Departure (2)
Slide.
The door to Art Room A swung open.
"You're late!"
Iris, who had been waiting by the door after hearing the commotion in the hallway, greeted the group with an angry face.
"Whoa!"
Tae-il jumped in surprise, nearly tumbling over.
"Eek!"
Ayane, the main culprit behind their tardiness, flinched the hardest.
Iris smirked in satisfaction at the startled group, then flashed a mischievous grin at Sakuya—the only one who hadn't flinched and was just staring back at her.
"Come on in. Welcome to the band, Sakuya."
Bang bang!
Lights flooded the dark art room, and Kiriko and Rena popped confetti poppers from behind. Colorful paper streamers fluttered down over Iris's head.
"Haha."
Sakuya couldn't help but burst into laughter at the awkward but heartfelt welcome.
As Sakuya laughed, Iris puffed up proudly and pointed accusingly at the two bored faces behind her.
"See? What did I tell you? I said she'd react great!"
"Yeah, sure. Of course you did."
"Impressive."
Rena shrugged, waved lazily at Sakuya and Tae-il, then headed to the corner. Kiriko gave a half-hearted reply before starting to clean up the confetti remnants.
At her comrades' cold reactions, Iris put her hands on her hips and sighed softly with an "oh dear."
"Sigh. You guys are so out of touch with trends. What a shame, right?"
Iris looked at Tae-il with subtle expectation. She might be a loner at school, but with her connection to Izumi and her habit of frequenting Live Houses like they were cafeterias, party girl Shin Tae-il would surely get it. Her eyes carried that hint.
But.
"Me?"
Suddenly singled out, Tae-il blinked dumbly.
"You don't know either?"
"..."
As Tae-il fell silent, Iris glanced at Ayane... then shifted to Sakuya.
Sakuya shrugged.
"Ahaha. In sports clubs, we go for harsher initiations than cute welcomes like this..."
"What? You're less romantic than you look. Disappointing."
"Sorry. As a recommended scholarship admit, the seniors didn't haze me much."
"Mm-hmm. The sorrow of the top predator! I get it!"
Iris arbitrarily empathized with Sakuya.
"Hold on!"
Ayane, suddenly iced out, jumped in.
"Hey, that's too much, Iris! Ignoring the biggest social butterfly here, Ayane!?"
"Huh? I wasn't trying to ignore you..."
"Kinda feels like it, though?"
Sakuya nodded along with Iris unprompted, creating that vibe.
"No way!"
Ayane raised her voice for the first time in a while.
"Ayane has the most friends here!? Over a hundred numbers in my contacts!"
"For real, Ayane?"
"Why are you surprised, Shin- jerk!?"
Tae-il's genuine shock turned Ayane fully pouty.
"I mean, you haven't had many plans lately, so I thought your friends ditched you..."
Was it his fault for monopolizing her time? Guilt started creeping in as Tae-il mumbled. Ayane hurriedly explained.
"Nonsense! I get invites to hang out every day, but Ayane's been turning them all down 'cause I'm sorry!"
"Usually, that turns you into a real loner..."
It starts with skipping a few meets 'cause they're a hassle. Time passes, your heart fills up again, and you wait for invites—but none come. 'Eh, everyone's busy, I guess.' Finals are on. No meets are fine. Wait for finals to end. But even after finals, into break—no word. Check SNS. Insiders like band folks live on it. Scroll through pics of acquaintances and realize too late there was a meet. Then it hits: the group chat that excludes just you.
Tae-il chuckled soullessly.
"The funny part? By the time you notice, it's usually too late..."
"I-is that so..."
Ayane's eyebrows twitched as Tae-il confessed like it was his own story.
'Did Ayane ever ghost Shin-jerk?'
Guilt pricked despite no wrongdoing; Tae-il's aura was gloomily oppressive.
"But Ayane, you were that popular?"
"Super popular!"
"Ahaha. Can't be zero. If Iris and I are super cuties, you're at least a cutie, right?"
"That comparison feels so off..."
"Aha! Got it. Basically, you're a Kree-ling, huh?"
"Ayane knows what Kree-ling means!"
The infamous everyman sacrificed to power creep? Dragon Ball memes were huge even among normie Japanese.
Ayane teared up and clung to Tae-il.
"Shin-jerk! They're bullying me!"
"Haha. Yeah, don't tease Ayane too much."
Tae-il drew a firm, unique line for her standards.
"Ayane's not a Kree-ling—she's a free agent."
"Shin-jerk, that's a compliment, right...?"
"Specifically, a black free agent."
"Still a compliment!?"
Tae-il nodded with a grin. More importantly, he'd forgotten how popular Ayane was. Maybe because her recent gloom overlapped so much with original Ayane.
"Sorry, Ayane. Slipped my mind."
He'd selfishly forgotten hogging her time. Taken her band sacrifices for granted.
'Gotta reflect on this...'
Tae-il self-mocked. Unintentionally turning selfish more and more.
"If you're really sorry, sleep with Ayane again tonight."
"Huh? Th-that's..."
"We said we'd if parents okay it."
Ayane showed Tae-il the group chat with her parents—and his too. Used for trip plans.
She scrolled the log to show just the results.
Both sets of parents had approved Ayane's sleepover demand.
"No way, anyone can see the moms forced this!"
"Result's the result, Shin-jerk! Man up and accept it gracefully!"
"Even so, this is too much...!"
"Shin-jerk! Promises are promises! Break it and swallow a thousand needles!"
Ayane whined while clinging. Sensing she'd cling forever, Iris gave up waiting and dragged Sakuya inside first.
"Haha. So cute."
Sakuya laughed mockingly at the whining Ayane.
Iris elbowed Sakuya's side as she leaned casually against the blackboard, oozing leisure.
"You seem chill. Sure it's fine leaving them?"
"Yeah."
Sakuya chuckled.
"Technically, Rena and I slept with Tae-il too?"
"Ah..."
Iris paled, recalling Gunma.
Rena, who had stayed out of the chaos practicing drums to build her practice-bug image, shouted desperately.
"Hey, wait! That doesn't count...!"
Rena's eyes darted anxiously. Guilty as sin.
Sakuya stuck out her tongue cheekily with a sly grin.
"See?"
Iris sighed.
"Haa. What're we gonna do with Shin Tae-il later..."
Iris seriously pondered gifting him a swordproof vest or condoms for his birthday.
"Ahh. Mic check."
The speakers burst as Iris tapped the mic.
"Okay. Sounds good. Here, mic."
"Thanks."
Tae-il took it and scanned Art Room A from the platform.
Finally. The complete band stared at him blankly.
Not like the study group—gathered for one clear purpose: the band.
Colorful eyes fixed on him. For the first time, the position felt heavy.
Tae-il took a deep breath and set the mic down.
"What, nervous?"
"A bit?"
"More than a bit?"
Iris giggled at his paling face.
"A-hem!"
Tae-il cleared his throat. He spoke without the mic, resolute.
"Anyway. Some know, but new member's here, so announcement time."
Fall. Post-break, first busking. Yoyogi Park—huge between Shinjuku and Shibuya, famous for bands, street dancers, comedians, tourists.
No cheers or claps for his declaration.
Rena by Sakuya raised her hand.
"Question. Busking mandatory?"
"What do you mean?"
"Regardless of skill, we do it when time comes?"
"Yeah."
Tae-il nodded calmly; worrywart Ayane's face darkened.
Silent Sakuya raised her hand.
"Me too."
"Go ahead."
"Why force busking?"
"Necessary."
"Real combat?"
"Exactly."
Practice matters. But without 100% in real scenarios, it's worthless.
Especially original Ayane's stage fright worried him.
'More social phobia, really...'
Current Ayane differed vastly in personality and relations. Still.
He couldn't relax. Band had more bombs than Ayane.
He glanced at Iris beside him.
'Iris...'
Band's secret weapon, most trusted. But middle school live ruined—trauma etched deep, unbeknownst to her.
'Ayane might be fine, but Iris must overcome hers.'
Original trigger: school festival stage. He'd let guard down; small Live Houses never flared it. But big stage like auditorium? High chance.
'Can't let Iris on big stage without resolving.'
Before fame hits. Eliminate live negatives.
But explaining? No buy-in.
So, another excuse.
"One more reason."
"What?"
"Our school cultural festival."
"Eek."
Silent Iris flinched. Cultural festival—with Interhigh, unbeatable youth staple. Like school trips, peak event.
"Post-midsems, late October."
"Plays, orchestra, bands—tons of lives."
Yuuma's arts/sports strength: feast for eyes/ears.
Can't beat enjoyers. Free-music club kids, stressed by contests, unleash hearts here. Teachers call it stress relief.
Simply:
"Yuuma stages get huge attention—even for school fest."
School bands too. Easiest fame for minors: shine at fest.
"First stage anywhere's fine. Recognition means encore at Huya-sai. That's our goal."
Huya-sai: award-winning orchestra, OB lives, guest artists.
Planned to skip for practice, but post-Izumi meets, changed mind. Sneak into Huya encore: goal.
Silent Sakuya raised hand.
"Heard about fest from seniors."
Three days packed. Day 2 theater-heavy, draws theater folks. Pre-fest good, but real prize: vote encore Huya.
"Don't know our Light Music Clubs' level, but better than us."
Sakuya scanned members.
"Minus you two, rest greenhorns."
Ayane: bass month-plus.
Rena: drums weeks.
Sakuya: hasn't touched guitar.
"Busking okay. Agree on real-combat habit. But official stage at half-skill? Oppose."
Just humiliation.
Sakuya obsessed one thing: public image. Crumbled before Tae-il, but outward: massive star. Swim empress. Miracle gen. Prodigy. Manga protag or final boss—glitzy titles trailed.
"Got my dreams, future plans."
Smooth sailing; no weird stains.
Room chilled at her stance. Ayane's glare sharpest—like who are you to question Tae-il?
Friend Rena looked troubled.
"Not hiding it."
Sakuya shrugged, scanning. Ayane inwardly grumbled: Mask-wearer saying that?
"Hm."
Tae-il closed eyes. Understood her. Built up Sakuya-persuasion fearing this.
'As expected...'
Tough flipping her pre-debut.
Despite max effort, Sakuya joined lighter than others.
Ayane: heavy. Hell with Tae-il? Ready.
Rena: heavy-ish. For Iris's freedom, dead serious drums.
Sakuya? Joined 'cause Tae-il wanted. Tried motivating agency—no instant shift.
Like joining club to woo crush.
Inevitable. She didn't know Iris's baggage or Tae-il's band seriousness.
"Get your worries."
"Right?"
Reasons varied. Explaining? Time short, persuasion weak.
So.
"No need worry. Stage'll be perfect."
Blunt assurance only option.
"Hmm? Why?"
Sakuya rested chin on hand, humming intrigued.
"Huh?"
Tae-il yanked Iris forward.
"'Cause our vocal's Iris."
"W-wait, dragging me in!?"
Iris flustered. Foresaw member clashes since Ayane-Rena.
'Leadership key in band.'
Convince Sakuya here? Tae-il solidifies core. Sakuya'd follow obediently after.
Iris secretly eyed his leadership flair.
But.
'Why me!?')
Tae-il exceeded expectations.
Sakuya roared laughing.
"Puhaha! Sorry, not mocking Iris. Just your handling's hilarious..."
She wiped laugh-tears.
"Iris sings great. Karaoke blew me away. Pro level."
Sakuya good, Iris another realm. Why no pro career?
"But. Doesn't make our stage perfect, Tae-il."
Solo? Sure. Band? Vocal heavy, but not solo-carry perfect.
Tae-il unmoved by jab.
"It will be."
His force troubled Iris now.
"Um...?"
She pleaded at him. Couldn't escape—shoulders gripped.
Wishing time pass quick, Sakuya-Tae-il eyes locked. No retreat stare-down; Sakuya conceded first.
"Hah. Tricky. Didn't wanna fight over this. Iris that great?"
"Japan's best, hands down."
"Haha."
Sakuya's weak laugh made Iris shrink instinctively. Purple eyes irked oddly.
Iris hoped illusion.
Sakuya shrugged.
"Fine. Say so. Fest October—two months plus?"
She raked hair back rough; Tae-il grinned easy, like tension joke.
"Yeah. Enough for you?"
"...Yeah."
Sakuya pouted.
Two months-ish. No clue Tae-il's song, but self-taught guitar Iris knew brutality. Chords-melody mix tough. Confidence low, power chords fumble.
Smooth full-run Tae-il wants? Not easy.
Simply: impossible.
Sakuya talented varied, but music? No expect.
Honestly. Bass to Ayane random; Rena drums sudden. Couldn't fathom Tae-il's picks.
But.
Face close, saw Tae-il's eyes clearer: trust, faith at Sakuya.
'Like...'
Infinite trust he'd given her.
His clear gaze passed Sakuya to Rena, Ayane sequentially.
"Sakuya hasn't touched guitar yet—what about you all?"
"Annoying comparison. Anyway, two months...?"
Rena rubbed temples headache-y.
"Kinda intense..."
Tae-il chuckled at her no-refusal.
"Ayane can do it! Pause harmony study short, somehow..."
"Okay. Composition study break till year-end."
"Then doable!"
"Iris too, right?"
"Huh? M-me?"
Singing? Confident. But timing odd—not song-related.
As guessed.
Tae-il thumb-pressed her shoulder relaxingly.
"Show 'em."
Chin on her shoulder slyly, he nodded at Sakuya mischievously.
"Like you did me. Like convincing Ayane. Turn Sakuya your fan. How's that?"
So saying.
He tilted head, beaming fearlessly at Iris.