One Step (4)
Recently, Tae-il had been neglecting Ayane.
There was nothing he could do about it.
His time spent with Sakuya had skyrocketed while prepping for exams.
Plus, even as a temp member, he'd put his name on the Animal Husbandry Club roster and had to show up regularly.
It was only natural for a friend making new friends to neglect the old ones.
Even if the friend insisted otherwise, the neglected side never saw it that way.
Tae-il was no exception.
He only had one body.
It had only been a week, but Tae-il's changes were so drastic that Ayane was starting to feel a real sense of crisis.
First off, the total time they spent together had shifted.
Ayane was still the person glued to Tae-il's side the longest out of his 24 hours.
Unlike Ayane, who felt the growing void keenly, Tae-il barely noticed the change.
She was the one hit hardest by the reverse harem vibes, while everyone else was filling in the gaps whenever he wasn't with her.
If anything, life felt denser now—more exhausting, even.
But rewarding, too.
As his narrow circle of relationships expanded, vitality surged into Tae-il's days.
Naturally, Ayane wasn't thrilled about it.
She was happy to see him brighten up and grow, but the thought of others stealing their time together? Not joyful at all.
Drastic measures were needed.
On the way to school.
Ayane had brushed off Rena's threats with a laugh yesterday, but half of it was bluff.
Her face turning beet red and freezing up when Izumi hugged her. Her reaction when Iris clung on.
'It's different from when Ayane clings to him.'
They started out embarrassed but got used to it fast.
No dramatic response like what Ayane craved. She considered ramping it up... but couldn't quite go there.
'No, time to change tactics.'
Tae-il noticed her intense stare and turned with an innocent look.
"What's up, Ayane?"
Hesitation wouldn't change a thing.
Ayane decided to go bolder.
Starting with matching his tastes.
"Shin-ssi, heard BARD's dropping a new song? Any news?"
"You saw it too?"
Tae-il lit up.
Ayane showing interest in this? Music to his ears.
"Yeah. There was a sample on YouTube, so I listened..."
Show interest, but play it like she didn't know the details.
Maintain that stance to draw out his knowledge flex.
"What'd you think? Ayane couldn't really tell..."
"Pretty on-brand for BARD, I'd say?"
As expected, Tae-il dove in with BARD praise.
Most of it flew over her head, but Ayane listened intently.
Acting the perfect audience to thrill the speaker.
"But judging from just a sample? Kinda premature."
Tae-il noted how music was too nuanced and complex for snap judgments on a snippet.
"They say nothing?"
"Yahiro-hyung's surprisingly tight-lipped about the track."
Though he did say he'd send the album.
Tae-il muttered with genuine regret.
Ayane slipped in seamlessly, touching on something he hadn't mentioned but fit the convo.
"Heard it's a drama OST. Didn't that drama have a source material?"
"Oh yeah. Knowing the original might give a vibe check?"
Tae-il pondered, pulling out his smartphone.
Not the direction she wanted—him glued to his phone.
Ayane reeled him back.
"Ayane doesn't get it, but is this like that genre diversification you mentioned in front of Iris...?"
"Nah, not yet."
Tae-il looked up from his phone.
"Why not?"
She tossed a tough question on purpose.
Forcing him to focus on her to answer.
"A band like BARD with mainstream appeal switching to something city-pop-ish like this single... unless they've always been niche."
Not minor to major, but major to minor? Risky as hell.
No title track drama since it's an OST single, but still.
"Genre shifts don't stick easy..."
Tae-il clicked his tongue softly.
First, the public had to buy in.
Fans like Ritsu would cheer anything BARD did.
Mainstream? Questionable.
Without top-tier quality, bold shifts drew artist backlash.
Not just fans—industry hate spewed everywhere.
"Rock scene's less rigid these days. No diss tracks like in hip-hop, probably..."
"Probably?"
"Plenty'd exploit it."
Ayane tilted her head.
"Isn't that just fame?"
"Yeah, fair."
Given BARD's status, Tae-il's worry seemed overkill.
Yet his subtle anxiety? Probably from that quick bond with them.
Ayane prodded, aiming for his conscience.
"Shin-ssi, that worried about Izumi-san?"
"Kinda wild. Treating an artist like a real friend and goal changes everything."
Tae-il sighed, feeling that "blood bends inward" saying deep in his bones.
"But pros got it handled, right?"
"Haha, yeah? What am I even worrying for."
He self-deprecated; Ayane shook her head.
"No way. Shin-ssi's amazing too—recognized by Izumi and Yahiro-san."
"Still haven't even toed the starting line."
Tae-il rubbed his nape.
Band formed, but miles to go.
That star in the sky? Still a pipe dream.
As his face darkened, Ayane swiftly pivoted topics.
Smooth shifts were key to reeling him in.
"Right! Shin-ssi, got all your band members yet?"
"Not quite."
Tae-il spread his fingers from thumb to middle, then folded them back one by one.
"Got the advisor and a temp member, so just one more..."
Ayane flinched.
Was the temp Sakuya or Iris? She probed carefully.
"They play instruments?"
"Temp? Didn't ask. Probably not."
Tae-il shrugged, low expectations.
Ayane sighed in relief.
No instruments? Not Iris.
Sakuya suspicious, but yesterday's walk home said otherwise.
"So your band's only bass locked in?"
"Not exactly."
Ayane's legs halted abruptly.
Tae-il, arms linked, stopped too, puzzled.
"Ayane?"
"N-nothing. Why not locked?"
"Members might shift."
His ideal: Rena drums, Ayane bass, Sakuya lead guitar, himself rhythm guitar plus synth/launchpad.
Original had Iris vocal/rhythm, but he wanted her vocals only.
Couldn't say it outright, so he hesitated.
"I can play anything. I'll adapt as leader."
Excuse to him; opportunity to her.
Her eyes sparkled, staring.
"Really? So you handle more than bass?"
"Most stuff, yeah."
"Amazing!"
Ayane's exaggerated Japanese cheer got him hyped, spilling self-praise.
"Not for nothing I haunted live houses. Peeped tons over shoulders."
"You learn from that?"
"Direct tips too. Kinda hacky..."
Past bandmates' knowledge helped.
YouTube made self-teaching viable.
He calibrated his know-how via vids to decent levels.
No match for pros, but school/indie scenes? Solid.
"Most confident instrument?"
"Bass, still. First one I learned."
"Not guitar?"
Ayane cocked her head curiously.
"Cousin was bassist."
"Cousin...?"
"You wouldn't know. In Korea. Shin Seong-il."
Same family name start—he boasted proudly.
"Kicks ass on bass. My fave bassist around."
Not world-class, but potential? Loaded in his cousin.
Tae-il always believed that.
Music starts from environment or influence.
Iris, Ayane—same.
Him too.
Ayane realized his music spark came from this guy, face turning subtle.
'Surprisingly legit reason.'
She'd pegged him as born music-mad.
"Cousin still making music?"
"...Nah."
Tae-il wryly smiled.
"Quit."
His face twisted—laugh or cry?
Landmine stepped on.
Ayane panicked apology.
"S-sorry! Bad memory?"
"No. Think about it daily. What if he hadn't quit..."
Dreamy what-if.
To Tae-il, that band was perfection among those he'd seen.
Seong-il: bassist/vocal.
Could handle others too.
Main bassist gig.
Even they were all-rounders—like comic book chars.
Yet disbanded amid strife, no major breakthrough.
Pro scene felt galaxies away to idol-wannabe Tae-il.
Still, respected bassist. Ayane'd benefit meeting him.
"Someday, intro you."
"That okay...?"
"Eh, you'll meet eventually anyway."
He'd overheard parents planning Korea trip.
Not this year, but next with his resident card?
Casual to him; loaded to her.
'Introducing family to me?'
Prime misunderstanding fuel.
Especially his fave relative.
"Hate it or not, you'll see him someday." Fatal line.
'Am I going to Korea with Shin-ssi?'
No family visits from his side ever.
Probably never.
Her mind jumped to "meeting the parents."
'Kyaa!'
Ayane's fantasies exploded.
"Ayane?"
"C-called!?"
"Your face went super red. Fever? Skip morals duty?"
"F-fine! Ayane's totally healthy! See? Perfect!"
"Uh, yeah..."
Her bouncy health demo left Tae-il dubious, nodding.
"A-anyway!"
Ayane pivoted desperately.
Needed a cooler-upper topic. Sakurako's advice hit.
Push-pull? Dream on. You pull or die.
Sakurako's words shoved her forward.
"If band's tough, Ayane'll help!"
"Help how?"
Morals didn't push clubs. Their power was that strong.
Could favor specifics—student council checked that via rules.
Council joins limited too.
Tae-il's real headache: Ayane's status. Couldn't demand she quit.
Yet she offered first.
"Name-only's fine for morals! Precedents exist."
"Ayane..."
Honestly, she wasn't thrilled about his music.
Izumi lit the fire; his goal being her irked.
Her music interest? Mostly to yank focus back.
Bass practice too.
Grab his attention.
All actions Tae-il-centric.
Also surprise him, so she hid it. But as his circle grew, half-measures failed.
'Senpai and Honjo were right.'
Push-pull didn't suit her.
Iris might snag him at this rate.
She'd boasted he wouldn't fall for Iris—but he wasn't falling for her either.
She knew he felt some debt to her.
Avoided exploiting it.
Wouldn't upset him—that wasn't her style.
But.
'No choice but to get desperate.'
So.
Ayane thrust out her right hand.
'Not just name-only.'
To snag attention, needed effort and results.
She unveiled her ace.
Bandage-wrapped index and middle fingers hooked his gaze.
"Finger wounds..."
"Think Shin-ssi these are from cooking practice...?"
"Obviously... ah."
She cut him off, extending her left hand too.
Compare, she gestured.
Left pristine—no scars.
Or closer: fingertips raw and red.
Calluses dotting joints.
Familiar sight.
Tae-il's own right index and middle itched.
He knew the source.
"Ayane, you don't mean..."
"Hehe."
Ayane grinned broadly.
Thrilled he got it, she hid her mangled hands behind, leaning in.
"When I realized Shin-ssi was bassist, legit freaked."
Practicing bass on the sly.
Tae-il bit his lip.
Separate walk home? Hiding it.
"Sorry, had no clue..."
"Sorry? Then treat Ayane better from now on?"
"Ugh, seriously..."
His genuine remorse nearly teary-eyed; now Ayane panicked.
"Don't actually cry! Ayane can't join activities outside breaks anyway—morals duty!"
Why she pressured Rena.
Needed someone to watch his circle while away.
Rena fit perfect.
Tae-il squeezed eyes shut, pressing temples with fingertips.
"Whew. External stuff, though—you can join?"
"If it contributes to school?"
Ayane wiggled fingers regretfully.
'Ah, wanted to hide longer.'
Surprise him when recruitment stalled.
But his hunt eased unexpectedly.
Sakurako's echo mocked: See? Pull hard.
'Senpai's right. Push-pull's impossible for Ayane.'
Though Sakurako escaping solo? Also doomed.
Anyway.
Ayane inhaled sharply.
Dice rolled.
Regret's wake: pure exhilaration, chest clear as day.