I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 152

"If you keep going like this, you won't get Soli. A girl as outstanding as you should like someone like me, right?"

Soli is the plural form of Solo, referring to the state where two or more melodies are played independently. In free melody, there is a Soli with trumpet and oboe.

Nagase Tsukiyo gazed at her devilishly smiling face, his emotions a complex mix.

No wind instrument player dislikes playing solo, because every wind instrument player harbors a sense of pride.

Members who see each other every day because of club activities listen to each other's playing day and night, and their skills are ruthlessly compared side by side.

Whether it's out of malice or fairness, people will make their own judgments about who praises well and who praises poorly.

Every musician wants to be the best, and a solo performance is the best way to prove it.

Nagase Tsukiyo is almost always a soloist in the brass band every year, and even with Kuno Tachibana in the lineup this year, she isn't too worried.

This year's solo performance will still be hers, even if her current mindset is affected by Qingniao, the result will not change.

This is the confidence that comes from ten years of experience.

"Yes, I'll follow Kitahara-sensei's arrangements."

Nagase Tsukiyo used her index and middle fingers to hold the sheet music and flipped it to the right. The light shining in from the window shone on the anti-fouling plastic film, making the sheet music appear white and unclear.

Especially this year's oboe and trumpet Soli, she is certain that this year it's her and Eri Kanzaki's turn.

Kuno Tachibana's lips twitched slightly, and he asked curiously:

"Speaking of which, did Kitahara-sensei ask Nagase-senpai to come back, or did Nagase-senpai want to come back on his own?"

"What's the difference?"

Nagase Tsukiyo's black hair, falling to her chest, resembled the spreading darkness under the trumpet's glow.

Kuno Tachibana said bluntly:

"Of course there is a difference. If it was Kitahara-sensei who found me, it means I am not strong enough. If it was Nagase-senpai who wanted to come back on his own, then it is not a big deal."

"Then it's nothing serious."

Her words were remarkably lighthearted, making Nagase Tsukiyo feel even more acutely the fact that she was being increasingly looked down upon.

“If I get serious, you really won’t be able to protect SoIi,” Nagase Tsukiyo said, raising her eyebrows slightly.

If someone else said something like "If I were to get serious...", they would be laughed at for being pretentious.

But when Nagase Tsukiyo said those words, the situation was different, and no one dared to laugh at her.

Even though they weren't in top form right now, their strength before leaving the club was undeniable, and being third-year students, no one laughed out loud.

Kuno Tachibana was taken aback upon seeing this.

It wasn't because I was scared, but because Nagase Tsukiyo's face was too beautiful and charming. When she breathed, it not only didn't have any power, but it was also a kind of beautiful clinginess.

“Shout…” Kuno Tachibana snorted with a mixture of envy and jealousy.

Others thought she was frightened by Nagase Tsukiyo, but little did they know that she had realized the tragedy of being of the opposite sex. At that moment, she noticed out of the corner of her eye a slender girl standing quietly at the door with an oboe in her hand. Her eyes were as exquisite as a work of art, and her skin was as white as porcelain.

It's Kanzaki Eri. She's the cutest girl in the brass band, and she's practically exhausted the cuteness of all the girls in Hokkaido for fifty years.

"Kansaki-senpai? When did you arrive?"

Kuno Tachibana asked, her tone unconsciously softening, as if she felt that if she raised her voice...

This senior will shatter like an ice crystal.

"Eri, what's wrong?"

Nagase Tsukiyo stood up, and on the lower side of her soft thighs, there were faint red marks left by her pleated skirt.

Eri Kanzaki stepped forward, her expression unchanged from usual.

"On a moonlit night, may we play a snippet of Soli together?"

Nagase Tsukiyo blinked in surprise at being suddenly invited.

In her mind, Kanzaki Eri should have gone to Kitahara Hakuba, since the two of them had often played duets together before.

“Hmm.” But unwilling to refuse, Nagase Tsukiyo nodded and followed Kanzaki Eri out of the classroom.

Kuno Tachibana watched the two people leave with a sullen expression, then picked up the music stand as if unwilling to admit defeat and headed to the oboe practice room.

Who doesn't have a lovely companion?

"Mai~!" Her affected voice reached Kirishima Mai's ears.

"what happened?"

Kuno Tachibana's small hand pinched her chin, her cherry-red nails gleaming with an ambiguous light, and she blinked her eyes cutely:

"Mai, can we play a section of Soli together?"

"What are you doing...? :::.?" Kirishima Mai got goosebumps all over her body.

"Did I look like Kanzaki-senpai just now?"

"Completely unlike..."

Not to mention that her cuteness is naturally radiant from within, which is completely incomparable to the pretentious Kuno Tachibana.

But Kirishima Mai would never say that; if it were Nagasawa Mia, she probably would.

"Huh? That's strange. I'm cute too, and my figure is about the same as hers."

"Eri's figure is still pretty good."

"Mingwa!"

Kuno Tachibana was startled by the sudden sound, only then realizing that Watanabe Hama was sitting against the wall, completely unaware of her presence at the doorway.

"Does Watanabe-senpai really enjoy practicing against the wall?"

Because Kirishima Mai was in the oboe and bassoon section, Kuno Tatsuka often came over. Over time, he also became familiar with Watanabe Hama, and his tone became more and more casual, without any of the consideration one should have for a senior.

"Kuno-senpai, you don't seem worried at all?"

"worry about what?"

"The trumpet solo, Nagase-kun is very strong. No matter which school she goes to, she will be the number one fighter."

"Are these adorable juniors really so unworthy of the trust of their seniors?"

Hama Watanabe expressed her understanding of Tatsuka Kuno's arrogant attitude, knowing that confident people never put too much psychological burden on themselves.

"Just reminding you."

Kuno Tachibana pouted slightly, thinking to himself, "I'll get you the solo spot in this All-Do Tournament."

"Thanks for the reminder, Zhenyi, let's go to the usual place."

Each member of the brass band has a "favorite spot." Kuno Tachibana's favorite spot is the open-air elevated walkway on the fifth floor, a place filled with sunlight.

The two of them, one after the other, carrying their instruments and music stands, arrived at the open-air elevated walkway. The sky was like Hawaiian shaved ice at the Harbor Festival, with alternating blue and white colors.

"What does Mai think of Kanzaki-senpai's playing?" Kuno Tachibana assembled the music stand and then flipped through the pages of the composition for Soli.

Kirishima Mai fell into deep thought, the gleaming gold keychain hanging on the music stand gazing at her innocently.

"She's very strong, but Senior Eto might not be able to get into the National Tournament." She stated her thoughts frankly, without a trace of guile.

"Really?" Kuno Tachibana asked, somewhat surprised. "What about the solo?"

Kirishima Mai assumed a playing posture, her fingertips lightly pressing on the keys, and said calmly:

"I can win."

"Wow, a mere first-year student, yet so arrogant," Kuno Tachibana said with a laugh.

A faint smile appeared on Kirishima Mai's lips:

"I just don't want Li Hua to call me arrogant."

The two exchanged a smile, and soon began to play together.

The oboe and trumpet Soli in "The Tears of Princess Kinada of the Fii River" are composed of elegant lyricism and high skill, and the alternating solos of the two emphasize resilience and sacrifice, destruction and rebirth.

The melodious woodwinds and the powerful bass trumpet complement each other, weaving together a beautiful melody.

Every note was clear and perfectly blended, the smooth melody flowing quietly in the sunlight.

When Soli's final note fell, Kuno Tachibana's small mouth left her cherry-colored lips.

Just as she was about to say "Nice girl!" to Kirishima Mai, she noticed Kitahara Hakuba and Yukawa Sakurako standing to the side.

"Teacher Kitahara." The two turned around.

"Well done," Kitahara Hakuba chuckled.

Although there are still some flaws.

"You played it well, but you can't play it here anymore," Yukawa Sakurako said with an embarrassed smile.

Her black hair was braided into three strands and tied in one side, with bangs hanging down her forehead, giving her a simple and unpretentious look.

"Talk? Why? I've been here the whole time!" Kuno Tachibana exclaimed in surprise.

Sakurako Yukawa held a stack of booklets in her hands, which appeared to be a guide to summer accommodations.

"It would be fine if everyone left after practice, but blowing this at this time will cause a big reaction, won't it? Doesn't Kuno-senpai notice that no one is competing with you for this spot?"

Kuno Tachibana looked around and said in a very somber tone:

"I thought they were too scared to compete with me."

That's not true...

?

Sakurako Yukawa smiled and sighed,

"It's summer vacation now, and many classrooms are empty. You can go and take a look, but you should make sure you won't bump into anything."

Kirishima Mai bowed deeply to her and said:

"Feel sorry."

"By the way, Kitahara-sensei, how was our Soli performance just now?" Kuno Tachibana asked curiously.

Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile: