I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 237

Kitahara Hakuba stood aside and noticed that Kanzaki, Saito, and Nagase, the three girls, had not gone up.

Even Sakurako Yukawa noticed this, so she asked:

"Sunny Bird, Moonlit Night, aren't we going to go this year?"

The reason I didn't ask Kanzaki Eri is because she hasn't appeared in previous years, so I think it's understandable and not strange.

Nagase Tsukiyo's small, supple lips bloomed like a flower:

"I may not have much time to practice the songs for the cultural festival, I'm sorry."

"Then...: ...

Saito Haruka's eyes narrowed into an arc:

"This... I'm not really interested."

"It was as if she had never heard her refuse like this before, which left Yukawa Sakurako a little at a loss."

"It's alright. These days, even if you randomly pick someone from the brass band, they can handle Shenxu's students. What do they know about brass music?" Akamatsu Sayaka comforted Yukawa Sakurako like a child.

"Hmm::"

Sakurako Yukawa's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she felt a pang of sadness. She just wanted to play on stage with them a few more times in her last year.

After all, there will never be another opportunity like this again.

Sayaka Akamatsu clapped her hands and said:

"Then let Yu Shou take charge..."

"Could we have Kitahara-sensei direct the performance at the cultural festival?"

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Ame-no-Kami, who stared intently at the astonished Kitahara Hakuba with sharp, determined eyes.

But soon, Yu Shou's taut facial muscles seemed to melt away, and she shyly relaxed:

"Next year I... the third-year students won't be at Shin-Asahi anymore. It'll be our last year of the cultural festival, and I think... I think the third-year students want to spend the cultural festival with Kitahara-sensei!"

Yu Shou looked somewhat agitated, to the point that his words were full of inconsistencies.

Many members couldn't help but look at each other, and some even burst out laughing.

It's no secret within the Shin-Asahi Brass Band that the orchestra's principal has a fondness for the advisor; they believe the only person who doesn't know is probably Mr. Kitahara.

"Oh! Great suggestion!" Akamatsu Sayaka said with a grin, looking at Kitahara Hakuba. "Kitahara-sensei, you can be the one to conduct this time!"

Kitahara Hakuba moved away from the wall he was leaning against, forcing a bitter smile as he said:

"Logically, the performances at the cultural festival should be directed by the students, not the teachers...::"

Frankly speaking, for other clubs, it would be too disruptive to maintain balance if he were to take the lead.

"I think it's fine! I'll talk to the committee!"

Sakurako clenched her fists tightly; she also wholeheartedly agreed with the suggestion.

"Everyone wants to spend more time with Kitahara-sensei. I hope that Kitahara-sensei can be with us on the stage of the cultural festival... Doesn't Kitahara-sensei want to?"

The moment she uttered those words, all the club members turned their gazes to Kitahara Hakuba. The girls' eyes were filled with anticipation, and he felt a little embarrassed by their stares.

Kitahara Hakuba modestly raised his hand and touched the bridge of his nose: "Alright, I personally don't object."

Upon hearing this, the standing girls all showed excited expressions, their youthful radiance making one feel somewhat elated.

A thin layer of sweat suddenly appeared on Nagase Tsukiyo's palms, nervousness lingering between her fingers, and a feeling of wanting to perform on stage welled up in her heart.

But we just said we couldn't go, and now we're saying we can? Won't we be secretly laughed at?

The meaning you're trying to convey is too obvious. If Kitahara-sensei doesn't go for you, you won't go for him either. If he does, you'll go for him. Do you like him?

A faint blush crept onto Nagase Tsukiyo's beautiful face; she felt ashamed and embarrassed by herself.

"Then I'll go on stage too."

Unlike Nagase Tsukiyo's indecisiveness, Saito Haruka, who had previously refused to go on stage, spoke directly.

"Oh? You don't play when Kitahara-sensei isn't around, but you go on stage as soon as he is?" Sure enough, Akamatsu Sayaka gave a meaningful look.

However, Saito Harutori remained completely calm and continued to smile as she said:

"Because on second thought, it would be even more interesting if Kitahara-sensei were here, wouldn't it?"

Saito Haruka's eyes drooped slightly, and there was no trace of the sharpness she had shown when she spoke to her; instead, there was endless tenderness in her eyes.

To outsiders, she is now a kind, lovely, and beautiful, yet fragile, young girl.

That's just how she is; no one would have the slightest doubt about it.

In that instant, a feeling that was neither fear nor worry surged through Nagase Tsukiyo's spine and penetrated deep into his brain.

Nagase Tsukiyo realized something.

She couldn't completely conceal herself with an "interesting" facade like Saito Haruko, nor did she want to embarrass herself in front of others.

I cannot treat Kitahara Hakuba with the same ease and concealment as Saito.

"Haha, I knew you'd say that!" Akamatsu Sayaka said with a laugh.

Saito Harutori smiled, simply raising her hand to brush a strand of hair from her chest:

"I also want to be directed by Kitahara-sensei as much as possible in my final year."

Here we go again... Nagase Tsukiyo thought.

She can say this so openly because no one will suspect a thing.

What to do... what to do...

Nagase Tsukiyo narrowed her eyes with a hint of melancholy, her gaze falling on Kanzaki Eri beside her.

The girl with white hair clips tied between her black hair didn't say a word from beginning to end, but stood obediently to the side and watched.

Sakurako Yukawa said happily:

"Then it's settled. I'll make copies of the sheet music and distribute them to everyone tomorrow, and Mr. Kitahara will be the conductor for the cultural festival!"

Kitahara Hakuba's lips curled into a faint smile as he held up one finger and said:

"But we cannot slack off on sound checks because of this."

With Kitahara Hakuba joining the team, the members' morale was extremely high, and their responses were more enthusiastic than usual.

"Yes!"

>

The ensemble practice ended at 6 p.m.

The members acted with their own thoughts on the matter; some went straight home, while others stayed at school to continue practicing.

Nagase Tsukiyo put her trumpet back into its case, then thought of the afternoon's cultural festival plans and couldn't help but sigh softly.

As she got up to leave the school, she put on her shoes at the shoe locker, slung her backpack over her right shoulder, and carried her instrument case in her left hand. Standing at the school gate, Kanzaki Eri caught her eye. The reeds, almost as tall as the girl's legs, swayed comfortably in the wind on the banks of Goryokaku.

A hint of confusion appeared on Nagase Tsukiyo's face. Was Eri waiting for her? She hadn't been going home with her anymore.

“Moonlit night.” Kanzaki Eri saw her strolling over and then turned to her.

"Eri, what's wrong?"

Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and Nagase Tsukiyo instinctively covered her pleated skirt, which was fluttering in the wind, with her instrument case.

Strands of her soft hair floated on Eri Kanzaki's cheeks, and her voice was as usual:

"Haru-tori, you've been getting quite close to Kitahara-sensei lately, why is that?"

"Why?" Nagase Tsukiyo tilted her head back, her pale neck trembling. "How could I possibly know why?"

The words spoken by Eri Kanzaki sank into the cool air, one by one, while the sound of bicycle wheels rolling over gravel filled the air.

"Aren't Moonlit Night and Sunny Bird friends?"

Nagase Tsukiyo checked, and sweat slid down her forehead.

"Isn't Hui Li one of them?"

The girl looked at her, her eyelids trembling slightly, the sticky silence seemingly eroding their senses.

Kanzaki Eri's eyes, as dark as the night, were devoid of any emotion. After a few seconds, she spoke:

"No, Qingniao has never considered me a friend."

"That's not the case."

Nagase Tsukiyo subconsciously gripped the handle of the instrument case and said,

"We're just friends, Eri, don't overthink it, and I've always been there for you—"

“Haruto is using you and me.” Kanzaki Eri’s eyes revealed no real emotion. “We can’t let her use Kitahara-sensei anymore.”

"Hmm!"

Nagase Tsukiyo gasped sharply, her eyes widening, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Saito Harutori had said those words to her before, but now, Eri was saying them to her again...

What's going on...? Why are they both so fond of Kitahara-sensei...?

"You don't know about Tsukiyo?" Kanzaki Eri's throat trembled slightly.

Nagase Tsukiyo avoided her gaze, letting out a soft groan through her tightly clenched teeth, as if she were speaking directly to herself:

"I don't know, I don't know anything..."

Kanzaki Eri stared unblinkingly at the girl before her, then slowly relaxed her lips, saying with a half-smile:

"Shall we go back together today?"

"Why?" Nagase Tsukiyo looked at her with a hint of fear in her eyes, her gaze flickering slightly.

"On the way."

At that moment, Nagase Tsukiyo suddenly realized that the three of them might never see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Chapter 193, Section 192: Evasive talk is useless; must we explain ourselves clearly? (4K)

After leaving school, Kitahara Hakuba's first stop was Shinomiya Haruka's music store.