Chapter 376

Even though it was in a crowded park, the sudden approach of a stranger made Kasamaki Nozomi more wary.

"It's nothing, I just felt that you also seemed to have a lot of joy about Kitauji's performance, so I came to ask."

He pointed to the end of the road. "Oh, by the way, my name is Himemiya Chihaya. I just met Asuka and the Asuka. Do you know them?"

Do you know Asuka and the others?

Kasamaki Nozomi blinked, and loosened her grip.

Well, of all the people you know, she was the only one who gave me her name... Speaking of which, Asuka's name is really useful; no wonder she's the de facto leader of the Wind Ensemble Club!

I'm truly impressed.

Chapter 388: Several yuri couples and the end of the event.

"Well, actually I'm from out of town. Before..."

He recounted what had just happened to her.

"I see."

Kasamaki Nozomi nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to the Luqiu High School had already begun their performance.

"You call Asuka 'senpai,' so you're also Kitauji's student?"

"Yes, I'm Kasamaki Nozomi, a second-year student. Nice to meet you."

"I see, you came to see a performance by someone from your school. So you're also a member of the Wind Ensemble Club?"

He used the same tactic he had employed when they first met: bringing up the very thing that was most sensitive to.

"... used to be."

Kasamaki Nozomi hugged her elbow with one hand, her brow furrowed with melancholy.

"Looks like something happened. Do you want some?"

Himemiya Chihaya pulled a Donut out of nowhere and handed it to her.

"No, that..."

"Don't worry, this is something I made myself."

"..."

Kasamaki Nozomi silently looked down at the snacks he had forced on her, unsure of what to say.

She's worried because she doesn't know what you added to it.

"When you're feeling down, a sugar boost is perfect. Or even if you're already in a good mood, a sugar boost will make you feel even better—that's something I've learned recently."

He took another one out of his coat pocket, opened it, and started eating it.

Seeing that he took the first bite, and with the confidence emboldened by so many people around, Kasamaki Nozomi no longer refused and took a small bite just like him.

Tasty--!!!

A cool, sweet breeze seemed to caress her entire body, and a pure sensation, completely different from the wicked artificial flavors and candies outside, lingered in her mouth.

She looked at his face, her worry deepening—was there really no illegal drugs added to it?

"How is it? It's delicious, isn't it?"

Himemiya Chihaya grinned confidently, unaware that she had already been suspected of being the one who drugged her.

"Mmm, it tastes good... What's in it?"

Kasamaki Nozomi asked hesitantly.

"Some higher-end ingredients?"

"Uh... never mind, thanks."

She bowed her head to thank her, then looked at the Donut in her hand. " With Himemiya student's skills, she could easily get a job as a chef at a bakery."

"Many people say that,"

He took another bite of his dessert, readily accepting the compliment, and then tried to get Wind Ensemble Club out of her, "Nozomi, were you in the brass band this year, or last year?"

"Huh?"

Kasamaki Nozomi was stunned.

I wasn't surprised that he asked such abrupt a question, but rather that he actually called me by my name without even adding the suffix "Sang".

However, he said he and Asuka- senpai had only just met, and he seemed to have called her by her first name directly... Considering that he and Asuka- senpai are both third-year students, it seems a bit strange that he didn't add a suffix to his name...

Realizing she had taken a while to think, she quickly replied, "It was last year!"

"Really? Let me ask you something first. Nozomi, the reason you left the Wind Ensemble Club isn't because of any conflict with Asuka and the others, is it?"

Himemiya Chihaya, seemingly oblivious, continued to ask.

"No, Asuka- senpai and the others... took good care of me."

"Is it because of a conflict with the advisor?"

"No, that's not it. We also changed our advisor this year..."

Her face gradually showed bitterness, and she began to resist.

"Oh, I see. I understand."

He knew when to stop.

"Huh?"

Kasamaki Nozomi looked over in surprise.

"Given your personality, you don't seem like the type to have conflicts with your classmates. Asuka and the other second-year students weren't either, then they must have been third-year students, right?"

"..."

"How was Kitauji's performance just now? Do you think this year's Wind Ensemble Club is a good club?"

"... yes."

"If you want to go back, it's best to do it as soon as possible, so you can still make it to this year's Qualifying Competition. If you wait a few more months, it will be too late."

"..."

The two fell silent, each slowly sipping their food. The air was filled with the melodious sounds of musical instruments playing on the main road, as well as the cheers and laughter of spectators from several nearby cities.

"... Himemiya student's observation skills are truly keen."

Kasamaki Nozomi first looked bitter, then chuckled softly.

"Beautiful, mysterious, perfect and powerful, do you know what that means?"

He snapped his fingers to get her attention.

"What?"

"The adjectives others use to describe me."

"..."

Kasamaki Nozomi blinked, then laughed even harder, "Should we add 'narcissistic' to that too?"

"That's indeed something some people have said."

"Haha~! Then I'll add another interesting tag for you!"

She wiped her eyes, took a bite of the last piece of Donut in her hand, quickly puffed out her cheeks, and stretched.

"Thank you for your suggestion, I will consider it!"

"That's good, but do it quickly, don't wait until you regret it."

His tone was meaningful, "And I have a feeling that this year, they might be able to make it into the National Competition."

"Huh? Really?! Is Kitauji really that good now?"

Kasamaki Nozomi stared in shock, her eyes wide.

"Of course not! But we can look forward to their growth; my gut feeling tells me so."

Himemiya Chihaya sighed, "But I'm not sure if we'll agree to it next year. After all, every year is a new beginning..."

After saying that, he glanced at her beautiful profile with pity.

Poor kid, from junior high to high school, how come you're always the one who can't make it in time when something happens...?

Objectively speaking, Kasamaki Nozomi is top-notch in both personality and ability, but her luck is practically nonexistent.

She, along with Tsuruzuka Mizore, Natsuki Nakagawa, and others, graduated from Minami-Uji Junior High, which had previously been able to enter the Kansai Competition. However, in the year she served as the club Club President, due to the high difficulty of the chosen piece, they only won the Silver Prize in the Prefectural Preliminaries and were unable to advance.

In his first year of high school, he encountered a counselor who was giving up and senior students from the third year. Due to various factors, he led a group of people to quit the club.

She missed the national competition in her second year of high school, and her last major competition in her third year ended in Kansai. She wanted to get into the Music University like Tsuruzuka Mizore, but her skills weren't as good as hers... What bad luck!

[Note: Kasamaki Nozomi, Tsuruzuka Mizore, Natsuki Nakagawa, and Yoshikawa Yuko are collectively known as the "Minami Junior High Four Princesses." They are all currently second-year students. The first two are a couple, and the latter two are a couple...]

"Alright, here's my contact information. Since we seem to have a connection, feel free to contact me if you need anything, whether it's about everyday matters or music. There's no consultation fee."

He chuckled and handed her a note with writing on it, then waved and walked towards the Parking Lot: "Oh, by the way, there'll be a performance in the Parking Lot after it's over, remember to come watch! Ghana~"

Since she has changed her name, he couldn't very well give her Ogura Asahi's business card, so he could only give her a piece of paper instead.

"Goodbye..."

Kasamaki Nozomi's gaze darted back and forth between the note and his retreating figure, her expression strange and complicated.

How strange—what an eccentric person.

On the other side, the Kitauji contingent returned to the playground after the parade.

"Wow~ I finally made it through! I was so nervous!"

"That's right, I don't even remember what just happened!"

"Hey! Did we make a mistake just now?"

"Who knows! Everyone's only focused on their own part!"

"I feel more handsome than ever today!"

"But it should be considered pretty good, I've heard some audience members praising it!"

"Those opportunists..."

"..."

Just as a solemn and heavy exam is followed by a cacophony of voices, the small group of dozens of people who had been lined up instantly scattered like birds and beasts, chatting with their familiar classmates and seniors about how they had felt just now.

"Asuka, how are you feeling?"

A girl with neat short black hair, red eyes, a graceful figure, and a golden Trumpet in her hand, who looked gentle and lovable, walked up to Tanaka Asuka and asked her a question.

"Oh~ it's Kaori, you're the best!"

Tanaka Asuka, twirling her Conductor's Baton, faced her third-year friend who had spoken to her, laughing heartily and tilting her head to give a thumbs-up.

"If you say that, then there shouldn't be any problems, right? That's great!"

Nakasako Kaori gently patted her chest.

[Note: Tanaka Asuka, Nakasako Kaori, and Ogasawara Haruka are collectively known as the Third Year's Three Kaorus." Among them, Nakasako Kaori, like Tanaka Asuka, is stunningly beautiful and is called the " Madonna of Wind Instrument Music Instrumental Club." She serves as the treasurer of the Wind Ensemble Club and the Trumpet Section Leader, and harbors feelings for Tanaka Asuka that are similar to those of a koto player...]

"No, I'm not a teacher, my opinion doesn't count!"

Tanaka Asuka shrugged, frowning and smiling slightly as she dismissed the idea.

Despite the high expectations everyone had for her, she only wanted to do what she liked, didn't want to interfere with others' actions, and didn't want to take on too many responsibilities.

Therefore, she is the Vice President, not the Club President. Ultimately, she doesn't have that kind of leeway...

"Hehe~ You're always like this."

Nakasako Kaori didn't dwell on that question too much, but instead asked about something else that she was somewhat concerned about.

"Speaking of which, Asuka, who was that person who talked to you when you were lining up earlier? The one wearing the mask."

She had wanted to ask about this before, but she and her friend weren't standing together when they were lining up.

"Hmm--seems to be a tourist from Tokyo, saying he's interested in Kitauji, so he came to take a look."