Wind and Moon Relations
Why do we even have summer vacation?
Because the weather's too damn hot.
Isn't it supposed to be a break from studies for students and teachers alike, a time to rest easy?
Yet here was the irony: Interhigh, the grand festival for sports club kids, smack in the middle of sweltering midsummer.
Tae-il had definitely thought that.
"Feels nice and cool...."
He swept back his bangs in the refreshing breeze.
His first impression of Gunma Prefecture was that it was surprisingly cool for an inland spot.
Like Gangwon Province back in Korea, maybe.
Unlike Tokyo, which was a steam bath after recent downpours with humidity through the roof, the air here was crisp and comfortable.
"Weather's being a real asshole today—way too perfect."
Tae-il looked up.
The brilliant blue sky, evoking someone's hair color, cleared his mind right up.
Autumn was still far off, but the wide-open heavens felt endlessly high.
"What're you doing? Spacing out?"
He turned at the grumpy voice from behind.
It was Rena, decked out in a wide-brimmed straw hat and sunglasses to dodge the intense sun. Not dressed up like Ayane on a date, but unlike Tae-il's half-hearted effort, she was fully armored.
'Couldn't tell at home in the pre-dawn dark....'
Seeing her like this in the bright light, yeah, Rena was a stunning beauty who could hold her own against Iris.
The sky-blue dress skirt fluttering in the breeze paired perfectly with her blonde hair and blue eyes, cute enough to remind him of Alice in Wonderland.
She dragged the suitcase the taxi driver had pulled out and stood beside him.
They say friends start to look alike.
She took off her sunglasses, hooked them on her collar, and flatly shared her take on Gunma.
"Fuck. Total hick town, just like I thought."
"Haha. Anywhere's gonna feel that way compared to Tokyo."
"Fair enough."
Rena took a deep breath.
"Air's nice, though. Tokyo always fucks up my throat. If you ignore the infrastructure, it'd be a decent place to live."
"Haha."
To Tae-il, her mutter sounded a lot like if you've got the cash, nowhere beats Korea.
Rena unlinked her arms and grabbed the suitcase handle. Her blue eyes sharpened under the straw hat as she scanned near the gym.
"Fewer people than I expected?"
"If it was in Tokyo, sure, but out here? Way fewer walk-up spectators."
Tae-il had been surprised digging into Interhigh.
Unlike the hype in manga, interest in Japan was lower than he'd thought. Baseball or soccer majors got more buzz from other tournaments, leaving Interhigh as the bloom of niche sports.
"Eh, at Yuuma High School, most kids care more about Concours or art comps than Interhigh anyway."
"You too, Honjo?"
"Figure it out from what I brought."
She patted the suitcase handle. Inside: sketchbooks, drawing tools, laptop, tablet—all for art.
"Don't give a shit how hard the jocks train. I'm here to draw."
"Haha. Sakuya'll love that for sure."
"Why the hell would she? You saying someone's drawing her or what?"
In the original story, Sakuya dreamed of being a mangaka. To her, Rena—already doing doujinshi beyond modern art—would be an idol.
Plus, Rena's spot in the band was shaky right now.
Ayane relations were worse than canon.
For band harmony, Tae-il figured recruiting Sakuya quick would smooth things over.
'Sakuya'd warm up to Rena fast. Might even get hooked watching her draw.'
Worst case, swallow his shame, snag some of Rena's adult doujinshi, and drop hints to Sakuya.
'Save that as absolute last resort....'
Tae-il steeled himself and straightened up.
"Brought cheering gear just in case. Hope it's okay?"
"You don't even know our school chant, do you?"
"Do you, Honjo?"
"Hell no?"
He laughed it off—ask classmates in the stands later.
"Just like Iris said—pure devotion."
"Hahaha."
Even by Tokyo public transit, it was over two hours for this distance, various reasons.
Switching buses mid-way? Three to four hours easy. Unless you're die-hard into youth sports, it's a hassle.
Other regions? Forget it.
Basically just school staff, sports officials, and youth sports reporters showed.
And Tae-il was here solely for his promise with Sakuya.
He grinned awkwardly, making excuses.
"S-Still, decent crowd here? Yuuma's volleyball team's eyeing a three-peat and two-peat. And...."
"'Cause of the jock babe?"
Tae-il nodded.
Sports need fan love to thrive.
And that pulls from star players.
True to Japan's reader-model trends, they obsessed over personal star power, past and present.
Especially in sports—natural stars got media before going pro.
Sakuraba Sakuya was no different.
Sports popularity alone? Near-celebrity.
Japanese sports manga had those "generation of X" tags for standout eras.
Tae-il learned recently they were real and common.
Sakuya had one too.
The cringey kind you heard and shriveled.
'Heh. More ammo to tease Sakuya with.'
If vibes soured, hype her with that. He smirked, satisfied.
"Let's head in. Might catch her face before tip-off if we're lucky."
"H-Hey, wait...!"
Tae-il grabbed Rena's wrist and led.
Suitcase now in his other hand— so smooth, she noticed late.
Rena eyed it with mixed feelings.
His grip looked ironclad, no letting go.
"Fine. Do whatever."
She sighed, whatever happens happens.
The day before.
Iris shouted.
"Fine, go! But with conditions!"
"Conditions?"
Tae-il blinked, baffled.
Iris, who'd been dead-set against, suddenly flipping to conditional okay on an affair?
'Iris, who won't budge even for Sakuya once stubborn kicks in?'
Impossible, remembering canon.
Only her dad, Arisugawa Zenjiro, could brake her.
Tae-il's shock wasn't over.
Her condition: Take Rena along tomorrow.
"Honjo?"
"Why drag me into this!?"
Rena, zero warning, freaked with a scream that made Tae-il think she'd ace vocals volume-wise.
"No good?"
Iris shot back shamelessly.
So bold, Rena thought her secret club app got busted.
"N-No, it's not—why the hell would an outsider like me go to Gunma with him?!"
"So that's what bugs you...."
"You know and still?!"
Rena flopped to the art room floor, exhausted. Kiriko patted her shoulder—give up, it's easier.
"Yeah, Iris. Why drag Honjo with me?"
"Shin Tae-il, mind stepping out?"
"This is about me...."
Iris didn't budge.
Yeah.
That's just her.
Tae-il sighed heavily, then stood limply.
"Call when done."
"Sorry~."
"If sorry, respect my privacy next time...."
"OK!"
Iris winked thumbs-up; he left without more fight.
"Alright, Rena-chan, biggest favor ever!"
"Dumping weird shit on me, now 'biggest favor'?"
Rena grumbled—make sense.
Shed lent the art room as practice space, big heart.
Repaying kindness with betrayal, pro-level.
"Got my reasons!"
Iris bowed to Rena, dragging sulky Ayane.
Ayane resisted, but Iris forced her head down; she grumbled but bowed.
Iris whisper-yelled, hallway-proof but firm.
"Only trust you, Rena-chan. Please! C'mon, Ayane!"
"P-Please...."
She gripped Rena's hand tight.
Iris's eyes sparkled desperately.
And.
A request from Iris, no less.
Rena couldn't stonewall her idol.
Finally.
She accepted the truth: the smitten side sins.
"What exactly you entrusting me with...."
"Surveillance on Shin Tae-il!"
"Why spy on him outta nowhere?"
"Keep Sakuraba from touching Shin-chan!"
"...?"
Thought she misheard; Rena scratched her ear.
"Sorry, say again?"
"Spy so Sakuraba doesn't touch Shin-chan!"
"The jock...?"
Tournament-busy girl touching Tae-il? Rena looked ridiculous.
"Touch meaning exactly...?"
"Sexual!"
"Impure opposite-sex relations!"
Rena, ready to mock Ayane, saw Iris match her—wanted to cry.
'Why's your IQs sync like this....'
Headache.
Rena rubbed her throbbing temple.
"So."
She summed up why she had to watch Tae-il.
"Jock might jump him, so watch?"
"Spot on!"
"Yep!"
Even Rena, eyes sharpened by Iris, found Sakuya impressive.
Talent, looks, personality—flawless.
Perfection incarnate.
But.
'Her jumping him? The jock...?'
Couldn't picture it.
Beyond mismatch, Sakuya sexually pouncing? Blank in her head.
'Even as doujinshi, too forced?'
Unless Sakuya's a sex maniac.
"Too absurd, brain's stalled. Recap first."
Sakuraba Sakuya likes Shin Tae-il.
If true, Rena nodded.
"She likes him, right?"
"Enemies!"
Iris didn't swear, but tone screamed certainty.
Ayane... skip.
"Fine, assume jock likes him."
Next issue.
"Jock jumps him?"
"Send Shin Tae-il to Gunma today, odds skyrocket!"
"She'd totally do it!"
Rena half-ignored Ayane.
"Why?"
"Sex to relieve tension!"
"Hieeek!"
Iris stated surely; Ayane freaked mid-rant.
Wait, weren't y'all aligned?
"Kinda get Iris's take."
Rena eyed Ayane next.
Fists clenched, glaring to speak.
'Ask her too?'
Looked hype for nonsense; awkward.
But flow demanded.
Rena grumbled query.
"...Creepy girl got differing opinion?"
Ayane unleashed pent-up guts.
"Sakuraba flaunted right in Ayane's face! All over Shin-chan! Like stealing him! Totally! Not once or twice!"
Fun fact: it was once or twice.
School run-ins multiple, but with Tae-il? Twice.
And instigator? Ayane both times.
She skipped her faults.
Sharp Rena filtered.
"She's hardcore Shin... Tae-il fan, not reliable. Iris?"
"Discrimination!"
"Sorry to Ayane, but...."
Iris had plenty too.
Others' love lives—prime entertainment, right?
She licked lips, explained her Shin Tae-il x Sakuraba theory.
Rena found it plausible but circumstantial—meh.
Problem: Ayane.
Thud!
"Shin-chan... already climbed adult stairs.... That's Ayane's role...."
Ayane, knocked out.
Rena shook head, asked Iris.
"Reasons clear. Why not you two spy?"
"Wanna, but us tagging? Awkward?"
Iris wry-smiled, patted soul-leaving Ayane.
"She goes extreme with Shin Tae-il."
"Overwhelming. Such a creepy girl."
"Eek!"
Ayane flinched—hit home.
She knew.
With him, baby-mode, unreasonable pushes.
But.
"Can't fix it no matter what...."
"Habits are tough to break."
Especially bad ones.
Ayane'd leaned on Tae-il over a decade.
Politely put.
Their bond was straight-up dependence.
Tae-il always indulged her whims, her top priority—no issue. But his clear goals shifted her rank subtly, unaware.
Once sole owner of his heart? No more.
Her space filling, bit by bit, others.
Ayane sensed, got vicious lately.
Stoke his guilt, fulfill his expectations/fantasies—alternating to hog time.
'Hitting limit....'
Felt it during today's practice.
Exclusive time? Shrinking ahead.
Ayane grew anxious.
Better near him, but unease lingered even together.
Rena couldn't fully empathize her anxiety.
Precisely.
Understood too well—didn't wanna.
"Eh, creepy girl's whatever. You, Iris?"
"I'd backfire hard."
Unlike grave Ayane, Iris casually chest-puffed, hand atop.
"I'm pretty, right? Fucking gorgeous."
"...?"
True, but pissy delivery.
Ayane, quietly consoled, now iced glare.
"Me cheering with Shin Tae-il? Sakuya guards up, triggers reverse. Like Ayane."
"Muu...."
Ayane pouted.
Wanna refute Iris, but spot-on—stuck.
"Insane."
Rena closed eyes.
"But you, Rena-chan, sexual appeal's... lacking a bit, so Sakuya..."
Iris trailed.
Rena, guessing, prepped chair to smash.
"Please die, you damn succubus pig bitch!"
"C-Calm down, Rena-san!"
"Ahahaha! Rena-chan's seriously pissed?"
"I'll kill that bitch and myself today, fuck!"
"Shin-chan's already adult...."
Art room chaos, but Tae-il stayed out.
Rena, chair-swinging revenge on Iris, praised past self for begging chairwoman for soundproofing.
Such events happened....'
Some twists, but Rena hopped on Iris's plan.
Not emotional—her calculated choice.
Rena'd never friended anyone but Iris.
Fake-nicers? Ruthlessly shoved.
Persistent like Tae-il? Cursed clean.
One cried to office.
'Iris alone sufficed.'
Iris probably same.
Felt lonely sometimes.
But thought: if Iris suffered and she friended up solo-fun, how'd it look?
'Still retarded thinking.'
Iris never wanted her isolated.
Rena assumed, spiked defenses to monopolize Iris-attention.
Her prickly nature drew classmate and senior hate—art room trashed often.
She revenged double, of course.
Tiny, kid-sized, but no underestimators.
Feared even. Rena thrived.
'Iris is all I need.'
Narrow world: dad, kind Arisugawa staff, sun-like Iris.
But.
New intruder.
Shin Tae-il.
Handled as usual.
Tough nut.
Didn't back off.
Worse, eyed her sole sun.
Hostile beyond any before.
'Yet this guy....'
Gym entrance.
Rena stared at Tae-il like exotic beast, vending his fave drink ghost-precision.
Always, his attitude abnormal.
Her thorns sparked fear, rage, contempt—negatives.
Not him.
Rational likers fled after parent-curses.
He treated normal.
Rena: moon.
Can't shine solo, reflects Iris-sun—failed star rock.
But moon value isn't dimmed by no-light.
How vital to life-bearing Earth? Unseen by her.
Tae-il showed.
'When he grabbed, forced drums....'
Immersed.
Snare hits: fingers trembled, brain buzzed.
Bass drum kicks: full-power, drug-rush full-body resonance.
Moon waned, sun rose cycles.
Thrilling fingertips still heart-raced her like addict.
Like first drawing happiness, thrilled.
Drew unconsciously gripping brush/pencil drumstick-style—bad.
Music differs from art.
Not capital-driven abstract modern art—makes hearts pound, unites.
'Me too....'
Could create productive pure something.
Not lowly resisted-desire scribbles.
"Good, both teams haven't warmed up yet. Lucky—might meet right away?"
"Yeah. Nice."
"Wanna text her? Cool?"
"Whatever."
Her okay, Tae-il joyfully phoned Sakuya.
No need permission, yet shy-ask—clearly caution-lived.
'What is it....'
Rena closed eyes.
Bass-serious face, drum-push grave—didn't click.
But his bright smile? Chest itched weirdly.
'Sunglasses on collar?'
Frustrated, thumb-scratched chest.
Itch persisted.
Then.
Phoning Tae-il wide-eyed shock, then beaming at her.
"Says come to players' lounge now!"
"R-Really?"
"Let's go to Sakuya quick! Okay?"
"Do what you want...."
Unyielding itch vanished like lie.
Green sprout.
In her doodle-scribble kid-world.
Sprout wriggled, devouring new nutrients beyond past feelings.