I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 55

"Don't talk nonsense about deep affection. Also, don't come and talk to me."

"Who else can I talk to if not you? The other first-year students didn't make it into the A division, and the other third-year students are all rotten to the core. You're the cutest."

"..." Yu Shoukan simply stopped replying.

"To be honest, my mom is here. She's even more excited about today than I am."

"..."

"You're so tall, won't you steal my thunder?"

"..."

"Ah, Kitahara-sensei looks so handsome in his suit."

"Ah."

"Ha, you're back already? You're quite cute," Kuno Tachibana said with a mocking smile.

Yu Shoukan's ears turned bright red, as if they were about to bleed. He glared at her fiercely and said:

"Just keep being so carefree. One day, your number one trumpet will be mine."

"Oh dear, oh dear, I'm so scared, waaaaaah—"

Kuno Tachibana's affected kneading made the muscles on Amemori Kan's face twitch. She couldn't understand why this person was so familiar with her.

At that moment, thunderous applause erupted from the audience on the other side of the screen, signifying that the previous school had finished playing.

"Next up is the brass band from the Hakodate branch of Shin-Asahi Private High School in Hokkaido, performing 'RYDEED'."

As the emcee finished speaking, Kitahara Hakuba led the members of the brass band onto the stage.

Kuno Tachibana, who had been sitting up straight instinctively, quickly started walking.

This was her first time on such a big stage. Although she was used to laughing and joking in front of others, she couldn't laugh in front of so many people.

Not only her, but all the other members had tense faces. Even Saito Haruka was tightly hugging her euphonium, her legs stretched straight out under her skirt.

In a competition, everyone works together to complete a piece of music. If you make a mistake, you will drag others down. It's not just about losing face; nobody wants to be the one who is blamed after the performance.

Everyone sat in their assigned seats according to the order they had practiced, and placed their sheet music on the wooden shelf.

In early June, the air in Sapporo was cool, but the lingering notes of the previous school's performance still echoed on the stage.

Kitahara Hakuba, dressed in a shirted suit, bowed his head in greeting, and the audience applauded, with many raising their phones to take pictures of him.

He turned around, looked at his team members who were staring at him, and mouthed:

"come on".

Yuka Isomoto took a deep breath, her lungs bulging, and stared directly at the sheet music she had marked with many information points. The musical staff swam in her mind like tadpoles, and most of the notes were written for her by Kitahara-sensei.

The private guidance she received from Kitahara-sensei these past few days, the presence of Nagase Tsukiyo in the audience, and Saito Harukori sitting on the stage were all reasons for her to strive.

On stage, the handsome Kitahara Hakuma slowly raised his arm, his white baton tracing graceful lines in the air, his slender fingers moving fluidly.

The members of the Shenxu Wind Ensemble followed his movements and began to play.

The cymbals begin to gently beat, and the bells of the brass instruments vibrate slightly, emitting low tones from the chest.

The bass line emanating from the bassoon vibrated the air, while the clarinet part danced around it like colorful butterflies.

At this moment, the brilliant tone of the first trumpet pours out from the muzzle, blending seamlessly with the bassoon melody.

Kuno Tachibana felt as if her body was melting. This was completely different from playing in the ensemble in the practice room, especially with an audience present. This feeling...

It's just like... being in heaven...

At this moment, the music heard by each member was completely different from that heard by the audience. For Saito Haruka, who was sitting next to the trumpet and frantically pressing the piston valve, she could hear the timbre of the trumpet very clearly.

Even though he still felt resentful, he could never belittle Kuno Tachibana's talent for playing a minor role.

The music continued relentlessly, with the woodwinds becoming the main focus of the score. As Kitahara Hakuba waved his baton, the clamor of the brass instruments gradually subsided.

Woodwind instruments such as bassoon, flute, saxophone, and oboe intertwine to create an exciting and cheerful melody.

As Kitahara Hakuba danced, he marveled at Kanzaki Eri's talent on the oboe, praising its exquisite tone.

Her eyes never blinked, and she could even perform on such a stage without any expression; she was truly a living puppet.

"By the way, who's that person playing the trumpet? He's so small, yet he plays it so well!"

"Who is that beautiful woman playing the euphonium? She has such a strong sense of being a married woman!"

"It seems like... wait? I don't think I recognize it."

"Wow, their commander is so cool!!!"

Before the whispers from the audience could reach the ears of those on stage, they were extinguished by the sounds produced by various musical instruments.

The drummer pounded the drums, the rhythm rose, and Kitahara Hakuba's baton waving became increasingly intense, the performance heading towards its final climax.

Everyone was playing the same measure over and over again, and when the bassoon reached its limit, Kitahara Hakuba's conducting came to an abrupt halt.

After a few beats, the audience confirmed that it was over and then clapped loudly, the cheers were so loud they felt like they were going to burst.

Kitahara Hakuba let out a sigh of relief, smiled encouragingly at his team members, and conveyed the message that it was "great."

Joy was evident on everyone's face. Saito Haruka, holding her euphonium, looked down at Nagase Tsukiyo from the audience, slightly out of breath.

Even though she wasn't playing, she was still breathing softly, but her usually aloof face was filled with anticipation. When Saito Haruka noticed this, she was so excited that her body trembled.

Everyone in the brass band was immersed in an excitement that almost made their brains melt.

This time, she'll realize just how amazing the brass band has become, right? She should be able to come back, right?

Thinking of this, Saito Kiyotori smiled, swallowed, and wiped the sweat from his palms onto his skirt.

Then, under Kitahara Hakuba's guidance, all the club members stood up and bowed to the audience in unison.

Chapter 63. If things continue like this, no one will be happy.

"I'm so happy playing this! Feel my heart, it's still pounding!"

"Could we possibly win an award?"

"How could that be? We're still far behind the top schools!"

"Huff, huff, don't get excited, don't get excited, we still have to go to Quandao!"

Although some members started to get complacent, there were still some who remained rational. Their current skills were still significantly inferior to those of the top-tier, orthodox schools.

"Thank you for your hard work," said Shinomiya Haruka with a slight smile.

"You've worked hard too," Kitahara Hakuba said.

Students from other schools would turn back every time they saw Kitahara Hakuba, and some girls would even stop in their tracks.

As everyone walked out of the venue, Sakura Kawa raised her hand, waved, and called out loudly:

"Everyone, please don't wander off yet! Let's take some photos here to remember this moment!"

Not only did Shenxu High School take photos in the square, but many school members who had finished their performances also needed to have their photos taken. However, these photos were taken by the organizer's professional photographers and will be sent directly to the advisor's email address.

"Everyone, let's take a group photo of the whole club first, then take photos of each section," said the male photographer wearing a farmer's hat, holding up his camera.

Sakura found a spot where shorter people could stand on the railing in the square, hold onto the shoulders of the person in front of them, and then squat down.

This way, everyone can get a photo taken.

"I want to stand by Kitahara-sensei's side!"

Kuno Tachibana quickly ran to Kitahara Hakuba's side, but the height difference between the two was too great, making the photo look very awkward.

As if in a superior position, Shinomiya Haruka reached out and pressed Kuno Tachibana's head down, saying with a smile:

"We'll talk about it when you're older."

"Shinomiya-nee~~"

"No way~~" Shinomiya Haruka said with a smile as she shooed her to the back to step on the railing.

Saito Harutori, carrying a backpack filled with a tuba, looked around like a lost child.

She saw Eri Kanzaki sitting on the railing, staring blankly at the sky, her long, glossy black hair cascading down to her waist.

A glimpse of fair and smooth skin was visible between the skirt and white knee-high socks.

Tender green buds peeked out from the slender branches without restraint, and the passing students showed no interest in the cherry blossoms buried in the lawn.

"Eri, where is Tsukiyo?" she asked as she stepped forward. "I haven't seen her since the duet."

Eri Kanzaki sat upright, her legs bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"Qingniao, should we ask her to take a picture together?"

"this......"

Saito Haruka said, lowering her eyes and gently kneading the strands of hair on her chest.

"Although I really want to, it would be asking too much of everyone and Tsukiyo, since she's not a member."

"Then what do you want with her?" Kanzaki Eri's hair appeared faintly leaden gray in the sunlight.

"What do you want to know... Of course I want to know where she is, whether she went back, and I have some things I want to say to her."

Saito Harutori hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said,

"If you don't want to, you can help me—"

"No, I won't be a messenger anymore."

Eri Kanzaki lowered her head and gently pressed her left thumb.

“No one will be happy if I keep doing this, and if I keep talking, I’ll mess everything up.”

Her reaction immediately surprised Saito Harutori.

"I see."

"Haru, Eri, come over here for a photo!" Yukawa Sakurako called out to the two of them.

“Okay!” Saito Harutori replied, then said to Kanzaki Eri, “Let’s go, Eri.”

Eri Kanzaki stood up and followed the members who were standing in their positions. She stopped three meters away from the line and looked around for a while.

"Kanzaki-senpai?" Kirishima Mai suddenly felt a fresh and mysterious girl standing next to her.