I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 155

"It should be... we can't be friends anymore, let's start as strangers."

Kitahara Hakuba remained silent for a while, until he had chewed the fish in his mouth until it was mushy before swallowing it.

This is easier said than done. How many people can treat someone they've crossed paths with as a stranger?

"Does this mean you're allowed to come back?" he asked.

Saito Harutori's expression grew increasingly uneasy, and her mouth moved incessantly like a goldfish.

The sun, which was once burning brightly, has now disappeared into the red clouds, and a bird traces a black line across the window frame.

"Teacher Kitahara... what do you think? Can I come back?" she asked, mustering her courage.

The oppressive atmosphere felt like it was piercing my lungs, making even breathing incredibly difficult.

Kitahara Hakuba took a deep breath, pulled out a banknote from the table, and wiped his lips.

"As long as your return is a positive boost for the brass band, I won't object to it."

His calm voice and handsome appearance gave him a gentle aura, but only Saito Harutori knew that his appearance was simply a deception.

Saito Haruka's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she bit her lower lip and said:

"Really? I'd like to hear Kitahara Hakuba's opinion."

Kitahara Hakuba listened for a while, and the girl in front of him had a very firm expression, as if to tell her that what he was saying was not a joke.

“I’d prefer you to call me Teacher Kitahara,” he said.

Saito Haruka's cheeks flushed slightly as if she had been drinking, and the chopsticks in her hand transformed into the shape of large scissors.

"Just being by your side makes me content, as long as I can continue to be the person I envision myself to be, the person you need..."

Her left hand gripped the hem of her dress, creating deep folds, and her neatly sculpted face gazed at Kitahara Hakuba.

He slightly parted his lips and said,

"I've calmed down. What I said before wasn't a joke. I want to give you my whole life."

I want to play the tuba for you and win gold medals nationwide.

As soon as she finished speaking, Saito Haruka's face turned bright red, and she got up in a panic and went to the bathroom.

All that was left was Kitahara Hakuma, who stared blankly, his face pale.

He suddenly realized that he might be favoring the girls in the brass band too much, especially since they were in their adolescence, an age when it's easy for them to fall in love with the opposite sex.

However, as a teacher, Kitahara Hakuba couldn't just leave them to their fate.

"What kind of mess is this...?"

:

It's about a lifetime, about life, and all that...

After a while, Saito Haruka came out of the bathroom, but her face was flushed compared to when she went in.

It seems much more normal now.

Kitahara Hakuba feigned amnesia and asked, "When do you plan to come back?"

"Saito Harutori's slender fingers intertwined behind her back as she lowered her eyes and said, "Not now, I need to earn some money."

Haven't the family issues been resolved yet?

"The auditions will be held during the summer training camp, so you might not have a chance," Kitahara Hakuba reminded him.

Saito Harukori crossed one arm, her full, rounded breasts coming into view:

"I can wait for the national audition."

"I don't know yet if we can make it into the national competition." Kitahara Hakuba smiled.

However, Saito Harukori exuded immense confidence, her gentle gaze filled with unwavering trust:

"If it were you, Kitahara-sensei, to teach me, I'm sure I could do it."

Thank you for your kind words.

Kitahara Hakuba smiled. Her sudden change in demeanor made him unsure how to interact with her.

"By the way, you don't need to come over to cook anymore, I can do it myself," he said.

Saito Harutori shook her head, her tone tinged with a hint of anxiety:

“I can get off work at four o’clock in the afternoon, but you have to practice until very late. I want to cook for you a few more times. After all... you gave me a place, and I want to do more for you.”

Seeing this, Kitahara Hakuba could only sigh and say:

"No need, I won't be coming back to stay for the next few days, I'll stay at my friend's house."

Saito Haruka frowned slightly and said, "Friend? Which friend?"

-No, what are you asking for?

“My girlfriend,” Kitahara Hakuba replied.

"Teacher Kitahara has a girlfriend?" Saito Haruka's brows furrowed even deeper.

“Yes, we’ve been dating for a few months now,” Kitahara Hakuba reminded him. “So you don’t need to come over; I’ll be staying at her place these days.”

Saito Harutori curled her toes, as if unwilling to accept it, and said:

"Is that Mr. Shinomiya?"

"Hurry up and finish eating so you can rest."

Kitahara Hakuba's gentle tone carried an unquestionable air, and Saito Haruka dared not press further.

After finishing her meal and washing the dishes, Saito Haruka left the rented room and went back home.

Kitahara Hakuba doesn't know what the future holds, but if Isomoto Yuka feels it's okay, then he can guide her with peace of mind.

1

The day of the summer training camp has arrived, and the Shin-Asahi Brass Band will be embarking on a four-day, three-night intensive training camp.

The meeting time was 7:00 AM sharp. Kitahara Hakuba packed his luggage into his suitcase and left the room. In addition to bringing necessary changes of clothes, he also brought a lot of luxury items. He took a taxi to Shin-Asahi High School.

The starting price is 670 yuan per kilometer, and the total cost to reach the destination is 5,000 yuan.

Upon arriving at the school gate, two buses and a truck were parked in front of the club building, and many club members had already arrived and started moving musical instruments.

When Kitahara Hakuba arrived at one of the buses and asked the driver to open the trunk, he found a girl sitting in the front row smiling at him.

"Haruka? What are you doing here?" He looked at Shinomiya Haruka, who was wearing an off-shoulder dark green dress, with some surprise. Not long ago, the ferry manager had told her to continue working at the music store, but she came here today.

Shinomiya Haruka got out of the car, raised her hand and pinched the tip of his straight nose, saying:

"I love seeing your surprised expression the most, it's so cute."

Kitahara Hakuma grasped her fair wrist and asked, "So what happened?"

"Didn't I already say I'd come to help you with the bass part and B arrangement? Otherwise, you'd be exhausted doing it all by yourself, wouldn't you?" The beautiful woman with a graceful figure smiled.

"Did the ferry director agree?"

"You have to agree, even if you don't want to. What if I exhaust you?"

Shinomiya Haruka slightly tiptoed, her lips, coated with lip balm, close to his ear as she spoke.

"I'd like to get pregnant next year."

Kitahara Hakuba gave a wry smile. "You stay here, I'll go help them."

"Ah."

Kitahara Hakuba got off the bus and went to the truck carrying musical instruments, where Kawai Sakurako was directing Amami Sou and Matsuoka Nobuyuki to move the marimba.

Although the training camp allows students to wear their own clothes, they are currently required to wear the uniforms of Shin-Asahi High School.

Of course, once you reach your destination, you can completely unleash your freedom to dress as you please.

“Teacher Kitahara, there are so many people this year!” Sayaka Akamatsu said as she stepped forward.

Kitahara Hakuba nodded:

"More than ninety people is indeed a lot, so everyone may need to make some adjustments regarding accommodation."

"Previously, only students from the A-level cohort went to the summer training camp, while students from the B-level cohort didn't go. This year, everyone can go, which is great!"

Sayaka Akamatsu said excitedly.

"Otherwise, it just feels weird. The people from Editor A went, but the people from Editor B didn't. It feels like there's an unfair distribution."

"Come on, we're going to practice, not to play around," Suzuki Yoshie said from the side.

"The previous two years were supposed to be a training camp, but in reality it was just playing around."

Sayaka Akamatsu shrugged and said,

"There are fireworks and bonfires at night. Which school is as leisurely as ours?"

"You want to play?" Kitahara Hakuba asked with a smile.

"Huh? Can we play?" Akamatsu Sayaka's eyes lit up with excitement.

Kitahara Hakuba said:

"It depends. If you perform well, I will make arrangements after the selection process."

"Teacher Kitahara! You're simply a god!"

Sayaka Akamatsu excitedly ran into the club building and shared the good news with every student.

Chapter 140, Section 139: Training Camp: Casual Chat on the Bus

The musical instruments were all loaded onto a truck, and all 96 members of the wind instrument section arrived and boarded a bus under the instructions of Sakura Kawa.

The bus did not follow any rules about who had to sit where; it was simply a matter of who sat first.

But for the girls in the brass band, the best spot wasn't by the window, nor was it away from the tires.

It is the location closest to Kitahara Hakuba.

So you can see that some girls just won't move to the back, and insist on fighting tooth and nail for the seats next to Kitahara Hakuba.

"Huh? Why are you sitting here? It would be much better if you sat in the back!"