pertwk Page 175
Page 175
"I never imagined I'd be on stage one day auditioning for a solo performance," Nagase Tsukiyo said, turning her gaze away.
Sakurako Yukawa pursed her lips, stepped forward, and asked, "Do you get nervous too?"
"I said I was nervous, but I was probably scared."
Nagase Tsukiyo turned off the faucet, rubbed the silver mouthpiece in a handkerchief, and wiped the water stains off.
"Afraid?" Sakurako Yukawa tilted her head, she had never heard Tsukiyo use that word before.
"Hmm...:: Actually, I don't know how to describe this feeling."
Nagase Tsukiyo's gaze fell on the slightly scratched muzzle, and a faint smile appeared on her lips as she said, "I'm nervous, excited, and scared all at the same time... After all, no one can guarantee that there will be any more exciting things like this in the future."
Looking at her serene and gentle profile, Yukawa Sakurako finally realized what she was talking about.
That means the brass band might not make it to the national tournament this year, and as a third-year student, she will no longer have a chance.
She was enjoying everything that being in the brass band brought, even the emotions evoked by Kuno Tachibana's challenge. Yukawa Sakurako gently lowered her eyes and said:
"As expected of the moonlit night, I was overthinking it."
"You think I'd blame you for not stopping Kuno-senpai?" Nagase Tsukiyo said in surprise.
"Because I'm afraid that saying this in public will embarrass everyone."
"How could that be? A solo performance is no small matter."
"It was my oversight."
Nagase Tsukiyo smiled and placed her hands gracefully in front of her skirt:
"By the way, Sakurako, have you decided who will be the next team captain?"
"Huh? You're going to decide now?" Sakurako Yukawa's eyes widened.
"Of course, we'll be in the national competition in a few days. If we don't make it into the national competition, all of us third-year students will have to leave the department when school starts. Are we just going to stay here?"
Hearing her words, Yukawa Sakurako hesitated, fiddling with her braids, and stammered:
"As for second-year students... there don't seem to be that many outstanding ones..."
Nagase Tsukiyo raised her small hand to her chin, thought for a moment, and said:
"Eto-san and Takahashi-san?"
"Huh? Is that alright?" Sakurako Yukawa asked.
"I'm just giving my opinion. I think Takahashi's personality is good enough to be the vice-captain, and Eto should be the captain. Although her oboe wasn't in the A class, she and Kirishima will definitely be the main players next year."
"Hmm... I'll find some time to talk to them privately later."
Chapter 153, Section 152: The Trumpet Can't Do It Like the Oboe (4K)
During summer vacation, few clubs used the auditorium, so Kitahara Hakuba easily obtained the right to use it by simply informing the ferry manager.
He pulled back the electric red curtains on both sides and found that Eri Kanzaki was already sitting below, holding an oboe in her hand and a reed in her mouth.
"You're here so early?" Kitahara Hakuba stood on the platform, looking down at her.
Eri Kanzaki removed the reed from her mouth and tilted her head back, the stage lights instantly illuminating her delicate face:
"This is the reed I like."
As she spoke, she raised the reed in her hand. Kitahara Hakuba smiled and said:
"Thank you for your hard work this afternoon."
Kanzaki Eri's gaze drifted thoughtfully back and forth, and she spoke in a barely audible voice:
"Who does Kitahara-sensei want to go on with Soli?"
The distance was quite far, and her voice was too soft, so Kitahara Hakuba had no choice but to leave the stage and sit one seat away from her.
But Kanzaki Eri groaned softly upon seeing this, her little face looking somewhat unhappy. She stood up and sat in the empty seat between the two of them.
The faint milky scent emanating from the girl lingered around Kitahara Hakuba's nose. If he got up and moved away again, Eri might follow him.
"Who does Kitahara-sensei want to go on with Soli?"
Kanzaki Eri turned her head to look at him, her skirt slightly lifted, revealing her flawless, snow-white thighs to the air.
“It depends on their performance,” Kitahara Hakuba said, looking at the empty stage.
"Between Kirishima-kun and Kitahara-sensei, who do you hope will be on Soli?"
The soft-spoken question made Kitahara Hakuba's heart skip a beat. Eri's voice sounded normal, but it contained a hint of revelation.
I thought she was asking about Nagase Tsukiyo and Kuno Tachibana, but she turned out to be asking about her own oboe playing with Kirishima Mai.
Did she find out?
Kitahara Hakuba feigned ignorance, frowning slightly as he asked:
"Haven't you already been chosen by me?"
"Hmm, Kanzaki Eri's delicate fingers gripped the oboe tightly. She hesitated, then pursed her lips, her eyelids slowly drooping."
"Even so, I hope that Kitahara-sensei can tell me the truth."
The girl's answer left Kitahara Hakuba speechless for a moment, and one could clearly see her neck, which was tracing a smooth curve, trembling slightly.
"How did you know?" Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Kitahara Hakuba could only ask.
Kanzaki Eri looked at him directly and said:
"Am I stupid?"
.without."
Kitahara Hakuba shook his head, casually replying, "It's just that everyone has different goals. Kirishima-san might have some reservations about solo performances—"
However, before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Eri Kanzaki:
"I don't care, but will you look down on me? Will you abandon me like the moonlit night?"
The girl's eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her fingers suddenly touched Kitahara Hakuma's arm, making him shiver.
Kitahara Hakuba felt the temperature on his arm getting higher and higher, and Eri's cherry-colored lips became more and more charming in his eyes.
Eri Kanzaki was afraid that she would go to find Mai Kirishima's oboe, so she threw her away.
"I won't look down on you. Kanzaki-kun is one of a kind to me," Kitahara Hakuba said softly.
But you are not unique to the brass section.
Eri Kanzaki could clearly understand the deeper meaning behind Hakuba Kitahara's words, but she didn't care at all because she didn't care about the brass band.
As the girl gradually calmed down, her sweet face was tinged with a faint blush on her smooth, fair skin.
Kitahara Hakuba swallowed the words, "Everyone is unique to me," along with his saliva.
"Teacher Kitahara!"
Just then, a sound came from behind, and it was Kawakami Sakurako and the other members of the brass band coming over.
There was still more than half an hour until 1:30 pm, and these people had all arrived very early.
Kitahara Hakuba stood up and looked at the club members walking forward one by one from the entrance, saying:
"Have Nagase-san and Kuno-san arrived yet?"
“Here.” Nagase Tsukiyo, who was mixed in with the group of girls, raised her hand and said.
She carried a black instrument case in her hand, and under the stage lights, her eyes shimmered with color beneath her long eyelashes.
Kitahara Hakuba nodded and asked:
"Where is Kuno-kun?"
"Here it is!" came another voice from the entrance.
Kuno Tachibana walked in surrounded by a group of first-year students, looking as if he were there to be enthroned.
This time, all the solo performances were by third-year students, while the number of first-year students in Class A was pitifully small. For them,
Kuno Tatsuka, who dared to fight back, was the face of the first-year students.
Soon, the members were scattered and seated in the first six rows.
Kitahara Hakuba addressed the two who were about to hold the audition:
"The oboe solo will be performed by Kanzaki-san. Kuno-san, do you have any objections?"
Kuno Tachibana's fingernails gripped the leather of the instrument's handle tightly as he spoke solemnly:
"No."
"Then you two go and prepare for the selection."
"Yes," they both said in unison.
Nagase Tsukiyo turned around first, carrying her instrument case, and walked towards the backstage of the auditorium.
Kuno Tachibana first walked up to Kanzaki Eri, bowed slightly to her, and said:
"Kansaki-senpai, please take care of me."
Kanzaki Eri's gaze fell on a strand of hair that had fallen from her ear as she bowed, and she bowed slightly in return, saying:
"Please take care of me."
Kuno Tachibana took a deep breath and walked up to Kitahara Hakuba, saying:
"Please take good care of me, Kitahara-sensei."
Her sudden seriousness made Kitahara Hakuba somewhat uncomfortable, and he forced a gentle smile, saying:
"Is the person who came today Kuno Tatsune?"
"Kuno Tatsue? Who's that?" Kuno Tatsue looked completely confused.
"Twin sisters."
Kuno Tachibana said with a smile, "My mother only gave birth to me."
"I do have two younger sisters."
"Hehehe, I'm not really interested in knowing about the teacher's family situation." Kuno Tachika forced a smile.