Wind and Moon Relations (9)
The waitress glared at Tae-il with jealousy burning in her eyes before bowing her head.
"…Come again."
"Ah, haha. Thanks for your hard work."
Tae-il bowed awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.
The waitress's attitude felt all too familiar to him.
It was just like the looks he'd gotten from the boys around him back in childhood, when they'd glare at him for hogging Ayane all to himself.
But this waitress was a cut above those kids from back then.
Even with her beaming smile, the sharp jealousy and envy stung like needles pricking his skin.
'The reactions are even worse than when I'm out with Ayane.'
Compared to Ayane, whose skinship had been ramping up lately, Sakuya barely did any touching at all, and Rena looked way too young for it.
Even if they weren't exactly "flowers in both hands," the stares he got from passersby still burned.
And it was like this now.
Tae-il couldn't help but worry that once the band was fully formed, he'd start getting death threats from real fans.
'Yahiro hyung said he got hate mail from crazy fans all the time because he was always so close to Izumi…'
Not to mention how the original story's girl band episodes had flown out the window thanks to his existence as Shin Tae-il.
Instinctively sensing the rough road ahead, Tae-il let out a small sigh.
"Yah-ho! The outside world's the best!"
Sakuya, who had stepped out ahead of him, spread her arms wide and cheered.
Tae-il frowned unconsciously at the lingering unease.
"Ugh."
As if rain had just fallen, the moment they exited the karaoke building, the cool air-conditioned chill gave way to the lukewarm, sticky outdoor air clinging to their skin.
"Hoo-ah!"
Sakuya inhaled deeply, filling her lungs to the brim, then stretched toward the sky to shake off her sluggish body.
"Ugh! Man, it's been forever since I had a blast at karaoke like that!"
"Yeah?"
"Yep! Feels like all my fatigue just melted away."
Anyone could tell from her excited voice that she was thrilled.
She seemed satisfied but mentioned she could've sung more, rolling her still-energetic neck.
"Let's come again next time. With more people."
"Heh, sure."
Tae-il had given it his all, but between him and karaoke newbie Rena, they couldn't keep up with Sakuya's stamina.
True to her sports club roots, she was a stamina monster.
No worries about her collapsing from exhaustion mid-live, Tae-il thought with a laugh.
"Next time, let's bring Ayane and Arisugawa too. Ayane's one thing, but Arisugawa's amazing singer."
"Right, Iris is the vocalist in the band you put together, Taichi?"
"Yeah. You'd be shocked if you heard her, Sakuya."
How good is Iris that he's hyping her up like this?
As Tae-il boasted about the absent Iris, Sakuya pouted secretly.
"Tch. I sing great too…"
I wish he'd praise me a bit more.
Realizing she was thinking that way, Sakuya startled herself.
'Am I… jealous of her?'
While Sakuya flustered over the unfamiliar emotion, Tae-il readjusted Rena on his back.
"But don't you hang out like this with the other girls, Sakuya?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I don't go this hard with them. Usually an hour, then off to a café or Harajuku."
Tae-il was the type who could kill half a day in a karaoke room if conditions allowed—an asocial otaku through and through—but true social butterflies like her didn't spend all their time there.
If they did, it'd only be for the wild escapades Rena had fantasized about.
Sakuya was the same.
Her schedule with friends was packed tighter than anyone's, and karaoke was just a tiny slice of it.
In that sense,
today's time with Tae-il had fully vented the stress that had been smoldering inside her.
People often release stress by shouting or spewing out what's bottled up in their chest.
Hanging with friends was fun, but the face she showed them was a mask of sorts.
Playing while masked didn't fully relieve the tension.
But with Tae-il, she didn't need one. She could belt out all the songs she'd always wanted to but held back on.
'Once Interhigh's over, maybe I should make regular karaoke dates with Taichi? Or just hang out.'
In her mind, their karaoke styles meshed well.
They could probably sing for over half a day straight if they wanted.
Unlike childhood friend Ayane or bandmate Iris, she lacked a solid excuse to meet Tae-il steadily during break.
She could always suggest friends hanging out, but with his busy schedule, days like this—properly planned—would be few.
She needed something else to lure him besides karaoke.
'What could it be?'
Racking her brain for options, she slowly rolled her shoulders, stiff from her chest.
Bonus: she twisted her slim waist side to side, stretching showily for Tae-il's benefit.
"Ugh! Karaoke's great and all, but it's so cramped. Super stuffy."
"R-Really?"
Tae-il hurriedly looked away, preempting his gaze from drifting to certain areas.
"Glad you had fun, at least. That's what matters, Sakuya."
"Haha, yeah, it was a blast."
Today's star was none other than Sakuya.
Tae-il belatedly worried he'd gotten too hyped himself, but her relaxed expression set him at ease.
"Hit me up anytime you wanna go again. I'll tag along."
He puffed up a bit, dropping his voice low.
"Pfft!"
Sakuya, mid-stretch, suddenly clutched her stomach and doubled over laughing.
"Sakuya?"
"W-Wait… pfft!"
She waved him off, telling him not to come closer, and barely calmed down.
"Hoo. Hoo. Hoo. Whew. Damn."
Like someone nursing a hangover, she fanned her flushed face.
Tae-il tilted his head.
"What's up?"
"Kh! Just… Taichi, sorry, but shut up for a sec, ugh!"
Backing away from him, Sakuya clamped her mouth shut, stifling laughter.
Only then did Tae-il realize her laughter fit had been triggered by his wrecked voice.
"C'mon, is it that funny…?"
He pouted, then practiced scales like a vocalist: "Aaah~ do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do."
Of course,
with his throat shot, it wasn't proper singing—just raspy, dying-man wheezes.
"Stop, Taichi! You're killing me!"
"Not laughing at all here."
"It was hilarious to me…"
Forcing weight into the empty, breathy gaps made him sound like a comedian. Tears welled up.
Sakuya smacked her lips regretfully, glancing at sleeping Rena.
No ally to back her up, so the standoff dragged on.
"Even if you inhaled helium, it wouldn't be this funny."
"Oh yeah? You said it. Festival next month—let's see."
"What, a bold date invite?"
"What's stopping us?"
His gutsy declaration made Sakuya's lips twitch upward.
The town festival was after Interhigh. She'd have time.
"Deal. If I don't laugh, you grant me a wish?"
"If you call my name right, Sakuya?"
"Huh? Y-Your name?"
"Yeah, my actual name."
"Oh."
Recalling the end-of-exams day, her face flushed crimson.
What a humiliating memory.
Chills ran down her spine just thinking about it.
"Told you before? Report card flew in."
"Ugh…"
Rarely showing weakness, Sakuya earned a mischievous grin from Tae-il.
Revenge for all the teasing he'd taken? His wrecked voice brimmed with playful mischief anyway.
But Sakuya looked genuinely troubled by his prodding.
'It's so embarrassing…'
She saw herself as different from Ayane.
'Katsuragi's his childhood friend, so it's natural for her. No awkwardness.'
Not her.
They were just desk neighbors.
Pretty close ones.
Sure, she liked him, but she hadn't openly pushed her feelings.
'Don't wanna burden Taichi.'
Most guys she'd known were like that.
Ask her out first, then complain about the attention she got, or how she focused too much on sports.
She hadn't dropped her mask with them either, so it wasn't real on her end.
Even so, romance for her was a string of failures.
She couldn't have that fresh, sweet puppy love like in manga protagonists and heroines.
That's why she liked things with Tae-il now.
This gradual closeness, like a manga couple—it filled the void she'd felt.
Magically, he did exactly what she hoped for.
Even if he suddenly suggested music one day, she'd go along.
He never disappointed.
So.
'I can call him Tae-il…!'
Embarrassing.
Felt like a lover's pet name.
If Ayane had said it first, she wouldn't hesitate.
But Ayane called him that ridiculous "Shin-chan," like some five-year-old cartoon hero.
'Am I an idiot? Why'd I call him Taichi back then…!'
If time machines existed, she'd kill past-self to stop it.
'Too late now—if I refuse, he'll get mad, right?'
Tae-il pressed the brooding Sakuya.
"Sakuya."
"C-Called you, Taichi…?"
Flustered, she slipped into "Taichi" again.
Then,
Tae-il's voice dropped noticeably, laced with disappointment.
"That's cold, Sakuya."
With Rena on his back, he slumped his shoulders dramatically and scolded her softly.
"Is calling each other by name that embarrassing?"
The mischief vanished; his tone dripped with genuine sadness.
His hoarse voice made it sound like a deathbed lament.
Sakuya panicked.
"N-No, it's not that…!"
Her excuse died as their eyes met—her heart sank.
His naturally gloomy face, with drooping eyes, looked like a sadly mewling cat.
Just moments ago, they'd been grinning and singing face-to-face.
Now, he stared reproachfully.
'Oh crap, I'm screwed.'
Sakuya squeezed her eyes shut.
A bit exaggerated, but Tae-il was sulking.
'Is it really that hard to call a friend by name?'
He couldn't fathom her hang-up over a nickname.
If pronunciation was the issue, fine—but on the last exam day, she'd nailed "Tae-il" perfectly.
The joy he'd felt then was indescribable.
Past and present memories fusing brought pure ecstasy.
Her calling his name was addictive.
'Wish she'd do it again…'
Heck, if she wanted, he'd answer to "Sakuya Land" or "Sak-land."
Iris ended up calling her that in the original after getting close.
But Sakuya couldn't.
'Ayane calls me embarrassing "Shin-chan," and it's fine.'
Tae-il's disappointment was inevitable.
He'd thought they were super close, but her reaction said otherwise.
Sakuya, usually quick to laugh, couldn't muster a smile now.
"Sorry."
She apologized.
Not for refusing—but
"So, Tae… Tae…"
Forcing out the sticky name, she sneaked a glance at Rena.
Rena was out cold. Probably hadn't heard.
Calling him Tae-il here wouldn't mislead anyone.
Maybe she was overthinking it all.
Yeah.
How could a friend's name cause misunderstandings?
Screw it—Sakuya yelled.
"Tae-il!"
"Yeah? You called?"
Tae-il beamed.
Mischievous as a boy whose prank succeeded.
"Ugh!"
Sakuya buried her flushed face.
Whining like a kettle, she pinched her lips and smacked his forearm repeatedly.
"Guh!?"
The hand that launched gym-rattling spikes hammered him.
"Ow! Ouch, Sakuya! You'll drop Honjo! S-Stop…!"
"You deserve it, you jerk!"
"Hit me if you're mad, but go easy… Ack! I'll die!"
"Die then! Idiot! Sea cucumber! Anemone!"
"Ow!"
Screaming under her furious punches, Tae-il desperately muffled himself to not wake Rena.
Still, thanks to it,
"From now on, no more embarrassment—I'll call you Tae-il, you moron!"
"Ow! Ack! Ugh!"
one wish fulfilled.
If the price for his favorite character's name-call was one bruised arm, pretty cheap, right?
"Ugh… So noisy…"
Sakuya's innocent punching spree lasted until Rena stirred with sleepy mumbles.