By Monday morning, the entire school knew.
Not just that I'd played at auditions. Not just that I hadn't completely humiliated myself. But every detail—how my voice cracked in the middle, how I'd kept going anyway, how the crowd had actually gone quiet.
Rumors traveled faster than electricity.
"Did you hear? Takeda actually sang."
"Yeah, and it wasn't awful."
"Apparently it was kind of… emotional?"
"Shut up, I almost cried."
I dragged my feet into class, praying to vanish into invisibility.
Instead, half the room turned to stare as soon as I stepped inside.
"Whoa, it's the guitar guy."
"That's him?"
"He looks so normal…"
I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
Rina, of course, made it worse.
She was already at her desk, chin propped on her palm, smirking like a cat with cream. As I walked past, she stage-whispered: "Careful, everyone, the rock star's in the building."
My face burned. "…Shut up."
"No autographs before lunch," she added sweetly.
I slumped into my seat, burying my face in my arms. This was hell.
---
The day didn't get better.
At lunch, two second-years I barely knew cornered me. "Hey, Takeda, we're starting a band. Wanna join?"
I panicked so hard I choked on my rice ball.
Later, in gym, a guy shouted across the field: "Yo, sing something!"
I nearly tripped over my own feet.
By the end of the day, I wanted to crawl into my guitar case and stay there forever.
---
Rina caught up with me at the gates, walking home like always.
"You look like a celebrity in hiding," she said cheerfully.
"Because I want to hide," I muttered. "This is the worst."
She snorted. "This is the best. Finally, people notice you exist."
"I liked it better when they didn't."
"Liar." She bumped my shoulder lightly with hers. "You're just not used to it. Deep down, you like it."
I frowned, unsure. Did I?
The attention felt suffocating, but there'd been a moment—just a moment—when someone had said "emotional" instead of "cringe."
And I'd felt… proud.
A little.
"…Maybe," I admitted.
"Ha! Knew it." She grinned. "Don't worry, Music Boy. I'll keep you humble."
I groaned. "That's what I'm afraid of."
She laughed, the sound ringing brighter than the cicadas.
And just like that, the day didn't feel quite so heavy.