I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 64

At this moment, Yuten Uomai, the leader of the percussion section, raised his hand and said:

"How about choosing 'Raise the Flag of Courage'? I think it sounds pretty good, and we can use that to decide on the freestyle."

She was a senior high school girl, with a growth level of B and a percussion level of 11. She had an adult-like figure, shoulder-length short hair, and always liked to pull up her school skirt to reveal her fair thighs.

Sayaka Akamatsu, the trombone section leader, a growth grade of B-, and a trombone level 14, frowned and said:

"The problem is that there is a section in the middle of the piece where the piccolo plays the main melody, with the clarinet and saxophone providing harmonic accompaniment, and our piccolo is not very good."

"If that's really the case, then there are only one or two truly outstanding people in the entire Shenxu Wind Ensemble. Do you really need to put it that way?"

Suzuki Yoshie, the flute and piccolo section leader with twin ponytails, a growth level B, and a piccolo level 13, couldn't help but complain.

"Besides, everyone has to practice everything these days, right? Are you really going to go on stage with your current abilities? Impossible, right?"

"I'm just stating the facts, and you're taking this too personally. We don't even know if you're the one playing the piccolo solo."

"Enough, stop saying things like that, it's so noisy."

"Where did I make a fuss? You were the one who started it."

"Huh? You want to start a fight?"

"Huh? Who's afraid of you?"

Just as the two began to confront each other, Sakurako Yukawa quickly intervened:

"Everyone calm down. I think it would be better to leave the song selection to Mr. Kitahara. I'm afraid only Mr. Kitahara can look at each part fairly. I'm sorry, teacher, Sayaka and Yoshie often chat like this, but they have a very good relationship."

"It won't be good at all!" Akamatsu Sayaka crossed her arms and glared at the other person.

"Hmph, who's on good terms with you!" Suzuki Yoshie retorted defiantly.

Kitahara Hakuba watched the two girls exchanging greetings with a gentle smile. To be honest, it was good that the atmosphere was lively, and he didn't want to get involved.

Sakurako Yukawa looked a little embarrassed and said with an awkward smile:

"You two...behave yourselves in front of the teacher."

“This is good. Although it’s a bit noisy, at least everyone can participate.” Saito Harutori tilted her head and smiled. “But if it were just Kitahara-sensei making the decision, we wouldn’t have been invited.”

Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile:

"Regarding the freestyle pieces, I selected three. The first is the symphonic poem 'Alps,' the second is 'Spanish Rhapsody,' and the third is 'Tears of Inahime Kida of the Fie River.' The first piece has a large-scale arrangement, which is very difficult to perform. The second piece is a common piece in national competitions. The third piece is a huge challenge for woodwinds, brass, and percussion, including solos for piccolo, saxophone, and clarinet. However, we have enough distinctive instruments to balance the options."

After he finished speaking, he remained silent for a moment, then continued:

"You might not be able to digest too much information at once. I will send you the pieces I discussed today, and it would be best if you could tell me the answers after practice tomorrow afternoon."

The meeting of department heads was adjourned with those words. Sayaka Akamatsu, who had been arguing earlier, had just put on her shoes at the door when she patted Suzuki Yoshie's round bottom:

"You're sticking your butt out so high! Trying to entice people to hit you, huh!"

She ran away as soon as she finished speaking.

"Akamatsu! I will take off your bra and use it as diapers for my sister's child!" Suzuki Yoshie angrily put on her shoes and chased after him.

Seeing this, Yukawa Sakurako, who was still putting on her shoes, sighed helplessly and could only give Kitahara Hakuba, who was packing his bag, a wry smile.

"Minister Yukawa, did Kanzaki-san say anything to you?" Kitahara Hakuba stepped forward and asked.

"Hmm?" Yukawa Sakurako's fingers had just come out from under her shoe heel. "Eri? What happened to her?"

Saito Harutori heard it too. She lifted her shoe-wearing foot, gently tapped the ground with the tip of her shoe, and stood beside the two of them.

"She submitted her resignation application to me this morning. Didn't either of you know about this?" Kitahara Hakuba said.

"Eri's leaving the club?" Upon hearing this news, Yukawa Sakurako was almost shocked. "But... but she clearly raised her hand during the vote, how could this be..."

"That's just the kind of person Huili is. She's self-righteous and thinks that others will thank her for doing this. She's really cunning."

Saito Haruka gritted her teeth and gripped her skirt tightly. She immediately turned around and walked down the corridor. You could hear her hurrying downstairs.

“Haru-no-tori…” A hint of hesitation flashed in Yukawa Sakurako’s eyes.

Kitahara Hakuba was stunned for a moment. Could this posture mean he was going to challenge Kanzaki Eri to a fight?

◇

Under the student parking shed at Shenxu High School.

Eri Kanzaki was holding a pineapple bun in her hand, squatting on the ground and tearing off pieces with her fingers, watching the ants work together to carry them into their burrow.

"It's too big, we can't get in..."

Just as she was about to reach out and tear the bread into smaller pieces, she suddenly heard the crisp sound of loafers on the ground behind her, along with a cold voice.

"What are you thinking? Why do you want to leave the department?"

Saito Harutori narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharp as she spoke.

“Mingming told me before that she would always be with me even if Yueye was gone.”

"..."

Eri Kanzaki paused for a moment, but didn't turn around. She just continued watching the ants doing their futile work at the entrance of their burrow.

Chapter 73. What do you want?

Under the orange-yellow sky, a familiar melody rang in my ears—the gentle and delicate tone of an oboe.

"What are you really thinking? Or did Tsukiyo make you do this?" Saito Harutori gazed at her beautifully shaped profile.

"No, it doesn't mean moonlit night."

Kanzaki Eri suddenly felt as if her neck had been twisted. She crouched down, looked up at her, and said...

"I did it myself..."

Saito Haruka looked down at her. Since childhood, the two of them had become close friends because of Nagase Tsukiyo, so the three of them had been playing together since they were little, studying together from elementary school through middle school and high school.

However, now that Nagase Tsukiyo has left the club and Kanzaki Eri is also leaving, leaving her all alone, it seems like she has been ostracized.

The shadows of the two people, one long and one short, were cast on the cement road.

"Yourself? Then what did you mean by all those things you said to me before? Were you mocking me?"

Saito Haruka frowned in displeasure; she rarely expressed such emotions so directly.

"Huili, sometimes I really think your personality is pretty terrible. How much of what you think actually matches what you do?"

As if her words had hit the nail on the head, Kanzaki Eri avoided her gaze, feeling utterly helpless, and could only pick up the dust clinging to her socks with her fingertips.

"It's up to you, but if Yueye comes back, I don't want you to come back with her."

Saito Harutori's words were undeniable; her fingernails dug into the skin of her arm, causing a sharp, piercing pain.

She felt she should be angry, but what good would it do if Eri apologized to her?

True friends are few, but Saito Harutori understands that friendships shouldn't be like this.

“Huili, you always put others first and keep breaking your promises to yourself. You think it’s good for everyone, but you’re actually trampling on our friendship.”

Eri Kanzaki lowered her head, watching the ants gradually cut the bread into crumbs. Her heart pounded, and she felt a tickle deep in her throat.

Seeing that she was no longer speaking, Saito Harutori turned and left the parking shed.

Arriving at the school gate, we walked along the street, which was somewhat dazzling under the setting sun, towards Wulingguo Station.

Whenever she passed by a house at a perfect angle, the almost savage reflection from the glass made it hard for her to open her eyes. At that moment, she could only look down and watch her long shadow stretch out beneath her feet.

Take the tram to Motomachi, and you'll be greeted by a large number of Western-style buildings and churches. Passing through Motomachi Park, the light of the setting sun filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, shining directly on Saito Harukori's skin.

Arriving at a villa, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class and a small electric-assist bicycle were parked in the garage.

Saito Haruka took out her key and opened the door.

Living here offers a panoramic view of the entire Hakodate Bay. While the price may not be comparable to prime real estate in major cities, the nearly 80 million yen price tag is still quite astonishing.

I opened the door, leaned against the wall with one hand, took off my shoes with the other, and with a quick flick of my fingers, put the loafers together and placed them in the empty shoe cabinet.

Saito Harutori went to the refrigerator and opened it. In the large crisper drawer, there was only a box of black pepper pork cutlet rice bought from a convenience store and an apple.

The cool white light illuminated her fair legs, and her slippers made a "pat-pat" sound as they rubbed against the floor.

Set the microwave to one minute, Saito Harutori watched the numbers on the display count down like a machine reading a program.

She only opened the microwave and put on silicone gloves to take out the heated food after it rang with a "ding".

Do——

The refrigerator's internal unit emitted a sound like a bass horn as Saito Haruka picked up her chopsticks and ate her rice, bite by bite.

"Ugh... Waaah—"

Without warning, her round pupils glistened with tears, her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and she chewed the rice in her mouth until it became sticky without swallowing it.

So painful—

I really hope this torment will pass soon, and I really hope to get rid of this moment as soon as possible.

Please, someone, can help me forget everything?

◇

"Ah! It's so nice to eat when you're hungry!" Kitahara Hakuba took a sip of miso soup and let out a sigh of relief.

Sitting opposite him, Shinomiya Haruka gave him a coquettish glare:

"Of course, you're not the one who's cooking."

"Didn't I help you wash the vegetables? Washing vegetables is the first step. If the vegetables aren't washed properly, the cooked food won't be good either."

"Come on, you're kidding me." Shinomiya Haruka burst out laughing. "According to you, why don't you say that buying groceries is the first step?"

“That makes sense. Actually, growing vegetables is the first step,” Kitahara Hakuba said with a grin.

The two were having dinner at Kitahara Hakuba's house.

"Your place is nicely decorated." It was also Shinomiya Haruka's first time entering Kitahara Hakuba's rented room in Hakodate.

Kitahara Hakuba glanced around and said:

"It's alright. After all, it's a newly built residential building, not an apartment. It took us quite a while to choose one."

"Do you want to buy a house in Hakodate, or are you planning to buy one back in Tokyo?" Shinomiya Haruka asked.

"Ah...you're putting so much pressure on me by saying this now," Kitahara Hakuba said, rubbing his chest as if feigning distress.