If I Hadn't Met You" was no different.
Autumn. Not too hot, not too cold—a perfect time for bands to busk. Izumi had poured those experiences into the song.
[Our eyes meet under the shadow.]
Like on Music Station, Izumi descends wide stairs while singing. Her crimson gaze sweeps over the BARD members on stage, the session musicians handling different instruments—just as the lyrics say—before slowly turning to the audience.
A solo concert is, simply put, a gathering of absolute allies who adore her. The arena packed with fans who survived brutal ticketing are the elite of the elites, a true special forces unit. Everyone loves her, admires her, cherishes her. Tae-il was no exception.
Even through the screen, when their eyes meet, her softly curving eye smile is captivating. At the concert where she'd want to look her prettiest, Izumi appears casually: hair simply tied back, a light blue jacket, pants instead of a skirt. Subtle, soft makeup. Effortlessly natural, without a trace of pretense—she shines like a star in the sky, the one and only Tenma Izumi.
Her short hair suits her so eerily well, almost symbolizing her lifespan, sending a chill through Tae-il's chest. But that's the peak-era Tenma Izumi who shook Iris and Ayane's hearts and set Japan ablaze. The very pose countless male fans coveted for album photocard inclusion. Unlike a haughty princess of the music world, she seems approachable, like someone from the neighborhood café.
[A park filled with silence...]
"A park filled with silence...."
Two voices overlap, startling Tae-il.
[Under the extinguished streetlamp...]
"Under the extinguished streetlamp...."
Our shadows crossed.
Iris sways her head side to side, eyes closed, adding harmonies to Izumi's song.
Nice... Tae-il closes his eyes, immersing in the music.
A renowned critic called Tenma Izumi's voice retro. He added that it was a heavenly timbre embracing all eras. Modern Japanese society divides into pre-bubble and post-bubble eras—generations that can't understand each other. Izumi's voice appeals to both. Despite her short career relative to her fame and being underrated by elders (not quite idol status), she's rising as the next-gen bridge between eras.
Iris is the opposite. Her voice hooked Tae-il completely, but it's more new-gen. It shines in modern music. Still, most would say "love it"—her appeal has that persuasive power to move audiences. Tae-il fell for it too. Still does.
[Stay as the you I remember, even years from now.]
"Stay as the you I remember, even years from now."
Contrasting voices duet in the art room.
[We don't know each other well, but chasing dreams...]
"We don't know each other well, but chasing dreams...."
We'll surely meet again.
Eye levels don't matter. I'll adjust to you.
No veto power.
If I hadn't met you.
If not that day our shadows crossed.
I wouldn't have made it here.
I'll hold your hand boldly, in front of everyone.
"Just wait a little."
Soon this song will reach you.
Like back then.
Under dark shadows, when swelling hearts light our space like spotlights.
I'll confess.
Thank you.
"...."
Tae-il slowly lifts his eyelids to see Iris dominating the screen, the beam projector's light etching into her as she sings. She looks fused with Izumi—eerie as hell. All the emotion shatters; he snaps awake.
Pinching his brow, Tae-il glances around and asks Rena, who seems the most sane.
"Rena, why's Arisugawa acting like that?"
"Dunno. She started singing along, got lost in it, and midway began dancing too."
"Yeah...?"
Ayane nervously chews her thumbnail. Kiriko's fully in audience mode, clapping and cheering Iris on. Ayane aside, Kiriko's twitching lips suggest she's just amused, playing along.
Tae-il closes his eyes again, savoring the song. Modern music emphasizes visuals heavily, but Iris—true to her stormy teen spirit—boldly bucks the trend. Lost in it, she powers through auto-played encores.
Rena, initially impressed, starts grumbling as it drags.
"Does she have a grudge against songs she can't sing?"
"Probably. Should take Arisugawa to karaoke sometime. Right?"
"...Ha. Yeah. Gotta drag her."
Rena blanks, then smirks and nods at Tae-il's suggestion. Karaoke—unforgettable memories for both.
Tae-il mentally updates his wishlist: Karaoke trip. With Sakuya and Ayane too—five total. Endless fun.
As Tae-il whispers with Rena, quiet Ayane butts in.
"Shin-jjang, you went to karaoke back then too?"
"Kinda happened?"
"Muuu! Shin-jjang's so unfair. Won't go with Ayane even if she dies...."
"Did I?"
Racking his brain, yeah—he'd oddly never gone with Ayane. Maybe no mental bandwidth then.
Tae-il apologizes. "Sorry. Next time, definitely. All together."
"Just us two?"
"Two's timing weird, no?"
"Weird...?"
Ayane imagines cozy duet date, tilts head at his response. She doesn't know he's a karaoke black hole.
Rena snickers at Ayane, oblivious despite her "childhood friend" boasts.
"Obviously weird. Think you can handle four hours alone with Shin?"
"F-four hours...!?"
"We three collapsed after that much."
Really just stamina-weak Rena did, but Tae-il stays mum.
"Four hours...."
Ayane—never lingering over two hours like a normie—ponders as Iris's fifth encore finally ends.
Clap clap clap.
Everyone but Ayane seals with applause. Iris blushes, sets down her brush-holder mic.
"Ehem! How was it? I was pretty good, right?"
"'Good'? Way beyond."
"Ehehe...."
Iris shyly averts eyes, scratching flushed cheek at Tae-il's lavish praise. He doesn't skimp on genuine compliments. And she's weak to them.
"Anyway! Wanna jam this song for real sometime. Cool?"
"I'm good, but...."
Tae-il eyes Rena and Ayane.
"Got the score?"
"Duh. No way I'd lack BARD sheets. Kiriko."
"Here."
Kiriko pulls a binder from her bag, hands out sheets.
"Eek."
Ayane grabs tabs first, freaks at dense black bean sprouts on white.
"I-Iris! This really for Ayane to play?"
"Yup. Official site."
"Official...?"
"BARD gives free composer sheets to fanclub. That's stage-ready."
"R-really.... Thought it sounded easy...."
Retro vibe: simple, spacious, rich yet empty. Ayane, cocky she'd memorize quick, pales.
Iris consoles. "Eh, fine. Wasn't aiming for perfect today."
"Muuu...."
Ayane groans at dizzying tabs. Iris says okay, but bandmate comparison stings.
Her glare shifts to Rena, who skims bored, sighs, folds in half.
"Iris. Take it back."
"No more?"
"Nah."
Ayane startles at Rena's nonchalance.
Memorized already...?
Among teens here, Rena scores lowest. Grades don't define smarts, but outline it. Ayane knew Rena sucked outside art.
Genius at art and music too...?
Ayane, narrow on arts, figures it's plausible. Luckily, Rena corrects.
"Pointless if I can't read it anyway."
"Huh?"
"What, gloomy? Picking a fight?"
"N-no... Honjo, you can't read scores?"
"Nope?"
Kaboom!
Ayane's head thunders at Rena's declaration.
"C-can't...!? For real? H-how...!"
"People skip scores sometimes. Big deal? Been drumming five days?"
"Even so! Shin-jjang!? This okay?"
"Bandmates who can't read? Super common."
"Common!?"
Ayane shocks, calms, vaguely recalls hearing it.
Tae-il explains. "Not just players, Ayane. Composers too."
"Even composers?"
"Arrangers maybe, but composers? Nah."
Humming melody works. "Harmony theory helps, but hassle."
"Th-then Ayane too...?"
"Bass? Learn harmony. Recommend."
"Uu...."
"Haha. Tough? Study with me tonight? Homework too."
Ayane perks at bait.
"Just us?"
Tae-il eyes Rena—might invite her.
"Pass."
Rena catches intent, waves off. "Basics from you overwhelm already."
No forcing. Back to Ayane.
"She says that?"
"U, uu.... Happy but weirdly not. Iris?"
"Harmony? Hassle. Vocal warmups instead."
"Teach her later. Fine."
"What!? News to me!"
"Haha. Hate it now, beg later."
Assume Iris finishes composing/arranging/lyrics, hits recording. Tae-il knows vocal pains from many.
Biggest hurdle? Communication. Not talent or demands.
Song's blank till vocalist sings. Vocals create too.
Scores guide, but limit expression. Catch creator's intent—or top it.
For sensory singers like Iris, forced interpretation? Hell.
Iris groans, clutching head. "You guide-record perfect, I copy?"
"If easy, I'd vocal, not you."
"...."
Iris pouts.
"Just basics for you. Enough for my direction."
"That's scarier."
"Self-taught guitar basics? Major/minor?"
"Dunno. Memorize whole chords, learn tabs per play."
"...."
Long road. Ayane freaks seeing straight-A Iris balk too.
Ayane studies music to help Shin-jjang, but...?
Iris's seriousness makes it awkward.
"Anyway, great chance to see Ayane's limits. Practice as-is. Rena cool?"
"You teach?"
"Haha. Deal."
"A! Ayane too! Shin-jjang teaches...!"
"Ayane, flag when stuck. Rena first. Okay?"
Rena's newbie. Tae-il deploys "fake beginner shield." Ayane glares, grumbles—pride blocks begging first.
Anyone else? Fine. But Rena? No. Blood boils: Never lose to that brat.
"Yeah. Got it, Shin-jjang."
"Hmph."
Rena's victory smirk spikes Ayane's BP.
* * *
Iris backs on guitar, Tae-il riffs steadily, Rena skips beats boldly—ragged rhythm drags on. Like cracks widening, sync slips toward end.
Highlight. Tae-il dials guitar down.
If I Hadn't Met You.
Unlike members' instrument-focused tunes, Izumi-composed: even solos.
End: Ayane's bass.
Guitar fades; she scans tabs, fingers fumbling fast. Mutes fail, notes stray. Clear tone (pre-set) spotlights errors. Strays echo like botched hammers, rhythm/melody tangle.
Shameful to stop? No—engrave mistakes, play through.
Should thumb-slap. Unlearned. Fingers faster, precise instead.
Brrrum.
No mute on last—bass space quakes air.
Echo dies, silence falls.
"Okay!"
Iris beams, claps as Ayane rests on fretboard.
"Some rough spots, but good. Progress. Practice ends!"
"Haa. Good work, Iris."
"What work? Just backed, watched. Ayane slaved."
Iris giggles, hugs praising. Endless flubs on new technique/line—no ridicule.
Mention risks pride-wound.
Best: Let her mull her play.
Iris rests chin on Ayane's shoulder, blocking view, glances Tae-il—coaching Rena's drums post-jam.
"Split beats like before? Pre-calc in head. Think, then move. Play games, Rena?"
"Tamagotchi as kid...."
"Realtime? Tetris?"
"Tetris, yeah."
"Tetris analogy. Starts snail-slow?"
"Yup?"
"Speeds up per level. What ya think then?"
"Uh, line-clear panic, no think...."
"Drums same."
Tetris: No foresight, lines jam, game over.
"Drummer: Internalize beat good, but keep thinking. No breaks."
Thought lapse snaps band's roots.
Rena sighs deep.
"Haaa. Brain-fry. Body-memorize, head-memorize. Drums boost grades?"
"Haha. Dementia-proof sure."
"Then what?"
"Huh?"
Tae-il blinks dumb. Rena grins sly, shakes his hand.
"No insurance 'cause no dementia risk—if comes, your fault. Right?"
"Wha?"
Absurdity silences him. Rena nibbles finger, sly smile.
"You'll cover me? You're the guy."
"Reverse discrimination...."
Tae-il slumps, sighs. Rena snorts, sticks tongue.
"Kidding."
"Didn't feel it.... Anyway, practice home: Think beats."
Tae-il figures her killer sense might snag if overthought. But mind-body gap key for drummers.
Emphasize: Rena yields. "Got it. Vid later?"
"No need that far...."
"Homework, right? Teacher checks."
"If you insist."
Nods; Rena offers phone.
"Why?"
"Save number, mail. Vids too big for messenger."
"Hold on."
She knew messenger, not contact—snags easy.
Rena-chan, scary kid...!
Iris shivers at scheming; Ayane tilts head.
"Iris cold? Shivering? Catch cold?"
"Huh? No! Healthy! Hot even? Ahaha!"
"Really?"
Ayane pats: "Drink hot anyway."
Iris inner sigh relief.
* * *
Jam over. Tae-il packs borrowed guitar post-Rena's mini-kit.
"Good work today."
Iris sidles up sly. Rena-Ayane bicker petty, dogfight-style.
Iris helps pack, asks: "Prep going well?"
"Prep?"
"Bet. You busy with Ayane-Rena... composing time?"
"Ah."
Recalls bet started with Iris.
"Kinda?"
"Kinda?"
Vague irks; glares.
"Coaching good, but judge fair?"
"Yup. Know."
"No sore-loser cry later?"
"Nope."
Packs done, slings guitar. School loan—return to music room pre-Takahashi leaves.
"Music room quick. You first?"
"Dunno?"
Checks time: Dinner hour soon. Knows Tae-il's parents late/out—solo home.
Usually eats at Ayane's?
Wants more talk. Especially post-Rena crush reveal. Why him? Where'd she see it? Rena stonewalls.
And above all: 0th gen fan...
Chose "If I Hadn't Met You" deliberately—Izumi wrote for mystery 0th fan. Probe prime suspect Tae-il.
Reaction bland. She got too immersed to observe.
Still chance: Dinner invite, steer to BARD. Probe Rena thoughts, two-timing with her.
Fast food casual... Or record café vibe? They won't wild there.
"Wait. Ride home anyway?"
"Thanks. Be quick!"
"Yeah. Hurry back."
Tae-il hauls amp/guitar out. Iris stands, wedges between still-brawling duo. Arms hug heads tight.
"Yaho! No fighting—healthy chat. Dinner plans?"
"Ugh! Heavy pig! Watch weight lunging! Nearly choked!"
"A-Ayane can't breathe...."
"Oops? Sorry. Rena-chan rude lately. Not heavy? Tae-il piggyback, no sweat. Got it?"
Rena irks, taps Iris's chest light with stick.
"Bull. Start shedding udders, milkbags!"
"Kyung!"
"No lewd moans!"
Iris smirks lewd. "Lewd? That was? News to me. Hehe, Rena-chan cute look hides perv~?"
"Then stick-nipple your udders till burst!?"
"Ee. Even you, that's..."
Rena grips stick reverse, serious; Iris releases, guards chest. Ayane sinks deeper.
"Gyaak! Let Ayane go! Unlike shorty Honjo, height means Iris boobs in face!"
"Aang? Call me shorty not even stepladder-worthy!?"
"Kyaa! Iris! Delusional! No side-poke! Kyahaha!"
"Say again, gloomy bitch!"
"Uhn! Shorty's short—big deal!"
"Fine. Hated you anyway—die today!"
"Kya! Shin-jjang! Shiiin! Total psycho!"
Rena wields brush-filled cylinder at Ayane. She ducks behind easel—art room chaos chase.
"Ahaha! You guys hilarious. I teased, why fight each other?"
Silence. Glare Iris.
"Ah."
Crash bang.
Kiriko curls corner, wipes nose watching mess.
"Hehe. Disaster. All my cleanup...."
Girls grab new weapons/shields; shades hide fading eyes.
Weird personalities, but kids are kids. Issue: Multiplying her workload live.
Kiriko mutters glum: "Taichi-san, return soon—rein these tomboys...."
Luck goddess skips her. Tae-il, snagged by Takahashi for Ayane-Rena updates, returns 30min late.