I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 79

"It sounds like a thick, milky blend of coffee?" Goto Yu said.

Nagasawa Miyako said in surprise, "You can see all of this?"

"It looks similar, because Mr. Kitahara at school drinks this, so it shouldn't be wrong."

Soon after, Shinomiya Haruka appeared in their sight.

She was dressed beautifully, wearing a cotton jacket and a white inner shirt, paired with a white pleated skirt and flesh-colored stockings covering her legs.

Because she was wearing sneakers, she had a sporty, youthful look.

Then, Shinomiya Haruka very naturally took Kitahara Hakuma's arm, immediately causing a chorus of sighs and cries from the girls in the store.

The two seemed to be going shopping, and gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Screech! Screech! Mr. Kitahara has been stabbed by a weapon!" Kuno Tachibana said with a mournful face.

Chapter 90, Section 89: Hakodate Branch Meeting - Selection of A-Level Staff!

On Friday afternoon, the audition for the Shin-Asahi Brass Band took place. The weather in Hakodate City was somewhat gloomy, with dark clouds looming over the place, making the notes on the sheet music appear quite dim.

The atmosphere was different today. In the lead-up to the selection, most members were practicing alone in a secluded area.

Even knowing there's a gap, people still have a competitive spirit. For every instrument with a solo section, regardless of age, everyone practices the solo parts.

Because, what if? What if I get elected?

The selection order announced by Sakura Kawakami was: metal, wood, and finally percussion. She would come over and call out the names of the instruments that were selected.

The selection process was proceeding smoothly, with the sounds of trombones, French horns, trumpets, and saxophones filling the air.

More than eighty people, but only fifty-five can get in. It's really cruel.

Kirishima Mai sat in the practice room looking out the window, a reed in her mouth, bobbing up and down.

All I could see were gray clouds; trying to find a white cloud was as difficult as searching for the white sail of a sunken ship in the ocean.

She turned her gaze away and looked at Kanzaki Eri, who was sitting against the wall.

Beneath the girl's skirt were her beautifully curved calves, and today she was wearing black ankle socks.

Have you changed your taste? You usually wear white socks.

However, she doesn't have any particular requirements when it comes to socks. She has both black and white socks in her room drawer, and she usually just grabs whatever is available. She doesn't really care about the color.

"nervous?"

At that moment, Watanabe Hama, who had been standing behind her, brought over a chair and sat down next to her.

Kirishima Mai removed the reed from her mouth, gazed at the girl who rarely smiled, and said softly:

"good."

Watanabe Hama, holding the large tube, said frankly:

“You didn’t make it into the A section last time, but as time went on, I finally gained a real understanding of some things.”

"Feelings?"

"It's a scary thing to see talented people catching up," Watanabe Hama said frankly, blinking her clear eyes.

"Terrible? Me? Or you, senior?"

Kirishima Mai tilted her head in confusion, but she could smell the lemon scent emanating from the girl's hair.

For some reason, Watanabe Hama's tone rose a few decibels, and she said bluntly:

"Because when you're chasing someone, you don't realize how terrible it is to be chased."

Those at the front just need to keep charging forward. Although we're not playing the same instrument, I hope some people can develop a sense of urgency.

Kanzaki Eri's slender body suddenly relaxed, and she took out the whistle box from her skirt pocket, as if to relieve her boredom, and put it directly into her mouth.

However, in Watanabe Hama's eyes, this action was no different from giving up on herself, and only made her think that Eri was more childish than usual.

“I know how badly you played the oboe when you first joined the unit. Now, if nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to get into the A section,” Watanabe Hama said.

As the only first-year student in this vocal part, Kirishima Mai couldn't be like Kuno Tachibana, who didn't reject any praise.

"No, I'm still far behind the senior students."

"Oh, it's alright, we know our own limitations."

A second-year girl playing the oboe walked over; her face was quite cute, like a sparrow's.

She has chestnut-colored, fluffy hair.

"Kami and I have indeed been practicing, but if we really can't compare to Kirishima, then we're simply not as skilled, and there's nothing more to say about it."

Another second-year student who often came with her laughed heartily, as lively as her twin ponytails.

Mai Kirishima knew these two people: one was Kami Takahashi, and the other was Kana Eto.

However, the three of them rarely interact on weekdays. Apart from playing together during part practice, they basically don't chat.

Hama Watanabe reached out and patted Mai Kirishima on the shoulder, saying meaningfully:

"I have high hopes for you. Don't add unnecessary burdens to yourself just because of any pressure from your grade level."

"will not."

She never felt any pressure about her grade level, if Takahashi and Eto-senpai had told her:

"Kirishima-senpai, there are only two spots for the oboe. I hope you can give up that spot."

Although it might sound unreasonable to outsiders, Kirishima Mai would agree.

It's not that she's concerned about interpersonal relationships within the vocal section; it's just that she feels more interested in seeing herself grow than performing on stage, and this feeling doesn't need to be tested by anyone. Joining the A section isn't necessary.

"Everyone, it's your turn. Please sit and wait at the entrance of the first music classroom!" At this moment, the club president, Yukawa Sakurako, called out from the entrance of the practice room.

As soon as she finished speaking, Kanzaki Eri picked up her oboe, stood up, and walked out. For some reason, the sound of the girl's shoes rubbing against the floor was unusually clear.

Kirishima Mai noticed that her skin was as white as ever, but it was even more bloodless.

Is it because of the weather?

"So fast this time?" Watanabe asked.

Sakurako Yukawa said with a smile:

"Yes, everyone is quite efficient. The order of going in later is Hama, Eri, Takahashi, Eto, and finally Kirishima. There are still double bass selections in the bass section, but it will be over soon."

"You've done a pretty good job of arranging things," Watanabe Hama said with a slight smile. "These past few days you've finally started to look like a minister."

Sakurako Yukawa, somewhat embarrassed, held up the three-pronged whip and said:

"After you said that, I don't know whether to be happy or sad..."

"You know me, I'm only saying this to compliment you."

Watanabe Hama smiled coolly, tucked the sheet music into his waistband, and left the practice room.

As I walked out of the practice room, there were many people in the corridor who had finished the selection process. Each of them had a look of tension, excitement, and worry on their face.

Some members even squatted on the ground, covered their faces, and cried.

"I always felt that... Mr. Kitahara was very serious during the selection process."

"Yeah, going in almost ripped my heart out."

"If only Shinomiya-sensei were here, I'd feel a bit more at ease. I'm really scared when Kitahara-sensei is alone."

"I...I actually played off-key!" Kitahara-sensei's face immediately turned...

The distance from the practice room to the entrance of the first music room was only about twenty meters. The various casual conversations that came into her ears caused a slight change in Kirishima Mai's mindset.

It felt like her first time getting a shot at the hospital. As a young girl, she watched the doctor prepare the medicine, then pick up the needle and solemnly say to her…

"Take off your pants."

Scared.

Several steel-framed chairs were placed outside the first music classroom, where everyone sat upright with their instruments, quietly waiting for Minister Yu Chuan's call to action.

"call.

Kirishima Mai couldn't help but exhale, only to find Kanzaki Eri sitting beside her staring blankly at the tiles on the floor.

Her expression remained completely unchanged.

A few minutes later, the double bass player came out, and Saito Harutori was also inside. She addressed the people outside:

"Oboe and bassoon sound... Oh, we've arrived."

Hama Watanabe was the first to stand up, pick up the sheet music, and open the door to the music classroom.

Before long, you can hear the bassoon sound coming from inside, which is rich and full of charm.

The performance didn't last long, as it was only a selection being played. A few minutes later, Watanabe Hama came out.

“Eri, it’s your turn,” Saito Harutori said.

Eri Kanzaki nodded and walked into the music room.

The oboe has a resolute tone that penetrates the heart, and every note it plays contains a gentle power.

However, Eri Kanzaki's oboe playing seemed to be missing something; her oboe sound was too formulaic and lacked her own unique characteristics.

Just then, the melody drifting from inside the room was suddenly mixed with some strange notes.

"Ah? We're doomed!" Takahashi Kami exclaimed in shock.

"Kanzaki-senpai sang off-key?" Kana Eto was also surprised.

Watanabe Hama clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction:

"Spray one—"

After the oboe solo ended, Eri Kanzaki came out.

"What are you really thinking?"

An atmosphere of anxiety and anger emanated from Watanabe Hama. She reached out and grabbed Kanzaki Eri's arm, her skirt swaying with the movement of her thighs.

"Are you treating this selection process like a joke?!"

Her dissatisfaction, like fine cracks in glaze, spread lightly all over her body in an instant.