Bickering Before BARD and the Worst Customers
"You really okay, Rena-chan? You can rest more if you want?"
"I've already rested over 30 minutes. That's plenty. Why rest more?"
As if spurred on by some anger born from her own deficiencies, Rena swiftly regained her composure, defying everyone's concerns. The fact that she could now stand on her own—unlike just moments ago—was a world of difference.
"Phew..."
Rena gulped down the milk tea Sakuya had fetched, then let out a rough sigh.
"Let's go. I'm totally fine now. See? I can even jump like this!"
Iris eyed Rena cautiously as she bounced in place to prove her point.
"For real? You're not pushing yourself? You won't just suddenly collapse, right?"
"What're you talking about? Do I look like I'm overdoing it to you?"
Rena shot Iris an incredulous look at her lingering suspicion. With her strong pride, Rena had always hidden her struggles from others, bottling them up alone. Even her childhood friend Iris wasn't exempt— she hadn't noticed until Rena actually collapsed, leaving a lingering trauma like 'How could I not know that about my own friend?' Especially since just a year ago, Rena's stubbornness had led to a breakdown from stress and deadlines, making Iris extra cautious.
"If you collapse, concert or no concert, we're heading straight to the hospital. If you're hurting, you tell me right away, got it?"
"Worrying's your hobby or something. Anyway, shouldn't we hurry and get in line? You need to buy merch."
Rena prodded her, knowing Iris was dead serious about anything BARD-related. They'd gathered early precisely for the BARD goods Iris had been dying for. No way was she collapsing here and making Iris miss out—that'd be a total waste.
"That's why I'll take care of myself. No need to worry. I know my own body best."
"You idiot, Rena-chan!?"
Iris snapped at that. She knew it was meant kindly, but that only made her madder.
"What do you take me for, Rena-chan!? No matter how much I love merch, you're always number one!"
"Hmph. Nice to hear, even if it's empty words."
"It's not empty! If you really collapse, you're in for it. I'll tie you to the bed so tight you can't do practice or anything, and nurse you 24/7."
"Uh... even so, spare me that..."
Rena knew Iris was the type to stubbornly follow through on every word she said, so she desperately refused. Spending 24 hours under Iris's clueless "nursing"?
"Hah."
Her head throbbed. Was there a hell worse than that? As Rena's face drained to a muddy pallor in real time, Sakuya finally cut in.
"Haha. If it comes to it, I'll carry you on my back. Cool?"
"Sakuya?"
"Yup. As you can see..."
Rena glanced over, and Sakuya flexed her arm, showing off her bicep like trust me.
"Stamina's my strong suit. I could carry you around all day."
"Whoa..."
It wasn't a joke—Sakuya's endurance was the real deal, from what Rena had seen. Imagining herself piggybacked on that back all day, Rena couldn't help but snicker.
"Fine, deal. If it gets bad later, I'll ask. No backing out?"
"Of course. Leave it to me."
Iris pouted at how warmly Rena responded to Sakuya compared to her own cold shoulder, wedging herself between them like a wall. She shot Sakuya a side-eye.
"Me too!"
"What got into you now...?"
"Haha, don't be like that. It's cute."
"What? That? Cute? Sorry, but Sakuya, are your eyes okay?"
Sakuya giggled behind her hand as Rena got serious. Feeling ignored, Iris dramatically thrust out her back, thumbs up at Sakuya.
"If carrying me gets tough, Sakuya, just say so! Rena-chan's light as a feather—I could tote her all day too!"
Before Sakuya could reply, Rena cut in.
"FYI, Sakuya's fine, but you're a no."
"Why!?"
"'Cause it's you."
"Huh!? I don't get it! Did you start hating me or something, Rena-chan!?"
"Pfft!"
Sakuya laughed into her hand, catching why Rena rejected the "fisherman's wife" play. Iris wailed in the world's most wronged expression at the bizarre setup where she alone looked the fool.
"This is so unfair! Rena-chan, does our decade-plus friendship mean nothing!?"
Iris clung to the much smaller Rena, whining with her face buried in a certain spot.
"Agh! Quit sticking to me and get off!"
"Why reject me!? I'm so sad!"
"Ahahaha!"
Rena flailed in panic, trying to pry off Iris's head. But Iris, overwhelming her in every physical aspect, wasn't budging.
"S-Sakuya! Help me...!"
Sakuya just shrugged at the plea, watching from the sidelines.
"Haha. Give up, Rena. Sensei Anzai says it's easier that way."
"Eek!"
"I love you, Rena-chan! Besties forever!"
"Besties or not, let go first! I can't breathe!"
"Hahahaha!"
Sakuya finally lost it, clutching her stomach at their bickering.
"Man, you two are hopeless. Lifelong friends for sure."
"Curse you, curse you!"
"Rena-chan's too mean! How's that a curse? It's a total blessing—lifelong friends with me, of all people!"
"'Cause she's the same type as youuuu!"
Tae-il's familiar presence, always there like a reliable seat for her to lean on, suddenly felt missed. Wait, too clingy? His gloomy, shady personality grated, but Ayane's shared wavelength was missed too. Nah, not really.
They act all meek when God's around, but without him...!
Tormented by these two boundary-blind "friends," Rena desperately longed for Tae-il today of all days.
"Agh, damn..."
"Rough one, huh? Judging by your face, it was that again?"
"Yeah. That exactly."
That. The term for the practice room's most heinous offense.
Tae-il irritably stripped off his latex gloves and mask, tossing them in the trash. Running the place meant watching out for certain customer types: couples and drunks. Drunks were a disaster by mere existence—who even came here wasted? If they puked, you could count yourself cursed.
Next worst: couples. Today's culprits, a guy-girl pair who'd used the room Tae-il had just cleaned, were top-tier vile. The manager handed over a ziplock of salt.
"Sprinkle it around the entrance. Ward off the evil."
"Why not just post a 'No Couples Allowed' sign at the front?"
"Crazy. You trying to tank my business?"
Not all couples were the problem. Not every guy-girl pair was dating. But today's? Blatantly so from checkout.
Vrrr.
The buzz he'd heard as the girl passed. Even if Sakuya ranked him dead last in games and sports, Tae-il prided himself on sharp hearing—and he clocked it instantly as an adult toy.
She smirked slyly at my flustered face...
Maybe they'd targeted him from the start, messing around to troll. Total perverts.
"I mean, I've seen that kinda scene in thin books, but experiencing it firsthand? Gross."
"Hahaha!"
The manager roared with laughter, getting it completely.
"Don't laugh. I'm serious. Don't you ever think anything when you're cleaning that up?"
Tae-il had dry-heaved every time the slimy stuff touched his hands.
"Think something...? Hm."
The manager, chewing dried squid, crossed his arms thoughtfully, reminiscing. Back when he'd just opened the place. His old metal band buddies had rented it for a full day to celebrate, including the women who were now his sister-in-laws but girlfriends then. He'd passed out drunk but clearly heard the ragged breaths. That lewd, enervating moan of coupling.
Fury overtook him; he bolted up unconsciously. Friends "celebrating" by screwing? Unforgivable. But yelling would ruin bonds, so he staggered off "drunk" to the bathroom. Their tense glances gave him a twisted thrill. But then...
The thick night-flower scent in the bathroom set him off.
"Yeah. Felt like killing them."
"Right?"
"Even with CCTV, seeing couples flaunt it? I legit pondered driving a truck through for a rampage."
"I hadn't gone that far..."
"No joke—wanted to slaughter every couple on earth."
But he never acted.
"Gave up."
Earth's half male, half female. Kill all couples, new ones spawn. Eradicating them meant wiping humanity. His dream, impossible.
"Sigh. So tragic..."
The manager teared up in self-absorbed pathos. Seeing him sink into gloom deeper than expected, Tae-il quietly backed away—then bolted to the break room.
Gut screamed: Stay, get dragged into hassle—100%.
"Everyone doing okay...?"
On break, he checked his phone's buzzing messenger. Excluding him and Ayane, the others were already happily gathered near Yokohama Arena.
Scrolling down, Iris's photos greeted him.
"Looks like they're having a blast. Uploading tons of pics..."
Shots of their meal, Yokohama Arena from afar. Selfies of the trio, weird solo concept shots from Iris—variety galore.
"Said she didn't do SNS..."
She was going wild solo in the chat, like she'd bottled it up forever.
"Kkh!"
Tae-il clamped a hand over his mouth, stifling laughter. Imagining the three huddled, heads together, furiously tapping phones instead of talking—it cracked him up. Original characters or not, just like any teen girls. A fond smile crept on.
"Still, if possible..."
Three girls together, and plates shatter, huh? The log exploded upward the second Tae-il sided with Ayane. Adding her made the chat deafening even in text.
"Whew."
At the dizzying scroll speed, Tae-il figured jumping in meant no bones left—slipped out quietly. Notifications went nuts, ignored. He eyed the pinned Izumi at the bottom.
Asking merch straight-up seemed heartless, so neutral greeting first.
"No reply..."
Rehearsals kept her swamped—no response despite waiting. Knowing stage day chaos, Tae-il pondered, then messaged.
Checked time post-send. Felt like minutes, but hours gone. Group chat: 300+ messages, no way to catch up.
"Whatever. Back to work."
Dusted off, pocketed phone. Next reservation due soon.
BIG O PUMPKIN.
Sarina, Tae-il's drum mentor, fronting Autumn's Ruler, incoming for practice.