Shabu-Shabu Carnage and BARD Arena Tickets
The standard order for a shabu-shabu feast went something like this. Once the broth started boiling, you'd dip veggies and mushrooms in peanut sauce or soy sauce for a light appetizer. Then toss in the meat. When the broth began taking on a rich hue from the juices seeping out of the meat, you'd sip the soup. Eat the meat. Eat the meat. Eat the meat. When it was gone, order more. Even when Tae-il added extra veggies and urged everyone to eat some, only he and Ayane bothered fishing them out. They were basically the cleanup crew for leftovers.
"Everyone's eating well."
Watching the members devour their food like warriors, Tae-il felt full just from the sight. He poked at his chopsticks idly.
"You're the one eating too little, Tae-il."
Sakuya, who was seated at a separate table with Kiriko, stuffed a massive pile of meat into her mouth, chewed it thoroughly, swallowed, and replied. Comparing the stacks on their plates, Sakuya's looked like a mountain. The only ones with comparable portions were the petite Rena and Ayane, who stuck mostly to veggies.
"Sakuya-san, that piece you just took... I swear I had it reserved for myself..."
"Whoops! My bad, I didn't mean to... Want me to order more?"
"...Please."
Kiriko struggled valiantly against the meat-killing machine that was Sakuya.
Good call seating her separately. Tae-il let out a sigh of relief. Sorry, Sakuya, but if she'd joined them, it would've been chaos.
"Speaking of, Iris sure packs away the meat."
"She loves it."
"You're talking about the meat, right...?"
"Obviously. Why?"
Iris, mid-chew, stared at Tae-il in confusion. Her cheeks bulged like a chipmunk's, making her "walking succubus" reputation feel like a total mismatch—no sex appeal whatsoever.
"Khk...! Nah, nothing."
Tae-il covered his mouth to stifle a giggle.
"What? You're such a buzzkill."
Iris pouted, then went back to munching. Tae-il quietly rested his chin on his hand, observing her. It was fascinating. Even with makeup, she had this oddly natural vibe, like she wasn't wearing any.
Is this part of resembling Izumi-san...?
He'd heard that couples or spouses start to look alike, and maybe stars and fans did too. He'd always dismissed it as nonsense.
Or maybe not.
Stars were distant idols up in the sky. It made perfect sense for a fan idolizing one to gradually take on their traits.
Did he stare too openly? Iris scratched her cheek, sensing his gaze.
"Hey, is there something on my face?"
"Nope?"
"Then why are you staring like that? It's creepy."
"Was I?"
"You're still doing it, you shameless jerk."
"Guess so."
"Well, my face is pretty amazing."
Iris struck a smug pose, and Rena—sitting next to her—shoved a piece of meat into her mouth.
"Mmph!?"
"Shut up and eat, you pig."
Even as she glared with furrowed brows, Iris obediently chewed like a baby bird.
"Pfft."
Tae-il couldn't hold back a chuckle.
Iris chewed furiously, then gulped it down with water.
"Pwah! Rena-chin! This is your fault—Shin Tae-il's laughing at me!"
"What? You've always been a joke."
"It's not funny, it's cute! See!"
Iris framed her face with her fingers like an idol pose.
"Ugh, get that mug outta my face. It's overwhelming."
"Eek!"
Rena shoved Iris's face away mercilessly. With her cheeks squished, Iris pulled off a rare legit funny face.
"Ah."
Ayane witnessed it and let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
"Sorry if it's rude, but on Ayane's scale, that was pretty hilarious?"
"Even you, Ayane!?"
Iris sighed deeply, oblivious to the humiliating shot that would live on forever.
"Aah! The fate of an envy-inducing beauty..."
"That's why people call you obnoxious."
"But I don't do it in front of others, right?"
"Obviously not! You know they'd take it seriously and it'd turn into a fight?"
Iris pursed her lips. She'd tried that tone a few times before. In short, the group here took her self-praise as jokes and just laughed it off.
"I mean, your average looks might fall a tiny bit short compared to mine, but you're all pretty."
Iris propped her chin on her hand, flashing what she thought was a killer smile.
"Call it my respect to my rivals?"
"Urk!"
Rena dry-heaved. Ayane's expression soured in real-time.
"Shin-chin, what do I do? Ayane's suddenly developing a hatred for Iris."
"What?"
"Only now? You're more tolerant than I thought."
"Rena-chin!?"
Tae-il covered his face, shaking with laughter.
Real talk. Birds of a feather... as expected.
He'd worried about their rocky relationship, but when it came to roasting Iris, their synergy was perfect. Drummer and bassist through and through.
While the four laughed and chatted, Sakuya—who'd demolished a mountain of meat—finally poked her head over from her table.
"Having fun without me?"
"You finished the meat already?"
"Not yet."
Sakuya pointed to the empty pot—she'd ordered more to fill the void. With her gone momentarily, Kiriko quietly picked at the scraps of meat.
Her sunglasses hid her eyes, but she looked like she might be tearing up.
"Don't hog it all—share with Kiriko-san too..."
"Finder's keepers, right?"
"..."
"Kidding, kidding. Of course we should share."
She smacked her lips regretfully, but her words rang zero true.
"Your order of meat is here."
"Whoa! Meat's arrived. Be right back after I eat!"
"Sure."
Sakuya dashed back, dumping a plate of fresh red meat into the pot with a splash.
"Should we order more meat too?"
"Pass."
"Ayane's getting full too, so maybe just a little...?"
"Shin Tae-il, you?"
"Let's wrap up with udon noodles."
"Already?"
Iris, craving more meat, smacked her lips disappointedly.
"If you're still hungry, head over there."
"There?"
Rena nodded toward Kiriko battling Sakuya.
"...Just udon it is."
Iris took one look at Sakuya piling meat onto rice in a separate high-rice bowl order and immediately lost the will to fight.
"Smart choice."
Rena patted Iris's shoulder.
"You've got plenty of padding up top already."
"Jealous much, Rena-chin?"
"Wanna die?"
Unlike the other table living in their own world, this side added udon once they were nicely full and finished cleanly. For dessert to settle their greasy stomachs: ice cream and plum tea.
"Haaah. So full."
Iris, reveling in a rare unrestricted feast, slumped happily over the table.
Rena eyed her bloated belly warningly.
"Fall asleep right after eating and you'll gain weight."
"I'm the type who doesn't gain any, no matter what."
"Unfair."
"Even sneaking cup ramen at night doesn't make my face puff up?"
"Tch."
Rena clicked her tongue outright. Memories flooded back of force-feeding herself to grow taller, only ballooning her belly and face instead. Some people gained height; others just piled on chest and hips. Rena glanced down at her flat chest flowing straight to her hips.
The world was unfair.
"Hehe. Jealous of this too, right, Rena-chin?"
"As if."
"Oh yeah, now that you mention it..."
Tae-il, watching their exchange, turned to Ayane beside him with sudden curiosity, as if the thought just hit him.
"Haven't we been eating a ton lately?"
"Yeah. We've been eating out a lot."
"Right? I feel like I've put on some weight. Maybe cut back...? Oh yeah, Ayane, have you gained any?"
"Shin-chin?"
Ayane beamed and gripped his hand tight.
Tae-il's hand creaked in agony.
"A-Ayane...?"
Girls learning instruments had killer grip strength. Filthy strong.
Tae-il barely swallowed his scream, staggering and sweating it off, as Ayane warned him.
"Never ask a girl that again. Got it?"
"S-Sorry."
Ayane loosened her grip—but didn't let go.
"Be more sensitive, Shin-chin. Ayane's trying her best too, you know."
"S-Sorry, I didn't know..."
Whether 2D became reality or whatever, no fantasy girl lived on dew alone without bathroom breaks. To Tae-il's eyes, she might match her original portrayal, but Ayane's figure was hard-earned.
"If you gain it, just lose it, right?"
"Exactly."
Sakuya and Kiriko, finishing up, dragged their chairs over to join.
"You two burn it off with exercise?"
"Pretty much."
"As security, training's a must for us maids."
Kiriko added they had regular tests—fail, and no more shadowing Iris.
"I'm elite-level, you know."
"Impressive..."
"Heh. Feel free to gush more. Haven't gotten that reaction lately—makes me feel young again."
"Hold up! You're spoiling her! No praise! Praise the Arisugawa family's maid-training methods instead!"
"That's human rights abuse!"
"Ahaha."
Iris laughed as Kiriko grumbled like an old rival. The group ignored it as par for the course.
Sakuya, munching ice cream while leaning on Tae-il's shoulder, spotted the receipt left by the server.
"Whoa. You guys really eat light, huh?"
How could two people out-eat four? Sakuya sighed. Rena recoiled at her claim that she ate fast and much, stealing others' turns—hence the isolation.
"No way—your stomach's a fourth-dimensional pocket."
"Ahaha! Rena, such a joker."
Sakuya waved it off as exaggeration.
"Okay, I eat a lot. Not denying it. But shabu-shabu just makes you wanna keep going, right?"
She eyed Tae-il for backup.
He nodded sympathetically.
"Broth dishes do that..."
"See?"
"Even so, Sakuya, yours seems excessive. Overeating's bad for you. You okay health-wise?"
"I'm probably the healthiest here?"
"Can't argue, but..."
"Gotta put in the work, right?"
"..."
Thinking of her intense morning runs turned Tae-il's face pale.
With him stumped, Sakuya targeted Iris next—the second-biggest eater.
"What about you, Iris?"
"Shabu-shabu meat's so thin, it doesn't feel like you're eating much!"
"Right? I'm not weird!"
"Mm-hm."
Iris nodded, arms crossed. Sakuya's eyes sparkled—finally, validation. Like attracts like. Even bust sizes.
"But even I couldn't handle four udon portions like you."
"Guh."
"I'm human too!"
"That'd make my stomach explode," Iris grumbled.
"What? So I'm not human?"
"Ah."
Not complete like-minds after all.
Whoever said it, women apparently had a separate dessert stomach. Despite stuffing themselves on shabu-shabu, the group naturally headed to a cafe afterward.
Tae-il, dragged along by the girls, voiced his doubts.
"Wait, guys! This right?"
"Ayane."
"Leave it to Ayane!"
"Katsuragi, need a hand?"
"...Just this once?"
At Iris's call, Ayane and Sakuya hooked arms with Tae-il from both sides, binding him tight.
He was fully restrained.
"Let's go! I know a great dessert cafe!"
"Yay!"
"Iris is paying for dessert, right?"
"Of course I am!"
"Iris! Iris! Iris!"
Ayane and Sakuya chanted her name. Tae-il, hauled like luggage, muttered.
"Uh, guys...? My opinion?"
"Give up, Shin."
"Rena...?"
"Iris never backs down once she's fired up. You know that."
Rena, dragged around by Iris for nearly a decade, followed with dead eyes. Her tiny back screamed: Give up. It's easier.
No choice anyway—his arms were locked solid.
"Haa."
Tae-il sighed, head drooping.
Moments later.
Unlike fears of some fancy far-off spot—Iris's target was a plain downtown cafe. Close enough to reach quick.
Before entering, Tae-il scanned the packed interior through the window. Looked ordinary, but oddly familiar.
Oh, right—this is from the original...
Cafe Stella. Iris's regular haunt for lyric and composing practice. She'd even waitressed here after running away penniless to gain independence.
Tae-il followed the group, soaking in the fan-pilgrimage vibe.
Even for a women-heavy cafe, their striking combo drew eyes, so Iris picked a partitioned corner booth.
"What'll everyone have? I'll take a green tea latte."
Tae-il skimmed the menu amid the familiar-yet-strange cafe. Neighborhood spot—like the one with Sakuya before.
"Just iced coffee for me."
Safe coffee over risky experiments for palate cleansing.
"Hey, Iris. Mind if I get parfait? Their jumbo one's calling me."
"Go for it!"
Iris thumbs-upped, price no object. True heiress style. Rena watched the exchange in disbelief.
"You can fit a parfait after that?"
"I could eat all day."
"..."
If it was Sakuya, Rena believed it—terrifying.
"Wanna share, Rena?"
"Nah. Milk tea for me."
"Green tea latte for me, iced coffee for Shin Tae-il, parfait for Sakuya, milk tea for Rena-chin. Ayane?"
"Honey milk latte for Ayane!"
"Got it. Kiriko."
"All noted. Should I order mine too, miss?"
"When have you not?"
"Haha, true. Right away!"
Kiriko took Iris's card and headed to the counter. Iris flopped onto the plush sofa.
"Yaaawn. So full... getting sleepy."
"Didn't you have something to say?"
"Oh yeah, almost forgot. Shin Tae-il, pull that out."
"That?"
Her amber eyes narrowed. Ayane felt a twinge of displeasure—something between Iris and Tae-il she didn't know about.
"Oh, it's nothing big..."
Tae-il pulled a crisp white envelope from his pocket. Inside: five tickets.
"What's that, Shin-chin?"
"Tickets to BARD's solo arena tour concert in Yokohama."
"BARD..."
Ayane, who'd forgotten amid the chaos, recalled her rival Izumi and glared seriously at the tickets. Next weekend.
"Front-stage standing."
"Nice touch."
Rena flapped a ticket, smirking at her short height.
"Hmm. So this is a BARD concert ticket."
Sakuya showed pure interest. She knew of BARD but wasn't obsessed—just enough trivia for chit-chat.
Honestly, Sakuya liked songs, not groups. If she had a fave singer, it'd be the one who'd sing her future manga's OP/ED if it blew up.
Everyone fantasizes like that... Like male LN authors dreaming with voice actresses. Hers just involved OP/ED.
"Mm-hm."
Iris nodded at the varied reactions.
"Everyone free then?"
Nods all around. High school freshmen sans entrance exams had vacation time, duh.
As Iris grinned to confirm schedules, Tae-il raised a hand.
"FYI, I can't do mornings. Got work."
"Ack!"
Iris panicked—she'd planned morning lines for first-come merch sweeps.
"A-Anyone else?"
She scanned desperately. Numbers mattered—merch limits per person.
Iris usually dragged Kiriko for double hauls. But Tae-il scored tickets hassle-free, so no extra for Kiriko.
"I know Rena-chin has nothing!"
"Sorry, Iris. Got a weekend meeting call with the gallery owner about the next exhibit..."
"Kyaa! Sorry, Rena-chin! My bad! I'll grant one wish later, pleeease!"
Iris clung to Rena's waist, begging.
"Knowing you're sorry's enough. Keeping that wish."
"Yup yup!"
Rena backed off surprisingly easy, a glint of anticipation on Iris's face.
"FYI, I can schedule a meeting that day too... got it?"
"Yessir!"
Iris saluted Rena, turning to the other two.
"You two?"
Sakuya shrugged—free agent, anytime fine.
"Then Ayane!?"
Iris's sparkling eyes made Ayane scratch her nose awkwardly.
"Well, Ayane's been postponing hangouts with friends too much lately..."
Popularity needed maintenance.
Iris despaired; Rena scolded.
"Even a gloomy girl like you wouldn't get it—you only have me for close friends."
"No! I have tons! They reply when I text...!"
"So you'd actually meet them?"
"Uh, well..."
Fine at school, but private meetups? No thanks—that was Iris.
"See?"
Rena shrugged knowingly. Iris pouted.
"Tch. So just me, Rena-chin, and Sakuya for mornings?"
"Looks like."
Fresh combo.
Ugh... okay without Shin Tae-il? Even with Rena bridging, Iris eyed him worriedly at the thought of Sakuya sans him.
"...Whatever, sounds good! Everyone cool?"
No objections.
"Rough morning for you guys. Ayane, just go afternoon with Shin-chin?"
"Yeah. But Ayane looks kinda happy?"
"Ehehe."
Ayane didn't hide her glee; Tae-il smiled wryly.
"It'll be hot—be careful. Sakuya, ever been to Comicon?"
"No, but cousin filled me in. BARD solo's that big?"
"Haha, not quite. Band concert crowds vs. Comicon? No contest."
Japan's national band or not, scales differed vastly.
"Still, concerts take forever to get in."
"Prep plenty?"
"Yeah. You morning folks, watch the heat."
"Don't worry."
Iris thumped her chest confidently.
"Know who I am?"
"Uh? Arisugawa Iris?"
"Nope!"
Iris whipped out her fanclub card.
"Me? A single-digit Lute member. Named among names."
"In this biz, named fan ain't much brag, tho..."
"BARD concerts attended? Over twenty."
"That's legit. Later ones were ticket hell."
"Veteran of veterans. Get it now?"
Iris smirked cockily; Sakuya whispered to Tae-il cautiously.
"Iris secretly dreams of being a rapper, not rocker?"
"..."
Tae-il dodged. Rena, who'd seen Iris's black history up close, sighed with chin on hand.
"Her room's buried in BARD merch. Told her to sort it—nope."
"Merch is for showing off!"
"That's what she says?"
"Hiding it defeats the purpose!"
Her reason: flaunt BARD love proudly.
"Anyway, no worries for you, Shin Tae-il. I'll plan the whole day!"
"Hahaha."
Tae-il dry-laughed at her confidence. Next weekend suddenly worried him.
Concerning...
Canon or not, Iris's overconfidence always spelled trouble. Total Haruhi Suzumiya vibes.
Rena, sensing it, nudged his shin with her shoe.
"Rena?"
"No sweat. Worst case, I'll brake this pig."
"Haha. Face give it away?"
"Big time."
Caught, Tae-il scratched his cheek. Worried, but excited too. BARD at Yokohama Arena—Japan music icon, rivaling Budokan. Bigger than any concert he'd seen. Over ten thousand fans. Just imagining lifted his lips.
Iris too.
"Excited?"
"Totally!"
Her beaming smile warmed Tae-il with pride; he grinned back unconsciously. Rare bright one—refreshing, heart-tickling vibe. But it didn't last.
"Hmph."
"Tch."
Sakuya and Ayane simultaneously stomped Tae-il's feet.
"Ow!"
Mid-laugh, he winced; the culprits played innocent.
"Hm?"
Kiriko arrived with tray of drinks and parfait, adjusting her slipped sunglasses at the off vibe.
"What happened while I was gone?"
"Huh? Nothing?"
"Nothing, and the mood's like this?"
Chilly. Especially around Tae-il.
"A-ahaha..."
Tae-il laughed awkwardly. Rena summed it up.
"Karma."
Kiriko nodded.
"Got it."
Instant understanding.