I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 250

The afternoon sun reflected off the glass windows, and the leaves swayed in the wind, casting dappled shadows.

The girl turned on the tap next to the playground, and the cool water felt nice on her hands.

Open your mouth and then close it, take a deep breath.

Low notes require slow exhalation, while high notes require rapid exhalation. This method allows you to change the sound produced by the mouthpiece.

"Practicing?"

A melodious, bell-like voice came from behind. Saito Haruka turned around after leaving the horn's beak and saw that it was Yukawa Sakurako.

"Well, now that everyone is doing a sound check, the euphonium is quite loud, so we can only use a mouthpiece instead."

Sakurako nodded; she had always been so considerate of others.

"The euphonium audition is coming up soon, and I haven't been able to find you. I was thinking you used to come here to wash clothes when you were in the orchestra."

Saito Harutori grinned, revealing her teeth, and tucked the horn's mouthpiece into a handkerchief:

"How did the audition go? Hopefully there were no surprises?"

Sakurako Yukawa smiled sheepishly, her three braids gleaming with a light gray sheen in the sunlight.

"The saxophone part didn't perform very well. Sayaka said that Kitahara-sensei seemed a bit angry."

Saito Haruka's figure is as natural as flowing water. When the wind blows, her pleated skirt clings tightly to her hips and legs, outlining the soft lines unique to a young girl.

"Hmm... that must have been quite an ordeal." She smiled, the sound of her shoes clattering against the sand clearly audible. "Let's go."

Kawakami nodded in approval, feeling a pang of sympathy for the saxophone section members.

But what Saito Haruki was actually saying was that Kitahara Hakuba wouldn't have it easy, because he would definitely spend a lot of time improving his saxophone part, and his rest time would be even less.

She had far fewer opportunities to meet him, and as for the saxophone section, she felt no sympathy for them whatsoever.

As the two entered the school building, the sunlight was blocked behind them, and the indoor air became increasingly cool.

All the woodwind instruments, except for the oboe, have been tested. Now it's time for the brass instruments.

Many members who had completed the selection process could be seen walking around in the corridor and outside. The sunlight shone on them, casting a warm glow, as if their three years of youth had been frozen in time.

"The selection process is getting more and more terrifying."

"Speaking of which, Mr. Kitahara asked me a lot of strange questions during the audition."

"what?"

"They said things like whether I was happy or not in the Shenxu Wind Ensemble."

"Ugh! I got asked that too. They asked how long I've been practicing and whether I'll definitely be a starter next year."

"Haha, doesn't that mean Editor A has no chance?"

"But it feels more like he's just chatting casually."

"I feel the same way. Why is that? Is it because it's the last audition?"

The sounds of the club members' discussions kept filling my ears; it seemed that Mr. Kitahara had asked many questions during the selection process that he had never asked before.

In summary: Mr. Kitahara has started talking more.

Yukawa Sakura subconsciously glanced at the girl beside her. Her figure was light yet full, with a gentle grace unique to young girls.

"I only have you two friends left."

Once again, she recalled those words spoken by Saito Haruka on that evening when the red sunset raged.

Why is that? Have I not been qualified to be her friend all these years?

And why have you been keeping your distance from Yuka lately?

The questions in her heart were like an overflowing fog, gradually obscuring all of Yukawa Sakurako's thoughts.

She wanted to ask, but she knew it was too late. Digging into the details would only make everyone feel awkward, and she didn't like that.

"Should the 'Sunny Bird' play the upper or lower register?" Sakurako Yukawa took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind of her inner turmoil.

Unlike other parts, the baritone horn does not have a first, second, third, or even fourth part; it is only divided into two parts: upper and lower.

The upper voice is responsible for the main melody and high-pitched harmony of the lower voice, while the lower voice is responsible for the low-pitched harmony and low-pitched melody.

However, many people will also say the first and second intervals of the euphonium; just understand the meaning they are trying to convey.

Saito Haruka's fingers kneaded her hair, her eyes seemingly veiled in a thin mist, and the corners of her lips curved slightly upward, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"He probably still wants to play the upper register."

“Oh…” Sakurako Yuuka nodded, in which case Yuka Isomoto would be the lower voice.

Even though he had hurt Yuka Isomoto in the past, Haruka Saito was not willing to make any concessions here.

It's already a national competition, so we absolutely can't go easy on the auditions, otherwise Kitahara Hakuba will be the one who gets hurt.

Back in the bass section's practice room, there was no one there; it seemed they were all waiting at the entrance of the first music room.

Saito Haruka picked up the silver euphonium from the chair, turned around, and found Yukawa Sakurako still standing in the doorway looking at her. "You won't run away," she said, revealing her best smile.

Sakurako's lips curled into a cheerful smile as she scratched her three-strand braid and remarked with a sigh:

"It's so lucky that everyone can participate in the final national convention."

1

Saito Harutori's smile froze for a moment. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed not easy for these third-year students to make it to the national tournament together.

When Tsukiyo left the club, Eri lost her will to play, Yuka was at her lowest point, Sakurako, as the club president, felt extremely guilty, and she herself almost fell into an abyss.

They all depended on that person.

The thought of him makes every part of my body tremble.

Saito Haruka took a deep breath, her already soft and full breasts becoming even more perky, and said with a smile:

"Yes, me too, I feel very lucky."

Sakurako pursed her cherry-colored lips, tugged at her skirt, and spat out two mouthfuls of saliva:

"Sunny Bird, after the National Tournament, will you two be able to make up?"

Saito Harutori, clutching her tuba and sheet music, tilted her head in feigned confusion and said:

"Make up? With whom?"

Her smile remained unchanged, and Sakurako even wondered if she had made a mistake.

Even so, the girl with the three braids still forced herself to say:

"Moonlight and the others, I feel like you've been having some disagreements lately. Is that really a good thing? You've been friends for so many years, can't you just sit down and talk it out...?"

Her tone was a mixture of embarrassment and anticipation. She was embarrassed because she was worried that she was not good enough, and she was hopeful that Saito Haruka would give her a positive response so that she wouldn't be too confused.

Saito Harutori tilted her head slightly and said in a nonchalant tone:

"Well... Sakura, don't worry. Tsukiyo and I are doing fine as things are, and we'll graduate in a few months."

"But....

3

"Didn't we agree that the bass part is about to start? Let's go," Saito Harutori said with a smile.

Sakurako Yukawa's shoulders slumped slightly, and a hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the first music classroom, the bass section members were already waiting outside.

The seven or eight steel pipe chairs outside the door were all occupied, and everyone sat upright, quietly waiting for their turn.

Everyone's expression was more stiff than usual.

I didn't see Yuka Isomoto, but I could hear the sound of a euphonium coming from inside. It seems that as the section leader, she went in first and started the sound check.

Kurosawa Maki, clutching her euphonium, faced the window and repeatedly practiced the 478 breathing technique to calm her rapidly beating heart.

Saito Harutori greeted the club members with smiles, politely declined the other members' offers of seats, and then waited quietly.

A moment later, the door to the first music classroom opened, and Yuka Isomoto came out carrying a euphonium.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, it's our turn..."

"

Her gaze swept around the room, finally settling on Saito Harutori.

"Sunny Bird, it's your turn."

"Yes, thank you for your hard work." Saito Harutori stepped forward and said with a smile, "You played very well."

Yuka Isomoto's eyelids drooped slightly, and she held everything in her arms tightly.

The golden lacquered surface of the musical instrument reflected her slightly chubby, youthful face.

"Yeah, you keep it up too."

Saito Haruka nodded and opened the classroom door.

Upon entering the first music classroom, a large area in the middle is empty, containing only a music stand, chairs, and a table.

The person you like is sitting in the chair opposite you.

Kitahara Hakuba looked down at the list on the table, writing something with a black pencil. The paper made a dry, rubbing sound as it was turned.

He looked up and saw that the person who walked in was Saito Harukori, and an unnatural expression flashed across his face for a moment.

Is it shyness? Or is it not knowing how to face herself? Saito Harutori wondered.

Kitahara Hakuba glanced at the paper in his hand, then at the name "Saito Harukori," and gestured for her to sit down.

"Please take a seat."

"excuse me."

Saito Haruka sat on only a small part of the chair, then placed the sheet music on the music stand. "Third year student, Saito Haruka, bass part, euphonium."

"Saito-san should be from the first part, right?" Kitahara Hakuba looked up at her.

“Hmm.” Saito Harutori looked back with a gentle gaze.

Kitahara Hakuba lowered his head again, glanced briefly at the euphonium audition excerpt, and said: