Fries and First Loves
In Japan, if there's a type of restaurant students frequent the most, it's probably family restaurants and fast food joints. But there's this prejudice that rich kids don't really go to places like that. These days, some fast food chains are using differentiation strategies, making them ridiculously expensive in a way that's not at all fast food-like, while others stick to the cheap side. Iris was definitely closer to the former—if you had to describe her. The upper-class type who elegantly savors handmade burgers with premium wagyu that cost over 10,000 yen.
So Tae-il was impressed when she suggested a regular fast food spot.
"Arisugawa, you actually come to places like this?"
"What're you saying? I'm a high school girl too, you know?"
Hard-backed chairs that creaked, wobbly tables on either side, and huge windows. McDonald's. The world's most famous fast food chain—and a symbol of Japan's disastrously bad English pronunciation.
"What about Kiriko?"
"Surprisingly, she doesn't eat stuff this greasy."
Unlike the members who naturally ordered set meals, she'd only gotten a single cup of coffee, said she'd guard the table, and stepped out first.
"Too bad. The fries are so good."
"Yeah yeah."
Iris beamed in agreement at Tae-il's mutter. The long fries vanishing into her mouth in one go made her look like a hamster or squirrel stuffing sunflower seeds into its cheeks.
She still loves fries, huh.
Tae-il smiled quietly and squeezed extra ketchup onto her tray. The mountain of four servings of fries piled on the tray was shrinking at a rapid pace, clearly thanks to Iris. Rena, who had a small mouth and was dipping her soft-serve ice cream into fries unlike Iris, shot a subtle glance.
"Iris, why're you only eating fries and not your burger?"
"Not really feeling it. Personally, I like handmade burgers better than these."
"Rich girl talk…."
"Come on, over something like this?"
Iris smirked at Ayane and snatched another fry.
"Nice vibe."
Was it because Tae-il had picked the corner seat on purpose? Amid the lively chatter, with no one paying them any mind, Iris felt a small sense of liberation. Even Rena and Ayane, who usually growled at each other every time they met, were surprisingly quiet with Tae-il there. If only practice stays this chill from now on, she thought—just as Ayane dropped the problematic line.
"Shin-chan, wanna try a bite?"
"Huh?"
"It's so good. Ahh~."
It was an obvious ploy, but Tae-il couldn't refuse and opened his mouth for the burger Ayane held out. And, predictably, Rena—who wouldn't just sit there nicely—shoved her own burger in the middle to interfere.
"Rena…?"
"Just eat this. Why make him eat your sloppy seconds? Here, this one's untouched."
Rena handed Tae-il an unopened burger. It happened to be the same menu as Ayane's. There was a reason she'd delayed her order till last.
She predicted it all.
Ayane's eyes narrowed sharply as Rena grinned slyly.
"Watch it…?"
"What kinda drummer can't hit? Right?"
Rena snickered and tapped the table rapidly with her index finger, like drumming. Iris pinched her forehead.
"Correction. I hate this vibe. Hate it."
"Hahaha."
"Don't laugh. It's your fault."
"…."
The root of the problem was clearly Tae-il, but apologizing felt weirdly off-limits. He had only one thing to say.
"Give up. It's easier once you do."
"What if you give up!"
"Haha."
"Stop laughing!"
Iris huffed and sat back down. She'd snapped without thinking, but McDonald's was public. They couldn't cause too much of a scene.
"Anyway, you're really prepping properly, right? I'm starting to get a little anxious."
Even with vacation giving them more time than before, Tae-il's schedule was packed. And surprisingly, all those commitments were with beautiful girls—which made Iris's trust waver understandably. Tae-il reassured her not to worry.
"It's fine, really. Don't stress. I'm prepping hard, even cutting back on sleep."
Vacation at last. Unlike Rena, with no makeup classes scheduled, Tae-il had zero qualms about pulling all-nighters. Mon-Wed-Fri meant early mornings for Animal Husbandry Club, but the other days were leisurely. Once Rena's classes started, practice would naturally shift to afternoons anyway.
"Sigh."
Iris sighed at Tae-il's casual declaration of skimping on sleep.
"Fine, but sleep properly."
"It's insomnia."
Tae-il chugged his cola with a weary face, then crunched the ice cubes.
"Might as well work at night if I can't sleep. Nights sharpen your sensitivity and inspiration anyway."
Plus, the cooler weather made it perfect for composing all around, he added with a faint smile. Iris frowned at his excuses.
She wouldn't have minded if he was just a night owl with flipped sleep. At least he'd be getting proper rest. But no—he was literally slashing his absolute minimum sleep to whip himself.
"Keep it up, and I'll ask Ayane to force you to bed."
"Th-that's a bit…."
"Then take care of your health, you idiot."
Iris propped her chin, shaking a limp fry. It flopped and snapped in half. She held the broken pieces toward Tae-il.
"If you collapse, we're all stopping cold."
"That's…."
"Plus, I can't control these two without you."
Iris shot an exhausted glance at the pair still growling without a care for onlookers.
"Kkh!"
Tae-il covered his mouth, chuckling at the scene so opposite the original story.
Indeed. This Iris had way less band control than the one he knew. Maybe she wasn't acting like a leader, relieved of the burden and not actively reining in the members.
"No need to rush. We've still got a little over two years left."
Iris had been anxious. She'd grumbled about Tae-il recruiting near-beginner Ayane. But Ayane was the most serious of them all, growing exponentially beyond expectations. And with Rena joining on drums for her sake, Iris couldn't even blame him.
Rena-chan seems to think Shin Tae-il's important deep down, but….
For Rena, Iris was still priority one. Her recent actions didn't feel that way, but seeing her skills surge was oddly heartwarming. Tae-il nodded.
"I get what you mean. But time is money for us, Arisugawa."
More precious than money, really—the world's most valuable resource, irreplaceable even for gold. And they had far too little.
"I know. I know I'm being stupid."
Iris crossed her arms and leaned back.
"But hey."
She tilted her head, glancing at the bickering duo.
"Getting antsy with these two probably won't help, right?"
"That's…."
Tae-il was at a loss. Iris was spot on.
"It's your choice anyway. I can stay chill, but you can't show anxiety. Right?"
"Haha. Yeah."
Tae-il gave a wry smile, fingers to his lips.
"I trust 'em. But even trusting, I can't control it well."
"That's 'cause your heart's rushing."
Iris had been the same in middle school. Too anxious to tend to members, fixated on her goal. With half-hearted recruits, failure was inevitable. As expected. Rushing and pushing members never ended well. Watching current Tae-il, she knew her past mistakes.
But no need to rush. Our situation's way better now.
Iris poked the dead-fish-eyed Tae-il's forehead with her fingers steepled.
"Arisugawa?"
"So relax, take care of yourself. Don't collapse and worry these two."
"…Got it. Thanks."
"Don't thank me. They all think you're a superhuman. Not me?"
Tae-il's feats had been a nonstop surprise. Kids who loved music young often handled multiple instruments and showed composing talent—it was natural. But such backgrounds weren't common. Especially someone like Tae-il, solid on theory too. Unless from a musical family.
His family's normal.
She knew from background checks, but Tae-il was fascinating. Tracking his history, he seemed born for music. No special trigger, yet he'd studied and prepped. Odd he'd never started properly till now, but Iris held high expectations.
She wouldn't blindly rely, though.
He's got flaws, this idiot.
Iris didn't know what, but without them, he wouldn't have delayed music nearly a decade. Having formed and failed a band herself, she understood deeply. Music, banding— not for the faint-hearted. Tae-il too; he'd vented at live houses, networked in the scene.
Iris smirked.
"What're you doing when you get home tonight?"
"Huh? Well, final tweaks on the song…."
"And?"
"Uh…."
Facing Iris's smile, Tae-il trailed off.
"And? What should you do? Hm?"
"…Go to bed nicely."
"Correct. Good boys get praise~?"
Iris patted his head. Suddenly babied, Tae-il flushed and averted his eyes.
"Ahh!"
And unluckily, Ayane—who'd paused her fight with Rena in a truce—saw it.
"Iris! What're you doing with Shin-chan behind our backs?!"
"Eek! A-Ayane!?"
Ayane lunged, hugging Tae-il's head to her chest and yanking him from Iris. Iris looked at her, a bit flustered.
"Huh? I just patted Shin Tae-il's head 'cause he was good?"
"Puberty boys and girls don't pat heads for being good!"
"Ayane, you've let me pat yours plenty…."
"Nadenade's childhood friend privilege!"
"Privilege? Hilarious. She patted mine too?"
"Honjo's cheating! That tiny height tempts head-pats!"
"Bullshit. Who wants to be short! Anyway, let go of Shin, you gloomy bitch!"
"No way!"
"Ahaha…."
His head buried in Ayane's chest, Tae-il went limp, giving up resistance.
"Anyway, head-pat privilege on Shin-chan is Ayane's only… Huh? Iris, don't tell me…."
"What?"
Ayane's sudden suspicion made even Rena mutter "No way?" while eyeing Iris. Iris jumped in shock.
"N-no, it's not like that! Stop pairing me up every time! Scary!"
"Muu. Suspicious…."
"Yeah. Iris never hangs with guys, so hard to judge…."
"Even Rena-chan!?"
Arisugawa Iris. Pitiful, insisting innocence without knowing her future self, desperately claiming purity.
Screeech.
The studio door opened without warning. Izumi peeked in and knocked the door with her hand.
"Knock knock."
"Dude. You knock before opening…."
Yahiro hurriedly closed his laptop, rubbing his fatigued eyes and glaring at the intruder. Sky-blue hair, striking beauty—Izumi.
At Yahiro's grumble, Izumi puffed her cheeks like a steamed bun.
"You ignore knocks when working."
"Means don't come in."
"Nope."
"So willful."
Yahiro shrugged. It wasn't rare anymore; he wasn't even mad at Izumi's intrusions.
Izumi approached Yahiro—slouched against the studio chair—with hands behind her back, long-legged strides, tilting her head.
"Whatcha working on?"
"Just…."
Yahiro sighed and reopened the laptop he'd slammed shut in surprise. Izumi's brows twitched faintly upon seeing it.
"This…."
"Yup. Ego-searching outta boredom."
BARD had nationwide fame, but not everyone loved them. Fans meant anti-fans too. The site Yahiro browsed crawled with BARD haters. Harmful to artists' mental health—manager Hatsukawa desperately hid it from members. No secrets online, though; all knew. They ignored it, but Yahiro obsessively checked.
"Why here…?"
Izumi glared at the monitor, displeased. A den of life's losers thrilling on anonymous trash-talk.
Yahiro was excellent. Top student in school too. He started music half from Izumi's influence, half 'cause musical guys seemed cool. Unlike Akitora, whose drums were life/stress relief, or guitar-mad NA.IN. That's why he did tons of external activities, meeting people.
He'd always liked music but never sought fame through it. Music wasn't his ultimate goal. In school, when Izumi disbanded the band, unlike others, he wasn't bummed. But they reformed; influenced by members over time, he realized his flaws, got serious about music. Late start, but rotation for lyrics/composition per album was good experience.
"Y'know, if someone idolizes me, I think it's lame."
"Why?"
"Unlike the others, I got picked for looks."
"Nope."
"Eh? Not?"
"Only bassist applicant was you."
"…."
Reason he didn't wanna know. Yahiro pulled down his new fedora, mumbling vaguely.
"Anyway, that's why I check."
"On purpose?"
"Yeah."
Scrolling, posts bashing him appeared. Music second to externals? He got hit most in BARD. Some titles praised Izumi—even if as a woman, not artist.
Yahiro sighed, reclining his chair.
"These haters here genuinely despise me."
Initially depressed—their words rang true. But members' cheers fired him up; he improved. Peak: "Drunk Landscape". Critically acclaimed; local pro baseball team even asked to use as cheer song. Ecstatic. In a band shining only via Izumi, musical recognition thrilled him.
"Back then, I came here pumped. Like, 'How's this? I deliver when I try, punks!'"
But no praise. Hit song, critical darling? Here, pure nitpicks.
"Realized: these folks hate me for real."
Humans hate creatively, this taught him. Dry-washing his face.
"Staring wrecks your mental health."
"Yet you do?"
"It's my creative fuel."
Psychological extremes birthed his best work.
"Always?"
"Nah."
Obsessed with peaks, he now saw it as jinx. Early days, no need—he poured endless sparks like bottomless well. But those yielded meh results. He knew: glamorous from outside, hell inside. So he'd crush rookies' dreams: can't hack this, no future for you.
"Wonder what he's feeling…?"
"He?"
"Your beloved hubby."
"L-love's too much…."
"That's how it looks."
Yahiro snickered. Fame brought members contacts, natural dating. Even guitar-obsessed fool NA.IN chased "inspiration via love" aggressively. Worried he got played, but no time for others' romance. Men's games? Meh. But Izumi—BARD's sole woman? Yahiro grilled curiously.
"First love?"
"Dunno."
Technically, first crush: Ka-hee seen on broadcast stage with parents. Obsessed, started music to be like her, endless effort to now. Interviews calling her "next Ka-hee"? Humble outside, thrilled inside—dream metric. Ka-hee mentioning her privately? Sleepless joy, screaming nights earning members' curses to sleep.
But that paled to rediscovering Tae-il. Heart pounding, world just them—eerie. Effort alone can't reach some peaks. Needs visibility, chance, timing. Solo heat futile. Members united seriously? Slight success shot. Tae-il: that catalyst. Fateful growth for Izumi, BARD whole.
Yeah. Admit it.
"First love, maybe."
"Knew it?"
Yahiro chuckled, eyes closed. Her composing a love confession song? Said it all.
"First love burns wild."
"Yeah?"
"Brace yourself. That chill now? Face-to-face might shatter it."
Yahiro hid Tae-il's concert ticket query.
Two's no biggie….
Easy front-row via pull. Not insider/family seats, but doable.
Wanna see Izumi's reaction.
Eye-lock mid-stage, flub? Epic concert. Imagining, Yahiro cackled.
"Taichi. Band started yet?"
"Dunno. Still recruiting."
"How do you know…?"
"We chat messengers often, duh?"
Yahiro tilted, trailing. Why ask trivia?
"Wait, you haven't messaged him?"
"…."
"No way, not even once after swapping numbers? How?! Pfft…!"
Tae-il could—male pride, debutless him messaging sky-high Tenma Izumi? But her side?
Yahiro's teasing tone rose, bursting in laughter. Izumi deadpanned, lunging.
"Yahiro. Phone."
"Huh? Hey! Don't snatch— wahaha! Wait, no fair! Tickling's cheating… hahaha!"
Snatched phone, unlocked pattern, scrolled Tae-il chats. Izumi blushed.
"Band prepping hard, huh…."
"Whew."
Yahiro rubbed side, stood, snatched back.
"Busking this fall, he said."
"Busking? Where?"
"Dunno. Didn't say. Probably same as us?"
"Yoyogi?"
"Likely?"
Izumi checked her smartphone. Numbers swapped, but pristine chat—empty, regrettable.
"Like him, fine. But no secret boosting if he debuts."
"Yeah."
"Answer straight. Serious worry."
First love's allure: sweet terror. Even playboy Yahiro burned all-in once. Quiet Izumi ablaze? Unimaginable force. But Izumi just nodded flatly.
"It's fine. I trust him."
"…."
Yahiro eyed her wondrously.
"Damn. Lucky bastard. Loved that much by a girl like you."
"You love me too?"
"Not falling for it. 'Love as friends'? Heard it ten times. Damn."
"Pffft."
"Correction: stuck with you? He's the unlucky one."
"Wanna get hit, Yahiro?"
"Whatever. Gotta work—out."
Yahiro shoved Izumi out. Then she remembered why she'd come, resisting.
"Wait! Akitora called…!"
"What? Say that first! You know how punctual-obsessed he is!"
Yahiro shoved past, dashing out.
"Ugh, Yahiro, cheater!"
"Whose fault?!"
Both late anyway—roasted hard by furious Akitora. Messenger Izumi got extra, banned booze a week.