Yuujin still had his head down when Max nudged him.
He lifted his head slightly, yawning, and noticed several eyes on him. He quickly shrank back and stared directly at Max.
"Dude, the teacher called your name three times," Max whispered to him.
"Ah… PRESENT!" Yuujin shouted desperately.
The whole class burst into laughter, except for a few students who kept their eyes fixed on Yuujin in a very different way.
Yuujin's cheeks suddenly turned red, and he covered his face with his hand.
"How can that tall guy be so… spineless? He looks like a thug," a pair of boys whispered to each other, watching every little movement Yuujin made.
"So he doesn't like being the center of attention? He won't be good for the band. Why did Aoki call him, anyway?" Taylor muttered to himself, resting his chin on his hand with a bored expression.
For the rest of class, Yuujin tried to ignore most of the comments, forcing himself to focus as each teacher came and went.
Finally, the lunch bell rang. Yuujin stayed seated, resting his head between his arms, quietly observing the flow of students leaving the room. He noticed Max wasn't there anymore. The classroom was empty. He glanced back—Taylor was gone too. Yuujin interlaced his fingers and fidgeted with them for a while, head still lowered, until he heard voices and crept closer to the wall to listen.
"He can't even answer roll call properly. Why would he be useful to the band?" The voice sounded like Taylor's, probably talking to Max.
"I noticed that too. But there must be a reason Aoki picked him. Aoki doesn't like shy people. What made him so interested in this guy?" Max replied, making Taylor clench his fists tightly.
"I don't know, but I expect a good answer," Taylor said, before walking back into the classroom. "Yuujin, are you just gonna sit there like a wall spider? Come with us." Taylor gestured at him.
Yuujin stood up, scratching the back of his neck, eyes glued to the floor.
"What's wrong? Something bothering you?" Taylor asked as he came closer.
"N-no… it's nothing…" Yuujin muttered, and Max guided him along with Taylor.
"I'm not good enough for the band? I still don't get this… I hope that blond kid explains it better," Yuujin thought, as they arrived at the courtyard. Aoki was sitting on a bench, headphones on, relaxed, lost in his music.
"Let's head to our music club. You can talk it out with Aoki later, if he actually invites you," Taylor said, waving casually as he left with Max, leaving Yuujin alone among the flow of students.
Yuujin swallowed hard and walked toward Aoki, who immediately sensed his presence. The blond opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Yuujin approaching.
Yuujin turned his face away, hand brushing the side of his damp neck.
Aoki removed his headphones and smiled at him, patting the spot next to him. Yuujin sat down. Aoki pointed the headphones toward him.
"Listen! I need your opinion," Aoki said, a little anxious.
Without saying a word, Yuujin put on the headphones. Music filled his ears—an instrumental piece with a strong drumbeat, bass rumbling deep, and layered guitar riffs. Every detail sounded carefully arranged, creating a powerful rhythm.
After about fifteen seconds, Aoki pulled the headphones away and sat cross-legged on the bench, meditating posture, waiting for Yuujin's approval.
"Well? What do you think?! Cool, right?" Aoki asked, smiling with sparkling eyes, body restless with excitement.
"Uh… yeah… interesting," Yuujin replied, nervously fidgeting with his interlaced fingers, little beads of sweat dripping onto the ground.
"That's your highest praise? Man, you need lessons on how to give compliments," Aoki teased, laughing as Yuujin lowered his head further each time he spoke. "Don't be upset. I'm just messing with you, polar bear."
"So it was true… he really does call me that, just like they said," Yuujin thought. Slowly, he raised his head, locking eyes with Aoki for a moment before quickly covering his mouth and looking down again. "I don't remember him being this… cute." He took a deep breath and stood up.
"I… I…" he stammered, "I liked it, but… why is it only instrumental?" he asked, blushing and nervously tapping his foot against the floor.
"Oh, because we're still working on the lyrics. We're looking for someone to write them," Aoki said, thoughtful, though his smile never faded. That smile only made Yuujin's foot tap even harder.
"Then why don't you or your bandmates write it?!" Yuujin blurted out impulsively.
"Well… they said my lyrics are terrible, Yuri only writes cute stuff, Taylor only writes depressing songs, and Max doesn't even bother trying," Aoki explained, then leaned closer, softly sniffing Yuujin's neck. Yuujin immediately pulled back.
"You don't like people getting close to you?" Aoki asked, his eyes teasing as he leaned in again. Yuujin found himself cornered at the edge of the bench.
"It's not that, it's just…" Yuujin tried to explain, but Aoki burst into laughter.
"You smell really different. Tell me, you're not from Tokyo, are you?" Aoki asked while fiddling with his phone, adjusting the track.
"No… I'm not… but you smell nice too, what does that have to do with anything?" Yuujin asked, only realizing what he'd said after the words left his mouth. He shrank in embarrassment. Aoki raised an eyebrow and looked at Yuujin's damp face.
"Nothing. I just thought it was different. I don't usually do that with people, but with you… you bumped into me yesterday. It was impossible not to notice," Aoki smiled, standing up from the bench. "Come on, I want you to meet my band." He motioned for Yuujin to follow.
Yuujin grabbed his hand tightly before he could move away.
When Aoki turned back, Yuujin quickly let go.
"Ah! Sorry, but… why do you want me in your band so badly?" Yuujin asked, standing slowly, trembling. Aoki just smiled.
"Since I'm looking for someone to write lyrics for the band, I thought about inviting people I found interesting, not professionals. Because that would be way too easy, don't you think?" Aoki smiled again, grabbing Yuujin's hands and pulling him closer. "Just trust me and come along!"
"But wait! I'm not that good at writing either!" Yuujin protested, but Aoki wasn't listening anymore.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Yuujin thought.