bookbashuk Page 378
Page 378
"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Professor Kitahara told me that after the awards ceremony, we need to arrange for two to four people to participate in the interviews. I was thinking of having the four of us go together. What do you guys think?"
"The four of us? Shouldn't the other two be Nagase-senpai and Saito-senpai?" Takahashi Kami said, puzzled.
Yukawa Sakurako shook her head and said:
“Sayaka and I are the class leaders and vice-leaders this year, while you and Eto-senpai will be the class leaders and vice-leaders next year. This arrangement is probably the best.”
Kana Eto said worriedly, "But...but I'm really bad at talking."
Akamatsu Sayaka patted her back dismissively and said:
"So what? It's precisely because you're clumsy that you need to practice more. Sakurako was also clumsy when she was the club president last year; it was all Harutori talking."
"It sounds sad, but it really is," Yukawa Sakurako said with a wry smile.
"Fine, fine." Kana Eto swallowed hard.
She gradually realized one fact: her senior classmates were about to leave, and the responsibility of the brass band would fall on her shoulders.
It's absolutely impossible not to push yourself forward, and with Kitahara-sensei here, the new generation will definitely be able to go even further.
After chatting with Taki, amidst the adoring gazes of a group of Kitauji girls, Kitahara Hakuba walked towards the brass band he had carefully nurtured.
He glanced around, tensed his facial muscles, and said:
"Everyone, listen carefully to the instructions. First, don't go to the first-floor audience area later. I've spoken with the other school representatives, and Shenxu will stay at the west entrance of the second-floor audience area. Second, don't leave immediately after hearing the results. There will also be a group photo of the participating teams at the national tournament. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
Chapter 282, Section 281: The National Conference! The Awards Ceremony!
Kitahara Hakuba returned to the corridor leading to the reception desk, but this time, unlike before, he was accompanied only by Yukawa Sakurako and Akamatsu Sayaka; the rest were students from other schools.
They were all conductors from various schools, as well as officers from the wind band sections.
Everyone moved forward in silence, and the girl beside him was barely breathing, as if she would fade away with the musical notes.
"Teacher Kitahara."
A delicate voice came from behind her.
He turned around and saw the girl with three braids tightly gripping the white-edged cuff of her sleeve, taking a deep breath, and looking at him earnestly:
"Thank you for never giving up on us."
Upon hearing this, Sayaka Akamatsu, who was standing next to her, revealed a faint smile that was quite different from her usual expression.
1
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Kitahara Hakuba's lips moved unconsciously, but he didn't answer; he just smiled back at her.
The second time Sakurako felt that Kitahara-sensei was as dull as a block of wood was the first time it was the day he was late for the brass band practice.
Led by staff, the conductors and band members from the first fifteen schools walked onto the dimly lit stage.
There were no audience members left at the scene; all the attendees were members of the A and B editorial teams from the fifteen schools, as well as related personnel.
Different colors of uniforms occupy different areas, each uniform has its own characteristics, yet they coexist in this space. Looking up,
It is full of the diversity and vitality of youth.
Kitahara Hakuba stood on the first step, with Kawawa Sakura and Akamatsu Sayaka behind him, and the rest of the elite school staff also stood there.
At this moment, the female emcee's voice rang out in the silent venue:
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. Next, we will begin the first half of the awards ceremony for the high school division of the 72nd All-Japan Wind Music Competition."
A wave of applause resounded throughout the concert hall, dense and powerful.
The members of the Shin-Asahi Wind Ensemble all stared intently at the front of the stage, their gazes fixed on Kitahara Hakuba and the two girls behind him.
Even the usually carefree Akamatsu Sayaka had a tense expression on her face at this moment, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Not just her, everyone on stage was the same.
The female emcee continued:
"At the very beginning, we need to present the Conductor Award to all the conductors present at today's national conference."
The moment the words fell, the members of the Shenxu Wind Instrument Club were all on high alert, clutching the fabric of their long skirts tightly with both hands.
On stage, Kitahara Hakuba stood beside the staff. As he respectfully extended his hand to signal them to come forward, the female emcee pronounced his name clearly, "Kitahara Hakuba."
Almost simultaneously, the members of the Shenxu Wind Instrument Club stood up in unison and shouted at the top of their lungs:
2
On stage, Kitahara Hakuba, holding the trophy base in one hand, glanced somewhat at the Shin-Asahi Brass Band on the second floor, then smiled gently and bowed deeply to the stands.
A round of enthusiastic applause erupted in the audience, and soon the female emcee began announcing the name of the next conductor.
Similar words of gratitude rang out from the stands, which made the Hokkaido girls, who were originally extremely shy, feel relieved and seemed less bashful.
The cheers still lingered in his ears as Nagase Tsukiyo sat in her chair, her face flushed and breathing heavily.
Sakurako and Sayaka, really, why would they suggest this?
But thanks to that shout, she dared to speak out loud. (The last sentence appears to be a fragment and doesn't translate directly.)
Nagase Tsukiyo glanced at Kanzaki Eri sitting next to her; she had also shouted loudly earlier.
But because Eri was right next to him, Nagase Tsukiyo could hear her say "I like you" instead of "We like you".
Actually, she could vaguely hear that it wasn't just Eri who shouted that, but as for who else was, she was too embarrassed to investigate further.
The awards for the fifteen commanders were presented quickly.
"Next, the chairman of the organizing committee, Hideaki Ando, will announce today's results and present awards. Each group will receive a trophy selected by the All Japan Wind Instrument Federation, Asahi Shimbun, and the judges."
"The award recipients are: Kaoru Fukugami, Vice Chairman of the All Japan Wind Music Federation, and Yoshimi Suzuki, Director of Asahi Shimbun."
As the female emcee read the announcement, a man stood in front of the microphone on the left, looking at the result in his hand.
The concert hall was completely silent. The air surrounding the Shenxu Wind Ensemble seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere permeated every corner.
Chapter 282, Section 281: The National Tournament! The Awards Ceremony! >>
The long skirts were crumpled by fingers, and many people's knuckles turned slightly white from the force.
The girls held hands with each other, while the boys in the back row pretended to be calm, but their intertwined fingers were secretly straining.
Everyone eagerly awaited the Chairman's next announcement.
"Did you just hear Amemori-senpai say that she will love Kitahara-sensei for the rest of her life?"
"Huh? I thought it was Senior Isomoto who called out?"
"Don't bring this up now! We're the first ones being mentioned!!!"
"Oh!!!"
Anxious sounds came from the corner from time to time. Nagase Tsukiyo clasped her hands in front of her chest. Suddenly, Eri's hand touched her thigh.
Nagase Tsukiyo's flustered and fragile face was reflected in her eyes. The two did not speak, but simply clasped their hands together.
She could feel that Eri's fingers were very cold.
Kirishima Mai held Kuno Tachibana's petite upper body in her arms; she had never seen Tachibana so frightened.
He always says "I am confident" and "I am strong", but why is he so afraid that he shrinks into her arms when it comes to the award ceremony?
Kirishima Mai's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she subconsciously looked at the members of the Shin-Asahi Brass Band. Everyone looked so tense, as if they had become one with the world around them.
She, however, seemed out of place.
Suddenly, the fingers gripping her palm tightened subtly, and Kirishima Mai's heart skipped a beat.
She seemed to be able to get a sense of what it means to persevere in pursuing a goal, as if she was just one step away from activating the engine in her heart.
On stage, the committee director, his hair turning gray, glanced at the results and slowly spoke into the microphone:
"Number 1, Hokkaido Representative, Hakodate District Branch, Hakodate City Shin-Asahi Private High School, goid, Gold Award."
The moment the announcement was made, cheers erupted from the Shenxu Wind Ensemble in the second-floor stands, with members wearing two different uniforms pushing and shoving each other.
"Gold Medal! We are the Gold Medal winner!!"
"Great!"
"Waaaaah, senior! Senpai—!"
"I finally won an award!"
The members wept with joy. The first-year girls held their friends' hands happily and excitedly, while many of the second and third-year girls hugged each other and burst into tears.
The boys excitedly stood up from their seats and started punching, roaring loudly like animals declaring their territory.
The screams that come with winning the gold medal are like shouts that can only be heard freely in a dream.
At this moment, all the hard work and sweat finally transformed into unparalleled glory in the prime of youth.
Students from other schools looked at Shenxu High School with envy, but quickly came back to their senses and continued watching the stage.
Upon hearing the result, Nagase Tsukiyo jolted and hugged Kanzaki Eri tightly.
With his palm pressed against her back, he clenched his teeth and whispered in Eri's ear, his voice choked with sobs:
"Value Partners Gold Award, Gold Award is wonderful, wonderful!"
A serene smile appeared on Eri Kanzaki's face as he gently stroked her back.
"Great."
"Moonlit night! Eri!"
Saito Harutori walked straight down the corridor, knelt down, hugged the two of them, and said in a tearful voice,
"We've achieved our goal! We've achieved it! We won gold together!"
On stage, Sakura's face was initially tense, but she couldn't hold back in the end and burst into tears in front of the camera and everyone, sobbing uncontrollably.
But she didn't dare raise her arms to wipe away her tears, keeping her arms hanging down the whole time, letting the tears flow down her cheeks.