One Footstep
Sunday.
While Shin Tae-il was holding a study group at Sakuraba Sakuya's place, Katsuragi Ayane sank into deep worry.
"Shin-kun, you're way better at bass than I thought..."
Logically speaking, seeing the cool side of the guy you like should be pure joy.
But Ayane couldn't just bask in it.
"Now everyone else knows too..."
Until now, Shin Tae-il's strengths had been Ayane's exclusive property.
No one else had noticed the pearl that was Shin Tae-il.
A treasure all her own, tucked away in the muck with her mark on it—ready for her to claim anytime.
That foundation was starting to crumble.
It began with Tae-il's suggestion: attending BARD's documentary filming as audience members.
Tenma Izumi.
The name sitting pretty at the top of Tae-il's contacts list lately.
When Ayane realized he'd slyly snagged her number with that blank fox face of his, she had to tamp down a surge of fury from the depths of her chest.
And that wasn't all.
Tae-il hadn't even shown his full talents yet, but he kept getting tangled up with girls.
All of them on Ayane's level—or maybe even a cut above.
Tenma Izumi was overwhelming enough, but then Sakuraba Sakuya showed up, and now even Arisugawa Iris had joined the fray.
Tae-il wanted to form a band. Simple: she'd join it.
They say when a couple pops up in a tight-knit group—like an office romance—it often tears the whole thing apart.
The lovey-dovey vibes erode the group's bond.
Ayane was convinced that if she did that, even if Tae-il convinced Sakuya to join the band, she could boot her out.
With that naive plan in mind, Ayane had started bass practice—and now she gnawed anxiously at her nails.
"Did Ayane pick the wrong thing...?"
That thought had dominated her mind since yesterday. No studying, nothing else would stick.
It felt like a massive mistake.
She clutched her scarred right index and middle fingers.
"If I'd known..."
She should've practiced something else besides bass.
Maybe even keyboard.
Her current teacher, Takahashi Rinko, handled piano too—she could've taught even better.
Ayane never dreamed Tae-il would turn out to be that rare bassist type.
Of course I thought it'd be guitar!
Who'd guess a boy dreaming of a band plays bass?
Naturally, you'd assume vocals or guitar—the star, the face of the band.
She'd written off everything he said in front of Yahiro as polite posturing.
At home, he was always strumming that acoustic guitar and weird gadgets—classic guitarist vibes.
Ayane rarely resented Tae-il for it.
At the same time, she blamed herself.
Mom was right... Ayane doesn't know a thing about Shin-kun...
She'd prided herself on sharing more memories than anyone, knowing him better than anyone.
Now it all felt like bubbles bursting.
"Should Ayane switch to drums now...?"
It'd been less than a week since she started bass. She was confident in memorizing stuff.
Switching events at this point? No big deal.
"No, wait. There's Sakuraba too."
Tae-il had wanted Sakuya in the band too.
Ayane first thought she was vocals, but Iris was vocal. With Tae-il on bass, that left drums and guitar.
Assuming Iris could handle guitar, Sakuya was prime for drums.
To Ayane's eyes, no one matched Sakuya's natural physique and those tournament performances.
"Uuu..."
She clutched her head, gloom pouring out.
Her position felt narrower by the minute. It hurt.
Not even BARD's songs from the computer speakers could soothe her.
"What to do..."
Iris had been the wildcard Ayane never saw coming.
Truth be told, when she heard Iris had sought out Tae-il, Ayane felt uneasy—but not worried.
Pfft, the school's Madonna chasing Shin-kun?
Even if Ayane rated Tae-il high, that was too mismatched.
Plus, she'd long assumed Tae-il had a thing for Sakuya.
Why else pitch a band to a girl who didn't know a note from a hole?
The reason she didn't want them alone? Simple.
Just 'cause.
Who knew what might happen between them? Better safe.
To head it off, she'd gotten permission from Yu Hana and forcibly dragged Iris and Honjo Rena into the study group.
She figured they'd be solid counters to Sakuya.
But nope.
Instead of helping, the two just goofed off and studied on their own—leaving Ayane to handle Sakuya solo.
Whatever. It didn't matter.
All Ayane needed was the excuse to wedge into the group.
They'd served their purpose by providing it.
Then bam—Tae-il confesses he wants Iris in the band. Everything went sideways.
Had they already talked it over back then?}
And Ayane had unwittingly dragged the tiger into her own backyard.
She herself had.
Realizing she'd done a favor for others, Ayane thumped her own head with her fist.
Idiot idiot idiot! Sakuraba blinded me!
Iris approaching her? Probably just to solidify ties with Tae-il.
Otherwise, why would the school's Madonna seek her out?
Ayane felt played.
She hated Iris now.
Thought she was nice. Never dreamed she'd get backstabbed so slyly.
It was all Ayane's misunderstanding-fueled delusion, but in her mind, Iris had long since morphed into a schemer on par with Sakuya—a full-on villainess.
Ayane stroked the ring and middle fingers on her bandaged right hand.
Dark thoughts writhed.
Jealous.
Of Iris, already blessed with the talents Tae-il craved.
If Ayane masters bass properly...
Would Tae-il look her way?
But Tae-il himself was the bassist.
Ayane let out a wave of gloom.
"What to do..."
Ayane searched online for bands with two or more bassists.
The world had all kinds of bands, and sure, those existed too.
Problem was, they were extremely rare—and expecting Tae-il to form one? Unlikely.
Ayane's worries only deepened.
* * *
Tae-il was stunned when he arrived at Sakuya's apartment.
One, she lived in a surprisingly nice place.
Two, her room overflowed with manga even more than in the original story.
Bookshelves hiding the walls entirely.
He felt like he'd stepped into a used bookstore.
"No way—all these are manga?"
"W-Well... a bit, yeah...?"
Sakuya, in a comfy tank top and dolphin pants, scratched her cheek bashfully.
Forgetting why he'd come, Tae-il inspected the manga-packed shelves.
"These are all first printings, right?"
"Yeah..."
Sakuya nodded shyly.
"Insane. But why two copies of the same book, one on top of the other? Covers look a tad different."
"Old edition and new edition."
Popular ones even got collector's editions later.
And she'd bought those too, apparently.
"Collector's are all at my parents' place."
"Wow..."
Her eyes must ache already—and there were even more at home?
"Gotta be tough managing this much."
"The ones at home are all in display cases. Asked my cousin nearby to handle humidity."
Tae-il didn't ask why not her parents.
Sakuya's family situation stayed vague in the original. Only her dreams got mentions.
Eh, probably complicated.
Otaku family drama was always messy.
"Anyway, impressive. Too many for just a student, no?"
Drops of water make an ocean.
Manga volumes weren't pricey, but stacking up like this? Impressive haul.
Rough math: 400 yen per volume, ten make 4,000 yen.
And 100? 40,000 yen.
Even dumping every bit of allowance into manga for years might only half this collection.
Sakuya cleared up his doubts simply.
"Scholarships and tournament prizes paid off big time."
She made a circle with thumb and index—jackpot.
"Taichi, want big sis to buy you a bass?"
"Pass."
Tae-il chuckled and wove through the bookshelf-lined hallway to her room.
Manga everywhere, just like the hall.
Hell, messier than his own room.
"K-Kinda messy, right? Tried cleaning, but no space to put stuff..."
"Nah. This is tidy."
"R-Really?"
For reference, Tae-il's bar for "tidy" was rock-bottom.
His past life's girlfriend and close sis-types weren't exactly neat freaks.
This felt weirdly cozy instead—warmer than expected.
Worried for nothing?
No sickly-sweet girl scent like Ayane's room—just that musty paper smell of old books.
Plus a faint whiff of ink.
Like the machine room when he helped Iris.
She was already drawing manga back then, huh.
In the original, that's what kept linking her to Rena.
Once Iris dragged Rena into the band, Sakuya spotted her art by chance and joined.
Iris's shady schemes to recruit Sakuya—all for naught. Hilarious.
Treating Rena like a drawing master, debuting at Comic-Con together or whatever.
Wild arc.
Band manga suddenly gets serious about manga-making, readers rioting "what is this?"
Turned out Comic-Con debut led to meeting another band.
Tae-il learned doujin music circles hit those events too.
Light otaku that he was, he'd assumed it was all smutty doujins.
Some project groups even go major and keep hitting Comic-Con...
Japan's music scene was vast.
Not just big—spectrum wider than some countries.
"So, wanna see how prepared I am?"
"Bring it."
He shook off the thoughts, grabbing the upside-down test on the desk.
Study time now.
Sakuya set the stopwatch.
"Ready—go!"
Beep. Tae-il flipped the paper.
Original story? Gone. His head filled with test problems.
Scratch-scratch of the mechanical pencil.
Ah, why's this feel so good?
Sakuya savored the pleasant pink noise, leaning back.
No Ayane glaring, no Iris yapping from afar.
Pure bliss from that first-session duo vibe—psychological comfort maxed.
Studying in this chill? Heavenly.
She watched studious Tae-il fondly. Just looking made her smile.
"Done."
"Okay, checking now."
Sakuya scanned it quick.
Correct. Correct again. Handwriting improved too. Yep, correct...
Not quite "teach one, know ten," but Tae-il was fun to tutor.
He never forgot what you taught—effort shining through.
He'd always worked hard, but knowing it was to beat her bet? Thrilling, heartwarming.
What wish to ask for?
Even something naughty? Fine by her. She circled a big mark on the paper.
"Perfect score. Big improvement."
"Told ya? Time to pay up."
Tae-il shot her a cocky glance, eyes full of mock threat.
Sakuya crossed her legs scoffingly.
Comfy clothes meant smooth thighs fully exposed—but she didn't hide, lifting them higher, flaunting.
His gaze wavered; she felt a sly thrill inside.
"Scared of what wish I'll demand?"
"You..."
"Bet's on. Excited?"
Sakuya cut him off firmly. Tae-il flushed red.
Imagining something dirty, huh.
Sakuya giggled, opening the textbook.
"Today, full review across the board?"
"Okay."
Tae-il cleared his throat, snapping back to serious.
They'd come to study, after all.
The two studied—and studied—till evening.
Just studying.
For real.