Sleeping with the Enemy (3)
Homeroom teachers are busy.
No exceptions, even on the last day of school before break.
They have to pour every ounce of their already depleted energy into wrangling students who are shaking with excitement for vacation. What a tiring, grueling job!
But for a part-time teacher like Takahashi Rinko, who doesn't handle a full grade load, it's a different story.
"Haaaah. Pure bliss, absolute bliss~."
In the empty music room, Takahashi munched on her snacks alone, a blissful smile on her face.
With no classes scheduled, she was basically the queen here, wielding unchecked power.
Normally, she'd have to wait in the staff room or somewhere, under the watchful eyes of other teachers. But as the music teacher overseeing three Light Music Clubs, she had an excuse: managing the music room let her escape that stuffy space.
She crunched into her treats and sipped bitter green tea.
This was life. This was paradise.
Sweet, so sweet.
No nagging from the old vice principal, no complaints from the student affairs head.
Even the blandness of cheap green tea bags was elevated by the thoughtful gift from her promising new student—rivaling a billionaire's tea time.
But Takahashi had learned from her not-so-short life experience.
Happy times always feel painfully short.
And as always...
Uninvited guests arrive without warning.
As she savored her third steeping of green tea, the sound of the door sliding open rattled in Takahashi's ears.
"Excuse us!"
"Hm?"
Takahashi set down her teacup.
In the open doorway of the corridor stood a boy and a girl with a striking height difference.
She recognized one of them.
And the other wasn't a stranger either.
Both were celebrities in their own right.
"Oh my? Isn't that Honjo?"
"Ah, hello..."
Rena timidly clasped her hands together and bowed her head.
Takahashi turned to the boy who'd brought her—Shin Tae-il.
A rare foreign exchange student at Yuuma High.
Most people called him "Taichi" because of his tricky pronunciation, and he was fine with that.
His hair wasn't dyed blond, and he hadn't modded his uniform. On the surface, he looked like a diligent, average high school boy. But teachers knew better: he was a habitual slacker, a problem student with a bad rep.
That said, Takahashi didn't mind him too much—he was the most enthusiastic in her classes.
"Ahem."
Takahashi cleared her throat, stood, and welcomed them into the classroom.
"Closing ceremony's about to start. What brings you two here?"
"Could we borrow some instruments?"
Tae-il jumped straight to the point, stepping forward.
"Instruments...?"
Takahashi glanced at Rena.
Her wrist was gripped by Tae-il, and her face showed clear unease, though she didn't shake him off aggressively.
What’s going on here...?
With two school celebrities tangled up like this, even she couldn't help but get curious.
"Sure."
Artist trait: zero impulse control on curiosity.
No matter how silly the story, she had to know.
"But I'll observe too? That okay?"
"Yeah!"
And so began the journey of "Finding Rena's Instrument."
* * *
Yuuma High School had multiple art rooms, and just as many music rooms.
Its academic scores weren't top-tier, but in arts and athletics, it lived up to its prestigious name.
Unlike the standardized art rooms, music rooms varied: some fitted for brass bands, others for choirs.
Classes changed rooms each semester based on content.
Singing lessons in lecture-hall-style rooms.
Hands-on instrument practice in wide-open spaces without desks.
And naturally, there were rooms for rock bands—like the one Takahashi oversaw.
That was why Tae-il had come here.
It looked like a standard music room, but at the back was a small stage with drums and a synth.
Too cramped for full performances, but perfect for band practice with the right vibe.
Tae-il scanned the room from outside the stage.
His obvious searching motions prompted Takahashi to ask casually.
"You said you needed to borrow instruments, right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"What kind?"
"Uh, do you have a Strat here by any chance?"
"S-Strat?"
Takahashi stumbled over the unfamiliar term.
Tae-il corrected himself immediately.
"Electric guitar."
"Electric...?"
It felt like a familiar pattern.
Last week, Ayane begged for bass lessons. Now Tae-il wanted guitar.
Did the Light Music Clubs recruit new members?
These two might even be from a club she didn't advise.
One more Light Music Club popped up recently...
Takahashi grumbled inwardly about how many Light Music Clubs this school even had.
"So, Taichi, you're here for an electric guitar?"
Tae-il nodded.
"I heard OB seniors donated some to the school."
"We have 'em."
Takahashi smiled nostalgically.
"See that door over there?"
"Yeah."
In the corner of the classroom.
Looking closely, a small door blended seamlessly with the wall, matching its color and seams perfectly.
"All the donated instruments are behind there."
"There's a spot like that in the classroom?"
Tae-il, who'd attended class here for half a year, looked baffled. Takahashi chuckled.
"Light Music Clubs barely use it, so no wonder you didn't know."
"Really?"
Tae-il asked in surprise.
Hard to believe for a Light Music Club.
"Everyone uses their own instruments these days. We only dig in here for backups when amps or mics act up."
Yuuma was private.
Most students came from middle-class or better families and could afford their own gear.
But if everyone used personal stuff, who maintained the school ones?
Tae-il wondered.
"So who takes care of the stuff in there?"
"On paper, the Light Music Clubs rotate management..."
Takahashi trailed off.
Who wants to maintain someone else's instruments?
Expensive ones might tempt you just to touch them, but donated gear? Second-rate at best.
A total hassle.
The clubs kept passing the buck, as usual. She sighed.
"Plus, some are over ten years old. Not in great shape."
"Haha. No chance a vintage gem sneaks in among the donations, right?"
"Dream on."
Takahashi tempered his expectations and opened the door.
Pitch blackness greeted them. Rena and Tae-il stared at her expectantly.
"Hold on. Where's that switch... Ah."
She groped the wall and flipped a protruding switch.
A low hum like a generator kicked in, flooding the dark audio room with light.
First into Tae-il's view: guitar cases lining the walls.
Opposite: amps and effects piled like mountains, plus miniaturized broadcasting gear.
"Kinda cozy and cluttered."
"Messy."
"It was originally a storage for broadcasting equipment."
They'd stashed alumni donations here because there was nowhere else.
Whatever, content over packaging.
Tae-il silently surveyed the interior.
No other instruments.
No drums or cymbals at all. A couple spare kick pedals, but that was it.
Donations seemed guitar- or bass-only.
Makes sense. Who donates synths or drums?
Tae-il flicked a wandering drumstick on a bent music stand.
This was normal.
Private school or manga world, no need for big expectations.
"Not just guitars, right?"
"Few basses too. The ones in straight cases up front—those are basses."
(The one Ayane used for private lessons with Takahashi, FYI.)
"Gotta check 'em all out."
"Go for it."
"All of them?"
While the two dove in naturally, Rena alone reacted negatively.
"Why?"
"You aren't seriously asking me to play guitar, are you?"
"Not certain, but maybe?"
"Iris does guitar!"
"Bands can have two or more, no problem."
Rhythm guitar and lead.
Rhythm handles beats and backing; lead takes melody and solos.
Sometimes they share roles, or one player covers both.
Tae-il wanted two guitarists, minimum. He hoped Iris would focus on vocals.
Rena on guitar would be ideal.
"Th-that's..."
At the idea of her on guitar, Rena openly recoiled.
Tae-il found it odd—she hadn't even touched one yet.
Not thrilled?
Most coveted band spots? Guitar and vocals, hands down.
Drums next, then bass, synth last.
Tae-il personally thought guitar had a lower entry barrier than others.
Electric guitars were hugely popular, with endless supply and references.
For his preferred genres, it didn't demand virtuoso skills. Rena would likely do rhythm—perfect for beginners, blending seamlessly without strain.
"Same position as Arisugawa. Not happy?"
"I'd get compared to Iris..."
"Ayane's a newbie too. Gets compared to me."
"Th-that's..."
Rena was stumped by the counter.
Positions differed, but perceptions didn't.
She saw Ayane as a bassist, period—not some other instrumentalist.
Ayane would always draw comparisons to Tae-il.
He wasn't wrong.
The truth stabbed deeper into Rena's chest.
"Oh? You know Ayane?"
"Y-yeah. Childhood friends."
"Oho?"
Takahashi eyed Tae-il with interest.
Now she got why Ayane suddenly wanted bass lessons.
Youth.
Takahashi felt a pang of nostalgia for her school days.
"Any other instrument you prefer?"
Seeing Rena's lukewarm reaction, Tae-il handed her the reins.
"Not really..."
That made it worse for Rena.
She hadn't joined intending to make music.
It was a deal with Ayane, and a chance for more time with Iris.
Their goals had been misaligned from the start.
"I don't want a position overlapping Iris's."
"Yeah?"
Tae-il's expression turned subtle.
Normally, sharing a spot with your crush would thrill you.
But he recalled her situation.
Honjo isn't serious about music.
Even true music lovers rarely stick with it to the end.
Most burn out fast.
Why he'd tried sparking Ayane's interest too.
Without passion and obsession, this world leaves nothing behind.
Tae-il looked at Rena with sad eyes.
She looked terrified.
What scared her?
Definitely Iris-related.
How to convince her.
Forcing someone into what they hate, then making them love it? Near impossible.
As bad as shoving your ideals down their throat.
His thoughts tangled.
For future relations, for the band's survival, Rena was essential.
This scene isn't just about singing or playing well.
You need something unique.
And she had it.
Persuasion? Comfort?
Or some unknown path?
As Rena's confusion grew, so did Tae-il's dilemma.