Departure
“Yahoo! Good afternoon, Rena-chan!”
“Augh!”
Iris burst into the art room—now fully transformed into a practice space—and threw herself at Rena, who was diligently practicing beats in front of the drums.
Trailing behind, Kiriko hauled in the amp and guitar, offering some advice. “Miss, if you don’t let go soon, Rena might actually suffocate.”
“Eek!?”
Iris startled and checked Rena’s face in her arms. The once-pale skin had turned a deep shade of blue, like she was on the verge of passing out.
“Ughghgh!”
Rena pounded Iris’s chest with her drumsticks, demanding to be released. They didn’t hurt at all since she lacked the strength, but Iris’s breasts jiggled rhythmically, all soft and bouncy.
Iris hurriedly let Rena go. “Sorry, Rena-chan! It wasn’t on purpose! You okay?”
“Fuck off and die, you pig bitch!”
“Kyaa!”
Furious, Rena swung her sticks like weapons, chasing after Iris. Iris let out a shy scream as she fled.
“I swear, if I catch you, you’re dead!”
“You’re dead!?”
“Crazy. Why the hell are you blushing now!?”
Iris suddenly got all excited out of nowhere, making Rena freak out and halt her pursuit. In an instant, predator and prey had swapped roles.
“Come on! Catch me quick, Rena-chan! I’m ready to receive all your love!”
“Crazy…”
Rena stared in horror.
“Hurry!”
Iris spread her arms wide and strode toward Rena, who backed away in panic. Before she knew it, Rena was the one being chased, and Iris the hunter.
“Kyaa! Kiriko, save me! She’s acting extra weird today!?”
“What? Calling your friend weird? How could you, Rena-chan! You’re so mean! Guess I’ll have to prove my love for you!”
“Prove your love my ass! You’re the one who’s too much, you hunk of lard, shithead!”
“Ehehe!”
“Fucking psycho!”
Iris shivered with delight at Rena’s curses, grinning ear to ear. Rena got legit goosebumps.
“Hm.”
Kiriko, having finished setting up the amp, watched the chase and muttered quietly. “May you two last forever.”
No sooner had she said it than Rena got caught.
“Gotcha! Finally caught you, Rena-chan!”
“Ughgh!”
Her snarling mouth was sealed by a vicious midsection hug. Kiriko nodded as she watched Iris rub her breasts against the embraced Rena.
Indeed. She seems even more excited than usual. Did something special happen today…?
Kiriko tilted her head. She racked her brain for every possible anniversary, but none fell on today. Unfortunately.
It was just an utterly ordinary day, nothing special at all. And yet Iris was buzzing with energy, like she wanted everyone to notice.
Because it was practice day? Fair point. But she didn’t get this hyped every session.
Things had brightened since Rena joined, sure, but to Kiriko’s eyes, today’s Iris shone even brighter, more thrilled than ever.
“Rena-chan, you’ve been practicing drums hard, right?”
“Damn right! You think I wouldn’t?”
“Woo! Send me your practice videos too! Don’t just send them to Shin Tae-il, that’s not fair! I wanna see Rena-chan all focused on the drums!”
“Like it matters if you see them!?”
“It doesn’t!”
“This girl’s pissing me off!”
Rena patted the clingy Iris—like a sticker on her skin—with light, fluffy punches, venting her rage.
“Seriously, what’s with you today? Is it some special day or what?”
“Yup!”
Iris’s eyes sparkled, making Rena stop struggling and ask.
“…For real?”
“Of course! Today’s the day Sakuya officially joins our band!”
Ah. Rena let out a short sigh.
True enough. Today was the day Sakuya signed on for this godforsaken band. Guitarist—lead or first, whatever.
“What’s so great about that…”
Rena couldn’t fathom Iris’s over-the-top reaction. Sakuya joining? Sure, it was great. Rena got along especially well with her among the members, so she was thrilled too.
But was that reason enough for Iris to be this ecstatic?
Rena asked, “You two close or something?”
“Nah?”
Iris denied it. Question marks flooded over Rena’s head.
“Wait, you’re not even that close, so what the hell…”
“Doesn’t matter if we’re close! Our band’s finally complete!”
“…”
Rena was at a loss for words.
For a split second, she thought she saw tears welling in Iris’s clear ruby eyes. Overcome with emotion she couldn’t quite place, Iris shyly buried her face in Rena’s flat chest, hiding from Kiriko.
“We’re finally… moving forward…”
“Idiot.”
Rena sighed, gazing at the ceiling before patting Iris’s head.
“If you’re gonna hide it, hide it all the way.”
“Ehehe.”
Her voice dripped with moisture—it was obvious she was on the verge of tears. Rena glanced at Kiriko, who had turned away, hands over her ears.
Always the model servant.
Rena smirked.
“Sigh. That makes you this happy?”
“Yeah.”
Sure, uncertainties loomed everywhere, but they’d finally taken a step toward their dream. Rena knew the feeling all too well. Staring out from a cage was worlds apart from soaring free outside.
Dreaming a dream was one thing; chasing it was another.
“Not to rain on your parade or anything, but you sure about this?”
“Huh?”
“Your drummer’s me. Total noob who still can’t nail the beats right, you moron.”
“Hehe. That’s what makes it great.”
Even amid Rena’s self-deprecation, Iris grinned and giggled. Her smile tickled Rena’s chest, making her frown.
“Hey, hold up. This feels weird. Don’t laugh with your face in my stomach.”
“No way.”
“Crazy, it tickles—stop laughing…!”
“Ahahaha!”
“You damn pig…!”
Rena flailed for release. But with her small frame, she had no chance overpowering Iris’s strength. Exhausted from pushing, she went limp.
Catching her breath, Rena smacked the back of Iris’s head, still buried against her.
“Ow!”
“Hey.”
“Rena-chan? Even if it’s you, hitting my head’s kinda mean?”
Iris finally lifted her head, pouting. Rena smirked at her bloodshot eyes.
“Sorry in advance.”
“For what? If it’s the head smack, that’s not ‘in advance’—it’s late.”
“For being me.”
“…”
Iris fell silent at the apology. Rena snickered.
“Never planned on drumming. Figured I’d just get in your way with anything music-related.”
Rena was an artist. A modern artist hailed as a genius by those around her. And yet? She didn’t really feel it.
Maybe that’s why she understood how much talent ruled the arts. What came naturally to her didn’t for others—no matter if it was genius born of necessity.
To everyone else, she was the real deal. But that was the problem. Fine in art, where she shone. Music? Not so much.
She could tell her talent fell short.
“Truth is, I’m still anxious about drumming. When I’m at it, it feels good and I enjoy it somehow… but.”
Every time she sat down, a flicker of hesitation crept in.
Is this right?
Am I just gonna ruin Iris’s dream by barging in?
Who am I to live up to her faith in me?
Iris’s subtle, hidden doubts—sent in secret glances—only fueled Rena’s unease.
Can’t blame her.
Rena was a total beginner. Iris’s goals were too lofty for a newbie.
She told herself it was inevitable, but hated how she almost accepted it and backed off. Sending Tae-il practice videos nonstop was her routine to quell the anxiety and anger.
Oddly, his praise calmed her. Let her play the next beat. Practice fueled by his words gave her flimsy confidence that it’d help Iris too.
Rena closed her eyes. “Hey. I warned you. I’m a defective drummer—might wreck your dream anytime.”
“Rena-chan…”
“No take-backs if you cry and regret it later. I’m not leaving.”
Because you’re in that band. Shin Tae-il too.
So.
Rena looked up, meeting Iris’s eyes—joy, doubt, anxiety all mixed.
“If I slack off, tell Shin. Ask him to chew me out.”
Iris’s pupils rippled like waves. She let out a hollow laugh. Rena sensed the smile was just like the ones she showed the world.
Too hasty?
Unable to help it, Rena mirrored the smile.
“Hey, Rena-chan. Wouldn’t it be more touching if you said I’d convince Shin like a friend?”
“Touching my ass! You’d suffocate me if he didn’t like me!”
“Eh? Really?”
“‘Eh? Really?’ Bullshit! You’ve done it before!”
“No way!?”
Iris overreacted like a comedian. Ignoring it, Rena shoved her face away harder than usual to hide her embarrassment, feigning extra anger.
It wasn’t enough yet. But Rena figured it was fine. Even with the masks on, they were closer than before.