An Unfamiliar Ceiling
The concert ended, and then—'Ah.' The fall happened in an instant. Before Izumi could even properly grasp the situation, she was already plummeting. Like riding an amusement park ride, she squeezed her eyes shut against that dizzying, eerie sensation unique to freefall.
Thud. A massive impact echoed, followed by a jolting vibration that rattled through her entire body. Izumi flinched hard, curling up instinctively.
And then... a soft yet dull sensation pressed against her face.
'It... doesn't hurt...?' Strangely, the pain she'd braced for never came. Trembling with fear, she cracked her eyes open and cautiously scanned her surroundings.
It wasn't a cold, hard floor. Something slightly cushy, warm with body heat, was cradling her.
"Ah...!" Coming to her senses, Izumi remembered Tae-il, who had tried to catch her. She pushed off the "ground" to stand, but her hand slipped.
Splat. Her face smacked right into flesh.
"Owuuuh...!" A pained groan escaped her lips, even as she craved that warm embrace.
Tae-il was pinned beneath her.
"A-Are you okay!?" Izumi bolted upright, her voice shrill with panic.
"N-Not... sure if I am... or not."
Izumi fidgeted anxiously, her eyes darting around as she clutched the back of his head, where he grimaced in pain.
"Sh-Should I call an ambulance? Or get someone first!?"
"I'm fine, so calm down f—huh?"
Tae-il reached out to soothe her flailing, but froze. His fingertips were red. Sticky.
"B-Blood...!?"
"Huh?"
While Tae-il stared blankly, Izumi spotted the blood on his hand and recoiled in horror. She yanked his head into her arms. Her trembling fingers brushed his scalp—jagged wound oozing sticky fluid.
"A-Ambulance...! I'll call one! Wh-Where's my phone...!"
"Ugh..."
Tae-il pressed his temple. The moment he registered the blood, his head spun. Classic anemia symptoms. And now, the numbness faded, pain creeping in like anesthesia wearing off.
"H-Hello? This is... uh..."
As Izumi's quivering voice faded into the distance, Tae-il closed his eyes. His head hurt too much to stay lucid, and his body was utterly spent.
"W-Wait, you can't sleep...!"
Izumi's distant scream was the last thread snapping his consciousness.
Flicker. Consciousness snapped awake. No sensation of surfacing from sleep. No dream haze. His eyes just... opened.
"Ah."
The unfamiliar rectangular light fixture greeting him made Tae-il mutter.
"An unfamiliar ceiling."
Before the classic line could settle, stifled chuckles erupted beside him. He turned to see Sakuya, hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. Infuriating.
"Hey."
Irritated, Tae-il snapped. Sakuya glanced over, grinning like nothing happened.
"Haha. Classic Tae-il. Never fails to deliver."
"Just... wanted to try it once."
"Yeah, well, I'll file it away for my own hospital stay someday. Now quit laughing."
Sakuya stopped, hands on hips. "Otaku national rule, right? Anyway, sleep well, sleepyhead captain?"
"How many days was I out?"
"One?"
Tae-il sighed in relief. Just a day-long blackout? Not a big deal.
Sniffing the sour hospital air, he scanned the room—and spotted Ayane, dozing against his side, clutching his hand tight.
"Katsuragi pulled an all-nighter nursing you."
"She did?"
"Yeah. Told her to rest, but she stubbornly skipped meals and stuck it out."
"Haa."
Tae-il's pitying gaze lingered on Ayane. Even after just a day, her hollowed eyes tugged at him. Exhausted in sleep, yet her small hand refused to let go. Stroking it gently, he felt the calluses from bass practice—unhideable proof of her effort. Guilt doubled.
"Nothing else happen after?"
"Hm."
Sakuya hesitated. Tae-il panicked.
"Don't freak me out like that..."
"Well."
Sakuya summarized the day's chaos—short, yet somehow endless.
"Our band's disbanding before it even starts?"
Too curt.
"Pardon?"
Tae-il stared. Sakuya gave a wry smile.
"Katsuragi kinda fought. More like... she went off on Tenma hard?"
"Ayane did...?"
"Yeah. So Iris jumped in too..."
Tae-il, knowing Ayane's venom when pissed, slapped his forehead. Pain throbbed bitterly.
"Ack!"
"Doc said take it easy on your head for a bit."
"Got it... So?"
"You know how vicious Katsuragi gets mad."
"Just the facts, please."
"Tenma was getting chewed out by Katsuragi, and Iris—witnessing it clueless—got pissed at the fight and barged in."
Fight? I gotta join! Everyone, gather 'round! The concert hall's brawl flashed painfully in Tae-il's mind.
Sweat beaded, soaking his bandages.
"Mm..."
"Thought Katsuragi would lose, but it was a deadlock."
They fought. The worst news chilled Tae-il to the bone. They'd clashed in the original too—but always reconciled through music. Not this time.
Can I even fix this...?
As the culprit fretted, Sakuya crossed her arms, imagining the scene with admiration.
"What can I say..."
Trailing off, she squeezed her eyes shut, groaning thoughtfully. More to it than a simple recap? Tae-il's gut burned.
Oblivious, Sakuya reminisced, chuckling.
"Guess I lack the experience."
"Experience?"
"Like that old wives' tale—long hair's a disadvantage in girl fights?"
"Excuse me!?"
Tae-il gawked. Ayane and Iris fought. Badly. The implications piled up, crumbling his expression like the sky falling.
"You mean they actually grabbed hair!?"
Desperate plea. Finally—
"Hahahahaha!"
Sakuya spun away, pounding the wall in hysterics.
"S-Sakuya? What the hell's so funny...?"
Too anxious to sit up, Ayane's grip hindered. Pitiful as torture, Tae-il writhed—until Sakuya giggled.
"Hey, Katsuragi. Quit faking sleep and get up."
"Faking...?"
Swish. Fabric rustled as Ayane smoothly "woke," tired but not gloomy.
"Ayane?"
Tae-il called. She beamed, flashing a V-sign with both hands.
"Hehe. Shin-nii got totally fooled~?"
Tension shattered; Tae-il collapsed back.
"You guys are the worst... Ow, ack...!"
"Eek! Sh-Shin-nii!?"
"Did we overdo the prank?"
"You two..."
Tae-il pouted. Still, sensing no real fight, his lips twitched upward.
"Hey, Shin's awake."
"Yeah?"
Iris flopped onto the bed in relief. Rena, slumped against it from the floor, asked,
"No need to visit the hospital?"
"Nah."
A limp arm snagged the smartphone by the pillow. Hesitating, Iris tapped the screen, scrolling Sakuya's LINE.
Below: a photo of bandaged Tae-il, whining in Ayane's embrace. Iris pouted at his goofy grin.
"What, he looks totally fine."
"Faking cheer? Shin's the type."
"Whaaat."
Can't act, but tries everything to avoid worrying others. Prep's pretty thorough too. Opposite of Iris's "throw money at it" mindset.
Iris sprawled starfish-style, staring at the ceiling.
"Scalp split, stitched up—not hurting? That's no human. Monster."
"Fair."
Rena nodded easily.
"So, visiting when? Sounds like discharge in five days max."
"Too late today—tomorrow. Rena-chan free?"
"Yeah. Makeup classes done, I'm free."
"Lunchtime then. Let him rest mornings."
"With Gloomy Gus there? Can he even rest?"
"Pffft!"
Iris laughed. True—Ayanes's clingy nagging wouldn't let him relax. She's intensely clingy.
"Haa."
Eyes closed, replaying yesterday. News of Tae-il's injury turned the venue into pandemonium. Head bleed was bad. Izumi—blood on hands, bawling for help—left Iris awkwardly torn.
Idol worship's like that. Idols play perfect for fans; fans craft perfect idols. Thrust harsh standards, demand the illusion holds.
But this industry's built on it...
Idols are fans' phantoms—accept the real, and perfection cracks. If charm lingers, fans stay. Lose both...
"Tenma Izumi..."
Iris idolized, respected her as singer. As person? Unsure now. Once, Izumi was everything—human included. Illusion shattered; Iris winced at the boiling emotions.
Shin Tae-il hurt. Ayane's obsessive meltdown? Predictable. Everyone foresaw it, knowing her deeply these months.
Rena and Sakuya reflexively braced to restrain Ayane when Izumi guiltily sought help. Simple accident? Fine. Izumi's fault? Ayane's eyes would roll back, obviously.
But.
"What did you do to Shin Tae-il!?"
Expectations shattered.
"Iris?"
Her roar froze everyone. Killer emotional delivery in song? Same in rage. Naturally, fury rippled out.
Stunned Rena and Sakuya; Ayane, eyes only on Tae-il, bolted dazedly to him.
Iris grabbed Izumi's collar. Reason fled. Body moved on impulse from deep-seated rage.
No regrets. Why? Instinct screamed it was necessary.
"Hey, Piggy."
"Huh?"
Rena's call jolted Iris upright. Rena eyed her pityingly, deadpan.
"Wh-Why?"
Iris averted eyes guiltily; Rena shook her head.
"Never mind. Shin's awake anyway. I'm off to bed."
"W-Wanna sleep together?"
"..."
Instant regret twisted Iris's face. Rena slumped her shoulders.
"Sigh."
Approaching magnanimously—
"Get lost."
"Yessir."
Rena booted her toward the wall. Iris rolled, hugging it tight; Rena claimed the space, tiny frame barely jiggling the bed.
Iris teared up.
"Sh-Sharing the bed...?"
"One time."
"Ehehe. Rena-chan's the best!"
Iris beamed; Rena warned.
"But hug me again, and we're both dead."
"Eek, tough ask~..."
Body pillow ban's torture! Iris whined, fingers together.
Rena scowled.
"Oh? Want me gone?"
"Sorry! No hugging, swear on my boobs!"
"Tch..."
Rena swallowed ire at the shamelessness, flopping down.
"Haa. Whatever. Pointless fighting you."
Rena shut her eyes. Iris peeled from the wall, snuggling parallel. Tried sleeping—but couldn't.
Reluctantly—
"Rena-chan."
"What."
"Kill the lights?"
"..."
"Light's on, can't sleep."
Rena shot up.
"Huh? Rena-chan? Eyes look psycho—KYAA!?"
White-knuckled hand stabbed Iris's side deep, trembling with force.
"Turn 'em off yourself, you psycho bitch!!"
"S-Sorry! Kyahahaha!"
"I'm not letting you sleep tonight—brace yourself!"
"B-Bold... Kyahahaha!"
Fine then. Laugh yourself to sleep. Rena's furious punishment.