The Leader's Sin
The band members had come to a grim realization—the sin of having such a leader. Just how ugly a human being could get. They'd finally witnessed the very bottom of that abyss with their own eyes.
"Again!"
"T-Tae-il? Ayane's arm is starting to hurt..."
"Then that means I win on stamina!?"
"Ahaha..."
She'd already racked up five wish coupons from all these victories. Even Ayane thought it might be a bit much and had tried to hold back, but Tae-il—his sanity unraveling from the string of losses—wouldn't let her.
The humiliation of defeat had evaporated his reason. They were in a tight match as it was; getting utterly crushed like a dog made his eyes roll back in his head, which wasn't all that surprising. As a Korean soul, losing a game to Sakuya was a humiliation beyond compare.
"Come on, that's enough, Tae-il. Gambling leads to ruin, you know."
"I've got nothing left to lose!"
Tae-il, face twisted in misery, turned his gaze to Rena—the weakest arm in the room.
No way.
Before anyone could even think it, Tae-il shouted.
"Rena! Let's go one round!"
"Ah."
Iris and Sakuya absentmindedly smacked their foreheads.
While all eyes turned to them, the opportunistic Ayane quietly slipped into a corner to minimize her presence. These were wish coupons she'd won fair and square. If the others started nitpicking now, it'd just get annoying.
Rena, who had been silently observing everything, smirked arrogantly.
"Shin, you sure about this?"
"Bring it!"
It wasn't confidence—it was pride. Though it had already been trampled. But words like that wouldn't get through to him now, with his eyes rolled back.
"Fine."
Rena rolled up her sleeves to her shoulders and boldly climbed onto the bed. Her arm, even slimmer than Ayane's, beckoned Tae-il imperiously from atop the makeshift table.
"How about I throw in a wish coupon as a bet too?"
"Call!"
Tae-il glared at his own hand with bloodshot eyes, barely registering what she was even saying.
"Haa."
Sakuya sighed and stepped up as referee again.
"Kiriko, who do you think wins this one?"
"Does it even matter...?"
No matter who won, it was already a disaster for Tae-il.
And the arm-wrestling result was...
"Yes!"
Tae-il claimed a pyrrhic victory.
"Congrats on the win."
"What do I do, Sakuya? I feel like crying..."
"I'd cry too."
Tears streamed down Tae-il's face. They clearly weren't tears of joy.
"N-No, these are sweat drops, not tears..."
"Sure, let's go with that."
Sakuya patted his slumped back sympathetically. The comfort from others stung. Today, more than his headache, Tae-il's heart ached fiercely.
"Rena-chan, is your hand okay?"
"Yeah."
Iris carefully inspected Rena's hand as she climbed down from the bed. Before being a drummer, she was an artist—those hands were her everything.
"It's fine?"
Tae-il had put some real force into it, so she'd expected redness or marks. But against her worries, Rena's hand was perfectly unscathed.
Rena grinned mischievously and waggled her pristine hand.
"That Shin guy was desperate but still a gentleman about it."
"Ahaha!"
His expression was so hilarious from the start that she couldn't even put strength into her grip.
"So I just let him win cleanly."
"You threw it?"
Iris whispered so Tae-il wouldn't hear.
"Well, it'd be a waste of a wish coupon, but..."
Rena glanced at Tae-il, who was sniffling like a kid. It must be embarrassing. Mortifying. She and Iris knew that feeling all too well from their own childhood days when they wanted to run but couldn't. Honestly, it felt unfair comparing to Tae-il now, but they understood it deeper than anyone, so they had no choice but to go easy.
"Let's call it giving our leader a morale boost."
"You've changed, Rena-chan."
"Got a problem?"
"Nope."
Iris smiled softly and shook her head at Rena's gruff reply. Then she pounced on her next target.
"Ayane!"
"Eek!"
Ayane had been hoping her five solo wish coupons would quietly blow over. But Iris, sharp-eyed thanks to Rena's mention, had pierced right through her intentions.
"What're you gonna use your wish coupons for, Ayane? Hm?"
"It's a s-secret...?"
"Oh?"
Luckily, they were in the corner. As Iris slyly hooked her arm around Ayane and cornered her, she was completely blocked from Tae-il's view.
"Even so, isn't hogging all five a bit much?"
"B-But Ayane earned them..."
"Sakuya set up the matches. I yielded my turns a few times too."
"Th-That's true, but..."
Overwhelmed by Iris's aura, Ayane's lips stuck together, though inwardly she clicked her tongue.
That's why I wanted it to blow over quietly...
If it had been Sakuya, she'd have shot her down coldly. Rena? Ignored. But Iris—vaguely close, of all people—being this persistent was extra annoying.
"It's not much of a loss, right? Hm? If Ayane just shares one with each of us, you'd still have two left."
"What for...?"
"Hm. Who knows?"
For the first time, Iris looked stumped. She hadn't really thought about what to use a wish coupon on either.
Just...
She wanted to stockpile at least one.
"Come on? Wouldn't that work?"
"Muuu..."
As Iris gazed pleadingly, Ayane's resolve weakened. She didn't like it, but as vocalist, Iris's talent and influence made her overwhelmingly helpful to Tae-il compared to the other two. Plus, when Tae-il had gone to Gunma Prefecture, Ayane had benefited greatly from Iris's kindness.
Ayane's internal scales weighed Iris against the wish coupons.
"Ugh!"
Truth be told, the coupons were just an excuse. Tae-il would grant most of Ayane's requests anyway. But even if she made enemies of the other two, Iris had to stay an ally.
Ayane squeezed her eyes shut. The balanced scales finally tipped toward Iris.
"Fine..."
"Yay!"
Iris cheered and dashed to Rena. Ayane shook her head at Iris, who wasn't as brazenly obvious as Sakuya despite her tricky personality.
"It'll probably be nothing big..."
Ayane shoved Sakuya away from diligently petting Tae-il and returned to his side.
"Shin-chan! Want Ayane to peel you an apple?"
"Huh? No, I'm good..."
"I already fed him a ton of apples this morning."
"Eek!?"
Ayane was shocked.
"You, of all people, know how to use a knife?"
"..."
"Can't even cook anything but retort pouches, right?"
"I can!"
Sakuya raised her voice for the first time.
"It's nothing fancy, but as a solo liver, I can handle simple cooking."
"What can you even make?"
No one could top her in cooking. Ayane puffed up proudly.
"Kuh...!"
Sakuya swallowed a groan.
As expected of Katsuragi. Childhood friend perks even in decay...
If childhood friend heroines had one essential trait, it'd be cooking stats. The thrifty homemaker type who feeds the suspiciously busy protagonist because his parents are always away.
"So you do have something to brag about..."
"Hmph."
Ayane proudly thrust out her chest.
"I've got Shin-chan's taste buds locked down tight!"
"Really?"
"Well, Ayane's cooking suits his palate fine."
As Tae-il agreed, Ayane's nose rose even higher. He'd been thoroughly trained, to the point where calling it that wouldn't be weird. His sense of seasoning was calibrated to Ayane's hand.
"Cooking, huh..."
While Sakuya pondered peeking at a cookbook, Rena neatly gave up.
I'll just hire a cook who can.
Unless she grew more, cooking was too harsh a task for someone under 150cm. Iris was the same.
"Hey, does Kiriko know how to cook?"
"No, miss."
"But you live alone."
"I eat at the Arisugawa estate."
The main Arisugawa residence had something like a staff knight's mess hall. The food quality rivaled corporate cafeterias, so most servants, Kiriko included, frequented it. It was vanity, but the Arisugawas had solid welfare for family and staff.
"At home, I just have beer cans and dry snacks."
"Wow..."
"Even if you look at me like that..."
Iris was floored.
"Four girls together, and only one can cook..."
"Won't it increase to two soon?"
"Who?"
"You, miss."
"Me?"
As Iris blinked in confusion, Kiriko added,
"Next year, you'll start bride training soon enough..."
"You wanna die?"
"Ahem!"
Iris's face hardened at the bride training mention. Kiriko, who'd gotten payback lately for past beatings, hurriedly averted her eyes.
Bride training. The ultimate taboo around Iris.
"Haa."
"That troubled, miss?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. The family elders are starting to pressure me one by one."
She needed results soon. Next week, after break ended and school resumed, their Light Music Club activities would kick off in earnest—not hidden away, but out in the open for everyone to see.
Iris's gaze drifted to Tae-il. A week. Even if it was an accident, his hospitalization had caused massive setbacks. He'd push hard too, but the band relied on him too much overall, leaving her uneasy.
Laughing and bonding as members was great, but their real goal was major debut.
Iris suddenly resented Izumi anew.
Wow. Guess I'm really desperate now...
She was startled at herself for resenting Izumi of all people.
She tried acting nonchalant, but her mind was already backed into a corner.
Iris blankly watched Tae-il surrounded by members comforting him. Her once-calm heart pounded fiercely again.
"Hey, Kiriko."
"Yes, miss."
In this harem-like setup, Tae-il smiled softly. Bantering with members, he suddenly looked flustered, teary, frantically searching for someone. Their eyes met. Tae-il waved Iris over urgently. Come chat. Hurry! His eyes sparkled.
"What if..."
She trailed off, lips twisting bitterly.
Kiriko's palms sweated, bracing for whatever bombshell.
"What if..."
Iris closed her eyes.
"I just went and did it? How do you think the family would react?"
"D-Did what, miss?"
Iris gave a wry smile at Kiriko's reaction.
"Just kidding."
She waved it off, reassuring Kiriko, then dove into the group.
"Ah, miss...!"
Before Kiriko could stop her, her hand grasped at empty air.
"Yay! You called for me?"
Tae-il beamed like a savior had arrived and grabbed Iris's hand desperately.
"Iris! Talk Sakuya down! She suddenly wants to use a wish coupon on the band name...!"
"Band name?"
"She suggested 'Harem Revolution'."
"Révolution!"
"Rena, why are you enjoying this solo!? Stop her!"
"But it's fun."
Playfully mischievous, Rena sneaked onto the bed and snuggled into Tae-il's arms.
"Mm. Nice view. Want me to nurse you today?"
"Nooo...!"
They weren't communicating at all.
Tae-il desperately sought the somewhat sane Ayane and Iris.
"As long as I'm with Shin-chan, Ayane's happy with anything!"
Ayane beamed innocently.
Harem Revolution. The word "harem" grated oddly, but it felt like a mark claiming her as Tae-il's, which made Ayane pleased. Though Tae-il clearly hated the name.
"How can you say something so horrifying with that innocent smile! Ah, aaah! My head...!"
Even as Tae-il groaned in pain, Ayane showed no sign of helping.
Sakuya—the first to boldly shout "Harem Revolution"—grinned and slung her arm over his shoulder.
"Come on, think about it. Don't fixate just on 'harem' in 'Harem Revolution.' It's subtly cool, right?"
"Not at all...!"
"A band with four beautiful girls?"
It'd definitely draw aggro. Four beauties alone might look like an idol group, but toss in one guy as a full, official member—not producer or guest.
"Tae-il sacrifices himself to boost the band's fame nationwide. Sound good?"
"You're insane..."
Tae-il despaired; he'd been plotting similar-yet-different fame strategies.
"Ahaha!"
Sakuya was having a blast teasing him. She kinda got why kids bullied their crushes.
"I'm against it."
Iris, who'd been quietly watching, spoke lowly. Her tone was chillingly cold, instantly silencing the rowdy mood.
"Iris...?"
In the hush, Tae-il asked.
"Did we upset you?"
"No."
Iris smiled brightly. As if that cold tone was a lie, she flooded the room with playful aura.
"Too blatant is kinda much. Let's do it differently."
"How?"
Sakuya jumped in eagerly, since her idea wasn't fully shot down.
Tae-il interjected.
"Hold it! Sakuya, you don't get a say!"
"Wuu! Leader tyranny!"
"Wuu!"
"Rena, you stay out of it!"
"Huh? Uh, o-okay..."
As Tae-il angrily hugged her tight to keep her still, Rena deflated instantly, becoming a full-on doll in his arms.
Iris proposed, shoving the doll-Rena aside.
"Too blatant is kinda much. Let's make the band name something only we get."
"Oho?"
Sakuya perked up. Otakus go wild for secretive, complex stuff.
"Like a code? How?"
"Hey! Ayane, rein them in!"
"Ayane's a little curious too?"
"Traitor!"
"I-It's a bit tight...?"
Held tight in Tae-il's arms, feeling breathless yet warmed by his body heat, Rena's expression melted gooily.
"Basically, make it feel like this band's Shin Tae-il's, right?"
"Exactly."
"You're serious? This is just a joke, right...?"
Tae-il despaired at Iris of all people joining this dangerous talk.
"Put Shin Tae-il in the band name."
"Gah!"
Naming after a specific member. Tae-il's most hated style.
"Tae-il, Tae-il, so..."
Too long to use the full name, even if it hid the real meaning, so shorten it max.
"Shin Tae-il, what's your name in kanji?"
"Tài yī..."
"Plain, which makes it trickier..."
"Better to curse."
They tried gorōawase with kanji, but nothing clicked.
Then Ayane piped up.
"How about English?"
"English?"
"Shin-chan's name sounds like English."
Ayane added she'd memorized it that way as a kid.
Iris was surprised.
"Ayane, you can pronounce Shin Tae-il?"
"Yeah. Why couldn't you?"
"R-Right..."
"Kuh!"
The only one who couldn't pronounce Tae-il's name properly clutched her flat chest in frustration.
"English that sounds like Shin Tae-il—tail and tale, right?"
Iris murmured English words sounding like "Tae-il," combining them.
Tail and tale. Versatile words.
But nothing stuck, so Iris suggested,
"Just mash 'em: 'Tales and Tails'?"
"Ooh!"
Sakuya clapped like a seal at the plausible name.
Ayane raised her hand.
"Ayane has an idea!"
"Shoot."
"'Tales of Tails' is better!"
"Doesn't that scream game?"
"What game?"
"Ah..."
Sakuya wailed at Ayane's ignorance of the Tales series.
"Shin-chan, did Ayane do something wrong?"
"Nope?"
Tae-il glared openly at Sakuya. The snowball from Harem Revolution made him unwilling to side with her today.
"Tales of Tails..."
"Feels like it'd have humans with bags and beastfolk everywhere?"
Ayane breezily ignored Sakuya and asked.
"Sounds good, right, Shin-chan? We can abbreviate to 'TOT'."
"Ahaha! TOT looks like a crying emoticon."
"Everyone would figure it out quick..."
"Isn't it fine?"
Rena lifted her head, nudging Tae-il's chin with her crown, chiming in.
"Not many know your real name anyway, right?"
"Uh..."
"True. Even in our class, few remember Tae-il's real name. If they do, they forget."
Sakuya, his neighbor, supplemented. Consensus swiftly formed around "Tales of Tails."
"Ayane's shocked! Shin-chan calling himself Taichi everywhere was all foreshadowing...!"
"As if! Ow...!"
Tae-il rubbed his stinging nape.
No matter his reaction, the name seemed locked as TOT.
"Do whatever..."
"Decided!"
Sakuya cheered loudly the moment he gave up—despite being the least invested member till naming.
Ayane muttered amid it.
"Um, saying this now is weird, but what about Tales Tail?"
Tae-il's tail. Whatever she imagined, Ayane's cheeks flushed.
"Eh?"
"Th-That might be a bit...?"
The other two flushed too, fumbling wordlessly.
Tae-il quietly facepalmed at his members.
"I'm losing it."