Date and Stalking
Orange juice and an ion drink can clinked together. Clink. It was Iris and Sakuya wrapping up their modest welcome party for just the two of them.
Sakuya chugged her orange juice and grimaced, sticking out her tongue. “Ack! Is it 'cause I ate ice cream? This juice tastes awful…”
“Ahaha!” Iris burst out laughing, clutching her stomach at Sakuya's hilarious expression.
“Wanna switch with mine?”
“Sorry. I just can't do orange juice.”
The two swapped drinks. Right on cue, Rena barged into the pool area with a yawn. “Yaaawn. What're you two up to?”
“Bonding as fellow school celebrities. How's it going inside?”
“Shin and the gloomy chick are out cold. Kiriko's handling cleanup by herself.”
“Oh dear. Should I go help?”
Sakuya knew most of the cleanup was just the dishes from what she'd scarfed down, so she jumped up in a hurry—only for Iris to hold her back. “Nah. That's what servants are for.”
“Ahaha…”
It was a heartless line that would've had Kiriko bawling if she'd heard it.
“So, how much longer are we staying?”
“Why?”
“Front desk called. Said to let 'em know if we're extending.”
“Already? Time flies.” Iris set down her canned drink and stood to check the time, just in case. But the floor was slick, and her foot in the pool slipped, tilting her body backward dramatically.
“Kyaa!”
“I-Iris!”
Splash.
Rena shouted urgently, but Sakuya hadn't even reacted yet when Iris plunged into the pool.
“Ugh…”
“You're soaked. You okay?”
“As you can see. But no injuries.”
With her lower body submerged like a half-bath, Iris twisted up her hair first. “This feels gross. My underwear's drenched too…”
She wrung out her wet top, and cold water poured down in a stream.
“Here, let me help. Grab my hand.”
“Thanks.”
Sakuya pulled Iris to her feet. As she stood from the pool, the waterlogged, heavy pants started sliding down her hips. Iris yanked up the skin-clinging denim by force. “Nngh…”
“Want me to lend you some clothes?”
“Sizes won't match.”
“Better than going home wet. Or…”
“What happened?”
Tae-il poked his head over Rena's upon hearing Iris's scream, roused from sleep. “Hm?”
Everyone but Tae-il froze. With his just-woken daze, he reflexively took in the sight of the drenched Iris. Blink. Hair wavy like seaweed from the water. White top slightly see-through when wet. Jeans precariously hanging on her hips.
As his gaze turned blatant, Iris flinched and instinctively covered herself. But his reaction was utterly nonchalant. “Looks refreshing. Dive in to cool off from the heat?”
“I fell!” Iris protested indignantly.
Tae-il's expression stayed perfectly serene. “Oh? Tailbone okay?”
“It's fine!”
“Good. Want some spare clothes?”
“Why do you have clothes?”
“It's been so hot lately. And after last time, I packed extras just in case.”
Tae-il shot a pointed look at the culprit who'd made him start packing clothes.
“Ahaha…”
“W-Whew. Good thing, Iris. Shin's got a change for you.”
The two who'd burned their own feet quickly averted their eyes.
“Ahk!”
Tae-il sighed and gently kneaded Rena's nape like a massage, as if to say reflect on this. “Anyway, I've got a shirt and shorts left. Want 'em?”
“Th-Thanks for the offer, but…” Iris glanced at Sakuya without thinking.
She'd already turned down Sakuya's lend once; accepting Tae-il's now would look too obvious. Regardless of her real feelings, if she took his clothes here, Sakuya might misunderstand. No—definitely would. Iris recalled Sakuya bickering with Ayane and knew it for sure.
“Well, you see…”
As Iris hesitated, Tae-il yawned and prodded. “Yaaawn. What's there to agonize over?”
“No, there's this pretty important reason I have to think about here…”
“Just take 'em and wear 'em. You'll catch a cold going home soaked. Summer colds hit hard these days.”
Tae-il grumbled as he headed back to the party room, grabbed a shirt and shorts, and returned. “Should I hand the clothes to Rena?”
“Y-Yeah…”
“Rena, mind passing 'em in? Kinda awkward for me to enter.”
“Sure.”
Rena took the bundled clothes from Tae-il, entered the pool area, and shut the door.
Watching the whole exchange, Sakuya smirked. “Iris, you're weak to persistence, huh?”
“I'm not!” Iris cried out in protest.
Sakuya just kept chuckling. It looked like a total misunderstanding to anyone watching, and Iris fumed. The unintended suspicion was piling up. And then.
Ayane, seeing Iris post-change in Tae-il's clothes, wore an expression like the sky was falling. “I trusted you… Iris of all people, I trusted!”
“Ayane?”
“Iris, you traitor…!”
“I get what you're thinking, but it's not like that! Absolutely not!”
“Ahahaha!”
“Hey, Iris. I just searched online—official name's 'boyfriend shirt'?”
“See? Traitor confirmed! Traitor! Pervert! How could you do this to Ayane?!”
“I'm gonna lose my mind…”
Sakuya and Rena had no intention of clearing it up; they just grinned mischievously, fanning the flames. Naturally, Tae-il—the one who could've dispelled it—was off helping Kiriko, leaving at the worst possible moment. For the first time, Iris resented his thoughtfulness.
“Ayane trusted Iris so muchhh!”
“I said it's a misunderstanding!”
Ayane's misunderstanding dragged on until Tae-il called down to say come on.
“Good work.”
“Rena-chan worked hard today too!”
Rena hopped out of the car with Sakuya's help, and Iris waved enthusiastically. Ayane, crammed in the back seat, draped her upper body over Tae-il's lap and booed Rena with a “boo” while thumbs-downing her.
Rena snorted in disbelief. What a joke.
If she was jealous, she should've claimed Tae-il's lap herself. Tae-il was weak to straight talk. The seat was cramped. Sakuya needed rest after the tournament. Ayane had bad blood with her. For all those logical reasons, Rena had boldly seized Tae-il's lap and embrace amid Sakuya's Interhigh chaos.
The ride back was the same. Despite Ayane's interference, Rena held her spot triumphantly.
Rena shot Ayane a disdainful glance, then beamed and waved daintily at the others. The kitten who'd once hissed fearfully at everyone had become a full sly fox.
“Shin, no practice tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
Tae-il nodded, then cautioned the lately thriving Rena like advice to a rising star. “Practicing at home is good, but rest when you can. Got it?”
“Don't worry. I've got conditioning down pat.”
Rena had juggled academics and her artist life since childhood. She was a pro at self-care.
Grades aside… She believed most school subjects were useless. No help for art. As long as she graduated, who cared? Stuff like remedial classes should be abolished, she grumbled inwardly.
“No practice videos tomorrow either?”
“Eh. Send if you want. I'll check whatever you send.”
“Cool.”
Students' health and studies came first, but Tae-il wouldn't stifle Rena's passion. She had no plans to overdo it per his concerns either. He'd stressed how tough the band's road ahead was multiple times. Burning out early would burden everyone. Practice moderately, without excess. Balance main duties and hobbies.
Rena finally eyed Iris, who wore an unusually loose shirt unlike her usual style. “Get home safe… Piggy.”
“I'm not a pig!”
Iris bristled. She usually favored tight clothes to flaunt her chest, but Tae-il's oversized shirt made her look oddly plump.
“Look at this! How am I a pig anywhere?!”
Iris yanked the shirt tail in anger, exposing her figure starkly.
“Ayane? Sakuya?”
Ayane and Sakuya swiftly covered Tae-il's eyes. Perfect sync for the first time.
“Now I see—you're not a pig, you're a slut.”
“No I'm not!”
“Pfft!”
“Who was that?! Who just laughed?!”
“My apologies. That was me, miss.”
“You always pull this sneaky crap whenever body talk comes up!? Your chest is smaller than mine!”
“Breasts aren't everything in feminine charm!”
“Nice excuse from a small-tit!”
Ayane plugged Tae-il's ears at the lowbrow exchange. “Ayane?”
“Shin-chan, you don't need to hear that junk. It's trash level. Thumbs down, thumbs down.”
It wasn't because her own chest stung.
“Ahaha. Should I take Iris's side here?”
“Sakuya, I'm wronged! Is having big boobs a crime?”
“Not a crime, but…”
Sakuya glanced at Tae-il. His view was still blocked by her palm. She pondered her own size, then spoke. “Well, big's not bad?”
“See?!”
Iris puffed up proudly, thrusting out her chest.
“Sigh. You really worry me sometimes…”
“What, worrying now? I wouldn't mind Rena-chan's concern!”
“Whatever. Just be careful on the way home.”
“I'm in a car—what's to be careful about?”
“Look at you. Impossible not to worry.”
Tae-il's prepared shorts were stretchy athletic ones, fitting Iris perfectly. The top was the issue. Oversized or not, it was destructively alluring to guys in another way.
Rena sighed and entrusted Kiriko. “Keep an eye on her, okay? I'm worried sick.”
“Yes, ma'am. No worries.”
“Rena-chan! Am I some three-year-old kid!?”
“Worse than a kid.”
Rena waved dismissively and stepped back. “Time to go. I'm heading home too.”
“Yeah! See ya tomorrow!”
Rena smirked. Thinking back, their vacations had always been like this. They'd meet at each other's houses every other day, with or without reason. Now with the band, excuses were clearer.
“See ya tomorrow!”
Kiriko started the engine as Rena waved goodbye. Iris waved furiously until Rena vanished in the side mirror.
“Ah. Feels empty now that Rena-chan's gone.”
As Iris said, the car felt awkwardly barren with just one missing from six.
Still a lot of awkwardness, huh. Tae-il smoothed Ayane's hair as she leaned on his shoulder, giving a wry smile. Karaoke alone wasn't enough yet.
Time'll fix it…
The real priority was tomorrow's date with Sakuya. Tae-il pondered otaku-optimized routes: casual café, manga shop. Maybe hit Otome Road in Ikebukuro again, like with Ayane? Sakuya might love it.
“Hm?”
Sakuya, right beside him, met his gaze and felt it. She tapped the screen with her thumb and showed Tae-il her smartphone.
It was a text. Their secret talk to avoid Ayane's ears. Tae-il smiled wryly and shook his head.
Sakuya paused thoughtfully, then tapped again.
Athlete's intuition was sharp. Tae-il nodded after a moment.
Sakuya asked with a hint of girlish curiosity.
My fashion sense sucks though… Seeing her expectant eyes, Tae-il wanted to say not to get hopes up.
Then Ayane, sensing something, piped up. “Home soon. Shin-chan, you'll tinker with songs again tonight?”
“Huh? P-Probably.”
Arrangement was nearly done; Tae-il needed to notate it soon. Copying full tablature for beginners felt daunting.
Ayane, sensing his worry a bit, suggested casually. “About copying the scores… Ayane help?”
“You?”
“Yeah. If it eases Shin-chan's work even a little…”
Tae-il smiled softly at Ayane, itching to apply her rare studying. “Sure. Let's try it as ear-training too.”
“Yay!”
Ayane closed her eyes happily, and Tae-il stroked her habitually. Oh shoot.
Remembering Sakuya, he turned—her stare was sullen. A-Ahaha…
Under that gaze, he couldn't not dress sharp. It was Sakuya's rare initiative. Tae-il nodded, and Sakuya finally smiled sweetly.
And.
Iris, watching the whole thing from the passenger seat, quietly shook her head. “Good grief.”
To anyone watching, Sakuya was a girl blinded by love.