I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 33

She wouldn't mistake that figure from behind.

Kitahara Hakuba only came to use the restroom once, but he never expected to encounter such a scene.

My brain is telling me that eavesdropping is shameful, but my legs won't listen. They won't move until the person has finished speaking. It's really pathetic.

This situation is really giving me a headache.

"Ah... um, Nagase-san, I need to use the restroom."

Kitahara Hakuba smiled wryly.

"Oh dear, the teachers' restroom only has two stalls, and both are full. There aren't even any squat toilets. I quite like squat toilets. I heard the students' restroom has..."

Nagase Tsukiyo's face was a mixture of unease and sorrow, but no anger was hidden within it.

She bowed slightly, then quickly walked past him and disappeared at the end of the corridor without looking back.

Kitahara Hakuba scratched his head in frustration. Since no one inside came out, he pretended not to know anything and went inside.

Saito Haruko, looking dazed, sat on the tiled floor, while Kanzaki Eri, standing beside her, stared without moving, just like a surveillance camera the school had purchased at the washbasin.

"Saito, what happened? The ground is dirty, get up quickly. Eri, come and help me up," Kitahara Hakuba said.

Eri Kanzaki finally moved. After the two helped Harutori Saito up, she slumped against the wall like a spineless puppet.

"What's going on with you guys? Leaving the water running is such a waste!"

Kitahara Hakuba turned off the tap that someone had turned on. Although it wasn't his money, he felt bad seeing the water was wasting away down the drain without being used.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked, pretending not to know anything.

"without......"

Saito Haruka leaned against the wall and left in a daze, leaving only Kanzaki Eri and Kitahara Hakuba behind.

"Lunch break is almost over, you should go back too," he said to Eri.

"Ah."

Kanzaki Eri nodded, and like a ghost about to pounce at any moment, she casually followed Saito Haruka.

Kitahara Hakuba looked at the tiled floor, where even the outline of Saito Harukori's tender thighs was barely noticeable.

...What's wrong with these people? Can't they study properly or play their instruments properly?

What's even stranger is that he's handsome, proficient in musical instruments, and gentle and humble. In every way, he's easily admired by high school girls.

Why are these people so arrogant only within their own community? Are they all lesbians?

Stomach pain.

—Please, rather than let Tsukiyo-san suffer the pain of a young girl, let me bear it! I'll do anything for the healthy development of the brass band!

After school in the afternoon, the brass band, as arranged by Haruka Shinomiya, was required to practice footwork for at least half an hour.

Kitahara Hakuba stayed in the club building, teaching some first-year students who didn't know much about musical instruments.

Because Goto Yu and Nagasawa Mia had growth potential of A and A- respectively, and were easy to level up in the early stages, they simply mastered breath control, had a basic understanding of the clarinet, and learned basic pitch, and both reached LV3 in clarinet playing.

The reward given to Kitahara Hakuba was also very small; from LV1 to LV3, he was only given 20,000 yen.

Fortunately, many first-year students start practicing at LV1. Although their growth potential is different, it's easier to level up in the early stages. Even members with a growth potential of D won't fall too far behind members with an A potential at this point.

"Mai, are you staying today too?" Kirishima Mai, who had just finished setting up the sheet music on the shelf, was stunned by Nagasawa Miya's question.

"Well, there's nothing to do back home, so I might as well stay and practice more." She nodded.

Holding the brand-new clarinet in both hands, Nagasawa Mia asked, "I saw you in Salia last time, were you working there?"

"It's my family's business, and we haven't been very busy lately," said Kirishima Mai.

Kuno Tachibana, who had just finished her dance practice, came in and overheard this. Her eyes lit up as she leaned forward and said:

"Huh? Does your family own a restaurant?!"

"Hmm." Kirishima Mai frowned; she could vaguely smell the antiperspirant spray.

"That's great! Much more convenient!" Kuno Tachibana said with a smile.

Kirishima Mai could understand why she was getting so excited.

I thought that since my classmate's family owned a shop, I would definitely get a discount or even get to eat and drink for free.

I'm sorry, there are no discounts available, as this is a partnership.

"Could you give me a few tickets, Mai-chan~~~" Kuno Tachibana bowed like a cat, "I'm a huge fan of Salia~~~"

“I really don’t have that,” Kirishima Mai said.

"To be honest, is it true that you don't have it, or are you pretending not to?"

"Alright—" Kitahara Hakuba lightly placed a sheet of music on Kuno Tatsuka's head, "Why aren't you practicing the main melody? Why are you asking for a discount coupon here?"

"Oh, what are you doing~~" Kuno Tachibana said coquettishly, rubbing his head. "If I get it, you'll definitely get your share."

Goto Yu blinked, somewhat impatiently saying:

"I...I have discount coupons from other stores in my bag. If you want them, Kuno, I can give you a few."

Kuno Tachibana's face lit up with joy, and her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Goto Yu. She wanted to reach out and hug her immediately.

"Oh! Really! I love you so much~! Yu-chan~~"

"Aren't you being a bit too familiar with people?"

Miya Nagasawa stood directly between the two, seemingly resistant to Tachibana Kuno's actions.

"Teacher Kitahara, shall we?" Goto Yu mustered his courage and looked at Kitahara Hakuba.

Kitahara Hakuba, who had been wondering why the atmosphere was so different between three years and one year, suddenly felt a warmth in his heart.

He really wanted it, but there were too many people, so he couldn't ask for it openly.

"No need, you can keep it for yourselves," he said with a smile.

Goto nodded and looked at Kuno Tachibana, saying, "I always feel that Kuno-kun is in a good mood."

"Rather than saying I'm in a good mood, it's more accurate to say that the sense of anticipation keeps me in a good mood," said Kuno Tachibana, beaming as he made a peace sign with both hands.

Misaki Nagasawa frowned and said, "Expecting? Expecting what?"

"Of course it's the music festival!"

Kuno Tachibana leaned against the table, hands supporting her weight, and plopped down on it, ignoring the skirt pressing against her buttocks.

"Many schools and professionals will be there. The time has finally come for me, Kuno Tachibana, to shine under the gaze of thousands! The main theme is here, attracting everyone's attention! I will make a grand entrance!"

Goto Yu seemed to be influenced by her emotions, her cheeks slightly flushed as she said, "I...I'm getting excited, Kuno is amazing."

"Shh-"

Kuno Tachibana raised a finger to his lips and gave her a cute wink.

"Call me Lihua, my sweetheart."

Chapter 38. I think you don't understand danger.

Six o'clock in the evening.

Yuka Isomoto placed the euphonium into Yamaha's hard plastic box, gripped the wrapped armrests with both hands, and stood at the door waiting for Hakuba Kitahara.

The sunset outside the window was no different from any other day, shrouded in a layer of milky white and ultramarine blue, much like a creamy cake in a dessert shop, topped with plucked orange segments.

That being said, when can we all go together again?

A heavy feeling welled up inside her, and just as Yuka Isomoto's brows showed sorrow, Hakuba Kitahara came out and locked the music room door.

"I'm sorry to trouble you these days," Kitahara Hakuba said.

“…Hmm.” Yuka Isomoto nodded heavily, her fingers digging deep into the plastic of the armrest.

"Not putting it in your bag? It'll be tiring to carry it by hand," he asked.

"Bag?"

"You don't actually take your tuba with you when you go out, do you? You carry it around everywhere you go?" Kitahara Hakuba was deeply shocked.

A look of confusion slowly appeared on Yuka Isomoto's face:

"Isn't it?"

"Of course not. It's best to buy a suitable Oxford cloth backpack, the kind with cotton lining. It's much easier than just carrying the original Yamaha box."

Yuka Isomoto was stunned for a moment. In fact, since she joined the club, she had rarely carried the box, and the euphonium she carried was limited to the school grounds.

As for participating in the competition, the school will arrange a special vehicle to transport the musical instruments, and the staff in charge of instrument management will carry them to the competition venue.

Today was the first time she had carried a box out of the school gate.

"Give it to me, I'll help you carry it," Kitahara Hakuba said, extending his hand.

"No need, Kitahara-sensei, you're carrying a bag too, and you said I need to exercise."

"It's okay, don't waste time, you can help me with my handbag."

Kitahara Hakuba deliberately said that, which made Isomoto Yuka have no choice but to put the box down and the two exchanged boxes.

While it's gentlemanly to help a girl carry her things, Kitahara Hakuba didn't think too much about it; he just didn't want Isomoto Yuka to develop her biceps.

His biceps didn't really affect his ability to play wind instruments, but they did hinder his appreciation of the girl's slender and beautiful body.

That's it.

"Let's go then."

"it is good."

The two walked out of the club building. Shenxu High School was unusually quiet at this time. Even the members of the sports club had finished exercising, leaving only a few students on the playground to pick up balls.

Kitahara Hakuba put one hand in his pocket, and the Hokkaido wind filled his lungs, carrying a faint scent of the sea.

He felt melancholy for some reason, perhaps simply because the day was coming to an end.

It didn't have a dramatic opening, nor did it end with enthusiastic applause.

Night fell as soon as someone shushed them.

"Is Saito's family very rich?"