Ch.35035. Request

“Muk!”

The phone slips from my weakened fingers and falls onto my head.

With a smack, Juyeon’s phone hits her forehead with impressive precision.

But it wasn’t just her forehead that turned red.

“…Rejected again?”

A faint irritation rises up her throat.

She couldn’t understand it.

No. This time it really looked good.

She even followed Luka’s advice when told to use his work as a reference…

Juyeon puffed one cheek with air and released it repeatedly while fidgeting with her fingers.

[Why this time?]

[Hmm… Can I be honest?]

After already humiliating me, now you’re talking about honesty?

[Yeah.]

[It’s just not pretty.]

Juyeon stared at the screen with a sour expression.

Well… with that kind of response, there wasn’t much to say.

If he had said something specific was off, or suggested changes, there might have been room for discussion, but…

Just “not pretty”!

Trembling with indignation, Juyeon threw her phone onto the bed.

Is my design sense really that bad?

There are so many things I can’t do already, so adding one more isn’t surprising…

It was a bitter thought, but not untrue.

I can’t speak well in front of others.

I’m a burden during PE with my below-average athletic skills.

I can’t even eat bell peppers properly.

Adding “can’t design” to the list wouldn’t bring any new storms to my life.

The important thing was how to improve.

If it had been anyone other than Suhyeok, she would have asked for advice again at this point.

But somehow, she didn’t want to.

When she thought about it…

This Lee Suhyeok.

He always wears the same gray hoodie everywhere, does he really know anything about design?

If someone cute and stylish like Hana had said something, she would have accepted it a hundred times over, but Suhyeok was questionable.

The only person who knows about my streaming is him, so I have nowhere else to ask, but at this rate, maybe I should just ask Seo-eun unnie…

-Thud

Juyeon banged her forehead against the wall.

“…Absolutely not.”

That was a crazy thought.

Telling other Spirit members about my streaming!

Already imagining what would happen, Juyeon successfully steeled her weak heart.

She squirmed back under the blanket and picked up her phone again.

[Are you free after practice tomorrow?]

She thought it was wonderful that chatting didn’t require stuttering.

* * *

Wednesday.

The midpoint of the exhausting weekdays.

Whether it was “already half over” or “only half over” was debatable, but for Suhyeok, it seemed to be the former.

Having arrived early at the practice room again today, Suhyeok was deep into guitar practice.

He felt anxious if he didn’t practice enough.

While insufficient practice might be a chronic problem for most club or hobby band members, it wasn’t an issue for Suhyeok at all.

He had been playing the same song for two years straight.

Even practicing a song for just one month would make it feel fresh.

The door creaked open as someone entered the room.

Unusually early, it was Choi Gang.

“Lee Suhyeok!”

His white teeth flashed with his bright smile.

“Ah. Hello?”

Though they had become more comfortable with each other, Suhyeok still found Choi Gang difficult and somewhat intimidating.

“Good thing I found you!”

With his long legs, he strode over to Suhyeok and bent forward like a soccer player.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s go to the gym together.”

Since he had already declined this request before, Suhyeok thought he could just refuse again, but today’s Choi Gang seemed to have more to the story.

“I need your help.”

“For what?”

“It’s because of Ji Sohye.”

The somewhat unexpected mention of their junior’s name.

As Suhyeok tilted his head in confusion, Choi Gang continued his explanation.

“Ji Sohye. Ever since I told her we could work out together, she’s been following me around all day!”

“How do I do this? How do I do that?”

“When we go to the gym, she’s like that all day, and I can’t properly enjoy my weightlifting!”

Listening quietly, Suhyeok could understand why Choi Gang was stressed.

He probably wants to enjoy his time alone. Just like Gang.

Just as he enjoyed playing guitar alone in his room, Gang seemed to enjoy working out alone.

If this was just venting, that would be fine, but why me…

“What Ji Sohye needs is a beginner friend at her level.”

“She needs someone who can find enjoyment in exercise together.”

They were both completely missing the point, but the two oblivious men thought the reasoning sounded strangely convincing.

Choi Gang’s hand firmly gripped Suhyeok’s shoulder.

“For your junior. And for your healthy body. How about trying something new, Lee Suhyeok?”

Choi Gang’s expression and gestures strangely resembled a supporting character in a boy’s manga who dies early.

“If you’re serious about starting, I’ll cover your first month’s gym equipment.”

Suhyeok’s thoughts, which had been closer to “Hmm… still…” shifted to “I’ll consider it positively” at Choi Gang’s words.

It was truly not a bad offer for Suhyeok.

I mean, it’s free, right?

“I… guess so…?”

“Great. Then come to the school gym tomorrow by 7 AM.”

“Morning?”

“Exercise is most effective on an empty stomach.”

Suhyeok felt like he’d been receiving quite a lot of requests lately.

Juyeon yesterday, and now Gang.

But since these weren’t forced requests from people he didn’t want to get close to, Suhyeok secretly thought he was making progress.

Next to arrive was Hana.

With her flowing blonde hair cascading down as usual, she stared intently at Suhyeok, who was shrinking beside the chattering Choi Gang.

There was no particular reason.

Her eyes just happened to go in that direction.

The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t even look at her when she came in.

“Hey. Move.”

Hana tapped Choi Gang’s shoe with her toe.

“What.”

“I need to talk to Suhyeok.”

“About what?”

“Guitar.”

Whether what Choi Gang was currently discussing was more important than band practice was certainly not the case.

After glancing briefly at Hana, Choi Gang turned around and went back to sit in his designated drum chair.

“Hi.”

With a pleased grin, Hana greeted Suhyeok.

“Hello.”

Pulling a chair over with one hand, Hana plopped down next to Suhyeok and took out her phone.

“Look at this.”

What Hana showed on the screen was the block toy Suhyeok had given her as a gift.

“Did you know I stayed up until dawn making this yesterday?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Thought my eyes would fall out.”

Suhyeok felt unnecessarily apologetic.

As if predicting this reaction, Hana added a comment.

“But it was fun to make.”

“Was it?”

Suhyeok’s face brightened considerably.

“Yeah. I never did this kind of thing when I was young, but putting it together piece by piece made time fly.”

“That’s good.”

“So I put it on my bookshelf like this.”

She swiped the screen with her index finger, revealing the red guitar model occupying a space among various band merchandise.

“But next time.”

This was the main point.

“Don’t go to Juyeon or anyone else, just give what you want to give.”

“There won’t be many gift-giving occasions besides birthdays anyway.”

She desperately hoped he wouldn’t ask why.

“Okay. Got it.”

Fortunately, Suhyeok nodded with a smile, saying he understood.

Eventually, Seo-eun and Juyeon arrived together, each holding a drink, probably having stopped by a café.

Juyeon’s eyes widened like an exclamation mark appearing above her head when she spotted Suhyeok.

She hurriedly approached Suhyeok on her short legs and slightly bent her waist.

Without asking permission, Juyeon borrowed Suhyeok’s ear.

A small whisper echoed in Suhyeok’s ear.

“You remember… we’re going together later…?”

She planned to talk about the streaming.

It was confidential information that absolutely must not be leaked to the other members.

Not yet knowing Juyeon’s plan, Suhyeok nodded that he understood.

Whisper whisper whisper whisper

Sitting across from them, Hana didn’t notice her own lips gradually protruding into a pout.

What on earth are they talking about to keep whispering like that?

“Everyone! Did you all practice the new songs?”

After checking the schedule on her phone, Seo-eun immediately started the band practice.

This particular song wasn’t that difficult.

It had strong classic alternative rock vibes, with both bass and guitar parts consisting entirely of common chords.

Not all ten songs they performed were filled with flashy and complex techniques.

As an amateur band primarily doing covers rather than original music, they had to consider audience reactions.

A few songs they wanted to challenge themselves with.

A few songs the audience would enjoy and want to sing along to.

Maintaining that balance was extremely important for the group.

As expected, the first day was a bit awkward, but it felt like they could finish this song by next week.

“Since the second verse is just a repeat of the first, let’s try to perfect at least the first verse, everyone.”

Seo-eun rushed off saying she had a date right after practice, and Choi Gang left saying he had to watch a broadcast.

Today, only the two guitarists and the vocalist remained unhurried.

“Should we get dinner together?”

Hana asked the remaining two in a cheerful voice.

Suhyeok looked at Juyeon, sending a signal asking if that would be okay.

Juyeon shook her head from side to side again.

In short, that was a “that’s no-no” sign.

The signals passing between the two.

Anyone watching would think Hana was being excluded.

Contextually that was true, but Hana herself felt strange about it.

In vulgar terms, it felt like she had become an outcast among outcasts.

The universe’s most frustrating outcasts are excluding me! This is ridiculous!

When her thoughts reached that point, Hana couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Hey! What are you two doing!”

Scurry

Juyeon grabbed her bag and fled first.