You Don't Listen to Rock (6)
If you lose a game you were overwhelmingly winning just for the sake of "romance," you usually get cursed out.
But my opponent was a romcom male lead.
At least among the White Team kids I knew, not a single person blamed Haneul.
It might be proof of the immense popularity and goodwill Ryu Haneul had built up, but...
"That was so close...!"
"That's my boy Ryu Haneul. He's so damn cool, seriously."
"I totally fell for him! That's our basketball captain for you!"
"So moving. Seriously, if anyone recorded it, upload the full video to the group chat!"
Yeah. I don't know a reality where middle schoolers lose a game and just laugh it off like this.
This place is definitely a romcom.
"My wish is for you to go to the KCTC."
"Where's that?"
"Just promise me."
"Well... okay."
"Pinky swear on it."
"But where is this place? Is it overseas?"
"Something like that. And it's a great place. Don't you trust me?"
"Of course I do. We're friends, aren't we?"
My best friend pinky-swore with me, flashing a refreshing smile.
A bright grin spread across my face naturally.
Good. That's a promise, okay?
The auditorium of Hwayeon Middle School was quite spacious.
However, because they had crammed sports equipment, performance facilities, amenities, and storage rooms all inside, the actual capacity for comfortable seating was relatively limited.
That said, for a crowd of around a hundred people, it was a perfect environment for a festival, rivaling any other school.
""Welcome to the Hwayeon Stage!!!!""
"Yeahhhhh!!!"
"Whoaaaa!!!"
The auditorium had been darkened with blackout curtains.
As the spotlights focused on the stage, upbeat background music began to play.
Stepping onto the stage was the first-year broadcasting club duo, who had been passionately hosting all day.
Unlike earlier when they wore gym clothes, they now appeared in sequined jackets and bow ties.
"Ye-eun, have you seen today's lineup?"
"Of course I have! True to Hwayeon Middle School's reputation for talented students, our seniors have prepared some incredibly hot performances! I caught a glimpse of the rehearsals, so I'm even more excited!"
You two should definitely go into broadcasting.
I found myself giving them a mental thumbs-up at their excellent acting and hosting, which made me wonder if they were planning to apply to an arts high school.
"They really are good."
It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking this, as the girl sitting next to me mumbled while munching on potato chips.
"...What? Why are you here?"
"Yo."
It's not "yo."
"Why is someone from Class 1 sitting here?"
"Because I swapped seats. Apparently, Si-yeon is singing a duet with Jin-su."
"Still, you should follow the rules—"
"Right, right! Oh, by the way, they're singing 'Trouble Maker'! Their outfits are totally... hehehe. Isn't that crazy?!"
Yujin made a huge fuss like a middle-aged auntie, slapping my shoulder repeatedly.
Even if she was eating with her fingers, she could at least hit me with a clean hand.
"...Is there anyone you don't know?"
"This is basic. We're in our second year; isn't it weirder to not know everyone in our grade?"
I was instantly branded as the weird one, but I was used to this.
"Yuseol, wet wipe."
And this situation, where she demanded things from me as if I owed them to her, was also very familiar.
"...If you packed potato chips, you should have packed wet wipes too."
"Aw, come on~. I know for a fact that you always carry wet wipes, Yuseol. And you always give them to me even while complaining like this."
"I'm really not giving you one next time."
"Even if I really need to go to the bathroom?"
"...Out of basic human decency, I'd give you one then."
"Look at this cute tsundere~."
Yujin nudged me with her shoulder.
Then she offered me a potato chip, telling me to take a bite... How annoying.
I had already burned a significant portion of today's energy in the relay race. By the time the performance was over, I would be running on empty.
I had no choice but to navigate my way home in ultra-power-saving mode.
"Aren't you excited for the after-party today? I heard we're going to that new all-you-can-eat place!"
Hmm. If things keep going like this, I'll collapse mid-performance.
"Wow. Awesome. I've been wanting to go there."
I had no choice but to preserve my energy with a "no-look reaction."
The key was to give a positive answer while projecting a moderately interested nuance. The thing to watch out for was...
"Really? So you're coming with us, right?"
"No, that's a bit much."
"Tsk."
Since she threw curveballs like this, I had to space out my replies.
"Ahhh~ Don't be like that, let's go together. I'll grill the meat perfectly for you~."
"I'll take it under positive consideration."
"Hey. That just means you're not going."
I let myself sway helplessly as the tomboy shook my arm.
Adopting the mindset of showing her what a true reed-like person was, I had entered energy-saving mode early on.
As I listened to Yujin's chatter with one ear while paying attention to the juniors' banter, the two on stage began to speak in a serious tone, unlike before.
"We have an announcement to make before we begin the performances."
"Unfortunately, the dance club from Singok Middle School, Wave, who was scheduled for a guest performance, will not be able to join us today."
"Damn it!!"
"Nooooo!!!"
"I survived today just to see this!!"
Groans erupted from the boys all over the auditorium.
I, too, felt a deep, profound, immense, and truly maddening disappointment that this festival—the very hotbed of youth—would end a bit earlier.
"But do not worry!!"
"Because we have the hero of today's sports day!!"
Wait, it's not even a time of crisis. Why is there a hero?
As I muttered that to myself and glanced toward the broadcasting booth—
Flash!
The lights illuminating the stage shifted, slowly sweeping over the audience.
I was sitting in the very front row.
Curious to see who among these guys was claiming to be the hero, I turned around to look, but it was strangely blinding.
Why? Why was it so bright?
Was I finally getting summoned to another world?
...Damn it. Of course it was bright.
"The hero of our town!!"
"The legendary Student Council President!!"
The two juniors were making an unusual amount of fuss.
The moment I heard those words, I stood up from my seat.
Of course, it wasn't to draw attention, but to escape. However, sitting right next to me was my legendary childhood friend.
"Seol Yujin! Seol Yujin!"
In an instant, Yujin grabbed my wrist and forced my hand high above my head.
The composition alone looked like election season.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the scene resembled an election rally packed with supporters.
"Damn it!! I knew I could count on you, Yuseol!!"
"Just how much attention do you want?!"
"I believe in you!! I know you'll dance the Zero Two on stage!!"
"...What?"
Unable to comprehend the situation, I looked around blankly.
Just then, my gaze landed on my childhood friend, who was thoroughly enjoying the situation beside me...
"Yuseol! We can just do two songs!"
It was you. You're the arbiter of this world who chose me as the hero.
"...Wow."
They say that when a person faces an unacceptable situation, all they can do is laugh. It turned out to be true.
Even though countless words and sentences flooded my mind, I couldn't say a single thing to the girl giggling like a child.
Above all, the hundred-odd expectant gazes fixed on me were overwhelming.
"Please vote for me, Seol Yujin, as your Student Council President again next time...!!"
"We will!!"
"Seol Yujin for National Assembly!!"
"But we have a single-term limit."
I just played along for showmanship.
As soon as the bus carrying the Singok Middle School dance club departed, it got into a minor fender bender.
Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but after careful consideration, they decided to cancel their appearance just in case.
The circumstances were understandable to everyone, but the important thing was this:
"...Why on earth do we have to pull double duty?"
No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason for me to fill that void.
"Classic beta male trait: whining about things that have already happened."
"...If you had just told me beforehand, this wouldn't have happened."
"...Well, that's true."
The auditorium waiting area.
Watching from the side, the current performance on stage had already entered its climax.
Singing loud enough to burst the auditorium echoed from the speakers mounted on the front and ceiling, and the crowd's cheers were equally grand.
Glancing at the passionate scene, I plugged the in-ear monitors into my ears.
As I lightly tapped my fingers to the metronome ticking in my ears, the arbiter of the world, Miss Chae, shuffled over hesitantly.
"...You're not as mad as I thought you'd be?"
"I don't even have the energy to get mad, you brat. Seriously, you..."
I glared at her absurd remark without realizing it.
"...Yujin-i will grill the meat super tasty for you. I'll even make wraps for you."
Yujin cautiously read my expression and tried to act cute...
Did she really think that would work on me after seeing it for five years?
"Sigh, seriously."
Letting out a deep sigh, I pulled out the in-ears and let them drape around my neck.
The performance seemed to have finished, as a thunderous wave of applause swept over from the audience.
The previous performers waved and exited the stage.
The two junior hosts filled the stage for a moment with their excellent banter, while the broadcasting club members moved the pre-set instruments and equipment onto the stage.
In three minutes, it would be our turn.
A stage we had to fill entirely by ourselves for ten minutes.
So...
"Chae Yujin. This earns me a one-month get-out-of-jail-free card, got it?"
"...Huh?"
Pat, pat.
I stroked my slumped childhood friend's head.
Caught off guard, Yujin widened her eyes and let out a cute little squeak.
"What do you mean, 'huh'? I practiced for days on end for this. You made me play the hardest versions on both drums and guitar, saying it absolutely had to look cool. Come to think of it, it was what you wanted to do, but I was the one who had to practice twice as hard."
"...T-That's because..."
"Uh-uh. I'm not looking for excuses."
"Ugh..."
Chuckling at her bewildered look, I poked her forehead.
My cute childhood friend covered the poked spot with both hands...
"My time doesn't come cheap. Are you really going to let something like this get to you and ruin the performance?"
"......."
"Don't mess up up there, brat. Depending on how you do, I'll either scold you to death or praise you."
This time, I lightly pinched the spot where her dimples would appear and smiled warmly.
"Alpha female trait: never letting the highs get too high or the lows get too low. Wasn't that your thing?"
"......What is this? You, right now..."
"I said I'm not taking any arguments."
"I won't, so let go of my lips..."
I pinched her small, red lips a couple of times before letting go.
I felt it all the time, but she really was fun to tease.
"Now, please welcome the legendary childhood friends of Hwayeon Middle School, the Two Yujins, who will fill today's final stage! Give them a big round of applause!!"
At the junior host's voice, I turned my head toward the stage.
The setup was complete.
Looking toward where the applause was echoing from, I plugged my in-ears back in.
"Let's go, Yujin."
Taking the tomboy princess by the hand, I stepped forward.
.
.
.
Everything is a matter of perspective.
That is why a completely new landscape can unfold just by shifting how you look at the world.
Right now was exactly one of those moments.
The stage I stood on as a performer was wider than I thought, and my classmates, whom I had assumed were few in number, seemed even fewer.
On top of that, even though the spotlights were only illuminating the stage, I could clearly see the expressions on my friends' faces...
It truly made me feel like a member of an indie band.
*Click.*
As soon as I got on stage, I connected my in-ear cable to the headphone jack of the mixer.
Turning my head to check the broadcasting booth, I saw the music teacher, who was handling the audio engineering, give me a nod.
*Hummm...*
The feedback of the volume being turned up vibrated through my in-ears.
At the same time, I checked to make sure the guitar pick was safely in my pocket.
Meanwhile, you stood in front of the bass.
Although the stage stretched wide to the left and right, because of the nature of the drums being positioned at the back, all I could see was your profile...
Well, seeing you flash me a thumbs-up, it looked like everything was fine.
Letting out a chuckle, I looked forward.
The space was so quiet that the cheers from earlier felt like a lie.
As I lightly tapped the snare and kick, the heavy drum sounds flowed clearly into my in-ears.
The sound must have carried well through the speakers too, judging by the shifting expressions of my classmates.
Okay.
Mumbling to myself, I pulled out one of my in-ears.
Pulling the microphone set up beside me closer, I parted my lips.