(Transted/Edited/Slight Proofread: Snow)

  A café.

  A pce where anyone, regardless of gender, can walk in without hesitation and order a cup of coffee, and somewhere you can spend nearly an hour without worrying about the judgment of others.

  If it were just about the price, an internet café would have been a much cheaper option. But Taeil didn’t care.

  He simply sipped his coffee.

  Taeil had chosen to dedicate a significant portion of his precious time to Ayane, who was always busy on weekends, without a second thought about his own financial situation—just to ensure she had a satisfying day.

  ‘Well, I paid with the card my mother gave me.’

  If you’re in a hurry, just take it out and use it.

  A devoted son who faithfully followed his mother’s advice—his name was Shin Tae-il.

  “Wow. The decorations here are so pretty! Shin-chan, can I take a picture of this?”

  “Why are you even asking? If you want to take a picture, just take it.”

  “Ehehe.”

  Ayane eagerly snapped a photo of the beautifully pted waffle with her smartphone, as if she wanted to show it off to her friends. She kept taking pictures until she was satisfied, then finally picked up her knife and fork.

  “Happy with the photo?,” Taeil asked.

  “Yeah! I sent it to my senior to show off!”

  “Senior?”

  “Senior Sakurako! Do you want to see Shin-chan?”

  Ayane held out her phone for Taeil to see.

  [Senior Sakurako]: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

  [Senior Sakurako]: (roughly an angry sticker)

  [Senior Sakurako]: Are you seriously messing with me while I’m on a diet!?

  One message after another, filled with frustration.

  Taeil leaned back against the plush sofa.

  “Who’s Senior Sakurako?.”

  “She’s a senior from the Disciplinary Committee. She has pink hair and wears pigtails.”

  Ayane grinned and grabbed the sides of her hair, twisting them into makeshift pigtails.

  Pink hair. Pigtails.

  The distinct image reminded Taeil of a certain character.

  Hiiragi Sakurako.

  One of the most insignificant vilins in Show Band.

  A member of the disciplinary committee, constantly nitpicking Iris for her immorality, and looking down on Rena, a fellow member who was shorter than him. A stubborn person, overall.

  Even she, who seemed destined to fight her whole life, appeared to have changed by the end. As graduation approached, she acknowledged Lena and gave her a pair of high-heeled shoes as an apology for tormenting her.

  Of course, Lena was furious, insisting that she would argue until the very end.

  "I think I know who you're talking about. You mean the senior who's shorter than Ayane?."

  "Yeah, that's right!"

  Ayane burst into ughter, fully embracing the comment about her senior’s small height.

  “She’s got a terrible personality and is really annoying!."

  "For someone like that, you two seem pretty close."

  "She’s the senior I owe the most to. Even though she acts that way, she secretly takes good care of me, you know?".

  Another note was added to Taeil’s mental notepad.

  Sakurako Hiiragi – a minor vilin and a total tsundere.

  "I'm gd to see you're doing well," Taeil remarked.

  "Right? Shin-chan, do you want to join the disciplinary committee too?"

  "Why me?."

  "Every time Hayate-senpai has a tough job, he struggles because there aren’t enough male students."

  The duties of the disciplinary committee extended far beyond simply enforcing school rules and morals.

  As expected from a setting straight out of a manga, the committee wielded significant authority—sometimes handling bullying cases on their own or even getting entangled with violent circles.

  One infamous storyline from Show Band revolved around a gang the morality committee had subdued, only for the tables to turn when they maniputed Burning Bze into submission. This particur arc had become a popur topic among fans.

  Of course, things like in manga don't happen in reality.

  Or rather, they shouldn’t.

  Taeil took a sip of his coffee.

  The bitter taste tingling on his tongue was undeniably real.

  Ayane looked at him with hopeful eyes.

  "No?."

  "If you’re looking for a strong male student, you’ve come to the wrong pce, sir."

  "Pfft! Right, I forgot Shin-chan isn’t an athlete. I totally ignored your earlier excuse!."

  Ayane grinned brightly and took a bite of her waffle.

  “Mmm~? So good!”

  Its soft, cake-like texture melted in her mouth, perfectly complemented by the sweet maple syrup. For someone who loved sweets, it was pure bliss.

  “Shin-chan, do you want to try some?.”

  She held out her fork—one that had just been in her mouth—offering it to Taeil with an innocent expression.

  It was an indirect kiss.

  Taeil refused.

  "Eat plenty, you too."

  "It's really delicious..."

  Taeil could only smile bitterly as he watched Ayane’s exaggerated reaction to the taste—acting as if it had taken her to heaven and back.

  "By the way, that Sakurako-senpai from earlier… She didn’t really seem like the type who needed to diet."

  "Right? Ayane thinks so too. Honestly, you should be the one eating more instead."

  "Isn’t that something I say to you all the time?."

  "That’s right! I guess Ayane picked it up from Shin-chan."

  Ayane smiled bashfully. "Don’t we act alike?."

  Taeil didn’t say anything, but he gave a faint smile and nodded.

  "Really though, like you said, it’d be better for you to put on some weight…"

  Taeil shook his head and took a sip of coffee.

  "It’s tough being a woman."

  "It’s not that tough~."

  Ayane cheerfully cut her waffle into bite-sized pieces and popped another into her mouth.

  "Howp."

  It was a taste she never got tired of.

  Definitely worth the price.

  "Whoaa…"

  Ayane sighed contentedly, cheeks slightly flushed with happiness.

  "Is it that good?"

  "Yeah, yeah! Shin-chan, you still have time to try some, right? The train hasn’t left the station yet."

  "You go ahead and eat plenty."

  This was already the second time they’d had this exact exchange.

  Taeil chuckled and took a bite of his bnd biscuit.

  Honestly, just watching Ayane enjoy her food made him feel full.

  It was worth it—seeing how happy she was over something as simple as a waffle.

  Of course, Taeil was the one who bought it, but since he used his mother’s card, technically speaking, she was the one who paid for it.

  ‘Let’s check what’s happening.’

  Feeling more rexed, Taeil pushed away his creeping drowsiness with another sip of coffee and pulled up the anonymous internet community where fans gathered.

  The forums were already flooded with posts mocking Lute, a member of the BARD, for not being able to make it to the event.

  Taeil clicked on the most popur post.

  Right from the start, there were tons of pictures showing off the electric atmosphere—ticket confirmations, excited captions, and a little bit of humblebragging.

  "There are so many people…"

  A slight sense of unease crept in.

  The square in front of the Live House, where the broadcast was scheduled to take pce, was packed with people.

  ‘Even with a ticket, will I be able to get in?.’

  Some photos even showed tents set up in the area.

  Without hesitation, Taeil scrolled through other posts to check the public sentiment.

  Some people mentioned that tickets were being resold at high prices, while others said they just wanted to catch a glimpse of Izumi’s face, even if they couldn’t get in.

  ‘There’s still about an hour and thirty minutes left…’

  Taeil sighed, regretting that he had even checked the forum.

  His mind, which had finally settled after some rest, grew anxious again.

  Maybe Ayane should head straight for the train line as soon as she finished eating.

  ‘Let’s calm down and go over everything again.’

  To steady his nerves and prepare for any unexpected situations, Taeil pulled out his notebook.

  It was densely packed with detailed pns he had worked on for two sleepless nights—routes, schedules, and activities he had mapped out for Ayane during the live event. Flipping through the pages, he carefully checked and revised his must-do list.

  ‘First, I definitely need to bring water…’

  With a serious expression, Taeil continued scrutinizing his notes.

  Ayane, meanwhile, stared at him bnkly.

  Noticing her gaze, Taeil quickly composed himself, closing the notebook with an easygoing smile.

  "What’s wrong? Do you want more? Should I order something else?."

  Still chewing on her fork, Ayane nodded.

  "Yeah. No, that’s not it."

  "Then what?"

  "Shin-chan, your face looks really serious. Are you worried about something…?"

  "Oh, it’s nothing. Just… there are going to be a lot of people where we’re headed."

  "A lot of people?."

  "They’re a popur band. Even if you don’t have a ticket, it’s impossible to stop the fans from gathering."

  Depending on the broadcasting station’s schedule and BARD’s commitments, there was a chance the band wouldn’t even get to perform a full set—or might have to leave without singing at all.

  But to the fans, that didn’t matter.

  Just being in the same space as BARD.

  Seeing BARD with their own eyes.

  Tracking BARD’s every move.

  Adding just one more memory of BARD to their lives was enough to bring them joy.

  That’s what it means to be a true fan.

  "I’m so jealous," Taeil muttered.

  "Shin-chan?."

  Suddenly, he slumped back onto the sofa.

  He wanted Ayane to experience BARD’s magic firsthand.

  Not just through a haphazardly arranged music show, where they might only perform a couple of songs with an incomplete lineup.

  No—he wanted her to see a real concert.

  A concert where BARD, performing as a full group, meticulously crafted the setlist to take the audience on a journey.

  Where they ran all the way to the encore, driven by the cheers of their devoted fans.

  BARD is a band with an aura of mystery and a charm unlike any other.

  Each member possesses extraordinary talent, yet their brilliance isn’t the kind that bursts forth individually. Instead, when their skills are intricately woven together, they create a synergy that feels more like multiplication than mere addition. Their unity doesn’t just remain within the band—it extends outward, embracing the audience as well.

  Like any great band, BARD captivates its listeners with an energy that seeps into every corner of the venue. Before the audience even realizes it, they’re drawn into the illusion of standing on stage alongside them.

  A miraculous moment where the boundary between performer and spectator fades away.

  Their songs may not be fiery anthems, yet everyone sings of youth and hope with one heart and one voice.

  Perhaps she’ll be enchanted by them.

  Just like Ayane in the original.

  Just like Taeil, who once fell in love with the very character that inspired BARD.

  Feeling this way, Taeil forced himself to unearth memories buried deep beneath the surface.

  Back when he was still aimless, wandering without direction, he had drifted through the streets of Shinjuku and Shibuya, watching countless musicians busking. Among them were not only Japanese performers but also those who had come from Korea, each chasing their dreams.

  That day was no different.

  With no particur destination in mind, he had ended up in a park famous for its street performances. By sheer coincidence, he stumbled upon BARD.

  It was their first monumental street performance—before they became famous, before the world knew their name. At the time, Taeil had never understood why the protagonists in the original story were so obsessed with BARD.

  But that night, he finally did.

  Even beyond the realm of fiction, music has the power to move hearts.

  A siren’s call, luring in those who are lost and adrift.

  BARD stood at the very pinnacle of that allure.

  Tenma Izumi.

  A name that carried an almost celestial weight.

  Taeil floated through the memories, recalling the woman who had left such a deep impression on him.

  Even now, she retained a youthful air, her expression unreadable. Her sky-blue hair, swallowed by the pitch-bck night, had an almost decadent beauty, while her crimson eyes, devoid of light, resembled those of a lifeless doll.

  She looked almost tragic.

  But the moment she stepped onto the stage and took hold of the microphone—she transformed.

  As the performance began, as she sang the first verse, she came alive.

  Her sky-blue hair shimmered, casting away the surrounding darkness, and those dull crimson eyes, once empty, sparkled like the stars scattered across a night sky.

  A star.

  On stage, Izumi wasn’t just a performer.

  She was a shining star.

  In the shadows of towering buildings, within the depths of a park where no light could reach, she shone brighter than anyone else.

  But it wasn’t just her.

  Drummer Akitora.

  Bassist Yahiro.

  Guitarist NA.IN.

  Like the Summer Triangle—Vega, Deneb, and Altair—the brightest stars of a summer night, BARD was a consteltion of four, their brilliance intertwined, their light forming an unbreakable bond.

  Yet, ever since Izumi's death, that light had ceased to shine.

  Even so, stars never truly lose their light—not even in death.

  Instead, they explode into supernovas, burning brighter than entire gaxies.

  From a cosmic perspective, the death of a star is but a fleeting moment. But for humanity, that moment is eternal. As long as civilization endures, so too will the memory of its light.

  One year from now, vocalist Tenma Izumi will lose her life in a tragic accident. BARD will be no more, and the world will weep from her sudden departure.

  Iris and Ayane, two of the four main characters, will be among those left shattered.

  Yet, in the original story, they never gave up. They chased after the lingering ghost of Tenma Izumi, unable to let go of the star that once guided them.

  The Heavenly Demon who reached the summit—so cruel that even in death, she bound them to this world, refusing to let them move on.

  She was, in every sense, a devilish woman.

  Lute, left wandering without direction, would long for the days when BARD was still whole. He would recall her voice, her ughter, and the moments they shared.

  Perhaps Taeil would end up like that too.

  ‘No. Before that happens…’

  Taeil made a promise to himself.

  Before Tenma Izumi’s fate was sealed, he would take Ayane to BARD’s summer and winter concerts. He would let her witness that brilliant, blinding star firsthand.

  To do that, he first needed to draw her into the world of music—into the world of BARD.

  Even if the timeline shifted.

  Even if things deviated slightly from the original.

  The world was peaceful.

  It was an ordinary 21st-century Earth, untouched by secret societies or apocalyptic threats.

  A few changes wouldn’t matter. A few detours wouldn’t hurt.

  As long as it all led to a happy ending.

  And if he failed—then he would simply keep moving forward, carrying that failure with him.

  He had already made peace with that.

  But still, a lingering doubt remained—could he truly bring Ayane into this world? Could he help her see what he saw?

  That was the real question.

  “Ah.”

  “Shin-chan?.”

  Suddenly, a memory surfaced—an image from the photos he had skimmed through earlier.

  ‘This is it!.’

  Empty ptes. Drained mugs.

  Without hesitation, Taeil gathered up the tray, his movements sharp with newfound determination.

  "Let’s go, Ayane!."

  “Huh? Wait—what? Where are we going?”

  Before she could give a response, he plucked the fork straight from her mouth.

  “Ah, …Where?” she mumbled, still confused.

  Taeil pointed the fork toward the window.

  “The live house.”