The Clear Sky After the Typhoon
The sky after a typhoon passes is impeccably clear. Not a single cloud in sight, refreshingly open, making your chest feel wide and unburdened. The same goes for places swept clean by emotions named after typhoons. Emotions aren't an inexhaustible spring. Squeeze them too hard, and they dry up. That's why, after intense emotional expenditure, a profound emptiness inevitably follows—almost like sage time.
Of course, sometimes other emotions take priority over that emptiness. Shame. Or, more bluntly, mortification.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Tae-il covered his face with both hands and screamed. Iris was the same. The difference was that while Tae-il openly displayed his embarrassment, her wail was silent.
Yahiro wiped under his nose and chuckled softly.
"Haha. Total mess, huh."
"Yeah."
For some reason, it wasn't an unfamiliar sight. When they composed "If I Couldn't Meet You," Izumi had reacted somewhat similarly to those two. Yahiro had snuck up behind her while she was working, snatched the lyrics, and relentlessly teased her, insisting she'd written them thinking of that boy no matter how you looked at it.
"Inevitable fate..."
"Well, as you said, it's something lyricists and composers inevitably go through."
When singer-songwriters talked about their dark histories, stories of self-composed songs laced with autobiography always popped up at least once.
"Heard that? It's a rite of passage, so snap out of it already!"
Despite Yahiro's shout, the two tempestuous teenagers couldn't lift their heads.
"I wanna die..."
"You too?"
Tae-il and Iris shared the exact same sentiment. They wanted to crawl into a rat hole and hide. If there was no rat hole, they wanted to die and escape this humiliating feeling.
"Get used to it. When critics start critiquing later, it'll be exactly five times more cringe than this."
"Critics!?"
"They say once you're famous, even if you shit, they'll applaud. They comment on stuff you never asked for. Back then, I only had lyrics to work on, and I thought I'd die of shame."
As the talk turned to critics, Tae-il's soul began slipping out of his mouth.
Yahiro nudged Izumi with his elbow.
"Izumi."
"Yeah."
At the signal, Izumi deliberately played back the smartphone Iris had used for recording. A slightly raspy melody flowed out, followed by Tae-il's voice...
[I love you.]
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"
[Not just words as always, but from the heart...]
"Guh-aaaah-ugh-aaaaah!"
At the extreme remedy, Shin Tae-il let out a wretched, agonized scream. Then he flopped face-down on the table.
Shin Tae-il was dead. Spiritually murdered.
Izumi replayed the same section again.
[I love you.]
[Not just words as always, but from the heart...]
[I love you.]
[Not just words as always, but from the heart...]
No reaction. He seemed like a corpse for real.
"Iris."
"Y-Yes! Arisugawa Iris here!"
"Voice file."
"I-I'll send it right away!"
"Thanks."
Ironically, there was no joy here in being casually called by name by the idol she idolized. Nor the thrill of getting Izumi's personal number instead of her work one. Iris felt the same as Tae-il.
I wanna dieeeee!
About 10 minutes prior.
After finishing the short recording and exchanging subtle emotional glances.
Clap clap clap.
Two off-beat claps rang out. At the unexpected audience, Tae-il and Iris literally froze.
Izumi and Yahiro, who should have been waiting outside on the terrace, were somehow inside. Yahiro grinned like he'd just watched a musical and asked Izumi.
"Great song, right, Izumi?"
"It was meh."
"R-Really...?"
Tae-il fainted. If Tae-il hadn't fainted first, Iris might have.
Fortunately, Tae-il woke up quickly. To the still-out-of-it Tae-il, Izumi apologized, saying her comment just now was a joke.
"Phew..."
Tae-il sighed deeply in relief, like someone risen from the dead.
"Great song."
Yahiro played the audio while rhythmically tapping the table with his fingers. For reference, this was an evaluation of Tae-il's original composition—not the tentative "Fox Rain," but BURNING.
The more you listened, the more Tae-il's worries proved justified.
"I get the boy's concern now."
"Really?"
"You don't know much about composing yet, miss."
"Ehehe."
"No need to be embarrassed. I couldn't even read sheet music properly until two years ago."
Among BARD, Yahiro was the last to master reading music.
"Hmm. To explain simply, it's not just a simple chord combination issue—the song's quality itself is high."
"Like an anime opening."
"Exactly. Just like Izumi said, it feels exactly like that. You can tell it'd be an exciting opening song just by listening."
A properly made textbook song conveys its vibe even without lyrics. That was the case with the BURNING Tae-il played.
"It properly quotes money chords that work in Japan. But you arranged it yourself, right, boy?"
"Yes..."
The original was composed for voice actors performing and playing it themselves, filled with pure band sound. In other words, a bit bland. Experts might praise the textbook chords and melody, but to the average listener, it was too familiar, leaving them tilting their heads. In fact, Iris, whose musical tastes weren't broad yet, was tilting her head.
"Is the difference that big? Isn't Fox Rain way better than this?"
"Haha. You really liked the boy's song, huh, miss?"
"W-Well..."
As Iris pouted with no answer, Yahiro chuckled and stared at Tae-il. Tae-il scratched his innocent head roughly and turned to stare out the window.
"Boy. Did you arrange this on purpose?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Interesting. You handle it well originally?"
"Guitar aside, it's the only thing I can practice at home without worrying about my parents or neighbors..."
"Haha!"
Yahiro burst out laughing. It was an ordinary answer from an ordinary boy, but it resonated more than expected.
"True, with just a computer and audio sources, you can tinker anytime without making noise like a real instrument. Pretty convenient."
"What?"
"Digital instruments."
Izumi stared blankly at Yahiro. Having grown up in a house full of musicians with top-notch soundproofing, she'd handled everything from piano, guitar, violin, flute, clarinet, bass, to drums. With major instruments at hand, she'd had no reason to touch trendy electronic ones.
"Don't you use synths much either, Izumi?"
"Nah. She's a classicist."
"Never seen synths in our lives either. More importantly, Shin Tae-il, you don't watch BARD lives?"
Iris grilled Tae-il.
"No, I do, but..."
"But?"
Izumi perked up her ears. Tae-il glanced around and answered honestly.
"Everyone but Izumi doesn't really catch my eye..."
"Not guilty."
Izumi slammed the table like a judge with her palm.
Yahiro objected.
"Hold on! That verdict's a bit off, Izumi."
"Got a problem? I can strip your rank."
"Haha, no way? Why would a lowly member complain to the leader?"
Yahiro backpedaled immediately. No point arguing when the leader said it was fine.
"Ahem! Back to the sound. Our band relies mostly on NA.IN for diverse sounds."
"NA.IN's a master of tone control among guitarists."
Seizing the rare chance, Iris flaunted her BARD knowledge.
Yahiro agreed.
"You know your stuff, miss. That guy's tones are insanely well-crafted."
"Does NA.IN set your bass tones too, Yahiro?"
"Yeah. The maniac calls it a 'four-string guitar,' but when I ask, he sets the bass tones too."
Yahiro grumbled, saying he was learning by watching.
"Must be tough for you too, bro."
"Tough my ass."
Yahiro loved bass. Choosing fun, enjoyable work meant no real hardship.
"Take me—I use a bass with four drop tuners jammed into the headgear. Fun, right? Isn't it?"
No one mods a bass that maniacally unless they love it.
"Ah! I've seen it live too! That black bass at the Drunk Landscape live?"
"Spot on! You know more than the boy. Speaking of, you're a fan club member, right?"
"First gen! Fan since indie days!"
"Ahaha! Gotta give you a signed something later, huh? Right, Izumi?"
"A signature's fine..."
"Kyaa!"
Iris finally showed her fan club colors, beaming brightly.
"Can I call you Izumi-unnie?"
"Unnie...?"
"Can't I? You already okayed 'yobiste'!"
"Well, casually..."
"Unnie!"
As the two women got absorbed in each other, Yahiro, locking eyes with Tae-il, shrugged.
"So, no more synths in your work going forward?"
"Dunno. Synths are convenient, but our band has its stubborn style..."
They'd only recently convinced Izumi for hard rock to broaden genres, but diverse electronic instruments seemed tough until then. The mini-album with this drama OST was barely pushed through.
"Anyway, the verdict you were waiting for: the arrangement's good. Great sense."
"Thank you."
"You know arranging isn't something you can always pull off, no matter how good the composition."
"Well..."
Yahiro thought Tae-il just composed and made it, but reality differed slightly. Strictly, Tae-il's work was re-arrangement on top of arrangement.
Tae-il looked troubled answering. Of course, his acting—far from lies—had already confessed the truth to Yahiro.
"Hmm. Tricky one."
"Ahaha. But I did try to preserve the original flow while expressing it differently. I used electronic instruments maximally for band-feel parts too."
Tae-il added it considered DJing.
"DJing? Nice. Diverse repertoire's great for a band. Gives audiences fresh feels at every live."
"I-I didn't think that far..."
"Take it slow."
Rush jobs rarely end well. Feeling Yahiro's gaze, Izumi shrugged slightly.
BARD had rushed once and crashed hard.
"Take time with members, chat about each other's music philosophies."
"Got it."
"Even if they don't have one yet, it's fine. It'll form naturally with time in the band."
Like Akitora. Like Yahiro himself.
As long as we don't disband...
Tae-il murmured inwardly and straightened up.
"So, what about this song?"
"We'll use it."
Iris answered. She'd apparently gotten a signature from Izumi, grinning uncontrollably as she yanked Tae-il into a hug.
"A-Arisugawa?"
"Still Arisugawa? Just call me Iris. Anyway, we'll use every song Shin Tae-il writes. Title's Fox Rain confirmed!"
"Oh ho? Your vocalist says so?"
Tae-il scratched his nose awkwardly.
"I'll ask the other members first. Collect full consensus."
"Good thinking. Izumi?"
"Me?"
"Words for these green juniors?"
"Hmm."
Izumi pondered. Not just words to give— she had plenty she wanted to hear from Tae-il. With time, she'd chat all day. But.
Hold back. We've got time.
Post-concert break ahead. Focus on prep now, meet him after.
So Izumi didn't drag the talk. Instead, she condensed her words.
"You can catch up, right?"
Tae-il blinked in surprise, then nodded.
"Definitely."
"Yeah. I'll wait."
This wasn't their last meeting. Izumi gave Tae-il a short, intense hug, then squeezed Iris the same.
She didn't like how Iris ruined her rare alone time with Tae-il, but Iris was a key pillar supporting him. Despite the odd kinship making her prickly, she had to cheer her on.
"Hang in there. Don't break."
"O-Of course!"
"If it's tough, say so. I'll help."
"R-Really...?"
"Mm. Official stuff's hard."
"Personal help makes even less sense!?"
Ahaha! Izumi laughed. So did Iris. Absurd even to themselves, the two laughed side by side.
Quietly watching, Yahiro slung his arm over Tae-il's neck and grinned. He stuck out his pinky toward Iris.
"So, you two a thing?"
"Nope."
"You confessed? 'I love you.' 'The moon's pretty, huh?' Right?"
"Nope."
"For real? You two look..."
"Nope."
"Your face is kinda scary?"
"Nope."
"..."
"Nope."
"Fine. My bad."
"Good you know."
"Tough kid..."
Serious Yahiro soon chuckled, adjusting his cap.
"Concert. Contact when you come; I'll get you special entry. Rehearsal too if you want."
"Too noisy, it'll bother."
"Noisy? Just kiss 'em shut. Works on most girls."
"Finally lost it?"
"Uhahahat!"
What to do with this guy. Yahiro was already looking forward to the next meeting, hoping this prickly, timid boy would toughen up. He pressed down on Tae-il's head.
"See ya next time, kiddo."
"Ow! I'm not a kid anymore!"
"Grow taller first."
"Tch. I'm above average!"
"Bragging about 1-2cm over average?"
"I-It is bragging!"
"Sheesh."
Yahiro ruffled Tae-il's hair roughly, then snatched Izumi, still overwhelmed by Iris.
"Radio schedule. We're off. You two stay."
"Why? More?"
"Parfait. Meant to share, but staff spilled. Eat it—you two. Waste not."
"That's..."
"Take care going back! Izumi-unnie!"
"S-See you..."
Dragged by Yahiro, she still winked at Tae-il and waved vigorously at the end.
Next time, just us two.
Pledging the next meeting.