area51novel Page 443
Page 443
A grand piano sits quietly in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that occupies an entire wall. Its black body gleams faintly in the afterglow of the setting sun, and its keys are as white as snow.
"Wow, it's huge!" Kitahara Hakuba couldn't help but exclaim.
The floor was covered with a thick, soundproof carpet that was soft and comfortable to walk on. Several paintings hung on the walls, and the bookshelves against the wall were piled high with sheet music and vocal textbooks.
It's so easy to become focused when studying vocal music here.
Nagase Tsukiyo drew the curtains. She didn't want to use automatic curtains; they were too slow. She preferred to do it herself.
“Actually, I wanted to keep it simple, but for my mother, these things are probably meant for outsiders to see,” Nagase Tsukiyo said with a smile, without reservation.
Kitahara Hakuba nodded slightly. Nagase's mother had once told him how beautiful Tsukiyo was, and his face was filled with dazzle.
In terms of music theory, one would certainly want it to be something to be proud of.
“My home is so different from this place,” Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile.
In his eyes, it was just a simple statement of fact, but Nagase Tsukiyo's expression was somewhat melancholy. After a moment of silence, he looked at the grand piano beside him and said:
"But Mr. Kitahara is still so outstanding, even reaching a level that I can't reach. Doesn't that mean we still have to rely on ourselves?"
She wanted to say, "Actually, I prefer your toy piano," but she didn't have the courage.
"That's too much flattery. In my eyes, you are better than anyone else."
"Me-me?"
The unexpected words made Nagase Tsukiyo's eyes widen.
Kitahara Hakuba nodded, saying without the slightest favoritism or ambiguity:
"Yes, I have always believed that your abilities are the highest, and your future achievements in this field are immeasurable."
His words had a huge impact on Nagase Tsukiyo, because she had never heard such an "absolute" statement from Kitahara-sensei.
if.
I should have been happy, but for some reason, an indescribable sense of grievance welled up inside me.
It was like a grievance that had been buried at the bottom of a box for a long time, which she dug out and found only sadness after opening it.
Nagase Tsukiyo bit her lower lip tightly and clenched her fists as she spoke:
"Why didn't Kitahara-sensei say it in front of the club members?"
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
Kitahara Hakuba was quite confused, because the words escaping from the girl's throat sounded choked with sobs and aggrieved, as if she were about to burst into tears at any moment.
Nagase Tsukiyo regretted it again, but the regret vanished in an instant.
Since he said that "the 'event' caused by the occasional overlap of this moment, that time, and those conditions" is extremely rare, then what I should do is speak out, right?
Nagase Tsukiyo lowered her head, her breathing becoming soft and slow, as she tried to calm the turmoil in her heart.
"When Kuno and I were arguing over the trumpet, why didn't you tell the other club members this beforehand?"
Her words made Kitahara Hakuba hold his breath; he hadn't expected her to bring up the topic of convenience at this moment.
Is she really so resentful about it?
"If Kitahara-sensei had said this beforehand, there wouldn't have been a second selection process, and I would have done so anyway."
Nagase Tsukiyo suddenly stopped speaking at this point, and said the second half of the sentence, "I would never have known that the person you chose was not actually me."
The setting sun shone through the French windows, casting a faint bamboo shadow between the girl's legs. Kitahara Hakuba's gaze was fixed on that bamboo.
"Because this will be better for the wind band."
Kitahara Hakuba wasn't lying; he genuinely wanted as much competition as possible, and Kuno Tachibana was his only catalyst at the time, so he naturally needed to make good use of him.
"Besides, didn't I choose you back then? Do you also have some reservations about this?"
Nagase Tsukiyo's fingernails dug deeply into her flesh, her eyes rippled with emotion, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.
"I feel so cheated because you didn't choose me in the first place. Why? Was I not good enough?"
Chapter 327 326. Actually, I also have some feelings for you (4)
It sounded like a "what's the point" attitude, but not entirely. Nagase Tsukiyo's tone was more one of confusion, to the point that she felt sad.
Her words reminded Kitahara Hakuba of the small-scale audition back then. He thought that the matter was long gone, but he didn't expect that she would still remember it. Now that she was bringing up the old matter, he was a little puzzled.
Was this matter really that important to her? I think I handled it very well back then.
Kitahara Hakuba stood there in silence for a moment, pondering whether sincerity was necessary.
However, from Nagase Tsukiyo's perspective, Kitahara Hakuba's expression seemed unnatural, which made her suddenly feel regretful and reveal a look of apology towards him.
Perhaps in Kitahara-sensei's mind, I am a boring girl who loves to bring up the past.
Kitahara Hakuba sighed softly. He didn't really want to delve into the deeper meaning of Nagase Tsukiyo's repeated mention of that sentence, and said:
"Judging solely from our abilities at the time, you were indeed superior. However, my understanding doesn't mean I'll demand everyone accept it. And if you truly understand, you should know that I personally prefer competition among team members—" He paused here, raising his brow as if considering whether to speak, but ultimately chose to say it.
"It sounds a bit disparaging now, but since everyone has achieved results, I can say a few words."
Nagase Tsukiyo's beautiful eyes reflected the afterglow of the setting sun, and at that moment, the image that came to mind was Kuno Tachibana raising her hand high in the music room:
"what?"
Kitahara Hakuba said in an unusually calm voice:
"Back then, I preferred Kuno to you. I admired her ambition and her relentless drive to move forward. I was also capable of helping her reach the top spot, provided you were willing to compromise, but you didn't."
"Mmm-one-one"
Mr. Kitahara's view has remained unchanged since he became a mentor: in his mind, no member is indispensable and all can be replaced at any time.
This viewpoint is entirely based on his unparalleled confidence and ability.
Nagase Tsukiyo admired his unwavering steadfastness, but this steadfastness also made her feel sad from time to time.
She thought that because she was too "polite," she was too "unapproachable" in his eyes compared to other girls, but that wasn't actually the case.
He had already lost points in his mind when he left the department.
"What if I had shown signs of compromise back then?" Nagase Tsukiyo asked.
"I would choose Kuno-kun."
Kitahara Hakuba's calm words, which were as usual, felt like a blade piercing Nagase Tsukiyo's heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
Seeing that the girl in front of him looked injured, Kitahara Hakuba had no intention of taking back his words.
"Is there anything else? If not, let's begin. Did you bring everything?"
His gentle voice was completely at odds with the content of their previous discussion, leaving Nagase Tsukiyo with no choice but to nod obediently.
The girl sat on the piano bench, and in that instant, one could clearly see her rounded buttocks and thighs squeezing together, outlining a full and supple curve.
She stood with her back to the piano, facing an aluminum music stand with exam scores on it.
Because the scores for the three of them were all chosen by Kitahara Hakuba himself, he had the scores himself.
"What is it that you don't understand?" Kitahara Hakuba crossed his arms and tapped the sheet music against his arms.
Nagase Tsukiyo gently bit her lower lip and pressed her legs together.
She didn't understand what she was feeling right now—a desire to be alone with him, yet also a sense of fear.
"Could you explain the points to note to me from the beginning?" she asked in a gentle tone.
"From the beginning?" Kitahara Hakuba tilted his head, somewhat puzzled. "It would take a long time to explain all three pieces from the beginning, wouldn't it?"
We might talk until it gets dark.
Nagase Tsukiyo's gaze gently fell on his face, her eyes sparkling with a tenderness unique to young girls:
"Does Mr. Kitahara have something else to discuss?"
Kitahara Hakuba frowned slightly, then smiled and said:
"Indeed, now that you've reminded me, I'm quite free."
He stepped forward, squatted down next to Nagase Tsukiyo, took out the black pen he carried in his coat pocket, but did not remove the cap.
Nagase Tsukiyo suddenly tensed up. The moment her gaze touched Kitahara Hakuma's face, she quickly looked away as if she had been burned, and instead looked at the musical staff.
Could you please explain the first structural analysis, the difficulties, and the solutions for this piece?
Kitahara Hakuba asked, his nostrils filled with the scent of the girl's body.
Unlike Saito Haruka, who has a faint, sweet, milky scent, Nagase Tsukiyo's body fragrance is very fresh and pleasant.
Huili always has the smell of "washed fruits and vegetables".
Nagase Tsukiyo's heart raced uncontrollably, and she murmured softly:
"Measurements 1 to 9 form the main theme, with two motives. The modulation begins with measure 3 of the square, and the second motive begins in measures 28 to 29, and the second motive begins in measures 47 to 54."
The theme is composed of two motives, so musical separation is very important. Dotted rhythms and staccato notes need to be emphasized with a sense of angularity. The solution is to avoid the mouthpiece being too tight. In the third measure of the high note, the corners of the mouth need to be pulled back to increase the airflow speed.
Nagase Tsukiyo answered very well, befitting her status as a top student. Even Kitahara Hakuba began to doubt whether her claim of not understanding was genuine. If she didn't understand, Saito Harukori and Eri would likely have questions too.
However, looking at her legs up close, you can hardly see any pores; only a few fine blood vessels are faintly visible under her skin, like a stream under thin ice in winter, tranquil and gentle.
Moreover, she often goes for night runs and can rival Isomoto Yuka's athletic legs; there's a restrained sense of power in those soft thighs. "Kitahara-sensei?" Nagase Tsukiyomi had finished answering but he hadn't spoken yet, so she thought she had answered incorrectly.
"Well?"
Kitahara Hakuba looked away, forcing a dry laugh, and said, "Isn't this all you understand? Now that you know how to handle it, it shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
Nagase Tsukiya paused for a while, having already routinely answered the teacher's questions correctly, forgetting that she was pretending not to understand.
For a moment she didn't know how to defend herself, her bright, clear eyes gleaming slightly as she lowered her head and said:
"There are still some things I don't understand in practical playing."
"I understand now."
Mr. Kitahara accepted her obviously evasive statement, or perhaps he was just pretending to agree.
Nagase Tsukiyo felt that she was too naive in front of him, like she was naked, with everything about her exposed.
"What about the smaller one?" Kitahara Hakuba asked.